Dena Battle’s husband Chris passed away in 2013 after a four-year fight with kidney cancer. But Dena, a former House staffer and lobbyist, has not stopped fighting. She started the Kidney Cancer Research Alliance (also known as KCCure) this year to help raise funds for accelerated cancer research. “Every year, …

Let’s lay our cards on the table, shall we? This is a good movie, but you will not have a good time at this movie. I would say that the movie is an emotional roller coaster, but that would imply that it actually goes up at some point. Everyone in the theatre was sniffling, whimpering, or straight up balling except for me. But that’s not because I’m heartless: I wept like an 18th century French poet during the first 10 minutes of “Up”. The cast makes the characters relatable and sympathetic. It has good pacing and writing that, while not award winning, accomplishes its mission. Buy a ticket or wait for Netflix, either is an acceptable option. Just be prepared to contemplate the mortality of your friends, family, and self for multiple hours after it’s over.

The American Action Forum recently launched ACADictionary.com as an unbiased health care policy resource. Despite its exhaustive collection of over 600 words, acronyms, or phrases we collected a few they missed and ought to add. Chronic Capitol Lounge-itis: When you want to go out, but don’t want to leave the …

Help NRCC political director Mike Shields scare children by contributing to cancer research. Shields has already raised $7K for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds child cancer research; if he gets to $15K, he’ll shave his head and donate photos to Hotline. From Mike’s fundraising page: I’ve answered the call …

What’s worse than a government run health care plan that makes you chance your insurance plan, switch doctors, wait in longer lines AND raises your taxes? One that gives you cancer. Clearly. So you can’t possibly support the Democratic health care plan. Unless, of course, you actually want your wife …

Dear Professor Smith, I’m sorry that I didn’t show up for class on Thursday.  I was hungover – but for good reason. A few of my buddies and I are developing a beer that can fight cancer.  No, seriously, we are.  The easy part is drinking it – as proved …

Thank you John Edwards

PREPARE TO QUALIFY How many Democrats in Massachusetts are kicking themselves today? [send a card first] Were he [Kennedy] to resign or die in office, state law requires a special election for the seat no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after the vacancy occurs. … …

Calif. Rep. Tom Lantos dies after being diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. WASHINGTON (AP) _ Rep. Tom Lantos of California, the only Holocaust survivor to serve in Congress, has died, his spokeswoman said Monday. Lynne Weil said that Lantos, 80, passed away at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center in …