GOP Can Still Stall Presidential Nominees Despite The Nuclear Option

On November 21, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D – Nev.) followed through on a threat he had issued more than once this year to use procedural maneuvers to end filibuster on presidential appointees. In doing so, Harry Reid may have shut down what little remains of the legislative process.

Shortly after the 52-48 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee met to consider the nominations of ten judges, an assistant attorney general, two U.S. marshals, and four pieces of legislation.

If There Is A War on Any Holiday -- It's Thanksgiving

I must confess disappointment when CNN featured an article published on the Daily Beast by Dean Obeidallah with a similar concept and the exact same headline I was going to use for an article I was in the process of writing -- The War on Thanksgiving. It is always reassuring, however, that there are like-minded individuals who feel as driven to make a very valid point about the holiday season.

Independent Voter Project Conference in Hawaii, the Inside Scoop

Business and labor leaders joined with legislators from three states last week to participate in the Independent Voter Project Conference in Hawaii. Marking the fifth annual meeting, Joined by industry and labor representatives, lawmakers engaged in extended round table discussions on a broad range of subjects.

This year, the panel topics focused on 5 key issues: Public Safety, Energy, Bioscience and Innovation, Healthcare, and Economic Development.

NSA Spying Scandal Creates Uncertain Relationship with Brazil

As of July 2013, American journalist Glenn Greenwald has published several accusations against U.S. authorities, such as the National Security Agency, who have allegedly spied on not only American citizens, but Brazilian officials and citizens as well.

Everything You Need to Know About the Iran Nuclear Deal

There is a saying in politics: Nothing ever happens on the weekend, and when it does it has to be major.

The major story broke late Saturday night. It announced a possible deal with Iran over its nuclear capabilities and sanctions that are currently in place. So what are the details behind the Iran nuclear deal?

The talks involved six nations meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The deal is only a temporary 6-month agreement to test the proverbial waters for a bigger deal down the road.

How Not to Argue Like a Chimpanzee Slinging Poo

When I read articles about what is happening in Washington DC, I almost always come away thinking that Americans deserve a better government than we have. But when I read the comments under these same articles, I realize that we have exactly the government we deserve. It would be hard to imagine a government more dysfunctional and divided than the comments section of the Washington Post.

Ice Cream Sundae Rules in a Marshmallow Culture: A Few Thoughts on the Filibuster

What we want now is more important than what we want most.

You’ve probably heard about the famous experiment, or some variation of it, where a young child has to choose between a small reward now or a much larger reward later. When experimenters give four- and five-year old children a choice between a marshmallow right now and two marshmallows in 15 minutes, about two thirds of them choose the marshmallow now. If you increase the time frame to an hour, you can offer an ice-cream sundae to those who wait and most kids will still eat the marshmallow.