Why Free Speech Isn't Private Speech

Washington State recently enacted a domestic partnership registry and granted most of the same rights held by married people to domestic partners. Needless to say, the wingnut fringe of the Republican party came unglued, and launched a petition effort to repeal the law. The organization sponsoring the drive has sought and received a temporary restraining order to keep the names of the petition signers secret.

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NOMs Hip 2M4M Campaign

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), one of the extreme right-wing fringe groups, has what they think is a hip new campaign they called 2M4M. Kind of like the tea-baggers, I’m guessing they didn’t think through the title completely before going public. But that’s just fine, since it gives us all plenty to laugh about. And Joe Sudbay at Americablog has tipped me off to hilarious video by Andy Cobb about the 2M4M initiative by NOM.

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Bill Moyers Explains Money, Politics and Healthcare Reform

As is so often the case, Bill Moyers does another outstanding job of pointing out the differences in how healthcare is viewed. I continued to be amazed at the absolute stupidity of people who can’t understand that their version of “free market” healthcare is not, and will not work. In the free-market, companies are out to make a profit. They don’t make a profit by paying for your care.

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And That's The Way It Was

Despite his having been out of the public eye for so long, it’s sad to know that Walter Cronkite, who died yesterday at the age of 92, is some how no longer there, in the background, keeping alive that last vestige of the true TV journalist. I’m old enough to remember Cronkite, and all the memorable events he reported. Hope you enjoy the video clips, including Johnny Carson’s hilarious take on Cronkite’s retirement.

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My First and Last Word On Michael Jackson

I know it would appear I’m late with this post about the recent death of Michael Jackson, but the drama continues to unfold and will for some time to come. The story is no where near it’s end, but the dust is settling some, and media hype is now down to a dull drone. I thought this would be a good time for me to offer my opinion.

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And To The Republic…One Nation?

One can’t be as opinionated as I, and not post a message on Independence Day. As I have stated before, I remain concerned about the condition of our Republic. We no longer seem to be one nation…we have devolved into red and blue states, with the extreme right and left pulling the center apart. We’ve become a nation of “haves” and “have nots” We have lost touch with that primary Constitutional principle of “the common good.”

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Something Amazing

The internet is great because you sometimes stumble across things that just take your breath away. I came across such a thing this morning. What is most likely one of the largest and most intricate paper sculptures (and certainly one of the most beautiful) is on display in Tokyo at an exhibition called Umi no Ue no Oshiro (A Castle On the Ocean ).

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