Dark Suspicions about the NIE  —  A new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), entitled "Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities," has just dealt a serious blow to the argument some of us have been making that Iran is intent on building nuclear weapons and that neither diplomacy nor sanctions can prevent it from succeeding.

Democrats Set to Debate in Iowa as Race Tightens  —  Listen Live Here Beginning at 2 p.m. EST  —  · All of the major Democratic presidential candidates will meet in Iowa on Tuesday for a two-hour debate, as an extremely close race is shaping up in the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

MIKE HUCKABEE — TOO MORALISTIC TO PROTECT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY  —  I have defended Mike Huckabee from charges that he's not a conservative.  As with nearly all of the Republican candidates, there are some important conservative positions to which Huckabee has not closely adhered …

Lawn work at Romney's home still done by illegal immigrants  —  Ricardo Saenz, owner of the company that employed illegal immigrants, worked on Romney's lawn recently.  —  By Maria Cramer and Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff; and Connie Paige, Globe Correspondent

The Religious Double Standard  —  Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen has very harsh things to say about Mike Huckabee today, likely the harshest things anyone has said yet about the surging underdog now second in Iowa and some national polls.  Cohen wants Huckabee, the minister, to come out against religious intolerance.

'Green Hanukkia' campaign sparks ire  —  In a campaign that has spread like wildfire across the Internet, a group of Israeli environmentalists is encouraging Jews around the world to light at least one less candle this Hanukka to help the environment.  —  The founders of the Green Hanukkia campaign found …

The 2nd Annual Worst Quotes From The Daily Kos (2007 Edition)  —  America's most influential blog is the Daily Kos.  Democratic members of Congress post on the blog, Democratic presidential contenders cater to them, and Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas is considered to be a mainstream figure amongst Democrats.

Pakistan to deport Code Pink protesters  —  Pakistan authorities today ordered the deportation of the leader of the feminist U.S. antiwar group Code Pink, who was in Lahore to join protests against the emergency rule imposed by President Pervez Musharraf, according to a spokeswoman for the group.

NURSES TOLD TO TURN MUSLIMS' BEDS TO MECCA  —  OVERWORKED nurses have been ordered to stop all medical work five times every day to move Muslim patients' beds so they face towards Mecca.  —  The lengthy procedure, which also includes providing fresh bathing water, is creating turmoil among overstretched staff on bustling NHS wards.

Iraq says it can't handle refugee influx  —  BAGHDAD - Iraq's government acknowledged Tuesday that it cannot handle a massive return of refugees, as the U.N. announced a $11 million relief package to help the most vulnerable Iraqi families trickling back to their war-ravaged homeland.

Hillary Pollster: "Kindergarten Attack" On Obama Was Just A Gag!  —  Now this is interesting.  Yesterday the Hillary Clinton campaign was pilloried in the press after it issued a press release that attacked Barack Obama for claiming he wasn't running for President in order to fulfill a life-long ambition.

A Lurid Aftermath to a Hedge Fund Manager's Life  —  JUPITER, Fla. — A life of private jets and black-tie balls ended with Seth Tobias, a wealthy investment manager and a familiar presence on CNBC, floating face down in the swimming pool of his mansion here.