Editor Posts

Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Vatican's Council for Justice and Peace said in an interview to the Italian online newspaper Il Sussidiario.net:

"Defenseless populations are always the ones who pay. Look at the conditions in Gaza: more and more, it resembles a big concentration camp", Martino, whose informal title is Vatican "justice minister."

Today on the House floor, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich spoke in opposition of Israel's continuous bombing on Gaza. He called out to the Bush Administration to stand up for "the rule of law, not the rule of force."

Video and transcript of Kucinich's remarks are after the jump.

Former Republican vice presidential nominee and professional football player Jack Kemp has been diagnosed with cancer. Politico has more:

According to a statement from his consulting firm, Kemp Partners, doctors are still testing Kemp before determining a course of treatment.

“Mr. Kemp and his family are grateful for the thoughts and prayers of friends and appreciate respect for their privacy at this time,” read a statement from his spokeswoman Bona Park.

Kemp has been calling friends and political associates to inform them of the news, a well-connected Republican said. The Republican said Kemp has told friends that he went to the doctor complaining of pain but was otherwise feeling fine. Tests showed that he has cancer in multiple places.

Kemp served in the House of Representatives for 18 years before former President George H.W. Bush plucked him to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Kemp ran for the Republican nomination in 1996 before losing to eventual nominee former Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.) and joining him on the ticket.

Kemp has remained a strong voice in conservative circles since leaving elective politics, advocating for tax cuts and empowerment programs for minorities and low-income families.

Prior to serving in Congress, Kemp was an NFL quarterback, starting for the Buffalo Bills and others.

Looks like Roland Burris is going to get his seat afterall. Politico reports:

Democratic aides are disputing reports that there is a deal to seat Roland Burris, even as Burris sits behind closed doors negotiating with Majority Leader Harry Reid and Majority Whip Dick Durbin.

The Associated Press reported a deal had been made, but two Senate Democratic aides, in interviews with Politico are disputing the report that there has been a deal. The report is "wrong," said Reid spokesman Jim Manley. In a press conference this morning, President-elect Barack Obama declined to take a position on whether to seat Burris. Burris himself is planning two more press conferences today – one at the Hyatt on Capitol Hill and one back in Chicago after he flies home to testify in the impeachment proceedings against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

More here.

Today President-elect Barack Obama selected Nancy Killefer to serve as the country's first chief performance officer.