Kathleen a native Los Angeleno, has degrees in political science and law, from UCLA and UC Berkeley, respectively.

She writes/blogs on law and politics.

Kathleen can be reached at kathleenwellslaw AT yahoo DOT com.

Blog Entries by Kathleen Wells, J.D.

Ken Guest Interview -- Journalist and Analyst on Afghanistan (an Essential Excerpt)

1 Comments | Posted November 24, 2009 | 09:09 PM (EST)


Ken Guest has been immersed in Afghanistan, since the inception of the Soviet - Afghan war. As an expert journalist and analyst, Guest has also covered war zones in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa for CBS, NBC, BBC and ITN.

Kathleen Wells: General James Jones has indicated...

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Senator Cardin on Afghanistan and "the War on Terror"

1 Comments | Posted November 24, 2009 | 01:12 PM (EST)


Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) is a member of the important Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a member of the Judiciary Committee, where he chairs the critical subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security.

He graciously granted me an interview and expressed the concern and focus that his subcommittee has on the...

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Ken Guest Interview (Part 3) -- With Afghanistan, the Devil is in the Details

Posted November 10, 2009 | 11:16 AM (EST)


Ken Guest has been immersed in Afghanistan, since the inception of the Soviet - Afghan war. As an expert journalist and analyst, Guest has also covered war zones in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa for CBS, NBC, BBC and ITN.

Kathleen Wells: Tell me specifically how having...

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My Exclusive Interview with Ken Guest -- Journalist/Analyst on Afghanistan (Part 2)

2 Comments | Posted November 3, 2009 | 10:54 AM (EST)


Kathleen Wells: What is the current strategy being employed?

Ken Guest: The present strategy buzzword is "reintegration," which considers embracing aspects of the Pushtun tribal dynamic and drawing them back in. It is a beginning, but not enough -- not least as it is stumbles at the first hurdle. It...

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Congresswoman Barbara Lee Wants an Exit Strategy out of Afghanistan

2 Comments | Posted October 29, 2009 | 09:14 AM (EST)


Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) gained international acclaim for being the only member in Congress who courageously and extraordinarily voted against the authorization of the use of force following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Her vote against the resolution expressed her belief that it amounted to giving then President Bush a...

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My Exclusive Interview With Ken Guest -- Journalist and Analyst on Afghanistan (Part 1)

3 Comments | Posted October 27, 2009 | 09:09 AM (EST)


Immersed in the Afghan culture, Ken Guest brings a unique perspective to his role as journalist and expert analyst covering the current war in Afghanistan. Not only was he born and raised in the Southeast Asian nation of Malaysia, which has a population that is 60 percent Islamic, Guest also...

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Senator Jeff Merkley Confident About The Public Option

3 Comments | Posted October 16, 2009 | 01:40 PM (EST)


Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) is author of a key amendment that's been added to the health care reform proposal recently approved by the Senate Committee on Housing, Education, Labor and Pension (the HELP Committee).

His amendment is designed to expand access to affordable health care and to provide more...

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Congressman Chaka Fattah Talks Education

2 Comments | Posted October 14, 2009 | 09:18 AM (EST)


Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) serves on the influential Appropriations Committee. He is also a devoted and passionate advocate for education and educational opportunities for all of the nation's children.

Congressman Fattah contends that one of the most persistent and pervasive injustices in our educational system is that poorer communities suffer...

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It's Not Just ACORN, Says Congressman Grayson

20 Comments | Posted October 2, 2009 | 02:28 PM (EST)


Freshman Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) is making national headlines with his success in broadening the reach of a bill Congress recently passed that will preclude the controversial community organizing group known as ACORN from receiving any federal money. He believes the bill can and should also be used to stop...

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No On Abortions, Yes On Bill, Says GOP Congressman Cao

3 Comments | Posted October 1, 2009 | 01:09 PM (EST)


I've requested interviews with many Republican members of the House and the Senate. Thus far, however, only Congressman Ron Paul and, now, Congressman Cao have obliged.

GOP Congressman Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-LA) is the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress and the first Republican to represent Louisiana's Second District...

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Health Care Is A Civil Right, Declares Congressman Kucinich

6 Comments | Posted September 28, 2009 | 10:39 AM (EST)


Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2004 as well as in 2008, serves as chairman of the Domestic Policy Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He's also a member of the Education and Labor Committee.

His...

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Senator Ron Wyden: The Public Option Doesn't Go Far Enough

63 Comments | Posted September 21, 2009 | 09:35 AM (EST)


Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has served in the Senate since 1996 and is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. The Finance Committee, headed by Senator Max Baucus, is receiving widespread media attention because of the release of its much-anticipated health care bill. In response to that proposal, Wyden has...

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Congresswoman Woolsey: Baucus' Bill Requires Older Folks to Pay Five Times More

18 Comments | Posted September 17, 2009 | 09:03 AM (EST)


Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D- CA) co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus and also serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

As the first of only two members of Congress to have been a welfare recipient, Woolsey is a vocal leader committed to promoting issues that directly impact...

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Congressman Elijah Cummings: It's Our Moral Responsibility

6 Comments | Posted September 14, 2009 | 12:54 PM (EST)


Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) is a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He also serves on the Joint Economic Committee as well as the House Task Force on Health Care Reform.

He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and former chairman. Also,...

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Congressman Raul Grijalva's Response to the President's Speech

2 Comments | Posted September 10, 2009 | 09:54 PM (EST)


Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) is a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, a committee with jurisdiction over health care legislation. Grijalva is also a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as well as the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC). The CPC supports inclusion of a strong public option...

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Congressman Waxman: What Americans Need to Know About Health Care

28 Comments | Posted August 27, 2009 | 11:56 AM (EST)


Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) is the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, an influential committee in the House, which has jurisdiction over health care legislation. Last week, he paneled a discussion at UCLA on climate change. Later, he was gracious enough to sit down with me for an interview....

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Congressman Rangel on Health Care Reform

9 Comments | Posted July 22, 2009 | 08:48 PM (EST)


Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. The committee released last week a bill designed to reform health care.

Kathleen Wells: Last week, the House Democrats released a version of the health care reform bill. One of the central issues that it addresses is...

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Congressman Ron Paul Talks Foreign Policy: New Face, Same Policy

189 Comments | Posted June 8, 2009 | 10:18 AM (EST)


Kathleen Wells: As a member of the U. S. House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee, what is your take on this issue of torture?

Congressman Ron Paul: Well, it's against the law - both our law and international law. So, we shouldn't do it. And I'm against it for personal,...

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Congresswoman Maxine Waters Gives President Obama An "A"

1 Comments | Posted May 18, 2009 | 11:51 AM (EST)


Maxine Waters is a member of the United States House of Representatives, serving
California's 35th Congressional District since 1991. As a member of the House
Committee on Financial Services and the Chairwoman of its Subcommittee on
Housing and Community Opportunity, Congresswoman Waters is well positioned...

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Congressman Jim Moran on Torture and Accountability

21 Comments | Posted May 14, 2009 | 02:34 PM (EST)


After my interview with Congresswoman Diane Watson, I felt compelled to follow the Guantanamo torture theme.

Jim Moran (D), a 10-term Congressman representing Virginia's 8th Congressional District, accompanied Congresswoman Watson on one of her trips to Guantanamo.

The Congressman generously took time out of his busy schedule to grant...

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