the latest news on Presidential campaigns, Republicans, Democrats, Congress, Economy, Mideast, Iraq, Iran, Kenya, Burma/Myanmar, Domestic violence, Evangelicals & politics, Global warming, Spirituality, and Commentary.

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Presidential campaigns. McCain Moves Into Lead; Obama Gains on Clinton "The first contests of the 2008 presidential campaign have led to a dramatic shake-up in public opinion nationally, with Sen. John McCain now leading the Republican field and Sen. Barack Obama all but erasing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-overwhelming advantage among Democrats," Fluidity in G.O.P. Race; Democrats Eye Electability "Worries about the economy now dominate the voters' agenda, even more so than the war in Iraq, which framed the early part of this campaign."

Republicans. Romney, McCain rev up criticism in Michigan "Republicans Mitt Romney and John McCain dueled Sunday over who could better lead a restoration of Michigan's battered economy amid charges from each that the presidential campaign has descended into unnecessary pessimism and negativity that will do little to inspire voters." Campaign exposes deep rifts in GOP coalition "The house that Ronald Reagan built is in danger of collapsing. All the men running for the Republican party's presidential nomination invoke Reagan's name repeatedly. But all of them offend at least one wing of the party enough that they'd find it difficult, and perhaps impossible, to pull the disparate elements of the old coalition together."

Democrats. Clinton, Obama spar as race heats up "Race became a focus of the Democratic presidential campaign on Sunday with Hillary Clinton accusing rival Barack Obama of distorting remarks she made last week about the 1960s U.S. civil rights movement." Race and Gender Are Issues in Tense Day for Democrats "After staying on the sidelines in the first year of the campaign, race and to a lesser extent gender have burst into the forefront of the Democratic presidential contest, thrusting Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton into the middle of a sharp-edged social and political debate that transcends their candidacies." In '08 Democratic battle, it's Obama's movement vs. Clinton's campaign "With a booming baritone and a message of hope and change, Barack Obama is often described as a "phenomenon" and his presidential campaign as a "movement." … Hillary Rodham Clinton, his top competitor for the Democratic nomination, is the product of a movement - the drive for women's equality - that has delivered her to this moment: the possibility of becoming America's first woman president. She doesn't try to compete with Mr. Obama on oratory. Instead, she is making an appeal to reason."

Congress. Analysts predict impotent 2nd session "The 110th Congress will kick off its second session this week by tackling a politically explosive surveillance measure for the third time since last summer, but not much new is expected from lawmakers preoccupied with the November elections and stunted by partisan gridlock and a quasi-lame-duck president." Congress Faces War Economy, Election "Still smarting from the partisan wars of 2007, Congress confronts a sinking economy, a lingering war and election-year politics as it gets back to work for the 2008 session."

Economy. Lawmakers, Bush Face Test Over Economy "After a year of bitter wrangling and partisan gridlock, President Bush and Democratic congressional leaders vowed before the holidays to try to work more closely in the new year. Now, with economic anxiety on the rise and experts warning of recession, the two sides face the first test" Some Fear Economic Stimulus Is Already Too Late "As leaders in Washington turn their attention to efforts to avert a looming downturn, many economists suggest that it may already be too late to change the course of the economy over the first half of the year, if not longer."

Mideast . 'Positive' Middle East talks held "Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have held talks in Jerusalem on what are seen as the most intractable issues in the peace process." Mideast talks begin "Israel and the Palestinians opened their most ambitious peace negotiations in seven years on Monday, urged by President George W. Bush to reach a deal within a year despite deep public skepticism."

Iraq . US claims success in new Iraq offensive "American and Iraqi forces killed 60 militants in the first week of a major new offensive against al-Qaida in northern Iraq, the US military said today. The troops also detained 193 suspects and uncovered dozens of weapons caches in the operation dubbed Phantom Phoenix." Iraq offensive: Clear out militants - and stay "USforces are solidifying control over some of the most persistent militant strongholds of Al Qaeda in Iraq northeast of Baghdad, drawing on a new counterinsurgency model that has already seen some success in troubled Diyala Province." Across America, Deadly Echoes of Foreign Battles"The New York Times found 121 cases in which veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan committed a killing in this country, or were charged with one, after their return from war. In many of those cases, combat trauma and the stress of deployment - along with alcohol abuse, family discord and other attendant problems - appear to have set the stage for a tragedy that was part destruction, part self-destruction."

Iran . Nuclear talks 'very substantive' "The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- a first for the nuclear agency -- and agreed to a timetable that should resolve questions about Iran's past nuclear program within four weeks," Bush urges Arabs to oppose Iran "President George Bush yesterday ratcheted up US rhetoric over Iran, lambasting it as "the world's leading sponsor of state terror", and urging America's closest Arab allies to confront it "before it is too late". Bush Urges United Action Against Iran "President Bush accused Iran of undermining peace in Lebanon, funding terrorist groups, trying to intimidate its neighbors and refusing to be open about its nuclear program and ambitions." Bush criticizes Iran in pro-democracy speech "even as he criticized Iranian leaders, saying they were seeking to repress their citizens and cow neighboring countries, Bush appealed to U.S. allies in the region to open up their own political and economic systems to greater democracy."

Kenya. Kenyan president lost election, U.S. exit poll indicates "An exit poll carried out on behalf of a U.S. government-backed foundation indicated that Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki suffered a resounding defeat in last month's disputed election, according to officials with knowledge of the document."

Burma/Myanmar. Monk's words stir the spirit of Myanmar's resistance " The stern-faced Nyanissara, a 70-year-old monk in owlish glasses and a maroon robe, is able to stare down generals with chests full of medals by stepping carefully through the minefield that makes free speech lethal here. Shielding himself with allegory, he crisscrosses the country giving lectures that draw on history and legend to remind people that rotten regimes have fallen before."

Domestic violence. Cutbacks leave domestic abuse shelters unable to serve many "Domestic violence shelters across the state are becoming overwhelmed and are increasingly turning victims away, driving some of those seeking help back to abusive partners or to the streets, according to advocates and shelter program directors."

Evangelicals & politics. Huckabee Splits Young Evangelicals and Old Guard "If Mr. Huckabee can continue to galvanize evangelicals around his novel message while attracting other Republicans and perhaps independents, he will do more than advance his own campaign. He will also challenge the establishment of the Christian conservative political movement." Evangelicals in S.C. not just voting on faith " But evangelicals here, and those who boosted former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to a stunning first-place GOP finish in the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3 and to a respectable third place in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, are not quite the same as they were when they helped propel President Bush into the White House in 2000."

Global warming. Escalating Ice Loss Found in Antarctica "Climatic changes appear to be destabilizing vast ice sheets of western Antarctica that had previously seemed relatively protected from global warming, researchers reported yesterday, raising the prospect of faster sea-level rise than current estimates."

Spirituality. Spiritual growth nurtured within (G. Jeffrey MacDonald, USA Today) "Spiritual growth nurtured within Two weeks into the New Year, life in the USA is largely back to normal. That means time is scarce, stress is high and an ordinary day - filled with chatter and other noise - permits barely a moment for the mind to rest in silence. Maybe that's why a growing number of Americans are recognizing a need to develop their inner life"

Commentary. A plea to evangelicals - from an evangelical (David P. Gushee, USA Today) "'We must regroup. We evangelicals must rethink our engagement with politics. The place to start is by remembering that the church is not a branch of a political party and that its distinctive identity and mission must be protected, both for the sake of the church and for the sake of our culture and the world."