Clinton Launches Obama Attack Web Sites  —  Clinton Campaign Registered Names of Two Web Sites to Attack Ill. Senator  —  ABC News has learned that the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has registered the names of two Web sites with the express goal of attacking her chief rival, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

MEDIA FIREWORKS: MCCAIN PLEADS WITH NY TIMES TO SPIKE STORY  —  Just weeks away from a possible surprise victory in the primaries, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz has been waging a ferocious behind the scenes battle with the NEW YORK TIMES, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned …

Senior Qaeda Theologian Urges His Followers To End Their Jihad  —  WASHINGTON — One of Al Qaeda's senior theologians is calling on his followers to end their military jihad and saying the attacks of September 11, 2001, were a “catastrophe for all Muslims."  —  In a serialized manifesto written …

Romney fields questions on King  —  Campaign says claim not literal  —  Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said he watched his father, the late Michigan Gov. George Romney, in a 1960s civil rights march in Michigan with Martin Luther King Jr.

The '70s Hit Parade  —  In a political season that has become a ‘70s Show, a Richard Nixon revival infects both parties’ primaries.  Even Spiro Agnew — Nixon's Nixon — is being reprised.  —  Hillary Clinton attacks Barack Obama by recycling a slogan Nixon used in 1960 against John Kennedy: “Experience Counts.”

Now the Okie Napoleon is banning ‘Christmas’ (UPDATED!)  —  Oklahoma attorney general Drew Edmondson drew national scorn earlier this year when he arrested Paul Jacob of the Sam Adams Alliance and Citizens in Charge, and two colleagues on trumped-up charges that they violated …

Tancredo drops out, endorses Romney  —  U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo announced today he's ending his long-shot bid for the White House.  —  The Colorado Republican made his exit from the race official at a press conference this afternoon in downtown Des Moines.  He'll throw his support behind GOP candidate Mitt Romney, he said.

Huckabee: Romney's campaign in ‘desperate position’  —  IOWA (CNN) — Republican Mike Huckabee is going on the offensive in response to presidential rival Mitt Romney's latest attack: that as Arkansas governor, he was too lenient on the state's criminals.  —  At Iowa campaign stops Wednesday …

Baptists Not on Board  —  When Mike Huckabee went to Houston on Tuesday to raise funds for his fast-rising, money-starved presidential candidacy, a luncheon for the ordained Baptist minister was arranged by evangelical Christians.  On hand was Judge Paul Pressler, a hero to Southern Baptist Convention reformers.

General Barry R McCaffrey Report  —  Adjunct Professor of International Affairs … SUBJECT: After Action Report—General Barry R McCaffrey USA (Ret)  —  VISIT IRAQ AND KUWAIT 5-11 DECEMBER 2007  —  1. PURPOSE: … 2. SOURCES:  —  1.)  ADM William (Fox) Fallon USN …

Press Conference by the President  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  I hope you all enjoyed the holiday reception at the White House as much as Laura and I enjoyed it.  We took an inventory of the silverware, and this year only a few pieces were missing — so, like, if you see Gregory, tell him to bring them back.

Welcome to America  —  Via Andrew Sullivan, a young Icelandic woman recounts her experiences with the new home of the free: … You see, in 1995 she overstayed a visa for three weeks.  I remember standing in the Reykjavik airport on a security line with my shoes off, held in my left hand …

To Be or Huckabee  —  The Republican party's question.  —  SINCE MIKE HUCKABEE's meteoric rise in the polls, questions regarding his gravitas have dogged the latest Man from Hope.  Oh sure, he can toss out witticisms with the best of them and he's as likable a politician as we've seen in decades …

Declaring Forever War  —  Giuliani has surrounded himself with advisors who think the Bush Doctrine didn't go nearly far enough.  —  Like most Americans, I knew little about Rudolph Giuliani, save that he had been the very successful mayor of New York City catapulted to iconic status …

MCCARTHY VS. AUSTER ON WHETHER GIULIANI'S BEHAVIOR DISQUALIFIES HIM FOR THE PRESIDENCY  —  This past February I posted an entry about Andrew McCarthy's support for Giuliani.  In that thread I quoted what Giuliani' lawyer Raoul Felder said on Mother's Day 2001.

The Blogosphere vs. the VSPs....Part 2 … Hmmm.  Yes.  Seems like I was pretty skeptical of the O'Hanlon/Pollack report myself.  But basically they reported two things: (a) violence is down and security has improved, and (b) the economy, police force, political leadership, and infrastructure are still disaster areas.