* Republican controlled lame duck final session of the 109th Congress begins today. Only innocuous, non-controversial legislation expected to go through -- but the White House is still hoping to push for the authorization of domestic wiretapping and the confirmation of John "Mustache of Fury" Bolton as ambassador to the UN. [NYT, WP]

* Nancy Pelosi supports John Murtha for House majority leader citing his early support for withdrawal from Iraq. [WP, NYT]

* Incoming Senate leadership also beating their out-of-Iraq drums, "We need to begin a phased redeployment of forces from Iraq in four to six months." [NYT, LAT]

* Newly independent Joe Lieberman, establishing himself as the generic brand alternative on Iraq, says the Democrats' plan "to pick up an leave" is wrong. [WP]

* California and Nancy Pelosi are all about the pork. [NYT, LAT]

* Everything you never wanted to know about Jon Tester. [NYT]

* George H. W. Bush: "I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, which now to claim my vantage doth invite me." [Newsweek]