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17 May 2010 22:32

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Politics: Israel treats political scholar Noam Chomsky like a new iPad

  • The funny part is that he totally seems good natured about the whole thing. Chomsky, a lefty through and through who’s also Jewish, was blocked from entering the country with his daughter. He was supposed to give a speech at Bir Zeit University in the occupied West Bank. This guy has a lot of controversial opinions, sure, but we’re guessing Israel’s miffed that he’s not going to speak at one of their universities. source

16 May 2010 12:11

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Politics: Sarah Palin assumes everyone agrees with Arizona’s immigration law

  • It’s time for Americans across this great country to stand up and say ‘We’re all Arizonans now and, in clear unity, we say Mr. President, do your job, secure our border.’
  • Sarah Palin • In a speech stumping with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer designed to defend the state’s anti-illegal-immigration law. OK, let’s analyze this statement and how dumbheaded it is. The phrase “we’re all Arizonans now” suggests that nearly everyone agrees with this law. While many people favor it, there are lots of people that don’t, including many in the Latino community. Yet, she’s treating a law many are criticizing for reasons of racial profiling as if it’s a major populist statement. Populism doesn’t work with laws that divide the country, Sarah. Try this with abortion or gay rights and you’ll see what we’re getting at. source

16 May 2010 11:33

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Politics: Sen. Jim DeMint is ruining the GOP’s well-established plans

  • The South Carolina senator, who on the ideological scale is far right to counterpart Lindsey Graham’s moderate conservative, has been sticking his nose in congressional and senate races across the country, pushing the GOP to the right and causing headaches for folks like Mitch McConnell, whose own candidate in Kentucky has been undermined by DeMint’s support of shorts-wearing bizarro hippie favorite Rand Paul. (Photo by Gage Skidmore) source

16 May 2010 11:20

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Politics: What the GOP wants from Elena Kagan: A tight interpretation

  • I think we’ll be looking at her testimony because she has so little other record, it’s going to be a big deal. It’s so important how she testifies.
  • Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions • Discussing why Elena Kagan’s upcoming testimony will be key in building a lot of opinions of her. Regarding what he’s looking for, he says Republicans would like to know “whether her philosophy of law is so broad in her interpretation of the Constitution that you are not faithful to the Constitution and laws.” This isn’t something to be taken lightly. The last nominee who didn’t have judicial experience, Bush-selected Harriet Meiers, was withdrawn due in part to lack of experience. Kagan has a better record than Meiers did, but the lack of judicial experience could be a deal-breaker for some if she doesn’t answer questions to their liking. source

15 May 2010 23:27

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Politics: Bill Maher makes an astute point about Obama and Apple

  • Barack Obama got all fuddie duddie, and Bill Maher put it into perspective. Simply put, Obama’s point from last week’s Hampton University commencement undercuts his status as the “cool” president, and Apple would probably run the country more efficiently than our current leadership (see the clogged drain that is the Senate). Great clip. source

15 May 2010 20:25

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Biz, U.S.: The Senate’s financial reform bill trying to limit nickel-and-diming

  • 50¢ limits to ATM fees could be coming, too, guys source

13 May 2010 10:12

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Politics: Eric Cantor’s YouCut program: If nothing else, innovative

  • It feels like a Republican take on an Obama campaign tactic. The House Minority Whip has made the YouCut program a participatory way of getting involved in an activity everyone loves: Cutting wasteful spending in the federal government. Concerned citizens vote by text message, and the winner gets put up for a vote in the House. The top line item? Cutting the Presidential Election Fund, which John McCain took advantage of in 2008 but Obama didn’t. source
 

11 May 2010 10:11

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Politics: Some on the left are all grumbley about Elena Kagan

  • Why do the conservatives always get the conservatives, but we don’t get to get the liberals? What the hell is that all about?
  • Sen. Tom Harkin • Speaking before Kagan’s nomination, when it merely seemed likely she’d get the nod. Harkin isn’t alone on this stance. Many on the left were hoping that someone as liberal as Thurgood Marshall would get nominated. He’s the last outspoken liberal the court has had, and he was nominated in 1967. Instead, they’re all like, she’s not as liberal as Antonin Scalia is conservative! Gah! *GRUMBLE!* source

11 May 2010 09:58

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Politics: Old Elena Kagan: Supreme Court confirmations need to be tougher

  • 1995 Kagan wrote a paper while at the University of Chicago suggesting that Supreme Court nominees rarely got asked tough questions.
  • 2009 Kagan, a year before her own nomination, backed off her own tough stances. Who wants to bet they’ll come up? source

10 May 2010 12:15

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