Marijuana Prohibition in Washington state: "Big Steps"

Rick Steves at a news conference Wednesday announces the filing of a marijuana legalization initiative. Next to Steves are from left: City Attorney Pete Holmes, lawyer Mark Johnson, Dr. Bob Wood and campaign director Alison Holcomb.

Lee (HorsesAss.org):

Two big announcements over the past 48 hours regarding the eventual death of marijuana prohibition:

- For the first time ever, a bill to end marijuana prohibition is being introduced in Congress. Barney Frank and Ron Paul are introducing a bill that would allow states to make the drug legal, while only focusing on interstate smuggling. I doubt the drug will go anywhere, but it’s certainly a milestone that shows how quickly things are starting to change.

- Here in Washington, a group called New Approach Washington is launching an effort to pass a marijuana legalization initiative. The group is led by former U.S. Attorney John McKay, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes, and travel show host Rick Steves. The initiative represents the opposite strategy from what Sensible Washington has been trying to do with I-1149. While Sensible Washington focused on creating an initiative that puts the federal government in a difficult situation (by removing all state penalties), New Approach Washington focused on creating something that they feel is more certain to win a statewide vote. MORE...

Howie P.S.: Here's the coverage in Seattle Times:

Washington state would be defying federal drug laws if an initiative filed Wednesday with the Secretary of State to legalize and regulate marijuana is adopted.

But backers said Wednesday that states can take the lead in ending what they call the nation's failed war on drugs, much as individual states, including Washington, repealed Prohibition before the federal government. MORE...

More coverage from the AP and video (02:21) from KING5 News.

"Frowns All Around: Maddow, Matthews, And Ed Schultz Pan Obama’s Afghanistan Speech" (with video)

MEDIAite with video (15:11) from The ED Show on MSNBC:

President Obama’s announcement that he would be withdrawing troops from Afghanistan throughout the next year appears to, upon first impression, let most of MSNBC’s hosts down. Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews joined host Ed Schultz on his program to assess the speech last night, and while each took their own issue with the withdrawal plan, all three were united in their disappointment that the withdrawal was not happening quickly enough. MORE...

"Obama to Outline Afghanistan Troop Reduction"

AP via C-SPAN:

President Obama will deliver a prime-time speech this evening at 8pm EST. on the withdrawal of some U.S. troops in Afghanistan. At a White House press briefing Tuesday, Spokesperson Jay Carney said the President informed his national security advisors Tuesday morning which plan he will follow.

Media reports indicate that he is expected to announce the reduction of 10,000 troops by the end of this year and the rest of the 33,000 troops associated with the “surge” withdrawn by the end of August 2012. MORE...

Howie P.S.: Go to the link for live coverage @ 5pm Pacific.

Greg Sargent on Obama's Afghan Speech Tonight

Greg Sargent:

* Obama will announce tonight that he’s bringing home 10,000 troops this year and another 23,000 by September 2012 — which would bring home his whole “surge” in a year and a half.

What to watch: Whether Obama effectively makes a persuasive case for continuing the war at the levels he wants to maintain.

* Rising antiwar sentiment means the 2012 candidates and other Republicans will have to tread very carefully indeed in the wake of Obama’s drawdown announcement.

* Senator Carl Levin says Obama’s drawdown would be too slow, and it’ll be interesting to see how much maneuvering room other Dems give Obama on the issue. MORE...

"Rachel Maddow Recites Jon Huntsman’s New Campaign Ad As Beatnik Poetry" (with video)

MEDIAite with video (03:47):

Before today, most of what the media knew about 2012 Republican candidate Jon Huntsman was that he seems to like the desert, motorcycles, and very weird campaign ads. That’s still most of what is known today, but at least his latest ad makes an attempt of assembling facts, and Rachel Maddow tonight made an attempt to find poetry in those words, complete with conga drum and oversized shades. MORE...

Howie P.S.: I was a beatnik once and Jon Huntsman is no beatnik.

"Washington Marijuana Legalization: Former Seattle U.S. Attorney Sponsors State Pot Initiative"

Gene Johnson:

A man who once served as the Justice Department's top official in Seattle said Tuesday that he is sponsoring an initiative to legalize possession of up to an ounce of dried marijuana in Washington state, a measure he hopes will help "shame Congress" into ending pot prohibition.

John McKay spent five years enforcing federal drug laws as the U.S. attorney in Seattle before he was fired by the Bush administration in early 2007. He told The Associated Press on Tuesday that laws criminalizing marijuana are wrongheaded because they create an enormous black market exploited by international cartels and crime rings.
(SNIP)
McKay is joining Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes, travel guide Rick Steves and the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union in forming a group called New Approach Washington. They're pushing an initiative to the Legislature that would regulate the recreational use of marijuana in a way similar to how the state regulates alcohol. Their bill would legalize marijuana for people over 21, authorize the Liquor Control Board to regulate and tax marijuana for sale in "standalone stores," and extend drunken driving laws to marijuana, with blood tests to determine how much of pot's active ingredient is present in a driver's blood. MORE...

"Al Gore Blasts Obama On Climate Change For Failing To Take 'Bold Action'"

AP:

Former Vice President Al Gore is going where few environmentalists – and fellow Democrats – have gone before: criticizing President Barack Obama's record on global warming.

In a 7,000-word essay for Rolling Stone magazine that will be published Friday, Gore says Obama has failed to stand up for "bold action" on global warming and has made little progress on the problem since the days of Republican President George W. Bush. Bush infuriated environmentalists for resisting mandatory controls on the pollution blamed for climate change, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that the burning of fossil fuels is responsible. MORE...

"Melissa Harris-Perry: How Obama Can Capture the Spirit of 2008 in 2012" (video)

Anna Lekas Miller (The Nation) with video (03:45) from MSNBC:

It will be difficult for Obama and his campaign to steal media attention away from the Michele Bachmanns and Rick Santorums of this election season.

That's why it's so important, as The Nation's Melissa Harris-Perry explains in this Sound Off segment, that Obama leverage his position as the incumbent candidate—and his track record of positive legislation—rather than simply recycle his 2008 rhetoric and strategy.

Cenk and 'The Power Panel' on "Super PACs" (video)

TYTShows, video from MSNBC (09:10):

MSNBC host Cenk Uygur speaks with Politico's Josh Gerstein, syndicated columnist and host of TYT Now Tina Dupuy and Huffington Post reporter Amanda Terkel about Super PACs, Fox News/Chris Christie and more.

"Thoughts on Netroots Nation 2011"

Gaius Publius (AMERICAblog):

Feingold, in contrast, seems to have broken loose. Before the conference, I caught this piece from TPM, in which he accuses Dems and Repubs of "corruption" (defined correctly as letting campaign cash cast your vote). In the piece, he's quoted as calling out Steny Hoyer and Claire McCaskill (her). Not the party-loyalist thing to do. And his keynote address rung the same bell. MORE...

"Olbermann is now going head-to-head with Rachel Maddow, his old protege, for the first few minutes of her show." (with video)

HuffPo:

Olbermann responded that he was going after MSNBC, not Maddow personally.

"Sorry," he wrote. "It is a competition." He also pointed out that Maddow had appeared on the last minutes of Lawrence O'Donnell's show, directly opposite Olbermann, to talk about Jon Stewart--a seeming incentive to MSNBC's viewers not to change the channel.

"So I'm assuming you're mad at her for doing the last five minutes of O'Donnell's show in competition with me?" he wrote. "I'm not." MORE...

Howie P.S.: I am posting this, but I'm not really sure why. More news on the media landscape: "Markos Moulitsas Bashes MSNBC On Olbermann's First 'Countdown,' with video (10:40).

Joe Biden: "Wishing you luck‏"

I just got this email from Joe Biden:

Howie --

The President and I have a routine -- we get lunch together almost every Friday.

But all I get is lunch. You could be one of four supporters to have dinner with him soon.

Donate $5 or more today to have your name automatically thrown in the hat here:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner-with-Barack

I'm reminded every week that sitting down for a meal with the President of the United States -- without TV cameras or a big crowd -- is something only a few people will ever get to do.

You're not going to want to miss this chance.

I wish you luck,

Joe

Howie P.S.: Thanks, Joe. If I could reply directly to you this is something close to what my final draft would be like:

Joe---I think you're a good, loyal guy and all that, but "luck" (not even good luck) is all you got?

Sincerely, Howie

"Never Mind The Drawdown: Taliban Talks, Not Troop Numbers, Are What Really Matter for Afghanistan"

Spencer Ackerman (WIRED):

All the D.C. punditocracy is playing a numbers game about President Obama’s troop reductions from Afghanistan. And once, again, that misses the whole point of the war’s next phase. What matters isn’t how many troops Obama withdraws this year, or next. It’s how the drawdown supports Taliban peace talks, the only real ticket out of the war.

Our sources tell us that if the president has even settled on a number to unveil in a Wednesday night speech, he’s not sharing it very widely. Still, the Los Angeles Times confidently reports that he’ll remove 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, with the remaining 20,000 surge forces to follow by 2012. The New York Times and the Washington Post are more circumspect, reporting that the White House is still debating how to structure the drawdown.

Notice that doesn’t even end the 2009 Afghanistan surge, let alone the war. Here’s why. MORE...

Greg Sargent: "Obama should seek Congressional authorization for Libya war"

Greg Sargent:

Another important story from Charlie Savage and Thom Shanker: Since handing control to NATO, the U.S. has struck Libyan forces at least 60 times — making it harder to argue that we’re not embroiled in “hostilities.” MORE...

Howie P.S.: More pushback on Libya via Sargent:

Opinion-makers turning on Obama over Libya: My pick for read of the morning: Yale professor Bruce Ackerman’s piece explaining that Obama’s decision not to seek Congressional authorization for the Libya operation is eroding a key check on arbitrary presidential power and setting a precedent for future presidents to wage war at their convenience.

Matt Taibbi: "Out of Power, Right-Wing Hawks Turn Dovish"

Matt Taibbi:

It’s been interesting, watching the seamless transition many conservatives seem to be making now, from brainless war-drum-beating to Randian isolationism. Six or seven or eight years ago, I seem to remember, anyone who even hinted that not using military force to resolve any foreign policy dispute, no matter how trivial or how imaginary the justification, was to be considered a traitor.

Now, all of the sudden, Republicans are on the outside looking in, and entering a presidential election season, they’ve suddenly decided to play the pacifist card. It makes sense, given the appalling and completely senseless bloodshed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and God knows where else, but it drives me crazy to see the same people who were waving pom-poms for the original invasions suddenly switch sides now. MORE...

"Netroots Nation event reveals unhappiness among Obama supporters"

James Nord (MinnPost):

Former presidential candidate Howard Dean agreed. In a speech to the convention Thursday night, Dean seemed to gloss over his support for Obama in his attempt to rally the crowd.

"Change does not come from Washington, D.C.," he said. "Change comes from the bottom up, and we will make change in our own communities and then it will spread outwards." MORE...

Glenn Greenwald: "Obama Could Be Impeached For Libya Conflict Without Congressional Approval" (with video)

Democracy Now! with video (13:43):

The New York Times recently broke the story that President Obama rejected the views of top administration lawyers when he decided he had the legal authority to continue U.S. military participation in the war in Libya without Congressional authorization. Obama continues to face congressional opposition to the ongoing Libya attack. To examine the legal dimensions of U.S. military intervention, Democracy Now! interviews Glenn Greenwald, a constitutional law attorney and political and legal blogger for Salon.com.

"The idea that presidents can start wars on their own, without any congressional authorization, violates not just the law but the Constitution," Greenwald said. "So sure, in theory, when the president violates the law and the Constitution, that's an impeachable offense. At the same time we have set a very low standard for our tolerance rampant presidential law-breaking." Republican House Speaker John Boehner has called on the White House to further clarify the legal basis for the war in Libya or face a cutoff of war funds. Last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers filed a lawsuit accusing President Obama of violating the War Powers Act of 1973.

FACT CHECK: "McKenna campaigns with faulty data"

Mike Baker (AP):

Rob McKenna launched his campaign for governor recently with a vow to curb the costs of personnel in state government, citing statistics that drew gasps from his audience of supporters.

Problem is, a couple of McKenna's key numbers were wrong, exaggerating the speed of government growth. MORE...

Howie P.S.: I can't remember the last time a public official got smacked around like this around here.

Greg Sargent: "Will House vote to restrict funding for Libya operation?"

Greg Sargent:

In the wake of Charlie Savage’s big story reporting that Obama rejected his lawyers’ advice that he needed Congressional authorization for the war, one key thing to watch this week is whether the House will now take this confrontation to a head by voting to restrict funding for the operation.

If so, Dems will find themselves torn between opposition to executive overreach and the desire to remain loyal to the president, while Republicans will be torn between their desire to box Obama in and their support for strong American engagement abroad.

"Lawrence O’Donnell Explores Obama’s ‘Hypocrisy’ On The War On Drugs" (with video)

Mediaite with video (07:14) from MSNBC:

This week marked the 40-year anniversary of the “War on Drugs” launched by President Richard Nixon, and Lawrence O’Donnell “celebrated” by highlighting the alarming statistics on inmates in the past four decades and the racial disparity in legal arrests.

Opening his segment with a “Just Say No” 1987 PSA, O’Donnell noted the history of the War on Drugs before highlighting its impact: an increase from 500,000 to 2.3 million inmates between 1980 and 2009. Guest Michelle Alexander expanded more on those numbers, calling the war on drugs an “engine of mass incarceration” but noting that drug arrests affect minorities disproportionately despite the fact that “people of color are no more likely to use or sell drugs.” MORE...

Hertzberg on "The Sins of Anthony Weiner"

Hendrik Hertzberg (The New Yorker):

One more factor that comes to mind: the particular media addictions of the political class. I suspect that, unlike normal people, a preponderance of that class—commentators, political reporters and editors, operatives, “strategists,” aides, news producers, etc.—spends several hours of every day watching cable-news television (or having it drone and flicker in the background), reading political blogs, sending and receiving e-mails about the latest political uproar, and talking about same to other members of the same class, on the phone or face to face. Actual office-holding politicians don’t necessarily have the time for all that, but they live inside the bubble it creates. The ambient atmosphere is one of constant overexcitement, hysteria, and sometimes unbearable tension, all focussed on the story of the day. That may be a reason why the protagonists of political scandals are dispatched more quickly and more mercilessly than in the past.

Except when they aren’t, of course. Senator Vitter is still Senator Vitter. But that’s another story. MORE...

OBAMA 2012: "Meet Alex: A Dad and a Summer Organizer" (VIDEO)

BarackObamadotcom, video (02:04):

Alex, a father of four, is devoting two months this summer to volunteering in his community as a summer organizer. Watch the video to hear him explain why, in his own words—then pass it on to a dad who's in your thoughts today.

Van Jones: "How many of you want to have a green CAREER?" (with video)

David Ferguson (RAW STORY) with video (20:24):

In this video clip, via the Netroots Nation YouTube channel, Netroots Nation 2011 keynote speaker Van Jones delivers the fiery last few minutes of his speech. He humorously invokes “Popeye” cartoons, quoting, “I’ve had all I can stand, and I can stands no more!” and encourages attendees to stand up to the smears and hate-mongering spewed daily by Fox News. He then issues a debate challenge to Glenn Beck, daring the Fox News pundit to have him on his show before it goes off the air at the end of this week.

Al Franken: "Democrats Shouldn't Swear Off Super PACs In 2012 Election"

Amanda Terkel (HuffPo):

Franken said that even if the Democrats in Congress had managed to pass the DISCLOSE Act -- their legislative response to Citizens United -- the party would still probably need to create Super PACs and other outside groups since Republicans would be doing the same. He was also pessimistic about the chances of passing strong campaign finance reform, arguing that Democrats would essentially have to control the White House, House and have a 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. MORE...

"Obama’s Views on Gay Marriage ‘Evolving’"

Cheryl Gay Stolberg (NY Times):

And Representative Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat who is gay, said in an interview that a top adviser to Mr. Obama, whom he would not name, asked him this year, “What would be the effect if he came out for same-sex marriage?”

“My own view is that I look at President Obama’s record, he was probably inclined to think that same-sex marriage was legitimate, but as a candidate for president in 2008 that would have been an unwise thing to say,” Mr. Frank said. “And I don’t mean that he’s being hypocritical. I mean that if you live in a democratic society, it is a mix of what you think the voters want and what you think is doable.” MORE...

"REMEMBER THE LAST TIME we thought a republican couldn't be any worse than the Democrat?"

Shaun (Upper Left):

"A public service reminder.."

"Feingold At Netroots" on 'corporate influence on elections' (video)

UpTakeVideo, video (27:08):

Former Senator Russ Feingold (WI-D) attended his first Netroots Nation today. At the conference, he presented a keynote speech. In his speech, he said that he was "eternally grateful" to everyone at Netroots Nation for their support and their "singleminded" pursuance of truth in complicated issues. In his speech, Senator Feingold noted that the most important thing, right now, is to overturn Citizen United, the Supreme Court Decision on campaign finance and corporate influence on elections. He also says that the Disclose Act needs to be passed through Congress. Near the end of his speech, Senator Feingold said that he feared for the identity of the Democratic party.

"Media Overplays Obama Angst at Liberal Netroots Conference"

Ari Melber:

The White House dispatched Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer for a different kind of press conference on Friday in Minneapolis, where he tangled with a prominent writer known only as Angry Mouse. Hundreds of other writers were there, too, since Pfeiffer was headlining a conference for liberal bloggers. MORE...

(Updated)White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer NOW @NN11 (LIVE streaming video)

UPDATE: Here's the archived version of the Dan Pfeiffer interview. Alex Pareene (Salon) writes "White House spokesman and Kos blogger have uncomfortable chat."

Free Speech TV, streaming video.

Howie P.S.: I can't imagine Gibbs doing this particular task very well. Kaili Joy Grey (Daily Kos) is the interviewer.

Patty Murray on Weiner: “Congressman Weiner did the right thing.”

John F. Harris and Erika Lovly (Politico):

By the time Anthony Weiner resigned his House seat in shame over dirty texting, the consensus in Washington political circles was glaringly clear: The Brooklyn Democrat was simply, and belatedly, bowing to the inevitable.

But why, exactly, was it inevitable? MORE...

Howie P.S.: The short answers are 1)The tweets and photos were prima facie evidence and 2) Mr. Weiner didn't have any real friends in Congress.

NN11 Panel: "Structural barriers to progressive success" (video)

FreeSpeechTV, video (01:13:00).

Howie P.S.: Darcey Burner leads a panel with David Waldman (Kagro X) and Ari Berman.

Howard Dean @NN11 on Obama

Evan McMorris-Santoro (TPM):

But he declined to criticize Obama over his choice to continue the fighting without asking Congress to weigh in.

"I would," Dean said when asked if he'd request the congressional war authorization the White House decided not to this week.

"But I'm not willing to go after Obama on that one," Dean said.
(SNIP)
But Dean promised to "work my ass off" for Obama next year -- and he gave the president a pass on Libya.

"There's plenty of things that we can have disagreements on on but that's -- everyone picks their own things that they deeply care about," Dean said. "And I care deeply about social justice in this country." MORE...

(Updated) "What to do when The President is just not that into you."---Hotshot Panel LIVE NOW on NN11 (streaming video)

UPDATE II: Joel Connelly reports from NN11: "Liberals have no love for Obama."

UPDATE: Booman tells us why "I declined to attend the Netroots Nation conference." He also takes on some of the participants on this panel (Jane Hamsher and John Aravosis):

There's a line between principled advocacy for the issues you care about and being a careerist champion of the disgruntled.

Upton Sinclair used to say, ""It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!" That's what happened to a big part of the blogosphere.

Howie P.S.: The comments are also worth a look. Elise Foley (HuffPo) chimes in with "Progressives 'Break Up' With Obama."


Free Speech TV (streaming video).

Howie P.S.: "What to do when The President is just not that into you."

LIVE from Netroots Nation 2011 (streaming video)

Free Speech TV (streaming video).

"On 40th Anniversary Of War On Drugs, Cops Decry Obama's Drug Policy"

Lucia Graves (HuffPo):

Forty years after President Richard Nixon first declared a war on drugs, the officers who fought in it are calling for a truce.

Former law enforcement officials gathered in the District of Columbia on Tuesday to announce their new report. It details the failures of the government's long battle against illegal drugs and denounces the Obama administration's current drug policies.

"Since President Nixon declared 'war on drugs' four decades ago, this failed policy has led to millions of arrests, a trillion dollars spent and countless lives lost, yet drugs today are more available than ever," said Norm Stamper, former chief of police in Seattle and a speaker for legalization-advocacy group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. MORE...

Howie P.S.: You probably recognize Stamper in pinstripes in the photo above.

"Space Needle to Raise Pride Flag During Seattle Pride"

Joe Mirabella (SeattlePI.com):

On Wednesday afternoon, the Space Needle posted a clarifying messaging to their Facebook page after some push back from a handfull of people when the Space Needle issued a fundraising challenge in response to a community call to raise the Pride flag led by Josh Castle’s Change.org petition.

Their new statement makes it absolutely clear that the Space Needle will raise the Pride flag during Seattle Pride weekend. They also want to continue to raise $50,000 through an online fundraiser to help four LGBT charities. This is a real win/win for everyone involved. Those passionate about the Pride flag will get to see it on the Space Needle again. Those who know how desperately our community needs financial support will have a tool to raise $50,000. The Space Needle kicked off the fundraiser with a $5,000 contribution of their own. MORE...

Howie P.S.: If you read The Other Seattle Daily, none of this ever happened.

Katrina vanden Heuvel on The ED Show: "How Far Right Is Michele Bachmann?" (video)

Kevin Donohoe (The Nation) with video from MSNBC-The ED Show (04:13):

During Monday's Republican Presidential Debate, Representative Michelle Bachmann announced her candidacy for President and was quickly declared the night's winner—and a frontrunner for the GOP nomination—by conservative pundits and conservative members of Congress.

Yet The Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel argued on The Ed Show last night that the media has focused too much on Bachmann's self-styled image and not enough on the far-right policy positions and neo-McCarthy politics she has embraced as a member of Congress. Bachmann's rise makes it increasingly likely that Republicans will continue to move to the right and pursue their pro-corporate, anti-middle class agenda into the 2012 election.

Greg Sargent: "Twenty-seven Senators sign bipartisan letter calling on Obama to speed up Afghan withdrawal"

Greg Sargent:

The letter had already been made public, but the final range and number of signatories — which you can view after the jump — is new. The letter’s chief sponsors — Jeff Merkley, Tom Udall and Mike Lee — will officially go public with the full list of signatories later this morning. From the letter:

From the initial authorization of military force through your most recent State of the Union speech, combating al Qaeda has always been the rationale for our military presence in Afghanistan. Given our successes, it is the right moment to initiate a sizable and sustained reduction in forces, with the goal of steadily redeploying all regular combat troops. MORE...

Howie P.S.: And the signers are...

Sincerely,

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)

Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM)

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)


Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN)

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)


Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Connelly: "How politicians avoid exposing themselves"

Joel Connelly:

Why the palpable nervousness and purging of all things spontaneous?

Just look what happened to ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich after the infamous "Meet the Press" appearance where he dissed House Republicans' plan to privatize Medicare as "right-wing social engineering." An Iowa Republican grasped the candidate's hand, held on, telling Gingrich he was a disgrace and should leave the race. It aired on MSNBC's "Daily Rundown" the next morning.

Another gambit is bait and switch. No cameras or computer-stained wretches at the McDonnell fund raiser, but the McKenna adviser quickly added that "we'd like to get you and Rob together" ASAP. McKenna had already worked an interview to cop a flavorless, favorable Seattle Times editorial page column.

With an increasingly partisan press and blogosphere, a new tactic has emerged: allow access or confide in only to those who agree with you. Palin and ex-Govs. Tim Pawlenty and Mike Huckabee use Fox News as a Republican house organ to disclose their intentions. Or make your announcement by video; nobody will interrupt with a critical question. MORE...

"Speakout for Good Jobs Now!" (video)

ProgressiveCongress, video (00:41):

Join the Progressive Caucus as we listen to the People. Introducing on the Speakout for Good Jobs Now! Rebuild The American Dream Tour.

DNC on GOP 2012 Candidate Debate: "What in the world are they talking about?" (video)

DemRapidResponse, video (00:42).

Ellsberg: "Why the Pentagon Papers matter now"

Viet Cong guerrilla suspects led by US infantrymen to an interrogation point near Long Thanh, 40 miles southwest of Saigon, during the Vietnam war on 1 February 1966. Reflecting on the release of the Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg bitterly regrets that he did not release sooner contemporaneous evidence in his possession that contradicted the official version of the 1964 Tonkin Gulf incident, which – just as with Iraq's nonexistent WMD in 2003 – enabled the presidential executive to gain congressional approval for escalating US military involvement in Vietnam. Photograph: AP Photo/Henri Huet.

Daniel Ellsberg (Guardian UK):

The declassification and online release Monday of the full original version of the Pentagon Papers – the 7,000-page top secret Pentagon study of US decision-making in Vietnam 1945-67 – comes 40 years after I gave it to 19 newspapers and to Senator Mike Gravel (minus volumes on negotiations, which I had given only to the Senate foreign relations committee). Gravel entered what I had given him in the congressional record and later published nearly all of it with Beacon Press. Together with the newspaper coverage and a government printing office (GPO) edition that was heavily redacted but overlapped the Senator Gravel edition, most of the material has been available to the public and scholars since 1971. (The negotiation volumes were declassified some years ago; the Senate, if not the Pentagon, should have released them no later than the end of the war in 1975.)

In other words, today's declassification of the whole study comes 36 to 40 years overdue. Yet, unfortunately, it happens to be peculiarly timely that this study gets attention and goes online just now. That's because we're mired again in wars – especially in Afghanistan – remarkably similar to the 30-year conflict in Vietnam, and we don't have comparable documentation and insider analysis to enlighten us on how we got here and where it's likely to go. MORE...

"The New Hampshire Debate In Four Minutes" (video)

HuffPost with video (03:53):

Here is your New Hampshire GOP Primary Debate, which HuffPost's Hunter Stuart has heroically condensed into a four minute helping, in case you were unable or unwilling to watch it last night.

Key takeaways include the fact that the GOP candidates have had a lot of children, and some of them may have been among the four thousand delivered by Ron Paul. Maybe you were delivered by Ron Paul, who knows? You should probably go check your long-form birth certificate and find out. MORE...

Howie P.S.: For some of us, even four minutes is almost too much.

"Former Miss USA Winner and Ralph Nader Partner to Fight Full Body Airport Scanners" (video)

democracynow, with video (16:07):

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to stop Transportation Security Administration's full body scanning procedures by granting an immediate injunction. The full body scans are not mandatory for all travelers, but those who object are subject to "enhanced" pat-downs, extremely invasive manual checks. Civil rights activists argue these initiatives are inappropriate, ineffective, violate the Constitution, pose health concerns related to radiation exposure, and are insensitive to religious practices. Democracy Now! interviews former Miss USA and actress Susie Castillo, who was recently subjected to an enhanced body pat-down and has become a vocal critic of such security procedures. Democracy Now! also talks with longtime consumer advocate Ralph Nader and Amie Stepanovich of EPIC.

"Rob McKenna Media Availability" (video)

tvw.org, video (17:16):

State Attorney General Rob McKenna takes questions regarding his bid for the Governor's Office in 2012 during a rally held in Bellevue.

Papantonio on The Ed Schultz Show: "Is Weiner the last possibility for Democrats?" (with video)

golefttv, with video (05:40):

Liberals are unwilling to call for Anthony Weiner's resignation, and are offering him their undying support. But as Mike Papantonio points out to Ed Schultz, they are acting exactly like the Bush Republicans, who refused to acknowledge that their dear leader might have a few flaws.

"Gridlocking the lives of the jobless"

E. J. Dionne Jr:

Welcome to the miserable world of no-way-out politics.

The economy needs another jolt, but Congress is in gridlock. Democrats, or most of them, realize that their political futures and the well-being of millions of households hang on whether unemployment can be brought down. Yet Republicans have the capacity to block even the smallest steps forward.

Here’s what the Democrats’ agony looks like from the inside. Last Thursday, Senate Democrats devoted their weekly policy lunch to a simple question: What proposals to spur job-creation have any chance of passing Congress, given Republican control of the House and the effective veto power the GOP has in a Senate where a simple majority no longer rules?

The agenda was organized by Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York. He doesn’t need a pollster to tell him that jobs are his party’s make-or-break issue.

“The voters gave us two mandates in 2010, not one,” he said in an interview. “They told us we should reduce the deficit and get rid of wasteful spending. We ignore that at our peril. But they also told us to create jobs, grow the economy and help the middle class stretch their paychecks.” Washington, Schumer says, is ignoring the second instruction.

The senators concluded that the only stimulative measures with any chance of getting Republican votes involve tax cuts. That’s why you’re hearing a lot of talk about extending the payroll tax cut another year, and perhaps extending it to the part of the tax that employers pay. MORE...

"Weinergate has taken focus off Medicare"

Greg Sargent:

This sort of polling — which mirrors last week’s Post survey finding strong opposition to the GOP Medicare plan — underscores why Dem leaders want Anthony Weiner to go: Weinergate has completely taken the focus off the Dems’ preferred storyline about Republicans being on defense big time over Medicare. MORE...

"The Bank Lobby Steps Up Its Attack on Elizabeth Warren"

Ari Berman (The Nation):

"Warren is...an Oklahoma-born Harvard law professor who’s done more than anyone since Ralph Nader to put consumer protection on the national agenda.... GOP Representative Patrick McHenry, who chaired the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing, could barely hide his disgust for the CFPB and Warren, accusing her of lying to Congress and frequently interrupting her answers." MORE...

Coming to Washington state: "Tea Party Too" (video)

fusewashington, video (01:39):

Exposing Rob McKenna's conservative record in Washington.

H/t to Darryl.

Ezra Klein: "What alignment of political forces and events would be needed for America to seriously rethink its drug laws?"

Ezra Klein (WaPo):

The Global Commission on Drug Policy recently reported back . What it said was what most everyone who's looked into this issue already knew: "The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world." A new approach, one based more on realistic interventions than martial metaphors, is needed.

The news, however, was who was saying this: Former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker. Former secretary of state George P. Schultz. Former president of Brazil Fernando Henrique Cardozo. Former secretary-general of the United Nations Kofi Annan. Former president of Switzerland Ruth Dreifuss. And many more important "formers."

So here's my question: What alignment of political forces and events would be needed for America to seriously rethink its drug laws? Would it have to begin in the states? Is it something a law-and-order Republican needs to do?

Howie P.S.: Like the Global Commission, the news here is who is asking the question.

Republicans and the Right: "Making the US Economy Scream"

(Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: Terry Feuerborn, Gregory Hauenstein)

Robert Parry (Consortium News):

...these CIA-type techniques can be very seductive, both to U.S. presidents looking for a quick fix to some international problem and to a political party trying to gain a decisive edge for winning. These methods can be especially dangerous when the other side doesn’t organize effectively to counter them.

The hard reality in the United States today is that the Republicans and the Right are now fully organized, armed with a potent propaganda machine and possessing an extraordinary political will. They are well-positioned to roll the U.S. economy off the cliff and blame the catastrophe on Obama. MORE...

"On War and Peace, the Senate Starts to Move" (with video)

Robert Naiman (Truthout) with video from SenatorWebb, (11:57):

Senators are often much harder to move than House members on peace issues, and sometimes people get demoralized. "No, No!" cries the Greek chorus. "Please don't ask us to call our senators!" In general, your average senator is much more attached to the Empire than your average member of the House, because senators are much more insulated from public opinion. They only have to run every six years, and senators rarely seem to show their faces in Yourtown, USA, to answer your questions about why they are supporting endless war.

But when the Senate starts to move - now you got something. MORE...

"Anthony Weiner Lewd Photo Scandal Targeted In New Ad" (with video))

HuffPo, with video (00:46):

Ending Spending Inc., a 501(c)(4) backed by Chicago Cubs owner Joe Ricketts, is responsible for the spot. In addition to addressing "Weinergate," the clip also highlights other politicians who have become embroiled in sex scandals in recent years.

"Sex, lies and videotape, Washington-style," says a narrator in the beginning of the ad. "In a time of record debt, some in congress are not taking the spending crisis seriously. John Edwards sex tape with a campaign aide, indicted on federal charges. Senator Ensign's tawdry affair with his chief of staff’s wife, pays to keep her quiet. Married Congressman Lee, resigns after topless photo on Craigslist. And now, Weinergate, lewd photos sent to college students, explicit phone calls, one lie after the next. Next time, congressman, please just show us your plan for ending spending." MORE...

Howie P.S.: How to drive the media narrative with juicy gossip and talking about "ending spending."

"Do more on jobs, Dems tell Obama"

Alexander Bolton (The Hill):

Even centrists like Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) say a major infrastructure package funded by tax revenue-generating measures is what’s needed to strengthen the economy. But Conrad wants a smaller package than some of his more liberal colleagues. He has suggested $100 billion in infrastructure spending.MORE...

Greg Sargent: "Republicans have the leverage in the debt ceiling fight"

Greg Sargent:

The Post poll also finds that barely half of Americans support raising the debt limit even with deep spending cuts, and even though large majorities think failing to do so will harm the economy.

It’s a sign public attitudes on the debt ceiling are being shaped by general hostility to government spending. Raising the debt ceiling is not about additional spending, as the White House points out; it’s about the U.S. government honoring its obligations. But nonetheless, the political landscape in this fight clearly favors Republicans. MORE...

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"Seattle Police Late Night Public-Safety Emphasis announced in West Seattle" (with video)

West Seattle Blog with video (22:01):

Just back from the briefing at Don Armeni about this summer’s Seattle Police Citywide Late Night Public Safety Emphasis patrols. While the patrols will target what the announcement one-sheet refers to as “Designated Night Life Zones,” that doesn’t just mean places where you’ll find nightclubs: The two areas singled out in West Seattle are Alki and High Point (specifically, 35th/Graham and a one-block radius in all directions).

The new patrols – which Mayor McGinn and Police Chief Diaz repeatedly stressed will be taken from “on-duty resources,” not overtime or special call-ins – will start this Friday night, and continue Friday and Saturday nights through the summer, until a not-yet-determined date in September. MORE...

Howie P.S.: "West Seattle Blog video of the event including Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, Police Chief John Diaz, Assistant Police Chief Mike Sanford, and Southwest Precinct Citizens Advisory Council chair Pete Spalding, June 6, 2011."

"Medical marijuana: 2 West Seattle signs the industry’s undaunted"

Deanie Schwarz (West Seattle Blog):

In the weeks since the State Legislature’s special session concluded without passage of new legislation to clarify medical-marijuana law, the Northwest Patient Resource Center (NWPRC) has continued forging ahead with its West Seattle plan, despite the impending law change next month, when legislation that did pass takes effect.

We toured the facility and talked there with owner John Davis and partner Anthony Lilly. about both their business and the uncertainty of the regulatory situation. MORE...

Goldy on the Viaduct: "it's gonna fall the f__k down."

Photo (above) is NOT the Alaska Way Viaduct.

Goldy (SLOG):

The High Line is an amazing park, and I'd love to have something like that here in Seattle. Except, in all fairness, the whole reason we're replacing the Viaduct is that it's ready to fall the fuck down. Next big quake and the top level of what could surely be a world class park would pancake the food carts and the porta-potties—and oh yeah, all those precious tourists—beneath it. And even if there's no big quake, the western supports of some sections of the Viaduct are slowly subsiding, meaning that eventually, it's just gonna topple over onto the waterfront, potentially killing even more tourists. And killing tourists just can't be good for business. MORE...

"June 7, 2011,.. the 10-year anniversary of the signing into law of the Bush tax cuts..."

Stephanie Mencimer (Mother Jones):

You probably didn't realize it, but June 7, 2011, is a momentous day in US history. It marks the 10-year anniversary of the signing into law of the Bush tax cuts, a day when President George W. Bush helped replace an unprecedented federal budget surplus with a mountain of debt in order to slash taxes for rich people (including dead ones). The anniversary of the cuts comes at a particularly fortuitous moment, with the political classes deep in debate over the increase in the federal deficit. Now is a good time to take a look back to see just how well those tax cuts have worked out for the country. Some highlights, with data from the Economic Policy Institute: MORE...

"Big tuition hikes a ‘cold,’ ‘ugly reality’ in Wash."

Chris Grygiel (SeattlePI.com):

At a news conference where Boeing and Microsoft announced a $50 million pledge to a college scholarship fund, Gov. Chris Gregoire was asked whether the deep cuts to higher education in the most recent state budget would have been as severe if voters had passed an initiative that would’ve imposed an income tax on the wealthy.

“No,” she said.
(SNIP)
The Boeing and Microsoft scholarship monies are a welcome addition, but there are still hard feelings in some quarters that the companies have called for improvements to higher ed on the one hand while opposing tax mechanisms that could support students and schools. The new scholarship money from the two biggest private employers in the state is generous, but Boeing’s profit for 2010 was $3.3 billion. Microsoft’s profit last year was $18.7 billion. They’re not going to be sweating $5 million annual payments for the next couple years. MORE...

"Weiner Confesses To Tweeting Controversial Picture" (video)

tpmtv, video (02:27).

Howie P.S.: More video from the press conference here, (19;09).

Krugman: "Vouchercare Is Not Medicare"

Paul Krugman:

Medicare is a government-run insurance system that directly pays health-care providers. Vouchercare would cut checks to insurance companies instead. Specifically, the program would pay a fixed amount toward private health insurance — higher for the poor, lower for the rich, but not varying at all with the actual level of premiums. If you couldn’t afford a policy adequate for your needs, even with the voucher, that would be your problem. MORE...

"Gregoire, Microsoft and Boeing ‘transform’ higher ed (You’ve got to admire the chutzpah)"

Chris Grygiel (SeattlePI.com):

Indeed, those two companies, which employ thousands of well-educated, smart people, have been pressuring Olympia for years to make higher education a priority. But at the same time they’ve been railing against new taxes – they apparently think Olympia can adequately pay for a top notch higher education system on positive thoughts and good cheer. The Daily Beast recently listed Microsoft and Boeing as being among the nation’s top 15 corporate tax dodgers.

And the two companies were among those formally opposing Initiative 1098, the measure voters defeated last year which would’ve imposed an income tax on the wealthy to pay for education.

You’ve got to admire the chutzpah. MORE...

"Online Content" in the Northwest

Carl (horsesass.org):

This may come as a surprise to those of you who are new to politics or the Northwest: for a while, The Seattle Times was by far the local newspaper that did online content the best. Sure, it was mostly that they had a guy (Postman) who was willing to do a regularly updated, well written blog. It wasn’t like they had a brilliant strategy, they just sort of lucked into it, as evidenced by the fact that (a) it was just one guy and not the whole newsroom (b) they let him go and (c) since he left they haven’t come close to recreating it. MORE...

"Space Needle won’t fly gay pride flag again"

Vanessa Ho (seattlepi.com):

"The Stranger also quoted Seattle Center spokeswoman Deborah Daoust, who had asked the Space Needle to fly a flag commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Seattle Center. The Space Needle said no.
“They are getting out of the flag-flying business,” Daoust was quoted as saying." MORE...

"Home Depot to American Family Ass.: take a hike, we support gay causes" (with video)

Cory Doctorow (BoingBoing) with video (01:36):

The American Family Association presented Home Depot's board of directors with his organization's demand that they stop funding gay pride events and other events that promote tolerance and diversity. He had a petition with about 500,000 signatures from people who've vowed to boycott the store unless it joins them in their campaign against gay people.

Home Depot Chairman Frank Blake told the AFA to take a hike, stated that Home Depot was proud of its support for diversity, and that's that.

Like all big box stores, Home Depot isn't without its problems, but today, they've shown some real backbone.

WA Dem Chair Dwight Pelz: "Save Our Medicare" (video)

wademocrats, with video (02:00):

Go to http://www.saveourmedicare.org

"Obama Won't Extend Bush Tax Cuts Again: Pledge To House Dems"

Sam Stein (HuffPo):

"'Whatever we agree on, we are still going to have plenty to argue about in 2012,'" a senior administration official said, paraphrasing the president. "'I've said I'm not going to renew the tax cuts for the top two percent. We might agree on tax reform or simplification, but on the upper-income tax cuts we are just going to have to agree to disagree.'" MORE...

Howie P.S.: Not exactly "on the record" but I'll take it.

EvelJustin24: "Tax Rates Under Obama Lower Than Reagan" (video)

24EvelJustin24, video (04:45).

Howie P.S.: Pat Garofalo (Think Progress) writes:

Republicans are very fond of saying that the U.S. has “a spending problem, not a revenue problem.” But the truth is that revenue has plunged due to the recession and to continued misguided tax cuts, and revenue needs to be raised to eventually bring the budget into balance. And Reagan knew that taxes were an important part of the budget equation. After all, he “raised taxes in seven of his eight years in office,” including four times in just two years. MORE...

Papantonio on the ED Schultz radio show: "D..... Republicans Follow D..... Leaders" (with video)

golefttv, with video (07:43):

Mike Papantonio appears on The Ed Schultz Show to discuss Sarah Palin's bus trip to nowhere, and how she has amassed a following of dimwit conservative Teabaggers who hang on her every word.

WA: "State rep to run for US Congress on medical marijuana platform" (with video)

KOMONEWS.com with video (01:59):

SHORELINE, Wash. -- A supply of marijuana-laced edibles help John Florio deal with the pain as he battles what doctors tell him is a terminal case of leukemia.

"All you need is one little bit of this, and it just takes that nausea feeling away," Florio said. "This I just feel not as nauseous. I don't feel dizzy. It helps me a lot better than the pharmaceuticals."

Florio gets his medicine from Green Hope Patient Network in Shoreline. It's one of dozens of medical pot clubs abiding by state guidelines that's still at risk of being raided by federal agents.

"And even this dispensary is now in danger of being determined to be illegal or maybe even shutdown," said Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland. MORE...

"Amanda Terkel On 'The Ed Show' Discusses Debt Limit" (video)

HuffPo with video from MSNBC (11:09):

Huffington Post Senior Political Reporter Amanda Terkel appeared on "The Ed Show" Tuesday night to discuss the debt ceiling. Terkel explained that Republicans were trying to both reinforce their message that spending cuts should be paired with the debt limit, and to "give some of their more conservative members, maybe who were elected by tea party activists, some political cover." MORE...

Howie P.S.: Following Terkel was a second guest on this segment, Sally Kohn from Movement Vision, who explained the difference between government and business debt ratios.

"Interview with Ziggy Marley"

Vanessa Markov (Lithium Magazine):

My father sings, “The stone that the builder refused shall be the head cornerstone.” This is how I see this plant. This society is refusing it, demonizing it, but it will become the head cornerstone of our future. That’s why I said the children need to learn about this part of it first. This is what we need to teach them. MORE...