Pak govt reveals how Benazir was killed  —  New Delhi: Mystery shrouds the death of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto.  In an explosive revelation, Pakistan's Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz on Friday said that Bhutto did not die of bullet wounds.  —  Nawaz said that Bhutto died from a head injury.

New Lee poll: Edwards moves into 3-way tie  —  A new Iowa caucus poll from Lee Enterprises newspapers shows the Democratic race is a virtual three-way tie, with John Edwards rising to tie Barack Obama for the lead and Hillary Clinton rising to just one point behind.

Clinton's “don't ask” policy  —  As she races through Iowa in the days before next week's caucuses, Hillary Clinton is taking few chances.  She tells crowds that it's their turn to “pick a president,” but over the last two days she has not invited them to ask her any questions.

Be Reasonable  —  As Iowa sizes up the candidates, so do I.  —  By next week politically active Iowans will have met and tallied their votes.  Their decision this year will have a huge impact on the 2008 election, and a decisive impact on various candidacies.  Some will be done in.  Some will be made.

Dems protest Bush's surprise veto of defense bill  —  At the behest of the Iraqi government, President Bush will veto the annual defense authorization bill, saying an obscure provision in the legislation could make Iraqi assets held in U.S. banks vulnerable to lawsuits.

Giuliani Campaign Official: Rudy Is The Only Candidate Who Can Chase “The Muslims"..."Back Into Their Caves"  —  From the Guardian UK via TPM: (h/t SteveAudio)  —  Winning hearts and minds the world over...  John Deady, Co-Chair for New Hampshire's Veterans for Rudy:

Stem cell, contraception groups paid Huck  —  Mike Huckabee last year accepted $52,000 in speaking fees from a bio-tech giant that wants to research human embryonic stem cells, a non-profit working to expand access to the morning after pill and a group pushing to study whether tightening gun control laws will reduce violence.

Pelosi, Reid, Huckabee, Obama Among Nation's “Most Corrupt”  —  Judicial Watch has named its ten most corrupt political figures of 2007, and the list may surprise.  It includes a number of very well-known politicians who have received little attention for their questionable business deals.

France Bans Smoking in Cafes, Clubs, Rejects Sartre's Gauloises  —  Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) — France bans smoking in cafes, hotels and clubs on Jan. 1, stamping out the habit popularized by Jean- Paul Sartre puffing Gauloises in hazy brasseries.  —  In Germany, 11 of the country's 16 states plan similar restrictions for 2008.

What price Oprah?  —  The popular TV personality helps Barack Obama draw big crowds while her fans fume.  —  WITH less than a week until Iowa's first vote is cast in the 2008 presidential election, the politicians aren't the only ones feeling the heat: Celebrities, who have become important players …

Fred to go back on air  —  Team Fred has apparently found enough quarters in the couch to get back on TV in Iowa.  —  Actually, it was more like the multiple fundraising emails they've blasted it out over the past few days.  —  They'll be up with “Substance” by tomorrrow in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Sioux City.