Israel Is Committing War Crimes  —  Hamas's violations are no justification for Israel's actions.  —  Israel's current assault on the Gaza Strip cannot be justified by self-defense.  Rather, it involves serious violations of international law, including war crimes.

CNN Says the Video is Genuine  —  CNN insists that the Gaza video is genuine, and they've reposted it.  This is their only response to the criticism that the “CPR” shown in the video is an obvious pantomime: … If they really had “little hope” the patient could be saved …

Dems stew in botched Burris imbroglio  —  Democrats angry over the botched handling of the Roland Burris imbroglio are putting the blame on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin and President-elect Barack Obama — even as new legal developments in Illinois throw the issue back to the Senate again.

ONE-WORD ANSWER.... During the campaign, Barack Obama vowed to end the military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy, a position that proved to be uncontroversial and generally endorsed by voters.  Since Election Day, however, there have been at least some whispers about the policy and its eventual fate.

Obama Attorney General Pick Eric Holder Facing Increasing Criticism  —  Eric H. Holder Jr. is facing increasing resistance to his bid to become the next attorney general, emerging from President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet nominees as the prime target of Senate Republicans …

Palin criticizes “personal, salacious nature of recent reporting” (Updated)  —  From ADN state/local news editor David Hulen —  It sounds like Gov. Palin has had it with the news media.  On the heels of her YouTube interview earlier this week criticizing coverage during her campaign for vice president …

No Instruction Manual as Stimulus Bill Takes Shape  —  WASHINGTON — The fresh evidence on Friday of the economy's downward spiral focused even more attention on two questions: Is the stimulus package being pushed by President-elect Barack Obama big enough?  And will the component parts …

Baltimore mayor indicted on theft, perjury charges  —  BALTIMORE — Mayor Sheila Dixon was indicted Friday on charges that she accepted illegal gifts during her time as mayor and City Council president, including travel, fur coats and gift cards intended for the poor that she allegedly used instead for a holiday shopping spree.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer is put up for sale  —  Hearst officials say Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper has been put up for sale  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Hearst Corp. put Seattle's oldest newspaper, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, up for sale on Friday and said that if it can't find a buyer …

4 million jobs - Obama ups the ante  —  Featured Topics: - Barack Obama - Presidential Transition  —  President-elect Obama raised the jobs forecast for his stimulus plan from 3 million to as many as 4 million on Saturday, upping the ante of his economic blueprint for the second time in three weeks.

Bush Prepares to Ask for Second Tranche of Bailout Funds  —  If Congress Fails to Approve Request, Administration May Use Veto Power  —  In a move being coordinated with the Obama transition team, senior Bush administration officials are preparing to ask lawmakers for the second half …