Legal Justification For NSA Wiretaps

Ken AshfordConstitution, Courts/Law, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

One of the best pieces in the blogosphere examining the legal landscape of the NSA wiretapping comes from Orin Kerr, law professor at George Washington University, on the right-leaning law blog, The Volokh Conspiracy. Kerr begins: Was the secret NSA surveillance program legal? Was it constitutional? Did it violate federal statutory law? It turns out these are hard questions, but … Read More

Billmon on Spying on America

Ken AshfordConstitutionLeave a Comment

Billmon’s brevity is the source of his wit: Bush declined to discuss the domestic eavesdropping program in a television interview, but he joined his aides in saying that the government acted lawfully and did not intrude on citizens’ rights. "Decisions made are made understanding we have an obligation to protect the civil liberties of the American people," Bush said on … Read More

But Seriously Folks

Ken AshfordConstitution, GodstuffLeave a Comment

Rather than making wisecracks (like I do), a blogger from New York gives serious thoughts on The War On Christmas thing.  I’ve boiled it down, but you should read the whole thing: Yes I know; you’re sick of this subject.  Me too.  But here I go… I’m a New York Jew; a life long Democrat and a card carrying member … Read More

University of Kansas Course Cancelled

Ken AshfordCrime, Education, Godstuff, Sex/Morality/Family ValuesLeave a Comment

Back here, I wrote that a religion professor at the University of Kansas (the state where the intelligent design debate is taking place) was planning to offer a course entitled "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies.” According to this article, the professor decided to cancel the course yesterday.  Oh, and somethng else happened yesterday, too: … Read More

SCOTUS Update: Rumsfeld v FAIR

Ken AshfordBush & Co., Congress, Constitution, Iraq, Sex/Morality/Family Values, Supreme Court, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

This is arguably one of the most important cases of this term, and I simply didn’t have time to summarize it before oral arguments today.  Below is a summary from the folks at SCOTUSblog.  Before I begin, I want to make a prediction that the Solomon Amendment will survive this case.  The Court is simply too conservative to let it … Read More

Sounds Like A Lifetime Movie

Ken AshfordAssisited Suicide/Schiavo, CrimeLeave a Comment

In Boston, an 11-year old girl lies in a coma.  Like Terri Schiavo (remember her?), there is a court battle over whether her ventilator and feeding tubes should be removed. The twist is that only one person is fighting for the girl’s "right-to-life" — the girl’s father.  But he’s more than the girl’s father — he’s the guy who beat … Read More

Rape Victim Found Guilty

Ken AshfordCrime, Women's IssuesLeave a Comment

Yes, you read that write: rape victim found guilty. Shakespeare’s Sister has been sounding the call on this story, and with good reason.  Here’s what happened, as reported here in the Oregonian: BEAVERTON — A municipal judge found a 19-year-old woman guilty Friday of filing a false police report after she said she was raped by three young men. Even … Read More

Kayes Expresses Herself

Ken AshfordConstitution, Right Wing Punditry/IdiocyLeave a Comment

Our favorite wingnut columnist, Kaye Grogan, has a new column up.  It’s called "Freedom of speech and expression . . . most abused rights"  The title alone suggests that Kaye is having trouble with verbs this week, as she prefers to use ellipses.  Still, we forge on: Freedom of speech is perhaps one of the most abused freedoms we have. … Read More

Stupid Lawsuit Of The Day

Ken AshfordCourts/LawLeave a Comment

D’oh: A Russian lawyer plans to take his case against The Simpsons to the European Court of Human Rights. It comes after a Moscow Court rejected Igor Smykov’s appeal to have the show banned from Russian TV. Mrr Smykov wanted to have the cartoon series taken off the air in Russia, or at least shown at a later time, claiming … Read More

Something To Consider

Ken AshfordCrimeLeave a Comment

In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to execute criminals again.  This week, barring any changes in schedule, the 1000th execution will take place since the 1976 reinstatement.  And it’ll probably happen here in North Carolina. Fun fact: In the past 32 years, 120 death row inmates have been proven innocent and released.  Most of them have been in … Read More

Pat Did It

Ken AshfordGodstuff, Supreme CourtLeave a Comment

Headline from a 2003 news story about Pat Robertson’s plea to change the judiciary:  Praying For Supreme Court Shake Up Today’s headline: Pieces Fall From Supreme Court Facade

The Duke Is Done

Ken AshfordCongress, Crime, RepublicansLeave a Comment

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleads guilty to tax evasion, and taking bribes from defense contractors in order to secure lucrative defense contracts.  Josh Marshall, who kept on this story from Day One, is happy, but notes that Cunningham is still on the Appropriations Committee.  Not for long, I’m guessing.