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 …

To See Or Not To See  —  There's a bit of controversy brewing today over Mitt Romney — apparently the Boston Phoenix and the Detroit Free Press are reporting that Romney's father George, the former Governor of Michigan never actually marched with Martin Luther King Jr. as had been previously claimed.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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US  —  WASHINGTON (AFP) — The Lakota Indians, who gave the world legendary warriors Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from treaties with the United States, leaders said Wednesday.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 …

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:

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.

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.

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.

POSSIBLE DELISTING?  —  Earlier this afternoon, I pointed out the beginning of the run on the Rudy contract at the key political betting/prediction sites.  —  That was a bit after noon.  He's fallen like another five points since that post.  Current price is 27.3.

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.

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?

GOP Blocks Vote on FEC Nominees  —  Is it the end for Hans von Spakovsky?  —  From what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said on the Senate floor last night, it appears so.  Given the ongoing opposition to Spakovsky by Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) …