Attack ad decision cost Huck $150K  —  DES MOINES — Mike Huckabee's last-minute decision to pull the plug on an attack ad against Mitt Romney has been the talk of Iowa in recent days.  —  But it turns out there is more to the story than Huckabee explained at his now-famous, had-to-see-it-to-believe it news conference Monday.

Poll: McCain, Romney tied in New Hampshire  —  (CNN) — With six days to go until the New Hampshire primary, there are ties in poll results for the top candidates in both parties.  —  With roughly a quarter of those polled in both parties saying they won't make up their mind until the election …

Stonewalled by the C.I.A.  —  MORE than five years ago, Congress and President Bush created the 9/11 commission.  The goal was to provide the American people with the fullest possible account of the “facts and circumstances relating to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001” — and to offer recommendations to prevent future attacks.

Partisan Trends  —  Number of Republicans in U.S. Increases in December to Two-Year High  —  The number of Americans who consider themselves to be Republicans jumped nearly two percentage points in December to 34.2%.  That's the largest market share for the Republican brand in nearly two years …

The 40 Most Obnoxious Quotes Of 2007 … Also see,  —  The 40 Most Obnoxious Quotes Of 2006  —  The 40 Most Obnoxious Quotes For 2005  —  The 40 Most Obnoxious Quotes For 2004

Dem camps doubt some poll figures  —  The Des Moines Register's final poll before Thursday's Iowa presidential caucuses prompted sharp reaction Tuesday about how many politically independent voters are expected to attend the Democratic caucuses.  —  As candidates worked New Year's Day crowds around Iowa …

FRED THOMPSON: Too sane to be President?  Quite possibly. … I think he's right.  Thompson is running the kind of campaign — substantive, policy-laden, not based on gimmicks or sound-bites — that pundits and journalists say they want, but he's getting no credit for it from the people who claim that's what they want.

Edwards: Too Cute by Half  —  John Edwards may very well win Iowa.  He has a strong organization, four years in the making, and a message that goes to the anger and frustration of many voters.  —  His central theme is that Washington is corrupt.  Lobbyists and money control the process.

What Kucinich Saw: Witnesses Describe His Close Encounter  —  Candidate's Pals Recall Three Throbbing UFOs; Outed by Shirley MacLaine  —  The 2008 presidential race has raised many questions about the candidates' personal histories.  Will Barack Obama's past drug use preclude a White House future?

Harris County GOP interviews DA contenders  —  The final pick should be known by 6 p.m. Wednesday, the deadline for filing candidacy papers  —  Harris County Republican Party leaders interviewed potential candidates for district attorney Tuesday night as they tried to anoint a single challenger …

Scotland Yard to probe Bhutto's death  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) — Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Wednesday that British investigators are heading to Pakistan to help clear up the confusion surrounding Thursday's assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

GIVING THANKS  —  I suspect that TPM Readers are as divided in their support of the candidates as much of the public seems to be.  But as we get ready to kick off the 2008 election season I think it's an appropriate moment to give thanks for something we can all be thankful for …