Washington Watch: Week 22 - "What a Week"

"What a Week" -- Major Supreme Court Rulings, Senate Passes Immigration Reform, Obama and family in Africa.

Supreme Rulings

The Voting Rights Act (from 1965) was gutted and southern states quickly reacted to suppress the minority vote. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Prop 8 were struck down and gay marriages immediately resumed in California.

Nan Aron, President of The Alliance for Justice, got it exactly right with her HuffPo piece: "The Supreme Court Takes With One Hand, Gives With the Other."

Says Ms. Aron:

"It's been a bittersweet week in the Supreme Court. On the one hand, the Court's decisions on same-sex marriage left many of us profoundly hopeful, while its voting rights opinion was deeply disappointing. By simultaneously moving in opposite directions on fundamental principles of civil rights, this Court has torn a hole in our political fabric, and once again left the nation part equal and part unequal."    Read More

Before the ink had settled on the Voting Rights ruling, Republicans in Texas got busy. From The CS Monitor:

"Shortly after the decision on Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced that the state’s new voter ID law would immediately take effect. He also said that the state’s challenged redistricting maps “may” also take effect without prior approval from Washington."  Read More

Supporters of voting rights, such as Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile, are calling on Congress to restore provisions of the act. However, even Ms. Brazile realizes this will be difficult given the current climate in Washington. From her CNN op-ed: "Congress Give us new Voting Rights Act,"

"Don't expect the conservative-controlled House of Representatives to jump at the chance though. Just last year, during the 2012 election cycle, Republican elected officials in states across the country pushed deeply hostile voter ID laws that disproportionately limit minority voters. Sometimes, the Republicans were even explicit that the purpose of these laws was to put victories in the "R" column. And all that took place with a full and complete Voting Rights Act still on the books."  Read More

In brighter news... with the decisions on DOMA and Prop 8, weddings are free to resume in those states which allow gay marriage. As a matter of fact, two of the plaintiffs in the historic ruling--Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, from Berkeley, were the first to be married with California Attorney General Kamala Harris officiating.


Btw.......Did Chris Christie just lose 2016 with this stance on gay marriage?

"New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) blasted the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, calling it "wrong."   Read More"

Maybe this is his stance going into the GOP primaries (which depend on the right-wing vote) however, should he become the Presidential candidate I predict he will "see the light" on this issue.

Will the Immigration Bill be Stalled?

The Senate passed a bi-partisan immigration bill this week, now it goes to the House. President Obama has called on Congress to pass the bill before their August recess. (We talked about this likely STALL in our post from week 20.)

Student Loan Rates set to Double

Rates on new student loans will DOUBLE on Monday.  Still, no action from Congress to prevent this.

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President Obama's First Term

A Look Back at Week 22 - 2009:

(Excerpts from my blog National Scene -- Week 22)

National Scene 6/24-6/30/2009
By Linnie Frank Bailey

As the first half of the year ends, the Administration can look back on significant efforts to get America back on track, including -- an economic stimulus, a revamped energy policy, the beginnings of health care reform, and a new approach to international relations. Moreover, the following legislation has been passed and signed by President Barack Obama in 2009:

1. Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act – (fair pay for women) Signed: January 29, 2009
2. Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act –(continue state program SCHIP) Signed: February 4, 2009
3. DTV Delay Act – (delayed implementation of digital TV until June 2009) Signed: February 11, 2009
4. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – (major economic stimulus bill) Signed: February 17, 2009
5. Small Business Act Temporary Extension – (temporarily extends SBA programs) Signed: March 20, 2009
6. Omnibus Public Lands Management Act – (public land conservation) Signed: March 30, 2009
7. Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act – (increases and manages community service programs and funding) Signed: April 21, 2009
8. Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act – (steps to end mortgage fraud and predatory lending) Signed: May 20, 2009
9. Helping Families Save Their Homes Act – (steps to prevent foreclosures and rewrite mortgage loans) Signed: May 20, 2009
10. Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act – (defense procurement reform) Signed: May 22, 2009
11. Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 – (consumer credit protection) Signed: May 22, 2009
12. Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act – (steps to prevent children and teens from smoking) Signed: June 22, 2009

...Read More on Week 22, 2009  -- Immigration Reform...Pell Grants Extended...FAFSA Simplified

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And Finally.....back to 2013:

The Obamas in Africa:

View the video for a behind the scenes with the President & The First Lady at Gorée Island -- including a visit to the Masion des Esclaves (House of Slaves) Museum. Below Barack Obama stands at the "door of no return" where countless Africans were forced to board ships to the Americas where they were enslaved.
Watch and Listen -- an eloquent narrative by the First Lady.

Washington Watch: Week 21 -- "Full Court Press"

Week 21 -- All eyes on the Supreme Court for landmark rulings; and progressive activists and bloggers gathered in San Jose for Netroots Nation. 

Full Court Press

Rulings were expected from the Supreme Court last week, however it looks as though the major decisions have been left to this week before their summer recess.

Much is at stake in the areas of civil rights, voting rights, worker rights, and gay rights.

We are reminded that ALL areas of our lives are touched by the judicial branch of our government. Not just at this top level. Equally important are the Circuit Courts, particularly the DC Court of Appeals that many times determines what gets passed to the Supreme. Perhaps this is why the President is having a hard time getting his nominations confirmed?

Today, the Supreme Court took action on the affirmative action case.  Well, maybe.


In Slate's excellent summary, The Supreme Court 2013: The Year in Review, Emily Bazelon suggests the court 'punted' in the affirmative action case it sent back to the Circuit Appeals Court for review:

"In a 7-1 ruling (Justice Elena Kagan sat this one out), the court sent back to the lower courts Abigail Fisher’s challenge to the admissions policy of the University of Texas, Austin. Fisher is the white plaintiff who says she didn’t get admitted as an undergraduate because UT Austin considers race, as one factor among many, in admitting part of each entering class. She didn’t win, but neither did UT. Instead, the court made it somewhat harder for schools to defend race-based preferences in admission—but not impossible. Now schools have to show that “no workable race-neutral alternatives would produce the educational benefits of diversity.” In other words, that the use of race in admissions is a last resort." Read More

In other words..this ruling makes it harder for schools to use race as a factor in college admissions.

*****Let me say this....because many middle-aged black folk won't say it: I attended and graduated from UCLA, and began my career as a coder in corporate America BECAUSE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. Was I qualified....YES. Was I capable...YES. Would the doors have been open to me without affirmative action...NO.
The question is..."Are the doors fully open now for people of color?"  


On the issue of gay rights, Americans across the country are awaiting the courts ruling on California's Prop 8, which banned gay marriages...and DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act).  Freedom to Marry gives a comprehensive summary of the cases involved in the upcoming ruling.

Although polls show the majority of Americans support gay marriage this has nothing to do with the court. The current court has a conservative leaning (5-4) with members that greatly please the far right. 
For instance, HuffPo reports Justice Clarence Thomas (a man of little words during court hearings), compared affirmative-action to slavery in the ruling issued today. 

And speaking of the GOP-court -- we will never forget Bush versus Gore, although one wonders if we would have President Barack Obama today if we didn't have Bush as President for eight years. Maybe things do have a way of working out?


There are many other cases...some aren't grabbing the headlines...but they are critically important for equality in America. Especially in the area of worker rights.

Another court decision today made it harder for workers to sue on the grounds of discrimination. IBJ reports:

"A sharply-divided Supreme Court on Monday made it more difficult for Americans to sue businesses for discrimination and retaliation, leading a justice to call for Congress to overturn the court's actions.
The court's conservatives, in two 5-4 decisions, ruled that a person must be able to hire and fire someone to be considered a supervisor in discrimination lawsuits, making it harder to blame a business for a co-worker's racism or sexism."   Read More

Yet another Supreme Court upcoming ruling (not this session) will have to do with whether the Obama administration can make recess appointments. Presidents have been able to do this for over 100 years, and the current administration has been forced to do this because of the stall of the GOP in confirming Obama's picks for Executive Branch leadership and the federal courts.  (Which we discussed back in Washington Watch: Week Six)

CNN reports in,  "Justices to rule on Obama recess appointments":

"President Obama's recess appointments to a federal agency-- made without Senate confirmation-- will be reviewed by the Supreme Court, the court announced Monday. It will mark a major constitutional test of executive power.
At issue is whether three people named to the National Labor Relations Board lack authority because the presidential appointments were made while the Senate was technically in a "pro forma" session during the 2011-12 winter holiday break.
The case sets up a high-stakes Supreme Court fight between the other two branches of government. Oral arguments will be held in public session later this year or early next."      Read More

Which AGAIN shows us why we cannot just focus on elections and candidates. The make-up of our federal courts is important and deserves attention!!

This was covered in detail at a Netroots Nation 2013 convention session I attended last week. (See below)

Netroots Nation - "Online Activism"

Last week political activists and bloggers from across the country gathered in San Jose for the eighth annual Netroots Nation convention.  I suppose some might see the conference as the left's version of CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference) however, Netroots isn't heavy on the speeches or trotting out the media darlings.

Instead there were over 80 panels and 40 training sessions designed to strengthen grass roots activists and bloggers. These are the folk, the 'progressives,' who are on the front lines fighting on behalf of:
Immigration Reform
Women's rights
Voting rights
LGBT rights
The impoverished
School children
Social Security & Medicare Protection
Gun Control
Fair Wages
Anti-Discrimination

...pretty much the 'supposed' platform of the Democratic Party. 

Speaking of which, a recurring theme at the convention is that there are too many in the Democratic Party who are not fighting hard enough for the middle class or representing the ideals they were elected on.  The word 'wimps' was used a lot in describing fellow Democrats.

Republicans (a despised group at this convention) were nevertheless complimented for their unity. They may not stand for anything...but they are united in opposition to everything the Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress put forth.

I've attended the last two Democratic National Conventions. Those events are more about firing up the base and the main speeches are from office holders. However...the DNC 2012 convention attendees were much more diverse than the Netroots Nation crowd. Even within this liberal, 'progressive' organization, there is still a long way to go in representing today's America. Especially in the tech arena.

I got the most out of the session I attended on the importance of the Judicial Branch of government  entitled: "Organizing Beyond Elections: Judicial Vacancies."   Here is the description of the session:

"Judicial vacancies are rarely talked about in our states. The truth is, while we focus on election cycles that can affect change for two, four or six years, appointing a judge impacts us for a lifetime. Hear about the crisis in our courts as 160 million Americans are affected by judicial vacancies and the opportunities progressives have to create lasting change and diversity in the judicial branch."

We need to focus more on the judicial branch of government. From this session we learned #WhyCourtsMatter and why the GOP has laser focus on maintaining control of the federal circuit courts and not confirming Obama's picks.

Click here for livestream video and list of panel members. (That's me asking a question at around 1:03:00...they didn't have mics in the audience, but basically I wanted their thoughts on Harry Reid's threatened "nuclear option" to end GOP filibusters of nominees.)

Pay attention to the courts!!  Not just THIS week......

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President Obama's First Term

A Look Back at Week 21 - 2009:

(Excerpts from my blog National Scene -- Week 21)

6/17-6/23/2009:  While encouraging volunteerism in America this summer with his “United We Serve” campaign—the President continued to monitor the escalating violence in Iran following the election. Ignoring the calls of his Republican critics who say he should speak more forcefully against the current Iranian leadership, Obama instead found the right tone by expressing outrage, however not allowing America to become as he put it, “the political football” in Iran.

...Read More on Week 21, 2009

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And Finally.....back to 2013:

"The Center of the World"

President Barack Obama and other world leaders walk away after participating in a group photo at the G8 Summit in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, June 18, 2013. Pictured, from left are: Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council; Prime Minister Enrico Letta of Italy; Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada; President François Hollande of France; President Obama: Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom; President Vladimir Putin of Russia; Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany; José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Washington Watch: Week 20 - "The Stall"

"The Stall"
Will GOP delaying tactics torpedo Immigration Reform? Will student loan interest rates be allowed to double? Will the 'stall' last until the 2014 mid-terms..or the 2016 presidential election? Also this week -- MSNBC 'gets it' and will broadcast live from the annual festival hosted by Essence Magazine this July in New Orleans.

Immigration Reform Delay Game

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on immigration reform in the East Room of the White House, June 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Calling this time period, "The best chance we've had in years to fix our broken immigration system," President Obama again called on Congress to pass the bi-partisan Immigration Reform bill.

During the East Room address (transcript here), the President was surrounded by business and government leaders including:

• Tom Donohue, President and CEO, US Chamber of Commerce
• Steve Case, Chairman and CEO, Revolution LLC
• Carlos Gutierrez, former Secretary of Commerce
• Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
• Adrian Garcia, Sheriff, Harris County, TX
• William Bratton, former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department
• Julian Castro, Mayor, San Antonio, TX
• Margaret Mims, Sheriff, Fresno County, CA
• Mary Kay Henry, International President, SEIU

Last but not least, the President was introduced by Tolu Olubunmi, a young woman DREAMer originally from Lagos, Nigeria, who has lived in the United States since age 14. Olubunmi graduated at the top of her class with degrees in chemistry and engineering. She stated:

“I’m a DREAMer. I’ve lived in the U.S. for the past 18 years. This is my home, first and foremost. And I have a chemical engineering degree, one that’s collecting dust and desperately wants to be used to support our economy, to grow our economy. I want to be all that I can possibly be in this great nation that I love. And the way to get there for me, and for millions of others like me, is through immigration reform. It’s good for families. It’s good for me -- it’s good for DREAMers. It’s good for our economy. It’s good for our nation as a whole. And it’s really important that we stand strong and stand together and pursue common-sense immigration reform that really does speak to our American values.”

This week the bill will be debated in the Senate. Time is of the essence with the August recess approaching. Policymic sums it up:

"Why bring up August? That’s when Congress will go on its summer recess. It’s darn near impossible to see Congress taking this up after the recess as some House Republicans face 2014 midterm reelection challenges....

Here’s what you can expect, delays and procrastination by both sides on substantive parts of the bill. House Republicans simply do not want to pass comprehensive reform, the leaders of the Gang of 8 say that there just isn’t any other way to get it done. A go-slow approach is a way for Republicans in the House to avoid attaching their names to parts of immigration reform they don't want to be associated with. It's going to be extremely difficult to talk some of them, especially the ones facing election, to agree to comprehensive reform."

Will the immigration reform bill be stalled or will Republicans who understand the importance of the Hispanic vote break rank?

Student Loan Rates to Double

If there is no action by Congress (a familiar phrase these days), student loan rates are set to double on July 1. Specifically, rates on subsidized Stafford loans, which will go from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. These loans are given to students with financial need. Only NEW LOANS will see this doubling of rate.

The Washington Post's Wonkblog by Dylan Matthews explains how we got here:

"This all started in 2007, when Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. George Miller (R-Calif.) put together the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which gradually reduced the subsidized rate from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over the course of four years, with 3.4 reached in 2011. But for budgetary reasons that had to sunset. Originally it was going to expire in 2013, which was moved to 2012 as part of a compromise with Republicans.
In 2012, both Mitt Romney and President Obama lobbied Congress to extend the low rates, which it did at the end of June. But they only extended them a year, so they’re due to expire again in a couple weeks."

So...in the run up to the election there was an extension...this year??

Both houses of Congress, as well as both parties, AND the White House, all have plans to tackle this issue. As described in the article, some want fixed rates, others want variable rates tied to indicators such as the US Treasury rate, or as Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) suggests, the rate banks pay for borrowing.

"A Democratic plan, supported by Obama, to extend the 3.4 percent rate for two years got 51 votes and couldn’t break a filibuster. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has somewhat confusingly proposed setting the rate at 0.75 percent for a year, to replicate the overnight penalty rate that the Federal Reserve charges banks for emergency loans."

The clock is ticking.  Will this go the way of the Sequester?  (Does anyone remember the Sequester?)

A Time When Leaders Took Action

For history buffs and those who want to know more about the founders of our nation, there is now a treasure trove of data available online as introduced by whitehouse.gov:

"What was the original intent behind the Constitution and other documents that helped shape the nation? What did the Founders of our country have to say? Those questions persist in the political debates and discussions to this day, and fortunately, we have a tremendous archive left behind by those statesmen who built the government over 200 years ago."

The website is called Founders Online and is described as:

"CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER WRITINGS OF SIX MAJOR SHAPERS OF THE UNITED STATES: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams (and family), Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. Over 119,000 searchable documents, fully annotated, from the authoritative, federally funded Founding Fathers Papers projects."

Look over some of the letters and appreciate a time when letter-writing was an art form.  Long form communication was the norm. Not the 140 characters or less we use today to communicate.

There are gems in these documents. They tell us more about our country's founding fathers than the history books.  Such as these words from Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Abigail Adams on February 22, 1787: "I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the Atmosphere."

This is a wonderful project from the National Archives and the University of Virginia Press.  Here is their summary of what the collection includes:

"Now, for the first time, users can freely access the written record of the original thoughts, ideas, debates, and principles of our democracy. You will be able to search across the records of all six Founders and read first drafts of the Declaration of Independence, the spirited debate over the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the very beginnings of American law, government, and our national story. You will be able to compare and contrast the thoughts and ideas of these six individuals and their correspondents as they discussed and debated through their letters and documents."

It would take quite awhile to read through all of the documents...but some of them could be good summer reading! 

Perhaps one day future generations will read the tweets of today's political leaders.

MSNBC 'Gets It'

There is no doubt African-American women (a huge voting bloc for the Democratic party) will play a pivotal role in the upcoming presidential election, just as we did in the 2008 and 2012 elections.

Cable news giant MSNBC gets it! In 2012 the network grew it's African-American viewership by 60.5% and remains a top draw in the black community with a diverse line-up of on-air talent that includes: Tamron Hall, Touré, Melissa Harris-Perry, Rev. Al Sharpton, Joy Reid, Goldie Taylor, Karen Finney, Prof. Michael Eric Dyson, Michael Steele, Eugene Robinson, and Jonathan Capehart.

Maybe this is why MSNBC will be broadcasting LIVE from the Essence Festival (hosted by Essence Magazine and formerly called the Essence Music Festival) coming up in New Orleans this July. 

Here is the line-up MSNBC announced:

Friday, July 5: “Now with Alex Wagner” will air at noon ET followed by “Hardball” at 1 p.m. ET., “NewsNation” at 2 p.m. ET, “PoliticsNation" at 3 p.m. ET and then “The Ed Show” at 4 p.m. ET.

Saturday, July 6: “Melissa Harris Perry” will air from 10 a.m. to noon ET followed by “The Ed Show” at noon ET and then “PoliticsNation” at 1 p.m. ET.

Sunday, July 7: “Melissa Harris Perry” from 10 a.m. to noon ET then “The Ed Show” from noon to 1 p.m. ET and finally “PoliticsNation” from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET.

In addition, the following MSNBC 'stars' will be participating in seminars and 'meet-and-greets' -- Reverend Al Sharpton, Chris Matthews, Chris Hayes, Ed Schultz, Melissa Harris-Perry, Alex Wagner, Tamron Hall, Joy-Ann Reid, Toure, and Mara Schiavocampo.

If you can't make it to New Orleans, watch the coverage on TV. 

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President Obama's First Term

A Look Back at Week 20 - 2009:

(Excerpts from my blog National Scene -- Week 20)

6/9-6/16/2009:  Health care reform continues to be front and center on the President’s radar screen, and this week he went to somewhat hostile territory—the annual conference of the American Medical Association—to pitch his ideas. The Administration continues to address America’s economic situation, while keeping abreast of troubling events abroad, particularly North Korea’s nuclear threats, and the disputed election in Iran.

• Banks Return Bailout Funds: “A Positive Sign.” The Administration announced that several of the financial institutions, which received bailouts from the federal government, are ready to repay the funds. While acknowledging that the economic crisis is by no means over, the President applauded the return of the funds, saying, “Several financial institutions are set to pay back $68 billion to taxpayers. And while we know that we will not escape the worst financial crisis in decades without some losses to taxpayers, it’s worth noting that in the first round of repayments from these companies the government has actually turned a profit.”
• United Nations Sanctions North Korea’s Nuclear Testing. UN Ambassador Susan Rice, (the first African-American female to hold the post), joined world leaders in condemning recent actions by North Korea and imposing sanctions against the country. She described the unanimous resolution as “a very robust, tough regime with teeth that will bite North Korea.” 
• Obama Addresses Doctor’s Group. President Obama took his health care vision directly to one of the special interest groups most associated with health care – the American Medical Association. The group warmly received the President although some bristled at his suggestion of not reducing malpractice payments to deserving beneficiaries. There was general agreement however on his description of what will happen if we fail to act on health care reform.

....Read More on Week 20, 2009

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And Finally.....back to 2013:

Manhood FIRST....Fatherhood SECOND.

President Barack Obama talks with students from the Becoming A Man (BAM) program, in the Oval Office following the Father's Day luncheon at the White House, June 14, 2013. The President held a roundtable with the BAM students in Chicago earlier this year. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Washington Watch: Week 19 - "Let's Play Ball"

"Let's Play Ball"  The Administration played offense this week....the President, the Attorney General, and even the First Lady. 

Rice for National Security

This past week the President nominated his embattled UN Ambassador Susan Rice for the post of National Security Adviser. The highly capable Rice was the victim of much vitriol from Senate Republicans when she was mentioned as a possible Secretary of State.

By nominating Rice, the President signifies that his Administration is moving forward with or without GOP support (of which there has been NONE!).

The New York Times summarized the President's action in an article entitled: In Personnel Appointments, Obama Takes Assertive Tack, which says:

"Mr. Obama made no secret of how upset he was when he passed over Ms. Rice for secretary of state last winter amid a furor about the handling of the deadly attack on the American mission in Benghazi, Libya. But ever since, he has been choosing appointees and nominees he knew would provoke fights with Republicans, almost as if trying to redeem the moment.
The unapologetic selections reflect a conclusion in the West Wing that when it comes to choosing personnel, the president can never satisfy Republicans who will find almost anyone objectionable."

Read More

Three Judicial Nominees

Still battling to get his judicial nominees confirmed, the President nominated Patricia Millett, Cornelia Pillard, and Robert Wilkins to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. This is expected to start a confirmation battle with Senate Republicans and just might lead to Senate leader Harry Reid taking the 'nuclear option' he threatened a few weeks ago.

The Economist reports:

"If Republicans filibuster Mr Obama’s nominees, a showdown over the filibuster itself will follow. Harry Reid, the Democrats’ leader in the Senate, has threatened to use his majority to end the filibuster for presidential nominees. (A filibuster needs 60 out of 100 votes to defeat it; an ordinary vote just 51.) This would probably cause the Republicans, in retaliation, to wreak havoc in all other areas of Senate business."

Read More

The importance of these confirmations cannot be understated considering The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington is described as the nation's second most important court, following the Supreme Court. Cases on their way to the Supreme Court often go through the DC Circuit court.

Speaking of the Supreme Court....the next few weeks will be MAJOR as they rule on SIGNIFICANT civil rights cases (voting rights, affirmative action, gay marriage), as stated in NPR's Court Prepares To Write New Chapters In Civil Rights History:

"By June's end, Americans will know if and how public colleges and universities may administer programs designed to enroll more minority students.
Whether a key 1965 Voting Rights Act provision will survive, and with it federal monitoring of places with histories of discriminatory voting practices.
And if congressional action barring federal recognition of same-sex marriage is constitutional, and similar state restrictions enforceable."

Read More

Holder Not Ready to Step Down

Another embattled Administration figure...Eric Holder, made clear he is not ready to step down as Attorney General. The GOP has made Holder the 'face' of the many 'scandals' they are spending MUCH time on.

Holder told NBC's Pete Williams he has "no intention of stepping down." As reported:

"When it comes to his future tenure Holder said, "There's some things that I want to do, some things I want to get done” before relinquishing the post he has held since February of 2009. “I've discussed that with the president. And once I have finished that, I'll sit down with him and we'll determine when it's time to make a transition to a new attorney general."
Asked, directly, if he would step down, he responded, "No, I have no intention of doing so now."

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Americans of all political stripes are 'concerned' over allegations of domestic spying with the NSA collecting phone and internet communications.  The Administration says all of this is part of the fight to keep America safe (and yes most of it was started during the Bush years.) The President said, during a speech in San Jose this week, that the data sweep is not targeting Americans and "nobody is listening to your phone calls."

I think we can assume that every phone call, email, text message, web search, online purchase,etc. can be part of the public record.  Privacy restrictions and access rules haven't kept up with the technology...AND it seems the government can override restrictions ANYWAY!!!

This CNN op-ed by Bruce Schneier, from a few months ago, sums it all up:

"The Internet is a surveillance state"

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President Obama's First Term

A Look Back at Week 19 - 2009:

(Excerpts from my blog National Scene -- Week 19)

6/2-6/9/2009:  During his 2008 campaign, candidate Obama described a speech he would one day present to the Muslim world if he became President. This week, in Cairo, Egypt, President Barack Obama delivered that speech. From Cairo University, the President used his outstanding communication skills—and his ability to bridge cultural divides—to speak of a ‘new beginning’ between Americans and Muslims. He addressed the world’s 1.5 billion followers of Islam and received positive responses from Muslims around the globe. Obama also got tough on the economy this week… instructing his Cabinet to move faster with Recovery Act funds, and signaling the urgency of health care reform legislation to Senate leaders.

• Obama Rolls-Up-His-Sleeves for Health Care Reform. On the other hand, maybe we should say—the President is putting on his boxing gloves for what is sure to be a battle to get health care reform passed this year. In a meeting with lawmakers, Obama expressed the importance of health care reform stating, “We can't afford to put this off, and the dedicated public servants who are gathered here today understand that and they are ready to get going, and this window between now and the August recess I think is going to be the make-or-break period. This is the time where we've got to get this running.” In a letter addressed to Senators Ted Kennedy and Max Baucus, the Chairmen of the key committees in the Senate handling health care reform, the President made clear that, “in 2009, health care reform is not a luxury.”


• Obama Visits Buchenwald Concentration Camp.The President visited German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Dresden Castle in Germany and toured the Church of Our Lady. This was followed by a trip to Buchenwald Concentration Camp, where Bertrand Herz, a survivor of the camp, and Nobel Laureate and fellow holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel, joined them. During the emotional visit at the former camp, the President recounted his great uncle, who was part of the 89th Infantry Division, the first Americans to reach a concentration camp. They liberated Ohrdruf, one of Buchenwald's sub-camps.

....Read More on Week 19, 2009

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And Finally.....back to 2013:

"Michelle Don't Play That"

Speaking at a fundraising event Mrs. Obama was heckled by a protester. The first lady left the podium, addressing the heckler directly and reportedly telling her audience,“One of the things I don’t do well is this.” She walked toward the heckler telling the woman she could, “listen to me or you can take the mic, but I’m leaving. You all decide. You have one choice.” The heckler was escorted out of the room.

Here she is with high school students who know how to RESPECT the First Lady of the United States:

First Lady Michelle Obama talks with students from William R. Harper High School in Chicago, Ill., in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, June 5, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)