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 Truth Will Now Be Revealed
James Sasso, Associate Editor
On Thursday, September 8, President Obama delivered a forceful speech that outlined his broad program to bring America back to work. While the speech did not deliver the full combination of stimulus and tax increases for which the liberal base had hoped, President Obama finally came out punching against the oppositionist Republicans who had done everything in their power to frustrate the President’s legislative agenda. Obama’s supporters and America in general, badly needed to hear from their Commander in Chief. With citizens’ trust in Washington approaching zero and fears of a double dip recession increasing, Obama had to demonstrate a serious, robust and, most of all, politically feasible strategy for creating jobs. And it did precisely that.
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.
LIFSON: Everything Republicans Say About the Economy Is Wrong
Matthew Lifson, Columnist
As Republicans continue to stifle our recovery by obstructing emergency spending and conflating unemployment and deficit reduction, Americans should begin to ask whether their agenda merely reflects a stunning scorn for mainstream economics or a villainous willingness to sacrifice the economy for political gain.
MCNAMARA: Brownfield Redevelopment — A Win-Win for the Economy and the Environment
Lindsay McNamara, Environmental Correspondent
Brownfield redevelopment — the development of contaminated, abandoned industrial sites — provides not only environmental benefits but economic benefits as well. Some of the country’s poorest, formerly-industrial areas like Pittsburgh and Camden, NJ stand to reap major social, economic, and environmental benefits from Brownfields redevelopment.
THERRIAULT: Global Competition
Patrick Therriault, Columnist
The need for change became painfully obvious as carnage from the U.S. economy accumulated over the course of global downturn. Mr. Obama came to office with a powerful mandate and delivered on some of his promises, as he stated this week proudly in a press conference. Unfortunately, all that change is now hindering the U.S.’ economic recovery and squelching the relative competitiveness of the world’s largest economy.
PETERSON: City of Angles
Tim Peterson, Associate Editor
A writer prepares to head home to Los Angeles to see how his hometown’s changed: how it’s grown and how it’s shrunk.
RUSHFORD: Who Are You Calling Middle Class?
Stephanie Rushford, Columnist
Many Democrats see $200,000 as the cut off for defining how much individual middle-class Americans make. However, this does not take in account the high cost of living for many Americans.
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.
RUSHFORD: No Taxes for Old (Wealthy) Men
Stephanie Rushford, Columnist
The deficit is a real concern for many fiscal conservatives of all political parties, but many Republicans, like Senator Kyl, are not making the tough choices to eradicate the national debt. If Congress wants to truly balance the budget, then they must forget about November and start making painful cuts to spending.
RUSHFORD: Sue You, Arizona
Stephanie Rushford, Columnist
Illegal immigration is rooted in economics. US immigration policy errs in focusing too much on undocumented workers and not enough on their law-breaking employers.
PETERSON: The Problem With Pensions
Tim Peterson, Associate Editor
If states do not close the pension gap, then more taxes will be raised and more spending will be cut. It’s possible that eventually entire state revenues will bankroll guaranteed pension plans.
SIEFF: Energy Innovation and America’s Future
Adam Sieff, Columnist
The coming weeks are an opportunity to present a comprehensive energy plan that frames the toughest issues the country currently faces as components of a single problem facing all Americans: dependence on foreign carbon-based energy.
SIEFF: Poise and the President
Adam Sieff, Columnist
With oil flooding the Gulf and many Americans still out of work, the next two to three months will test President Obama’s deliberative style and his focus on economic recovery. He must not abandon either.
THERRIAULT: Memo to Incumbents – It’s Unemployment, Stupid!
Patrick Therriault, Columnist
If incumbents would like to stay in office past November, they would be wise to avoid touting any supposed economic recovery. Unemployment – the issue most personally effecting typical voters – remains high, and tangible benefits of recovery have yet to reach many districts.
PANDYA: Were the Euroskeptics Right?
Om Pandya, Conservative
Looking back at the debate and presently at the crisis facing the EU, it seems as if those who pushed for the independence of British currency have every right to gloat.