McCain Campaign Calls Allegations ‘Gutter Politics’  —  Sen. John McCain said today that he has “never done any favors for anybody — lobbyist or special-interest group” as his presidential campaign rushed out a statement denouncing allegations that he did anything to benefit a specific Washington lobbyist as “gutter politics.”

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 …

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US  —  WASHINGTON (AFP) — The Lakota Indians, who gave the world legendary warriors Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from treaties with the United States, leaders said Wednesday.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

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:

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?

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.

Housing changes unravel Katrina victims' lives  —  Rent subsidy programs migrate to new agencies  —  On a rainy afternoon two days before Thanksgiving, Dawn Haynes was driving when she spotted the family of five sitting on the steps of Gospel Baptist Church.

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.

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 …

Putin ‘has secret $40bn fortune’  —  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.

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.

Is Giuliani Facing Free Fall?  —  Campaign restarts are popular items this season, and last Saturday, in case you missed it, Rudy Giuliani tried to restart his unconventional presidential campaign with an inspirational speech in Florida about overcoming adversity.  “I've met adversity before,” Giuliani said.

Poll puts Tories 12 points ahead of Labour  —  Gordon Brown's personal approval rating has slumped to an all-time low as a Daily Telegraph opinion poll today shows that Labour would lose 100 MPs if an election was held now.  —  The YouGov poll indicates that the Conservatives go into the new year with a 12-point lead over Labour.

The Weakest of Denials  —  At a year-end press conference this morning, President Bush staved off questions about White House complicity in the destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes, refusing even to flatly deny that he was personally involved.  —  Bush also declined to say whether …

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.

The spirit of Eid Al-Adha  —  THE MUSLIM new year has come in with a bang.  On the eve of the high holiday of Eid Al-Adha, explosions abound.  Outside Beirut a car bomb kills four.  A double-blast in Quetta, Pakistan, destroys eight lives.  Twin suicide bombings in Iraq's Diyala Province murder 26, including six women and children.