Studies show that the rules on smog and boiler regulation would prevent thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of asthma attacks. This delay is a death warrant for Americans – and it’s a deficit-buster, too, because cutting down on toxic pollution would save tens of billions of dollars in public health costs.

With the disaster in the Senate on Thursday, when Republicans proved yet again that they will not easily give up their discriminatory ways, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was aborted when it failed to pass a vote on cloture. The New York Times howled on Friday that The Senate Stands for Injustice, but this event really was just one more in a long string of aborted votes in the Senate that are bringing it increasingly closer to gridlock. Both parties have been guilty of this obstructionism over the years, but at least in terms of failed cloture motions, the past four years, with Democrats in the majority and Republicans aborting as many votes as they can, have seen these Senate abortions sail to an all-time high. It should be possible to put the Senate back to work actually debating and then having simple majority votes on passage of bills rather than aborting any votes on them. Let’s also eliminate the back alley vote abortions embodied in “holds” on legislation and limit total blockage attempts to no more than 10 for each caucus in a two year session.

One in seven is a sad commentary on the state of life in one of the wealthiest nations on earth.

President Clinton had plan to privatize Social Security (nixed by the Lewinsky scandal). Now President Obama is turning to him to reassure the public about a deal that could lead to Social Security privatization.

Why should we be melting down our phones telling our Senators and Congresscritters “Hell NO!” on this turkey? Let us count the reasons.

I was extremely sad to hear about Elizabeth Edwards passing to the other side of Life this week. I felt a sort of kinship with her… since I grew up as a military brat, too. The cancer’s movement to her liver had just been reported and it seemed she might be with us a little while longer, but then she was suddenly gone.

Ringing of the Bells from Muppet Studios.

The President has to cope with a deeply corrupt Senate. Here’s my suggestion.

21 months after Bush’s departure, and we’re still at war with the White House.

Democrats just seem to be missing the negotiating gene.