As long time readers know, each year we do a big annual survey of our readers. It takes about ten minutes to fill out. It’s really basic questions. And it is a huge help to our whole organization, because it goes right to our bottom line, how we pay staff and all the expenses that keep this small independent publication going. We’re going to be running the survey later this week. So when you see my post announcing it, please take a few moments to fill it out. We really appreciate it.
After the jump, more information about why it’s important and how we protect your privacy.
Last week in the first installment of our series Nona Willis Aronowitz looked at America’s faltering love affair with the car. Fewer men see cars as a key way to define their identity, technology has become a new focus of conspicuous consumption, energy prices are (at least usually) high and in many big cities cars simply aren’t necessary. Today, in part two of our series, we look at the other side of the equation. Outside of a few big cities – and in many cases even within them – a car (something that is often out of reach for the working poor) remains a key element of economic survival or the possibility of decent life. Read part two here.
Police in Garland, Texas, just held a press conference where they released new details about last night’s shooting at the Muhammed cartoon contest. We now have a much clearer picture of the shootout and of the security preparations taken in advance of the event.
Our full report.
On the bandwagon. Ted Cruz says he understands why people are worried about an Obama military takeover of Texas and he supports Gov. Abbott’s decision to have the State Guard monitor the US military personnel in case they make a move to take over Texas.
When George Lincoln Rockwell, the American Nazi Party leader, was shot and killed in 1967 it was wrong. Same with George Wallace (who was gravely wounded and paralyzed, not killed) in 1972 or with Meir Kahane in 1990 – precisely because as a society we value free speech and we also don’t allow civilians to kill people they don’t like. But just as with these other worthies, we should prosecute the offenders (perhaps difficult in this case since at least the two on the scene are dead) without valorizing people who run hate groups. It’s really that simple. There is zero contradiction between the two judgments. Pam Geller is a cancerous presence in the US political conversation; same with her pal Geert Wilders, the flamboyant and parodic far-right, racist Dutch parliamentarian she brought for her Muhammed cartoon event down in Texas. Political violence is the greatest corrosive of free and ordered societies. But a hate group is a hate group the day after someone takes a shot at them just like it was the day before.
Details are still coming in on the reported shooting at a Muhammed cartoon contest being held in suburban Dallas by Pamela Geller’s anti-Islam group American Freedom Defense Initiative.
The Dallas Morning News is reporting that two gunmen were killed by police:
TPM’s in-house Bridgegate-a-palooza expert (and expert on so much more) Brian Murphy is down at the court house in Newark watching today’s Bridgegate developments. And I just got off the phone with him to get a read out on what was discussed in the court room proceeding today about just what David Wildstein is pleading guilty to and factual claims he is making as part of his plea.
Here are the key points
The Bridgegate scandal is being blown wide open by prosecutors in New Jersey this morning. David Wildstein as expected pleaded guilty and admitted that the scheme to close the bridge was revenge against the mayor of Fort Lee.
Wildstein also admitted to conspiring with two other Christie allies, Bill Baroni at the Port Authority and Bridget Kelly, who was Christie’s deputy chief of staff. Baroni and Kelly have reportedly been indicted, too, the NYT is reporting.
That hissing sound is the remaining air coming out of the Christie 2016 balloon.
More soon …