So you thought the football was over for the weekend? No it is just starting. Today, there are 13 college games. Here are my picks:

Louisville (+3) over Rutgers. Temple (-3) over Ohio. Illinois (+21) over Cinncinati. Central Michigan (-13.5) over Western Illinois. Bowling Greeen (-7.5) over Toledo. Kent State (+3) over Buffalo. Akron (-16) over Eastern Michigan. Colorado State (-3) over Wyoming. Memphis (+17) over Tulsa.

The big game in the SEC is the Iron Bowl - Alabama v. Auburn. The game is in Auburn. The Crimson Tide are already in the SEC Championship game next week against Florida. But they must win this game to stay in the National Championship hunt. I like Auburn (+10.5) to keep it close. More . . .

Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake writes tonight of the recent passing of Kobe Mattisse Rose, her beautiful poodle who was the inspiration for the blog. It's one of the most moving posts I've ever read.

I had the privilege of spending a week in CT with Jane, Kobe, Lucy and Katie (here's a pic of what the poodles were like together.) Jane and Kobe were so in sync -- so much a part of each other. She's really hurting, but her post is beautiful -- and about how much he gave her to be thankful for. I can't think of a more uplifting way to end Thanksgiving evening, and I hope you'll all take a few minutes to read it.

R.I.P. Kobe. Jane, we love you.

I've been writing about the curious case of David Headley, former heroin smuggler who got a sweetheart deal from the DEA and DOJ in exchange for cooperation that included travel to Pakistan.

Today, the Times of India picks up on the DEA connection, and asks, Is Headley an American agent who turned rogue?

To make the tale even more dramatic, Headley may just have provided American intelligence agencies information that prevented a Lashkar attack on Mumbai in September. The theory -- and it's still a theory -- is that Headley was used to infiltrate the Lashkar, but gradually went astray under the influence of the very terrorists he was supposed to be spying upon.

Torn between conflicting loyalties, he may have continued to give information to his American handlers, and a tip-off by him may even have helped avert a Laskar attack orginally planned for September. But he seems to have commited fully to Lashkar shortly after that, which could be one reason why American agencies were caught napping by 26/11.

Also, the Telegraph reports it was British Intelligence that tipped the FBI to both Headley and Najibullah Zazi.

Preparations are underway for Roman Polanski to be released from jail on bail and home detention at his chalet in Switzerland. The Swiss Justice Ministry announced today they will not appeal the decision.

Polanski will be released from custody as soon as bail has been transferred, ID and travel documents have been lodged, and the electronic monitoring system has been installed and tested.

He served 60 days in jail following his extradition arrest, and the appeals court in LA still has his motion to dismiss under consideration. The victim has asked the appeals court to dismiss the case.

Oral argument in the California appeal is set for December 10.

It's a great Thanksgiving tradition. Radio stations around the country today will play the 18 minute version of Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant, recorded in 1967.

It's a beautiful, sunny day here in Denver. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Let us know how you are spending the holiday. This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Who's already cooking for tomorrow? Who's going elsewhere and not cooking at all?

The Black Friday shopping deals are already available online. Here's a list of stores open both Thursday and Friday, and one of those taking online orders. More tips here. Supposedly, the stores' twitter feeds and facebook pages are the best places for early notice of new deals.

If you find any great deals online, let us know in comments. This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Update: How about that couple that crashed the White House state dinner? [More..]

Congrats to Ben Kuehne. After two years of being under federal indictment for money laundering resulting from legal advice he gave regarding accepting legal fees from a cocaine trafficker, the Government moved today to dismiss the case, with prejudice.

Federal authorities decided to give up their closely watched case against Ben Kuehne, who advised defense attorney Roy Black to accept $5.2 million in payments from defendant Fabio Ochoa after concluding the money was clean.

Prosecutors said they dismissed the indictment against Kuehne -- citing ``the interests of justice'' -- mainly because of the recent loss of a crucial appeal over a money-laundering charge that was the backbone of their case, according to a court filing.

Kuehne's reaction: [More...]

Pakistan has indicted seven members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The seven, all in custody, are: Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the “mastermind” of the attacks; Abdul Wajid alias Zarar Shah, also of the LeT and described as a “facilitator and expert of computer networks;” Hamad Amin Sadiq, who is charged with “facilitating funds and hideouts” for the Mumbai attackers; Mazhar Iqbal alias Abu al Qama, described as a “handler;” Shahid Jamil Riaz, who is described both as a facilitator for funds, as well as a crew member of a boat used by the attackers; Jamil Ahmed, described as “facilitator;” and, Younus, also a “facilitator.”

All have pleaded not guilty. The seven include the two alleged masterminds of the attacks, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Zarrar Shah. The Court refused to indict LeT leader Hafiz Saeed. [More...]

Director Roman Polanski has been granted bail in Switzerland.

German radio reported this morning (hat tip to reader Scribe for the translation:)

The film director Roman Polanski, incarcerated because of sexual misconduct, will be released from jail on bail. The Swiss federal court in Lausanne imposed a bail of about 3 million Euros. Polanski must turn over all passports and will be placed under house arrest. Additionally, the court may require him to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. The Swiss police had arrested the director at the end of September on an arrest warrant out of the USA. Polanski is alleged to have abused a 13 y/o girl in 1977 after giving her alcohol and drugs.

Polanski will remain in jail while the Swiss Justice Ministry decides whether to appeal. They have 10 days to make the decision.

Turkey Day means football, 3 games in the NFL and one of the college variety.

3 NFL games tomorrow. The traditional games in Detroit and Dallas plus the new NFL Networks game at night. The Lions, who are terrible, have a QB, Matthew Stafford, with a separated shoulder. They are playing the Packers, winners of their last 2. Seems like the Lions always get blown out in this game. I think they will again. I like the Pack (-11).

The Giants travel to Denver. I still do not respect the Broncos. I'll take the G-Men (-6.5). More . .

Too funny. Via Drum, M.J. Rosenberg -- proving to be the anti-Claude Raines -- is surprised, disappointed and upset that President Obama is not a fighter:

I do not know a single person who is not disappointed by Obama's first year in office. [. . .] And the reason for their disappointment is that they wanted a fighter, someone who would implement campaign promises (at least the ones a President can do unilaterally like gays in the military) and challenge the right's lies. Instead they have a conciliator. [. . .] Michael Jackson said: "I'm a lover, not a fighter." In a President, we need the opposite.

Apparently, Rosenberg was too busy demonizing Hillary Clinton to notice Obama's Post Partisan Unity Schtick.

Speaking for me only

Matt Yglesias writes:

The House bill, financed overwhelmingly by income taxes on high earners, will represent a large aggregate shift of national resources from the wealthy to the poor and near-poor. It will also represent a large shift of resources from things that are not health care services to things that are health care services. The Senate bill is not like that at all. It is much more mildly redistributive, but its redistribution is overwhelmingly contained within the health care system via taxes on “cadillac” health plans, medical devices, plastic surgery, etc.

Hmm. Define "mildly redistributive." The main financing device provided by the Senate bill is the increase in the Medicare tax on persons earning more than $200,000 per year. This is is a redistributive tax, though not as redistributive as the House tax proposal. Yglesias' description of the excise tax also does not square with the selling of it by other Village wonks - to wit, that it will move money out of health costs to increased wages. Now that claim strikes me as ludicrous, but it is interesting that Yglesias forgets it. Maybe he realizes it is not true. And that in fact, the excise tax is designed to be quite regressive.

Speaking for me only