While much of the American news media is concentrating on the escapades of a New York congressman, there is some stuff happening out there that really has an impact on our lives.

First, and most importantly, it's the economy, stupid. Democratic political strategist James Carville, who coined the iconic political phrase for the 1992 presidential campaign, says that if we continue on a path of anemic job growth then "it's going to be a very, very rough 2012 for President Obama."

John Crudele says there is a very scary truth behind the new job numbers.

Michael Barone says the reason the job numbers look so bad is because business owners and managers have gone on a hiring strike. The reason? They see higher taxes and more regulations if the Obama Administration continues along the same path.

The reality of an economy that is growing so slowly as to make the word "recovery" seem laughable is what is behind new ABC News/Washington Post poll numbers that show President Obama losing what little bounce he received from the killing of Osama bin Laden. A whopping 57% think the economy is not recovering from the Great Recession, 59% disapprove of his handling of the economy, and 66% say the country is on the wrong track. If these are the numbers Obama faces in November, 2012, he can start planning his post-presidential life.

The second really important issue facing us in the real world is the unrest that continues in the Middle East. Benny Avni says the Syrians who are rushing the Israeli border fortifications along the Golan Heights are being paid by the Assad regime, essentially to distract attention away from the brutal crackdown on Assad's internal opponents.

Daniel Pipes writes about the disturbing possibility that Yemen could see a massive outflow of refugees in the wake of the attack on that country's longtime dictator who subsequently left the country for Saudi Arabia. Pipes says Yemen faces not only civil breakdown due to political instability but societal breakdown resulting from lack of natural resources, especially potable water.

Meanwhile, Bill Kristol points to a piece by the Kagans on the possibility that our forces could leave Afghanistan without securing the victory they have fought so hard for over the last decade.

What do both of these story categories have in common? Both are vital to our security. Economic security and political/military security. Both are also example of the failure in leadership in Washington, and if things continue along the downward path in both areas, we will certainly need some more hope and some more change in our nation's capitol.