But what frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day. We cannot wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about their opponent - a belief that if you lose, I win. Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The ( Read more... )

Even if I'm not a resident of Asheville anymore, I figure having spent a summer as Cecil's research assistant and several years as a fellow rabble-rouser in the WNC branch of the Progressive Project gives me some footing for being as proud as I am to see him finally make it into office. And I would certainly have voted for him if I could have--I ( Read more... )

Yesterday, British PM Gordon Brown officially apologized for the inhumane treatment of Alan Turing.

You can read the full statement here.

I'm really, really glad to see this happen, although I wish to god it had been sooner, and had taken less than thirty thousand signatures on a petition. However, kudos to Brown for framing this as a step rather ( Read more... )

I mean, Dijongate? Seriously?
"Watergate" was the name of the hotel.
"Whitewatergate" made at least groan-worthy sense as a pun.
Everything since has just been asinine and meaningless.

...so is the appellation of "gate" to FUCKING EVERYTHING as a virtually meaningless suffix "gategate"?

Obama's lifting the Global Gag Rule. Today.

Awww. Obama listed "nonbelievers" as a legitimate group of Americans! I kind of got a little choked up at that--it's SO nice to have a president who acknowledges atheists as, y'know, people.

Also, I am immeasurably excited about the fact that, for the first time in eight years, there's going to be a clear difference between satire and reality.

Over at the Citizen's Briefing Book (whose apostrophe should probably be moved to the right, while I'm waxing pedantic), anyone with internet access can submit a proposal to the Obama administration or vote on others' proposals.

Here's mine. You should all go vote for it because it's awesome ( Read more... )

Look, people ( Read more... )

There's a phrase that comes up again and again in Molly Ivins's writing, regarding politics in general and elected officials in particular: "You've gotta dance with them what brung you ( Read more... )

Give your mayor a hug--maybe even two, because he's a socially progressive Republican, and that's a rough road to walk these days. Video's from 2007, which kind of makes it that much cooler.

Click to view