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.
SASSO: The Political Court
James Sasso, Associate Editor
It is troubling that some of the justices seem to have already declared their support for certain cases that are to come before the court. Justice Breyer sidestepped a question about whether or not Justices Thomas or Alito make up their minds for those cases that are obvious fights between differing ideologies, even before they read or hear one argument in the case. Justice Thomas, with his disdain for asking questions during testimony and his wife’s involvement with the Tea Party (not to mention his personal friendship with a major benefactor of the Tea Party), raises many questions about the integrity of certain members of the bench. Do the justices actually address the issues at hand or merely couch their ideologies within veiled explanations of constitutionality?
SASSO: Is President Obama Green?
James Sasso, Associate Editor
One of the most frequently lofted criticisms aimed at President Obama is that he has retreated from his promises of remaking the infrastructure of America to create a greener future. While many of the President’s promises made while on the campaign trail have not come to fruition (something which I half blame on the absurdly effective oppositionist strategy of Republicans and half on Obama’s desire to remain above the partisan fray), the lack of major environmental initiatives by Obama’s administration has left many of his young, ecofriendly supporters wondering why the environment is pushed continually to the side of important issues…Obama’s grand green vision, sadly, has proved to be more hope than change.
ROBINSON: How the Democrats Should Frame Their Tax-Increase Argument
Jonathan Robinson, Columnist
The debt deal that was forged between in Washington last week included the creation of a super committee meant to make the harsh decisions of austerity in the name of deficit reduction. The Democrats were asked to make tough choices, the Republicans…not so much.
SASSO: The Avoidable and Pointless Crisis
James Sasso, Associate Editor
The passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011 demonstrates the futility and manufactured nature of the long-winded debt ceiling crisis. While it seems miraculous to some that the hyper polarized parties could come to an agreement, no one should be surprised of the end result. With bipartisan support in both Houses of Congress, this bill was the first major piece of legislation that passed without having to rely on purely party votes since the budget battle in March. Harry Reid called it a compromise bill…
Rather than giving any ground for a deal that would have actually begun to right the American ship, the hard-liner G.O.P. members decided that they could not be seen supporting tax increases with an important election on the horizon. For all of the Freshman Republican claims of not caring about reelection, they should actually say that they do not care about the stability of America. Instead, they only care about following their dogmatic, hardcore conservative ideology.
THERRIAULT: Senate Waits till End to Pass START
Patrick Therriault, Columnist
As Congressional Sessions shift from 111th to 112th, there is little time to clear the docket of critical legislation. One important bill, the New START Treaty, had broad international significance–and not just because of its potential to boost U.S.-Russia relations.
AKMAN: Congress Can’t Even Do the Easy Stuff
Josh Akman, Columnist
A recent Rasmussen poll reported that 70% of the country felt that America was on the wrong track. If Congress can’t do something that is supported by the President, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and more than 60 Senators, it raises an important question: What the hell are the other 30% thinking?
PANDYA: Earmarking Our Way to Prosperity?
Om Pandya, Columnist
Focusing on the low-hanging fruit of earmarks ignores 99.9 percent of the problem. Politically it makes sense, but it is safe to say that a ban on earmarks will not reduce the deficit by even a penny.
BAIN: Obama’s Lackluster Leadership
Sam Bain, Columnist
Who is Barack Obama?
A few simple answers to that question is that he is the president, a Democrat, a leader; but when push comes to shove, do we really know who this man is; do we really know what he believes?
STROSTER: The Lame-Duck Congress
Lianna Stroster, Columnist
On November 15th, 2010, the lame-duck session of the 111th Congress began. Discussion over the past few weeks regarding the Bush Tax-Cuts suggests that some sort of compromise can be found in the lame-duck session to satisfy members on both sides of the aisle, but the Democrats have bigger fish to fry. The two issues that are in danger of passage failure are the DREAM Act and repealing DADT. Democrats need to rally for these two pieces of legislation if they want to continue to have support of the two communities affected by these bills.
BAIN: Gridlock or Compromise
Sam Bain, Columnist
Earlier this January, Obama stated the difference between the 1994 midterms and the 2010 midterms was himself; clearly this was not the case. Will the President at least artificially embrace conservative policies in an attempt to keep the White House, or will he continue with this, “my way or the highway” notion that was responsible for his party’s defeat?
AKMAN: Where Democrats Should Go From Here
Josh Akman, Columnist
Democrats got crushed at the polls. Just a few days after the midterms, with the dust from the landslide still settling and leadership jockeying barely underway, there are some clear ideas for the Democrats
MARIN: The Chinese Scare and Economic Illiteracy
China-bashing commercials abound the airwaves in support of both Democrats and Republicans. Such political messages not only portray Americans as horrible human beings in the eyes of foreigners but are also counterproductive for America’s foreign policy. While Chinese policy-makers acknowledge the fact that such politicians may only be pandering to domestic audiences, they also know that in a democracy, elected representatives are accountable to the electorate, and it is therefore reasonable for them to question American intentions.
AKMAN: President Obama, It’s Time to Fight
Josh Akman, Columnist
Democratic candidates in Congress are beginning to fight. As their majorities in Congress are disappearing faster than the ozone layer, Democrats are getting up and getting pissed. Now, as Democrats see a bleak gleam at the end of the tunnel (meaning their losses in November might just be disastrous, not catastrophic), the message to the president could not be more clear: FIGHT.