The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times. Liberty and security can be reconciled; and in our system they are reconciled within the framework of the law. The Framers decided that habeas corpus, a right of first importance, must be a part of that framework, a part of that law. – JUSTICE KENNEDY The mere notion that The … [Read more...] about The Great Writ Survives As Liberty & Security Are Reconciled In The Imperial Age of Bush
Being the Meaning of Joy: Little Sioux Ranch
"He was the meaning of joy," said John Nordmeyer, an uncle. There are a bunch of middle aged men across the nation who tonight sit quietly in their living rooms. The TV set might be off. They didn’t want to eat much tonight. Many are at their laptops now, silently tap tap tapping out messages to reach out to others. To try to find some, something. Words would help. … [Read more...] about Being the Meaning of Joy: Little Sioux Ranch
Guessing Game: Obama’s Team In Office…
The guessing game is becoming intense as to who would be the main players in Barack Obama's aspiring administration. Obviously, Obama will bring in a new team to run the federal government, the Oval Office and the Democratic Party if he makes it to the White House. So who will run the country if the voters decide that Yes, He Can? The Economist takes a look at the potential … [Read more...] about Guessing Game: Obama’s Team In Office…
America’s Image Revives; 84 Percent of French Favor Obama
This is a French write-through on the latest massive Pew Global Attitudes Project poll of 24,000 people in 24 countries. Beyond revealing a slight uptick in America's public image over a range of counties [but not all] over the past year, it also reveals intense interest in the U.S. presidential elections. For Le Monde, Bérengère Guy writes in part: "The study reveals … [Read more...] about America’s Image Revives; 84 Percent of French Favor Obama
Iraq’s Impossible Mission: Reconciling Iran and the United States
What's an Iraqi leader to do? On the one side is the United States and George W. Bush demanding a long-term security agreement that appears to infringe on Iraqi sovereignty. On the other is Iran, who could turn Iraq upside down at the drop of a hat. According to Maria Appakova of Russia's Novosti news service, the already highly difficult task has become nearly impossible … [Read more...] about Iraq’s Impossible Mission: Reconciling Iran and the United States
Boy Scouts Become Heroes
It has often been said that just as there is no such thing as a former Marine, there is also no such thing as a former Boy Scout. Well speaking as a Boy Scout for nearly 30 years I felt obligated to post a little bit about the recent heroics by a group of young Scouts in Iowa. This week a tornado ripped through a Boy Scout camp in Iowa. The storm killed four of the scouts … [Read more...] about Boy Scouts Become Heroes
It’s an ‘Injustice’ that Foreigners Can’t Vote on Obama or McCain
An undercurrent of many foreign press articles about the U.S. election is the unfairness of the fact that while American policies dramatically affect people outside of the United States, those very people are unable to directly influence those we elect. This op-ed from Protugal's Expresso newspaper is a perfect example - and addresses this frustration quite directly. With … [Read more...] about It’s an ‘Injustice’ that Foreigners Can’t Vote on Obama or McCain
Obama Campaign Denies Michelle Obama Used “Whitey” Word: Sets Up Website To Battle Internet Smears
Democratic presumptive Presidential nominee Barack Obama's campaign fired a double round at Internet partisans who spread unsubstantiated information about him: it flatly denied his wife Michelle ever used the word "Whitey" at a church -- and it has set up a website to directly answer Internet and media allegation mongering usually spread by websites and operatives who have … [Read more...] about Obama Campaign Denies Michelle Obama Used “Whitey” Word: Sets Up Website To Battle Internet Smears
Defending Webb the Confederate
There's been lots of good discussion surrounding David Mark's piece noting Sen. Jim Webb’s affinity for the cause of the Confederacy: Webb is no mere student of the Civil War era. He’s an author, too, and he’s left a trail of writings and statements about one of the rawest and most sensitive topics in American history. He has suggested many times that while the Confederacy … [Read more...] about Defending Webb the Confederate
Jewish Donors Jumping To McCain ?
According to a report in The Hill, it looks like Senator McCain may be benefiting from perceptions over Senator Obama's positions on Israel. We already had seen Senator Libeerman support McCain and it now looks like some top Clinton donors may also be changing partisan horses. Stephen Muss is a major real estate developer from Florida and has a long history of supporting … [Read more...] about Jewish Donors Jumping To McCain ?
Some Thoughts On Supreme Court Ruling
My fellow bloggers both here and around the net have already given some excellent coverage to the Guantanamo Bay ruling today so I thought I would take another angle on the topic. I know that it a controversial decision and that we have plenty of people on both sides of the decision. That is only natural as people of good will can disagree on subjects like this. But I think … [Read more...] about Some Thoughts On Supreme Court Ruling
Fox Executive Calls Networks’ “Obama Baby Mama” Label “Poor Judgment”
One of Fox News' top brass has stepped in and essentially condemned and apologized for the networking characterizing Democratic presumptive Presidential nominee Barack Obama's wife Michelle Obama as "Obama's Baby Mama." The swiftness of the response shows that at the network's top levels, at least, there are limits and corporate standards. The Politico reports: “A … [Read more...] about Fox Executive Calls Networks’ “Obama Baby Mama” Label “Poor Judgment”
Hulk 2008
Cam Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen … [Read more...] about Hulk 2008
The Flip Flop Fed
(September 2007—May 2008) We're firm in our convictions And we'll stick with our priorities, For us a weak economy Will always cause the most unease, We'll lower rates, if that's the need To get an upturn into gear, And if this boosts inflation, well, That's something we don't really fear. (June 2008—Who Knows?) We're firm in our convictions And we know our true … [Read more...] about The Flip Flop Fed
MSNBC/WSJ Poll Giving Obama 6 Percent Lead Over McCain Has Warning Flags
A new MSNBC-Wall Street Journal poll showing Democratic presumptive nominee Senator Barack Obama with a 6 point lead over virtually certain GOP nominee Senator John McCain has some red warning flags for McCain and the GOP. Perhaps the best analyses of aspects of the polls comes via the political junkie's increasingly indispensible site MSNBC's First Read. Here are three key … [Read more...] about MSNBC/WSJ Poll Giving Obama 6 Percent Lead Over McCain Has Warning Flags
GWB: “Not a Man of Peace”
In case you missed it -- and, well, most of us did -- President Bush gave an interview to The Times (U.K.) in Slovenia the other day during which he admitted that, well, things haven't all gone well during his presidency: President Bush has admitted to The Times that his gun-slinging rhetoric made the world believe that he was a "guy really anxious for war" in Iraq. He said … [Read more...] about GWB: “Not a Man of Peace”
Stephen J. Dubner’s Locavore laziness disappoints
Yesterday I quoted Stephen J. Dubner's criticism of Michael Pollan and the local food movement and concluded, generously, that "Dubner’s contribution to the [food] debate is to keep it real." Then I listened to his appearance (mp3) on The Takeaway. Dubner apparently hardly even bothered to prepare for the show. Said he, straight off, when the interviewer assumed he had … [Read more...] about Stephen J. Dubner’s Locavore laziness disappoints
Democrats Playing Games With Unemployment Benefits
Earlier this week the US House held a vote on extending unemployment benefits by 13 weeks. The vote on the proposal was 279 in favor and 141 opposed, which would seem to be a win. But instead the headlines read 'House Fails To Extend Jobless Benefits' or more ominously 'Republicans Block Longer Benefits'. Now how would this be possible ? Isn't a majority vote a win … [Read more...] about Democrats Playing Games With Unemployment Benefits
5 of 9 Justices Support Basic Civil Rights for Detainees
Lynn Denniston at SCOTUSblog calls it 'a stunning blow to the Bush Administration in its war-on-terrorism policies.' Shaun Mullen sums up the disposition and the background of Boumediene v. Bush here. The New York Times reports: In its third rebuke of the Bush administration's treatment of prisoners, the court ruled 5-4 that the government is violating the … [Read more...] about 5 of 9 Justices Support Basic Civil Rights for Detainees
Iowa Levee Breaks Causing Emergency Evacuation of 10,000 People
MSNBC: DES MOINES, Iowa - The rising Cedar River burst through an earthen levee Thursday just outside Cedar Rapids, and at least 10,000 people there have been ordered to evacuate, officials told NBC News. Power is out for most of downtown, complicating rescue efforts, city spokesman Dave Koch said. Cedar Rapids firemen have been organizing boat rescues of stranded … [Read more...] about Iowa Levee Breaks Causing Emergency Evacuation of 10,000 People