Open Thread [7.2.12]
This is probably going to be a light blogging week as most folks are winding down to a holiday this week.
Did Chief Justice Roberts change his views in order to uphold the ACA? This article by CBS says he did. It is a compelling story — too bad this article comes with no named sources.
Buzzfeed tells us that Rupert Murdoch isn’t a big Romney fan. Reporting based largely on Murdoch’s twitter feed.
From ProPublica — a great long read on how the government just isn’t prepared to monitor or police the exploding on line data mining industry.
Take a Quiz! This one tests what you know about Health Care Reform. It is only 10 questions long, so not a big burden. I got 10 out of 10. Tell us how you did in the comments!
What interests you today?
Im not lawyer but I believe that there is some concept in our legal system that has to do with the judiciary not creating havoc. Roberts must feel the weight of being the grownup in the room when caucusing with the out and out partisan conservative freak shows currently serving thier Heritage Foundation overlords from the bench.
Anyway, that report will throw fire on wingnut conspiracy theories. Hopefully Robetts will not be killed by some engraged teabag. Or if he is killed by some engraged teabag it will be during Obama’s tenure.
“too bad this article comes with no named sources”
If you thought about it for a moment you’d understand why. It almost certainly must be one of the four conservative justices.
More on this at ThinkProgress:
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/07/01/509359/supreme-court-springs-a-leak-leaks-to-conservative-pundits-may-have-started-more-than-a-month-ago/?mobile=nc
Oh I get that it is likely at least one of the dissenting 4 (or perhaps a clerk given permission) who is leaking like a sieve. But no names leaves this piece with a very big question over its head, though. It isn’t as though unnamed and otherwise credible sources haven’t led a reporter deep into the weeds before. So in the absence of named sources (for this kind of government insider business) my rule is cynicism until something more credible comes along.
BREAKING: Anderson Cooper is gay.
If this is true, which in this town (D.C.) has an equal probability of being untrue, then it says that Roberts has principles from which he cannot be moved. In this case I think it is simply a case of that the Congress has the constitutional authority to tax and regardless of the name (a rose by any other name…) the penalty for not purchasing insurance is a tax.
I would also guess that it left a bad taste in his mouth (similar to brocoli!) but SCOTUS decisions do not have to taste good, they simply have to reflect the best judgment of the justices that the law, in part or whole, was constitutional. That’s what they get paid to do.
Or maybe he didn’t want to become the living, breathing symbol of denial of health care for the next thirty years.
The DOE NCC Facebook page notes that Bill Dunn has filed as a candidate of the Democratic Party for State Representative-19th District.
Kim Williams is filing as well. Poor Bill has to fight every time.
Puck, re: Cooper – that was one of the worst kept secrets ever.
Anderson is gay?????????? OMG!!!!!!!!!!
i actually though he’d been out for a long time. I mean, no hetero man makes grey hair look that good.
Oh I don’t know about that — Richard Gere is still awfully good looking with all of his gray hair. George Clooney is on his way to all gray and he’s better looking than Anderson Cooper.
Help me out here, ladies.
cass is 100% correct, Gere and Clooney are gray and totally HOT. Cooper is hot, too, but not as hot as Clooney.
Is it possible for Dunn to lose two offices, or at least endorsements, in the same election? How sad. He’s our Mike Protack.
Richard Gere is straight? ROTFLMAO.
A gay man would have done a better job than Gere did singing in Chicago.
not necessarily, SW.
I love all these local wannabe politicians who not only did not support previous candidates, but in some cases actually worked against them,and now call and ask if they can count on support for their campaign. Does anyone in this world uncderstand the concept of loyalty?
Mike Vincent has filed for re-election to Sussex County Council, challenged in the R primary by that Witzke guy. The Democrats still have yet to put up a candidate, meaning that if Witzke pulls out a win (unlikely, but still …), a seat of sanity will be lost.
I’m w/ you cass. All that white and grey looks just fine. And Cooper is my kind of gay. Private and nobody’s business unless you’re fixing him up. Just like heteros. Gay or straight, I don’t want to walk in the mall behind anyone who has their hand in the other person’s back pocket. Yup–PDA in moderation–everybody.
I remember when my girlfriend (from the early 70’s mind you) went to a Johnny Mathis concert, and discovered he was gay. I still don’t think she’s over it. Crushed all her hopes and dreams…..
Witzke and his son are both running for office (son is running for Clerk of the Peace). And it’s all about who supports Quickdraw McDraw and who doesn’t.
I don’t normally follow celebrity news, but I am finding the Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise divorce fascinating for the PR and legal moves. Basically, Katie struck first, and is running a PR campaign against Scientology, and making Tom look like a total whack job – which he is, but her brilliant PR has left him exposed and denied him the chance to cover it up, which surely would have happened otherwise. It looks like this divorce is going to put Scientology on trial. Popcorn!
Johnny Mathis is gay?!?
Chances are……:) Sorry–I couldn’t resist
Well now that Tom Cruise is going to be single, maybe John Travolta won’t have to hit on his massage therapists anymore. Just saying…………
“Tom Cruise – come out of the closet!”