Even as congress denies billions in assistance to states, there is little if any talk of cutting US defense spending. In times of prosperity and economic distress alike, defense spending is pushed as economic stimulus.

Retired US army colonel Ann Wright talks about her recent trip to Gaza. Throughout Israel's intensive war in Gaza, reporters and international observers have been barred from entering the region. Wright says that the damage is extensive and Israel's disproportionate response "criminal."

Even as congress denies billions in assistance to states, there is little if any talk of cutting US defense spending. So who profits and what is their interest in maintaining a permanent war economy?

"Missile defense," a.k.a. "the strategic defense initiative," a.k.a. "Star Wars, has always been more about budgets than bullets. Projected spending on Missile Defense over the next six years is $50 billion -- $10 billion more than the money the Senate just cut to needy states.

Bipartisanship means progressives, and the vast majority of those who voted for Barack Obama, get screwed.

Lindsay Beyerstein, a reporter for the Washington Independent, has been investigating what are known as deferred prosecution agreements. What are they? A deferred prosecution agreement is like a get out of indictment free card. It allows corporations that have committed crimes to admit criminal wrongdoing, pay a fine, and then carry on as if nothing has happened.

Do we need mandate-driven leadership or bipartisan politics at any cost? Barack Obama is barely two weeks into his first term and already his administration is placating the defeated Republican party. The mainstream media continues to sell the idea that Obama can't move forward without the GOP and outlets across the spectrum have been extremely critical of Obama's policies thus far.

Is bipartisanship overrated? Barack Obama won the 2008 election by nearly nine million votes, yet the mainstream media is acting as if he has no authority to proceed without Republican support.

Some of the country's top corporate officers could finally be joining in the national past time:CURBING PAY. As we all know now, during the Bush years, pay for most folks was stagnant or worse, despite rising productivity. As you worked harder with no quality of life gains to speak of, the richest 15,000 households were making out. That 15,000 doubled their income --- to $30 million a year -- just between 02 and 06. That's $30 million per year.

Comedy Central's Dean Obeidallah has changed his act since September 11, 2001. A comedian and co-founder of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival Obeidallah says that much of his recent work came out of a desire to combat the distortions and bigotry of the US media.