Future of GOP and moderate Republicans uncertain ALBANY, N.Y. - In a Republican Party struggling to find its identity, the surprise withdrawal of the chosen GOP candidate for a New York congressional race amid a rising conservative upstart renews a lingering national debate: Are moderates welcome in today's Grand Old Party? Federal regulators close 9 banks NEW YORK - Regulators shut California National Bank of Los Angeles and eight other banks as the weak economy continues to produce a stream of loan defaults. FAA revokes licenses of wayward Northwest pilots WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday revoked the licenses of the two Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles.
'Christmas Carol' beats the dickens out of box office rivals LOS ANGELES (AFP) - With more than 40 shopping days left until Christmas, North American theater audiences already had enough holiday cheer to put "Disney's A Christmas Carol" at the top of the box office this week.