“Congress is essentially authorizing the indefinite imprisonment of American citizens, without charge,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein D-Calif., who offered another amendment — which has not yet gotten a vote — that she said would correct the problem. “We are not a nation that locks up its citizens without charge. “Backers of military detention of Americans…
Ohio Gov: “I don’t read newspapers”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich R said on Monday he “very rarely” reads newspapers.”You should know, I dont read newspapers in the state of Ohio. Very rarely do I read a newspaper,” he said during a speech in Columbus. “Because just like I think presidents have done in the past, reading newspapers does not give you…
“Repeat violent offenders get to walk while casual pot smokers get terrorized by SWAT teams”
A year and a half ago she was beaten by a neighborhood thug outside of a city bar. It took months of do-it-yourself sleuthing, a meeting with a city alderman and a public shaming in a community newspaper before the Chicago Police Department would pay any attention to her. About a year later, Shaver got…
“We are just not going to allow a tent city. Just period.” – UC Davis Blames Violence on Budget
On Friday, a group of University of California, Davis students, part of the Occupy Wall Street movement on campus, became the latest victims of alleged police brutality to be captured on video. The videos show the students seated on the ground as a UC Davis police officer brandishes a red canister of pepper spray, showing…
So Fla’s Secret Private Prison
In one of South Floridas upscale, rural enclaves, where peacocks roam and horse trails are as common as sidewalks, town leaders decided to bring in much of their money from an unusual business: a prison. Only the leaders of Southwest Ranches kept their plans quiet from residents for almost a decade, and the project has…
Arizona Supreme Court Overturns Gov. Jan Brewer’s Removal Of Redistricting Chair
The Arizona Supreme Court dealt Republican Gov. Jan Brewer a blow Thursday, overturning her decision to oust the chairwoman of the state’s independent redistricting commission. The Arizona Republic reported that the court found that Brewer’s removal of Colleen Coyle Mathis did not meet state constitution guidelines. Brewer removed Mathis on Nov. 2, with…
Police: 177 Occupy Wall Street protesters arrested
At least 177 people have been arrested during clashes between police and Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in New York City, part of a day of mass gatherings in response to efforts to break up Occupy Wall Street camps nationwide. Thousands of protesters took to the streets around the U.S., including Los Angeles, Dallas, Portland,…
The Arizona Immigration Bill Seems To Have Created A New Swing State
The rumors are true, Rep. Chad Campbell, the Democratic leader of the Arizona state House, told TPM Wednesday: the state best known for Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the toughest immigration law in the land really is a swing state in 2012. And Democrats have SB 1070 to thank for it. “I’d hesitate to say it…
Scalia and Thomas dine with healthcare law challengers as court takes case
The lawyer who will stand before the court and argue that the law should be thrown out is likely to be Paul Clement, who served as U.S. solicitor general during the George W. Bush administration. Clement’s law firm, Bancroft PLLC, was one of almost two dozen firms that helped sponsor the annual dinner…
Taking Attendance With Elizabeth Warren
Is consumer advocate and Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren the biggest rock star candidate in the 2012 Senate races? Judging by the turnout at her campaign events, the answer so far, is yes. Warren has been slammed by Republicans as the hand-picked candidate of the national Democrats and a carpetbagger from Oklahoma. But a glance at…
Scores arrested as police clear NY Occupy camp
Hundreds of police officers, some in riot gear, descended on Zuccotti Park after midnight Tuesday in a surprise sweep of the Occupy Wall Street headquarters. Some protesters were chained to trees and each other but were nevertheless removed from the park, which was cleared in less than three hours in what appeared to…
Mayor Jean Quan’s Legal Adviser Quits Over Clearing Of Occupy Oakland Camp
As a platoon of Oakland Police Department officers began clearing out Occupy Oakland’s encampment for a second time at Frank Ogawa Plaza downtown, one of Mayor Jean Quan’s advisers resigned in protest. Quan’s legal adviser Dan Siegel announced his decision via Twitter early this morning. Siegel tweeted: No longer Mayor Quan’s legal advisor. Resigned at…
Warner Bros: we issued takedowns for files we never saw, didn’t own copyright to
In a Monday court filing, Warner Brothers admitted that it has issued takedown notices for files without looking at them first. The studio also acknowledged that it issued takedown notices for a number of URLs that its adversary, the locker site Hotfile, says were obviously not Warner Brothers’ content. Hotfile has been locked in a…
Senate Halts GOP Bid To Repeal ‘Net Neutrality’ Rules
Senate Democrats on Thursday turned back a Republican attempt to repeal federal rules designed to prevent Internet service providers from discriminating against those who send content and other services over their networks. Republicans argued that “net neutrality” rules announced by the Federal Communications Commission last December were another example of federal regulatory overreach that would…
VIDEO: Debunking The Right-Wing Meme That The Obama Administration Is Anti-Business
From GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney and Tea Party Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) to Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly, a general consensus has emerged that the Obama administration is “anti-business.” Yet any actual evidence of an effect from this putative bias has failed to materialize. ThinkProgress has compiled a video report. Watch it: via VIDEO:…
Man Outed As Undercover Cop At Occupy Oakland Condemns Police Brutality, Supports The Movement
Across the country, police have used undercover and/or plainsclothed police officers to monitor occupations and protests that are a part of the 99 Percent Movement. Earlier today, the Tennessean published excerpts from emails sent by the Tennessee Highway Patrol that confirmed not only that police were infiltrating Occupy Nashville but that they were hoping for…
Fox Still Doesn’t Know Public Sector Jobs Hit Harder In Recession
Fox again attacked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for noting that “it’s very clear that private-sector jobs have been doing just fine. It’s the public-sector jobs where we’ve lost huge numbers.” But Reid is right: Since the Recovery Act took effect, the private sector has gained more than 1.5 million jobs, while…
Stimulus-Hating GOP Rep. Frank Guinta Cuts Ribbon For Stimulus Project
With Recovery Act funding running out, that old TPM favorite — the anti-stimulus Republican who takes credit for stimulus funding in their district — is becoming somewhat of a rarity. But Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH) kicked it old school on Thursday by cutting the ribbon on a new road that received millions from…
Paramilitary Policing From Seattle to Occupy Wall Street
My support for a militaristic solution caused all hell to break loose. Rocks, bottles and newspaper racks went flying. Windows were smashed, stores were looted, fires lighted; and more gas filled the streets, with some cops clearly overreacting, escalating and prolonging the conflict. The “Battle in Seattle,” as the WTO protests and their…
Obama Delays Keystone XL Pipeline
In a statement Thursday, Obama stressed the importance of “strengthening our nation’s energy security” while addressing both the environmental and procedural concerns raised by critics. “Because this permit decision could affect the health and safety of the American people as well as the environment, and because a number of concerns have been raised…