Civil libertarians enjoyed a major victory yesterday against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) with the ruling in the case of Maj. Margaret Witt — ordering her reinstatement despite the fact that she is a lesbian. This important victory, however, was tempered by the news that the Obama Administration is seeking to limit the earlier blockbuster ruling that found DADT unconstitutional. The Administration had the option of not seeking such a change (an option taken by Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Brown in the Proposition 8 case) but decided to try to gut the national impact of the court’s order.
Continue reading “Judge Orders Lesbian Nurse Reinstated While Obama Administration Fights To Limit Earlier Ruling Finding DADT Unconstitutional”
Category: Politics
It appears that, before the Queen asked the government to take over responsibility for the finances of her palace, she had asked for the government to use energy-saving grants for low income families to heat the palace.
Continue reading “We Are Not Amused: Queen Sought Low-Income Funds To Heat Palace”
Vice President Biden noted yesterday that he hoped that the Tea Party might finally get Democratic and liberal votes out of their “lethargy.” The comment struck a nerve with me since various Democratic leaders have expressed surprise and mild criticism over the lack of enthusiasm by Democratic voters. What is striking is the fact that Biden and others continue to consider their own failure to give voters a reason to become active after years of broken campaign promises and outright betrayals of core values. The best that they can come up with (yet again) is that the other people are worse than we are.
Continue reading “Biden Laments The “Lethargy” of Democratic Voters”
With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, I was asked in this cover story for the Civil War Magazine to explore the rivaling constitutional claims that were made at the start of that bloody conflict. As a military history buff, I have occasionally written for these history magazines but I found this assignment particularly intriguing.
Continue reading “Uncivil Action: Was Lincoln Wrong on Secession?”
The Washington Post is reporting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered to extend a freeze on new settlements in exchange for the release of convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard. It is an astonishing offer, if true, since the settlements have long been a major barrier to peace negotiations but under this deal would be frozen in exchange for a spy’s release. It would seem to undermine the substantive arguments in favor of such settlements.
Continue reading “Report: Israel Offers To Extend Freeze on Settlements in Return for The Release of Convicted Spy Jonathan Pollard”
In Pennsylvania, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala (shown here)has made a controversial decision not to charge a Kennedy Township police officer with leaving the scene of a crime after he allegedly drove drunk and hit a man — leaving him critically injured. Zappala announced that, because Frank Caliguiri eventually came back, he will not be charged with leaving the scene. What is astonishing is that this is not the only such case recently against an officer in this area.
Continue reading “Pennsylvania Police Officer Charged With DUI Accident While Not Be Charged With Leaving Scene of Accident”
It has become almost a mantra in contemporary news articles: a minister who preached against homosexuality accused of hidden homosexual relationships. In the case of Atlanta-based megachurch pastor Eddie Long (shown here in a past sermon), he is by last count accused in three lawsuits by young men who claim that they came to him for spiritual help and were used for his sexual pleasures.
Continue reading “Three Former Male Church Members Sue Megachurch Pastor Eddie Long For Sexual Harassment”
There has been a development in the story over the officials in Bell, California. As we previously discussed, city officials raked in obscene salaries until exposed by the media. Eight of the officials have now reportedly been arrested, including former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo. Also reportedly arrested were Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia; Mayor Oscar Hernandez; Councilmembers Luis Artiga, Teresa Jacobo and George Mirabal; and former Councilmembers George Cole and Victor Bello.
Continue reading “For Whom The Bell Tolls: Eight City Officials Arrested in Pay Scandal”
We just followed the debate in Delaware over whether the GOP candidate for governor is a failed witch or a witch wannabe. Now, new reports have raised the question whether her Democratic rival, Chris Coons, 47, is a failed bearded Marxist. You have to love this race.
Continue reading “Is Coons a Failed Bearded Marxist?”
This weekend WJLA-TV announced that it had fired veteran anchorman Doug McKelway for a verbal confrontation this summer with the station’s news director. McKelway is a longtime journalist in the Capitol and his termination raised questions about the limits on fair commentary for anchors in political coverage.
Continue reading “ABC News Anchor in Washington Fired Over Alleged Partisan Comments and Fight With News Director”
In what is believed to be the action of Hamas gunmen, the popular “Crazy Water” park in Gaza was burned down by 25 assailants who beat the security guards before torching the popular entertainment site.
Continue reading “Extremists in Gaza Burn “Crazy Water” Park For Allowing The Mixing of Men and Women”
For civil libertarians, the decision by President Obama to bar the prosecution of Bush officials for the torture program was always a flagrant choice of politics over principle. Now a poll ratifies that decision. A poll commissioned by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that Americans are accepting torture in greater numbers. The study also shows a decrease in support for Israel in any military conflict and two-thirds saying that they would like the U.S. to be neutral in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Continue reading “Poll: Americans More Supportive of Torture — Though Still a Minority”
That seems to be the thrust of reports over Christine O’Donnell’s past references to dabbling in witchcraft before she became the Republican nominee for Governor of Delaware. You have to love this country. Who needs an immigration debate when Delaware is debating whether one of its major candidates “is or was ever a practicing witch?” If true, this could prove an advantage with Sarah Palin going to Iowa to campaign this week. Palin has had prior experience with people working in the area since she has been given a protection from witchcraft. This could make for an interesting first meeting between President Palin and Governor O’Donnell. Indeed, Palin could argue that she is the only expected presidential candidate currently able to meet with O’Donnell without fear.
Continue reading “Is Christine O’Donnell A Failed Witch?”
The Montana Republican Party has adopted its official platform, which contains a standout provision: a call to criminalize homosexuality.
Continue reading “Montana GOP Reaffirms Position on Criminalizing Homosexuality”
Elizabeth Wilkinson, 21, has been sentenced to a year in jail after ruining a man’s life with a false rape allegation after he spurned her advances. Wilkinson resides in Foulridge, England, and had had a consensual relationship with David Lord, 23, and decided to make the rape allegation after he told her that he did not want to see her again.
Continue reading “English Woman Sentenced to Year in Jail For False Rape Allegation”