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This social map illustrates what PCAH members have in common, from Harvard University to the Aspen Institute to Hollywood.

It’s not like being named the ambassador to London or Paris, but an appointment to the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities is one of the cushier rewards for supporting a presidential candidate. And the 26 members President Barack Obama named earlier this week seemed like a motley group, with little in common except an ability to raise campaign money. Vogue magazine’s Anna Wintour and Minnesota State Senator Richard J. Cohen? Yo-Yo Ma and the guy who made a pre-fab house that floats?

Disparate, yes. But these 26 private-sector appointees are intricately connected through years of leadership in the overlap of politics, arts and culture. Studying their resumes, some clear patterns and paths emerge. So if you aspire to discuss the future of the humanities with, among others, Michelle Obama (the honorary chair), read on. Here’s a breakdown of the committee members, their connections to each other and the spheres they influence.

An interesting social map of appointments I've found a little disappointing (i.e., no librarians, no humanities people, no visual artists).

by Bill Sammon of FOXNews.com
November 07, 2009

The Bushes entered and departed the sprawling military facility in secret, having told the base commander they did not want press coverage of their visit, a source told Fox News.

Former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura secretly visited Fort Hood last night and spent "considerable time" consoling those who were wounded in Thursday's shooting spree, Fox News has learned.

The Bushes entered and departed the sprawling military facility in secret, having told the base commander they did not want press coverage of their visit, a source told Fox News. 

The couple was described as "deeply concerned" about military families on Fort Hood after Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan allegedly opened fire on soldiers and civilians, killing 13 and wounding 38.

The Bushes, who have a 1,600-acre property known as Prairie Chapel Ranch less than 30 miles from Fort Hood in central Texas, spent between one and two hours visiting the wounded and their families.

Speaking of the country as a whole, Biden quoted poet William Butler Yeats: “All’s changed. Changed utterly, and a terrible beauty has been born.” He said lawmakers now have to grasp that opportunity for change.

I think a more appropriate citation would be:

"Hurrah for revolution and more cannon-shot!
A beggar upon horseback lashes a beggar on foot.
Hurrah for revolution and cannon come again!
The beggars have changed places, but the lash goes on. "

Or perhaps, recalling a better statesman than Biden....

"Parnell came down the road, and said to a cheering man,
"'Ireland shall get her freedom, and you shall still break stone.'"

Deeds memo damning in hindsight - Jonathan Martin

"It’s all evidence of what Finley Peter Dunne’s Mr. Dooley observed nearly a century ago: Politics ain’t beanbag."

Heart Jon Stewart. That is all.

David Cameron 'does God' in fuzzy, sort-of-Anglican way

We all suspected that when Alastair Campbell told journalists that Tony Blair did not 'do God', this was because of the uncomfortable truth that the then British Prime Minister did God rather too well for comfort. Best to ignore his faith altogether than have to face questions about praying with President Bush about going to war or deny reports of pending conversion to Rome that everyone knew would turn out to be true. Denialism is after all a heresy not listed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church - yet.

It is a relief for those of us who have to fish facts from this slippery net with our pens to discover that will be no need for any comparable Christian coyness from David Cameron's advisers. How reassuring to discover that  Cameron's version of doing God is so very Church of English.

This revelation comes in an interview with Evening Standard editor Geordie Greig, published today.

Interesting how so many of our political leaders have significant links to the Christian faith.