Romney Strategy in Peril With Huckabee's Ascent  —  Bid for Early States Appears in Jeopardy  —  DES MOINES — A year ago, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney gathered his campaign team for the first time at his suburban Boston home.  There were PowerPoint presentations, and Ann Romney made sandwiches.

U.S. Officials See Waste in Pakistan Aid  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — After the United States has spent more than $5 billion in a largely failed effort to bolster the Pakistani military effort against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, some American officials now acknowledge that there were too few controls over the money.

Huckabee angers some Catholics  —  SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Rising Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee risked his standing with Catholic voters on Sunday by courting his evangelical base at the church of a controversial preacher accused of disparaging Catholics.

Video: Ron Paul explains “fascism” and little else on Meet the Press  —  As Red State observes, strange things happen when Tim Russert meets Ron Paul.  On MTP this morning, Russert asked Paul a number of questions, from how and what government stuff would Paul pay for once he's done away with the income tax …

Lost In the Obama Era  —  Jesse Jackson can still get a crowd going—when he can find one.  He appeared at a Los Angeles restaurant this fall, primed to discuss school dropout rates and home foreclosures.  But only eight people showed up, mostly reporters.

Warnings Unheeded On Guards In Iraq  —  Despite Shootings, Security Companies Expanded Presence  —  The U.S. government disregarded numerous warnings over the past two years about the risks of using Blackwater Worldwide and other private security firms in Iraq, expanding their presence …

An Update on the Trial of Bilal Hussein  —  America's first major trial concerning press freedom involved a German newspaper man, John Peter Zenger.  He was accused of having libeled the Royal Governor of New York, William Cosby.  Andrew Hamilton won a favorable jury verdict in that case …

GI saves Iraqi boy in long-shot adoption  —  MAUSTON, Wis. - Capt. Scott Southworth knew he'd face violence, political strife and blistering heat when he was deployed to one of Baghdad's most dangerous areas.  But he didn't expect Ala'a Eddeen.  —  Ala'a was 9 years old …

Searching for Friends, Spitzer Warms to Lobbyists  —  Earlier this year, aides to Gov. Eliot Spitzer began planning a lavish December fund-raiser on Manhattan's West Side, hoping to cap Mr. Spitzer's bruising first year in office with a show of political support and financial strength.

Huckabee campaigning for 23% sales tax  —  Political suicide?  Quite the opposite for the GOP White House hopeful — so far.  But many call the plan for a national levy ‘crackpot’ (even if it would shut down the IRS).  —  WASHINGTON — Mike Huckabee, one of the most conservative Republicans …

Gaza's Christians keep low Xmas profile  —  GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gaza's tiny Christian community is keeping a low profile this Christmas, traumatized by the killing of a prominent activist in the wake of Hamas' takeover of the coastal territory.  —  Few Christmas trees are on display …

How to Avoid Recession?  Let the Fed Work  —  THE economy is teetering on the edge.  Many economists, as well as online betting sites, put the risk of recession next year at about 50 percent.  Once we get the final numbers, we might even learn that a recession has already begun.

CIA chief to drag White House into torture cover-up storm  —  THE CIA chief who ordered the destruction of secret videotapes recording the harsh interrogation of two top Al-Qaeda suspects has indicated he may seek immunity from prosecution in exchange for testifying before the House intelligence committee.

Daily Kos Supporting the Troops for Christmas  —  As I write, this is currently the number one recommended diary at Daily Kos: a long exercise in crackpot moral equivalence that compares US troops holding Bibles with a Palestinian female suicide bomber holding a Koran.