In Tapes, Nixon Rails About Jews and Blacks  —  YORBA LINDA, Calif. — Richard M. Nixon made disparaging remarks about Jews, blacks, Italian-Americans and Irish-Americans in a series of extended conversations with top aides and his personal secretary, recorded in the Oval Office 16 months before he resigned as president.

Life After Madoff's ‘Big Lie’  —  Two years ago, Bernard Madoff told his two sons that his multi-billion-dollar investment business was “one big lie,” according to authorities.  —  That dramatic confession, and Mr. Madoff's arrest the next day, unleashed one of the biggest fraud investigations in history.

Westboro picketers outnumbered at Elizabeth Edwards funeral  —  Members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church picketed the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards Saturday.  But they were vastly outnumbered by a “human buffer” singing Christmas carols.  —  Members of the controversial Westboro …

Lights, camera, Clinton  —  If not a transfer of power, the whole show seemed at least a temporary handoff.  An embattled president, fresh off an electoral shellacking and struggling to sell a controversial tax deal to members of his own party, turned to a former president who, exactly 16 years ago …

U.S. Envoy in Critical Condition After Surgery  —  WASHINGTON — Richard C. Holbrooke, the Obama administration's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, is in critical condition at a Washington hospital after emergency surgery to repair a tear in his aorta, the State Department said in a statement on Saturday.

Baby Jesus ousted from St. George Ferry Terminal  —  STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Christ is out of Christmas at the St. George Ferry Terminal.  —  In what Catholics see as political correctness run amok, the city Department of Transportation (DOT) has removed a Nativity scene from the terminal …

Appointment Fight Divides Judges  —  Here is one for the “only in New Jersey” file: A state Supreme Court justice refuses to participate in any rulings because he objects to another jurist's serving temporarily on the court.  —  The dispute, aired in opinions released on Friday …

UN climate change talks in Cancun agree a deal  —  Under the deal some countries will escape the extension of emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol  —  UN talks in Cancun have reached a deal to curb climate change, including a fund to help developing countries.

ABC edited out Sarah Palin's mention of Mark Levin's book  —  Mark Levin said tonight on his show that when Sarah Palin was asked by Barbara Walters what she reads, among the others she mentioned was that she reads Liberty and Tyranny, Mark Levin's book.  According to Mark, they edited that out:

Push for Strict Abortion Limits Expected in House  —  WASHINGTON — A leading Congressional opponent of abortion rights, who is in line to take charge of an influential House panel, plans to press for much stricter limits on the procedure.  —  The selection of the lawmaker, Representative Joe Pitts …

Euro Trashed  —  Europe's rendezvous with monetary destiny  —  It has been easy to snicker in recent weeks at the politicians who designed the euro, which appears on the verge of collapse after a decade as the common currency of a dozen countries in the European Union.

This exists: Vladimir Putin sings Fats Domino's “Blueberry Hill”  —  Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin not only wants to conquer the elements of mother nature, free speech, and democracy, he also fancies himself as a singer.  —  What's next for the Russian bear?  —  Mickey Rourke also makes a cameo in this video.

Rep.-Elect Kristi Noem Delivers Republican Weekly Address (Video)  —  Republicans chose Representative-Elect Kristi Noem (R-SD) to deliver the Weekly Republican Address on creating jobs, cutting spending, and the Pledge to America.  —  Noem will represent South Dakota in the 112th Congress.

DADT Repeal: Do Not Blame Obama  —  I've had many criticisms of the Obama administration's tardy and milque-toast efforts on civil rights for gays and lesbians.  But at this point, the peril facing repeal of the military's gay ban is not the administration's fault.

Invaders from Mars  —  “Voting doesn't change anything — the politicians always win.”  'Twas not always so, but I'm hearing variations on that theme a lot these days, and not just in the UK.  —  Why do we feel so politically powerless?  Why is the world so obviously going to hell in a handbasket?

New Challenge for Obama Education Agenda  —  WASHINGTON — For two years, backed by a friendly Congress and flush with federal stimulus money, President Obama's administration enjoyed a relatively obstacle-free path for its education agenda, the focus of which is the $4 billion Race to the Top grant program.