For Democrats, Iowa Still Up for Grabs  —  The top three Democratic presidential contenders remain locked in a close battle in Iowa, with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) seeing her advantages diminish on key issues, including the questions of experience and which candidate is best prepared …

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:

News staffers at CBS authorize a strike  —  Union officials hope the vote prompts the network to resume negotiations.  The two sides last met in January.  —  NEW YORK — CBS news writers, graphic artists and other staffers who work for the network's television and radio news operations voted …

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.

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.

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") …