Just three days into 2013, we have a strong contender for Dunce of the Year.

The rout was complete, the retreat disorderly. President Barack Obama got his tax increases — naked of spending cuts — passed by the ostensibly Republican House of Representatives.

As a new Congress convenes, it has become an unquestioned truth among Republicans that their party has as much of a mandate as President Barack Obama because voters returned them to power in the House.

In a display of callousness unusual even by Vladimir Putin’s standards, Russia eliminated the possibility of a better life for thousands of orphans last week when Putin signed into law a ban on adoptions by Americans.

Some people on the right are saying that Congress’ vote forestalling the fiscal cliff wasn’t the epic disaster that most House Republicans (who voted against it 151-85) think it was.

As a kid, I took piano lessons. It was fulfilling. Even as a teenager, I didn’t begrudge the practice time. I even enjoyed scales.

We’re going to debate gun control laws. We can do this in a collaborative, cooperative, caring and compassionate way, with open minds and hearts, or we can do it in an all-hands-on-deck angry and bitter battle.

‘Tis the season when columnists write mea culpas, make predictions and list their resolutions.