Columns

NEW YORK -- It is bracing, not to mention annoying, laughable and obnoxious, to hear a White House press secretary lectured by a Russian journalist about the parameters of free expression American-style.

This past week, the House conducted memorial services for those murdered and injured in the Arizona shootings last weekend. The House of Representatives also passed resolutions and conducted general speeches concerning this horrific act of violence.

The day that President Obama departed for Arizona to address the nation on the Tucson massacre, Washington was abuzz.

Without presenting any attributed evidence or even relevant anecdotes to support their claims, at least two major Florida newspapers have designated Deborah Cox-Roush and Dave Bitner as favorites in the contest for state Republican Party chairman.

The steam seems to be going out of the move to "deftly pin this" -- the shooting of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 13 others -- "on the tea partiers," as one unidentified senior Democratic operative put it to Politico.

WASHINGTON -- The charge: The Tucson massacre is a consequence of the "climate of hate" created by Sarah Palin, the tea party, Glenn Beck, Obamacare opponents and sundry other liberal betes noires.

The Florida AFL-CIO calls contemplated changes to the state's pension system "radical." It's long past time the union started being honest with its members. Pension reform is coming to the public sector, just as it has to the private sector. As former New York City school chancellor Joel Klein wrote the other day:

They say that, in politics, "overnight is a lifetime." In other words, the journey from triumphant hero to discredited scapegoat can be very brief. In the wake of the Republicans' triumphs in last November's elections, great hopes are being held out that Republican control of the House of Representatives can slam the brakes on Barack Obama's march toward a completely government-controlled economy and ruinous deficit spending.

First and foremost, I know that all of those reading this will want to say a prayer for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. and the others killed or injured Saturday, Jan. 8, while she hosted her first town hall-style meeting of the new Congress in Tucson.