More oddities in the U.S. “debate” over Israel/Gaza  —  (updated below)  —  This Rasmussen Reports poll — the first to survey American public opinion specifically regarding the Israeli attack on Gaza — strongly bolsters the severe disconnect I documented the other day between (a) …

Aides: Democrats have plan if Burris shows up  —  (CNN) — Senate Democratic leaders think Roland Burris, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, will likely show up on Capitol Hill Tuesday for the opening day of Congress …

Sources: Bennet will be Colorado's new senator  —  Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael Bennet is expected to be named Saturday as the future U.S. Senate replacement for Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar, according to two Democratic sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

9 Muslim Passengers Removed From Jet  —  Others on Flight Say a Remark Was ‘Suspicious’  —  Officials ordered nine Muslim passengers, including three young children, off an AirTran flight headed to Orlando from Reagan National Airport yesterday afternoon after two other passengers overheard what they thought was a suspicious remark.

HAPPY #*%!  NEW YEAR TO YOU, TOO!  —  COMIC KATHY LASHES OUT AT HECKLER ON CNN  —  Comedienne Kathy Griffin may be doomed to life on CNN's S-list after answering a heckler with a shrieking, vulgar tirade during the network's live New Year's Eve broadcast.  —  “Screw you,” she told the heckler.

Governor may be leaning toward Kennedy  —  Two people close to Paterson tell AP they believe she'll be his choice  —  ALBANY, N.Y. - Officials say the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy will be the governor's choice to fill the New York Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Bigger Than Bush  —  As the new Democratic majority prepares to take power, Republicans have become, as Phil Gramm might put it, a party of whiners.  —  Some of the whining almost defies belief.  Did Alberto Gonzales, the former attorney general, really say, “I consider myself a casualty …

Some Conservatives Fear Obama Advisers Lean Too Far Left  —  To Some Conservatives, Advisers Are Alarmingly Liberal  —  To some staunch conservatives watching President Bush relinquish the reins of power to President-elect Barack Obama, a few too many ardent liberals are now crashing the gates.

Two Advisers Reflect on Eight Years With Bush  —  White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten and national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley remember conferring with President Bush during the darkest days of the Iraq war, in 2005 and 2006, when violence was out of control.

Signing Off — Farewell, TPMers  —  I can't believe I'm writing this, but for the foreseeable future this is my last post at TPM.  —  I'm heading over to The Washington Post, where I'll be writing the lead blog on a new site that WaPo is launching.  This will drive you mad with curiosity …

Republicans to flee DC for inauguration  —  While millions descend on Washington for the historic inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20, some Republicans see it as an occasion to get out of town.  —  Out of power on both ends of Pennsylvania Ave and mostly out of favor on K Street …

WHEN YOU CAN'T TRUST DRUG COMPANIES, WHO CAN YOU TRUST?  —  In 2002, four intrepid researchers filed a Freedom of Information Act.  But they weren't looking for information on Guantanamo or revelations from Cheney's lair.  All they wanted was the FDA's drug analysis data.  Taxpayer funded research.

THE CONFLICT'S ROOT CAUSE  —  We've seen similar photos before, but these seem especially shocking, and especially revealing, in the context of the disaster into which Hamas has plunged Palestinians living in Gaza.  Here, a group of Palestinian boys who live in a “refugee camp” …