Democrats Try to Rein In Fees on Consulting  —  It was the spring of 2004, and Senator John Kerry had just secured the Democratic presidential nomination.  But as huge sums of money began pouring into his campaign, his top strategists had more on their minds than just getting ready for a tough race against President Bush.

Questions and Answers About Americans' Religion  —  More than 8 out of 10 Americans identify with a Christian faith  —  Christmas is obviously a Christian holiday.  But what percentage of Americans today identify with a Christian religion?  —  About 82% of Americans in 2007 told Gallup interviewers …

Election 2008: Clinton vs. McCain and Huckabee  —  McCain 49% Clinton 43%; Clinton Leads Huckabee by Four  —  With the first primary contests less than two weeks away, Senator John McCain has gained a six-point lead over Senator Hillary Clinton in the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.

Partisan Fissures Over Voter ID  —  The Supreme Court will open the new year with its most politically divisive case since Bush v. Gore decided the 2000 presidential election, and its decision could force a major reinterpretation of the rules of the 2008 contest.

Pope Makes Appeal on the Environment  —  ROME — Pope Benedict XVI reinforced the Vatican's growing concern with protecting the environment in the traditional midnight Christmas Mass on Tuesday, bemoaning an “ill-treated world” in a homily given to thousands of pilgrims here in the seat of the world's billion Roman Catholics.

Cheney accused of blocking Californian bid to cut car fumes  —  The US vice-president, Dick Cheney, was behind a controversial decision to block California's attempt to impose tough emission limits on car manufacturers, according to insiders at the government Environmental Protection Agency.

Monday Late Nite: Wedged in the Chimney  —  Give it away, give it away, give it away now...  HAMPTON, N.H. — Rudolph W. Giuliani has entered a turbulent period in his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, marked by what his aides acknowledge are missteps …

The Proverbial Rug  —  Bruce Bartlett responds to my post on his book: … No, no, no!  I don't think the history should be swept under the rug at all.  What I think is that the history reflects well on present members of the Democratic Party.  The political views of the Southern Democrats …

Anger over plan to broadcast Muslim call to prayer on loudspeaker in Oxford  —  Muslim plans to broadcast a loudspeaker call to prayer from a city centre mosque have been attacked by local residents who say it would turn the area into a “Muslim ghetto".  —  Dozens of people packed …

Kerry presses NFL  —  Massachusetts Senator John Kerry has appealed to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to take action to ensure that all Patriots fans in New England, and across the country, will have the chance to view the team's season finale against the Giants.  —  The game is scheduled to be broadcast on NFL Network.

Shielding Money Clashes With Elders' Free Will  —  Eight years ago, when Robert J. Pyle was 73 years old, he had about $500,000 in the bank and owned a house in Northern California worth about $650,000.  He was looking forward to a comfortable retirement.  —  Today, at 81, he has lost everything.

Fear of subpoenas ‘crippling’ the White House?  —  As she departs the White House, and steps down as Bush's chief terrorism adviser, Frances Fragos Townsend stopped to tell the NYT how disappointed she is with the political climate in DC. … Oh, those poor, poor White House officials.