I miss Anthony Kennedy already. Other people have written eloquently about Kennedy’s contributions to the Supreme Court. After the retirement of Sandra Day O’Connor (whom I miss, too), Kennedy became the swing vote in case after case.

When a seminal case was argued before the high court, Kennedy was the justice who had to be persuaded. When a 5-4 decision came down, Kennedy was usually that crucial fifth vote. Sometimes he voted with the more liberal wing of the court; sometimes he voted with the four conservatives.

LANE COUNTY, ORE. - A new voting method is close to appearing on the November ballot in Lane County, Oregon. County election officials certified more than the 11,506 signatures needed to qualify STAR Voting for the 2018 general election. It must be reviewed by the Lane County Counsel to ensure it qualifies as a single-subject amendment to officially be on the ballot.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has garnered a swell of well-deserved attention after the 28-year-old socialist democrat's stunning upset defeat of a ten-term incumbent (US Rep. Joe Crowley) in the closed Democratic primary for NY-14. The senior congressman chairs the House Democratic Caucus and was considered a strong contender to replace Nancy Pelosi's position within the party.

ILLINOIS - Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Kash Jackson released a statement Saturday in support of implementing ranked choice voting and proportional representation in Illinois.

"Americans deserve the opportunity to be as in-control of their personal voting as possible. When multiple candidates are ranked on a single ballot it mainstreams the voting process, eliminates the need for run-off elections, and gives voters more say in their representation," Jackson states.

San Diego, CA. - An emergency petition has been filed in the Court of Appeal for the 4th District, to prevent San Diego County Registrar Michael Vu from finishing the ballot count for the Full Voter Participation Act.

Luis Vargas and San Diego County Republican Party Chairman Tony Krvaric are named as petitioners.

Nobody would deny that politics in America is fundamentally broken. At the surface level, we have a farce called “political parties” that whip us into a frenzy every few years about Congressional seats. But below that is a much older struggle — one between moneyed interests and average citizens.

Both are deeply embedded problems that have nearly destroyed democracy in America. Here’s a brief look at how we got here, as well as some ideas on how to move forward.

I am writing from a spot nestled in the woods in Washington County in rural New York, listening to the chatter of the morning birds and looking forward to a walk along the Battenkill River later today. It is summer vacation and that means summer reading, somehow especially delicious done by the sea, or in a hammock, or a shady spot under a tree.

San Diego, CA. - San Diego Superior Court Judge Randa Trapp has issued her Final ruling stating SDSU West will remain on the November ballot.

This follows her tentative ruling issued last week.

"I look em' in the eye and say you guys are heroes for what you did." ~ Sen. Bob Hertzberg

California Senator and former Speaker of the Assembly Bob Hertzberg is one happy camper.

The longtime Senator led the legislatures successful push to pass the most far-reaching privacy bill in the country.