Why the big fight over the filibuster in the Senate?

A good explainer by the Christian Science Monitor can answer your questions here.

Racism in Italian Politics

The Italian people recently elected, for the first time, a minister to Italy's Parliament whose parents were immigrants from Africa.  Cecilia Kyenge, however has been subject to a lot of verbal abuse, exposing racist attitudes in Italy.

Today comes news that a high ranking member of Italy's Northern League party, compared her appearance to that of an "orangutan".

Full story from the BBC here.

More Surveillance Decisions Being Conducted Without Public's Knowledge

Yet another report surfaced in the media today spelling out the extent to which the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Court, at the request of the National Security Agency, has expanded the reasons the government may use to access private communications without a search warrant. 

I wonder why there isn't more outrage at, what seems to me, our government running afoul of the Fourth Amendment's provision requiring a warrant for government searches and seizures in to our persons, papers, homes, and effects.

The story was posted by the New York Times and can be read here.