Gary Hart, 03/09/13

President, Hart International, Ltd.

The drone is new and effective and, for the time being, we own it. But not for long. As with almost every new weapon, its use is outrunning the law, ethics, and morality required by civilization to govern its use.

Jared Bernstein, 03/08/13

Fmr. Obama administration economist; CNBC and MSNBC contributor

Today's jobs report is widely being viewed as a sign of an improving job market, a view I share with (of course) caveats. The biggest question is whether the recent acceleration of payroll growth sticks, especially as the sequester takes hold, which it hasn't yet. So far, both the stock and the job markets have said "sequester?... what's a sequester?" But unemployment is still high, the labor force participation rate shows evidence of continued weak demand, and that's taking its toll on wage growth. We'll need a lot more months like this to get back on track.

Michael Winship, 03/09/13

Senior writer, Moyers & Company; Senior writing fellow, Demos; President, Writers Guild, East

Jack Lew is, by all accounts, a decent guy and dedicated public servant, but like so many of our recent treasury secretaries is so deeply immersed in the old boy nexus of Wall Street and government as to have little comprehension of how, in the midst of a soaring Dow Jones, so many millions struggle to make ends meet.

Margie Omero, 03/08/13

Democratic pollster, president of Momentum Analysis

The debate about how we accommodate mothers in the workplace should be much larger than any one CEO. When we have no national child care policy, and no consistent national standard about how new mothers are treated at work, we all suffer.

Robert L. Cavnar, 03/08/13

Founder, this-small-planet.com and DailyHurricane.com

My state has always been a larger than life, much caricatured place, and most Texans take it all in good humor. Texas' problem, though, is that over the last decade, the state and its leaders have taken a dark turn. Texas has been pulled so far to the right that reasonable voices are seldom heard.

Bob Cesca, 03/08/13

Political Writer, Host of The Bob & Chez Show

The lack of nuance, as well as the lack of a sense of history on both the far-right (and the far-left for that matter) is eerily coincidental. It's important to have oversight on drones, but let's get real here.

Alan Schroeder, 03/08/13

Professor of Journalism, Northeastern University

For a non-traditional candidate like Ashley Judd, a Senate run poses both opportunity and risk. A realistic assessment of her prospects begins with an acknowledgement of the challenges she faces, particularly in three key areas: show business, roots, and politics.

Brian Levin, J.D., 03/08/13

Director, Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, California State University

The Obama administration's decision to try Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, in civilian court highlights deep fundamental disagreement about how to bring foreign nationals captured overseas and accused of terrorism to justice.

Jerry Jasinowski, 03/08/13

Fmr. President of the National Association of Manufacturers

This bull market is not driven primarily by economic reality on the ground but rather by the Fed's endless quantitative easing that is now being replicated by our trading partners around the globe. As a result, the world is awash in trillions of dollars in easy money.

Shaun Donovan, 03/08/13

U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban Development

The settlement has already far surpassed our initial expectations of total consumer relief and will likely grow to more than $50 billion. And yet, some remain unconvinced that the settlement is really making a difference or that banks are beginning to meet their obligations.

Edward Wytkind, 03/08/13

President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO

If we invest in rebuilding our nation, we will also create new jobs that teach valuable skills and support the middle class. But this is not happening because too many in Washington are playing political games and turning a cold shoulder to the millions of Americans stuck in traffic.

Glen Browder, 03/08/13

Former Congressman, Alabama; Professor Emeritus, Jacksonville State University

Thus far, Barack Obama has straddled twin missions -- preaching "a more perfect union" and pushing his party agenda. But, eventually, he may have to choose between transformational leadership and party politics.

Erwin de Leon, 03/08/13

Policy researcher and writer

Coupled with state budget shortfalls (which will worsen when federal cuts kick in), sequestration will set immigrant children and their families further back. If so much of our future workforce falls behind now, all of us will face the consequences in the future.

Elizabeth Birch, 03/08/13

President, Elizabeth Birch Company/Global Out

I know I should shut up. Shut up and be grateful we are making progress. But I guess I am attached to an accurate historic record.

Jonathan Hafetz, 03/08/13

Associate Professor of Law, Seton Hall University School of Law

Should a federal judge review the government's decision to launch a lethal drone attack against a suspected terrorist? While the instinct is right, any review scheme must strike the correct balance between liberty and security.

Arianna Huffington, 03/07/13

Twelve years after Jim Gordon, a New England developer of natural gas plants, launched his effort to build the country's first offshore wind project, the effort is mired in a bureaucratic tangle of permits, sign-offs and lawsuits.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, 03/08/13

U.S. Senator from New York

It is deeply troubling that in 2013, our work is not done and the need to continue this fight remains. If we've learned one thing from the recent attempts to disenfranchise voters around the country, it's that the Voting Rights Act continues to be a vital tool in the fight.