Rick Holmes: Obama comes down to earth

Campaigns are poetry; governing is prose. Translating a lofty campaign promise into legislation is slow, unglamorous work. Obama isn't floating along on lofty rhetoric these days; he's grounded in the details of running the federal government.

Chuck Sweeny: Voters sent one clear message: Jobs are top priority

I stayed up really late Tuesday night reading and watching analysis of Tuesday’s off-year elections. I’ve been in so many spin zones I feel as if I’ve spent 10 ride tickets on a Tilt-a-Whirl. The bad news for Democrats in the exit polls was, as James Carville would put it, “the economy, stupid.”

Chuck Sweeny: Public option on Harkin, Franken holiday to-do list

You know about the disappearing “public option” in health care reform bills being promoted by Democrats? The conventional wisdom in Washington, D.C., now says that no bill can pass if it contains a government-run insurance plan that would compete with private insurance companies. Well, they forgot to get the news out to the new “main man” on health care in the middle of Iowa.

Who will replace Ted Kennedy? Strong contenders for Senate seat

A few politicians have been mentioned as possible contenders for the U.S. Senate seat of the late Edward Kennedy, but none has obtained nomination papers, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Some wary of Obama’s health care plan, want questions answered

As the debate over President Barack Obama’s universal health care initiative has escalated in recent weeks, some people say they have more questions than answers about how the plan would work and what could be done to reform the system.

Kent Bush: Health-care motives questionable, but emotions are real

In "As You Like It" William Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts." Amazingly, the bard's telling verse still seems relevant today. He could have written it after the most recent incarnation of reality television - President Barack Obama's national health care town hall meeting.
 

Michael Winship: Pay-to-Play - Washington’s sport of kings

It's business as usual amongst the dough-driven denizens of Washington, D.C., where anything and anybody are up for sale.

Kent Bush: Stuart Smalley goes to Washington

They should disable the democratic process in Minnesota. We can forgive you if you accidentally elect a pro wrestler as your governor. But when you send a guy who played Stuart Smalley on "Saturday Night Live" to the Senate, you become a problem for all of us.

David Rogers: Gov. Sanford goes south -- as do his chances for president

What makes Gov. Mark Sanford’s sin even worse is the way he left his co-workers and his constituents out to dry. Not only did he act shamefully toward his wife, but the arrogance he displayed by keeping his trip to Argentina secret is unforgivable. The only action he could take to perhaps salvage some of his reputation is to resign his office.  

Prosecutor: No perjury charges against Sen. Burris

A four-month investigation by the Sangamon County state’s attorney’s office has found insufficient evidence to charge U.S. Sen. Roland Burris with perjury. Burris, D-Ill., was under investigation for possible perjury for his January testimony before the Illinois House impeachment committee.

Read the letter from Sangamon County State's Attorney John Schmidt to House Speaker Michael Madigan

Chuck Sweeny: Cash for Clunkers bill a good start, but more is needed

In 2007, Americans bought 16 million cars. In 2008, we bought 13 million. And in 2009, we’re on track to buy just 9 million. Unless we turn the trend around fast, all the auto company bailouts and forced mergers in the world won’t save our economy. So you’d think that Democrats would be desperate to stimulate auto sales, because as the economy goes, so go the 2010 congressional elections.

Kent Bush: Direction of Supreme Court won't likely change

The resignation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter brings an end to the tenure of the biggest surprise and disappointment current conservatives have had to endure.

Bill Moyers and Michael Winship: Mortgaging the White House

In choosing a man to manage the bailout of the banks who’s so cozy with its players, the president bought into the old fantasy that what’s best for Wall Street is best for America.

Kevin Frisch: Arlen Specter - opportunist or symbol?

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is a man of principle who, no longer able to abide the rightward drift of the Republican Party, made the difficult decision to abandon it in favor of the Democratic Party, with which he is more ideologically aligned. Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is a political mercenary who, faced with a tough re-election primary next year, abandoned his political home of almost 30 years, not to mention the many voters and contributors who supported him.

LaHood: We’re making a difference

Three months into his job as transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, a Republican, says he feels like he’s “a full partner” in the Obama administration. The former Congressman from Peoria is at the forefront of the administration's battle to turn around the American economy.

Bill would give Brazilian expatriates representation in their home country

A proposal to amend Brazil's Constitution so expatriates could elect their own representatives to their national congress is making headway in Brazil to the delight of a local Brazilian group.

Benjamin Wachs: The Banana Republic of America

The more we prove that democracy works, the less we’re willing to use it responsibly.

 

Kent Bush: T.E.A. Parties confused symbolism with substance

Shakespeare was talking about life in general, but his words pegged yesterday's T.E.A. (Taxed Enough Already) Party rallies held across America: It was an event promoted by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

 

Wade McIntyre: Will EPA's carbon cap plan work?

Some will remember when Americans were threatened by acid rain in the late 1980s. Everyone wondered how the nation was going to stop acidic pollution caused by sulfur dioxide released from coal-fired power plants.

Bill Moyers and Michael Winship: Changing the rules of the blame game

We need real hearings, conducted by experienced and fiercely independent counsel, asking the tough questions about the economy.

    Visit zip2save.com for all your favorite circulars & coupons!

    Yellow Pages

    Find whatever you're looking for
    with Totally Local Yellow Pages
    Search provided by Premier Guide

    Loading Calendar...
    (requires Javascript)