MEND: No One Dies on Christmas

On Saturday, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) announced a Christmas ceasefire. For twenty-four hours, they will not kidnap or murder. MEND’s decision is fine. However, a permanent ceasefire is the objective.

Fraud, Suspensions… Unrest Warranted?

On Saturday, Florida State suspended thirty-six. The condemned included quarterback Xavier Lee; offensive linemen Jacky Claude and Daron Rose; tight ends Charlie Graham and Caz Piurowski; defensive lineman Paul Griffin, Letroy Guion, Justin Mincey, Neefy Moffett, and Budd Thacker; linebackers Marcus Ball and Dekoda Watson; and cornerback Patrick Robinson.

I support Coach Bobby Bowden. He is not responsible. With that stated, this episode is apocryphal. He must act. Florida State is not ordinary. Therefore, punishment must be severe.

Cigna Deliberates, Child Dies

On Thursday, Cigna Insurance Corporation labeled a kidney transplant “experimental.” Amidst protests, they reversed their decision. Unfortunately, seventeen-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan died. Concerning liability, I will not comment. I will state the obvious. Insurance company thoughts are monetary. Their actions should be human.

PETA Halts Animal Abuse

On Friday, Murphy Family Ventures fired several employees. During a PETA investigation, the employees were filmed gouging swine’s eyes, beating them, dragging them, and castrating their babies sans anesthesia. Personally, I despise PETA. I loathe them. However, they merit applause. Eating meat is acceptable. However, animals should never suffer abuse.

A Candidate’s Christmas

Cohen’s Retirement Comedic

According to Sacha Baron Cohen, both Ali G and Borat have been retired. Allegedly, they are overly familiar. Cohen’s announcement is typical. Comedians and singers make this declaration. They execute their characters. I will never believe them. Slim Shady returned. Ali G and Borat will return.

Betting the Pass Line (Season: 36-29 Bowls: 1-1)

Papjohns.com Bowl
Southern Mississippi (+10 ½) vs. Cincinnati
Versus Cincinnati, Southern Mississippi is 7-7. On Saturday, they will resume the edge.

New Mexico Bowl
Nevada (+2 ½) vs. New Mexico
This season, Nevada struggled. On Saturday, they will showcase their talent.

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
UCLA vs. BYU (-6)
UCLA Coach DeWayne Walker? BYU will destroy this dream.

Money Mayweather Moving?

Mixed Martial Artist Floyd Mayweather? According to ESPN, he is considering this. He should not. Mayweather is a boxer. He is a champion. He should not tarnish his legacy.

Andy & Tammy Reid: We’re An American Family

Andy Reid: “I went to all the counseling sessions with him, the whole rehab program with him. They educate you. It was like learning Spanish in six weeks, without knowing a word of it. It's an epidemic that has attacked America. I was sitting there, in counseling, with good people. They are not bad people, it encompasses everybody. We've accepted public criticism as a family even when it's not true. We've dealt with Garrett's situation for a long time, and we've done it through Super Bowls and championships. And it's new to a lot of people, but it's not new to us.”

Tammy Reid: “We do have house payments, he does need to have a job. Any other dad, any other man who has things going on in his family, has not had it questioned whether he's going to retire or step down from his job. The CEO of any major company, it would never be in question. We raised these boys. We taught them to pray, taught them to ride their bikes -- you see this potential in him, and you're just not going to give up. You're thinking, let's try one more time. Because that's what you do as a parent. You think, OK, it didn't work the last couple of times, but there's still hope.”

Clemens Prattle Persists

Rusty Hardin: “When this grossly inaccurate story broke in October 2006, Roger said it was untrue and the Los Angeles Times chose not to believe him. As the record now clearly proves, Roger was telling the truth then, just as he continues to tell the truth today. Roger Clemens did not take steroids, and anybody who says he did had better start looking for a hell of a good lawyer.”

Joba Chamberlain: “It's a question that's going to be brought up for a long time, but the man has been successful for so long, he's obviously doing something right. His work ethic has been shown, he does what he does, and he does it for a reason. He's been successful and that's why.”

Goose Gossage: “If Roger cheated, what do the numbers mean? They mean nothing. Roger has always been a production, everything he's done has been a production. He's always wanted the attention. He's probably getting a lot more attention now than he ever wanted. With Clemens, you just shake your head and wonder how it all happened, how it came to this. I mean, why didn't the Red Sox re-sign him [after the 1996 season]? All of a sudden his numbers started getting crazy when he was supposed to be getting older. There's no way [those post-1996 Cy Young awards] can stand.”

Fox News: A Marine Finds Family

Marine Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee and his German shepherd, Lex, scoured Iraq for roadside bombs together, slept next to each other and even posed in Santa hats for a holiday photo. When a mortar attack killed the 20-year-old Marine in Fallujah a few months later, Lex, whimpering from his own injuries, had to be pulled away, Lee's father was told.

That strong bond compelled the slain Marine's family to adopt 8-year-old Lex even though the military said he still had two years of service. The family lobbied the military for months, launched an Internet petition and enlisted the aid of a North Carolina congressman who took their case straight to the Marine Corps' top general.

On Wednesday, the Marine Corps finally announced Lex could go home to Lee's family. It is the first time the military has granted a dog early retirement to be adopted by someone other than a former handler.

"We knew that's what Dustin would have wanted out of this," said Jerome Lee, the slain Marine's father. "He knew that we would take care of Lex and love him, just like our own."

Lee's family from Quitman, Miss., picked up Lex from the Albany base Friday, exactly nine months after the fatal attack. Though some shrapnel remains lodged in his back, Lex has otherwise recovered from his wounds and has been serving alongside military policemen at the Albany base since July.

"It is extraordinary," said Col. Christian Haliday, commander of the Marine Logistics Base in Albany, Ga., where the dog is based. "As far as we know, it's the first time that a waiver of policy of this nature has been granted."

Officials at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, which trains dogs for all service branches, confirmed it is the first case of its kind. Lee joined the Marines after graduating from high school in 2004. His father said his drive to become a dog handler came from Lee's mother, who worked with search-and-rescue dogs for their local emergency management agency when Lee was a boy.

After finishing his military police and dog handler training, the young Marine headed to Albany. Lee adopted his first canine partner, Doenja, from the military and sent him home to Mississippi last year when the 11-year-old dog began losing his sight and had to retire. Lee formed an equally strong bond with his new partner, Lex.

The military has more than 1,700 dogs that work alongside American troops, including about 260 in the Marines. Their bomb-sniffing skills have been in high demand in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., said he discussed the Lees' case with Gen. James T. Conway, the Marine Corps commandant.

"The way I look at this, dogs are being trained every day to be a part of the armed forces," Jones said. "This family gave their son for their country. This is a small gift back to them."

Fox News: A Christmas Story

Susan Dahl had spent four months homeless in Colorado and just been on a harrowing 10-hour bus trip through sleet and snow. Hungry and broke, all she wanted to do was get back to family in Minnesota.

That's when a tall man in a red coat and red hat sat next to her at the downtown bus station, talked to her quietly and then slipped her $100 on that recent December afternoon.

The man was doing the work of Larry Stewart, Kansas City's original Secret Santa who anonymously wandered city streets doling out $100 bills to anyone who looked like they needed it. Stewart died of cancer at age 58 earlier this year, but his legacy lives on. "He said `Here's a $100 bill ... and this is in memory of Larry Stewart,'" said Dahl, 56.

During about a quarter century, Stewart quietly gave out more than $1.3 million to people in laundromats, diners, bus stations, shelters and thrift stores, saying it was his way of giving back at Christmas for all the wealth and generosity he had received in his lifetime.

For years, Stewart did not want his name known or want thanks or applause, but last December he acknowledged who he was and used his last few months while battling cancer to press his message of kindness toward others. He even trained some friends in the ways of Secret Santa.

This Christmas, a friend who told Stewart in the hospital that he would carry on for him is out on the streets, handing out $100 bills, each one stamped with "Larry Stewart, Secret Santa."

Between Kansas City and several other cities this Christmas, the new Secret Santa will give away $75,000 of his own money, mostly in $100 bills. "I didn't want to be a Secret Santa," said the man, a business consultant who lives in the Kansas City area. "I wanted to give Larry money. But last year, he said I had to hand it out myself. So I did, and I got hooked."

This new Secret Santa talks about Larry Stewart to just about everyone he encounters. "Have you ever heard of a man named Larry Stewart?" he asks before handing out $100 or more.

Depending on who he's talking to, the new Secret Santa might say Stewart was a man who believed in making people happy by giving them money they didn't have to ask for, apply for or wait in line for. "There was this fella named Larry Stewart," he tells a man in the bus station. "He was an old friend of mine. He was called Secret Santa, and every year he would find a few people who might need a little money and he would ask that you pass on the kindness."

People respond differently to the gesture. Some cry. Some scream. A rare few even say "No thanks."

Others take the money and offer their own gifts, like Robert Young, who was homeless and had only 20 cents in his pocket. When Secret Santa gave him $200, Young, 50, took out an old notebook and ripped out a song he had written. "It's yours now," he told Secret Santa, who thanked Young, and carefully tucked the pages into his pocket.

The new Secret Santa has also started a Web site, and is trying to recruit other Secret Santas across the country. "Larry's dream was for a Secret Santa in every city," Kansas City's Santa said.

There are now a couple apprentices, with more candidates turning up all the time. But, he says, you don't have to be willing to hand out money to be a Secret Santa. "Anyone can be a Secret Santa," he says. "You don't have to give away $100. You can give away kindnes. Help someone."

Fox News: Nicaragua Frees American Man

American Eric Volz was freed by a judge on Friday despite an uproar in Nicaragua after an appeals court overturned his conviction and 30-year-sentence in the slaying of his Nicaraguan girlfriend.

The 28-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, accompanied by his mother, planned to immediately catch a flight to Atlanta.

"There will be no further comment until we receive confirmation that Eric is safely out of Nicaragua," Volz family spokeswoman Melissa Campbell said in an email to The Associated Press.

Live television broadcasts showed a news media caravan following his police-escorted car from a prison hospital where Volz was treated for kidney stones to the office where he was to sign release papers.

An appeals court on Monday overturned Volz's conviction in the death of 25-year-old Doris Ivania Jimenez, enraging prosecutors, human rights and women's rights activists who believe Volz is guilty.

The court upheld the conviction of a Nicaraguan man in the murder. A surfer-turned-real-estate-broker who also founded a local magazine in Nicaragua, Volz has claimed his innocence all along, saying he was two hours away from the crime scene at the time.

Volz's release was ordered by the same judge who convicted him, a step that is required by Nicaraguan law. Judge Ivett Toruno, who convicted Volz, waited four days before agreeing to release him, citing problems with the files.

Volz's attorney claimed the judge was delaying the process to allow time for another appeal. It wasn't clear Friday where that effort stood. "There will be no further comment until we receive confirmation that Eric is safely out of Nicaragua," Volz family spokeswoman Melissa Campbell said in an email to The Associated Press.

Parcells: My Dolphins

Bill Parcells: “If football is not their most important thing to them other than their immediate family, then I'm probably not going to be interested in them. That's the way I am. And I want people around me that are like that.”

Betting the Pass Line (Regular Season: 36-29 Bowls: 1-0)

R & L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Memphis (+2 ½) vs. Florida Atlantic
Florida Atlantic is a terrific story. However, Memphis is superior.

NEW RULE

Obnoxiousness is repugnant.

Yesterday, President Bush signed energy legislation. The bill toughens fuel economy standards. How was said bill delivered? A Toyota Prius. Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Ford are hemorrhaging. Democrats expand this. They end zone dance. Ridiculous. Compassion and sensitivity are critical. They inspire our humanity. Obviously, Democrats lack both.

Worth A Read

Advance Indiana

Reaffirming the state’s constitutional principles.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Atlanta Falcons Vice President?

According to a study, uninsured cancer deaths trump insured cancer deaths. Money and treatment extend life? Shocking.

Today’s top five or worst federal agencies (1) FEMA, (2) FAA, (3) Homeland Security, (4) Vice President’s Office, (5) Bush Administration

Blockbuster Duo: Huizenga Nets Parcells

Wayne Huizenga and Bill Parcells are kindred. They are loyal. They are strict. Their demeanors demand respect. Their credentials inspire excellence. Amidst individuality and noise, Huizenga and Parcells are aged souls. They possess silent strength. They are obsessed with winning.

On Thursday, the Miami Dolphins hired Parcells. Parcells signed a four-year contract. He will not coach. Instead, he is Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “I'm honored to join such an illustrious franchise as the Miami Dolphins and to work for one of the best owners in the league in Wayne Huizenga,” Parcells said. “He shares my same commitment to winning, and I told him I would do everything I can to help turn around the team's fortunes.”

This season, the Dolphins are 1-13. They have averaged seventeen points per contest. They have surrendered twenty-seven. According to Huizenga, Parcells will reverse this. “He has a proven track record of success everywhere he has been in the National Football League,” Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said Thursday afternoon. “And his football acumen will help put the Miami Dolphins franchise back among the elite of the NFL.”

During his career, Parcells amassed a 172-130-1 record. With the New York Giants, Parcells accrued 77-49-1 slate. With the New England Patriots, he chalked a 32-32 resume. With the New York Jets, he logged a 29-19 ledger. With the Dallas Cowboys, he scored a 34-30 tabulation. Parcells also developed Quarterbacks Tony Romo and Phil Simms, Running Back Curtis Martin, Wide Receiver Keyshawn Johnson, and Linebackers Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor.

Last season, Huizenga and Parcells appeared worn. Huizenga was not winning. Parcells could not win. Huizenga had Nick Saban. Parcells had Terrell Owens. Hopefully, next season is dissimilar. Huizenga and Parcells are proud warriors. They warrant a victorious sunset.

Yahoo: Fear Motivating Iran

It is no secret in Iran: Authorities have gone out of their way to publicize a crackdown against thugs and smugglers that has also enveloped academics and women whose dress is deemed "un-Islamic."

Masked police dressed like black-clad storm-troopers have been arresting, humiliating, and parading criminals. Cameras follow cops on nighttime raids against drug dealers that net hundreds in a single night.

But analysts say that what appeared to be just another cleanup when it began last spring is proving to be a strategic effort to protect the regime from "vulnerabilities" that could be exploited by archenemies such as the United States. Picking up criminals and intimidating all potential opponents of clerical rule, they say, aims to prevent a repeat of history by preempting violence that could spin out of control.

"The girls are not the target," says an Iranian journalist, noting that many women still deliberately flout the rules. "The core reason is dealing harshly with thugs. Now they are preempting – they are keeping a potential threat from growing," says the journalist. "They are looking at modern history [and] going onto the Internet."

That history shows how the CIA in 1953 staged a coup against Iran's popular Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq. A crucial factor in its success were mobs organized by CIA-paid agents to rampage and take over the streets; others soon joined the rioters.

And on the Internet, Iran's security services have become familiar with American regime-change neoconservatives such as Michael Ledeen, who has argued that with US support, "we could liberate Iran in less than a year."

The Iranian journalist paraphrases those ideas – and the threat perceived from them – this way: "In the war with Iran, the US will not be the foot soldiers," but will "just provide the trigger" for Iranians to rise and topple the government.

In Iran, anticriminal measures against those called "knife-pullers" in Farsi are widely lauded. Iran's supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, has told police that they "must strongly continue with the 'social security plan' … so that its goals are institutionalized in society."

But in one of the most far-reaching drives since the 1979 Islamic revolution, enforcement has spread far beyond criminal offenders to young women showing too much hair and Western-educated academics accused of being "agents" for US-inspired regime change.

This past weekend, 24 Internet cafes and coffeehouses were shut down in a sweep of 435 such locales, Reuters reported. Police said they were shut for "using immoral computer games [and] storing obscene photos." A fresh "winter" crackdown was announced last week on un-Islamic dress, which includes women's high boots.

"Their vulnerable spot is these 'Westoxicated' Iranians – the threat is not military attack, but Iranians who 'live differently from us,' who listen to the West," says a veteran analyst who asked not to be named. "Many would follow those [thugs] who are willing to attack."

Iran's new Revolutionary Guard commander, Mohammad Ali Jafari, said in late September that the "main responsibility" of his forces is to counter "internal threats." One vigilante newspaper has railed against the risks of "freedom."

The morality enforcement is a reversal in some ways. For years, conventional wisdom held that conservatives would not risk a serious social crackdown, fearing a popular backlash that could threaten their grip on power. But women and labor activists have been arrested as well as students who have staged protests against the president and government policies in the past year. Three who have been in prison for eight months – their fate sparking a number of demonstrations – are to be released Saturday, acquitted of "insulting religious values" and other charges.

Amnesty International notes that the number of executions has risen from 177 in 2006 to more than 210 so far this year. The UN General Assembly Tuesday approved a draft resolution noting "very serious concern" with human rights violations in Iran, including cases of "torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations."

The steps being taken hark back to the earliest years of the revolution, when "securing the system" was deemed the highest obligation, like prayer. Experts note, however, that unlike in both 1979 and 1953, the regime now has many loyal security forces and vigilante groups whose job is to protect the system and ensure, in the words of one Farsi slogan often applied by critics, "victory through creating fear."

"The US planned two wars against us, a hard war and a soft war," says Hojjatoleslam Seyyed Abolhasan Navvab, an influential cleric. "The hard war, it is only intimidation and slogans. But the soft war, it goes more toward reality [by provoking] social, cultural, ethnic, and religious conflicts."

"It is not a flood, but this is a very slight rain that is continuous, and when it washes away it has a ruinous effect," says Mr. Navvab. "If you take it seriously, the level of danger drops. If you don't take it seriously, the danger is there and it is firm."

Noting the months-long arrests of several dual US-Iran citizens earlier this year, Navvab charged that some academics "turned out to be agents of foreigners." The impact of such beliefs has been widely felt.

"I have never seen Iran like this in 28 years," says one political analyst, who has been warned about contact with Westerners. "Early in the revolution, there was mass jubilation, and repression was very targeted against [armed opposition]. If you were not a member, you had no reason to fear. Now it's a systematic intimidation, and they are very good at it."

US expenditures of $75 million on "pro-democracy" efforts, most of it on broadcasts into Iran from outside, has helped provide a pretext. "The whole security environment is intended to really suffocate or torpedo any possible change from within. They believe this mass conspiracy [of regime change]," says the analyst. The result is a "sense of fear, and making engagement in politics at any level a high-risk endeavor."

Last week, parliamentarians angry about the book crackdown called for moderation. "A Muslim woman wearing high boots with a coat and other coverings does not contradict Islam," said Mohammad Taghi Rahbar, a member of parliament and cleric who was quoted in the Iranian press, according to Agence France-Presse.

One focus has been "Westoxicated" youths, and women showing too much hair or wearing tight manteaus that by law must hide the shape of the body. Morality police park at malls and take photos for criminal files of "bad hijab" violators. Some women have been warned that a third infraction will cause banishment from Tehran.

Presidential aide Mehdi Kalhor, who famously called for much greater social openness in 2005, has also asked for limits on police zeal. "I wrote a letter to the head of law enforcement and asked him to refrain from extremism, [to] execute the [minimum] level of the law," he said in an interview. "It's the right of each citizen to have an ordinary life, without being disturbed and agitated."

Iranian academics have received directives to halt all contacts with foreigners. Civil society efforts – even cultural events hosted by Western embassies in Tehran have dried up, since attendees were harassed, sometimes physically. "There is a genuine concern in the regime that we in the West would like the regime to change, and they are right, for some people," says a European diplomat. "Some think we are not going to do it with bombs and missiles, but through a velvet revolution."

That means special attention paid to civil-society activists. At a recent meeting to express solidarity with Emadedin Baghi, the founder of Society for Protecting Prisoners' Rights who was arrested in October, some spoke out. "A regime that can't respect such a soft-spoken, moderate person is a cause for concern," says Ezatollah Sahabi, a reformist editor who has done prison time. "No reformist wants to go beyond [limits] – just respect the rights of the citizens. We don't want to push the regime into a critical situation."

Quintuple Wild

Marian Gaborik
(5 goals, 1 assist)

Ideological Living

On Thursday, New Orleans protestors rioted. Their aggravation? 4,500 public housing demolitions. According to the zealots, New Orleans is being cleansed. Obviously, this is ridiculous. The public housing is a blight. The public housing is a stain. Class and race are irrelevant. Improving New Orleans is the objective. The zealots must adapt.

Tancredo Quits & Flips

On Thursday, Congressman Tom Tancredo renounced his presidential candidacy. Simultaneously, he endorsed Governor Mitt Romney. Tancredo’s decision is perplexing. He loathes illegal immigration. Yet, Romney is ambivalent. Actually, Romney is ambivalent concerning every issue.

Betting the Pass Line (Regular Season: 36-29)

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Utah vs. Navy (+8 ½)
The Utes are Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, and the New Year’s Eve kiss. They are overvalued.

NEW RULE

Soda is not guilty.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Christmas wish? A soda tax. A tariff penalizing high fructose corn syrup drinks. Apparently, they cause obesity. Newsom is an ass. Soda does not induce fat. Lounging and video games induce fat. Coke and Pepsi are not responsible. What is next? Tax the Big Mac’s composition? Tax Pizza Hut’s existence? This proposal is ridiculous. Newsome should apologize. Soda does not fatten. Laziness fattens.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Anthony Smith?

On Wednesday, Smith guaranteed his return. Previously, this succeeded…

Friday is World Orgasm Day. Jamie Lynn Spears has celebrated already.

Vladimir Putin: Time Person of the Year

Publicity Whore… Schilling Scorches Clemens

Curt Schilling: “If he doesn't do that then there aren't many options as a fan for me other than to believe his career 192 wins and three Cy Youngs he won prior to 1997 were the end. From that point on the numbers were attained through using [performance-enhancing drugs]. Just like I stated about Jose [Canseco], if that is the case with Roger, the four Cy Youngs should go to the rightful winners, and the numbers should go away if he cannot refute the accusations.”

“His 'undressing' of me and lecture were a major turning point. I've always respected his career accomplishments and regarded him as the greatest pitcher to ever play the game.”

“Can you separate what Barry is accused of from what Roger is accused of?. If ... both of these men end up being caught, what does that say about this game, us as athletes and the future of the sport and our place in it? The greatest pitcher and greatest hitter of all time are currently both being implicated, one is being prosecuted, for events surrounding and involving the use of performance enhancing drugs. That [stinks]. ... The sport needs fixing.”

“The world is full of good to great people that have made mistakes of this magnitude or worse. These guys made mistakes, and I do mean mistakes. They didn't accidentally do this, this was a conscious decision with far reaching implications and they should be held accountable.”

Leader of the Self-Absorbed

On Wednesday, Nebraska retained Tom Osborne. Until 2010, he will remain Athletic Director. This is ridiculous and unsurprising. As previously stated, Osborne is an arrogant, failed politician. His presence will not improve Nebraska.

Simon Sinful

On Wednesday, New York Islanders forward Chris Simon was suspended for thirty contests. Simon is a repetitious offender. He is violent. He is unrepentant. Simon warrants figurative castration.

Tony Romo’s Women: Your Choice?

President Nixes Nukes

Concerning the United States’ nuclear arsenal, President Bush approved “a significant reduction.” His decision is appropriate. America condemns nuclear proliferation. We oppose Iranian and North Korean enrichment. Thus, we should set the example. Nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought.

Not A Girl, Now A Woman

On Tuesday, Jamie Lynn Spears announced her pregnancy. Spears is sixteen. I will not judge. I will state the obvious. Sans a condom, sex is superior. Adults know this. Collegians know this. Apparently, teenagers know this. I cannot blame Spears. I simply hope she parents responsibly.

2008 Pro Bowl Starters

AFC

QB: Tom Brady (Patriots)
RB: LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers)
FB: Lorenzo Neal (Chargers)
WR: Randy Moss (Patriots)
T: Matt Light (Patriots)
G: Alan Faneca (Steelers)
C: Jeff Saturday (Colts)
G: Logan Mankins (Patriots)
T: Jason Peters (Bills)
TE: Antonio Gates (Chargers)
WR: Reggie Wayne (Colts)

DE: Jared Allen (Chiefs)
DT: Albert Haynesworth (Titans)
DT: Vince Wilfork (Patriots)
DE: Kyle Vanden Bosch (Titans)
LB: James Harrison (Steelers)
LB: DeMeco Ryans (Texans)
LB: Mike Vrabel (Patriots)
CB: Champ Bailey (Broncos)
FS: Ed Reed (Ravens)
SS: Bob Sanders (Colts)
CB: Asante Samuel (Patriots)

NFC

QB: Brett Favre (Packers)
RB: Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
FB: Tony Richardson (Vikings)
WR: Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
T: Flozell Adams (Cowboys)
G: Leonard Davis (Cowboys)
C: Andre Gurode (Cowboys)
G: Steve Hutchinson (Vikings)
T: Walter Jones (Seahawks)
TE: Jason Witten (Cowboys)
WR: Terrell Owens (Cowboys)

DE: Aaron Kampman (Packers)
DT: Kevin Williams (Vikings)
DT: Pat Williams (Vikings)
DE: Patrick Kerney (Seahawks)
LB: Julian Peterson (Seahawks)
LB: Lofa Tatupu (Seahawks)
LB: DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys)
CB: Al Harris (Packers)
FS: Sean Taylor (Redskins)
SS: Darren Sharper (Vikings)
CB: Marcus Trufant (Seahawks)

NEW RULE

Celebrities cannot endorse.

As previously stated, endorsements are akin to desert. They are nice and unnecessary. Celebrity endorsements are completely irrelevant. Ken Burns and Barbara Streisand will not alter minds. Ric Flair and Chuck Norris will not influence votes. The press conference may be interesting. The photographs may be intriguing. The candidate may feel celebrated. The celebrity may feel powerful. However, the endorsement is worthless. Minds and votes will not change.

Worth A Read

Mental Floss

Where knowledge junkies get their fix. Hang out, enjoy our company, laugh, smile, and part ways.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Zoey 101?

On Tuesday, Ken Burns endorsed Barack Obama. The endorsement included eight volumes.

Today’s top five or Atlanta Falcons’ saviors (1) Bill Parcells, (2) Bill Cowher, (3) A Quarterback, (4) An Offensive Line, (5) An Owner

Roger Clemens: I Did Not Use

Roger Clemens: “I want to state clearly and without qualification: I did not take steroids, human growth hormone or any other banned substances at any time in my baseball career or, in fact, my entire life. Those substances represent a dangerous and destructive shortcut that no athlete should ever take. I am disappointed that my 25 years in public life have apparently not earned me the benefit of the doubt, but I understand that Senator Mitchell's report has raised many serious questions. I plan to publicly answer all of those questions at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. I only ask that in the meantime people not rush to judgment.”

Mockery Speaks

Pete Rose: “I never thought anybody would make me look like an altar boy. I've been suspended 18 years for betting on my own team to win. I was wrong ... but these guys today, if the allegations are true, they're making a mockery of the game. If you're going to put these guys that supposedly did steroids into the Hall of Fame, I mean I've got to get a shot somewhere.”

Dick Vitale Silenced

On Tuesday, Dick Vitale underwent vocal cord surgery. The Vitale family has our thoughts and prayers.

NEW RULE

Abhorring Christmas is acceptable.

Christmas haters have been labeled grinches. I am one. The term is stupid. Hating Christmas is healthy. Those not receiving presents should hate Christmas. They should not be labeled. Conversely, no one can hate New Year’s. Why? Intoxication is admirable.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Alex Rodriguez’s Agent?

According to Terry Bowden, West Virginia Coach is his “dream job.” Unbelievable! Morgantown is “the happiest place on earth?”

On Monday, Iraq launched an oil tanker. Their first since 1980. Oil will finance the war… That prediction was accurate.

Michigan Compromises: Replaces Average with Average

Compromise hires permeate sports. Rarely, first choices accept. Second choices are prevalent. Third choices are rampant. Why? Reputation is not a refuge. Money is not reliable. Grand stages are alluring. Notoriety is defining. However, appreciation and security are priceless.

On Monday, Michigan hired West Virginia Coach Rich Rodriguez. According to Rodriguez, his transfer was difficult. “It was a very difficult decision to leave a place where I grew up,” he said. “It was going to take a very special opportunity and a very special place, and I think that's what this is.”

During his career, Rodriguez has logged a 60-26 ledger. He has amassed six winning seasons. He has garnered two Big East Conference championships. Within the Big East, Rodriguez has racked a 34-14 record. Versus bowl competition, Rodriguez is 2-3. “There are intangibles in some coaches that make them win wherever they are, and he has them,” said former West Virginia Basketball Coach John Beilein. “Rich was born to be a football coach.”

Rodriguez succeeds Lloyd Carr. During thirteen campaigns, Carr accrued a 121-40 record. He amassed five Big Ten titles. He also garnered the 1997 Associated Press National Championship. “I think it's a great hire,” said Carr. “He's a young guy with great passion and enthusiasm. I think everybody that loves this place is excited.”

According to Rodriguez, he is “succeeding a legend.” He is not. Carr was respectable. He was not exemplary. Michigan desired Les Miles. Instead, they rented Rodriguez. He may succeed. He may mirror Carr.

New Jersey Embraces Realism

On Monday, New Jersey abolished the death penalty. Henceforth, life is the ultimate punishment. I applaud Governor Corzine. Victim’s bloodlust is relatable. With that stated, revenge is unethical. The death penalty prevents nothing. The death penalty is cosmetic. Cosmetology is not logic. Victims will scream. Yet, New Jersey’s decision is correct.

Fox News: Muslim Revirginization?

On her wedding night, Aisha Salim will hand her blooded sheets to her in-laws as proof of her virginity, according to a story in The Daily Telegraph of Australia.

But there’s one problem. Being a modern English university graduate, she is far from the traditional untouched Muslim bride.

Like most woman her age, Salim has smoked, drank, had sex and even lived with one of her past boyfriends. However, if the devout Muslim family of her soon-to-be husband – or even her own family – knew this, she could be murdered.

Aisha has opted to have her virginity surgically restored in a delicate but painful surgery called hymenoplasties -- where the hymen is re-created from the already torn tissue, or a new membrane is inserted.

"If my husband cannot prove to his family that I am a virgin, I would be hounded, ostracised and sent home in disgrace,” Salim told England’s Daily Mail.

“My father, who is a devout Muslim, would regard it as the ultimate shame. The entire family could be cast out from the friends and society they hold dear, and I honestly believe that one of my fanatically religious cousins or uncles might kill me in revenge, to purge them of my sins. Incredible as it may seem, honour killings are still accepted within our religion.

"Ever since my family arranged this marriage for me, I've been terrified that, on my wedding night, my secret would come out. It has only been since my surgery last week that I've actually been able to sleep properly. Now, I can look forward to my marriage."

Salim is far from alone in seeking such drastic -- and almost barbaric -- surgery. The rise in Islamic fundamentalism has seen 24 women in the U.K. have the procedure between 2005 and 2006.

"I've always adored my parents,” Salim said.

“My father, now 62, is a retired accountant and my mother raised a family of seven sisters in a five-bedroom house in Birmingham.

"I attended the local Catholic secondary school and although I wore a scarf on my head, I refused to wear a veil, telling my parents that it would make me stand out too much.

"I was one of the girls, totally accepted by my white, English friends whose lives revolved around shopping and fancying boys.

"But the moment I stepped over the doorstep, normal teenage life would cease and it was like entering an entirely different world. At home, we had to pray together five times a day.

"We weren't allowed to watch television. My parents were so worried that Western influences might take our minds off the most important things -- education and religion -- that we were never allowed to bring any schoolfriends home.

"But it made all the things my friends did more attractive to me. I would sneak out on Saturday afternoons and join them in town, hanging around, shopping and chatting to boys," Salim added.

GAME BALLS (NFL Edition)

Drew Brees (QB - Saints): 26/30, 315 yards, 2 td
(Win: 31-24 vs. Cardinals)

Frank Gore (RB – 49ers): 29 carries, 138 yards
(Win: 20-13 vs. Bengals)

Cleo Lemon (QB - Dolphins): 23/39, 315 yards, 1 td
(Win: 22-16 vs. Ravens)

Jamaal Lewis (RB - Browns): 33 carries, 163 yards
(Win: 8-0 vs. Bills)

Laurence Maroney (RB - Patriots): 26 carries, 104 yards, 1 td
(Win: 20-10 vs. Jets)

Clinton Portis (RB - Redskins): 25 carries, 126 yards, 1 td
(Win: 22-10 at Giants)

Darren Sproles (RB - Chargers): 25 carries, 122 yards, 2 td
(Win: 51-14 vs. Lions)

Fred Taylor (RB - Jaguars): 25 carries, 147 yards, 1 td
(Win: 29-22 at Steelers)

Pakistan: Home of the Mostly Free

On Saturday, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf “ended” emergency rule. He also extended media restrictions. He did not reinstate the judiciary. Musharraf is ridiculous. He did not restore democracy. He merely restructured totalitarianism. Musharraf must resign. He is dangerous. Essentially, he is a dictator. Until his exodus, Pakistan will never progress.

Necessary Agent: Rodriguez Rejoins Yankees

Players require agents. The necessity is reciprocal. Sans agents, players were vulnerable. The reserve clause would still exist. Sans players, agents are clientless. An industry would not have exploded.

On Thursday, the New York Yankees retained Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $275 million contract. “It seemed like the whole thing was a roller-coaster. It was very emotional,” Rodriguez said. “All along, I knew I wanted to be a Yankee. I have a lot to prove in New York. I think the criticism is what comes with being in New York.”

During the World Series, Rodriguez exited his 10-year, $252 million contract. Subsequently, he was excoriated. Major League Baseball, media outlets, and Yankees Owner Hank Steinbrenner skewered the superstar. Appropriately, Rodriguez admitted his mistake. “It was a huge debacle,” he said. “The timing was distasteful and very inappropriate. I made mistakes. I've got to look in the mirror. If I had to do it again, I would've called Hank from Day 1 and negotiated myself.”

During his career, Rodriguez has batted .306 with 518 home runs and 1,503 runs batted in. In New York, Rodriguez has batted .303. He also amassed 173 home runs and 513 runs batted in. In 2007, Rodriguez won the American League Most Valuable Player Award. He swatted .314 with 54 home runs and 156 runs batted in.

On Sunday, Sixty Minutes interviewed Rodriguez. He discussed free agency, postseason failure, and steroids. Throughout the dialogue, Rodriguez was himself. Slightly arrogant. Yet, extraordinarily personable and talented.

Late Shift?

On Monday, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien broke ranks. Allegedly, they will return January 2. Leno and O’Brien’s decision is disappointing. I deplore their conundrum. However, they owe the writers. They are writers. Leno and O’Brien should encourage a compromise. They should not forsake their brethren.

Todd Scores Survivor China Million

Survivor is unique. No directions, formula, or instructions exist. Survivor is not direct. Survivor requires awareness, conniving, discretion, judgment, perception, shrewdness, strategy, and tact. They cannot guarantee victory. The absence or inclusion of one can cripple someone.

For immunity, the final four balanced pots. Denise attempted negotiation. Unfortunately, Amanda rebuffed her. Denise faltered. Amanda garnered immunity. Pre-tribal council, Denise continued negotiating. She failed again. Via a 3-1 vote, Denise was eliminated.

During the tri-council, Todd was labeled a schemer. Amanda was labeled manipulative. Courtney was labeled cunning. Thus, the vote was open. Courtesy superior strategy, Todd scored four votes. Courtney received two. Amanda accrued only one.

Overall, this season was exemplary. The casting was superb. The location was stunning. Once again, Survivor stated the obvious. They are one of television’s finest. Concerning next season, I am not thrilled. Survivor Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites? All-Stars was excellent. However, Survivor’s brilliance is basic. Unknown people inspiring drama. The format has succeeded. This formula should not be altered.

Choices Conclude Hills Third Season

Choices are abstract. Choices are individual. Sans context, one cannot judge them. Every choice requires thought. Every choice includes rationale. Each choice is unique. Regretting them is fruitless. Choices are unavoidable. Thus, they defy analysis.

On Monday, Whitney received a work assignment. Paris. What about Lauren? Initially, Lauren was rebuffed. However, work interceded. Planning mandated her presence. Lauren deserved this opportunity. Selecting Jason was stupid. Yet, the aforesaid should not own her. Lauren is conscientious. She is dedicated. She warranted Paris. Jason was a mistake.

Pre-flight, Brody and Lauren enjoyed dinner. They discussed their relationship. Brody broached the “girlfriend” option. Lauren told the truth. The title is not utilitarian. The title reflects pride and satisfaction. Brody and Lauren are a calamity. They should not date. Brody is a player. Yes, he cares. Unfortunately, he is conniving. This does not spell boyfriend.

Heidi and Spencer continued fighting. Spencer departed. Heidi accepted the obvious. She removed her ring. She returned home. The aforesaid was predictable. As previously stated, Heidi and Spencer are a dysfunctional couple. They would be a dysfunctional marriage.

Overall, this season was exemplary. Occasionally, the conflict stagnated. The drama was overhyped. Yet, explosions still materialized. Amidst a writer’s strike, Audrina, Lauren, Heidi, Whitney, Lo, Jen, Brody, Justin, and Spencer provided fascinating television. They remained MTV’s crowned jewel. One of television’s finest.

The Big Five

For reasons good and bad… they were the news.

The Hot Five

A quintet of sizzling conversation starters.

The Leader of the Band

Dan Fogelberg
(1951-2007)

NEW RULE

During the evening, sleep.

On December 10, Jamaal Tinsley and friends were shot. The incident’s hour? 3:46 a.m. Seriously? Professional athletes are adults. They have money. Money equals freedom. I cannot instruct them. With that stated, 3:46 a.m. is ridiculous. HBO and Showtime are available. DVD’s are available. Sleep is available. Sleep could improve Tinsley. Tinsley could improve the Pacers. Currently, they are 12-12.

Worth A Read

Phins Blog

Blogging the Miami Dolphins. They're huge fans of these guys... They love these guys... They don't try to hide this.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be West Virginia’s Coach?

The Nintendo Wii is selling. The Wii is disappearing. Game Stop’s solution? Rain checks. Given their circumstances, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox should adopt this.

An Italian filmmaker’s ambition? Makeover the Pope. Marvelous idea. NBC has ordered six episodes.

2007 NFL Award Finalists

George Halas Award
(NFL’s Best Head Coach)

Romeo Crenel (Cleveland Browns)
Mike McCarthy (Green Bay Packers)
Wade Phillips (Dallas Cowboys)
Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Roger Staubauch Award
(NFL MVP)

Derek Anderson (Cleveland Browns)
Tom Brady (New England Patriots)
Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers)
Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)

Joe Montana Award
(NFL’s Best Quarterback)

Tom Brady (New England Patriots)
Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers)
Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)
Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)

Walter Payton Award
(NFL’s Best Running back)

Joseph Addai (Indianapolis Colts)
Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings)
Clinton Portis (Washington Redskins)
LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers)

Steve Largent Award
(NFL’s Best Wide Receiver)

Braylon Edwards (Cleveland Browns)
Randy Moss (New England Patriots)
Terrell Owens (Dallas Cowboys)
Wes Welker (New England Patriots)

Anthony Munoz Award
(NFL’s Best Offensive Lineman)

Flozell Adams (Dallas Cowboys)
Alan Faneca (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis Colts)
Joe Thomas (Cleveland Browns)

Richard Dent Award
(NFL’s Best Defensive Lineman)

Trent Cole (Philadelphia Eagles)
Aaron Kampman (Green Bay Packers)
Darryl Tapp (Seattle Seahawks)
Osi Umenyiora (New York Giants)

Ray Nitschke Award
(NFL’s Best Linebacker)

Nick Barnett (Green Bay Packers)
Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens)
Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots)
DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys)

Michael Haynes Award
(NFL’s Best Defensive Back)

Antonio Cromartie (San Diego Chargers)
Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens)
Asante Samuel (New England Patriots)
Charles Woodson (Green Bay Packers)

Morten Anderson Award
(NFL’s Best Place Kicker)

Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans)
Phil Dawson (Cleveland Browns)
Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots)
Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts)

Ray Guy Award
(NFL’s Best Punter)

Mat McBriar (Dallas Cowboys)
Nick Harris (Detroit Lions)
Todd Sauerbrun (Denver Broncos)
Dan Sepulveda (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Bali Bargain

Following a two-week stalemate, 190 nations compromised. On Saturday, the Bali compromise was brokered. This development is outstanding. Global climate change is a critical issue. If a solution is possible, action should occur.

Line of the Morning

Alan Greenspan

“There are a very large number of people who are in very major stress and having great difficulty in paying off their mortgages. Cash is available and we should use that in larger amounts, as necessary, to solve the problems of the stress of this.”

Andy Pettitte: I Used HGH

Andy Pettitte: “First, I would like to say that contrary to media reports, I have never used steroids. I have no idea why the media would say that I have used steroids, but they have done so repeatedly. This is hurtful to me and my family.”

“In 2002 I was injured. I had heard that human growth hormone could promote faster healing for my elbow. I felt an obligation to get back to my team as soon as possible. For this reason, and only this reason, for two days I tried human growth hormone. Though it was not against baseball rules, I was not comfortable with what I was doing, so I stopped. This is it -- two days out of my life; two days out of my entire career, when I was injured and on the disabled list.”

“If what I did was an error in judgment on my part, I apologize. I accept responsibility for those two days. Everything else written or said about me knowingly using illegal drugs is nonsense, wrong and hurtful. I have the utmost respect for baseball and have always tried to live my life in a way that would be honorable. I wasn't looking for an edge; I was looking to heal.”

“If I have let down people that care about me, I am sorry, but I hope that you will listen to me carefully and understand that two days of perhaps bad judgment should not ruin a lifetime of hard work and dedication. I have tried to do things the right way my entire life, and, again, ask that you put those two days in the proper context. People that know me will know that what I say is true.”

First Fan: President Discusses Mitchell Report

President Bush: “I love the sport. I love the game. Like many fans, I've been troubled by the steroid allegations. I think it's best that all of us not jump to any conclusions on any individual players named. But we can jump to this conclusion: that steroids have sullied the game. And players, the owners, must take the Mitchell Report seriously. I'm confident they will. And my hope is that this report is a part of putting the steroid era of baseball behind us. When they violate their bodies, they're sending a terrible message to America's young.”

Romney: Mike Hucakbee… Democrat?

Mitt Romney: “I had to look again. I said, 'Did this come from Barack Obama? Or from Hillary Clinton? Did it come from John Edwards?' No. It was one of our own. It was Gov. Huckabee. He said the Bush administration is guilty of an 'arrogant bunker mentality' that has been counterproductive here and abroad. I simply can't believe that. I can't believe he'd say that. I'm afraid he's running for the wrong party. The truth of the matter is this president's kept us safe these last six years. It did surprise me; his comments surprised me. They disappointed me. I expected a great deal more from the article than I saw. But the attack on the presidency was something uncalled for. It was unnecessary and inaccurate.”

Intelligent Target? Huckabee Berates President Bush

Mike Huckabee: “American foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude, open up, and reach out. The Bush administration's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad. My administration will recognize that the United States' main fight today does not pit us against the world but pits the world against the terrorists.”

Incinerating the Departed

Hillary Clinton: “As soon as I found out that one of my supporters and co-chairs in New Hampshire made a statement, asked a series of questions, I made it clear it was not authorized, it was in no way condoned, I didn't know about it and he stepped down. I made it very clear as soon as I heard about it that I not only disapproved, it did not reflect the campaign I am running. I did personally apologize, the gentleman in question has stepped down from the leadership role in my campaign. There are a lot of differences between us, and those are the contrasts that should be drawn. I'm running a campaign about who I am, what I've done and that's what I'm going to stay focused on.' "That was silly, and I told my campaign it was silly. My whole point has been there are legitimate differences.”

Fox News: Hillary Clinton… From Invincible to Impotent

First there was question planting. Then the polls started to take a turn. Then came the rumors of a campaign shake-up. Then came the "cocaine" story.

Hillary Clinton was the Democratic frontrunner even before she announced she was running for president. From the start, the Democratic race has been hers to lose. And if the marbles continue to tumble in front of her, it just might happen.

The one-time inevitable titan of this primary contest has seen her lead and her aura of invincibility slip in recent weeks, as Illinois Sen. Barack Obama makes his move, state-by-state, in the final stretch before the first caucuses and primaries.

Obama has measurably gained in Iowa and New Hampshire, and though he still trails by 9 points in a new FOX News poll out of the Granite State, he is statistically tied in other recent surveys.

"We are the frontrunner, everybody’s been going after us. We feel very good about where we are," Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe told FOX News Wednesday, on the eve of the final debate before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses.

But just one day later, Clinton found herself personally apologizing to Obama for comments made by her adviser and New Hampshire co-chairman, Bill Shaheen, who said in published comments that Democrats should be wary of nominating Obama because Republicans would use his admission of past drug use, including cocaine, against him in the general election.

Shaheen resigned Thursday, after the Obama campaign called his comments an act of desperation.

"As soon as I found out that one of my supporters and co-chairs in New Hampshire made a statement ... I made it clear it was not authorized, it was in no way condoned, I didn't know about it and he stepped down," Clinton said Friday in Iowa.

Shaheen's departure follows a pattern. The campaign asked two volunteers to resign earlier this month after they forwarded a hoax e-mail suggesting Obama is a Muslim bent on destroying the United States. The Clinton camp also had to condemn actions by its staffers after it was discovered the campaign planted a question on global warming at an event at Grinnell College in Iowa last month.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that a handful of Clinton campaign workers were even recommending pro-Clinton postings on the New Hampshire progressive blog Blue Hampshire.

The response from the Clinton campaign was the usual: These are the actions of individuals, not the campaign, and they will not be repeated.

Amid the turmoil, Clinton's numbers have been tumbling in both Iowa and New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Jan. 8.

The trend in New Hampshire is very recent. A new FOX News poll from Dec. 11-13 of 500 likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire showed her with 34 percent, over Obama with 25 percent and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards with 15 percent. The survey, which had a margin of error of 4 points, put Clinton up from a 7-point advantage at the end of November.

But that's down from what was a 20-point lead in early November. Other recent polls show New Hampshire as a statistical dead heat. A new Concord Monitor poll of 400 likely voters, taken Dec. 10-12, showed Obama with 32 percent, Clinton with 31 percent and Edwards with 18 percent in the Granite State. The margin of error was 5 percent.

Obama had already taken the lead in some polls in Iowa.

And while Clinton retains double-digit leads in national polls, she's been forced to pull out the stops to keep losses in the early-voting states from infecting her national standing.

The New York senator announced Thursday the launch of the "Every County Counts Tour." She'll be traveling in a helicopter — called the Hill-A-Copter — to 16 counties in Iowa over five days starting Sunday.The goal is for her and her staff to hit all 99 counties by the end of the blitz.

She also just rolled out a humanizing ad that features her daughter Chelsea and mother Dorothy. The ad shows her laughing and hugging with the family members who tagged along on the campaign trail over the weekend. Their appearances with the candidate came as Oprah Winfrey toured across three early-voting states with Obama.

But rumors of a campaign shake-up started to mount as former President Bill Clinton began to step up his public appearances for his wife and as top Clinton staffers were sent out to Iowa full-time.

Clinton denied this at a press conference in Iowa Friday morning, and she said there's no sign the campaign is in desperation.

"Well, there's no basis to that. You know, I am very grateful to have a family that supports me, that is in my corner, and I had always planned that — you know, I had to get out and make my case to the people of Iowa....

"My husband didn't campaign until the Fourth of July, and then basically, you know, you didn't see him again until Labor Day, and then now he's back, because we're at the end of a campaign."

Meanwhile, at the debate in Iowa Thursday, Obama had a crowd-pleasing moment over Clinton when he was asked how he expects to provide an administration of change when several of his advisers used to work for Bill Clinton.

Hillary Clinton laughed loudly, but Obama turned to her and said: "Well Hillary, I'm looking forward to you advising me as well."

The audience applauded that one.

But in a race that pits Obama's message of change versus Clinton's message of experience, Clinton on Friday stood by her time-tested credentials and fended off claims she was on a downswing.

"I have no illusions about what this race will entail, and I feel like I am absolutely prepared to take it on," she said. "And I think you can look at what I've done in New York ... I won in 2000 against the very same kinds of polling numbers and commentary, and I won overwhelmingly again in New York.

"You know, I will bring millions of new people into this race. I see it now in what we're doing here in Iowa. People who have never caucused before. People who were never registered to vote before who are now part of the team we're building in Iowa.

"I can replicate that across the country, and because I — you know, as some of my supporters say — am battle tested, I can withstand what is going to inevitably be the Republican attacks on whoever we nominate."

Israel Incinerates United States’ Intelligence

Israel Public Security Minister Avi Dichter: “The American misconception concerning Iran's nuclear weapons is liable to lead to a regional Yom Kippur where Israel will be among the countries that are threatened. Something went wrong in the American blueprint for analyzing the severity of the Iranian nuclear threat. A misconception by the world's leading superpower is not just an internal American occurrence. Those same (intelligence) arms in the U.S. are apt to make a mistake and declare that the Palestinians have fulfilled their commitments, which would carry with it very serious consequences from Israel's vantage point.”

“She Overcame Much & Accomplished Much”

Congresswoman Julia Carson
(1938-2007)