This centers around a meeting held on March 10, 2004 with members of the Bush Administration and the "Gang of 8", members of Congress who head up intelligence committees. The topic discussed was — well, that’s the issue. Here’s what Alberto Gonzales said under oath on Tuesday: At a heated Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, Gonzales repeatedly testified that the … Read More
Debunking An Email
There’s an email circulating — maybe you’ve seen it — that is so replete with factual inaccuracies that it cannot withstand even the slightest scrutiny. Here it is, with my debunking: This is worth remembering, because it is true. It’s familiar territory, but those of you that graduated from school after the early 60’s were probably never taught this. Our … Read More
No Charges Against Katrina Doctor
I’m pretty sure I blogged about this a couple of years ago — the physician in New Orleans who was investigated for giving four terminally ill patients a "lethal cocktail" of morphine and midazolam hydrochloride as Hurricane Katrina bore down on them. A mercy killing, if you will. The grand jury refused to indict her, so she is in the … Read More
Constitutional Showdown
It’s brewing: The House Judiciary Committee announced yesterday that it will press toward a constitutional showdown with the Bush administration over the U.S. attorney firings scandal, even as embattled Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales vowed to stay on and "fix the problems" that have damaged the reputation and morale of the Justice Department. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), chairman of the … Read More
The Imperial Presidency And War Powers
This op-ed in the New York Times gets it right, both morally and historically: The nation is heading toward a constitutional showdown over the Iraq war. Congress is moving closer to passing a bill to limit or end the war, but President Bush insists Congress doesn’t have the power to do it. “I don’t think Congress ought to be running … Read More
So Much For The Constitution
"A U.S. attorney would not be permitted to bring contempt charges or convene a grand jury in an executive privilege case," said a senior official, who said his remarks reflect a consensus within the administration. "And a U.S. attorney wouldn’t be permitted to argue against the reasoned legal opinion that the Justice Department provided. No one should expect that to … Read More
Kinda Like The Old Soviet Union, Huh?
Wonkette: Here’s the latest “executive order” from your beloved somehow-not-yet-impeached president: “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq.” What’s it say? If the White House decides that you are in any way “undermining efforts” in Iraq, or related to Iraq or pretty much anything else, the Treasury Department is authorized to seize your money, property, stocks, … Read More
Troy Davis: Not Dead Yet
Background here. AP: A man convicted of killing a police officer won a reprieve a day before his scheduled execution, after his lawyers argued that several witnesses had recanted or changed their testimony. The state Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday granted a stay of execution of up to 90 days to Troy Davis, 38, who was convicted of … Read More
Troy Davis Is Scheduled To Die As Early As Tomorrow
I’m not opposed to the death penalty in principle, so long as it is applied sparingly and evenly and, you know, justly. Troy Davis is facing execution tomorrow, even though… Three of four witnesses who testified at trial that Davis shot the officer have signed statements contradicting their identification of the gunman. Two other witnesses — a fellow inmate and … Read More
Gonzales Lied — Blatently Lied — Under Oath, To Congress
Lying to Congress is a crime: As he sought to renew the USA Patriot Act two years ago, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales assured lawmakers that the FBI had not abused its potent new terrorism-fighting powers. "There has not been one verified case of civil liberties abuse," Gonzales told senators on April 27, 2005. Six days earlier, the FBI sent … Read More
About Lisa Nowak, The Diaper-Wearing Stalker Astronaut Lady
Despite a frustrating amount of "Inaudibles" and blacked out language, I found the transcripts of her police interview to be riveting. Nowak is clearly stressed, but able to somewhat control the interview. Somewhat. She doesn’t seem to comprehend the trouble she is in, and seems more concerned about getting information about her romantic rival than anything else. On the opposite … Read More
Seriously — How Hard Is It To Come Up With A Porn Name?
You just take the name of your first pet, and the name of the street you grew up on. So my porn name would be Nitya Pleasant View which, ironically, is also the porn name of my brother and sister. Okay, that’s not a good porn name, but it works well for most people. Even if it doesn’t work well, … Read More
New Hampshire Bank Robber Disguises Himself As A Tree
I guess because the bank was on Elm Street, he thought he could dress up as an elm: Police said this morning a tip has led them to an arrest in the leafy robber case. James Coldwell, 49, of 50 Lowell St. has been charged with robbery in connection with a Saturday morning holdup at the Citizens Bank branch at … Read More
I, For One, Welcome Our New Lesbian Overloards
Seriously, this is loony tunes, even for Bill O’Reilly: A "national underground network" of pink pistol-packing lesbians is terrorizing America. "All across the country," they are raping young girls, attacking heterosexual males at random, and forcibly indoctrinating children as young as 10 into the homosexual lifestyle, according to a shocking June 21 segment on the popular Fox News Channel program, … Read More
The Sleaziness Of The Libby Clemency
How can this be viewed as anything other a brazen admission that Bush & Co. feels they are above the law? Scooter Libby was convicted by a jury consisting of the American people who heard all the evidence, and concluded that he committed purjury and obstructed justice. Even Bush admits that he respects the jury’s verdict; his only issue was … Read More