There may be a great deal of talk in the coming weeks about a millionaire’s tax, but there will be no action. Republicans won’t budge, no matter how low Obama sets the limit on contributions from wealthy Americans.

Whether or not you believe that American participation in the war in Libya is a good idea, now is a good time to call your U.S. senators and U.S. Representative through the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121, and tell them what you’d like them to do. Votes on the war authorization legislation could happen in both houses of Congress as soon as tomorrow.

Lindsey Graham had no suggestions about how to pay for the new war. He had no idea of where to get the soldiers and equipment to fight the new war. Yet, Graham said he wants Obama to start planning for a new US war in Syria.

Lindsey Graham’s plan for permanent military bases in Afghanistan would create permanent risk for U.S. soldiers, and a permanent grievance for Muslims, sparking new generations of terrorists eager to sacrifice themselves for their side of this new crusade.

It does not do for the Congress to pander to those in the military who wish to perpetuate discrimination. Lindsey Graham ought to know better than to suggest otherwise.

The confirmation to seat Elena Kagan on the Supreme Court of the United States finally came this week. It was not a party line vote. Four Republicans crossed the aisle to vote in favor of Kagan:

39 members of the United States Senate chose to stand with Lisa Murkowski, in opposition to responsible efforts to slow climate change. These senators, chose to align themselves with the short-term corporate profits on the very day when NASA’s Goddard Institute reported that the last decade has been the warmest on record.

Those of us who still believe that the promises of the Constitution should be kept cannot win the debate in increments, begging for scraps of portions of our rights. Republican politicians interpret these maneuvers as signs of weakness. S. 1692 is an unsuccessful appeasement that needs to be defeated so that the worst parts of the Patriot Act can expire, as they were originally intended to do.

S.Amdt. 2669 to H.R. 2847 may be promoted as a measure to improve the security of our nation, but in fact it constitutes an attack against the very definition of what makes the United States of America a nation. If measures such as this legislation succeed, there will be nothing meaningful left of the USA to keep secure.

The Democratic Party is now presiding over the short changing of health care reform and climate legislation while expanding the military budget just as the Republicans did under George W. Bush. Will progressives pretend not to notice, or will the finally withdraw their support for the Democratic Party leaders who have strung them along?