News of Interest from Dec 24

Some news stories that caught my attention:

Justice Dept. Cites Race in Halting Law Over Voter ID

By CHARLIE SAVAGE

The department said a new South Carolina law that would require voters to present photo identification would disproportionately suppress turnout among eligible minority voters.

Obama Challenges Provisions in Budget Bill

By CHARLIE SAVAGE

When President Obama signed a budget bill on Friday, he issued a signing statement claiming a right to bypass dozens of provisions that placed requirements or restrictions on the executive branch, saying he had “well-founded constitutional objections” to the new statutes.

The Death of a Tyrant - Kim Jung-il

Only the second leader of communist North Korea, Kim Jung-il died yesterday at age 69.  Most believe he will be succeeded by his son, Kim Jung-un.  The first leader of communist North Korea was Kim Jung-il's father.

University of Arizona to Open Civility Institute - NYTimes.com

University of Arizona to Open Civility Institute - NYTimes.com

http://nicd.arizona.edu/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june11/publicmedia_01-13.html?print=

Notice here, one simple example.  Republican Senator Lindsay Graham refers to Obama's new regulatory agency as "something out of the Stalin era":

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Michael Jackson's doctor sentenced

From NBC news:

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He was convicted of manslaughter defined as: the unlawful killing of a human being without malice.

Was justice done in this case?

WA Legislature Special Session Begins With Turmoil

Monday, the State Legislature was back for a "special session" that was called by Governor Christine Gregoire to deal with the $2 billion dollar budget shortfall.

That is $2 billion more than they expected when they passed the budget in the spring, which already made deep cuts in state government programs such as K-12 education, state universities, and health care services for the state's poorest residents.

So, lots of people showed up to protest the state making any more cuts.  Here was the scene at the State Capitol on Monday:


Last week, Governor Gregoire gave a forceful, and passionate speech urging the legislature to increase the state sales tax by 1/2 cent to cover some of the shortfall.  The legislature can't do that with a simple majority however, so Gregoire has asked them to put it on the ballot as a referendum to be voted on by the people of WA in March.




I'm with the Gregoire on this one, except in my perfect world, the solution would be to institute a state income tax, which would fall most heavily on those able to pay.  A sales tax hurts the poor, unemployed, and lower middle classes much more.

What do you think the government should do?  Do you think the legislature will raise taxes, or make deeper cuts? 

No Deal from the Super Committee

Thanks for nothing Congress.  Of course this isn't over because new legislation can replace the legislation calling for the automatic spending cuts triggered by the committee's failure.  The cuts don't begin to take effect until 2013, and cooperation may be easier after the election.

From the USA Today:  Panel's inability to cut debt deal reflects divide

From the NBC Nightly News:

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Super Committee Standoff?

Prospects look dim for a budget deal to be reached by the November 23rd deadline:

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UC Davis - Police Use Pepper Spray on Passive, Non-Violent student protesters

The video of seemingly indefensible police action:





The police claim they were surrounded and the protesters would not move.  From the CBS news article:

"according to Annette Spicuzza, UC Davis police chief...police used the pepper spray after they were surrounded. Protesters were warned repeatedly beforehand that force would be used if they didn't move, she said.

Meanwhile in Seattle, as a part of the Occupy Seattle protests:

An 84-year-old woman who was pepper sprayed this week at an Occupy Seattle protest said the national attention she received can help the movement's cause. 

This info is taken from an article from CBS news you can connect to here.

Supreme Court to Hear Legal Challenge to Health Care Law

Note:  I will try to get a brief summary of the law and the controversy surrounding it posted here soon.

The signing of the law was a high moment for the Obama Administration, which promised to solve many of the problems plaguing the American health care system, including estimates that 47 million Americans don't have health care insurance.

However, many conservatives, especially "Tea Party" activists thought the law went too far and challenged the constitutionality of it in court.  Those challenges have quickly worked their way through the system and Monday, the Supreme Court, announced its decision to hear the case in March of 2012.

The NBC Evening News report:

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You can also read more detailed coverage from the New York Times:

Justices to Hear Health Care Case as Race Heats Up

Supreme Court Hears Arguments in GPS Tracking Case

One of the more controversial cases of the Supreme Court term was heard this past week.

Below NBC has a short report on the case, and the oral arguments made before the Court.

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Two more detailed sources on the case:

From the NY Times:

Court Casts a Wary Eye on Tracking by GPS

In an argument studded with references to George Orwell’s “1984” and the possibility that rapid advances in technology would soon allow the government to monitor everyone’s movements, the Supreme Court on Tuesday struggled to articulate how the Fourth Amendment’s ban on unreasonable searches and seizures should apply to the tracking of cars using GPS devices. The fit between 18th-century principles and 21st-century surveillance seemed to leave several justices frustrated.

From the NewsHour on PBS:

Americans Coming Home from Iraq - What will be the legacy?

This question is posed by the following report from NBC news:

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Gadhafi Killed in Libya - War is Over

Now the nation of Libya must work to unify under new leadership, after the end of 42 years of authoritarian rule by Gadhafi. A look back at his reign by PBS:

Watch Looking Back at Gadhafi's Brutal, Sometimes Bizarre 42-Year Reign on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

E-Verify bill opens new front in debateTimes Newspaper

Good idea or a way to hassle immigrants?

Opinions vary on this law enacted by Congress, but the Governor of Washington thinks proposed changes would hurt the farming business in our state.

E-Verify bill opens new front in debate over immigration | Seattle Times Newspaper

Costco's $22 million sets record for initiative spending

What does it say that Costco is willing to spend this much money to pass this initiative?

Politics Northwest | Costco's $22 million sets record for initiative spending | Seattle Times Newspaper

MLK Memorial Finally Dedicated

A summary of the dedication ceremony from the NewsHour on PBS:

Watch Obama, Civil Rights Leaders Formally Dedicate MLK Memorial on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

More complete remarks from Civil Rights icon John Lewis - Freedom Rider and now Congressman from Georgia:

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Interesting Article on Romney

An interesting portrait of Mitt Romney's faith and how it has influenced his life and work. I found it to be generally positive, portraying Governor Romney as a caring and dedicated person.  From today's N.Y. Times:

The Long Run: For Romney, a Role of Faith and Authority

From 1981 through 1994, Mitt Romney operated as clergyman, organization man
and defender of the Mormon faith.

Another attempt to change WA's liquor laws

From the Seattle Times:

Liquor distributors feeling bottled up by I-1183 | Seattle Times Newspaper

Global protests

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, people all over the world are demanding more from their governments. A look at some of the protests posted at the end of September in a great blog called "The Big Picture Blog" of Boston.com.

Global protests:

There are many forms of protest, many ways to express an objection to particular events, situations, policies, and even people. Protests can also take many forms - from individual statements to mass demonstrations - both peaceful and violent. In the last 30 days, there have been numerous protests across the globe in many countries. The following post is a collection of only some of those protests, but the images convey a gamut of emotions as citizens stand up for their political, economic, religious and lifestyle rights. -- Paula Nelson (51 photos total)

As protesters sleep in Zuccotti Park, N.Y. police officers receive instructions. A group of activists calling themselves Occupy Wall Street targeted the Financial District for more than a week of demonstrations in late September. The group said they sought to bring attention to corporate malfeasance, social inequality, and the yawning gap in income between America's rich and poor. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

Local Freedom of Religion Issue

20 year-old shuttle driver, Zainab Aweis, suspended by Hertz for praying while on the clock.

The story from the Seattle Times: Hertz suspends praying Muslim shuttle drivers

Was the Killing of al-Alawaki Legal?

He was a U.S. citizen living in Yemen, who called for and inspired terror attacks against the U.S.  Does that give the U.S. President the right to order the military to assassinate him?  Today, a drone attack did just that.

Some analysis and opinions:
A slide show about his life from the Washington Post
Analysis from the Washington Post

Obama Clashes with Arizona Sheriff over Immigration

A report on the President's criticism:

Federal Government's Definition of Rape Criticized

Are incidents of rape under-reported in the United States?

That is what critics some critics believe is happening because of the way the 80 year-old law defines rape.

From the NY Times: Rape Definition Too Narrow in Federal Statistics, Critics Say

A More Diverse Union

Census numbers are helping us understand the changing cultural and ethnic landscape of the United States.

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Can this government be fixed? Three steps that might help

Really good article about the political situation the United States is in, and some possible solutions. From the USA Today.

Can this government be fixed? Three steps that might help: Americans are frustrated by the disconnect between what they want from Washington and what they get. Here are three steps that might help

Republican Opposition to President's Economic Plan

From NBC Nightly News:

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More Detail from NBC's Today Show

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Obama yields on smog rule in face of GOP demands

Business groups are happy, environmentalists are angered, and Republicans fear Obama may have stolen an election campaign issue they wanted to run on. Strange things happen in the world of politics.

In a dramatic reversal, President Barack Obama on Friday scrubbed a clean-air regulation that aimed to reduce health-threatening smog, yielding to bitterly protesting businesses and congressional Republicans who complained the rule would kill jobs in America's ailing economy.

Full article from the Seattle Times/AP: Obama yields on smog rule in face of GOP demands

Really!?!

Gimme a break....


Former Vice President Cheney Defends Practice of Waterboarding: WASHINGTON - Former Vice President Dick Cheney says there's no contradiction in advocating harsh interrogation tactics against suspected U.S. enemies and opposing those practices when used against American citizens.

Cheney was asked about a hypothetical case in which Iran would decide to use waterboarding on an American suspected of spying.

Cheney replies, "I think we would object on the grounds that we have obligations to our citizens."

Cheney, who is promoting his new memoir "In My Time," has been associated with waterboarding, considered by many to be torture. Asked on NBC's "Today" show if he was embracing a double-standard, he said, "These are not American citizens."

In the interview that aired Tuesday morning, Cheney also conceded he'd been a lightning rod for criticism during the Bush administration. "I'm Darth Vader," he said.

---

Online:

http://on.today.com/oYhjaC

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.

Why is Washington State's Government so White?

Why aren't racial and ethnic minorities more well represented in our government? According to the article, non-whites make up over 1/4 of our state's population, but 24/26 of her cabinet members are white. Is this at odds with the ideals of representative democracy?

Local News | Diversity lacking in Washington state government, analysis finds | Seattle Times Newspaper: - Sent using Google Toolbar

Judg rules Indiana teens' racy social media photos are protected speech

Does a school that punishes students for posting "racy" photos on Facebook (available only to "friends") violate the 1st Amendment rights of the students? For some details on this case read the story on CNN:

Judge: Indiana teens' racy social media photos are protected speech

Gadhafi is gone, but where to?

From NBC news:

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Nostalgia for the USSR?

Why would you want to go back to the old days of the Soviet Union? Maybe if your democracy isn't performing so well, you begin to get frustrated. Check out this report:

20 Years After Soviet Fall, Some Look Back Longingly: As the anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union approaches, some Russians believe that two decades of lurching attempts at reform have given democracy a bad name.

A Step Closer to the DREAM (Act) Goals

This is some of the best news I've heard out of the White House in a while. I know the hardliners will be furious, but come on, these young people deserve a chance to make it in this country.

Obama policy lifts deportation threat for many young immigrants | Seattle Times Newspaper

Is the President too calm & cool?

Lots of progressives have found that the article below, speaks to their frustrations with President Obama. Written by a professor of psychology, it has generated a lot of reaction. In a nutshell, he asks if Obama is too nice to his rivals?

In it, he claims that Obama has not used his speaking skills to tell a story of how he will fight the "bad guys" that are to blame for the problems of this nation, and the opposition has instead been repeating a story where Mr. Obama is the "bad guy" that has steered the nation in the wrong direction. Obama's personality has created problems because

...his deep-seated aversion to conflict and his profound failure to understand bully dynamics — in which conciliation is always the wrong course of action, because bullies perceive it as weakness and just punch harder the next time...

Do you agree with his analysis of the President's personality flaws?

What Happened to Obama’s Passion? - NYTimes.com

People Think Congress Doing a Bad Job

The American People are even more unhappy than Congress than they've been in the past. It used to be that only about 30% of Americans would approve of the job Congress was doing. A New York Times poll released today states that 82% disapprove of the job Congress is doing.

Public Views Congress as Top Culprit in Debt Debate, Poll Finds - NYTimes.com

House Republicans push Anti-Environmental Rules

It isn't just the debt and taxes the Republicans are after, but also relaxing environmental restrictions, and its not just about what light bulbs will be sold.

House Republicans Try to Roll Back Environmental Rules - NYTimes.com

A User's Guide To The Budget Battles : NPR

Some help in understanding all of the economic news from National Public Radio in three parts

• the short-term: 2012 budget
• the medium-term: debt-ceiling debate
• the long term: the social security debate

A User's Guide To The Budget Battles : NPR: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Worse than Texas | The Economist

It turns out Alabama executes a higher percentage of convicts than Texas...

The death penalty: Worse than Texas | The Economist: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Supreme Court: Violent Video Games Protected by 1st Amendment

California enacted a law in 2005 restricting the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. In a 7-2 decision, the United States struck down that law as a violation of the free expression rights protected in the U.S. Constitution. Do you agree with the Court in this case, or do the representatives of the citizens of California have the right to enact laws they feel will protect young people (without the federal courts intervening)?

You can read the story here: Justices Reject Ban on Violent Video Games for Children

Some editorials which praise the Court's decision:

Editorials | U.S. Supreme Court got it right: Video-game ban restricts free speech


It’s Perverse, but It’s Also Pretend

(The case is Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association.)

North Korea

One of the most repressive and secretive societies in the world, the instability of North Korea's leadership creates concern around the world. Some interesting resources on North Korea:

An article about the son of Kim Jong-Il, who may be taking over for the ailing leader is the subject of this article: Rising Son.

Forbidden Art in China

More about how artists are finding ways to express displeasure with the lack of freedom to criticize China's Communist Party. Video from the New York Times:

Fighting for Human Rights in China

China has recently arrested renowned artist Ai Weiwei. His story was recently featured in Time Magazine. Read about him here.

You can see a photo gallery of other activists that have recently been jailed or harassed by the Chinese government here.

Daily Life in China

A photo slide show of Daily Life in China from the web site of Boston.com:

China: daily life

Each day, wire service photographers from around the world file photos to their member papers that fall under the category of "daily life." ...They are ordinary, random moments captured around a city or in the countryside and they give us just a glimpse of something in that particular place that we might not ordinarily be able to experience. The images in this post are by photographers from the Associated Press based in China. Again, they contain very little caption information and are intended to provide a small window into another culture perhaps far from our own yet reflecting elements of universality. (Note: These images were collected over the first three months of 2011.) -- Paula Nelson. (34 photos total)

From the New York Times:

Environmental Cost of China's Growth

When the Chinese government tried to calculate a national "Green G.D.P.," the formula showed the soaring economy in a more sober light. (Remember G.D.P. stands for Gross National Product, the total amount of goods and services produced by a nation's economy in one year.) This report is about China's attempt to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.

The video report can be watched here. It is mostly interviews with experts, but very informative.

WA Legislature Finally Agrees on Painful Budget Cuts

We all knew it was going to be ugly, but now we've got the details. As of this writing, the House has already passed it, and the Senate should take action soon. You can read the ugly details in the Seattle Times which include less money for schools, teachers, administrators, the poor who rely on state medical programs, and college students who will probably face steep tuition increases.

Good times.

A few of the budget highlights from the Times Article:

$356 million in pay cuts, including a 1.9 percent cut for teachers and 3 percent for state workers.

$535 million cut from colleges and universities, partially offset with tuition increases.

$344 million saved by ending cost-of-living increases for certain state pension recipients.

$1.2 billion saved by suspending two education-related initiatives.

$130 million saved by reducing enrollment in the state Basic Health Plan.

$116 million saved by eliminating Disability Lifeline grants and replacing them with an essential needs and housing program.

$215 million cut to funding that reduced K-4 class sizes.

New $30 annual vehicle fee to visit state parks and other state recreational lands.

Osama bin Laden Dead - a short bio

From CBS News:

Don't Let Ignorant People Vote?

That was the suggestion from a recent opinion piece by CNN contributor LZ Granderson:.

"We all know people who gleefully admit they know nothing about politics, don't have time to find out what the current issues are or even know how the government works, but go out and vote. Want to know why it seems Washington is run by a bunch of idiots? Blame this hiccup in our political system for starters. What's a solution? Weed out some of the ignorant by making people who want to vote first pass a test modeled on the one given to those who want to become citizens."

The full essay can be read online; here he reads and reacts to some of the letters his essay generated:

Continued Violence in Libya and Syria

From NBC News:

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More Embarassing Details on Guantanamo Bay Prison

From The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC:

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Series of big quakes mean more on the way?

Reprinted from the Seattle Times of Saturday, April 17:

First came 2004's killer quake and tsunami off Sumatra. Then a year ago, Chile was rocked almost as hard. Now Japan is reeling from its biggest quake in recorded history. The juxtaposition of three of the world's most powerful earthquakes within a span of seven years has some scientists asking the question: Are we in an age of megaquakes? Entire article here.