I would love to see the look on some career diplomats' faces if Dennis Rodman's foray into international diplomacy ends up working.

Rodman to North Korea: 'Do me a solid' and release American prisoner

I've created a space for new comments.

... now the GOP can go back to obstructing everything else the government does. Government by tantrum looks to continue.

Sometimes we look on the USA from the outside and wonder - are you guys nuts?  Why should you want to live with drones buzzing around?  Or not buzzing, which seems worse.

What do you want the president to say (and presumably follow up on) in the SOTU speech?

What would you like to talk about in an open thread? 

Either question can be answered in the friendly space Hank's provided below.

Open Thread thought: Maybe instead of all that security and defense spending we could ... 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/04/swiss-bank-wegelin-close-tax...

The oldest Swiss bank has just closed.  Curiously, Swiss banks break no Swiss law by allowing private tax shelters for citizens of other nations.  It was American law and American lawyers that forced the bank's closure.  

One can usefully speculate what our country's well-off are up to.

A Happy New Year to all, full of amity and prosperity and devoid of strife and suffering.

You guys know the drill, please initiate or second the names of the people you'd like to see elected as moderators for the next 6 month term.

I'll start by nominating notyou, brutusettu and Floater.

It's the 25th on the East Coast so it's officially Christmas morning.  Merry Christmas whatever your beliefs.

Update:  I know it's an open thread but let's do the polling.  Who got a 'WTF were you thinking' gift?  Who gave a 'WTF were you thinking gift?  And who got my favorite; the after 4 months of questions 'What do you want?' 'What size?' 'What color?' 'What should she be wearing?' just to get something else entirely?