Campus groups cannot discriminate against gays and receive school funding. That’s how the Supreme Court decision in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez is being interpreted by much of the media. It’s truthfully an overstatement of what the 5-4 decision stands for, but the ruling does have the effect of allowing schools to require open admission to campus groups, including … [Read more...] about A Small Victory For Gay Rights
America’s War: From One Dictatorship to Another: Kitabat, Iraq
The visceral anger many Iraqis continue to feel over the American invasion is expressed in this article by columnist Khalid al-Jibouri of Iraq's Kitabat newspaper. After having read former CIA Director George Tenet's book, At the Center of the Storm, Al-Jibouri writes that people like Tenet should be ashamed at the inestimable damage he and others have done in pursuit of a … [Read more...] about America’s War: From One Dictatorship to Another: Kitabat, Iraq
The Faces behind the Drip-Drip of U.S. Casualties in Afghanistan
The hometown newspapers of the heroes who continue to make the ultimate sacrifice in our “hostile action” areas generally provide adequate coverage of those sad deaths. However, in the national news media, the names and the numbers of our fallen heroes are often buried deep inside the bowels of the printed pages or relegated to running text at the bottom of our TV screens, and … [Read more...] about The Faces behind the Drip-Drip of U.S. Casualties in Afghanistan
McDonald v. Chicago: Second Amendment Applied to States/Municipalities
The long awaited decision in McDonald v. Chicago is out, with the result that was expected by most court watchers. Following on the heels of the Heller decision (D. C. gun ban case), the Supreme Court ruled that the personal right to keep and bear arms applies not only to the federal government and its jurisdictions but to state and local governments as well. Justice Alito … [Read more...] about McDonald v. Chicago: Second Amendment Applied to States/Municipalities
Some Of The Consequences Of Byrd Death
Obviously right now the main focus should be offering sympathy and support to the Byrd family, but at the same time he was a life long politician and would have wanted to discuss the political consequences. The first issue is the fact that Byrd's death reduces the Democrats to 56 seats plus the 2 independents gives them 58. That is not enough to overcome any filibusters (a … [Read more...] about Some Of The Consequences Of Byrd Death
$1.99 To License A Copyrighted Song For YouTube Videos
People are willing to pay for content. They just want the price to be fair, reasonable, and just. When content holders try to charge monopoly rents, even the most law-abiding individual is tempted to become part of the "information wants to be free" sloganeering hordes. If that's correct, we can expect Rumblefish's Friendly Music service to be widely embraced by the public. … [Read more...] about $1.99 To License A Copyrighted Song For YouTube Videos
The King Of Pork Is Dead, Long Live The Process
The loss of Sen. Robert Byrd who died Monday is not any particular game changer of politics played out in Washington for it is peanuts compared to other people's pork he fed the folks in his home state of West Virginia. Byrd was dubbed the "King of Pork" and damned proud wearing that mantel no matter how hard the watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste tried to … [Read more...] about The King Of Pork Is Dead, Long Live The Process
Learning to Live in Poverty (Guest Voice)
Learning to Live in Poverty by Owen Gray This past Friday, as protesters began to gather in the streets of Toronto, Anthony DiMaggio's op ed, "Gutting Public Education: Neoliberalism and the Politics of Opportunism," appeared at truthout.org. "America's political and economic elites," DiMaggio wrote, "have declared war on working, middle class and poor … [Read more...] about Learning to Live in Poverty (Guest Voice)
The Wound McChrystal Opened
WASHINGTON -- Gen. Stanley McChrystal put President Obama in an impossible position. That is why he had to go. A general’s tasks involve executing policies made by the commander in chief, plotting strategy and winning wars -- not playing politics in the media to get at civilian rivals inside the government. What McChrystal did required Obama to change generals … [Read more...] about The Wound McChrystal Opened
Did NBC Lose Its Jay Leno Tonight Show Gamble?
Did NBC lose its Jay Leno Tonight Show gamble that lead to a highly publicized "divorce" with Conan O'Brien? Ratings show Leno is falling behind O'Brien's numbers. A roundup is HERE. Some of the fuss over late night ratings seemingly overlooks one fact. There is a massive shake up going on in viewers' habits -- particularly the habits of younger viewers. I've met several … [Read more...] about Did NBC Lose Its Jay Leno Tonight Show Gamble?
Sen. Robert Byrd dies at 92: Longest Serving Senate Member
The news expected -- and news dreaded by Democrats for several reasons -- finally came: West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd, 92, a conservative Democrat who long was a voice of conscience and independence in his party, has died. His death removes a Greatest Generation legislator -- and also a former Ku Klux Klan member -- from the Senate. The loss will be trifold one: … [Read more...] about Sen. Robert Byrd dies at 92: Longest Serving Senate Member
Bad News for a Good Soldier
While Barack Obama was doing his Donald Trump act telling Stanley McChrystal "You're fired!" on TV, the winner of this season's Afghanistan Apprentice show was at the President's side solemn and expressionless. For Gen. David Petraeus, who had fainted earlier this month while testifying before the Senate, this new assignment comes as the 21st century definition of a good … [Read more...] about Bad News for a Good Soldier
Biden Sticks Foot In Mouth (also the sky is blue)
Wouldn't be a normal week if Joe Biden didn't stick his foot in his mouth. He was doing a public appearance at a custard shop in Wisconsin and asked the manager what he owed him for the food. The manager said no charge and 'lower our taxes and we'll call it even'. Now a smart person would have made some generic 'we are working on it' kind of comment but not … [Read more...] about Biden Sticks Foot In Mouth (also the sky is blue)
India: Another Factor in the Afghanistan Equation
I just read a fascinating article published before the news of the so-called “newfound” $1 trillion worth of mineral riches in Afghanistan broke. The article, published early May in my local newspaper, also came before last week’s McChrystal “scandal” and firing. I mention these two items of more recent news because my mind immediately started wandering and wondering how … [Read more...] about India: Another Factor in the Afghanistan Equation
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Loses Husband
Martin Ginsburg, husband of the Supreme Court Justice, has died at the age of 78. The cause of death was an ongoing battle with cancer. Our deepest sympathies to the Justice and her family. … [Read more...] about Ruth Bader Ginsburg Loses Husband
Perpetual War Is Eroding Democracy
Andrew Bacevich is an all-too-rare phenomenon in public discussions of foreign policy: someone with a lifetime of military experience who is not a pacifist or an anti-war leftie, but yet sees the corrosive effect that war has on our democracy, and writes about it, with eloquence, insight, and a sharp intelligence. … [Read more...] about Perpetual War Is Eroding Democracy
Senator Byrd, 92, Seriously Ill in Hospital
His office has confirmed. Nate Silver points out: Byrd's current term expires on January 3, 2013. Under West Virginia state law on handling Senate vacancies, "if the vacancy occurs less than two years and six months before the end of the term, the Governor appoints someone to fill the unexpired term and there is no election". Otherwise, Manchin would appoint an interim … [Read more...] about Senator Byrd, 92, Seriously Ill in Hospital
Rumors, Heads Fly In Afghan-Pakistan-Taliban Talks
There are conflicting reports out of the Afghanistan capital of Kabul that President Hamid Karzai has held face-to-face talks with Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of a particularly brutal militant group with ties to al-Qaida. Al Jazeera, a normally reliable Arab news agency in these matters, reported the meeting Sunday. The presidential palace denied such a meeting. The U.S. … [Read more...] about Rumors, Heads Fly In Afghan-Pakistan-Taliban Talks
No We Can’t!
Every political rally worthy of the name needs a chant. For this coming election season I'd like to suggest one for folks at Democratic Party get-togethers. A chant that perfectly reflects the actions and attitudes of their president and congress: "No We Can't!" Ready to practice for the coming political rally season? Here we go. When our conservative friends on the right say … [Read more...] about No We Can’t!
New Research Finds Fat Surgery A Family Success
I have battled obesity most of my adult life and in the past year considered gastric bypass surgery or at least a lap band procedure. I mention it only because a story Saturday is circulating about a New Jersey researcher who concluded two family members having the surgery are more successful in weight loss and improved health yardsticks than those who try it alone. That … [Read more...] about New Research Finds Fat Surgery A Family Success