My 2009 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 1]

Chris Weigant, 12.26.2009

Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)

Welcome once again to our year-end wrap-up and awards ceremony. Honesty dictates that I immediately genuflect to The McLaughlin Group, from whom I have stolen all these award categories.

Missing Ted Kennedy: Health Care Reform Package Would Have Been So Different

Steve Clemons, 12.24.2009

Publisher of "The Washington Note"

Obama's victory ahead in signing major health care legislation would have been cleaner, stronger, better with Ted Kennedy at his side.

CIA Operative Demands Spy Agency Protect Her Cover

Jeff Stein, 12.23.2009

SpyTalk Columnist

What good is a cover story if the U.S. government won't back it up? That's essentially the question former CIA officer Sabrina DeSousa is asking a fe...

Making His List, Checking It Twice

Bruce Kluger & David Slavin, 12.23.2009

Regular contributors to National Public Radio’s All Things Considered

Just when Barack Obama thought his toughest decisions were behind him--his Afghanistan strategy, tackling unemployment, what to say to Tiger Woods i...

Finding Hope Amid Despair in Copenhagen

David Kroodsma, 12.18.2009

Hopenhagen Ambassador and HuffPost's citizen journalist at the UN Climate Change Conference

Al Gore reminded us today of how far we've come. He recalled that in Kyoto, only one head of state was in attendance. Now over 160 arrived to negotiate.

White House Guests See Green at Blair House and State Department Magazine Holiday Design Showcase Reception

Robyn Griggs Lawrence, 12.17.2009

Editor-in-chief, Natural Home Magazine

We were one of six magazines invited to decorate rooms at the U.S. State Department and Blair House, the president's guest house--and we had to get gorgeous, green decor installed by December 4

Report From Copenhagen

Rep. Diana DeGette, 12.17.2009

U.S. Representative from Colorado

We told a delegation from India that no agreement can occur without transparency in reporting progress by the developing world. Without the ability to verify, what good is an agreement?

Obama and Clinton Fight International Parental Kidnappings

Edward Lozzi, 12.17.2009

Last month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly voiced her support and threw the weight of her office behind a Hague parental kidnapping case of a boy kidnapped by his mother four years ago.

Pakistani-Americans: A Chance for "These People" to Make a Difference

Rob Asghar, 12.18.2009

Fellow, USC Center on Public Diplomacy

As a Pakistani-American, and presumably one of "these people," I believe that my people have perhaps one last, best chance to define who we are, before Glenn Beck and jihadists do it for us.

Green News Report -- December 17, 2009 (Audio)

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen, 12.17.2009

Co-Hosts, Green News Report

IN TODAY'S AUDIO REPORT: COP15 Cop-out? Copenhagen climate talks stalled in the last days -- or are they? Our special coverage continues... PLUS: A...

Why is My Party So Spineless?

Andy Ostroy, 12.17.2009

New York City-based political analyst

When will Democrats learn who they're battling? When will the party finally wise up and fight to the death for what it believes in?

How to Help the Three American "Hikers" Come Home Soon

Omid Memarian, 12.17.2009

Award Winning Journalist, writes for the IPS News Agency

The Iranian government has announced that they will try the three American citizens who strayed into Iran in late July. How can the U.S. help free them?

The Perils of Pragmatism

Neil Hicks, 12.18.2009

International Policy Adviser for Human Rights First

In the past week the Obama administration has taken steps to clarify and disseminate its policy with respect to the promotion of human rights and demo...

Copenhagen Blues: Obama's Weak Hand on Climate, and the California Option

William Bradley, 12.17.2009

California-based Political Analyst NewWestNotes.com

Obama has cobbled together some impressive-looking cards, including action in California. But he's nowhere near signing a Copenhagen Protocol, were one to emerge, which it will not.

Has President Obama Stopped Being a Sports Guy? Nah, He's Just Too Busy These Days...

Joe Favorito, 12.16.2009

Sports and entertainment communications, marketing and branding consultant

Time then moves ahead, and alas, our sporting President has moved on to bigger issues than pickup ball.

The Mulch: Peaceful Protests Turn Violent in Copenhagen

The Media Consortium, 12.16.2009

Network of Leading Progressive Independent Journalism Organizations

By Alison Hamm, Media Consortium Blogger The United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop15) turned ugly today when police officers beat back hundre...

It's Not Lieberman, It's Obama

Taylor Marsh, 12.19.2009

Political analyst, commentator, with foreign policy focus

President Obama doesn't care. It's a win or bust for him, with the health care train now careening towards an end of the year crash.

What's an Underemployed Gal to Do? Run For Office.

Diane Tucker, 12.15.2009

Writer/producer/director living in Washington DC

The experience of running convinced me that women have a tremendous natural ability for politics. We just have to get over our fear of it and go for the brass ring.

Demos Promotes Participatory Democracy

Michael Sigman, 12.14.2009

Writer/Editor, Music Publisher

Miles Rapoport found his true calling in 2001 when he was named president of Demos, a Manhattan-based non-partisan research and advocacy organization gearing up to oppose the myriad right-wing think tanks then dominating Washington.

HRW Report on Congo: Fetuses Ripped From Wombs and Children Burned

Georgianne Nienaber, 12.14.2009

Investigative journalist, searcher, and author

Breaking news... Merry Christmas. No Peace on Earth for DRC. In a year-end report published today and based upon 23 fact-finding missions in the ...

The Death Penalty as Punishment for Being Gay - Apparently Uganda Doesn't Know it's 2009

Jenny Block, 12.10.2009

Writer and Author

In television and film they call it jumping the shark. In real life we generally call it ridiculous. In this case the only word is appalling. On second thought, disgusting fits too.