(graphics credit: Vanity Fair, November 2010) I acknowledge that I am often pretty dimwitted when it comes to American pop culture — and this may be another occasion. I seriously don’t get what Vanity Fair is trying to do with this calendar.

I had the opportunity tonight to chat with PBS NewsHour Chief Anchor Jim Lehrer and former Afghanistan Interior Minister and National Defense University professor Ali Jalali about the solvency of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai given the acknowledgment that he is accepting “bags of cash” from Iran.

Tonight, I discussed the revelations that Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and his team were receiving “bags of cash” from Iran and what the implications of this were with Jim Lehrer on the PBS NewsHour. The other guest was National Defense University Professor and former Afghanistan Interior Minister Ali Jalali.

Former US Senator Chuck Hagel — now teaching students chosen by lottery for his classes over at Georgetown University and of course Co-Chairman of President Obama’s Presidential Intelligence Advisory Board as well as Chairman of the Atlantic Council — has written an elegant reminder of what elected public service ought to look like.

(click image for larger version) — Jonathan Guyer, who blogs at Mideast by Midwest, is the official toonist for The Washington Note.

Charlie Cook, who was the first major political commentator to note that the Republicans would come roaring back probably taking the House of Representatives, thinks that the Senate will most likely stay in Democratic hands.

Every once in a while I’ll post a political ad or tactic that I think is interesting and important.

Uber-connected Democratic Party activist Steve Hildebrand has helped a group called Faith in America launch its new web presence. On the board of Faith in America are businessman Mitchell Gold, singer Chely Wright, humorist Janis Hirsch, former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey and a number of ministers of various faiths.

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video. This week in Washington, I have worked with leading Palestinian-American entrepreneurs and political activists Hani Masri, Samia Farouki and Huda Farouki in raising awareness of the work in Nablus, Palestine of a women’s and children services center, Tomorrow’s Youth Organization.

Last night, I got to talk to and briefly hang with former President of the United States Bill Clinton (along with 400 other folks) who temporarily paused his “rejuvenation tour” for beleaguered Democratic Party friends in Congress and the Senate.