Category Archives: In the news

Justice Department won’t defend the constitutionality of DOMA

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Ampersand

[Crossposted at Family Scholars Blog.] Eric Holder, the Attorney General of the US, yesterday released a letter declining to defend the constitutionality of DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act, in court. Well, sort of. DOMA has two parts: One part, … Continue reading →

Posted in crossposted on TADA, In the news, Same-Sex Marriage | 10 Comments

The Individual Mandate And The Constitution

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Ampersand

In this week’s open threads — mostly this one, also a bit here — there’s been quite a bit of discussion of the Constitutionality of the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act. There are two senses in which … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care and Related Issues, In the news, Supreme Court Issues | 9 Comments

US Passport Applications To Switch To Gender-Neutral Language

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Ampersand

From the US State Department’s website: The Department of State is pleased to announce the introduction of a redesigned Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). The CRBA is an official record confirming that a child born overseas to a U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Families structures, divorce, etc, In the news | 3 Comments

Architectural Occupation and Israel’s Borders

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Jack Stephens

Hello, again, to everyone here in Amptoons Int3rWebzzz L4nd!  It’s been a while since I’ve been posting on here, not sure why, crazy life got in the way, I guess.  But I have been posting regularly at my blog The … Continue reading →

Posted in Colonialism, In the news, Palestine & Israel | 6 Comments

The Wyden-Brown Health Care Proposal: Will Conservative States Put Their Money Where Their Mouths Are?

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Ampersand

Mid puff-piece about how Democrat Ron Wyden and Republican Scott Brown are, like, totally this odd couple!, the Washington Post inadvertently discusses Wyden and Brown’s policy proposal for a single paragraph: In short, the legislation would allow states to opt … Continue reading →

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Health Care and Related Issues, In the news | 8 Comments

Pat Robinson Favors Legalizing Pot

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Ampersand

Not often I agree with Pat Robinson about anything… From The Independent: “We’re locking up people that have taken a couple puffs of marijuana and next thing you know they’ve got 10 years with mandatory sentences,” Mr Robertson said on … Continue reading →

Posted in crossposted on TADA, In the news, Prisons and Justice and Police | 4 Comments

On Apple's Decision to Refuse the "Manhattan Declaration" App

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Ampersand

[Crossposted at Family Scholars, Alas, and TADA.] From The Washington Post: After receiving thousands of complaints, Apple has quietly axed an iPhone app that linked to a conservative Christian manifesto called the Manhattan Declaration, issued a year ago and signed … Continue reading →

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., In the news, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer issues | 15 Comments

We Wouldn't

Posted on December 17, 2010 by David Schraub

In late 2007, I declared that the upcoming presidential election “is about torture”. I was wrong. It wasn’t. Despite my assertion that torture should stay in the public eye until we come to terms with it and, ultimately, eradicate it, … Continue reading →

Posted in crossposted on TADA, In the news, Prisons and Justice and Police | 10 Comments

In Defense Of The Tax Cut Compromise

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Ampersand

There’s a lot I’d criticize Obama for: His Bush-like despotic abuse of civil liberties and presidential powers when it comes to US prisoners, for example, is nothing less than loathsome. His ridiculous habit of making concessions to Republicans in return … Continue reading →

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Economics and the like, Elections and politics, In the news | 15 Comments

Krugman: Let The Tax Cuts Die

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Ampersand

The Republicans have filibustered tax cuts for all Americans who pay income tax, because they want the extra-large cuts only for those who earn more than $250,000 a year extended. Paul Krugman argues that rather than compromising, Obama should veto … Continue reading →

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Economics and the like, In the news | 32 Comments