POLL: Obama Finds Help in Iowa With a Focus on New Ideas  —  Contest Close in Iowa, Obama Mounting Strong Race Against Clinton  —  A growing focus on fresh ideas coupled with lingering doubts about Hillary Clinton's honesty and forthrightness are keeping the Democratic presidential contest close in Iowa …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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

Philadelphia Gives Boy Scouts Ultimatum  —  City Solicitor Tells Branch to Renounce Its Ban on Gays or Lose Rent Subsidy  —  PHILADELPHIA — This may be the last free Thanksgiving dinner for the Boy Scouts of Philadelphia.  —  Citing a local 1982 "fair practices" law …

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") …

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.

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.