memeorandum: Holiday Cheer Gives Way to Final Primary Push in Iowa (Adam Nagourney/New York Times)

9:30 AM ET, December 27, 2007

Top Items:

Report: Bhutto killed in attack — RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CNN) — Pakistan former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has died after a suicide attack, according to media reports. — Geo TV quoted her husband saying the politician had died following a bullet wound in the neck.

Discussion: Human Voices, JammieWearingFool, BitsBlog, CALIFORNIA YANKEE, Donklephant, Scared Monkeys and rochesterturning.com

MSNBC:

Pakistan's Bhutto assassinated — Suicide bomber kills opposition leader, at least 20 others at rally — RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a suicide bombing that also killed at least 20 others at a campaign rally, a party aide and a military official said.

Discussion: michellemalkin.com, Washington Monthly, Rantburg, Wizbang, All Spin Zone and The Carpetbagger Report

Sky News:

Benazir Bhutto Killed In Attack — Pakistan Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has died after a suicide attack at a political rally. — “At 6.16 p.m. she expired,” said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of Bhutto's party at Rawalpindi General Hospital. — “She has been martyred,” said party offical Rehman Malik.

Discussion: CNN, BBC, ORDOVICIUS, Hot Air, Pajamas Media, Dodgeblogium and Classical Values

New York Times:

Bhutto Assassinated in Attack on Rally — RAWALPINDI, Islamabad — An attack on a political rally killed the Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto near the capital, Islamabad, Thursday. Witnesses said Ms. Bhutto was fired upon before the blast, and an official from her party said Ms. Bhutto …

Discussion: Megan McArdle and Prairie Weather

Washington Post:

Bhutto Killed at Political Rally — Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday at a political rally, two months after she returned from eight years of exile to attempt a political comeback, officials said. — Bhutto was shot at close range as she was leaving …

Discussion: Agence France Presse, Captain's Quarters, Telegraph and Wolf Howling

ABCNEWS:

Benazir Bhutto Killed in Pakistan Explosion — Benazir Bhutto Killed in Explosion Near Rally — Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto waves to her supporters during an election campaign rally in Hassan Abdal, 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of Islamabad, 26 December 2007.

Discussion: Gateway Pundit

Michael D. Shear / Washington Post:

For McCain, It Could Be State of Resurgence — Wide-Open Caucuses Offer Hope To a Candidate Who Has Lagged — A jet carrying Sen. John McCain of Arizona touched down Wednesday evening on Iowa's western border, marking a remarkable comeback for the veteran politician and opening another intriguing narrative …

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker, Boston Globe, MSNBC, The Caucus, New Hampshire Union Leader and Los Angeles Times

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:

Holiday Cheer Gives Way to Final Primary Push in Iowa — DES MOINES — After a 48-hour lull for Christmas, the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns roared back to life on Wednesday with a barrage of new advertisements, closing campaign arguments and more than a few attacks …

Discussion: MSNBC

Washington Post:
Democrats Enter Stretch in Iowa

Discussion: New York Times, MSNBC and The Politico

Robert D. Novak / Washington Post: Is This McCain's Moment? — Sen. John McCain, given up for dead …

Michael Levenson / Boston Globe:
McCain and Huckabee form alliance against Romney

Discussion: Political Machine, CBS News and Redstate

Andrew DeMillo / Associated Press:

Huckabee adopts new tone on immigration — LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Hispanic activists who viewed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as a voice of moderation on illegal immigration say they've been taken aback by the hard-line stance he's adopted as a presidential candidate.

Ron Claiborne / ABCNEWS:
McCain Still Dogged by Immigration Issue

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and Lonewacko

Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:
Bridging 4 Decades, a Large, Close-Knit Brood

Discussion: Washington Times

Robert Pear / New York Times:

U.S. Ruling Backs Benefit Cut at 65 in Retiree Plans — WASHINGTON — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Wednesday that employers could reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees when they turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. — The policy, set forth in a new regulation …

Discussion: The Newshoggers, Firedoglake, naked capitalism, Big Brass Blog, Rox Populi, Seeing the Forest and Booman Tribune

Aaron Klein / WorldNetDaily:

Terrorists' new mission: Protect President Bush — Most active West Bank militant group in security team for Middle East visit — JERUSALEM - Members of the most active West Bank terror organization are set to participate in security forces being deployed to protect President Bush during …

Discussion: All Spin Zone

Ynetnews:
Israeli nearly lynched in Ramallah

Discussion: Israel Matzav and Yourish.com

Roger Simon / The Politico:

Biden talks up an Iowa upset — DES MOINES - - Joe Biden is talking. “Barack does a room, Hillary does a room, I do the same room and I win,” he says. “I have absolute confidence in that. The question is: Do I get in enough rooms?" — Biden is sitting at a table in a Starbucks …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters

Wall Street Journal:

Pace of Decline In Home Prices Sets a Record — A closely watched gauge of U.S. home prices shows they are falling sharply across most of the nation, as a deepening slump in the housing market threatens to damp consumer spending. — Home prices in 10 major metropolitan areas in October …

Discussion: Concurring Opinions, Eschaton, SCSUScholars and Calculated Risk

Stephen Bernard / Associated Press: October Home Prices Post Record Decline

David S. Broder / Washington Post:

The Speaker's Grand Illusion — Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats Need to Get Real About What They've Accomplished — After one year of Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, public approval ratings for Congress have sunk below their level when Republicans were still in control.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Blue Crab Boulevard and Rising Hegemon

David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times:

Edwards Campaign May Have Expected Union Group Plan — DES MOINES — In the final days before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, John Edwards has stepped up his criticism of outside organizations that spend money to influence elections, repeatedly disavowing a labor group that is blanketing Iowa with commercials supporting his candidacy.