Cate Vojdik
AC360° Writer

Hope your holidays have been peaceful and happy.

Tonight there’s breaking news out of Gaza and Israel, where the last few days have been anything but peaceful. Over the weekend Israel launched the biggest offensive against Gaza in 40 years. Israel says the target is Hamas, which recently ratcheted up its rocket attacks into Israel. Since the fighting began Saturday, more than 350 Palestinians have been killed, including 60 civilians, according to the United Nations; four Israeli civilians have died. Israel has called up 6,500 reservists, a pretty clear sign that the end is nowhere in sight. Add this to Obama’s plate of crises to deal with. Nic Robertson will have the latest from the Mideast.

We’re also looking into riveting new details in the story of a missing cruise ship passenger. The U.S. Coast Guard today called off the search for Florida freelance writer Jennifer Seitz, after combing more than 4,200 square miles off the coast of Cancun. Authorities say the ship’s surveillance camera showed someone falling overboard on Christmas night; at least seven hours later, Seitz’s husband reported his wife missing. Now the FBI is trying to determine if a crime occurred. Meantime, Seitz’s family issued a statement today indicating they believe Seitz may have committed suicide.

Note to book publishers: For your own sake and for the integrity of the entire non-fiction genre, please dig deeper before paying out book advances to aspiring memoirists. It’s happened again. Oprah Winfrey and many others, including CBS and Lifetime, have been duped. A Holocaust memoir that was due in bookstores in February has turned out to be a big fake. What was once billed as one of the greatest love stories ever told – wasn’t so great after all. But why would a Holocaust survivor lie about what happened to him? Randi Kaye goes up close tonight.

Hard to believe there are two days left in 2008. Are you making any resolutions? What are your biggest hopes – and fears – for 2009? What will you most remember about 2008? We’d like to hear from you.

See you at 10 p.m. eastern…

Penny Manis
AC360 Senior Producer

For those of you celebrating Christmas, we at AC360 hope you had a great one yesterday.

This year brought one of the most challenging holiday shopping seasons in decades for retailers. A weak economy is to blame of course, and the weather didn’t help. Retailers want some help from the Federal Govt next year, and they aren’t the only ones. Tom Foreman and Joe Johns will tell us more tonight.

We’ll have the latest from Los Angeles on the unbelievable so-called “Santa shooter.” A man showed up to a Christmas Eve party dressed in a Santa Claus outfit and proceeded to walk through the home shooting off 2 semi-automatic handguns and starting a fire.

People were jumping out of windows on both floors trying to escape. This sounds like a scene from a bad horror flick but unfortunately it happened in real life. Police will hold a press conference and David Mattingly will have this report.

Today is the 4 year anniversary of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that killed more than 223,000 people and struck multiple countries. Victims were honored in Asia where folks burned candles, prayed and shared meals on beaches from Indonesia to India.

For many, this was a time of reflection on life and progress in rebuilding homes wiped out by the killer waves. Anderson at the time had flown out there to cover this story, we’ll offer a glimpse back at the dramatic scenes he witnessed.

Pakistan troops have reportedly moved to the Indian border amid fears of an Indian ground incursion. Pakistan has been on high alert ever since the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last month, in anticipation of a possible conflict with India, because India believes that the 10 men who carried out the attacks were trained at a terror camp in the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir.

The US has been in close contact with both sides since the Mumbai attacks to try to avoid Pakistan-Indian tensions. Nic Robertson and Peter Bergen will have more on this story.

And let’s not forget our President-Elect-he is in Hawaii, and our Ed Henry follows his moves. There are worse assignments during a holiday week than reporting from Hawaii so even if P-E Obama doesn’t make news tonight, we may still have to do a live shot with Ed if only to get a background scene of that sun and beach so he can make us all jealous and we can live vicariously through him.

All the above and more tonight, see u then!

Penny Manis
AC360 Senior Producer

Is there something fundamentally odd about seeing a President w/ his shirt off in an unsuspecting ‘celebrity-style’ pose that paparazzi snap and sell to tabloids? I’m talking about P-E Barack Obama in his swimsuit, a picture causing quite a buzz.

I will hand it to him, though, he’s in shape. Move over Brad Pitt, the tabloids have a new subject. Who knew the Oval Office could become so glam?

Today P-E Obama releases a long-awaited internal investigation about his Transition team’s contacts with the office of controversial Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. A major question is what role senior aides had in the ‘pay to play’ scandal, specifically related to P-E Obama’s old Senate seat.

According to sources, while there was some contact btwn P-E Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Blagojevich, there was no wrongdoing and this report will largely exonerate the transition team. Ed Henry will have the latest from Hawaii where he is covering P-E Obama (but Ed is keeping his shirt on).

Today Joe Biden chairs a meeting of the transition team’s top economic advisors as they ramp up efforts to piece together an urgent economic recovery package and sell the $775 billion plan to Congress.

And speaking of huge $$ packages, what did you think of the reports yesterday illustrating how little transparency there’s been in determining how the TARP (bailout money) has been spent by banks? Outrageous.

A surprising poll this morning: 74% of Americans believe that investment fraud like the recently revealed Ponzi sheme run by Bernie Madoff is a regular occurrence on Wall Street, so there are many cynics out there! 22% said government regulation is too tight, while 18% said the government’s current market oversight is exactly right. Gov’t regulation has been a hot topic since the credit crisis began.

The vast majority of Americans said they’d rather place money in a bank or stuff it under the mattress than invest in stocks or bonds. No wonder Wall St bankers are stressed out. How they are expressing their stress may surprise you. NY therapists tell us that the number of Wall St. bankers reporting an increase in sex addiction has tripled since the economy has tanked. Randi Kaye has this report tonight.

For those of you who still haven’t finished xmas shopping, here’s an idea. Joe Wurzelbacher (aka: Joe the Plumber) who became a blue collar poster boy during the final leg of the Prez campaign has a new book out offering his take on American values. Just what your significant other/uncle/mother wanted, right?

See u tonight!

Penny Manis
AC360 Senior Producer

I’m not a weather forecaster but it has to be the coldest day of the year so far in NYC. Nothing like walking outside and feeling like your face is going to freeze and fall off. Nice. Bitter cold and heavy snow is slamming most of the country, stranding many people traveling for the holidays. Hundreds of flights were cancelled yesterday, and possibly more expected today. It’s a mess!

P-E Obama managed to escape to Hawaii where he will spend the holidays. He may pop out for the occasional photo-op, but no official public events are scheduled. I guess it would be awkward for him to hold press conferences while wearing his palm tree shirt and sunglasses on the beach.

The discussions about the economy and the stimulus package will continue, no rest for the weary. P-E Obama has raised his outlook for increasing employment. His goal is to create 3 million new jobs within the first 2 years of his Administration. Ed Henry is with P-E Obama in Hawaii (lucky him) and he’ll have the latest tonight.

Joe Biden said yesterday the nation’s economy is in much worse shape than we thought and stressed the need for this stimulus package to prevent if from absolutely tanking. He’ll be spending a lot of time with congressional members to convince them of this new stimulus plan, as new estimates in Congress put the price tag on P-E Obama’s plan as high as 775 billion dollars.

P-E Obama is expected to release the results of the internal investigation into his Transition teams’ contacts with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich either today or tomorrow, so we’ll have an eye out for that too.

We’ll also have the latest in the Denver runway accident where officials say ‘it’s a miracle’ no one has died. NTSB investigators continue to examine the site today, trying to work out how a Continental Airlines jet crashed and burned after veering off the runway in Denver and landing in a 40 foot deep ravine and catching fire.

If you are feeling charitable today, follow President Bush’s lead. Early this morning, he and the First Lady will be visiting the “one warm coat’ holiday service project in DC. This is a non-profit orgazination that assists in the donation of coats to people in need. Since the program started, 750,000 coats have been collected and distributed. Here is the site: www.onewarmcoat.org.

See u at 10pet!

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich spoke to reporters at a news conference Friday but did not take questions.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Just days ago, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich vowed to tell his side of the story. Today, a defiant governor stepped up to a microphone and vowed to fight the corruption charges against him.

“I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing,” Blagojevich said at a news conference in Chicago.

Federal prosecutors accuse the governor of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s now vacant Senate seat.

“I will fight until I take my last breath,” he said.

The governor said he was “not going to quit the job the people have hired me to do.”

“I am dying to answer these charges. I am dying to show you how innocent I am,” the governor said. “I intend to answer every allegation that comes my way. However, I intend to answer them in the appropriate forum,” he added.

“I have on my side the most powerful ally there is, and it’s the truth. And besides, I have the personal knowledge that I have not done anything wrong,” said Blagojevich.

He took no questions from reporters.

One of Blagojevich’s attorneys, Sam Adam Jr., told reporters after the governor spoke that the U.S. attorney’s office hasn’t given them the tapes mentioned in the criminal complaint filed 10 days ago — the day Blagojevich was arrested.

On the tapes are phone calls involving the governor’s alleged efforts to sell the Senate seat.

“It is conduct that would make Lincoln roll over in his grave,” said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald last week when announcing the charges against Blagoveich.

Do you think the governor is innocent?
Is he the victim of a “political lynch mob”  as he suggested today?
Please share your thoughts.

We’ll have the latest on this developing story and tonight’s other headlines starting at 10pm E.T.
Hope you can join us!

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

He’s sticking with the pastor. President-elect Barack Obama is not backing down from his decision to have evangelical “celebrity” Rick Warren deliver the invocation at his inauguration next month, despite growing anger from liberal groups and gay rights proponents.

Warren is a lightening rod for controversy because he opposes same-sex marriage and abortion rights. Most recently, he endorsed California’s Proposition 8; which banned gay marriage.

Obama is defending his pick of Warren. At a news conference in Chicago today, he said a “wide range of viewpoints” will be presented at the inaugural events.

“What we have to do is to be able to create an atmosphere where we can disagree without being disagreeable and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans,” said Obama.

“I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It is something that I have been consistent on and something that I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency,” he added.

Just moments ago, Pastor Rick Warren released this statement:
Keep reading

Penny Manis
AC360 Senior Producer

Some liberal groups and gay rights proponents aren’t happy this morning over P-E Obama choosing pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the presidential inauguration next month. Warren is a religious leader who has adopted socially conservative views related to gay marriage and abortion rights.

He recently supported Prop 8 which banned gay marriage in CA and had written that the issue of gay marriage is not a political issue, but a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about. Some liberals believe that a more ‘inclusive’ pastor or preacher should have been selected.

P-E Obama’s camp responded by saying “the P-E certainly disagrees w/him on (gay rights) issues. But it has always been his goal to find common ground w/people w/whom you may disagree on some issues”.
What do you make of his choice?

P-E Obama today will name Mary Schapiro as Chairman of the SEC, she would replace Christopher Cox as head of the main watchdog over publicly traded companies when the new Admin takes office in January.

This announcement comes over heavy criticism and embarrassment for the SEC and Cox because no one acted on information that could have prevented one of the biggest fraud cases in Wall Street history, that of Bernard Madoff being charged with leading a $50 bn Ponzi scheme. Meanwhile, it seems hour by hour more victims of this financial scam emerge.

The best Madoff headline spotted yday was: “Get out of Jail Card, proceed to Park Avenue.” He is now under house arrest in his multi million dollar NY apt wearing an electronic montiring device. Under terms of his $10mn dollar bail he is under home detention and curfew 7p-9am.

The investigation continues over how he managed to pull off this scam, did he act alone and why didn’t the SEC spot trouble. Joe Johns will have the latest.

Chrysler announced it will close its US plants for a month, and Ford followed saying it will shut down 10 of its plants for an extra week in January. Michigan didn’t need more bad news, as their jobless rate hit the highest in the nation at 9.6 percent.

After Congress rejected a bailout for the Big 3, the ball is now in the White House’s court and we’re awaiting word on whether or not the Bush Administration will use TARP funds in an effort to stabilize the auto industry. WH press secretary said “a disorderly collapse of the auto industry should be avoided”. We’ll be watching this story from DC today.

Gary Tuchman is going to report from a Chrysler plant just outside of St. Louis tonight, he’ll talk to automakers and get their reaction.

And since many of you responded to my blog snippet from yday that Burger King would market a scent called “Flame” for those who are intrigued by the Eau De Beef - check out this report.

Nothing like smell of seduction...and flame-broiled meat?

See u tonight!

Penny Manis
AC360 Senior Producer

Barack Obama has been named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. They call him a “transformational figure” who has changed the paradigm of US politics. Sarah Palin came in as 4th runner up. Do u agree with Time’s choices this year?

Docs at a clinic in Cleveland offer details today about an incredible face transplant they performed 2 weeks ago. It’s the first of its kind in the US-surgeons replaced 80% of a patient’s face w/that of a female cadaver. The woman’s name hasn’t been revealed because of privacy issues, but our medical reporter Elizabeth Cohen will watch the news conference and have this story tonight.

P-E Obama will name Gov Tom Vilsack as Sec of Agriculture and US Sen. Ken Salazar as Sec. of the Interior. W/ the selection of Arne Duncan as his Education Secretary nominee yday, some people are noticing an interesting trend: P-E Obama is compiling quite an impressive basketball line-up.

Duncan played professional basketball in Australia, National Sec Adviser James Jones played at Georgetown, AG Eric Holder (known for his “easy dunk”) and UN Amb. Susan Rice played in High School, and Gov. Janet Napolitano has guest-coached for b-ball teams too. P-E Obama said “I think we are putting together the best basketball playing Cabinet in American history.” There’s going to be a lot of dribbling going on at the White House these next 4 yrs.

Tomorrow Fed regulators will adopt tougher restrictions on credit card companies and apparently make it harder for them to raise interest rates on existing customers. But Drew Griffin is Keeping Them Honest and tells us if these rules go far enough in protecting consumers-he found some interesting loopholes he’ll share tonight.

The case against an Iraqi journo who threw his shoes at Prez Bush has been referred to trial, he’ll most likely be charged with assaulting a foreign head of state under the Iraqi penal code. The shoe-thrower’s brother has said the journo hated the “material American occupation” and Iranian influence in Iraq. There were protests against his detention on Tuesday.

Prez Bush, when asked by Candy Crowley abt the incident said “I didn’t have much time to reflect on anything, I was ducking and dodging.” He said the journalist was “looking for notoriety” and that authorities shouldn’t “overact” in their treatment of him.

In News of the Weird, Burger King has a holiday gift idea for meat-lovers. They’ve created a fragrance called “Flame”, a “seductive” body spray with a hint of flame-broiled meat”, just for men. So gals, next time you want a burger, just spritz some on your man and have some fries. See u tonight!

A mixed-breed dog sits in the Fairfax County, Virginia, animal shelter earlier this year.

Penny Manis
AC360 Senior Producer

Our latest CNN poll shows that America’s pick for a potential First Puppy vary widely, but most feel the incoming First Family should rescue an animal from a shelter rather than buy one from a pet store or breeder.

P-E Obama has said that the family prefers a shelter dog. Given that The American Humane Association says 7 million animals end up in shelters every year, he’s got the pick of the litter, pun intended. Yes, we will have more on this poll for you tonight, because AC360 staff is full of puppy lovers and we can’t get enough.

The Bidens just found a 3-month-old male German shepherd, in a breeder’s kennel in PA. The pup doesn’t have a name yet. What would you call it? The Suggestion box is open.

Tonight we’ll have more on Bernard Madoff, the Wall Street veteran who allegedly swindled $50 bn dollars worth of cash from investors. Joe Johns will look at the role of the SEC in this mess. Financial analysts raised concerns about Madoff’s practices in the past, so why didn’t the agency conduct an examination of his business until last week?

The Fed is expected to cut interest rates for the 10th time this year, driving it down to 0.5% in the latest effort to stabilize the economy. There may be an announcement on the Bush Adminstration’s latest plan to help the auto industry. Ali Velshi will have more on both these stories tonight.

President Bush has recovered from the shoe-flying incident and is sitting down w/Candy Crowley for an ‘exit interview.’ Maybe she’ll ask him about his sharp ducking skills in Baghdad. You have to hand it to the guy-did you think he could move so quickly? One of you commented to my blog yday “he’s from Texas, we are used to dodging bullets here”. Funny.

P-E Obama will name Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan as Sec of Education. And Gary Tuchman is in Chicago watching the Gov. Blagojevich fiasco. His attorney thinks he will NOT resign, though Illinois officials began a first step toward removing him from office yesterday by appointing a committee to review potential impeachment proceedings. Some people just don’t know when to leave the party. See u tonight!!

TV reporter Muntadhar al-Zaidi, in a file photo, was jailed after throwing his shoes at President Bush.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

It was a strange weekend for Pres. Bush.  By now, I’m betting you saw the video of Mr. Bush ducking as two shoes were thrown at him during a news conference in Iraq.  If not, click here to see the drama.  We’re impressed with Pres. Bush’s quick reflexes. And, gosh, it was nice of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki tried to reach out and stop the second shoe.

The man who tossed his size 10 shoes is Iraqi journalist Muntather Zaidi. He’s a correspondent for Baghdadiya, a satellite TV channel that’s out of Cairo, Egypt.

“This is a gift from the Iraqis. This is the farewell kiss, you dog,” Zaidi said, according to a pool translation.

Zaidi is being hailed as a hero to many in the Arab world and beyond.

What do you think of the incident?

Should Zaidi face jail time for what he did?

We’ll have all the angles on this story. We’re also following tonight’s other headlines, including the possibility of another Senator Kennedy. Caroline Kennedy would love to have Sen. Hillary Clinton’s job when she moves over to the State Dept.  But some people say Ms. Kennedy is not fit for the job.

Join us for all that and more at 10pm ET.