I will drive down to Quantico this weekend with Bradley Manning’s friend David House when David delivers petition signatures to the Commander of the Quantico brig. The petition urges an end to the inhumane treatment of Manning during his pre-trial confinement.

David House is the only person aside from Bradley’s lawyer who visits him regularly. He recently wrote about Bradley’s conditions here at FDL, which include severe restrictions on his ability to exercise, communicate or even sleep. Manning has not been convicted of any crime, nor is there a date for any court hearing.

I don’t recall Oliver North being subjected to anything like that while he was awaiting trial.

Can you sign the petition and forward it to your friends?

Rick Santorum is a racist. Oh, and an asshole – in case you needed a reminder.

Among the few people in Washington willing to bring up the inconvenient and much ignored foreclosure crisis is Sen. Jeff Merkley. He unveiled an actual plan for fixing the mortgage market Tuesday, and today he writes a letter to the President, pleading with him to wake up and acknowledge the robo-signed, improperly-conveyed-to-the-trust elephant in the room. He wants the President to use the State of the Union to restart this conversation.

I actually don’t think the non-coverage of the Spokane incident is a response to the Giffords assassination attempt and the ensuing media frenzy. Rather, it’s a reversion to the status quo, less than two weeks after that assassination attempt.

Because Republicans have only a passing familiarity with reality, today they’ll begin to embark upon replacing health care with their own “free-market solutions.” Hysterically, they’re not even sure when the relevant committees will get around to it.

They’re quiet, because it’s a mixed bag.

Your right to privacy is going to require you to not need a job…or benefits. Well, so much for that penumbra.

Oscar Peterson and Count Basie — Slow Blues.

(An original Pome by Thersey Thyshhe Therssey. Ahem.)

Like the SustiNet Board in Connecticut, the Commonwealth Advisory Committee suggests against forcing this population to use the new exchanges for basically the same reason–the private insurance exchanges will likely result in worse coverage at a greater cost to both the customers and the government.