David's blog

On the Senate floor Tuesday morning, Senator Roland Burris (D-Illinois) delivered a health care inspired version of the classic Christmas poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

"I've been around here 20-some years. First time I've ever seen a member denied an extra minute or two to finish his remarks. And I don't like it."
— Sen. John McCain, complaining about Senator Al Franken's objection to extra time for Senator Joe Lieberman, December 17, 2009

"I object."
—Senator John McCain, denying Sen. Mark Dayton extra time, October 10, 2002

"I object."
—Senator  John McCain, denying Sen. Robert Byrd extra time, October 10, 2002

Send a virtual greeting card to the White House and share your holiday wishes with President Obama and the First Family.

If you'd like, you can even add a personal message and even upload a family photo.

When those little ghosts and goblins come collecting on Halloween, make sure you have a full supply of union-made-in-America treats for them. Here's a brief list of choices of candy products made by members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union(BCTGM); snack foods by members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW); or fruit and nuts from members of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW).

The Burnt Orange Report has published a handy guide to the Texas Constitutional Ammendments on the November 2009 ballot. Their article contains a number of useful resources for those looking to cast a well-informed vote.

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons."

On a recent edition of The Rachel Maddow Show, Rachel interviewed Frank Schaeffer, the author of Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back . Mr. Schaeffer had some rather provocative perspectives on the evangelical sub-culture in the United States today:

Schaeffer: … The mainstream not just media but culture doesn’t sufficiently take stock of the fact that within our culture we have a sub-culture, which is literally a fifth column of insanity, that is bred from birth through home-school, Christian school, evangelical college, whatever, to reject facts as a matter of faith.