The Résumé Factor: Those 8 Years as First Lady  —  As first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton jaw-boned the authoritarian president of Uzbekistan to leave his car and shake hands with people.  She argued with the Czech prime minister about democracy.

The Romney backlash: Conservatives are coming home  —  THERE IS A reason Mitt Romney has not received a single newspaper endorsement in New Hampshire.  It's the same reason his poll numbers are dropping.  He has not been able to convince the people of this state that he's the conservative he says he is.

Top Ten Myths about Iraq 2007  —  10. Myth: The US public no longer sees Iraq as a central issue in the 2008 presidential campaign. … 9. Myth: There have been steps toward religious and political reconciliation in Iraq in 2007.  Fact: The government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki …

Iran needs no uranium enrichment: Russia's Lavrov  —  MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's delivery of nuclear fuel to the Bushehr power station makes it unnecessary for Iran to pursue its enrichment program, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Same Party, Different Style  —  Romney, Huckabee  —  Present a Stark Choice For Iowa Republicans  —  In Iowa, the Republican presidential race has come down to two former governors who offer caucus goers a stark choice.  It's the pulpit vs. the boardroom, poverty vs. privilege, passion vs. preparedness.

While America Celebrates...  Huckabee plunges.  —  WHEN WE PAID pundits try to provide campaign analysis, we often strain to find historical analogies.  Although I'm not asking for sympathy, please understand that it's not easy.  There have been only fifty-something presidential campaigns …

Hillary Edges Out Oprah as Most Admired Woman in '07  —  PRINCETON, NJ — For the sixth year in a row, President George W. Bush is the most admired man and Sen. Hillary Clinton the most admired woman in Gallup's annual survey.  But neither winner had a very decisive win this year …

Eco-scrooges can't give it a rest  —  Environmental busybodies never take a vacation.  The lead letter on Christmas day at the San Francisco Chronicle echoed dim bulb Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' recent “Stop global warming and buy CFLs or Santa will DIEDIEDIE!” threat:

Britain in secret talks with the Taliban  —  Agents from MI6 entered secret talks with Taliban leaders despite Gordon Brown's pledge that Britain would not negotiate with terrorists, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.  —  Officers from the Secret Intelligence Service staged discussions …

Sooner or Later, Candidates Will Surely Look Lost  —  They have become a useful, though very tricky, class of images in this roller-coaster ride of a presidential campaign.  Call them the “hangdog” candidate photographs: They capture the politician with eyes downcast, looking tired, stressed.

A One-Size-Fits-All Solution  —  WHILE the causes of the mortgage crisis are myriad, a central problem was that many borrowers took out loans that they did not understand and could not afford.  Brokers and lenders offered loans that looked much less expensive than they really were …

U.S. Disparity in Executions Grows as Texas Bucks Trend  —  This year's death penalty bombshells — a de facto national moratorium, a state abolition and the smallest number of executions in more than a decade — have masked what may be the most significant and lasting development.

FORGET ABOUT BUSH—AND THE MIDDLE GROUND.  —  Here's a thought for progressives: Bush isn't the problem.  And the next president should not try to be the anti-Bush.  —  No, I haven't lost my mind.  I'm not saying that we should look kindly on the Worst President Ever …

Clinton's Right-Hand Woman Scrambles for a Win in Iowa  —  Patti Solis Doyle Steers Campaign, Juggling  —  Family Role, Staff Egos  —  DES MOINES, Iowa — With snow and sleet pounding her hotel window, campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle dialed in to an early-morning strategy debate …

Worms infect more poor Americans than thought  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Roundworms may infect close to a quarter of inner city black children, tapeworms are the leading cause of seizures among U.S. Hispanics and other parasitic diseases associated with poor countries are also affecting Americans, a U.S. expert said on Tuesday.

Holiday Spending Growth at 5 -Year Low  —  A surge in spending over the weekend may not have been enough to rescue Target, Sears Holdings and Macy's from the slowest holiday spending season in five years.  —  MasterCard's consulting unit said yesterday that sales from Nov. 23 to Dec. 24 gained 3.6 percent.