ThinkFast: October 1, 2007
ThinkFast: October 1, 2007
With 19 cases on the docket in the new Supreme Court term that begins today, the court will take on “an unusually large number of cases,” including a racial discrimination case that “could provide a vehicle for limiting remedies available under one of the country’s oldest civil rights laws.”
Blackwater contractors have alleged that a Sept. 16 deadly shooting in Iraq was initiated in response to hostile fire. But an “extensive evidence file” put together by the Iraqi National Police — including documents, maps, sworn witness statements, and police video footage — concludes that the Blackwater vehicles “opened fire crazily and randomly, without any reason.”
“Congress again has extended funding for a core abstinence-education program, sparking protests from sex-education advocates who want Democrats to pull the plug on such programs.”
Gen. David Petraeus said the U.S. is prepared to “reciprocate” if Iran halts shipments of arms to Iraq’s Shia Muslim militias. Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, rejected accusations that Iran is providing weapons. He added that Iran is ready to work with the U.S. to “help them materialize” a withdrawal from Iraq.
“For the fifth time since 2001, Congress is raising the debt limit, increasing it by $850 billion to $9.815 trillion. The Senate approved the plan on a 53-42 vote Thursday night. The House of Representatives has already signed off on the plan, without a direct vote.”
Defense Secretary Robert Gates “told a group of U.S. House Democratic lawmakers that the multinational mission in Afghanistan is suffering from a lack of resources, citing the war in Iraq and the reluctance of U.S. allies to contribute more troops, participants at the meeting said.”
Yesterday, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq “criticized a Senate resolution that could lead to a division” of the country “into sectarian or ethnic territories, agreeing with a swath of Iraqi leaders in saying the proposal ‘would produce extraordinary suffering and bloodshed.’”
“Out of a political stalemate over Iraq, domestic policy is surging to prominence on Capitol Hill” this week, with “Republicans and Democrats preparing for a time-honored clash over health care, tax policy, the scope of government and its role in America’s problems at home.” According to the Washington Post, Republicans view the shift away from Iraq as “a relief.”
Defense contractor Brent Wilkes goes on trial Wednesday “to fight federal charges that he funneled more than $700,000 in bribes” to former congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham “in the form of both cash and perks ranging from a Sea-Doo jet boat to the services of two prostitutes at a high-end Hawaiian resort.”
And finally: Last week, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) was seen sporting an “icky” “bloodshot eye.” A Byrd spokesman confirmed to Roll Call that the injury was not the result of a scuffle with Vice President Cheney, but an “all-out battle” with his grandchildren, who “challenged their 89-year-old great-grandpa to a game of ‘ how long can you hold your breath‘ in a swimming pool.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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But an “extensive evidence file†put together by the Iraqi National Police — including documents, maps, sworn witness statements, and police video footage — concludes that the Blackwater vehicles “opened fire crazily and randomly, without any reason.â€
So what is the Bush Administration going to do about this, call the Iraqi’s liars? The only evidence the State Department and Blackwater seem to have is the personal accounts of the Blackwater employees who have an incentive to lie. That really doesn’t hold water against eye witness accounts and filmed footage of the incident. What incentive does the Iraqi government have to lie in this case and how did they make the video footage lie?
October 1st, 2007 at 9:08 amGen. David Petraeus said the U.S. is prepared to “reciprocate†if Iran halts shipments of arms to Iraq’s Shia Muslim militias. Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, rejected accusations that Iran is providing weapons. He added that Iran is ready to work with the U.S. to “help them materialize†a withdrawal from Iraq.
So he’s admitting that we’re funding/arming insurgents (oh wait, in this case they’d be Freedom Fighters) in Iran?
October 1st, 2007 at 9:09 am“Out of a political stalemate over Iraq, domestic policy is surging to prominence on Capitol Hill†this week, with “Republicans and Democrats preparing for a time-honored clash over health care, tax policy, the scope of government and its role in America’s problems at home.†According to the Washington Post, Republicans view the shift away from Iraq as “a relief.â€
October 1st, 2007 at 9:12 amSo with the Democrats in complete capitulation mode on Iraq, everyone has now decided to “move along, nothing more to see”. Until we bomb Iran, that is. Then we’ll get more hand-wringing about how L-K was not meant to authorize an attack…etc…etc.
I look forward to seeing what the SCOTUS produces. Ever since the new Chief Justice took the reigns, the institution has done some really good work, with many decision unanimous.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:12 amGen. David Petraeus said the U.S. is prepared to “reciprocate†if Iran halts shipments of arms to Iraq’s Shia Muslim militias.
This makes no sense. How is the US going to “reciprocate” to Iran halting the “supposed” shipments of arms to Iran? Will they reciprocate by not arming Shia militias or will they reciprocate by NOT bombing Iran?
I still say that the Bush Administration needs to provide proof that Iran is meddling in Iraq. I am ashamed of the Democrats in Congress for signing on to the Kyle-LIEberman amendment because the Bush Administration “thinks” that Iran is meddling in Iraq. I guess they didn’t learn their lesson in the ramping up to the Iraq war, did they?
On the other hand, our government seems to have proof that Saudi Arabia is meddling in Iraq in favor of the Sunnis. Why doesn’t this bother the Bush Administration . Why is it bad for Iran to meddle but not Saudi Arabia?
October 1st, 2007 at 9:16 amWith both parties under control of the war machine, this country’s going to he[[ in a big hurry.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:18 amInteresting Senate & House oversight hearings this week covering some of the above:
Tuesday, 10 am – Senate Judiciary
Preserving the Rule of Law in the Fight Against Terrorism
Witness: Jack Landman Goldsmith
Tuesday, 10 am – House Oversight and Government Reform
Hearing on Private Security Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan
Witnesses to include Erik Prince, Chairman, Blackwater USA
Thursday, 10 am – House Oversight and Government Reform
Hearing: Assessing the State of Iraqi Corruption
CSPAN3 carries some of these. The rest are usually available through cspan.org or the Committee sites’ own webcasts.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:18 amI look forward to seeing what the SCOTUS produces. Ever since the new Chief Justice took the reigns, the institution has done some really good work, with many decision unanimous.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
Right Wing Loon Jason likes seeing the Right Wing Activist Judges on the Supreme Court make decisions not based on law but on their religious and political beliefs. I’m sure he is happy that Bush has managed to make the Supreme Court a wing of the Republican party along with our entire government.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:18 am#4… I see that you consider 5-4 to be the “new” unanimous!
October 1st, 2007 at 9:25 am“Congress again has extended funding for a core abstinence-education program, sparking protests from sex-education advocates who want Democrats to pull the plug on such programs.â€
Well, it appears that our once proud Democratic party has become nothing more than Republican Lite. It’s sad, very sad what they have become.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:29 am$9.815 trillion
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HELLLOOOOO IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?
October 1st, 2007 at 9:31 am“For the fifth time since 2001, Congress is raising the debt limit, increasing it by $850 billion to $9.815 trillion. The Senate approved the plan on a 53-42 vote Thursday night. The House of Representatives has already signed off on the plan, without a direct vote.â€
Between 1995 and 2000, the rise in the national debt slowed, and actually leveled off. As soon as Bush came in, it began a steep rise, steeper than ever before seen.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:33 amFor the House to have signed off, without a vote, shows them to be the irresponsible cowards they are.
“For the fifth time since 2001, Congress is raising the debt limit, increasing it by $850 billion to $9.815 trillion. The Senate approved the plan on a 53-42 vote Thursday night. The House of Representatives has already signed off on the plan, without a direct vote.â€
Wow, just like us. I max out my credit card and instead of paying it off I call the credit card company and have them raise my limit. Funny thing, by doing that I will never be out of debt. My credit card company will own me, the way China owns the USA. BTW, I pay off my credit cards every month like a responsible person should do.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:35 amHELLLOOOOO IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?
Comment by Bodhittsatva — October 1, 2007 @ 9:31 am
They’re all at work in a panic this morning, their credit card statements just arrived in the mail… hopefully they can step out for a quadruple latte at 10:00 and calm the nerves.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:36 am“Put it on my card, will ya?”
Yesterday, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq “criticized a Senate resolution that could lead to a division†of the country “into sectarian or ethnic territories, agreeing with a swath of Iraqi leaders in saying the proposal ‘would produce extraordinary suffering and bloodshed.’â€
I agree with them. Sanctioning partitioning of Iraq is the same as sanctioning ethnic cleansing, the thing that the Republicans keep warning us will happen if we leave Iraq.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:36 amI look forward to seeing what the SCOTUS produces. Ever since the new Chief Justice took the reigns, the institution has done some really good work, with many decision unanimous.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — October 1, 2007 @ 9:12 am
No one noticed the irony of the typo? Could be Freudian.
There has been an increase in apparently unanimous decisions, achieved by considerably narrowing the scope — all designed to create the illusion that Roberts is achieving a level of success.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:40 amBorrow and spend Republicans!!!!!
October 1st, 2007 at 9:42 amLooks like our “complicit congress” is drinking tainted Kool-Aid now too with raising our national debt to 9.8 Trillion! Who the hell is going to be able to pay that kind of debt? Surely, with all of the illegal aliens working for less than the minimum wage and not even paying taxes, it won’t be them? But they’re the ones with our jobs so who’s left?
Time to bail out of this country is nigh. It’s slowly sinking into an abyss of bankruptcy.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:48 amIt wasn’t too long ago that these “Borrow & Spend Republicans” were considered to be the “conservatives”. What a joke that moniker is right now! hahahah!
October 1st, 2007 at 9:49 amJason: “no one noticed the irony…” You’ve, obviously, mistaken us all for people who give a $hit about your little innocuous irony.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:50 amWhy is it bad for Iran to meddle but not Saudi Arabia?
Comment by bilbobaggins
Because US govt makes the rules.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:57 amShame on the Byrd grandkids for that assassination attempt!
October 1st, 2007 at 9:58 amSurely, with all of the illegal aliens working for less than the minimum wage and not even paying taxes, it won’t be them? But they’re the ones with our jobs so who’s left?
Time to bail out of this country is nigh. It’s slowly sinking into an abyss of bankruptcy.
Comment by Veritas
You obviously don’t live in an area that has undocumented workers in the workforce. I do and I used to work for an employer who employed them. She did what most employers do, she accepted a stolen social security number from them. They are social security numbers of dead people. So, they do pay taxes, but they can’t file tax returns because if they did, they would be discovered. And, our government knows this is going on. Millions of dollars goes into the coffers of our government every year in the form of income taxes, Medicare taxes and social security taxes that will never be reclaimed.
I love how people think that the undocumented workers are a drain on our society. For the most part, they are an asset. You would be paying much higher prices for many commodities if our corporations were not allowed to hire undocumented workers. If every undocumented worker walked off their jobs tomorrow, most restaurants in major metropolitan areas would have to close their doors, our fresh fruits and vegetables would die on the vine, wine would become unavailable and many other businesses would go belly up. They are already here doing jobs that most people in this country would not do for the wages offered. So why not give them a way of being here legally to do the work they do?
October 1st, 2007 at 9:58 am“Congress again has extended funding for a core abstinence-education program, sparking protests from sex-education advocates who want Democrats to pull the plug on such programs.â€
I thought the Dems won both houses last Nov?
Looks like only Bush lapdogs, who roll over on command, won last Nov, in reality.
sit, rovers, sit
October 1st, 2007 at 10:02 amspeak, rovers, speak
roll over, rovers, roll over
Good dogs.
=|
Who the hell is going to be able to pay that kind of debt?
Comment by Veritas — October 1, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Duh! Bush will give us more tax cuts, which will increase revenues. Haven’t been paying attention, have ya?
(snark)
October 1st, 2007 at 10:25 amSupreme Court convenes to crowded, controversial docket
Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, October 1, 2007
After moving to the right on such issues as school integration, abortion and campaign finance regulation in its last term, the U.S. Supreme Court may be about to veer leftward as it begins a term highlighted by a clash over the rights of captives at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The names are unchanged on a court widely viewed as the most conservative since the 1930s. But legal commentators say several major cases on the docket for the term that starts today, and others likely to be added, raise issues in which the liberal justices in the court’s minority bloc have a good chance of picking up a crucial vote from Justice Anthony Kennedy, who rarely sided with them last term.
Those cases include a test of judges’ authority to reduce the disparities in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine, a dispute over the evidence allowed in job discrimination suits, and the battle over the scope of capital punishment. The court will review a challenge to states’ rules for lethal injections and may revisit the question of death sentences for crimes other than murder.
“Last term, we had a whole series of cases that struck Justice Kennedy’s conservative chords,” said Thomas Goldstein, a Washington, D.C., attorney and veteran Supreme Court litigator. “Here we have some cases which might strike his individualistic, even slightly liberal chords.”
[...]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/01/MNRTSFG6H.DTL
i fear that bob may have just put a hex on things…
October 1st, 2007 at 10:30 am…
Yesterday, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq “criticized a Senate resolution that could lead to a division†of the country “into sectarian or ethnic territories, agreeing with a swath of Iraqi leaders in saying the proposal ‘would produce extraordinary suffering and bloodshed.’â€
“extraordinary suffering and bloodshed” brought to you by the Bush Administration.
Now with more suffering!!
October 1st, 2007 at 10:49 amComment by bilbobaggins — October 1, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Many of these undocumented workers using stolen social security number claim the maimum number of dependents, used to be 12, so they pay no withholding taxes.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:52 amComment by Wayne — October 1, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Good morning, Wayne. the Michael troll was looking for you the other day. I told him I’d make sure you knew that. ;)
October 1st, 2007 at 11:11 amI think the Byrd grandkids have it in for old Grandpa.
Yikes.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:11 amJason: “no one noticed the irony…†You’ve, obviously, mistaken us all for people who give a $hit about your little innocuous irony.
Comment by Veritas — October 1, 2007 @ 9:50 am
Psst. Go back and re-read. It wasn’t Jason who noted his irony.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:14 amByrd must have had just the one eye open underwater.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:25 amChlorine will do that.
Good morning, Wayne. the Michael troll was looking for you the other day. I told him I’d make sure you knew that. ;)
Comment by Zooey — October 1, 2007 @ 11:11 am
Thats Funny…
Last time he kept running away after I exposed him as a liar.
Guess he decided he likes toe taps ( to his teeth )
October 1st, 2007 at 11:45 amStrange guy…….
“My main problem with Clarence Thomas is that he has enabled the Republicans to take the institution of the “black†seat on the Supreme Court and pervert it in a way that continuously favors conservatives. As little diversity as exits on the bench, it is vital that this tradition remain intact. But far from representing African-Americans, Thomas constantly issues conservative findings that fall very much in line with Justice Antonin Scalia.”
Read more like this and discuss it at http://www.thecoin.org
October 1st, 2007 at 11:48 amYesterday, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq “criticized a Senate resolution that could lead to a division†of the country “into sectarian or ethnic territories, agreeing with a swath of Iraqi leaders in saying the proposal ‘would produce extraordinary suffering and bloodshed.’â€
———————————–
Oh, this would just solve everything. Eliminate conflict by breaking up the country and put every group into their own little bean patch.
sarc/off
Poll after poll indicates Iraqis want a united Iraq by a large majority. I can understand this. After all, I prefer a united United States, and I would resent it if somebody else came in and divided our country into independent republics of “Left Coast”, “Jesusland”, etc.
October 1st, 2007 at 12:01 pm“Congress again has extended funding for a core abstinence-education program, sparking protests from sex-education advocates who want Democrats to pull the plug on such programs.â€
Does anyone here still believe the Democrats represent us on the left?
We basicly have a two party system the represents two positions on the political spectrum: center-right, and far-right
Our democracy in this country is FUBAR
October 1st, 2007 at 12:13 pmMany of these undocumented workers using stolen social security number claim the maimum number of dependents, used to be 12, so they pay no withholding taxes.
Comment by Shayne
That may be true, but they still pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, again, money they will never recover.
October 1st, 2007 at 12:29 pmThe Treasury has a nify tool where you can find the debt and who holds it for any date back to 1993
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np
Current Debt – 8,972,984,124,356.93
Debt Jan 20, 2007 – 8,675,085,083,537.48
Debt Jan 20, 2001 – 5,727,776,738,304.64
Debt Jan 11, 1993 – 4,188,092,107,183.60
In short, debt under Clinton and a democratic congress for 8 years rose at about 4 percent per year or averaged 0.19 trillion per year.
Debt under Bush and republican congress for 6 years looks to rise over 8 per cent per year (about double the Clinton years) or about 0.49 trillion per year (over double that of Clinton).
So far this year, a slimly demo Congress has slowed this to 0.3 trillion per year.
October 1st, 2007 at 2:12 pmAArgh – the last number should have been for Debt January **20** 1993.
October 1st, 2007 at 2:13 pm