The title of this post sums up what seems to be the takeaway from the just-completed term of the US Supreme Court. Henceforth, your litigation strategy against pretty much any governmental action should be to claim a First Amendment … [Read more...]
Archives for June 28, 2011
Michele Bachmann’s New Normal: Damage Control
Michele Bachmann came out of the last G.O.P. debate of presidential hopefuls smelling like a rose having favorably impressed the national media with her serious demeanor and lack of excited partisan rant. Presently she finds herself in a … [Read more...]
The market powers that be
Is this what I like to hear? Oh yes indeedy. The legislature is saying it wants to go further than the Governor's health care cost legislation, and deal with the market power of the big hospitals. Zowie. ... They struck an aggressive … [Read more...]
Today’s Podcast: US Sen candidate Marisa DeFranco
On today's LeftAhead Podcast, Mike and I had US Senate candidate and longtime immigration attorney Marisa DeFranco on as our guest. As Mike describes her, she's "a competent, confident candidate with a wide and deep platform [who] joined us … [Read more...]
Is Michelle Bachmann a “good person”
Worried for a moment that somebody had hacked Dan Kennedy's Twitter account this morning. Yesterday, Kennedy posted this lovely call-to-arms on the need to spread the legalization of gay marriage yesterday (expanded here). Then, this … [Read more...]
Meet Michele Bachmann: “A Perfect Product of the Religious Right”
Democracy Now! offers an instructive interview with informed observers of the Oral Roberts University graduate: Karl Bremer runs the blog Ripple in Stillwater. He has been following Michele Bachmann’s political career for the last … [Read more...]
Weekly Joke Revue: Supreme Court rules that encouraging more political speech violates the First Amendment
HA! Hilarious. Imagine if they really did that. Oh wait. Today's Tuesday, so it can't be the Weekly Joke Revue. And that can only mean one thing: they actually did it. Yes, in yesterday's much-anticipated decision on Arizona's … [Read more...]
MASSterList: Honchos head to DC for bio con – Secret budget talks yet to result in a budget – Attention turns to health costs – Romney-Perry ’12
FRANKENTINI: Everybody's in D.C. hanging out with biotech firms, probably schmoozing and drinking genetically modified daiquiris on the roof of the convention center. (Herald, BBJ) BUDGET?: No budget. Super secret conference talks … [Read more...]
When is a bribe – a bribe?
The recent discussions use the term undue influence of money. The toned down term represents our toned down expectations and increasingly lack of ability to be shocked. Rod Blagojevic appeared to really believe that selling a Senate seat … [Read more...]
Supreme Court takes another swipe at campaign finance reform, but leaves public financing intact
Yesterday the Supreme Court struck down a portion of Arizona’s public campaign finance law while simultaneously reaffirming the constitutionality of public financing as a means of combating political corruption. The case, Arizona Free … [Read more...]