Immigration Reform Or Republican Election Ad?

Chickenhawks drag out the military to look presidentuary (Bushism)...

Next, they will militarize school lunch programs.

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!

Nice article about the "catch and release" policy for non-Mexican immigrants (many of whom are South/Central American) in the Sunday paper. Basically an open invitation to come in illegally - the Border Patrol or Customs will "arrest" you, then release you on bail, then you just don't show up for your court date and nobody tries to find you.
Since you're not just going back over the border, you're harder to deport. Mexico absolutely won't take you and the US doesn't have any detention facilities (currently) to hold any of these illegal immigrants. Plus it costs $35K/yearly to house them(!).
Once non-Mexican immigrants found out about this, they really ramped up their efforts to visit and not look back, shall we say.

Oh and the whole idea of dangerous criminals being interwoven with the immigration issue is a red herring. We can't even track the criminals that fled from Katrina. Maybe we should start there.

Might get some blips in this poll soon:

http://www.pollingreport.com/immigration.htm

I would think this would only be popular with the militia type paramilitary male who gets off on this sort of thing, aka his "base"

Maybe the National Guard should be helping out in the NE states who have the worst flooding in decades & dams that could break

Hello from the Personal Democracy Forum. Listening to a panel discussion with Chris Deleo, Josh Marshall, Chris Nolan (spoton.com), David Sifry (CEO of Technorati) and Ben Smith (blogger with NY Daily News).

They've had some good points but nothing that we haven't already done at DCP.

I'll check in later -- I haven't found Casey and Dick yet.

Many clues in this Wall Street Journal article:

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114764954457552490-rXn

Republicans Seek to Revive Their Activists: Amid Bush's Low Ratings,Party's Midterm Plan Focuses On Court Nominees, Social Issues

President Bush's low approval ratings are prompting the White House and Capitol Hill Republicans to design a midterm strategy aimed at an unlikely set of voters: their own party activists.

- Senate is moving on two long-blocked judicial nominees
- Bush is expected to send nearly two dozen more
- votes coming on social issues crucial to conservatives
- Rove to the American Enterprise Institute today w/plan
- Bush with tough immigration speech today

The goal is to galvanize fiscal and social conservatives and get them to vote in November instead of sitting out the elections because of mounting frustration over government spending,

- Bush tax cuts: to rehabilitation relations with fiscal cons
- In 2 days, Bush has signing ceremony on WH Lawn
- Grover Norquist handles this part & will make Bush veto
a spending bill, his lst veto ever

- Plan to deliver conservatives their 3rd branch - the judicial
- Confirm more conservative judges in smaller federal courts
- take focus off ethics scandals and spying scandal
- watch for Brent Kavanaugh, Terrence Boyle
- spokesman of group that focusses on getting more conservative judges says "The values voters, who care about judges, are the people who gave the president Ohio."

- in June, constitutional amendment banning gay marriage
- bill on stem cell research
- antiflag burning amendment
- in summer, internet gambling
- prohibig taking woman out of state for abortion

Other nefarious schemes coming up:
- drill in ANWR not $100 rebate plan
- immigration hot button - build a fence, more penalties
(kind of like in WW2 era, for Germans who harbored Jews)

See Cheney's handwriting here:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/cheney-notes/

From Az Republic LTE...
GOP partying at the pump

May. 15, 2006 12:00 AM

I finally figured out what GOP stands for: Gas and Oil Profiteers.

Now doesn't that insight make you want to think twice the next time you want to vote for their "party"? -

-------------------------------------------
Benson on Hayden..
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/benson/

Janet is kicking ass in Az

It's GOP lawmakers setting the records

May. 15, 2006 12:00 AM

Let's tell it like it is: Gov. Janet Napolitano isn't approaching a veto record ("GOP anxious as governor's vetoes pile up," Republic, Monday).

It's the Republican-controlled Legislature that's approaching a record for passing arrogant, agenda-driven legislation that they know the governor won't sign.

Every bill the Legislature passes is a calculated entry in this fall's gubernatorial campaign.

So don't pile on the governor. Put the blame where it lies, with the Arizona Senate and House.

They're the ones wasting our time and money with their self-absorbed political games.

Posted by: DiAnne at May 15, 2006 10:16 AM

Gay marriage ... internet gambling ... flag burning ... is that the best they can come up with? What about the REAL issues ... war and health care and feeding the poor? Seriously, when was the last time you saw an American flag torched in this country? Grrr.

Dwahzon,

Can't wait for the updates.

About to break on Raw Story

TOP FED SOURCE SAYS US TAPPING
ABC NEWS, NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST: DEVELOPING....

On Raw Story I also see that Iraqi Ayatolla lifts Fatwa on gays & Saudis say men can continue to sell lingerie ..

..the religious right have a long way to go if they think they can establish a Christian Taleban in US .. it's not even working in the middle east consistently

.. I did read that 20,000 or so zealous fundie youth descended on San Francisco, den of iniquity

Desperate Republicans Chase the Black Vote

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1774371,00.html?gusrc=rss

Great time to send out the Guards, eh?

(from Center for American Progress)

SHORTAGES: Along with repeated deployments in "Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots around the world," the Army National Guard must also deal with the problem of equipment shortages. "Commanders have complained that the Pentagon is slow to replace trucks, weapons, and aircraft that are damaged or destroyed in combat." A Government Accountability Office report found that the equipment needs of Guard troops deploying abroad "has degraded the equipment inventory of the Guard’s nondeployed units and threatens the Guard’s ability to prepare forces for future missions at home and overseas." The National Guard Bureau estimated that "nondeployed units had only about 34 percent of their essential warfighting equipment as of July 2005," and the Army National Guard "reported that it had less than 5 percent of the required amount or a quantity of fewer than 5 each of more than 220 critical items. Among these 220 high-demand items were generators, trucks, and radios, which could also be useful for domestic missions." In response to these equipment shortages, governors from all 50 states called for the White House to better equip the National Guard so they can "carry out their homeland security and domestic disaster duties."

MISSED RECRUITING GOALS: In April, both the Army Reserve and Army National Guard missed their recruiting goals "amid persistent concern among potential recruits over the Iraq war." The Army Reserve "missed its April goal by 17 percent - getting 2,164 recruits compared to a target of 2,611" and is "5 percent behind its year-to-date goal." The Army National Guard "missed its April recruiting goal by 10 percent," but is still on target to reach its yearly goal. Despite last month's low recruitment figures, the Army National Guard "is running out of money to pay recruiting bonuses." "Our biggest concern is, honestly, we’re getting budget-cut enormously," said Lt. Col. Mike Jones, who helps run the Guard's recruitment efforts. "We run out of bonus money on the 31st of May."

HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHING: With hurricane season quickly approaching, the National Guard will have "more troops at home than last year but with less equipment to handle emergencies."

BTW DW, can you do me a huge favor? Actually any of you out there that can help...

If you just get bored today look up a set of new laws/regs called JCON regarding homeland security on our southern border.

If you will remember I predicted a year and a half ago he would amass troops on our borders and invade south. Now that he has militarized the Port of Orleans and bult the 'immigration crisis facilities' he has almost put it all into place. It was these jcon laws that made me believe it was being planned then.

The JCON laws I need you too look up though because this is how he will be implementing what Posse Comatatis already ruled illegal.

The refrences I used before have been removed and I keep running into a solid wall of legal jargon.Honestly I think I have run into a black hole online and all im getting is gov sites telling me what a happy happy happy nation we are.

If anyone can sort through it, please do and let us know what you find. We have to stop him from putting those troops on that border.

He is moving to take all of the Americas. The Ultimate War Prize that she is.

DW,

I am home. Sick child and spouse had to be in meetings this morning (when child was supposed to be in school, according to the plan).

Hello again from the Personal Democracy Forum. The connection here is somewhat sketchy and very slow so I won't be able to post alot. We're now listening to Eliot Spitzer talking about how much more expensive broadband is in NY than it is in China, Korea, Brazil, etc.

He's a very brisk speaker.

China's maintaing a broadband penetration rate above 50% in their rural areas. Far more than upstate NY and still much better than the NYC metro area.

Eliot starting initiative for broadband access to every New Yorker. It's not a luxury, it's a necessity.

Universal broadband access $500 billion over the next five years in increased profit. And cost over $1 trillion in losses over the next 10 years if we don't pursue it.

He talks so fast -- I'm having trouble keeping up. His speech will be available on the pajamasmedia.com site as a podcast according to the person who introduced him.

Still haven't found Casey or Dick... Dick hasn't checked in yet.

Casey, I said hi to Josh Marshall on your behalf and he says 'Hi back'. His face brightened up and he looked around when I mentioned your name.

Sorry to hear about sick child... take care of both of you.

Dwahzon
That's interesting though - he talks fast (Spitzer), you write fast.
I also just read that China is starting it's own form of Wikipedia, after being not allowed to do so until now.

Amazing article about NSA spy operation

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,416136,00.html

I'm here to apologize to Dick... evidently the woman at the registration table was mistaken about Dick not picking up his name tag!

He was here... just hadn't run into him yet but now I have. He's greeting all his old friends.

Elizabeth Edwards is next. I'll let you know what I can as long as my battery lasts.

Posted by: dwahzon at May 15, 2006 12:49 PM

Jump start my heart.

Actually Elizabeth is delayed so I'm now in a panel discussion with Peter Daou, Ari Rabin-Havt, Mike Krempasky, Roger Simon, Joe Trippi, moderated by Chris Rabb of Afro-Netizen. The session title is How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Blogosphere.

So far it's a little bit more of a love-fest between the left-leaning and right-leaning panel members than I would have anticipated.

Great work DW. I am thoroughly bummed about missing you, Dick, Josh and Elizabeth.

Holding down the fort here in the meantime. Also, the wireless is better in the auditorium on right side towards the back as you face the stage.

Do they have a screen up behind the speakers so you can have a backchannel discussion while they are speaking? I thought that was quite a bit of fun.

I am always impressed by Spitzer and the depth of his knowledge on such a range of issues. He's going to be a great governor for New York.

Thanks for the report, Dwahzon!

Bert sends this re Mel Gibson dissing Bush!

Film star and director Mel Gibson has launched a scathing attack on US President George W Bush, comparing his leadership to the barbaric rulers of the Mayan civilisation in his new film Apocalypto.

The epic, due for release later this year, captures the decline of the Maya kingdom and the slaughter of thousands of inhabitants as human sacrifices in a bid to save the nation from collapsing.

Gibson reveals he used present day American politics as an inspiration, claiming the government callously plays on the nation's insecurities to maintain power.

He tells British film magazine Hotdog, "The fear-mongering we depict in the film reminds me of President Bush and his guys"

(from Armando)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/5/15/10345/9941

Also heard from a friend who knows Jason Leopold from the Enron scandal & had 3 friends who lost jobs (as did he) trying to bring that scandal to light. Let me just tell you that they are chilling champagne, & I hope they turn out to be right (that Rove will indeed be indicted).

Another interesting angle:
Bush Administration Won't Comment on NSA Logs
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051506J.shtml
When he was asked about the National Security Agency's controversial domestic surveillance program last Monday, US intelligence chief John D. Negroponte objected to the question and said the government was "ABSOLUTELY NOT" monitoring domestic calls without warrants.

Hello to DW and Dick in NYC--please say hello to Peter Daou and Ari Rabin-Havt!

This just in from Code Pink:

U.S. WOMEN PRINT PEACE MESSAGE IN IRAQI DAILIES:
Ad calling for ending the occupation run today in major Iraqi newspapers

On the heels of a Mother¹s Day weekend marked by a 24-hour anti-war vigil at the White House, CODEPINK: Women for Peace took out full-page ads in major Iraqi newspapers today calling on Americans and Iraqis to come together to end the occupation of Iraq.

"A strong majority of U.S. women want to see the U.S. troops home in 2006. And countless mothers in Iraq have little to celebrate, as their families are torn apart by this violent occupation. In the wake of Mother¹s Day in the United States, we are reaching out to the Iraqi people, especially the mothers, to show our sorrow for all the bloodshed and our determination to end the occupation of their country," says Medea Benjamin, cofounder of CODEPINK, the group sponsoring the ads.

The full-page ad was placed in eight major newspapers that represent the Sunni, Shia and Kurdish communities, including As-Sabah, Al-Jadeed, Ash-Shahed, and Al-Barlaman. Two major newspapers, Azzaman and the U.S.-supported As-Sabah, refused to run the ad. The ad calls on Americans and Iraqis to work together to stop the bloodshed and bring the US troops home. "We have seen in poll after poll that the majority of Americans and Iraqis want the US troops to return home. Even the majority of US troops (72%) think they should return by the end of this year. It is time for the politicians in both countries to listen to us, the people," the ad says. The ad is linked to a website, in Arabic, where Iraqis can sign a petition and communicate directly with Americans, either by internet or through the mail. To view the ad and the website, go to http://www.esteklal.org.

The ads are paid for by hundreds of CODEPINK supporters from around the country, including Annie Nelson, wife of renowned singer/songwriter Willie Nelson. "I have been heartbroken by all the death and destruction from this war in Iraq, and I am delighted on Mother's Day to have a way to extend my hand in friendship to Iraqi mothers and their families,² says Mrs. Nelson, who will also be joining the vigil in Washington DC.

The ads follow a weekend 24-hour vigil at the White House that included peace mom Cindy Sheehan, actress Susan Sarandon, comedian Dick Gregory, doctor/clown Patch Adams, and women from Iraq and Iran. The vigil included a concert, strategy workshops on grassroots organizing and national campaigns, an interfaith gathering, and writing and reading letters to Laura Bush urging her to pressure her husband to end the war. For more information, see http://www.codepinkalert.org.

###

Big Oil Walking Away with $700 Million in Taxpayer Money Every Year

Senator John Kerry – Rep. Jim McDermott Release New Data

New revenue data from the independent congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, JCT, requested by Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), show a gusher of subsidies- as much as $700 million every year- is flowing to oil and natural gas companies at the expense of U.S. taxpayers, because of an unearned and necessary windfall given away by the Republican majority. The price tag exceeds $5 billion over ten years – at least $1.4 billion more than previous estimates.

Rep. Jim McDermott said: “Big Oil is winning a multi-million dollar lottery every day of the week, every day of the year, because the game has been rigged by a Republican Congress and President. Big Oil does not deserve the multi-billion dollar tax subsidy, but Republicans gave it to them, anyway.”

“It’s clear every time people fill up at the pump that the Bush energy policy is not working. The fact that American taxpayers have to give away more money to oil companies as their profits increase is absurd – it’s like a kick in the stomach on top of a $60 tank of gas,” said John Kerry.

Adding insult to injury, the lawmakers pointed out that the windfall tax subsidy actually increases as oil and gas prices increase.

In 2004, Congress sought to protect U.S. manufacturers who export from possible WTO sanctions over a broad, international trade dispute. To do this, Congress first repealed a complex tax provision called the FSC/ETI regime. Then, to shield U.S. companies who exported under FSC/ETI from a sudden, massive tax increase, Congress passed a corporate tax bill which gradually reduced taxes over several years, and was intended to help domestic manufacturers struggling to sell their products overseas. FSC/ETI regime never applied to Big Oil; in fact, Congress explicitly precluded oil company exports from the FSC/ETI benefit. However, when a new law was passed, Republicans made sure Big Oil got a break they didn’t earn, deserve, or need.

The fix for Big Oil came within the 2004 corporate tax bill that Republicans sold as the JOBS Act.

“Republicans did a job in that bill alright,” McDermott said, “of diverting the attention of the American people by bold facing the name and boldly rewarding Big Oil, instead.”

“It’s time we stop multi-billion dollar giveaways, financed by the American people, to the richest companies in America” added Kerry.

Rep. McDermott introduced H.R. 5218 in the House and Senator Kerry introduced S. 2672 in the Senate to stop the needless flow of U.S. taxpayer money out of the U.S. Treasury and into the profit statements of Big Oil. Action on these bills is pending in both chambers.

Sounds like the conference is going well, dw. Glad to know they're still pushing despite the was-he or was he not indicted issue.

A dam may break in New England, so send the Guards to Arizona where it's dry .. makes alot of sense ..

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/05/14/flooding.scenes.ap/

Well, it's not like there was anyone else around when Katrina hit.

They justlike to move people around.

Sparrow

Right - for very expensive photo ops.

Elizabeth is on stage now and just delivered an impassioned defense of net-neutrality and how critical it is in our society.

She talked about how much time she spends on the net and the blogs and it's a lot. She said most of the day till 11 pm at night apart from her children and her other responsibilities.

They just opened up the floor for questions from the audience.

Someone asking about funding for projects which address the digital divide. There are 29 million people per this speaker not connected in anyway to the internet. Figure sounds a little low. Want to know what to say to Congress.

Learning Labs in community technology centers open until 10 pm in NC help keep kids occupied during the time period (3-7 pm) that has the highest rate of juvenile crime.

Another question on Net Neutrality...
She's saying that the money and special interests are winning out on this one. Talking about how they have to get the special interest money out of politics.

Turds of wisdom, from the Rovinator...

The presidential adviser, widely credited with securing Bush's win in 2000 and re-election in 2004, was questioned today about public opinion polls that show the president's plunging approval ratings. A recent AP-Ipsos poll showed Bush approval at 33 percent. Other national polls put it around 30 percent.

"Well, you know, it's interesting, because consumer confidence is relatively high. In fact, it is much higher than the average of the last 40 years," said Rove, who argued that typically should lead to a gain of congressional seats for Republicans in November's midterm elections.

"Their personal circumstances are good. They're feeling good about where they are. They don't like gas prices. Who likes having to pay more at the pump? But they do feel that overall the economy is good for them, that the prospects for their family in the near term and for the future are good," Rove said of Americans.

"They're worried about the long haul. They've heard about the problems with Social Security. They're worried about globalization. But they're confident about where they are right now and where they find themselves," he added.

Rove accused the news media of being too fixated on polls.

"I love this mania which has swept through American media today which substitutes polls for coverage of substance," he said.

"There's, I'm sure, going to be a special Betty Ford addiction for those that are addicted to regular poll numbers, but you'll work your way through it," he said, referring to the former first lady's clinic for treating substance abuse.

Despite low approval ratings, "I'm sanguine," Rove said. "I know our own polls."

He said that Bush's likeability, his personal approval ratings, were in the 60s in some polls. "Job approval is lower. And what that says to me is that people like him, they respect him, he's somebody they feel a connection with, but they're just sour right now on the war. And that's the way it's going to be."

more...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/15/rove.ap/index.html

This is the breaking news Christy said was coming from Raw Story, only it's from the Chicago Tribune & other sources now.

"We know who you're calling" says the government, to ABC News.

"Get new cellphones."

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2006/05/govt_source_tel.html

I wonder if Elizabeth Edwards eats microwave popcorn at the computer?

Bob Fertik asking a question of Elizabeth - asking her about the tremendous gap between the people on the ground and Washington political leaders on the subject of impeachment. She's saying that she thought that impeachment was very bad for the country -- that it focused everyone on impeachment and recalling people and took tremendous energy and time away from real problems. It sucked so much time and energy away in DC that the business of the nation didn't get done.

She's not saying anything about whether or not it's deserved or that he shouldn't be president. She then reminded us that she worked very hard to make sure that he wasn't president.

And now it's over and Markos is outside the auditorium signing books. And Bill in DC has my copy.... darn.

Well, the battery is about gone so this will be it for awhile unless I can find a plug.

Hey All,

Just a side note, but please read through this article:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/content/articles/060522on_onlineonly01

hi from the Apple Store - I'm buying an iPod holder so I can have music any time!!

Keep up the good work!!

Found a plug during the last breakout session so I can blog a little more.

Matt Bai of the NY Times magazine is moderating,
Panel members are:

Patrick Ruffini, RNC

Joe Rospars, just left the DNC to go to Blue something

Markos (I talked to him earlier during his book signing time)

and Jonathan Garthwaite of townhall.com

This is being billed as the main event in boxing terms.

So far it's Patrick Ruffini saying that blogs were the big thing in 2004 and he's tired of talking about them. Markos just said that he agrees with Patrick and we should savor the moment because it won't happen much anymore.

Flickr and del.ici.ous are the next big things -- that and SMS-text messaging and youtube.com... around only 5 months and it's already so ingrained in the political environment.

Boring stuff from Jonathan Garthwaite -- more boring stuff from Jonathan ... talked about how long Peggy Noonan's comment about how Repubs should lose in 2006 to get them focused for 2008.

Markos has been invited to talk about YearlyKos.

Question is 'is the liberal blogosphere another interest group that the Democrats have to worry about?'

Answer: yeah the blogosphere is a special interest group in the same way that rank and file voters are a special interest group.

Looking for democrats who haven't been beaten down by the right wing noise machine.

Already have more candidates running for the House than any party has done before -- the count is 423, will be 427 for the House. The old record was 419 for the Republicans in 1994.

Now Jonathan speaks up:

Jonathan Garthwaite and townhall.com have some sort of new arrangement with talkradio where they'll being working more closely together. Talking about how they're going to coordinate for tonight after the president's speech.

Hi from Nevada. Hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day.

My prediction is that Bush's poll numbers can and will go lower.

Rove can be sanguine all he wants. Bush will go down as the worst President ever.

JK's address today at EMerson College commencement:

President Liebergott, Members of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Overseers, Robert Steele, faculty and staff, parents, and of course the great graduating Class of 2006, thank you.

Before I begin I have an announcement—will the student who owns the brand new cherry red Corvette in the parking lot, with the big ribbon on it, the one with the license plate that reads “Emerson 2006”…your lights aren’t on. I just want to tell your parents to send me a campaign check, they can afford it.

President Liebergott asked me if I wanted some music played as I was introduced. I said no. Although 2 years ago I did spend $200 million hoping just once to hear hail to the chief.

It really is an honor for me to be here. I heard you had a great choice of commencement speakers. I was told you wanted a wealthy guy with a full head of hair who is all over T.V. and who desperately wants to be president. But Donald Trump wasn’t available.

So instead you got me. I want you to know, running for president wasn’t pressure—trying to decide on the theme of this commencement address was pressure. On one hand I thought about giving an hour 20 minute speech on foreign policy, global warming, third world debt and the importance of public service. Then on the other hand, I thought if I keep this to 10 minutes we’d all have a lot more time to have a beer together.

Hour 20 versus 10 minutes. Hour 20…10 minutes and a beer. I'll tell you what, let's go with the short one. And if I see any of you opening up a red bull midway through, I’ll finish even sooner.

To start off, let's take a moment right now and give a big hand to your parents.

You know, your parents remember that times were different when we graduated. The good news -- we had a guaranteed job plan for immediate full time work after college. The bad news--it was called the draft.

But that was then and this is now and today we celebrate the fact you just finished 4 years at a great school. Each of you grew a lot—and I don’t mean the freshman 15. You grew as you learned about yourselves, and about life. You no doubt enjoyed the fact that college is a time to ponder the great questions of the universe, questions that there are no answers to—why are we here? What will the future be like? And why in the world does Heather Locklear date David Spade?

And I know your parents would be pleased to know you spend your time pondering the big questions. Like, is Tom Cruise’s career over? And why can a 10 year old little leaguer catch a fly ball but Manny Ramirez can't?

What impresses me is that not only have you grown but the school is growing. Emerson is building a new gym to open up next fall. But then again, what else would you expect from a football factory?

Someone told me you take special pride in the fact you are the Emerson Lions. How many of you have stopped to think how the average lion spends its day? It spends 22 hours napping and the other 2 hours looking for food. Which pretty much sounds like the average frat brother at Alpha Pi Theta.

You know, it occurred to me that I have never had so much power as a Senator. I’m all that stands between you and your degree.

So here you are, just minutes away from that golden moment and I suppose it’s an appropriate time to ask yourselves, what has Emerson given you?

Well, in your four years here many of you have learned about honesty, loyalty, ethics and caring. You will become your parents pride and joy. A few have lost your bearings, become cynical and lost your moral compass. You will become political consultants

Which is a opportunity for me to bring you the latest update on what is going on in Washington DC…

--the front page is filled with allegations that CIA officials were partying at the Watergate with gambling, liquor and women. Just think, they could be charged with impersonating a Member of Congress.

--Finally, the Bush Administration has an exit strategy. 50 more members of the White House staff have exited their jobs

--I know you’ll be pleased we are continuing the much needed investigation into the election fraud and illegal voting. Hopefully, never again will we see what happened to Chris on American Idol

Tonight the president gives a major speech on immigration. That’s what I love about Washington—a president who has difficulty speaking English complaining about people who have difficulty speaking English.

So, now that you’re graduating, what’s next?

Well, some of you will leave here and become successful writers. Especially if you learn to copy, paste and plagiarize like Harvard sophomores.

Some of you will become teachers. Some soldiers. Some lawyers or doctors. And one of you could end up working for the most powerful person in the free world. Oprah.

Everyone knows Emerson's great reputation in communications, and there are so many fields communication majors can go into—theater, TV, film…or you can just find fulltime work at the NSA tapping phones.

And for those of you who want to be journalists, you really do have a choice. The very top, the very brightest, the A students will go to the New York Times and the Washington Post. The B and C students, will start on smaller papers and work their way up. But the D and F students who are really attractive, you’re gonna make millions in TV news.

As every cliché in the world reminds you, today is a commencement, a time you leave here and take a step toward your future. What will tomorrow bring, what will life be like 10 years from now?

Just think, the world has changed so much in your 4 years here. Four years ago the longest jinx in Boston was the Red Sox, now it's Democratic presidential candidates.

But even without a crystal ball, there are certain things I am absolutely sure of.

First, in the year 2016, the average member of Congress will serve 12 years. Actually 10-15 depending on the sentencing judge.

In 2016 we will still face the same tirades from the world’s longest reigning dictator as he presides over the collapse of a failed empire. But this is neither the time nor place to talk about George Steinbrenner.

Gold will cost $725 an ounce. So will oil. And both will still be cheaper than Starbucks coffee.

Sadly in 2016 the price of gas will continue to skyrocket. And that means Anna Nicole Smith will be trying to marry Texaco dealers.

In 2016 there were still be too many guns on the street. In fact there will still be too many guns in the hands of Dick Cheney. Actually, that's the only good news to come out of Washington, DC -- it's been two months now and the vice president hasn't shot anyone.

But I digress. In ten years, young people will be electing their own candidates. I have 3 words for people who think this is a good idea—President Jessica Simpson.

In 2016 I will be retired from the Senate. Ted Kennedy will be promising just 3 more terms.

And finally, one thing for sure, in 2016, you will all still be paying off student loans.

So we've touched on your career options, and we've looked into the future which means there is only one thing left for me to do. It is to carry out the most important duty of a commencement speaker. It’s to give you a little practical advice for the life you're about to begin. Because to be honest, college is good for a lot of things but in the end you don’t get the real advice you need to prosper. So here they are—a few rules for succeeding in life.

Rule #1…anyone can grow up and be president. That’s what I keep telling myself every night.

Remember always, peace is better than war, try to avoid fighting and never ever ever get into an argument with a guy nicknamed Killer, Lefty or Paulie Walnuts.

Here’s the key to making real money. Hold on 17, hit on 16 and split aces eights and nines. Or, if that fails, take my advice -- marry up.

Stop talking when the audience is snoring. If only I had remembered this in 2004

Remember the 12 3 rule: never propose marriage after 12 beers or after 3 a.m. Look what happened to Brittney Spears.

---and never believe the evidence from the CIA.

That’s it, that’s all you need to succeed in life.

OK, we've had some fun -- or at least I have.

You're about to become Emerson graduates, you don't need someone to tell you how to be successful. But the truth is, there is something else you need to do to make our democracy successful, to renew the best our system of self governing has to offer.

We need a whole lot more good citizens.

There's a lot that's broken in Washington today. And it's good that we can laugh about it. But it's much more important that we fix it. That's where plain and simple, tried and true citizenship comes in.

You want to fix Washington? Speak out.

It sounds old fashioned, but it's true. The bedrock of America’s greatest advances—the foundation of all we take for granted today -- was formed not by cheering on things as they were, but by taking them on and demanding change. No wonder Thomas Jefferson himself said that "dissent is the highest form of patriotism."

I know that the reason many people aren't interested in politics today is because politicians aren't saying anything very interesting.

But if you want to change that, speak out -- speak out and make your issues the voting issues of this nation.

You might say, "who's he kidding? We can't do that." But I remember when you couldn’t even mention environmental issues without a snicker. But then in the 70’s people got tired of seeing the Cuyahoga River catch on fire from all the chemicals. So one day millions of Americans marched. Politicians had no choice but to take notice. Twelve Congressmen were dubbed the Dirty Dozen, and soon after seven were kicked out of office. The floodgates were opened. We got the Clean Air Act, The Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water. We created the EPA. The quality of life improved because concerned citizens made their issues matter in elections.

So it's up to you now to speak out if you want to restore a politics of big ideas, not small-minded attacks.

Speak out if you’re tired of seeing America divided into red states and blue states, because you know we can be one America -- red, white, and blue.

The job of citizens is to speak out so loudly that Washington has no choice but to start responding to the real needs and the real issues of each and every one of you.

I know in the age we live in this isn't easy. You'll meet resistance. You'll find plenty of people who think you should just keep your mouths shut or that by speaking out you're somehow less than patriotic. But that's not really new either. When we protested the war in Vietnam some would weigh in against us saying: “My country right or wrong.” Our response was simple: “Yes, my country right or wrong. When right, keep it right and when wrong, make it right.”

Graduates of the Class of 2006, that's the mission of citzens again today – to get off our rear ends – go out – and make it right today. And I know that's exactly what you can and will do.

Congratulations -- and God Bless.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060515/ap_on_go_pr_wh/rove
Rove Said Unfazed by Chance of Charges

??? If he's already been served with papers (per TO's weekend news), Lamestream Media certainly is being quiet about it - or else they're going to be the last to officially know???

FOCUS | Bush to Deploy Guard at Border
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051506Z.shtml
President Bush tried to ease the worries of his Mexican counterpart yesterday as he prepared for a nationally televised address tonight unveiling a plan to send thousands of National Guard troops to help seal the nation's southern border against illegal immigrants.
Disclaimer at the top of the page for this story:
Editor's Comment: With revelations of hand-written notes by Vice President Dick Cheney detailing his role in the outing of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame already being covered by the US Mainstream Media (MSM), and the indictment of Karl Rove still too hot for the MSM to touch, the timing of this announcement by George W. Bush does raise questions. Critics of the administration are already charging that Bush is using US military action to divert MSM press coverage and public attention away from the scandals rocking the White House. - ma/TO

For an update on the Rover indictment, here's the latest from a DU thread that quotes Jason Leopold, the author of t r u t h o u t story

Jason Leopold update on Rove Indictment Story
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2627636

You guys probably already know about moms..vote at 18

and Mainstreet moms. But here's the link to pass

javascript:ol('http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key%3d123397151%26url_num%3d6%26url%3dhttp://www.themmob.org/voteat18/voteat18.html');

Madame D

Thanks for the update from Jason Leopold.

From William Rivers Pitt at TRUTHOUT:

How Accurate Was the 'Rove Indicted' Story?

On Saturday afternoon, we ran a breaking story titled, "Karl Rove Indicted on Charges of Perjury, Lying to Investigators." We assumed that we were well ahead of the mainstream media and that we would be subsequently questioned. Right on both counts.

What everyone is asking right now is how accurate is the story? Has Rove in fact been indicted? The story is accurate, and Karl Rove's attorneys have been served with an indictment.

In short, we had two sources close to the Fitzgerald investigation who were explicit about the information that we published, and a former high-ranking state department official who reported communication with a source who had "direct knowledge" of the meeting at Patton Boggs. In both instances, substantial detail was provided and matched.

We had confirmation. We ran the story.

This too:

William Rivers Pitt | Humpty-Dumpty Republicans
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051506Y.shtml
William Rivers Pitt writes on Bush's upcoming speech tonight: "The main reason for the delivery of this speech, and for the deployment of Guard troops to the Rio Grande, has to do with GOP inside baseball and the LOOMING MIDTERM ELECTIONS. The powerful Republican coalition between movement conservatives and business conservatives has shown significant signs of fraying lately, and the issue of immigration is at the heart of the matter."

Will Major Media Stop Hiding Electronic Election Fraud?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051506A.shtml
The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post finally ran coverage of problems with electronic voting machines this week. The scandals surrounding computer fraud and financial illegalities at Diebold and other electronic voting machine companies have become too big and blatant for even the bought, docile, mainstream media to ignore. With 99% of Fox viewers mistakenly believing that the election was "legitimate," only the constant propaganda of Rupert Murdoch's disinformation campaign at Fox stands in the way of a majority of Americans coming to grips with the facts that two consecutive elections have been stolen.

Joshua Holland | Groundhog Day in Iraq
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051506B.shtml
Joshua Holland writes, "The war's advocates have no one to blame but themselves; we are in Iraq because of their delusion that raw military power can solve even the most complex transnational issues. They're incapable of grasping the importance of real moral legitimacy in modern warfare. Without that legitimacy, even the most powerful military in the world is likely to get dragged into a quagmire and, when it does, the public's weariness is entirely predictable."

NSA Thwarts Whistleblower
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051506C.shtml
Russell Tice worked for the National Security Agency as an intelligence analyst and capabilities officer. He has intimate knowledge of the innermost workings of the intelligence community, and wants to tell Congress about an NSA program that, he says, is unconstitutional and possibly criminal. He is gagged, however, by the non-disclosure agreement he signed before becoming privy to top-secret government activities.

On Topic, For Once

A Real Solution for Border Security:
Kerry Amendment Would Add 1,000 New Border Patrol Agents,
Says National Guard Stretched in Iraq and Afghanistan

Tomorrow John Kerry will offer an amendment to the Immigration Reform Bill to add 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents -- bringing the total up to 3,000 new agents this year – plus add an additional 100 helicopters and 250 power boats to secure America’s borders.

“We know we need a comprehensive answer to immigration that includes tightening border security, but putting another burden on the backs of men and women who are serving their second tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan isn’t the right answer,” said John Kerry. “The right answer is to listen to the 9/11 Commission and put the border patrol agents we need right there on the border.”

John Kerry’s Rapid Response Amendment would allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to deploy up to 1,000 additional border patrol agents if the governor of a border state declares an international border security emergency and requests additional agents. In addition to the at least 100 additional helicopters and 250 power boats, as well as training for their use, it requires one police-type vehicle per every three border patrol agents and requires that each vehicle have a portable computer. It also requires that all agents have a two-way, clear and encrypted radio, a GPS device, night vision equipment when applicable, high quality body armor, reliable and effective weapons, and uniforms appropriate for climate conditions.

Kerry’s amendment is similar to legislation offered in the House by Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas), who is a former Border Patrol agent, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.

Excellent column by Ari Berman entitled "The New Kerry", as reprinted today by CBSNews.Com from its original source in 'The Nation':

http://tinyurl.com/hfayr

see johnny run,
Otter

Otter
Good article!

Even though I won't be watching tonight, I'm dreading the Bush speech & brouhaha that goes with it.

__________________

Francisco Loureiro, who runs a migrant shelter in Nogales, across the border from Nogales, Ariz., criticized the plan as an "aggressive action more than anything because the migrant is not a criminal or a terrorist."

"His only objective is to work ... and a government that supposedly lobbies for world peace is now acting against defenseless migrants who are helping to fill a need for employers in the U.S," he said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051501064.html

_____________________

A spokesman for the Orange County-based Minuteman Project said 8,000 troops isn't nearly enough to do the job.
"Having 8,000 people on the southern border is ineffective," Minuteman spokesman Tim Bueler said Monday morning. "We put 10,000 people in the field in April and it wasn't nearly enough."

Bueler said the Minuteman would like to see a massive troop presence not only along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico, but also all along the border with Canada. "Canada has a large Muslim population and we're concerned about people with ties to al-Qaida coming into the U.S. from there," he said.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/05/15/news/top_stories/16_44_395_13_06.txt

DiAnne, I don't know why you keep going on about National Guard members not being in the Northeast to handle the floods. They are.

And Karen, thanks for that commencement speech. I don't know who JK got for his writers but why the heck weren't they around in 2004???? Someone give them a raise and keep them on staff. That's the sort of engaging palatable-with-a-bite talk we need.

Check out this civil disobedience.

http://www.sutcliffelogan.com/AtlantaNewsUnfiltered/Jail-Bush-Cheney-Airplane_SweetAuburnFestivalAtlanta40.htm

Veritas
I know - I noticed that. Hope there will be enough to go around.
Also partly a rhetorical advice. "keep going on about" - it wasn't intended to be.

I know David Wade has continued to write for John Kerry but is not the only one.

It could be as the writer of the piece says and John Kerry himself has focussed more, has more clarity - after what has happened.

Sometimes I try to listen more objectively to Bush speeches (on radio) or listen at all, & can detect several writers. Usually he'll take things from prior speeches writtern by one person & then someone else has adden in new stuff that has a different "voice."
It's strange.

Veritas
Also has Bush said much about the floods in the NE? Will he address it tonight if the topic has to do with National Guards? Or are deluges of water still a bit uncomfortable to him?

This will be the lst time in FIVE YEARS Bush has gone on tv nationally at prime time. It's "tough talk," because it worked after 9/11 & he's desperate. His activist base is eroding. It's a trick. Big deal. Some guards will take over some desk jobs so some border patrol guards can be trained. He'll manage to find a way to make it sound more macho than that, & satisfy the blood lust of his militaristic fans. How is he going to convince the Governors of CA & AZ, who disagree? & who is his guest worker program sucking up to? Business, & he'll try to meld it with whatever bill is coming out of the Senate anyway, lessen the shock. It's about time he tried to address the issue at all but can't imagine how he's going to make things any clearer, no matter who writes his speech..

from Fox, who is interviewing Minutemen nonstop on all media

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said if Bush can push through an immigration reform bill that avoids amnesty but tightens the borders, it could go a long way toward improving the president's sagging poll numbers.

"I think that the president, by doing the things that resonate with the American people, could rebound very quickly. I've seen presidents come back dramatically when people say they go the message, now they're doing the things I want," Gingrich told FOX News.

Gingrich is a doink.

Always has been. Nothing's changed.

same as he ever was,
Otter

Desperate Republicans Chase the Black Vote

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1774371,00.html?gusrc=rss

Posted by: DiAnne at May 15, 2006 11:10 AM

If the black community were an idiotic one-issue voting bloc, like Little Havana or Koreatown, then pushing social conservatism will work.

But the black community I know is more complicated, and smarter, than that. W is doing NOTHING to, for example, address the inner city unemployment, which his immigration policies have only worsened. And they know.

Bueler said the Minuteman would like to see a massive troop presence not only along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico, but also all along the border with Canada. "Canada has a large Muslim population and we're concerned about people with ties to al-Qaida coming into the U.S. from there," he said.

Posted by: DiAnne at May 15, 2006 06:52 PM

What about the CHRISTIAN terrorists (i.e. Pat Robertson) within the US borders? I would raise armed volunteers against this more immediate, more dangerous threat first.

On The Border
by The Eagles

Cruisin’ down the center of a two way street
Wond’rin’ who is really in the driver’s seat
Mindin’ my bus’ness along comes big brother
Says, ’son, you better get on one side or the other.’

I’m out on the border, I’m walkin’ the line
Don’t you tell me ’bout your law and order
I’m try’n’ to change this water to wine.

After a hard day, I’m safe at home
Foolin’ with my baby on the telephone
Out of nowhere somebody cuts in and
Says, ’hmm, you in some trouble boy, we know where you’re been.’

I’m out on the border
I thought this was a private line
Don’t you tell me ’bout your law and order
I’m try’n’ to change this water to wine

Never mind your name, just give us your number, mm
Never mind your face, just show us your card, mm
And we wanna know whose wing are you under
You better step to the right or we can make it hard

I’m stuck on the border
All I wanted was some peace of mind
Don’t you tell me ’bout your law and order
I’m try’n’ to change this water to wine

On the border
On the border
On the border
On the border
On the border
Leave me be , I’m just walkin’ this line
On the border
On the border
All I wanted was some peace of mind, peace of mind
I’m out on the border
On the border
Can’t you see I’m tryin to change this water to wine
Don’t you tell me ’bout your law and order
Sick and tired of all your law and order
Sick and tired of it

John Kerry on President Bush’s Plan to Put National Guard Troops on the Border

Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry:

“This is a moment when the far right is horribly wrong and leadership is required to set a course for common sense. We need a comprehensive answer to immigration that includes tightening border security, but putting another burden on the backs of the National Guard troops who are serving their second tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan isn’t the right answer. The National Guard which has borne the burden of a broken policy in Iraq shouldn’t have to bear the burden of an incomplete immigration policy. The right answer is to listen to the 9/11 Commission and put the border patrol agents we need right there on the border. It won’t satisfy the right wing, but it’s the right policy.

“That’s why I’m introducing a plan to put an additional 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents on the border next year, plus more 100 helicopters and 250 more power boats to secure our borders.

“We know the problem and we know the solution. Rather than try and rescue his poll numbers, President Bush can rescue good immigration policy from the right wing that’s exploited it, and he can provide presidential leadership that’s humane, realistic and responsible.”

John Kerry’s Rapid Response Amendment

Tomorrow John Kerry will offer an amendment to the Immigration Reform Bill to add 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents – bringing the total up to 3,000 new agents this year – plus add an additional 100 helicopters and 250 power boats to secure America’s borders. Kerry’s amendment would allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to deploy up to 1,000 additional border patrol agents if the governor of a border state declares an international border security emergency and requests additional agents.

Kerry adds support to Feingold's censure measure

WASHINGTON Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold's measure to censure President Bush has gained a third supporter.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry has officially signed on to the bill. He joins fellow Democrats Tom Harkin from Iowa and Barbara Boxer from California as co-sponsors.
It's unclear whether the Judiciary Committee will ever bring up the censure proposal for a vote.

Kerry initially held off on supporting the measure. He said the president should be held accountable but Kerry wanted to make sure a censure was the best way to do it.

Feingold introduced the resolution in March to censure Bush for authorizing domestic eavesdropping and misleading Americans about its legality.

Republican opponents have dismissed the resolution as political grandstanding and say it would only weaken the presidency.

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=4901712

[ /me sees monkey's Eagles and raises him a classic originally penned by a certain W. Guthrie way back in 1949 in response to a plane wreck in which 28 Mexican deportees met a fiery death on their unwelcome way back home... ]

-------

DEPORTEES (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)

The crops are all in and the peaches are rotting
The oranges are piled in their creosote dumps
They're flying you back to the Mexico border
To pay all your money to wade back again

My father's own father, he waded that river
They took all the money he made in his life
My brothers and sisters come working the fruit trees
And they rode the truck till they took down and died

Good-bye to my Juan, good-bye Rosalita
Adios mis amigos, Jesus y Maria
You won't have a name when you ride the big airplane
All they will call you will be "deportees"

Some of us are illegal, and others not wanted
Our work contract's out and we have to move on
But it's six hundred miles to that Mexican border
They chase us like outlaws, like rustlers, like thieves

We died in your hills, we died in your deserts
We died in your valleys and died on your plains
We died 'neath your trees and we died in your bushes
Both sides of the river, we died just the same

Good-bye to my Juan, good-bye Rosalita
Adios mis amigos, Jesus y Maria
You won't have a name when you ride the big airplane
And all they will call you will be "deportees"

A sky plane caught fire over Los Gatos Canyon
Like a fireball of lightning, it shook all our hills
Who are all these friends, all scattered like dry leaves?
The radio said "They are just deportees"

Is this the best way we can grow our big orchards?
Is this the best way we can grow our good fruit?
To fall like dry leaves to rot on our topsoil
And be called by no name except "deportees"?

-------

same as it ever was (redux),
Otter

Please post relevant info about the speach here because unlike you, I'm at a computer lab without the ability to hear the speech.

Thanks.

Great clip!

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/05/15.html#a8302

Wowzers.

Going by that WashPo article and its many embedded quotes from Der Rovhrer, then there's little or no doubt left that he has, in fact, been smoking the purple kool-aid a little too much and a little too often for his brain cells to ever readjust from.

All I am saying (besides "give peace a chance") is that, when the grand jury finally tells KKKarl to "frogmarch!", all that all of us really want to hear is for him to ask, "how high?"

And then to watch the endless cable-snooze reruns of it over and over again while he does exactly that, from now until November.

and that's really not too much to ask now is it,
Otter

Otter
If he is frog-marched and cable runs it over & over, I'll watch tv.
(for that)

When I first heard about Karl's indictment on Saturday night, I was ecstatic. I am still anxious for the news to break, and believe that when it does, Bush's numbers will go even lower.

One has to wonder if this is a sealed indictment?

John Kerry's commencement speech at Emerson today read like a David Letterman stand up routine . Too bad he didn't have that kind of speech writing during the campaign. If he wrote that speech himself, it convinces me that the Washington crowd really doesn't know its ass from a hole in the ground.

Posted by: oncall at May 16, 2006 12:53 AM

My thoughts exactly (although I'd tend more Leno/Jon Stewart/SNL than Letterman~personal preference!). Side-splitting hilarious while still intelligent.
Someone give that speechwriter a raise and keep him/her on staff!!!

OnCall
Still waiting .. (Rove)
Some interesting comments here.
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014833.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4985118.stm

Good selection of reactions on immigration plan (mayors etc)

Politics as entertainment .. I guess that would be distinctly American.

Waiting on the Rove thing is like waiting for the ice to crack. AGONY.

Meanwhile, Dick and dwahzon went to the Personal Democracy Forum yesterday and Albuquerque John still has more to share from his DFA training, so how about we get that irc thing happening again and let's all learn what's new and hip and happening? We can pass the time while we wait for justice to show up (she's LATE) by working for democracy.

'Handmaid's Tale' is becoming reality...

New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to be treated by the health care system -- as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon.

Among other things, this means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control.

While most of these recommendations are well known to women who are pregnant or seeking to get pregnant, experts say it's important that women follow this advice throughout their reproductive lives, because about half of pregnancies are unplanned and so much damage can be done to a fetus between conception and the time the pregnancy is confirmed.

The recommendations aim to "increase public awareness of the importance of preconception health" and emphasize the "importance of managing risk factors prior to pregnancy," said Samuel Posner, co-author of the guidelines and associate director for science in the division of reproductive health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which issued the report.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500875.html

Posted by: madame defarge at May 16, 2006 09:31 AM

Is the asylum next for enforcement of these dictates?

Posted by: karen at May 16, 2006 09:29 AM

Sounds good. Can we make it an earlier time? (Last time I crashed and forgot to wake up in time for it.)

"If the president thinks by taking one step forward with enforcement the House will follow with two steps backwards with amnesty, he's confusing us with the Senate." - Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

Specter strikes NSA deal
By Alexander Bolton

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and conservative members of his panel have reached agreement on legislation that may determine the legality of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance program, GOP sources say.

Specter has mollified conservative opposition to his bill by agreeing to drop the requirement that the Bush administration seek a legal judgment on the program from a special court set up by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978.

Instead, Specter agreed to allow the administration to retain an important legal defense by allowing the court, which holds its hearings in secret, to review the program only by hearing a challenge from a plaintiff with legal standing, said a person familiar with the text of language agreed to by Specter and committee conservatives.

Conservative Republicans who pushed for the change say that it will help quell concerns about the measure’s constitutionality and allow the White House to retain a basic legal defense.

An expert in constitutional law and national security, however, said that the change would allow the administration to throw up huge obstacles to anyone seeking to challenge the program’s legality.

more...
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/051606/news1.html

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
4. Supremacy of the Military
5. Rampant Sexism
6. Controlled Mass Media
7. Obsession with National Security
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
9. Corporate Power is Protected
10. Labor Power is Suppressed
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
14. Fraudulent Elections

How close are we now?

monkey,
I am shocked...once again...it's a daily shocking...

The smell from 6 blocks away is NOT from the Hawk and Dove, OR the Tune Inn...

madame,
Se my post, above. We are IN it.

Posted by: madame defarge at May 16, 2006 10:40 AM

Don't forget Poland.

Tune Inn to the Awe Shocks Show.

It was nuthin', really.