Woodstock: 40 Years Down The Road And A Nation Lost
As you may have heard, we are on the precipice of the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. What did it mean, and what does it say about our culture, especially the youth, today?
Death Panels From Bad Legislation
Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom (England), and even Venezuela. What do all these developed first order modern countries have in common?They abolished the death penalty. Conspicuously absent of course is the United States. We are the only country in the Americas, whether North or South, that utilizes the death penalty in anything other
Live-Blogging Scrapple for Breakfast
Ari Melber starts by asking Scrapple who is he and why he is here.
Scrapple starts by raising choice.
21st Century Hate
I was noodling around the intertoobz tonight, and was struck by the thought that the concept of "American Exceptionalism" may refer to our ability to bring teh stupid. First up to bat are the down with browners. From the Los Angeles Times:Walt Staton wanted to help people, and his tool was a water jug.
Extension And Delay In al-Haramain
As covered here and here, a Motion For Summary Judgment is pending in al-Haramain v. Obama, set in front of Judge Vaughn Walker in NDCA. Just to keep you apprised of the status, there has been a stipulation and order entered to extend certain time limits previously set in the matter.
Obama's First Rendition Looks Very Questionable
If his first publicly known rendition case is any indication, there may well be a legitimate question as to whether Obama's rendition program is even more repulsive than that of George Bush. More evidence will be required for an informed answer, but Obama is off to a very auspicious beginning.
Random Thoughts On The Purgegate Document Dump
Eric Lichtblau and Eric Lipton have an article on the Purgegate document release in today's New York Times. There were a few paragraphs by the two Erics that stood out to me and gave me pause.
Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission
Adam Cohen of the New York Times is a fairly astute and erudite writer on legal issues, and he has a new article up on the interesting case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission; and it is indeed a cse with many fascinating and troubling aspects to it.
Thailand Refuses to Extradite Viktor Bout
Thai judges refused to extradite Viktor Bout for trial in the US because, they say, Thailand does not recognize Colombia's FARC as a terrorist organization.
The Rove Interview Materials, Working Thread
I'm going to take a quick glance before I hop in the car to drive to Pittsburgh. But I'll take a closer look tonight.Rove InterviewMiers InterviewWhite House DocumentsRNC Documents
Good Question. What DID Happen to that Promised State Secrets Policy?
As I mentioned above, I've been prepping for a panel on Saturday on torture. And so I've been reviewing all the things DOJ promised us in mid June or early July that they still haven't delivered on: The OPR Report, the torture investigation, and--as Daphne Eviatar points out--the new State Secrets policy.
The Waterboarding Authorization the Torturers Used?
The LAT says the torturers never saw the Bybee Two Memo placing limits on how they executed waterboarding. But chances are very good they saw a memo authorizing far more abusive waterboarding.
Ramzi bin al-Shibh's Lawyers Can't Know about the Torture that Drove Him Crazy
DOD won't let Ramzi bin al-Shibh's lawyers know what drove him crazy.
Madoff's Finance Chief to Plead Guilty
Frank DiPascali, Madoff's finance chief, is pleading guilty tomorrow.
Chuck Schumer for Majority Leader
Why isn't Chuck Schumer our Majority Leader?
Bush's Info Sharing Memo and the Warrantless Wiretap Revelations
I find it rather interesting that George Bush started pushing fusion centers the day that Risen and Lichtblau exposed the illegal domestic surveillance program.
As the Brush Piles Up in August
Have you noticed that we're a quarter of the way through August and Obama has not yet cleared any brush?
With Justice Sotomayor Sworn In, Back to Torture
The LAT returns to the story of the purportedly imminent torture prosecution.
Gonzales and Bush Haven't Spoken
Gonzales hasn't spoken to Bush since the President left office in January. That's a rather interesting silence.