About Us

PoliticusUSA was founded in February of 2008 by Jason Easley. Jason had a vision of a liberal and independent news site which would offer a mix politics and opinion in an unfiltered environment, not beholden to any specific political or media agenda. PoliticusUSA is by design accessible to all levels of readers. Whether you are a casual follower of current events or a policy wonk, there is something here at PoliticusUSA for you.

“If by a “Liberal” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties-someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say I’m a Liberal.”~J.F.K. In other words, if you are to the left of Ayn Rand Tea Party Social Darwinism, if you think we have some responsibility for the poor, the elderly, the veterans, the disabled, and the vulnerable in society, welcome to PoliticusUSA.

EDITORIAL STAFF:

Jason Easley: Owner/Editor in Chief

A lifelong lover of politics, Jason Easley is a little older than some but not as old as others. Jason spent four years as a political columnist and the politics editor at 411mania.com, where he covered such issues as the Iraq War, warrant less wiretapping, and the daily workings of the American legislative process. Jason has also written for the Blogger News Network, and saw his 2008 presidential election coverage quoted in over 300 newspapers worldwide. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements. When Jason is not writing he can be found endlessly courting his girlfriend, and expressing his loyal fandom for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Follow Jason on Twitter here.

Sarah Jones: Managing Editor/Columnist

Since joining PoliticusUSA in February of 2009, Sarah has been quoted by The Atlantic Wire, The Week, The Richard Dawkins Foundation and more. Along with her life long interest in feminism and social justice, Sarah has a background in TV/Film (TV host, news anchor, producer & writer) and has written and produced award winning documentaries. Sarah graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a major in Psychology & Latin.

Follow Sarah on Twitter here.

Hrafnkell Haraldsson: Editor/Columnist

Hrafnkell Haraldsson, a social liberal with leanings toward centrist politics has degrees in history and philosophy. His interests include, besides history and philosophy, human rights issues, freedom of choice, religion, and the precarious dichotomy of freedom of speech and intolerance. He brings a slightly different perspective to his writing, being that he is neither a follower of an Abrahamic faith nor an atheist but a polytheist, a modern-day Heathen who follows the customs and traditions of his Norse ancestors. He maintains his own blog, A Heathen’s Day, which deals with Heathen and Pagan matters, and Mos Maiorum Foundation www.mosmaiorum.org, dedicated to ethnic religion. He has also contributed to NewsJunkiePost, GodsOwnParty and Pagan+Politics.

Janine Wallace: Editor

Janine Wallace is a political liberal and social activist. She has an extensive background in domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy. Janine is a lover of music, a voracious reader of books, a wanna be dancer and an arm chair archeologist. Her passions include rooting for her favorite sports teams, finding humor in the everyday, and witty banter. She is a proponent of human rights, freedom from religion as a controlling entity in government and world peace. When she’s not working or writing she spends her time with family, friends, and animals whom she loves beyond measure. She has also contributed to MarioPiperni.Com and FreakOutNation.Com. You can follow her on Twitter, Digg, and StumbleUpon @janinewallace

COLUMNISTS/CONTRIBUTORS:

Rmuse: Opinion Columnist

An audio engineer and instructor for SAE living in California. Writes op/ed commentary supporting Secular Humanist causes, and exposing suppression of women, the poor, and minorities. An advocate for freedom of religion and particularly, freedom of NO religion. Born in the South, raised in the mid-west and California for a well-rounded view of America, and it doesn’t look good. Married, four adult children, a former minister, and lifelong musician.

Adalia Woodbury: Contributing Writer

Adalia comes to PoliticusUSA with a background in politics and law. After completing her B.A. in political science, Adalia went abroad to pursue her graduate degree in the same field, with law as her minor. Her specialty is political theory. She spent several years doing legal research. Her published work, prior to joining Politicus USA includes an article for Human Rights Brief. She is also is the owner and publisher of her blog, Nuts and Dolts.

Adalia’s primary interests are advocating for civil rights and combating hate speech. Adalia, her husband and their Corgi kid, live in Washington, D.C.

Ray Medeiros: Contributing Writer

Ray Medeiros is a student of economics, income inequality, public policy and taxation. He is also a former candidate for State Representative in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the current chairman of the Democratic party in Dartmouth. Ray is a frequent political talk show guest on AM 1420 WBSM and the host of “the Ray Medeiros show” on Blog Talk Radio.

Candace Talmadge: Contributing Writer

A 35-year+ professional writer, Candace Talmadge has been a syndicated political columnist and business journalist. She has reported and written on a freelance basis for media that include BusinessWeek, Forbes, the International Herald Tribune, The New York Times, and Reuters America. When not penning political discourse, she writes and publishes the Green Stone of Healing(R) speculative fiction series under the name C.L. Talmadge. The series website: www.greenstoneofhealing.c… Follow her on Twitter @StoneScribe.

Cassandra Vert: Contributing Writer

Cassandra Vert is a financial writer, bookseller, strategic thinker, consultant, progressive activist, scifi geek, music lover, theater person, mastermind. B.A. University of California, Santa Barbara Cum Laude. J.D. University of Illinois. Member, California Bar. Would choose flight over invisibility but teleporting over both.

Alex Wilhelm: Contributing Writer

Leah L. Burton: Featured Columnist

A multi-generational Alaskan, Leah worked as a lobbyist on family and children’s issues for groups such as The League of Women Voters, National Association of Social Workers and the Alaska Women’s Lobby and KIDPAC. As a lobbyist she drew acclaim from Alaska’s Governors and Legislators for her work on behalf of Alaska’s families. Her testimony was instrumental in persuading the Alaska State joint legislative body to reject Sarah Palin’s appointment of Wayne Anthony Ross as Alaska’s Attorney General in April of 2009. She is a frequent guest on radio talk shows discussing why we need to take Sarah Palin and others like her seriously. She is a regular guest on a popular Blog Talk Radio Show on God Discussion.com, and The Allan Handelman Show out of Charlotte, North Carolina. She has become a “go to” source on the topic of Christian Dominionism in American politics. Leah also serves on the board of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

BlackLiberalBoomer: Contributing Writers

Detroit-based husband-and-wife team Pamela Hilliard Owens and Keith Owens contribute to the PoliticusUSA blog as BlackLiberalBoomer, which is also the name of one of their blogs (out of a total of five personal/political blogs they manage—not counting the blogs of their clients). Keith and Pam, who met on a blind date in Ann Arbor Michigan in 1987 and married in Detroit Michigan on September 11, 1998, are unabashedly liberal and progressive, and are ardent supporters of our 44thpresident, Barack Hussein Obama, and the Democratic Party.

Pamela Hilliard Owens is a freelance writer, blogger, entrepreneur, and the founder of Writing It Right For You (WIRFY), a global writing and editing services company. Pam specializes in business and academic writing and editing, working with clients and graduate and post-graduate students in nine countries and writes and blogs for her clients on a wide range of topics. Pam was recently included in the 2011 Edition of “Who’s Who in Black Detroit” in the writing category.

A former college instructor and public school English, History, and Government teacher, Pam now specializes in working with English as a Second Language students attending university around the world. In addition to her extensive work as a teacher, instructor and curriculum consultant, Pam has a corporate background in technology sales and marketing.

Pam earned her BS/Special Education Certification and MA/Reading Specialist Certification from Eastern Michigan University.Pam is also the President of the PFLAG Family Reunion Detroit Chapter (Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).

Pam tweets as @wirfy, @blackliberalboomer, and @pflagfrdetroit.

Keith Owens, Senior Writer for Writing It Right For You, is a noted freelance writer, columnist, editor and journalist whose work has been featured in the Detroit Free Press, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and other newspapers, and syndicated nationally by Universal Press Syndicate. His two-part, 11,000-word article for Detroit’s Metro Times on the history of the blues in Detroit entitled “Boogie Chillun” earned recognition from the Alternative Newsweekly Awards and also from the Detroit chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists.

Most recently the Communications Director for the Wayne County (Michigan) Treasurer, Keith joined Writing It Right For You on a full-time basis in August, 2011, after being down-sized from his County position due to “budget cuts”. Keith’s new ebook about transitioning from unemployment to self-employment, The Self-Employment Chronicles, will be published in January 2012.

Keith draws on his experience in communications, public relations, media relations and marketing to help his local and national clients educate, entertain and motivate audiences. Keith is also a talented guitarist and is leader of the Detroit-based jazz fusion band, Freedom Underground; the band’s first CD was released on Amazon and iTunes in August 2011.

Keith is also a contributor to the Jack and Jill Politics blog, edited by Baratunde Thurston and Cheryl Contee. Keith earned a BA in English from Colorado College.

Keith tweets as @kaoblues and @blackliberalboomer.

Dennis Shreefer: Contributing Writer

Education: Iowa State – Economics major and Graduate school instructor, School of Journalism and Communication/The Ohio State University.

TV (Anchorman/reporter): WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, South Carolina, KTVH-TV Wichita, Kansas (named top Enterprise Reporter for state of Kansas), WCMH-TV Columbus, Ohio

Radio: Dubuque, Iowa – DJ on varied format, Detroit – talk show host (Also WDRQ-FM), Philadelphia – talk show host, Cleveland – afternoon talk show host, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – PM talk show host, Toledo, Ohio – morning man, Lima, Ohio – talk show host

In 2008, he ran as a Democrat for 4th District State Representative in Ohio. Though he was defeated, his vote total was the highest since 1930. He was also President Urban League Affiliate.

MODERATORS:

Shiva: Chief Community Moderator

Shiva is a nice guy who won’t hand out candy at Halloween. Beware kiddies.

Reynardine: Community Moderator

Reynardine’s comment prose is part of the Politicus experience, but play smart or else.

GRAPHIC DESIGN:

Photos/Art/Graphic Design copyright by artist:

Hrafnkell Haraldsson

Azure Ghost: See gallery here.

AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS:

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