Sen. Ben Nelson to announce support for health-care bill  —  Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.), the final Democratic holdout on health care, was prepared to announce to his caucus Saturday morning that he would support the Senate reform bill, clearing the way for final passage by Christmas.

The moment Ted Kennedy would not want to lose  —  My late husband, Ted Kennedy, was passionate about health-care reform.  It was the cause of his life.  He believed that health care for all our citizens was a fundamental right, not a privilege, and that this year the stars …

Defense appropriations bill passes Senate 88-10, clears way for health bill  —  The Senate passed a defense appropriations bill Saturday as the chamber's Democrats cleared the decks for its healthcare reform legislation.  —  The $636 billion Pentagon budget and added unrelated amendments including extension …

Low targets, goals dropped: Copenhagen ends in failure  —  Deal thrashed out at talks condemned as climate change scepticism in action  —  The UN climate summit reached a weak outline of a global agreement in Copenhagen tonight, falling far short of what Britain and many poor countries …

Grayson wants to send critic to jail for five years  —  WASHINGTON — Not everyone thinks imitation is the best form of flattery.  —  In fact, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando took such offense at a parody website aimed at unseating him that the freshman Democrat has asked …

John Kerry Breaks Out Oppo, Takes On Howard Dean For ‘Kill The Bill’ Comments  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  The pushback against Howard Dean for his call to “kill” the Senate health care bill, continued on Friday night, with a prominent Senate Democrat picking out an old quote …

Boxer and Murray on board with abortion compromise  —  While they don't love it, Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer and Patty Murray said they support the abortion compromise struck in the manager's amendment.  Their early support is a good sign that the deal will not lead to a defection among liberal senators.

Copenhagen Connection: Day 13  —  BREAKING: Obama hails ‘a meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough here in Copenhagen’ — Some activists call it ‘toothless’ — Pelosi praises — The rush to reschedule flights, as COP-15 hits overtime and storm wallops D.C.

Flashback of the Day  —  When Sen. Al Franken objected to Sen. Joe Lieberman's request for additional time, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that in his 20-plus years in the Senate he had never heard a senator do that before.  —  However, a Political Wire reader sends this excerpt from the Congressional Record from October 10, 2002:

DC snowstorm chills Pelosi's global warming trip  —  Copenhagen (CNN) - In a strange twist, a Washington snowstorm is forcing Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, to make an early departure from a global warming summit here in Denmark.  —  Pelosi told CNN that military officials leading …

McCain: Healthcare bill would make matters worse  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in the weekly GOP address that the health reform bill crafted by Democrats would do little to resolve healthcare problems in the U.S. and that Republicans have offered better solutions.