BREAKING NEWS: The U.S. Supreme Court invalidates key portion of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. SCOTUS rules that Congress needs to update the voting rights act. The court has struck down the portion that protects minority voters. The court ruled that "Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional. Its formula can no longer be used as a basis for subjecting … [Read more...] about SCOTUS Strikes Down Key Provision in Voting Rights Act of 1965
Supreme Court Roundup June 25th
The Supreme Court issued several major rulings today covering issues ranging from voting rights to property rights. Tomorrow will be the final decision day and will feature marriage equality rulings. The voting rights case was Shelby County v. Holder and focused on two aspects of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Sections 4 and 5 were challenged by Shelby County Alabama on the … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Roundup June 25th
Russia denies Snowden involvement as mystery deepens
Russia denies Snowden involvement as mystery deepens (via AFP) Russia on Tuesday denied that US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden had ever crossed its border and slammed US claims of complicity in his disappearance, as the mystery deepened over the whereabouts of the wanted ex-contractor. The United States had… … [Read more...] about Russia denies Snowden involvement as mystery deepens
Showdown In Austin: Anti-Abortion Bill Filibuster In Progress
UPDATED (11.14 am Pacific) : Filibuster underway. Link to LiveStream below. The rally begins at 9:00 am, the filibuster at about 11 am. The deadline: midnight. The goal: prevent a Texas Senate vote on SB5, a sweeping anti-abortion bill. Texas Sen. Wendy Davis (D) is leading the filibuster, reprising her 2011 role of GOP spoiler. Need to catch up on the … [Read more...] about Showdown In Austin: Anti-Abortion Bill Filibuster In Progress
Reality over ideology
\ WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court decision on affirmative action could have been a lot worse. Given the court's ideological tilt, in fact, it was probably the best we could have hoped for. This is a "dog that didn't bark" kind of story: In a 7-1 ruling, the justices ordered a lower court to reconsider its decision upholding the University of Texas' admissions … [Read more...] about Reality over ideology
A Looming Climate Shift: Will Ocean Heat Come Back to Haunt us? (Guest Voice)
A Looming Climate Shift: Will Ocean Heat Come Back to Haunt us? (via Skeptical Science) Posted on 24 June 2013 by Rob Painting Key Points: Despite a large increase in heat being absorbed by the Earth's climate system (oceans, land & ice), the first decade of the 21st century saw a slowdown in the rate of global surface warming (surface… … [Read more...] about A Looming Climate Shift: Will Ocean Heat Come Back to Haunt us? (Guest Voice)
Zimmerman Lawyer Don West’s Opening Knock Knock Joke Bombs Bigtime
This I gotta tell ya, it's hard to be in show biz/law these days. In his opening line during today's first day of the trial of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin, Zimmmerman's lawyer Don West told a knock knock joke that badly bombed. Don West, Zimmerman’s defense counsel, started with a tale about his own upbringing that drew an objection … [Read more...] about Zimmerman Lawyer Don West’s Opening Knock Knock Joke Bombs Bigtime
US Senate clears border-security hurdle
US Senate clears border-security hurdle (via AFP) The US Senate cleared a key immigration reform hurdle, bucking pointed Republican opposition and proceeding on a critical measure that would tighten security on the US border with Mexico. The procedural vote marked an important test for comprehensive… … [Read more...] about US Senate clears border-security hurdle
Loyal Opposition (Cartoon)
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Loyal Opposition (Cartoon)
Author Richard Matheson has died
Richard Matheson, an American author, has passed away at the age of 87. Author Richard Matheson passed away at home at age 87. (Beth Gwinn / Tor/Forge / March 22, 2011) 'I Am Legend' author Richard Matheson has died at 87 The Los Angeles Times By Carolyn Kellogg June 24, 2013, 3:26 p.m. Author Richard Matheson, who was 87, has died at home. His family … [Read more...] about Author Richard Matheson has died
Snowden’s Troubled Journey and Dubious Destination
It is impossible to map out a route to your destination if you don’t know where you’re starting from. Sue Orman Disclaimer: The author, a native of Ecuador, left Ecuador at age 10. He has been living in the United States since 1957 and became a U.S. citizen in 1961. Let me first make perfectly clear: The Ecuadorian people are some of the most wonderful people in … [Read more...] about Snowden’s Troubled Journey and Dubious Destination
Edward Snowden Tells South China Morning Post He Took NSA Job to Gather Information on Surveillance Program
The South China Morning Post is reporting Edward Snowden took Booz Allen Hamilton contractor job so he could gather cyber evidence from the National Security Agency. I have long maintained that there was no way for Edward Snowden to do what he did unless he had ulterior motives -- to gather information for the purpose of leaking. He is a traitor, plain and simple. Edward … [Read more...] about Edward Snowden Tells South China Morning Post He Took NSA Job to Gather Information on Surveillance Program
LIVE STREAMING VIDEO: George Zimmerman Treyvon Martin Murder Case
Here's live streaming video of George Zimmerman's trial in Sanford, Florida: … [Read more...] about LIVE STREAMING VIDEO: George Zimmerman Treyvon Martin Murder Case
Snowden’s Greenwald: Journalist, Lawyer, Travel Agent?
Hong Kong. Moscow. Havana? Caracas? Edward Snowden is booked for the garden spots of what he may consider the free world, but more conventional Americans must be asking where the self-appointed scold got his ideas of democratic and open societies. Perhaps from his mentor, publicist and lawyer Glenn Greewald, who could also be serving as his travel agent? Greenwald, who wears … [Read more...] about Snowden’s Greenwald: Journalist, Lawyer, Travel Agent?
OOPS! NBC Goes to 7 Second Delay after Colorful Language in George Zimmerman Trial
We knew the trail of police wannabe George Zimmerman in the death of skittles wielding Trayvon Martin would be lively and controversia. Mansfield Frazier argues that the way the news media is now set up the case if likely to turn out to be a major blow to U.S. race relations. That's the controversy. And the lively? The opening was lively, indeed -- which created a dilemma … [Read more...] about OOPS! NBC Goes to 7 Second Delay after Colorful Language in George Zimmerman Trial
Quote of the Day: Today’s Press Is Nuance’s Biggest Enemy
Our political Quote of the Day comes from President Barack Obama's former speechwriter Jon Favrea who, writing in The Daily Beast, notes how in America's current hyperactive media issues and events are framed in stark black and white terms -- leaving out the grey, nuanced areas. And it negatively impacts American political discussion. Here's the key part at the end of his … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: Today’s Press Is Nuance’s Biggest Enemy
Assessing the Snowden Story Messanger
It was 24/7 outrage Sunday when NBC's David Gregory asked Glen Greenwald, the blogger turned mainstream journalist a question about whether he should be prosecuted for his role in the Edward Snowden leaks. Reactions (rage over and defense of Gregory) were somewhat predictable given how writers and pundits felt about Snowden (and, yes, he is considered both a hero and a traitor … [Read more...] about Assessing the Snowden Story Messanger
Supreme Court Roundup June 24th
No Prop 8, DOMA or Voting Rights Act rulings today but the court did issue a decision on affirmative action. In Fisher the court vacated the Appeals Court ruling and remanded the case saying that the court should have used the highest "strict scrutiny" standard in reviewing the race based admissions policy at the University. The vote was 7-1. The basic issue in this case … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Roundup June 24th
China ‘outsmarted US’ in Snowden chess game
China 'outsmarted US' in Snowden chess game (via AFP) China interceded to allow Edward Snowden's dramatic flight from Hong Kong, calculating that infuriating the United States for now was necessary to prevent longer-term corrosion to their relationship, analysts and media said Monday. On a visit to New Delhi, US Secretary of State John Kerry said it was… … [Read more...] about China ‘outsmarted US’ in Snowden chess game
Texas Republican Confuses Rape Kit With Abortion
Update: 9:45 am - The bill, SB5, has been sent to the Senate (as a message); the Senate has approximately 37 hours to pass it before the Tuesday midnight deadline for the special session. As Republican members of the Texas House sought to push through an anti-abortion bill, SB5, during a special session, one legislator put her foot in her mouth. During proceedings … [Read more...] about Texas Republican Confuses Rape Kit With Abortion