National

When Chris Christie Bridgegate scandal broke, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was on air that weekend supporting the New Jersey Governor. Now Giuliani says it is "fifty-fifty" over whether Christie was lying and in fact knew about the bridge closures. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal (R) runs a clinic on how to response when you fuck up and are facing criticism: you accept responsibility and apologize rather than blame others and dodge accountability (the path Christie chose).

Deal "called for a top-to-bottom review of the government's response to the epic traffic jam in the aftermath of Tuesday's snowfall and he and the state's top emergency staffer apologized for failing to adequately prepare for the storm." Said Deal: 'I am not satisfied with the response. But I am not going to look for a scapegoat. I am the governor, and the buck stops with me.'"

Those that follow Deal's example tend to survive crisis, and those that follow Christie's path don't.

After 45 years of service to Delaware Technical Community College, Dr. Orlando J. George Jr. has announced his intention to step down as president and retire June 30, 2014. George…

We have a lot a polling goodness for today's Open Thread. First, a new Pew Research poll shows Americans perceive Republicans as the fringe uncompromising petulant radical party that no one wants to invite to a party for fear they will show up drunk and start a fight. Meanwhile, Democrats are seen an more willing to work with the other party, by a margin of 52% to 27%. The Democratic agenda, as espoused by President Obama in his State of the Union Address, is thoroughly enjoyed and approved of by the American people. 1. Ending the Afghanistan War after 12 long years. Republicans sat on their hands and refused to clap when the President said this. 66% of Americans stood, cheered and clapped with the Democrats. 2. Congress shouldn't shut down government or threaten the full faith and credit of the United States. Republicans sat on their hands and refused to clap when the President said this. 80% of Americans stood, cheered and clapped with the Democrats. 3. Congress should repeal tax breaks for Big Oil. Republicans sat on their hands and refused to clap when the President said this. 74% of Americans stood, cheered and clapped with the Democrats. 4. Congress should restore unemployment insurance that it let expire at the end of the year. Republicans sat on their hands and refused to clap when the President said this. 58% of Americans stood, cheered and clapped with the Democrats. 5. Women deserve equal pay for equal work. Republicans sat on their hands and refused to clap when the President said this. 90% of Americans stood, cheered and clapped with the Democrats. 6. Nobody who works full time should have to raise a family in poverty, so Congress should raise the minimum wage to $10.10. Republicans sat on their hands and refused to clap when the President said this. 71% of Americans stood, cheered and clapped with the Democrats.