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From the blogs

Why the National Review Is Wrong to Whine About Moving Prisoners to Thomson Correctional Center

by Byard Duncan, AlterNet

The NR editors are calling for the continuation of grotesque U.S. exceptionalism -- and tripping over their own logic in the process.

Why Health Care 'Deform' Might Help Elect a Few Real Progressives

by Daniela Perdomo, AlterNet

There is overwhelming disappointment at Obama's attempts for bipartisan health reform. But the good news is there's a glimmer of hope for the election of true progressives in 2010.

Fox News' New Idea For Fighting Unemployment: Decrease the Minimum Wage

by Pat Garofalo, Think Progress

Our friends at FOX think the best way to get people back on track in this recession is to pay them below-living wages.

Michael Steele's Economic Plan: Take Away Unemployment Benefits

by Ben Armbruster, Think Progress

Unemployment insurance provides a vital lifeline to more than 10 million Americans currently looking for work in an environment where jobs are scarce.

Huge Signature Gathering Success Sends Pot Legalization to Ballot

by Daniela Perdomo, AlterNet

AlterNet broke the news that Tax Cannabis 2010 in California has gathered a surplus of ballot petition signatures, moving the state towards pot legalization.

This Week in God

by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly

A round-up!

Lack of Access to Medical Pot Is the Poor's Greatest Problem Ever!

by Joshua Holland, AlterNet

Silly straw-liberals.

10% of Americans Are Unemployed So Why Are Feds Getting Big Raises?

by Daniela Perdomo, AlterNet

Despite the recession, more federal employees than ever are making six-figure salaries paid for by cash-strapped taxpayers.

Did Obama's Inner Circle (and Rep. Melissa Bean) Kill Financial Reform?

by Kevin Connor, Eyes on the Ties

Rep. Melissa Bean is a great friend to Wall Street. Were her efforts to kill financial reform backed by Obama's inner circle?

Yes, Why Can't We Get the Health-Care Congress Enjoys?

by Joshua Holland, AlterNet

Opening up Federal Employees' health program sounds great. But it's a point where good health politics meets bad health policy.

Why Serious Immigration Reform Is Inevitable

Mary Giovagnoli, Immigration Impact. December 15, 2009.
Hot-button issues like health reform and economic recovery will come and go. That U.S. immigration policy is fundamentally broken guarantees its eventual place in the conversation.

How a Few Private Health Insurers Are on the Way to Controlling Health Care

Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog. December 12, 2009.
If you think an expanded Medicare makes up for the lack of a public option in the Senate bill, you're smoking medical marijuana.

Afghanistan: How the War Hawks Caged Obama

Robert Parry, Consortium News. December 12, 2009.
How a desire for bipartisanship and peace within his own party led Obama to appoint a hawkish cabal that pushed him to a renewed war in Afghanistan.

The Religious Right's Potty Paranoia

Stephanie Mencimer, Mother Jones Online. December 12, 2009.
Public restrooms: The final frontier of the right's war on queer folk?

Are Americans a Broken People? Why We've Stopped Fighting Back Against the Forces of Oppression

Bruce E. Levine, AlterNet. December 11, 2009.
A psychologist asks: Have consumerism, suburbanization and a malevolent corporate-government partnership so beaten us down that we no longer have the will to save ourselves?

Bill Moyers: We Have a Nobel Peace President Who Won't Ban Land Mines

Bill Moyers, Michael Winship, Bill Moyers Journal. December 11, 2009.
The Nobel Committee said Obama won the prize for his respect of international law and his efforts at disarmament, yet he won't even sign on to end a barbaric weapon.

High Unemployment Rates Frame the Immigration Debate

Marcelo Balive, New America Media. December 11, 2009.
Will a treacherous economic landscape ruin the Obama administration's chances of delivering on immigration reform?

Supreme Court's Ruling Would Allow Bin Laden to Donate to Sarah Palin's Presidential Campaign

Greg Palast, AlterNet. December 11, 2009.
I'm biting my nails waiting for the Supreme Court's ruling in 'Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission' -- here's why you should be too.

New Arizona Law Might Sweep Up Undocumented Immigrants Applying for a Legal Child's Benefits

Valeria Fernández, New America Media. December 10, 2009.
Religious and community leaders are trying to quell panic in Arizona’s immigrant community, fighting fear with information.

Does Obama's Road to Re-Election Run Through Kabul?

Christian Parenti, The Nation. December 10, 2009.
The real purpose of sending 30,000 soldiers to Afghanistan is to make Obama look tough as he heads toward his next election.

Dear Barack, Spare Me Your E-Mails

Robert Scheer, Truthdig. December 10, 2009.
Obama’s faux populism is beginning to grate, and I finally came unglued when one of his "we the people" e-mails from him landed on my screen.

Far-Right Anti-Immigrant Groups Are Polluting the Health Care Debate

Jill Garvey, Imagine 2050. December 9, 2009.
Many nativist advocacy groups are twisting the facts about immigrants' access to health care.

To the Hope and Change Crowd -- How's It Working Out for You?

Joe Bageant, JoeBageant.com. December 9, 2009.
Obama promised change -- and sure enough, things are changing for the worse.

Meet the Billionaire Brothers Funding the Right-Wing War on Obama

Think Progress. December 9, 2009.
They're the 9th richest people in America and they're pushing hard to upend President Obama's progressive agenda.

The Public Option That Isn't Public At All

James Ridgeway, Mother Jones Online. December 8, 2009.
As the Senate negotiates its health-care reform bill, liberals appear ready to throw in the towel on a real public option.

Has the GOP Collapse Begun? Hypothetical "Tea Party" Outpolls Republicans

Adele M. Stan, AlterNet. December 8, 2009.
Something is afoot among the conservative base -- voting Republican doesn't seem to cut it anymore, and incumbents are getting nervous.

How Hyper-Capitalism May Hobble the Copenhagen Summit

Walden Bello, Foreign Policy in Focus. December 8, 2009.
Unless we re-think the export-oriented capitalism that's causing all of our climate problems, the Copenhagen conference will be nothing more than a Band-Aid.

Are Liberals Pathetic?

Chris Hedges, Truthdig. December 7, 2009.
Sterile posturing and cowardice have hollowed out the liberal cause.

We're Doing a Heckuva Job Helping Those Devastated by the Economic Meltdown

Karen Dolan, Diana Pearce, AlterNet. December 7, 2009.
Like the levees in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, the safety net is failing Americans battered by the 'Great Recession' of 2008-2009.

Memo to Congress: Desperate Times Call for Faster Measures

Paul Starr. December 5, 2009.
Health-care reform needs to kick in faster than the current bills allow. And Congress better pass some Main Street economic measures -- on the double.

Obama's War Speech Woke the Sleeping Giant -- Anger Over Afghan Surge Fuels Country-Wide Protests

Jodie Evans, AlterNet. December 4, 2009.
The president's announcement of a troop surge in Afghanistan this week prompted protests in over 80 communities across the country.

Senator Sanders Unfiltered: Where Was The Fed?

Sen. Bernie Sanders. December 4, 2009.
I am going to do my best to see that Mr. Bernanke’s nomination is defeated. Find out more at: senatorsandersunfiltered.com

"Tea Party: The Documentary" -- Attending a Bizarre Movie Premiere for Right-Wingers in Washington

Adele M. Stan, AlterNet. December 4, 2009.
Presented by FreedomWorks, the front group that organized the 9/12 March, a new documentary on the tea parties attempts to suggest that the protests were spontaneous.

Progressive Leaders Pan Obama's Decision for More War in Afghanistan -- 10 Reactions

AlterNet. December 4, 2009.
Tom Hayden says he's taking the Obama bumpersticker off his car, Laura Flanders says the Bush Doctrine is still alive, and more.

This War Must End

Robert Greenwald. December 3, 2009.
This time, the tears Obama has inspired are not tears of joy.

Fed Up With Federalism

Harold Meyerson, The American Prospect. December 3, 2009.
How America's commitment to states' rights is undermining our economic recovery.

Why Should We Get Out of Afghanistan? Because Imperialism Is a Fool's Game

Larry Beinhart, AlterNet. December 3, 2009.
Imperial occupations have become geometrically more difficult since the Second World War.

Obama's War Speech Offered Something for Everybody -- But Who's Buying It?

Rory O'Connor, MediaChannel.org. December 2, 2009.
Obama's promise: Let's come together and get along to end the war - by waging the war more intensely…but only for eighteen months, and then we all get to go home.

Congress Can Kill Outlandish Bonuses for Wall Streeters: Why Won't They?

Sam Pizzigati, Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality. December 2, 2009.
We need more protection from corporate greed than the current mainstream antidotes provide. Americans get this. Too bad moderate reformers don't.

Obama's Afghan Surge Rationale Contradicts His Own Recent Position

Gareth Porter, IPS News. December 2, 2009.
Obama's rationale for escalation in Afghanistan is based on a notion that he recently rejected: the supposedly indissoluble link between the Taliban insurgency and al Qaeda.

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