terran1212

You're often pretty cynical about politics and society from your writing. Having worked in DC politics/journalism for the past 4 years, I often just want to get out. What gives you hope?

His approval rating has gone as low as high 40s before. Russia isn't an absolute dictatorship while it has authoritarian qualities describing it as putin has everyone under his thumb is overly simple. He's popular and that's ultimately what keeps him around

Michael, you've been very active lately on the mideast conflict, such as your help for the director of 5 Broken Cameras.

I have worked in Washington, D.C. politics and as an advocacy journalist (I actually worked with an old colleague of yours -- George Zornick!) and I was hounded for months along with my colleagues when we wrote a few critical things of the Israeli government. (you can read about it here: http://www.salon.com/2012/01/19/the_smear_campaign_against_cap_and_media_matters_rolls_on/)

Are you considering stepping up your activism on this issue based on the idea that because we basically subsidize the Israeli foreign policy that we have a responsibility to rein them in and to force them to have a just agreement with the Palestinians?

The fate of the human race on earth is imperiled thanks to global warming. Most political actors in America -- the Democratic and Republican and Libertarian presidential candidates for instance -- either refuse to acknowledge this or have not presented policy plans that would even begin to address the totality of the issue.

We've seen all sorts of topics covered breathlessly in the news, from beauty pageants to pnuemonia, but the fate of human beings themselves is getting next to no coverage.

Chairman Issa is NOT an anti-corporate hero. Why won't he investigate the Heartland Institute's Pay For Play Operation?! Republic Report asked him and he deflected: http://www.republicreport.org/2012/issa-heartland-institute/