...if they are convicted of non-murder crimes. CNN & AFP say the decision was 6-3. AP & ABC say 5-4. [My count says 6-3.] All agree the court said locking up teenagers for life without parole if they haven't killed anyone is cruel and unusual punishment. AFP: "The clause does not permit a juvenile offender to be sentenced to life in prison without parole for a nonhomicide … [Read more...] about SCOTUS Rules Minors Can’t Get Life Without Parole…
Quote of the Day: On Some Conservatives Upset Over Arab-American Winning Miss USA Pagent
Our political Quote of the Day comes from law professor Jonathan Turley who has a great post (with quotes from bloggers and a blog commenter) on how some conservatives are in an uproar over Miss Michigan Rima Fakih, 24, becoming the first Arab-American to win the Miss USA Pageant. His post must be read in full but here's our Quote of the Day: ... The extreme right has gone … [Read more...] about Quote of the Day: On Some Conservatives Upset Over Arab-American Winning Miss USA Pagent
General Motors Posts First Quarterly Profit in Three Years
Here's a bit of good economic news: General Motors has posted its first quarterly profit in three years -- news that will likely be touted by the White House ad nauseum and either ignored or denegrated by many Republicans in an election year coming within the context of megapartisanship: General Motors said Monday it earned $865 million in the first quarter, its first … [Read more...] about General Motors Posts First Quarterly Profit in Three Years
Pennsylvania’s Specter – It isn’t over yet
I have a funny feeling about tomorrow's primary in Pennsylvania. My gut is telling me that incumbent U.S. Senator Arlen Specter will lose to Rep. Joe Sestak but it won't matter. Why? It won't matter because Arlen thinks he is smarter than the electorate and he will simply not give up the seat just because of a pesky primary defeat. We can blame Joe Lieberman for this … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania’s Specter – It isn’t over yet
It’s the Modernity, Stupid!
As readers here have probably figured out by now, I take a special pleasure in identifying cultural and political arguments that have, almost miraculously, been recycled from the past. Nothing annoys me more than another rant about how we really are going to Hell in a handbasket. Or that the immigrants pose an existential threat to our sovereignty or national identity. Or, from … [Read more...] about It’s the Modernity, Stupid!
Rooting for Lincoln
The Specter-Sestak primary in Pennsylvania will probably grab most of the headlines over the next 48 hours. But the race I'm watching on Tuesday is the Lincoln-Halter primary in Arkansas. I have nothing against Mr. Halter, the state's lieutenant governor. In fact, I don't know enough about him to offer either praise or criticism. But I am a big fan of Sen. Lincoln's, and … [Read more...] about Rooting for Lincoln
The Libertarian Mob (Guest Voice)
The Libertarian Mob by Owen Grey In a recent article in The New York Review of Books, Mark Lilla puts the Tea Party Movement in historical context. It is, he writes, the natural outgrowth of both the Counter Cultural Revolution of the 1960's and the Reagan Revolution of the 1980's. On the surface, the latter seems to be a reaction to the former. But, in reality, both … [Read more...] about The Libertarian Mob (Guest Voice)
Thai Massage
This copyrighted cartoon by Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE, is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Thai Massage
Seamy Zuckerberg Depicted In Social Network Movie
Coming in October with a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing, the film is a black comedy called The Social Network. Those who have read the script say it will be brutal: Based on Ben Mezrich's 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires, it portrays Zuckerberg as a borderline autistic, entirely ruthless conniver. Nothing sways public opinion like a movie—and this … [Read more...] about Seamy Zuckerberg Depicted In Social Network Movie
Automatic Self-Defense
Last year, a young, unarmed Black man was shot in his own driveway by a White police officer who thought he was stealing his own car. The shooting occurred in the mostly White suburb of Bellaire; the officer claimed self-defense, believing that the youth was going to pull a gun on him. This past week, the officer was found not guilty of all charges, apparently finding that the … [Read more...] about Automatic Self-Defense
One-Sided Polarization
WASHINGTON -- This year's elections may exacerbate the difference between our two political parties, but not in the way most people are talking about. With incumbent Democratic Senators under threat in two more primaries on Tuesday, the conventional view is that Republicans and Democrats will emerge from this election more ideologically polarized than ever. Primaries … [Read more...] about One-Sided Polarization
The Real Shocker About Beck At Liberty U.
Given the increasingly aggressive politicization by both left and right of what should be a moment of honoring a milestone in students' lives, the fact that talk show host Glenn Beck gave the commencement speech at Liberty University really doesn't come as a surprise. Reactions from the partisan wings of the blogosphere are predictable and, therefore, quite uninteresting. … [Read more...] about The Real Shocker About Beck At Liberty U.
Peace-Loving Democracies Do Not Fear Ideas
But apparently Israel does. Haaretz reports that Noam Chomsky "was denied entry into Israel and the West Bank," where he was scheduled to give a lecture at Bir Zeit University. … [Read more...] about Peace-Loving Democracies Do Not Fear Ideas
The Right Republican Strategy Towards Kagan
Miguel Estrada -- the talented conservative Latino judge who Democrats famously blocked from being appointed to the DC Circuit (and thus, the Supreme Court) -- has come out and endorsed Elena Kagan's nomination. This "may have the bizarre result of fueling suspicion from some on the left who worry that Kagan is a right-winger in Dem's clothing." I don't think this is bizarre at … [Read more...] about The Right Republican Strategy Towards Kagan
A Little Inspiration
Every once in a while we need a story that makes us feel better. Zach Lipson was born eight weeks premature and had to endure countless surgeries as a child. He has a spinal deformity that will prevent him from ever growing much past four feet tall. His childhood was a mix of hospital stays and enduring the teasing that came from some of his grade school classmates. By … [Read more...] about A Little Inspiration
A New NARTH for Rekers
We are all human and as such we all have our failings and peccadilloes. I for example, sometimes sneak downstairs in the middle of the night and steal a scoop or two of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream—an ice cream specially bought and specially reserved for our grandson when he visits us. Some of us have some more serious character flaws such as disliking … [Read more...] about A New NARTH for Rekers
Newt Gingrich Defends Using Nazi Card Against Obama
Attention Newt Gingrich: can you possibly -- just possibly -- give pulling out the Nazi card to use against Barack Obama a rest? I mean, maybe for just a few days until you get into a polemical 12 step program? Are you and some other Republicans now in danger of developing severe carpal tunnel syndrome from pulling this card out so much? You may soon need some of THIS to … [Read more...] about Newt Gingrich Defends Using Nazi Card Against Obama
Throwing Out the Baby
This copyrighted cartoon by Monte Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons, is licensed to run on TMV. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. All rights reserved. … [Read more...] about Throwing Out the Baby
Progress In BP Leak ?
Reports are that they may be making some progress in stopping the leak, though given the past few weeks I am not sure it's for real yet. Progress … [Read more...] about Progress In BP Leak ?
Is the English Media Missing the Point about Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon
Is the English-language media totally missing the point and the real story about Spain's controversial Judge Baltasar Garzon? One of Spain's top centrist-libertarian bloggers thinks so. To those unfamiliar with the long, polarizing, controversial saga of Garzon, the Los Angeles Times offers this summary -- perhaps told through the perspective of the English-language … [Read more...] about Is the English Media Missing the Point about Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon