Earlier this year, Republicans in Ohio pushed through SB 5, which would extremely limit public sector unions’ collective bargaining rights, effectively crippling public labor unions in the state. Ohio unions have been gathering signatures to put the law to a public referendum this November, and a recent poll by Quinnipiac shows that if they manage to get the issue on the ballot, it will likely be repealed.

I wish that headline was in any way hyperbolic. And this comes out of a five-year study, not a quick answer to deflect criticism. This is the formal opinion of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Aggressive independent journalism? You can find that at The Nation, Mother Jones, Truthdig, and a few other places — but it’s an endangered species. Hard-hitting commentary from the left? That’s easier to come by, but some do it better than others. Truly progressive political activism? Increasingly scarce in the age of Obama, but it’s still out there.

But only one place has all three. FDL.

But if you want us to continue, you’ve got to step up and be counted. And that means becoming an FDL Member.

I’m beginning to suspect the Republican’s decision to hold the debt ceiling hostage to demand only big cuts in spending and President Obama’s almost enthusiastic desire to play along was a way to deal with the problem of the nonexistent bond vigilantes by actively creating some.

Newt Gingrich is in the midst of the worst Presidential campaign rollout in history.

David Petraeus’ favorite tool for cowing populations into quiescence, the night raid, has led yet again to deaths NATO characterizes as insurgents but Afghans say are civilians. In this case, four were killed in an overnight raid Tuesday night, two men and two women. A crowd of two to three thousand took to the streets in Taloqan and there were multiple deaths when police opened fire on the crowd.

Just over two years ago, right around the time I reported that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times in a month, many of you chipped into the “Marcy Wheeler fund” to support my work; that generosity paid my way until a short time ago. And now I’m asking for your faith and financial support again, to support the next 525 posts on torture. This time that support will come in the form of an ongoing Firedoglake membership.

Please join Firedoglake today.

This is a fairly astounding happening as Liu was first nominated to the 9th in February of 2010, but the nomination died at the end of the 2010 session from lack of even an attempt to call for a floor vote. President Obama promptly renominated Liu, and he was again promptly reported out of the Judiciary Committee on a straight party line vote, but it appeared as if the nomination would be again be left to die a quiet death. Apparently not.

• Increasing brutality in Syria.
• Willard’s problem: no one loves him.
• Will begging for forgiveness be enough?
• Just what the field needs: a secessionist.
• Stay classy, conservatives!

Republicans lose a few nuts in the Presidential race, but may gain a one-man assortment.