From the Washington Post:

“The Bush administration in recent days has been lobbying to block legislation supported by Republican senators that would bar the US military from engaging in “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” of detainees, from hiding prisoners from the Red Cross, and from using interrogation methods not authorized by a new Army field manual.

Vice President Cheney met Thursday evening with three senior Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to press the administration’s case that legislation on these matters would usurp the president’s authority and – in the words of a White House official – interfere with his ability “to protect Americans effectively from terrorist attack.”

So, the whitehouse is now fighting legislation that would require it to support its own manuals, instructions, and treaties regarding treatment of prisoners. What differentiates us from those we fight against, if not our willingness to operate under the rule of law? Is there now, or has there ever been, a tyrant who didn’t believe his cause was somehow “right” and thereby above the simple rule of law? Isn’t that what defines a tyrant from a legitimate ruler?

We are slipping into the biggest abrogation of our constitutional government in the history of this country, and the supposedly “morality based” republicans ignore it, as long as their man is in charge. I guess our constitution is intact, in the narrow minds of our republican leaders, as long as someone doesn’t lie about their sex life (and get caught). Ignoring our international treaties, ignoring the constitution, damaging our national security by exposing our agents for political purposes, lying to grand juries about how you lied previously to justify illegal and unnecessary wars that have cost thousands of american lives are all OK, as long as you tell the truth about how you have been getting your rocks off.

The hypocrisy is enough to make any true American vomit. Unfortunately, the true americans, judging from the last election, amount to only 49% of the voting population.

If you’re not Outraged, You’re not paying attention

From the Washington Post:

“RICHMOND, July 19 — A top government attorney declared Tuesday that, in the war on terror, the United States is a battlefield, and therefore President Bush has the authority to detain enemy combatants indefinitely in this country.

The government alleges that Padilla, a U.S. citizen, trained with al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan and arrived in this country in May 2002 with the intent of blowing up apartment buildings.”

So, the government is arguing that if a US Citizen is accused of terrorism, that person loses all protection under the US constitution. Who gets to make that accusation? Why, the executive branch, of course.

Call me crazy, but it seems I’ve heard of other despots who have reserved to themselves the right to determine to whom constitutional protection ought and ought not to apply. I don’t want to use any unpopular references, but if I recall correctly, 50 years ago there was a short person with an unflattering moustache who used an argument something like that to justify the murder of some 5 million jews.

If you’re not Outraged, You’re not paying attention.

Judging from his recent comments, I’d say that Rick Santorum has one of the finest minds of the 13th century.

Tom Ferrick, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist

Mr. Bush has nominated John G. Roberts, Jr. for the Supreme Court.

It is my sincere hope that the senate quickly confirms him to that post. Roberts is conservative, but despite that appears to have the intellectual capacity, and personal integrity, to serve well on the Bench. He is no Clarence Thomas, thank God.

While he would not be my first choice for the court, he does seem a good one, if from the conservative mold. Let the senate review be thorough, and assuming nothing egregious comes out, get the nomination approved and done with. With only two years as a judge, it is hard to see exactly where his opinions lie, but there were far worse names floated as possible replacements for O’Connor. I would personally prefer someone with more experience on the bench, but given the divisive atmosphere now, perhaps anyone with more experience would have provided too big a target for one side or the other.

If the hurried nomination of Roberts was meant to distract attention from the other issues of the failed Bush administration, it should not be allowed to succeed. Proceed with a review process of Roberts, of course, but don’t rush to trash him just because he is Bush’s nominee. Meanwhile, concentrate on those in power with no integrity, such as Rove and DeLay. Concentrate on the lies that lead to the Iraq war, and the thousands upon thousands dead because of it. Concentrate on the abuse of detainees. Concentrate on the increased danger in the world because of the administration’s iniquitous foreign policy. Concentrate on the apparent perjury in the ongoing investigation of leaks about CIA agents. (I would assume that if lying about your sex life under oath is serious enough to justify impeachment, then lying about your role in exposing agents of the government would be, but I don’t have the republican mindframe).

There are too many evil people in this administration to start partisan fights about the few associated with it who do have integrity.

American deaths in Iraq continue to rise. I expect we will have a major flurry of news about this, when the official toll climbs to 2000.

It is a common assumption that the British with 93 casualties, our most loyal allies, are the second-hardest hit group in the Iraq coalition. That’s not true, however. What the government doesn’t like to acknowledge is that there have been over 250 deaths of “contractors” employed by the US government, which are not figured into the official casualty total. Some of these are truck drivers, many are mercenary “security contractors.”

Adding those 252 to the official count of 1765, gives 2017, so we are already long past the 2000 casualty milestone, which we will no doubt hear so much about in a few months.

As horrible as this is, it pales in comparison to the estimated $25,000 Iraqi’s dead from combat, and the possible 100,000 Iraqi dead due to all the war’s effects.

WMD Found? 0
Ties to Al Qaeda in Iraq (prior to our invasion) 0
Ties to 9/11 in Iraq 0
Ties to Al Qaeda in Iraq (Subsequent to invasion) many

If you’re not Outraged, You’re not paying attention

My previous blogging software (Greymatter) was antiquated, and not well maintained. When online gambling spammers found the address, I was overwhelmed with posts about casinos and whatnot. After trying to install a few fixes, it became clear that the software was not working as it should, and I needed to either modify it completely myself, or switch to another blog package.

After some research, I settled on WordPress. I’ll be making a few configuration changes, and then hopefully import the previous Greymatter posts, and switch over to this one.

Dear Senator Santorum:

For Catholic Online, regarding the sexual abuse scandals plaguing the Catholic Church, you wrote:

“When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.”

Thank you for pointing out the obvious tie between the abuse of innocents by the catholic clergy, and the liberalism rampant in the United States. The connection is clear.

There is another connection, however, which I believe you should investigate. A little known subversive group is even more closely tied to this scandal than the liberals. After months of investigation, I have discovered the little-recognized fact that 100% of the people involved in this abuse are…. Catholic!!!!

Clearly the entire Catholic community has been brainwashed by the liberal cabal to advance their nefarious plots. Please, I beg you, bring to light the details about this little-known cult, intent on the perversion of our youth, and the destruction of american values.

I remind you, fully 100% of the people involved in this attack on traditional american values are either avowed, or secretly, catholics! This fact should alarm every true American!! Please, before it is too late, act now to bring the lurid details about this subversive cult to light, and protect us from their plans to destroy our way of life.

It makes as much sense as the rest of what you say.

Al Folsom

Bob Dylan, copyright 1963 (pre Viet Nam, pre Nicaragua, pre Grenada, pre Iraq I, pre Iraq II)

From the BBC:

Outrage at Palestinian executions

The Palestinian Authority says it wants to strengthen the rule of law
Human rights bodies have urged Palestinian authorities to outlaw the death penalty after it executed four convicts in Gaza on Sunday.

“Even the most democratic state in the world, America, invokes this kind of punishment,” he said.


We may be the Great Satan, but at least we can be used as an example when they want to justify killing. I’m so proud.

My Nomination for the GOP Hypocrite of the Week.

Might even make it into the finals for hypocrite of the year.