On Good Authority. . .

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John Podesta on Obama team. I am hearing that Financial Times Washington Bureau Chief Edward Luce has a pretty significant interview with Center for American Progress President and former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta coming out on Monday. Luce recently did a video interview with Senator John McCain.

If You Could See America Through China’s Eyes

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Several years ago, I met with the Deputy Director of the Policy Planning staff of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I asked him what he was working on — and what China’s grand strategy was. His reply: “We are trying to figure out how to keep you Americans distracted in small Middle Eastern countries.

US-Cuba Rejectionist Wall Cracks: Call Joe Garcia

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Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL-21) has announced that he will not seek reelection in November. There is speculation that his brother, Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-25), will shift districts and run for Lincoln’s vacated seat because it is more Republican dominant.

Bill Clinton Hospitalized

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Bill Clinton has been hospitalized, according to a blitz of news alerts moments ago. We hope that he will be OK and recover quickly. The world and America are not done with him, not to mention all of his current responsibilities in helping to generate massive aid for Haiti.

Best Sledding Hill Ever

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(photo credit: Brian McKeon) Senate staff member Brian McKeon snapped this great shot of sledding at the US Capitol during the great blizzard of 2010. And for those trying to be irritated at a government that is shut down, these sledding pics were taken Saturday. . .just to clarify.

Can’t Say No to Tommy Sowers’ Dog

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I really like Tommy Sowers — and while I normally don’t post appeals to support this Congressman or that, I couldn’t help it in this case. Sowers, a former Special Forces officer who did deployments in Kosovo and Iraq, was also a new media and politics instructor at West Point.

Pondering David Petraeus’ Future: Running for VP?

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I recently had the opportunity to participate in a small dinner with CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus and his wife Holly. These sorts of discussions are nearly always off the record — but the fact that they happened is not off limits.

RealClearWorld on Iran’s Big Day

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Kevin Sullivan’s Real Clear World is aggregating some thoughtful commentary on Iran on 22 Bahman, the anniversary of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Washington Note also started the day with a great essay by Shane M.