Weekend Open Thread [3.22.15]

Weekend Open Thread [3.22.15]

2 Comments
The Washington Post reports that Hillary Clinton “is already running her presidential campaign — against the Republican Congress.
"In blasts of rapid-fire Twitter messages just this week, Clinton accused Republicans of waging a war on women, playing politics with a black nominee, shortchanging students, endangering the economic recovery and trying to yank health-care coverage for 16 million Americans.”
What I want from Hillary is no triangulation. I want her to run against Republicans in Congress and out, and run with and support Democrats inside Congress and out. Let's elect Democrats, not just the Clintons.

Biden on VICE Rebukes Climate Change Deniers

1 Comment
Biden's interview was featured in an outstanding edition of the program (one that is unfortunately no longer available for online viewing) focused on the ravages of human-caused climate change, and the malevolent forces preventing the United States from leading on this issue.

Obama: Should’ve Closed Gitmo on the First Day

3 Comments
I agree. And now basking in his lame duck freedom, he should do everything he can within his power to close it now. Since he is saying he should have closed it himself on the first day, he is implying that it is within his solitary power to do it. If that is the case, do it now. If not, if he needs an act of Congress to fully shut it down, well then, yeah, all we can do is chip away at it. Because we all know Republicans love their concentration camps and torture.

While More Men Are Wanting Babies/More Women Are Considering The Child-Free Option

While More Men Are Wanting Babies/More Women Are Considering The Child-Free Option

7 Comments
I find stuff like this fascinating.
In a nationally representative survey of single, childless people in 2011, more men than women said they wanted kids. (On the other hand, more women reported seeking independence in their relationships, personal space, interests, and hobbies.) A different poll from 2013 echoed those findings, with more than 80 percent of men saying they’d always wanted to be a father or at least thought they would be someday. Just 70 percent of women felt the same.
It really hasn't been that long since women actually had control in having children. My grandparents had a lot of children. Without effective birth control (along with societal and religious expectations) people of that generation had a lot of kids. The Pill came onto the scene in my mother's generation - and there was much rejoicing! - however, the idea that people get married and have kids was still the only plan on the table. And while I'll admit the "get married and have kids" plan still strongly exists (ask any couple who's decided not to have kids how often they're asked when they'll have kids, or told they'll eventually change their minds if you don't believe me.) this survey shows an interesting trend. And the reasons women cite for not wanting children (seeking independence in their relationships, personal space, interests, and hobbies) seem to really come down to this.....
Thursday Open Thread [3.19.15]

Thursday Open Thread [3.19.15]

12 Comments
This is freaking excellent: FEMA will no longer give any disaster aid to states that do not plan for climate change. Florida is likely the state that suffers the most, as their Skeletor of a Governor had declared that no state employee can even mention the term 'climate change' without being burned at the stake. So when a Cat 5 levels Miami this September, Florida is shit out of luck. And all those tornado alley states are fucked too. Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, all deny climate change. Good luck rebuilding. I love blackmail.
Wednesday Open Thread [3.18.15]

Wednesday Open Thread [3.18.15]

6 Comments
Josh Marshall: “The relationship between the Clintons and the press and the political class generally is codependent, toxic and frankly ridiculous on both sides – with extreme self-protection and legalism on one hand [The Clinton's] and hyperbole, nonsense and wolf-crying penalties on the other [the press and pundits]. Like any perennial and bad relationship it is exhausting to watch and generally impossible to pick apart where one part ends and other starts. Which is a reaction to the other, which is first? I have no idea anymore. It hardly matters.” The public doesn't care. Despite the controversy over her use of private email while Secretary of State, a new CNN/ORC poll finds 57% of Americans say Hillary Clinton is someone they’d be proud to have as their president.
Forced Birth Improves The Economy? Armed “young, hot little girls on campus” Will Stop Rape?

Forced Birth Improves The Economy? Armed “young, hot little girls on campus” Will Stop Rape?

15 Comments
There's just so much of this nonsense. As a woman, who's also raising a teen daughter, it's overwhelming and frightening. It's also disheartening when issues that directly impact over 50% of the country are dismissed as single-issue votes. Women do not view abortion or contraception as a "pet" issue. These issues directly affect our economy. Having a child is one of the biggest economic decisions for both men and women. If only we treated these issues with the same freak out we display when it came to a gas tax and tax cuts - and, make no mistake, abortion and contraception are a way bigger deal than things like the gas tax and tax cuts. Mainly because cutting/raising taxes won't make a damn bit of difference to a woman's (who's forced to give birth) economy. And yeah, I'm going to keep writing about women's issues, mainly because it's really all the GOP talks about. They link controlling women to every flippin' bill they pen. It's almost impossible to discuss anything the GOP puts forth without discussing women - and religion and gay people. All Republican roads lead to controlling sex.
Sheriff Lee Gets Constable Powers Because He is not an Insufferable Asshole

Sheriff Lee Gets Constable Powers Because He is not an Insufferable Asshole

8 Comments
It turns out that former Sheriff Jeff Christopher lied repeatedly when he said he and his office were "relieved of arrest powers." Why is this a lie? Well because the Sheriff's office had the power to arrest before as part of their constable powers. But the Sheriff have to reapply for that power over a period of time to the State Board of Examiners of Constables. Jeff Christopher refused to reapply for constable powers for his office in January 2011, and then went on a tea party tirade. The new Sheriff Lee got back those constable powers simply by reapplying for them.
Tuesday Open Thread [3.17.15]

Tuesday Open Thread [3.17.15]

10 Comments
Now that the General Aseembly is back in full swing, so is our political calendar. Come inside to learn about some important upcoming events. First Read: “It’s unclear the exact impact that Netanyahu losing on Tuesday could have on U.S. domestic politics, especially when it comes to the Iran nuclear debate. But it wouldn’t be good news for hawks. Think about it: Netanyahu comes to the U.S. Congress to make his final argument — on Iran, against President Obama’s foreign policy — and his party loses what had seemed to be a winnable election? Right or wrong, Netanyahu getting involved in domestic U.S. politics would be blamed for the surprising loss. So [today] is going to be a big story.” Meanwhile, Nancy LeTourneau of the Washington Monthly documents the numerous incidents of Republican failure to govern, noting that the Republican Party is in total disarray. And Fred Kaplan says "It is a useful thing when a political party reveals itself as utterly unsuited for national leadership."
Denn/Johnson/Henry bill would change what’s considered a violent felony

Denn/Johnson/Henry bill would change what’s considered a violent felony

3 Comments
Unwinding our idiotic, wasteful and (lets face it) racist "war on drugs" is going to take time. This isn't perfect, but it is a step in the right direction.
A bill that would soften the state's treatment of drug possession felonies and harden its stance on certain violent crimes will be introduced in the Delaware Legislature this week. Attorney General Matt Denn and a group of lawmakers unveiled Monday a bill that, if passed, would mark the first time specific crimes were taken off the state's 19-year-old list of violent felonies. Attorney General Matt Denn and a group of lawmakers unveiled Monday a bill that, if passed, would mark the first time specific crimes were taken off the state’s 19-year-old list of violent felonies. "We want to make sure the penalties are appropriate for the crimes," Denn said. "In seeking justice, we have an obligation to reduce statutory (sentences) when they do not fit the crime."
While the bill removes drug possession from the violent crime list, it adds certain crimes against children and police officers. These add on's feel like sops to conservatives to me. Protecting children is laudable, but with the way cops have been escalating their violence against citizens that they don't happen to like, I'm not crazy about that one. And yet, as Prince Otto said, politics is the art of the possible.
Not Satire.

Not Satire.

9 Comments
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that former Republican nominee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will be getting in the boxing ring and fighting Evander Holyfield in May as part of a charity fundraiser. I'm not making this up.