Since I don't anticipate being able to blog tomorrow (regularly scheduled WTF Friday), I'm officially declaring this WTF Thursday.
John McCain (you remember him, right? the let's-work-together, I-love-the-military, Mr. Bipartisanship of 2008?) is saying that he will "without a doubt" support a filibuster blocking the entire defense budget to stop the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. What is this man's problem?
He is also apparently asking the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines to oppose the bill, even though Obama and the Defense Secretary support it.
This is Right-Wing Hatred and Obstructionism at its worst. Honestly, holding up the bill that funds protective gear for our men and women in combat, security at our airports, and oh yeah, those borders that the right is up in arms about, just in order to keep LGBT folks in the closet a little longer.
Gross.
Thanks to the Courage Campaign for this breaking story.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Vote Possible
Big news on the Don't Ask Don't Tell front: Congress could vote to repeal it TODAY! NPR reported this morning that there should be no trouble in the House, the Senate will be tougher, but sponsors are confident that the repeal will pass.
In a compromise with military leaders, the bill says that the military can take as long as it wants to implement the repeal, but even so, a vote today rather than in December (when some want to push this off till) is big news.
If you've got an extra 30 seconds today (come on, who doesn't?) call your Senators. You can reach anyone in Congress by calling the capital switchboard at (202)224-3121 and asking for them by name.
More updates later if and when the vote happens.
In a compromise with military leaders, the bill says that the military can take as long as it wants to implement the repeal, but even so, a vote today rather than in December (when some want to push this off till) is big news.
If you've got an extra 30 seconds today (come on, who doesn't?) call your Senators. You can reach anyone in Congress by calling the capital switchboard at (202)224-3121 and asking for them by name.
More updates later if and when the vote happens.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Primaries 2010: Progressives Win Big Edition
There's so much talk flying around about last night's primaries that I would be remiss if I didn't add my $0.02.
The main theme of the headlines is "Establishment loses big," "Dem and GOP Incumbents Go Down." This is true, but I agree with what Cenk Uygur (commentator on The Young Turks, a spectacular progressive internet talk show) says: the establishment lost, but Progressives won. Who cares about losses by "Establishment" Democratic candidates who are so far from progressive, it's hard to even claim them as Dems? Their losses are a win for the party. It seems to me that Democrats are working to use their voice as a party and are willing to fire candidates who aren't representing the party's values and goals, and from where I'm standing, that's a very good sign.
On to the results roundup:
Pretend-Democrat Arlen Specter is out in Pennsylvania, replaced by Joe Sestak. Anti-Progressive "Democrat" Blanche Lincoln faces a runoff in Arkansas, and the AFL-CIO, for one, says the runoff will not be a problem for challenger Bill Halter. Back to Pennsylvania, where Democrats will hold on to the late Representative John Murtha's seat, won by Mark Critz in a special election last night.
Not quite the "Republican Sweep" that the GOP had talked up, eh? Well, a sweep maybe, but not in the direction they had hoped.
And finally, in a follow-up to the NC primaries and now runoff, third-place candidate Ken Lewis is endorsing Elaine Marshall. This is great for the Marshall campaign, as Lewis brings a nice chunk of votes from the Triangle area. The main focus of the Marshall campaign should now, I think, be getting out the vote on June 22 so that we can defeat Burr soundly.
And by the way, my favorite place to track polling, primary results, and general elections-specific news is the Swing State Project. Check out their post about yesterday's primaries for more detailed results and analysis, but if you're not into that sort of thing, no worries. You can always check back here for more quick and dirty distilled politics.
The main theme of the headlines is "Establishment loses big," "Dem and GOP Incumbents Go Down." This is true, but I agree with what Cenk Uygur (commentator on The Young Turks, a spectacular progressive internet talk show) says: the establishment lost, but Progressives won. Who cares about losses by "Establishment" Democratic candidates who are so far from progressive, it's hard to even claim them as Dems? Their losses are a win for the party. It seems to me that Democrats are working to use their voice as a party and are willing to fire candidates who aren't representing the party's values and goals, and from where I'm standing, that's a very good sign.
On to the results roundup:
Pretend-Democrat Arlen Specter is out in Pennsylvania, replaced by Joe Sestak. Anti-Progressive "Democrat" Blanche Lincoln faces a runoff in Arkansas, and the AFL-CIO, for one, says the runoff will not be a problem for challenger Bill Halter. Back to Pennsylvania, where Democrats will hold on to the late Representative John Murtha's seat, won by Mark Critz in a special election last night.
Not quite the "Republican Sweep" that the GOP had talked up, eh? Well, a sweep maybe, but not in the direction they had hoped.
And finally, in a follow-up to the NC primaries and now runoff, third-place candidate Ken Lewis is endorsing Elaine Marshall. This is great for the Marshall campaign, as Lewis brings a nice chunk of votes from the Triangle area. The main focus of the Marshall campaign should now, I think, be getting out the vote on June 22 so that we can defeat Burr soundly.
And by the way, my favorite place to track polling, primary results, and general elections-specific news is the Swing State Project. Check out their post about yesterday's primaries for more detailed results and analysis, but if you're not into that sort of thing, no worries. You can always check back here for more quick and dirty distilled politics.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Misery & Co.
Apparently we live in a world in which the Huffington Post has its very own Real Misery Index. It measures Americans' relative economic woe at any given point in time using unemployment numbers, housing prices, inflation rates for essentials, credit card lateness stats, and some other stuff.
The latest from the Index shows that economic misery is still increasing, mostly due to unemployment and UNDERemployment (people being forced by job scarcity to work fewer hours than they need to or at a lower salary level than they are qualified for). However, the stock market is steadily climbing its way up, leading most media sources to report a slow-but-sure end to the recession. What these numbers suggest, however, is the end of the recession for some in certain sectors while others stay miserable, poor, and jobless. HuffPo calls this effect a "two-tier economy" which is decidedly NOT a good thing.
This handy graphic illustrates the situation. The red line is the Dow Jones Industrial Average, climbing, climbing up. A good thing, if you're an investor or a CEO. The blue line is the Real Misery Index, also climbing, climbing (except last December, when we got a bit of a break). A bad thing, if you're most of America. (The Real Misery Index is better, ie less miserable, when lower.)
As the NC legislature comes back into session, I can only hope that they (and lawmakers around the country) do not abandon job-creation and stabilization efforts just because some measures of economic well-being are up. A job seeker myself, I can speak to the lack of well-paying jobs in the metro area of the Triangle. I can only imagine what rural NC is like for un- and underemployed folks right now. We've got to keep the pressure on for reform and support for everyone, not just the top tier.
The latest from the Index shows that economic misery is still increasing, mostly due to unemployment and UNDERemployment (people being forced by job scarcity to work fewer hours than they need to or at a lower salary level than they are qualified for). However, the stock market is steadily climbing its way up, leading most media sources to report a slow-but-sure end to the recession. What these numbers suggest, however, is the end of the recession for some in certain sectors while others stay miserable, poor, and jobless. HuffPo calls this effect a "two-tier economy" which is decidedly NOT a good thing.
This handy graphic illustrates the situation. The red line is the Dow Jones Industrial Average, climbing, climbing up. A good thing, if you're an investor or a CEO. The blue line is the Real Misery Index, also climbing, climbing (except last December, when we got a bit of a break). A bad thing, if you're most of America. (The Real Misery Index is better, ie less miserable, when lower.)
As the NC legislature comes back into session, I can only hope that they (and lawmakers around the country) do not abandon job-creation and stabilization efforts just because some measures of economic well-being are up. A job seeker myself, I can speak to the lack of well-paying jobs in the metro area of the Triangle. I can only imagine what rural NC is like for un- and underemployed folks right now. We've got to keep the pressure on for reform and support for everyone, not just the top tier.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Boycott Arizona Businesses: the promised list
As promised, here is a list of AZ-based businesses that you can boycott in protest of AB1070, the immigration law. I love that the Grand Canyon is listed as its own business. I hate that I have patronized at least 3 of these in the past month.
I think that to have even more of an impact, I am going to let the businesses I boycott know that I'm boycotting, and why. When I don't go to Petsmart for my next bag of puppy food, I won't just be taking about $15 out of their profits (which is easy to miss), I'll be sending them a letter and/or email that tells why and promises to return my business once the company speaks out publicly against the law. Hopefully this will be harder to overlook, especially if more people than me do it.
Thanks to Denver-based Padres Unidos, Jovenes Unidos for the list!
I think that to have even more of an impact, I am going to let the businesses I boycott know that I'm boycotting, and why. When I don't go to Petsmart for my next bag of puppy food, I won't just be taking about $15 out of their profits (which is easy to miss), I'll be sending them a letter and/or email that tells why and promises to return my business once the company speaks out publicly against the law. Hopefully this will be harder to overlook, especially if more people than me do it.
Thanks to Denver-based Padres Unidos, Jovenes Unidos for the list!
2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Apollo Group (University of Phoenix). Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona Diamondbacks, Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Best Western International, Inc., Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
Cold Stone Creamery. Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
CSK Auto (Checker Auto Parts, Schucks Auto Supply, Kragen Auto Parts, Murray's Discount Auto Stores), Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
Dial Corporation, Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
Discount Tire Company (America's Tire Company). Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
Go Daddy. Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
Grand Canyon
Mesa Air Group (Mesa Airlines, Go!, Freedom Airlines). Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
P. F. Chang's China Bistro. Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
PetSmart. Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
Sky Mall, Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
Taser International, Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona
U-Haul. Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
US Airways. Headquarters: Tempe, Arizona
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Miscellany
I haven't been able to put my thoughts on any one subject into readable form for almost a week, so I thought I would give a quick list of topics that have been on my mind and radar screen this week. What's been on yours?
- Boycotting Arizona. I like the overwhelming nationwide response to the AZ immigration law. Apparently hotels and other tourist industries are worried, and several major US cities are calling on their citizens to collectively join the boycott. Forthcoming: a list of AZ-based businesses for those of us who don't have any fancy Grand Canyon vacations to cancel.
- Drugs in pop music. The newest Ke$ha song/headache "Your Love is My Drug" is filled with not-original substance abuse references as analogies for an obsessive relationship. Again, this is not new, but this song catches my ear every time I hear it, and every time I get a little bit upset. I've always struggled with how and where to draw the line between free speech and destructive culture. I'm upset by this song in particular because I work at a rehab community of recovering substance abusers, and I think what it must be like when they inevitably hear the line "keep it up like a lovesick crackhead."
- NC Primaries. Turnout was terrible as usual, but Elaine Marshall was the front runner, if not the official "winner" of the Senate race. She will now face off against Cal Cunningham in a runoff in June. In not-so-great news, progressive, young judge Leto Copely was soundly defeated by not one, but two uber-Conservative judges.
- Job searching in a down economy. As you probably know, I am currently completing a fellowship-type position that ends June 30. Thus, I have started my job search with the goal of being unemployed for as little time as possible. What a great way to really feel the recession. There are some jobs out there, if you're a certified child care worker or a certified nurse assistant. I'm not a certified anything, but I do have a bachelor's in public policy. Also, most waitstaff/kitchen/driver/general labor positions ask for at least two years experience! This is going to be a tough one. Stay tuned for updates and insights into the world of jobseeking 2010, and if you have any leads for me, let me know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
