Category Archives: Politics

Judiciary, Politics, War On Terror

Judge Flips On Terrorist Surveillance Tactics

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A federal judge issues an opinion 180 degrees from her initial opinion of a few months ago.  Big win for the ‘terrorist-rights’ crowd.  Same ones who would take a chance of losing their own head, and yours, and mine.  The left is so fascinated with new ways to usurp Presidential powers, including the position of commander-in-chief.  To wit . . .

A federal judge struck down President Bush’s authority to designate groups as terrorists, saying his post-Sept. 11 executive order was unconstitutional and vague, according to a ruling released Tuesday.

Constitutionally speaking, I think a judicial smackdown is in order.  They need to stay on their own side of the fence.  And only congress can do that.  Fat chance. 

al-AP link; Federal Judge Rules Bush’s Post-Sept. 11 Terror Order Unconstitutional

Politics

The War On Ethics?

With democrats taking up ‘ethics’ as their election issue, it seems odd that they wouldn’t quickly embrace the idea that if a member of congress is indicted for anything, that they will step aside from any leadership position.  If they wish to raise the bar, they can start there.

Having run on a promise to clean up corruption, congressional Democrats are preparing a package of ambitious ethics rules to pass soon after taking control of the House and Senate in January.

The republicans have been operating that way for a few years now.  It was a bad idea that opened the road to political attack dogs. (Tom DeLay saga)  Would Nancy Pelosi embrace that standard for ALL members of congress, or does she believe there should be two standards?

Philadelphia Inquirer

2008 Election, Judiciary, Politics, Race Relations

The Aura Of Rep. Alcee Hastings

The Rev. Al Sharpton ‘wants to see some returns.’ What? This over Nancy Pelosi’s choice, Alcee Hastings, to become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, one of the most vital and sensitive positions, in terms of national security, in government. And Rev. Sharpton says Alcee Hastings is the man. Nothing would make Nancy happier. For her, history began this morning. Nancy Pelosi voted to impeach him.

Mr. Hastings, your resume shows as a federal judge you were impeached by the house and convicted in the senate for taking bribes. Thanks anyway. We’re looking for someone with a history of integrity, not just recent history.

Aside from that, there’s more about Alcee Hastings than his being impeached as a federal judge for his bribery problems. His accomplice in that investigation, William Borders, was criminally convicted and went to prison. Borders also refused to testify against Hastings and Hastings was acquitted. And Borders got out of prison when Bill Clinton pardoned him on his last day in office.  Well isn’t that special?

Byron York points out that the pardon documents given to Clinton listed Borders’ crime this way:

“Conspiracy to corruptly solicit and accept money in return for influencing the official acts of a federal district court judge (Alcee L. Hastings), and to defraud the United States in connection with the performance of lawful government functions; corruptly influencing, obstructing, impeding and endeavoring to influence, obstruct and impede the due administration of justice, and aiding and abetting therein; traveling interstate with intent to commit bribery.”

Sharpton is calling Democrats to task, starting with his post on the Huffington Post. His point is that the Dems couldn’t have tilted the balance of power in Washington without 90 percent of the black vote. That’s a fact, but wasn’t his point. Rev. Al Sharpton’s point is there aren’t enough minorities in the Democrat ranks of influence. Its another ‘Bryant Gumbel‘ moment. Al just noticed a ‘paucity of blacks’ in the Democrat ranks, and his reaction is more like a ‘you owe us’ challenge to the Democrat leadership.

Hastings’ record what it is, I’m sure we could do better. And, btw, I don’t care what color his/her skin is, unlike Rev. Sharpton. I do care about the integrity of a person considered for that position, which ranks above skin color for me.

Byron York @ NRO: Hastings says he’s a victim of politics.

Politics, Race Relations, Uncategorized

Hugo Chavez, The Poor, And The Morally Righteous

Among his first customers is Joseph Kennedy and his company, Citizens Energy. Joe P Kennedy II in his Michael Dukakis moment.Kennedy admires Chavez for selling his company heating oil at discount prices . . .

“It’s not only morally righteous, it’s good business,” Kennedy said in a telephone interview yesterday. “When you’re selling to the world’s largest market a gigantic percentage of your overall sales in crude oil, you take a little percentage and show that you have concerns about how low-income people are going to keep up with the enormous price of keeping warm.”

Is it “morally righteous” to send political opponents to jail for calling for a free election? Maria Corina Machado, jailed by Hugo Chavez

Chavez’s concerns for poor people? Chavez’s concerns for poor people begin and endVenezuela President Hugo Chavez with getting and keeping political support. He shows his concern with government grocery stores, where a typical day at the government grocery store would be the “store has run out of chicken, milk and sugar,” but you might be pleased to “find rice, margarine and pasta at exceedingly low prices.” With in-store signage and slogans like this “When the people have needs, its revolutionary government responds!” it is easy to see how socialists exploit the poor for political advantage. A sample of Chavez’s ‘good’ business expertise I guess.

Joseph Kennedy buys it, hook, line, and sinker. When Americans have needs, Kennedy looks for welfare, even if it’s from a socialist dictator with an agenda. Having an energy policy that gets energy, while looking for alternative fuels, is the way out, but the left doesn’t want ‘out.’ Kennedy’s way solidifies ignorance and dependence on the government to be our surrogate parents.

It is not a stretch of the imagination to see similarities in the way the left exploits it’s ‘victims’ and the way Chavez exploits his own.

ref: Oil money aids Venezuela’s poor, for now, Joseph Kennedy, Meet Maria Corina Machado, Mother of three faces 100-year jail term after campaign for free elections, Citgo Brings Discounted Heating Oil to Region, Dial Joe-4-Oil

Politics, Uncategorized

Joseph Kennedy, Meet Maria Corina Machado

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Miss Machado is facing 100 years in prison because in 2003 she organized a petition that collected 3.4 million signatures arguing for a recall

Maria Corina Machado: 'They are out to get us'

referendum election because of allegations of fraud when Mr Chavez won the 2002 vote.

And your bud, Hugo Chavez, is hitting her up with ‘charges that include treason and conspiracy.’ Remember Maria Corina Machado the next time you take oil from that oil pimp Hugo Chavez. Who BTW, is Citgo in the United States.

related link

Judiciary, Politics, Race Relations, Uncategorized

New Orleans Justice System Damaged

The post-Katrina flood in New Orleans has all but wiped out the contents in the main evidence rooms in New Orleans.  Some judges are subsequently handing out get-out-of-jail-free cards, witnesses are gone, the perps are gone, the evidence is gone, and there isn’t enough manpower (lawyers) available to make a dent in the backlogs. 

May I suggest that the DNC re-deploy their 2006th Election Polls Lawyer Battalion to New Orleans to do something good for the people whose pain they feel.  If that’s not happening then it seems the ABA ought to do something to help them out.  Maybe the ACLU will help out the prosecutors and public defenders?  Right!  Letting perps walk is just one problem.  Making suspected perps they are holding wait way too long to get their cases heard is another.  The problem is bad for the public, the guilty, and the innocent.

NYT link: In New Orleans, Rust in the Wheels of Justice

 

2008 Election, Politics, Uncategorized

John Kerry, Outsourcing, Benedict Arnold Companies, HJ Heinz

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A funny thing happened while unpacking a box of freedom fries the other day.  I was surprised to see that the Ore-Ida french fries I’ve been using were not from Oregon or John Kerry is apparently OK with the concept of outsourcing now.Idaho.  I can vaguely recall the advertising jingle when I was much younger, something like ‘if it’s Ore-Ida, it’s all right-a.’  The Ore-Ida brand became a national favorite.  It’s not national any more.  Today Ore-Ida potatoes are a product of Canada, distributed by a ‘Benedict Arnold’ company (to use John Kerry’s words), HJ Heinz of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Similarly, as American Ore-Ida potatoes were, Heinz’s ketchup was too.  Oh, but not any longer.  Heinz ketchup is a product of Canada also.  I wonder if outsourcing is no longer a democrat platform issue?  Maybe it’s OK for John Kerry’s companies, just not yours?

Outsourcing is OK for John Kerry's companies. Just not yours.Can’t wait to hear John Kerry say “I was against outsourcing when I was running for president, but now I’m not.” 

ref: Outsourcing and The Left

More pictures like these in the gallery.

UPDATE note: Thanks to Tony @ HJ Heinz (see first comment to this post) for pointing out a factual error in the above post.  That being that neither of the Kerrys have any controlling interest in the company, so the reference to “Maybe it’s OK for John Kerry’s companies, just not yours?” is incorrect.  HJ Heinz is not his or her company.  To say that I was surprised to find that those products are not from the USA was not a mis-statement of fact.  Which begs the question, if Canadians can get fries and ketchup made in Canada, why can’t Americans buy fries and ketchup from the US?

Politics

UN Affirms Bias And Media Remains Mute

Congress needs to take sides when it comes to the United Nations and our temporary Ambassador John Bolton.  The world could not be more dangerous a place to live than it is today and, this is not a time for a linguini-spined politician to represent our interests in the world.  That’s why Congress needs to confirm John Bolton as Ambassador to the UN.

To find out what went on at the UN on Friday, you have to read the foreign press or you can check out the Democracy Project or PowerLine articles on this subject.  The legacy media doesn’t want to leave the ‘democrats are united’ play.  Discussing real-world problems that the UN is incapable of solving is too problematic politically.

Some highlights. . .

Bolton was furious over the adoption by the General Assembly of a resolution which said the assembly regretted the deaths of 19 civilians in an attack by the Israeli military in the town of Beit Hanoun last week.

Despite the resolution being significantly watered down at the behest of the United States, and being passing by 156 votes to seven, Bolton launched a blistering attack on the UN, and many of its members.

“Many of the sponsors of that resolution are notorious abusers of human rights themselves, and were seeking to deflect criticism of their own policies,” he said.

“This type of resolution serves only to exacerbate tensions by serving the interests of elements hostile to Israel’s inalienable and recognized right to exist.”

“This deepens suspicions about the United Nations that will lead many to conclude that the organization is incapable of playing a helpful role in the region,” Bolton continued.

“In a larger sense, the United Nations must confront a more significant question, that of its relevance and utility in confronting the challenges of the 21st century. We believe that the United Nations is ill served when its members seek to transform the organization into a forum that is a little more than a self-serving and a polemical attack against Israel or the United States,” he said.

Complete text of Ambassador Bolton’s statement here.