Troy Davis Gets A New Hearing
A few days ago I wrote about how bad legislation in the form of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 has turned federal juries and appellate courts into "death panels" by limiting and accelerating the appeal process, and thus the execution, of defendants in capital cases. The Supreme Court has just added to the voices against the Habeas limiting act by granting Troy Davis a new trial.
The $46,000 Question: What Are the Terms of Chris Christie's Loan to NJ's First AUSA?
Does anyone thing it curious that Chris Christie gave the current First AUSA in the NJ Office a $46,000 personal loan?
NYT Neglects to Mention Foggo and the Torture Tapes
There's a keystone to understanding the story from David Johnston (who frequently regurgitates highly motivated leaks) and Mark Mazzetti (CIA's guy at NYT) on Dusty Foggo's role in setting up the black sites run by the CIA: Foggo's testimony in the torture tape investigation.
Jane Rebuts Mrs. Greenspan's CW with Mr. Bayh's Conflict
Jane's responds to Andrea Mitchell's flaccid beltway CW with the facts that Mitchell herself should be presenting.
Honoring Service Rather than Trumping Up War
In the kind of speech that Dick Cheney used to press for war against Iraq, Obama is using to honor our service men and women.
Hey Specter, How's Your Persuasion of Grassley Coming Along?
Specter seems to have stopped his campaign to get Grassley to really negotiate on health care.
Rahm and the Torture Investigation
It's time to start blaming Rahm for our lack of accountability on torture.
Marcy Eats Kobe at Netroots Nation
Kobe beef, that is.
This is a pic that RevDeb took last night when a bunch of us went out to dinner (that's Gregg Levine warning me that Jane's gonna be pissed). Between Eli and Ian and Scarecrow and Rayne, they couldn't stop me from eating Kobe.
I'm home now from Netroots Nation, lying on the couch trying to ingratiate myself with McCaffrey the MilleniaLab (who is upset that I watched parts
The Poetry Of Detroit Auto
Danny Heitman has a quirkily fascinating op-ed up in the New York Times on the attempt in the mid to late 50s by Ford Motor Company to enlist a poet laureate to help sell its products:The question is brought to mind by the story of Marianne Moore, the famous American writer, who served for a brief season as the Ford Motor Company’s unofficial poet laureate....A Ford executive wrote that the company
The Cost Of Obama's Beer Fest Failure Is More Tasered Moms
Not long ago (though it strangely seems far removed) I wrote a series of posts about the incident surrounding Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates. First, it was an illegal and unconstitutional arrest but with Obama's gaffe and silly "Beer Summit" we lost that discussion. Continued abuse of police power is a sad result.
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.
