WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney will leave for Saudi Arabia the day after Thanksgiving for talks with King Abdullah.

The vice president's office said Wednesday that Cheney would meet with Abdullah on Saturday to discuss developments in the Middle East, then return to Washington with no other stops planned. The United States and Saudi Arabia have a host of shared interests, including Arab-Israeli relations.

The Bush administration wants Saudi Arabia to put greater diplomatic muscle behind the secular Palestinian president in his standoff with Hamas militants, and to bolster moderate secular governments in Lebanon and Iraq. Saudi Arabia and Egypt both have told the administration that the Middle East's many volatile conflicts are hinged to Israel's long conflict with the Palestinians.

President Bush is headed to the Middle East next week to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Jordan.

4 p.m. ET The Situation Room
-Democratic strategist Donna Brazile and Terry Jeffrey, editor of Human Events magazine, will discuss the politics of the day in today's strategy session.

5 p.m. ET The Situation Room
-Rep. Chris Shays, R-Connecticut, will discuss his agenda in the next Congress.

9 p.m. ET, Larry King Live
-James Dobson of 'Focus on the Family,' will join Larry to discuss religion and politics.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., who is in the middle of a controversy over whether he's ethically fit to chair the super-secret House intelligence committee, is urging his fellow lawmakers to ignore the "noise" and "sometimes venomous attacks" that are aimed at denying him the job he has "certainly earned" and is "completely competent" to perform.

In a spirited and detailed five-page "dear colleague" letter, circulated this week and obtained by CNN, Hastings said his 1980s-era impeachment as a federal judge was driven by politics and never should have taken place because he was acquitted by a federal jury on the underlying corruption charges.

"It's amazing how little importance is given to this fact," he wrote. Hastings is the second most senior Democrat on the committee and is in line to become chairman when Democrats take control of the House in January, in part, because Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi has indicated, because of term limits, she won't tap the committee's top Democrat, Jane Harman of California, for the job.

Pelosi has been under enormous pressure to reverse the decision on Harman or to skip over Hastings and choose the third-ranking Democrat, Rep. Sylvester Reyes of Texas, instead.

She is also under pressure from the Congressional Black Caucus to pick Hastings.

"I have been on the Intelligence Committee for seven years," Hastings wrote. "I have been entrusted with America's secrets. And I have never violated that trust."

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Losing 110 pounds was no mean feat, but Gov. Mike Huckabee may find it more difficult to shed a reputation for verbal gaffes and ethics lapses if he pursues the presidency.

Huckabee, who is weighing a bid for the 2008 GOP nomination, has burnished his political credentials with a term heading the National Governors Association, and has drawn national attention for his dramatic weight loss.

Yet, he has repeatedly had to defend against slips of the tongue and ethics controversies.

Arkansas' Ethics Commission has admonished Huckabee for violations five times in 14 years, once for taking money from an organization whose donors have never been listed. He jokingly attributed his weight loss to a "concentration camp" diet and once called his state a "banana republic."

And last week, he lashed out after reporters questioned wedding-gift registries set up to furnish Huckabee's new $525,000 home in North Little Rock.

Friends this fall set up the accounts for Huckabee and his wife Janet, who have been married since 1974.

"I can understand him being upset with people thumbing through his registry, but if he's thinking seriously about running for president, he needs to get used to that," said Seth Masket, a
political scientist at the University of Denver. "If his name exists anywhere on the Internet, people will find it pretty quickly."

It seems that for every popular cause that Huckabee has championed -- healthy living, education reform, insurance for the poor -- he's tangled with campaign finance officials, reporters and political enemies who question his ethics.

Free-Range Roasted Turkey
Cast-Iron Skillet Cornbread Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Sautéed Green Beans
Zucchini Gratin
Whipped Maple Sweet Potatoes
Basil Chive Red Potato Mash
Giblet Gravy
Fresh Clover Rolls with Honey Butter
Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Topping
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Mousse Trifle
Fresh Fruit Platter

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- When introducing former vice presidential candidate John Edwards at a book signing this week, a family friend mentioned a bumper sticker she'd seen around town: "Edwards-Obama."

The giddy audience roared with approval. Both Edwards and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama insist they have yet to decide whether they are running for president, but both are drawing big crowds as they follow the modern script of a White House candidate and head out on nationwide book tours.

The self-promoting promenades give both an excuse to tour early 2008 primary states -- without having to publicly commit to a campaign.

"Book tours have become a basic staple of the presidential process," said Chris Lehane, a Democratic strategist who has worked on several presidential campaigns. "At some level, the success of these books is a gauge and a measuring stick with how popular these candidates are with the public, as if it were a primary."

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In front of an audience that included Girl Scouts and other children, President Bush on Wednesday pardoned a turkey in a Rose Garden ceremony that dates back to 1947.

The turkey, anointed "Flyer" by online voters at the White House Web site, weighed about 30 to 35 pounds, as did his alternate, which was named "Fryer."

The birds were raised on a farm in Missouri, and later Wednesday will be flown to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., where they will be honorary grand marshals in Thursday's Thanksgiving Day parade.

They will spend the rest of their natural lives at the theme park.

"I am granting a full presidential pardon so they can live out their lives as safe as can be," Bush said.

In a brief speech, the president called Americans a "grateful people."

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Oscar Arias, the president of Costa Rica, will meet with President Bush at the White House on December 6th, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow announced Wednesday. Snow said the two presidents will discuss trade policy and other issues of mutual importance.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former New York GOP Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, remain the two frontrunners for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2008, a new CNN poll shows.

Giuliani garnered 33% support from registered Republicans, while McCain registered at 30%. The remaining candidates all polled in single digits. The poll has a sampling error of +/- 5% points.

Both Giuliani and McCain have filed papers to form presidential exploratory committees -- the only two GOP presidential contenders yet to do so. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-California, and formers Health Secretary Tommy Thompson have said they plan to file papers in the coming weeks.

Registered Republicans' choice for nominee in 2008:

Giuliani     33%
McCain       30%
Gingrich      9%
Romney        9%
Frist         3%
Thompson      3%
Brownback     2%
Hunter        2%
Pataki        1%

November 17-19 Sampling error: +/-5% pts

Full poll results

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- She's America's top teacher, but last night Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings was put to the test herself -- appearing on 'Celebrity Jeopardy' -- the first cabinet secretary ever to do so.

Spellings placed second and won $25,000 for 'ProLiteracy Worldwide,' a non-profit organization that fights adult illiteracy.

Despite a strong second round, Spellings was unable to overcome the solid lead established by fellow contestant Michael McKean -- the actor best known for his role as 'Lenny' on the television show "Laverne and Shirley."

Proving she is well versed on America's literary classics, Spellings answered 'final jeopardy' correctly -- "What is 'To kill a mocking bird'" -- and easily beat out Hill Harper, from the television show "CSI: NY."

While pleased with her performance, Department of Education Spokesman Trey Ditto says Spellings would like to return to America's top quiz show for another try.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani filed papers to form a federal exploratory committee this week, the latest step towards a possible bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

"It is a mere formality for all potential candidates looking at a possible run," a senior Giuliani advisor tells CNN. "It is akin to crossing the "T" in exploratory."

Earlier this month, Giuliani formed a presidential exploratory committee with the New York Department of State. The latest filing, with the Federal Election Commission, occurred on November 20. John H. Gross, a partner in the law firm Proskauer Rose, is listed as the committee's treasurer.

By forming an exploratory committee, Giuliani can raise money to pay for travel and polling as he considers a White House run. Arizona Sen. John McCain is the only other Republican to form a presidential exploratory committee. On the Democratic side, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack has already filed papers to run for president.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As violence grips Iraq, some White House hopefuls want U.S. troops to start coming home now, or at least soon. Others say the United States must win at all costs. One has called for Iraq to be carved up along ethnic lines.

And then there's Sen. John McCain.

"I believe victory is still attainable," the Arizona Republican says. "But without additional combat forces we will not win this war."

In carefully scripted language, McCain then adds: If the country does not have the will to do what it takes to win in Iraq -- send in more forces -- then U.S. troops should not be made to serve more tours of duty.

"As troubling as it is, I can ask a young Marine to go back to Iraq," he said last week. "What I cannot do is ask him to return to Iraq, to risk life and limb, so that we might delay our defeat for a few months or a year. That is more to ask than patriotism requires.

"It would be immoral, and I could not do it," the former Vietnam prisoner of war added.

Nuanced and multifaceted, McCain's position puts him in conflict with President Bush, most fellow Republicans and, so far, with many of his would-be White House rivals should he run for president.

The stance has allowed McCain, a staunch supporter of the war, to distance himself dramatically from how Bush has handled the conflict.

But the position also places the Arizona senator at odds with a majority of the country, which has grown increasingly frustrated with the nearly four-year-old war that has cost more than $350 billion and resulted in the deaths of nearly 2,900 U.S. military personnel.

Today on the Ticker

Compiled By Mark Preston
CNN Political Editor

Bush, Al-Maliki to meet in Jordan next week

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush will hold talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki next week in the Jordanian capital of Amman, the White House announced Tuesday.

The upcoming meeting, scheduled for Nov. 29-30, will focus on the progress of the 3-year-old war in Iraq, the transfer of security duties to Iraqi forces and "the role of the region in supporting Iraq," according to a joint statement from the two leaders.

"We reiterate our common commitment to building the foundations of a peaceful, democratic, secure, and unified Iraq, and to strengthening the partnership between our two nations," the statement said. Bush and al-Maliki have met once before, during the president's surprise visit to Baghdad in June.

Next week's talks come as Bush is under increased pressure to make changes in U.S. strategy in the conflict, which is now widely unpopular with the American public. An independent commission led by former Secretary of State James Baker is expected to deliver its recommendations on the future of the war by the end of the year. But Democrats, who won control of both houses of Congress in midterm elections earlier this month, have called for a "phased redeployment" of U.S. troops as a way to spur al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders to take political steps toward ending the insurgent attacks and sectarian killings that have wracked the country this year.

More than 2,800 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003. Gen. John Abizaid, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, told a Senate committee last week that a phased withdrawal would lead to an increase in Sunni-Shiite violence, which surged after the bombing of a revered Shiite
Muslim mosque in February. But he said it might be possible to increase "the pace of transition" to hasten what has been envisioned as a 12- to 18-month transition to Iraqi control.

Also making news:

* Texas Gov. Rick Perry has named Dec. 12 as the runoff date between Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas, and former Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-Texas.

* America's mayor tells the Federal Election Commission that he is interested in running for president. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has filed paperwork for an exploratory committee with the FEC as he ponders a bid for the GOP nomination. Previously, Giuliani had opened a New York state based presidential exploratory committee.

* And what other New Yorker is taking serious steps at making a run for the Republican presidential nomination? Check out below in Political Hot Topics.

President's schedule:

* President Bush begins the day by pardoning the National Thanksgiving Turkey at 10:30 a.m. ET. What is the turkey's name? We will find out at the ceremony.
Bush and first lady Laura Bush head to Camp David at 2 p.m. ET.

On Capitol Hill today:

* The Senate Radio-Television Correspondents' Gallery Daybook

* The House Radio-Television Correspondents' Gallery Daybook

Thanksgiving Day

* Traveling for the holidays? A CNN poll released this morning shows that 45 percent of Americans will be having Thanksgiving dinner at home this year. Check ahead before you hit the road.

* The CNN Political Ticker returns on Monday, Nov. 27. Happy holidays.

===============================================================Political Hot Topics (Today's top political stories from news organizations across the country)

Washington Times: Pentagon cites alternative to Baker report
The Pentagon is drafting its own new options for winning in Iraq, in part, to give President Bush counterproposals to fall back on in case the Iraq Study Group comes up with ideas he does not like, defense officials say.

WP: Reno Joins Criticism of Anti-Terror Strategy
Former attorney general Janet Reno has taken the unusual step of openly criticizing the Bush administration's anti-terrorism strategy -- joining seven other former Justice Department officials in warning that the indefinite detention of U.S. terrorism suspects could become commonplace unless the courts intervene.

WP: Report Finds DHS Lax on Contracting Procedures
Private consultants hired by the Department of Homeland Security have found widespread problems with its contracting operation, including nearly three dozen contract files that could not be located.

WSJ: Will Bush Bargain to Save Social Security?
WASHINGTON -- President Bush tried and failed to fix Social Security's long-term finances with his own party in control of Congress. His determination to keep trying, even as Democrats take over, is fueling speculation that he is ready to meet their price for coming to the bargaining table: dropping his goal of letting workers create private retirement accounts.

SF Chronicle: Pelosi readying a pre-emptive House agenda
Washington -- House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi made clear Tuesday she's not willing to cede the public spotlight to President Bush in the weeks before his State of the Union speech.

NY Daily News: Hil ♥ N.Y. - for '08 Dem convention
Sen. Hillary Clinton, the early front-runner for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, is pushing to have her party's nominating convention held in New York City, the Daily News has learned.

NYT: Spoils of Prime Office Space Go to Democrats
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 — Forget those pesky leadership fights. The folks who run Congress are now getting down to what really matters on Capitol Hill: dividing up the office space.

Houston Chronicle: Runoff set for congressional race
A runoff between Republican U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla and his Democratic challenger will be held Dec. 12, Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday.

AP: N.M. House Challenger Concedes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- More than a week after Republican Rep. Heather Wilson claimed a razor- thin election victory, her Democratic challenger conceded Tuesday, saying a recount would cost too much and there was no guarantee it would reverse the result.

NY Post: GOV PAC$ UP AND MOVES FOR PREZ BID
ALBANY - On the day New York Republicans suffered their worst electoral disaster in decades, Gov. Pataki transferred almost $2 million in campaign cash to his Virginia PAC for a possible presidential run, The Post learned last night.

NYT: Dodd’s Balancing Act to Get Tougher
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21—As Senator Christopher J. Dodd prepares to take over the leadership of the Senate Banking Committee while also considering a run for the presidency, lobbyists and lawmakers are all asking the same question.

Chicago Sun-Times: Clinton or Obama? Emanuel may hide under desk in '08
What worse scenario could there be for Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), who fiercely values loyalty, then to have to choose between the 2008 presidential candidacies of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.)?

CNN: First daughter's purse swiped, source said
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- First daughter Barbara Bush's purse was stolen while she was in Argentina with her twin sister Jenna, a law enforcement source who was briefed on the incident told CNN Tuesday.

Boston Globe: GOP group at BU offers aid to whites
Boston University's Republican students group has started a scholarship for white students, to spark debate about race-based programs.