Do You Agree with President Carter's Comments?

Karen Finney, 09.17.2009

Former Spokeswoman and Director of Communications at the Democratic National Committee

Change -- even change you want or need -- can be scary. Some articulate these fears by saying: "I don't recognize my own country."

Why the Catholic Bishops Matter on Health Care Reform

Steven Waldman, 09.17.2009

Editor-In-Chief and Co-Founder of BeliefNet

While some have chided me for caring too much about what the Bishops think, Bishops matter a great deal politically when it comes to the abortion-and-health care debate.

Ignored by All Media: Major Health Care Provider Organizations Testify in Support of House Bill

Paul Abrams, 09.17.2009

Physician, entrepreneur, biotechnology, law, economics, politics, professional iconoclast

It might do the media well to devote more than one segment to the reality that the major health care providers and established patient organizations support the President's health care reform.

Racism, John McCain and Other Republicans

Norm Stamper, 09.17.2009

Retired Seattle police chief, member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

Where are the sensible, decent Republicans whose parents taught them to play nice, who helped their Alex P. Keatonesque offspring grow into mature, responsible adults?

When Will They Ever Learn?

Sen. Fritz Hollings, 09.17.2009

Former South Carolina Senator

In Afghanistan, we're trying to secure a country of 31 million with 64,500 troops -- and think that 20,000 more will do the job. When will we ever learn?

Time for Mullen and Gates to Take a Clear Stand on DADT

Aubrey Sarvis, 09.16.2009

Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

If Admiral Mullen and Secretary Gates are asked towards the end of the year whether they are prepared to sign off on repeal language of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, what will their answers be?

Respect for Presidency Once Transcended Politics

Les Francis, 09.17.2009

Unfortunately, political coarseness is a bipartisan affliction. But the recent episodes have been more glaring and more egregious.

Congresswoman Woolsey: Baucus' Bill Requires Older Folks to Pay Five Times More

Kathleen Wells, 09.17.2009

Writer/blogger on law and politics.

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Recently, she sat down with me to discuss health care reform.

Industrial Loan Companies are Part of the Economic Solution

Bill Himpler, 09.17.2009

Executive Vice President, American Financial Services Association

Criticisms of Industrial Loan Corporations do not reflect mainstream academic or legal thinking, as ILCs played no role whatsoever in causing or exacerbating the current or previous financial crises.

Is America Hooked on War?

Tom Engelhardt, 09.17.2009

Editor of TomDispatch.com

War is now the American way, even if peace is what most Americans experience while their proxies fight in distant lands. Any serious alternative to war is increasingly inconceivable.

Obsessive Compulsive Bipartisanship Disease

David Sirota, 09.17.2009

Political journalist, best-selling author and syndicated newspaper columnist

There are numerous examples of the fetishization of bipartisanship -- but none have been as blatant as what we see today from Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson.

CIGNA and the Health Insurance Racket

Robert Greenwald, 09.16.2009

Filmmaker and Political Activist; Founder, Brave New Films

The response to "The Health Insurance Racket" (which profiles CIGNA) was both unexpected and overwhelming. Our e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, and blog were flooded with stories from people hurt by CIGNA.

We Can't Afford the Politics of Punishment

Michael Meranze, 09.17.2009

History Professor at UCLA

As we have built more prisons we have taken resources that could have been used for our roads, our schools, our public health, our fire departments, and our neediest citizens.

Can AFL-CIO's Trumka Jump-Start Progressives, Health Reform and Beat 'Tea Baggers'?

Art Levine, 09.17.2009

Contributing editor of The Washington Monthly

The selection Wednesday of Richard Trumka as president of the AFL-CIO could add a harder progressive edge to the tough drives for health care and economic reform facing progressives and the administration.

HuffPost Book Review: Republican Gomorrah

Jane Smiley, 09.17.2009

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novelist and Essayist

Republican Gomorrah is full of crimes--both those we've already heard of, such as Abramoff's and Ted Haggard's, and those we haven't.

In Real Life, Violence Hits Close to Home...And Work

Alafair Burke, 09.17.2009

Novelist, Criminal Law Professor, Hofstra Law School

Annie Le's death reminds us that as much as we fear the stranger on a city street, the predator could be a friend, neighbor, or the seemingly harmless lab technician down the hall.

Corporatists vs. Capitalists

Cenk Uygur, 09.16.2009

Host of The Young Turks

I don't blame the health care companies. I would do the same thing in their position. They'd have to be stupid and negligent not to buy Max Baucus. I don't blame them, I blame us.

What!? Racism Still in America?

Jim Wallis, 09.17.2009

Founder of Sojourners, speaker, author, activist.

I see racial sub-texts in the intensity of the attacks on Obama -- not in the disagreements per se, but in the viciousness of the rhetoric.