Culinary maestro Julia Child died today at 91. R.I.P. She was a legend and a pioneer.

Yesterday I asked TalkLeft's readers whether I should go to New York and blog live during the Republican convention . The responses left in the comments were overwhelmingly in favor of going. So, it's a done deal. And I am psyched. I had the best time in Boston I have had anywhere in years. Being surrounded by exuberant, self-defined and self-assured kids who so graciously accepted me into their fold. I was in heaven.

The plane ticket has been purchased. Blogger status and wi-fi at The Tankthe performance art space near the Garden that has graciously agreed to host progressive bloggers and provide wi-fi and internet access and where the RNC events will be displayed live on a big screen--has been arranged for. It will also serve as a clearing house for protest activities.

The real story for TalkLeft will be the action in the streets--the protesters, the security, the riot police and their attitudes. I'll have my digital camera, tape recorder , ipod and laptop. I have recruited two volunteers so far to capture the images on the streets, so TalkLeft can upload and bring them to you as they are happening.

Do I need help to do this? Yes, it's not cheap to spend a week in New York City--and it means losing another week at work. But, it will cost less than Boston, mainly because being a Native New Yorker and still frequent visitor, I know my way around. If you're in a position to assist, you can do so here via PayPal. If you'd like to donate anonymously, use Amazon. Both are secure. Many, many thanks.

If you need further convincing, read on:

From the American Constitution Society Blog on what happens when medical marijuana collides with federalism:

Last December, the Ninth Circuit held in Ashcroft v. Raich that federal anti-drug laws do not apply to locally cultivated cannabis. Their decision, which is now under review by the Supreme Court, effectively decriminalizes medical marijuana use in California, so long as that use complies with that state's Compassionate Use Act. Some conservative activists immediately condemned the decision as another example of liberal judicial activism from a court that's been "overturned more times than pancakes at IHOP." In truth, however, the odd thing about Raich isn't its activism, but instead its rigid compliance with prior Supreme Court precedent.

Matt Stoller at Blogging of the President:

This Is Rumor Control, a new web site composed of various intelligence analysts and journalists, is reporting that Iran has decided to confront US forces in Iraq. I hope this is not true, but based on the recent murmurings on Iran on the talk shows and rumors from military people, I'm not dismissing it.

The Guardian reports:

The US charge sheet against Iran is lengthening almost by the day, presaging destabilising confrontations this autumn and maybe a pre-election October surprise. The Bush administration is piling on the pressure over Iran's alleged nuclear weapons programme. It maintains Tehran's decision to resume building uranium centrifuges wrecked a long-running EU-led dialogue and is proof of bad faith. The US will ask a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency on September 13 to declare Iran in breach of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, a prelude to seeking punitive UN sanctions.

Don't you just love when the media takes a stand....for one of their own? New York Times Reporter Judith Miller has been subpoenaed to the grand jury investigating the leak of former CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity. The grand jury wants to know who is responsible for the leak, and whether reports are true that the offending parties are senior Bush Administration officials. Here's the Times' response:

"We regret that the special prosecutor has chosen to issue a subpoena that seeks to compel Judy Miller to reveal her confidential sources," Mr. Sulzberger said. "Journalists should not have to face the prospect of imprisonment for doing nothing more than aggressively seeking to report on the government's actions. Such subpoenas make it less likely that sources will be willing to talk candidly with reporters and ultimately it is the public that suffers.''

Lawyers for The Times said the paper expected that it would be served a separate subpoena for its records. They said the paper would fight that subpoena, too.

N. J. Governor James McGreevey resigned today, saying, "I am a gay American." Here's the text of his statement. Wonkette comments:

This was the speech of the year. The most high profile outing, well, ever, and McGreevey handled it with grace and dignity. He sort of makes me want to go gay, too. We hope that someday it won't mean much to go on national television and announce, "I am a gay American." Someday, we hope that kind of announcement comes at the beginning of someone's political career, not the end.

Wonkette rocks updates. For more on McGreevey's political leanings, Addiestan has the text of McGreevey's speech at the Stonewall Democrats Luncheon on the last day of the DNC and asks if he tipped his hand? Addie says of yesterday's announcement:

I agree with Eric Alterman. John Kerry is doing a poor job in explaining his position on the war in Iraq. Here's what Eric says Kerry should be telling us:

• 1. President Bush misled the country and the Congress into war and has conducted it incompetently.
• 2. The war also turns out to have been a dangerous diversion in the war against terrorism.
• 3. Even though we were misled, and even though we would be better off working with our (former?) allies to conduct a truly effective global war against terrorism, in Afghanistan and at home, we have no choice but to try to clean up this mess we’ve created.
• 4. But we should try and do so as quickly, inexpensively and painlessly as possible, so we can begin to repair some of the damage that’s been done to our nation’s reputation and get on with the business of defending the nation with the help and cooperation of our allies, as well as freeing up the resources we need to protect our homeland.

Kerry's recent pronouncements sound like an endorsement of Bush's policy and an after-the-fact justification for his earlier vote in favor of going to war. He's falling into a Bush trap by trying at all costs not to appear that he's "flip-flopped." In doing so, he's not making sense, which is far worse than acknowledging an honest change of heart based upon previous misinformation supplied by the Bush administration.

Kerry staffers, are you listening?

The prosecution is wringing every last drop of crud out of the Amber Frey-Scott Peterson tapes--playing them to the jury in their entirety. Some have strange coincidences--like Scott Peterson saying his favorite movie was The Shining (in which a man unsuccessfully tries to kill his wife and son). Most show a guy who was more interested in some side action than worrying about his missing pregnant wife. He was so intent on preserving the liasion with Amber that he lied to her about everything under the sun. But he also hesitated a nanosecond at times when discussing their future together.

They met in a bar on a blind date. Two dates later she gives him keys to her house and lets him pick up her toddler at day care. Three dates later, they're discussing plans to be together permanently. Something is wrong with this picture, and it's not just Scott Peterson's duplicity.

The tapes are titillating, nothing more. Everyone knew before the trial began that Scott Peterson was a lying philanderer. Does that make him a murderer? Hardly. Nonetheless, he will be one of the most vilified men in America when this trial is over, even if he is acquitted

Don't forget that you are hearing only the prosecution's evidence. The defense likely will have some pretty big aces up its sleeve when it gets its turn. In the meantime, all Geragos and team can do is maintain composure and act like this is all old hat and nothing new. The defense acknowledged that Scott lied to Amber during opening statement. While hearing the words will leave an emotional impact on some of the jurors, others are bound to question Amber's lack of judgment and wonder about this single mother who jumped into a relationship with a virtual stranger so fast and so obsessively. The tapes may be a wash in the end.

More details of Amber's testimony and the tapes here.

Say hello to the Deadline Blog--by the creators of the acclaimed death penalty documentary Deadline. From the about page:

Welcome to Deadline’s official blog! As you might not know, a film like ours getting such a large broadcast is a huge opportunity for us (and the documentary film world at large). We are launching an ambitious outreach campaign and learning as we go. Here we’ll chronicle some of the highlights of the ride we’ve all been on. The writers are either the filmmakers themselves, or have been officially invited to post entries. Some upcoming guest bloggers include Diann Rust-Tierney from the ACLU and Governor Ryan himself so check back often. In addition, daily, we will have an open thread where you can ask questions, talk to us (and one another) and most importantly keep the dialogue going about what is going on in the criminal justice system in the United States. We hope you enjoy it!

Unbelievable. Robert Carroll Coney is now 76. A judge has vacated his conviction, finding that his confession was forced by cops who broke his hand. He was released today after serving a whopping 41 years in jail. And he's not bitter.

A 76-year-old prisoner walked out of jail, a free man for the first time in 41 years, after a judge dismissed the conviction against him. Robert Carroll Coney, convicted of a 1962 robbery, exhibited a surprising lack of bitterness as he left Angelina County Jail with his wife on Tuesday. "I'm going to try to pick up the pieces," Coney told the Lufkin Daily News in Wednesday's editions. "If I was angry, what could I do about it?"

Coney said his identity had been confused with a man he had carpooled with through Lufkin on the day of the crime: March 7, 1962. Court documents state Coney falsely confessed to the crime after Angelina County deputies broke his hand, the Daily News reported. State District Judge David Wilson, who dismissed Coney's charges, investigated the case and found that then-Angelina County Sheriff Leon Jones and his deputies used physical force to extract confessions, often crushing prisoners' fingers between jail cell bars. (emphasis supplied.)

A great space has been made available for progressive bloggers to blog the Republican Convention live from New York. I had intended to pass. Now I'm having second thoughts. Covering the convention, the protests, the security measures and the extent to which New York is accomodating the Bush Administration vs. the protesters, is becoming an irresistable draw.

Add to the equation that the TL Kid is in New York and that he has offered to volunteer his computer skills and services to the blogging space and bloggers--I'm seriously thinking of joining the group.

Let me know what you think. Can TalkLeft can provide more valuable or insightful coverage blogging from Colorado while watching the mainstream media coverage on cable news? It certainly would be less taxing, both in dollars and physical exertion. Or should it jump into the fray and take a stab at covering that which the mainstream media may just gloss over?

The Judge in the criminal case pending against former Illinois Governor George Ryan today issued an opinion denying Ryan and a co-defendant's motion to dismiss the charges.

The charges against Ryan are part of a federal investigation that began by focusing on bribes paid for commercial driver's licenses and branched into political corruption. Charges have been filed against more than 70 state employees or others, and more than 60 have been convicted or have pleaded guilty. Ryan, a Republican, was secretary of state - the official whose office handles motor vehicle licenses - from 1991 to 1999 and governor from 1999 to 2003. He gained nationwide attention as governor for his actions against the death penalty.

Ryan is charged with " racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax fraud, filing false tax returns and making false statements. " The Judge also denied Ryan's request for a separate trial.