We have been slacking off on this feature for the past weeks due to our workload. Unlike many other political blogs this is a part time gig for us. Sometimes we struggle to get out more than a couple stories a day. For that reason we are looking for contributers. No matter if it is one story or a daily feature, if you have something to say we welcome your input. Of course it goes without saying that there are rules and restrictions (not many) but if you are interested check out this page.

The Saintly Seven

1. I learned today from Think Progress today that our “do nothing” 110th congress has now reached the 1,000 mark on votes, extending their record over the previous 942 set way back in 1978. By Contrast the GOP controlled 109th managed a whopping 543 votes.
2. Chris Dodd has been written about a couple times this week for standing up against retroactive telecom immunity. Read them here and here. Well, he makes the list this week for continuing that fight and for fighting to restore our Constitution. “The rule of law is not the province of any political party, or any one candidate. It is the province of the American people…We must act today and stand up for the Constitution and the rule of law.” – Chris Dodd via firedoglake.com
3. Valarie Plame Wilson is making the news again which is a good thing. The more often we can remind the American people how corrupt our government is, and how they are willing to sacrifice national security for cheap political points, the better. There are way more stories out there on this right now than anyone could ever read, but I highly suggest looking at Paul Abrams piece. I also highly recommend picking up her book as there is so much more to this story than the so called liberal media is telling everyone.
4. Well, I have finally found the answer to all those annoying Right Wing Propaganda Emails I receive from well intentioned, yet horribly misguided, family members. This Article from The Nation explains a bit about how they work to promote lies and misinformation.
5. Math has never been sexier! Natalie Portman is guest editing Scholastic Math. Maybe this will help get more dads involved in their kids’ school.
6. John McCain gets praised this week for calling out Rudy Giuliani’s crazy assumption that waterboarding may or may not be torture (see below). McCain said clearly “…It is not a complicated procedure. It is torture“. Way to go McCain, for a complete sell out you’re not half bad.
7. Finally “Several human rights organizations based in the United States and Europe have filed a complaint in a Paris court accusing the former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld of responsibility for torture.” Read the complete story here. I think they left out a couple guys, but it’s a good start.

The Sinning Seven

1. Governor George Ryan (R), who was found guilty by a jury of his peers for 18 federal public corruption convictions, was ordered to begin serving his 6 1/2 year sentence. Ryan, or Stroker per prisonbitchname.com, is still trying to avoid prison time but it looks like yet another Republican will be doing hard time before the end of the year.
2. Presidential hopeful, and all around sleezeball, Rudy Giuliani makes this list three times. The first is for the investigation into friend, business partner, ex-police commissioner, and 2004 appointee for homeland security officer Bernie Kerik for multiple federal felonies. They say you can really tell someone’s character by the people he surrounds himself with.
3. Strike two for Rudy this week is the revelation that he protected and employed a defrocked Catholic priest who stands accused of molesting an alter boy and two students. Due to the statue of limitations unfortunately there will not be a trial to determine guilt; however, the fact that there was enough evidence to convince the Catholic church to show him the door is enough.
4. And Strike three for Rudy is the revelation that he thinks waterboarding may not be torture and that “It depends on how it’s done. It depends on the circumstances. It depends on who does it.” Of course this is such a crazy assertion that even John McCain, who knows better than anyone, attacked him on it.
5. This one is for Faux News in general for their propaganda filled “reporting” and Brian Kimeade in particular for just making crap up. I don’t know which is worse; that Faux News will let people come on and tell outright lies, or that there are sheeple out there who will believe it. P.S. If you’re wondering what happens at real news outlets when someone makes up crap, they get fired!
6. Rev. Ron Barker makes this weeks list for removing all the Harry Potter books at St. Joseph’s school in Wakefield, Mass. The three people who read our Take Action Story on Banned Books Week will recall that Harry Potter was already a top target for those who wish to censor any thoughts they disagree with, and that was before the outing of Albus Dumbledore.
7. Lastly, straight from the what the fuck files, a mother was acquitted on charges of abuse for piercing her 13 year old daughters genitalia and shaving her head to keep her from having sex (with the moms boyfriend). Apparently that kind of abuse is tolerated here in America. Sick.

As always think of these RSS Roundups as an open thread. So feel free to comment away on whatever topic is on the top of your heads. Of course regular restrictions apply, but other than that go crazy and comment away.