progressive involvement

2012-01-27T11:38:06-07:00

The courage of their convictions

2012-01-27T09:48:48-07:00

Put some brown people in the audience and, all of a sudden, Mitt and Newt argue about who loves immigrants the most.

Who knew?

2012-01-27T09:21:52-07:00

Diversity is good business.

Quote of the Day

2012-01-25T20:23:49-07:00

The immortal Dante tells us that Divine Justice weighs the sins of the warm-hearted and the cold-blooded on different scales. Better the occasional faults of a government which lives in a spirit of charity than the continual omissions of a...

For most people, it's a day or so

2012-01-25T11:38:42-07:00

Wondering how long Mitt Romney has to "work" to earn what you earn in a year. Check slate.com's calculator widget.

Brown people, go home

2012-01-24T09:55:07-07:00

The latest approach to immigration goes by the moniker of "self-deportation." Which means: We treat people badly enough so that they'll know they aren't wanted and then they'll up and leave. (See Kristallnacht, Germany, 1938.) This idea is brought to...

Lectionary blogging: Mark 1: 21-28

2012-01-22T15:11:21-07:00

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their...

Who says there's no evidence of evolution?

2012-01-22T14:33:52-07:00

Words used by Mitt Romney over the past month, in order, regarding making his tax returns public: doubt, consider, not opposed, probably, will (in April).

On the 15th anniversary of his censure by the House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote of 395-28...

2012-01-21T19:52:00-07:00

Newt wins South Carolina.

The civil war is so not over

2012-01-21T19:37:04-07:00

Gingrich knows the way to South Carolina's heart. He became the favorite in the South Carolina primary the second he played the race card on Fox news reporter, Juan Williams, in the GOP candidates debate on Tuesday. That moment fed...

Requiscat in pacem, Etta James

2012-01-20T10:20:44-07:00

“A lot of people think the blues is depressing,” she told The Los Angeles Times in 1992, “but that’s not the blues I’m singing. When I’m singing blues, I’m singing life. People that can’t stand to listen to the blues,...

Nail-biting time for Romney

2012-01-19T08:42:00-07:00

Three new South Carolina polls show Gingrich making a move. One even has Gingrich ahead. Then Perry exits the race, endorses Gingrich, and throws at least a few more votes his way. Sarah Palin likewise endorses Gingrich. ABC News then...

Rick Perry exits race

2012-01-19T08:18:35-07:00

Rick Perry should have been the GOP nominee. It was sitting right there. All he had to do was pick it up--or so it seemed at the time he first got in the race. Alas, his debate performances were pretty...

Readings in American religion

2012-01-18T13:45:20-07:00

Catholicism shrinking in the northeast, and growing in the southwest. American religion is sort of "robust," but also "confused."

Kansas raises taxes on the poor, lowers taxes on the rich

2012-01-18T13:07:42-07:00

The State of Kansas has just raised taxes on poor people. The tax bill proposed by Governor Sam Brownback, and passed by a supine state legislature, will see taxes on the poor go up at least $150 while those who...

Why Wiki is down

2012-01-18T09:36:19-07:00

This piece by Andrew Leonard at salon.com explains why SOPA is a bad deal. The measure is about combatting internet piracy, which is fine, but also says that an entire website can be shut down for a single violation. Heavens,...

Tyshawn Taylor emerging as a star

2012-01-17T09:35:39-07:00

He's been a "near-star" for a year or two, capable of great things and also losing it occasionally too. Tyshawn Taylor has been hammered by some in Kansas-land for turning the ball over too much and making bad decisions, which,...

If you wait for the opposition to leave, you can win most elections

2012-01-16T15:56:08-07:00

Evangelical pastors wait until the Gingrich supporters leave, then vote to endorse Santorum.

Lectionary blogging: Mark 1: 14-20

2012-01-16T12:05:36-07:00

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;* repent, and believe in the good news.' 16 As Jesus passed...

How Martin Luther King got his name

2012-01-16T11:05:28-07:00

Forbes: As an adult, Martin Luther King Sr., whose given name was Michael King, chose the name Martin Luther for himself and for his young son after visiting the region of eastern Germany where Martin Luther, the Father of the...