While April Fires Rage, Gov. Rick Perry Issues “Proclamation For Days Of Prayer For Rain In Texas”

by toma

What’s a Texas governor to do?

The state, said Texas Forest Fire Service spokesman Marq Webb, is burning from “stem to stern.”

Tragic times. There are myriad tales of people fleeing for their lives or standing around helplessly while their houses burn. But, as they look to their leaders for answers, what do Texans get? This:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim the three-day period from Friday, April 22, 2011, to Sunday, April 24, …

Tyler Clementi Roommate Dharun Ravi Charged With Hate Crime

by toma

In a legal move signaling the seriousness with which local officials are taking the Tyler Clementi suicide, Middlesex County prosecutors yesterday released a 15-count indictment against Tyler’s roommate Dharun Ravi. Because the indictment includes 4 counts of bias intimidation — a hate crime — Ravi could face up to 10 years in prison.

Ravi had already faced invasion of privacy charges along with another Rutgers student, Molly Wei. It took prosecutors months to present their case to a grand jury alleging that Ravi targeted Clementi because of his sexual orientation and tried to broadcast the encounter online to …

Tennessee Senate Advances “Don’t Say Gay” Bill

A state Senate committee in Tennessee has approved what is being called the “don’t say gay” bill, which would make it illegal for schools to discuss any sexual behavior – other than heterosexual behavior – before the ninth grade.  Sen. Stacey Campfield has been pushing this for six years.

Campfield contends homosexuality is being discussed in classrooms. Spokesmen for the Board of Education and the state Department of Education told the committee they are unaware of any such activity.

Campfield claims he’s “not homophobic” and that while he believes in tolerance, he does not believe in acceptance.

I’m all for …

Nevada Senator John Ensign To Resign

Republican Nevada Senator John Ensign will resign his seat May 3 as the Senate ethics committee is investigating his handling of an affair with a legislative aide.

In June 2009 Ensign publicly admitted that he had an affair with Cynthia Hampton, who was his political treasurer and was married to Doug Hampton, Ensign’s administrative assistant. The Ensign and Hampton families lived in the same neighborhood outside Las Vegas and were considered the best of friends.

In 2008, when the affair became known to the other spouses, Ensign dismissed both Hamptons from his political and legislative payroll. Ensign’s parents, wealthy casino …

Donald Trump’s Companies Had Four Bankruptcies

An ABC report shows that companies bearing Donald Trump’s name have declared bankruptcy four times, in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2009. Trump explains it like a typical way of doing business.

“I’ve used the laws of this country to pare debt. … We’ll have the company. We’ll throw it into a chapter. We’ll negotiate with the banks. We’ll make a fantastic deal. You know, it’s like on ‘The Apprentice.’ It’s not personal. It’s just business,” Trump told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos last Thursday.

This is now how the average American faces bankruptcy.

Doug Heller, the executive director of Consumer Watchdog, said …

On Thursday’s Radio Show…

• Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) tells Alan why he’s demanding that Republicans allow Congress to raise the debt ceiling without conditions.

• Unelectable? Alan questions how Republicans can win the White House in 2012 when so many of them embrace fringe beliefs.

• Alan speaks with Father Jonathan Morris about his new book, God Wants You Happy.…

Jesse Jackson Says Donald Trump Is “Using His Celebrity To Be Hurtful”

Jesse Jackson came on radio with me Wednesday night to urge Donald Trump to stop playing the birther game. There are serious issues that need to be addressed, says Jackson, and Trump is not using his visibility for good.  We also discussed how President Obama is doing, and where Rev. Jackson thinks the president can improve his message. Say what you want about Jesse Jackson; he has always advocated for the poor, and spoken out on injustice.  As a two-time presidential candidate (1984 and 1988) whose presence on the campaign trail resulted in millions of new voters registering, Jackson is …

Huckabee To Beck: “Stick To Conspiracies That Can’t Be So Easily Debunked By Facts”

After Glenn Beck went after Mike Huckabee by calling him “progressive,” Huckabee struck back. Beck doesn’t like that the former Arkansas governor and health enthusiast supports Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity efforts for kids.  To Beck, it appears,  caring for children’s health means you are a radical lefty loon.  (h/t Mediaite)

This week Glenn Beck has taken to his radio show to attack me as a Progressive, which he has said is the same as a “cancer” and a “Nazi.” What did I do that apparently caused him to link me to a fatal disease and a form of government …

Drill Baby Drill? It Won’t Lower Gas Prices.

by Stuart Shapiro

With gas prices rising and turmoil throughout the Mideast, the debate of whether to open up new US fields for drilling has been joined again.  Prominent in 2008 (Drill Baby Drill!) and 2010 (Spill Baby Spill!), the most common justification for increased domestic drilling is to lower gas prices.  A new report argues that such drilling will have no effect on what we pay at the pump now or in the future:

Economic analysis of oil markets shows that expanding domestic oil production is “not likely [to] have a signifi cant impact on prices that consumers pay …

Melania (Mrs. Donald) Trump Wants Obama To Show His Birth Certificate

Melania Trump says her husband is not pulling a publicity stunt, just that he is “very passionate about the country.” She tells Joy Behar that The Donald is “the most brilliant negotiator” with a “genius mind.” Mrs. Trump refuses to accept that the president has already shown his birth certificate.

…

Jerry Seinfeld Stands Up To Trump

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who doesn’t often trade in politics, canceled an appearance at a benefit for a foundation headed by Donald Trump’s son, Eric. Seinfeld did so because of his disagreement with Trump touting the issue of President Obama’s citizenship.  This did not sit well with The Donald, who wrote Seinfeld a scathing letter in response.

“I just learned you canceled a show for my son’s charity,” Trump fired off in a scorching letter to Seinfeld yesterday, “because of the fact that I am being very aggressive with respect to President Obama, who is doing an absolutely terrible job as …