"Add one more voice of reason to the long list urging President-elect Joe Biden to rethink his plan to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal: Henry Kissinger warns that it could kick off a disastrous nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

"At a conference for the Jewish People Policy Institute on Monday, Kissinger argued that Biden should by no means reverse President Trump's decision to pull the United States out of the accord.

"Biden has said he means to return to it as long as Iran agrees to comply with the restrictions on its actions. But Kissinger notes that the deal's time limits on key restrictions and 'so many escape clauses' render it effectively useless in stopping Iran's nuclear development."

"The Democratic wins in Georgia have elevated Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to a key legislative role in the new Congress.

"President-elect Joe Biden's former primary rival is now set to become chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, where he will wield influence over some of the biggest legislative priorities under the Democratic majority.

"The panel sets the terms for budget reconciliation, a procedure that allows senators to approve certain tax and spending bills with a simple majority and sidestep the 60-vote threshold needed for most legislation.

"With a 50-50 split that will often require tie-breaking votes cast by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Democrats are likely to find themselves relying on reconciliation to advance the parts of their legislative agenda most likely to draw full GOP opposition, from more COVID-19 relief, including another round of stimulus checks, to infrastructure, health and climate legislation.

"As Budget chair, Sanders will have the opportunity to shape each reconciliation bill, a role fellow progressives are relishing."

"Usually in a closely divided government, leaders make deals to placate the various factions in their own party while trying to bring in some collaborators from the opposite party, which means offering a little something to its rival factions, too. That often produces bad policy -- Washington's go-to compromise has been giving Republicans the tax cuts they cherish while giving Democrats the spending they demand -- but it directs parties away from their extremes toward the center and toward bipartisanship. That is not what is going to happen to Democrats in 2021.

"Instead, with a 50/50 Senate, the power of far-left Democrats willing to buck party leadership will be amplified, because Democrats will need every single vote to get anything done. Drift in a leftward direction is almost assured. Far-left Democrats in the House will understand this, too, as will progressives inside the administration. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, et al. will have an opening to push their party to the left -- and the Republicans will not be in a good position to push back."

"Georgia voters this week put national governance in the hands of a single party, the Democrats -- all too many of whom can't wait to make radical changes that could affect every American. For years. ...

"In short, the best the nation can hope for is gridlock. ...

"On the other hand, the midterms are just two years away . . ."

"Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means."

"While hypocritical politicians, the media, and health officials urged people to stay home, mask up, and even skip celebrating holidays with family members to 'save grandma' from a virus that is especially fatal to the elderly, the narrative changed once a vaccine, which was hailed by many on the left and right as a beacon of hope, was produced.

"Instead of prioritizing vaccinating those who are the most vulnerable to dying if they contract the virus, many state governments have told older populations to have patience while they distribute and administer the vaccine to frontline workers, nursing home residents, inmates, and even some teachers and police officers.

"Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledges that people aged 65 and older account for 8 in 10 Wuhan virus deaths, the federal agency suggested giving the vaccine to those on the front lines and in long-term care facilities first. The CDC later recommends that vaccine doses be allocated for those 75 and older at the same time as 'about 30 million frontline essential workers,' a large group of people that the New York Times estimates make up 'nearly 70 percent of the American work force.'"

"Portland, Ore., Mayor Ted Wheeler admits his efforts at appeasing radical anarchists failed after another destructive riot ruined New Year's Eve in his city, and he is now appealing for federal and state help.

"'My good faith efforts at de-escalation have been met with ongoing violence and even scorn from radical Antifa and anarchists,' Wheeler told a press conference Friday. 'In response it will be necessary to use additional tools and to push the limits of the tools we already have to bring the criminal destruction and violence to an end.'

"Wheeler, who once famously demanded federal law enforcement to leave his city, called for a task force of 'federal, state, county and local law enforcement to convene to deal with anarchist violence. as soon as possible.'"

Read entire article here.

"Who would you rather have write the U.S. Senate's next budget -- Lindsey Graham or Bernie Sanders?

"This is among the choices before Georgia's voters on Tuesday. ...

"If Democrats capture the Senate and make New York's Chuck Schumer majority leader, they also will chair the Senate's committees. ...

"If Republicans keep command, these committees will be marginally likelier than today's to pursue conservative objectives of individual freedom, limited government, free enterprise, and peace through strength. If Democrats take power, however, Americans should brace for a jump to the left. Senate panels will become rocket engines for curbing liberty, swelling the state, shackling the economy, and appeasing America's enemies."

Read entire article here.

"Public approval of Congress sank to just 15 percent in the latest Gallup poll, but lawmakers are determined to find out how low they can go. That's one explanation, at least, for all the unrelated junk they tossed into the massive pandemic-relief/government-funding bill.

"The public fury is surely driven by the months-long standoff over passing any relief, even as key provisions of early stimulus bills were expiring.

"And now this: a $2.3 trillion monstrosity that includes countless items that never would've passed on their own -- 5,593 pages that members couldn't possibly read before they had to vote on it, knowing it was a must-pass because of the desperately needed relief it contained. ...

"It's easier to do your smelliest work when no one can possibly spot it in time."

Read entire article here.