ThinkFast: October 22, 2007
ThinkFast: October 22, 2007
Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday issued “his sternest warning to date on Iran.” “We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he said, adding, “The Iranian regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course the international community is prepared to impose serious consequences.”
Legal experts say the granting of retroactive immunity by Congress is “unusual, particularly in a case involving private companies.” Glenn Greenwald notes that former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy spoke out forcefully against retroactive immunity.
Following a cross border raid by Kurdish militants from Iraq killed 17 Turkish soldiers yesterday, pressure increased for Turkey to launch a strike into Northern Iraq, but Turkey’s Prime Minister delayed a decision after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice personally intervened.
“The U.S. military has increased airstrikes in Iraq fivefold this year. … Coalition forces launched 1,140 airstrikes in the first nine months of this year compared with 229 in all of last year.” After a “major bombardment” near Baghdad killed 49 people, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called for U.S. military restraint.
Last spring, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) berated Democrats for “blocking his proposal requiring Members to disclose the existence and value of their personal residences.” McHenry, however, has not disclosed at least three pieces of property “that he owns worth more than $300,000 combined.”
In his new book, former U.N. ambassador John Bolton writes that in 2004, “then-Secretary of State Colin L. Powell secretly attempted to shift U.S. policy on Iran by telling key allies he wanted to offer ‘carrots’ to the Islamic Republic to halt its nuclear ambitions.” Bolton said he “worked hard to thwart Powell’s plans — only to discover, to his dismay, that Powell’s replacement, Condoleezza Rice, would pursue the same approach.”
Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen expressed concerns that the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan had undermined the military’s ability to prevent other conflicts. “Because we have had such an intense focus on the Middle East and Iraq and Afghanistan, there is risk associated with those other parts of the world,” Mullen said.
On 60 Minutes last night, Tom Swetnam, one of the world’s leading fire ecologists, said that the warming climate is fueling mega-fires. “Swetnam says that climate change — global warming — has increased temperatures in the West about one degree and that has caused four times more fires.”
And finally: Salt-n-Peppa’s remix of their 90’s hit “Whatta Man” has a reference to Obama. In the original version, the song contained this line: “A body like Arnold with a Denzel face.” The new version alters the line to read: “A body like Obama…”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Vice President Dick Cheney today issued “his sternest warning to date on Iran.†“We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,†he said, adding, “The Iranian regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course the international community is prepared to impose serious consequences.â€
And the drums beat ever louder.
Never mind that Iran is still over a decade away at best from creating enough weapons-grade fissile material for even one nuclear weapon.
Never mind that even if Iran succeeds in creating a nuke, they wouldn’t dare use it, since the counterattack from Israel and the U.S. would convert the entire nation into a plain of radioactive glass.
Never mind that even if Iran succeeds in creating a nuke, they still have no delivery method for putting this nuke on American soil.
Just beat those drums louder and louder, stifling all rational discourse and all hope of a peaceful solution. This administration has Iran squarely in their sights, and they’re not about to let piddling little concerns like the truth and the sanctity of human life get in their way.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:11 amThe fact that this morning’s ThinkFast has chosen to ignore Bigfoot Awareness Week speaks volumes about the Center for American Progress’ commitment to the War On Mythical Creatures.
It’s obvious that you Saquatch-hugging liberals would love nothing more than complete infiltration of our schools, churches, and government offices by eight-foot tall hairy bipedal cryptids. This is truly a shameful state of affairs, TP.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:11 am“We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,â€
You know, I have a real problem with this. Who in the hell do we think we are to “not allow” any country to do what they want. How would we react if China or Russia said they “would not allow” us to do something? If Israel and Pakistan can have nuclear bombs as a deterrent from being attacked, then why in the hell doesn’t Iran have the same right? From what I can see, Israel has shown more aggression towards it’s neighbors than Iran has in a very long time. Right now Iran is feeling threatened and I don’t blame them for wanting a bomb, if that is even what they are doing in the first place. From what I have read, the IEC and the UN have not even been able to verify that they are going for nuclear technology for power or weapons.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:12 amAfter a “major bombardment†near Baghdad killed 49 people, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called for U.S. military restraint.
It’s too bad Maliki is making so much money off his corruption schemes in Baghdad. If he wasn’t, he would be asking the US to leave his country. He doesn’t listen to the will of his people any more than Bush listens to what we want. They are really two peas in a pod, Bush and Maliki.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:15 amAnd Cheney beats the drums for war against Iran. How many phony baloney reasons will he use? As many as he did for Iraq?
The reason that “we can’t allow Iran to have nukes” is just the first one. Never mind that several other countries have nuclear weapons and we’re not beating them up.
The excuse that “Iran is keeping us from victory in Iraq” (which Bill Kristol has been trumpeting) is the next one. Yes, the Shiites of Iran are helping the Shiites in Iraq in the Iraqi civil war, but to suggest this is the only thing standing in the way of “victory” is remarkably shortsighted.
The REAL reason is “there’s no way to ‘win’ in Iraq and save our faces, so we need another distraction.”
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:16 amThree pieces of property worth $300,000? Surely no one is suggesting that we’re talking about some massive real estate investment, right? It sounds more like three empty lots in today’s market.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:19 amSounds like Deadeye Dick is planning another hunting trip.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:19 amThe real reason for Lunatic Dick’s bloodthirsty warmongering.
Halliburton profits rise almost 20%.
-GSD
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:19 amIt is time for the generals to just say no to Cheney.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:21 amBe on the lookout for a Bigfoot driving a frozen foods delivery truck in New Mexico.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:22 amHe is hairy armed and slanderous.
“The U.S. military has increased airstrikes in Iraq fivefold this year. … ”
Dropping death from the sky is a terrorist act. So is “shock and awe”. Both are stupid tactics in a struggle against extremism.
Too bad we can try “justice and the rule of law”. Sadly, we’ve lost our standing for that, and nothing short of impeachment will restore it.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:23 amI meant can’t try …
sorry
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:24 amBolton said he “worked hard to thwart Powell’s plans — only to discover, to his dismay, that Powell’s replacement, Condoleezza Rice, would pursue the same approach.â€
What is it that Bolton and his other neoCON buddies in the Bush Administration have against a little diplomacy? It has been used successfully for many years by many countries. The credo of this entire administration (with a few exceptions), seems to be “shoot first and ask questions later”. This, to me, is the primary reason why we need to get a Democrat in the Whitehouse, and particularly a Democrat who sees the value in trying diplomacy before aggression, and I am not sure that Hillary fits that bill.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:24 amThree pieces of property worth $300,000? Surely no one is suggesting that we’re talking about some massive real estate investment, right? It sounds more like three empty lots in today’s market.
Comment by gummitch
And your point is? It’s property and he didn’t disclose it after lambasting the Democrats. That makes him a hypocrite, don’t you think? I would also like to know why the Democrats opposed the bill they are referring to. I doubt it was just because of the property disclosure part.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:26 ambilbobaggings sez:
I think you just answered your own question.
The last thing these criminals want is successful diplomacy.
More like “shoot first and lie about it later”.
I am certain she doesn’t.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:28 am“We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,†Cheney said, adding, “The Iranian regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course the international community is prepared to impose serious consequences.â€
Like possibly the outings of even more CIA agents whose job, like Valerie Plame, was to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear technology.
Somebody tell this fascist war profiteer to STFU along with those traitorous chickenhawks Podheretz and Kristol
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:32 amJoint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen expressed concerns that the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan had undermined the military’s ability to prevent other conflicts. “
No sh*t. It’s that “put all your eggs in one basket” conundrum. My biggest fear is here at home. If we have a major disaster anywhere in our country we are SOL because Bush has used our National Guard as Army troops. He’s also appropriated all their equipment so even if we had the manpower, we don’t have anything to back them up.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:33 amBe on the lookout for a Bigfoot driving a frozen foods delivery truck in New Mexico.
He is hairy armed and slanderous.
Comment by Nevar — October 22, 2007 @ 9:22 am
At last, someone who “gets it.”
Now go forth and tell the world, before we see the “smoking gun” in the form of an oversized footprint.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:33 amAnd your point is? It’s property and he didn’t disclose it after lambasting the Democrats. That makes him a hypocrite, don’t you think? I would also like to know why the Democrats opposed the bill they are referring to. I doubt it was just because of the property disclosure part.
Comment by bilbobaggins — October 22, 2007 @ 9:26 am
The article says “personal residence”, not “property”. I’m just as happy to bust Republic hypocrisy as the next guy, but this is just petty.
I would guess he wants to pass himself off as a populist and he’s probably living in a house he inherited, so he can point fingers at rich politicians (Dems) living in big houses.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:35 am#1, Good post, Tripmaster
Cheney has once again been unleashed to bash & berate. That fixed
sneer was never more pronounced, & the war drum is being pounded
like a punch drunk boxer. Pakistan, a ‘terrorist’ nation, has nukes. India
wouldn’t even sign off on the non-proliferation treaty. And we still can’t
even mention Israel’s secret nukes. But the Bushies will decide who
can have nukes. When did Bush & Cheney become the World’s cops?
Bush, you are irrelevant.
Cheney, you’re a dangerous man, but still a complete idiot.
Nancy, time to set the table…let’s have them for lunch.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 amThe article says “personal residenceâ€, not “propertyâ€. I’m just as happy to bust Republic hypocrisy as the next guy, but this is just petty.
Would you feel it was petty if it turned out he got those properties as a quid pro quo payment for some legislation he championed? I believe the reason why people want full disclosure of all financial dealings of our representatives is so that they can’t get away with taking any kind of payment from someone who wants something in return. If you want to nit pick “personal residence” and “personal property”, go for it.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 amtoasterhead and Nevar arer correct. It’s a slam-dunk that Bigfoot has been hiding under our children’s beds and in their closets to terrorize them at night. They are hirsute-extremists and if they take over we will all have to wear hair-coats. Bomb Bigfoot back to the stoneage where it came from.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:43 amAs if Dick’s words mean anything.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:44 amHe’s at this point afraid to be seen on the street.
When the scumbag showed up in my town they covered the entrance
to the hotel and his vehicle with a huge tent so no one give him what
he deserves.
Zimzone sez:
Unfortunately, that’s not too likely…Nancy has her own agenda to pursue.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:48 amRetroactive Immunity is a very slippery slope.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 amWhy isn’t Deadeye Dick totally irrelevant right now? He certainly should be.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:50 amIsn’t Russia providing Iran’s nuke technology?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:51 amMaybe someone should put Darth in the middle of a “drum circle” – you know the ones they do on the public beach? I wonder what he’s look like dancing around at sunset with just a few feathers on?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:52 amVeritas sez:
It’s not a “slope” at all. It’s a fscking cliff.
Retroactive immunity is just another stake in the heart of American democracy (in case the rescinding of habeas corpus wasn’t enough to finish off the beast).
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:52 amChina Bank to Buy $1 Billion Stake in Bear Stearns
By ANDREW ROSS SORKIN 8:37 AM ET
Bear Stearns would also invest in the state-run Chinese investment bank, and the two would pool their Asian businesses outside China.
The sell-off of America to the Chinese continues, unabated. It’s bad enough that they pretty much own us due to the huge debt we owe them, but to sell of our companies and our infrastructure is suicide.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:52 amWhy isn’t Deadeye Dick totally irrelevant right now? He certainly should be.
Because he and his cronies are still running the country right now, and the Democrats are too concerned with possible gains in 2008 to rein him in.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:53 amnevar – did you get a cameo on 60 minutes last night?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:53 amthey were showing part of a crew at the ketchum fires…
thought about you while watching…
:-)
I wonder what he’s look like dancing around at sunset with just a few feathers on?
Comment by Veritas
LOL
I’ll bring the tar…..
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:54 amNEW YORK – The calculus of living paycheck to paycheck in America is getting harder. What used to last four days might last half that long now. Pay the gas bill, but skip breakfast. Eat less for lunch so the kids can have a healthy dinner.
While economists debate whether the country is headed for a recession, some say the financial stress is already the worst since the last downturn at the start of this decade.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071020/ap_on_bi_ge/stretching_paychecks
What??? I thought our economy was booming.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:55 amBe on the lookout for a Bigfoot driving a frozen foods delivery truck in New Mexico.
He is hairy armed and slanderous.
Comment by Nevar — October 22, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Is that the Birds-eye truck with the gun rack over the rear window?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:56 amCheney should be aware that if he “stays on its present course the international community is prepared to impose serious consequences.â€
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:56 amthe worst – bolton has a book out he will need to peddle:
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:58 amface time on the teevee… aaack…
…
thought about you while watching…
:-)
Comment by katy
I’m home in New Mexico, amazingly enough I had a week long assignment I’ve just returned from.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:58 amLate in the year for fires here, from the looks of things in California, I may well keep my bags packed.
Interesting stories as of late regarding the effect warming temperatures are having on wildfire potentials.
Is that the Birds-eye truck with the gun rack over the rear window?
Comment by upside99
I was guessing a Schwann’s truck, they look heavily armored, just what the Bigpoot needs to imagine himself a ruffy-tuffy.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:00 amBomb Bigfoot back to the stoneage where it came from.
Comment by PatrioticLiberalChristian — October 22, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Better yet – nuke him from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:00 ambilbobaggins sez:
The economy is booming…at the moment.
The terrible financial straits most Americans (read: the non-ultra-rich) are finding themselves in is not the product of a recession, but the product of the increasing divide between the have’s and the have-not’s in this country…a divide that is now comparable in breadth to the divide present just before the Great Depression.
What the privileged few at the top of the pile don’t seem to realize is that the entire hill is built upon the backs of those at the bottom. They can take only so much abuse before they collapse, and when they do, they’ll take the banks with them, which will take the markets with them. We all fall down.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:01 amI was guessing a Schwann’s truck, they look heavily armored, just what the Bigpoot needs to imagine himself a ruffy-tuffy.
Comment by Nevar — October 22, 2007 @ 10:00 am
Wow! I hadn’t seen one of those in many years til just a few weeks ago, plying the streets of N. Denver. Guess they are expanding their territory.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:04 amupside99 sez:
Yup…we have them up here in Michigan…the first time I saw one, I was immediately struck by its resemblance to an armored truck. I remember thinking: “Why does meat need that much protection?”. ^_^
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:09 amCheney sez: “The Iranian regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course the international community is prepared to impose serious consequences.â€
I say, you and what army, Dick?
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:09 amGuess they are expanding their territory.
Comment by upside99
Global warming…
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:10 am:)
Yup…we have them up here in Michigan…the first time I saw one, I was immediately struck by its resemblance to an armored truck. I remember thinking: “Why does meat need that much protection?â€. ^_^
Comment by TripMaster Monkey — October 22, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Michigan, HMMMMMMM! Was that in Grand Rapids? Home of Blackwater’s Prince’s wifey, one of the Amway family?
Those trucks just might be carrying all that money around for him, or maybe his private nuke stash.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:16 amgranting of retroactive immunity
is unconstitutional.
Section 9 – Limits on Congress
The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
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.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:17 amSchwanns is a MN company. The trucks look armored because they keep
them at -20F to keep the ice cream & frozen foods from thawing. Those
drivers put in 12 hour days routinely, & were among the first to be ‘online’
with corporate during their routes.
Bigfoot could be posing as a delivery driver while keeping other Bigfoots
frozen in the back. This could all be part of Cheney’s plan to take over
New Mexico. I’m sure Pete & Heather would support that.
Hmmm, I wonder how O. Bigfoot passed his driver’s test?
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:17 amWanna catch a Bigpoot?
Fire up the biggest and shiniest stainless steel gas barbeque you can, open 6 beers and place them on the rack.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:26 amThe sight of the meatless grill, and the chickenless beers will drive him to madness, and he can be easily be accosted using aprons and potholders.
(For an extra audio lure, tune an AM radio to Rush Limbaugh.)
“We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Who’s “we”, Mr. Vice-President-to-an-unpopular-lame-duck-idiot?
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 amCondi intervenes in Turkey. She probably asked Turkey to wait until Bush is out of office until they attack so it looks like the Democrats caused it.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:39 amCondi in Turkey?, I wonder if she had to escort a palett of cash…Just like the bribe we paid them to fly over their air space at the beginning of the Iraq killings…Think it cost us 10 million then, wonder what the price tag was this time….To damn bad the oil companies don’t have to pay for all this war madness instead of all of us….Gas is up again and as usual we are paying all side’s of this evil so the worst pres and terrible handler can be dictator’s..
The “we” cheney refer’s to must be his little mouse in his pocket…..Blessings
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 amSalt-n-Peppa’s remix of their 90’s hit “Whatta Man†has a reference to Obama. In the original version, the song contained this line: “A body like Arnold with a Denzel face.†The new version alters the line to read: “A body like Obama…â€
Ewww. Not that I was a big fan of the original lyrics but this change doesn’t improve the song at all.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 am“The Iranian regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course the international community is prepared to impose serious consequences.â€
Consequences include outing secret operatives who have real data on the existence of weapons.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:22 amWhy keep ‘beating war drums’ when you have no one to answer to, no consequence for being wrong in the past, and no regard for logistical mechanisms required to follow through on your rhetoric?
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:29 amFrom Raw Story:
“SIRNAK, Turkey – Dozens of Turkish military vehicles loaded with soldiers and heavy weapons rumbled toward the Iraq border on Monday after an ambush by guerrilla Kurds that left eight soldiers missing and killed 12. Iraq’s president said the rebels would announce a cease-fire later in the day.
Turkey’s military said it had had no contact with the eight soldiers after Sunday’s clash and said 34 guerrillas had been killed so far in a counteroffensive. A pro-Kurdish news agency said the eight were captured — a claim that would make it the largest seizure since 1995, when guerrillas grabbed eight soldiers and took them to northern Iraq.
The ambush on Sunday outraged an already frustrated public. Demonstrations erupted across the country and opposition leaders called for an immediate strike against rebel bases in Iraq, despite appeals for restraint from Iraq, the U.S. and European leaders.
In Washington, the State Department said the United States has opened a diplomatic “full court press” to urge Turkey not to invade northern Iraq.
“In our view, there are better ways to deal with this issue,” spokesman Sean McCormack said, stressing that the United States regards the PKK as a terrorist organization.
President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, said the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known by its Kurdish acronym PKK, would make a cease-fire announcement later Monday.
Talabani’s remarks were made to reporters at the airport in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah before he flew to Baghdad and confirmed by his office. More details were not immediately available.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a telephone conversation on Sunday night that Turkey expected “speedy steps from the U.S.” in cracking down on Kurdish rebels and that Rice, who called the Turkish leader, asked “for a few days” from him.
McCormack did not dispute the account of the conversation but declined to comment on what Rice had meant by asking for “a few days.”
Erdogan did not specify what he meant by “speedy steps,” but he has often urged the United States and Iraq to crack down on the PKK. Turkish leaders say it is the responsibility of those countries to do whatever is necessary to destroy the guerrilla group’s bases in northern Iraq.”
So where’s Exley, and his daily “Iraq is getting better” posting?
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:32 amDraft ALL GOP chickenhawks 1st.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:42 amI’m 100% in favor of an all-out attack on Iranian Quds encampments so long as Cheney is strapped—alive—to the first bomb out of the rack. Then and only then will his sacrifice even begin to approach those of the young men and women he’s sent off to die in search of Halliburton’s quarterly dividend.
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:30 pmYou may show your appreciation for all the attention you have gotten this morning, Bigpoot, by sending a donation to the Gov. Bill Richardson for President Campaign.
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:31 pmThank you.
Bush logic:
The US launching attacking an occupying a country that posed no threat? The US saber-rattling against another based solely on innuendo and accusations? Perfectly ok
Turkey launching a cross-border strike against a guerrilla group that injured killed and some of its soldiers in a ‘terrorist’ attack? Not ok, Turkey must show restraint.
Methinks the Bush administration should follow its own advice.
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:16 pmsee how much money the state, and Bill Richardson, gleans from the oil and gas industry in New Mexico.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
What’s your point?
The state gets a lot of money from energy revenues, as is only proper.
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:49 pmAt least under Richardson it is going towards education and infrastructure, as opposed to the pockets of the oil, gas and weapons industries.
More oversight is also given to environmental concerns as well.
Salt-n-Peppa’s remix of their 90’s hit “Whatta Man†has a reference to Obama. In the original version, the song contained this line: “A body like Arnold with a Denzel face.†The new version alters the line to read: “A body like Obama…â€
Ewww. Not that I was a big fan of the original lyrics but this change doesn’t improve the song at all.
Comment by corinne — October 22, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Well, not only does it not improve the song, but it actually implies that Obama’s physique is his most impressive feature which is a pretty ludicrous suggestion. (Let’s face it: Arnold’s physique IS his most impressive feature, or at least it was when the song first came out.) Barack Obama doesn’t really come off as all that physically impressive, and I imagine that his fans who do have lustful fantasies about his body aren’t imagining a “Denzel face” but like the face he’s got. (On a side note–possibly in the TMI category–I think Barack’s face is pretty much equal to Denzel’s, though I’m not impressed by either of them.)
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:02 pm“I own my own business.
The only people I work for are my customers.”
Comment by O. Bigfoot
Just like Jeff Gannon…
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:11 pmFrom CNN – Walmart beat yearly target to sell 100 million compact fluorescent bulbs by three months. Energy savings of this quantity of bulbs is equivalent to removing 700,000 cars from the nation’s roads.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/LATU11802102007-1.htm
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:21 pm>No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
Unfortunately past precedent has established that this doesnt apply to civil cases. However, I STILL think that this retroactive immunity is unconstitional, in that its functional effect would be to allow the goverment to immunize from liability those who violate a persons constitional rights at thier request. I’m struggling to articulate the specific argument that would used to challenge the constitonality of this immunity, but it just doesnt seem like something the constitution would allow. If this sort of immunity were allowed, it seems as if the government could just as easily have some civilian thugs beat you and then make then immune from you suing them.. there is no fundamental difference between this and what thier trying to do..
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:03 pm