We’re not eager to step into primaries unless it’s a case of an exceptionally bad reactionary — a Lieberman or a Jim Marshall — against a surefire progressive. After Rahm Emanuel’s term as DCCC Chairman ended I was under the impression that the bad old days of the DCCC getting their right-of-center, insider candidates in at the expense of grassroots progressives had ended. Alas, from every part of the country I’m starting to hear that were just sleeping, not dead.And that’s the other thing that gets us to jump into a primary. The race in Arizona’s first CD is a slightly Democratic-leaning...…We’re not eager to step into primaries unless it’s a case of an exceptionally bad reactionary — a Lieberman or a Jim Marshall — against a surefire progressive. After Rahm Emanuel’s term as DCCC Chairman ended I was under the impression that the bad old days of the DCCC getting their right-of-center, insider candidates in at the expense of grassroots progressives had ended. Alas, from every part of the country I’m starting to hear that were just sleeping, not dead.And that’s the other thing that gets us to jump into a primary. The race in Arizona’s first CD is a slightly Democratic-leaning...WW…

“The marriage officer likes to do the same-sexes early in the morning,” the woman said briskly, consulting her book. “Too much paperwork, you people. You’ve made our lives much more difficult.” An amazing little piece about a same-sex couple in South Africa and one man's experience with the paperwork. Brought a tear to my eye. An excerpt after the jump. LIVES Published: July 16, 2009It took me a moment to respond. “Same sex,” I said, a little too loudly, looking around to see if any of the other clerks would look up in shock, or perhaps just interest. They did not.“The marriage officer...…“The marriage officer likes to do the same-sexes early in the morning,” the woman said briskly, consulting her book. “Too much paperwork, you people. You’ve made our lives much more difficult.” An amazing little piece about a same-sex couple in South Africa and one man's experience with the paperwork. Brought a tear to my eye. An excerpt after the jump. LIVES Published: July 16, 2009It took me a moment to respond. “Same sex,” I said, a little too loudly, looking around to see if any of the other clerks would look up in shock, or perhaps just interest. They did not.“The marriage officer...WW…

by mhaithacaSpeaker Pelosi, the lads in the Senate left a big mess to clean up: they’ve bagged up more than 50 billion stimulus dollars for coal and nukes. Like addicts everywhere, the coal and nuke junkies will starve families and steal from strangers to keep the fixes going. Speaker Pelosi, how can we help you stop the deal from going down?The Senate voted to waste on for and on an for the . It appears their donors got exactly what they paid for. Everyone’s happy, right?Well, except the everybodies who needed the , the the states’ need to keep unemployment checks and medicaid going as...…by mhaithacaSpeaker Pelosi, the lads in the Senate left a big mess to clean up: they’ve bagged up more than 50 billion stimulus dollars for coal and nukes. Like addicts everywhere, the coal and nuke junkies will starve families and steal from strangers to keep the fixes going. Speaker Pelosi, how can we help you stop the deal from going down?The Senate voted to waste on for and on an for the . It appears their donors got exactly what they paid for. Everyone’s happy, right?Well, except the everybodies who needed the , the the states’ need to keep unemployment checks and medicaid going as...WW…

Delaware’s marriage equality bill () seems close to final passage, with a floor vote  in the Senate on Tuesday, May 7.  The House has already the bill and Governor Jack Markell, who it in early April, has promised to sign it into law.National Organization for Marriage has apparently expected to lose the marriage equality debate in Delaware all along, since it has done little in the state to oppose passage of the bill.  NOM’s MassResistance on who has and who hasn’t been making a difference in Delaware:…According to all the pro-family people we spoke to, the National Organization for...…Delaware’s marriage equality bill () seems close to final passage, with a floor vote  in the Senate on Tuesday, May 7.  The House has already the bill and Governor Jack Markell, who it in early April, has promised to sign it into law.National Organization for Marriage has apparently expected to lose the marriage equality debate in Delaware all along, since it has done little in the state to oppose passage of the bill.  NOM’s MassResistance on who has and who hasn’t been making a difference in Delaware:…According to all the pro-family people we spoke to, the National Organization for...WW…

This is a major development. MoveOn.org, which has close to 5 million subscribers, has issued a letter to their supporters saying they oppose the Senate health care bill, and want it blocked until it’s fixed.The essence of the letter is the text of their petition: “America needs real health care reform—not a massive giveaway to the insurance companies. Senator Bernie Sanders and other progressives should block this bill until it’s fixed.” Along with Sanders, MoveOn is imploring Roland Burris and Russ Feingold to stop the bill.This result comes from feedback from MoveOn members, who support...…This is a major development. MoveOn.org, which has close to 5 million subscribers, has issued a letter to their supporters saying they oppose the Senate health care bill, and want it blocked until it’s fixed.The essence of the letter is the text of their petition: “America needs real health care reform—not a massive giveaway to the insurance companies. Senator Bernie Sanders and other progressives should block this bill until it’s fixed.” Along with Sanders, MoveOn is imploring Roland Burris and Russ Feingold to stop the bill.This result comes from feedback from MoveOn members, who support...WW…

Here’s on behalf of our troops and their families:…Kelly waits anxiously for each phone call from her husband. They come almost daily and trigger fears of the worst kind when they don’t. That often means that someone in his company has been injured or killed and the military has cut off phone access until the next of kin has been notified. That’s when Kelly starts looking out the window, fearing the worst.“There have been times when we’ve gone seven, eight days,” says Kelly. “After 48 hours, you know it’s not yours. … And I know it sounds terrible, but then you think, ‘Thank God it’s not...…Here’s on behalf of our troops and their families:…Kelly waits anxiously for each phone call from her husband. They come almost daily and trigger fears of the worst kind when they don’t. That often means that someone in his company has been injured or killed and the military has cut off phone access until the next of kin has been notified. That’s when Kelly starts looking out the window, fearing the worst.“There have been times when we’ve gone seven, eight days,” says Kelly. “After 48 hours, you know it’s not yours. … And I know it sounds terrible, but then you think, ‘Thank God it’s not...WW…

The Federal Reserve, which released the details of its Federal Open Market Committee meeting today (), did not plan on also releasing the results of their stress tests today. But they just a few minutes ago.The reason why is indicative of the incredible arrogance on the part of the banks. It turns out that , forcing them to release their summary early:Basically, of dividends and buybacks around 3:00 PM.In that announcement they said they had passed the stress tests from the Fed, and that forced the Fed to move up their schedule.We’re still trying to get the bottom of it, but basically Jamie...…The Federal Reserve, which released the details of its Federal Open Market Committee meeting today (), did not plan on also releasing the results of their stress tests today. But they just a few minutes ago.The reason why is indicative of the incredible arrogance on the part of the banks. It turns out that , forcing them to release their summary early:Basically, of dividends and buybacks around 3:00 PM.In that announcement they said they had passed the stress tests from the Fed, and that forced the Fed to move up their schedule.We’re still trying to get the bottom of it, but basically Jamie...WW…

Dog bites man. Sun rises in east. The WaPo’s Fred Hiatt :We praised Mr. Obama last year when he asked the to let him raise private money for the general election but later give the money back and decide to participate in the public financing system if he were able to persuade the Republican nominee to do the same. In that circumstance, Mr. Obama’s spokesman vowed, he would "aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." Well, the Republican nominee turns out to be , who agreed way back when to Mr. Obama’s challenge. Where’s...…Dog bites man. Sun rises in east. The WaPo’s Fred Hiatt :We praised Mr. Obama last year when he asked the to let him raise private money for the general election but later give the money back and decide to participate in the public financing system if he were able to persuade the Republican nominee to do the same. In that circumstance, Mr. Obama’s spokesman vowed, he would "aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election." Well, the Republican nominee turns out to be , who agreed way back when to Mr. Obama’s challenge. Where’s...WW…

This past Friday, May 3rd, 2013, he had on as his first guest, one Jeremy Scahill.I remain in awe of Scahill, in part because of his book on Blackwater. (The firm which became Xe, and is now known as Craft.) I respect Scahill for his continual valiant attempts at puncturing some holes into the veil of slime ball propaganda in which our Main$tream media now encloses most Americans’ minds. Scahill’s latest book involves our dirty little drone war against the people of Afghanistan. I urge anyone who has the spare change to purchase the new book, or at least insist that your local library...…This past Friday, May 3rd, 2013, he had on as his first guest, one Jeremy Scahill.I remain in awe of Scahill, in part because of his book on Blackwater. (The firm which became Xe, and is now known as Craft.) I respect Scahill for his continual valiant attempts at puncturing some holes into the veil of slime ball propaganda in which our Main$tream media now encloses most Americans’ minds. Scahill’s latest book involves our dirty little drone war against the people of Afghanistan. I urge anyone who has the spare change to purchase the new book, or at least insist that your local library...WW…

I have a confession to make: Don Quixote is my hero! Not the real character from the books, but the ideals for which he fought. When I was younger, it was the romanticism of chivalry and fighting to make things right. Now that I am much older and more experienced in the ways of the world, it is still some of that, but also that everyone deserves a fair shake in life. Personally, I have always tried to help out those who seemed like they needed the help, but now that I am the one who needs help, it seems like the Don Quixote’s of the world have disappeared. I know that’s really not true and...…I have a confession to make: Don Quixote is my hero! Not the real character from the books, but the ideals for which he fought. When I was younger, it was the romanticism of chivalry and fighting to make things right. Now that I am much older and more experienced in the ways of the world, it is still some of that, but also that everyone deserves a fair shake in life. Personally, I have always tried to help out those who seemed like they needed the help, but now that I am the one who needs help, it seems like the Don Quixote’s of the world have disappeared. I know that’s really not true and...WW…

I am a man.You can vote to strip me of my right to marry the one I love, but: I am a man.You can vote to strip me of any of my rights, but: I am a man.You can vote to strip me of all of my rights, but: I am a man.You can vote to leave me with none of my rights, but: I am a man.And when will you stop, my fellow citizens? When will you, my fellow citizens, decide that my manhood trumps your right to deprive me? Where will you draw the line? What rights are yours to allocate, and what rights are granted to me as they are to you, by Something greater than us both?What rights are not yours to...…I am a man.You can vote to strip me of my right to marry the one I love, but: I am a man.You can vote to strip me of any of my rights, but: I am a man.You can vote to strip me of all of my rights, but: I am a man.You can vote to leave me with none of my rights, but: I am a man.And when will you stop, my fellow citizens? When will you, my fellow citizens, decide that my manhood trumps your right to deprive me? Where will you draw the line? What rights are yours to allocate, and what rights are granted to me as they are to you, by Something greater than us both?What rights are not yours to...WW…

Over the weekend, an international climate agreement was announced in Paris. It has been widely hailed as a historic step toward addressing climate change. Yet, pledges to cut emissions are not legally binding, and the reality is the agreement may do very little to avert climate catastrophe because countries responsible…Over the weekend, an international climate agreement was announced in Paris. It has been widely hailed as a historic step toward addressing climate change. Yet, pledges to cut emissions are not legally binding, and the reality is the agreement may do very little to avert climate catastrophe because countries responsibleWW…

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released his  this week with an impressive 16 co-sponsors, and it contained one very interesting section that has been mostly overlooked.Roughly one-fifth of the bill is dedicated to the creation of a very detailed “Medicare Transitional Plan.”Under Sanders’ bill, Americans would be phased-in to a new Medicare plan over the course of 4 years. Children would be enrolled the first year and the Medicare age would lower to 55. It would then lower by 10 years, each year, for the next three years. After that, everyone would be enrolled.The Medicare Transitional Plan...…Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) released his  this week with an impressive 16 co-sponsors, and it contained one very interesting section that has been mostly overlooked.Roughly one-fifth of the bill is dedicated to the creation of a very detailed “Medicare Transitional Plan.”Under Sanders’ bill, Americans would be phased-in to a new Medicare plan over the course of 4 years. Children would be enrolled the first year and the Medicare age would lower to 55. It would then lower by 10 years, each year, for the next three years. After that, everyone would be enrolled.The Medicare Transitional Plan...WW…

My friend, , sent me an excellent essay by Gabriel Rotello that I want to share with you, and that deserves to be read by everyone who is committed to full equality for LGBT people.His essay appears on , and it is entitled, “If ENDA Doesn’t Protect the Transgendered, It Doesn’t Protect Me.”The following is a small excerpt from that essay:“The decision by the Democratic leadership in Congress to eliminate transgendered people from ENDA, the bill to ban discrimination against gays in the workplace, has ignited a genuine firestorm in gay political circles.“It’s heartening to see that LGBT...…My friend, , sent me an excellent essay by Gabriel Rotello that I want to share with you, and that deserves to be read by everyone who is committed to full equality for LGBT people.His essay appears on , and it is entitled, “If ENDA Doesn’t Protect the Transgendered, It Doesn’t Protect Me.”The following is a small excerpt from that essay:“The decision by the Democratic leadership in Congress to eliminate transgendered people from ENDA, the bill to ban discrimination against gays in the workplace, has ignited a genuine firestorm in gay political circles.“It’s heartening to see that LGBT...WW…

MINNEAPOLIS — A group of anonymous teen hackers traced a group of terrorists’ social media accounts to the British government, but further investigation revealed the accounts are actually tied to Saudi Arabia.Calling themselves , the group communicates primarily through social media and targets child predators online in addition to Daesh (the Arabic acronym for the group also known as the Islamic State, ISIS or ISIL). On Dec. 14, they told The Daily Mirror that they’d which they hacked back to IP addresses belonging to the Department of Work and Pensions, the division of the British...…MINNEAPOLIS — A group of anonymous teen hackers traced a group of terrorists’ social media accounts to the British government, but further investigation revealed the accounts are actually tied to Saudi Arabia.Calling themselves , the group communicates primarily through social media and targets child predators online in addition to Daesh (the Arabic acronym for the group also known as the Islamic State, ISIS or ISIL). On Dec. 14, they told The Daily Mirror that they’d which they hacked back to IP addresses belonging to the Department of Work and Pensions, the division of the British...WW…

There it is.  Andrew B. Adler’s editorial from his paper, , from January 13, 2012:Here’s John Cook at , covering it late yesterday:Andrew Adler, the owner and publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, a weekly newspaper serving Atlanta’s Jewish community, devoted his January 13, 2012 column to the thorny problem of the U.S. and Israel’s diverging views on the threat posed by Iran. Basically Israel has three options, he wrote: Strike Hezbollah and Hamas, strike Iran, . Either way, problem solved!Here’s how Adler laid out “option three” in his list of scenarios facing Israeli president Benjamin...…There it is.  Andrew B. Adler’s editorial from his paper, , from January 13, 2012:Here’s John Cook at , covering it late yesterday:Andrew Adler, the owner and publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, a weekly newspaper serving Atlanta’s Jewish community, devoted his January 13, 2012 column to the thorny problem of the U.S. and Israel’s diverging views on the threat posed by Iran. Basically Israel has three options, he wrote: Strike Hezbollah and Hamas, strike Iran, . Either way, problem solved!Here’s how Adler laid out “option three” in his list of scenarios facing Israeli president Benjamin...WW…

Back in highschool, I was a ballkid for the pro tennis tour stop in Washington D.C., near my childhood home. I got a chance to be t with the brightest lights of the tennis constellation, including Hall of Famers Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles anong others.I pretty much knew I was gay when I saw Chris Evert’s panties, and it did nothing for me. But tennis skirts are very short. And when you’re down on the court with the players, and they’re bending and lunging, you can’t help but get a panty shot or ten. I’ve seen some pretty famous panties.The name of the tournament was...…Back in highschool, I was a ballkid for the pro tennis tour stop in Washington D.C., near my childhood home. I got a chance to be t with the brightest lights of the tennis constellation, including Hall of Famers Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles anong others.I pretty much knew I was gay when I saw Chris Evert’s panties, and it did nothing for me. But tennis skirts are very short. And when you’re down on the court with the players, and they’re bending and lunging, you can’t help but get a panty shot or ten. I’ve seen some pretty famous panties.The name of the tournament was...WW…

That is the great 1990s when all the major characters spent an episode denying that George and Jerry were Gay. "Not that there’s anything wrong with that" is the phrase missing from the White House’s outrage at CBS and Ben Domenech for claiming potential SCOTUS nominee Elena Kagan was openly gay, or closeted, or something.Here’s how the silliness started:The White House ripped CBS News on Thursday for publishing an online column by a blogger who made assertions about the sexual orientation of Solicitor General Elena Kagan, widely viewed as a leading candidate for the Supreme Court.Ben...…That is the great 1990s when all the major characters spent an episode denying that George and Jerry were Gay. "Not that there’s anything wrong with that" is the phrase missing from the White House’s outrage at CBS and Ben Domenech for claiming potential SCOTUS nominee Elena Kagan was openly gay, or closeted, or something.Here’s how the silliness started:The White House ripped CBS News on Thursday for publishing an online column by a blogger who made assertions about the sexual orientation of Solicitor General Elena Kagan, widely viewed as a leading candidate for the Supreme Court.Ben...WW…

Chicago tenor Roland Burris is singing a :U.S. Sen. Roland Burris has acknowledged he sought to raise campaign funds for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich at the request of the governor’s brother at the same time he was making a pitch to be appointed to the Senate seat previously held by President Barack Obama.Burris’ latest comments in Peoria Monday night were the first time he has publicly said he was actively trying to raise money for Blagojevich. Previously Burris has left the impression that he always balked at the issue of raising money for the governor because of his interest in the Senate...…Chicago tenor Roland Burris is singing a :U.S. Sen. Roland Burris has acknowledged he sought to raise campaign funds for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich at the request of the governor’s brother at the same time he was making a pitch to be appointed to the Senate seat previously held by President Barack Obama.Burris’ latest comments in Peoria Monday night were the first time he has publicly said he was actively trying to raise money for Blagojevich. Previously Burris has left the impression that he always balked at the issue of raising money for the governor because of his interest in the Senate...WW…

Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio, and Kendrick Meeks are in a hotly contested race for the United States Senate in Florida. This race became high profile with Crist’s departure from the Republican Party to declare himself an Independent. RealClearPolitics.com (generally considered to be conservative and lean right) compiles aggregate polls from sources ranging from Rasmussen to Quinnipiac to Gallup, and beyond.The most recent RCP Average (average of the polls together for a combined general idea of how the polls are leaning) shows that Crist and Rubio are statistically tied for the US Senate race...…Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio, and Kendrick Meeks are in a hotly contested race for the United States Senate in Florida. This race became high profile with Crist’s departure from the Republican Party to declare himself an Independent. RealClearPolitics.com (generally considered to be conservative and lean right) compiles aggregate polls from sources ranging from Rasmussen to Quinnipiac to Gallup, and beyond.The most recent RCP Average (average of the polls together for a combined general idea of how the polls are leaning) shows that Crist and Rubio are statistically tied for the US Senate race...WW…

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden speaking to audience at SXSWThere has been plenty of writing about the positive effect that former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden has had as a result of his decision to reveal information on a bulk phone records collection program, which has been collecting the records of all Americans. But there has been much condemnation for his decision to reveal information on how the United States is engaged in hacking or offensive cyber operations against China.What has been generally suggested is that he had damaged efforts by the...…NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden speaking to audience at SXSWThere has been plenty of writing about the positive effect that former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden has had as a result of his decision to reveal information on a bulk phone records collection program, which has been collecting the records of all Americans. But there has been much condemnation for his decision to reveal information on how the United States is engaged in hacking or offensive cyber operations against China.What has been generally suggested is that he had damaged efforts by the...WW…

Clinton supporters try to paint her honesty and trustworthiness problem as the result of conservative smears, but the public’s views are well-founded.…Clinton supporters try to paint her honesty and trustworthiness problem as the result of conservative smears, but the public’s views are well-founded.WW…