Don't we live in post-racial America? Not judging by the case of Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who was arrested at his own house for his temerity to live in a predominantly white neighborhood. Some would say he had it coming, but from where I'm standing, from the moment arresting officer Sgt. James Crowley appeared at Mr. Gates' door, Gates had every ( Read more... )

Obama signed a memorandum Wednesday giving (some) benefits to the SOs of gay Federal workersIt looks like it's a chess move at this point. Very little was said about his promises to the gay community beyond some words at his inauguration speech. On June 1st, he signed an order making June GLBT Pride month (something which has sort of been done ( Read more... )

At 11:56 est, George Bush will no longer hold the office of President of the United States of America ( Read more... )

The execs of the Big Three automakers headed back to Capitol Hill today (in hybrid cars) after an alreay-failed attempt to plead for free cash from the government. Why they get a second chance is beyond me, especially when they say things like how each of them deserves $9 billion in case one failsIt's bad enough that they're asking for the money ( Read more... )

(Unless you're planning on voting for their candidates)

Incendiary, but I've been hearing enough about this that I need to shed some light on what's been happening.

I) Keeping you from Voting

Some background:

( Help America Vote Act of 2002 )

It's not terribly damning -- the report doesn't recommend any sanctions or criminal litigation -- but this isn't going to go over well ( Read more... )

(Most, if not all, of the following questions are rhetorical ( Read more... )

Linked from Planet MoneyThe legislation is pretty concise, but involves a HUGE, unprecedented transfer of power to the Treasury Secretary. His actions are then "non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency", only reporting to Congress twice a year ( Read more... )

I'm breaking the "no posting from work" rule because I'm listening to Bernanke talking to a House committee, and the subject is just too important.

This is what I'm hearing (paraphrasing and other liberties taken):

Bernanke: The free market has failed. Our non-bank financial institutions dug their own graves by taking excessive risks and losing ( Read more... )

(Thanks for the nudge, tlhinganhom!)

As it is for Colin, long-time readers of this blog may have noticed that I don't fucking post worth a fetid pair of dingo's kidneys any more. In this highly charged political climate, wouldn't my usual commentary be at least entertaining (if not informative)? Damn right.

But first, where the hell I've been.

( Where the hell I've been (which is long, rambling, and kind of beside the point) )