Thursday, May 31, 2007
More Looney Tunes
Dan Froomkin of the Washington Post informs readers that all the hard work is showing signs of finally getting to Bush.
"Friends of [Bush] from Texas were shocked recently to find him nearly wild-eyed, thumping himself on the chest three times while he repeated 'I am the president!' He also made it clear he was setting Iraq up so his successor could not get out of 'our country's destiny.'"That's right folks, our president is cracking up; and he must be stopped before he makes good on his threat to leave Iraq so screwed up that there is no way out.
They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!
They're coming to take me away, Ho-Ho, Hee-Hee, Ha-Haa!!
To the Funny Farm
Where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those nice young men
In their clean white coats
And They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!!!!
Jim Gilmore -- Still Crazy After All These Years
Poor former Gov. Jim Gilmore, he's become even more delusional with time, if that's possible.
The guy who promised to do away with the hated property taxes in Virginia and nearly bankrupted the state before waving "adios" in shame in '01, now, for some unknown reason, thinks he's uniquely qualified to lead the GOP brigade of die-hard blowhards seven years later.
Forget Rudy Thompson McRomney. The Hill's Congress Blog reports that Gilmore thinks that it is up to him to keep the White House in the safe hands of Republicans.
The guy who promised to do away with the hated property taxes in Virginia and nearly bankrupted the state before waving "adios" in shame in '01, now, for some unknown reason, thinks he's uniquely qualified to lead the GOP brigade of die-hard blowhards seven years later.
Forget Rudy Thompson McRomney. The Hill's Congress Blog reports that Gilmore thinks that it is up to him to keep the White House in the safe hands of Republicans.
“As our nation faces grave challenges abroad and renewed liberalism at home, we as a party seem poised to abandon those principles. The three leading challengers for our parties nomination may be good men, but they simply don’t share our conservative values.”
Well, like an old broken vinyl record, looney Gilmore remains stuck humming yesterday's screechy hymn of family, er, conservative values. View for yourself.
My dear former governor, Americans stopped being enamored with the so-called conservative values agenda that brought so much shame and carnage right around the time we learned there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, a CIA operative was maliciously outed, New Orleans drowned, thousands of our soldiers died, Americans learned Big Brother was listening to their private conversations, gas prices skyrocketed, the economy stalled and Bush toadies kept insisting that the light from the train at the end of the tunnel was freedom on the march.
In other words, get a new tune or stay lost.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Centrist Judges for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Two seats are open in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Sens. John Warner and Jim Webb are busy combing over a list for consensus candidates to recommend to the White House.
The 4th Circuit has a reputation for being extremely conservative and hears appeal cases from Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, and West Virginia.
Folks may recall that shortly after President Bush nominated Samuel Alito to the U.S. State Supreme Court, Judge J. Michael Luttig, who had been a top condender for the spot, stunned conservatives by resigning from a life appointment in the Appeals Court.
Oh, what a difference our junior senator has made to the equation. With Dems in the majority and Goober Allen gone, the consensus candidates between Webb and Warner will look absolutely nothing like the ones that would likely have emerged if Allen had won. Or the ones Bush was trying to shove down our throats before the '06 election.
Just last year, Bush was trying to appoint William Haynes and Terrence Boyle to the Appeals Court.
The 4th Circuit has a reputation for being extremely conservative and hears appeal cases from Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, and West Virginia.
Folks may recall that shortly after President Bush nominated Samuel Alito to the U.S. State Supreme Court, Judge J. Michael Luttig, who had been a top condender for the spot, stunned conservatives by resigning from a life appointment in the Appeals Court.
Oh, what a difference our junior senator has made to the equation. With Dems in the majority and Goober Allen gone, the consensus candidates between Webb and Warner will look absolutely nothing like the ones that would likely have emerged if Allen had won. Or the ones Bush was trying to shove down our throats before the '06 election.
Just last year, Bush was trying to appoint William Haynes and Terrence Boyle to the Appeals Court.
Haynes is the Pentagon's top lawyer, and was an architect of the Bush's now-abandoned policy toward treatment of detainees in the war on terror.Boyle is a federal judge in North Carolina, and his appointment to the 4th Circuit [had] provoked opposition from Democrats who cited his rulings in civil rights and disability cases, as well as his higher-than-average reversal rate by higher courts.
And a trip a little further down memory lane might bring to mind the time that Bush a mere few years ago almost succeeded in appointing petty thief extraordinaire Claude Allen to the Court.
Elections matter. Thank you Virginia voters for saving the Commonwealth!
Elections matter. Thank you Virginia voters for saving the Commonwealth!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Sexual Predators May Be Eligible for the Death Penalty
With bated breath, Texas awaits the signature of Gov. Rick Perry that will decree sexual predators eligible for the ultimate sanction.
As if we didn't have enough crimes to the list of felonies that might warrant the state to execute one of its citizens, the Texas Legislature decided this year to add sex offenders to its death-row docket.
The bill "[i]mposes a possible death penalty for sex offenders who are twice convicted of raping children under 14."
Hello, are you watching former Congressman Mark Foley? How about you, former South Dakota State Representative Ted Klaudt? Or you, former mayor of Clarkfield in Minnesota, Jeffrey Kyle Randall? Pay close attention, former Floyd County leader Bobby Stumbo of Kentucky.
It looks like the needle will not just be for the hapless poor anymore. A slow painful death by asphyxiation may be in the cards for the rich and powerful. Remember, it recently took the state of Ohio almost two hours and ten tries to kill Christopher Newton.
Folks should feel safer already.
As if we didn't have enough crimes to the list of felonies that might warrant the state to execute one of its citizens, the Texas Legislature decided this year to add sex offenders to its death-row docket.
The bill "[i]mposes a possible death penalty for sex offenders who are twice convicted of raping children under 14."
Hello, are you watching former Congressman Mark Foley? How about you, former South Dakota State Representative Ted Klaudt? Or you, former mayor of Clarkfield in Minnesota, Jeffrey Kyle Randall? Pay close attention, former Floyd County leader Bobby Stumbo of Kentucky.
It looks like the needle will not just be for the hapless poor anymore. A slow painful death by asphyxiation may be in the cards for the rich and powerful. Remember, it recently took the state of Ohio almost two hours and ten tries to kill Christopher Newton.
Folks should feel safer already.
Conservatives Decry Massive Executive Overreach
Yet another story about true die-hard conservatives decrying this most liberal of wolves in the White House who clothed himself in sheep's wrap and has fooled everyone for the past seven long years.
The ol' rascal has stealthily been passing himself off as Reagan's heir all the while alarmingly accruing to himself and the presidency endless and unrestricted power.
Viguerie, whose new book is called “Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause,” told me how the conservative movement has been undermined: “It’s not any one thing, but, when you add everything up, what you have is a massive overreach of executive powers, and massive overspending by people who claim they’re conservatives.From Viguerie to Newt to DeLay, this crazed maniac at the end of his term must be stopped; well, especially since it's likely that Dems will hold all levers of power after the '08 elections.
Earth to Warped View, get on the new page. Your defense and attack in your weekend rant is oh, so very yesterday.
In the meantime, for the new cadre of GOP faithful robots with brand spanking new talking points, please spare me your crocodile outrage. Where the hell were your voices before the mid-term elections when Dubya insisted we had to trash the constitution and every law he didn't like, including the Geneva Convention, in order to expand his powers, er, to save the the Union?!?
Give DC Residents a Vote in Congress
One has to love the Republican batwing faction who finds the bill making its way to the president's desk giving District of Columbia residents a seat in the halls of Congress objectionable because according to them, gasp, it is unconstitutional.
You see, the founding fathers made no provision for the voting rights of residents in the "federal government district" inserted in the Constitution, as the Washington Post notes in a recent article.
When Congress assumed total control of the District through legislation outside of the constitution and Bill or Rights, it seems to Howling Latina that the future of the nation's capital was left solely in the hands of Congress.
Equal to Congress taking away residents rights to vote, the 210th Congress can certainly right this grave injustice by giving them back representation.
As Congress taketh away, Congress can giveth; and it's the representative and democratic thing to do.
You see, the founding fathers made no provision for the voting rights of residents in the "federal government district" inserted in the Constitution, as the Washington Post notes in a recent article.
The main argument advanced by the bill's opponents is that the Constitution reserves House membership for representatives from states. And the District is not a state, they note.And yet...District residents voted in their old districts that had been ceded by Virginia and Maryland to the U.S. government to form a new government district until 1801 when Congress passed the Organic Act that cavalierly took away their rights.
When Congress assumed total control of the District through legislation outside of the constitution and Bill or Rights, it seems to Howling Latina that the future of the nation's capital was left solely in the hands of Congress.
Equal to Congress taking away residents rights to vote, the 210th Congress can certainly right this grave injustice by giving them back representation.
As Congress taketh away, Congress can giveth; and it's the representative and democratic thing to do.
Monday, May 28, 2007
McCain Likely to Vote for No-Confidence
Political theatre or no theatre, the Democrats plan to hold a no-confidence vote in the Senate in mid-June.
How will Repubicans respond?!? Will they filibuster?!?
Certainly one can readily conjure the image of administration bootlickers blocking the vote. But that would require 60 votes. Who will have the balls to impede accountability?!?
Expect every Democratic senator to vote for the no-confidence measure along with a few Republicans; and to the list, be sure to include Sen. John McCain.
Only recently the maverick senator in earth-shattering news told the press that one of his tenets as president would be to hold his Cabinet accountable. The Associated Press via Los Angeles Chronicle writes:
Folks, the vote is gonna happen; and who knows, it may even garner 60 votes. Unfortunately, it probably won't make any difference since Gonzo is all that stands between the president and an indictment for obstruction of justice, war crimes, lying to Congress, outing a CIA operative and Lord only knows what else.
Sixty votes and it's impeachment or BUST!
How will Repubicans respond?!? Will they filibuster?!?
Certainly one can readily conjure the image of administration bootlickers blocking the vote. But that would require 60 votes. Who will have the balls to impede accountability?!?
Expect every Democratic senator to vote for the no-confidence measure along with a few Republicans; and to the list, be sure to include Sen. John McCain.
Only recently the maverick senator in earth-shattering news told the press that one of his tenets as president would be to hold his Cabinet accountable. The Associated Press via Los Angeles Chronicle writes:
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain is promising to hold Cabinet chiefs accountable for ensuring the integrity of their agencies and proposing to withhold money from government programs that don't meet performance expectations.The list of GOPers calling for Gonzales to resign continues to grow. Earlier, Sen. Arlen Specter said that Gonzo would likely resign before the Senate vote of no-confidence.
'It is essential to our party's success, and to the nation's honor that we claim sincerely the mantle of reform,' the Arizona Republican says in a speech he plans to give Monday at the Oklahoma statehouse in Oklahoma City.
Folks, the vote is gonna happen; and who knows, it may even garner 60 votes. Unfortunately, it probably won't make any difference since Gonzo is all that stands between the president and an indictment for obstruction of justice, war crimes, lying to Congress, outing a CIA operative and Lord only knows what else.
Sixty votes and it's impeachment or BUST!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Bush Makes Power Grab
Flippin' channels on television last night, Howling Latina came across Jerome Corsi, the radical leftist author of "Unfit for Command" and contributing scribe on that most leftist blog, WorldNetDaily.
What has Mr. Corsi so incessed this time around is the little presidential directive Bush recently signed to save democracy and the American way. And no, we are not talking about the bill to fund American troops in Iraq, Howling Latina is referring to the National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive.
Why, of course the United States needs a comprehensive national policy for the continuity of the federal government in the event David Gregory's children and Jim Rutenberg's chow chow are attacked by terrorist evildoers who hate our freedom. In early May, President Bush assigned to himself extraordinary regal powers to save our hard-earned liberty and the constitution.
What's more, even if Americans are not directly attacked, the president would still need to have absolute flexibility to preemptively strike at anyone and anything that might impede America's march toward global dominance, er, I mean, toward world freedom and justice.
The policy "prescribes continuity requirements for ALL executive departments and agencies" in the event of a "catastrophic emergency," thoughtfully limited to "any incident...that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government function."
You see, no there, there.
Our fearless and wise president will determine when a "catastrophic emergency has occurred." And after that, he, and only he will have the power to "take over all government functions and direct all private sector activities" to make sure America "emerge[s] from the emergency with an 'enduring constitutional government.'" Anybody got a problem with that?!?
Well, apparently Mr. Corsi does.
What has Mr. Corsi so incessed this time around is the little presidential directive Bush recently signed to save democracy and the American way. And no, we are not talking about the bill to fund American troops in Iraq, Howling Latina is referring to the National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive.
Why, of course the United States needs a comprehensive national policy for the continuity of the federal government in the event David Gregory's children and Jim Rutenberg's chow chow are attacked by terrorist evildoers who hate our freedom. In early May, President Bush assigned to himself extraordinary regal powers to save our hard-earned liberty and the constitution.
What's more, even if Americans are not directly attacked, the president would still need to have absolute flexibility to preemptively strike at anyone and anything that might impede America's march toward global dominance, er, I mean, toward world freedom and justice.
The policy "prescribes continuity requirements for ALL executive departments and agencies" in the event of a "catastrophic emergency," thoughtfully limited to "any incident...that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government function."
You see, no there, there.
Our fearless and wise president will determine when a "catastrophic emergency has occurred." And after that, he, and only he will have the power to "take over all government functions and direct all private sector activities" to make sure America "emerge[s] from the emergency with an 'enduring constitutional government.'" Anybody got a problem with that?!?
Well, apparently Mr. Corsi does.
Translated into layman's terms, when the president determines a national emergency has occurred, the president can declare to the office of the presidency powers usually assumed by dictators to direct any and all government and business activities until the emergency is declared over.
And Corsi also has a problem with the fact that Bush could direct the federal goverment to take over our schools, libraries, businesses, state and city government, and everything under the sun.
The directive issued May 9 makes no attempt to reconcile the powers created there for the National Continuity Coordinator with the National Emergency Act. As specified by U.S. Code Title 50, Chapter 34, Subchapter II, Section 1621, the National Emergency Act allows that the president may declare a national emergency but requires that such proclamation "shall immediately be transmitted to the
Congress and published in the Federal Register."A Congressional Research Service study notes that under the National Emergency Act, the president "may seize property, organize and control the means of production, seize commodities, assign military forces abroad, institute martial law, seize and control all transportation and communication, regulate the operation of private enterprise, restrict travel, and, in a variety of ways, control the lives of
United States citizens."
Geez, what is wrong with this Corsi guy. Can't he see that King George is just trying to save the Union?!!?
Friday, May 25, 2007
Bullshit from Mainstream Media & Real News
In reading the latest trumped buzz about a Democratic presidential candidate, Howling Latina read the blazing headliner in this morning's Washington Post about Hillary Clinton and thought it was quite a snoozer.
Folks, no banner headline is needed to tell us that candidates for high public office are gasp, ambitious. It goes with the territory.
Of course, in other breathtaking news, readers also learned that Hillary may not have "read the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq...before voting."
So there was Chris Matthews on "Hardball" this evening going off the deep end trying to get someone, anyone, from his show to go ballistic with outrage along with him because Hillary voted for a bill she may not have read from cover to cover.
You know, just like El Presidente does each and every time he signs any legal or illegal document. Such as when he signed the order to break international law and listen in on Americans; or when he signed the order to use alternative interrogation methods in Europe and Guantanamo; or when he gave the go-ahead for Wolfowitz to fire all the Iraqi Baathist that left the huge gaping power vacuum in that country; or when he signed off on hiring only loyal Bushies at Justice; or....
Well, Howling Latina hopes the fact that Sens. Brownback, Edwards and Biden have told reporters that they can't say for sure if they actually read the very same report before voting for war doesn't cause all the blood flowing to Tweety's brain to block and give him a major stroke.
In fact, Politico was kind enough to remind readers of an old April 27, 2004 article by Dana Priest where she reported that "no more than six senators' read the classified version of the NIE, which required the senator actually going to a secure room to read."
Politico also notes that the current and former chairman of the intelligence commitee, Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Pat Roberts read the report but for the rest, it was mostly Cliff Notes from staff.
Now if Tweety wants some real groundbreaking news, how about the fact that Bush and his merry band of criminals at the White House were warned by the CIA that if they invaded Iraq, the Middle East would go to hell in a handbasket, according to the just released assessment of pre-war intelligence as noted by the Washington Post?
The U.S. intelligence community accurately predicted months before the Iraq war that al-Qaeda would link up with elements from former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime and militant Islamists to conduct terrorist attacks against U.S. forces in that country, according to a report released today by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.Of course, that's just ol' news; move along and yet...
That's right, it's all partisanship and political theatre."The most chilling and prescient warning from the intelligence community prior to the war was that the American invasion would bring about instability in Iraq that would be exploited by Iran and al Qaeda terrorists," Sen. John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W. Va.), chairman of the committee and three other Democratic panel members wrote in additional views attached to the 229 page report.
Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), vice chairman of the panel, and three other Republican members said the assessments were "not a crystal ball" and that the warnings emphasized in the committee report "lacked detail or specificity that would have guided military planners." Overall, the Republicans said the report "exaggerates the significance of the prewar assessments" and that the Phase II inquiry itself "has become too embroiled in politics and partisanship."
Gotta love this administration and their toadies. Bush and Company obstruct, delay and choke off oversight with their last breath for as long as they can and then have the sheer balls to decry the politics of oversight all the while claiming that anything new unearthed was already vented by the media and disclosed.
Nothing to see behind the deadly black curtain; we told you to move along. Get!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Go Billie, Go!!!!
Happy news, the Democratic candidate for the 31st District has picked up $22,811 in the first quarter.
Not too shabby!!!!
For those who don't know, Bill Day is running against the delegate who wants to criminalize farmers, shop owners, and yes, child-bearing woman. He opposes the guest work program endorsed by Bush, and like Jackson Miller and his ilk, wants to criminalize every poor farmer and business owner who might have hired an illegal.
Lingamfelter is an extremist of the worst kind in the mold of George W who thinks that he has a direct link to God every time he proposes some batwing idea. Just this past year, he voted to criminalize religious organizations he professes to love if they give aid and comfort to their fellow man.
Yes, I was hungry and I was asked for my national ID card. Whatever happened to the Beatitudes?
Mr. Family Man doesn't give a hoot about our children; or that the size of our classrooms are to the point that teaching is almost impossible; teachers are lucky if they can just keep a semblance of order. Classrooms are packed with kids liked sardines in a can of oil.
You see, Lingamfelter is opposed to raising taxes, except when he leaves his long overdue transporation bill on the table for constituents to pick-up the tab. There he goes running out the back door to talk about Jesus and how he's 100 percent pro-life.
Get the hangers, ready, ladies;that's next. With this batwing Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade is about to go back to the states. And Scott wants to take away your right to choose.
What's more, Northern Virginia is not getting their fair share of their hard-earned tax $$$; and the latest transporation bill that allows jurisdictions to raise taxes even more just so Bubba in his rural districts can continue to reap the rewards of our labor is a BUM DEAL!
One thousand Democrats, $50 each and Bill Day will win!!!!
Not too shabby!!!!
For those who don't know, Bill Day is running against the delegate who wants to criminalize farmers, shop owners, and yes, child-bearing woman. He opposes the guest work program endorsed by Bush, and like Jackson Miller and his ilk, wants to criminalize every poor farmer and business owner who might have hired an illegal.
Lingamfelter is an extremist of the worst kind in the mold of George W who thinks that he has a direct link to God every time he proposes some batwing idea. Just this past year, he voted to criminalize religious organizations he professes to love if they give aid and comfort to their fellow man.
Yes, I was hungry and I was asked for my national ID card. Whatever happened to the Beatitudes?
Scottie is the guy who does the persecution.Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land.Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Mr. Family Man doesn't give a hoot about our children; or that the size of our classrooms are to the point that teaching is almost impossible; teachers are lucky if they can just keep a semblance of order. Classrooms are packed with kids liked sardines in a can of oil.
You see, Lingamfelter is opposed to raising taxes, except when he leaves his long overdue transporation bill on the table for constituents to pick-up the tab. There he goes running out the back door to talk about Jesus and how he's 100 percent pro-life.
Get the hangers, ready, ladies;that's next. With this batwing Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade is about to go back to the states. And Scott wants to take away your right to choose.
What's more, Northern Virginia is not getting their fair share of their hard-earned tax $$$; and the latest transporation bill that allows jurisdictions to raise taxes even more just so Bubba in his rural districts can continue to reap the rewards of our labor is a BUM DEAL!
One thousand Democrats, $50 each and Bill Day will win!!!!
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Karl Rove is an Atheist...
In a New York Times interview with Christopher Hitchens, author of the book, God Is Not Great, Hitchens confides that Karl Rove is no Christian. In fact, not only is Rove no Christian, but he's not even godly, oh hell, he's not even human.
Now should we be surprised?!? Who can ever forget his evil smirking face on the tube at the White House correspondence dinner jesting with media elites how much he liked to "tear the tops off of small animals."
Of course, unbeknownst to the audience, Bush's brain was actually talking about the little critters in the audience as well.
Meanwhile back at the interview, Hitchens freely discussed his disdain for religion and then dropped a bomb. It seems some very, very high administration official also shares his heathen worldview.
This pathetic, sociopathic, sanctimonious hypocrite has a core that mirrors the image of everything his Republican base loathes. They've been so snookered that if they truly believe in the Word they'll find more than a few similarities between Rove and the Antichrist. And that ain't no stretch...
Now should we be surprised?!? Who can ever forget his evil smirking face on the tube at the White House correspondence dinner jesting with media elites how much he liked to "tear the tops off of small animals."
Of course, unbeknownst to the audience, Bush's brain was actually talking about the little critters in the audience as well.
Meanwhile back at the interview, Hitchens freely discussed his disdain for religion and then dropped a bomb. It seems some very, very high administration official also shares his heathen worldview.
I know something which is known to few but is not a secret. Karl Rove is not a believer, and he doesn’t shout it from the rooftops, but when asked, he answers quite honestly. I think the way he puts it is, “I’m not fortunate enough to be a person of faith.”For the mercy of God, is there anything, any tiny little smidgen of ANYTHING that is authentic about Karl Rove?!?
This pathetic, sociopathic, sanctimonious hypocrite has a core that mirrors the image of everything his Republican base loathes. They've been so snookered that if they truly believe in the Word they'll find more than a few similarities between Rove and the Antichrist. And that ain't no stretch...
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Nominees for U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia
Democratic Sen. Jim Webb is making his presence felt with the recent two vacancies in U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Daily Press reports that Republican Sen. John Warner and Webb have collaborated to recommend the following seven candidates to President Bush for the two judicial openings: Joanne F. Alper of Arlington; Mark S. Davis of Portsmouth; Dennis W. Dohnal of Richmond; David J. Novak of Montpelier; Jeri K. Somers of Arlington; Jonathan C. Thacher of Fairfax Station; and Anthony J. Trenga of Alexandria.
Somehow....Howling Latina doesn't think Fairfax Circuit Judge Thacher has too good of a chance of being chosen by Bush. Thacher was the guy who ran up to the Prince William County jail to investigate whether a "retainer" had been issued by prison officials to John Allen Muhammad, outraging the prosecution team.
Thacher ended up having to recuse himself and the case was eventually thrown out by the new judge.
Virginia Lawyers Weekly in a March 5, 2007 article reports that Arlington Circuit Judge Joanne F. Alper and U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis W. Dohnal of the Richmond division earned the highest ranking of all the nominees.
Alper was the presiding judge in the jury trial of anti-Bush demonstrators. Right before the '04 elections, about 100 protestors had gathered outside the Bush-Cheney campaign headquarters in Arlington. When asked to leave, some refused, chained themselves to doors and each other and started to "chant" against administration AIDS policies.
The protestors were soon arrested and charged with trespassing. And during trial, the no-nonsense judge warned protestors and defense counsel in front of the jury: "I do not want these individuals making speeches about AIDS."
Although Dohnal is actually the top candidate based on recommendations by six statewide bar groups, it may not be enough. You see, he's hardly a loyal "Bushie." Dohmal ruled against the Virginia Republican party in the eavesdropping scandal when they had the balls to sue their insurance company and try to collect the $950,000 they had to fork over for illegally snooping on Democrats.
The Virginia Bar Association highly recommended Dohnal, 61, and Alper, 56 and the Virginia Women Attorneys Association highly endorsed Dohnal; they also recommended Alper.
VWAA recommended Fairfax Circuit Judge Jonathan C. Thacher, 59, Davis of Portsmouth, Novak of Montpelier, Somers of Arlington and Trenga of Alexandria.
VBA endorsed Portsmouth Circuit Judge Mark S. Davis, 44, Jeri K. Somers, 46, an administrative judge for the U.S. Civilian Board of Contract Appeals in Washington, David J. Novak, 45, an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District and Anthony J. Trenga, 57, a civil litigator at Miller & Chevalier of Washington, DC.
The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association rated Dohnal, Alper, Davis, and Trenga highly qualified and Somers, Thacher and Novak qualified.
The Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys rated Alper, Davis, Dohnal, Somers highly qualified.
You may recall, Virginia's Eastern District made post-9/11 headlines in United States v. Zacarias Moussaoui, United States v. John Walker Lindh and Yaser Hamdi v. Donald Rumsfeld.
Dollars to a donut that Novak, the assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District known as the "prosecution team's death-penalty expert" gets the nod from Bush. Just what Virginia needs, another noose happy judge.
Oh, by the way, guys; the two nominees will have to get through the Senate Judiciary Committee and be confirmed by the full Senate. Now ain't we glad we've got the majority and Webb on our team!
Daily Press reports that Republican Sen. John Warner and Webb have collaborated to recommend the following seven candidates to President Bush for the two judicial openings: Joanne F. Alper of Arlington; Mark S. Davis of Portsmouth; Dennis W. Dohnal of Richmond; David J. Novak of Montpelier; Jeri K. Somers of Arlington; Jonathan C. Thacher of Fairfax Station; and Anthony J. Trenga of Alexandria.
Somehow....Howling Latina doesn't think Fairfax Circuit Judge Thacher has too good of a chance of being chosen by Bush. Thacher was the guy who ran up to the Prince William County jail to investigate whether a "retainer" had been issued by prison officials to John Allen Muhammad, outraging the prosecution team.
Thacher ended up having to recuse himself and the case was eventually thrown out by the new judge.
Virginia Lawyers Weekly in a March 5, 2007 article reports that Arlington Circuit Judge Joanne F. Alper and U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis W. Dohnal of the Richmond division earned the highest ranking of all the nominees.
Alper was the presiding judge in the jury trial of anti-Bush demonstrators. Right before the '04 elections, about 100 protestors had gathered outside the Bush-Cheney campaign headquarters in Arlington. When asked to leave, some refused, chained themselves to doors and each other and started to "chant" against administration AIDS policies.
The protestors were soon arrested and charged with trespassing. And during trial, the no-nonsense judge warned protestors and defense counsel in front of the jury: "I do not want these individuals making speeches about AIDS."
Although Dohnal is actually the top candidate based on recommendations by six statewide bar groups, it may not be enough. You see, he's hardly a loyal "Bushie." Dohmal ruled against the Virginia Republican party in the eavesdropping scandal when they had the balls to sue their insurance company and try to collect the $950,000 they had to fork over for illegally snooping on Democrats.
The Virginia Bar Association highly recommended Dohnal, 61, and Alper, 56 and the Virginia Women Attorneys Association highly endorsed Dohnal; they also recommended Alper.
VWAA recommended Fairfax Circuit Judge Jonathan C. Thacher, 59, Davis of Portsmouth, Novak of Montpelier, Somers of Arlington and Trenga of Alexandria.
VBA endorsed Portsmouth Circuit Judge Mark S. Davis, 44, Jeri K. Somers, 46, an administrative judge for the U.S. Civilian Board of Contract Appeals in Washington, David J. Novak, 45, an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District and Anthony J. Trenga, 57, a civil litigator at Miller & Chevalier of Washington, DC.
The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association rated Dohnal, Alper, Davis, and Trenga highly qualified and Somers, Thacher and Novak qualified.
The Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys rated Alper, Davis, Dohnal, Somers highly qualified.
You may recall, Virginia's Eastern District made post-9/11 headlines in United States v. Zacarias Moussaoui, United States v. John Walker Lindh and Yaser Hamdi v. Donald Rumsfeld.
Dollars to a donut that Novak, the assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District known as the "prosecution team's death-penalty expert" gets the nod from Bush. Just what Virginia needs, another noose happy judge.
Oh, by the way, guys; the two nominees will have to get through the Senate Judiciary Committee and be confirmed by the full Senate. Now ain't we glad we've got the majority and Webb on our team!
Friday, May 04, 2007
Awesome Kaine
There is an uplifting contemporary Christian song that goes something like this: "My God is an awesome God, he reigns from heaven above, with wisdom power and love, my God is an awesome God!"
Well, in the spirit of the sentiment, Howling Latina conjured up the song after reading an article by the Washington Post.
Meanwhile, enjoy one of my favorite poems by Emily Dickinson:
Well, in the spirit of the sentiment, Howling Latina conjured up the song after reading an article by the Washington Post.
Oh yes, Job indeed was mad at God. As was Jacob when he wrestled with God for a blessing. Kaine is soo spiritually connected. What a great asset and leader he is to our state.[A]fter the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech, Kaine...perfected the political art of connecting with religious voters, even though he maintains strong ties to the socially liberal, and somewhat secular, base of the Democratic Party.
A day after the shootings, Kaine delivered what many describe as a masterful speech at Virginia Tech's convocation service to honor the victims. Kaine, quoting the Bible, counseled the students that it was okay for them to grieve. He referenced the story of Job, who lost his livestock, servants and 10 children on the same day.
"He was angry at his Creator," Kaine said of Job. "He argued with God and he didn't lose his faith. It's okay to argue. It's okay to be angry. Those emotions are natural."
Meanwhile, enjoy one of my favorite poems by Emily Dickinson:
I NEVER lost as much but twice, And that was in the sod; Twice have I stood a beggar Before the door of God!
Angels, twice descending, Reimbursed my store.
Burglar, banker, father, I am poor once more!
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Republican Debate..and Security...and Aerial Protest
Howling Latina can't stomach the thought of listening to Chris Matthews and a roomful of batwings. She'll have to wait for the talking points. However, she is looking forward to the aerial visuals of the protesting airplanes.
In the meantime, the news by the Washington Post that Obama had to get Secret Service protection should come as no surprise in light of the vitriol directed at him from the Rush Limbaughs of the world.
Anyway, according to Politico via Raw Story, "[t]he planes [are] set to circle the event throughout the duration of the debate."
Let the show begin...and may the best man lose!
In the meantime, the news by the Washington Post that Obama had to get Secret Service protection should come as no surprise in light of the vitriol directed at him from the Rush Limbaughs of the world.
Obama, who frequently draws crowds in the thousands at campaign stops, requested the protection. Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren and Department of Homeland Security officials said they were not aware of any threats to the Illinois senator.HL was barely a teen when Bobby was shot and remembers it all too well.
Anyway, according to Politico via Raw Story, "[t]he planes [are] set to circle the event throughout the duration of the debate."
Let the show begin...and may the best man lose!
The Dark Heart of the Matter
Fundamentalists like to cite that sin is at the heart of every human foible; and indeed, the latest double-dealing shenanigans out of the Bush administration and the U.S. Department of Justice truly prove this simple sentiment is dead-on.
Of course, the human spirit being what it is, a national system of laws were designed to protect citizens and act as the great equalizer against undemocratic, one-party propensities by the mighty.
And yet....after seeing the three-ring circus out of the White House, specifically Gonzales and his minions, it appears the great equalizer by way of laws has been reduced to a sad national joke, as Republican elites break every law on their way to power and $$$.
Howling Latina has written that laws need to be changed. Today, Arnold I. Burns, former attorney general to President Ronald Reagan writes an op-ed in the New York Times agreeing with HL.
It is way past time to decry a system and not do a damn thing about it!
Yes, of course the attorney general serves at the pleasure of the president, as we've heard a gazillion times. But that my sweet friends is at the dark heart of the problem.
Of course, the human spirit being what it is, a national system of laws were designed to protect citizens and act as the great equalizer against undemocratic, one-party propensities by the mighty.
And yet....after seeing the three-ring circus out of the White House, specifically Gonzales and his minions, it appears the great equalizer by way of laws has been reduced to a sad national joke, as Republican elites break every law on their way to power and $$$.
Howling Latina has written that laws need to be changed. Today, Arnold I. Burns, former attorney general to President Ronald Reagan writes an op-ed in the New York Times agreeing with HL.
Like the filming television crew of a starving family in a third-world country that fails to offer a sandwich while bemoaning their said state of affairs, congressional leaders need to stop with their phony outrage at the altar of their lame talking points and LEGISLATE![T]he only real solution is to depoliticize the Justice Department, to do away with the appearance of anyone playing politics there.
The solution is to have the attorney general appointed to a fixed term — say, 15 years — that wouldn’t be coterminous with the tenure of the president who appoints him. As with the director of the F.B.I. (a 10-year term) and the chairman of the Federal Reserve (a four-year, renewable term), the appointment would be made by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. Congress’s oversight would ensure that no political hack or crony of the president could be handed the job.
Likewise, the 93 United States attorneys should not be political apparatchiks, but talented lawyers selected half from Republican ranks and half from Democratic, following the system used for regulatory bodies like the Federal Communications Commission. These men and women should also be subject to Senate confirmation.
It is way past time to decry a system and not do a damn thing about it!
Yes, of course the attorney general serves at the pleasure of the president, as we've heard a gazillion times. But that my sweet friends is at the dark heart of the problem.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Gonzales Zapped by Subpoena Land
In breaking news, the Associated Press and the Washington Post are reporting that Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy is tired of Gonzales playing pussy-foot with his committee and has slapped a subpoena for all "e-mails related to presidential adviser Karl Rove and the firings of eight federal prosecutores" to get to the bottom of Attorney-gate.
[T]he Senate Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena to Gonzales seeking all e-mails in Justice Department custody from presidential advisor Karl Rove related to the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. The demand included e-mails turned over to Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald as part of the CIA leak investigation.Leahy was not the least bit amused when he learned of a secret internal order by Gonzales in March 2006 that gave two party loyalists with little experience the unprecedented authority to "hir[e] and fir[e] most non-civil-service employees of the Justice Department.” And how Gonzales failed to disclose the earth shattering memorandum to his committee.
"It is troubling that significant documents highly relevant to the committee's inquiry have not been produced," Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., wrote in a letter to Gonzales. The subpoena gives Gonzales until May 15 to turn over the information.
Not accepting the White House's explanation that some of the Rove-related e-mails may have been lost, Leahy subpoenaed any in the custody of the Justice Department. Leahy pointed to Rove's lawyer's statement that some of those the White House claims might be lost had been turned over to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald as part of the investigation into the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.
You see, the dog didn't really eat the homework.
It was unclear whether any of those were related to the prosecutor firings, but congressional investigators believe that if Fitzgerald could retrieve some e-mails for his investigation, the ones related to the firings of U.S. attorneys are recoverable as well.
Sure looks like the former chief and counsel at the Justice Department have some 'splaining to do, as does Gonzales and up the food chain to Rove and Bush.
House Fails to Override Bush Veto
This afternoon, the final tally for roll 276 of the 1st session in the 210th Congress failed to reach the two-thirds needed to override presidential obstruction to the will of the people.
Two-hundred Democrats, along with two Republicans, voted to override the veto. Seven Democrats voted with the 196 Republicans to sustain the veto.
Republicans who voted to end the Iraq nightmare were Reps. Charlie Gilchrest of Maryland and Walter Jones of North Carolina. The seven Democrats who voted against funding the troops were: Reps. John Barrow of Georgia, Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee, Michael McNulty of New York, Jim Marshall of Georgia and Taylor Matheson of Utah.
Hmmm, looks like mostly Dixie congressmen haven't had enough and continue to think it's a swell idea for their poor constituents to die in a war that is all but lost and has no end in sight.
"How do you tell the last men he died for a mistake?" John Kerry (1971)
Two-hundred Democrats, along with two Republicans, voted to override the veto. Seven Democrats voted with the 196 Republicans to sustain the veto.
Republicans who voted to end the Iraq nightmare were Reps. Charlie Gilchrest of Maryland and Walter Jones of North Carolina. The seven Democrats who voted against funding the troops were: Reps. John Barrow of Georgia, Dan Boren of Oklahoma, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee, Michael McNulty of New York, Jim Marshall of Georgia and Taylor Matheson of Utah.
Hmmm, looks like mostly Dixie congressmen haven't had enough and continue to think it's a swell idea for their poor constituents to die in a war that is all but lost and has no end in sight.
"How do you tell the last men he died for a mistake?" John Kerry (1971)
