Chris Bowers described a part of yesterday's meeting with former President Bill Clinton (I was in attendance):

President Clinton told the assembled bloggers that one of the best things they could do for elected Democrats is to function as a "countervailing" source of progressive pressure. That is, he encouraged us to offer left-wing criticism of Democrats on key policy areas, and that we should urge our leaders and elected officials to favor further reaching, more community-focused public policy. In fact, he indicated that he would have wanted more such progressive media pushing him during his time in office.

Additionally, President Clinton told the assembled bloggers that they should focus their pressure in a "sophisticated" pattern, focusing specifically on members of Congress who could be the most influenced. By this, he meant Democrats in safe blue districts afraid of primary challenges, and members of both parties in districts that could be swung in the next general election. He also indicated that he believed this was the start of anew progressive era in the federal government--the first since the mid-1960's--and was hopeful that major progressive agenda items on health care and climate change would pass as a result.

On the state of the progressive agenda, Matt Yglesias offers a contradictory view:

Thank goodness, this is over. David Letterman, losing the p.r. war over his boorish joke about Bristol Palin, the 18 year old daughter of Sarah Palin, has apologized. It will air on tonight's Late Show. Palin was milking it for all it was worth. Yes, it was her 14 year old that went to the baseball game but Letterman was clearly referring to Bristol, her 18 year old.

I thought Conan O'Brien's Paris Hilton joke was worse, yet nobody jumped on him.

Now, onto tonight's Bachelorette, Weeds and Nurse Jackie, and if there's time, "I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here."

This is an open thread, all topics welcome

President Obama met today with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi. One outcome: Italy will take three Guantanamo detainees.

Thank you, Italy

I will be participating in the TPM Book Club discussion of Eric Boehlert's Bloggers on The Bus. Eric wrote an opening post. Also particpating will be Jay Rosen, Atrios, Greg Mitchell, Amanda Marcotte and Ari Melber. Should be interesting.

Via the Chicago Tribune, Congressman Mark Kirk is introducing a bill to set penalties at up to 25 years for some pot offenses, that would apply to first time offenders:

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk will call for legislation Monday that would toughen drug-trafficking laws regarding a highly potent form of marijuana, with penalties of up to 25 years in prison for a first-time offense. The law would target offenders who sell or distribute marijuana that has a THC content exceeding 15 percent.

Paul at NORML has more. You can send Rep. Kirk your thoughts here.

"War, children, is just a shot away."

A demonstrator has been killed by gunfire at protests in Iran. Huffington Post is live-blogging events. The violence continues. Follow the twitter feeds for the fastest updates. [More...]

Sen. Russ Feingold has written this letter (pdf)to President Obama, calling upon him to renounce the warrantless wiretapping. It begins:

I am writing to reiterate my request for you to formally and promptly renounce the assertions of executive authority made by the Bush Administration with regard to warrantless wiretapping. As a United States Senator, you stated clearly and correctly that the warrantless wiretapping program was illegal. Your Attorney General expressed the same view, both as a private citizen and at his confirmation hearing. It is my hope that you will formally confirm this position as president... [More...]

Little did I know one weekend in June, 2002, when I converted TalkLeft: The Politics of Crime, a little known website I created in 1999, into a weblog, I would spend hours every day for the next seven years on it. But, that's what I've done. Somehow, the years just flew by, and today, TalkLeft is 7 years old.

In an interview for a legal website a few years ago, I was asked what would happen to TalkLeft if a Democrat became president in January, 2009. My answer was: [More...]

President Obama enjoyed great support from trial lawyers in his presidential campaign. Even though, as I wrote here, he voted for a very bad tort reform bill.

So no one should be suprised he's now looking at reining in medical malpractice suits as a way to cut health costs. It's another one of his "middle ground" with Republican stances.

In closed-door talks, Mr. Obama has been making the case that reducing malpractice lawsuits — a goal of many doctors and Republicans — can help drive down health care costs, and should be considered as part of any health care overhaul, according to lawmakers of both parties, as well as A.M.A. officials.

He's not addressing capping lawsuit awards...at least not yet. [More...]

These conclusions by [Bush CIA] Director Hayden . . . have been reinforced by an additional review – following the panel decision in this case – at the highest levels of the [Obama]Department of Justice. - Obama DOJ Brief

Recent days have been filled with apologists for the Obama Justice Department's brief in the California DOMA case. Expect new defenses now for the Obama DOJ brief seeking en banc rehearing (PDF) of the 9th Circuit's Jeppesen state secrets decision (PDF). In my view, what is most disturbing about the Obama DOJ's brief is not that it adopts in toto the radical Bush Administration position on the state secrets doctrine (bad enough), it is its blatant misleading description of what the Jeppesen panel decided. The Obama DOJ writes:

The National Drug Intelligence Center issued its annual "market analyses" on illicit drug seizures, arrests, and trends in the 32 so-called High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs).

Drug Market Analyses examine the market dynamics and the trafficking, distribution, and abuse patterns associated with cocaine, heroin, marijuana, MDMA, methamphetamine, and other dangerous drugs within United States High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs).

[More...]

On "Face the Nation" today, Mitch McConnell said that Republicans could filibuster Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation vote if they decide to oppose the president's Supreme Court nominee. On May 19, 2005, the very same Mitch McConnell said this:

Because of the unprecedented obstruction of our Democratic colleagues, the Republican conference intends to restore the principle that, regardless of party, any President’s judicial nominees, after full debate, deserve a simple up-or-down vote.

McConnell argues that the filibuster is an acceptable alternative because Democrats established that precedent. It's all so clear now. Republican "principles" are meant for Democrats to follow, not Republicans.