-Commentator Bob Shrum has written a very important piece about the challenge awaiting President- elect Barack Obama concerning Afghanistan. "Will Afghanistan Be Obama's Iraq?" lays out a powerful case for the United States to proceed with caution on our commitments and goals in this difficult area. Shrum writes:

"There is less cause for confidence about Obama’s other crisis—the faltering war in Afghanistan. Indeed, Afghanistan has the potential to become what Iraq was for so long for Bush—a quagmire without exit. There is an emerging consensus on U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and a redeployment of troops to Afghanistan. But for now the new troops will be deployed in provinces just outside Kabul to protect the increasingly threatened capital. This version of the “enclave strategy” once proposed for Vietnam is no more than a holding action. How can we rout the terrorists and the Taliban from mountain sanctuaries if our enemies control 80 percent of the country?

This is precisely the problem that faced the Soviet Union’s 100,000 troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s. The point here is not moral equivalence; the problem is that today the United States and our allies don’t even approach numerical parity with the Soviets, who fought a scorched earth war without any of our self-imposed constraints. Even if we dispatch many more troops, intelligence analysts warn, we will never have enough to control the daunting Afghan geography, fertile ground for terrorists, warlords and poppy plants. In addition, we’re warned, heavier force levels and escalating violence will only add to the alienation of an already war-weary population."

-Believe it or not, it is time to chat about the 2010 elections and start watching it all unfold. A poll sponsored by Daily Kos shows that Republican incumbent Senator Kit Bond (MO) could be in a tough race with Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. If you remember, Robin's father was Governor Mel Carnahan who died in a tragic plane crash while running for Senate. Then her mother, Senator Jean Carnahan, served one term in the United States Senator.

-Another Republican facing a tough race is Ohio Senator George Voinovich. According to a Quinnipiac Poll, he only obtains 36% of Ohioans wanting to return him to Washington, DC. Not a very good beginning for the senator.

-New York Governor David Paterson has made it clear that he intends to appoint the best qualified person to Senator Hillary Clinton's vacant Senate seat. The latest Public Policy Poll had the public desiring Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg over Andrew Cuomo by a margin of 44% to 23%. There is no question that Caroline would bring the most strength to the ticket in 2010 but the Clinton people are far from happy with her support of Obama. This is going to be a tough one for our governor.

-Herb Hamsher - one of the most respected members of the LGBT community - has just posted a powerful piece on Huffington Post. The article entitled "Stop Gay Apartheid" lays out the case that with these Constitutional Admendments on marriage equality we are seeing a system of Apartheid being established in America. To access this must read, click here.

-Can anyone believe how stupid Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich appears to be in this unfolding scandal? The man is already under one investigation and then clearly goes about attempting to literally sell a United States Senate seat! What is this guy smoking? If I were him I would plea 'diminished capacity' because given his actions, everyone would believe him!

-The good news from Illinois is that former Clinton Commerce Secretary Bill Daley is thinking of running for Governor in 2010. Daley is a man of great integrity, honor and considerable skill.

-Speaking of investigations, it is beginning to look a bit dicey for New York's Congressman Charles Rangel. The investigations around his activities just keep growing and after awhile it could cross the line where he can no longer survive all the digging into his finances.

-As many pack up to head to Cape Town, South Africa, for their holiday vacation anticipating a warm and relaxing day at the beach might want to check the news. Huge brush fires are ravishing the beautiful city and have destroyed hundreds of homes and killed three people. Cape Town is one of the most popular destinations for New Year's Eve in the world.

- The suspense is over...if there was any suspense. President-elect Obama will say, "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear" on his Inauguration Day. How neat is that?

-As the Democrats pick out their gowns and tuxes for the balls on Inauguration Day they also better get a pair of work boots and coveralls! The day before the Inauguration is Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday and the President-elect is calling upon all Americans to do public service that day. I bet for some who want to be appointed to this administration, that this is the first time they will have had a hammer in their hands in years!

-Isn't it interesting how very little speculation there has been in the mainstream press on who will be selected to run the Departments of Interior, Education and HHS? Even Secretary of Labor has had more speculation. Curious, indeed.

-Now get his one: Obama is considering appointing Steven Chu, an expert on global warming, as Energy Secretary. Now, what is special about that? If it happens, he will be the first Nobel Prize winner to serve in a Presidential Cabinet!

-Along with that history making appointment is also the rumored appointment of open lesbian Nancy Sutley to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality. This is one of the highest appointments ever to an openly gay person. What a diverse cabinet!

-Good news for the sensational film, Milk. The prestigious New York Film Critics Association has picked the movie as "Best Film of the Year." Actor Sean Penn got yet one more nod for "Best Actor" and is making himself the man to beat for "Best Actor" at the Oscars.

-The National Geographic is picking its best pictures of 2008 and I wanted to share one with you!