<><>2008/CONGRESS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Intraparty Feuds Dog Democrats, Stall Congress

By David Rogers
Wall Street Journal
December 13, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Democrats took control of Congress last January promising a "new direction." A year later, the image that haunts them most is one symbolizing no direction at all: gridlock…

Democrats Blaming Each Other For Failures

By Jonathan Weisman and Paul Kane
Washington Post
December 13, 2007

When Democrats took control of Congress in January, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) pledged to jointly push an ambitious agenda to counter 12 years of Republican control…

<><>DEM<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

THE FIELD

Clinton Aide Sees Problem for Obama

By Jeff Zeleny
New York Times
December 12, 2007

A top adviser to Hillary Rodham Clinton said that Barack Obama’s admission of illegal drug use as a young man could threaten his electability…

CLINTON

Bill Clinton May Curb Ties to Burkle's Firm

By John R. Emshwiller
Wall Street Journal
December 13, 2007

Former president Bill Clinton says he is preparing to reduce or curtail his business relationship with Los Angeles billionaire Ron Burkle's investment firm if his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, wins the Democratic presidential nomination…

Clinton Basks in Buffett Glow
Events Tout Support Of Business Leaders As Worries Shift

By Amy Chozick and Monica Langley
Wall Street Journal
December 12, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO -- Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are vying for the affections of legendary investor Warren Buffett, as the economy eclipses Iraq as a key election issue…

Feeling Heat, Clinton Tries Iowa Up Close

By Adam Nagourney and Patrick Healy
New York Times
December 12, 2007

Nowhere are Hillary Rodham Clinton’s problems on display more than in Iowa…

In Iowa, a Scrambling Lesson for Clinton

By Anne E. Kornblut
Washington Post
December 13, 2007

DES MOINES, Dec. 12 -- When senior advisers to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton awakened to the fact that they faced a serious problem in Iowa, they knew they needed a summit. For the divided staff, the question was where…

EDWARDS

Edwards Takes Aim at Republicans

By Julie Bosman
New York Times
December 12, 2007

But today on the campaign trail, John Edwards seemed to be racing against Republicans, not Democrats…

OBAMA

First Oprah, next Gayle King

By John McCormick
Chicago Tribune
December 12, 2007

DES MOINES – First Oprah, now her trusty sidekick, Gayle King…

Obama camp accuses Clinton's of 'desperation'

By Jill Zuckman
Chicago Tribune
December 12, 2007

On the same day that Sen. Hillary Clinton discovered that she had lost her lead in New Hampshire, one of her chief supporters questioned whether Sen. Barack Obama could win a general election because of his past marijuana and cocaine use…

<><>REP<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>>

THE FIELD

Republicans' Iowa Debate Unlikely to Sort Out Field

By Jackie Calmes
Wall Street Journal
December 13, 2007

JOHNSTON, Iowa -- Republican presidential rivals' last debate before Iowa's kickoff nominating contest likely did little to clarify their free-for-all: The nine candidates had little opportunity to engage one another or, as several hoped, to humble the state's new front-runner, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee…

Just a Few Debate Leftovers

By Kate Phillips
New York Times
December 12, 2007

Some segments of today's G.O.P. debate left us wanting more. And some less…

Final Debate Before Iowa Caucuses Shows Uncertainty at Top of Republican Field

By Michael Cooper and Michael Luo
New York Times
December 12, 2007

The debate highlighted the battle between Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney for primacy in Iowa…

Immigration Moves to Front and Center of G.O.P. Race

By Michael Cooper and Paul Vitello
New York Times
December 12, 2007

Republican presidential candidates are changing their tone on immigration as primary voters say it is one of the most important problems facing the country…

In a Lifeless Debate, Vows of a Spirited Sprint

By Michael D. Shear and Dan Balz
Washington Post
December 13, 2007

DES MOINES, Dec. 12 -- Despite barely engaging each other in a final, lackluster Republican debate here, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee vowed Wednesday to wage a spirited fight in a presidential contest that has become a test of social conservative passions vs. the power of money and organization…

GOP rancor stays under the table at Iowa debate

By Mark Z. Barabak and Michael Finnegan
Los Angeles Times
December 12, 2007

Last Republican group confrontation before Jan. 3 caucus fails to tease out many differences among the candidates…

GOP rivals veer right on immigration

By Peter Wallsten and Seema Mehta
Los Angeles Times
December 12, 2007

Top hopefuls don't want to be seen as coddling illegals. Huckabee, Giuliani, Romney all toughen their stances…

HUCKABEE

Huckabee Apologizes to Romney Over Mormon Comments

By Kate PhillipsNew York Times
December 12, 2007

The issue hits home with conservative Christians, who remain a potent force in the Hawkeye State…

Home-schoolers rally to Huckabee

By Seema Mehta and Stephanie Simon
Los Angeles Times
December 12, 2007

The students' flexible schedules, and the religious fervor of their families, add up to a loyal volunteer corps in Iowa…

AIDS statements haunt Huckabee

By Seema Mehta
Los Angeles Times
December 12, 2007

The disease is better understood than in 1992, when he called for isolating AIDS patients. Ryan White's mother is alarmed by his words…

McCAIN

Back to Basics

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post
December 13, 2007

John McCain's best days as a presidential candidate were in his 2000 race against George W. Bush, when he offered himself as a straight-talking maverick and nearly stole the Republican nomination from the anointed Texas governor…

Standing His Ground

By Dana Milbank
Washington Post
December 13, 2007

Sometimes it seems as though John McCain has a death wish…

THOMPSON

Fred Thompson: a maverick conservative who loves the law

By Ariel Sabar
Christian Science Monitor
December 13, 2007

The GOP presidential hopeful has often defied his party and colleagues to chart his own course…

Thompson targets the leading teachers group

Los Angeles Times Top of the Ticket
December 12, 2007

He enlivens an otherwise tepid debate…

<><>THIRD PARTIES<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

BLOOMBERG

Where Bloomberg Fits in Election
Opportunity for Run Could Evolve Based on How Primaries Play Out

By Ben Casselman
Wall Street Journal
December 13, 2007

As Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls stumped in Iowa and New Hampshire Monday, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in China talking about entrepreneurship. The setting was different, but the goal may have been the same…

<><>2008/PRESIDENT<><><><><><><><><

Stoking the Immigration Fire
Passionate Minority Drives Issue to Fore; Politicians Worry

By June Kronholz
Wall Street Journal
December 13, 2007

MERRIMACK, N.H. -- Only 5% of the New Hampshire population is foreign-born, but even here, illegal immigration is among the most volatile issues in the presidential primary campaign. Dennis Williams is one reason why…

Immigration, and Its Politics, Shake Rural Iowa

By Monica Davey
New York Times
December 13, 2007

The struggle over immigration may seem distant in states like Iowa, but the debate is part of daily life in Storm Lake…

<><>WAR/TERROR<><><><><>><><><>

CIA Chief: Hill Should Have Been Told More
Probe of Videotapes May Be Drawn Out

By Walter Pincus
Washington Post
December 13, 2007

Congress was not fully informed about the videotaping of harsh interrogation methods used on two al-Qaeda terrorism suspects in 2002 or the destruction of those tapes three years later, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden said yesterday…

Is waterboarding torture? Key question in furor over CIA tapes

By Warren Richey
Christian Science Monitor
December 13, 2007

Probes by Attorney General Mukasey and others could help determine how far the controversy reaches…

<><>OTHER NEWS AND VIEWS<><><><><><><><><><><><>

U.S. to Cut 10 Percent of Diplomatic Posts Next Year

By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post
December 13, 2007

Diplomatic posts at the State Department and U.S. embassies worldwide will be cut by 10 percent next year because of heavy staffing demands in Iraq and Afghanistan, Director General Harry Thomas informed the foreign service yesterday…