Despite the order earlier this month by Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware to release the videos from the Proposition 8 trial in former Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s courtroom in San Francisco, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered a stay of this order, keeping the videos under wraps while the higher court decides the proponents’ appeal of the videos’ release.

In other words, this sideshow over releasing the videos, based on the fear of the bigots’ attorneys and witnesses that their arguments will be exposed to the light of day, making them look like the foolish bigots they are, continues.

Michele Bachmann told a crowd over the weekend that Americans can rely on charitable organizations if they cannot afford health care. I actually saw evidence of this over the weekend in Los Angeles. But even this charitable foundation understands that there is no substitute for getting Americans enrolled in some mechanism that can get them the continuing care everyone in this country needs.

“Hell and Back Again” Danfung Dennis’ hypnotic, compelling documentary follows the return of a badly injured Marine from Afghanistan, inter-cutting footage from the battlefield with scenes from 25-year old Sgt Nathaniel Harris’ life back in North Carolina.

Supporters of the new Affordable Care Act have recently launched the “Thanks Obamacare!” campaign to highlight the law’s positive aspects. Unfortunately several of the features the campaign praises are provisions that haven’t taken effect yet and won’t until 2014. That highlights the political malpractice in the design and timing of the APA.

I said in my initial story on the new refi plan for Fannie and Freddie-backed homes that it’s not a housing plan, but a stimulus plan. Really important to keep that in mind. The housing market is depressed because of $700 billion in negative equity. This plan wouldn’t touch dollar 1 of that. It’ll put some more money in people’s pockets if they meet certain guidelines.

Today’s “We are the 99%” photo and story.

Alex Lawson from Social Security Works answers questions about Social Security and the shameless secrecy and misplaced priorities of the Congressional Super Committee charged with reducing deficits.

There’s been an expectation that the Supreme Court would consider the constitutionally of the Affordable Care Act sometime in March 2012 and deliver an opinion in June. But there’s a possibility the Supremes could delay taking the case because of the ACA’s “tax” provision doesn’t kick in until 2014, so the issue isn’t ripe yet.

President Obama has begun taking a series of unilateral executive actions to try to help improve the economy as part of his new “we can’t wait” plan. This could be a smart political move for Mr. Obama, allowing him to take credit for small improvements and blame the GOP Congress for not doing more.

There are more stories emerging of atrocities against civilians in Libya, the last apparently involving mass graves of pro-Gaddafi loyalits.