After the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Senator Mitch McConnell stated, "Of course, the American people should have a say in the court's direction. It is a president's constitutional right to nominate a Supreme Court justice, and it is the Senate's constitutional right to act as a check on the president and withhold its consent." He held the seat vacant for over 321 days (between the date President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the day President Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch). It is only right that he respect the American people's choice in the court's direction. Senator McConnell must keep Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat open until after Inauguration Day 2021.

The r-word (r*tard) is a highly offensive term to the disability community. It is a derogatory, exclusive, hateful and outdated slur to refer to people with intellectual disabilities. Time and time again activists with intellectual disabilities have spoken up about how hurtful this word is to them and the impact is has had on their lives. It also offends anyone who knows or loves someone with a disability. This word perpetuates negative stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities and is dehumanizing. It is time for instagram to make a change and include this word as a violation of community guidelines under hate speech as this is exactly what it is.

President Trump’s recently publicized comments that he “saved” known authoritarian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) of Saudi Arabia from accountability in the wake of Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal murder are utterly unacceptable. We cannot let Trump allow MbS to act with impunity, nor can we allow an erosion of the checks and balances in our own system of government. Congress has got to stop the Trump administration’s blank check for authoritarians and despots. By halting weapon sales to Saudi Arabia, we, through Congress, can hold MbS accountable — breaking this corrupt relationship apart and removing the firepower he needs to wage war. Sign the petition urging Congress to immediately halt ALL weapon sales to Saudi Arabia.

On September 11th, Amazon appointed General Keith Alexander to their board of directors. Gen. Alexander headed up the NSA when they secretly built a massive domestic surveillance system, the same system to which we were alerted by Edward Snowden, who risked his life to bring this operation to light. General Alexander headed up U.S. Cyber Command along with the NSA during the Obama Administration. Alexander retired in 2014 and went on to found the private cybersecurity firm IronNet. Last week the US Court of Appeals ruled the NSA surveillance program built under the directorship of General Alexander was unlawful .

Safety of our children, pets and ourselves.

When the punishment does not fit the crime: Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) wastes money; wastes lives, and spends $22,620 to kill a young dog. MCAS will immediately kill this young dog as soon as all legal deadlines end in mid-September. Protest this politically motivated action and support the rescue, adoption, and foster offers that have been made to allow him the life he has never had. Blaze, a young American Pit bull impounded at 10 months of age, has been held in maximum security at Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) since May 19, 2017. Over 3 years have gone by. He is not a “dangerous dog.” Blaze has not caused a “serious physical injury.” He was never used as a weapon and has caused no one ‘s death. The bite incidents (2) that resulted his incarceration in 2017 were well within the range of incidents that occur throughout the community, were preventable, and situational, secondary to living in a chaotic multi occupant household. There is no need to kill him to keep society “safe.” MCAS’s plans to kill him are retaliatory, driven by a need for absolute control and a commitment to the idea that killing is the best way of teaching a lesson to those with the courage to a challenge MCAS’s authority. The fundamental policy at MCAS is that that no one may ever question the validity of their decisions or offer alternative solutions. The rejection of public input and inclusive thoughtful solutions began with a regime change five years ago when the newly hired director began to systematically re-write all policies to exclude all professional consultations, rescue and public input, once important parts of decision making. It was in fact a hostile takeover, unfettered by oversight targeting removal of the public from its own government. The immediate escalation in killing that followed has been covered up, disingenuously explained away way as “socially responsible,” when no data has been presented that the community is “safer” with more killing. Killing just requires less effort. The agency, not the homeless animals unfortunate to be there, is “unhealthy and untreatable.” No questions are asked by government. Complacency and collegiality trump fact finding every time. The agency requirement that Blaze be killed when safe humane alternatives exist is a continuing pattern at Multnomah County Animal Services and is about vengeance, a revenge for which MCAS as of September 07, 2020 has willingly incurred boarding costs of $22,620. Blaze’s exemplary behavior under stressful agency generated circumstances has been extraordinary. Nearly all of Blaze’s life has now been spent in solitary confinement where he is only permitted visits behind a kennel door without contact allowed for 15 minutes or less, with those closely supervised by an animal control officer. The goal to discourage visitors has succeeded. But despite the fact that nearly all of his life has been spent in solitary confinement, Blaze has survived. His daily kennel monitor reports document a cheerful welcoming behavior and efforts to seek out positive attention from other animals and people passing by the outside of his cell. MCAS refuses to allow him to be evaluated by an expert professional with a diplomate in veterinary behavior medicine and rejects the opportunity to create a behavior plan and allow him to go to a 501(c)(3) placement partner as did previous administrations. This resort to autocratic rule is occurs because MCAS can simply run out the clock. MCAS’s deliberate refusal to acknowledge and respond to consultation and rescue offers from volunteers, community professionals, and rescues in all cases now is unconscionable. “Winning” by deliberately shutting out the community has led to increased killing throughout the county without any safety agenda served. Please contact the listed responsible parties in charge of this agency where every democratic principle has been removed. Ask that Blaze be permitted to live and help us in this county advocate for a humane democratic shelter, one that does not kill arbitrarily when safe and humane options exist and partners with the community that pays its way. Documents available upon request. Gail O’Connell-Babcock, PhD gocbwatchdog@aol.com Foster Pets NW Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation/Watchdog --- Contact list for responsible parties: Wade Sadler, MCAS Director: wade.sadler@multco.us Phone: (503) 988-6233; (503) 988-7387 Jamie Waltz: Interim Director Dept.Community Services: jamie.waltz@multco.us Phone: (503) 988-7968 Interim Chief Operating Officer Peggy Brey: Peggy.brey@multco.us Phone: (503) 988-2999. -- The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners County Chair Deborah Kafoury: deborah.kafoury@multco.us Phone: (503) 988-3308 Sharon Meieran, Commissioner District 1: sharon.meieran@multco.us Phone: (503) 988-5220 Susheela Jayapal, Commissioner District 2: susheela.jayapal@multco.us Phone: (503) 988-5219 Jessica Vega Pederson, Commissioner District 3: jessica.vegapederson@multco.us Phone: (503) 988-5217 Lori Stegmann, Commissioner District 4: lori.stegmann@multco.us Phone: (503) 988-5213

Trump’s Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf reportedly told intelligence analysts to downplay assessments on Russian election interference because they were making the President "look bad." Wolf’s politicization of the most fundamental and non-operations operations of government is the stuff of authoritarian regimes — twisting basic information used to make life or death security decisions just to appease Trump’s vanity. Incredibly, Trump wants to nominate Wolf as DHS Secretary and put him in this role permanently. But no one who believes this is acceptable behavior for the head of a government agency should have the job.

We the People of the US should not allow our Department of Justice to defend anyone in a lawsuit about a personal matter and certainly should not pay for President Trump's defense against defamation of character in denying a rape charge. Barr no longer even pretends to serve the citizens or nation. He must go by September 30, 2020.

The University's inaction in the face of ResStaff’s explicit concerns and action items over the last few weeks has made it clear that public health is not the priority. The University has repeatedly referred to the Wolverine Culture of Care, but has not extended this same care to us. If U of M administrators do not want to live up to the Michigan Difference, we will be the difference ourselves. Health comes first. ResStaff will not stand for anything less than policies and adequate resources that reflect this priority. As of Tuesday 9/8/2020 at 9PM, University of Michigan ResStaff have decided to strike on the basis of these demands: A. Regular access to testing for all of ResStaff (not only symptomatic individuals) B. Providing sufficient, effective PPE to ResStaff and Students C. Enforcement of social distancing and face coverings inside and outside of residence halls and dining halls D. Enforcement of currently unenforceable guest policy by non-student employees that can be seen by future employers or academic institutions E. Hiring and staffing to normal capacity for all facilities and housing teams F. More specific public and ResStaff communication and transparency G. Hazard pay for ResStaff H. A formal statement of no retaliation from Housing Administration should a ResStaff Union be formed A more detailed list with sub-items, as well as other resources, can be found on linktr.ee/umichresstaffreform. Tell University Housing to stop prioritizing its wealth, and start prioritizing the health of its students.

If the school wants to foster a community where we feel safe and can be ourselves this is an imperative thing to do. We need to normalize this kind of stuff so students don’t feel so ostracized

The Medfield community needs to have a voice at the Wednesday, Sept. 9 Dale Street School Building Committee (SBC) meeting (7 p.m. start time), yet the meeting notice shows no time set aside on the agenda for public input BEFORE votes are cast on the proposed site and building scenario for a 575-student school. (A public forum specifically on site selection had been previously planned, but never materialized.) Our Board of Selectmen is also scheduled to cast its own vote related to the overall "preferred solution" for the Dale Street project at its Sept. 15 meeting. A public forum is tentatively slated for AFTER that meeting on Sept. 22, so that means two town boards will not have their votes adequately informed by community input. (No public hearing is legally required prior to SBC and Selectmen casting its upcoming votes related to the Dale Street project.) We believe that before any town committee votes on such a significant decision with economic, educational, environmental and historic impacts, community members should have an adequate chance to weigh in. Now is the time to engage Medfield community members in the critically important site selection and schematic design decisions -- not after preliminary votes are cast. Our school building committee risks having the project derailed without sufficient community input early on in the process.

The chaos created by the lies being published and proliferated across various media in this country is disabling our democracy. If there is a chance at all for the 2020 election to go forward with a well-informed electorate, the lies must not be coddled into being or tolerated for another 270 minutes.