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

Broad Energy Bill Passed by House
Car Mileage, Renewable Power Addressed

By Jonathan Weisman and Steven Mufson
Washington Post
December 7, 2007

The House yesterday brushed aside a new White House veto threat and handily approved a comprehensive energy bill that would raise automobile fuel-efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and require increased use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity…

Democrats could fund Afghanistan, Pelosi says

By Matthew Hay Brown
Chicago Tribune
December 6, 2007

Congressional Democrats might consider new war funding for Afghanistan before leaving Washington next week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said today -- but the majority remains opposed to appropriating any more money for the war in Iraq this year…

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

THE FIELD

Clinton, Edwards up the ante on foreclosures

By Peter G. Gosselin and Peter Nicholas
Los Angeles Times
December 6, 2007

Bush's assistance plan and the Democratic candidates' broader proposals suggest that the overall economy may play a bigger role in the presidential campaign…

CLINTON

Gennifer Flowers May Vote for Clinton

Associated Press
December 7, 2007

The onetime other woman in Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life said that she was undecided but had long wanted to see a female president…

Gennifer Flowers embraces the other Clinton

By Naftali Bendavid
Chicago Tribune
December 6, 2007

It’s not clear it’s an endorsement Hillary Clinton wants. But Gennifer Flowers, who played a role in the 1992 presidential campaign, is leaning toward supporting the New York senator and former first lady for the 2008 Democratic nomination…

As N.H. Primary Nears, Clinton Clings to Narrow Lead

By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen
Washington Post
December 6, 2007

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton holds a narrow lead over Sen Barack Obama among Democratic presidential candidates in New Hampshire, a state whose primary her campaign has viewed as a potential firewall should she stumble in the Iowa caucuses, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll…

EDWARDS

Express-ing Himself

By Julie Bossman
New York Times
December 6, 2007

John Edwards has christened his latest bus tour across Iowa on Monday the “Main Street Express"...

OBAMA

Obama’s Got Grammy Potential

By Mike Nizza
New York Times
December 6, 2007

While Barack Obama is fighting to catch up, he can enjoy a small victory from those who vote with ears more than hearts and minds…

The Line: For Obama, It Takes a Movement

By Chris Cillizza
Washington Post
December 6, 2007

For months, we've written that the only way for Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) -- or any other Democrat for that matter -- to defeat Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) is to make the vote about more than just politics…

RICHARDSON

Vote for My Boss

By Leslie Wayne
New York Times
December 6, 2007

The Richardson campaign is asking New Mexico government appointees and state employees to travel to chilly Iowa over the holidays to campaign on behalf of Gov. Bill Richardson…

N.M. gov. suggests state workers help him in Iowa

Los Angeles Times Top of the Ticket
December 6, 2007

Gov. Bill Richardson needs their help to get yet another job: president…

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HUCKABEE

Kin blame Huckabee in killings
GOP hopeful sought clemency for rapist

The Kansas City Star
December 6, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee says he is "heartbroken" over the pain suffered by the families of two women slain in Kansas City more than six years ago…

McCAIN

McCain's New Hampshire Glimmer Winner of 2000 Primary
Regains Strength Amid Opponents' Troubles

By JUNE KRONHOLZ
December 7, 2007

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Campaign volunteer and retired physicist Bill Machell says he sees a change from a few months ago when he began telephoning voters on behalf of John McCain: Fewer people are hanging up on him. Could the Arizona Republican senator, at 71 years old, be this election's comeback kid?

ROMNEY

Romney Address Wins Mixed Evangelical Reviews
Remarks on the Topic Of Religious Freedom Mention 'Mormon' Once

By Elizabeth Holmes and Suzanne Sataline
Wall Street Journal
December 7, 2007

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Although it included statements such as "I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Mitt Romney's speech on religious freedom elicited mixed reviews among some of the evangelical Christians whose votes are key to the Republican presidential nomination…

Romney, Eye on Evangelicals, Defends His Faith

By Michael Luo
New York Times
December 7, 2007

Mitt Romney used the word “Mormon” only once in a speech about his faith, underscoring just how touchy the issue of his religion has been for his candidacy…

In Speech on Faith, Romney Vows to Serve 'No One Cause'

By Dan Balz
Washington Post
December 7, 2007

COLLEGE STATION, Tex., Dec. 6 -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, seeking to allay suspicions about his Mormon faith, pledged Thursday to serve the common good rather than a single religion if elected president…

How Romney Played Among (a Few of) the Iowa Faithful

By Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post
December 7, 2007

Chancey and Bud Montang are a couple without a candidate…

Romney Aims to Prove His Christianity

By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post
December 6, 2007

PALMYRA, N.Y. -- Mormon missionary Laura Bergeson is getting used to The Question. It comes from the curious who wander into this rural outpost of western New York to explore the exhibit hall of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church…

Romney moves to allay Mormon concerns directly

By Linda Feldmann
Christian Science Monitor
December 7, 2007

The GOP hopeful said no religious test should be applied to become president as is stated in the Constitution…

Romney impresses at least one listener

Los Angeles Times Top of the Ticket
December 6, 2007

His speech wins high praise from a Chirstian-focused journalist…

Romney: 'My faith is the faith of my fathers'

By Miguel Bustillo
Los Angeles Times
December 6, 2007

Republican presidential candidate, seeking to address concerns about his Mormon faith, vows to serve no religion but to be a leader for Americans of all faiths…

Romney Goes Negative

By Marc Santora
New York Times
December 6, 2007

Just in time for Christmas, Mitt Romney’s campaign has begun mailing out one of the more overtly negative attacks in New Hampshire, looking to give its rivals a black eye — literally…

THOMPSON

A (short) day in the life of the Thompson campaign

By Andrew Malcolm
Chicago Tribune
December 6, 2007

Now that we're coming down to the last few precious days in the high-pressured presidential primary race to lead the country and the free world, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee is ramping up his campaign schedule. After all, he's got seven other hard-working Republican campaigners hard on his tail…

<><>FIRST CONTESTS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Few aliens, still much opposition

By Louise Roug
Los Angeles Times
December 6, 2007

In a small Iowa town that sees few outsiders, illegal immigration nevertheless generates strong opinions…


Electoral Revision Misses June Ballot

New York Times
December 7, 2007

A measure to change how California apportions its 55 electoral votes will not be eligible for the June primary ballot, its sponsors said…

<><>NATIONAL POLLS<><><><><><><><><><><><><

Poll Finds Hispanics Returning to Earlier Preference for Democrats

By Julia Preston
New York Times
December 7, 2007

Gains made by Republicans among Hispanic voters in 2000 and 2004 have been erased over the past year, the survey shows…

Pew study sees growing power of Hispanic vote

Los Angeles Times Top of the Ticket
December 6, 2007

And the numbers are not good for the Republican party…

Cellphones Challenge Poll Sampling

By Megan Thee
New York Times
December 7, 2007

With more people using cellphones, pollsters are facing a challenge of how to make sure they are getting representative samples…

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

CIA Taped Questioning of Suspects

A WSJ News Roundup
Wall Street Journal
December 7, 2007

The Central Intelligence Agency videotaped interrogations of two top terror suspects in 2002 and destroyed the tapes three years later, fearing the footage would be leaked to the public and compromise U.S. questioners…

C.I.A. Destroyed 2 Tapes Showing Interrogations

By Mark Mazzetti
New York Times
December 7, 2007

Despite requests and amid scrutiny about its secret detention program, the C.I.A. did not give the videotapes to a federal court hearing or to the Sept. 11 commission…

CIA destroyed terror interrogation tapes

By Alan Gomez
USA Today
December 7, 2007

WASHINGTON — CIA Director Michael Hayden said Thursday that the agency destroyed videotapes of interrogations they performed in 2002 of two top terrorism suspects out of fear the tapes would be leaked and make public the identities of the interrogators...
European Allies Support U.N. Sanctions Against Iran

Associated Press
December 6, 2007

BRUSSELS -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won support from European allies Thursday for new U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program…

Tribunal Hears Testimony On Guantanamo Detainee

Associated Press
December 6, 2007

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – An Army officer testified that a driver for Osama bin Laden wore no uniform and was in a car with two surface-to-air missiles when he was captured in Afghanistan, supporting the U.S. government's position that the detainee can be prosecuted in a special military court…

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

Battle Lines Form Over Mortgage Plan

By Michael M. Phillips, Serena Ng and John D. McKinnon
Wall Street Journal
December 7, 2007

WASHINGTON -- In unveiling a plan to help more than one million struggling homeowners, the Bush administration and the mortgage industry have embarked on a controversial project: picking winners and losers from the rubble of the subprime-mortgage meltdown…

On Mortgage Relief, Who Gains the Most?

By Edmund L. Andrews
New York Times
December 7, 2007

Many homeowners who are having trouble paying their mortgage will find that they do not qualify for the assistance announced by President Bush…

A Buffer? Or a Bailout?
To Some Lawmakers, Bush's Mortgage Relief Is Too Weak a Patch to Protect Against a Growing Storm. Others Say It's Too Much.

By David Cho and Neil Irwin
Washington Post
December 7, 2007

Several hundred thousand homeowners will qualify for a freeze in home loan rates under the Bush administration's mortgage-relief agreement announced yesterday, a figure that intensified debate over whether the government is helping too many or too few people at risk of losing their homes…

U.S. Agency’s Slow Pace Endangers Foreign Aid

By Celia W. Dugger
New York Times
December 7, 2007

The Millennium Challenge Corporation, a federal agency set up almost four years ago to reinvent foreign aid, has taken longer to help poor, well-governed countries than expected…

Federal Employees to Get Dec. 24 Off of Work

By Judy Sarasohn
Washington Post
December 6, 2007

Federal employees are getting an early holiday present from President Bush this year--an extra day off before Christmas…