Warren On?  Party Off.  —  Not that he was planning to attend, but Barack Obama should know that my sister's inauguration night party — the one for which she was preparing Obama Punch — has been canceled.  The notice went out over the weekend, by e-mail and word of mouth …

Clinton Moves To Widen Role Of State Dept.  —  WASHINGTON — Even before taking office, Hillary Rodham Clinton is seeking to build a more powerful State Department, with a bigger budget, high-profile special envoys to trouble spots and an expanded role in dealing with global economic issues at a time of crisis.

With most ballot challenges settled, Franken leads by 48  —  With most ballot challenges settled, Democrat Al Franken holds a 48-vote lead over Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in the U.S. Senate recount, according to a Star Tribune analysis of a draft report from the Secretary of State's office.

Paparazzi Photog Gets a ‘Pec-tacular’ Obama Shot  —  HONOLULU — More than a dozen photographs of a bathing suit-clad President-elect Barack Obama surfaced online Monday showing the shirtless Chicagoan accompanied by his wife, Michelle, and their two young daughters on the white-sand beach in front of their vacation home.

Quote of the Year  —  Co-anchor Chris Matthews: “I have to tell you, you know, it's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech.  My — I felt this thrill going up my leg.  I mean, I don't have that too often.  —  “Co-anchor Keith Olbermann: “Steady.

European Nations Discussing Accepting Guantanamo Detainees  —  Under Bush, Nations Refused to Resettle Guantanamo Prisoners  —  European nations have begun intensive discussions both within and among their governments on whether to resettle detainees from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay …

Why do retailers fear using the word ‘Christmas’?  —  ANALYSIS/OPINION:  —  In the fall 2008 edition of “FYI Alexandria,” which the city bills as “Alexandria's Official Resident Newsletter,” a front-page blurb announced: “City Seeks 2008 Holiday Tree.”  —  Alexandria at the time was …

Poll: 1 in 5 say Cheney worst vice president ever  —  CNN Deputy Political Director  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — A new national poll suggests that one out of five Americans think that Dick Cheney is the worst vice president in American history.  —  Twenty-three percent of those questioned …

Many Muslims skeptical of Fort Dix verdicts  —  Yes, they talked tough, fired guns and watched jihadist videos.  —  But the five young Muslims convicted Monday of plotting to kill soldiers at Fort Dix may not have been guilty of anything more than youthful braggadocio and poor judgment.

Mitchell to Buchanan: You Wouldn't Say Caroline ‘In Miers Country’ If You Knew Her  —  The people just don't know Caroline like I do.  That was the essence of Andrea Mitchell's defense of the would-be senator after Pat Buchanan analogized her to another nominee who famously flopped.

Agencies prep Obama for ‘tourniquet’ on Afghanistan  —  Many military leaders seek a new strategy to deal with the growing violence and advances by the Taliban and other extremists.  —  Reporting from Washington — The Pentagon and U.S. national security officials are transmitting a battery …

Bloomberg: Fight For Clinton's Seat ‘Getting Out Of Control’  —  While stressing yet again that he is not endorsing Caroline Kennedy and acknowledging that the decision of who should replace Hillary Clinton in the US Senate is Gov. David Paterson's and his alone, Mayor Bloomberg today reiterated …

Teach the Controversy  —  The overall ThinkProgress bossman Faiz Shakir has a post over at the main ThinkProgress blog addressing the Third Way controversy that I think everyone interested in this subject should read.  —  And since it's a slow news day, a lot of people seem interested …