"Bong Hits 4 Jesus" Case to Supreme Court

The "Bong Hits 4 Jesus Case" was argued before the Supreme Court today. Surely, James Madison and the rest of the Framers didn't have this type of "smart-ass" humor in mind when they adopted the First Amendment, but I think the student in question has a good case that he shouldn't have been disciplined for waving his banner.

This case is built on a 1960's student free-speech case known as Tinker v. Des Moines. In it, the Supreme Court did rule that students had a right to political expression. (Mary Beth Tinker, a high school student at the time of the Vietnam War was disciplined for wearing a black arm band as a sign of protest against the war.)

Check out the details on this case and let me know what you think. To read a preview of the case published last week, check out: Justices to Hear Landmark Free-Speech Case Next Week.

A story on the oral arguments today can be read at Court Hears "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case.

I read part of the 71 page transcript and it is pretty good (and entertaining). If you have Adobe Reader, you can check it out here: Read the transcript of Supreme Court oral arguments

The case has been named Morse v. Frederick.

Commentary on Khalid Shaikh Mohammed

After getting to read and digest some of the news about Khalid Shaikh Mohammed , my main reaction is disappointment in how our government has been handling the war on terror over the past several years. I found myself in agreement with a lot of the things written in this column by Newsweek's Micheal Hirsh: KSM case: How not to win the war on terror

Some Stories Catching My Attention this week...

Ok, I don't have much time to comment yet, but here are a few headlines I've found interesting:

The alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, has reportedly confessed. I mentioned this in class today. He has taken credit for dozens of terrorist attacks. Here are some articles on the topic: Suspected Mastermind Of 9/11 Confesses; Terror Suspect Said to Confess to Other Acts; Can KSM's Confession Be Believed?; Mohammed Confession Leaves Room for Skepticism

Senate Debates Resolution Calling for Iraq WithdrawalKnight Ridder/Tribune News Service.March 14, 2007
WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans will buckle down Thursday to try to prevent passage of a Democratic resolution that calls for getting most American forces out of Iraq by March 2008

Pentagon Report Acknowledges 'Civil War' in Iraq
March 15, 2007 · The Pentagon's quarterly update to Congress on the Iraq war is out, and the assessment is grim. For the first time, it uses the term "civil war" to describe the violence in Iraq.

Committee Endorses Bill to Give D.C. Full Voting Rights in HouseThe Washington PostMarch 14, 2007
A congressional committee approved a bill yesterday granting the District a full vote in the House of Representatives, giving the measure its first victory in what will probably be weeks of fierce wrangling as it moves through Congress.

Report: Federal Spending on Children Dropping
March 15, 2007 · An Urban Institute report indicates that the share of the federal domestic budget devoted to children is falling. Researchers say the number could drop even more in coming years.

WASL Time: and the State Legislature is pondering what to do about the high-stakes test - Students start taking WASL; lawmakers debate its future

Other local and state issues: (Keep in mind bills must pass both houses of the legislature and be signed into law by the governor.)
Sex-education bill passes state Senate
Students return to school after suspended for praying
Ban on cellphones for drivers advances
State Senate passes a variety of education bills
House approves simple majority approval of school taxes
WA House passes measure to inform parents about HPV

UPDATES: Senate rejects timetable for troop withdrawal
Sen. Pryor: Attorney General lied to the Senate

Were Attorney Firings Political?

And if so, should heads roll?

The flap over the firing of several U.S. attorneys has grown bigger this week, and it seems to have a strong connection to things that went down right here in Washington State after the close race for governor in 2004. One of those fired was John McKay, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. (Read below for details)

It has been front page news and these firings are looking more and more like they have been motivated by politics. One result is that several Democrats and one Republican in the U.S. Congress are calling upon Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez to resign, even though he testified before Congress and admitted mistakes were made.

Firings furor puts Gonzales on hot seat

McKay "stunned" by report on Bush

GOP chair called McKay about '04 election

Gonzales Vows to Fix Attorney System in Face of Criticism

Some News involving Constitutional Issues

Not all of these stories are the biggest news items of the week, but they involve some interesting Constitutional issues:

School district sued over graduation held in church03/08/07 The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Newark public school district, saying a school's decision to hold its graduation ceremonies in a Baptist church violated a Muslim student's religious freedom.

Another First Amendment issue involving the "establishment clause" is involved in this story: Conn. Supreme Court Hears Dispute Over Building of Buddhist TempleMarch 7, 2007 Is the Connecticut town denying religious expression or just upholding a reasonable restriction to keep the town from getting overcrowded. What do you think?

Is random drug testing of high school student-athletes an unreasonable violation of the Fourth Amendment's ban on illegal searches and seizures? This debate has been going on for a few years, but is in the news once again. N.J. Debates Effectiveness of Steroid Tests for High School AthletesMarch 8, 2007

What about police who refuse to obey a Court order that they conducted an illegal seizure? What happens when state and federal laws conflict? You can read or listen to this story from NPR: Court Orders Police to Return Medicinal Marijuana In Santa Rosa, Calif., a judge is holding police in contempt of court for not returning the medicinal marijuana they confiscated from a man during a raid. The case highlights the conflict between state and federal drug laws

Other big stories this week:
Did good government lawyers get fired because of their political affiliation? Some think so. Eight lost their jobs, leading Democratic lawmakers to try to rein in presidential powers. The battle over fired US attorneys

Heavy imprint of Libby verdict
The conviction Tuesday of onetime Cheney chief of staff I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby adds to a list of White House woes.

A huge story involved the poor conditions some Iraq & Afghan War Veterans are facing at home. A big expose was done on conditions of some of the buildings at Walter Reed Army Medical Base. US Army scrambles to clean Walter Reed 03/05/2007
Another look: The problems at the US Army hospital show how strained military resources have become - How decay overtook Walter Reed

NYC Bans the N-Word, Anniversary of Civil Rights March

The theme of race was in the news the last few weeks. It caught my eye, that although not an enforcable law, New York City has passed a ban on the use of the "N-word". (See Racial slur banned in New York.)

Does it make sense to you for a city government to take this action (especially in light of the fact that it is of questionable constitutionality given the First Amendment's protection of free speech)? Many in New York are disturbed that many young people believe it is okay to use the word as a friendly greeting, even those that are not African-American. I think that while this law will have little impact, it is good for government to make a principled stand on the use of what has been called the ugliest word in the English language. It remains a very offensive word to many.

The BBC reported on this, and had an accompanying article on the controversy over the modern usage of the word by the so-called "hip-hop" generation. It is written by a woman of mixed race that calls herself a "reformed n-word user". Check out her thoughts: Should racist word be rehabilitated?

In a related story, today (Sunday) was the anniversary of the attack on civil rights workers in Alabama in 1965. "Bloody Sunday" as it was called, and the outraged that followed the attack helped give momentum to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (See Jubilant Crowd Recreates Selma March.)

Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton were on hand as both candidates are wooing the vote of African-Americans. (See Clinton, Obama Link Selma March to Present.)

Should Bush and Cheney Be Impeached?

For a long time, I'd been very supportive of this idea. I do think that terrible decisions, and more significantly, deceptive and selective use of intelligence data were used to get our nation into a seeminly endless war in Iraq.

But now that Bush can no longer count on a Republican majority to support his efforts, he is already less powerful. Also, he can't say that the majority of the people support his war policy. Without any sort of impeachment, he is already a president with significantly less power.

So is impeachment a wise thing to do in this case? Among those who don't is Seattle Times editorial writer Danny Westneat. Read his column here.

What do you think?

The War in Iraq

In less than a month, it will mark five years that the United States has been at war in Iraq. In the last election voters sent a clear message that they wanted the government to find a way to get our troops out quickly. So how are we doin' on that?

We have an executive branch and a legislative branch that want to go in different directions....

1. Bush has ordered the troop surge, and the 21,500 have started deploying.

2. Violence continues out of control in parts of Iraq, with deep divisions among factions of Sunnis and Shiites.

3. The Democratic Congress wants to limit our role in Iraq. They tried a non-binding resolution condemning the "troop surge" plan. It passed in the House of Reps, but enough Republicans voted against it to prevent the Senate from passing the resolution. Senate Shifts Focus After Vote to Debate Iraq Resolution Fails

4. So now, Democratic leaders are drafting legislation to amend the 2002 authorization for the war. They want to work toward what they called a "phased withdrawal" of American troops from Iraq. Congressional Democrats Wrestle Over How to Force Bush to Alter Iraq Policy

5. The British announced they are pulling out. As US surges, British start exiting Iraq

Some related articles:

Home Page" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/23/us/23military.html?ex=1329886800&en=b1ae35068d5bf12a&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss" target=_blank>Long Iraq Tours Can Make Home a Trying Front

Iraq War's Effects Seen, Felt in High School's Halls

Europeans' chill deepens on US policy

Europe's rising unease over 'terror war'

U.S. Seizes Son of a Top Shiite, Stirring Uproar

Political News

Hi,

Wow, this week off is flying by -- I spent the day at Olympia on Wednesday and visited the State Senate. Saw a few interesting things I might share with you when I see you Monday. Anyway, I do think we have one of the most impressive looking state capitols in the Union.

Here are a few random news stories I found interesting:

As I've mentioned in class, the 2008 Presidential race is already underway, and much earlier this year than is usual. One reason for all of the early interest is that there is a wide-open field, but also ther are many possible "firsts" which you can read about here:
In 2008 race, many presidential 'firsts' are possible

A lot of Democrats are having a hard time deciding which of the "firsts" to support. Whether to support Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton is a hot topic among Democrats - although I wish the other candidates got more attention too! This story from the New York Times discusses how Hillary has dealt with African-American voters: After a Delicately Worded Pitch, Clinton Draws Cheers

Also, the first bit of nastiness has started to creep into the campaign. The Obama and Clinton campaigns also got into a bit of a shouting match this week:
In Both Parties, 2008 Politeness Falls to Infighting

Several months ago the New Jersey Supreme Court handed down a decision stating that the ban on same-sex marriages violated it's state constitution. The N.J. legislature than had to act on the issue to remedy the problem. They did and this week "civil unions" began. Same-Sex Civil Unions Begin This Week in New Jersey

Human Rights Violation!!!!!
Egyptian Blogger Sentenced to Four Years in Jail
February 22, 2007 · A young Egyptian blogger has become the first person in Egypt sentenced to a jail term for opinions expressed on the internet. Human rights groups condemned what they called the "chilling precedent" set by an Alexandria court when it sentenced Abdel Kareem Suleiman to four years in prison for insulting Islam and President Hosni Mubarak.

The Ugliness of War!!!!!
Iraq Insurgents Turn to Chlorine Bombs
February 22, 2007 · Insurgents are deploying a new and deadly tactic against Iraqi civilians, authorities say: bombs combining explosives with poisonous chlorine gas. At least five people died in such an attack Wednesday, the third in a month.

Let me know what you think about these or other issues in the news....

Re-Opening this Blog

President's Day and mid-winter break! Woo-hoo!

Especially for my 11th grade WTP class, I'm reopening this blog for current events discussions and current events assignments. I'll be trying to add interesting news items about our system of constitutional government and politics as I have time. Hopefully this blog will steer you toward some of the bigger issues of our day and promote discussion. Links to some good news sources are included on this page.

For now, Cross to Remain on Public Land in S.D.

A large crucifix in the San Diego area, prominently displayed on public land, had been ordered taken down by a federal judge.

Yesterday Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy stepped in and ordered an indefinate stay allowing the crucifix to remain while further legal arguments are made.

I've read in some commentaries lately that Kennedy has become some kind of flaming liberal. I don't always agree with his votes, but he seems to have a tremendous amount of integrity and views these types of church/state issues seriously and on a case by case basis.

Other than looking at the picture reading the report in the Seattle Times and the N.Y. Times, I don't know the details. If, as one side is claiming, this was erected to honor the war dead (and if that intention is still clear to visitors) I don't see it as a violation of the Establishment Clause. What do you think?

First Amendment Challenge by Neo-Nazis

First case involves a demonstration in Olympia. About 12 neo-Nazi were doing their thing - wearing brown shirts, boots, and spewing hate - and exercising their First Amendment rights to do so. There was a counter-demonstration that was much larger, the police were out in force, and no violence ensued.

My comment to Congress:
These obnoxious twits are much more offensive than flag burners, because they are using "pure speech" as opposed to "symbolic speech". Also, I might add, they are spewing the hate and ideas our veterans ofWWII were actually fighting against; these were the emotional and intellectual descendents of those that actually shot at, bombed, and torpedoed Americans and the rest of the free world during WWII.

Since the late 1960's (Brandenberg v. Ohio) the Supreme Court has allowed these types of groups to protest regardless of their obnoxious and hateful messages. No great harm has come of it. Dealing with unpopular or just plain stupid ideas is the price we pay for a vibrant, open national dialogue we can have under our Constitution.

Stop the damn political posturing over flag burning! It is insulting to this nation's history of freedom of expression and the ideals we have fought for in so many ways since the First Amendment was ratified.

Don't let a few flag-burners or misguided neo-Nazis shake your belief in freedom. Leave the First Amendment alone!

TR for President!!!

Have you seen the latest edition of Time Magazine?!? Teddy Roosevelt is on the cover!



Woot! (er, ah, I mean "Bully!") What a great Fourth of July present for the nation! A TR issue -I can't wait to read it....

Ave Maria Silenced at Edmonds Graduation

Does it violate the 1st Amendment's Establishment clause if a school's wind ensemble chooses to play "Ave Maria" at a graduation ceremony? Apparently the Superintendent of the Edmonds School District thought so, and now this girl...

is suing the District for violating the students' 1st Amendment rights of free expression.

All of this was in an article in the Seattle Times.

The fact that this musical selection did not include lyrics, was a choice of the students, was played at a graduation ceremony (as opposed to over the announcements) and many other factors complicate this case.

Where her rights violated? Does the school superintendent have a right to tell the Mill Creek Wind Ensemble what is and is not appropriate music for a graduation ceremony?

Sorry! I just realized this seems like an assignment for one or my classes. Old habits die hard I guess - just got kinda excited about this issue. It isn't required that you write about this in your journal or anything! :) I'm a bit "off-balanced" you know...

Supreme Court Blocks Military Tribunals at Guantanamo

In a strong rebuke to the Bush administrations, the Supreme Court ruled this morning that the Bush administration violated U.S. law as well as the Geneva Conventions in setting up military tribunals for the detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

The case is Hamdan v. Rumsfeld (not to be confused with Hamdi v. Rumsfeld decided in 2004).

I wish I had more time to write about this now, but I'm "hella" busy with course work to renew my teaching certificate. So far, it has made for a not-so-happy and carefree summer vacation. Anyway, I'll try to post more on all of the recent decisions. The Court adjourned this morning until the first Monday in October.

To start with, you can read the stories in the New York Times or the Seattle Times.

Flag Amendment Fails by One Vote

The Senate came one vote short of the necessary 2/3 to propose a Constitutional Amendment to allow Congress to pass a law banning the burning of the American Flag.

There were 66 votes in favor, one shy of the 67 needed out of the 100 in the Senate. The House had already passed the measure in 2005. (More here.)

I'm happy to see it fail, but unfortunately the close vote will probably mean that backers will bring it up again in the next Congress unless the Democrats do very well in the up-coming Congressional elections in November.

It is such a minor issue to make the subject of a Constitutional amendment.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) gave an unintentionally hilarious speech on the Senate floor during debate. He was very sanctimonious on the issue. I heard it on NPR, and Stephen Colbert ran a part of it on the Colbert Report. If I can find a link, I'll add it here.

Flag-Burning Amendment?

When was the last time you saw someone burn an American flag?

I have never witnessed it. Probably very few of you have ever seen it happen either. Yet, as if our nation is under attack from a wild horde of flag-burning arsonists, we now have the U.S. Senate set to debate the subject this week.

Why? Because in some states, political candidates think it will help win an election to be able to point out that "my opponent is for the burning of the American flag - just look at how he/she voted on the anti-flag burning amendment".

It is sad that candidates can still get away with such cynical politics in the year 2006. But no. Our Constitution, which has only been amended 17 times since 1791, isn't good enough for a bunch of conservative Republicans. They think that our sacred guiding document needs to get in the gutter with the most depraved politics of the day by attaching amendments to keep gays from marrying and flags from being burned.

The only way to stop this nonsense is by going to the polls and voting against candidates that have little but fear and manipulation to offer the average U.S. citizen.

School's Out for Summer!

Oh, a good feeling, but it always takes me a few days to actually feel like school is over and realize I don't have a stack of papers waiting to be graded, or a lesson plan needing to be thrown together. It will sink in soon though. So, no current events news today - my head isn't ready to write cogently (look it up!) about the world. The Senate had a ridiculous debate about setting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq yesterday that was ridiculous since it was a non-binding resolution.

Congratulations to all of the seniors that graduated this week! I've talked with some of you and have heard a lot of mixed feelings about graduating. In someways, there is all this build up and then some inevitable let down once the ceremony and everything is all over - not unusual really. How are you seniors feeling about being high school graduates now?

Sports note: It is fun to be a Mariners fan these days. They lost last night, but hey, it is fun to have some thing to cheer about. I still haven't gotten into the whole World Cup thing, but was talking to some people at a graduation party last night and it occured to me that Italy is still in this thing. Should I be getting some ethnic pride and supporting them, or would it be a waste of my time - like expecting Italy's military to make a difference in either or the world wars.

Gamer note: I asked my family to delay any Father's Day gifts until after the end of the school year. So now, I've got it and already logged a few hours on Oblivion for Xbox 360. Fun game!

Afghan Leader Blasts War on Terror

Under the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, our government supported the election of Hamid Karzai. Since his election he has been critical of the lack of funding his country has received to rebuild.

Today comes news that he has publicly said what a lot of us have been saying to the U.S. government's approach to fighting the war on terror - from MSNBC:

A clearly frustrated Karzai said the approach being taken by
coalition forces to hunt down militants does not focus on the roots of
terrorism itself.

A think this one sentence sums up generations of mistakes this nation has made (and that goes back well before the current Bush administration).

If I wasn't so busy grading...

...there are lots of interesting things I would read. Instead, I'm picking up a paragraph or two of here and there. For instance, the respected journal Foreign Policy has devoted an issue to sorting out how safe we have made ourselves from the threat of terrorism, and it makes you consider even more seriously the question:

Are we losing the war on terror? It looks to be a sobering collection of thoughts from professionals in the national security field:

Check it out here.

U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq - you can find this anywhere on a news site right now. The reports that they were tortured and killed in a "barbaric" way just sends chills up my spine. Who will stop this senseless cycle of violence and death? It reminds me of a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that I can't quote exactly, but it went something like - someone has got to have sense enough and religion enough to end the violence. Our world yearns for a voice like his now...

Global Warming in the news again - More evidence from the north and south poles of our climate warming. Check out the story on NPR.

The Mariners are on a roll! Enjoy it while it lasts! They may even hit the .500 mark soon if they keep this up!

Congratulations Graduates! I love you guys....

Oh well, back to the gradebook...

Alito Vote Loosens Limits on Evidence

Breaking News from the New York Times: Alito Vote Loosens Limits on Evidence

In a 5-4 decision in the case of Hudson v. Morgan, the Court refused to exclude evidence gathered by police that had a warrant, but failed to knock before entering a private home. There was a strong dissent written by Steven Breyer that countered the majority opinion by Antonin Scalia. New Justices Roberts and Alito voted with the 5-member majority.

This decision reverses long standing precedent of the "knock and announce" policy. This decision really shows the divisions in the new Roberts Court. What do you think?

The text of the decision can be found here.

Analysis from NPR.

Yes George, Guantanamo Prison Was Stupid Too

This week has seen three prisoners commit suicide at the U.S. run prison for "enemy combatants" in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and a ton of renewed criticism for the United States.

The prison that Amnesty International has called "a gulag of our times" has been a source of resentment around the world. Even our allies think the practices at the prison are outrageous and reluctantly, the Bush Administration is admitting that the prison is hurting us more than it is helping us.

Too bad it has taken them over three years to catch on to what the rest of the world had been saying all along.

Bush Visits Baghdad

It is very hard for my not to be cynical about the surprise visit of the President to Iraq. It has been quite a while since he was there, and it seems as though this administration was way too anxious to seize on the first bit of positive news out of Iraq and attach itself to it like a "Mission Accomplished" banner to to returning warship.

If you didn't read about the President's trip, you can click here: Bush Makes a Surprise Visit to Baghdad. Also, Congress is discussing Iraq and appropriating more money for the mission there which you can read about here: House to Re-Open Debate on Iraq War.

In the meanwhile, two of the more respected members of the U.S. Senate, Democrat Russ Feingold and Republican John McCain made their own, and in my opinion, more substantive visit to Iraq this week.

In the meanwhile, I sigh and wait for this long national mistake to come to a conclusion....and our men and women can come home.

Lots Goin' On, and I Can't Keep up!

I've been mired in grading and the mundane tasks of life the last couple of days, and haven't had the time to really soak up some of the important and interesting events going on out there the last couple of days. I've only had time for headlines and such. Maybe some of you can suggest some good articles or Op/Ed pieces you have seen out there. The headlines that have caught my eye include:

Al-Zarqawi killed in Iraq by U.S. airstrike - the supposed leader of al-Quaeda in Iraq. This brutal guy use to like to have videotapes of hostage beheadings broadcasted on the internet. How will this impact the future of the Iraqi people and the fledgling political process? My guess is that we won't see much of a difference in the general level of violence over there.

A military officer from our own state of Washington is refusing to deploy to Iraq, because he objects to the war. Is he a courageous patriot pointing out the folly of our nation's misguided foreign policy, or a traitor to our military/nation. I'm going with the former.

Gay Marriage won't go away, and this morning's Seattle Times ran a cover story wondering what our State Supreme Court is doing sitting on the gay marriage cases that were argued in this state 15 months ago. Are they trying to find the "right" time to drop a bombshell decision?

I dunno. I'm tired and groggy and need some sleep. Sorry there aren't any links included in this post. I didn't bring my "A" game today...

Tuesday's Topics

The Seattle Times has a very good explanation of the Seattle Schools case, as well as and accompanying article: Whatever the ruling, tie-breaker may be moot. As you may or may not know, in the Seattle School District, you request which high school(s) you prefer to attend, and the district makes a decision about who goes where. A major part of their consideration is achieving racial and ethnic balance in their schools. Does that policy violate the Constitution? Check out the articles and see what you think.

I am a firm believer that wealthy people should pay higher tax rates, and that the laws passed earlier this century establishing taxes on inheritances should remain on the books. Not everyone agrees with me, and Congress is considering repealing this part of the tax code. There are a number of names for these taxes, but you will here them called "estate taxes", "inheritance taxes" and even "death taxes". What do you think about them?
Here is a pro and con on the issue:
Reward for the Hereditary Elite
...Or Unfair Burden on Families?

Gay Rights: While George Bush and some members of Congress want to add an amendment to the Constitution to ban gay marriage (see post from a few days ago), our State can be proud of our progressive laws with respect to banning discrimination against gays and lesbians. The legislature added sexual orientation to our civil rights laws earlier this year, and although some in our state have been trying to repeal this law giving basic rights to gays and lesbians, today they failed. See the article in the Seattle Times.

Islamic Militants Claim Victory in Somalia. Somalia seems like a much neglected front in the war on terror. As we put so much effort and resources into fighting in Iraq, many terror groups have found more of a safe haven in Somalia. What will it mean if a new government favors the path of the Islamists?
Read more in the N.Y. Times.

And what is the deal with the racism in Europe at the World Cup? Maybe because I am not a soccer fan, I'm being caught by surprise by all this, but crowds in Europe have been taunting African players with monkey calls and throwing bananas at them!!!! What century are these racist fools living in? Here are a couple of links on this. Maybe one of you can explain this to me...
Surge in Racist Mood Raises Fears on Eve of World Cup
Efforts to Curb the Rowdy and Racist Behavior of Soccer Fans

Gotta go check out King Felix on the mound tonight for the M's!

Supreme Court to Hear Affirmative Action Cases

Just like my 2nd period class, the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing new cases involving affirmative action and public schools. One case involves students picking high schools, the other desegregation.

I was pretty surprised to see this news today about an hour after we did our Supreme Court Simulation on the 2003 University of Michigan Cases to read the following news report:

Nearly three years after its landmark ruling upholding a race-based admissions plan at the University of Michigan Law School, the US Supreme Court has agreed to consider to what extent race may be used to balance white and nonwhite enrollment in public schools.

On Monday, the high court agreed to examine cases involving two school districts attempting to maintain racially integrated schools.

One involves a school board plan in Seattle that seeks to achieve a rough balance of 40 percent white and 60 percent nonwhite enrollment at each of the city's 10 public high schools.

The second is a school district in Louisville, Ky., that set broad guidelines that the black student population of any particular school should range between 15 percent and 50 percent.

Read more about this in the Christian Science Monitor, N.Y.Times or MSNBC.

Bush to Promote Gay Marriage Amendment

With all of the problems this nation faces, and his approval ratings at record low levels, it is nice to see that Bush still has time to appeal to the lowest common denominator: Prejudice and hatred of gays and lesbians. News today comes that on Monday, the President will promote a gay marriage amendment to the United States Constitution. (Read stories in the Christian Science Monitor, N.Y. Times, or CNN.)

In its current form, the amendment reads:

“Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and
a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be
construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred
upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman."

Of course this is little more than a political stunt to try to curry favor with the Christian Conservative base (there is little chance it will get out of the Senate), but those of us who are enlightened still have a duty to speak out against intolerance in all of its forms. While I believe there is little chance of such an amendment passing in today's political atmosphere, I still strongly object to those who would attempt to write discrimination into our Constitution. The issue is a big one for some as the headlines scream things like Gay Marriage looms as "battle of our times".

The case does raise interesting questions of federalism though, and the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution. Also, while Bush is spending time on this, it is important to remember his role in such a debate is limited as pointed out by today's article in the C.S. Monitor. "On constitutional amendments, the president plays no formal role - his signature is not required - so any power he may wield would come through the bully pulpit."

So what do you think?

Haditha Killings Dominating the News

It seems that this story is really making a big impact in the mainstream press. It will be the cover story on Time Magazine this week.

Haditha Killings Update

This stuff is just chilling. Like many Americans, I understand they are under much stress and strain on a daily basis. I can't help but believe that most of the blame for what happened in Haditha belongs with the officers and politicians who put U.S. troops in a no-win situation, and then lie to cover up th mistakes.

Too much has been asked of too many of our troops. News reports of the conditions under which our troops are sent into dangerous situations have concerned me since the start of thes war. I can't imagine how many of them hold up as well as they do, and frankly, it should not surprise any thinking person that these types of tragedies will occur. Murder and massacres happen when people with shattered psyches and automatic weapons are put in the type of hell that is war-torn Iraq.

Yes, charges will be filed and soldiers who committed crimes will be punished; but how far up the chain of command? In the Abu Ghraib scandal, it didn't go beyond those in the prison. (Check out "Officers Untouched by Abu Ghraib Prosecutions".)

Those in the Pentagon and the White House that planned and schemed for ways to skirt laws and conventions on torture are still in their suits, ties and offices, removed from the hell that they helped create. (And yes, I'm especially aiming criticism at Alberto Gonzalez, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld.)

Here is a recent NPR report on where we are at with the investigation into this mess. Listen up.

Also of interest, this CNN report discusses the training given to U.S. troops about "professional military values".

Haditha Killings

Some are saying this may be the My Lai of the Iraq War. The picture that is emerging is that U.S. Marines killed 24 civilians "in cold blood" last November, including unarmed men, women, and children. It is important to note that unlike deaths of civilians that are accidental in a time of war, the outright killing of civilians is a violation of the U.S. Uniform Military Code as well as international law.

In this case, what makes it worse is that apparently not only was this a case where a group of American soldiers freaked out and killed civilians, but military officers participated in an illegal cover-up of the killings. For many people who remember the mistakes of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, this is frighteningly familiar.

The Seattle Times ran a story quoted Iraqi witnesses describing the Marines going house to house in a rage.

Here is more coverage from major news organizations:

Marines May Have Committed Murder in Iraq
Military Inquiry Said to Oppose Account of Raid
Haditha probe finds false reports
War atrocities: awareness grows, tolerance drops
Can the Military Effectively Investigate Itself?

Reportedly, Bush is none too pleased about these developments. He said at a press conference today that if crimes were committed, those responsible would be punished. I'm sure this kind of news out of Iraq makes life all that more miserable for Bush. I don't have sympathy though, as he was warned things could get ugly. Colin Powell reportedly told him told him before the invasion, "If you break it, you own it."

Some commentary from Mother Jones reminds us that in a long-term occupation, horrors like this occur. An elaboration on the "all war is a crime" theme.
Rampage at Haditha: Aberrant or Endemic?

Support Our Troops - Meaningfully

Paul Rieckhoff is a great American patriot. He understands that "supporting our troops" is important but also much more complex than displaying a yellow ribbon.

He served in combat in the Iraq war, and since he has been home, has been a tireless advocate for the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a meaningful political policy to support them. He leads a group formerly known as "Operation Truth" and now renamed Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). On this past Memorial Day, he wrote, "every American should find a way to become part of the conversation about how we've gotten to this point in Iraq, what must come next, and how best to care for this newest generation of veterans."

He has a new book out called Chasing Ghosts, and you may catch him on one of the news shows out there promoting it.

I wish everyone in this country could have read his message, posted recently, as a way to observe Memorial Day. Here is an excerpt:

As of this writing, 2,458 American men and women had died in Iraq, and 291 had died in Afghanistan. More than 18,000 have been wounded, and untold thousands suffer the psychological trauma that is one of war's most devastating consequences.

How close are you to these costs of war? Chances are, you're not close at all. Only one-third of one-percent of the American population has served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Compare that with previous wars. In Vietnam, more than four percent served. More than 16 million Americans served in World War II - 12 percent of the population. Today, with no draft and a professional military, the American public is dangerously disconnected from the extraordinary sacrifices made by this nation's military families. There are 130,000 Troops still stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan whose loved ones back home are consumed by the constant fear that a uniformed officer will come to the door, bearing the worst news. For nearly 3,000 families, that fear has already been realized.

But according to the headlines, the greatest fears facing non-military families are the drain at the gas pump or the dismissal of the latest American Idol contestant. When I got home after a year leading an infantry platoon in Baghdad, the number-one story in this country was Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction. This did not look like a country at war, and two years later, as American casualties in Iraq continue unabated, it still does not.

Read more of his May 30th post titled "Remembering the Costs of War" at his blog, "Chasing Ghosts", or at military.com.

Time to get this started again?

I think so! My hope to engage students, ex-students, and interested adults into a discussion of important issues facing our nation and world. For now, I haven't figured when to find time to transfer the info and links I've been keeping track of to this site.

If you'd like to see the news I consider important and relevant, see my bloglines site at http://www.bloglines.com/blog/mrc803

Soon, I hope to get this is up and running as a useful tool for learning, discussion, and creating a healthier democracy!

Why Bush Doesn't Get It

Why Bush Doesn’t Get It

We need more people in government that can speak for minorities and the poor.  Right now we only have ONE African-American Senator.  If you aren’t familiar with him, he was elected in 2004 to represent Illinois.  Check out what his perspective can bring to the national debate.

While appearing on ABC News “This Week”, Obama was asked about whether racism played a role in the poor planning and response to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans. While Obama didn’t want to use the word “racist” to describe the government’s response, he offered these very realistic observations.

“Whoever was in charge of planning was so detached from the realities of inner city life in New Orleans ... that they couldn’t conceive of the notion that they couldn’t load up their SUV’s, put $100 worth of gas in there, put some sparkling water and drive off to a hotel and check in with a credit card,” Obama said.

“There seemed to be a sense that this other America was somehow not on people’s radar screen. And that, I think, does have to do with historic indifference on the part of government to the plight of those who are disproportionately African-American.” He added that “passive indifference is as bad as active malice.”

Rather than being outright racists, I think this “passive indifference” is what has characterized Republican administrations from Reagan’s, George H.W. Bush, and the current administration.  The poor and minorities that have NOT yet pulled themselves into the middle or upper classes are not understood well by the people in the White House.  Their world-view does not include a realistic understanding of what it is to be born without privilege.  

One cannot be a “compassionate conservative” without this understanding.

Stupid Quotes About Hurricane Katrina

Stupid Quotes About Hurricane Katrina
From Daniel Kurtzman,Your Guide to Political Humor.
I saw this on about.com and couldn’t resist posting them.  Yes, these are all real.
Mr. C

20 Mind-Numbingly Stupid Quotes About Hurricane Katrina And Its Aftermath
1) "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." –President Bush, on "Good Morning America," Sept. 1, 2005, six days after repeated warnings from experts about the scope of damage expected from Hurricane Katrina (Source)2) "What I'm hearing which is sort of scary is that they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway so this (chuckle) – this is working very well for them." –Former First Lady Barbara Bush, on the Hurricane flood evacuees in the Houston Astrodome, Sept. 5, 2005 (Source)3) "It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's seven feet under sea level....It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed." –House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Aug. 31, 2005 (Source) 4) "We've got a lot of rebuilding to do ... The good news is — and it's hard for some to see it now — that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house — he's lost his entire house — there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." (Laughter) —President Bush, touring hurricane damage, Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005 (Source)5) "Considering the dire circumstances that we have in New Orleans, virtually a city that has been destroyed, things are going relatively well." —FEMA Director Michael Brown, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)6) "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." –President Bush, to FEMA director Michael Brown, while touring Hurricane-ravaged Mississippi, Sept. 2, 2005 (Source)7) "I have not heard a report of thousands of people in the convention center who don't have food and water." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, on NPR's "All Things Considered," Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)8) "Well, I think if you look at what actually happened, I remember on Tuesday morning picking up newspapers and I saw headlines, 'New Orleans Dodged the Bullet.' Because if you recall, the storm moved to the east and then continued on and appeared to pass with considerable damage but nothing worse." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, blaming media coverage for his failings, "Meet the Press," Sept. 4, 2005 (Source) 9) "I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving.” –Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), Sept. 6, 2005 (Source)10) "You simply get chills every time you see these poor individuals...many of these people, almost all of them that we see are so poor and they are so black, and this is going to raise lots of questions for people who are watching this story unfold." —CNN's Wolf Blitzer, on New Orleans' hurricane evacuees, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source) Heard another stupid quote? Send it to politicalhumor.guide@about.com
20 Mind-Numbingly Dumb Quotes About Hurricane Katrina And Its Aftermath
11) "Louisiana is a city that is largely under water." —Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, news conference, Sept. 3, 2005 (Source) 12) "It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly devastating on the ground." –President George W. Bush, turning to his aides while surveying Hurricane Katrina flood damage from Air Force One, Aug. 31, 2005 (Source) 13) "I believe the town where I used to come – from Houston, Texas, to enjoy myself, occasionally too much – will be that very same town, that it will be a better place to come to." –President George W. Bush, on the tarmac at the New Orleans airport, Sept. 2, 2005 (Source) 14) "Last night, we showed you the full force of a superpower government going to the rescue." –MSNBC's Chris Matthews, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)15) "You know I talked to Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi yesterday because some people were saying, 'Well, if you hadn't sent your National Guard to Iraq, we here in Mississippi would be better off.' He told me 'I've been out in the field every single day, hour, for four days and no one, not one single mention of the word Iraq.' Now where does that come from? Where does that story come from if the governor is not picking up one word about it? I don't know. I can use my imagination.” –Former President George Bush, who can give his imagination a rest, interview with CNN’s Larry King, Sept. 5, 2005 (Source) 16) "...those who are stranded, who chose not to evacuate, who chose not to leave the city..." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, on New Orleans residents who could not evacuate because they were too poor and lacked the means to leave, CNN interview, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source)17) "We just learned of the convention center – we being the federal government – today." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, to ABC's Ted Koppel, Sept. 1, 2005, to which Koppel responded " Don't you guys watch television? Don't you guys listen to the radio? Our reporters have been reporting on it for more than just today." (Source) 18) "I actually think the security is pretty darn good. There's some really bad people out there that are causing some problems, and it seems to me that every time a bad person wants to scream or cause a problem, there's somebody there with a camera to stick it in their face." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, CNN interview, Sept. 2, 2005 (Source) 19) "I don't make judgments about why people chose not to leave but, you know, there was a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, arguing that the victims bear some responsibility, CNN interview, Sept. 1, 2005 (Source) 20) "Thank President Clinton and former President Bush for their strong statements of support and comfort today. I thank all the leaders that are coming to Louisiana, and Mississippi and Alabama to our help and rescue. We are grateful for the military assets that are being brought to bear. I want to thank Senator Frist and Senator Reid for their extraordinary efforts. Anderson, tonight, I don't know if you've heard – maybe you all have announced it -- but Congress is going to an unprecedented session to pass a $10 billion supplemental bill tonight to keep FEMA and the Red Cross up and operating." –Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), to CNN's Anderson Cooper, Aug. 31, 2005, to which Cooper responded:"I haven't heard that, because, for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other, you know, I got to tell you, there are a lot of people here who are very upset, and very angry, and very frustrated. And when they hear politicians slap – you know, thanking one another, it just, you know, it kind of cuts them the wrong way right now, because literally there was a body on the streets of this town yesterday being eaten by rats because this woman had been laying in the street for 48 hours. And there's not enough facilities to take her up. Do you get the anger that is out here?" (Source) Heard another stupid quote? Send it to politicalhumor.guide@about.com

Who is to blame for unpreparedness?

I haven't posted anything on Hurricane Katrina yet.

It has been hard for me to say in a short space everything that I would like to say on the subject. It has been horrible to see the suffering and agony of the citizens of the Gulf Coast. Like a lot of Americans, we sent in a contribution to the Red Cross and wish we could do more.

Like a lot of Americans, my family watched in horror as people died, mourned, and waited and waited and waited for help that didn't seem to be coming.

There was a lot more that should have been done at all levels of government, but I found myself most angry and appalled by the lack of response by the Bush administration in the first days of the tragedy. With the thoughts constantly in the back of my mind about all the money, servicemen, and equipment we have in Iraq, I wondered where are the choppers, the transport planes, the ships, the military, FEMA, etc.

Finally, some help has made a dent in some of the human suffering, but how many died and will continue to suffer grief and loss because precious days and hours were wasted? Why did it take the mayor and other people from the region to be yelling and swearing and begging for help for there to be a response equal to the need? Did race and poverty play a role?

I'm not sure whether or not race did, but I certainly think this tragedy exposed the ugliness of the poverty we have allowed the U.S. economic system to perpetuate. People suffer needlessly all the time in the United States because of their economic situation. We need to do more for our poor. The wealthy don't need a permanent estate tax cut (for just one example).

If these events don't make Americans wake up to what is going on around them, I don't know what will.

What are you reactions? Do you find fault with the government's response? Who is to blame? How have your reacted to the suffering you have seen.

Share your comments and thoughts with me.

UPDATE: Sept. 6 - 6:15am
There are lots of people criticizing Bush and the governement out there, but here is one well-respected journalist Tim Russert:

“Matt, something terrible happened here – the fact is state, local and federal government did not protect its people. It’s why governments were created.”
-Tim Russert, NBC News – September 6, 2005

and the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial page printed this:

“…Voters will forgive a President many mistakes, but no leader can survive a public judgment that he is unsure of himself and hostage to events…
-Wall Street Journal

Baghdad and Philadelphia - New York Times

More views comparing the two conventions appeared in the NY Times.

One Mother Ignites a Movement

"The president says he feels compassion for me, but the best way to show that compassion is by meeting with me and the other mothers and families who are here. Our sons made the ultimate sacrifice and we want answers. All we're asking is that he sacrifice an hour out of his five-week vacation to talk to us, before the next mother loses her son in Iraq." -- Cindy Sheehan, Camp Casey, Crawford, Texas

Whether you agree with her or not, Cindy Sheehan is a testament to how much of an impact one concerned citizen can make. She has light a fire under the anti-war movement that has shaken the P.R. machine in the White House to its core.

What do I think of Cindy? More to come....

A website sympathetic to her has a live blog from Camp Casey where she and her supporters are gathered. It is interesting to read at truthout's website.

Will Iraqis Ratify Their New Constitution?

Iraq has finally completed writing its constitution! They missed their Aug. 15th deadline, but everybody gets to turn in late work every now and then, right? So, all of this is good news, right? Well, maybe not. While two of Iraq’s major groups are pleased with the constitution, one of them is not, and it must be ratified by a vote of the people. Why do many Kurds and Shiites (a/k/a Shia) agree to the draft constitution and most Sunnis do not? It turns out that the Sunnis are opposed to adopting a system of federalism instead of a unitary nation. (Gee, I've seen these terms in my "We the People" book!) The BBC has done a good job of summarizing all of this in a relatively short article.)

Also there is a possibility that some in the Sunni minority (along with others opposed to the new government) will respond with increased violence. All of this is bad for the U.S. mission in Iraq, that a majority of the public think is being mismanaged by the Bush administration.

Okay, so why oppose federalism? Would you be surprised to learn that at the root of it is who gets to control the nation's oil wealth? From an article in the NY Times comes the following:

The issue of federalism is critical: Sunnis fear not only a giant Shiite state in the south but also future bids by the Kurds to expand their region into northern oil-producing areas, as they have demanded. That would leave the Sunnis cut off from Iraq's oil wealth.

Of course, not all of the Shiites agree. Followers of Muqutada al-Sadr are opposing the constitution as well. (Read more here.) On the streets of Iraq, many of the people are less interested in the constitution than they are in getting basic services back that still have not been restored fully since the U.S. began it's attack on Iraq. From the NYTimes:

"What constitution are you talking about?" Mr. Sami, a Shiite, said sardonically. "We are fed up with this thing! We would prefer to solve our problems first, such as electricity, water and security. How come they gathered to approve the constitution while Iraqis are slaughtered?"

Pat Robertson is an Idiot

Pat Robertson is an Idiot

Jon Stewart lampooned televangelist Pat Robertson the other night because Robertson offered an on-air, heartfelt prayer to God asking for another chance to appoint a Supreme Court justice this summer.  

It seems that Robertson doesn’t only have federal judges on his hit list.  Today comes news that he is calling for the assassination of Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez.  (Chavez, if you aren’t aware, is a socialist who has been intensely critical of U.S. foreign policy.)   Here are the good Reverend’s words:

“You know, I don’t know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we’re trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it,” Robertson said. “It’s a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don’t think any oil shipments will stop.”

Well.

This is why so many people I know love to watch the 700 Club for the sheer entertainment value.  Personally, I’d like to see him run for the Republican nomination for president again.  We could all enjoy the laughs.  

Of course, Venezuela’s government is not laughing.  Their Vice-President issued an interesting statement saying, “The ball is in the U.S. court, after this criminal statement by a citizen of that country,” Rangel told reporters. “It’s huge hypocrisy to maintain this discourse against terrorism and at the same time, in the heart of that country, there are entirely terrorist statements like those.”

MSNBC also reported a Venezuelan legislator putting it more simply and directly:  “This man cannot be a true Christian. He’s a fascist.”

Comments?

Irony in the War on

Irony in the War on Terror

This statement from our government strikes me as utterly bizarre:  

"In light of the recent bombings in London, it is crucial that police, fire and emergency medical personnel take notice of their surroundings, and be aware of 'vagrants' who seem out of place or unfamiliar," said the message, distributed via e-mail to some federal employees in Washington by the U.S. Attorney's office.

Can someone explain this to me?  Are there homeless people on the streets that seem like they are NOT out of place?  I mean, isn’t that the definition of what it is to be homeless – out of place – one who has been displaced by landlords, places of work, and society in general?  Have we become so callous as a society that there are ‘vagrants’ that are simply commonplace and familiar?

Of course, this warning does make some sense if you go beyond the absurd bureaucratic wording of the statement, but I think it does speak volumes to us about our society’s priorities.  

What do you think?

Negotiations over Iraqi Constitution Continue

There are three major areas of disagreement among the Iraqis trying to write a constitution for their nation: the role Islam will play in the nation's legal system, the extent to which they will follow a federal system of government, and how to divide the nation's oil wealth which is not evenly distributed across the nation.

The NY Times has a nice overview of all of this and where things stand as of now.

If you would like to weigh in on these matters, Slate magazine has a humorous survey going.

More seriously, these talks will have a tremendous impact on the rights of women in Iraq.
Depending on how sharia, or Islamic law, is interpreted and implemented, women may be getting a new birth of freedom in the region or be relegated to second-class status. Read one woman's commentary on all of this.

How does the situation in Iraq compare to the conflicts our Framers faced in that hot summer in Philadelphia in 1787? While the similarities have been often pointed out, there are some very big differences. An interesting analysis appeared in Slate.

Finally, an analysis in the CS Monitor states that while all are hoping a successful constitution and election will help bring down the level of violence in Iraq (and make it easier for the U.S. to withdraw quickly) a state of civil war essentially already exists, making this constitutional convention more like peace talks than anything our Framers engaged in.

More on Iraq and One Mother's Opposition

The U.S. is really pinning its hopes on a Constitution being drafted, and accepted in the next several months. Even though there are deep divisions between the rival factions on important issues in the draft Iraqi Constitution (one example being women's rights, and others discussed here), the U.S. wants the process to stick to the deadline of being finished by August 15. Elections will follow in the fall. The Bush administration seems to reason that this is the only way out for U.S. troops.
In the meantime, this will mean more troops in the short run. See the article in the Seattle Times.

While Bush is taking the longest vacation in presidential history (okay, it is a working vacation, but excuse my Michael Moore-ish description) one woman who lost her 24 year-old son in Iraq has camped outside his Crawford Ranch and demanded a meeting with the President. She says she won't leave until he meets with her. She is proving quite the embarassment for the President as she is intelligent, articulate, and full of righteous anger. Read her writings here about her protest:

George Bush said speaking about the dreadful loss of life in Iraq in August:
(08/03/05): "We have to honor the sacrifices of the fallen by completing the
mission." "The families of the fallen can be assured that they died for a noble
cause."
In reaction to these two assinine and hurtful statements, members of
Gold Star Families for Peace (GSFP) are going to George's vacation home in
Crawford, Tx this Saturday, August 6th at 11:00 am to confront him on these two
statements.
1) We want our loved ones sacrifices to be honored by bringing
our nation's sons and daughters home from the travesty that is Iraq IMMEDIATELY, since this war is based on horrendous lies and deceptions. Just because our children are dead, why would we want any more families to suffer the same pain and devastation.
2) We would like for him to explain this "noble cause" to us and, if the cause is so noble, ask him why Jenna and Barbara are not in harm's way.
3) If George is not ready to send the twins, then he should bring our troops home immediately. We will demand a speedy withdrawal.

Read the rest of her statement at BuzzFlash.com.

More trouble between the west and the remaining members of the "axis of evil"
Iran's new President has renewed his determination to enrich uranium that could be used for nuclear weapons, and is forging an anti-American alliance with Syria. URL: Iran resumes uranium work, ignores warnings

The New York Times has some very complete coverage.

Should the Patriot Act be Renewed?

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to renew and make permanent almost all provisions of the Patriot Act. At the same time the Senate Judiciary Committee is acting to reign in some of the powers the government took under the Patriot Act. Is the Patriot Act making us safer and protecting us from terrorists or is it a dangerous limitation on our liberties as individuals? It is a good debate. While I tend toward the second view on the more controversial provisions of the bill, not everyone agrees. If you want to talk about the U.S. Constitution in this day and age, you can't avoid this issue.

National Public Radio has an excellent page on the Patriot Act. Check it out. Listen to or read some of the stories and become more knowledgable about this important issue.

Rove in Trouble

Karl Rove, the mastermind of Bush's political successes has been a demon to those on the political left for a long time. We have seen him as a smart, shrewd, but devious political operative whose calling card is impugning the character of those who present a challenge to Bush.

Many of us suspected that Joseph Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame was unmasked as an undercover CIA operative in retaliation for Wilson's harsh remarks about Bush's handling of WMD intelligence. At the time, Bush said he would fire any aide that leaked Plame's name to reporters.

This week, as Rove has been fingered as having a hand in talking to reporters about Plame's undercover status, Bush has changed his tune. Now he will only fire an aide who broke the law in revealing the name of an undercover CIA agent.

This is convenient for Bush, but he shouldn't get away with it, and Rove should have to pay a high price for his misdeeds, criminal or not. He should resign, because is method of operating can no longer be denied. He is a back-stabbing, cut-throat, political operative that has no business prowling about the highest office in the land. He should resign because of the disgrace he has brought to the White House, a place 2000 candidate Bush said he would restore to its dignity.
The lies and manipulations of evidence that have gone on in this administration are appalling. We deserve better, and we ought to demand it.

Confused about all of this? Check out the CS Monitor's Q & A.

Oh yeah, and all of this seems to be hurting Bush's popularity.

Terrorists took much more than 37+ lives in London

The bombings in London on July 7th were tragic. I sat, watching the footage on CNN in horror like everyone else in the world. What made it more sad for me though, is that the whoever was responsible for the terror bombing did a lot more damage than just what we saw on TV. It changed the focus of the G8 Summit and diverted the world’s attention from the issues of poverty and climate change. Consider for a moment two facts:

37 people were killed in the bombings in London
1 child dies every 5 seconds of hunger somewhere in the world (according the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, as reported by the BBC).

Which is more horrible? Do the math.

The G8 summit can be considered a success though, because the world’s wealthiest nations agreed to double the amount of aid to Africa and cancel the debt of the 18 poorest nations in Africa. The world leaders need praise and encouragement for this positive step toward ending a more serious and deadly threat than world terrorism.

As reported by the BBC:

In the words of Tony Blair: "It isn't the end of poverty in Africa, but it is
the hope that it can be ended. It isn't all everyone wanted but it is progress -
real and achievable progress."

And Bob Geldof, the former rock star
and Live 8 organiser, paraphrased words first uttered by Winston Churchill.

"I wouldn't say this is the end of extreme poverty, but it is the
beginning of the end," he said. Of course, the various deals fall far short of
what many campaigners wanted.

There was more disappointment in the area of climate change. The United States of America is still refusing to join other nations in taking concrete actions to lower emissions standards although Bush did agree to language that stated that human activity is playing a role in global climate change.

With the publicity from Live 8, there was tremendous focus on this summit. Looking at the news now, it has taken a back seat to concerns and fears over the terrorist attacks. This means we have more work to do in keeping these issues on the agenda of news providers and world leaders.

O'Connor Resigns High Court

July 1st

Sandra Day O'Connor left an incredible mark on the Court and an even greater on on American history. (Read the story from the New York Times.) She was a pivotal "swing" vote in the ideological battles between the Court's conservatives and it's liberals. Her vote was the deciding factor in many of the Court's 5-4 decisions. She was pragmatic and had a sense for finding the pulse of the American people in striking compromise language on a number of issues. Read some excerpts from her opinions.

July 5th update
O'Connor's influence on Court decisions is discussed in the CS Monitor.

ONE Campaign

JOIN THE ONE CAMPAIGN!

If you haven't already visited http://www.one.org/, than you ought to immediately. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not get a snack from the fridge. Just check it out and if like what the campaign is about, sign the letter to President Bush urging him to do more to help the poorest of the poor nations by getting serious about debt relief for these nations.
Lots of pop/rock/rap/etc. stars are participating in concerts around the world this weekend to bring publicity to the cause. (Bono and Bob Geldof are the driving musical forces behind the event.) It is well timed as the big summit of the G8 powers is happening this coming week. What the little old people like you and I can do is make sure that our leaders know we are concerned and take this problem seriously.
If you haven't heard about the ONE campaign, here is a brief description from the web site:

"ONE is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans – ONE by ONE – to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. The ONE Campaign is engaging Americans through a diverse coalition of faith-based and anti-poverty organizers to show the steps people can take, ONE by ONE, to fight global AIDS and poverty."

REMEMBER - While many of us our enjoying our summer vacations:

38 million people around the world are infected with HIV/AIDS
1 in 5 people around the world live on an income of less than $1 per day
104 million children around the world do not attend grade school
1 person in 7 has no access to clean water for drinking, cooking or washing.
1 person in 7 suffers from hunger
Millions of the world's children have become orphans because of AIDS, war, or other causes
Instead of spending money on these problems, many governments around the world are spending money paying back debt to the world's wealthy nations and international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Every year Sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest region of the world, spends $14.5 billion dollars repaying debts.
Many of the poorest nations have governments that are rife with corruption.

Bottom Line - There is a lot of work to do. One concert isn't going to change everything. One petition isn't going to change everything. But one small step at a time, we can change things if we work together.