As American voters continue to express concerns about the U.S. economy’s fate and the country's overall direction in the midst of ever-present partisan gridlock, a recent Washington Post report about the growing wealth gap between lawmakers and their constituents may indicate a political disconnect that runs much deeper than initially realized.

Are we tired of the constant petty attacks by the opposition over everything small or insignificant thing the president does?

Beginning with the Iowa caucuses on January 3, 2012, more than half of the states in the nation will hold their presidential primary and caucus elections over the course of the next three months. In the coming years, however, we may well see a significant change in the way the nation chooses its president if the movement for the national popular vote compact continues to gain momentum.

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough."-Meister Eckhardt

The coming of Christmas, whether accepted in either a spiritual or secular context, is a time when many Americans pause to reflect upon the paradigm of grace in their lives.  We pause, however strained our circumstances – and America’s economic challenges have strained that of many – because we know in comparison to others in our world we are among the most blessed.

A new Gallup poll measuring the positive intensity of Republican presidential candidates, as well as President Obama, has yielded an interesting result.  Candidates who don’t evoke strong emotion from partisans tend to have better 'Positive Intensity Scores' from the general public than those candidates who inspire more passionate responses among supporters and opponents alike.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio recently faced withering criticism for ignoring over 400 cases of sex crimes against mostly Latino children. Last week, the US Department of Justice released a scathing report after a lengthy investigation into the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).