Page 41 - Christopher Dodd News Today

now is the time to make justice a reality for all of gods children. captioning provided by the freedom forum first amendment center welcome to speaking freely, a weekly conversation about the first amendment, the arts, and american culture. im ken paulson, executive director of the first amendment center. our guest today is a talented actress, whose work has been honored time and again. jane alexander received a tony award for her role in the great white hope. she received an emmy awar...

came to the hill to advocate for the national endowment for the arts. and kenny g. went to a congressman who said, "well, you know, i do believe in the arts, but im just not going to vote for the n.e.a." and kenny looked right at him and said, "well, thats not very courageous, is it?" its terrific. i have to believe that taking the job on at the national endowment for the arts required a couple of strong personality traits. one would be confidence; another would be courage. and as i lo...

and those who have a commitment to free expression. i-i was struck, though, by a lot of the content of the book where this appeared to be a dream job in some ways for you. but in other ways, it clearly-- there were mornings that you had to wake up and go "what was i thinking?" how was the job different from what you expected? i truly believed, when i came to the n.e.a., that i might be able to turn around the negative opinion that congress had of the n.e.a., in particular, because of a...

the next 30 minutes will be your cram session. a lot going on including the latest on the suicide over the weekend of bernie madoffs son. plus a move you would not see in a jv high school game, a new york jets coach actually trips a miami dolphins player while hes running down the field and that was one of the highlights yesterday for the suddenly hapless jets. the day in football a little bit later but first to the news live at 5:30 a.m. here at 30 rock in new york city. the senate ...

>> delay on political matters and then blame democrats for not addressing the needs of the american people. its very cynical, but very obvious, very transparent. >> and apparently very effective as the clock winds down. mr. mcconnell, you were saying? >> well see how much time is left before the expiration of the 111th congress. >> reporter: the presidential debt commission issues its report. the title "moment of truth," let us know when you find one. social security benefits to be sla...

legislative christmas lists. >> no unemployment extension either. the democrats state the obvious. >> delay on political matters and then blame democrats for not addressing the needs of the american people. its very cynical, but very obvious, very transparent. >> and apparently very effective as the clock winds down. mr. mcconnell, you were saying? >> well see how much time is left before the expiration of the 111th congress. >> reporter: the presidential debt commission issues its rep...

a joint resolution that provides that first regular session of the congress will begin at noon on wednesday, january 5th, 2011. it passed the senate without objection in the house of representatives. see? they can agree on something. its going to be a great meeting today, isnt it? so much is going to come out of it, dont you think? >> the republicans have teed the ball up on the highest gate. >> theyre saying hit it, mr. president. >> were not going to agree with the president on eve...

president obama signed into law today sj res 40. a joint resolution that provides that first regular session of the congress will begin at noon on wednesday, january 5th, 2011. it passed the senate without objection in the house of representatives. see? they can agree on something. its going to be a great meeting today, isnt it? so much is going to come out of it, dont you think? >> the republicans have teed the ball up on the highest gate. >> theyre saying hit it, mr. president. >> ...

i also want to thank, if i can, the unsung heroes of this institution. the senate staff, my personal staff. it would be a grievous understatement to simply say that they make the trains run on time. without them, as all of us know, the train, of course, would never leave the station at all. the floor staff, the cloakroom professionals of both parties and the hundreds of unknown and unseen people who show up every day in this body to make this critical institution of democracy function,...

doesnt arrive until december 21st, jenna, but some areas over the weekend, over a foot of snow. were calling it snowvember! well talk about it. jenna: after snowmegeddon, i dont know if were read grow that. all those reports coming you on "happening now", but first, its like the first day of school, washington, d.c.-style, thats jon style. jon: all kinds of bus loads of incoming freshman senators and representatives arriving on capitol hill. orientation day for them. jenna: steve centa...