What Makes Bernie Speak?

For Bernie Sanders, who has served in Congress for 20 years, his December 10 "mini-filibuster" was a continuation of essentially the same speech he’s been giving since he first emerged as a Vermont third party candidate in 1971. And the Senate speech, though it resonated with many people, doesn’t appear to have changed the outcome of the pending tax deal.

Presidents Obama and Lula

Message to South American Left Bloc: Don’t Trust Brazil

As the Wikileaks scandal drags on a portrait is emerging of Brazil, and suffice it to say it is not too flattering.  A rising power with global aspirations, Brazil has a lot more political and economic muscle than, say Venezuela or Bolivia.  Yet, time and again the Lula administration takes a very meek approach toward the United States or, even worse, goes along with Washington’s geopolitical machinations.