Escort Throws Cold Water On Lott Rumor  —  A San Antonio-based gay male escort categorically denied Monday that outgoing GOP Sen. Trent Lott had ever procured his services, putting to bed one of the more stunning rumors to emerge following Lott's announcement earlier in the day that he was leaving Congress.

On the Jewish Question  —  Herewith some thoughts about tomorrow's Annapolis peace conference, and the larger problem of how to approach the Israel-Palestine conflict.  The first question (one might think it is obvious but apparently not) is, "What is the conflict about?"

Confident Clinton Takes Aim At Attackers  —  Hillary Clinton Tells Katie Couric Time To "Draw Contrasts" With Her Rivals  —  (CBS) With the Iowa caucus just over a month away, CBS News anchor Katie Couric sat down for an exclusive interview with Democratic frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton.

77 Police Officers Injured in Paris- Rioters Using Shotguns!  —  The rampaging youth are shooting at police with shotguns.  —  BBC has video of the street warfare HERE.  —  Young residents of Villiers-le-Bel, a northern Paris suburb, vandalize an abandoned police car during clashes late Monday, Nov. 26, 2007.

In Hospice Care, Longer Lives Mean Money Lost  —  CAMDEN, Ala. — Hundreds of hospice providers across the country are facing the catastrophic financial consequence of what would otherwise seem a positive development: their patients are living longer than expected.

Joe Klein digs Time's hole deeper still  —  (updated below)  —  Joe Klein has just posted yet again about his FISA confusion, and it has now moved well beyond farce into an almost pity-inducing realm.  If Time has any dignity at all, someone there will intervene and put a stop to this.

Novak on Clinton-Obama, 'Prince of Darkness'  —  The transcript follows.  —  Robert D. Novak: Robert Novak standing by...  Floris, Va.: Here's what I've never understood about the Valerie Plame Wilson issue.  Most reporters don't print information without having at least two sources.

Briton faces lashes in Sudan over teddy named Mohammed  —  A British primary school teacher in Sudan is facing 40 lashes and up to six months in prison after allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear after the prophet Mohammed.  —  Colleagues of Gillian Gibbons, 54, claim she made an …

Gang rape in Annapolis  —  It is fitting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chose the U.S. Naval Academy for the venue of today's so-called Mideast peace conference.  The reputation of that extraordinary institution in Annapolis has been sullied in recent years by a succession of rapes of young women.

Saudi official rules out handshake with Israelis  —  Source: Reuters  —  Saudi Arabia's participation in the U.S.-sponsored talks on Middle East peace was seen as a diplomatic coup for the Bush administration but the kingdom has made clear there will be no handshakes with Israeli officials.

Abu Dhabi to Bolster Citigroup With $7.5 Billion Capital Infusion  —  Government Investment Arm  —  To Become a Top Holder,  —  With Up to a 4.9% Stake  —  Citigroup Inc., seeking to restore investor confidence amid massive losses due in credit markets and a lack of permanent leadership …

That 'Top One Percent'  —  People who are in the top one percent in income receive far more than one percent of the attention in the media.  Even aside from miscellaneous celebrity bimbos, the top one percent attract all sorts of hand-wringing and finger-pointing.

Gintis pummels Krugman  —  HERBERT GINTIS is one of the most consistently interesting economists working today, in large part due to his creatively synthetic yet unfailingly rigorous sensibility.  Which is not to say I agree with him about everything.  Mr Gintis has unimpeachable left-wing credentials …