MN-Senate: Counting Chaos!  —  The Minnesota Senate race could end up being decided by a few dozen votes.  (Photo — Reuters/Eric Miller)  —  As the manual recount in the Minnesota Senate race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken nears its conclusion, the identity of the winner is growing increasingly unclear.

Ros-Lehtinen hangs up on Obama.  Twice.  —  Is Ileana Ros-Lehtinen a little paranoid?  —  Maybe.  —  On Wednesday, the Republican congresswoman got a call from President-elect Barack Obama, didn't believe it was him, and hung up on him.  Twice.  —  According to Ros-Lehtinen's flack Alex Cruz …

We need to stop using the bailouts to rebuild gigantic financial institutions.  —  Last month, as the financial crisis and the government rescue plan dominated headlines, almost everyone overlooked a news item that could have enormous long-term impact: GE Capital announced the acquisition …

U.S. Eyes Plan to Lift Home Sales  —  Treasury Considers Encouraging Banks to Offer Mortgages at Rates as Low as 4.5%  —  WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department is considering a plan to revitalize the U.S. home market that would push down interest rates for loans to purchase a home, according to people familiar with the matter.

Medicine for the Job Market  —  A CENTRAL feature of Barack Obama's presidential campaign was an aggressive plan to expand health insurance coverage by subsidizing low-income Americans and preventing discrimination against the ill. In recent weeks, Senators Max Baucus and Ted Kennedy …

U.A.W. Makes Concessions in Bid to Help Automakers  —  WASHINGTON — The United Automobile Workers union said Wednesday that it would make major concessions in its contracts with the three Detroit auto companies to help them lobby Congress for $34 billion in federal aid.

Matthews advised to quit MSNBC  —  Chris Matthews is dead serious about running for the Senate in Pennsylvania - and shopping for a house in the state and privately discussing quitting MSNBC as proof of his intense interest, according to NBC colleagues, political operatives and friends.

IDF preparing options for Iran strike  —  The IDF is drawing up options for a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities that do not include coordination with the United States, The Jerusalem Post has learned.  —  While its preference is to coordinate with the US, defense officials have said Israel …

Poll: Calif. gay marriage ban driven by religion  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Voters' economic status and religious convictions played a greater role than race and age in determining whether they supported the Nov. 4 ballot measure outlawing same-sex marriage in California, a new poll shows.

NO TRANSITION FROM NONESENSE  —  Congressional Quarterly bemoans Obama's broken promise of a bipartisan cabinet since he's only appointed one Republican to one of the top three positions in government — State, Defense and Treasury ...  I guess maybe it's a slow news period and there's not much to write about.

As More Eat Meat, a Bid to Cut Emissions  —  STERKSEL, the Netherlands — The cows and pigs dotting these flat green plains in the southern Netherlands create a bucolic landscape.  But looked at through the lens of greenhouse gas accounting, they are living smokestacks, spewing methane emissions into the air.

Holder pardon makes Dems squirm  —  Eric Holder's role in the pardon of Marc Rich is unlikely to derail his nomination as attorney general, but it will give Senate Republicans a chance to make their Democratic colleagues squirm.  —  With a confirmation hearing at least a month away …

School cancels Christmas nativity in favour of Muslim Eid celebrations  —  A primary school has cancelled its Christmas nativity in favour of Muslim festival of Eid celebrations because it would be too much for the children to do both.  —  Greenwood Junior School sent out a letter …

Russian warship to cross Panama Canal … MOSCOW (AP) - A Russian warship will sail through the Panama Canal this week for the first time since World War II, the navy announced Wednesday, pushing ahead with a symbolic projection of Moscow's power in a traditional U.S. zone of influence.

Mumbai police to use truth serum on ‘baby-faced’ terrorist Azam Amir Kasab  —  Indian police interrogators are preparing to administer a “truth serum” on the sole Islamic militant captured during last week's terror attacks on Mumbai to settle once and for all the question of where he is from.