Updated, 11.41 AM PDT. That's the message underlying the news that Verizon and Google have reached their own "self regulation" -- an agreement that violates the spirit, and perhaps the letter, of net neutrality. Net neutrality is, for the internet, akin to what happens on telephone networks: AT&T can't treat an incoming call from Verizon any differently than it treats one … [Read more...] about Trust Us, We’re Corporations
Critics Should Ponder ‘Positive Results’ of Iraq War: Jyllands-Posten, Denmark
So is it time for critics of the Iraq War to eat a little crow? According to this editorial from Denmark's leading newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, Iraq is far better off today - despite Bush's motives for the war and the massive civilian deaths - than it would have been with Saddam Hussein at the helm in Baghdad. And most controversially, it compliments the U.S.-led coalition for … [Read more...] about Critics Should Ponder ‘Positive Results’ of Iraq War: Jyllands-Posten, Denmark
How Does Popular Opinion About Gay Marriage Compare To Interracial Marriage During Loving v. Virginia?
Obviously today's ruling will bring about cries of judicial activism primarily from gay marriage opponents but also for conservative proponents that see judicial overreach. While comparisons to anti-miscegenation laws have been made by gay marriage supporters, I have seen no one actually compare public opinion during the 60s when Loving v. Virgina legalized interracial marriage … [Read more...] about How Does Popular Opinion About Gay Marriage Compare To Interracial Marriage During Loving v. Virginia?
Aid for the Rich
“Dropping Babies,” Abandoning Principles
WASHINGTON -- Rather than shout, I’ll just ask the question in a civil way: Dear Republicans, do you really want to endanger your party’s greatest political legacy by turning the 14th Amendment to our Constitution into an excuse for election-year ugliness? Honestly, I thought our politics could not get worse, and suddenly there appears this attack on birthright … [Read more...] about “Dropping Babies,” Abandoning Principles
Stop Calling Republicans ‘Hypocrites’ (Guest Voice)
Stop Calling Republicans ‘Hypocrites’ by Tina Dupuy It’s not that Republicans aren’t hypocrites - it’s more the label just isn’t an effective dig. First, hypocrite is a fancy foreign Greek word like amnesty, ethics or Europe – how is that going to appeal to Republicans? Second, espousing virtues you don’t personally have to live up to is basically the point of being a … [Read more...] about Stop Calling Republicans ‘Hypocrites’ (Guest Voice)
Increasingly Dangerous Political Demonization
Yes it can be dangerous. Like THIS (this link is NOT to The Onion but to a REAL news story). You don't need to call a psychic to guess where this kind of thing could lead...(on the other hand, after hearing a caller to Alan Colmes XM-carried show last night wish the liberal talk, Jewish show host was turned into "a lampshade" nothing surprises me about the unleashed political … [Read more...] about Increasingly Dangerous Political Demonization
That’s Life
A young person's video of a late-career Frank Sinatra hit that has lyrics fitting for 2010: … [Read more...] about That’s Life
An Outstanding and Non-Partisan Look at the History of US Budget Deficits
That's what historian Rick Shenkman presents here. It makes me feel good that someone as sharp as Shenkman is, nonetheless misses grammatical errors just as I do when I blog. Kidding aside, this article is worth the few minutes it'll take you to read it: It provides some good basic economics while putting the events it chronicles in context. [This has been crossposted at my … [Read more...] about An Outstanding and Non-Partisan Look at the History of US Budget Deficits
Soft-Core Net Neutrality: Is Google’s Verizon Deal Evil?
Bloomberg is reporting that Verizon and Google have reached a deal on how to handle Internet traffic: The compromise as described would restrict Verizon from selectively slowing Internet content that travels over its wires, but wouldn’t apply such limits to Internet use on mobile phones, according to the people, who asked not to be identified before an announcement. Google's … [Read more...] about Soft-Core Net Neutrality: Is Google’s Verizon Deal Evil?
If NATO Can’t Beat Taliban, it Should Buy Afghan Poppy: Die Welt, Germany
It seems absurdly simple and much cheaper than what we're doing now: Buy the poppy crop from Afghan farmers to deny the Taliban the funds they need to attack allied forces, and then destroy the poppy crop. According to this article from Die Welt columnist Ansgar Graw, if NATO can't beat the Taliban on the battlefield, it should do so in the drugs trade. For Die Welt, Ansgar … [Read more...] about If NATO Can’t Beat Taliban, it Should Buy Afghan Poppy: Die Welt, Germany
About Judge Vaughn R. Walker: He Says Prop 8 Unconstitutional for Lack of Due Process & for Violation of Equal Protection Clause
He was born in 1944 near end of WWII right before men and women coming home from one of the most brutal wars that ever was. A 'tween' during Korean War. Twelve years old when Hungarian Uprising was broadcast on television for weeks on end in 1956. A teenager during Selma and slaying of civil rights workers, a young man eligible for VietNam War, which was also the first time a … [Read more...] about About Judge Vaughn R. Walker: He Says Prop 8 Unconstitutional for Lack of Due Process & for Violation of Equal Protection Clause
Scribd Swamped By Prop 8 Traffic Surge
Who says no one wants to read the full decision? TechCrunch: The final ruling was leaked to Scribd and received over 50,000 hits “in a matter of minutes” according to Scribd Senior Director of Communications Michelle Laird — it’s up to over 125,000 reads as of this writing. CEO Trip Adler says, “a typical viral document gets 100,000 reads in 24 hours, this document has over … [Read more...] about Scribd Swamped By Prop 8 Traffic Surge
Prop 8 Ruling Stayed: UPDATE
Correcting my earlier post, based on a CNN report, it now appears the judge wants responses by August 6th (IE Friday) and so it may be he will rule on the stay much more quickly and we could have the ruling in effect sometime this month. It's gonna be a roller coaster for both sides though … [Read more...] about Prop 8 Ruling Stayed: UPDATE
Nearly Half of all Republicans Harbor Serious Doubts About Obama Being Born in the US
CNN provides a staggering new poll indicating that a full 41% of Republicans harbor serious doubts about whether President Obama was born in the United States. Only 19% of Independents and 15% of Democrats believe that Obama "probably" or "definitely" was born in another country. It truly amazes me just how deeply entrenched birtherism is inside the modern conservative … [Read more...] about Nearly Half of all Republicans Harbor Serious Doubts About Obama Being Born in the US
Proposition 8 Overturned: Complete Ruling, Early Reaction
UPDATE: If you don't see the full ruling, it's because the traffic surge has temporarily taken down Scribd embeds. Here is the full 136-page ruling: http://www.scribd.com/doc/35374801/Prop-8-Ruling Background from the LATimes: [U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R.] Walker, an appointee of President George H.W. Bush, heard 16 witnesses summoned by opponents of Proposition … [Read more...] about Proposition 8 Overturned: Complete Ruling, Early Reaction
BREAKING NEWS: Court Overturns Proposition 8
The ruling is not yet on the web but the court has struck down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional on grounds of equal protection … [Read more...] about BREAKING NEWS: Court Overturns Proposition 8
Did Republican Primary Results Show Tea Weakness Due to Moderate Candidates’ Victories?
Did the Midwest primaries reveal that the tea party ain't what it was cracked up to supposed to be at the ballot box? Was it a good night for the Tea Party Movement or were there rumblings of distaste from voters that they don't entirely like the highly-touted strong political brew? On a day when conservative talk radio and blogs are trumpeting a vote in Missouri that is bad … [Read more...] about Did Republican Primary Results Show Tea Weakness Due to Moderate Candidates’ Victories?
How To Demagogue An Issue
Last Wednesday, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced that he was considering offering a Constitutional Amendment to end birthright citizenship. Since then Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and John McCain (R-AZ) have said that they believe hearings should be held on the subject. Well, fine. If you believe that birthright citizenship is a … [Read more...] about How To Demagogue An Issue
War of Words
That Katie Couric couldn’t pronounce Wasilla while preparing for an August 29, 2008 broadcast as seen in this "raw" "leaked" video is EXPLOSIVE breaking news over at Conservatives 4 Palin. And Couric's question, during a read-through of Sarah Pallin's kids names -- Track and Trig, “where the hell do they get these [names]?...” -- is proof of a "disdainful and contemptuous" … [Read more...] about War of Words