“groovy mother...”

You, along with a democratically-elected representative, can learn about “bills of attainder”

Redditors collaborated and voted on questions, Barney Frank answers them. His answer to the question about the GLBT march is essential viewing.

NPR piece on Mike Capuano, my old House representative in Somerville, running for Ted Kennedy’s senate seat. MA residents: Please give him your consideration. “He’s not afraid of being seen as a Washington insider. In fact, he tells the crowd of about 70 people, that’s exactly what they should be looking for in a senator.”

Back catalogue of Mike Capuano’s e-update newsletters. Incredibly open, especially in comparison to the PR dreck I get from my current representative, Nancy Pelosi.

This makes me very happy. Mike Capuano was my representative when I lived in Somerville, and always impressed me. I still subscribe to his constituent’s email list, where he openly discusses the way he has voted on House issues. I’d encourage any of my friends in MA to seriously consider him if they vote in the Democratic primary.

Now at five stars.

A beautiful essay by a friend about how important same-sex marriage has proven to be when faced with the unexpected death of his husband.

This is exactly my attitude (which I refer to as “left-wing capitalism”). People should be free to earn as much money as they can, but an increasing amount of it should be taxed.

A scorecard for tracking President Obama’s campaign promises. A great idea.

Portraits of Obama’s transition team. Someone should make a map of these portraits to their fictional “The West Wing” counterpart.

Yes, I know it’s still the honeymoon period, and Obama isn’t even president yet, but still… His appointment of a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who has been researching renewable energy to the post of Secretary of Energy is such a great sign. Really excited for the next four years.

Good overview of the kinds of mistakes on ballots that are being challenged during the Minnesota recount.

Remoulding the US electoral map based upon population, rather than geographic, size.

A genuinely gracious and powerful speech. “I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.”

“Yes”

I love this town.

Delightfully complete coverage of the last twelve months.

How the electoral college of “the world” would vote. Unlike most of the other online polls, this at least has an ounce of statistical rigour to it. Also interesting: Which countries think the US presidential choice will have an effect on them.

“This is what the Republican Party has done to us this year: It has placed within reach of the Oval Office a woman who is a religious fanatic and a proud, boastful ignoramus.” I love Hitchens.

The engineers who “designed” these machines, and the civil servants who approved their use, should be named, shamed and banned from ever being involved in electoral process again. Love the way the guy is trying to argue “Well, this would only happen if the machine is misconfigured”, then configures it correctly and it STILL fucks up.