There’s been a bubbling hum of controversy surrounding the Senate Daily Press Gallery’s decision to deny credentials to SCOTUSBlog. And as it happens, the issues involved here are ones I know fairly well since I’m the owner of a new media company and had to navigate the DC credentialing for something like 15 years, first for The American Prospect and later for TPM. And in the case of TPM this was when the whole concept of such an organization was far more novel and hard to make sense of. We’ve been successfully credentialed on Capitol Hill for years now. But I have a fair amount of hard experience and built up on knowledge on this issue. So I thought I’d share my thoughts.
There is so much going on with this story: a separation of powers clash; delicious insider trading muck; political vendettas backfiring spectacularly; and the veil pulled back a bit on how DC works. Take your pick.
In Stepfordian-like innovation, Japanese professors introduce amazing super lifelike robot women.
Al Franken fundraising email contains special PS and PPS key at the bottom of the email with remedial internet for geezers.
P.S.: In case you were wondering, IIRC = If I Recall Correctly, SMH = Shaking My Head, IMHO = In My Humble Opinion, and BBFN = Bye-Bye For Now.
P.P.S.: Sorry this email didn’t have too many LOL moments, but this deadline is no LOL’ing matter. Help us reach our $250,000 goal before the FEC deadline.
US exchange student in Germany gets trapped in giant vagina sculpture; has to be rescued by firefighters. And, yes, there is a picture.
Mormon Church excommunicates founder of prominent women’s rights group.
Noted without comment.
Sen. Thad Cochran (R): “I think it’s important for everybody to participate. Voting rights has been an issue of great importance in Mississippi. People have really contributed a lot of energy and effort to making sure the political process is open to everyone.”
Mississippi lacks an impeccable voting rights history. But the state’s AG and Secretary of State have stepped to make clear that Tea Party SuperPacs or any SuperPacs have no right under state law to send ‘election observers’ to state polling places. So it seems the aggressive effort to harass/intimidate the state’s African-American voters tomorrow may have taken a bit of a hit.
This seems to have been postponed. But the top ‘Open Carry’ group apparently plans to march armed through a black neighborhood in Houston. Should go great.
We’re finishing up the third week of our TPMPrime membership drive. If I were in your shoes, I’d probably be hearing this and thinking, “Okay, maybe. I’ll think about it …” Or maybe you’re on the fence. Can you give me a chance to make the case? Here’s my pitch on why it’s important for TPM and why we want you to be a part of building the next TPM. And here’s my post from earlier this month about the economics of independent web publishing and why it’s critical for a news organization not to be exclusively dependent on advertising. It’s particularly so for an outfit like TPM which has always been driven forward by a devoted, core group of readers. If I’ve suddenly convinced you, here’s the sign up link. If not, take a moment and give me the chance to seal the deal. I’m confident you’ll be glad you did.