Ho hum.  Just another would-be domestic terrorist found with a bomb-making lab.  Nothing to see here, just move along  —  Gee, for some reason, this story hasn't managed to make it out of the local news and into the national headlines: … Of course, if this had been a Muslim extremist caught …

Climategate: University of East Anglia U-turn in climate change row  —  Leading British scientists at the University of East Anglia, who were accused of manipulating climate change data - dubbed Climategate - have agreed to publish their figures in full.  —  The U-turn by the university follows …

4,000 Patriots Rally With James O'Keefe at St. Louis Tea Party Protest  —  4,000 patriots rallied in St. Louis today.  —  James O'Keefe of ACORN-busting fame, headlined the Holiday Tea Party Protest.  —  Robert Brenner took this photo from the top level of a parking garage next to the park.

Why Dick Cheney Should Run in 2012  —  From the magazine issue dated Dec 7, 2009  —  Gallup is not asking about him in its prospective polling, and his daughter Liz's recent Fox News Sunday allusion to a presidential run provoked good-natured laughter, as though the suggestion were just a one-liner.

U.S. Will Push Mortgage Firms to Reduce More Loan Payments  —  The Obama administration on Monday plans to announce a campaign to pressure mortgage companies to reduce payments for many more troubled homeowners, as evidence mounts that a $75 billion taxpayer-financed effort aimed at stemming foreclosures is foundering.

Afghans Detail Detention in ‘Black Jail’ at U.S. Base  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — An American military detention camp in Afghanistan is still holding inmates, sometimes for weeks at a time, without access to the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to human rights researchers …

Sarah Palin Quits 5K Charity Run, Too  —  Yikes, did we imply Sarah Palin was acting like a “normal 'Merikun” in eastern Washington State for Thanksgiving?  Sorry about that!  Palin was just being a Prima Donna nutcase, like always.  —  First, enjoy this local-news video report about Sarah's visit to the …

Tiger Woods: Injuries Caused by Wife, Not SUV  —  Tiger Woods did not suffer facial lacerations from a car accident.  They were inflicted by his wife, Elin Nordegren — according to a conversation Woods had Friday after the accident.  —  Tiger has yet to be formally interviewed …

No Dithering Around  —  Decisive presidential action as O leaps into action, orders a full review of how the reality TV crashers managed to take over his party, make him look silly.  Politico: … We haven't seen this kind of into-the-breach rapid response since Obama accused Sgt. Crowley of “acting stupidly.”

Mann to be investigated by Penn State University review  —  This statement was released by Penn State here.  Oddly, while mentioning the NAS report, there is no mention of the Congressional commissioned Wegman report, which you can see here full report (PDF).  Or for a quick read the fact-sheet (PDF).

Diplomacy 101  —  We were thrilled when President Obama decided to plunge fully into the Middle East peace effort.  He appointed a skilled special envoy, George Mitchell, and demanded that Israel freeze settlements, Palestinians crack down on anti-Israel violence and Arab leaders demonstrate their readiness to reach out to Israel.

GIVE VOTERS A REASON.... The latest Research 2000 poll for Daily Kos included the usual question on the generic congressional ballot, with Dems still enjoying a modest edge over Republicans, 37% to 32%, with 31% unsure.  Democratic numbers were strongest in the Northeast (53% Dems, 7% GOP) …

Afghanistan action could test alliance between Obama, Pelosi  —  If President Barack Obama announces next week he's sending more than 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, as he's expected to do, most members of Congress will have plenty to say about it.  Most of it will be critical.