Bush Working to Make Domestic Spying Legal After the Fact

The Bush administration has spied on Americans. There's no doubt about that; Mr. Bush addmitted and even bragged about it. It's legal, say Mr. Bush and his advisors. So why does the administration need a bill to make domestic spying without FISA court approval legal? At least the bill may not pass.

Daily Kos: How Very Nixonian Of You, Mr. Bush:

How Very Nixonian Of You, Mr. Bush
by georgia10
Fri Jul 21, 2006 at 08:55:11 AM PDT

Do you remember that MoveOn ad, the one where Nixon's face morphs into that of President Bush?

When the domestic spying scandal broke, there was a huge focus on the President's lawyers ("he was just following their advice"), or on General Hayden ("it was his idea!") or on Vice-President Cheney ("it's just another step in Cheney's quest to restore executive power").

Well, let there be no doubt now. The President himself is leading a cover-up.

First, let's talk about recent developments with the Arlen Specter's bill. The bill, as you recall, does not require the President to submit the program for review to the FISA court. But, according to Specter, the President pinky-promised that he would seek approval of the program, so apparently, that makes everything better.

One bright spot, even if the bill passes to give the president permission for domestic spying, it seems to me that the courts could declare it unconstitutional.

More later,
Russ

Technorati tags: George W. Bush, NSA, domestic spying

Inhofe: Global Warming Is a Hoax

I don't get it. How can adults ignore scientific evidence? I haven't researched global warming extensively, but the only people who to deny its existence seem to be those with conflicts of interest about slowint or stopping global warming.

Think Progress � Sen. Inhofe: ‘Gore Is Full of Crap,’ ‘All Recent Science…Confirms This Thing Is A Hoax’:

Sen. Inhofe: ‘Gore Is Full of Crap,’ ‘All Recent Science…Confirms This Thing Is A Hoax’

Yesterday, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) attacked Al Gore and global warming science, claiming that Gore was “full of crap” on global warming.

Appearing on Glenn Beck’s radio show and CNN television program, Inhofe said that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which concluded that global warming was real and caused by humans, used “one scientist.” Inhofe added: “[A]ll of the recent science…it confirms that I was right on this thing. This thing is a hoax.”

More later,
Russ

Technorati tags: Gore, global warming, Inhofe, greenhouse gasses, lies

Britain shows sense about assault on Hezbollah in Lebanon

I have no doubt that Hezbollah includes some nasty types. they have killed civilians, but Britain seems to be the only country that thinks bombing the hell out of civilians is not a good idea. As noted below, the Americans think Israel's plan of action is just dandy, and why shouldn't they, it's the same plan of action the Americans are using in Afganistan and Iraq. Of course, it's a plan that isn't working.

Britain fears assault on Hezbollah will backfire - Britain - Times Online:

Britain fears assault on Hezbollah will backfire
By Bronwen Maddox, Foreign Editor
BRITAIN fears that Israel’s assault on Hezbollah is failing to cripple the guerrilla group and that continued bombardment will bring huge civilian casualties in Lebanon for little military gain.

The rising concern that any further Israeli military action could intensify the crisis, expressed by senior officials yesterday, strikes a much more urgent tone than the American position, which accepts a continued Israeli campaign to crush the Shia militant group.

Yesterday was the heaviest day for civilian casualties since Israel’s bombardment began last week, with at least 63 killed and scores more wounded. A total of 315 Lebanese, mostly civilians, have been killed and hundreds injured since the start of the Israeli offensive.

Last night dozens of planes dropped 23 tonnes of explosives on what the Army said was a bunker in south Beirut used by Hezbollah’s leadership. The group said none of is leaders where killed in the attack.

Israel is already hated in the middle east. This won't help.

More later,
Russ

Technorati tags: Hezbollah, Israel, Britain, Lebanon

Rice Wants Israel to Crush Hezbollah Before Peace Talks

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won't be going on a peace mission any time soon. Instead, she's going to wait until Israel makes the need for peace talks pointless by destroying Hezbollah, along with who knows how many civilians. Sure, Hezbollah kills civilians, too, but that doesn't make it right.

CNN.com - U.S. official: Israel needs time to 'defang' Hezbollah - Jul 19, 2006:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will not go on a peace mission to the Mideast before next week, giving Israel time to "defang" Hezbollah, a senior administration official said Wednesday.

Maybe Israel should listen to one of their own instead of a member of the Bush administration. This quote comes to mind:

"If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies." — Moshe Dayan

More later,
Russ

Technorati tags: Condoleezza Rice, Middle East, Hezbollah, Israel

Russia and China Inch Toward Iran Sanctions - New York Times

Nuclear proliferation is bad. But why, if it's bad for Iran, is it not bad for the United States and other nuclear powers? According to the Federation of American Scientists, the U.S. has more than 6,000 deployed nuclear warheads, and Russia less than 5,000. If Iran having one or two is dangerous, then why aren't we getting rid of our nukes?

Russia and China Inch Toward Iran Sanctions - New York Times:

PARIS, July 12 - Russia and China, crossing a diplomatic threshold in the effort to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions, joined the United States and Europe on Wednesday by agreeing to seek a United Nations Security Council resolution ordering Iran to freeze some nuclear activities, or face sanctions.

The movement toward a resolution represented increased anger over Iran's refusal to respond to an offer of economic and energy incentives if it suspended its uranium enrichment.

Of course, we are the "good guys" so if we have nukes it's OK because we will never use them. But, the United States is the only country that ever has used nuclear weapons. Personally, I don't think anyone should have nukes, especially a country with a history like Iran's, but given the fact that the rest of the world, led by the United States, is willing to mount unprovoked invasions of multiple countries in the Middle East, I understand why Iran turned down the bribe and is going ahead with uranium enrichment. As President Bush has said, nations have the right to protect themselves from terrorists.

More later,
Russ

Assistant Attorney General Says Bush Is Above the Law

Not a big surprise. The Bush administration has bragged about torturing "terrorists" and illegally spying on Americans. I've included the link and the entire post below.

the s.n.a.f.u. principle: "I am the law!" :: proudly afflicted with unhinged liberal disorder since 1964:

"I am the law!"

This is the very definition of Godwin's Law.

"The President is always right." - Steven Bradbury, the Assistant Attorney General (Office of Legal Counsel) at the Department of Justice testifying before Congress. - July 12, 2006.

"The Führer is always right." - Robert Ley, Reichsorganisationsleiter (Reich Organization Leader) of the German Nazi party in a speech on November 3, 1936.

The implication, as Bradbury is an attorney speaking for the DOJ, is that Bush is the law.

More later,
Russ

Michigan Democratic Party Web Site Is All About One Republican

Nationally, Democrats are looking for big gains in the mid-term elections, but if the Michigan Democratic Party Web site is any indication, the Republicans have already won.

Of the eight headlines on the MDP home page June 27, five are about Dick DeVos, the Republican challenger to Democrat Jennifer Granholm. None are about Granholm.

Dig deeper into the Web site and it gets worse. The "News Archive" page on June 27, included 66 stories. Forty of the headlines were about Dick DeVos, focusing on all the bad things he has done or thought about doing, and all the lies he has told or thought about telling.

Negative campaigning is a valid thing to do, but the MDP doesn't seem to do much else, and some of the attacks are amateurish. One, dated April 18, actually reads "DeVos to Communist China President: “Welcome, Dear Comrade!” Redbaiting? In 2006?

President George W. Bush, or those dastardly Republicans in general, appeared in six headlines, two of which also included DeVos. Guilt by association, I guess.

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, both Republicans, were mentioned negatively in two headlines each. Ann Coulter even got a mention in a headline.

For news about Michigan Democrats and the Michigan Democratic Party, the "News Archive" included three headlines touting new television ads by the Michigan Democratic Party, one announcing the MDP's new Web site, one on Evan Bayh being the keynote speaker at the Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner, one on the passing of Detroit-area Democratic Leader Edward H. McNamara, one on Democratic National Committee rules and bylaws, one praising Michigan House Democrats, one on out-of-state trash (from Canada), one urging support of the Voting Rights Act, one about Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and one congratulating Sen. Carl Levin on being ranked one of the top ten senators in the nation by Time Magazine. While deserving of the notice, Sen. Levin isn't up for reelection this year.

Amazingly, at least to me, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer is mentioned in nine headlines in the MDP Web site's News Archive. Some are attacks on DeVos, some are announcements or comments on events such as Cesar Chavez Day. One announces that Brewer will attend the Democratic National Committee meeting in New Orleans. That the DNC meeting was held in New Orleans is mildly interesting. That Mark Brewer attended the meeting is not.

The National Democratic Party has struggled to find a coherent message in recent years. The Michigan arm of the party seems to have found a message: "Don't vote for the other guys! They're all cheats and liars!"

I would rather vote for a good candidate than against a poor one, and I plan to vote for Jennifer Granholm... again, but not based on any information on the MDP Web site's News Archive. Her name appeared in a headline only once out of 66 stories. What's worse, she had to share the headline with DeVos.

If this is the best Democrats can do to make the case for being elected, no wonder so many Americans vote Republican.

More later,
Russ