C.I.A. Destroyed Tapes of Interrogations  —  The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Al Qaeda operatives in the agency's custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about the C.I.A's secret detention program …

House passes a sweeping energy bill  —  Fuel efficiency would increase and alternative sources would expand.  The measure faces a tough road in the Senate.  —  WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday approved the biggest increase in vehicle fuel-economy standards since gasoline cost less …

SF radio personality Bernie Ward indicted on child porn charges  —  (12-06) 15:29 PST San Francisco - —  Bernie Ward, a popular liberal San Francisco radio talk show host and former Catholic priest, has been indicted on federal child pornography charges, authorities said today.

That Dog Won't Hunt  —  Sorry to dissent from my colleagues on the Corner, but once the murmurs over the oratory subside, people are going to realize: that speech did not work.  Here's why: … To be blunt, Romney is saying:  —  It is legitimate to ask a candidate, "Is Jesus the son of God?"

Two GOP congresswomen quit Page Board  —  Two Republicans on the House Page Board resigned Thursday because the House clerk failed to notify them of two incidents involving high school-age students, including shoplifting charges and improper sexual conduct.  —  Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite …

Huckabee: Force Behind My Rise in Polls Is 'Not Human'  —  First Mrs. Huckabee: … Comparing effective use of campaign funds to a miracle?  Cringe.  Well, it's just the candidate's wife, it's not like Huckabee would say something like...  Wow.  Huckabee's been endorsed by both Chuck Norris AND Jesus Christ.

Did Morgan Spurlock find Osama bin Laden?  —  15 minutes of footage shown at film fest sparks bidding war, speculation  —  Rumors are flying that filmmaker Morgan Spurlock of "Super Size Me" fame may have done what the United States government has failed to do for the last six years — find Osama bin Laden.

Review of Iran Intelligence to Be Sought  —  As Conservatives Reject New NIE, Republican Senators to Urge Congressional Panel  —  Senate Republicans are planning to call for a congressional commission to investigate the conclusions of the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran …

Bush gives out wrong mortgage hotline phone number.  —  During his speech today announcing his plan "to ease the mortgage crisis for consumers, President Bush accidentally gave out the wrong number for his new "Hope Now Hotline" that worried homeowners are encouraged to call for assistance.

I HEARD NEAL BOORTZ holding forth on the Omaha mall shooting this morning on the way to work, and I realized I haven't posted on it.  I don't really have anything to say that I haven't said before.  But it's worth noting — since apparently most of the media reports haven't — that this was another mass shooting in a "gun-free" zone.

Huckabee Tries to Shoot the Messenger, But Wounds His Campaign Instead  —  The way that Mike Huckabee has handled the furor caused by the Huffington Post's coverage of his role in the release of Wayne Dumond, a serial rapist who went on to rape and kill at least one other woman, has been very revealing.

News Corp. Duo Set To Lead Dow Jones As Zannino Resigns  —  Dow Jones & Co. Chief Executive Richard F. Zannino said yesterday that he would resign as News Corp. moved ahead with plans to install a new management team that will be led by veteran News Corp. executive Leslie Hinton and Times of London Editor Robert Thomson.

Countdown Special Comment: The NIE Reflects An "Unhinged, Irrational Chicken Little Of A President"  —  Far more scary than the nuclear threat presented by Iran, the NIE report released this week reveals a more domestic threat to the republic: … Transcripts below the fold

Helen Thomas On Blogs: Dangerous  —  It appears Public Eye at CBS has plucked a gem from an interview with Helen Thomas at HuffPo I imagine few Right-siders read.  It's a real laugher if you've followed Thomas at all, particularly her pronouncements as regards America killing civilians in Iraq.