Mitch McConnell – Incompetent conservative or working for Obama?

Mitch McConnell – Incompetent conservative or working for Obama?

9 Comments
Harry Reid could not have been more clear. If the GOP uses the filibuster to prevent the three vacancies in the DC circuit from being filled, the nuclear option would be in effect. The filibuster would go away. It was Mitch McConnell's choice. The choice he made throws the the federal judiciary (currently evenly balanced, with 390 GOP-appointed judges and391 Democratic-appointed ones) to the Democrats. President Obama now has 90 federal court vacancies to fill with simple majority votes. I'll let Kos take it from here: [...]
50 Years

50 Years

In case you live under a rock and haven't heard, today marks the 50th anniversary of the murder of our President. Whether he was killed as a result of the rage of Lee Harvey Oswald or a wider conspiracy or coup d'etat, it is beyond dispute that the assassination of the President was a singular turning point moment in American history. If John F. Kennedy had lived, the world today might be unrecognizable to us. Think of a world without the Kennedy Assassination, the Assassinations of MLK and RFK, Vietnam and Watergate. This cascade of events began with that murder 50 years ago today. And all of those events combined to radically change America. Here are some of my favorite JFK speeches.
You Be The Judge In A Mental Health Court

You Be The Judge In A Mental Health Court

15 Comments
"A person may be dangerous to self and others when he or she have recently threatened or attempted suicide or some serious bodily injury. He or she may have demonstrated danger of substantial and imminent harm to himself and/ or others through some recent act, attempt or threat of the same." Now, I'd welcome your interpretation of this legal definition of a mentally ill person's status in a court in a crisis center or public psychiatric hospital whose family members or colleagues trying to get an involuntary assessment of their mental health/competence to make their own decisions.  Pay particular attention to the words "dangerous", "threatened", "recently", "substantial", "imminent" or "harm". What conduct, voiced statements or behaviors would lead you to your decision to either release the person to society or have them confined temporarily for psychiatric assessment and further action?
About effing time – Reid to change Senate filibuster rules

About effing time – Reid to change Senate filibuster rules

46 Comments
Republicans have pushed hard enough to finally trigger the "nuclear option" filibuster rules change with regard to appointees. Senate Republicans say that they will use this action as a pretext to disallow ANY filibusters when they are in the majority - even for Supreme Court nominees. 1) No shit Sherlock. We all know you will not allow Democratic filibusters if a simple rules change could end them. 2) Democrats have to hold the Presidency and the US Senate now forever or we'll be looking at justice Sarah Palin. [...]

Oklahoma claims the most anti-gay state title

6 Comments
In a bid to one up Texas and claim the title of "most anti-gay state" outright, marriage benefits have been canceled for all Oklahoma National Guard personnel in an effort to stop same sex couple from getting spousal benefits. Texas is scrambling for a reply and is determined to retake the crown. People close to the governor's office say that there are plans being drafted to shut off electricity in the state because some of it might be going to gays. [...]
Wednesday Open Thread [11.20.13]

Wednesday Open Thread [11.20.13]

15 Comments
The U.S. Census Bureau has released a slew of data on state-to-state migration showing that Americans have become significantly less mobile than they used to be, with just 11.7 percent moving in the last year, near historic lows. But, among that nearly 12% of Americans, the interactive chart shows where they are going. Delawareans are moving to Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvanians are moving to Delaware. Delaware gained 34,757 people through migration, and lost 25,149, making it a gainer state.
The 62 Project: #’s 24 & 38

The 62 Project: #’s 24 & 38

37 Comments
Kim Williams is among three newcomers who have displayed extraordinary promise during the 2013 legislative session. Consider the number 24 as merely a placeholder as it reflects her lack of time in Dover. She's moving higher. Not only does she have the right profile for a citizen-legislator, she has demonstrated that conscience and effectiveness are not mutually exclusive. Trey Paradee has been the single greatest disappointment to progressives among the 2012 newcomers. Despite expressing support for equal rights for same sex couples back in 2008, Paradee voted against marriage equality. He largely opposed most gun control measures. He has helped to bury a minimum wage increase in the House Business Lapdog Committee. Now, while he technically did not 'go back on his word' on gay marriage (the initial comments dealing with civil unions), he diligently 'worked the refs' to create at least a sense of good will from progressives, including me. He convinced me that this district was not the stereotypical Kent County district of 20 years ago, and then voted as if it was. Fool me once...
La France a le meilleur healthcare dans le monde – What is the US best at?

La France a le meilleur healthcare dans le monde – What is the US best at?

12 Comments
One of the many wrong facts that keep being repeated by Republicans is that the US health care system is the "best in the world." John Boehner just said that "“This (the ACA) is going to destroy the best health care delivery system in the world,” That is some typical fantastical thinking that is hardly worth taking the time to debunk. (It is nice to see that DL readers don't suffer from such delusions). Anyway, it turns out that France has the best healthcare system in the world. It was a conscious choice. And, surprisingly, it isn't single payer. So, France has the #1 spot in heathcare locked up. What is America #1 in? [...]