Karen Finney: Rejecting the false choice of either/or narratives, the idea that “we’re all in this together” and the focus on finding inclusive ways to embrace the bigger picture has been a consistent theme throughout President Obama’s life.
GOP: Boldly Offering Solutions to Our Nation’s Symptoms
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Tina Dupuy: Remember this is the party that in the wake of September 11th—an attack by citizens of Saudi Arabia, organized in Afghanistan by a leader hanging out in Lebanon—decided to invade (wait for it) Iraq.
Anti-Immigrant State Senator Recalled
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Michele Waslin: Today, many in Arizona and across the U.S. celebrate Pearce’s defeat as a victory for practical solutions over extremist rhetoric and anti-immigrant proposals.
The Myth of California’s Death Penalty
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James Clark: Out of more than 900 men and women sentenced to die in California only 13 have ever been executed. Victims’ family members are dragged through decades of appeals and hearings while they wait for an execution that rarely comes.
“Blacks as Aborigines” Gaffe Draws Ire
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Andrea Nill: Alabama state senator Scott Beason (R), who sponsored the state’s tough new immigration law, has been caught on tape referring to black customers of a casino as “aborigines.”
Tide Turning Against Authors of Harsh Immigration Measures
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Seth Hoy: The media has slowly picked up on the tepid response state legislatures have given to copycat immigration enforcement measures, noting the gradual cooling of enthusiasm and support for these highly divisive measures.
Needed: A Competency Test for Elected Officials
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David Love: Where do they find these people? I’m talking about those crazy-talking Tea Party types, ultra-conservative Republicans posing as legitimate lawmakers and politicians, some of them even passing themselves off as senators, members of Congress and governors.
We Shouldn’t Have to Pay for PG&E’s Mistakes
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Paul Hogarth: The problem is not just compensation to those whose lives were destroyed. It’s about repairing the infrastructure that PG&E neglected for decades.
Why People Hate Politics
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Gautam Dutta: Rather than engage in discussion and debate, many politicians find it easier to demonize their opponents, rather than debate the issues.
States Might Jump Off Arizona’s Immigration Bandwagon
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Seth Hoy: State legislators are citing fear of costly lawsuits and a charged political environment in which restrictive immigration legislation might not pass as factors in their decision.
Prop 25 Most Essential Part of November Ballot
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Paul Hogarth: Proposition 25 was put on by labor unions and the Democratic Party, and political consultant Roger Salazar has been retained. Liberal bloggers and other progressives are skeptical, with some going so far as to claim it doesn’t make sense to get a majority for the budget – if raising taxes we need would still require a two-thirds vote.
Despite Spending $46 Million, California Rejects PG&E
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Paul Hogarth: Outspent over 1,000-to-one by a monster utility company, consumer advocates defeated by a 52-47 margin an odious measure that would have cemented PG&E’s monopoly. To call this a David & Goliath victory does not give it justice.
Arizona Anti-Immigrationn Senator Going After ‘Anchor Babies’ Next
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Andrea Nill: Pierce isn’t the first lawmaker to go after the children of immigrants. Since taking office, Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA) has tried and failed to pass seven pieces of legislation that would either repeal or reinterpret the 14th Amendment’s definition of citizenship. Most recently, Bilbray took his anti-14th Amendment crusade to the state-level, backing the Taxpayer Revolution’s “Anchor Baby” reform initiative which sought to limit the rights and benefits of the U.S. citizen children of undocumented immigrants by redefining the 14th Amendment’s jurisdiction.
On SB 1070, Arizona Governor Says She Will Do The ‘Right Thing So That Everyone Is Treated Fairly’
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Andrea Christina Nill: Since the Arizona legislature passed the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” a bill which will probably end up establishing the harshest set of state immigration laws in the country, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s phone has been reportedly ringing off the hook with residents encouraging her to either sign or veto Senate Bill 1070. Though Brewer has refused to comment on which action she plans on taking, she did assure attendees of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Black and White Ball this Saturday that she will do what is fair.
California Fair Elections Kickoff
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Wendy Block: It’s impossible to eliminate money from politics, and there’s no reason to. But release candidates from huge campaign contributors and the special favors that follow victory, and you’ll see miracles after every election.
What Should Really Matter in the Maldonado Confirmation
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Republican Senator Abel Maldonado is an Olympia Snowe character. He is a so-called “moderate” who is willing to cut a deal on the budget, while the rest of his party would rather see the state fall off a cliff than raise any taxes whatsoever. But the deals that Maldonado has extorted in past years for his one vote are enough to leave a sour taste in anyone’s mouth.
Low Voter Turnout: Are We Downsizing Democracy?
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The voter turnout numbers are an embarrassment. Throughout the country in nonpresidential elections, less than 30 percent of voters turn out for elections. In presidential campaigns, billions are spent and the media does focus on the national race, horserace style, which isn’t something to cheer about either. In nonpresidential elections, we are facing a political [...]
Rep. Steve King Defends Joe Wilson And The Confederate Flag
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Rep. Steve King (R-IA) isn’t just defending Rep. Joe Wilson’s (R-SC) “you lie” outburst, he’s also standing behind Wilson’s decision to vote in favor of keeping the Confederate flag waving above South Carolina’s state Capitol.
LA County Board of Supervisors Race: A Choice of Substance Over Symbolism (& Trickaration)
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For the first time in 16 years (and only the second time in 40 years), the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Seat in the Second District has a vacancy. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors is one of the three most powerful seats in America, serving as both executive and legislative with no “check [...]
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