Viewing our current penal system from an outside perspective is healthy, and their reactions during the three strikes discussion is both entertaining and enlightening.

(via k-wray)

The video shows a search warrant served by the Columbia, Missouri police department. The cops bust into some guy's house in the middle of the night and shoot his two dogs (one a pit bull that was caged in the kitchen, the other a Corgi) with children in the home. It turns out that rather than a big time drug dealer, this guy had a small pipe with some resin in it, a grinder, and what the cops called "a small amount of marijuana" (meaning less than a few grams):

(via reason.com)

I don't understand how people watch Fox news and think they are getting unbiased information. Hannity and Gingrich are lying; there is simply no other word for it. It's malicious and wrong.

(via pete)

You can see some of the offensive rally signs they are referring to on Huffington Post (which is a far-left blog, so expect heavy bias).

"Tea Party" people are confusing and frustrating to me. Maybe they have something interesting to say, or maybe they have some novel approach to the existing/looming health care problem. But I don't see anything at this protest except hate and willful ignorance.

Additional interviews/footage of the rally.

I mean, all we're doing is enraging people with misleading information and then having them show up, at meetings, with the intent of shouting down the speakers and physically intimidating them. If that's what you call a mob, well, then I guess... Jesus... America... RUN!

(link to video on comedy central)

It's a wonder that these "news" commentators don't choke on their own hypocrisy. Sometimes I wish they would.

Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, “What does the Vice President do?”
PALIN: That’s something that Piper would ask me! … they’re in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom.

Come again? I think Palin needs to read the constitution again (or for the first time). As I understand it the VP only has power in the senate when it is an evenly divided house (and a tie breaking vote is necessary). Otherwise her duties are largely ceremonial. Vice Presidents are in the EXECUTIVE branch, not the LEGISLATIVE branch.

Jesus, she can't even answer this question sufficiently at a third grade level. There is no question why they are hiding her from the press: she is as unintellectual, untested, unknowing, and unintelligible as she is physically attractive.

(via thinkprogress)

...and go read a book

...and stop watching Faux News

...and Jesus, REALLY? What the hell is wrong with you?

My first thought was Plessy v. Ferguson (which was overturned by Brown v. Board of Education). Hmm... maybe she should read some newspaper articles about herself since she was quoted as being against the recent (2005) Supreme Court ruling for "Baker vs Exxon". That ruling gutted the punitive settlement for Alaskans hurt by the 1989 Exxon spill. You'd think such an "involved" governor of Alaska would be able to at least think of rulings that recently and directly affected citizens in her own state.

But be warned: I have listened to Palin's previous debates during her bid to become governor and she is a very good debater. Most debates aren't about policies, and she is excellent with sound bites and connecting with people on a personal level.