Sandi Bachom

Filmmaker, Author, Digital Journalist

Hurricane Sandy left some visible damage. The fires that burned in Breezy, and Belle Harbor, and Rockaway Park. But far, far more of the damage is int...

Jeff Danziger

Political cartoonist syndicated by the NYTimes worldwide

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Wendy N. Powell

Mgt Consultant; Professor; Career Expert; Author, Management Experience Acquired

The elected officials that represent the American people are losing sight of what matters in the sake of their political views. The American electorate and economy is what needs to be in full view and primary consideration.

Robert Kuttner

Co-founder and co-editor, 'The American Prospect'

Obama wanted to be the president who would change the tone in Washington, meaning a more collaborative relationship with the Republicans. That was not to be. The Republicans would not allow it.

David Trumble

Award-winning artist, cartoonist and illustrator

Jared Bernstein

Fmr. Obama administration economist; CNBC and MSNBC contributor

If Senators McConnell and Reid hammer out a budget deal that can pass their caucuses, Rep. Boehner is likely to take it up in the House. If it passes there, the president will presumably sign it before the ball drops in Times Square. We will have avoided going over the fiscal cliff, but at what cost?

Jared Bernstein

Fmr. Obama administration economist; CNBC and MSNBC contributor

I can see a weedy, pot-hole-filled path to a deal before New Year's. Based on sketchy details I'm picking up in the air, McConnell and Reid are apparently huddling over a deal. If they come up with something acceptable to both of them, McConnell will allow it to come to an up-or-down vote.

Sanjay Sanghoee

Banker, political and business commentator; author of 'Killing Wall Street' (www.killingwallstreet.com)

If the economy continues to grow, the president's second term will be a victory, period. That means the Republicans actually have to make sure it goes wrong. To accomplish this goal, the Republicans seem to have settled on two angles of attack.

Brian Levin

Deconstructing politics, policy and current events

They are terrified of being on record as having voted to raise taxes and their behavior indicates that they would prefer higher taxes and cuts to be triggered by virtue of their inaction, even if it plunges the economy into another recession.

Lance Simmens

Adjunct Professor of Public Policy, Santa Monica College

Welcome to Bizarro World, where black is white, up is down, good is bad, day is night, and right is wrong. The proverbial pickle that Speaker of the H...

Bob Burnett

Berkeley writer, retired Silicon Valley executive

While Boehner has political status and power, his inept handling of the fiscal cliff negotiation shows he's not a leader. He's a failure.

Edward Headington

Headington media group

We cannot tax cut our way to prosperity any more than we can tax and spend our way into fiscal nirvana. It requires a balanced approach of sensible spending cuts, substantive entitlement reforms and negotiated tax increases.

Robert Reich

Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley; Author, 'Beyond Outrage'

The combination of a weakened national party and more intense competition in primaries is making the Republican Party relatively impervious to national opinion. This poses a large strategic problem for the Democrats. It could be an even bigger problem for the nation.

Bennet Kelley

Columnist, Radio Host, Political Analyst and Internet Lawyer

Faced with a choice between the path of reason and the road to ruin, Republicans cling to ruin rather than adapt. That is the difference between ideas and talking points. Ideas evolve with new information, while talking points are static.

Daniel Marans

Executive Producer, Take Action News with David Shuster

Now that Christmas is over, President Obama and Speaker Boehner will soon resume talks to cut Social Security as part of a deal to avert the fiscal cliff. Here are 10 reasons why the chained CPI -- the Social Security cut they are considering -- is terrible policy.

J. Kelly Conklin

Co-founder, architectural woodworking firm Foley-Waite Associates

I thought I'd take the opportunity for a quick lesson in remedial math on small business taxes. Fact-based explanations reveal Speaker Boehner's math-challenged rhetoric for what it is -- nonsense.