No snark today. This thread opens solely in tribute to a longtime Kossack, progressive, activist and fighter for justice: Ben Masel. Our dear friend, who was a grassroots warrior and a prolific diarist, passed away today at the age of 56. This thread does not mourn Ben; instead, it celebrates a life dedicated to fighting tirelessly for what he believed in. May we all live so well. We'll miss you, Ben.
- The California Democratic Party is having its convention this weekend. The keynote speaker today? Senator Bernie Sanders. Convention-goers are using the hashtag #cadem2011, if you want to follow the latest.
- Remember all the Tea Party disruptions at the health insurance reform town halls that Democratic members of Congress held some time ago? Do you ever remember any one of those challengers get arrested, thrown in solitary confinement, and even maced during her time in jail? Well, that's what happened to progressive radio host Nicole Sandler when she asked Tea Party Congressman Allen West a question at a recent "Town Hall" event. Of course, this is the same Allen West who said that liberal women were neutering American men. So maybe that's why Ms. Sandler had to be arrested, thrown into solitary, and maced. Because poor old Allen West was afraid for his balls.
- At Balloon Juice, John Cole skewers Mitt Romney over the "hang" kerfuffle (the link has background on that, if you're unaware). But here's the upshot:
So basically, my general position is that there is a sliver of humanity in that shell of a man, but it is being held down and waterboarded by the inner sociopath that just has to be President to show up daddy. I leave it to you all to decide what is worse, to just be plain evil, like Palin, or to know better but do evil anyway like Romney.
Then again, if we want to know whether or not Romney does evil, the best "person" to ask would likely be his Irish Setter.
- At Politico, Ben Smith writes about how OFA is a force to be reckoned with as the 2012 campaign heats up. Less enthusiasm? Perhaps. But abundant resources and infrastructure compared to the 2008 version.
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Remember when the Craigslist Congressman, Chris Lee, had to resign after his flirtations became public? Well, Republican Assemblymember Jane Corwin is running to replace him. Here's her actual site, janecorwin.com. And now...here's janecorwin.org. Done laughing? The person responsible is Ian Murphy of the Buffalo Beast. Yes, the same Ian Murphy who made the fake David Koch phone call to Governor Walker in Wisconsin. Ian's legend is growing.