Author: Source

Why Marijuana Legalization is Gaining Momentum

 Source  April 9, 2009  3 Comments on Why Marijuana Legalization is Gaining Momentum

Back in February, we detailed how record numbers of Americans — although certainly not yet a majority — support the idea of legalizing marijuana. It turns out that there may be a simple explanation for this: …

Continue Reading Why Marijuana Legalization is Gaining Momentum

The Rise of Glenn Beck’s Bizarre Media Militia

 Source  April 9, 2009  36 Comments on The Rise of Glenn Beck’s Bizarre Media Militia

Fox News is playing an increasingly erratic and dangerous game by embracing paranoid insurrection rhetoric and conspiracy theorists.

After a night of drinking, followed by an early-morning argument with his mother, with whom he shared a Pittsburgh apartment, 22-year-old Richard Poplawski put on a bulletproof vest, grabbed his guns, including an AK-47 rifle, and waited for the police to respond to the domestic-disturbance call his mother had placed.

Continue Reading The Rise of Glenn Beck’s Bizarre Media Militia

Are Republicans Blackmailing Obama Over Bush’s Torture Memos?

 Source  April 6, 2009  1 Comment on Are Republicans Blackmailing Obama Over Bush’s Torture Memos?

Senate Republicans are now privately threatening to derail the confirmation of key Obama administration nominees for top legal positions by linking the votes to suppressing critical torture memos from the Bush era.

A reliable Justice Department source advises me that Senate Republicans are planning to “go nuclear” over the nominations …

Continue Reading Are Republicans Blackmailing Obama Over Bush’s Torture Memos?

The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans

 Source  April 3, 2009  7 Comments on The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans

by Patty Mooney

How many times have you passed up a sleeping figure underneath a blanket or tarp on the darkened streets of your city? Have you ever considered that this could be one of our war heroes?

Continue Reading The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans

Why socialism? Because of Wednesdays.

 Source  April 2, 2009  17 Comments on Why socialism? Because of Wednesdays.

Socialism is once again up for discussion, so I thought it was time to propose an answer to the question: why socialism? And my answer is: Wednesday. What is Wednesday? Wednesday — or as my old man used to call it: hump-day — is the third day in the work-week.

Continue Reading Why socialism? Because of Wednesdays.

Thanks California Republicans for Screwing the Middle Class

 Source  April 2, 2009  2 Comments on Thanks California Republicans for Screwing the Middle Class

It was just over a month ago that our State Legistlators and our Governor were telling us that “everyone had to give up something to repair the state’s finances”. It made a good sound bite and attempted to create a shared sense of urgency. But that’s about it, it’s not the reality of the 42 billion dollar fix.

Continue Reading Thanks California Republicans for Screwing the Middle Class

California’s Tent Cities Grow

 Source  April 2, 2009  3 Comments on California’s Tent Cities Grow

FRESNO, Calif. – As the operations manager of an outreach center for the homeless here, Paul Stack is used to seeing people down on their luck. What he had never seen before was people living in tents and lean-tos on the railroad lot across from the center.

“They just popped up about 18 months ago,” Mr. Stack said. “One day it was empty. The next day, there were people living there.”

Continue Reading California’s Tent Cities Grow

We the People to General Motors CEO: “You’re fired!”

 Source  April 1, 2009  0 Comments on We the People to General Motors CEO: “You’re fired!”

by Michael Moore

Nothing like it has ever happened. The President of the United States, the elected representative of the people, has just told the head of General Motors — a company that’s spent more years at #1 on the Fortune 500 list than anyone else — “You’re fired!”

I simply can’t believe it. This stunning, unprecedented action has left me speechless for the past two days.

Continue Reading We the People to General Motors CEO: “You’re fired!”

Robb Field Skateboard Park: No helmets and no supervisors

 Source  March 30, 2009  5 Comments on Robb Field Skateboard Park: No helmets and no supervisors

When the city eliminated supervision at skate parks this year to save money, the parks filled with gleeful skaters who no longer had to pay $5 and be under the watchful eye of a supervisor.

Problems followed. The skate park at Robb Field at Ocean Beach was repeatedly tagged with graffiti, forcing city employees to make regular trips to clean it up. Reports surfaced of people drinking and smoking at the skate parks. Parks employees and police officers started checking in on the parks regularly.

Continue Reading Robb Field Skateboard Park: No helmets and no supervisors

San Diego really is a police state: SDNN refused press passes by police until they “prove” themselves

 Source  March 26, 2009  13 Comments on San Diego really is a police state: SDNN refused press passes by police until they “prove” themselves

by Pat Flannery

I recently got dramatic proof of this shortly after joining a team of young journalists at San Diego News Network, SDNN, a new online news journal. I was supposed to become its political analyst and columnist. I was looking forward to probing the underbelly of San Diego politics with young idealistic journalists.

Unfortunately it was not to be.

Continue Reading San Diego really is a police state: SDNN refused press passes by police until they “prove” themselves

County Supervisor resignations could lead to hand-me-down appointments

 Source  March 25, 2009  3 Comments on County Supervisor resignations could lead to hand-me-down appointments

by Donald Cohen

San Diego political community is buzzing with rumors that long-time County Supervisors Greg Cox and Ron Roberts will retire sometime soon. The heart of the story is that instead of serving out their remaining years, one or both might resign mid-term allowing the County Board to appoint a successor.

This would presumably be the preferred choice of the local Republican establishment, …

Continue Reading County Supervisor resignations could lead to hand-me-down appointments

‘This is not a wall.’

 Source  March 20, 2009  1 Comment on ‘This is not a wall.’

My new friend, who works for the Border Patrol, resists my use of the word “wall” to describe the vast system of barriers being erected along the length of the U.S.-Mexico border. He would prefer that I – and others who oppose current U.S. border policy – talk about the barriers by referring to them as “tactical infrastructure.”

Continue Reading ‘This is not a wall.’