Autiello: Will True Christianity Please Stand Up?
Nick Autiello, Contributor
The notion that homosexuality is a sin and un-Christian is one that is less than a hundred years old. It is wrong, and has no basis in scriptural or historical reality.
SASSO: The Coming New Year
James Sasso, Associate Editor
As the tumultuous 2011 comes down to its final day, this column could contain an obnoxious summary of the year’s extraordinary events. Rather than once again discussing the protests around the world, the death of Osama Bin Laden, Fukushima, America’s political ineptitude, Europe’s demise or the increasingly frightful weather patterns, here I attempt to predict what 2012 holds in store.
SASSO: Kicking the Can
James Sasso, Associate Editor
For one of the first times in his tenure as Speaker, John Boehner has made a statement with which every American, Republican or Democrat, should fully agree; the two-month Senate bipartisan extension of the payroll tax cut fails to fix the nation’s problems sufficiently. Providing a short-term band-aid to a long-term dilemma contradicts what a responsible government should accomplish, but fits the pattern of contemporary American politicking.
CIOCCI: A Foolish Consistency
Mitt Romney is guilty of serial hypocrisy, Newt Gingrich is guilty of being a public intellectual constantly scrutinized by the media and others, and Ron Paul never ceases to remind me about one of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”
AKMAN: Jon Huntsman’s Meaningless Campaign
Josh Akman, Columnist
Jon Huntsman did not participate in the CNN Debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. Short of his family and small (and getting smaller) campaign staff, no one really noticed. In a bizarre and counterproductive effort to impress New Hampshire voters Huntsman skipped the debate to protest Nevada moving its caucus ahead of New Hampshire’s, which has always been the nation’s first primary. It’s bizarre because no one else skipped the debate. It’s counterproductive because right now, Jon Huntsman is polling 6% in New Hampshire.
SASSO: The 99% Rising
James Sasso
Associate Editor
For the past month a movement has grown out of Zuccoti Park in New York with the potential to grab at the very heart of America’s problems. “We are the 99%” is not simply a catchy phrase used by frustrated jobless Americans , but a commentary on the disgraceful economic inequality that has arisen in the United States since the 1970s.
ROGERS: 3,650 Days
Conor Rogers, Editor
Calls for Americans to get over, move on, or move past 9-11 underestimate the degree to which 9-11 — despite it’s evils — redefined the American people for the better. We should not move on from that, but
ROGERS: 5 Reasons Romney Can’t Beat Obama
Conor Rogers, Editor
Mitt Romney, the GOP’s (sort-of) front-runner has a far too inconstant and ideologically diverse history to withstand the barrage of scrutiny, one-linters and television ads that come along with any campaign.
ROGERS: An Equal and Opposite Reaction
Conor Rogers, Editor
The debt deal is more like a compromise between Moderate Republicans and Tea Partiers — but is a completely necessary step to bringing the nation back to solvency that deals a startling blow to fiscal liberalism in the United States.
ROGERS: 12 Phrases That Need To Die
Conor Rogers, Editor
Conor Rogers argues that if these 12 political phrases exited our discussion, we’d all be able to get along a bit better. The top phrase? “What the American people want…” The American people don’t 100% agree on anything.
ROGERS: Traditional Marriage Has No Clothes
Conor Rogers argues that “traditional marriage” is an imagined victim in the national debate over same-sex marriage. The debate should be about individual rights, not the condition of “traditional marriage” nationwide.
ROGERS: Tim Pawlenty’s Failure to Launch
If “T-Paw” cannot make Mitt Romney, a former pro-abortion, pro-gay, healthcare advocate from Massachusetts, look like a liberal-turned-hypocrite, the Republican Party cannot count on him to make President Obama look like a failure.
ROGERS: Ding, Dong – The Witch Is Dead!
Conor Rogers recounts the scene of the crowd at the White House after it was announced Osama Bin Laden was killed, and what it meant for many college students.
ROGERS: Let Egypt Vote – and DC Too
Conor Rogers, Editor
As the United States pushes for democracy in Egypt, we must reflect on the 600,000 Washingtonians who have no congressional representation. If we push democracy abroad, we must ensure it at home.
ROGERS: The Problem of a Pro-American Dictator
Conor Rogers, Editor
We cannot ignore the irony of and American-funded leader silencing democratic protests. Egypt presents and opportunity for the United States to resurrect its efforts to promote democracy in the Middle East.
ROGERS: President Obama Won’t Win Re-Election
Conor Rogers, Editor
President Obama has proposed so many different policies and reforms that he is either going to have to let down his base, further anger the center — or both.
ROGERS: Build the Mosque
Conor Rogers, Editor
Conor Rogers argues that religious freedom does not cease to exist in downtown New York, and that any argument against the ‘Ground-Zero’ mosque cannot escape inherent xenophobia.
ROGERS: Dude, Where’s My GOP?
Conor Rogers, Editor
The Republican party’s emerging hypocrisy on Constitutional issues poses a threat to future electoral viability. As opposition to immigration and Islam grows, the GOP is choosing short-term gain over long-term election strategy.
ROGERS: ‘More of the Same’ Could Save Obama
Conor Rogers, Editor
If President Obama doesn’t want to become synonymous with President Carter, there’s about one thing left the President can do. Barack Obama should come out in favor of a one-year extension of the Bush Tax Cuts.
PETERSON & ROGERS: The Left’s Battle Cry Should Be a Dean Scream
Tim Peterson, Left-Independent
Conor Rogers, Center-Right
A smattering of pundits have argued that Democrats lack a salesman, someone to not simply counterbalance conservative criticism but to argue the progressive cause. Heading into November and beyond, the left needs its own Sarah Palin, its own Glenn Beck. They need Howard Dean.
ROGERS: Obama Gets His Own Patriot Act
Conor Rogers, Editor
Pushing for ideological policies during a crisis sounds familiar. President Obama and Cap-and-Trade aren’t too far different from President Bush and the Patriot Act.