"Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties." -- John Milton

Dylan Ratigan: Climbing Everest: Get Money Out's Next Steps

We live in a system of legalized bribery. You and I have committed to end it. This is a monumental task that will be achieved exclusively by our ability to form a massive, singularly focused coalition.

People Are Awesome: Superintendent Tells Critics of Teen Lesbian Couple to Buzz Off

When students voted a lesbian couple as homecoming king and queen at San Diego's Patrick Henry High School last week, perhaps they were too young and naïve to know that controversy was inevitable If it had just been Haileigh Adams, at right, elected queen, nothing would ha …

Citizens United Going Down? Democrats Introduce Constitutional Amendment To Overturn Ruling

The Supreme Court may treat corporations like people who can spend whatever they want on elections, but the American people don't have to accept it, said Democratic senators who proposed a constitutional amendment Tuesday to retake control of campaign spending. The amendment,  …

Vehicle injures three at Cameron Village restaurant :: WRAL.com

Um, yeah... So I was one of those three. But I am fine! Just bumps and bruises. Of the 2 i was with, one is ok. The other was seriously hurt and is still at the hospital but will be ok.

House beats abortion rules veto, falls short on voter IDs

RALEIGH, N.C. — Legislation placing additional restrictions on abortions moved within one step of becoming law after the state House voted Tuesday to override Democratic Gov.

Statement by the President on Certification of Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell | The White House

President Obama has  certified and notified Congress that the requirements for repeal have been met.  ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will end, once and for all, in 60 days—on September 20, 2011. Yippee!

Why Facebook wants your phone number

Facebook wants your address and mobile phone number. But it's not sure exactly how to ask.

New Surgical Protocol?

Ok, so I have no idea how new a protocol or procedure is or is not, but I had never encountered it before, and neither had my family.

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Dating in the Internet Age

Was it really so long ago that there wasn't an internet, much less internet dating? We didn't have internet when I was a kid - it was just emerging as a market force in the early 1990s when I was in middle school.

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The Way We Treat Our Troops - NYTimes.com

You can only hope that the very preliminary peace efforts in Afghanistan bear fruit before long.

The Crisis Comes Ashore

The continuing undersea gusher of oil 50 miles off the shores of Louisiana is not the only source of dangerous uncontrolled pollution spewing into the environment.

Iranian cleric blames quakes on promiscuous women

Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi told worshippers in Tehran last Friday that they had to stick to strict codes of modesty to protect themselves. "Many women who do not dress modestly lead young men astray and spread adultery in society which increases earthquakes," he said.

Budget cuts cause community rally around Garner library

As Wake County braces for more budget cuts, one proposal would close the Southeast Regional Library in Garner. But many in the community have plans to fight for it.

Why bipartisanship can't work: the expert view

I got this note from someone with many decades' experience in national politics, about a discussion between two Congressmen over details of the stimulus bill: "GOP member: 'I'd like this in the bill.' "Dem member response: 'If we put it in, will you vote for the bill?'

Michelle Obama announces boost for troop support programs

Stepping up her focus on military families, first lady Michelle Obama announced Tuesday an increase in federal spending for support programs, a three percent hike that raises federal investment to a record $8.8 billion for the 2011 budget.

Town, residents to hold community meeting Feb. 4 on Garner library

Town Hall will join local residents for a community meeting Feb. 4 to discuss the county library's preliminary recommendation to close Garner's popular branch if deep budget cuts are needed.

Olbermann: U.S. government for sale

Finally tonight, as promised, a Special Comment on the Supreme Court's ruling today in the case titled "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission."

Obama administration formally declares danger of carbon emissions

The Obama administration formally declared Monday that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions pose a danger to the public's health and welfare, a move that lays the groundwork for an economy-wide carbon cap even if Congress fails to enact climate legislation.

Obama Issues Order for More Troops in Afghanistan - NYTimes.com

The White House said Monday that President Obama had issued orders to send thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan, relaying his decision to military leaders late Sunday afternoon during a meeting in the Oval Office.

NY Court of Appeals Upholds Marriage Recognition Policy

The New York Court of Appeals ruled today that government benefits may be provided to same-sex couples who are legally married elsewhere and residing in New York.  The 4-3 decision, by the state's highest court, held that public officials have the authority to grant public emp …

Is Europe Really On Track To Meet Its Kyoto Goals?

There's a fairly basic question about climate policy that gets asked a lot: Can a cap-and-trade program actually cut carbon-dioxide emissions? Set aside the question of cost and the endless debate over whether a mythical carbon tax would be sleeker.

DADT Likely to Be Part of Defense Bill

Repealing "don't ask, don't tell" will likely be included as part of next year's Department of Defense authorization bill in both chambers of Congress, Congressman Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, said Wednesday.

From the I @!$%# You Not File: Business Aims to Relax Bans on Products Made with Child & Slave Labor

We've seen corporations use "free trade" agreements to quietly camouflage their push for exploitable labor in broader arguments about globalization. What we haven't seen is corporate special interests openly push for U.S.

Special Operations Chiefs Quietly Sway Afghanistan Policy

Two senior military officers from the shadowy world of Special Operations are playing a large and previously unreported role in shaping the Obama administration's Afghanistan and Pakistan strategy, a move that underscores that the internal debate has moved past a rigid choice b …

Terrorism amendment dies in Senate

The Senate has defeated an amendment that would have kept the plotters of the September 11, 2001 attacks out of ordinary federal courts—leaving military commissions as the only option for trying the terror suspects.

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