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I am dismayed to hear the right wing talk about why people failed to "take care" of themselves in New Orleans. The party line is that the "welfare state" causes people to become dependent, so they ...

As an Alaskan, I am watching the news closely these days. With the pending release of the Alaska Legislative Council report on Troopergate, it is ...

Palin and the Alaskan legislature did not see eye-to-eye. With the first overturn of a gubernatorial appointment in Alaskan history, the Republican legislature rejected her choice, Wayne Anthony ...

I joined Juneau Democrats for brunch with Scott McAdams this morning. I was ready to work for him, but also wanted to see him in person so I could pass on my impressions to others who might be ...

I was walking home through the streets of Juneau about 8:30 tonight. The rain was falling lightly, just enough to leave the wet sparkle, like diamonds, on my jacket. The lights of the city were ...

A quick diary. Just to share an idea. Watching Obama's stance during the debt ceiling battle, I saw him adopt two different persona. Most of the time he was the professor, talking rationally, ...

So many arguments about what happened in San Bernadino, in Colorado, in Oregon…  Many of them center around what to call the shooters — were they wackos, terrorists, zealots? I have an easy answe

I hesitate to post this because of all the reasons it may not be a good idea,  but I found myself asking what voices had been clearest during these horrific last few weeks and her name rose to the top for me.  It would be a choice of statesmanship, not...

With all of the bashing of Secretary Clinton, I keep wondering why we aren’t being reminded of how we looked at her just a little awhile ago. Gallup polls people in the US every year with the question: What woman who you have heard or read...

I support her and will fight for her.  i think she will make a big difference as president.  But in the “basket of deplorables” comment, Hillary goofed! In mental health and disability fields,

A quick diary because I don’t want this to be missed and noone else seems to have blogged it. The Center for Public Integrity released a detailed report on comparative transparency of the two presidential candidates. Conclusions include: ​Neither...

I am feeling towards Trump and his deplorables.  This is a “vent” diary, little new info, just deep sorrow at the perversion of the political process I am seeing.  I have believed in the political process, I have worked hard within it.  i have actively...

Oregon is a sure blue state at the federal election level, but we have many down ballot races that help us make or break our current progressive government.  As I call and walk door to door, I find many people who are so bummed by the battles at the...

So, I am not so calm.  Votecastr in conjunction with Slate will be using voter profiles and other profiling data to track the results of the election as it unfolds during the day and publishing it in real time.  This breaks a tradition where many news...

     I just finished reading Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance.        The premise is that, even though people move out of the poverty of Appalachia, they carry many of the traits and ties with them.  They still struggle to make a living, but also are...

I feel very lucky that I had people in my life teaching and reinforcing what kindness was.  In his last years, my father guided us with his frequent reminder: Don’t be mean. And my husband, who died a year ago after many years of living with...

With Trump and his administration going into meltdown, I can think of  three possibilities to resurrect and save the things we care about, such as respect, dignity, comity, and the rule of law in our nation.  Something must change drastically with...

I’m perseverating on Trumpcare because I ran the numbers and saw both how Trumpcare will kill many people and how the ACA really did let young people and some middle class, middle age people down.  I don’t think Trumpcare will pass in its current form,...

I want a do over, I want Bernie to be my President.  No can do, but there may be alternatives to just waiting 2 or 4 years.  We have a platform.  We have the issues Bernie ran on.  And we have Bernie (bless him) still going around the country and...

Rough transcription — he is amazing, ad-libbing most of this, looking at notes only occasionally. He is now talking about the Trump budget — first cutting funding to rural areas that are hurting.  Now about the Coast Guard.  This is the front line...

It sounds like some people cannot get to the live feed,  I have been covering as much as I can by loose transcription.  To catch up from liveblog #3. After 7 hours, Merkley is still engaging in substantive teaching.  He is reading an article that...

How I miss the Obamas.  I am comparing the traditional White House Easter Egg event that Trump is officiating over today to last year.  Looking back at the informal, happy event where the Obamas read a book to the kids with a lot of miming responses...

I posted on March 21, 2010: Thank you to all who helped: reduced worry about health care Finally, with universal, fair health care:    I don't need to fear leaving a dead end job,    I don't need to remain living somewhere I don't...

Like everyone else, I am sickened by what I see happening, in Charlotteville and wherever Trump is.  And I wonder, has Trump heard this Vice interview?   https://t.co/XdKif66A0B Sorry, I don’t know how to embed a video — but go to 3:50 in the...

One firecracker, 107,000 votes,  it takes so little to destroy so much. The Columbia River Gorge is one of the world’s most magical places.  The Lewis and Clark expedition used it to reach the coast.  it has the first paved highway in the Northwest....

I venture into this diary hesitantly because I don’t see anyone else talking about this.  If you know of other outreach efforts, please let me know.  And I hope that those reading this can give me feedback and help shape these ideas if they make sense....

Once upon a time there was a people who thought that their world could be better. They looked around and were saddened by what they saw.  Not knowing what to do, they began, as mankind has begun from the start,  by creating something they hoped would...

I felt silly.  I was walking through a mall on the other side of town from where I live.  I had never been there before.  And over 50% of the mall was boarded up.  And I had tears in my eyes. At some point in my life, malls became the churches of...

I am a middle class caucasian professional who would barely make the cut if I were emigrating to Canada at this time — so, by Trump’s merit system, would probably get into the US by a hair if I wasn’t already here (because I am old and don’t have...