John McCain at his fieriest before 'don't ask, don't tell' vote  —  If John McCain gets any more hostile toward his Senate colleagues, they might consider having him go through the metal detector before he enters the Capitol.  —  Saturday's debate on the repeal of the “don't-ask-don't-tell” …

Democrats Confident that 9/11 Health Bill Will Pass  —  One More Republican Vote Needed to Pass Bill for Responders and Victims  —  The first responders still suffering health effects more than nine years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks could get a “Christmas miracle” this year, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said today.

Republicans dig in their heels on nuclear treaty as Dems push vote  —  Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) predicted victory Sunday for the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, but his Republican counterpart said that unless there are changes to the preamble he is “absolutely” voting no.

Saudi king may want to move Ground Zero mosque to St. Vincent's site  —  A Manhattan lawyer with ties to the Saudi royal family is sounding out officials and community leaders about a plan to move the controversial Ground Zero mosque to the West Village.  —  Attorney Dudley Gaffin …

Gays in the Military, ROTC back on Campus?  —  Now that the lame duck Democratic Congress has repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT), the new Congress will have to see to it that the Obama administration manages the implementation of repeal responsibly, and that the concerns of military leaders and troops are taken seriously.

Bush on Bush  —  They call themselves, smugly, “41” and “43,” meaning the 41st and 43rd presidents of the United States.  You're supposed to prefer the father, all graciousness and handwritten little notes, over the son, who — even in memoirs written at age 64 after two terms as president — seems callow.

A Gay Commander in Chief: Ready or Not?  —  Jimmy Carter is putting the out in outspokenness.  —  In an interview with bigthink.com, the former president was asked, “Is the country ready for a gay president?”  —  Even as John McCain and other ossified Republicans were staging last-minute maneuvers …

The Bipartisanship Racket  —  JEEZ, can't we all just get along?  Can't we be civilized?  Can't we reach across the aisle, find common ground and get things done?  Can't we have a new Morning in America as clubby and chipper as MSNBC's daily gabfest, “Morning Joe”?

Body of U.S. tourist found near Jerusalem; police suspect terror attack  —  Christine Logan disappeared on Saturday, when she and a Jerusalem-area friend were stabbed by assailants while hiking at an archaeological site; her friend, Susan Kaye Wilson, was hospitalized in moderate condition.

Republicans block youth immigration bill … WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans on Saturday doomed an effort that would have given hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants a path to legal status if they enrolled in college or joined the military.