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Troy Davis Allowed to Present Evidence to Court
From the Atlanta-Journal Constitution: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday gave Troy Anthony Davis the chance to present evidence in court that the condemned man has said for years will clear him of the murder of a Savannah police officer. The high court ordered a federal judge to “receive testimony and findings of fact as…
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Are We Mad About Mad Men?
A few thoughts about Latoya Peterson’s take on Mad Men from Double X last week: She’s right that to the extent that the show is about the social dynamic of the late ‘50s/early ‘60s, there’s been relatively little attention paid to racial issues on the show’s first two seasons—and the black characters have been fairly…
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First Step: Pass the Bill
From The American Prospect: The potential death of the public option has raised considerable anger on the liberal side of the spectrum. However, while an important element of the health reform plan, it’s still only an element, and I think it’s become something more than just a policy idea. It’s become the Alamo: a symbol…
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Madison and the White House, Through the Memoir of a Slave
WASHINGTON — In 1809, a young boy from a wealthy Virginia estate stepped into President James Madison’s White House and caught the first glimpse of his new home. The East Room was unfinished, he recalled years later in a memoir. Pennsylvania Avenue was unpaved and “always in an awful condition from either mud or dust,”…
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District 9 and the Nigerian Hustler
District 9, one of the most anticipated alien flicks in decades, opened this weekend. And yes, I nearly went into cardiac arrest trying to find tickets and seats for Saturday. Rest assured, I made it happen. I love sci-fi films. I particularly love sci-fi/alien films that make intriguing social commentary on humanity and the humans…
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Usain Bolt Covers 100 Meters Much More Quickly than Everyone Else
From ESPN: Usain Bolt crossed the finish line, saw his record-setting time on the clock and spread his arms as if he were soaring like a bird. About all this guy can’t do is fly. And by saving his celebration until after the finish line this time, he showed how fast a man really can…
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Um…Isn't the Public Option Kind of the Point?
From the NY Times: The White House, facing increasing skepticism over President Obama’s call for a public insurance plan to compete with the private sector, signaled Sunday that it was willing to compromise and would consider a proposal for a nonprofit health cooperative being developed in the Senate. The “public option,” a new government insurance…
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Mike Vick Should Man-Up
Like alot of youse, I watched NFL football quarterback and star – Michael Vick on 60 Minutes last night with Tony Dungy by his side. Me? I’m suspicious of apologies that require co-signers. He’s done his time, and that’s great. I think crimes against children, women and animals are crimes of the soul. If Vick…
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What the U.S. Can Do for Congo
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s recent trip to Africa included a noteworthy visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a brief stop at Goma, the epicenter of the violence in the east. Clinton’s stopover marked a significant departure from previous U.S. policy with Congo. Her visit, undoubtedly the highest-level visit by an American dignitary ever, represents…
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Where’s the Beef in Africa?
On Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo—part of a seven-nation tour of sub-Saharan Africa—a flurry of attention focused on her sharp reply to a local student who seemed to question her role as chief diplomat of the United States. All the attention overshadowed the substance of…