Some say protesters, such as Code Pink and Recreate 68 and others, including small church groups and other groups no one has ever heard much about, are being denied their constitutional rights of freedom to assemble, and freedom of speech. Many protest groups have sued to gain access to convention gathering sites in Denver so they can be 'seen' and 'heard' by conventioneers, … [Read more...] about DNC Protesters: Constitutional Rights Denied or Citizens’ Rights Denied?
Education: That’s Hot
What with all of the excitement swirling around the Olympics and the ongoing drama in Georgia, I'm sure that the prospect of another heavily wonkish discussion of domestic policy issues might have you checking to see if you couldn't schedule a quick root canal. But that won't stop me urging you to check out a recent piece at BlogHer written by Nancy Pfotenhauer on the subject … [Read more...] about Education: That’s Hot
What Is It About The Republican Convention?
So many Republican Senators are skipping it... … [Read more...] about What Is It About The Republican Convention?
DNC and Warehousing Cattle/ Protesters in Cages
They're trying to empty the Denver jails in anticipation of all the protesters the Denver police may need to round up. But, the Denver County jails are overflowing with prisoners nonetheless. So, Denver Mayor Hickenlooper has authorized a unique way to contain protesters: cages. Inside a warehouse. Far from Denver central where all the action will be. One of the guys who … [Read more...] about DNC and Warehousing Cattle/ Protesters in Cages
DNCC and The Dead Man in The Hotel
Rick Sallinger reports from the CBS Denver affiliate Less than two weeks before the Democratic National Convention a man has been found dead in a Denver hotel room with a container of what authorities initially suspect to be the deadly poison cyanide. ...the dead man, Saleman Abdirahman Dirie, 29, appears to be from outside the U.S. No passport was found on Dirie, … [Read more...] about DNCC and The Dead Man in The Hotel
Barr still on the ballot march and in the news
While you couldn’t tell it from the continuing dearth of coverage on CNN, MSNBC and Fox, Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr is still quietly moving forward with his plans to move in at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue next January. Most recently, Team Barr has gotten on the ballot in Kentucky, and look to do the same in Maine now that the deadline for signature submissions has … [Read more...] about Barr still on the ballot march and in the news
Barack Flips
Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News … [Read more...] about Barack Flips
Not Every Mistake is Worth Fixing?
So the Supreme Court made a factual error in its ruling holding that the death penalty for child rape is unconstitutional. Since the error was definitely relevant (though not necessarily critical) to its ruling, some folks have been urging that the Court reopen the case (an issue I am pretty much neutral on). Today, we find out via a recently released study that the Supreme … [Read more...] about Not Every Mistake is Worth Fixing?
Pew Poll: Race Evens As McCain Regains Republican Base
A new Pew Poll illustrates how the pundit's conventional wisdom has been now turned on its head: the poll shows the Presidential race essentially tied because Republican Senator John McCain is regaining his party's base while Democratic Senator Barack Obama is not unifying his party sufficiently. One continuing strand in many polls and stories now is how some supporters of … [Read more...] about Pew Poll: Race Evens As McCain Regains Republican Base
Class Doesn’t Stay That Way
In an editorial for the Washington Post, Peter Beinart thinks that Barack Obama could put the issue of race away for good if he came out for replacing race-based affirmative action with class-based programs. I have no problem with class-based affirmative action, though I think it should supplement, not replace, its racial peer, as both are independent sources of disadvantage … [Read more...] about Class Doesn’t Stay That Way
Russia’s dangerous steps to a new Cold War
The Russian invasion of Georgia has removed the lid over the simmering tensions between Russia and the Western allies that could easily turn into a new Cold War, stoked by hardliners on both sides. This “Cool War” is low intensity compared to the one with the former Soviet Union but the mistrust between Russia and the Western democracies can no longer be papered over and … [Read more...] about Russia’s dangerous steps to a new Cold War
Iraq Detainees Held in Small Crates
After a blogger filed a Freedom of Information Act request, the military last week released photographs of the crates ("segregation boxes") into which it segregates violent Iraqi prisoners: Three grainy black-and-white photos show the rudimentary structures of wood and mesh. Some of the boxes are as small as 3 feet by 3 feet by 6 feet tall, according to military officials. … [Read more...] about Iraq Detainees Held in Small Crates
Civil Rights Roundup: 08/13/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news Gay and lesbian Latina/os are finding it more difficult to claim asylum due to improving tolerance in their home nations. A Virginia court has given the state's first "writ of innocence" after new evidence cleared a man incarcerated on a gun charge. Virginia has until recently been perhaps the most aggressive state at … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 08/13/08
“The Idea that There is a Ceasefire is Ridiculous” (Updated)
The Guardian's correspondent reports on the rampaging of irregulars and the advance of Russian tanks and soldiers (allegedly there to "keep peace"). Here's peace for you: Villages in Georgia were being burned and looted as Russian tanks and soldiers followed by “irregulars” advanced from the breakaway province of South Ossetia, eyewitnesses said today. “People are … [Read more...] about “The Idea that There is a Ceasefire is Ridiculous” (Updated)
Bush Lectures Putin
John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune … [Read more...] about Bush Lectures Putin
Russians Continue Their Push Into Georgia? (Updated)
Georgia reports that the Russians haven't stopped fighting, despite the accord. If so, so much for their protestations that they are there because they had to intervene to stop the killing in South Ossetia. It's important to note that reports concerning their intentions in continuing toward Tbilisi conflict. (This update makes the Russians' statements about what they … [Read more...] about Russians Continue Their Push Into Georgia? (Updated)
Meeting Again Under The Big Musical Tree
I have come to view American music as one great big tree with many branches -- folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass, soul, zydeco, swing, and so on and so forth -- and in my experience there is no finer way to appreciate that than the Rhythm & Roots Festival. The 11th annual edition will be held August 29-31 at Ninigret Park near Charlestown, Rhode Island, which is a mere octave or … [Read more...] about Meeting Again Under The Big Musical Tree
More on Georgia’s Ethnic Cleansing Lawsuit, Ethnic Cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia, & Related Issues
I wrote yesterday about the conflicting ambitions and hatreds in play here (which Russia is manipulating to further its own ambitions). The situation is an immense tangle of conflicting ambitions---in the form of the desire for land and resources--- and furious ethnic hatred. As I noted yesterday, Georgia is now bringing a lawsuit against Russia for ethnic … [Read more...] about More on Georgia’s Ethnic Cleansing Lawsuit, Ethnic Cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia, & Related Issues
Poll: Obama Leads By 5 Points In Pennsylvania Amid Doubts
A new poll in Pennsylvania underscores some national polls: Democratic Sen. Barack Obama is ahead of Republican Sen. John McCain by 5 percent but he is far from closing the sale since voters have lingering doubts: U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) continues to hold a narrow lead over U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in Pennsylvania, edging his Republican rival by 5 points in … [Read more...] about Poll: Obama Leads By 5 Points In Pennsylvania Amid Doubts
Parity is Nigh: Will You Help?
(My prior posts on the subject of mental health parity are available here, here, and here. Jill Miller Zimon’s update can be found here.) Last week, the Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) alerted its supporters that we were nearing a milestone in the long fight to establish parity on insurance coverage of mental and physical disorders. The competing House and Senate … [Read more...] about Parity is Nigh: Will You Help?