Staff

Frances Townsend says security matters weren't politicized. More »

Today, Jenny Sanford put out a long, thoughtful statement on her husband; the U.S. Open sparked a climate change debate; and Dennis Ross was given a defined role.We also considered whether Mark Sanford's admission will change politics; the new nomadism of economic displacement; how to read an Iranian news story; where Clarence Thomas would be if not for the Anita Hill scandal; Mitt Romney's image rehab; and whether fans will cheer or boo President Obama at the MLB… More »

As public admissions/apologies go, Mark Sanford's was remarkably open, perhaps verging on too much information. How does Sanford's press conference stack up to the historical likes of Clinton, Spitzer, and Vitter? More »

Today, we learned that Bill Richardson thought it was "fantastic" to have Manny Ramirez in New Mexico; Mark Sanford returned; held a press conference; said he'd been in Argentina and admitted to an affair; Sarah Palin ranked as America's most popular Republican; the Iranian government leveled allegations of terrorism and spying; and Nico Pitney explained his arranged conveyance of an Iranian question. More »

Understand, I don't do it because I'm for women, but I'm doing it because I think maybe a woman might win someplace where a man might not. More »

President Obama expresses undisguised contempt for the habits of the American media. And they luuuuv it. Do his low-grade insults make him irresistible? Who taught him this pop seduction technique? More »

Today, we learned that the Obama administration is shutting down a domestic satellite surveillance program; Iran's Guardian Council says it won't annul the election results; a cheat site can help you understand health reform; health insurers are feeling the public drumbeat for a public plan; and President Obama held a news conference covering Iran, health care reform, and energy. More »

It's heartbreaking. Anybody who sees it knows that there is something fundamentally unjust about that. More »

Tracking the GOP race to 2012Gov. Mark Sanford has gone missing, and his staff won't say where he is; John Ensign's approval ratings dropped after admitting to an affair with an ex-staffer, but he is still more popular than Harry Reid; Mike Huckabee will travel to Alabama tomorrow to raise money for a congressional candidate; he'll also keynote an event for radio trade publication Radio Ink in December; and Haley Barbour will travel to Virginia, New Hampshire, and… More »

Today, we learned that the Obama administration's stance on state secrets legislation is forthcoming; Tom Daschle and Bob Dole introduced a health care "compromise"; the White House granted some benefits to domestic partners of gay federal employees; and it released a white paper on regulatory reform; Kathleen Sebelius reiterated the pledge of deficit neutral health care reform; and Eric Holder and Sen. Russ Feingold sparred over the legality of warrantless… More »

Regulators were charged with seeing the trees, not the forest. More »

Will the protests and riots following Iran's disputed election have any impact on the nation's government? Assuming results won't be overturned, will the public backlash push the Ayatollah's regime toward a moderate posture? More »

Today, we learned that Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) has backed Marco Rubio for Senate in Florida; Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) acknowledged an extramarital affair; and Rhode Island legalized medical marijuana stores.We also considered President Obama's balancing act in commenting on Iran; the CBO's score of Sen. Ted Kennedy's health care plan as a gift to the GOP; whether criticism of the plan, and its score, are premature; another score of the plan; progress in childhood… More »

I came here to invite everyone to defend their rights calmly. More »

Today, we learned that health reform backers have launched a new TV ad; Mir Hossein Mousavi officially won two provinces, according to Iran's government tally; Mike Huckabee did an interview in a comedy club; Iranian newspapers led with quotes from Ahmadinejad and Khamenei; President Obama addressed the American Medical Association; Russ Feingold asked Obama to reject the justification for President Bush's wiretapping program; the CIA released redacted descriptions… More »

Today, the National Organization for Women condemned David Letterman's jokes about Sarah Palin and her daughter; Larry Summers defended his boss; and Organizing for America geared up for its big health care event.We also considered possible outcomes in Iran, and what they could mean for the U.S.; an impassioned speech on gay rights from President Obama's Office of Personnel Management Director; Sen. Kent Conrad's health care pragmatism; what anti-obesity advocates… More »

Republicans have warned that if the Obama administration pushes a health care with too much public coverage, it won't be bipartisan. Does Obama actually need GOP support, and can he win over skeptical Democrats? Will he succeed in passing a public option for health care? More »

Today, we learned that the administration is creating a new Executive Compensation Special Master; that he'll oversee executive pay for seven financial and auto companies; J Street raised $22 K to defend a freshman congresswoman; the DNC wants you to sign Sonia Sotomayor's cast; and Gordon Brown passed over Mark Penn. More »

With observers looking to Virginia's gubernatorial primary for domestic political significance, and with Iran slated to hold its elections Friday, we ask: which election should Americans pay closer attention to? More »

Today, we learned that a Guantanamo detainee was transferred to New York for trial;Sen. Bernie Sanders said some Democrats will never support single-payer health care; and we welcomed Matt Cooper to the politics channel. More »