New Information on innocent people being held in Guantanamo Bay

For over six years I watched with a deep sadness as the Bush administration tore up our Constitution and the basic values this nation stands for. I followed closely all of the reports of illegal wiretapping, torture, detention of prisoners with no due process, and a deception of the American public about why we went to war in Iraq. Because of the public's fear of another terror attack, we looked the other way as things were done in our name that were a betrayal of our values, principles, and beliefs.

Even though I feel as though I've heard it all before, I'm still shocked and angered to hear one more official detail the extent to which executive power was abused.

This time it is Lawrence B. Wilkerson, a Republican who was a top aide to then Secretary of State Colin Powell. He describes in the Seattle P-I, that we have knowingly held innocent men in the prison for years in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Can you imagine being in prison on a faraway continent for seven years simply because an invading army had little knowledge of your people and culture and couldn't tell the good guys from the bad guys? According to Wilkerson, when it became apparent that an innocent man was being held with real terrorists:

"It did not matter if a detainee were innocent. Indeed, because he lived in
Afghanistan and was captured on or near the battle area, he must know something
of importance."

He contends that Dick Cheney and then Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney refused to release prisoners that they knew were innocent because it would have been an embarassment and "a black mark on their leadership."

Wilkerson is speaking up this week because Cheney has been mouthing off on cable news - telling viewers that the Obama administration is making America more vulnerable to a terrorist attack.

"I'm very concerned about the kinds of things Cheney is saying to make it seem
Obama is a danger to this republic," Wilkerson said. "To have a former vice
president fearmongering like this is really, really dangerous."

And it is scary to me that there are still people in this country that will listen to Cheney and believe him, even though his arrogance and self-righteousness in conducting the war on terror squandered all of the good will the world had for us in the days and weeks following the 9/11 attacks.

Ex-Bush admin official: Many at Gitmo are innocent

What's the Deal with AIG?

Update 1 (different video) below:

Ok, this is a tough one to explain, but here goes.

Brief Summary:
American International Group (AIG) is a big financial company that insures the investments of other financial institutions such as banks, mortgage companies and the like - it would have gone bankrupt a few months ago if the government had not loaned/given AIG billions of dollars in bailout money to stay in business. It was revealed over the weekend that some of that taxpayer money ($165 million) was given out in bonuses to executives working for AIG.

Why are people upset?
1) AIG is one of the companies responsible for encouraging (and insuring) the high-risk loans caused our economy to tank.
2) Once the government started giving bailout money to AIG, someone ought to have stopped them from paying large cash bonuses tothe executives.

Who is at fault? What can be done? Here are some articles as well as a short video of Obama speaking about the AIG bonuses from this week:

AIG’s Bonus Blow-Up: The Essential Q&A - http://www.propublica.org/article/aigs-bonus-blow-up-the-essential-qa-0317

Lawmakers target ‘outrageous’ AIG bonuses csmonitor.com

Update 1: Different video of the President commenting on AIG bonuses. Should be easier to view:

Politics of language: For Obama, the right 'words matter'

Ah, politics.

The same tools and tactics that are used in marketing and advertising are used in politics. Check out how the Obama administration has learned to use language to sell its programs and policies.

And of course this did not begin with Obama. In our previous administration we didn't have POW's, but "enemy combatants". There wasn't any torture by the U.S., only "enhanced interrogation techniques." You get the idea. So do all the politicians.

Citizens, beware.

Politics of language: For Obama, the right 'words matter' - San Jose Mercury News

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - R.I.P.

Well the print edition at least. The economy is really hurting the newspaper business, and a healthy democracy should have plenty of news sources that citizens can choose from in order to stay informed.

Newspapers provide much more in-depth news than is presented on an evening television news program. Are the on-line versions an adequate substitute? There are definately pros and cons, but one big downside is that there will be many fewer reporters staffing the P-I's web site.

Plus, there is something about a newspaper - very portable, you can easily browse through it and find information you might miss otherwise.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer to go Web only - msnbc.com

What led to the Seattle P-I's demise?

As Dow falls, cable-news channels judge Obama

Oh, I love anything that bashes cable news shows. Last week, Jon Stewart got everyone talking when he highlighted all the bad financial advice financial news network CNBC has given out in the past couple of years. This article gets to the point a lot of people are making - with 24 hours a day to fill up, the cable news networks insert a lot of stuff that is not hard news, but instead promotes personalities and stories that fall more in the category of "iinfo-tainment".

They have a right to broadcast what they like, it's a free press. But you and I also have a right to turn it off and find find better sources of news.

As Dow falls, cable-news channels judge Obama Seattle Times Newspaper

Words Matter

Words matter.

Especially when those words define the legal status of an individual. For all of the years that the Bush administration waged a "war on terror," it detained people it claimed were dangerous in places like Guantanamo Bay. They claimed these detainees had no due process rights under U.S. law because they were being held outside of the United States. They also claimed that the Geneva Accords and other international law did not apply to them because they were not "prisoners of war".

In other words, calling them "enemy combatants" allowed the U.S. government to hold these prisoners without trial, or any other basic rights or procedures that we as Americans believe are essential to a system of justice.

Finally, the Obama administration has announced that it will cease to use this term. It may seem trivial, but in this case, it is an important step back toward living up to our ideals of constitutionalism.

BBC NEWS Americas US drops 'enemy combatant' term

U.S. Won’t Label Terror Suspects as ‘Combatants’ - New York Times

The Death Penalty in WA State

Washington State is scheduled to execute an offender for the first time in years. What are your thoughts about use of the death penalty in our state and in our nation.

The story:
Clock ticks down to Brown's execution after appeal fails

Some commentary:
Should Washington state kill the death penalty?

Washington state must abandon the death penalty

Fewer Rights in Troublied Countries

Pakistan and Afghanistan are seen by many (including the Obama administration) as the most important nations in the fight againsst terrorism. Al-Queda and the Taliban operate in the mountainous border between the two nations.

Instability in those countries will have a direct impact on the U.S., and therefore, the political troubles of these nations are very much our concern. Here are two developments that highlight some of the difficulties in those nations.

Crackdown on Protests Continues in Pakistan - NYTimes.com

Afghan Court Backs Prison Term for Blasphemy
The case, against a student journalist, has alarmed news media and rights organizations in Afghanistan and abroad.

Obama calls for education reform

The teacher's unions are usually solidly behind Democrats in the world of politics because they usually offer prescriptions of more money and smaller class sizes to improve public schools. Obama, while supporting those things, has also spoken in the campaign and this week of his desire to see more experimentations with charter schools and increased accountability for teacher performance. These items often make the education establishment nervous. Check out these resources to see what you think about Obama's proposals:

Obama backs teacher merit pay, charter schools

Public education in U.S. falls short, Obama says

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Obama Signs Spending Bill as He Criticizes Earmarks - NYTimes.com

Presidents face tough decisions and have to live with the consequences. No one is particularly proud of the fact that Congress loaded up this bill with 9,000 pet projects (earmarks) at the request of individual members of Congress.

Obama campaigned against earmarks. He is making an exception by signing this bill. Should he have stuck to his principles and vetoed the bill or would that have made his overall fight to fix the economy more difficult?

Obama Signs Spending Bill as He Criticizes Earmarks - NYTimes.com

One of our Senators also had some misgivings about the bill: Earmarks: Cantwell sends mixed signals

Two Cheers for Obama!

Presidents certainly have to rely on Congress to get lots of big things done, but they also have authority to issue executive orders, rules, and policies for how to run the executive departments that have the force of law.

President Bush used (and in my opinion sometimes abused) these powers to promote his agenda. Today Obama reversed two troubling policies of the Bush years.

1. Obama reversed the restrictions Bush had issued on stem-cell research.
Obama Lifts Bush’s Strict Limits on Stem Cell Research

2. Obama also said that he will be much more cautious and conservative in his use of presidential signing statements.
Obama Says He’ll Cut Back on Tactic Bush Used to Sidestep New Laws
President Bush used these infamously to ignore provisions of certain laws Congress passed that his administration opposed. (For example, when signing the bill passed outlawing the use of torture, humiliating, and degrading treament of prisoners, he wrote in a signing statement that the CIA would not be bound by the rules of the law.)

Jerry Large | Homework hater's spiel makes sense | Seattle Times Newspaper

"Do your homework!"

Is this good advice? Are we helping to create a generation of well-educated students or are we wasting the time of young people and smothering their love of learning?
That is the subject of a recent column in the Seattle Times: Homework hater's spiel makes sense.

The article is a about a recent a lecture delivered by Alfie Kohn, author of The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing.

As a teacher and a parent, I think there is a point to this article, but the reporting here is a bit simplistic - I suspect reading Kohn's books would point out that not ALL homework is bad, but that a lot of the stuff we teachers give out is unnecessary. (I made it a policy when I became a teacher years ago to avoid giving my students "busywork". I don't know how well I've adhered to that policy, but I try!)

Keeping in mind that U.S. Constitution saays that our government was designed to promote the general welfare and that our Washington State Constitution declares education to be the "paramount duty of the State", check this article out.

What are your thoughts on how well our education system is designed? Do you think it has lost its focus as the author cited in the article does?

No excuse to lose cool with teen

Jerry Large is a columnist with the Seattle Times. He posted a thoughtful commentary on the assault, by a police officer, of a 15 year old girl that had been taken into custody. (See previous post.) His article mainly deals with how adults should react to teens who are acting out, but for those of you looking for connections to constitutional prinicples, this case certainly deals with the "rule of law" and "due process." Can you explain how?

No excuse to lose cool with teen

Same-sex marriage back before California Supreme Court

The deal in California is basically this:

1. A year or so ago, the State Supreme Court ruled that California's ban on same-sex marriage was a violation of the California State Constitution (not necessarily the U.S. Constitution).

2. So, some 18,000 same-sex couples were married in the Golden State until a proposition was put on the ballot in November (Proposition 8) that amended the CA State Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. And same-sex marriage became illegal in California once again.

3. This week however, proponents of gay marriage are before the Californai State Supreme Court again, this time asking the court to strike down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional.

Confused yet? Before you try to make up your mind, check out the information in the article below from the Christian Science Monitor. There are a lot of issues and arguments on both sides of the issue you may need to consider before being informed enough to understand this legal issue.

(I say "legal issue" as opposed to "moral issue", because whether or not your morals push you in one direction or another on this issue, you have to remember that we are a nation of laws, and the rule of law must be respected - even if the law is confusing and it is easy to let emotion get in the way on controversial issues. The complex system of checks and balances that exists within California State government must be kept in mind here. So, in my case, I think two adults that love each other and want to make a lifetime commitment to each other should be able to do so regardless of their sexual orientation. However, that needs to be done within the rule of law, in accordance with the California State Constitution.)

Same-sex marriage before California Supreme Court csmonitor.com

This news story from a California T.V. station also does a nice job of outlining the key issues involved in this legal battle:

Justified Use of Force or Cruel and Unusual Punishment?

There has been a lot of talk about the video recording of a teenage girl being brutally attacked by prison guards in a King County jail. Keeping in mind that the 8th Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, were these guards using reasonable force or did they violate this young prisoner's rights by using excessive force? Read the article(s) which has a link to the video of the incident.

Teen in jail-cell video calls attack "horrible" Seattle Times Newspaper

From last Friday: Video released in deputy's alleged assault of girl

Some definitions you may find helpful that I found on the web:

EXCESSIVE FORCE - A law enforcement officer has the right to use such force as is reasonably necessary under the circumstances to make a lawful arrest. An unreasonable seizure occurs when a law enforcement officer uses excessive force in making a lawful arrest.
Whether force is reasonably necessary or excessive is measured by the force a reasonable and prudent law enforcement officer would use under the circumstances.

From a draft U.S. government document, the following was taken:

Inmates are protected from cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth
Amendment of the United States Constitution. In order to prove a violation under
the Eighth Amendment, [plaintiff] must show that [defendant] unnecessarily and
wantonly inflicted pain on [him/her]. A use of force against a prison inmate
that was applied in a good faith effort to maintain or restore discipline is not
―unnecessary and wanton, but force applied maliciously or sadistically to cause
harm is unnecessary and wanton.

Poll: Obama's rating at all-time high - White House- msnbc.com

Poll: Obama's rating at all-time high - White House- msnbc.com

Check out the numbers here - how would you rate the President's performance so far?

Are we in a recession or a depression?

I suppose it is always easier to just say that we are in "tough economic times", but this article in today's Seattle Times tries to help us understand the difference between a recession and a depression

Will recession become the dreaded D-word? Seattle Times Newspaper

Gang membership up in Seattle, FBI says

Federalism at times requires the effective cooperation and coordination of federal, state, and local officials. In this case we see how the F.B.I. is helping the Seattle area get a handle on gang activity in our area:
Gang membership up in Seattle, FBI says Seattle Times Newspaper

Also of related interest:
Gangs: Once a member, it is difficult to get out
Pictured: Marcus Harden, a 6-foot-5 former Rainier Beach football star, is an intervention counselor at Seattle's Madrona K-8 school and mentors gang-involved youth.

More Shocking Details Uncovered

Wow. Just when I thought I had heard it all...

The extent to which the government under the Bush Administration was prepared to sacrifice the ideals of a free and open democracy were shown to us in more detail by two news stories that appeared today.

The first involves how many videotapes of waterboarding by our government were destroyed and the second about a legal memo written by the infamous John Yoo attempting to justify the President having the sole authority to overturn freedom of the press and put the nation under military rule after the September 11th attacks.

CIA Destroyed 92 Interrogation Tapes, Probe Says - washingtonpost.com

Extraordinary Measures

A new memo shows just how far the Bush administration considered going in
fighting the war on terror.

Bush-Era Anti-Terrorism Documents Made Public
from Politics - washingtonpost.com by R. Jeffrey Smith and Dan Eggen

The number of major legal errors committed by Bush administration lawyers during
the formulation of its early counterterrorism policies was far greater than
previously known, according to internal Bush administration documents released
for the first time by the Justice Department yesterday.

Let the Republicans Filibuster!

filibuster - the practice of refusing to surrender the floor during a debate to prevent the Senate from voting on a proposal.

cloture - a rule of the U.S. Senate stipulating that debate on a legislative proposal be cut off and the proposal voted upon by the full Senate if sixty members agree.

Why are the Democrats afraid of Republican filibusters in the Senate? If the Democrats have strong, sound legislation that will help this nation, they should not allow the threat of a filibuster cause them to water down and weaken a bill.

Below are a couple of commentaries suggesting this very thing. The arguments are well made and I hope the leadership in the Senate pays attention. The filibuster has it's place, and is an important tool for a minority that is being bullied by a majority, but if a minority of senators are holding up legislation that Americans approve of, their filibuster will not ultimatelly succed.

If 40 Senators are actually willing to mount a filibuster, against Obama's health plan, his housing plan, or any other legislation, they have that right. I think the battle should be joined. Americans want action from their government, and the spectacle of a filibuster might actually engage more of the public in the legislative process.

(And this works both ways - a few years ago, when Republicans were complaining that the treat of Democratic filibusters were preventing conservative judges from being confirmed they should have called their bluff - lets get these debates out in the open!)

Below are the well written commentaries. And if you have never seen the classic movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, you may want to check out the short scene of Jimmy Stewart as Mr. Smith, staging a one-man filibuster in the 1939 classic film.

Op-Ed Contributor - Make My Filibuster - NYTimes.com

Filibusters: The Senate’s Self-Inflicted Wound

Gary Locke named Commerce Secretary

“We will rebuild, we will recover”

President Barack Obama gave his first speech before a joint session of Congress tonight. In language that often channelled Franklin Delano Roosevelt, he urged the government and the American people to act "boldly and wisely" in the face of our current economic crisis.

His performance was impressive and he showed that he still has an ambitious, yes even audacious, program to confront America's most serious problems.

Most viewers will likely conclude that the tone of the speech was what it needed to be: serious and sober in recognizing the problems confronting the nation, yet inspirational and optimistic about the ability of the American spirit to rebuild anew.

What did you think? In case you missed it, click below:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Our State's Budget is in big trouble

The estimated size of the deficit keeps getting larger and larger? This is going to mean a lot of budget cuts that will hurt a lot of us.

$8 billion shortfall forecast for Washington state budget Seattle Times Newspaper

Stimulus Bill Passes

I'm happy it passed, but I'm disappointed that it got watered down in order to make three Republicans happy.

Senators Olympia Snowe, Arlen Spector, and Susan Collins were the only Republicann Senators who voted for the package; the number of Republican members of the House that voted for it: zero. Not one. Thanks for the bipartisan effort G.O.P.

What we need now, is to lean harder on the Congress (especially the Republicans) to stop using the same old tired political rhetoric about governement wasting tax dollars. (Many of these people are the same ones that blew over a trillion dollars on the Iraq War, tax cuts for the rich, and a Wall Street bailout that held almost none of the companies or executives receiving the money accountable.) Those who voted for change and for Obama need to remember that he never said that he could accomplish anthing without us. We need to be engaged - writing lettters, making phone calls - whatever it takes to make our government understand that we demand action, and demand action now.

We cannot allow conservatives to dominate the debate in this nation by carping on relatively small provisions of otherwise important legislation. All of us will have to pay for the consequences of the misguided pressure they are putting on our government.

STAY INVOLVED PEOPLE!!!

If you didn't hear or see the President's weekly radio address, I've included it here. He closes with a nice quote from John F. Kennedy:

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks
equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks."

Obama'a First Press Conference

Barack Obama took back control of the debate over the economy, and I believe, will have convinced a lot of Americans that he is leading us in the right direction in the face of the economic crisis.

He showed a mastery of the issues at hand that was refreshing compared to what we have been used to hearing the last eight years.

Some other analysis and coverage out there:

News Analysis - Taking on Critics, Obama Puts Aside Talk of Unity - NYTimes.com

At His First Prime-Time News Conference, Obama Is Serious and Expansive - Howard Kurtz

The Fighting Conciliator

The News Conference: The Same, and Different

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

Read the story and see the video of the first bill Obama signed as President. It makes it easier for women to sue for discrimination and pay in the workplace.

A good thing!

The White House - Blog Post - A Wonderful Day (Update: Video): "Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009"

Here is some background on Lilly Ledbetter and her case.

(By the way, you may notice one of our Senators, Patty Murray, standing among the key lawmakers behind the President - she played an important role in promoting this bill.)

The Inauguration. At Last. - And the Pursuit of Happiness Blog - NYTimes.com

One artist's reflections on attending the inauguration of Barack Obama - 44th President of the United States of America.

The Inauguration. At Last. - And the Pursuit of Happiness Blog - NYTimes.com

Republicans Choose First Black Party Chairman

It is about time! Good luck to Michael Steele as he seeks to redeem the image of the Republican Party, the G.O.P., and yes, the "Party of Lincoln".
It is going to take more than a non-white face to attract more voters though. Republicans have to show that they care about more than tax cuts that favor the rich and an intolerant brand of Christianity. If the party is really going to open its arms to all of America, it has got to take a good look at America, and respond with policy positions that help all Americans.

No more gay bashing. No more racially charged code language in campaign ads that play on white fears of things such as "urban crime" and "welfare queens". No more stigmatizing all Latinos, Asians, and Africans by fanatical crusades against illegal immigrants. No more unanimous opposition to economic stimulus bills. No more lies and misrepresentations of intelligence data to scare Americans into unnecessary wars.

Good luck Mr. Steele - you've got your work cut out for you.

Republicans Choose First Black Party Chairman - NYTimes.com

Protests across Russia

The economic crisis that began in the housing and financial sectors of the United States has sparked a world-wide economic downturn. Here are some stories from the BBC about how Russians are reacting to the hard times. One wonders how Vladimir Putin and the government he still retains tremendous influence will react to political expression aimed at his administration.

BBC NEWS Europe Thousands protest across Russia


From January 21: Police break up Russian protests


From December: Russia's industrial output slumps

Rep. Upthegrove targets special deal for student-athletes

Kudos to Dave Upthegrove for taking on a small, but unfair practice favoring student-athletes over other students in UW admissions.

Equality of opportunity is a core American value, and must be defended in places big and small.

In tough economic times, equal access to higher education is more important than ever. If we don't have room for every deserving student at our state universities (and we should!) let us at least make decisions on the basis of academic merit.

Keep fighting the good fight Dave!

Education Legislator targets special deal for student-athletes

Bush's 'War' On Terror Comes to a Sudden End - washingtonpost.com

Bush's 'War' On Terror Comes to a Sudden End - washingtonpost.com

Barack Hussein Obama - 44th President of the United States

An interactive photograph of those present: An Closer Look at the Inaugural Ceremony

Read or view his address: Transcript - Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address - Text - NYTimes.com

Photo Slide Show of Obama's aides and advisors

U.S. Citizens Hopeful About Obama Administration

It is a good sign when the American people have optimism about an incoming President, and Barack Obama seems to be enjoying a higher level of confidence in him than any incoming President in quite a long time.

While 79% of those surveyed said they were feeling optimistic about life over the next four years according to a poll conducted by the New York Times, the most encouraging statistic is that 58% of those who voted for John McCain said they were "optimistic" about an Obama administration.

For more details on the survey complete with graphs, check out the link:

Poll Finds Faith in Obama, Mixed With Patience - NYTimes.com

Tax Cuts for Teachers - NYTimes.com

Well, you know I agree with this idea - thanks to Thomas Friedman of the New York Times for the vote of confidence.

Op-Ed Columnist - Tax Cuts for Teachers - NYTimes.com

Gaza crisis: a crossroads for Obama

I think this commentary gets it right - it is time for the U.S. to ask Israel to share some of the blame for the tragedy of the Middle East and realize that even the use of overwhelming military force will not solve their security concerns in the long run - they are only making more enemies and radicals in the Arab world. True, Hamas is an organization that has not respected human rights of Israelis and has defied international law by its attacks on civilians, but Israel and the U.S. must facilitate talks.

Gaza crisis: a crossroads for Obama csmonitor.com

UPDATE 1:
For some good background on this issue, here are some helpful resources:
Gaza: Why Israel and Hamas are trading rocket fire

Ezra Klein does a nice job on his blog of giving a short simple explanation of how each side finds the other at fault for starting the latest round of violence. Who Started It?

State Competition - Gig Harbor High School

Here they are - the winners of the State Finals of the "We the People" Competition for the 2008-2009 school year. I think they did a great job, and I hope the video will help all other "We the People" students learn some things about how to prepare for competitions.

Congrats to Gig Harbor students and their great teacher, Ken Brown!

12 things to throw at Bush / A shoe? Not bad. But surely we can do better

An amusing, yet sad reflection on the eight years of misguided leadership we experienced under George W. Bush.

12 things to throw at Bush / A shoe? Not bad. But surely we can do better

News Analysis - In Blagojevich Case, Is It a Crime, or Just Talk? - NYTimes.com

News Analysis - In Blagojevich Case, Is It a Crime, or Just Talk? - NYTimes.com

The Electoral College Has Spoken!

It's official: Obama elected 44th president - White House transition- msnbc.com

Well, not exactly. The votes are not counted until January 6th, 2009 after the new Congress is sworn in, and the ballots are counted that body. However, apparently according to this story, the AP has confirmed that the Electors actually voted for the candidates they pledged to vote for.

I'm really hoping that a 28th Amendment will be added to the Constitution soon, to get rid of this relic of the 18th century.

And by the way: Turnout in presidential elections hits high
61.6 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, the highest rate since 1968

Bush Visits Iraq, Iraqi Journalist Throws Shoes at Him

I wonder if he gets the message now? I fitting end to the Bush presidency, and an image that will probably endure throughout history as a symbol of the cluelessness and foolishness of the U.S. doctrine of pre-emptive invasion.



According to CNN:

The shoe-thrower -- identified as Muntadhar al-Zaidi, an Iraqi journalist with Egypt-based al-Baghdadia television network -- could be heard yelling in Arabic: "This is a farewell ... you dog!"

While pinned on the ground by security personnel, he screamed: "You killed the Iraqis!"

FindLaw's Writ -

FindLaw's Writ - Mariner: A Public Accounting for Post-9/11 Abuses

Is Obama Truly Like Lincoln - As His "Team of Rivals" and Other Parallels Suggest?
By EDWARD LAZARUS

From The Onion: Should the Government Stop Dumping Money Into a Giant Hole

Some brilliant satire from The Onion on what passes for reasoned discussion of important issues on cable news these days.


In The Know: Should The Government Stop Dumping Money Into A Giant Hole?

Some Relevant Current Events

Here are some news stories I collected that I thought were relevant to issues of the Presidency, political parties, Congress, the rights of a defendant (who is accused of being a terrorist) being held at Guantanamo, and federal/state relationships.

And oh, by the way, they are saying that we are officially in a recession. As if we couldn't tell....

Obama Promises Governors That Federal Help Is on the Way
PHILADELPHIA — With the economic crisis tearing holes in most state budgets, President-elect Barack Obama promised the nation’s governors on Tuesday that he would come to their aid with an ambitious program to build or repair roads, bridges, schools and other public projects.

Summoning state executives from across the country here, Mr. Obama sought to forge a bipartisan approach to the nation’s economic problems. He was met with pleas for a rapid infusion of federal money to create jobs, help those without health coverage and balance recession-ripped budgets.

In Guantánamo case, a judge tightens the screws on the US csmonitor.com
Washington - A major battle is brewing in federal court here over the well-established legal requirement that the government must turn over any exculpatory evidence it has uncovered to an accused criminal it is seeking to imprison.

But what if that person is a suspected terrorist being held as an enemy combatant at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba?

That's the issue before US District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is presiding over a high-stakes legal dispute involving allegations that US intelligence agents secretly sent a man to Morocco for 18 months of torture before transferring him to prisons in Afghanistan and then Guantánamo.

Republicans win crucial Georgia Senate seat

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss won a run-off election in Georgia on Tuesday, CNN said, denying Democrats the chance for a 60-seat "super majority" in the Senate that would have enabled them to pass legislation virtually at will.

Obama’s national security ‘team of rivals’ His choice of Gates, Clinton, and Jones reflects his goal of building a bipartisan cabinet.

Obama’s team of stars: Can he manage it?
Some inner-circle conflict can be of help to a president, but building a sense of teamwork will be key.
President-elect Barack Obama has earned accolades from Democrats and Republicans alike for the high-powered national security and economic teams he has unveiled.

Choice for U.N. Backs Strong Action Against Mass Killings - NYTimes.com

Choice for U.N. Backs Strong Action Against Mass Killings - NYTimes.com: "President-elect Barack Obama has chosen his foreign policy adviser, Susan E. Rice, to be ambassador to the United Nations, picking an advocate of “dramatic action” against genocide as he rounds out his national security team, Democrats close to the transition said Sunday."

Along with nominating Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State, General Jim Jones for National Security Advisor and retaining Bush's Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, Obama will make Susan E. Rice a high profile appointee today.

And I think it is great news. According to the NYTimes:

To reinforce his intention to work more closely with the United Nations after the tensions of President Bush’s tenure, Mr. Obama plans to restore the ambassador’s post to cabinet rank, as it was under President Bill Clinton, according to Democrats close to the transition.
While the cabinet consists of 15 department heads, a president can give other positions the same rank for the duration of his administration.

I'll try to post more on this after the announcement this morning.

Rush to Enact a Safety Rule Obama Opposes - NYTimes.com

Although Presidents are considered "lame-ducks" in the last part of their tenure in office, they can still weild a lot of power. In fact, in the closing days of an administration, there is often a rush to enact as many rules, regulations, and PARDONS as possible. First, here are some of the executive actions Bush is trying to get in place that are controversial:

Rush to Enact a Safety Rule Obama Opposes - NYTimes.com

Revolution in Thailand?

There is the potential for a violent revolution against a democratically elected government in Thailand, as it has been charged with corruption. Now the government seems to be losing the support of the Army.

Thai army chief urges government to resign
Fears of military intervention rise as protesters continue airport blockade

Another Way the Economic Crisis Will Affect You!

While in Washington D.C., they are trying to figure out how to keep Ford, G.M., and Chrysler from going bankrupt; and as the Obama team is searching for a way to create 2.5 million new jobs over the next two years, closer to home we may have a $5 billion dollar budget shortfall in the Washington State.

That is bad news for all of us. For example:

20% cuts may be ahead for state colleges, universities as bottom falls out of budget Seattle Times Newspaper:

"The University of Washington and other institutions are trying to figure
out ways to plug a yawning budget gap. Officials at several universities are
already talking about raising tuition by 10 to 15 percent next year — perhaps
$1,000 per student. That would require lawmakers to lift the current limit on
schools of 7 percent in tuition increases annually."

Torturing Democracy

President-Elect Obama has promised to close down the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But we should not forget that there have been so many principles of freedom, justice, and human rights that were tossed aside by the likes of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzalez, John Ashcroft, and George Bush that it is important not to forget what was done in the name of the United States of America since September 11, 2001.

A recent documentary called Torturing Democracy recalls all of this and I highly recommend viewing it. It is an important reminder about why respect for the rule of law is so important.

http://torturingdemocracy.org/

While it has been aired on PBS stations, the entire film can be viewed on-line. Below is a clip describing the technique known as waterboarding, that Bush Administration officials have refused to categorize as "torture".

5 Detainees Ordered Released From Guantanamo : NPR

Another good report on this story - it points out what a travesty of justice the Bush Administration created in dealing with terror suspects - especially those held in Guantanamo Bay.
5 Detainees Ordered Released From Guantanamo : NPR

Obama Administration Taking Shape

News reporters have uncovered the decisions that Obama has settled on for some of his key Cabinet post. In this report by NBC, the effect of some of Obama's recent pics, including Timothy F. Geithner for Treasury Secretary are analyzed.



Also, it appears that the Governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano, will be chosen as the head of Homeland Security. Governor of Arizona Is in Line for Cabinet

HillaryWatch: It is being reported this morning that Hillary Clinton has chosen to accept the position of Secretary of State in the Obama Administration.
Clinton Is Said to Accept Secretary of State Position - By PETER BAKER and HELENE COOPER
Two confidants said Hillary Rodham Clinton would give up her Senate seat and accept the nomination for secretary of state after talks with the president-elect.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow took a look at what sort of drama will or will not be a part of Barack and Hillary working together.

Judge Declares Five Detainees Held Illegally - NYTimes.com

Judge Declares Five Detainees Held Illegally - NYTimes.com

Hate is Still Out There

Election spurs 'hundreds' of race threats, crimes
Cross burnings. Schoolchildren chanting "Assassinate Obama." Black figures hung from nooses. Racial epithets scrawled on homes and cars.
Incidents around the country referring to President-elect Barack Obama are dampening the postelection glow of racial progress and harmony, highlighting the stubborn racism that remains in America.
From California to Maine, police have documented a range of alleged crimes...

The YouTube Presidency | 44 | washingtonpost.com

The YouTube Presidency 44 washingtonpost.com
Today, President-elect Obama will record the weekly Democratic address not just on radio but also on video -- a first. The address, typically four minutes long, will be turned into a YouTube video and posted on Obama's transition site, Change.gov, once the radio address is made public on Saturday morning.

Fight. For you Right. To Ma-rry! (With apologies to the Beasie Boys)

Big rallies are scheduled for today across the country in response to the propositions in three states (including California) that voted to ban gay marriage.

These events were organized very quickly with the help of modern technology. The first article explains how the younger generation is waging politics 2.0:

Young, wired and rallying for gay rights nationally
A revolt against constitutional bans on gay marriage is being led by young people using texts and Web sites to quickly assemble.

Mormon church's role in Prop. 8 fight debated

Can He Do It?

Updated Nov. 11th.

A president-elect has a lot to do: 1) put together a good, quality administration of advisors, 2) decide what problems to attack first; 3) Decide how hard to push on campaign promises considering we are in an economic mess; 4) and oh yeah, figure out what kind of puppy to get.
Obama positioned to reverse Bush

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images file
Advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110801856.html?hpid=topnews
Obama launches Web site to reach public - http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/11/10/obama.wired/index.html
Shutting Guantanamo a Priority
Obama administration to review classified files of detainees as part of intensive effort to close prison.

Can He Do It? Campaign's Visions Will Evolve As Obama Shifts to Governing - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110800224.html?hpid=topnews
This is an older article, but I think a lot of you (especially units 1 and 6) can make use of this info on political and civic involvement by citizens: Why volunteerism has reached historic high in US - http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0130/p01s04-ussc.html The uptick in serving – 29 percent of Americans did in 2005 – is being driven by older teens, baby boomers, and seniors.
Secret order allows U.S. raids abroad - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008371562_terror10.html The U.S. military since 2004 has used broad secret authority to carry out nearly a dozen previously undisclosed attacks against al-Qaida...
Unit 5 should especially check this out - Monday, November 03, 2008 - The Court and ‘Fleeting Expletives’ - Editorial - NYTimes.com
The Court and ‘Fleeting Expletives’ - Editorial - NYTimes.com

Is divided government preferable to one-party rule? Units 3 and 4 are taking a pretty close look at this in their speeches, and here is an op-ed piece by a skeptic of the Democrats being in control.
Will Obama’s Congress Be Too Friendly? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/opinion/10ehrenhalt.html?th&emc=th

Meanwhile, one of my favorite liberal columnists, Paul Krugman, ponders whether Obama will transform our American government in response to the financial crisis the way FDR did with the New Deal. Franklin Delano Obama? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/opinion/10krugman.html?th&emc=th

Finally, former Nobel Peace Prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who worked non-violently to end apartheid, discussed what he thinks Obama's election means to the world.
The Man of Tomorrow -- His election has turned America's global image on its head. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110702896.html

Commentary on Legal Issues, Elections, and Madison

From FindLaw.com - Some selected recent articles

Are Different Abortion Methods Morally Distinguishable? The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Hears Richmond Med. Center v. Herring

Eight Years After Bush v. Gore, Why is There Still So Much Election Litigation and What Does This Mean for Voter Confidence in the Electoral Process?

A Short List of Human Rights Reforms for the Next President

The Evidence Establishes, without Question, that Republican Rule Is Dangerous: Why It Is High Time to Fix This Situation, For the Good of the Nation

Reflections on Historian Mary Hershberger's Piece on McCain's War Record, and a Q&A with the Author

The Rise and Fall of John McCain, As Explained By the Principles the Framers of the Constitution Embraced

The Fourth Amendment, Once Removed: The Supreme Court Examines a New Search and Seizure Loophole

Remembering Cooper v. Aaron, the Supreme Court Case That Sent the Message that Brown's Promise of Desegregation Must Be Kept

The Financial Crisis from the Viewpoint of a Constitutional Scholar: How Today's Debacle Recalls James Madison's Nightmare at the Founding that None Would Have the Virtue to Lead

The Rationality of Spite: Why the Bailouts Do, And Should, Make People Angry

A Landmark Torture Trial

Nate Silver: What to Watch For on Election Night | Newsweek Politics: Campaign 2008 | Newsweek.com

This guy's really good at crunching the poll numbers. If you want a preview of what to look for in the election returns Tuesday, this is a great guide.

Nate Silver: What to Watch For on Election Night Newsweek Politics: Campaign 2008 Newsweek.com

The Court and ‘Fleeting Expletives’ - Editorial - NYTimes.com

The Court and ‘Fleeting Expletives’ - Editorial - NYTimes.com

Election Reflection

Well, not so much my reflection, but some interesting ones I've seen on the web in the past few days:

Why would someone want to be President of the United States? With all of the pressure and criticism that comes with the job, don't you think you'd have to be a little nuts to want the job? The New York Times explored what kind of psyche pursues the presidency.

The Mindset in the Middle of the Storm

It has been an amazing election year. The following story looks back at this historic election, and peeks ahead just a bit.

The Year of Living on the Edge of Our Seats

Immigrants who are now American citizens are motivated voters. How will their participation impact the election? Politico.com did a good story on them:
Immigrants the new face of 'real America' - Gebe Martinez - Politico.com

Coverage of "Race and the Election" has interesting stories from MSNBC looking at how this election (and a possible Obama victory) could impact the issue of race in America.

Who is still undecided, and why, after all the election coverage are they still undecided? The New York Times takes a look in:
The Undecided Few, Perplexed or Indifferent - NYTimes.com

How are the groups attending McCain rallies different from those attending Obama rallies?
At Rallies of Faithful, Contrasts in Red and Blue - NYTimes.com

Should ministers have the freedom to encourage their parishioners to vote for one candidate or another? Is it protected by freedom of expression, or should such ministers have their tax-exept status taken away? NPR looked at the issue:
Political Endorsement From The Pulpit : NPR

Obama's Candidacy Angers, Excites Hate Groups : NPR

Have you heard about the skinhead, Neo-Nazi, white supremacists that were arrested for plotting to kill 88 at a predominately black school, and then try to kill Obama as their finale? It is scary that there are nuts out there with guns who want to kill people because of the color of their skin.

In 2008.

I don't get it.

There was also a kid at a gun show that shot himself this past week, and singer/actress Jennifer Hudson had four family members killed by gunmen in Chicago. It makes you wonder about gun controal and the Second Amendment.

The First Amendment protects even stupid and hateful expression up until the point a crime is commited. When these people are arrested, they must still be given due process rights. And, of course, as a part of the police power of government, we need to prevent murders.

The secret service did a good job on this and other threats Obama has faced. It does bring up the issue of whether the hate groups out there are benefiting from Obama's success. You can read or listen to a fascinating story by NPR at:

Obama's Candidacy Angers, Excites Hate Groups : NPR

Is it time to scrap the Electoral College? - Decision '08- msnbc.com

Is it time to scrap the Electoral College? - Decision '08- msnbc.com

I would love to have us change to a system of popular vote for the President, and I'm shocked that it didn't happen after the 2000 election. If the popular vote determined the presidency, Al Gore would have been the President, receiving over a 1/2 million votes than George W. Bush.

Unfortunately, there are many interests in the nation that benefit from the Electoral College: small states, rural voters, and the Republican Party.

The biggest problem, in my opinion, is that presidential elections only happen every four years, and people forget about the issue as more urgent matters deserve the government's attention. But, taking a chance on a someone becoming president that doesn't have the support of a majority of the voters is a big problem.

I wish there were more pressure on our government to change the Electoral College.

Justices’ Ruling on Guns Faces Attacks, From the Right

One of the big cases from the Supreme Court's last term was District of Columbia v. Heller. It was the big gun rights case. Apparently some of the more conservative judges are saying they think the court made a poor decision. It was a 5-4 vote, and there was an article about it in today's New York Times.

Justices’ Ruling on Guns Faces Attacks, From the Right - NYTimes.com

Muslims Are Americans Too

I've been waiting desparately for someone of stature in this campaign to say what Colin Powell said Sunday morning.

Thank you General Powell, for reminding not only your party, but all of America, what this country is all about.

THE DAILY BANTER.COM: Muslims Are Americans Too: "As Colin Powell poignantly pointed out, Arab Muslims have served America just like every other racial, religious and ethnic minority. It is a crying shame anyone needs to point this out."

This is a 7 minute clip from Meet the Press. He addresses the "Muslims are Americans" issue somewhere after the half-way point.

Shame on University of Texas!

This is totally ridiculous! And, students wanting to hang pro-Republican signs can't either.

Something is seriously wrong in Texas!

Texas students punished for Obama signs
University says it has a policy against political signs in dorm windows

Why Habeas Corpus is so important

I just got home from work and read this article about 17 Guantanamo Bay prisoners finally being released after 6 years. They did nothing wrong, but were turned in (sold out) by Pakistanis that wanted the $5,000 bounty the U.S. government was offering.

So now, after last year's Boumediene v. Bush decision, they had the right to make a habeas corpus appeal to a U.S. judge, and the judge ordered them to be released.

Unfortunately for these folks, the Justice Department wants a "stay" in the ruling (keeping them imprisoned) in a separation of powers argument. They say the judicial branch doesn't have the authority to tell the government to settle these 17 people in the United States.

Check it out:

Federal Judge Orders Release of Chinese Muslims

The Supreme Court is Now in Session!

The Roberts Court is back at work as of today, the first Monday in October, which is the day the Court is required to begin hearing cases again after a summer break that began in late June. Some interesting cases and decisions are already coming down from the court:

High court refuses to hear racial profiling case csmonitor.com
The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of a man who was kicked off an American Airlines jetliner in Boston because a flight attendant thought he looked like a Middle Eastern terrorist.

This doesn't seem right to me. The guy was clearly treated very badly by the airline, and won his case, only to have it overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals.

High court case: If harassed workers talk, can they be fired?
A Tennessee woman lost her job after she cooperated in a company investigation.

Let me be clear - I'm against the death penalty, and I am not in favor of this man being executed. However, I can certainly see why the Court refused to hear this case. It seems like a real stretch to say that one's fair trial rights were violated because of a bible reading in the jury deliberation room. Maybe there are some details I'm missing here, but it sounds like they were standing on pretty shakey legal ground when the defendant filed this suit.

Supreme Court lets stand death sentence after Bible reading
A death-row inmate claimed the jury foreman violated his fair-trial rights by reading out loud from Romans.

Finally, from a few days ago, the Court refused to reconsider a controversial ruling from last term:
Court Won't Reconsider Ban on Execution for Child Rape
The Supreme Court yesterday declined to revisit its June decision that imposing the death penalty on child-rapists is unconstitutional, although two justices said they would have reopened the case and two others sharply criticized the majority.

Justices Return to Work, With Less Meaty Docket - NYTimes.com

The Supreme Court has been on summer break since the end of June. However, the Supreme Court begins its new term every year on the first Monday of October - That's tomorrow!

Read about what cases are on on the court's docket here:

Justices Return to Work, With Less Meaty Docket - NYTimes.com

FactChecking Biden-Palin Debate

This organization does a great job of researching the claims made by candidates running for office. Click below to see the run-down of misinformation that was aired during the V.P. debate last night.

FactCheck.org: FactChecking Biden-Palin Debate

Will the Media Please Tell Me What to Think About the Debate I Watched Last Night?

Both campaigns know it is important to tell American voters what to think about the debate they did (or did not) watch last night. As the New York Times notes, there is:

a common belief in presidential politics: That many viewers base their judgment not necessarily on debate performance but on what they read and see in the days
afterward.

So, hopefully lots of people will think for themselves, and not let the pundits or the campaigns do it for them.

However, if you are a political junkie like me, you know that how people perceived the debate will some effect on the outcome of the race, so I've been watching the analysis appearing in the media closely.

A sampling of some of the analysis from the media:
The Next Day, a New Debate on Who Won NYTimes

Analysts: No Game-Changer in First Debate - ABC News

Round 1 in debates goes to Obama, poll says - CNN

Analysis: Split decision, but John McCain wins first debate on points - NY Daily News

John McCain: Four More Years of 'You Just Don't Understand"? - Huffington Post

BBC NEWS Americas First presidential debate scorecard - A view from across the pond.

Debate Time!

Well the debate is about to start - I'm very excited about it! I think Barack Obama will win over a lot of undecided voters tonight. McCain has spent the week contradicting himself, and laying the groundwork for Obama to hammer home the point about McCain not having the judgement and temperment to be president.

Let's see how it turns out...

Iranian President: 'American empire' nearing its end - CNN.com

Ahmadinejad: 'American empire' nearing its end - CNN.com

U.S. Abortion Rate at 30-Year Low

Interesting trend. Interesting results. Among other things, these results suggest that reducing the number of abortions may be linked to helping people out of poverty and distressed economic situations.

U.S. Abortion Rate at 30-Year Low - US News and World Report

Did Palin support 'Bridge to Nowhere?' - CNN.com

Did Palin support 'Bridge to Nowhere?'

Yeah, she pretty much did.

Did she tell Congress, "Thanks, but no thanks" as she said in her acceptance speech?

Not really. She kept repeating the story though.

Look hard America, and remember what Thomas Jefferson once said, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free . . . it expects what never was and never will be."

Initiative 1000 would let patients get help ending their lives | Seattle Times Newspaper

It is called many things: "physician-assisted suicide", "death with dignity", and others. Regardless of what it is called, the law in Oregon that lets doctors prescribe lethal doses of drugs to patients that are terminally ill and wish to end their lives before enduring a long and painful illness, has created a lot of controversy. This November Washington State voters will have the opportunity to vote on a law very similar to Oregon's assisted suicide law.

It is also an excellent case study in conflicting constitutional values. Does a limited government have the right to tell a terminally ill person how they should or should not end their lives? Should inidivdual rights win out over concerns about promoting a "culture of life" and preventing possible abuses of the law by greedy relatives that stand to inherit money? Or is opposing this law what would further the common good?

The Seattle Times did an excellent job of reporting on this initiative in their Sunday paper. Check it out.

Initiative 1000 would let patients get help ending their lives Seattle Times Newspaper

Taxpayers may spend $1 trillion in bailout

Wow! This plan, if enacted, will probably be the largest government intervention in the American economy since the Great Depression. It will certainly be the most expensive in our history. Why is the government considering such action? What is this crisis all about?

The plan proposed by President Bush and backed by many in Congress will give the Treasury Department the authority to spend something in the neighborhood of $700 billion dollars to buy up crappy investments and loans from Wall Street companies that are on the brink of collapse. Basically, these investment companies screwed up, and now the government (and the taxpayers!) are being asked to bail them out. The bad investments made by private individuals and corporations will then be owned by the U.S. government. (That is all of us!)

Why would we do such a thing?

Well, the warnings from D.C. are that the effects of all these companies failing would greatly damage the entire economy, especially the ability to get credit and loans. This would lead to a stronger recession, less jobs, and hurt the nation as a whole. Basically, they say they are acting to promote the common welfare to prevent an economic collapse.

The government has intervened in the economy before, especially during the Great Depression and during the Savings and Loan Crisis of the 1980's. (Remember FDR's bank holiday, and the creation of the National Recovery Agency?)

The problem is that this will be very expensive and no one is really sure how it will work out. It might save us from economic disaster or it could wind up fueling inflation and creating an even larger debt so that the things the Presidential candidates are promising to do might not happen. There will be a lot less money for the government to spend, if this plan is approved by Congress.

And there are fundamental Constitutional questions as well. Should Congress give this much power to the Treasury Department (Executive Branch)? Is this something the Framers of our Constitution would have envisioned the federal government doing? Both left-wing and right-wing commentators have criticized this plan over some of these questions.

Here is a video and some articles you may find helpful:

Taxpayers may spend $1 trillion in bailout - Seattle Times Newspaper

Depressingly familiar: Uncle Sam to the rescue
The stock market plummets, investors pull out money and loans dry up, triggering global financial turmoil. Enter the government, buying...

Policymakers: Congress Must Move Quickly to Avert Damage
Lawmakers Remain Deeply Skeptical of Financial Rescue Plan

Criticism and controversy:
Treasury chief Paulson on verge of historic new powers
The administration's bailout plan would make him temporary overseer of the US financial system.

Cash for Trash - by Paul Krugman
Some skeptics are calling Henry Paulson’s $700 billion rescue plan for the U.S. financial system “cash for trash.” Everyone agrees that something major must be done. But Mr. Paulson is demanding extraordinary power for himself — and for his successor — to deploy taxpayers’ money on behalf of a plan that, as far as I can see, doesn’t make sense.

Senator Chris Dodd: “After reading this proposal, I can only conclude that it is not only our economy that is at risk, Mr. Secretary, but our Constitution, as well.”

Conservatives: 'Take a breath' before passing bailout - CNN

Bailout could boost inflation, sink dollar
Oil and gold surged Monday as investors worried that huge new debts will harm US Treasury's credit standing.

Gregoire, Rossi far apart on social issues | Seattle Times Newspaper

We have a definate choice this year in the Governor's race:

Gregoire, Rossi far apart on social issues Seattle Times Newspaper

In a More Diverse America, A Mostly White Convention - washingtonpost.com

From the Washington Post: In a More Diverse America, A Mostly White Convention - washingtonpost.com

Palin’s Start in Alaska - Not Politics as Usual - NYTimes.com

From National Public Radio:

Assessing Palin's Reformist Record - From NPR: · Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin begins her vice presidential campaign as a self-proclaimed reformer. But as a mayor and as
governor, she defended the pork brought home by Alaska's congressional delegation, and even hired a lobbyist to get more. - Listen to this report - it shows how misleading parts of her speech were.

Palin’s Start in Alaska - Not Politics as Usual - NYTimes.com

Mayor Palin: A Rough Record

And Then There Was One - Thomas Friedman

Palin E-Mails Show Intense Interest in Trooper's Penalty

Summer Vacation Almost Over!

Hello to my wonderful 12th Grade "We the People" class:

I had my first day back at work today!

IMPORTANT QUESTION: How many of you are still willing and able to meet on August 28th? I was thinking about late morning, about 10:30 am in my classroom, but only if enough people can make it.

I think it would be great for us to re-connect before the school year starts, so we can get off to a good start, but it wouldn't be worth it if only a few people can show up. Maybe Tuesday, September 2nd, the day before school starts would work better for people.

So, please rsvp as soon as possible. If you have a friend taking the class that doesn't check e-mail regularly, please call them and ask them to get back to me.
I'm really tired tonight, but maybe I'll try to make a few phone calls tomorrow to see what is up with folks.

Other reminders:

REMEMBER TO DO YOUR SUMMER HOMEWORK!

ALSO - Read as much of the new textbook as you can. We will go through it about one lesson per night during the school year, so if you can read some of it before hand, I think that will make it easier for during the school year.

OH YEAH! --- About a month ago I tried to make up competition groups. I worked pretty hard on it, but wasn't happy with the results. I think I can do a much better job once I know who is definately in the class and get some more info from some of the students I didn't have in the 11th Grade class. I hope this works for all of you.

OH YEAH!!!!! - The Democratic National Convention is this week. The Republican National Convention is next week. Michelle Obama gave a really touching speech about Barack, her family, and the country tonight. (At least in my opinion, but I'm kinda partial to the Obamas! ) Check it out on a TV replay or on the net if you didn't get a chance to see it. Her big brother Craig, the Men's Basketball Coach at University of Oregon, gave her an introduction and the little girls were on the stage after the speech. They are very cute and sweet little kids. John McCain is going to be on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight.

I hate for summer to be over, but I can't wait to start working with my 12th Grade WTP class!!!!
BTW, people can leave messages on my school phone if e-mail doesn't work for them.

PASTA la vista,

Mr. Coraggio

It's Obama-Biden!

Obama Picks Biden, Adding Foreign Expertise to Ticket - NYTimes.com

Horrible Crime. Ultimate Sentence?

Jury finds Duncan eligible for death penalty Seattle Times Newspaper

Big Chill Over Georgia

Will Russia's military action in Georgia mean a new cold war?

News Analysis - No Cold War, but Big Chill Over Georgia - News Analysis - NYTimes.com

Bin Laden Driver Sentenced to a Short Term

Bin Laden Driver Sentenced to a Short Term - NYTimes.com

Washington Supreme Court says privacy trumps identifying teacher in cases of unsubstantiated sexual misconduct | Seattle Times Newspaper

This case is one people will be one on which many people will have strong opinions. However, it should be noted by students that this is a very interesting example of the clash between the goals of protecting individual rights (in this case the teachers) from society's need to promote the general welfare (identifying and punishing sex offenders).

As a teacher, this makes me breathe a little easier. We teachers all live with a fear that someday a false accusation could end our teaching career - an occupational hazard of the modern day. I think it is a good and reasonable decision. To reverse this decision would raise havoc in our schools - students would know they could ruin a teacher by simply lying about his or her behavior.

I understand the argument on the other side, and I'm sure if I or a love one had been abused, I would want no stone unturned in prosecuting the criminal. However, I think if people looked objectively at the potential consequences they would understand why a majority of our State Supreme Court ruled in favor of protecting the identities of the accused.

Washington Supreme Court says privacy trumps identifying teacher in cases of unsubstantiated sexual misconduct Seattle Times Newspaper

Some Late-Night Political Humor

Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart, and Steven Colbert on the day's news.

President Bush signs massive housing bill - Mortgage Mess- msnbc.com

What is in it, and who will it help? Check out the following:

President Bush signs massive housing bill - Mortgage Mess- msnbc.com

FACTBOX: Key provisions of U.S. housing rescue bill

Powerful Senator Faces Criminal Charges

Ted Stevens has been a controversial U.S. Senator to many, but a powerful one that has steered billions of dollars to his home state of Alaska. A few years ago, his tirade over maintaining the funding for the infamous "bridge to nowhere" despite the needs of hurricane ravaged New Orleans created an embarassment for himself and the Senate as an institution. Now, the Senators career is threatened over personal favors done for him in violation of finance laws. Was Stevens a good senator? Can he remain one? Check out the article here:

Friend's gifts could be Stevens' downfall Seattle Times Newspaper

Senate legend laid low by ethics scandal