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 …

Is it down to Mitt and Mike?  —  Not since 1952 has the nation entered a presidential year with greater seeming uncertainty as to who will face off in November.  —  Early that year, Tennessee Sen. Ernest Kefauver upset Harry Truman in New Hampshire, relieving the nation by dashing Harry's hopes for another four years.

U.S. Senate Report: Over 400 Prominent Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007  —  Senate Report Debunks “Consensus"  —  Complete U.S. Senate Report Now Available: (LINK)  —  Complete Report without Introduction: (LINK)  —  INTRODUCTION:

Romney defends MLK march remark  —  From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann  —  Ft DODGE, IA — Romney says that it depends on what the definition of “saw” is.  —  A defensive Romney was peppered with questions today on exactly what he meant when he said — most recently on Meet the Press — that he …

Archbishop says nativity ‘a legend’  —  The Archbishop of Canterbury said yesterday that the Christmas story of the Three Wise Men was nothing but a 'legend'.  —  Dr Rowan Williams has claimed there was little evidence that the Magi even existed and there was certainly nothing to prove there were three of them or that they were kings.

Hurricane Katrina rent subsidies expire-along with Houstonians' patience  —  The Houston Chronicle prints a story about Hurricane Katrina families in Texas whose federal rent subsidies have run dry: … The newspaper crusaded on behalf of one family-a welfare mother who works part-time and has seven children:

Business As Usual On The Border  —  The reliably thoughtful Andrew Sullivan delivers his perspective on the awful story of a Noridc would-be tourist: … Matt Yglesias joins in: … So, this incident from Cheney's America reads like an Eastern European country in the 70's?

Descendants of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse break away from US  —  WASHINGTON (AFP) — The Lakota Indians, who gave the world legendary warriors Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from treaties with the United States, leaders said Wednesday.  —  “We are no longer citizens …

Choice is clear: McCain's the one  —  There are times in this nation's history so perilous that they cry out for a steady, experienced leader, a person so trusted that we would put the fate of this country in his hands.  —  This is one of those times, and Sen. John McCain is that person.

Re: Discouraging Libel Tourism Decision  —  Stanley, I agree it's an awful decision.  (At the end of this piece at Human Events, I outline the federal appeals court case that resulted in today's New York State decision).  I have not completely lost hope.  The panel in the federal court …

Obama Says He'd Consider Arnold For His Cabinet  —  ABC's Sunlen Miller Reports: Barack Obama has often said he'd consider putting Repbulicans in his cabinet and even bandied about names like Sens. Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel.  He's a added a new name to the list of possible Republicans cabinet members - Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Kremlin in power struggle over assets  —  An unprecedented battle is taking place inside the Kremlin in advance of Vladimir Putin's departure from office, the Guardian has learned, with claims that the president presides over a secret multibillion-dollar fortune.

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.

Huckabee, Back in Iowa, Brings Christmas Message  —  DIKE, Iowa — He came to town this week dressed in a dark pinstriped suit and cowboy boots, advocating lower taxes, death to the Internal Revenue Service and restoration of the words “Merry Christmas” and “Jesus Christ” to the American lexicon.