GOP Plays Soft on Terrorism Card Again

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, 12.27.2009

Political Analyst and Social Issues Commentator

It didn't take long for anti-terrorism hawks from Joe Lieberman to GOP congresspersons to dump the lax security, terrorist watch breach, and faulty al Qaeda intelligence on President Obama.

Sunday Roundup

Arianna Huffington, 12.26.2009

Christmas came a day early this year for health insurance and drug companies when the Senate passed a health care bill crammed with more industry-friendly gifts than Santa's sleigh. "I'll be rolling up my sleeves," said President Obama, pledging to take a hands-on role in merging the House and Senate bills. Before he dives in, the president should spend some time reacquainting himself with his campaign promises to "break the stranglehold that a few big drug and insurance companies have on the health care market," "let Medicare negotiate for lower prices," and "allow the safe re-importation of low cost drugs." Back then, Obama said, "I'll have the insurance and drug companies at the table. They just won't be able to buy every chair." Turns out they did. Here's hoping that, at the 11th hour, the president changes the seating arrangement to include the people who elected him.

Why Isn't the 60th Senate Vote Fighting for Me?

Gina Glantz, 12.26.2009

2009 Fellow, Harvard’s Kennedy School Institute of Politics

Was it not possible that shuttle diplomacy could have been between Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray and Ben Nelson, with the women being the ones whose votes were needed to reach the magic number 60? Apparently not.

We Have All Disagreed to Agree, Now What?

Xiu Min Li, 12.27.2009

China Program Co-Director, Pacific Environment

The vast differences between countries and within the environmental movement are telling as to how COP15 failed to result in a binding agreement. Where do we go from here?

Left, Right & Center: A Look Back at 2009

Huff Radio, 12.26.2009

Was the Obama presidency the biggest story of 2009 or was it the economy?

Home for the Holidays: Optimism for the US in 2010!

Vivian Norris de Montaigu, 12.26.2009

Based in Paris and holds a PhD in Cinema Studies

2010 is a new beginning. Being an American is more than just how we define our economy, it is a true Democracy. Let's celebrate that, and accept the responsibilities and benefits true Democracy brings with it.

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.

When Intolerance Kills Christmas II: Why Should Gay U.S. Soldiers Still Fear Saluting Barack Obama?

Steve Clemons, 12.26.2009

Publisher of "The Washington Note"

Accepting people for who they are seems to me to be what Christmas ought to be about. As a nation, we still aren't doing that with gay men and women in the military services.

Newsmakers Roasting on an Open Fire: Your Gift Ideas for 2009's Naughty and Nice

Arianna Huffington, 12.25.2009

Earlier this week, I asked for your ideas on what gifts we should give to some of our favorite -- and not so favorite -- public figures. You dusted of...

Have a Very Merry [redacted]

Leah Anthony Libresco, 12.25.2009

Junior at Yale University, double majoring in Political Science and Mathematics

According to Eamon Javers at Politico, Barack Obama has explicitly referenced Jesus Christ more frequently as president than George W. Bush ever did. ...

Pass the Health Care Bill - Then Improve It

Peter Dreier, 12.26.2009

Peter Dreier is E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics at Occidental College

It is incredibly irresponsible for some progressives to call for killing the health care bill. The idea that we should scrap this bill entirely and start from scratch next year is both immoral and impractical.

How Reid and Obama Could Have Gotten a Good Bipartisan Bill

Frank Dwyer, 12.24.2009

poet, playwright, actor, theater director

Why didn't they think of offering to pay state Medicaid costs in perpetuity for all the Republican Senators? The health care bill would have passed 1...

'Twas the night before Health Care (C'mon! Everybody join in!)

Steve Marmel, 12.24.2009

Marmel is a comedian, a writer and a TV producer. It's not as impressive as it sounds.

I would like your help to write the longest "Night Before Christmas" poem ever. Think we can write one as long as a three-gabillion page bill?

Will Santa Obama Deliver?

Amy Wilkinson, 12.24.2009

Senior Fellow, Center for Business and Government, Harvard University

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the land / We hoped Santa Obama would bring fortune in hand. / Small businesses hung stockings by the chimney with care, / In hopes that stimulus funding soon would be there.

What If President Obama Succeeds?

Dr. Peter Breggin, 12.24.2009

Psychiatrist

Our decision to treat terrorists like U. S. citizens will probably have little or no effect on them, other than to make it harder to seize them, hold them, and render them harmless through incarceration.

Sham of the Year: Frank Rich, Tiger Woods and that Anti-Obama Op-Ed

David Kaufman, 12.24.2009

Founder, Transracial.net

From the Big House to the White House, Pebble Beach to Pennsylvania Avenue, articles such as Frank Rich's confirm the nefarious notion that successful minorities should still feel "lucky just to be there".

How Progressives Can Move Obama to the Left

Cenk Uygur, 12.24.2009

Host of The Young Turks

I'm positive that Obama thinks that he's doing his best to bring about as much change as he can within the limits of this system. But is he a true progressive or a corporatist sell out?

Obama's Popularity Isn't Translating Into Progress

Richard Grenell, 12.23.2009

Fmr. director of comm. and public diplomacy for the US Representative to the UN

The biggest news coming out of Copenhagen, but not covered by the American media, is that Obama hasn't been able to convince other countries to act even though he is the most popular head of state.

What I Want For Christmas: Mass Clemency

Jacob M. Appel, 12.24.2009

Bioethicist and medical historian

A mass, collective pardon of nonviolent offenders would reunite hundreds of thousands of families, save billions of dollars in incarceration costs, and might foster a national spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Guantanamo 2011?

Tom Andrews, 12.23.2009

Former Member of Congress, Maine

Congress is apparently going to give al Qaeda and other jihadists who want to kill Americans at least two more years of their most potent recruitment ...

On Health Care Promises, I Agree With Obama: "We ARE Tired" (VIDEO)

David Sirota, 12.24.2009

Newspaper columnist, radio host (AM760), bestselling author

There's a lot of righteous - and rightful - outrage that President Obama is now blatantly lying about his campaign promise to give every American a ch...