The hearing of Texas Judge Sharon Keller on ethical violations stemming from her refusal to allow the courthouse to remain open to accept a last-minute stay pleading for a death row inmate wrapped up yesterday. The New York Times calls her unfit for the bench and says she should resign:

We believe the death penalty is in all cases wrong. But people who support it should still insist that it be carried out only after a prisoner has been given every reasonable chance to make his case. Judge Keller’s callous indifference in a case where the stakes could not have been higher makes her unfit for office.

[More...]

Krugman writes:

[P]rogressives are now in revolt. Mr. Obama took their trust for granted, and in the process lost it. And now he needs to win it back.

That may be, but I am against the idea of trusting any politician, including Obama, Ted Kennedy, Russ Feingold, Bernie Sanders, Nancy Pelosi and Anthony Weiner. Watch what they do, not what they say.

Speaking for me only

This post amused me. Apparently, Yglesias needs defending. Meanwhile, at the same blog, a post, wait for it, asserting that Yglesias (and folks like him) have an impact on the health care debate ("Matt Yglesias writes perceptively on why Democratic health care reform is failing, but -- perhaps understandably -- doesn't see his own role." (My emphasis.)

As I understand the argument defending the Ezra Klein axis, it is that they are irrelevant. I certainly hope that is right. Apparently, there is some disagreement on the point at ObiWi.

This is an Open Thread.

Mexico's new law decriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs, including marijuana, heroin and cocaine, goes into effect today. The law also provides for drug treatment at the Government's expense.

The law sets out maximum “personal use” amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine. People detained with those quantities will no longer face criminal prosecution; the law goes into effect on Friday.

Anyone caught with drug amounts under the personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and for those caught a third time treatment is mandatory — although no penalties for noncompliance are specified.

The Mexican Congress passed a law to decriminalize drugs in 2006. Another version passed in 2007. Mexico is smart to realize that taking some pressure off users will free up resources to pursue large-scale traffickers. Will the U.S. get a clue?

Medical marijuana dispensaries have been cropping up along the Front Range in Colorado. Already established in Basalt and Carbondale, two in Aspen are planning on opening.

Aspen's community development director issued an opinion Wednesday that the zoning code does not prohibit dispensaries just because it doesn't specifically recognize them. He says they should be zoned just like pharmacies.

Medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed anywhere in Aspen that allows an office, the city’s top planning director said Thursday.

...Aspen’s land-use code does not specifically recognize marijuana dispensaries but Chris Bendon, the city’s community development director, said his office examined various zoning definitions and determined the dispensaries should generally be treated like pharmacies.

Bendon's report will now go to the City Council for approval. What's causing this "brave new world"? [More...]

The inevitable begins. Steve Benen:

Late yesterday, the Gang of Six managed to connect over the phone. They reportedly raised the idea of moving the reform legislation even further to the right [. . .]

At the risk of beating a dead horse, note that the only reason to "rein in the scope" of reform, and try to make the efforts much cheaper, would be to satisfy the demands of conservative Republicans -- the conservative Republicans who oppose health care reform, and who intend to vote against the bill anyway. This is madness.

(Emphasis supplied.) Madness for Democrats theoretically committed to serious health care reform. For Republicans and Dems like Baucus (and Obama?), not so much. For them it is shrewd political bargaining. It's a wonder that Klein, Yglesias, Drum, Starr and Benen do not get that.

On political bargaining, see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4. Speaking for me only

Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? is now available for immediate delivery. It's already #11 on the Amazon Bestseller list for new releases. It may be the best-selling marijuana book to date on Amazon.

Written by Mason Tvert, Paul Armentano and Steve Fox, with a foreward by former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper, the book argues marijuana is a safer recreational alternative to other substances like alcohol.

If you're in the neighborhood, there will be a launch event for the book Sunday at 2 p.m. at 8 Rivers Cafe, 1550 Blake St. in Denver. The book's Facebook page, with 4,700 members right now, is here.

After months of attacks from the Right and perhaps the most inept political performance by a White House in recent memory, the public option still garners majority support in the country, according to a WaPo poll (a SUSA poll has approval at 77%, proving yet again that wording is everything in polling):

52 percent of Americans said they favor the government's creation of a new health insurance plan to compete with private insurers, while 46 percent are opposed. That is a big shift from late June, when 62 percent backed the notion and 33 percent opposed it.

A President with a 57% approval rating (according to the WaPo poll) compared to a 21% approval rate for Congressional Republicans, should be able to enact a policy he says he favors and which is supported by 52% of the electorate. If he can't, that means he really is not in favor of it or he is too incompetent politically to get it done.

Speaking for me only

Jane at Firedoglake reports contributions to the ActBlue Fund for members of Congress who won't support a health care bill unless it has a public option have soared to over $300,000.

Crooks and Liars reports MoveOn has joined the effort. Think Progress says a SurveyUSA poll finds 77% of Americans support the public option.

Keep the contributions coming.

"Progressive" bloggers love to hate on Terry McAuliffe. So this, via FDL, is hilarious to me:

Terry McAuliffe thinks it is time to "insist" on the public option. We couldn't agree more. Terry's agreed to host a fundraiser with Virginia and national bloggers who are insisting on a public option for the first Virginia Congressman who will take our pledge!

The "corporate shill" Terry Mac is to the left of a good segment of the "Left" blogosphere on health care reform. How funny is that?

Speaking for me only

Here is the statement of Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's on the release and return to Libya of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi:

It is quite clear to the medical experts that Al-Megrahi has a terminal illness, and indeed that there has recently been a significant deterioration in his health... It therefore falls to me to decide whether he should be released on compassionate grounds.

....Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion be available. Our beliefs dictate that justice be served, but mercy be shown. Compassion and mercy are about upholding the beliefs that we seek to live by, remaining true to our values as a people. No matter the severity of the provocation or the atrocity perpetrated.

[More...]

Bump and Update: The proposal passed the California Senate today. It provides for the release of 37,000 inmates over two years and "includes measures such as house arrest and easing penalties for some crimes.."

Original post: 8/19/09

CA Legislature Vote on Prison Reducing Measures

A vote could take place tomorrow in the California legislature on several measures that would reduce the prison state's vastly over-crowded prison population. The proposed reforms: [More...]