Vol. 166 No. 23
COVER
by the letter
NATION
The President will try to end a year of mishaps with a victory on immigration reform. But his own party may revolt
Stalking the Day Laborers
Border-patrolling Minutemen turn inland in their fight against illegal immigrants. What's the real goal?
The Plot Thickens
How high does the Abramoff scandal reach?
WORLD
Almost everyone wants fewer U.S. troops in Iraq. Our Q&A on what that really means
The View from the Front Lines
The fighting men of Blue Platoon have taken a horrific beating, but no one talks about pulling out
Could You Please Make Me a Shade Lighter? (Letter From Bombay)
How Indians came to view fair skin as an ideal--and a business opportunity
SPORT
The Manning brothers had a great role model, but they learned to win with very different styles
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
'Tis the season to visit family. How to keep the kids--and you--merry
Best Children's Books of 2005 (Time Bonus Section December 2005: Connections)
TIME selects the year's top titles for kids—just in time for your holiday shopping
The Best Beauty to Go (Time Bonus Section December 2005: Connections)
Single-use cosmetics prove that good things come in small packets
The Empty Seat (Time Bonus Section December 2005: Connections)
Therapist Pauline Boss on how to cope when a loved one is gone or not fully there for the holidays
Remembering Hugh Sidey (From The Editor)
BUSINESS
With labor costs bogging it down and Toyota in the passing lane, the world's biggest automaker is in trouble. Will its CEO do the overhaul it needs?
How Foreign Plants Are Booming (Jobs in Automaking)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
In the beginning was the word. Later came the film. And now comes the fight over which is better
Peanuts in the Gallery
Comics, slowly becoming appreciated as literature, are being celebrated in museums too
Pope John Paul, Times II (Television)
A pair of TV movies honors the Pontiff as a man but sidesteps his controversies as a church leader
7 Blasts From TV's Past (Television)
From Beaver to Beavis, these DVDs show there was gold in every age
NOTEBOOK
The CIA moves back to a risk-taking culture
Racing To The Altar In Vegas
The city's new marathon includes a run-through chapel
Welcome To Sellout!
Small-town America cashes in on corporate branding
Hooray, I've Been Indicted
Jose Padilla now enters the criminal-justice system
Moving Israel Forward?
Sharon leaves his right-wing Likud party
A Second TIME Reporter Cooperates
Blogwatch
13 Years Ago In Time
Punchlines
Verbatim
Milestones
Numbers
YOUR TIME
Modern Marriages (Lifestyle)
Picture This (Technology)
PEOPLE
10 Questions For Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (Interview)
Raising New Roofs (Innovators / Housing: Forging the Future)
Whether it's for disaster relief or relief from urban sprawl, these housing designers have ingenuity nailed down
Bringing Back the Neighborhood (Innovators / Housing: Forging the Future)
A Giant in Small Spaces (Innovators / Housing: Forging the Future)
Call It A Son of a Shotgun (Innovators / Housing: Forging the Future)
The Newest Cut at Prefab (Innovators / Housing: Forging the Future)
LETTERS
To help us make the selection, TIME asked prominent individuals,including previous Persons of the Year, whom they would choose
Read the story