The Republican Party has manufactured the optics of 1996 all over again. They are stuck with a moderate presidential nominee who inspires no confidence or excitement, and actually turns off the base. Romney is anathema to the Tea Party crowd. So keeping the House and snatching the Senate away from the Dems is even more important given the real likelihood that President Obama will be handed another term. Problem for the Republicans in Congress is that they are even more unpopular and despised by voters than Mitt Romney. Could be a doomsday scenario for conservatives. http://www.sunstateactivist.org

Sure would like to see SOMEBODY offer some coverage of this:
http://www.nativenewsnetwork.com/five-lakota-arrested-for-forming-blockade-on-pine-ridge-reservation.html

Geez. I wish I could choose what state to vote in; I would choose one, unlike Texas, where my vote would really count.

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Current_rates_of_ocean_acidification_are_unparalleled_in_Earth_history_999.html

I've not forgotten that the world is ending. Have you?

Thanks to Rachel for her always articulate analyses. This morning I'm reading yet again about the growing number of assaults on the rights of women. The laws enacted in Virginia and elsewhere regarding abortion and Rush Limbaugh's despicable comments are just the latest and most obvious examples of a disturbing trend. Because of the progress my generation (both men and women) and those before me were able to bring about, many young women take for granted rights and opportunities that would have been unavailable to them just 30 years ago. I wonder if most have had little or no experience with discrimination. Probably they have not been barred from attending certain colleges, as I was barred from the University of Virginia, a state-supported school, because I am a woman. They have not been required to bring their fathers or husbands with them to co-sign for a car loan, as I was, even though their credit ratings were excellent. They have not been asked by a prospective employer, as I was, whether they are using birth control because the employer "didn't want to waste time training someone who would just get pregnant." Though these experiences were humiliating, they were minor compared to the frightening events we see today. I would encourage young women and men to learn about their foremothers and -fathers and their struggle to obtain for women the right to vote and to own property in their own names, and an equal opportunity to rise in the ranks of their professions. Women and men died in this struggle, while others suffered serious injury. If you are unfamiliar with the history, go to Wikipedia and search the term "suffragette." Also learn about the Napoleonic Code as it existed in Louisiana until the 1960's. Learn about the Pankhursts, Marilyn French's "The Women's Room," Gloria Steinem, and Bella Abzug. I believe that education is essential to understanding, and that understanding leads to action and change. I am gratified that so many Americans are expressing their disgust at recent events, but I am also worried that the extremists who control state legislatures and Congress will continue to enact oppressive legislation. Yelling at the TV isn't going to change anything, but clear, repeated protests to your elected representatives and (especially) wiser choices at the ballot box will.

Just once, when Romney claims that if Obama is re-elected then Iran will get a nuclear weapon, I'd like to see somebody respond, "Why? Do you intend to buy them one?"

I'm reading about trucks full of pipeline gear being stopped at the border of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Apparently, there is some sort of showdown going on.

From Honor the Earth's facebook page: "ACTION ALERT PINE RIDGE SD: Calling all Lakota men on the Pine Ridge Reservation to come to Wanblee SD. XL Pipeline trucks are being held there at the border by our Lakota Oyate, OST Police and State Troopers in an effort to keep them from entering our territory. Even the state troopers told the trucks they have to turn around and cannot bring thier... pipeline or other materials on to our reservation. The XL Pipeline trucks are refusing to turn around claiming they have corperate rights that supercedes any other laws. Olowan Sara Martinez, Debra White Plume, Grandma Marie Randall and others are there holding their ground. (reposted from T.R. McKenzie)"

Here is more on the story: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/03/06/keystone-blockade-on-pine-ridge-reservation-leads-to-arrests-101440

and more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OsHPnffvYI

Maybe Maddow has already covered this, but if not, worth some commentary....

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/appeals-court-upholds-katrina-flood-ruling-15837716#.T1ZDEoczLTo

After listening to some feed back over the President's news conference I could not believe some of these closed-minded people calling for us Latinos and others to wake up over this administrations failed policies when he had the majority on the house and senate. May I remind these idiots for the millionth time of the record filibusters that were practiced by the other side to impede anything from going forward. Obviously y'all are the ones still on your denying slumber.

Has anyone else seen the story of the actress Patricia Heaton and the Rush Limbaugh-inspired tweets she posted denigrating Sandra Fluke? They are vile and disgusting and someone in the media needs to call her out on them. ABC and her show's sponsors need to be notified about her bullying and vile language. She tried to scrub her Twitter feed, but many sites have screen shots of the tweets.