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14 Dec 2009 20:26

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U.S.: Health care: Joe Lieberman ensures there will be no joy in mudville

  • He’s stalling the Medicare compromise. So it goes away, too. Thanks to Joe Lieberman, the health care bill’s great compromise – which would’ve dropped the minimum age for Medicare to 55 – is now dead in the water. With the nonprofit option still on the table, all hope isn’t lost for improving health care. But it’s not going to be public in any way, shape or form. Thanks, Joe. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2009 11:14

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U.S.: The Supreme Court skips out on defining Gitmo prisoner rights

Four Guantanamo prisoners (including these two) sued over torture allegations. An appeals court dismissed their case; now the Supreme Court does the same. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2009 10:36

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U.S.: Cyber-bullying constitutional, which means we can make fun of you

  • People don’t appreciate how much the First Amendment protects not only political and ideological speech, but also personal nastiness and chatter. … If all cruel teasing led to suicide, the human race would be extinct.
  • UCLA law professor and First Amendment scholar Eugene Volokh • On his criticism of cyber-bullying laws. It was an issue that reared its ugly head in a court case involving a YouTube video that made fun of a middle-school aged girl. The court ruled in favor of the girl that posted it, saying that the school violated her First Amendment rights by suspending her. We totally support the First Amendment, Eugene, but you’ve apparently never dealt with 14-year-old girls. Just sayin’ dude. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Dec 2009 22:04

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U.S.: Alan Greenspan says the Federal Reserve can’t stop unemployment

  • Bro says we’re too close to the edge of inflation. Alan Greenspan, oh, how could we live without your insight? The former Federal Reserve chairman told “Meet the Press” that we’re on the edge of what the organization can do to curb unemployment. “You cannot ask a central bank to do more than it is capable of without very dire consequences,” he continued. We imagine he also said, off-camera, “I was way better at this job than that Bernanke #(&hole,” but we don’t have proof of this. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Dec 2009 21:45

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U.S.: Republicans ticked about Dems’ spending bill; Dems pass it anyway

  • It is business as usual, spending money like a drunken sailor, and the bar is still open.
  • Sen. John McCain • On the latest spending bill passed tonight. The Senate pushed it through with little Republican support and lots of Republican whining. The $447 billion omnibus spending bill, with lots of Democratic earmarks, hits Obama’s desk next, but not without lots of political ammo for the GOP to bring into the 2010 election season. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Dec 2009 11:02

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U.S.: Houston mayor-elect Annise Parker carries the gay-rights torch, too

  • Houston is a multiracial, multicultural, international city. And I think my election will send a message to the world that Houston is a city that might surprise a lot of folks.
  • Houston mayor-elect Annise Parker • Discussing her sexual orientation (she’s gay), along with the possibility of being the new mayor of Houston, prior to a runoff election that she won. This is a big deal for a number of reasons. First off, Houston is the fourth-largest city in the country, which means that it’s the largest city in the country to elect a gay mayor. Secondly, it was in a city which just a few years ago barred benefits for partners of same-sex workers. Finally, Texas is a really conservative state. So her election is a huge win for the gay rights movement. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 Dec 2009 09:23

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U.S., World: Another tension point: The U.S. froze a lot of Iran’s money

  • $2 billion in funds has been held up since June 2008 source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

11 Dec 2009 15:06

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U.S.: In California, a bunch of immigrants arrested for criminal records

  • 286 immigrants with criminal records were rounded up today in California
  • 80% of those arrested had prior convictions for serious or violent crimes
  • 30 were convicted sex offenders, some with crimes against children source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Dec 2009 14:51

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Biz, U.S.: About time: The House passes a financial regulation bill

  • The Senate doesn’t have a comparable one ready yet. Today, the House took the initiative to more strictly regulate the failings of the financial industry – big bonuses, “too big to fail” corporations – at a 223-202 clip. Republicans largely didn’t go for the bill because they feared it would limit credit, force job losses and lead to future bailouts. They also argued that “too big to fail” companies didn’t need hand-holding and could handle bankruptcies, which sounds less like something they believe and more like something they can use against the Democrats. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Dec 2009 10:10

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U.S.: Mark Sanford’s wife, Jenny from the block, files for divorce

  • This came after many unsuccessful efforts at reconciliation, yet I am still dedicated to keeping the process that lies ahead peaceful for our family.
  • A statement from Jenny Sanford • On her decision to file from divorce from her husband, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. The decision comes six months after the governor admitted to an affair with his Argentinian mistress. Since then, the governor – a former presidential hopeful – has been in a world of hurt. Was it worth it, Mark? Really, was it? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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