Politics – Page 9 – Mostly Harmless

July 22, 2008

So they want us to leave or what?

From the UK Timesonline website:

The remarks appeared to boost Mr Obama but left the White House and the McCain campaign with a dilemma. The Republican candidate’s representatives found themselves in the extraordinary position of implying that the Iraqis did not really mean what they were saying.

Iraq: we want US troops out in two years – Times Online

So what’s the story here? Last week it looked like a German magazine caught the Iraqi Prime Minister endorsing a schedule. Then the Iraqis via the U.S. said “No, that was a mistranslation.”

Can’t they get their stories straight?

July 16, 2008

Now they try talking

The President of Iran is a nut. But apparently our government now realizes that sometimes we have to speak with nuts to move things along. It worked with North Korea, wonder what took them so long?

July 10, 2008

That’s a long 15 minutes

Jesse, please stop. We all care for you and respect you. But you need to stop being the story right now.

July 9, 2008

The Senate rolls over and plays dead

President Nixon Bush got what he wanted: Senate bows to Bush, approves surveillance bill.

The news article mentions that the old FISA rules were a problem, and that Congress did not want to deal with this in an election year. Even Senator Obama folded on this one.

I guess his ambition is greater than his morals. “Vote for change”, what nonsense.

King George must be pleased to have such tame pets. It was never demonstrated that there was any issue with using the old FISA rules. It was only an issue because the Bush Cheney administration wanted more power.

The current administration does not want this law passed because they need it. They don’t torture people because they need to. They don’t disregard the Constitution because they need to. They don’t eliminate habeas corpus* because they need to.

They do all these things because they can.

I’m pissed again, I really can’t wait till January 20th to welcome our new king.

*Some people may think that habeas corpus was something denied only to non-American citizen away from our shores. The fact is, this administration grabbed an American in an airport in Chicago and then John Ashcroft bragged about it from Moscow. That American, who may have been the most vile scum, was held for years and subjected to abuse before the administration moved him where the law says he should have been. If they can do this to the worst, they can do this to anyone.

July 9, 2008

Good read re warrantless wiretapping

Salon has a good write up on Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation Inc. v. Bush from one of the lawyers involved. If you are a “Get them before they get us” type, don’t bother reading.

If you think everyone has to obey the law (meaning me, you, you, and especially YOU), then it’s a long read but covers the lawyers point of view nicely. This is the best part:

The situation grew darkly comic. They didn’t have a hammer, so they started debating how to smash the hard drive. I suggested they smack it against the corner of the table that was in the room. That didn’t do much.

I found myself thinking of the Samsonite Gorilla, the TV commercial from the 1970s in which a gorilla stomps on a piece of luggage that just won’t break. I thought: “These people are entrusted with our national security?”

Once again, since it is an election year, I am sure that our elected officials will get involved and mess this up.

July 3, 2008

Judge got wiretapping issue right

This judge apparently rejects the “It’s a State Secret ’cause WE say so” idea. Cool. And since it’s an election year, I expect Congress to mess this up.

June 23, 2008

George Carlin died last night

I woke up to some bad news this morning: George Carlin passed away. His seven words skit was funny, but I liked his comparison of baseball versus football best. And don’t forget his skit where everything the government did was fine or “the Terrorists Win”.

June 19, 2008

Same old political pandering

Telcom immunity: I’ll wait to see if the Democrats sold out the constitution again, but I’m willing to bet they did. No politician has any principles during an election year.

Update: Crooks and Liars has more, but it looks like it’s a done deal. These Democrats are not Blue Dogs, they are Blue Cowards. All it takes is the President to say something is legal and game over, you have no rights.

Anything from detaining American citizens, torturing people, to spying on our own population is allowed. All it takes is for a brown shirt government employee to say “War on Terror” and for the President to say “this is legal”. No one is held accountable, no one has to deal with the consequences of their actions.

When the Democrats opposed blanket immunity I was thinking that maybe these dark days are closing. It was all a scam; the Democrats are up for election too.

I’m upset and I can’t wait for January 20th, 2009. Even if it’s McCain at least we’ll get a new king.

June 15, 2008

Garry Trudeau returns!

New Doonesbury today! I like number 18 best. That was a long 3 month sabbatical, I was beginning to get Doonesbury Withdrawal Symptoms.

June 12, 2008

U.S. Supreme Court surprise

No way. I’m posting the image from CNN’s website but I could swear it says

U.S. Supreme Court says detainees at Guantanamo Bay have constitutional right to challenge their detention in civilian courts.

I see this headline and I can’t help but wonder “Yes, but what’s the catch?”

Category: Politics (page 9 of 12)

So they want us to leave or what?

Like this:

Now they try talking

Like this:

That’s a long 15 minutes

Like this:

The Senate rolls over and plays dead

Like this:

Good read re warrantless wiretapping

Like this:

Judge got wiretapping issue right

Like this:

George Carlin died last night

Like this:

Same old political pandering

Like this:

Garry Trudeau returns!

Like this:

U.S. Supreme Court surprise

Like this:

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Jan Dembowski