Today's edition of quick hits:
* A rare signing ceremony: "President Obama on Wednesday signed an ethics bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress and requires thousands of federal employees to disclose information about their personal finances."
* Tehran's delays: "Iran's foreign minister raised new doubts Wednesday about the resumption of international talks over its disputed nuclear program, saying the location may not be Turkey -- as previously agreed -- and suggested Iraq and China as possible alternate hosts."
* Joe Arpaio's latest antics: "The standoff between the federal government and a high-profile Arizona sheriff accused of discriminating against Hispanics escalated Tuesday when settlement negotiations fell through and the Justice Department threatened to sue the sheriff."
* In the "war on voting," the Center for American Progress has a new report on the latest effects of voter-suppression efforts, and Ari Melber's new piece on this is well worth reading.
* Mitt Romney wants more scrutiny of the presidential candidates. That's a good idea.
* A congressional resolution on Trayvon Martin is now pending in the U.S. House.
* Connecticut appears poised to repeal the death penalty, but the process isn't easy.
* And whatever your politics, the Google Art Project at the White House is pretty damn cool.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Leave a Comment:
"President Obama on Wednesday signed an ethics bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress and requires thousands of federal employees to disclose information about their personal finances."
What's amazing about this that it was allowed before this. No wonder there are so many people that go into Congress not millionaires and somehow leave as millionaires. Unbelievable. Of course none of them will admit that they did this insider trading crap.
Sheriff Arpaio sounds like Barney Fife with a mean streak.
Rachel ,
Please, please explain your impression of our President trying to Strong Arm the Supreme Court Justices this week. Although in the beginning I thought this president might bring everyone together, he has done nothing but and now thwarting the justices of the supreme court. Who does he think he is anyway. Actually, I am beginning to believe that he is revealing himself and he appears to be down right disrespectful and scary. Please, do not sweep this HUGE thing under the carpet because it will do damage to your credibity as a station.
Thank you for doing what is right and addressing this important issue.
Rachel, I am a devoted and loyal viewer of your show and was interested in hearing that you once worked for the rights of prisoners in US Prisons. I have a friend that has been jailed in Yakima Washington, has not been to trial, since July of 2011. He is 61 yrs old, in bad health, and the conditions are dismal in the county jail where he is held. Their diet is not fit for any human being and is getting worse every month. I am of the opinion that as a country, the way we treat people we put in jail says alot about us as a nation. He has not been convicted of any crime, yet he is being starved by what they feed their prisoners. If it were not for iCare packages that his friends and relatives send to him, with meat and snack food, he would have already starved. He shares his packages with his fellow inmates that have no one to send them packages. Please, please bring this situation to the attention of the public. It is immoral that we treat people this way, that have not even been convicted of a crime. Even those in state jails that have been convicted of crimes don't deserve to be starved to death. Thank you.
I think that signing bill was important and really needed! Thanks for reporting this. BTW, can you find out how many signing statements Bush ordered and what for? Also, did Bush change employees or attorneys that represented employers charged with violating EEOA? I'm curious because I read that he got rid of all pro-equal opportunity attorneys to replace with those against.
It still amazes me that politicians were allowed to trade stocks with insider information. It makes you wonder what else they are allowed to do but is illegal for the general public.
Please address in detail President Obama's words or what sounded like a warning to the supreme court. It looks like the presidents attorney was give an asignment to eductate them on the powers of the supreme court. It seems they want to send them a message.Also, I watch several stations and I have been wondering for some time why your station has commentators with such a one sided position and why is it always so negative? In my opinion, you talk to your viewers like they don't have a brain and connot form a thought on their own. Wby not have someone from both side on to present both sides and let the people make up their minds. When I turn your station on it makes me want to throw something at the tv and I am not a one sided person. Thanks for an consideration in changing your demeanor.