Solar Eclipse First Since 1994, Next One Is 2023

The Western U.S. will see the “Ring of Fire” Sunday night.

The phenomenon occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun, but only blocks about 90% of the star, leaving a ring which glows brightly around the blackened-out moon.

The eclipse will be visible across several western states, including Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and parts of Texas.

But don’t look at the eclipse directly.

Areas of China and Japan will also be able to see Sunday’s eclipse.

“I recommend anyone who has the chance to see this, because while they do happen occasionally, it’s a …

RNC Chair Claims It’s Democrats Who Want Reverend Wright Story Circulating

Reince Priebus blamed the Democrats on CNN’s State of the Union for a story that Republicans keep pushing.

I know how it works. It’s the Democrats and Barack Obama that want the story out there. He wants the story to play out in the media, because for every day that [Obama adviser] David Axelrod and this President don’t have to talk about their broken promises when it comes to jobs, the debt, and the deficit — the more time they can talk about hypotheticals that may or may not come true — is a day they want to win on. …

Karl Rove: Dredging Up Reverend Wright Now Is “Stupid”

Karl Rove told Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday that making Jeremiah Wright a campaign issue is “stupid.”

“Trying to dredge up Jeremiah Wright, right or wrong, after this issue was litigated four years ago by John McCain, who decided not to litigate it, was stupid. And so, you want to try and do things that are helpful, not hurtful.”

…

Nancy Pelosi: Democrats Will Retake The House In November

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Democrats will take the House back in November.

[George] Stephanopoulos asked what Pelosi thought would happen if the election were held today. Pelosi said the Democrats would likely retake the House of Representatives, though it probably would end up in an almost-even split between the two parties.

…

This Is Why Rush Limbaugh Is So Entertaining: Now He’s A Reverse-Birther

Rush Limbaugh is a reverse-birther. The recent story that President Obama’s former literary agent mistakenly listed him as being born in Kenya had birthers excited. But Limbaugh has a more clever take.

According to him, it wasn’t a simple error at all. Obama pretended that he was born in Kenya (yes, you have that right), so he could take advantage of affirmative action programs that are allegedly offered to people from Africa…

Just a few months ago, Limbaugh was doubting the legitimacy of Obama’s birth certificate, now he’s saying that the fact that he was born in Hawaii is …

NAACP: Same-Sex Marriage Is A Civil Right

The NAACP passed a resolution endorsing same-sex marriage as on a par with civil rights.

“The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure political, social and economic equality of all people,” Board Chairwoman Roslyn M. Brock said in a statement. “We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law…

“Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP’s support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people” said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous, a strong backer of gay …

Convicted Lockerbie Bomber Dead

Abdel Baset al-Megrahi died three years after he was let out of prison because of bad health.

The Libyan national died at age 60 after a long fight with prostate cancer, his relatives told the Associated Press. He was the only person ever convicted in connection with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, a passenger plane that exploded over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988, killing all 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground.…

Montana Case Could Be First Blow To Citizens United Decision

Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia are behind Montana’s effort to restrict corporate spending on elections.

The states led by New York are asking the high court to preserve Montana’s state-level regulations on corporate political expenditures, according to a copy of a brief written by New York’s attorney general’s office and obtained by The Associated Press. The brief will be publicly released Monday…

The Montana case has prompted critics to hope the court will reverse itself on the controversial Citizens United ruling. The 22 states and D.C. say the Montana law is sharply different from the federal issues in …

President Obama And GOP Governors: Joined At The Hip?

by Stuart Shapiro

I’ve posted in the past about the sagging approval ratings of the GOP governors elected in 2010.  Commenters have wisely said that once the economy improves, Governors Kasich (pictured), Scott, LePage etc. will be fine.  One problem with that argument is that same improving economy will help Democratic President Obama (and these commenters seem sure he will lose).  The paradox was on full display in Ohio recently as recounted by Steve Benen:

Kasich noted a website his administration created, listing 80,000 job openings in Ohio, many of which are “exciting opportunities” for young workers, underscoring the state’s …

Amendment to Legalize Propaganda Inserted to Defense Authorization Bill

Submitted by William

House Republicans have added an amendment to the defense spending bill that would allow the use of propaganda directed at Americans.

The amendment would “strike the current ban on domestic dissemination” of propaganda material produced by the State Department and the Pentagon, according to the summary of the law at the House Rules Committee’s official website…

The new law would give sweeping powers to the State Department and Pentagon to push television, radio, newspaper, and social media onto the U.S. public. “It removes the protection for Americans,” says a Pentagon official who is concerned about the law. …

House Republicans Add Military Gay Marriage Ban To Defense Bill And Break Agreement With White House

Submitted by Cheston Catalano

House Republicans tacked on to a sweeping defense bill a measure banning gay marriages at military chapels.

In passing the $642-billion measure, lawmakers broke the budget agreement Congress made last summer with the Obama administration — beefing up military spending $8 billion beyond the agreed-upon limit. The White House threatened a veto.…