It's not an overriding approval of condom use, and it's not even an endorsement of condom use by those affected with AIDS. The Pope, however, has shifted the position of the Catholic Church by grudgingly accepting the use of a condom in certain circumstances to combat the cure of AIDS.

Specifically, he referenced their use by male prostitutes where pregnancy is not possible. Here was the specific statement:

[The Church] of course does not regard [condoms] as a real or moral solution [to the AIDS epidemic], but, in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality.

Mollie Hemingway points out that the media has interpreted the statements to mean that the Pope has endorsed the use of condoms on a more widespread basis. That's not the case.

...you may want to read the actual remarks from Benedict, helpfully published by BBC. It’s not long and has plenty of discussion about how the media perverts news. And you might also note that you won’t find the words “permissible,” “justified” or “acceptable” in those remarks. You’ll note that there is literally nothing in there about procreative sex or birth control.

This spoof of TSA airport security screening is the best yet..
WARNING: Explicit language and imagery

Gawker published excerpts from Palin's new book, "America by Heart : Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag," which is due out in three days.

From Palin's Twitter feed:

The publishing world is LEAKING out-of-context excerpts of my book w/out my permission? Isn't that illegal?

From Gawker:

[Sarah: If you're reading this—and if you are, welcome!—you may want to take a moment to familiarize yourself with the law. Try starting here or here. Or skip the totally boring reading and call one of your lawyers. They'll walk you through it.]

U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Griesa in New York "temporarily retrained and enjoined" Gawker from continuing to "distribute, publish or otherwise transmit pages." At this point, there are no excerpts on Gawker's site.... but Palin just published an excerpt on her Facebook page.

Harvard reiterates its position, via the Marine Corps Times:

Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust has said that the school will resume a long-banned Reserve Officer Training Corps program when federal law allows gays to serve openly in the military.

Faust has spoken before about bringing ROTC back pending repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” She emphasized her position Wednesday in introducing Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who spoke at the Ivy League school.

Faust said Harvard is prepared to “fully and formally” recognize ROTC when all students have “the privilege and honor of military service” without having to lie. Her comments, first reported by the Harvard Crimson, come as talk of a repeal heats up in Washington.

Harvard has not allowed ROTC on campus since 1969.

This was one of the few races still lagging on... Democratic Rep. Bobby Etheridge is expected to concede to Republican Renee Ellmers in North Carolina's second district after the total vote difference amounted to less than 1,500 votes. Etheridge was going to insist on a recount, but analysts from both sides of the aisle said the circumstances were unlikely to change even if that happened. Etheridge is now expected to release a statement at 3pm announcing his concession.

Etheridge came under serious fire after a video showed him physically harassing a young reporter. Ellmers had run an offbeat campaign since the start of the race and enjoyed a significant boost after the altercation:



Meanwhile, 5 house races are still undecided.

“Morning Joe” Scarborough is off the air for two days after it was discovered that he donated $4,000 to eight separate politicians who were running for state and local office. All of them were Republicans, according to Politico. Scarborough's statement:

I recognize that I have a responsibility to honor the guidelines and conditions of my employment, and I regret that I failed to do so in this matter... I apologize to MSNBC and to anyone who has been negatively affected by my actions.

MSNBC president Phil Griffin had demanded the two-day suspension, and Politico reports that Scarborough readily agreed.

It'll make you unhappy.

It might be a farce... but if it's real, it's sick. A Minnesota couple is asking whether they should abort their baby on a website, www.birthornot.com. After having three miscarriages, Alisha Arnold and her husband, Peter Arnold, weren't sure if she could handle a child emotionally. So they're polling the internet to figure out what to do, while blogging about the progress of the unborn child. Here's one entry:

At my 16 week OB check they did another ultrasound and baby’s development is still on target.  Lots of fetal movement and the hematoma was smaller once again.  Baby “Wiggles” heartbeat was at 164 bpm and I got to hear it on the dop tone as well.  The nurse even informed me how the staticky crunch noises that I hear are the baby’s movements.

The tag line for the website is even worse: You can vote and choose whether we abort or keep our unborn child. For the first time, your vote on the topic of abortion can make a difference.

"The 7: Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life,” goes on sale January 4, 2011.

Democrats are digging in their heels. Republicans are refusing to compromise. What's going to happen to the extension of the Bush tax cuts, which must be addressed before Congress goes home for winter break?

Right now, it's a stalemate. Rep. Paul Ryan, Wisconsin's fiscal dreamboat, has declared that anything other than a full extension of the tax cuts for every American will be blocked by Congressional Republicans. That's backed up by Speaker-elect John Boehner's statement this afternoon, via his spokesman Michael Steel:

We made a pledge to America to permanently stop all of the tax hikes.  That's what we'll fight for.

Sen. Mitch McConnell agrees, partnering up with Sen. Jim DeMint to insist that it really is all-or-nothing. Democrats are now in a frenzy. They can't let the tax cuts expire without doing anything, but they also can't stomach the idea that tax cuts will be given to the rich under their watch. They also know if they simply sit back and let the cuts expire for everyone, they'll be doing precisely what got them voted out of office three weeks ago.

Both Pelosi and Reid have laid the law down during a conference call on Monday, saying that they won't make a move until Obama tells them what to do. Unfortunately, that's not working out so well for them. Politico:

Obama’s repeated insistence that he would drive the hardest possible bargain – while signaling his openness to a compromise that includes a temporary extension for high-income taxpayers — has angered some in his party who claim he’s weakening Democrats’ efforts to force concessions from Republicans.

“Give us the playbook – or even an inkling of what you want to do and how you want to do it,” said one congressional Democrat involved in crafting the tax-cut strategy.