Can the State compel an "artist to paint a picture"?

Recently, Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed suit against Arlene’s Flowers and Gifts of Richland, Washington, for refusing to supply floral arrangements for a gay wedding. State law requires businesses serving the public to accommodate customers without regard to sexual orientation. There is no question the florist violated state law and that the Attorney General has…

Reagan Dunn: Death penalty required for "civil society"

Attorney General candidate Reagan Dunn began his recent Times opinion piece in support of the death penalty with this paragraph: “The most important function of local government is to protect the public through enforcement of the rule of law. It is what separates a civil society from lawlessness, keeps our neighborhoods safe and establishes an…

Jane Hamsher: "His most ardent supporters are the dumbest motherfuckers in the world"

Today, FIredoglake’s Jane Hamsher called Obama’s staunchest supporters “the dumbest motherfuckers in the world”. This is going too far. Way too far. Progressives can’t abandon Obama and his supporters and be successful in 2012. Down-ticket candidates, especially the most progressive ones, are handicapped by this type of vitriol. We need a huge turnout in 2012,…

Jay Inslee to speak at NWroots

Congressman Jay Inslee will join Congressman Jim McDermott, former Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, and Washington State Labor Council President Jeff Johnson at NWroots, the July 9th conference for liberal political activists, bloggers, candidates, and elected officials. The agenda includes keynote addresses, sessions on labor, health care, immigration, media, banking, agriculture, & electronic voting; documentaries,…

NWroots to Feature Jim McDermott, Ujjal Dosanjh, & Jeff Johnson

Do you know about the NWroots Conference in Seattle on July 9th? NWroots is a conference for liberal political activists, bloggers, policy wonks, candidates, elected officials, and anyone who cares about progressive public policy. There will be keynote speakers, breakout sessions/workshops, documentaries, a candidates social, and an after-party. Feature speakers include Congressman Jim McDermott, former…

Obama Hostility Syndrome

I guess “Obama Hostility Syndrome” applies to the far left as well as the far right. It is a condition whereby fault is found with anything and everything Obama does. Short memories and impatience rule the day for so called “progressives”, who give little credit to Obama for the work he has done for women’s…