Good idea.

President Hamid Karzai demanded Thursday that the United States pull back from combat outposts and confine its troops to military bases in Afghanistan, an apparent response to Sunday's shooting rampage by a U.S. staff sergeant.

An even better idea would be to move our troops to military bases outside Afghanistan.

Hat tip to Steve Benen.

Good idea...

...from the folks at Freedom To Marry...



Here's the proposed plank...

The Democratic Party supports the full inclusion of all families in the life of our nation, with equal respect, responsibility, and protection under the law, including the freedom to marry. Government has no business putting barriers in the path of people seeking to care for their family members, particularly in challenging economic times. We support the Respect for Marriage Act and the overturning of the federal so-called “Defense of Marriage Act,” and oppose discriminatory constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny the freedom to marry to loving and committed same-sex couples.

I do, and my Party should.

Good idea…

…from the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, via Politics Northwest...

An association representing defense lawyers has a different idea than King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg about how his office can do its job following the elimination of 36 deputy prosecutors since 2008.

Instead of seeking an appropriation of criminal-justice reserve funds, the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers suggests that Satterberg not seek the death penalty in aggravated murder cases.

I don't think the financial cost is the best reason to give up the death penalty, but it's good enough.

Good idea…

…from the Star-Telegram…

Use today, which is designated as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, as an excuse to actually read the Constitution. Marvel at how a remarkably brief document provides the outline for a form of government that's survived and thrived through more than two centuries of tests and trials.

That would be a liberal form of government, of course.

And a happy Constitution and Citizenship day to y'all.

An appeal…

...from Angela Boskowitz of Democrats Abroad in Frankfurt, Germany, via John McCreery at Best Of The Blogs...

...Per my direct conversations with the Chaplain, the Chaplain’s Closet
is in dire need of phone cards. The need is URGENT. The first thing
everyone wants to do when they get to the Hospital is to call their
wives, mothers and children and let them know they’re ok. There is no
open, cost free telephone line at the hospital and our wounded need
phone cards to be able to make these important calls.

The phone cards should be American. They can be purchased in 120-
minute formats from drug stores and supermarkets anywhere in the US.
They may be purchased at PX’s worldwide.

The phone cards can be collected and sent in large envelopes to
Landstuhl Hospital which has a US Address, reducing the postage
costs. I ask that people send them directly to the Hospital instead
of coordinating with me because the need is more urgent than my
monthly trips can meet. Feel free to include personalized letters/cards.

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center,
ATTN: MCEUL-CH/Chaplains Office
CMR 402, APO AE 09180

Something for my Army, instead of to it.

Good idea.