• Bad News Inspires Some Political Cartoonists, Befuddles Others (Bloomberg) Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- “Bad news is good news for cartoonists,” says Carsten Graabaek. “You can’t make fun of good news.” Graabaek, a 61-year-old Danish cartoonist, says he’s inspired by the dire economic situation. His Israeli counterpart Michel Kishka, 46, agrees: “We can’t ignore the recession.
• Top 10 political newcomers of 2008 (Politico via Yahoo! News) Even in a year dominated by oversized political personalities – Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain chief among them – a few lesser-known newcomers helped define the electoral landscape.
• Claiborne Pell remembered as “the right kind of aristocrat” with a common touch (The Providence Journal) NEWPORT With reverence and humor, a past president, a future vice president, two U.S. senators and a loving grandson paid heartfelt tribute yesterday to Claiborne de Borda Pell at the late senator’s funeral. He was, they all agreed, a rare man whose many contributions to his country will endure.
• GOP facing tough choices (Green Bay Press-Gazette) WASHINGTON Near the end of the 2008 presidential campaign, the gallows humor in Republican John McCains inner circle focused on a never-ending string of bad timing.
• Helen Suzman Was A Crusader For Racial Justice (Investor's Business Daily via Yahoo! News) Helen Suzman's directive is simple: No people of any skin color are superior to any of different skin color.
• Griffin B. Bell, Carter?s Attorney General, Is Dead (New York Times) The dean of Georgia lawyers, Mr. Bell, 90, also served as a federal judge and prominent legal troubleshooter.
• Al Franken's road to the U.S. Senate (Minnesota Public Radio) It's looking very likely that Democrat Al Franken will become Minnesota's next U.S. senator. The State Canvassing Board certified its recount Monday afternoon, giving Franken 225 more votes than Republican incumbent Norm Coleman. Here's another look at Al Franken -- who he is and how he got to this point.
• THE NOAH COUNTDOWN (Kirkus Reviews) Author: Post, B. T. Review Date: DECEMBER 22, 2008 Publisher: BookSurge (268 pp.) Price (paperback): $18.99 Publication Date: October 13, 2008 ISBN (paperback): 978-1419690648 Category: AUTHORS Classification: FICTION
• ABC gives 'Homeland Security' the 'Cops' touch (The Standard-Times) The terror threat remains deadly serious. But the aura of reverence and awe that surrounded the subject has taken a back seat to frustrations over long delays at airports and qualms about the cost of the bureaucratic leviathan that is the Department of...
• Virginia GOP Chair Not Fazed by CD Scandal (Richmond Times-Dispatch) The distribution of a controversial song by a candidate for chairman of the national Republican Party has created an unnecessary distraction as the party rebuilds, Virginia GOP chairman Jeff Frederick said Friday.

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