Did you catch The Rev. Jesse Jackson the other night on CNN demanding a Senate hearing into why regulators never cracked down on that gruesome abortion clinic in Philadelphia?

In American political culture, we prove we’re concerned about something by spending money on it. Americans are obviously concerned about protecting schools from more mass shootings after Newtown. But in this case, the best response may not be the most expensive.

Here's my annual list looking at 2012:

Never before in U.S. history have the American people held its military in such (unrealistic) esteem. Possibly, it is partially due to false images portrayed by the for-profit 24/7 cable-news organizations; possibly, it is partially due to the general American public’s lack of experience, and knowledge — i.e., we’ve lost our grip on reality.

NEW YORK — Beneath Bob Schieffer's Southern charm is the tough spine of someone used to dealing with politicians. The moderator of Monday's final presidential debate will need it, because it has been open season on the other journalists who have done that job this campaign.

Are you as depressed as I am? No, not about the D-Backs’ up and mostly down season and not about the Cardinals’ inability to find a quarterback or a line to protect him. No, I’m depressed about this year’s election, the most disturbing election in my memory.

Are you as depressed as I am?

TAMPA, FL - One day after endorsing GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer gave a live interview to MSNBC, apparently slipping up and endorsing his opponent President Barack Obama.

PHOENIX (AP) — In Arizona's brand-new 9th Congressional District, three Democrats and seven Republicans are vying to win the upcoming primary so they can move on to what could turn out to be a nasty fight for the seat, given that it's one of few toss-up races in the state and the field is so wide.

Dirty political campaigns are as old as the Founding Fathers.

I’m writing about Bill Richardson’s not-so-thoughtful column: “Targeting addicts the more effective way to reduce crime in our cities” (July 12). Even though caffeine is an addictive drug and potentially lethal in very high doses, we have absolutely no crime associated with it. Why? It’s legal. Nicotine is a very addictive substance that is very deadly, yet we have almost no crime associated with it. Why? It’s legal.

“Martin Luther King wanted to make sure African-Americans knew their place was no longer in the back of the bus, and the supposed civil rights leaders of today want whites and Hispanics to know their place is under the bus!”

As I watch this Republican presidential primary season proceed in a manner roughly consistent with the course of the Costa Concordia, it has led me to a suspicion I feel honor-bound to share: I think the Republicans are throwing this thing.

It's that time of year again -- time for the annual gridiron spectacle.

It's that time of year again -- time for the annual gridiron spectacle.

It's that time of year again -- time for the annual gridiron spectacle.

Jean Fritts prepared a special treat for her granddaughter’s arrival in Sun City last week. Holly Pickett doesn’t have much opportunity to enjoy her grandmother’s cuisine when she’s on the front line of breaking news stories in the Middle East.

Jean Fritts prepared a special treat for her granddaughter’s arrival in Sun City last week. Holly Pickett doesn’t have much opportunity to enjoy her grandmother’s cuisine when she’s on the front line of breaking news stories in the Middle East.

Jean Fritts prepared a special treat for her granddaughter’s arrival in Sun City last week. Holly Pickett doesn’t have much opportunity to enjoy her grandmother’s cuisine when she’s on the front line of breaking news stories in the Middle East.

“The prognosticators and the media predict gas prices north of $5 a gallon and/or war with Iran by next year if the Iranians close the Strait of Hormuz. Yet our so-called government of the people drag their feet on a Canadian pipeline which would do away with our dependence on Middle Eastern oil, create a surge in employment in this country and lower the price of gas at the pump both now and in the future.”

I feel lucky that I have met and spoken with a number of our returning service men and women.

SCOTTSDALE  — A defiant Herman Cain declared Tuesday he would not drop his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in the face of allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior.

Well the Newspaper media and TV News people struck out with two new “almost” major events. The Iran-Mexican Drug Cartel-Saudi Arabian Ambassador assassination “story” which quickly became a “bed time” story everywhere but on MSNBC. This “bedtime story” was dropped quicker than a hot potato even by Obama Newspaper mouthpieces like the Atlanta-Journal Constitution and the Washington Post. Vice-President Joe Biden couldn’t be persuaded to go out on a limb for Obama on this one.