Israel Is Committing War Crimes  —  Hamas's violations are no justification for Israel's actions.  —  Israel's current assault on the Gaza Strip cannot be justified by self-defense.  Rather, it involves serious violations of international law, including war crimes.

Pictured: The moment a $3million ransom was parachuted to Somali pirates … This is the dramatic moment a ransom of $3million was paid to Somali pirates to end the world's biggest ship hijacking.  —  The canister full of cash was parachuted onto the Sirius Star - observed by the U.S. Navy …

The Final Straw  —  It seems that the conservative airbrushers have decided that poor George W. Bush's fantastically successful presidency was derailed by an act of God.  Yes, that's right.  Until Hurricane Katrina, Bush was headed to Mt Rushmore.  It's just so darned unfair.  —  That's ridiculous, of course.

Turning around unemployment  —  The high unemployment numbers released this week rattled the country, as anxiety about the deepening recession hit home to more and more American families.  —  President-elect Obama's Weekly Address responds with an urgent call for immediate and dramatic action to get our economy working again.

Obama Attorney General Pick Eric Holder Facing Increasing Criticism  —  Eric H. Holder Jr. is facing increasing resistance to his bid to become the next attorney general, emerging from President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet nominees as the prime target of Senate Republicans …

'Alan Colmes, You're a Great American'  —  J$P Video!  Alan signs off the last Hannity & Colmes:

Bill Moyers on Israel/Gaza  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  On his PBS Journal Show last night, Bill Moyers delivered a poignant essay on Israel/Gaza (video below).  The whole segment is worth watching — it begins with coverage of a mostly ignored anti-war march this week in Washington …

Dems stew in botched Burris imbroglio  —  Democrats angry over the botched handling of the Roland Burris imbroglio are putting the blame on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin and President-elect Barack Obama — even as new legal developments in Illinois throw the issue back to the Senate again.

ONE-WORD ANSWER.... During the campaign, Barack Obama vowed to end the military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy, a position that proved to be uncontroversial and generally endorsed by voters.  Since Election Day, however, there have been at least some whispers about the policy and its eventual fate.

Jews, Arabs hold peace rally  —  Hundreds of Israelis form human chain along Highway 65 with sign reading ‘Hand in hand - neighbors for peace’  —  Hundreds of Jews and Arabs from the north and center of Israel gathered near Kfar Kara'a on Highway 65 Saturday in a rally for peace.

CNN Says the Video is Genuine  —  CNN insists that the Gaza video is genuine, and they've reposted it.  This is their only response to the criticism that the “CPR” shown in the video is an obvious pantomime: … If they really had “little hope” the patient could be saved …