Cornyn promises filibuster on Franken seating  —  Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) threatened Friday to filibuster any attempt to seat Democratic Minnesota Senate candidate Al Franken next week.  —  The newly minted National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) chairman said he had not whipped votes …

Israel set to begin ground war against Hamas in Gaza  —  James Hider on the Gaza border, and Sheera Frenkel in Jerusalem  —  Israel is poised to launch a major ground offensive into Gaza tonight after allowing hundreds of foreigners living in the devastated territory to evacuate.

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 …

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.

John Travolta's Son Dies  —  Rand Memorial Hospital in the Bahamas tells TMZ the son of John Travolta died today.  —  We're told 16-year-old Jett was vacationing with Travolta and wife Kelly Preston.  —  There have been reports that Jett was autistic, though Travolta has denied it …

AirTran apologizes for removing Muslim passengers  —  WASHINGTON - AirTran Airways apologized Friday to nine Muslims kicked off a New Year's Day flight to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security.  One of the passengers said the confusion started …

Obama: Don't Ask Me No Questions  —  Just for fun, a brief year in review of Obama's legendary new openness and transparency with the press corps:

Supreme Court asks to hear from Franken, counties before ruling on Coleman's suit  —  The Minnesota Supreme Court ordered (pdf) Friday afternoon that the campaign of Al Franken respond by 9 a.m. Saturday to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman's Dec. 31 petition to start over on the current court-ordered effort …

The Senate Goes Wobbly on Card Check  —  It's hard to defend taking away the secret ballot.  —  Responsibility has a way of focusing the mind.  —  Take Mark Pryor, Democratic senator from Arkansas.  In 2007, Mr. Pryor voted to move card check, Big Labor's No. 1 priority.  And why not?

Palin is odds-on favorite to win 2012 GOP nomination  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the front-runner to win the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, according to online oddsmakers.  —  Despite a slew of negative press this fall about Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) running mate …

SEC Said to Examine More Ponzi Schemes After Madoff  —  A A A  —  Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) — U.S. regulators working to untangle Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme are probing other money managers suspected of using similar tactics, two people with knowledge of the inquiries said.

The Doomsayers Who Got It Right  —  More Bad News in Store for 2009?  Last Year's Cassandras Are Still Gloomy  —  For years, they were the party poopers: financial prognosticators who, amid the ebullient stock prices and effervescent home values that defined the early 21st century, warned of trouble.

Conservatives Can Unite Around the Constitution  —  The coalition that supported Reagan is as viable as ever.  —  After their dismal performance in November, conservatives are taking stock.  As they debate the causes that have driven them into the political wilderness and as they contemplate paths out, they should also take heart.

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.

House Rules Package Could Curb Minority's Power, End Term Limits for Chairmen  —  An early partisan skirmish is likely in the House next week, when Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to move a rules package that would curb the GOP's ability to derail legislation through a parliamentary maneuver it has used over the past two years.

Climate scientists: it's time for ‘Plan B’  —  Poll of international experts by The Independent reveals consensus that CO2 cuts have failed - and their growing support for technological intervention  —  An emergency “Plan B” using the latest technology is needed to save the world …