Story breaking now. Fort Hood hash tweet stream is here. It's possibly too soon to say this, but the NRA argument that if everyone is armed, everyone is safe, is pretty much belied by the fact this incident at an army base. UPDATE: 2 to 3 suspected shooters involved, reportedly wearing U.S. Army uniforms (although this doesn't mean they are … Read More
High Turnout In Maine Elections Today
So reports Politico. Conventional wisdom is that this is good for the "No on 1" side.
BREAKING: Obama Signs Matthew Shepard/James Byrd Hate Crimes Legislation
Actually the Hate Crimes bill was tacked on to the 2009 Defense Appropriations Act, which Obama signed this afternoon, but it's still there, and Obama noted the significance of it: So today I'm pleased to say that we have proved that change is possible. It may not come quickly, or all at once, but if you push hard enough, it … Read More
Falcon Heene
I have a rather bad feeling about this boy trapped in the balloon. I have a rather bad feeling he is not hiding, but rather, he fell. And we're going to get all kinds of people making snap judgments about how bad the parents were — before we have any clear evidence that they were negligent. To blunt those, let … Read More
AutoTune The News #6
With Michelle Bachmann (yaaaay!), Sarah Palin quitting, Michael Jackson dying…. This may be the best one yet.
MJ Memorial Service Liveblogging
MJ Funeral Liveblogging OK. I'm done. UPDATE: Here, by the way, are some funny Facebook updates on the event, compiled by Buzzfeed: And Kevin Drum reports: The Michael Jackson tribute is currently being aired on 18 separate channels on my TV. Just sayin'.
Holocaust Museum Shooting
It's all unfolding now. Two people (perhaps 3) shot by a gunman in the Holocaust Musuem in D.C.. The gunman was also apparently shot and is in custody. Too early, of course, to determine the motive, but since it was at the Holocaust Museum, one can surmise that the shooter was anti-Jew. From there, it's not a far leap to suppose … Read More
Defections In The NY State Senate
The Democrats no longer control to NY state senate, because of the defection moments ago of two Democratic senators, reports the New York Times. A rift, apparently, in the Democartic party on the subject of gay marriage.
Ugly America
By now, you may have heard about the killing of Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, Kansas this morning. It took place in (of all places) a church. Dr. George Tiller has long been a target (literally and figuratively) of the religious right, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, and others because he performs late term abortions. As Amanda Marcotte wrote: [Tiller] is … Read More
Google Outage
Yeah, it's happening now, worldwide. World at a standstill. Are we relying on Google too much??? UPDATE: More than a few people on Twitter did what *I* did — i.e., tried to find out about Google outage by searching "google outage"…. except they searched on Google. Duh! It does pose an interesting dilemna: how do you find out about Google … Read More
Binghamton Shootings
Death toll up to 13, some reports say. It's not even clear, as I write this, if the situation is over with. Some reports say a man was arrested, some say two men were arrested, and still others say there is a hostage situation. [UPDATE 2:45 pm — Now hearing it was a single gunman, and he is dead.] It's … Read More
Writing Your Own Obituary
It must be weird to be a reporter at The Rocky Mountain News — Colorado's oldest newspaper (150 years old) and winner of 4 Pulitzer Prizes — and have to report the death of The Rocky Mountain News.
RNC Leader Follies
I love the little news scrolls coming across my desk today, as the Republican National Committee seeks to elect a new chairman — the guy who will lead the Republican Party. The first ballot had Mike Duncan in the lead. Mike Duncan has been the head of the RNC, which mounted massive losses in Congress in the 2006 and 2008 … Read More
Kennedy Collapses At Inauguration Luncheon
Wheeled out on a stretcher. Remember, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May. Senator Byrd (D-W.Va) collapsed as well, although it doesn't sound as serious. I'm not a big fan of Byrd, being a former Klansman and all. (Photo from earlier in today's inaugural luncheon) UPDATE: Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo), who has been twittering all day, notes … Read More