The Lava in the Flow

• Nobel laureate Al Gore accused the United States on Thursday of blocking progress at the U.N. climate conference.
• European nations threatened to boycott U.S.-led climate talks next month unless Washington compromises on emissions reductions.
• Senate Republicans blocked a broad energy bill Thursday because it included billions of dollars in new taxes on the biggest oil companies.
• Clinton Campaign is backtracking on yesterday's play of sheer dirt. Things are getting ugly.
  
• With Clinton barely holding her own against Barack Obama and John Edwards in Iowa, dissatisfaction is growing with Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton's top political aide, who some say has mistakenly run Clinton as a de facto incumbent.
• Chris Bowers says: "It is time to start thinking about how we can change the Democratic leadership in Congress.

• What do higher fuel-efficiency standards, expanded children's health care and improved relations with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have in common?
  According to U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach, those are just a few of the benefits America can reap if Congress holds hearings on the impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.
  
  Oh Yeah, don't forget: It's the Democrats' turn to take center stage in the final debate before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. Six presidential contenders will take part this afternoon in the 90-minute debate.