Most of the critics who dislike “The Newsroom” are members of the so-called “new media”, which (surprise surprise) Aaron Sorkin often uses as a target (not only in The Newsroom, but in The Social Network, Studio 60 and even as far back as The West Wing). Last night, Sorkin took another convincing swipe at “new media”, focusing on how Reddit … Read More
Marriage Equality Setback Might Mean Fast Track To Supreme Court
On Thursday afternoon, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit just became the first federal appeals court in the country to side with marriage discrimination. Although the immediate effect of this court’s 2-1 decision is that marriage equality will not quickly become the law in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, the most important consequence of the Sixth … Read More
Empty Threat
John Boehner, at a presser today, warned that if President Obama moves forward with executive action on deportations, Republicans will never, ever, ever act on the legislative immigration reform that Republicans have refused to act on for the last 18 months: “I’ve made clear to the president that if he acts unilaterally on his own outside of his authority, he … Read More
Role Of Black Churches In Elections
A small graph from today’s New York TImes shows why Republicans are so keen to restrict early voting, especially on Sundays — it is when blacks go to the polls: .
Breaking: Today’s School Shooting
Marysville-Pilchuck High School in the State of Washington: 3 shot, not including the dead shooter (a student). It’s happening now, but it’ll happen somewhere else soon. UPDATE: 2 dead, including the shooter. Looking at the shooter’s Twitter account, it looks like he was distraught over a relationship: It won’t last…. It’ll never last…. — Jaylen Fryberg (@frybergj) October 23, 2014
Video Immediately After Michael Brown Shooting Supports Story That Brown Had Arms Up When Killed
Two contractors have come forward saying that they witnessed the Michael Brown shooting, and that Michael Brown had his hands up in the air, thus not posing a threat, when he was shot. Normally, you could discount this eyewitness testimony, coming more than one month after the shooting. Except that they are saying it…. on video… just after the shooting occurred. In … Read More
Breaking A 20-Court Victory Streak, A Federal Judge In Louisiana Upholds Gay Marriage Ban
Well, you can't win them all. The Honorable Marty Fledman (yes, that's his name) — a Reagan appointtee — wrote today: Many states have democratically chosen torecognize same-sex marriage. But until recent years, it had noplace at all in this nation's history and tradition. Publicattitude might be becoming more diverse, but any right to same-sexmarriage is not yet so entrenched … Read More
Officer Go-Fuck-Yourself
I swear. These must be the dumbest cops alive. I mean, don't they realize the complaint against them is that they are too quick on the draw? That they are failures as cops by drawing high-powered guns on unarmed civilians? Yet, this cop goes right ahead and does it. In front of cameras. And then he points his gun at the … Read More
Brown Shot Six Times
… and it looks like the fatal shots were the last two, which hit him on the top of the head. Apparently, while falling forward. NOT at close range. The New York Times has the details. Meanwhile last night… another night of clashes. Although law enforcement is better (the Missouri State Police are not provoking lawlessness like the St. Louis County … Read More
Live-tweeting Michael Brown’s Killing
Kid was watching and tweeting…. Let it load… start at bottom witness to Brown killing
Michael Brown Implicated In Cigar Robbery
This morning, police identified Darren Wilson as the cop who fatally shot Michael Brown. They also released surveillance photos showing Michael Brown shoplifting some cigars and man-handling the store owner. This all took place hours before the shooting. I'm not sure this changes the issue (although I know for many bigots, this is all they need). Brown was an unarmed … Read More
No Question. The Ferguson Police Are Thugs
I've withheld writing about the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. For those distracted by other news stories, Michael Brown was to start college this week. Instead, his parents are planning his funeral. On August 9th, Mr Brown was shot several times and killed by a policeman in Ferguson, a suburb near St Louis, Missouri. The police say the black 18-year-old attacked … Read More
Fourth Circuit Overturns Virginia Same-Sex Marriage Ban
The religious right continues losing their reactionary culture war, as a federal appeals court strikes down Virginia’s ban on marriage equality. And this ruling will also affect conservative bans on same-sex marriage in West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, so it’s a significant defeat for the forces of atavism. “We recognize that same-sex marriage makes some people deeply uncomfortable. However, … Read More
No Danger At All
So a bunch of children from Central America are trying to enter this country, and of course, the right wing is throwing fit because 'Merica. The real issue is whether they are seeking asylum from persecution, in which case we have to, by law, let them into the country. As opposed to them just being some lazy Spanish types who … Read More
Hobby Lobby Wins
In a not-very-suprising 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court decided in favor of Hobby Lobby in the recent case involving religious freedom and corporations. As a result of the holding, business owners with religious objections to birth control may defy federal rules requiring most employers to include contraceptive care in their health plans. This is in direct contravention of what the Supreme Court … Read More