Former TIME national political correspondent Karen Tumulty has written a wonderful profile of Vietnam veteran Earl Smith for the Washington Post. Senator Barack Obama held onto Smith’s lucky military patch during the 2008 presidential campaign.
“You look like you're giving aid to the arsonist.”
— Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner reflects on the backlash to the response to the financial crisis with David Wessel in today's Wall Street Journal. Geithner is due to leave his post January 25.
The Leverage
Republicans are now talking about raising the debt ceiling, but just for a month or two. That would open up a number of key Fiscal Cliff 2 questions.
Whatever Floats Your Bloat By George!
On Thursday, George Will of the Washington Post asked Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel how the Pentagon is bloated on the same day the Government Accountability Office provides the evidence.
In the ArenaGovernment
The Wages of Moderation
This week’s print column on the latest, sad–but sort of hopeful–attempt at bipartisanship.
A New Report Says Change Happens From the Outside. But in the Obama Era, It’s Happened on the Inside.
Obamacare was a triumph of ugly compromises, backroom deals, and procedural shenanigans. For environmental reform to pass, Obama would need to play the same game.
Why Illinois is Going Bankrupt
Squeezy the Pension Python has its grip around the Land of Lincoln.
Denis McDonough: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Obama’s New Chief of Staff
The young national security whiz has handled the gears of the Hill, but McDonough’s business chops and willingness to think outside Obama’s inner circle have yet to be proven. And one more thing, watch out for that temper!
What Should Obama Say in His Second Inaugural Address?
TIME asks Reagan and Clinton speechwriters for the answer.
Obama’s Proposals
A TIME Graphic of Obama’s executive orders and proposed laws to curb gun violence. Also, a brief history of federal gun laws.
January 23
— Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will testify on last year's terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, before the Senate Foreign Relations committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee next Wednesday. U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the September 11 attack. The same Senate panel will hold a hearing on the nomination of Sen. John Kerry to be the next Secretary of State on Jan. 24.
Same-Sex Marriage: Army’s Not Budging
Last week, the Marines made it clear that its spouses’ clubs could not discriminate against same-sex couples. Wednesday, the Army said: not so fast.
TIME Graphic: States Take Action on Gun Control
A TIME Graphic of each state’s laws effecting gun ownership.