Aaaand new credit card rules

Read about them here.

In case you're bored and reading this

A high school senior in South Carolina is suing her governor over his refusal to take federal stimulus money to fix schools. Now that you're graduating I can say this: kickass.

Souter! Retiring!

Article!

Prep for the AP GoPo exam with CSPAN

Cram with seniors across the country here!

Whoa!

The participation gap apparently vanished in the 2008 election! 

Senator Specter's life

Some interesting milestones here--including things we've talked about in class.

Holy cow!

Arlen Specter, senator from my home state, is pulling a Jim Jeffords!

Recession lingo

Someone made a glossary (some of these I've heard, some not so much,) here.

Remember the engagement ring site from before?

Well here's a slightly different take on it.

Heard of the swine flu?

Well Google maps is tracking the cases--you can see a map here.

Notes from Sacto

This is the blog of a guy who works on the California Report--he does a great job explaining what's going on in CA government.

Laws and amendments flash cards

Here!

Shoot me an email or comment if you think of a law/case that I've left off.

Firefighter promotion case from class

This is what I was talking about!

Limits on warrantless car searches

An interesting case--the police can't search a car without a warrant if the person isn't pulled over and just happens to get out.

Flash cards are go!

This is the Supreme Court cases one. I'll put up the laws and amendments one once I finish it.

As we're starting the first amendment...

The US Third circuit court of appeals just ruled that female Muslim police can't wear headscarves while they're on the job. You can read an excerpt of the opinion here.

Engagement rings

The art of Lee Gainer takes the idea that men are supposed to spend the equivalent of two months' salary (!) on engagement rings and uses it to compare what CEO's and movie stars can afford to what fast food cooks and cashiers can afford.

Anniversary of an historic concert

It's the 70th anniversary of a concert given by Marian Anderson on the national mall. Read the article to see why this was so important. 

Still no Senator in Minnesota

Looks like Al Franken is ahead by 300 something votes, though.

Aaaaand...

We're going to have a budget. Probably. Remember the details still need to be worked out in a series of appropriations bills, but there seems to be a lot of support for President Obama's plan.

Big news today

• Unemployment: 8.5%
• Iowa courts say a gay marriage ban is unconstitutional
  
• And an interesting, sad article about "an immigrant detainee" who died in custody in NJ about a year ago.
  

Afghanistan

Some recent pictures from Afghanistan--based on these pictures, what obstacles does Afghanistan (and the US) face in trying to create a stable, successful country?

Just how wealthy are you?

This video gives a good sense of perspective.

DC in Congress

People in DC are currently unrepresented in Congress because they don't actually live in a state. A vote to give DC representation in the House passed, but some members of the DOJ think it's unconstitutional. The Attorney General disagrees.

Remember former Senator Ted Stevens?

They're dropping the charges!

Women in politics

The first female governor of Vermont blogs about the different standards male and female politicians are judged by. Do you agree with her? Do you think your experience at an all-girls high school will help with this at all? What do we need to do to ensure that we have women who are interested in running for office?

Kids and cops

The Oakland police slaying has led to a discussion and this op-ed about the relationship between people and police. Do you agree with the blogger's thesis? In light of what we were saying about the social contract in class today, why is respect for police important? 

Hey Maeve,

Was this what you were talking about?

The President's budget

The CBO's estimate and the President's.

The credit crisis explained

I think it does a good job, particularly with explaining why these people offered mortgages to people they knew couldn't afford them.

The Supreme Court and schools

We'll be looking at some precedent-setting cases later this month, but here's a link to an article about a current case. (Current = happened six years ago)

My friend is working on this case

Pennsylvania, my home state, is bizarre. Don't comment on this until you've looked up the word blasphemy!

Iraq vs. Afghanistan

Some interesting numbers here and the analysis to go along with them here. What do you think it will take to make Iraq and Afghanistan completely able to function without outside help? When will troops be able to leave safely?

The new fireside chat?

Obama did Leno last night.

What's going to happen to the Guantanamo detainees?

The Wall Street Journal speculates, with some help from Attorney General Holder.

AIG

Have you been following the bonus scandal? (AIG's getting a federal bailout and is spending something like $53 million on bonuses for its employees) Have you been wondering exactly why we keep bailing these businesses out, over and over?

Well here's an article about "How AIG became too big to fail"

Pictures from investigation of drug murders

No worries, it's not very graphic. But it certainly gives you an image of just how much money these people have.

What role can/should the US play in this?

The military-industrial complex

This is a video of Eisenhower's farewell address in which he warns America about the military-industrial complex.

Particularly for Maeve

An article about John Yoo.

Especially for Dania

The New York Times is hosting a forum on immigration issues in the US, and they're inviting you to comment!

Kids and homelessness

A new study was published saying that 1 in 50 kids was homeless between 2006 and 2007. How might homelessness affect a student's ability to complete her homework? Get check-ups? Eat regular meals? Attend college?

What do you see as being the solution to this awful problem?

Do you know who Warren Buffet is?

Take that into account when you watch this video, but he makes an interesting point--he sees the cap-and-trade system as a regressive tax.

You are all depressing me.

An article on your reading habits in the Washington Post today: check it out. Do you think that the fact that college students are reading trashy vampire books more than books about political activism or thought means that your generation won't be politically active?

Blowing up the Senate

cont'd. With a twist.

It's finally here!

The stem cell event you've been waiting for!

Obama's interpretation of signing statements

Apparently he's not convinced they're legally binding. More here.

Prop 8 hearing

You should be able to access this article.

New executive order

Lifting ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

It's looking good for Prop 8

The court seemed to indicate yesterday that Prop 8 will stand.

California courts deciding on Prop 8

There's a liveblog here--there are a few questions. Does prop 8 revise or amend the constitution? Was the vote okay? What happens to same-sex marriages that already exist?

Obama's FEMA nominee

From Florida!

Sandra Day O'Connor

Jon Stewart did an interview with her last night, and she was AWESOME. She explained how the Supreme Court works: "You do your best, and then you live with it." Skip ahead to the last long segment (after two commercials) for the interview.

Hillary Clinton's world tour

She was in Israel yesterday--take a look at this and see what she said and did.

Frances Perkins

Remember how Baby's real name in Dirty Dancing was Frances? Well she was named after this woman, the first woman in the Cabinet, and one of the major architects of the New Deal.

An increased bureaucracy?

Some people are estimating that the size of the federal bureaucracy could have to grow by tens of thousands to meet stimulus plan goals.

How the economic downturn happened

The story about the global pool of money I was telling you about is here; a shorter (and less good, in my opinion,) version is here.

Op-Ed about filibusters

Complete with a pretty decent, recent history. 

Obama administration changes a rule

They're reversing a rule made during the Bush administration allowing pharmacists not to provide birth control according to their consciences. This article is a good explanation of the rule-making process.

No credit for commenting on this entry

But. Apparently the people who make duct tape have this contest every year....

speaking of the decline of print media...

the SF Chronicle might have to shut down.

A bizarre first amendment case

Ever heard of Summum?

Who did the Obamas invite to the speech last night?

Quite an impressive and eclectic group of people!

Categorical funding in CA schools

New budget rules will basically change state funding for public schools from a series of categorical grants to one giant block grant. 

Taxation without Representation

The movement to give DC voting rights in the House of Reps (it's currently the only city in the US that doesn't have voting Congressional representation,) gained some momentum today.

Your Fed Chairman

Thinks this recession will be "severe."

Still no budget for California

The state legislature is getting ready to lay off 10,000 employees.

Presidential quiz

I missed five. How did you do?

Looking for someone to blame?

Time's published a list of 25 people to blame for the recession.

I almost forgot!

Some of the language on the site is inappropriate, but they're all direct quotes: Rahmfacts!

Happy birthday to...

Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin, and the NAACP!

Congratulations!

It's a stimulus package!

"state secrets" privilege

President Bush used a tactic called rendition, or removing prisoners suspected of being terrorists from American-run prisons secretly to foreign prisons where torture is not outlawed. The ACLU has sued on behalf of people who were treated this way, but the Obama administration is refusing to turn over documents or give testimony about it, based on the fact that they're state secrets.

We're going to have a stimulus bill...probably.

The bill made it out of the Senate today--this article talks about some of the big differences between the Senate and the House versions. Remember, the House is more extreme and the Senate has to appease more Republicans so the bill isn't filibustered. So why is the Senate bill more expensive?

Bill Gates + mosquitoes =

Education about access to healthcare?

Rich people's tax problems

An interesting(/funny?) article about how you (yes, you!) can avoid Tom Daschle and Nancy Killifer's tax problems.

Baked goods and bipartisanship

Do you think this is going to work?

No Secretary Daschle

Tom Daschle, former Senate Minority Leader, withdrew his nomination for secretary of Health and Human Services today over tax concerns--he probably would've been confirmed, though. Why do you think he withdrew/was asked to withdraw?

Can we blame the recession on men?

There's an economic summit going on right now full of financial leaders from all over the world. The other day, they were asked a question: would this have happened if women had been in charge?

Kurtz article about Palin, Blagojevich, AND Kennedy

Do you think the three he writes about have legitimate complaints about the media? Do you think it should be the job of those in the spotlight to "manage" the way the media treats them? What could/should the three have done differently?

Iraqis voted last week

But it looks like it will take awhile to see the results.

An interesting article

About bipartisanship, as the stimulus bill heads to the Senate.

Your source fo all things Congressional

The Washington Post has a good blog about what's going on each day on Capitol Hill.

You heard it here first, folks.

Blagojevich is outta there.

State furloughs

A superior court judge officially declared today that Schwarzenegger can give state employees two unpaid furlough days per month--this apparently amounts to a 10% pay cut. INSANE!

A few (mostly) silly little things from today's news

• A piece on the dress code in the White House under the new administration
• A ridiculous piece, FOR WHICH YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT FOR COMMENTS, about girls whose stock broker boyfriends are losing their jobs
• An interesting bit written by a Muslim woman, on why she chooses to wear the head scarf, or hijab.
  

Rehabilitating jihadis

Regarding our Senate debate and conversation about what to do with Guantanamo Bay Detainees: there is a center in Saudi Arabia that claims to rehabilitate jihadis. It's an interesting article--what do you think needs to be done to successfully make these people a functioning part of society?

Obama on the Middle East

Read the article and think: would Obama vote in favor of the bill you passed in class today?

Blagojevich does The View

Video here!

Obama's new stimulus plan

And the House Republicans who oppose it. Here's what Nobel Award winning economist Paul Krugman has to say:

The most encouraging thing I’ve heard lately is Mr. Obama’s reported response to Republican objections to a spending-oriented economic plan: “I won.” Indeed he did — and he should disregard the huffing and puffing of those who lost.

Do you think bipartisanship is a good thing here? Would compromising with Republicans be a good thing or a bad thing? Why?

Photos of the Bush presidency

With photographers' comments--I thought this was really interesting.

I'm not saying anything, but...

Three Wellesley grads in the Obama administration!

A new administration, a new blog

This site is going to be tracking the new policymakers in the new administration. The section titled "The Plum Line" is specifically about government jobs (remember the Plum Book?) and who's getting them.

No Senator Caroline Kennedy

She's dropped out of the running.

Executive orders! The revolving door!

It's an AP Government teacher's dream!

And now some international news

The Congo is barring UN aid workers from entering, Israeli troops have completely left Gaza, and parts of Obama's inaugural address were censored in China.

You know what Twitter is?

Apparently Bush used it while he was in the White House, and now his @thewhitehouse account has passed onto Obama. Check it out.

In SF today...

Bush St. signs.

Interactive inauguration

Take a look at a map with pictures and descriptions of what's going on here.

Photos from the inauguration

Here.

Our President knows how to use the internet!

Whitehouse.gov has gotten a facelift!

Obama's not the only one who's figured out YouTube

Look at this and this: holy cow!

You will not get credit for commenting on this

BUT, it is still funny, especially because we were talking about pages in class today.

Roland Burris will be seated

Bringing the current total of African-Americans in the Senate to...1.

Arnold wants to change the minimum number of school days

A good article about how this could help to balance the budget here.

Black on black crime

A good article about the Oakland riots with interesting excerpts from a few blogs here.

What's going on in Gaza?

A good article with video here.