Uncategorized
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No Room at The Inn
The calls started coming in as soon at the election results did. “So, Veronica,” the caller would begin, “what’s up for inauguration?” The query seems innocent enough—if you don’t live in Washington, D.C. But if you do live in the District—as I do—you soon realize that people don’t really care about your plans for inauguration.…
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The GOP's Silver Lining
Being a Republican on Capitol Hill may be a little lonelier over the next two years than it has been over the past two. In the U.S. Senate, Republicans can look back just two short election cycles and be wistful about what they’ve lost: a Republican president, a GOP-controlled Congress and, more broadly, the country’s…
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Blago’s Blues
A few weeks ago I received a phone call from two semi-drunken friends who were at a bar on the East Coast. They demanded I write about the idiot formerly known as Gov. Rod Blagojevich. I promised to do so, but deep down I probably wanted the whole shameful situation to go away. As an…
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The Inauguration Can Wait
The inauguration of Barack Obama is 15 days away, and here in a cold capital, the anticipation is palpable. People are shelling out recession cash for ball dresses and tuxedos; others are leaving town in advance of the hordes. Pennsylvania Avenue is slowly being turned into a great stage for the grand human drama that…
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Letters to the Obama Girls
My name is Maya Cobb and I am six years old and I am so happy for you and your family. I think it will be so fun to live in the White house. I went before with my parents. Do you like American Girl Dolls? I Do. I have 3. I have Josephina, Julia…
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You Lose Some, You Win None
Jan. 9, 2009—Eight of the 12 playoff teams start their sprint for the Super Bowl this weekend, but for me the real action is with the 20 teams licking their wounds as their players clear out their lockers, and say goodbye until spring mini-camp or preseason in July or, in some cases, forever. It’s neither…
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Hello 2009, Farewell 2008
Back when I had the good sense to see a therapist, she made a suggestion that stuck with me. Every year, she said, sit down and compose a list of the 10 things that you are thankful for over the past 12 months. I have composed such a personal list every year since. It is an exercise…
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South Africa Faces a Momentous 2009
South African politics is “hotting up,” as they say down this way. Earlier this month a new party, formed by disaffected members of the ruling African National Congress, was launched in Bloemfontein, ironically, the very city where the ANC was born in 1912. But the brash, new political kid on the block, known as the Congress…
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New Study Substantiates West's Claim
Today, the Wall Street Journal reports that murders of black teenagers have risen by 39% since 2000-01. The article cites a study realeased by professors at Northeastern University that compares data from 2000-01 with data from 2006-07 in order to reduce irregularities with the statistics. The study defines teenagers as people ages 14 to 17.…