Obama Camp Uses Disputed Gerth Account Of Clintons' 20-Year-Plan To Fault Hillary  —  Barack Obama has unveiled a new line of criticism against Hillary: In speeches he's started to point to the allegation made in Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta's Hillary book that the Clintons secretly formulated …

Thompson skids while Romney, Paul climb in N.H. poll  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson has skidded into sixth place in a new CNN/WMUR poll of likely Republican voters in New Hampshire, edged out by ex-Libertarian and anti-war congressman Ron Paul and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Bilal Hussein case update: Military to bring charges, AP complains  —  In April 2006, I broke news about our military's detention of Associated Press stringer Bilal Hussein-whom sources in Iraq told me was captured by American forces in a building in Ramadi, Iraq, with a cache of weapons …

A Response to Andrew Sullivan  —  In my article "The Case for Bombing Iran" (COMMENTARY, June 2007), in my book World War IV: The Long Struggle Against Islamofascism, and in various public appearances (including a televised debate with Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek), I quoted the Ayatollah Khomeini as having said the following:

GOOD NEWS FROM IRAQ.  —  A few weeks ago, in Britain's Prospect magazine, the paper's foreign editor, Bartle Bull, published a bold essay saying that the high tide of violence in Iraq was essentially behind us and that the ebb had disclosed some interesting things.

Townsend's goodbye to Bush: 'You are such a man.'  —  Outgoing Homeland Security Adviser Frances Fragos Townsend today sent President Bush a three-page handwritten letter announcing her resignation.  A highlight from the letter: … See a full-size version of the letter HERE.

New Hot Air video: The Politics of Planting  —  Why did so many of the "undecided voters" who asked questions at last week's Democrat debate turn out to be either anti-war, labor, race politics or Democrat party activists?  —  Watch this video on blip.  —  Links:  —  Riehl World View

Chris Dodd's perfect squelch  —  MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — The boast remains the centerpiece of Hillary Clinton's campaign and the former first lady sold it aggressively during Thursday night's Democratic debate: "It is important that we have a candidate who is tested and a president who is ready to lead from Day 1."

Some House Backers of Thompson Are Starting to Lose the Faith  —  Several House Republicans who endorsed Fred Thompson for president now say that they are frustrated with what they view as an apathetic campaign, and at least one regrets having committed to the former Tennessee senator.

For Bush, Advances But Not Approval  —  The war in Iraq seems to have taken a turn for the better and the opposition at home has failed in all efforts to impose its own strategy.  North Korea is dismantling its nuclear program.  The budget deficit is falling.

MTV in the Middle East  —  I've often wondered what it would take for MTV to clean up its act.  Now, we know.  The aging music network wants Middle Eastern eyeballs, and it'll do anything to cater to its audience-including toning down raunchy content and covering up scantily-clad hostesses.

Ferguson won't seek re-election  —  Rep. Mike Ferguson will announce today that he will not seek re-election to a fifth term in 2008.  The 37-year-old Republican, who won re-election last year by just 1% against Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender, wants to spend more time with his four young children.

Blackwater Guards Subpoenaed by Federal Grand Jury  —  Brian Ross and Pierre Thomas Report:  —  A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. has opened an investigation into the role of Blackwater security guards in the shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi citizens in September in Baghdad …

America the Unwelcoming  —  The United States is the only major country in the world to which travel has declined amid a tourist boom.  —  As an immigrant, I've always loved Thanksgiving for all the corniest reasons.  It's a distinctly American holiday, secular and inclusive, focused on food, family and gratitude.

Republicans and Race  —  Over the past few weeks there have been a number of commentaries about Ronald Reagan's legacy, specifically about whether he exploited the white backlash against the civil rights movement.  —  The controversy unfortunately obscures the larger point, which should be undeniable …

Commission on Presidential Debates Announces Sites, Dates, Formats and Candidate Selection Criteria for 2008 General Election  —  Paul G. Kirk, Jr. and Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., co-chairmen of the non-partisan, non-profit Commission on Presidential Debates ("CPD" or "the Commission") …