Monday, December 26, 2011

DAILY REPORTS

ALL QUIET IN IOWA

jaketapper VIDEO -- our @GMA report: Paul faces questions on newsletters, Gingrich on organization skills -- crunch time in Iowa http://t.co/03ETKhcr
HalaGorani Also top of the hour: live in Iowa with @psteinhauserCNN for latest polling 8 days ahead of caucuses. #CNN
ktumulty What are they thinking? Follow the wandering Iowa voters with @fahrenthold. http://t.co/8rweLgoe

Jane Harman...

Jared Bernstein...
Lance Bass...

Jared Bernstein: A Holiday Message

Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

We may be at an interesting inflection point in Washington. The latest debacle -- the fight to extend unemployment insurance and the payroll tax cut -- appears to have demonstrably hurt the Republicans and helped the Democrats, especially the president. Moreover, one can probably expect that ensuing fights will redound similarly, as the public appears to be internalizing the meme that the Democrats are fighting for the middle class while the Republicans are fighting for the rich. Politically, this is a dangerous possibility for Republicans, especially in an election year. Could we be looking at the moment when the hyper-partisanship undermining our democracy began to crack?

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Converting America Into Pottersville

Leo W. Gerard, 12/26/11

International President, United Steelworkers

Republicans are attempting to impose a selfish belief system on a selfless American people, people like the citizens of Bedford Falls who rush to the rescue of neighbors. It won't work, just like it didn't in It's a Wonderful Life.

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World

UN Security Council Fiddles While Syria Burns (Albeit With Mock Humor)

Evelyn Leopold, 12/26/11

Journalist reporting from the United Nations

Arguing over a resolution on Syria, Russia and the United States indulged in barbs that resulted in a U.S. cartoon of the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas" adorned with the face of the Vitaly Churkin, Russia's U.N. ambassador.

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Women

New Year's Resolutions: Why I'm Done With Them

Aisling Carroll, 12/26/11

This year, I am making just one resolution ...

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Politics

Before They Left Town, Did House Republicans Change the Rules of the Tax-cutting Game?

David Paul, 12/24/11

President, Fiscal Strategies Group

This month the Republicans took a stand against tax cuts because of the fiscal implications of those cuts. For the first time in recent memory, Milton Friedman and the Republican Party of my grandfather were redeemed. This was a significant point that should not be lost.

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UK Entertainment

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: This Trilogy Belongs in Scandinavia, Not Hollywood

Emma Jones, 12/26/11

Entertainment and culture correspondent

No one who loves the saga of Beowulf is surprised as to how an area like Scandinavia; famous for its furniture, relaxed attitude towards adultery and, of course, jumpers; could have produced something as dark and brooding as The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo.

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Books

You Just Got a Kindle or Nook -- Now What? 5 Books and Apps to Try Now!

Andy Wilson, 12/26/11

blogger and activist in Austin, TX

The Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet are amazing gadgets, not to mention their e-ink black and white cousins and the various other tablets and the iPad. But now that they're out of the box, what to do with them?

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World

Reading Vaclav Havel In Havana

Yoani Sanchez, 12/25/11

Award-winning Cuban blogger

Last weekend Vaclav Havel died, just at the time when he was most read in Cuba. He left and we can't hear his voice in a classroom of our University, nor listen to his extensive collection of anecdotes about the years of Soviet control.

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Canada Living

A Cure for the Common Hangover

Erin and Courtney Henderson, 12/26/11

The Wine Sisters, wine consulting company

In this season full of eating, drinking and being merry, there may be a morning or two when you've woken up, cracked one eye open, and then heard the thunderous roar of Christmas bells ringing -- in your head. Ding, dong, ding. What's done is done and we're not here to lecture, we're here to help.

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Politics

Bradley Manning, Hero, or Traitor?

Marjorie Cohn, 12/25/11

Professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law

If Bradley Manning did what he is accused of doing, he should not be tried as a criminal. He should be hailed as a national hero, much like Daniel Ellsberg, whose release of the Pentagon Papers helped to expose the government's lies and end the Vietnam War.

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Entertainment

New Thrillers and James Bond to Watch This Holiday Season

Brad Balfour, 12/25/11

Veteran Interviewer; Pop Culture Chronicler

Exotic locations, fast cars, beautiful women, and crazy gadgets are the excitements in today's cinematic thrillers -- whether they be spy-oriented, crime adventure, or a suspense mystery.

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Green

A New Year's Day Frugal Feast of Hopping John: Meatless Monday

Ellen Kanner, 12/25/11

syndicated columnist, the Edgy Veggie

Kissing at midnight on New Year's Eve is great -- hell, kissing anytime is great -- but dishing up hopping john on New Year's Day is when the new year really begins for me.

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Healthy Living

Health and the Holidays

Susan Blumenthal, M.D. and Beth Hoffman, 12/25/11

As we reflect on the things that we are most thankful for this holiday season, don't forget the importance of good health!

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Parents

These Grandmas Can't Butt Out

Laura Stepp, 12/25/11

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

Here's a question: how about the millions of grandmas and grandpas who can't afford to butt out, who raise grandchildren because their own children can't or don't want to? Let's give these women and men a shout out this holiday season.

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Media

Media Fail to Tell Full "Tax Holiday" Story

Paul Kleyman, 12/25/11

Director of the Ethnic Elders Newsbeat at New America Media

Democratic leaders and the White House are congratulating themselves as they depart for the holiday weekend about their tax-holiday victory over GOP hardliners. But the payroll tax holiday, like most vacations, will have its bill to pay.

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Healthy Living

Stress and Family: Spending Holidays With 'Loved Ones' Who Aren't Very Nice to You

Judith Johnson, 12/25/11

Author, Educator, Coach and Interfaith Minister

The holidays come and go every year. Don't stay stuck in a bad emotional drama. The willingness to do it differently will always create the means and ability you need. Trust yourself and have the courage to step free.

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Women

Holiday Sex: Do's and Don't's

Jill Di Donato, 12/24/11

Adjunct Professor of English, The Fashion Institute of Technology, New York

In my experience, a little sexual release here and there makes everything just a lit-tle more manageable.

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Crime

Trial by Journalistic "Opinion"

Joel Cohen, 12/25/11

Criminal defense lawyer

We don't weep for Sandusky. As do all "commentators," we have the right to "personally" convict him based on our own idiosyncratic views of the case. But why has the public convicted him at this early stage?

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Healthy Living

Bethlehem, 'Perfection' and Our Birthmark: Why Perfect Is the Enemy of Good!

David Katz, M.D., 12/25/11

Director, Yale Prevention Research Center

As a new year looms, we might consider abandoning the quest for superficial perfection -- and embrace the pursuit of humbler, but deeper good. The particular advantage of good over perfect is... We could actually get there from here.

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Religion

Only "Fuzzy" Factors Can Predict Iconic Images, New Book 'From Christ to Coke' Suggests

Menachem Wecker, 12/25/11

Religious art blogger, Houston Chronicle

A Che Guevara portrait isn't necessarily going to be successful because of it's subject matter. The photograph actually needs to be greater than the competition, just like Christ's majesty doesn't mean every crucifixion is going to be great art.

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High School

Fixing Protect IP

Jess Coleman, 12/25/11

Student, New York City Lab School

While Protect IP and SOPA are significantly flawed, Congress should shake off the misguided criticism and move forward to combat the only big issue that is experiencing bipartisan support.

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Tech

Life Lessons Learned From Angry Birds

Lori Culwell, 12/25/11

Author, marketer, tech nerd

It's the holiday season, and if you're like me, you're playing even more games of Angry Birds than usual. Along the way, I have picked up some sage wisdom from those self-sacrificing birds and their mortal pig enemies.

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High School

Demi Lovato Speaks Out Against Disney Channel

Alex Horsey, 12/24/11

16-year-old Editor at Wilson High School's Statesman

Though I've grown out of Disney programming, I will not be happy with the network until they issue a formal, public apology.

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Politics

Obama's Smart Red Lines on Iran

Joel Rubin, 12/25/11

Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Ploughshares Fund

Instead of political pandering and promoting a reckless policy, Obama is making it clear that while he seeks to resolve the challenge from Iran, he also has policy red lines that should not be crossed.

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Politics

My 2011 "McLaughlin Awards"

Chris Weigant, 12/25/11

Political Writer and Blogger at ChrisWeigant.com

This year we turn to the Democrats to find the winner of Destined For Political Stardom. If Elizabeth Warren manages to wrest Teddy Kennedy's old Senate seat away from the Republican usurper, she will indeed be on the road to Democratic stardom.

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Politics

Lowe's All-American Muslim Fiasco and the Politics of Normalcy

Michelle Chen, 12/25/11

Blogger, 'Colorlines' and 'In These Times'

Maybe what prime time television needs right now isn't a showcase of Muslims being as ultra-American as possible, but a conscientious exploration of why our image of the "All American" is actually a complete fiction.

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