A couple of thoughts before the Republican response: The early count is 34 standing ovations from both parties, four from mostly Democrats and one from Republicans (that last one in response to the president's remarks about charter schools).

As President Barack Obama prepares to step into a packed and a little more than eager Congress, I can't help but wonder how we're going to fix the economy, health care, Social Security and Afghanistan while cutting the deficit in half in four years.

A friend in the business called me out of the blue sometime over the last couple of weeks. (Sorry, the days run together this time of year. Seems half my time is spent managing my daughter's budding Girl Scout cookie business.) At any rate,

Who doesn't have their hand out these days? Between the banks, auto makers and the mothers of high-profile multiple births, we've got more people looking for public assistance than Venezuela. Sorry if I sound a little annoyed, but I

So, there's good news and bad news. The good news is January's over. I mean, a quarter of a million lost jobs later, it couldn't end soon enough, right? I haven't heard so much anger since Christian Bale's last

I think it's time we hit the brakes. Take a deep breath. Go to our happy place. Whatever it takes. Don't get me wrong; I want to see the economy bounce back as much as the next nervous consumer, but I think the president's plan is rife

It looks like blogs have become the Rodney Dangerfields of the digital age. They just can't get no respect. The older generations eye these things skeptically. Most are reluctant, or downright unwilling, to approach this new age of

For the first time I can remember (which admittedly doesn't mean as much as it used to) a reader accused me of some "happy talk" last week. While the feedback is always appreciated, the accusation is laughable - just ask my