Politics

> With Republicans embroiled in an influence-peddling scandal that could threaten their control of Congress, the biggest pressure for reform is coming from lawmakers who charge that the party's woes have come from abandoning its core conservative principles. Link [http://news.ft.com/cms/s/cf26b6b2-820b-11da-aea0-0000779e2340.html]. Want

James Taranto at the Wall Street Journal takes a look at whether Mitt Romney could win a presidential election [http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007755]. Interesting, especially this: > A crucial question will be whether Mr. Romney's religion is a handicap. The Church of Jesus

> Welcome to the Transgender Law and Policy Institute. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging in effective advocacy for transgender people in our society. The TLPI brings experts and advocates together to work on law and policy initiatives designed to advance transgender equality. Link [http://transgenderlaw.org/]. And:

Just increase the tax to $1,000 a pack and be done with it: > A coalition of health organizations wants to quadruple the tax on a pack of cigarettes in California to boost funding for a variety of health programs. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051214/ap_on_

> A husband and wife have 'remarried' as a gay couple - 14 years after the groom had a sex swap operation. [http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1639864.html] There's really no other way to put it: if you support gay marriage or gay

According to the New York Times, [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/08/national/08aclu.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5094&en=0ba4ebfa42ab9697&hp&ex=1134104400&partner=homepage] the ACLU is experiencing turmoil. Its executive director (Anthony D. Romero) is allegedly too concerned with fundraising and

> A mother accused her daughter's school of discriminating against Christians yesterday after the teenager was suspended for refusing to take off a crucifix necklace. > Sam Morris, 16, was sent home from Sinfin Community School in Derby for breaking a school policy that bans jewellery. > Last