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Rest in Peace, Ted Kennedy

The Lion of the Senate tried to live just long enough to achieve universal health care in America, but the demagoguery of the Republicans and the squabbling among Democrats could not get it done before Congressional recess.

After Ted’s brother John died, John’s legacy was used to finally pass one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history which had also been postponed for decades and fought with bloody lies and nasty rhetoric:  the Civil Rights Act.

Perhaps Ted’s death — like his brother’s — can be used as a legacy to finally put the USA on an equal footing with other industrialized nations

To achieve the principle Ted Kennedy fought his entire life for:

No one in America should die of poverty.

Justice Sotomayor

Mark’s NPR Interview: Justice Sotomayor and the FBI

Above is Mark’s interview on NPR (“Sound Off with Sasha”) discussing the certain-to-be next Justice on the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor

In the interview, many people also called to comment on Mark’s recent front-page Alternet article:
Why the FBI Covered Up a White Supremacist/Islamic Terrorist alliance

The Inside Scoop on the DC Marriage Lawsuit

I have the inside scoop because I’ve been hired as counsel to the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the largest and one of the oldest political organizations in the District of Columbia that advocates on behalf of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

I attended the hearing today. The proponents of discrimination — mostly ministers — recognized that time had largely run out for their challenge (mostly due to their waiting 16 days to file a challenge in the first place). Thus they are asking the court to do an extraordinary thing: to stay the legislation from going into effect. The court asked what authority it had to do that. All the proponents could suggest was the “inherent authority of the court.” (That’s legalese for “I punt.”)

But the proponents will have until Monday to find some legal authority. I — and the City attorneys — will respond by Wednesday. And they will reply by Friday. We can expect a ruling sometime by July 6. If they do not obtain a stay, there will be no hearing on the merits and the referendum on recognition of out-of-the-District marriages will be dead.

On the other hand, it is possible I won’t be able to defend my clients–the only people in the lawsuit actually affected by the legislation–at all. The Fundamentalist Christian Alliance Defend Fund is seeking to keep the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club from intervening in the lawsuit. They have until Monday to tell the court why.

Memorial Day

Let us never forget those who serve our country and have served our country.

Often mistreated by the nation’s political leaders, it is their lives that are on the front lines.

Let us never blame them for policies that are pursued by those in Washington who care too little about them.

Congratulations, Maine!

5 down, 45 (and DC) to go.