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.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

More Detail from NBC's Today Show

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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.