Daniel Denvir is an independent journalist in West Philly. He is a contributing writer at the Philadelphia Weekly and more can be found at www.danieldenvir.com

Blog Entries by Daniel Denvir

At Sestak Town Hall, Disability Activists Draw Their Own Red Line on Long-Term Care Funding

Posted August 28, 2009 | 03:50 PM (EST)


I scanned the aisles for mustachioed presidential portraits and Obamacare warning-signs at a health care town hall with Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) in Philadelphia. "Before we get started," intoned the understated moderator, "we know that these meetings here in the Commonwealth have been somewhat heated."

Yesterday's meeting was hosted...

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What the Hell Is a Jobless "Recovery?"

23 Comments | Posted August 25, 2009 | 11:08 AM (EST)


The economic recovery has begun! And while Chairman Bernanke is apparently miffed that he doesn't get more credit for the spectacular turnaround, all it really represents is a widening gap between the official assessment of economic well-being (Obama just tapped the guy for a second term) and how...

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Why Bad Healthcare Policy Makes For Bad Politics, Too

4 Comments | Posted August 19, 2009 | 12:03 PM (EST)


Like you, dear reader, I have watched in horror and confusion as the nutty Sarah Palin wing of the Republican Party has sent vacationing Democrats scurrying for cover. The fodder for so many SNL parodies we thought were well mocked and deeply buried reemerge. According to the papers of record,...

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The Democratic Party's Democracy Problem

20 Comments | Posted June 10, 2009 | 05:35 PM (EST)


Barack Obama and the Democratic Party establishment that he supposedly overthrew in November are trying to lock in primary candidates in Pennsylvania and New York who, ahem, were never even elected to the position in question: Democratic nominee for the United States Senate.

Here in Pennsylvania, party leaders are...

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I, Pot Smoker

39 Comments | Posted May 20, 2009 | 10:20 AM (EST)


A recent spate of articles has chronicled a new effort to legalize pot. A bill has been introduced in Sacramento supporting legalization, regulation and taxation, while Pennsylvania and Illinois legislatures ponder medical marijuana. But in many quarters our strange and hypocritical national dialogue on pot continues unabated.

...
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Happy Masturbation Month!

7 Comments | Posted May 8, 2009 | 10:54 AM (EST)


HuffPost readers may not realize that it's been masturbation month for almost two weeks already. I know, I know. It's just a Hallmark holiday, but don't tell me you'd use that excuse with your mother this Sunday.

Recognition of the holiday seems to be taking place on a city-by-city basis....

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With Specter Switch, Do EFCA's Prospects Further Dim?

1 Comments | Posted April 28, 2009 | 01:49 PM (EST)


Specter's a Democrat. But progressives should take a deep breath and ask if this is, really, such a good thing. In his statement, Specter reiterated his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), crucial legislation that would help millions of American workers organize unions. If he's reelected as a...

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Teabag the Boss, Card Check for the Masses

8 Comments | Posted April 27, 2009 | 03:49 AM (EST)


The business community is scared shitless by the prospect of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) becoming law. They have conjured up images of aggressive union organizers stalking defenseless worker prey, of American productivity undermined by archaic union contracts at the very moment the American economy needs neoliberal flexibility the...

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