Category Archives: Uncategorized

Boycott politics

Posted on July 23, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Chick Fil A is the most recent company to fall within the sites of a boycott campaign.  Dan Cathay, president of the fast food chicken restaurant chain founded by his father, reaffirmed his commitment to an evangelical approach to his … Continue reading →

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Republicans wrestle with race and Tea Party

Posted on July 20, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The headline of Jake Sherman’s story at Politico is “Republicans line up to rip Michele Bachmann.” Rep. Bachmann (Minnesota) and four other Tea Party conservatives    ( Reps.  Trent Franks [Arizona], Louie Gohmert [Texas], Thomas Rooney [Florida] and Lynn Westmoreland [Georgia]) … Continue reading →

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Rights and facts on the ground

Posted on June 29, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act means that Governor Mitt Romney, by campaigning to repeal the Act, is promising to take health insurance away from 30 million people, none in Massachusetts.  This is far tougher than … Continue reading →

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Court ruling an opportunity and a test for Tea Party

Posted on June 28, 2012 by David S. Meyer

When the Supreme Court announced the constitutionality of the Affordable Health Care Act this morning, it sounded a trumpet calling the Tea Party to arms.  Can the movement respond effectively?  Will Tea Partiers reinvigorate the movement which has become, basically, … Continue reading →

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Starving postal workers

Posted on June 26, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Ten current and former postal employees stopped eating yesterday in Washington, DC, starting a hunger strike to protest continuing cutbacks at the United States Postal Service.  Organized by Community and Postal Workers United, they do not plan to starve themselves … Continue reading →

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Defectors and dissident elites: rifts in the campaign against gay marriage

Posted on June 24, 2012 by David S. Meyer

When David Blankenhorn changed his mind about same sex marriage, the New York Times was eager to give him space on its op-ed page to explain why.  Blankenhorn has been a stalwart in the battle against gay marriage, testifying as … Continue reading →

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Immigration activists, allies, and targets

Posted on June 21, 2012 by David S. Meyer

President Obama’s shift in administrative policy on immigration has provided some political space for immigration activists pressing for comprehensive reform.  Days after the announcement, the White House hosted a conference on immigration issues that included 200 activists (reported in Politico). … Continue reading →

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Still not the dream

Posted on June 18, 2012 by David S. Meyer

President Obama’s announcement of an immigrant daydream dramatically changes the landscape for both the immigrants rights movement and its anti-immigrant counterpart. Obama’s new policy, to forgo deportation proceedings for young people (under 31) who came to the United States before … Continue reading →

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Lucy Lawless protests Arctic oil drilling: Her courage will change the world

Posted on June 15, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Without sword or chakram, actor Lucy Lawless occupied the Noble Explorer, an oil-drilling ship docked in Auckland last February.  With seven other Greenpeace activists, she tried to stop the ship from leaving port until she was finally arrested after 77 … Continue reading →

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Risk, Repression, and Response in Russia

Posted on June 13, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets in Moscow, calling for the ouster of President Vladimir Putin, and demanding new elections. This is just days after President Putin raised the costs of protesting by announcing fines of up … Continue reading →

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