This is just the blood-letting the Republican Party needs  —  It's getting hot in here.  —  Tuesday morning, the political-action committee supporting Jeb Bush released an extraordinarily nasty — and inaccurate — ad bashing Marco Rubio for missing key intelligence briefings on the Paris and San Bernardino terrorist attacks.

Arrest Warrant Issued for Bill Cosby for Alleged January 2004 Sexual Assault of Andrea Constand  —  An arrest warrant has been issued for entertainer Bill Cosby for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple employee Andrea Constand at his Elkins Park, Pennsylvania mansion in January 2004 …

Man charged with setting Houston mosque fire was a devout attendee  —  A Houston man has been arrested in connection with a suspected arson at a mosque on Christmas Day.  —  A spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that the man was arrested early Wednesday …

Beards, Why? … Paul Ryan: House speaker, Wisconsinite, Republican standard-bearer, and now, lumber-sexual?  In an Instagram post late last month, the congressman unveiled a spray of chestnut stubble across his face.  “I'm the first Speaker to sport a beard in about 100 years,” he said.

U.S. Spy Net on Israel Snares Congress  —  National Security Agency's targeting of Israeli leaders also swept up the content of private conversations with U.S. lawmakers  —  President Barack Obama announced two years ago he would curtail eavesdropping on friendly heads of state …

Cleveland's Terrible Stain  —  Tamir Rice of Cleveland would be alive today had he been a white 12-year-old playing with a toy gun in just about any middle-class neighborhood in the country on the afternoon of Nov. 22, 2014.  —  But Tamir, who was shot to death by a white police officer that day …

Tx. pol posts denied marital rape, tried cheating drug test  —  A Texas lawmaker's career could be over after his posts denying marital rape surfaced on Tuesday, along with a flood of other shady writing.  —  Texas state representative Jonathan Stickland's dirty digital tracks came to light …

U.S. Slams ‘Provocative’ Iranian Rocket Launch  —  Senior U.S. military commanders on Wednesday accused Iran's military of “highly provocative” actions in firing unguided rockets 1,500 yards from ships including an American aircraft carrier.  —  The USS Harry S. Truman was crossing international waters …

So long Sidecar and thanks  —  Today is a turning point for Sidecar as we prepare to end our ride and delivery service so we can work on strategic alternatives and lay the groundwork for the next big thing.  We will cease ride and delivery operations at 2PM Pacific Time, December 31.

Militiamen, ranchers in showdown for soul of Burns  —  BURNS - The strangers carrying the whisper of danger arrived in the vast territory of the Harney Basin just before the holidays.  —  Ammon Bundy once helped his father repulse the government in an armed showdown on a Nevada desert.

Pataki to drop out: report  —  Former New York Gov. George Pataki (R) is reportedly dropping out of the presidential race after months of lagging near zero percent in polls.  —  “Scoop: @GovernorPataki is calling his NH supporters this afternoon telling him he will drop his bid for president #fitn …