He brushed by energy policy with a simple statement that, “I’ll not walk away from the promise of clean energy.”

The prospect of newt facing Obama is a bit daunting. Given the size of the egos involved, this clash might be reminiscent of the old Japanese flish, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah.

Libertarians generally believe that the least government is best; they demand nothing except, according to P.J. O’Rourke, “the one thing which no government in history has been able to do — leave us alone.” The Unitarian message has always been overwhelmed by politicians who have the illusion that the interests of the Republic are best served by an activist government that is dedicated to anything but leaving us alone.

Last Sunday around 6 p.m. about 38 million Americans were watching the Denver Broncos play the Pittsburgh Steelers. Aside from Denver and Pittsburgh fans, the almost record-setting number of viewers were tuned in because the Denver Broncos, led by Tim Tebow, their evangelical Bible verse-spouting quarterback, were on the verge of defeating the storied Pittsburgh Steelers. Other than Pittsburgh and Denver fans, people were watching for one reason and one reason only — Tim Tebow is a phenomenon.

If there is a phrase in the English language that explains this dismal time of political gridlock, miscalculations and deceptions it is “unknown knowns.” At least this is the opinion of Geoffrey Wheatcroft writing in Sunday’s The New York Times.

A news report from Reuters tells us that the old year is going to end much like it began and the new year will begin much like the old year ended. A senior Treasury Department official, according to Reuters, said that the White House plans to ask Congress for another increase in the debt limit by the end of the year. Seems the debt limit is projected to fall within $100 billion of the current cap by Dec. 30, so our president will ask for an additional $1.2 trillion in borrowing authority. For those keeping score, this would raise the debt ceiling from the current level of $15,194 trillion to $16,394 trillion.

Don’t talk to me about Christmas spirit. It is alleged to be the season of giving gifts, connecting with friends and family, and joining the rest of our fellow citizens in a celebration of a holiday common to all. It is none of these things. As far as I’m concerned it is the season that creates expectations that can’t be met, marital discord, disappointment and political correctness.

It is a truism to say that the vital mentality of the Western world has spread throughout the world and has come to infect every culture on earth. As Thomas Cahill wrote, “For better or worse, the role of the West in humanity’s history is singular. Because of this, the role of the Jews, the inventors of Western culture, is also singular, there is simply no one else remotely like them; they are unique.”

Back in the good old days when Monday Night Football really was special, “Dandy” Don Meredith used to sing out “Turn out the lights, the party’s over” to let us know the winner had been decided even though time was left on the clock. Given the Obama administration’s coal policy, Dandy Don, were he with us today, might well sing, “Turn out the lights before they turn them out for us.”

In 2008, the slogan was “Yes We Can.” We were told we can halt the rise of oceans, begin to heal the sick, reduce the deficit, and bring new respect and friendship for America from the family of nations. So, how’s all that working out for us? The oceans aren’t rising; of course even in 2008 the oceans were only rising in Al Gore’s fevered imagination. The sick have to wait until at least 2014 for Mr. Obama’s demonstrably unpopular health care reform to kick in, if it ever does, as its fate rests in the hands of the Supreme Court.