The voters of Iran came out in droves (wish we could get 72% turnout here) to elect a "moderate" candidate for president. I suppose Hassan Rowhani is their version of hope and change. While it's encouraging that the hard-line clerics didn't steal the election, they still have the real power.
Governor Corbett is stalling on the Medicaid expansion plan that would help cover hundreds of thousands of low-income Pennsylvanians. The expansion, according to the RAND Corporation study, would bring in $2.5 billion a year in federal funds and support more than 35,000 jobs. He claims he is worried about the expense down the road for Pennsylvania, but my guess is he is more worried about the insurance companies than he is the low-income residents struggling to afford health care.
GOP-led state legislatures across the nation continue to engage in a war to occupy the reproductive organs of women by enacting strict antiabortion legislation. As if that isn't bad enough, the House Judiciary Committee met on the hill last week to pass their own antiabortion bill. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), chief sponsor of the bill, tried arguing against having an exception for rape because he said the incidence of pregnancy from rape was low. Where does he get his statistics, Todd Akin?
The civil war in Syria isn't going away, though many would like it to. I am not in favor of embroiling the U.S. in another Iraq or Afghanistan, but how many Syrians have to die before somebody steps in. Why is it always up to the U.S.? Where is the UN?
In the wake of the leaks about massive NSA spying, whistleblower Edward Snowden has been hailed a hero and a traitor, depending on who you talk to. The same debate has been waged over Bradley Manning, the man responsible for the WikiLeaks scandal. Are these men patriots who are protecting civil liberties or traitors who are enabling the enemy?
