Excerpts: Cynthia McFadden Interviews President George W. Bush  —  President Talks to McFadden About Bailout for Auto Companies; Understanding the Bible  —  The following are excerpts from ABC News' Cynthia McFadden's interview with President George W. Bush on Monday, Dec. 8 at the White House to air on “Nightline.”

Tribune Company Seeks Bankruptcy Protection  —  The Tribune Company, the newspaper and television chain that publishes The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday.  —  The move came less than a year after Samuel Zell, a Chicago real estate tycoon …

Illinois Governor Supports Workers Occupying Closed Chicago Factory  —  Workers occupying a Chicago factory that closed abruptly last week gained a significant political ally Monday in their fight to receive back benefits, when Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) ordered state agencies …

Washington Takes Risks With Its Auto Bailout Plans  —  WASHINGTON — When President-elect Barack Obama talked on Sunday about realigning the American automobile industry he was quick to offer a caution, lest he sound more like the incoming leader of France, or perhaps Japan.

Obama: Don't stock up on guns  —  As gun sales shoot up around the country, President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday that gun-owning Americans do not need to rush out and stock up before he is sworn in next month.  —  “I believe in common-sense gun safety laws, and I believe in the second amendment,” Obama said at a news conference.

The Card McCain Didn't Play  —  By Patrick Appel  —  The unaired Wright ad:

WHERE IS LENO GOING?  TO PRIME TIME, ON NBC  —  NBC will keep Jay Leno five nights a week, but in prime time, competing not with David Letterman, but with shows like “CSI: Miami.”  —  The network will announce Tuesday that Mr. Leno's new show will appear at 10 o'clock each weeknight in a format similar to …

Understanding The Philosophy Of Muslim Violence  —  MPACUK, unlike the many other Muslim groups out there, have not just pioneered the best solution against any terrorist attack in mainland Britain (i.e. get the mosques and ISOCs to teach democracy) but has now embarked in cutting through …

Election 2010: Virginia Governor Election  —  Governor's Race Is Wide Open In Virginia  —  The election is 11 months away, but the four leading candidates for the next governor of Virginia are neck-and-neck at this point, with one-third of voters in the state not aware of any of them enough to even an opinion about them.

Kennedy Is Said to Be Politicking for His Niece  —  While Caroline Kennedy is maintaining her public silence about whether she wishes to succeed Senator Hillary Clinton, her uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, has been working behind the scenes on her behalf, according to Democratic aides.

RICE TO HOST HRC TONIGHT  —  From NBC's Libby Leist  —  Two of the most powerful women in the world will meet for dinner tonight when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hosts Hillary Clinton for dinner at Rice's Watergate apartment, State Department transition sources tell NBC News.

Did Democrats peak too early?  —  Did the Democrats' exile end too soon?  —  That may be a question that nags at more than a few party activists once all the partying is done.  —  Democrats have clearly come a long way in rebuilding their party infrastructure since falling from power in the late 1990s.

Is Arnold Evidence of “Ideological Warfare”?  The WaPo article I noted below on ideological divisions on the U.S. Courts of Appeals highlights the case of United States v. Arnold as an example of [how] President Bush's nominees have altered the ideological balance of the Sixth Circuit.In June 2005 …

Oil giants could soon face lawsuits over climate, says Oxford University scientist  —  People affected by worsening storms, heatwaves and floods could soon be able to sue the oil and power companies they blame for global warming, a leading climate expert has said.

Search for missing ballots called off  —  The missing 133 ballots in a Minneapolis precinct are going to stay missing - at least for now.  —  City spokesman Matt Laible said today that officials had suspended the search for the ballots that began after they turned up missing in the waning hours of last week's U.S. Senate recount.

Please Resign, Bush Tells Political Appointees  —  President Bush is helping clear the decks for President-elect Barack Obama by asking his political appointees to submit their resignations effective Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, according to a memo [PDF] dated Dec. 1 and obtained by National Journal.

Poll: Americans Split On Automaker Bailout  —  CBS News Poll: Most Believe That If Taxpayers Do Help Big Three, Government Should Have Say In Companies' Management  —  (CBS) While a majority of Americans believe that bankruptcy for U.S. automakers would have a major impact on the economy …