Dissent Is Fascism

"Any kind of moral or intellectual confusion about who and what is right or wrong can weaken the ability of free society." -- Grand Chancellor - er, Don Rumsfeld



Check out Olbermann's rebuttal.

Tags: Donald Rumsfeld

Priorities

It seems Jon Benet is all the old media can bring themselves to talk about! Perhaps they feel some guilt after the railroading they gave her parents - or perhaps there's another reason!

Yesterday, a federal judge in Michigan issued “a sweeping rebuke of the once-secret domestic-surveillance effort the White House authorized following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.” The ruling was “a significant blow to Bush’s attempts to expand presidential powers,” but you wouldn’t know that by watching last evening’s network newscasts.

You can read the decision here. The penalties likewise seem very clear. But you didn't hear about them from CNN.

Tags: Media Follies

The Rude Pundit :: Katrina Plus One Year

The Rude One has just completed his trip to New Orleans. Read his five part commentary on the continuing aftermath of the storm, and the unraveling of a great American city.



A followup to his previous visit in December of last year.

Tags: Katrina

MaxSpeak : : The Cease Fire In Lebanon

Max provides some basic background on the Most Complicated Situation in Politics, and discusses the recent, doubtless temporary, cessation of hostilities:

Both Bush and the Israeli leaders seem to have suffered from some delusions, more surprising for the Israelis than for idiot Bush. In particular, both have somehow believed that by attacking Lebanon, and attacking non-Shi'i areas, the non-Shi'a would unite against Hezbollah. Needless to say, Lebanese democracy has been strengthened by opposing both Israel and the US and in support of Hezbollah. Duh.

Within DAYS of a Dry Run

Informed Comment offers the antithesis of old media's breathlessly fact-free reporting, in his initial summary of the recent UK terrorist arrests. The key insight is towards the end:

If this operation is as advertised, then it underlines again the importance of plain old fashioned counter-terrorism and police work. An army of 136,000 men in the field can't stop bombs from going off in Iraq every day. What stopped the liquid bomb plot was something superior, a tool fitted to the task.

Rep. Conyers Identifies 26 Laws Broken by Bush Administration

From the report issued today:

Deception of Congress and the American Public
* Committing a Fraud Against the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371)
* Making False Statements Against the United States (18 U.S.C. § 1001)
* War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148)
* Misuse of Government Funds (31 U.S.C. § 1301)

Improper Detention, Torture, and Other Inhumane Treatment
* Anti-Torture Statute (18 U.S.C. § 2340-40A)
* The War Crimes Act (18 U.S.C. § 2441)
* The Geneva Conventions and Hague Convention: International Laws Governing the Treatment of Detainees
* United Nations Convention Against Torture, and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment: International Laws Governing the Treatment of Detainees
* Command Responsibility (for known illegal acts of subordinates in the military)
* Detainment of Material Witnesses (18 U.S.C. § 3144)

Retaliating against Witnesses and Other Individuals
* Obstructing Congress (18 U.S.C. § 1505)
* Whistleblower Protection (5 U.S.C. § 2302)
* The Lloyd-LaFollette Act, or "anti-gag rule" (5 U.S.C. § 7211)
* Retaliating against Witnesses (18 U.S.C. § 1513)

Leaking and other Misuse of Intelligence and other Government Information
* Revealing Classified Information in Contravention of Federal Regulations (Executive Order 12958/Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement)
* Statutory Prohibitions on Leaking Information (18 U.S.C. § 641, etc.)

Laws Governing Electronic Surveillance
* Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (50 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq.)
* National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. chapter 15)
* Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. § 222)
* Stored Communications Act of 1986 (18 U.S.C. § 2702)
* Pen Registers or Trap and Trace Devices (18 U.S.C. § 3121)

Laws and Guidelines Prohibiting Conflicts of Interest (28 U.S.C. § 528, etc.)

That's 26 new reasons for Bush's impeachment. Be sure to read Rep. Conyers's accompanying statement, too.

Tags: Bush, High Crimes

Washington Post :: Stop the Band-Aid Treatment

Jimmy Carter attempts to apply 'sanity' and 'reason' to the Middle East violence:

It is inarguable that Israel has a right to defend itself against attacks on its citizens, but it is inhumane and counterproductive to punish civilian populations in the illogical hope that somehow they will blame Hamas and Hezbollah for provoking the devastating response. The result instead has been that broad Arab and worldwide support has been rallied for these groups, while condemnation of both Israel and the United States has intensified.