“Change” We Can Believe In

Thanks to Joe for the image. Somewhere in America, Hillary is laughing.

Justice 5, Tyranny 4

On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled in 5-4 decision that the “The detainees in these cases are entitled to a prompt habeas corpus hearing….The costs of delay can no longer be borne by those who are held in custody.”, in essence declaring the Military Commissions Act of 2006 unconstitutional.

I’ve written before about the MCA. You can view previous posts here, here, here and here. In addition, I previewed several cases on the Court’s 2007-2008 docket here.

For those of you who don’t know about the MCA, the Act was a legislative response to Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, 548 U.S. 557 (2006). The Act strips the right of habeas corpus from the detainees at Guantanamo Bay and provides legal precedent should the executive branch wish to implement a similar action on the general population of the United States should a situation arise that warrants its use. Read that again by the way.

The American legal system is built upon the principle of habeas corpus, that the rights of the individual trump those of society except in cases where the greater good of society is threatened by a danger so profound as to necessitate its temporary suspension. As a central pillar in our system of government, habeas corpus is so important that it merits its own clause in the Constitution.

Article One, Section Nine states:

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.

It’s amazing how none of these events have registered any sort of public outcry that would give our government pause. Giant collective yawn across the nation. The government’s position is that we’ve instituted these laws “for your protection”. Habeas is an outdated notion anyway.

The reality is without habeas corpus, a lot of other rights lose their meaning. But if you look at the actual Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments of that pesky Constitution, you’ll see just how many remain for your protection.

OK, No. 1 is gone. I mean, if you’re detained without trial, you lose your freedom of religion and speech, press, assembly, all the rest of that. So, you don’t need that any more.

And you know, you can’t petition the government for anything.

No. 2, While you are in prison, your right to keep and bear arms just might be infringed upon even if you’re in the NRA, so that’s gone.

Three, well OK, no forced sleepovers at your house by soldiers.

Three’s all right.

Four, you’re definitely not secure against searches and seizures, as it says here, with or without probable cause. And, in prison that’s not limited to just the guards, so forget the fourth.

Five, grand juries and due process, obviously out, so forget five and the little trailer up here.

Six, well trials are gone too, let alone the right to counsel. Speedy trials? You want it when?

Seven, well this is about—I thought we just covered trials and juries earlier so forget the seventh.

Eight, well, bail’s kind of a moot point isn’t it?

And nine, other rights retained by the people. Well, you know, if you can name them during your water boarding, we’ll consider them.

Ten, powers not delegated to the United States federal government. Well, they seem to have ended up there anyway. So as you can see, even without habeas corpus, at least one tenth of the Bill of Rights, I guess that’s the Bill of Right, now—remains virtually intact. No. 3 is still safe.

We can rest easy knowing that we will never, ever have to quarter soldiers in our homes as long as the Third Amendment still stands strong.

The president can just take care of that with a signing statement.

Election 2008: Deja Vu

Isn’t it funny how often history repeats itself? I do wish the pundits and analysts would shut up and let things play out. Neither Clinton nor Obama have the minimum number of votes required to capture the nomination at this point. Give it a rest already.

The Empire Strikes Barack

‘Nuff said.

Reading Between The Lines

I do believe this is the first time I’ve ever heard Barack Obama speak. THIS is the Democratic frontrunner? I’m mystified. He sounds like a used car salesman.

ALL politicians tell people what they want to hear, yet very few deliver on their promises 100% of the time.

Next Wednesday is the Pennsylvania primary. If Clinton wins that one, she must then win Indiana decisively given that her advisers have privately conceded North Carolina to Obama. Both will be held on 6 May 2008.

Serious question: What is it about Obama that attracts you? I have to believe it’s something other than what he’s been promising. He talks a good speech but I remain unconvinced of his capabilities in the general election. He’s not saying anything that’s substantively different from Clinton and yet people are flocking to him in droves. It seems as if his support is derived in part from an active dislike of Clinton as opposed to a personal connection with his candidacy. I can’t help but wonder if his supporters are setting themselves up for a fall.

IF he is the nominee, the last thing we want is another Michael Dukakis. History is a great teacher. In 1988, Dukakis won 45.6% of the popular vote to Bush Sr.’s 53.4% (426 electoral to 111 electoral votes). This election is ours to lose. It seems like we’re doing a bang-up job of that so far.

If you’re a Clinton supporter or someone who voted for Edwards or some other candidate during a previously held primary, I’ll get to all y’all eventually. Someone has to keep y’all entertained.

Committee on the Judiciary v. Miers and Bolten

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives General Counsel filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of the House Judiciary Committee to enforce subpoenas issued by the committee seeking information on the U.S. Attorney firings. The defendants in the case are former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten who were cited by the House for contempt of Congress last month. Last week, the Justice Department refused to present the House-passed contempt citations to a grand jury, contrary to federal law. Based on the House resolution that also found Bolten and Miers in contempt, the committee is now filing the civil lawsuit to enforce the subpoenas.

“We will not allow the administration to steamroll Congress,” Conyers said. “Under our system of checks and balances, Congress provides oversight of the executive branch to make sure that government power is not abused. The administration’s extreme claims to be immune from the oversight process are at odds with our constitutional principles on which this country was founded, and I am confident the federal courts will agree.”

View the press release here and the complaint here.

If only the lawsuit were against President Bushwhack. Oh well.

Political Exhaustion

I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m so over the 2008 U.S. presidential election, at least until the Democratic nominating convention in August. Both candidates are equally qualified though I’m giving the edge to Hillary since she’s the candidate I know best. Her track record is a known quantity unlike her opponent, the Lord of Substanceless Promises.

I don’t care much for either Hillary or Barack. I’ve said time and again that my vote will go to the Democratic nominee. That said, my heart isn’t in it. I’ll tell you one thing: all the sniping that’s going on in cyberspace on this and other blogs isn’t going to make me MORE enthusiastic about Election Day. In fact, it’s having the opposite effect. November can’t arrive quickly enough.

Oh right. You want to know what this post is about. If The Spamwise Chronicles wasn’t a foodblog before, it’s about to get more food-focused than ever. I need something to concentrate on for the next five months…

Fettucine verdi agli scampi e acciughe
(Spinach fettucine with shrimp and anchovies)

spinach fettucine, cooked
extra-virgin olive oil
garlic
oil-packed anchovies
pinch of red pepper flakes
1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined

Saute garlic in olive oil. Add anchovies and mash with a fork or until anchovies disintegrate into a paste. Add red pepper flakes and shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes. Drain pasta and add to saute pan, cooking for 1-2 additional minutes. Toss well, garnish with chopped fresh herbs and transfer to a warmed serving dish. Serve immediately.

Election 2008: Ron Paul

Last in a series of preview posts regarding the 2008 U.S. presidential election.  Previous entries can be seen here: Evan Bayh, Sam Brownback, Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, Rudy Giuliani, Mr. Meddler, Professor Crybaby, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Recurring Nightmare, Al Gore, Michael Bloomberg, John Edwards (Part 1), John Edwards (Part 2), Mitt Romney and John McCain.

* * *

Attack of the Clones

Mr. Paul seems to be a man of principle. He has one of the most consistent voting records in the House of Representatives and seems to lean right-libertarian. If Barry Goldwater were running for president today, he would most likely be Ron Paul.

Of all the candidates running for president in 2008, Mr. Paul’s political positions are quite voluminous. We know what Mr. Paul isn’t for. He’s rabidly against the federal income tax, he’s voted no on the Patriot Act and he’s for gun control. He claims to be a champion of states’ rights although he hews to the orthodox Republican platform of being anti-abortion, against separation of church and state and anti-affirmative action.

He opposed SCOTUS’ ruling in Lawrence v. Texas, is for DADT, spoke in support of DOMA and voted against legislation relating to same-sex adoption.

On the issue of gay rights, he’s no different from any of the current slate of Republican candidates. That alone is enough for me to write him off into the circular file.

* * *

In the 1992 presidential election, a fellow Texan with big ears received 18.9% of the popular vote though he won no electoral votes. History records that election being handily won by Bill Clinton. I expect that Mr. Paul will not win the Republican nomination and will instead run on a third-party platform. This will, in effect, siphon off votes from the nominee, be it McCain or Romney.

History might end up repeating itself. Still early though. We should all take a page from Margo Channing and relax, cuz it’s gonna be a bumpy ride till November.

Election 2008: John McCain

If the 2008 presidential election were held today, Senator McCain (R-Ariz.) could easily fill the shoes of our Imperial President. He shares an astonishing number of characteristics with his counterpart. They both tend to shoot off their mouths, they’re both lifelong Republicans and they’re both prominent hawks when it comes to foreign policy.

This preview post could easily fill an entire page with respect to McCain’s politics. I’m not going to get into that however. Other writers have presented the issues pro and con more eloquently than I. Instead, I’m going to focus on two areas of interest that have relevance to me.

Do we really want to elect a President who acts like a juvenile in a cowboy hat?

* * *

“I hate the gooks”

During his campaign for President in 2000, Mr. McCain openly used the word “gook” to describe his treatment at the hands of his captors during the Vietnam War. Though he issued an official apology soon afterwards [and then only because of intense criticism from the Asian-American community in California], don’t you think it might’ve been better if he’d never expressed himself in that manner to begin with? Does racism become a President? It’s like Senator Macaca all over again, albeit eight years ago.

Senator, I’m an American first and Asian second. While you may have apologized, some of us feel that your apology is insincere. You did so only in response to public pressure. Imagine if you had used a racial slur for an African-American or a person of Hispanic descent. You would’ve kissed your political career goodbye. But somehow, bigotry against Asians is acceptable because you were a POW?

Your use of the word “gook” has connotations beyond its immediate meaning. It’s an expression used with sad effect against Asians of all backgrounds and heritages. When a slur is uttered, the speaker inflicts harm not just against an individual but an entire society.

Senator, people have long memories. It is my sincere hope that your words will come back to haunt you when you least expect them.

* * *

Suspension of Habeas Corpus

Senator McCain authored a compromise that effectively made it possible for the Military Commissions Act of 2006 to be passed into law. After His Imperial Excellency signed it, he appended a signing statement that rejected the compromise.

I’ve blogged about the MCA before, so I won’t rehash old material. I will say that at the very least, the poor exercise in judgment that Mr. McCain has demonstrated regarding the sanctity of one of our most cherished rights in our society should give Americans pause. Whether voters will care is another story. Our continued paralysis in the face of this administration’s actions calls that question into doubt.

Next: Ron Paul

Election 2008: Mitt Romney

Twelfth in a series of preview posts regarding potential and declared candidates for the 2008 U.S. presidential elections. Previous posts in this series include: Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, Mr. Meddler, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Al Gore and Michael Bloomberg.

Meet Mitt Romney, self-made Mr. Everyman running for president of the United States. Good ‘ol Mitt wants you to believe he stands for everything that’s right. You should vote for him because he alone can save us from the moral decay of America. Amen.

Let’s see where Mitt stands on the issues, shall we?

Mitt Romney on Abortion

He says he’s pro-life. Or he’s pro-life with reservations. Or he’s pro-life but doesn’t want to offend. Or maybe, just maybe, he’s pro-warm fuzzies, the kind that make you feel good without saying much.

I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate. — excerpt from an editorial published in the Boston Globe on 26 July 2005.

”Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the government’s. The truth is, no candidate in the governor’s race in either party would deny women abortion rights. So let’s end this argument that does not exist and stop the cynical, divisive attacks made only for political gain.” –in a written response to a NARAL questionnaire during his Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign

”Many years ago, I had a dear, close family relative that was very close to me who passed away from an illegal abortion…It is since that time my mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter. And you will not see me wavering on that.” –during a televised debate with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in 1994

Will the real Mitt Romney please stand up? I can’t tell cuz it’s too confusing. Maybe Governor Flipflop is a better name. It suits you.

Governor Flipflop on Education

And as Senator McCain did, as he mentioned the flag issue — I have issues that take me in the same direction. One is No Child Left Behind. I’ve taken a position where, once upon a time, I said I wanted to eliminate the Department of Education. That was my position when I ran for Senate in 1994. That’s very popular with the base.

As I’ve been a governor and seen the impact that the federal government can have holding down the interest of the teachers’ unions and instead putting the interests of the kids and the parents and the teachers first, I see that the Department of Education can actually make a difference. So I supported No Child Left Behind. I still do. I know there are a lot in my party that don’t like it, but I like testing in our schools. I think it allows us to get better schools, better teachers; allows us to let our kids have the kind of hope that they ought to have. –excerpt from the Republican presidential primary debate that took place at the University of South Carolina on 15 May 2007

Because ya know, 12 years is a long time for your position to “evolve”. Lawdy knows that your ‘base’ is different depending on whether you’re a candidate for the Senate or a governor of an otherwise solidly blue state. If The Emperor can do it, it shouldn’t be too difficult for a part-time Massachusetts resident.

Governor Flipflop on the Environment

“I’m convinced it is good business…We can effectively create incentives to help stimulate a sector of the economy and at the same time not kill jobs.” –quote during a clean-energy conference in Boston in November 2005.

Although his staffers spent the better part of two years negotiating and shaping the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Governor Flipflop abruptly pulled out of the program shortly before its launch in December 2005, citing disagreements amongst various states regarding power plants exceeding emissions limits.

“Romney blatantly prioritized out-of-state industry power players and Midwestern coal interests over the concerns of his constituency. He then went on to spin a bogus public message that tackling climate change is bad for the economy.” –Seth Kaplan, director of the clean-energy program for the Conservation Law Foundation.

These are some of the big ticket items that Governor Flipflop has undertaken in the four misbegotten years he’s had under his belt as governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. There are other little-known facts, such as his proposal to raise the Commonwealth’s standardized minimum wage as a candidate for governor and subsequent veto, his position as a moderate Republican which he revealed as a lie by governing from the far right during his administration, and his proposed death penalty bill which if it had been enacted, would have called for a standard of “no doubt”, quite different from the traditional “beyond a reasonable doubt” used in criminal cases. As an aside, perhaps Governor Flipflop should be called into account for his proposal to use gambling to help close a budget gap in 2004. The last I checked, gambling is a no-no for Mormons. If you’re going to campaign as a believer in traditional values, ya gotta be consistent, right?

It’s almost a divine miracle Massachusetts hasn’t been brought to ruin after his administration.

Next: John McCain