ThinkFast: August 14, 2007
ThinkFast: August 14, 2007
Utilizing “a little-noticed provision in last year’s reauthorization of the Patriot Act,” Attorney General Alberto Gonzales may soon have greater influence over death penalty cases in California and other states, “including the power to shorten the time that death row inmates have to appeal convictions to federal courts.”
While former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney “divested from companies doing business in Iran,” financial disclosure reports filed Monday show that “he still holds stock in an oil company that does business in Sudan — where the government is accused of sponsoring genocide.”
“Rudy Giuliani will jump back into the debate over immigration policy today, but don’t expect him to talk about his days as mayor - when his policies were all but lifted from his liberal predecessor, Ed Koch.” “He is repudiating the good things that he did [as mayor], to his shame,” Koch said.
Tomorrow, a three-judge panel will hear arguments on whether a legal battle relating to Bush’s NSA spy program “can go forward.” “The outcome could determine whether the courts will ever rule on the legality of surveillance conducted by the NSA without judicial oversight between 2001 and January 2007.”
The New York Times reports Defense Secretary Robert Gates “keeps his own counsel on Iraq.” Gates has “avoided showing his hand about whether changes will be needed when the Bush administration completes its war strategy review next month.”
“Iraq is generating enough power to meet only half the nationwide demand, and most Baghdad residents are down to an hour or two of electricity a day. The shortfalls are the worst since U.S.-led forces ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003, Electricity Ministry spokesman Aziz Shimari said.”
“More than 30 Iraqi judges have been killed in the line of duty in Iraq, underscoring the need for the new complex in Baghdad aimed at protecting the justice system, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Monday.”
Former Texas Republican Party chairman Thomas Pauken said of Rove: “It is dangerous to put political consultants in charge of policy. … The combination of big-government conservatism and the extraordinary neoconservative influence on foreign policy has been devastating.”
And finally: Scientists have confirmed that Abraham Lincoln had an “unusual degree of facial asymmetry.” The left side of Lincoln’s face was much smaller than the right, an aberration called cranial facial microsomia. “The defect joins a long list of ailments — including smallpox, heart illness and depression — that modern doctors have diagnosed in Lincoln.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Egad — these “little known provisions” in the Patriot Act (or in this case, the reauthorization of it) keep popping up like little mushrooms. How soon will it be before all states’ rights will be completely lost?
August 14th, 2007 at 9:16 amThe link in the Gonzo segment doesn’t work. Says page not found.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:18 amThanks #2 — fixed.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:19 amYou know, I criticize Bush for his secrecy. And Bill Clinton was vastly better many ways, such as waiving Executive privilege. But particularly in this environment, Hillary should release her records as First Lady. Hillary should be against, not a part of, the ridiculous secrecy surrounding Washington. Hillary knows that sunlight, as it is often said, is the best disinfectant for rotten politics.
http://www.latimes.com/ news/ nationworld/ nation/ la-na-clintondocs14aug14,1,1086895.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
August 14th, 2007 at 9:20 amIraqi refugees are also contributing to Jordan’s water shortage: http://www.npr.org/ templates/ story/ story.php?storyId=12768985
August 14th, 2007 at 9:22 amScientists have confirmed that George Bush has an “unusual degree of gluttial asymmetry.†The left cheek of Bush’s ass is much smaller than the right, an aberration called dumbbell butt. “The defect joins a long list of ailments — including lyme disease, alcoholism and chronic incuriosity — that doctors have diagnosed in Bush.â€
August 14th, 2007 at 9:22 amHillary knows that sunlight, as it is often said, is the best disinfectant for rotten politics.
But Hill doesn’t want clean politics. It’s all about keeping it in the family.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:23 amReinventing yourself to play to a national audience can be a tough thing. Giuliani is twisting himself into a pretzel to convert his 1994 immigration stance into something completely opposite. Of course, he has a role model in Romney, who has done a complete 180 on social issues to play to the evangelicals.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:23 amGah, stupid filter.
Been trying to post an Abraham Lincoln quote, about him being ugly
Hopefully this will finally sneak thru.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:26 am“Former Texas Republican Party chairman Thomas Pauken said of Rove: “It is dangerous to put political consultants in charge of policy.”
I agree it’s dangerous to put political consultants in charge of policy, but it’s about one nano-step above putting lobbyists, special interest groups, and corporations in charge of policy — which the Repubs have done for years.
Let’s elect people who actually know something about policy and retire the hired guns.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:28 am#6,
August 14th, 2007 at 9:30 am:)
The link in the Romney segment isn’t working, either. All I’m getting is a “page not found” on the L.A. Times site.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:31 amThe New York Times reports Defense Secretary Robert Gates “keeps his own counsel on Iraq.†Gates has “avoided showing his hand about whether changes will be needed when the Bush administration completes its war strategy review next month.â€
Lemme guess… the cards say “surge successful, rinse and repeat for six more months”.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:33 am“More than 30 Iraqi judges have been killed in the line of duty in Iraq
and the rest are hiding in London
August 14th, 2007 at 9:36 am“including the power to shorten the time that death row inmates have to appeal convictions to federal courts.â€
Pro-Life, indeed. D@mn, I can’t stand Republicans.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:42 amThe New York Times reports Defense Secretary Robert Gates “keeps his own counsel on Iraq.â€
In other words, Someone told him to keep his trap shut.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:45 amIf Rudy is taking a harder stance against people who are here illegally, it will help him. People realize this is not a social issue. It is a blue collar, economic, labor supply-and-demand issue, and Democrats would do well to look at it that way. It will cost Democrats if they keep going down this road, because working people do not want more and more people flooding into this country, competing for jobs and wages. It is not the duty nor is it fair to ask the middle class in America to care of Mexico’s poor. Mexico can very easily do that, and we should not be pressured or made to feel bad if we say no.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:48 amDavid Corn writes that Rove has “cut and run” — Corn makes a good point. With BushCo on the decline, war and domestic issues are failures, Rove has taken his leave.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:50 amI’m getting tired of reading shit like this . . . “‘a little-noticed provision in last year’s reauthorization of the Patriot Act,’†There seems to have been a lot of little noticed provisions in just about everything that’s been passed recently. Is it just me, or should someone start reading these bills before they’re passed, not after.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:53 amLet’s elect people who actually know something about policy and retire the hired guns.
Comment by missmolly — August 14, 2007 @ 9:28 am
i agree wholeheartedly!…
August 14th, 2007 at 9:54 amdo you have anyone in particular in mind?
Rawstory:
Cheney’s neighbors topple his effigy during protest
August 14th, 2007 at 9:55 amwhat minnesota might expect:
China’s construction projects ‘rushed’
August 14th, 2007 at 10:07 amExperts paint a damning picture of the safety standards on such projects, particularly those in remote areas. They are sometimes rushed - often leading to design or building flaws - in order to finish work on time, or even before expected completion dates.
[…]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6945972.stm
…
Marie, I heard a rumor that Rove might work on Fred Thompson’s prez run. That would basically be worst-case scenario as far as I’m concerned. Can you hear me screaming NO!!! from there?
August 14th, 2007 at 10:09 amI want to know, in full, the Mitt Romney way of becoming wealthy.
Romney used a great deal of intellectual precision to gain all that wealth — $250 million (est.)
August 14th, 2007 at 10:11 amI’m getting tired of reading shit like this . . . “‘a little-noticed provision in last year’s reauthorization of the Patriot Act,’†There seems to have been a lot of little noticed provisions in just about everything that’s been passed recently. Is it just me, or should someone start reading these bills before they’re passed, not after.
Comment by po — August 14, 2007 @ 9:53 am
I totally agree! We have heard that phrase “little-noticed provision” FAR too often in the last six years!!!! Maybe they should only be able to vote on a bill if they’ve passed a quiz on it beforehand.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:11 amoooOOOooo yeah….NachoRAMA.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:11 amRove’s “math” will doom Thompson completely and utterly. Bring it on.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:12 amHow many more “little known provisions” are going to be found?
August 14th, 2007 at 10:13 amHow about the one authorizing the Amerikan Gulag system>>??
TP beat ‘em to it… still an interesting read:
Pundits, bloggers go wild over Rove’s resignation
http://www.sfgate.com/ cgi-bin/ article.cgi?file=/ c/ a/ 2007/ 08/ 14/ MNJERHRKA.DTL
August 14th, 2007 at 10:15 amCaption:
Gonzales: “Call me, anytime!”
August 14th, 2007 at 10:15 amAlito: (to himself) “Geez, what a runt…………”
Mexico can very easily do that, and we should not be pressured or made to feel bad if we say no.
Comment by midwestblue — August 14, 2007 @ 9:48 am
simple fix: jail the corporate opportunists and rich Republicans doing all the hiring of illegals, and stop using Mexico as a dumping ground for pollution manufacturers who pay $1 per hour. Mexicans don’t leave their families behind to come here for any other reason than to make a decent wage, which US companies have prevented in Mexico for decades.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:16 amI thought the libs were going to impeach Gonzales? What happened morons?
Comment by Dr. William Dog — August 14, 2007 @ 10:15 am
what libs, idiot?
August 14th, 2007 at 10:17 amGood Morning, great post’s all….Yep! on all your post’s missmolly and RUCerious….There were 1400 pages in the health care bill the Friday night before the Tuesday vote and then Delay snuck in 200 more pages….Heard at the vote hearing’s that no senator’s read it and only some of their staff read (maybe) 40 page’s and yet they all voted for the night mare and got AARP to sign on and pramote..The partiot act’s were and are a scare preview with much more than most people know…If I remember corretly there are provision’s in them to prevent prosacution of these bum’s when they get out of office..Need some one to do a total research on it….Also need some one in office to get rid of these terrible bill’s…..Blessings all
August 14th, 2007 at 10:25 amWell another bullet point to add to my Bush = Hitler list.
Fast tracking executions.
We suspect you of something, we take you away, we try you in a secret court, and we kill you.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:27 am#23 margaret,
August 14th, 2007 at 10:34 amI heard that, too.
Your “NO!” joined my own!!
I totally agree! We have heard that phrase “little-noticed provision†FAR too often in the last six years!!!! Maybe they should only be able to vote on a bill if they’ve passed a quiz on it beforehand.
Comment by margaret — August 14, 2007 @ 10:11 am
It’s completely intentional, too. This is the reason that they’re bringing 1,000-page omnibus legislation to the floor - it’s much easier to bury earmarks and pork in a massive piece of legislation, and Congress only has to vote on a handful of bills during the term.
I’d like to see smaller bills, more votes, and GERMANE amendments. No more hiding defense spending in health care bills, etc.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:34 am#25 po
August 14th, 2007 at 10:36 amI also share your thoughts on the numerous “little known provisions” that are inserted in everything passed as law.
Don’t Senators and Congressmen have staff that are supposed to read this stuff?? Shouldn’t the media have at least a glancing knowledge of what is contained in laws and their ramifications?
Caption Contest:
Torquemada: “What’s next Judge Alito? We call it ‘the Act of Enablement’”
August 14th, 2007 at 11:05 amdo you come here just to chat?
do you really want change at all?
are you willing to fight for it?
get off your asses and do SOMETHING THEN
August 14th, 2007 at 11:10 am*
First human trial of DNA-based vaccine cheers MS researchers
· Number and size of lesions drop sharply during tests
· Scientists urge caution and call for further work
Ian Sample, science correspondent
The Guardian
Tuesday August 14 2007
The first human trial of a DNA-based vaccine to combat multiple sclerosis has been declared a success by doctors in America after tests on patients revealed signs that their condition had improved. However, the trial is only the first small step in developing an effective treatment against the debilitating degenerative disease, which affects about 85,000 people in the UK.
[…]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ science/ 2007/ aug/ 14/ sciencenews.medicalscience
much more at
August 14th, 2007 at 11:12 amhttp://news.google.com/ ?ncl=1119384323&hl=en&topic=m
.
Let’s elect people who actually know something about policy and retire the hired guns.
Comment by missmolly — August 14, 2007 @ 9:28 am
i agree wholeheartedly!…
do you have anyone in particular in mind?
Comment by katy — August 14, 2007 @ 9:54 am
That’s an interesting question, Katy. I am sitting here trying to think of who out of the current crop of candidates A) knows about policy, and B) can craft policy that works without being unduly influenced by special interests. Unfortunately, the names that pop to my mind are ones that have less chance of being elected because of those very reasons.
When considering “policy”, we need to consider foreign policy, domestic policy, and (of increasing importance) “how the executive branch will be run” policy. Then we can consider who is best qualified to handle policy on all these levels and who will be most vulnerable to the charlatans.
On the Democratic side, I predict that Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel would be the best policymeisters on their own. They each have a definite view of what’s right and aren’t afraid of being unpopular for it.
On the Republican side, Ron Paul gets the nod. Out of all the Repubs, he is least likely to allow his administration to get hijacked by handlers and big money special interests.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:14 am“… We call it ‘the Act of Enablement’â€
Comment by TerrytheTurtle — August 14, 2007 @ 11:05 am
… “Clear Skies” … “Healthy Forests” … etc…
oh… you meant enabling the DICtator? …
August 14th, 2007 at 11:14 am…
Why are you so angry with us old hack? Perhaps if you suggested some specific action points you would be more constructive.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:22 amComment by missmolly — August 14, 2007 @ 11:14 am
thank you for that… good, relavent thoughts…
curious: … and (of increasing importance) “how the executive branch will be run†policy. Then we can consider…
wouldn’t the victor determine his/her own style,
or is that something that should be governed?
your list has a cart before the horse, in other words…
considering a management style should definitely be involved
August 14th, 2007 at 11:24 amin choosing a candidate… something we need to learn more about…
…
Mexico can very easily do that, and we should not be pressured or made to feel bad if we say no.
Comment by midwestblue — August 14, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Er, no, we can’t do that easily.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:25 am#
do you come here just to chat?
do you really want change at all?
are you willing to fight for it?
get off your asses and do SOMETHING THEN
Comment by old hack — August 14, 2007 @ 11:10 am
yes
yes, but stopping a train wreck is not going to happen. America is a “Heart Attack” nation, meaning we don’t change our ways until we have a heart attack. 9-11 was just a skinned knee.
And what are you doing? Should I quit my job so I can protest in front of the capitol? Send emails? Phone calls, Check been there done that.
America’s going to have it’s heart attack before it straightens out.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:51 amComment by katy — August 14, 2007 @ 11:14 am
Torquemada: “Well, since I’m in a spot of bother with John Ashcroft we’re going to call it the ‘Let the Eagle Soar’ Act”
August 14th, 2007 at 1:49 pmugh… i hate when that song gets in my head…
August 14th, 2007 at 2:02 pmthanks, turtle… not…