Analysis

The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the New Haven firefighters is not a reason to keep Judge Sonia Sotomayor off the court as some on the right are pushing, but rather it shows how urgent it is that she be confirmed.

NEW YORK — At 12:01 this morning, the law that enshrined mayoral control of New York City’s public schools formally expired, as the state Senate remained paralyzed by crisis. The city’s old Board of Education was automatically resurrected, as were 32 community school boards, whose members are to be elected.

Finance capital went to confession, told the judge its sins, and he administered the penance — 150 years in the clinker for 79-year-old Bernard Madoff.

The city of New Haven threw out a fire department promotions exam because it yielded results that did not promote equality.

In the good old days one of the most enviable of jobs was that of a commentator or writer whose responsibility it was to explain to us in the mass audience why rich people are so necessary to maintaining a strong economy.

On a normal Monday morning they began their work day by issuing ready-made pronouncements that disposed of any proposal that might have resulted in even the slightest reduction in wealth for anyone who is rich.

This week, second term Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina disappeared for six days, leaving the state without a chief executive who could make decisions in an emergency.

CHICAGO -- On the heels of extensive protests by gay activists and many progressive groups and individuals the Obama administration has, in the recent period, taken four major steps that move in the direction of solving some of the injustices the LGBT community lives with every day.


The president has signed a memo that extends some limited benefits to partners of gay federal employees. Healthcare and inheritance rights are not covered by the memo, with the president saying legislation is needed so these rights can also be included.

The U.S. House of Representatives can take the first step towards saving our planet and reviving our economy by passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES).

In calling for a stricter use of air strikes, Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the new commander of forces in Afghanistan, took a step back from the abyss. In coming to grips with the harsh reality that too many civilians were being killed, McChrystal decided to limit air strikes only to prevent American and coalition troops from being “overrun.” This is a long-delayed, yet welcome step.

In 1979, the newly elected mayor of Chicago, Jane Byrne, at the recommendation of some labor union officials, named me to be a “consumer commissioner” on the City of Chicago Health Systems Agency (HSA) Board of Directors. I remained in that position for three years. I can’t say that either I, or the HSA, accomplished much, but it certainly was an educational experience.