It isn’t just historically inaccurate to create a public display claiming that World War II was a religious crusade. It’s also unconstitutional. The First Amendment to the Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” H.R. 2070 is in violation of this part of the Bill of Rights.

The campaign of Reshma Saujani bears watching as the candidate discusses more issues, to determine whether the 14th district primary race can be characterized as an ideological struggle, part of a generational transition, or a manifestation of some other political force.

Huge numbers of politicians are indebted to a company that makes its profits from the vulnerability of Americans in economic distress. The following are among the biggest recipients of donations from Cash America.

Act Blue has made it possible for grassroots activists to make donations to Carolyn Maloney’s political action committee – Carolyn’s PAC. Carolyn’s PAC, in turn, does give to some Democratic candidates, but also has given to other sorts of recipients. Among them is the New York Life Insurance Company Political Action Committee, to which Carolyn’s PAC has given $5,000.

Gillibrand’s right wing Blue Dog legislative record doesn’t reflect their progressive values. When powerful political operatives arrange to deprive rank and file Democrats of the right to vote to select their own candidate, what’s the point for New Yorkers in registering as a Democrat?

Kirsten Gillibrand and Carolyn Maloney, two members of the U.S. Congress from New York, are both planning to run for New York’s Senate seat in 2010. Maloney is a long-term congressional veteran with a lot of legislation already under her belt; she was a principal architect of credit card protection earlier this year for example. [...]

Rank and file Democrats may be longing for someone other than Kirsten Gillibrand to take the Senate, but though Carolyn Maloney has stepped forward, she seems unlikely to match their hopes.

Word was leaked today that U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney has decided to challenge appointed U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for the 2010 Democratic nomination to New York State’s junior Senate seat. Given that this contest would be one Democrat against another, people may be tempted to ask: Is there a really much difference between the two? [...]

Maloney’s record places her high above Gillibrand’s short record in the House. Gillibrand’s record in the Senate is no better. She has taken little meaningful legislative action, and has earned a net score on our Senate legislative scorecard of just 8 points out of a possible 100.

The Special Criminal Contempt of Congress Procedures Act provides another route through which congressional checks against the Executive Branch can be reasserted. The act provides the ability to appoint a special prosecutor to pursue contempt charges when the Department of Justice refuses to do its duty.