Escort Throws Cold Water On Lott Rumor  —  A San Antonio-based gay male escort categorically denied Monday that outgoing GOP Sen. Trent Lott had ever procured his services, putting to bed one of the more stunning rumors to emerge following Lott's announcement earlier in the day that he was leaving Congress.

On the Jewish Question  —  Herewith some thoughts about tomorrow's Annapolis peace conference, and the larger problem of how to approach the Israel-Palestine conflict.  The first question (one might think it is obvious but apparently not) is, "What is the conflict about?"

Novak on Clinton-Obama, 'Prince of Darkness'  —  The transcript follows.  —  Robert D. Novak: Robert Novak standing by...  Floris, Va.: Here's what I've never understood about the Valerie Plame Wilson issue.  Most reporters don't print information without having at least two sources.

Confident Clinton Takes Aim At Attackers  —  Hillary Clinton Tells Katie Couric Time To "Draw Contrasts" With Her Rivals  —  (CBS) With the Iowa caucus just over a month away, CBS News anchor Katie Couric sat down for an exclusive interview with Democratic frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton.

An Edgy Calm in Fallujah  —  FALLUJAH, IRAQ - "You're probably safer here than you are in New York City," said Marine First Lieutenant Barry Edwards when I arrived in Fallujah.  I raised my eyebrows at him skeptically.  "How many people got shot at last night in New York City?" he said.

77 Police Officers Injured in Paris- Rioters Using Shotguns!  —  The rampaging youth are shooting at police with shotguns.  —  BBC has video of the street warfare HERE.  —  Young residents of Villiers-le-Bel, a northern Paris suburb, vandalize an abandoned police car during clashes late Monday, Nov. 26, 2007.

British teacher awaits judge's ruling on 'blasphemous' teddy bear  —  A British teacher facing 40 lashes in Sudan over a school teddy bear named Muhammad will discover today whether she will be charged with blasphemy.  —  Gillian Gibbons, 54, is being questioned for a second day by police …

Gang rape in Annapolis  —  It is fitting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chose the U.S. Naval Academy for the venue of today's so-called Mideast peace conference.  The reputation of that extraordinary institution in Annapolis has been sullied in recent years by a succession of rapes of young women.

Clinton Loses General Election  —  Will this be the headline circling the globe next November?  According to a new Zogby poll, if it the election was held today, and it was between Hillary Clinton and any of the five main GOP contenders, she'd lose.  That's right.

Gintis pummels Krugman  —  HERBERT GINTIS is one of the most consistently interesting economists working today, in large part due to his creatively synthetic yet unfailingly rigorous sensibility.  Which is not to say I agree with him about everything.  Mr Gintis has unimpeachable left-wing credentials …

Ron Paul supporter hopes lightning will strike twice  —  Ron Paul's pioneering e-bundler is pushing an audacious plan to raise $2.5 million this week to help the dark-horse Republican presidential candidate get ads up pronto.  —  The plan, hatched just days ago by 37-year-old music promoter Trevor Lyman …

That 'Top One Percent'  —  People who are in the top one percent in income receive far more than one percent of the attention in the media.  Even aside from miscellaneous celebrity bimbos, the top one percent attract all sorts of hand-wringing and finger-pointing.

In Hospice Care, Longer Lives Mean Money Lost  —  CAMDEN, Ala. — Hundreds of hospice providers across the country are facing the catastrophic financial consequence of what would otherwise seem a positive development: their patients are living longer than expected.

Saudi official rules out handshake with Israelis  —  Source: Reuters  —  Saudi Arabia's participation in the U.S.-sponsored talks on Middle East peace was seen as a diplomatic coup for the Bush administration but the kingdom has made clear there will be no handshakes with Israeli officials.