Using the zombie apocalypse at the CDC to get people interested in Disaster Preparation

Dr. Ali Khan wrote about the Zombie Apocalypse on the emergency preparedness blog of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The article has ten times the traffic for one week every day.

Republicans Filibuster Goodwin Liu

by Anne Laurie

Because, in the Republican playbook, judicial filibusters are unspeakably anti-American, unless of course it’s a Democratic nominee they’re blocking:

President Barack Obama lost his first vote on a judicial nominee Thursday, as Senate Republicans derailed the nomination of a liberal professor who leveled acerbic attacks against two conservative Supreme Court nominees — both now justices.

Democrats fell short of the 60 votes they need to end a filibuster and give Goodwin Liu an up-or-down vote on his nomination to the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Liu, a 40-year-old legal scholar at the University of California’s Berkeley law school, could someday be a dream Supreme Court nominee for liberals…

To most Democrats and liberal backers, Liu is the type of nominee they want for a lifetime appointment on the federal bench. He supports liberal social issues such as gay marriage and affirmative action. He was given a top rating of unanimously well-qualified by the American Bar Association. He was a Rhodes Scholar and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He received numerous awards for academic and legal achievements, including the highest teaching award at his law school.

To most Republicans and conservative allies, he’s a judicial activist who made insulting remarks about the Supreme Court nominations of John Roberts, now the chief justice, and Samuel Alito.

Two senators favoring a continued filibuster were Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Both were part of a group of 14 senators who previously pledged not to filibuster judicial nominees except under extraordinary circumstances.

‘Extraordinary circumstances’ such as ‘failing to be Republican’, that is. Adam Serwer at The Plum Line explains why this is more important than McCain’s ever-touchy dignity or Graham’s wounded feelings:

Liu’s confirmation battle is a symptom of a much larger problem — the GOP’s success in blocking Obama’s judicial nominations. There are 110 vacancies on the federal bench, a vacuum that leaves the judiciary ideologically skewed to the right.

The lack of Democratic appointees has allowed a more conservative federal bench to interpret the law in ways that drastically affect Americans’ daily lives. Only 133 of Obama’s nominees have been confirmed, far fewer than George W. Bush or even Bill Clinton. The administration itself has also failed to put forth enough nominees, and hasn’t fought very hard for those they have.

Despite their claims, social liberalism isn’t the big reason Republicans oppose his nomination. Liu is recognized by conservatives as uniquely bright, to the point of winning plaudits from conservative attorneys like torture memo author John Yoo and former Solicitor General Kenneth Starr.

The real reason Republicans are trying to block Liu is this: Because of his youth (he’s 39), intelligence and outlook, he’d be a tempting choice the next time a spot opens up on the Supreme Court. A Liu pick would delight Obama’s liberal base and — depending on who he replaced — potentially move a conservative dominated, corporate friendly court to the left for the first time in generations.

But Liu has to make it to the federal bench first.

Trumka: A Labor movement for the people, not for politician or party

In a major speech today, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka outlined a vision of what a true labor movement should be. Read the speech here:

We have listened hard, and what workers want is an independent labor movement that builds the power of working people—in the workplace and in political life.

Working people want a labor movement strong enough to help return balance to our economy, fairness to our tax system, security to our families and moral and economic standing to our nation. Our role is not to build the power of a political party or a candidate. It is to improve the lives of working families and strengthen our country.

It doesn't matter if candidates and parties are controlling the wrecking ball or simply standing aside—the outcome is the same either way. If leaders aren't blocking the wrecking ball and advancing working families' interests, working people will not support them. This is where our focus will be—now, in 2012 and beyond.

Pawlenty To Officially Launch Campaign Monday

St Paul, MN - Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is running for the GOP presidential nomination and will announce his bid Monday in Iowa.

That’s according to an adviser with direct knowledge of the plans. The adviser tells The Associated Press Pawlenty will declare his candidacy at a town hall style event in Des Moines, Iowa. The adviser disclosed the information on condition of anonymity.

Pawlenty will make the announcement in the state with the leadoff nominating caucuses and then head to Florida, New Hampshire, New York and Washington, D.C.

The move was widely expected. The 50-year-old Pawlenty has been laying the groundwork for a run for more than a year. He took the first step in March by setting up an exploratory committee and he has built campaign operations in several key states.

'Dark Knight Rises' Already Showing Us Tom Hardy as Bane

Is that a gas mask?

By: Brad Brevet

Published: Friday, May 20th 2011 at 11:29 AM

Tom Hardy as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises
Photo: Warner Bros.

 

Warner Bros. recently sent out a press release announcing the start of production on Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, but today's Bat-related nugget is sure to be more interesting for you as the official site (via SlashFilm) for the film has revealed the first look at Tom Hardy (Inception, Bronson) as the film's villain, Bane.

Now, if you're curious to learn how this image was revealed, head over here and read all about it, it's a bit of a crazy story.

The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters on July 20.

Israeli PM Netanyahu rejects Obama '1967 borders' view

Israeli PM Netanyahu rejects Obama '1967 borders' view 19 May 2011 Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected comments from US President Obama that a future Palestinian state must be based on the 1967 borders. In a major speech to the State Department, Mr Obama said "mutually agreed swaps" would help create "a viable Palestine, and a secure Israel". But Mr Netanyahu said those borders, which existed before the 1967 Middle East war, were "indefensible". Mr Netanyahu is preparing to meet Mr Obama for talks at the White House.

Randy “Macho Man” Savage Dies in Car Accident

Death, Legends, Sad., Wrestling, WWE Tim Ryan (TheSportsHernia) May 20th. 2011, 1:01pm

One of professional wrestling’s most charismatic, beloved characters of all time, Randy “Macho Man” Savage (Randall Mario Poffo) sadly died this morning in a car accident in Tampa, Florida. Randy reportedly suffered a heart attack while he was behind the wheel. According to TMZ, Savage “veered across a concrete median through oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a tree.” He was 58 years old. His wife was a passenger in the vehicle and survived with minor injuries.

You certainly didn’t have to be a wrestling fan to appreciate the unforgettable Macho Man. What a tremendous loss. July 9th, 1985 was when it all started for the Macho Man, and for us: