Governor Scott Walker Said to be Leaving Republican Presidential Race
This New York Times story says Governor Scott Walker is about to drop out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Thanks to Political Wire for the link. …read more
Albany Times Union Carries Discussion of Why the Women’s Equality Party is in Legal Trouble
Casey Seiler has this interesting analysis of the legal problems of the Women’s Equality Party, in the Albany, New York Times Union. Seiler suggests that the Attorney General and the Comptroller both have motives for their refusal to sign any documents that would give the Women’s Equality Party a legitimate set of state party officers. …read more
The Day the Internet Died
For many (not me), it was one of the most terrifying hours in the history of their lives. From about 10:45 AM EST to 11:50 AM EST on Sunday, September 20th, 2015–mainly throughout the Northeast of the United States of America (as compared to the United States of Mexico…did you know that is Mexico’s official name?)–various websites and services like Netflix (OMFG!! Personally, I don’t give a shit about that), Amazon (including the Amazon Echo and Instant Video), Nest products, Reddit (another one I don’t give a shit about), Medium, IMDB, SocialFlow (another one I don’t care about…actually, I don’t …read more
Cop Carelessly Runs Over “Role Model” Teen, Dept then Attacks the Dead Teen’s Character
Rialto, CA – A family is in mourning and a community grieving after losing a beloved young man. This recent high school graduate and former football player tragically lost his life at the hands of a negligent police officer.
On Sunday, September 13th, 19-year-old Anthony Camacho was crossing the street at the intersection of Rosewood Street and Cactus Avenue shortly before 9 pm when he was fatally struck by the vehicle of an inattentive police officer. The officer was reportedly responding to an unrelated call of a suspicious person at an apartment complex when he came barreling through the neighborhood, without …read more
Disturbing Video Shows Cop Threaten to “Lock Up” College Kids for Handing Out Pocket Constitutions
Glen Ellyn, IL – In an infuriating video, two students at the College of DuPage, a public university, were on campus exercising their First Amendment rights by passing out pocket Constitutions and fliers that read “America is a free speech zone,” when approached by a police officer and threatened with arrest.
Filmed ironically only one day after “Constitution Day,” the footage show the officer infringe on the students’ right to freely express their political opinions by threatening to kidnap and throw them in a cage, claiming they are “soliciting.”
The officer tells the students that they need to get a permit and …read more
Canadian Green Party Says it will Soon Sue over Debate Exclusion
Canada is holding a national election on October 19. Although the Green Party leader, Elizabeth May, has been included in some televised debates, she has been or will be excluded in certain other debates. According to this story, the Green Party is about to sue the sponsors of the debates that are exclusionary.
The Green Party is one of four Canadian parties that has candidates for House of Commons in a majority of the districts. The other three such parties are being included in all debates. …read more
Read James Clymer’s Written Testimony on Pennsylvania Ballot Access Bill
On September 22 a Pennsylvania State Senate Committee will hear testimony on SB 495, the ballot access bill. Pennsylvania legislators accept written testimony in advance of legislative hearings. Here is the written testimony of James Clymer, a Pennsylvanian and the former national chair of the Constitution Party.kk …read more
Libraries, Tor, and free speech
Libraries are supposed to be forums for information and ideas, and the Library Bill of Rights states, “Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information …
Polls Suggest Some Likelihood that California Republicans Won’t Have a Member on the November 2016 Ballot for U.S. Senate
Two strong Democrats are seeking the California U.S. Senate open seat in 2016. They are Attorney General Kamala Harris and U.S. House Member Lorettz Sanchez. According to this story, both of them have been endorsed by a substantial number of California Democratic U.S. House members. The story mentions a recent poll of the entire electorate that shows Harris at 26% and Sanchez at 17%. Three fairly prominent Republicans have also announced for the seat, but none of them has as much voter support as 10%.
If the current California system is not changed before the 2016 election, …read more
Former Advisor to President George W. Bush Suggests if Trump Wins Republican Nomination, Someone Like Mitt Romney Might Run Independently
According to this story, Mark McKinnon, former chief media strategist to President George W. Bush, said on National Public Radio on September 17 that if Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination, Republican leaders who oppose Trump should consider qualifying an independent ticket. McKinnon suggested Mitt Romney might be such a candidate. …read more