Obama's allegedly “new” centrism and his ABC interview today  —  (updated below - Update II - Update III)  —  The central tenets of the Beltway religion — particularly when a Democrat is in the White House — have long been “centrism” and “bipartisanship.”

Bush: I Personally Authorized Torture Of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed  —  In an interview with Brit Hume that aired today on Fox News Sunday, President Bush admitted that he personally authorized the torture of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.  He said he personally asked “what tools” …

Earth on the Brink of an Ice Age  —  The earth is now on the brink of entering another Ice Age, according to a large and compelling body of evidence from within the field of climate science.  Many sources of data which provide our knowledge base of long-term climate change indicate that the warm …

GERMAN “POLICE” JOIN JEW-HATING MUSLIM MOB  —  Only one word comes to mind as I read and watch this: UNBELIEVABLE.  —  Wow.  In Germany.  Wow.  —  I read this story at the excellent Gaza war-posting blog, “Muqata,” and I was just able to dig up the vid on YouTube...It is obviously the same episode.

Fiscal Madness  —  I can't believe what I saw yesterday: CNN showed the Shock Doctrine documentary I.O.U.S.A. It is an amazing piece of propaganda, which, if it isn't designed to destroy any chance of enacting a necessary stimulus, will persuade more than a few Americans that the biggest problem …

Coulter addresses voting issue  —  Conservative scold Ann Coulter knows how this country should be run.  She may not be quite as clear about where she's supposed to vote.  —  The brassy pundit is facing new questions about whether she violated election laws.

The Embrace  —  Jim Henley offers a provocative thought: … There's something to that.  According to the perverse rules of our post-9/11 discourse, willingness to verbally endorse the idea of having other people torture strangers counts as a form of courageous “toughness” akin to, you know, actually doing something brave.

Sources: Voinovich to retire from Senate  —  From CNN's Dana Bash, Ed Henry and Mark Preston  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sources close to Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, tell CNN he will announce Monday he is retiring from the Senate.  —  The 72-year-old senator and former Ohio governor …

Eight Years of Madoffs  —  THREE days after the world learned that $50 billion may have disappeared in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, The Times led its front page of Dec. 14 with the revelation of another $50 billion rip-off.  This time the vanished loot belonged to American taxpayers.

CRITIQUING THE CRITIQUE  —  From TPM Reader AJ ...

An Extremist Makeover?  —  In the past week, I've twice been close enough to Dick Cheney to kick him in the shins.  —  I didn't.  It's probably a federal crime of some sort.  But a girl can fantasize.  I did, however, assume the Stay-away-from-me-you've-got- cooties stance that Jimmy Carter used …

Obama's Cheney Dilemma  —  Cheney pushed for expanded presidential powers.  Now that he's leaving, what will come of his efforts?  The new president won't have to wait long to tip his hand.  —  From the magazine issue dated Jan 19, 2009  —  Dick Cheney, who will step down as vice president on Jan. 20 …

Bad Economy May Fuel Hate Groups, Experts Warn  —  Experts Warn That Downturn Could Drive Discontent, Help Extremists Recruit  —  For 20 years, Bart McIntyre has tracked white supremacist movements, even spending two years undercover in Alabama to penetrate a violent young band of criminals …

DATE OF PUBLICATION: … SYNOPSIS:  —  The Israeli-Hamas War, and there is little else that it can be called, has now lasted two weeks.  Israeli jets have flown some 800 strike sorties, and the IDF has pushed deep into Gaza.  Israel also continues to report tactical gains.

Senator Asks Smithsonian to Change Text Next to Bush Portrait  —  Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders says language next to president's portrait is misleading because it says the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks led to the war in Iraq.  —  MONTPELIER, Vt. — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders …