During the July 4th celebrations peak your attention. Patriotism will almost exclusively=Military Might. You will see flags coupled with soldiers, arms and awesome aerial displays. Please contact me if you see the flag wed to social workers, teachers, nurses, or peace activists.

Thurgood Marshall is an American hero, not a political punch line–it’s time for Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to acknowledge as much.

Sen. Sessions is misleading the public and smearing a legend when he dismisses Thurgood Marshall as an “activist judge”.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing for the Department of Homeland Security today. Over the course of nearly three hours Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was questioned about the running of her Department. Given the new law in Arizona and the looming Comprehensive Immigration Reform fight, most of the questions centered on immigration and the boarder.

Several Senators tried to get the DHS Secretary to give an opinion as to whether the “Papers Please” law in Arizona was constitutional or not. Being a good politician Sec. Napolitano kept deferring to the Department of Justice which is currently reviewing the case law and did not offer her own opinion.

However, when asked about its affects on law enforcement, if it should be allowed to go into effect, she was not shy in detailing the ways that it would be a net negative. One of the biggest issues is the level of distrust that such enforcement would engender between the Latino community and all levels of law enforcement. When a community feels that laws are punitive they do not come forward with the kind of information that allows effective enforcement of all the laws.

Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee today urged Attorney General Eric Holder to stick to his initial determination that the alleged 9/11 plotters should be tried in civilian court, and not bow to partisan politics on what should be a legal determination.

Now’s the time for President Obama to show he is serious about justice issues. And he should start with a key recess appointment in Montgomery, Alabama.

Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning, who single-handedly blockaded extension of unemployment benefits to 400,000 and forced the furlough of 2,000 workers, is a Republican Superhero. He personifies the mean-spirited, hypocritical, wealthy-serving, obstructionist GOP.

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) has put a blanket hold on federal nominations. Here is how the White House can fight back.

JBS as tirade/outburst about newborns and their parents.

While there has been a lot of talk about women of color becoming Justices the Dog tends to think that fight will be nothing compared to the possibility of an openly gay Justice.