Friday, July 22, 2011

Getting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Done | The White House

Getting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Done | The White House: "Today, in accordance with this law, I signed the certification that will end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” once and for all. The Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also have certified that the military is ready for the repeal. Sixty days from now, on September 20th, the repeal will be complete and gay men and women will be able to serve their country openly."

Thursday, July 21, 2011

al.com: Mobile : Ken Feinberg agrees to independent audit of Gulf Coast Claims Facility

al.com: Mobile : Ken Feinberg agrees to independent audit of Gulf Coast Claims Facility: "Attorney General Eric Holder said in a letter dated today.

The letter, addressed to Feinberg, recounts a July 7, closed-door meeting between the two, at which Holder relayed concerns he’d heard during a late June visit to Mobile.

Holder wrote that he will hold the Claims Facility to 'the highest standards of efficiency, consistency and customer service,' adding that that resolving spill claims quickly must be the facility’s highest priority, notwithstanding the audit."

Friday, July 15, 2011

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Grief and Questions After Death at Ballpark - NYTimes.com



Grief and Questions After Death at Ballpark - NYTimes.com: "ARLINGTON, Tex. — Josh Hamilton doesn’t make a habit of tossing baseballs to fans in the stands, so when he fielded a foul ball early in Thursday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics, he did what he usually does — he turned it over to the ball girl along the left-field line at Rangers Ballpark.

Shannon Stone, 39, tumbled over a railing Thursday and was fatally injured after catching a ball thrown to him by Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton.  As he did, though, he heard a shout from behind the left-field fence. There stood a father and son, the two of them in the first row of an elevated bank of seats. “Hey, Hamilton, how about the next one?” the father asked."

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

DADT is dead - Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America

In a classic example of the dynamic interaction between legislation and litigation the Log Cabin Republicans have triumphed.  "The circumstances balance of hardships has changed" said a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel in an unsigned Order.  Citing the repeal of DADT by Congress, and the Obama administration's decision not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act  the court has lifted the stay it had granted to the Defense Department - and enjoined enforcement of DADT, freeing soldiers and sailors who were facing removal from the service under the nearly defunct statute.
Key documents in the litigation can be found HERE

Congratulations to the Log Cabin Republicans who have worked successfully to end this injustice and salvaged something of the Republican Party's nearly extinguished ability to claim that it is still the party of Lincoln.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Chantix, Smoking Cessation Drug, Linked to Cardiovascular Problems - NYTimes.com

Chantix, Smoking Cessation Drug, Linked to Cardiovascular Problems - NYTimes.com: "Chantix, the best-selling prescription drug for smoking cessation, was linked to an increased risk of a heart attack, stroke or other serious cardiovascular event for smokers without a history of heart disease compared with smokers who did not use the drug, according to a Canadian medical journal report released on Monday."