Ready? Set? General Election, Go!

While the U.S. economy continued to grow during the first quarter of 2012 (+2.2 percent on an annual basis), it grew at a reduced rate from the previous quarter (+3 percent), and slightly below expectations.  Is this a worrisome trend or just a glitch on the path to full recovery?

Earlier this week, the Independent Voter Network profiled four California State Senate races that should be on every Independent voter’s elections watch list.

So it’s crucial to bolster the men and women of courage in politics: the ones who can act as ambassadors between these increasingly dug-in parties and who can kindle that small flame of trust that has almost gone out.
By David Gergen, CNN Senior Political Analyst, and Michael Zuckerman, Special to CNN in What’s Wrong with American Politics 

Look out California! Legalizing medicinal marijuana is no longer just for "hippies" in states out West. The Connecticut House of Representatives voted 96-51 late Wednesday to legalize medical marijuana.

Financial Times columnist Edward Luce says America is on the decline internationally and domestically and we too often act like spoiled brats. He has written a book about it, Time to Start Thinking: America in the Age of Descent.

As each of the parties has moved toward ideological purity, our politics have become ever more polarized, our governing ever more paralyzed. Extremists increasingly run the show.
-David Gergen, CNN Senior Political Analyst, and Michael Zuckerman, Special to CNN in What’s Wrong with American Politics