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This is a Democrat bill... the core elements of the bill are all the same, and all Republicans are against the spending, the taxing, and the Medicare cuts. I think we’re going to keep our ranks united on this.

Brix says his ability to focus on something to the exclusion of everything else gives him an advantage. And [the Danish company] Specialisterne says tests show their employees can be up to eight times more accurate at tasks like manual data entry than workers without autism.

"It's kind of an ouchless society. In other words, nothing's supposed to hurt," says Robert Bixby of the Concord Coalition, a deficit watchdog group. "We can have new spending programs, but nobody's supposed to pay for them. We can have a war, but nobody pays for it. Tax cuts pay for themselves. You're not supposed to ask for any sacrifice."

For you avid 'Greeneyeshade' readers, I would like to invite you to follow me on Facebook.  There you will be able to follow all of my work in Washington and in California.  I frequently post floor speeches, my Laptop Reports, press releases, photos, and articles on Facebook which provides some insight on the latest developments in Washington.

I hope you join me on Facebook!

In a report released on Tuesday, Moody's set the two countries apart from other top-rated sovereign borrowers, calling them merely "resilient" rather than "resistant," a label it applied to Canada, France and Germany, where public finances are in better shape.

Moody's released the report as part of an effort, spurred by investor demand, to examine the creditworthiness of the world's most highly rated countries. There are 17 such "triple-A"-rated countries, ranging from the U.S. to Australia.

In both the U.K. and the U.S., Moody's said, much will depend on the vigor of the economic recovery and the willingness of governments to shrink the deficits.

Under the most pessimistic scenario put forward by Moody's, the U.S. would lose its top rating in 2013 if economic growth proves anemic, interest rates rise and the government fails to dent the deficit or recover most of its assistance to the financial sector.

Unlike several years ago, "now the question of a potential downgrade of the U.S. is not inconceivable," says Pierre Cailleteau, chief international economist at Moody's. "In a world that has lost its compass a bit, people want to understand what happens to risk-free assets."

“Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all Republicans have come up with is this slow down, stop everything, let's start over. You think you've heard these same excuses before, you're right. When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said, 'Slow down, it's too early. Let's wait. Things aren't bad enough.'

    “When women spoke up for the right to speak up, they wanted to vote, some insisted, 'Slow down, there will be a better day to do that. The day isn't quite right.'

    "When this body was on the verge of guaranteeing equal civil rights to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin, some senators resorted to the same filibuster threats that we hear today. History is repeating itself before our eyes. There are now those who don't think it is the right time to reform health care. If not now, when, madam president? But the reality for many that feel that way, it will never, never be a good time to reform health care."

"an 'endangerment' finding by the Environmental Protection Agency could pave the way for the government to require businesses that emit carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases to make costly changes in machinery to reduce emissions -- even if Congress doesn't pass pending climate-change legislation. EPA action to regulate emissions could affect the U.S. economy more directly, and more quickly, than any global deal inked in the Danish capital (Copenhagen Climate Change Conference), where no binding agreement is expected."

The lunch conversation inevitably turned to whether the White House would display its cr?che, customarily placed in a prominent spot in the East Room. Ms. Rogers, this participant said, replied that the Obamas did not intend to put the manger scene on display — a remark that drew an audible gasp from the tight-knit social secretary sisterhood. (A White House official confirmed that there had been internal discussions about making Christmas more inclusive and whether to display the cr?che.)

Obviously, someone managed to figure out how insulting to Americans -- and how ridiculous -- it would be to decorate The White House for Christmas while forbidding any image of the event Christmas is supposed to be celebrating.

But it's noteworthy -- and a little disturbing -- just how close Jesus came from being turned away from The White House inn.

Barack Obama’s contradictory, confusing Afghanistan policy reflects a problem afflicting nearly all recent presidents: an appalling lack of foreign policy experience. Carter, Reagan, Clinton and George W. Bush were all governors with no prior responsibility for international relations. Barack Obama was a freshman Senator who had never taken an active role on military or diplomatic issues. Among the last six presidents, only George H.W. Bush had been deeply involved in foreign policy (as CIA director, UN Ambassador, and Ambassador to China) and this experience showed in his deft handling of the first Gulf War and the fall of the Soviet empire. Republicans should seek a 2012 nominee with meaningful credentials in the international arena, since this background would benefit both the country and the GOP in its challenge to the hapless Obama record in foreign affairs.