Obama picks Salazar as Interior secretary  —  The Colorado senator, an attorney with expertise in water law, has criticized the department for opening up his state's Roan Plateau to drilling.  —  Reporting from Washington — Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), a Latino with deep knowledge of water and land issues …

Obama clears himself and staff in Blagojevich case  —  The president-elect says an internal review shows there were no inappropriate conversations with the Illinois governor about who would fill the vacant Senate seat.  —  Reporting from Washington and Chicago — Barack Obama said Monday …

The Bulge  —  Goering, Hitler and Guderian survey plans for Wacht Am Rhein, a.k.a. The Battle of the Bulge, October 1944.  —  It began at dawn on Dec. 16, 1944, 64 years ago today, with rapid assaults through the Ardennes forest, as the Germans blitzed one last time, hoping to split the Allied armies and take Antwerp.

Shoe Thrower Being Tortured?  —  While Tweety fussed about the propriety of Al Zaida's shoe throw just now, very credible reports started to come in from Arabic sources that Muntader Al Zaida is in very bad shape:  —  Raed in the Middle reports: … From Roads to Iraq:

Pelosi lays down the law with Rahm  —  In a recent conversation with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rahm Emanuel offered some advice on a Democratic House leadership race.  Pelosi's response, according to several Democratic sources: It is “an internal House Democratic Caucus matter, and we'll handle it.”

Majority of Public Opposes Auto Rescue  —  Poll Finds Most Blame Industry for Problems, Believe Failure Won't Hurt Economy  —  Most Americans continue to oppose a government-backed rescue plan for Detroit's Big Three automakers as majorities blame the industry for its own problems …

Gay penguins expelled from zoo colony for stealing eggs are given their own to look after following animal rights protest … A pair of gay penguins thrown out of their zoo colony for repeatedly stealing eggs have been given some of their own to look after following a protest by animal rights groups.

Madoff Investors May Be Protected By Government  —  Judge Says Those Duped Need Aid Under The Securites Investor Protection Act  —  NEW YORK (CBS) ― Federal investigators remain at the investment offices of disgraced investor Bernard Madoff, scouring through records to learn the scope …

Kidnapping Negotiator Is Now a Victim in Mexico  —  MEXICO CITY — An American security consultant who has helped negotiate the release of scores of kidnapping victims in Latin America was himself kidnapped last week in northern Mexico after delivering a seminar there on how to avoid that fate, officials said Monday.

Will Hillary Follow Through On Campaign Pledge To Ban ‘Private Mercenaries’?  —  Back in February, Senator Hillary Clinton cosponsored legislation calling for the Secretary of State to ban the use of private contractors like Blackwater from guarding State Department employees …

Unions Second to Auto Execs in Bailout Blame Game  —  Americans split evenly between wanting legislation to pass or fail  — USA - Automotive - Business and Economy - Government and Politics - Industries - Manufacturing - Americas - Northern America  —  PRINCETON, NJ …

Transcript: Cheney Defends Hard Line Tactics  —  In Exclusive Interview With ABC News, Vice President Dick Cheney Opens Up About His Hard Line Tactics  —  KARL: Did you authorize the tactics that were used against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed?  —  CHENEY: I was aware of the program, certainly …

In Bush vs. Flying Shoes, Viral Video is the Winner  —  President Bush has had to overcome many obstacles during the past 8 years, but nobody ever expected him to have to avoid an international crisis involving flying shoes.  And yet, this is the exact situation he faced on Saturday …

Gitmo Lawyers Are the Latest in Radical Chic  —  How about some pro bono work for the government?  —  Within the ranks of our leading law schools, law firms and legal centers, it would be hard to find a cause more popular than the detainees of Guantanamo Bay.  Every lawyer wants his own detainee or detainee group.

On Making Mitch McConnell Wet His Pants  —  User B.R. writes in: … B.R. raises several interesting points, but they ultimately point back to one thing: Harry Reid has been exceptionally ineffective as the Democrats' majority leader.  —  The number of cloture votes skyrocketed …

Bankruptcy Is the Perfect Remedy for Detroit  —  Washington hates the idea because it would lose leverage.  —  While Washington tries to arrange a bailout, the Detroit Three auto makers and their union, the United Auto Workers, keep insisting that bankruptcy would be the kiss of death.