The iPINIONS Journal

Book excerpt: From the spectacle that is the U.S. presidential election to the London Olympics to the Secret-Service sex scandal to rising tensions between China and Japan and to Superstorm Sandy, The iPINIONS Journal takes a look at it all. In this eighth volume of political commentaries, author Anthony Livingston Hall examines an eclectic mix of worldwide topics that became a part of 2012. Insightful and often humorous, Hall discusses the topics of the day, including the political mnage a trois involving the French president, his ex-wife, and current consort; the Miami Heats dream team come true; the fall from grace of CIA director General David Petraeus; the costly comeuppance of Lance Armstrong; the fiscal cliff; Twitter no better than Twinkies; deaths of famous people; the mysterious vigil for Venezuelan leader Hugo Chvez; and more. Through this collection of lively and thought-provoking commentaries, Hall, an unsparing, equal-opportunity critic, provides a refreshing worldview of the global events of 2012.