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Energetyka wiatrowa i zielony wodór dla zrównoważonej przyszłości
Wiatr to jedno z najbardziej stabilnych źródeł zielonej energii, dzięki czemu Green Genius może wspierać zrównoważony rozwój.
Energetyka wiatrowa i zielony wodór dla zrównoważonej przyszłości
Wiatr to jedno z najbardziej stabilnych źródeł zielonej energii, dzięki czemu Green Genius może wspierać zrównoważony rozwój.
Energetyka wiatrowa i zielony wodór dla zrównoważonej przyszłości
Wiatr to jedno z najbardziej stabilnych źródeł zielonej energii, dzięki czemu Green Genius może wspierać zrównoważony rozwój.
Green Genius rozwija własne farmy wiatrowe oraz nabywa projekty w fazie przygotowania. Obecnie najbardziej zaawansowana jest inwestycja w regionie Jurbarkas na Litwie. Farma zostanie uruchomiona w 2025 roku, a jej moc wyniesie 80 MW.
Planujemy, że do 2025 roku będziemy mieli w planie rozwoju instalacje wiatrowe o mocy 500 MW. Green Genius stale szuka nowych rynków i możliwości rozwoju projektów wiatrowych.
Green Genius jest zainteresowany wejściem na rynek "zielonego wodoru". Firma będzie się koncentrować na produkcji zielonego wodoru i jego eksploatacji do wytwarzania biometanu oraz bioetanolu, wykorzystując przy tym efekt synergii dzięki zagospodarowaniu CO2, który powstaje w instalacjach biogazowych.
Please read these Rules carefully, because they describe your rights and obligations. By using the Site, the User (Registered user) unconditionally confirms that he/she is properly acquainted with the Rules and undertakes to comply with them.
1.1. The Site – website available by the address https://www.greengenius.com/.
1.2. The Rules – the rules of processing Personal data on the Site and/or mobile application, which describe basic rules for processing Personal data and other information while using the Site and/or mobile application and ordering the goods or services sold on the Site and/or mobile application.
1.3. The Data Controller – the entity that determines the purposes and means of the processing of Personal Data; in this case – Green Genius (UAB "Green Genius", registration number 302841738, registered office: Ozo str. 10A, Vilnius, LT-04326, Lithuania, tel. No. +370 655 45222, email@example.com).
1.4. The User – any person who has not registered at the Site (both natural person and legal entity) who uses the Site.
1.5. The Registered user – a person who has registered and has personal account at the Site (both natural person and legal person).
1.6. Personal data – any information relating to natural person – data subject, who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as an identification number, one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.
1.7. Applicable data privacy laws – General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and other mandatory European Union and its Member States (including the Republic of Lithuania) legal acts applicable to the processing of Personal data.
2.2. Taking into account Applicable data privacy laws, Green Genius has the right at any time without prior notice to the Registered user (User) to modify, amend or supplement these Rules. New Rules come into force from the date they are placed on the Site. Green Genius will inform Personal data subjects directly of any important amendments of the Rules that may impact them or require their consent.
2.3. While processing Personal data Green Genius applies the general personal data protection principles, in particular lawfulness, fairness and transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity and confidentiality principles.
3.1. The basis of processing Personal data:
3.1.1.The consent of Personal data subject (Personal data are processed to achieve the purposes stated at Art. 3.2.3, 3.2.9 of the Rules);
3.1.2. Performance of a contract with the Registered user (Personal data are processed to achieve the purposes stated at Art. 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.2.8 of the Rules);
3.1.3. Legal obligation (Personal data are processed to achieve the purpose stated at the Art. 3.2.7 of the Rules);
3.1.4. Legitimate interests of Green Genius: to ensure that the Registered user, with whom the contract is concluded, is in line with the acceptable risk profile; debt recovery; organising archives; providing information about latest products to current clients (Personal data are processed to achieve the purposes stated at Art. 3.2.5, 3.2.6, 3.2.8. 3.2.9. of the Rules);
3.2. Purposes of processing Personal data:
3.2.1. identification of Registered user;
3.2.2. processing orders for services and goods on the Site and/or mobile application;
3.2.3. quality assurance of services provided by Green Genius;
3.2.2. managing complaints and other requests of the Users/Registered users;
3.2.5.managing the debts of the Registered user and transfer of the rights to the debts of the Registered users;
3.2.6.Check of creditworthiness of the Registered users;
3.2.7.Compliance with legal obligations;
3.2.8. handling databases of Registered users;
3.2.9. direct marketing.
3.3. When User registers at the Site, Green Genius collects his/her basic Personal data necessary to identify the User, which is submitted by the User upon the completion of the registration form, i.e. name, surname, email address and phone number. Without submitting such data the registration is not possible at the Site.
3.4. The Registered user expresses his/her consent to process his/her Personal data by agreeing to these Rules.
3.4. Registration on the Site is required for Users who want to contact Green Genius, get more information about the services and products provided by Green Genius and order the services and products provided by Green Genius.
3.5. When submitting an order for goods or services via registered account, Green Genius collects additional Personal Data (i.e. birth date, address, payment card number, bank account number and account information) and other information necessary for forming and submitting the commercial offer and for the correct execution of the order, i.e. proper entering into and performance of the contract with the Registered user, which is submitted by the Registered user upon the completion of the order form.
3.6. The order history of Registered user is stored in the Registered user's Site Account, enabling the Registered user to view his/her order history, to generate repeat orders. The order history can also be used by Green Genius for statistical purposes in accordance with the principle of data minimisation.
3.7. Upon receipt of the consent of the Registered user (i.e. by checking the appropriate box, ordering a newsletter, etc.), Green Genius may use and process the Registered user's Personal Data for direct marketing purposes, i.e. forming and sending special offers, promotional and other information related to Green Genius activities, Site News, goods being sold on it, etc. The following Personal data are processed for the purpose of direct marketing: name, surname, email address, phone number, history of the orders. Consent to process Personal data for direct marketing may be cancelled at any time by contacting Green Genius by email firstname.lastname@example.com.
3.8. Green Genius may use e-mail addresses of the Registered users to whom Green Genius has sold goods or provided services for marketing of its own similar goods or services if the information about clear, free and easy-to-use opportunity to oppose or refuse the use of the contact data for this purpose is provided to them in the marketing messages.
3.9. Green Genius may also use Personal data of Registered user to claim, execute or defend its legal claims.
3.10. In order to prevent online fraud and to ensure that a credit or debit card is not used without the consent of Registered user, Green Genius has the right to verify the name, address and other personal information submitted during the formation of the order, in third-party databases.
1.1. Green Genius complies in its use of Personal Data with Applicable data privacy laws.
1.2. Green Genius processes Personal data of Registered user only to the extent and during the time necessary for the purposes of processing Personal data.
1.3. Green Genius appoints Data protection officer, if it is required by Applicable data privacy laws.
1.4. The right to process Personal data have only persons who are assigned by the Data Controller.
2.1. Green Genius is obligated to protect the confidentiality of Personal data, process Personal data as it is required is required by Applicable data privacy laws, not to disclose, transmit or create conditions by any means to access Personal data to any person who is not authorized to process Personal data.
2.2. In order to ensure the protection of Personal data, Green Genius implements the following protection measures of Personal data:
2.2.1. administrative (establishment of a safe working environment for documents and computer, server data and their archives, as well as organization of work in various fields of activity, etc.);
2.2.2. technical and software security (administration of information systems and databases, performing maintenance of work places and premises, protection of operating systems, protection against computer viruses, use of passwords, etc.).
2.3. If Green Genius assigns third person to process Personal data, Green Genius is responsible for the security of these data.
6.1. Personal data may only be provided to those third parties with whom Green Genius has signed respective agreements on the Personal Data Transmission/Sharing and such third parties ensure adequate protection of transmitted Personal data.
6.2. Green Genius, acting as Data controller, may transfer Persona data for:
6.2.1. partners providing services and delivery of goods or other orders associated with the Registered user;
6.2.2. internal and external IT specialists;
6.2.3. lawyers, companies handling joint debtor data files;
6.2.4. companies which takes over the debts, bailiffs;
6.2.5. in response to requests from court or public authorities, only to the extent necessary to properly enforce existing legislation or court order / procedural document;
6.2.6. auditors;
6.2.7. marketing specialists (if Personal data are being processed for marketing purposes);
6.2.8. other third parties handling Registered users database of Green Genius;
6.2.9. other third parties with the consent of the Registered user, which may be obtained on a case-by-case basis.
6.3. By processing the User's database Green Genius is a joint data controller with Green Genius Sp. z o o. according to the arrangement concluded between the parties. The essence of the arrangement is available to the Data subject by submiting the request by e-mail email@example.com. According to the agreement of the Data controllers Green Genius implements the rights of Data subject. Whereas more than one controller is involved in the same processing, each controller shall be held liable for the entire damage in order to ensure effective compensation of the Data subject.
7.1. Personal data needed for direct marketing are stored not longer than 10 years after the last purchase completed by the Registered user.
7.2. Personal data and other information provided in the course of making orders and / or required for performance of contractual obligations will be protected for the whole period of the agreement, concluded with the Registered user, duration or warranty period of the purchased goods, but not longer than 10 (ten) years from the date of delivery of the goods. Personal data needed to manage debts are stored until the debt is cancelled, but not more than 10 years after the last purchase completed by the Registered user. Upon this deadline, the Registered user's Personal data are securely erased or irreversibly anonymized without notifying the Registered user in advance, except for the Personal data of the Registered user that is necessary for the functioning of his/her account on the Site which is further processed as specified in Art. 7.2 and 7.3 of these Rules.
7.3. Other Personal data of Registered user are processed and stored until the Registered user erases his/her account on the Site or until the Registered user submits a written declaration confirming that he/she disagrees with the processing of Personal data or requests to terminate such processing of Personal data.
7.4. Green Genius stores Personal data for no longer than what the purposes of processing Personal data or Applicable data privacy laws requires, if they provide for longer data retention. Green Genius makes every effort to ensure that Personal data and information about Registered users are kept up-to-date and accurate.
8.1. To provide the user and the Registered user with the full range of services Green Genius uses system cookies. Cookies are used to identify a previous visitor of the Site, set the language of the Site, identify a user session, a session key, collect statistics on visiting the Site and analyze statistics, to identify and correct errors on the Site.
8.2. By visiting the Site, the User or the Registered user can choose whether or not to use cookies. The principles of cookie's operation and more information about such tools are provided in a separate section of the Site – www.greengenius.pl/polityka-cookie
8.3. Green Genius complies in its use of cookies with Applicable Data Privacy Laws.
9.1. Registered user has a right anytime by contacting Green Genius by mail, by post or by phone (contact details of Green Genius are provided in the Art. 1.3 of the Rules) to request from Green Genius the access to and rectification, erasure or restriction of processing of the Personal data of the Registered user, to object to processing as well as the right to data portability of such Personal data.
9.2. If Registered user considers that his/her Personal data is processed illegally or is concerned about the actions or inactivity of Green Genius, he/she may address to Green Genius by mail, by post or by phone ((contact details of Green Genius are provided in the Art. 1.3 of the Rules). In case of failure to solve the issue with Green Genius, Registered user has the right to revert to the State Data Protection Inspectorate, who is responsible for the supervision and control of personal data protection laws.
9.2. In the case the Personal data of the Registered user is processed on the basis of consent, he/she has the right to cancel his/her consent at any time without prejudice to the consent of the processing of the data prior to the legality of the withdrawal of consent.
9.3. The Registered user may update and adjust his/her Personal data at any time via his/her registered account on the Site.
9.4. Green Genius may request the Registered user to submit additional information necessary to confirm the identity of the Data subject.
10.1 For convenience to the users, the Site may contain links to third-party websites and other content that Green Genius cannot control. Green Genius is not responsible for the information disclosed by third parties; it does not censor and does not necessarily support it. Green Genius is also not responsible for the policies of third-parties privacy, including, but not limited to, damages, damages or breaches, existing or potential third party advertising policies, content, products and their inappropriate use, services, and other information resources.
Green Genius sp. z o.o. z siedzibą w Warszawie
ul. Ludwika Waryńskiego 3A (3 piętro)
00-645 Warszawa
Kapitał zakładowy: 500 000,00 zł (słownie: pięćset tysięcy złotych)
Dokumentacja spółki przechowywana jest przez Sąd Rejonowy dla M.St. Warszawy w Warszawie,
XII Wydział Gospodarczy Krajowego Rejestru Sądowego.


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To make the most of the Internet, kids need to be prepared to make smart decisions. Be Internet Awesome empowers kids with tools and education to confidently and safely explore, grow, and play online.
The Internet Code of Awesome
Be internet Smart
Share with Care
Good (and bad) news travels fast online, and without some forethought, kids can find themselves in tricky situations that have lasting consequences. The solve? Learning how to share with those they know and those they don't.
Communicate Responsibly
- Encourage thoughtful sharing by treating online communication like face-to-face communication; if it isn't right to say, it isn't right to post.
- Create guidelines about what kind of communication is (and isn't) appropriate.
- Keep personal details about family and friends private.
Be internet Alert
Don't Fall for Fake
It's important to help kids become aware that people and situations online aren't always as they seem. Discerning between what's real and what's fake is a very real lesson in online safety.
Know the Signs of a Potential Scam
- If statements about "winning" or getting something for "free" feel too good to be true, they most likely are.
- Fair exchanges shouldn't involve giving away any personal information.
- Always think critically before acting online and learn to trust your intuition. Be on guard for phishing attempts—efforts to steal information like login or account details by pretending to be a trusted contact in an email, text, or other online communication.
Be Internet Strong
Secure Your Secrets
Personal privacy and security are just as important online as they are offline. Safeguarding valuable information means thinking about what's incoming and outgoing and being smart about passwords, the information you share, and understanding the choices you have when it comes to protecting your privacy online.
Create a Strong Password
- Make it memorable, but avoid using personal information like names or birthdays.
- Use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers.
- R3pl@ce le++ers wit# sYmb0ls & n^mb3rs 1ike Thi$.
Switch It Up
- Do not use the same password on multiple sites.
- Create a few different variations of the same password for different accounts.
Protect your privacy
- Understand how your personal data is and isn't used
- Use privacy settings on apps and sites to control what you share
Be Internet Kind
It's Cool to Be Kind
The Internet is a powerful amplifier that can be used to spread positivity or negativity. Kids can take the high road by applying the concept of "treat others as you would like to be treated" to their actions online, creating positive impact for others and disempowering bullying behavior.
Set an Example
- Use the power of the Internet to spread positivity.
- Stop the spread of harmful or untrue messages by not passing them on to others.
- Respect others' differences.
Take Action
- Block mean-spirited or inappropriate behavior online.
- Make an effort to provide support to those being bullied.
- Encourage kids to speak up against and report online bullying.
Be Internet Brave
When in Doubt, Talk It Out
One lesson that applies to any and all encounters of the digital kind: When kids come across something questionable, they should feel comfortable talking to a trusted adult. Adults can support this behavior by fostering open communication at home and in the classroom.
Encourage Internet Brave Behavior
- Be clear about family or classroom rules and expectations around technology, as well as consequences for inappropriate use.
- Keep the dialogue going by checking in frequently and encouraging kids to ask questions.
- Extend the conversation to other trusted adults like teachers, coaches, counselors, friends, and relatives.
Tools & Resources
Play Safe.
Learn Safe.
Stay Safe.
Kids can play their way to being Internet Awesome with Interland, an online adventure that puts the key lessons of digital safety into hands-on practice with four challenging games.
Play nowBe Internet Awesome Curriculum
Educators teaching online safety in the classroom can download lesson plans that have received the ISTE Seal of Alignment and classroom activities that bring the fundamental lessons to life.
DownloadBe Internet Awesome Pledge
Parents driving the online safety conversation at home can encourage the entire family to get on the same page by reviewing the fundamentals and taking this pledge together.
DownloadOur Partners
Experts in Online Safety
We worked with experts in digital safety to ensure that every element of the program addresses what families and educators need to know.
The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is dedicated to protecting children, families, and schools by assessing, advising, and certifying organizations that collect, use, and share personal information and data that is protected by law.
ConnectSafely is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy, and security.
The Family Online Safety Institute is an international, nonprofit organization that works to make the online world safer for kids and their families.

subset: commoncrawl


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ASAN Viza ( e-Visa)
- The electronic visa application procedure issued through the "ASAN Visa" system is realized by the State Agency for Public Service and Sosial Innovation under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The electronic visa issued within 3 working days through "ASAN Visa" system determines the duration of stay in the country up to 30 days and the state fee is 20 USD.
- Despite of non-working days and holidays, urgent visa issuing opportunity within 3 hours through "ASAN Visa" system had been created. İn this regard, getting detailed information by visiting www.evisa.gov.az foreigners and stateless persons may apply for the electronic visa.
Electronic visas are issued only to nationals of countries listed below.
List of countries eligible for e-visa


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| Home | Vorinostat | CI-994 | MS-275 | BML-210 | M344 | NVP-LAQ824 | Panobinostat | Mocetinostat | PXD101 | Histone deacetylase inhibitorsHistone deacetylases (HDACs) are a class of enzymes found in bacteria, fungi, plants and animals that remove the acetyl group from the ε-amino groups of lysine residues located in the NH2 terminal tails of core histones. There are 18 known human histone deacetylases, grouped into four classes based on the structure of their accessory domains. Class I includes HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, and HDAC8 and have homology to yeast RPD3. HDAC4, HDAC5, HDAC7, and HDAC9 belong to class II and have homology to yeast HDA1. HDAC6 and HDAC10 contain two catalytic sites and are classified as class IIa, whereas HDAC11 has conserved residues in its catalytic center that are shared by both class I and class II deacetylases and is sometimes placed in class IV. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) are emerging as a new class of potential anticancer agents and have been shown to induce differentiation, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis and to inhibit migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in many cancer cell lines. In addition, these compounds inhibit tumor growth in animal models and show antitumor activity in patients. The interest in HDAC inhibitors began almost 30 years ago during some studies designed to understand why dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) caused terminal differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells. In recent years, an increasing number of structurally diverse HDAC inhibitors have been identified that inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation and/or apoptosis of tumor cells in culture and in animal models. HDAC inhibition causes acetylated nuclear histones to accumulate in both tumor and normal tissues, providing a surrogate marker for the biological activity of HDAC inhibitors in vivo. In October 2006 the FDA approved the first HDAC inhibitor – Vorinostat (Zolinza, Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, formerly known as SAHA, Merck & co) to treat the rare cancer cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). At least 12 different HDACIs are currently in some phase of clinical trials as monotherapy or in combination chemotherapy or radiation therapy in patients with hematologic and solid tumors, including lung, breast, pancreas, renal, and bladder cancers, melanoma, glioblastoma, leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma. The focus of this website is information about molecules or drugs that block HDACs (HDAC inhibitors). Recommended website. ChemSynthesis - the chemical database contains chemical structures, names, synthesis references and physical properties for over 45,000 chemicals. MDL Numbers, cas number lookup, EINECS database are also available. Peptide Guides - website covering various aspects of peptide science. |
| CBHA | PCI-24781 | ITF2357 | Valproic Acid | Trichostatin A | Sodium Butyrate | |
© 2010-2019 www.hdacis.com |


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This weekend, we were lucky enough to have Sonny Mounicou come up from Memphis to teach a workshop on building a Prusa i2 3D printer. Â 10 people were in attendance, and everyone walked out with a working 3D printer!
The workshop was a grueling 24 hours, running from 8am to Midnight on day one, and 8am to 4pm the next day. Â By the end of the workshop, though, everyone was slinging plastic! Â Aaron was talented enough to be printing cubed gears after a mere 14 hours!
A big thanks to Jon from SeeMeCNC, who came in to help out with the workshop. Â He also managed to sell a couple of printers while he was at the space! And an absolutely huge thanks to Gerrit, who kept us all fed throughout the event. Â May no build-off ever go without catering.
Scroll past the break for more pictures of the event, but I'll wrap it up here by saying that the build was a great event. Â 10 people in the LVL1 community got to build 3D printers, 2 more people bought 3D printers during the event, and our expertise for printers is growing. Â This event even motivated some to start a Louisville-Area Thrug (3D Printer User Group). Â If you're interested in 3D printer, join the conversation here: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/kyin3dprinters
Until then, we'll be hacking away at our printers. Â For those who missed out, don't despair: Sonny let us know that any time we can get 8-10 people together for a build, he'll make the drive!
More pictures below the break.


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Build your report visually with drag-and-drop, scriptable report objects in Valentina Studio Pro.
Valentina Reports Objects Library
Valentina Reports can include a combination of any of a long list of objects that offer flexibility and control over how your reports present and format your data.
Field Objects
Simple Objects
DataSet Objects
Text Objects
The Valentina Reports toolbox includes charts, graphs, barcodes, grids, images, html objects, labels, text boxes and more.
Reports Objects Scripting with JavaScript
All Valentina Report Objects support pre- and post- properties for scripting programmatic behaviors using JavaScript, including JavaScript expressions. Expressions are more powerful and flexible, allowing the user to use JavaScript functions (built-in or user-defined), properties and methods of the report object, data from fields, parameters and more.
Scripting Reports with Python
If JavaScript isn't your language of choice, you can also leverage Valentina Reports support for Python scripting.


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Christianity, Religion
Date Published: November 19, 2018
Publisher: Lucid Books
Has Christmas gotten to be just the same old, same old? Do you feel as if you're simply going through the motions, even though you know this should be a season of celebration and worship? Same tree, same Christmas songs, same baked goods.
Come and refresh your hope in Christmas through Our Gift-Giving God. This devotional will take the reader through the traditions and symbols of Christmastime and uncover the deep, gospel truths woven throughout that God has for each and every one of us. Throughout these chapters, you will discover:
A purposeful, firmly planted life
A new beginning
Unfettered approval
In this eight-day study, you can unwrap the very best gifts and the best news you'll receive all year. Spend time opening the gifts only our gift-giving God can deliver.
About the Author
Andrea Kim was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She holds an accounting degree, an MBA, and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She also earned a Masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has spent well over a decade teaching the Bible at church and serving as head of sermon research for her pastor at Houston's First Baptist Church. Andrea is an attorney of 20 years, but her passion is to open up the world of God's exciting truths for others the way they were opened up for her. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Seed Company, a Bible translation organization currently translating the Bible into more than 800 languages.
Contact Links
Purchase Links


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This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. The 2012 election concludes. DeMint's departure sets up a 2014 trifecta in the Palmetto State, and it's still a slow walk to the fiscal cliff. It's Wednesday and time for a...
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BOEHNER: Wasted another week...
CONAN: Edition of the political junkie.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: There you go again.
VICE PRESIDENT WALTER MONDALE: When I hear your new ideas, I'm reminded of that ad: Where's the beef?
SENATOR BARRY GOLDWATER: Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
SENATOR LLOYD BENTSEN: Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.
PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON: You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore.
SARAH PALIN: Lipstick.
GOVERNOR RICK PERRY: Oops.
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: But I'm the decider.
CONAN: Every Wednesday, political junkie Ken Rudin joins us to recap the week in politics. Swift action yesterday in Lansing as the Michigan legislature defied loud protests to adopt right-to-work laws. Here in Washington, glacial progress toward a deal on taxes and spending cuts. Republicans vow to stay on through Christmas.
Tea Party champion Jim DeMint resigns. Mitch McConnell filibusters his own bill. Charlie Crist completes the political cycle from GOP to independent to Democrat. Cory Booker debates himself on his political future. But all the buzz is 2016 and the plans of the soon-to-be former secretary of state, more on that later in the program.
We'll also look at the other likely changes in the Cabinet, and we'll visit South Carolina. But first political junkie Ken Rudin joins us here in Studio 3A. And as usual, we begin with a trivia question. Hey, Ken.
KEN RUDIN, BYLINE: Hi Neal. Well, you just mentioned Charlie Crist, he's the former governor of Florida who was elected in 2006 as a Republican. He also left the GOP in 2010 to run for the Senate. He announced last week he's switching to the Democratic Party, presumably to run for governor in 2014 as a Democrat. The question is: Who was the last person elected governor of one party, switched parties while out of office and then was elected governor again in his new party?
CONAN: So if you think you know the answer to this week's trivia question, if you can remember this week's trivia question, the last person to be elected governor representing one party who then switched parties while out of office and got elected again as governor, give us a call, 800-989-8255. Email is email@example.com.
And Ken, in the meantime, while people line up to answer that one, the winners of course get a fabulous political junkie no-prize button and a free T-shirt, but we have actual votes.
RUDIN: Well, we do. The - we can now officially say goodbye to 2012, at least when it comes to electoral politics. In Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District, or as I call it House Bayou, Charles Boustany and Jeff Landry, they were two Republican incumbents thrown together in the same district. Boustany easily beat Landry. Boustany had seniority, he had money, he had geography, he was close with John Boehner. But because of redistricting, he was thrown in with another Republican. Jeff Landry is out, and that is the end of the 2012 House races. So the official total is the Democrats have a net gain of eight seats in the House. They need 17 now if they're going to win a majority in 2014.
CONAN: And they get their first two chances because there's going to be special elections in two seats.
RUDIN: Yes because Jo Ann Emerson is retiring, resigning in February, and Jesse Jackson Jr. already announced his resignation. But of course Jo Ann Emerson's district in southeastern Missouri, Jesse Jackson's district in Chicago's South Side, both respectively Republican and Democrat not likely to switch parties, although the only news is Sandy Jackson, Jesse Jackson's wife who's a member of the city council, said she will remain as an alderman - alderperson.
CONAN: Alderperson...
RUDIN: Yes, aldercaca(ph). She will not run for Congress.
CONAN: OK, in the meantime there's a sudden opening in the United States Senate.
RUDIN: Well, that was a big shock. I mean, even though he's not part of the leadership, even though he's not, you know, put his name on any major bill, Jim DeMint is in his second term, Republican, 61 years old. He has tremendous power. He has the capability of being a kingmaker or a breaker. We've seen that many times. He's backed many conservative Republicans such as Marco Rubio over the establishment choice...
CONAN: Christine O'Donnell.
RUDIN: I'll get to that in a second, but some of this stuff has succeeded. Ted Cruz over the establishment in Texas. As I said Marco Rubio, things like that in other states, where they've won primaries, Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania against Arlen Specter, wanted Robert Bennett out in Utah in favor of Mike Lee, Rand Paul in Kentucky, those kind - and all those Republicans won.
But he also backed conservative candidates who were disasters, and I'm talking about - and as you say Christine O'Donnell against the establishment in Delaware two years ago, even Richard Mourdock over Dick Lugar. Whatever you think of Dick Lugar, the point is the Republicans lost a sure Senate seat by having Mourdock as the nominee.
So there are some Republicans who love him; there are some Republicans who are glad to see him go.
CONAN: And his departure sets up a trifecta, as we mentioned, in South Carolina in 2014: both Senate seats and the governorship are up. We'll talk much more about that in a couple of minutes. And one more item that we have to address before we get to some of the answers to this week's trivia question is the big news of the week yesterday.
It turns out the legislature can pass a bill very quickly when it wants to, a lesson for here in Washington, D.C., but this is the Michigan Legislature. It passed a right-to-work law. The governor signed it all in one day despite tumultuous protests and vociferous protests by Democrats.
RUDIN: This is big news, and the reason it's big news is that whenever you think of unions, you think of Michigan. Whenever you think of Michigan, you think of the unions and especially the auto industry. But the point is the unions have been taking it on the chin lately in a lot of states. Indiana passed right to life - right to life - right-to-work legislation not long ago.
We saw what happened in Wisconsin, which led to a recall, an unsuccessful recall of Governor Scott Walker. We saw the curtailing of collective bargaining rights in Ohio that was overturned by the voters. But the point is Rick Snyder was not one of these bomb-throwing Republicans. He said he'd be more measured about this.
He said it would be too hot to handle, he wasn't going to do it, but then maybe perhaps some member of the legislature pushed his hand. But they passed this right-to-work law, and James Hoffa says this is going to be civil war in Michigan. Democrats are talking about there'll be blood on the floor. It's pretty tough stuff, big stuff there.
CONAN: The legislature signed it, passed it, and the governor signed it yesterday. On Monday the president of the United States weighed in as he visited a diesel factory just outside of Detroit.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: You know, these, these, these, these so-called right-to-work laws, they don't have to do with economics. They have everything to do with politics. What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money.
CONAN: Politics and economics, of course, tied together pretty closely. But nevertheless, the president carried Michigan fairly handily in November. Democrats seem to be shut out, though, of - well, at least the lame duck session, and the Republicans will retain control come the changeover in January.
They will, yes, but of course we're going to see what happens in 2014. They were already talking about recalls and threats like that. And of course they could - if they get 258,000 signatures, they can get a measure on the ballot that would overturn what the legislature just passed.
So Wisconsin east I guess...
RUDIN: Perhaps, and it's not going to change. And they're looking for the fight. I mean, they've been seen as very dormant, very perhaps, you know, weakened as we've seen in previous elections. But maybe you stir them a little bit, they'll get excited, and perhaps something will happen.
CONAN: So we have some people on the line who think they know the answer to this week's trivia question, and again the question is the last person to be elected governor representing one political party to then leave office, change his political or her political party and get elected governor again, 800-989-8255. Email is email@example.com. And let's start with Dexter(ph), Dexter on the line with us from Des Moines.
DEXTER: Hi, how about Ronald Reagan?
CONAN: Ronald Reagan, I didn't leave my party, my party left me.
RUDIN: Well, Ronald Reagan was already a Republican when he was first elected governor in 1966, so he didn't - he wasn't elected two different parties when he was governor, as governor.
DEXTER: Oh, OK, thank you.
CONAN: Thanks very much for the call. Let's see if we can go to Ken(ph), and Ken's with us from Lincoln, Delaware.
KEN: Seasons greetings, guys.
CONAN: You, too.
RUDIN: Hi.
KEN: I'm thinking John Connelly, although I'm not sure whether he got re-elected as a Democrat.
CONAN: He got elected as Democrat.
RUDIN: He did elected in '62 as a Democrat, re-elected as a Democrat when he ran for - when he switched to the Republican Party, he ran for president but never as governor.
KEN: Thanks, guys.
CONAN: Thanks very much for the call. Let's see if we can go next to George(ph), and George is on the line from Tallahassee.
GEORGE: I would say Mills Godwin.
RUDIN: Mills Godwin is a very good guess. Mills Godwin was elected governor of Virginia as a Democrat in 1965, as a Republican in 1973, but he is not the most recent person to do that.
CONAN: Ah.
RUDIN: Mills Godwin is a good guess, though.
GEORGE: Thank you.
CONAN: Thanks very much. Let's see if we can go next to Peter(ph), and Peter's with us from Roseville in California.
PETER: Hi, I remember Wayne Morse doing it in the Senate, also an independent. He ran as both Democrat, Republican and independent, got elected. But as far as the governorship, I don't think he did that in the governorship, either.
RUDIN: Well, you're right about Wayne Morse, he was elected as a Democrat, became an independent then was elected as a - I'm sorry, he started as a Republican, switched to the independents, got elected as a Democrat, as well, but never ran for governor.
PETER: Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. Well, thank you.
CONAN: Nice try, Peter. Let's see if we can go next to - this is...
RUDIN: You know, when it Waynes, it pours.
CONAN: Amy's(ph) with us from Birmingham, Alabama, and we apologize for that, Amy. Go ahead, please.
AMY: I was going to say George Wallace. Didn't he switch from Democrat to Dixiecrat?
RUDIN: No, actually every time George Wallace was elected governor, and that was in '58, '62, '70 and '78 and '82, anyway every time was as a Democrat. He never ran as another party. He ran for president, he ran for president as a third-party candidate.
AMY: He ran for president as a third-party candidate. Well, thank you so much.
CONAN: Thanks, Amy. Let's see if we can go next to Jonathan, and Jonathan's on the line with us from Dauphin, Alabama.
JONATHAN: Yes, sir, nice show, I love to hear it.
CONAN: Thank you.
JONATHAN: My answer would be Governor Fob James. In 1979 he was elected as a Democrat. He ran again in the state for a Republican, and he won.
RUDIN: And that was in 1994, and Jonathan, you are absolutely correct.
CONAN: Ding, ding, ding.
RUDIN: Fob James of Alabama elected as a Democrat and then elected as a Republican.
CONAN: So stay on the line, Jonathan, we'll collect your particulars and send you off a free political junkie T-shirt and that, well, precious political junkie no-prize button that you get for victory in exchange for a promise that you'll send us a digital picture of yourself wearing self same, and we can post that on our Wall of Shame. All right, congratulations, Jonathan.
RUDIN: You know, Neal, before we were talking about the decline of unions. I guess you saw that Ravi Shankar died, and he was that great head of the teacher's union in New York.
CONAN: That was Al Shanker, something different, pronounced somewhat differently. In the meantime, we just have a few seconds before we have to go to a break, but the strange process in the Senate at the end of last week where the minority leader, Mitch McConnell, introduced a bill meant to provoke the Democrats on the fiscal cliff and ended up filibustering it himself.
RUDIN: The Republicans don't seem to have exactly a set plan of what they are planning to do. Everything, really, when we're talking about fiscal cliff, it really is President Obama and Speaker Boehner. And while they come outside from their talks in saying we're not any closer, the fact is they're still talking. So we're not jumping off the fiscal cliff just yet.
CONAN: Well, we've got 20 days to go. Ken, stay with us. After a short break, we'll talk with Andy Shain in South Carolina about who may replace Senator Jim DeMint and, well, how that all sets up that three-ring circus we're talking about for 2014. Stay with us. We'll be back in just a minute. It's the TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. I'm Neal Conan.
CONAN: This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan. It's Wednesday, which means Political Junkie Ken Rudin is with us here in Studio 3A. Ken, we have a ScuttleButton winner last week?
RUDIN: We absolutely do. We had four buttons there. It was - one button said: I'm a voter too. The second button said: Anna Eshoo for Congress, the Democrat from California. The third button said: Impeach one-half of LBJ, they obviously like the domestic policy, not the foreign policy. And the fourth button was a picture button of Lyndon Johnson and two other men.
So if you said - if you add I'm a voter too, Anna Eshoo, impeach half of LBJ, and pictures of three men, you have too Anna half men, which is a very enlightening, sophisticated...
CONAN: I'm told it's a popular television program.
RUDIN: Well, anyway, Seth Denny(ph) of Danville, Iowa, is this week's winner.
CONAN: And of course gets that free Political Junkie T-shirt, which are available on sale at the NPR shop, by the way.
RUDIN: Do you know Neal Conan and Ken Rudin will be at NPR Friday from 6:00 to 6:00 selling items from the NPR shop? The people deserve...
CONAN: Including that Political Junkie T-shirt. But you cannot buy the button that will also be (unintelligible); that's only for winners.
RUDIN: They'll have to rip it off our clothes, and hopefully they will.
CONAN: A bit later in the program we'll talk about possible presidential contenders, 2016. We'll want to hear from you. Who are you and your friends talking about? Inauguration hasn't even happened yet. But we're talking 2016, 800-989-8255. Email is email@example.com.
But first to North Carolina, where Governor Nikki Haley faces a choice on who she shall appoint to the seat vacated by Senator Jim DeMint. Several names have circulated as potential replacements, including former State Attorney General Henry McMaster, current Congressman Tim Scott. But another candidate threw his hat into the ring...
STEPHEN COLBERT: I'm not going to sit here and say I should be South Carolina's next senator, not when so many other people are saying it for me.
USA Today: Is Stephen Colbert running for the U.S. Senate? Huffington Post: Stephen Colbert for Senate? Roll Call: South Carolina for Stephen Colbert? New York Post: Are we ready for Senator Colbert?
CONAN: Here to discuss Colbert's chances is political reporter Andy Shain. He's been covering the potential replacements for The State, South Carolina's largest newspaper. He joined us by smartphone from his office in Columbia. Nice to have you with us today.
ANDY SHAIN: Thanks for having me today.
CONAN: And we assume that besides the Colbert shoo-in, Governor Haley may appoint somebody else.
SHAIN: I think so. She's actually ruled out Colbert for not knowing the state drink during their interview in April. That's milk, by the way. Now, mind you, the governor did not know the state amphibian, which I know you all know; that's the spotted salamander.
CONAN: I was going to guess that. It was coming out of my mouth.
SHAIN: I figured as much. But what you have right now is five finalists that have been named, according to a source close to the governor, with Representatives Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy on the list, as well as Henry McMaster, who was an attorney general here, a two-term attorney general, as well as former first lady Jenny Sanford and the head of our health environmental agency, a woman named Catherine Templeton as well has been put on the final list.
CONAN: Now Tim Scott, if he were to be appointed, would be the first African-American to be serving from the - a Republican from the Senate and the only African-American in the U.S. Senate right now. This would be a popular choice.
SHAIN: You know, it would be a historic choice and certainly something to build on the governor's resume, you know, as having done this. Tim Scott is reportedly the favorite of Jim DeMint's. He has apparently told the governor that this is who he would like to replace him. And Tim Scott was - just like Senator DeMint has a lot of Tea Party support.
He has been popular in Congress. He was named head of the GOP freshman caucus. And he was recently appointed to the Ways and Means Committee.
CONAN: I'm told even other Republicans like him, and that's unusual in South Carolina. But the question is: Mr. McMaster would be seen, were he to be appointed, as a caretaker, and that sets up an interesting situation for 2014.
SHAIN: Exactly, and he has been talked a lot about as a caretaker, but actually the governor said early this week she doesn't want a caretaker or a placeholder. She wants someone who will run in 2014 for the final two years of Senator DeMint's seat and then of course move on to the election in 2016.
So, you know, but Henry's name is still on there. As I said, he's a venerable Republican here in South Carolina. He has won - he's the only candidate of the finalists who has won a statewide race. So he would be, you know, obviously considered a formidable senator if he did that.
But right now all the bets are on Senator - are on Representative Scott.
CONAN: Ken?
RUDIN: Whatever my name is. First of all, I think - I'm not sure if you said this, but you said that he would be the first Republican senator - of course African-American Republican senator, but Edward Brooke, of course, of Massachusetts was that. Tim Scott is fascinating. The history, it would be, you know, unmistakable.
Of course Henry McMaster ran against Nikki Haley for governor, so that might be a problem. But the Jenny Sanford thing seems to be the most fascinating of all. Of course she got screwed by - I mean, she was just - what happened in her divorce situation with Mark Sanford was pretty...
CONAN: The former governor, if anybody's forgotten.
RUDIN: No, no, he's off of his trail with his love interest. But Jenny Sanford (unintelligible) never run for office, but she is extremely popular in the state.
SHAIN: Yes, she is. There was a recent poll that was done that showed that Mark Sanford has about a 30 percent approval rating and Jenny's was 44 percent. Jenny is a former Wall Street executive. She helped her run her husband's campaign, was a key figure in his administration, even though she didn't have a formal position beyond being first lady.
She - a lot of people talked about how she would sit in meetings. But as you've mentioned, she's a political newcomer as far as elected office, and there had been some questions raised about is this the time to have a political newcomer in office.
But today Governor Haley reminded us that she was a relative newcomer when she got into the statehouse and became governor, and she said what matters is philosophy and how - where you want to take the country and not necessarily how much experience you have under your belt.
RUDIN: And Jenny Sanford also made a very key endorsement of Nikki Haley early in the gubernatorial primary that really put Nikki Haley on the map.
SHAIN: That's correct.
CONAN: There is another consideration, though, and that is 2014. You would have - this seat would come open again for 2014. Whoever's appointed now would have to run for the seat in 2014. Of course Lindsey Graham's seat also is open in 2014. He had been looking, I guess, forward to a challenge from the right. That might not occur if the Tea Party favorite, Tim Scott, is also up for re-election in that time.
But as I read one quote, Nikki Haley would also be up for re-election, the governor's race as well. And of those three, somebody described her as the slow zebra in that race.
SHAIN: Well, I mean it's certainly - it certainly changes the dynamic a great deal, having the seat, the second Senate seat in 2014. Certainly a big winner in this is Lindsey Graham. He was expected to get competition from candidates who voters might perceive as being more conservative and a little more like, I guess, Jim DeMint. But I think that will now go to the 2014 - the race for DeMint's seat in 2014.
Even if Tim Scott is appointed, I think there will be some, there could be some challenge for him because he will only have been in that seat for a year and change.
CONAN: So this is a one-party state for the most part, but does any Democratic candidate have an opening here?
SHAIN: Possibly. The head of the Democratic Party here, Dick Harpootlian, has been lobbying in Washington hard with Democratic leaders to try to get funding from the Governors Association, from the National Committee, to help Democrats in South Carolina. They think they have an opportunity here both with the governor's mansion and possibly with this Senate seat.
Governor Haley won by four percentage points over a state senator who is expected to face her again in a rematch, and there's a belief that maybe - again, because you're talking about - you're talking about a guy who, as I said, will be in office for a little more than a year having to face competition. There could be a candidate or two on the Democratic side who could make a run.
RUDIN: Andy, we know about Jim DeMint's power in Washington. We talked about all the things he's done and all the influence he (unintelligible) in Republican primaries. How strong was he back home? I mean, he always said he was going to retire after his term was up in 2016, but how strong is he?
SHAIN: You know, he was strong in South Carolina. He had the support of the conservative portion of the state, which is the upstate, Greenville, Spartanburg. But he really was more of a national figure. You know, he played - he wanted - in the past year or so, playing much more of a role as trying to help get other like-minded senators elected: Marco Rubio, for example.
And so, you know, while he was good for South Carolina, I think he's seen more as a national figure these days.
CONAN: Well, Andy Shain, it looks like you're going to have a really interesting couple of years.
SHAIN: That's for sure. It'll be a good time to be a political reporter here in South Carolina.
CONAN: Andy Shain, political reporter for The State; he spoke with us by smartphone from his office in Columbia, South Carolina. Thanks very much, we'll be in touch.
SHAIN: Thank you, thanks for having me.
CONAN: Paul Light is a professor at New York University's Wagner School of Public Service. He's written about the appointment and confirmation process and joins us now from a studio at the Rand Corporation in Santa Monica, California. Paul Light, nice to have you back on the program.
PAUL LIGHT: Very nice to be with you.
CONAN: And we wanted to talk about some of the Cabinet changes that are in the offing - traditional for many if not most of a president's Cabinet to depart at or around the time of the inauguration.
LIGHT: It is. There are some precedent-setting or near precedent-setting departures. It's very unusual to lose so many members of the inner Cabinet, the very close Cabinet. So you've got the secretary of state, the treasury secretary, possibly the attorney general all thinking about or already announced as departing, and that's going to put a little pressure on the nomination process next January and February. Ordinarily, the president gets his choices for those jobs, but this is not an ordinary period, obviously.
CONAN: And Susan Rice who some think is his favorite to be the next secretary of state obviously running into difficulties on Capitol Hill.
LIGHT: Totally. And it's a very unusual and difficult moment for the president. The president knows and mentioned this just last week that the Senate is a difficult place to navigate. He mentioned this in the context of getting a businessman through the Senate, yet the Senate is very close to an agreement on changing the filibuster cloture rule which would accelerate the appointments process quite dramatically. But if you send Susan Rice up and the Republicans, who are so adamantly opposed to her, say, look, there's no way to stop her if there isn't a strong filibuster rule still in place, you're kind of trading a wonderful opportunity to get filibuster reform for a particular candidate.
That could be the dilemma that Obama will face, and frankly, I think the filibuster reform is far more important than any candidate he might select for the State Department job at this point.
CONAN: Particularly when the person thought to be also on his shortlist, the Senate - the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry, would sail through any Senate confirmation.
LIGHT: That's correct. Again here, you know, you've got just an extraordinary opportunity to do something that will benefit the president, this president and future presidents in this unbelievably difficult and brutal, nasty, brutal and brutish and not very short process. And, you know, to trade that for a single candidate, as I said, is very problematic.
CONAN: The president - this president in particular also looks for diversity in his Cabinet. He wants the Cabinet to as much as possible reflect America. He has an opportunity at the Defense Department. Leon Panetta thought to be leaving, maybe not right at the inauguration but shortly thereafter. There's the chance to appoint a Republican. That's some diversity. Also, Michele Flournoy, the former deputy secretary.
LIGHT: Correct. There are plenty of opportunities here. There is going to be a lot of flux at the sub-Cabinet level. People say, well, gee, you know, it's the second term of an administration, how can the transition be particularly important? But if you think of this rather like a lava floe, it looks pretty stable on top. Maybe you could even think that you might walk on it, but underneath there's a lot of floe. And you're going to see a lot of undersecretary level, deputy secretary level, assistant secretary level appointees moving around, leaving the administration, new people coming in, developing that pipeline of credibility for future appointments, then it's another way that a second-term president does shape the future by credentialing people who four years, eight years from now will be considered for deputy secretary and even secretary positions. So he's got to worry about that subterranean, if you will, pipeline of diversity and work that equally hard.
CONAN: We're speaking with Paul Light, NYU Wagner's Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service. You're listening to TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. Ken?
RUDIN: Paul, you've watched this stuff for a long time. You've watched this whole confirmation process go on for a long time. But what fascinates me most about the Susan Rice story is that unlike other people who've been nominated and then make the calls of members of the Senate, Susan Rice hasn't even been nominated. It's almost like the president is afraid to make the nomination because he's seeing what kind of reception he's gotten so far.
LIGHT: Well, you do get trial balloons here just like in a presidential campaign. Very interesting to hear the conversation before I came on about people starting to talk about 2016. He's floating - and those are trial balloons, obviously. He's - the president is floating her name. He knows that there's controversy associated with it, particularly tied to Benghazi. And so the name is being floated. She's going up to repair broken relationships or to try to reduce the threat of a filibuster, so she is walking around right now.
And to be honest, you know, The New York Times' story yesterday or editorial perhaps on her relationships with some of the African nation leaders...
CONAN: President Kagame in Rwanda, yes.
LIGHT: Yes. You know, this is not good. She's not selling particularly well, and again, you can expect a personal hold on her nomination if she goes up, and that could jam up the whole process. It's risky. So, yeah, they are selling right now, but Republicans on the Hill are not buying. And these are substantial opponents that she's lined up against.
CONAN: Let's put a dark horse into the race. The mayor of San Antonio, Texas, Mayor Castro, who made such a strong impression at the Democratic National Convention in his speech there, yet has nowhere to go really in Texas politics. It's hard for a Democrat there to get elected statewide. Could we see him appointed to a national position, a Cabinet position?
LIGHT: Well, which one is the question. I mean this would be a normal and actually very expected appointment if you had HUD open, but that's unlikely. He's not quite right for commerce. Where would you put him? I mean...
CONAN: Secretary of the interior might be open.
LIGHT: You could do that, but some would argue, well, you really need somebody more Western perhaps. Do you have a geographical balance issue? So, you know, there's a - it's a little bit of a crossword puzzle or a multi-piece puzzle where you've got to make a lot of things come together. It's rather like choosing a vice president, only you've got 15 of them to fill. So you've got movement. We don't know who's going to leave in the secondary Cabinet posts. Will Napolitano leave, you know, two others, you know, what's going to happen there? And there haven't been any announcement on that just yet, but some expectation that there will be rotation there.
CONAN: When would you expect an announcement? Well, yeah, we start to hear names, start to hear plans. The inauguration is not all that far away.
LIGHT: Well, it's not going to be too long. I rather doubt that they're going to sit - put somebody out there. I don't think they're going to leave with Susan Rice if they go that direction. They'll put some safe nominees out there. They're going through the White House clearance process no doubt right now. So you'll start to hear of announcements, I would guess, maybe one or two before Christmas, before the end of next week. But you have to pave the road if you're going to go with somebody like Susan Rice, so that it's not out there front and center.
CONAN: Paul Light, thanks very much for your time today.
LIGHT: You are so welcome.
CONAN: Coming back, we'll speculate about 2016. It's the TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News.
CONAN: Political Junkie Ken Rudin is here, as he is every Wednesday. Today, though, we'd like to plant the seeds for something new, a Political Junkie mailbag segment. We read from your letters on all of our programs every week. We'd like to start doing a special version just for Junkie, so if you've got questions, quips, comments, criticism or clarifications for us, send us an email, email@example.com, put Junkie mailbag in the subject line. And, Ken, we could start off with a correction.
RUDIN: Well, yes. I made a mistake, one, by showing up today, and two...
RUDIN: ...we were talking about the right to life - right to...
CONAN: Work.
RUDIN: ...work legislation in Michigan, and I said that 258,000 signatures are needed to get the bill - to get language on the ballot that would overturn the bill, and a lot of folks from Michigan pointed out correctly that the Republicans deliberately added some appropriations language in this bill, and anything that has appropriations language cannot be overturned or challenged. So therefore, that's why the Republicans put this is the language, so, of course, you can recall Republicans. You can defeat them in 2014.
CONAN: You can recall Democrats too.
RUDIN: I recall them very well. They used to be in power. But the law itself cannot be challenged.
CONAN: All right. If you'd like to have Ken read more clarifications...
CONAN: ...like that, send it to Political Junkie mailbag, again, put Junkie mailbag in the subject line, talk@totn - firstname.lastname@example.com is the address. So let's talk about the political story everybody is buzzing about: 2016. A lot of familiar names come up as potential contenders, some newer notables. We'd like to hear from junkies in our audience. Which candidates are you and your friends talking about? 800-989-8255. Email us: email@example.com. You can send us a tweet, @totn.
And, Ken, I just remember how accurate all the prognostications were eight years ago when Hillary Clinton was thought to be the prohibitive front-runner in the Democratic stakes.
RUDIN: You know, I was thinking of that this morning. There was - there have been a lot of articles about - talking about how she is the clear front-runner. She has the name. She has the money. She has the rolodex. She has the, you know, the support around the country. And she was clearly the front-runner going to 2008. Nobody saw Barack Obama and his courting of caucus states, things like that. His support - the history there. I mean it was history of the first woman versus the first - history of the first African-American.
It was an amazing story, but nobody questioned the fact that Hillary Clinton was the front-runner. Now, yes, we're going to get a lot of calls or not about people saying that we're - it's too early to be talking about 2016. But this is about political junkies, and this is what it is. And we're not going to spend every day from now until 2016.
CONAN: We're only on one day a week.
RUDIN: Well, there you go. But, look, a lot of people are talking about what will Hillary Clinton do, and I think it's a very legitimate question. We don't have the answers, and she may not have the answers either.
CONAN: And Jim Carville, of course, ran her husband's presidential campaign. He was talking about this on the talk shows this past Sunday. He thought he knew the answers.
JIM CARVILLE: Every Democrat I know says, God, I hope she runs. We don't need a primary. Let's just go to post with this thing. We don't want to fight with anybody over anything.
CONAN: That sort of skips over the fact there might be a few Democrats who might want to fight about this thing.
RUDIN: Well, let's start with the sitting vice president. I mean Joe Biden has talked about not ruling out a run for president in 2016. I think he'll be - I'm not sure - 70s, late 60s, early 70s, but, of course, but he's very active, very - and he still has a lot of support, and he's - and by all accounts and certainly according to the White House, he's been a very effective and loyal vice president. You can't rule him out either.
CONAN: There are two governors, sitting governors who could be interested. That is Mr. Cuomo in New York and Mr. O'Malley in Maryland. The - Mark Warner, the senator from Virginia, could present a centrist Democratic challenge. There's John Hickenlooper, the governor of Colorado, could be somebody from the West. There's all kinds of people available. Then, of course, there's the other party. They get - let's say this as well, though, again, appearing on some of these Sunday talk shows. Newt Gingrich, who, of course, ran for president unsuccessfully this past year, said, well, the Republicans got a problem.
NEWT GINGRICH: Every Republican should be focused on what we just talked about. I mean, if their competitor in '16 is going to be Hillary Clinton, supported by Bill Clinton and presumably and still relatively popular President Barack Obama, trying to win that will be truly the Super Bowl. And the Republican Party today is incapable of competing at that level.
CONAN: Well, President Gingrich would've taken care of that.
RUDIN: No,, and look, that makes sense. But remember, no Democrat was going to compete with the first President Bush after the Persian Gulf War when he had 91 percent approval rating. So to talk in 2012 that the Republicans would not be competitive in 2016 against Hillary Clinton or anybody else is just, well, nonsense.
CONAN: All right. Andrew in Athol, Massachusetts, emails: Besides Martin O'Malley and Mark Warner, who seemed to be obviously running for the Democrats, I've heard buzz from progressives about outgoing Montana governor Brian Schweitzer.
RUDIN: Schweitzer is very interested too. We did mention - first of all, Schweitzer is interested. He made some great speeches at Democratic conventions. He is very popular. Of course, he was term limited. He's out. When we mentioned Andrew Cuomo, we have to point out, of course, that Andrew Cuomo would never run if Hillary Clinton were running as well. And he's been less aggressive than Martin O'Malley.
CONAN: Let's go next to Sonny. Sonny is on the line with us from San Antonio.
SONNY: Yes. I'd like to bring up a name I haven't heard, but I have talked with my friends about Colin Powell. And it wouldn't matter whether he was a Democrat or a Republican. He would have my vote.
CONAN: I was going to ask what party would he run in. That's interesting. Colin Powell, Ken, would have, boy, a lot of trouble getting the Republican nomination and a lot of trouble getting the Democratic nomination.
RUDIN: Well, he would never get the Republican nomination, having supported President Obama two terms, two elections in a row. And, you know, there are a lot of people in line. He has said when he dropped out of the 1996 race or when he decided against entering, and he said electoral politics is not for me, and I'm not - I've seen nothing to indicate that he feels any differently.
CONAN: And he would have to win one vote first, and that is his wife, Alma.
RUDIN: And Alma maters, matters.
CONAN: Thanks very much for the call, Sonny. Let's see if we go next to - this is Ryan. Ryan with us from Denver.
RYAN: Hello.
CONAN: Hi.
RYAN: Hi. Yes. So I'm always a fan of Bill Richardson from New Mexico.
CONAN: Bill Richardson has tremendous resume for this, both international affairs. Of course, he's former ambassador to the United Nations, secretary of energy, former governor of New Mexico and an Hispanic.
RUDIN: But he did leave office under a cloud. He was up for perhaps a cabinet position in the Obama cabinet, and there were some questions about a pay-to-play scandal. His name was never mentioned, but there was - there were investigations going on. And I think that Richardson may be too tainted. And perhaps he's an old face. There are a lot of newer guys out there, guys and gals, looking at 2016.
CONAN: Thanks, Ryan.
RYAN: Yeah. Sure thing.
CONAN: Here's an email. This is from Charles in Orlando: As a swing state independent, if Chris Christie ran and promise to focus only on fiscal and not social issues, I don't know of a Democrat who could beat him.
RUDIN: Well, you know, I mean, the people who love Chris Christie really love him. The people who don't really don't like him. Certainly, the unions and the teachers and the Democrats in New Jersey don't like him or were waiting to see if Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, decides to run against him. First, he has to win re-election next year, and that's going to be a tough one no matter who the Democratic candidate is. But he is also not a pure-bred conservative, and there may be some people in their Jim DeMint wing of the party who say that Christie is likeable but - well, I don't know about likeable, but, you know, he's a forceful kind of candidate but may not fit the conservative mold.
CONAN: Let's go next to Mark, and Mark's on the line from Milton, Florida.
MARK: Thank you, guys. I think that Walker of Wisconsin has proved that he can get both Democrat and Republican votes. He's not a bomb thrower. He enters to end the public sector unions, are draining the state economically, and he's able to carry the ball. I would think he would an excellent president.
CONAN: And Scott Walker, of course, has survived a recall and after he passed that controversial legislation that championed the controversial legislation to rein in public service employees in the state of Wisconsin. But he'd better be - I can't imagine him getting too many Democratic votes, Ken.
RUDIN: No. But we're talking about the Republican nomination. But as long as we're talking about Wisconsin, then we should be talking about Paul Ryan, who is Mitt Romney's running mate, who clearly is looking at 2016. And a lot of young conservatives in the House are slowly or considering getting behind Ryan in a possible presidential bid.
CONAN: Thanks, Mark. Let's see if we go next to - this is John, John with us from Grants Pass, Oregon.
JOHN: How about the only really honest presidential candidate that would ever run - Elizabeth Warren. Please.
CONAN: Elizabeth Warren, won a thumping victory, as it turned out, over Scott Brown in Massachusetts, also delivered a crackerjack speech, by almost everybody's evaluation, at the Democratic National Convention. Ken?
RUDIN: Yeah. I mean, clearly, there are bigger and better things for Elizabeth Warren in her future. She is the progressive that all progressives wish President Obama was. I mean, she is a no-nonsense progressive, and a lot of people are talking about her as a possible - I would think she may have want another term under her belt. But, you know, she may decide to do what Barack Obama did, said that, you know, I've done everything I can in the Senate in my one term and maybe look at the White House.
CONAN: She is a little older than Barack Obama was at a comparable point in his career. I think 57 years old right now. Obviously, not too old to be president of the United States.
RUDIN: Yeah. And also, there's also a possibility that Deval Patrick, who would be outgoing governor by 2016 in Massachusetts, is also looking at a possible - but absolutely keep Elizabeth Warren in mind because she's very, very popular with the grassroots.
CONAN: Let's go to Matt. Matt with us from Concord, California.
MATT: How are you doing? I think for 2016, it would be hard to be Hillary Clinton because Hillary has already been put to the test, and she showed a great leadership. And it's a great time for women to step up and lead this country. We made history to have African-American president. And now it's time to have a female president, and the only female I could see right now is Hillary Clinton.
CONAN: And, well, a lot of people agree with you, Matt. And, Ken, you look at Secretary Clinton. She's clearly tired. She - all talks about taking a good, long rest and reading some books, and then making up her mind down the road. But at the moment, she says not interested.
RUDIN: Well, she's exhausted now and deservedly so. I mean, she's done, by most accounts, an excellent job as secretary of state. But the point is there may be tremendous pressure on her. And, you know, just as Ted Kennedy felt all that pressure in 1979, even though he may not have wanted to run, there will be tremendous pressure on Hillary Clinton, saying, look, you know, we had it in our grasp in 2008. But remember, she's always most popular when she's not running for office. When she was running, then her negatives went up. When she was first lady, her negatives went up. When she's in an ostensibly a nonpartisan secretary of state position, her numbers are tremendous.
CONAN: Why not, emails Joshua, why not Bernie Sanders or Rand Paul? Those would be my picks.
RUDIN: Well, Bernie Sanders, you know, of course, he was just re-elected in Vermont, the independent senator from Vermont. Rand Paul, a lot of people are saying that he might succeed Ron Paul as the small L libertarian candidate to run, and Rand Paul is looking at bigger and better things as well.
CONAN: Well, as a liberty Republican, as they style in the shows in the party. Interesting, the state of Maine, the liberty Republicans took over that state organization.
RUDIN: Yeah. And we had Ron Paul on the show not too long ago. And while he didn't talk about Rand Paul as a future candidate, he said, look, this movement will be fine without me. But having the name Paul, you know, head that, it wouldn't be the worse thing for them either.
CONAN: Before we end, we want to let you know about a special event coming up January 16 here in Washington, D.C. Ken and I will be putting on the Political Junkie road show inauguration edition, an evening of political wit - man, our wit, I'm not so sure - trivia contest, bad jokes and special guests, including Clarence Page, Nina Totenberg and Ted Koppel. To find out how to get tickets, send an email to email@example.com. Put road show in the subject line. Ken, you're going to be - join us for that?
RUDIN: Ask not.
CONAN: Ken Rudin is our resident Political Junkie. He will be back again on Wednesday. He joined us here in Studio 3A. See you next week, Ken.
RUDIN: Thanks, Neal.
CONAN: It's the TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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United Kingdom Bans Teaching Creation as Science
The most effective way to ensure that inaccurate information is not corrected, but is allowed to take up prolonged residence in any population of people, is to ban the teaching of information that would set the record straight. The Proverbs writer noted: "The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him" (18:17). But if the examining neighbor is summarily banned from the room, then the "first one to plead his case seems right," since there is no voice of reason left to show the flaws in the initial presenter's case.
Such is the situation as it stands in the United Kingdom. The U.K. recently banned the teaching of Creation as a scientific alternative to Darwinism in all schools and academies in their country that receive any public funding. The U.K.'s new funding agreement to schools includes the following statement: "The requirement on every academy and free school to provide a broad and balanced curriculum in any case prevents the teaching of creationism as evidence based theory in any academy or free school" ("British Government…," 2014). This new law means that all public funded schools in the U.K., presently operating or those that will be founded in the future, are banned from teaching Creation as an evidence based, scientific idea.
If the U.K. wants to ensure that its students will be force-fed false information without being allowed to properly assess it, then they have made the right move. It is in such an atmosphere of intentional censorship that truth is repressed and real learning is abandoned. Woe to the nation that refuses to recognize the all-powerful Creator Who brought them into existence.
As a note of warning to those of us in the United States, such bans are not presently in place, but they will be, if those who believe in God and Christ do not stand up to the rising tide of secularism. It is time we cast off the craven ideas that have so long muted the voice of truth and reason. "I can't or I'll lose my job," "The separation of church and states says…," "I don't really believe this, but the government says I have to teach it, so turn to page…." Where are the brave Christian souls who will build a wall of truth and stand in the gap? Where are those formidable personalities who are willing to say, "God created you, it is the truth, and I'll teach it as the fact it is until I am relieved of my position"? Where are those who will herald against the storms of secularism: "Evolution is a false, unscientific theory and here is why" (see Miller, 2013)?
I know there are still some courageous forces for good. I know because they have invited us into their classrooms to teach what is accurate, to distribute material, and to present the scientific evidence for Creation to their children who are starving for the truth. Just last year we were able to put approximately 1,000 copies of our book Truth Be Told into the hands of middle-schoolers across our country. God be praised that such is still legal in our country (if you would like more information on how you can get this done at your school, please contact our offices). We should look with saddened disappointment at the U.K. as a specter of what will be the case in our country in the not-too-distant future, if Christians allow the secular community to fight more boldly for their ungodly cause than Christians are willing to fight for what is right.
"British Government Finally Bans Creationism from Free Schools and Academies in Secular Triumph" (2014), Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/19/british-government-bans-creationism-schools_n_5511010.html?utm_hp_ref=uk.
Miller, Jeff (2013), Science vs. Evolution (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press).
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