You'd think the Republicans would be smiling. The economy shows no signs of turning by the 2012 election, a bad sign for any incumbent. The GOP caucus in the Capitol has ensured that Democrats can't govern effectively, giving the president very little to run on in his re-election bid. And Obama is ...

Governor Andrew Cuomo closed out this session with a gem: the passage of marriage equality, a feat that will resonate across the country and through history. Yet, while he deserved every bit of praise showered upon him at New York's Pride Parade on Sunday, this closing act on the legislative session only raises his grade to a solid B.

Their goal was to chase votes — even if that meant running from their signature achievements, their honest disagreements or their more interesting, nuanced approaches. None of them were interested in a challenging, provocative debate. None of them offered the Republican voter something new to consider. They all just tried to deliver voters exactly what they wanted.

There are several indisputable lessons to draw from the mistakes of Representative Anthony Weiner. Don't send photos you wouldn't want the press to see. Don't behave in a way you wouldn't want your wife to know. Don't lie to the public.

I worry though that nervous politicians may draw a different lesson: Get me out of social media. Unfortunately, if this becomes a
cautionary tale that chases public figures off of Twitter and Facebook, that would be a disservice to the elected officials and their constituents.

The Palins are coming! The Palins are coming! The former half-term governor of Alaska is hitting the East Coast with a tour "highlighting the great things about America." While she's at it, here are a few other East Coasts she'd do well to visit to truly celebrate America.