Iowa poll says Clinton breaking away from the pack  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — A stunning new Iowa poll seems to show the New York senator with an apparent double-digit lead over her nearest rival among likely Democratic caucus goers, with voting just over a week away.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Crowds begin returning to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas  —  BETHLEHEM, West Bank: Encouraged by renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Christian pilgrims from around the world converged on Jesus' traditional birthplace Monday to celebrate Christmas — a palpable contrast to the sparse crowds of recent years.

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 …

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.

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 …

Paul Won't Rule Out Run as Independent  —  Ron Paul, the Texas congressman stirring up the Republican presidential contest with his libertarian-leaning views and online fundraising prowess, left the door open Sunday to running as an independent, should he not win the Republican nomination.

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.

The Ron Paul Vid-Lash  —  Ron Paul, our Internet president, seems to have Nazi troubles, as in they're saying he's one of them.  —  Stormfront, a “white nationalist” Internet community, has given him money.  And he can't seem to stop meeting with self-described neo-Nazis, according to Bill White …

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.

Warnings about Blackwater unheeded  —  Despite shootings, security companies expanded their presence in Iraq  —  The Defense Department has paid $2.7 billion for private security in Iraq since 2003, according to a watchdog group.  Rules and regulations for contractors have often come …