The time is right.

Dick Cheney will break his silence on shooting a man today at 2:00 pm EST on Fox (where else?) News.

Chew it up.

Here's some fodder for your discussive happitude.

CIA Program Continues Despite Controversy: WaPo -- "[the program - referred to by the initials GST] includes programs allowing the CIA to capture al Qaeda suspects with help from foreign intelligence services, to maintain secret prisons abroad, to use interrogation techniques that some lawyers say violate international treaties, and to maintain a fleet of aircraft to move detainees around the globe. Other compartments within GST give the CIA enhanced ability to mine international financial records and eavesdrop on suspects anywhere in the world."

Bin Laden Safe In Pakistan - our 'Ally'?: "C.I.A. director, Porter J. Goss, provided a big hint. He said that the United States had a good idea of where Mr. bin Laden was hiding, but that sovereign states would not let a proper manhunt be mounted. Mr. Goss's statement seemed to confirm the widespread suspicion that Mr. bin Laden was hiding in the mountains of northern Pakistan but that President Pervez Musharraf, fearing the reaction of Islamic militants, was not eager for him to be captured. Mr. Musharraf himself lent support to that theory, telling an interviewer: 'One would prefer that he's captured somewhere outside Pakistan. By some other people.'"

Much more over the bump...

I wanted to take a quick moment here to wish everyone a very merry one. To Tom, SusanG, Georgia10, Frederick Clarkson, mcjoan, Devilstower, Btyarbro, S.M. Dixon, sdf, Hermod, Coldfusion04, Bob Kendall, Bill Hare and Drew Johnston....here's wishing a very blogging New Year.

And to all the new Cortexians, my best to you and your families.

Let's use this as a Christmas Day open thread. What  was under the tree for you and how are you spending the day?

Senator Orrin Hatch had a Freudian slip on FOX News yesterday.  The Republican referred to the Democratic Party being taken over by the "Michael Moore contigent" in its attitude towards "Vietnam."  Obviously, he meant "Iraq."  Congressional Quarterly reportedly fixed the slip in its transcript. I'd love to see what FOX did, but alas, FOX doesn't do transcripts.  That pesky paper trial...

This is an open thread.

[editor's note, by Tom Ball] Brought this back to the top of the list so it wasn't shortchanged by the Holiday sleep-fest. Also, take the poll!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Now it's time to start looking to the "end of year" holidays. And isn't this special, for the first time in years (don't ask me when it happened last time), Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanza overlap.

Everybody coming together to celebrate what they wish to celebrate -- in peace and harmony.

And, to kick off a little Holiday season good cheer, please share your blog with us, and if it is related to progressive politics, causes, ideology, or current events, we would be happy to link to you in our Blogroll page!

We only ask that you return the good will with a little link back to your friends at the Cortex:)

This is an open thread.

Sound-off. This poll allows for multiple choices, so choose all that apply.

What do you think about Cross Posting?

Is it a good idea for the Cortex Writers to avoid regular crossposting?

Check out the poll over the flip and consider this an Open thread!!

Newsweek Poll: 36% approve
Bush lashing out
Fitzgerald's march to the truth
Abramoff emails
Congress in revolt
2005 Democratic election victories

Care to discuss the Fall of the House of Bush...or anything else?

Regarding the investigation into the handling of pre-war intelligence, Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Pat Roberts (R-KA) said they "interviewed over 250 analysts and we specifically asked them: 'Was there any political manipulation or pressure?' Answer: 'No!'".

Well, that's it. Case Closed. Right?

Consider this an open thread. The very first here at the Cortex (sniff!) Make it good;)

Kudos to Tom and his designer for the site.