The Constitution and Roland Burris
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bmazRoland Burris went to the hill in Washington DC today to claim the Senate seat he has been appointed to but was denied. While this may make Harry Reid, Obama and a lot of other people feel good about frustrating the cad Blagojevich, it is almost certainly unconstitutional, and constitutional scholars, including preeminent voices like Bruce Fein and Erwin Chemerinsky, agree.
The Little Bomblet for Turdblossom in the New Rules
Chairman Conyers isn't all that satisfied with the outcome of the US Attorney investigation last Congress. So, he put a little present for Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten in the rules that just passed to make sure he can still get their testimony in this Congress.
And guess what? He included Karl Rove in there, too!
Another $25 Billion Pissed Away by George Bush
George Bush has failed to implement recommendations made by Inspectors General to the tune of $25 billion. Who was it that said an MBA President would bring competence to the position?
The al-Haramain Dates
It appears that Judge Vaughn Walker will soon have proof that the Bush Administration tapped al-Haramain on days when the illegal wiretap program operated under only Bush's authorization itself, with no sanction from the Attorney General. If I'm right it cuts to the heart of Bush's law-breaking on the warrantless wiretap program.
Oops! They Pissed Off Judge Walker Before He Finalizes Immunity
The government has royally pissed off Judge Vaughn Walker with their continued attempts to prevent anyone from suing Bush for violating FISA. But in doing so, they've royally pissed off the guy who is about to decide whether their retroactive immunity is actually legal.
Vaughn Walker Will Review the al-Haramain Document
For the first time, a judge will review the legality of Bush's warrantless wiretap program.
Honda, Toyota, Fail More in December than Two of Three "Failed" US Carmakers
As they were in November, December's sales stunk. But some manufacturers didn't stink as much as you'd think.
Obama's DOJ Nominees through the Lens of Bush's OLC
Here's what two of Obama's new DOJ nominees had to say about Bush's OLC.
Rahm's Contacts
Why are Rahm and Blago fighting so intensely over what contacts Rahm had with Blago's team?
Roland Burris Subpoenaed
The Legislative impeachment committee would like to hear from Roland Burris on Wednesday.
Blagojevich, Reid, and Rahm: Who Is Distorting Claims about Jesse Jackson Jr.?
Both Harry Reid and Rahm Emanuel claim Blagojevich has distorted the lists of names they gave him regarding potential senate candidates.
Schadenfreude Delayed
I present to you Senator Al Franken.
Anthrax, Again
The anthrax case continues to get stinkier and stinkier. In this installment, we learn that one of the FBI's most dubious theories about the case came from the person who first pitched Ivins as a suspect.
Trash Talk - Saturday Wildcard Weekend Fighting Edition
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bmazIt is Wildcard Saturday in the NFL! First up are today's games; i will update later today with Sunday's games. Oh, and due to dismal performance by my boy, it is no longer the "National Favre League", but is just back to NFL. Sadness. Dirty Birds at Red Birds and Colts at Bolts.
Reid On Tape Manipulating Illinois Senate Seat Before Blago's Arrest
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bmazThursday I described The Ugly Legal Optics Of Harry Reid’s Burris Battle. There is a new cloud dimming the already ugly optics. An article that just hit the website of the Chicago Sun Times reports Harry Reid already had his heavy ham fisted hand deep in Illinois state politics well before Blagojevich was arrested.
Burris: Why Not Withhold Committee Assignments?
Maybe the most appropriate way to deal with the Burris appointment is to refuse to seat him on any committees.
With Chris Cox, Suckers Are Everywhere
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bmazRemember just a few days ago when SEC Chairman Chris Cox was doing his best George Bush imitation and trying to write his history before his term of shame was over and how he was saying that Madoff was "just an asterisk"? Turns out there is much more Madoff style
Bush DOJ Is Now Filene's Basement for Corporate Crooks
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bmazThe fire sale by the Bush Administration in a last gasp to coddle corporate polluters, crooks and malefactors (i.e. friends and family) is on at the Department of Justice. The Justice Department has reached more than a dozen business-related settlements since the presidential election, with more in the pipeline for January, prompting lawyers and interest groups to assert that companies are seeking more favorable deals before Obama gets inaugurated.
Happy New Year!
Just poking my head in to wish you all a Happy New Year!
Thanks to bmaz for holding down the fort today--though I guess the shellacking USC gave another Big Ten team today made it all worth it for him...
I'll be driving back to MI all day tomorrow (unless the weather gets bad).
The Ugly Legal Optics Of Harry Reid's Burris Battle
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bmazEarlier this morning, Jane wrote a fantastic post, "Burris and Blago: What Happens Now?", that lays out most all of the concerns with the obstreperous position taken by Harry Reid and the Democratic leadership. I would like to follow up on a couple of legal points inherent in the discussion. The Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White doesn't have the power to refuse certification of Burris and Harry Reid is making an ass of himself in belligerently fighting Burris.
