With all the focus this week on the #RoyalBaby and Anthony Weiner's relentless sexting, you might have forgotten that America is still plagued by a quasi-democratic system that allows one supremely crazy party, itself plagued by extremist right-wing ideology, to act as a disloyal opposition and obstruct any and all efforts to address the country's problems. Well…

Republicans are scared to fictional death panels about Obamacare, and once again they're threatening to shut down the government to get what they want. (Because who needs the government?) Their way of dealing with not being fully in power, you see, amounts to nothing more than holding the country hostage to its crazy demands.

All Things Democrat: Texas Republicans, on the front lines of the war on women, seek to roll back reproductive rights even further.

No More Mister Nice Blog: Previewing the nightmarish first hundred days of a Christie/Cruz/Paul/Rubio presidency.

But people are admirably fighting back, and fighting for a better America. For example:

Pruning Shears: Don't Frack Ohio starts this weekend with three days of education and activism.

Round-up by Michael J.W. Stickings of The Reaction (Twitter: @mjwstickings). I'll be here all week.

Send requests and suggestions to mbru AT crooksandliars (dot) com.