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December 29, 2005
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Thursday's Links
Activism
Three overseas trips paid for under questionable circumstances. Multiple domestic charges of unethical behavior. An impassioned plea for Schiavo from the floor of Congress that 80% of Americans disagree with. Why is Tom DeLay still the House Majority Leader? Why does he even have a job any more? We're not sure, but with MoveOn's help, we'll oust DeLay as House Majority Leader, and maybe all the way out of Congress. Go here to sign MoveOn's petition to have DeLay removed. If we don't speak up, how will our elected officials know how strongly we feel?
News
The 18th State. No, we're not talking about Louisiana. We're talking about Kansas, which not only holds the distinction of being the 34th state to enter the union, but the 18th state in the country to define marriage as solely between an man and a woman in its constitution. Kansas goes a step further to say "No relationship, other than a marriage, shall be recognized by the state as entitling the parties to the rights or incidents of marriage." Doesn't this pretty much blow away the whole argument that conservatives are trying to protect the symbolic name of "marriage", but aren't opposed to equal rights through, say, civil unions? This is flat-out bigotry, and has now been codified into law. Moderates in the state maintain that this vote is not representative of the population of Kansas, but the vote passed by a large margain - 70% of the vote. If this is true, Democrats and supporters of same-sex marriage will need to turn out in far greater numbers in order to strike down these bills, and that has yet to happen.
America Speaks. A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows Bush's approval rating is at 48%. It shows a lack of confidence in the media and Congress over the Terri Schiavo saga. But the most glaring statistic from the poll shows that 51% of the country believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction, compared to only 34% that believe it's moving in the right one. Maybe people are finally seeing this administration for the sham it is. Maybe they are waking up to the DeLay scandle. Maybe they are getting fed up with being lied to. We're hoping it's all three, but we're not going to count on it...that's why we all need to continue to fight.
Groundbreaking Legislation. The State of Maryland has effectively passed legislation that would require any organization with over 10,000 employees to spend at least 8% of their payroll on health benefits. Either that, or put the money directly into the state's health program for the poor. The bill has been dubbed the "Wal-Mart bill," because Wal-Mart is the only corporation currently in the state of Maryland that employs more than 10,000 people. Wal-Mart is noticably piqued, and feels that they are being singled out. But given all the bad press they've received lately, there's not much they can do. The bill raises an important question - do large corporations like Wal-Mart have a responsibility to the community to provide adequate health care? The answer, of course, is yes.
Editorials
Reform or Perish. Mark Shields writes about the Democrats' lack of direction and focus. You know, we don't expect miracles to occur overnight, but it has been three months since Howard Dean was elected DNC chair, and the party is still as directionless as it was. Don't misunderstand; we see the leadership in the Senate and House, and the unifying message Dean has been trying to espouse to Congressional lawmakers. What we don't see is a unifying message to the public. It's not enough to unite elected officials - there must be a clear, strong and consistent message for the entire party. It's also not enough just to let the Republicans drown in their own zealotry - we need to throw them an anvil. Claiming to be the party of the middle class is no longer enough - we need to prove it.
West Coast Offense. The Swing State Project points us to an editorial that discusses how Democrats can win on the issue of gay marriage. The simple answer is that they can start being leaders. This is particularly relevant given the news about Kansas (above). We assume you remember Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco, who decided someone needed to take a stand for gay rights, and (at least temporarily) allowed gays to marry. Well, the editorial is written by Eric Jaye, who is not only Newsom's political consultant, but has let many different fights for gay rights around the country. His message is really quite simple: For Democrats to win the moral debate (And have no doubts again it - this is a moral debate, just not the ones conservatives claim: It's about freedom and equality, not the "sanctity of marriage"), they need to begin by stating their position. Democrats are for gay marriage, plain and simple. Just say it out loud, already!
It's the Law, Not the Judge. Jeffrey Rosen takes a step back and looks at the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric regarding the judiciary. He's not just talking about the political ins-and-outs of the "nuclear option", but rather how both sides have started attacking the judiciary. It didn't always use to be this way. Historically, the judiciary remained out of the public eye, but it seems more and more legislators are attempting to further their political views by verbally attacking judges. Rosen thinks that the increased traction of political interest groups is partly to blame, as well as the growing inability of judges to remain out of the public spotlight. Overall, it's a nice piece that gives some interesting historical perspective, and looks at the road we might be headed with a healthy amount of concern for out country.
Humor
Your 109th Congress has decided that a good way to save money would be extending Daylight Savings Time. You can't make this stuff up.
|
December 29, 2005
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Thursday's Links
Activism
Three overseas trips paid for under questionable circumstances. Multiple domestic charges of unethical behavior. An impassioned plea for Schiavo from the floor of Congress that 80% of Americans disagree with. Why is Tom DeLay still the House Majority Leader? Why does he even have a job any more? We're not sure, but with MoveOn's help, we'll oust DeLay as House Majority Leader, and maybe all the way out of Congress. Go here to sign MoveOn's petition to have DeLay removed. If we don't speak up, how will our elected officials know how strongly we feel?
News
The 18th State. No, we're not talking about Louisiana. We're talking about Kansas, which not only holds the distinction of being the 34th state to enter the union, but the 18th state in the country to define marriage as solely between an man and a woman in its constitution. Kansas goes a step further to say "No relationship, other than a marriage, shall be recognized by the state as entitling the parties to the rights or incidents of marriage." Doesn't this pretty much blow away the whole argument that conservatives are trying to protect the symbolic name of "marriage", but aren't opposed to equal rights through, say, civil unions? This is flat-out bigotry, and has now been codified into law. Moderates in the state maintain that this vote is not representative of the population of Kansas, but the vote passed by a large margain - 70% of the vote. If this is true, Democrats and supporters of same-sex marriage will need to turn out in far greater numbers in order to strike down these bills, and that has yet to happen.
America Speaks. A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows Bush's approval rating is at 48%. It shows a lack of confidence in the media and Congress over the Terri Schiavo saga. But the most glaring statistic from the poll shows that 51% of the country believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction, compared to only 34% that believe it's moving in the right one. Maybe people are finally seeing this administration for the sham it is. Maybe they are waking up to the DeLay scandle. Maybe they are getting fed up with being lied to. We're hoping it's all three, but we're not going to count on it...that's why we all need to continue to fight.
Groundbreaking Legislation. The State of Maryland has effectively passed legislation that would require any organization with over 10,000 employees to spend at least 8% of their payroll on health benefits. Either that, or put the money directly into the state's health program for the poor. The bill has been dubbed the "Wal-Mart bill," because Wal-Mart is the only corporation currently in the state of Maryland that employs more than 10,000 people. Wal-Mart is noticably piqued, and feels that they are being singled out. But given all the bad press they've received lately, there's not much they can do. The bill raises an important question - do large corporations like Wal-Mart have a responsibility to the community to provide adequate health care? The answer, of course, is yes.
Editorials
Reform or Perish. Mark Shields writes about the Democrats' lack of direction and focus. You know, we don't expect miracles to occur overnight, but it has been three months since Howard Dean was elected DNC chair, and the party is still as directionless as it was. Don't misunderstand; we see the leadership in the Senate and House, and the unifying message Dean has been trying to espouse to Congressional lawmakers. What we don't see is a unifying message to the public. It's not enough to unite elected officials - there must be a clear, strong and consistent message for the entire party. It's also not enough just to let the Republicans drown in their own zealotry - we need to throw them an anvil. Claiming to be the party of the middle class is no longer enough - we need to prove it.
West Coast Offense. The Swing State Project points us to an editorial that discusses how Democrats can win on the issue of gay marriage. The simple answer is that they can start being leaders. This is particularly relevant given the news about Kansas (above). We assume you remember Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco, who decided someone needed to take a stand for gay rights, and (at least temporarily) allowed gays to marry. Well, the editorial is written by Eric Jaye, who is not only Newsom's political consultant, but has let many different fights for gay rights around the country. His message is really quite simple: For Democrats to win the moral debate (And have no doubts again it - this is a moral debate, just not the ones conservatives claim: It's about freedom and equality, not the "sanctity of marriage"), they need to begin by stating their position. Democrats are for gay marriage, plain and simple. Just say it out loud, already!
It's the Law, Not the Judge. Jeffrey Rosen takes a step back and looks at the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric regarding the judiciary. He's not just talking about the political ins-and-outs of the "nuclear option", but rather how both sides have started attacking the judiciary. It didn't always use to be this way. Historically, the judiciary remained out of the public eye, but it seems more and more legislators are attempting to further their political views by verbally attacking judges. Rosen thinks that the increased traction of political interest groups is partly to blame, as well as the growing inability of judges to remain out of the public spotlight. Overall, it's a nice piece that gives some interesting historical perspective, and looks at the road we might be headed with a healthy amount of concern for out country.
Humor
Your 109th Congress has decided that a good way to save money would be extending Daylight Savings Time. You can't make this stuff up.
|
December 29, 2005
Three overseas trips paid for under questionable circumstances. Multiple domestic charges of unethical behavior. An impassioned plea for Schiavo from the floor of Congress that 80% of Americans disagree with. Why is Tom DeLay still the House Majority Leader? Why does he even have a job any more? We're not sure, but with MoveOn's help, we'll oust DeLay as House Majority Leader, and maybe all the way out of Congress. Go here to sign MoveOn's petition to have DeLay removed. If we don't speak up, how will our elected officials know how strongly we feel?
News
The 18th State. No, we're not talking about Louisiana. We're talking about Kansas, which not only holds the distinction of being the 34th state to enter the union, but the 18th state in the country to define marriage as solely between an man and a woman in its constitution. Kansas goes a step further to say "No relationship, other than a marriage, shall be recognized by the state as entitling the parties to the rights or incidents of marriage." Doesn't this pretty much blow away the whole argument that conservatives are trying to protect the symbolic name of "marriage", but aren't opposed to equal rights through, say, civil unions? This is flat-out bigotry, and has now been codified into law. Moderates in the state maintain that this vote is not representative of the population of Kansas, but the vote passed by a large margain - 70% of the vote. If this is true, Democrats and supporters of same-sex marriage will need to turn out in far greater numbers in order to strike down these bills, and that has yet to happen.
America Speaks. A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows Bush's approval rating is at 48%. It shows a lack of confidence in the media and Congress over the Terri Schiavo saga. But the most glaring statistic from the poll shows that 51% of the country believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction, compared to only 34% that believe it's moving in the right one. Maybe people are finally seeing this administration for the sham it is. Maybe they are waking up to the DeLay scandle. Maybe they are getting fed up with being lied to. We're hoping it's all three, but we're not going to count on it...that's why we all need to continue to fight.
Groundbreaking Legislation. The State of Maryland has effectively passed legislation that would require any organization with over 10,000 employees to spend at least 8% of their payroll on health benefits. Either that, or put the money directly into the state's health program for the poor. The bill has been dubbed the "Wal-Mart bill," because Wal-Mart is the only corporation currently in the state of Maryland that employs more than 10,000 people. Wal-Mart is noticably piqued, and feels that they are being singled out. But given all the bad press they've received lately, there's not much they can do. The bill raises an important question - do large corporations like Wal-Mart have a responsibility to the community to provide adequate health care? The answer, of course, is yes.
Editorials
Reform or Perish. Mark Shields writes about the Democrats' lack of direction and focus. You know, we don't expect miracles to occur overnight, but it has been three months since Howard Dean was elected DNC chair, and the party is still as directionless as it was. Don't misunderstand; we see the leadership in the Senate and House, and the unifying message Dean has been trying to espouse to Congressional lawmakers. What we don't see is a unifying message to the public. It's not enough to unite elected officials - there must be a clear, strong and consistent message for the entire party. It's also not enough just to let the Republicans drown in their own zealotry - we need to throw them an anvil. Claiming to be the party of the middle class is no longer enough - we need to prove it.
West Coast Offense. The Swing State Project points us to an editorial that discusses how Democrats can win on the issue of gay marriage. The simple answer is that they can start being leaders. This is particularly relevant given the news about Kansas (above). We assume you remember Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco, who decided someone needed to take a stand for gay rights, and (at least temporarily) allowed gays to marry. Well, the editorial is written by Eric Jaye, who is not only Newsom's political consultant, but has let many different fights for gay rights around the country. His message is really quite simple: For Democrats to win the moral debate (And have no doubts again it - this is a moral debate, just not the ones conservatives claim: It's about freedom and equality, not the "sanctity of marriage"), they need to begin by stating their position. Democrats are for gay marriage, plain and simple. Just say it out loud, already!
It's the Law, Not the Judge. Jeffrey Rosen takes a step back and looks at the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric regarding the judiciary. He's not just talking about the political ins-and-outs of the "nuclear option", but rather how both sides have started attacking the judiciary. It didn't always use to be this way. Historically, the judiciary remained out of the public eye, but it seems more and more legislators are attempting to further their political views by verbally attacking judges. Rosen thinks that the increased traction of political interest groups is partly to blame, as well as the growing inability of judges to remain out of the public spotlight. Overall, it's a nice piece that gives some interesting historical perspective, and looks at the road we might be headed with a healthy amount of concern for out country.
Humor
Your 109th Congress has decided that a good way to save money would be extending Daylight Savings Time. You can't make this stuff up.
