The rules that are supposed to protect the health and safety of oil rig workers were designed 15 years ago by the American Petroleum Institute – the industry and lobbying group for major oil and gas companies. The worst part? Even those regulations are considered “voluntary.”

It’s worth calling her bluff. There are too many lives at stake to not at least consider this for early next week.

Several left-leaning writers like Greg Sargent have all noted the basic game theory 101 involved. Voters will blame Democrats, and vote for Republicans, if the economy stays bad. So, Republicans have a huge incentive to block Democrats from passing legislation that would improve the economy, and Senate Republicans have the tool to do that with the filibuster.

My question is: If Democratic Senators like Stabenow actually believe Republicans are trying to destroy the lives of millions of Americans and our economy, why on Earth are Senate Democrats letting Republicans do it?

Would John Brennan be Obama’s Homeland Security Advisor right now if Americans knew the full extent of his role in targeting Americans for illegal wiretapping?

The premium in deepwater drilling really does seem to me to be faster, cheaper, more. Safer doesn’t enter the equation.

The big question for November is whether this online engagement will translate into large youth turnout numbers.

For a little background on this, let’s consult the Balloon Juice Lexicon.

Sam Seder gives voice to the confusion many are having: after Democrats successfully fought off George Bush’s attempts to gut Social Security in 2005, why did Obama pack his deficit commission in 2010 with people like co-chair Alan Simpson, who are dead set on doing the same thing?

It’s unclear whether voters will hear the message of Republicans deliberately sinking the economy, or do what they normally do, which is blame the party in power.

The basic premise of America Speaks is that budget deficits are dooming us and must be stopped. That premise is wrong and fraudulent. Here’s why.