No.

This has been another edition of simple answers to simple questions. Thank you, come again.

i want to be first

rats

there are four names that need to be revisited and some most certainly impeached for crimes committed as a justice. the florida rehash is a prime example, and we have seen another today. someone that would vote to kill us with pollution?
they are in favor of us dying from pollution? can anyone even believe that four members of our supreme court could vote to kill us?

this is a crime for which they need to be expelled, NOW.

It seems to me that the dissent says that the executive branch is not required to follow the laws passed by congress. Isn’t it that simple?

Bush is afraid of baseball fans. This is really ironic because his dream job is baseball commissioner. But now he’s afraid to go on the field.

i want to seceed (sp?) from this insane country and live in the state of Hamsher!

At least this story didn’t come out yesterday!

…Blair about to embrace opium…

Tony Blair is on the brink of a U-turn that will set him on a collision course with President George Bush.

“Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky’.” (Movie metaquote)

Maybe Roberts missed Law School the day they taught, “law?” His point is that everyone at the EPA, a government monopoly, will cash their pay checks twice a week, in return for NOT enforcing laws and regulations that only they have jurisdiction over. That’s Robert’s brand of “strict constructionism.“

Holy shit, legalizing opium production?! It actually makes alot of sense, in terms of winning hearts and minds.

They ordered the EPA to… reconsider?

Somehow I don’t think that’s going to make a whole lot of difference.

“Okay, we reconsidered, and we *still* think greenhouse gases are totally awesome!”

Between this ruling today and the court ruling on Bush’s Forest Rules I say we had good fortune this last week. Environmental oversight is back and I don’t think he can pull this crap again for the next 2 years. He will try however.

here’s a blast from the past…. remember when eric schaeffer (EPA, Director, Office of Regulatory Enforcement ) resigned in protest? here’s his letter, from from more than 5 years ago. it’s a bit too long to be quoted in full, and it really is worth a read.

there is so much to be put right.

John Casper @
10

Maybe Roberts missed Law School the day they taught, “law?” His point is that everyone at the EPA, a government monopoly, will cash their pay checks twice a week, in return for NOT enforcing laws and regulations that only they have jurisdiction over. That’s Robert’s brand of “strict constructionism.“

When time permits, I would like to see the case law cited in that decision’s dissenting opinion.

Who put this arsenic in my water?

AZ Matt @ 13

Between this ruling today and the court ruling on Bush’s Forest Rules I say we had good fortune this last week. Environmental oversight is back and I don’t think he can pull this crap again for the next 2 years. He will try however.

Let’s hope there will be no more Bush appointees

selise @ 14

here’s a blast from the past…. remember when eric schaeffer (EPA, Director, Office of Regulatory Enforcement ) resigned in protest? here’s his letter, from from more than 5 years ago. it’s a bit too long to be quoted in full, and it really is worth a read.

there is so much to be put right.

like the 9/11 EPA lie about air quality

Elliot @17 Let’s hope there will be no more Bush appointees

Can D Congress run out the clock if one of the Supremes quits/dies?

Peter @ 6

It seems to me that the dissent says that the executive branch is not required to follow the laws passed by congress. Isn’t it that simple?

It is more like that the Roberts’ dissent would have raised the bar so high for standing that the issue would have been nonjusticiable because no one would have standing and only the Congress could have addressed it.

Also the idea that Massachusetts wouldn’t have standing seems bizarre to me. The state is precisely the actor that can stand in for its citizens for injuries that are small individually but in the aggregate are significant. That a specific injury to a specific actor is not adduced seems beside the point. It is after all the Environmental Protection Agency, and the environment is by its nature general whose effects are measured usually not individually but in the aggregate. Who better than the state to ask the EPA to do its job?

Roberts argued that while global warming may be a “crisis” and even “the most pressing environmental issue of our time” as the plaintiffs alleged, it is not an issue requiring the intervention of Supreme Court. He said the majority’s decision transgressed the proper role of the courts in a democratic society.

Well, I reluctantly have to side with Roberts on this one, as we all know that the proper role for the Sp. Court is intervening in state court disputes in order to stop vote recounts and annoint the Presidency upon the most conservative candidate.

It will take us another five decades or more to recover from the disaster known as Bush.

eCAHNomics @ 19

Elliot @17 Let’s hope there will be no more Bush appointees

Can D Congress run out the clock if one of the Supremes quits/dies?

Dunno, but then there’d be eight — what happens in a “tie” decision?

Hugh @ 20

It is after all the Environmental Protection Agency, and the environment is by its nature general whose effects are measured usually not individually but in the aggregate. Who better than the state to ask the EPA to do its job?

Maybe only the environment itself has standing to bring a suit?

Elliot @18 like the 9/11 EPA lie about air quality

Another nail in the coffin of Giuliani’s prez ambitions.

What is this crap I am hearing that Patreaus has been having secret meetings with the Republican caucus and that they have told him that they dont think this surge is working and they have to see real results by august or they are going to pull the plug in September? Does anyone have additional information on these secret meetings?

Eli @ 23

Hugh @ 20

It is after all the Environmental Protection Agency, and the environment is by its nature general whose effects are measured usually not individually but in the aggregate. Who better than the state to ask the EPA to do its job?

Maybe only the environment itself has standing to bring a suit?

takes me back to early enviro law “Should Trees Have Standing?”

neokneme @
9

At least this story didn’t come out yesterday!

…Blair about to embrace opium…

Tony Blair is on the brink of a U-turn that will set him on a collision course with President George Bush.

“Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky’.” (Movie metaquote)

It’s been done for a while now in Turkey with success.

The idea of transforming the cultivation for the production of codeine and morphine is promoted by the Senlis Council, a European drug policy think tank. Pointing to the successful implementation of such a scheme in Turkey, where it eliminated the large illegal cultivation of opium, the Senlis advocates ask: Why not Afghanistan?

Licensing production of legitimate drugs would not only shrink the size of Afghanistan’s illegal economy, it would also provide a sustainable livelihood for the poor peasants, and generate income for the Afghan state.

http://bcsia.ksg.harvard.edu/p…..em_id=1340

IIRC..One of the first exec. orders issued by Bush after becoming President, was stopping the requirement of power co’s to to upgrade emission controls when power plants were upgraded. This was worth ~$17 billion, a good return on their bribes to the RNC and the Bush campaign.

Goreification of EPA.

Elliott @ 22

eCAHNomics @ 19

Elliot @17 Let’s hope there will be no more Bush appointees

Can D Congress run out the clock if one of the Supremes quits/dies?

Dunno, but then there’d be eight — what happens in a “tie” decision?

Is there a lawyer in the house?

Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 15

When time permits, I would like to see the case law cited in that decision’s dissenting opinion.

The opinion is here with the dissents following:

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/…..5-1120.pdf

Steambomb @ 25

What is this crap I am hearing that Patreaus has been having secret meetings with the Republican caucus and that they have told him that they dont think this surge is working and they have to see real results by august or they are going to pull the plug in September? Does anyone have additional information on these secret meetings?

From Think Progress
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/…..us-caucus/

Steambomb @ 25

What is this crap I am hearing that Patreaus has been having secret meetings with the Republican caucus and that they have told him that they dont think this surge is working and they have to see real results by august or they are going to pull the plug in September? Does anyone have additional information on these secret meetings?

Sounds like shrub’s answer to a dem-controlled congress. Form a shadow rethug congress.

Is there anything of value in this country they haven’t trashed?

My answer was “yes: CEO compensation” until I reread and saw you asked about anything of value.

Nope – they trashed everything. Food, water, soil, forests, atmosphere, forests, seas, rivers. This lot saw the Arctic trashed on their watch due to their policies – and smirked.

The Nazis never imagined international war crimes trials.

The Bushies and Big Energy/Chemicals never imagined international eco-crimes trials.

As usual, their imaganation is sadly lacking.

SHOULD TREES HAVE STANDING?
“In this influential work, Professor Stone argues that special guardians be empowered to speak for the “voiceless” elements in nature, in effect, to give legal standing in the court of law to endangered species and threatened forests.

Should Trees Have Standing?

So long for the ENVIRONMENTAL PATHETIC AGENCY. Thank goodness for Kanye West, again. The Good Water Store Cafe.

Eli @ 23

Hugh @ 20

It is after all the Environmental Protection Agency, and the environment is by its nature general whose effects are measured usually not individually but in the aggregate. Who better than the state to ask the EPA to do its job?

Maybe only the environment itself has standing to bring a suit?

The environment is already taking action. It’s called global warming.

Elliott @ 35

SHOULD TREES HAVE STANDING?
“In this influential work, Professor Stone argues that special guardians be empowered to speak for the “voiceless” elements in nature, in effect, to give legal standing in the court of law to endangered species and threatened forests.

Should Trees Have Standing?

I took a technology and ethics class in college, and the entire ethical discussion about nature and wildlife centered around its value to man, which I found kind of shocking. I was the only one who asked whether plants or animals had any kind of intrinsic rights which should be respected.

I’m sure Senator Inhofe has a good speech about the evils of judicial activism prepped for this ruling…

Elliott @ 17

AZ Matt @ 13

Between this ruling today and the court ruling on Bush’s Forest Rules I say we had good fortune this last week. Environmental oversight is back and I don’t think he can pull this crap again for the next 2 years. He will try however.

Let’s hope there will be no more Bush appointees

Griles is gone from Interior. This Julie McDonald at US Fish & Wildlife is in trouble.

Eli @ 38

Elliott @ 35

SHOULD TREES HAVE STANDING?
“In this influential work, Professor Stone argues that special guardians be empowered to speak for the “voiceless” elements in nature, in effect, to give legal standing in the court of law to endangered species and threatened forests.

Should Trees Have Standing?

I took a technology and ethics class in college, and the entire ethical discussion about nature and wildlife centered around its value to man, which I found kind of shocking. I was the only one who asked whether plants or animals had any kind of intrinsic rights which should be respected.

It’s bizarre to me that there’s any doubt about those intrinsic rights. But we still are in the minority.

SHOULD TREES HAVE STANDING?

If a tree fell in the Supreme Court, would it make a sound?

Blub @ 39

I’m sure Senator Inhofe has a good speech about the evils of judicial activism prepped for this ruling…

The poster boy for ball gags.

Hey, if you don’t like any of the Dem candidates in ‘08, vote for Al Goldstein.

Twisted Martini @ 44

Hey, if you don’t like any of the Dem candidates in ‘08, vote for Al Goldstein.

At the very least, it might lead to an interesting redefinition of “civil”…

Wasn’t it Reagan who said, “when you’ve seen one Redwood, you’ve seen ‘em all”?

angie @ 27

neokneme @
9

At least this story didn’t come out yesterday!

…Blair about to embrace opium…

Tony Blair is on the brink of a U-turn that will set him on a collision course with President George Bush.

“Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky’.” (Movie metaquote)

It’s been done for a while now in Turkey with success.

The idea of transforming the cultivation for the production of codeine and morphine is promoted by the Senlis Council, a European drug policy think tank. Pointing to the successful implementation of such a scheme in Turkey, where it eliminated the large illegal cultivation of opium, the Senlis advocates ask: Why not Afghanistan?

Licensing production of legitimate drugs would not only shrink the size of Afghanistan’s illegal economy, it would also provide a sustainable livelihood for the poor peasants, and generate income for the Afghan state.

http://bcsia.ksg.harvard.edu/p…..em_id=1340

*cya*

Great Horsey toon today: End of Southern Domination

Twisted Martini @ 44

Hey, if you don’t like any of the Dem candidates in ‘08, vote for Al Goldstein.

I like his campaign promises myself.

There is a discussion on the NewsHour on Congressional power to affect and effect policy with regard to Iraq. One guy is pretty good. The other Lee Casey is a doofus. He brings up the strawman for the umpteenth time that Congress can only either fund fully or defund completely, without any conditions, Bush’s war. Of course, this only holds true if a Republican is President. Republicans’ attempts to do precisely that in Kosovo and Somalia were OK because Clinton a Democrat was in office.

Oh beautiful, for specious guys…

Yeah, it’s not like it was a presidential election or anything.

I’m leery of this kind of argument.

The Right feels Roe v. Wade was such a travesty that all the Right’s bad actions, including Bush v. Gore, are justified responses.

Eli @
23

Hugh @ 20

It is after all the Environmental Protection Agency, and the environment is by its nature general whose effects are measured usually not individually but in the aggregate. Who better than the state to ask the EPA to do its job?

Maybe only the environment itself has standing to bring a suit?

Actually, Justice William Douglas once argued that trees should have standing, to solve this very problem.

Scarecrow @ 53

Actually, Justice William Douglas once argued that trees should have standing, to solve this very problem.

I can’t help but think of the Deep Thoughts classic:

“If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.”

squirrel hiller @
8

i want to seceed (sp?) from this insane country and live in the state of Hamsher!

I’m with YOU!

squirrel hiller @
8

i want to seceed (sp?) from this insane country and live in the state of Hamsher!

Is that near Redd Island?

Steambomb @
25

What is this crap I am hearing that Patreaus has been having secret meetings with the Republican caucus and that they have told him that they dont think this surge is working and they have to see real results by august or they are going to pull the plug in September? Does anyone have additional information on these secret meetings?

This is what Andrea Mitchell was contending on one of the talk shows this weekend. Check Crooks&Liars. That does not, however, make it so.

Eli @ 54

Scarecrow @ 53

Actually, Justice William Douglas once argued that trees should have standing, to solve this very problem.

I can’t help but think of the Deep Thoughts classic:

“If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.”

LOL

Terry Olson @ 57

This is what Andrea Mitchell was contending on one of the talk shows this weekend. Check Crooks&Liars. That does not, however, make it so.

Indeed not. I think Andrea Mitchell is likely to spout just about anything to make herself sound connected and in-the-know.

I mean, it’s not like she would be held accountable if she were proved fucking wrong.

Hugh @ 4:31 pm -

Thank you very much for the link; although I already knew where to look, I haven’t had time today to read either that decision or the decision involving Duke Energy.

Jane:

Dissenting were the four most conservative members of the court: Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr.

For all those who don’t think elections have consequences. Or, to quote Nader, that there’s “no difference” between Bush & Gore. Idiot.

OT: my husband, who worked on the Hill when Henry Waxman was a new congressman in the Committee when the Clean Air Act was written, is going through both opinions and identifying provisions they put in at that time, seeing how the majority relied on them. Thirty years later, but still “cool.”

I heard the Andrea Mitchell report — I thought she said that Petraeus gave a video conference briefing to several officials, both Repub and Dems; according to Mitchell/sources, he indicated he thought that he would be able to show progress by August. She also said that Republicans were prepared to stay with Bush until then, but if there was no progress by then, they would stop supporting the war. That’s what I heard.

Scarecrow @ 62

I heard the Andrea Mitchell report — I thought she said that Petraeus gave a video conference briefing to several officials, both Repub and Dems; according to Mitchell/sources, he indicated he thought that he would be able to show progress by August. She also said that Republicans were prepared to stay with Bush until then, but if there was no progress by then, they would stop supporting the war. That’s what I heard.

Not surspisingly, Mitchell’s story changed from yesterday to today. Yesterday it was Pet. meeting with Rs; today’s story is he met with both. I couldn’t believe he’d be stupid enuf to meet just with Rs. Ds are the majority in congress, which must fund the war & meeting only with Rs would piss Ds off mightily. But then the Mitchell story is probably bogus in total.

AZ Matt @
48

Great Horsey toon today: End of Southern Domination

Go right ahead, boy! I wouldn’t stop ‘em!

“Is there anything they haven’t trashed?”

Sadly, no.

katherine graham cracker @ 65

“Is there anything they haven’t trashed?”

Sadly, no.

and they sit around thinking of more to do.

Tangentially on-topic

Waxman wants BHP gas investigation

Check out the kewl graphic

Ooh! Joe Biden is on KO! It’s exciting to finally see him on TV.

:)

McCain says that we’re not getting the “full picture” of whats happening in Iraq. He’s right, the picture doesn’t include the apache helicopters overhead of his shopping trip!

Rob Zuber @ 68

Ooh! Joe Biden is on KO! It’s exciting to finally see him on TV.

:)

Maybe he can have Lieberman or McCain on next. We hardly ever get to see them either.

Elliott @ 66

katherine graham cracker @ 65

“Is there anything they haven’t trashed?”

Sadly, no.

and they sit around thinking of more to do.

Some days it’s like that scene in Princess Bride where we’re faced with 50 men protecting the palace gates; we have Fessik’s strength, Inigo’s sword, Wesley’s brains — and I sure hope we have a wheelbarrow.

Eli @ 70

Rob Zuber @ 68

Ooh! Joe Biden is on KO! It’s exciting to finally see him on TV.

:)

Maybe he can have Lieberman or McCain on next. We hardly ever get to see them either.

Or all 3 as an updated version of the Three Stoges.

Scarecrow @ 71

Some days its like that scene in Princess Bride where we’re faced with 50 men protecting the palace gates; we have Fessik’s strength, Inigo’s sword, Wesley’s brains — and I sure hope we have a wheelbarrow.

What about the doomsday cloak?

Millineryman @ 72

Or all 3 as an updated version of the Three Stoges.

Hmm. Off the top of my head, McCain would have to be Moe, and I guess I lean slightly towards Biden for Curly. But I can’t really see Joementum as a Larry.

Eli @ 73

Scarecrow @ 71

Some days its like that scene in Princess Bride where we’re faced with 50 men protecting the palace gates; we have Fessik’s strength, Inigo’s sword, Wesley’s brains — and I sure hope we have a wheelbarrow.

What about the doomsday cloak?

Well, why didn’t you mention that in our assets in the first place?

Scarecrow @ 71

Some days it’s like that scene in Princess Bride where we’re faced with 50 men protecting the palace gates; we have Fessik’s strength, Inigo’s sword, Wesley’s brains — and I sure hope we have a wheelbarrow.

*g*

Milinaryman @ 72:

Or all 3 as an updated version of the Three Stoges.

Aw, c’mon. Joe Biden’s a motormouth, but he’s got good ideas and has experience. I’m not backing him for Dem. candidate, but he deserves props for what he does have.

Mauimom @ 77

Milinaryman @ 72:

Or all 3 as an updated version of the Three Stoges.

Aw, c’mon. Joe Biden’s a motormouth, but he’s got good ideas and has experience. I’m not backing him for Dem. candidate, but he deserves props for what he does have.

teef and tuffs right?

Scarecrow @
62

I heard the Andrea Mitchell report — I thought she said that Petraeus gave a video conference briefing to several officials, both Repub and Dems; according to Mitchell/sources, he indicated he thought that he would be able to show progress by August. She also said that Republicans were prepared to stay with Bush until then, but if there was no progress by then, they would stop supporting the war. That’s what I heard.

Oh, in other words A Friedman Unit

Mmmm, sure, of course I believe him. Yea, uhuh, riiiiight

hey.. I can’t really remember from ‘04, but didn’t shrub’s administration argue that the automakers had standing to sue California and Arnie over CA’s environmental initiatives?

Mauimom @ 77

Milinaryman @ 72:

Or all 3 as an updated version of the Three Stoges.

Aw, c’mon. Joe Biden’s a motormouth, but he’s got good ideas and has experience. I’m not backing him for Dem. candidate, but he deserves props for what he does have.

Biden’s in the ‘useful fool’ category.

lolo @ 78

Mauimom @ 77

Aw, c’mon. Joe Biden’s a motormouth, but he’s got good ideas and has experience. I’m not backing him for Dem. candidate, but he deserves props for what he does have.

teef and tuffs right?

he doesn’t really smile, does he? He bares his teeth.

There was a “debate” on PBS’ NewsHour between former Bush and Clinton EPA counsel/officials. The Clinton attorney was praising the S. Ct. decision, but thought the Bush Administration would not actually do anything; they just need to come up with a better rationale for not doing anything wrt to carbon emissions. But she said the next Administration will use this decision to adopt regulations and can now do so without returning to Congress for authorization.

Oh, in other words A Friedman Unit

Great catch.

john in sacramento @ 79

Scarecrow @
62

I heard the Andrea Mitchell report — I thought she said that Petraeus gave a video conference briefing to several officials, both Repub and Dems; according to Mitchell/sources, he indicated he thought that he would be able to show progress by August. She also said that Republicans were prepared to stay with Bush until then, but if there was no progress by then, they would stop supporting the war. That’s what I heard.

Oh, in other words A Friedman Unit

Mmmm, sure, of course I believe him. Yea, uhuh, riiiiight

Friedman has moved on from his Iraq views many Firedmans ago to more up to date subjects like the world is fat and my wallet the new green.

john in sacramento @ 79

Scarecrow @
62

I heard the Andrea Mitchell report — I thought she said that Petraeus gave a video conference briefing to several officials, both Repub and Dems; according to Mitchell/sources, he indicated he thought that he would be able to show progress by August. She also said that Republicans were prepared to stay with Bush until then, but if there was no progress by then, they would stop supporting the war. That’s what I heard.

Oh, in other words A Friedman Unit

Mmmm, sure, of course I believe him. Yea, uhuh, riiiiight

Well, it’s not a promise, but it is a benchmark, and we’ll be able to call the Repubs on what they reportedly said. I think their time is running out, and they know it.

eCAHNomics @ 81

Biden’s in the ‘useful fool’ category.

More precisely the vain, longwinded ‘useful fool’ category.

john at 67

the ‘kewl’ graphic page for the ventura paper was blank–was the ventura star page, but had nothing on it!

Hmm. Off the top of my head, McCain would have to be Moe, and I guess I lean slightly towards Biden for Curly. But I can’t really see Joementum as a Larry.

It’s the hair that makes Joe the perfect Larry I think, and Joe is the perfect Curly, the butt of all jokes.

Millineryman @ 89

Hmm. Off the top of my head, McCain would have to be Moe, and I guess I lean slightly towards Biden for Curly. But I can’t really see Joementum as a Larry.

It’s the hair that makes Joe the perfect Larry I think, and Joe is the perfect Curly, the butt of all jokes.

Well, I guess I think of Joe B. as Curly *pretending* (aspiring?) to be Larry…

Looks like the smearing of Matthew Dowd may be this week’s offensive WH story. C&L has Bartlett, and the temp press secretary repeated the line today.

These people are truly shameless and despicable.

Just in at the NYT:

“Justices Rule Against Bush Administration on Emissions” by LINDA GREENHOUSE.

Well, if anyone should know about greenhouse gases . . .

G*DDAMN it! Keith is butin’ into that stoopid horserace meme that we have to sit thru every gd election cycle. It makes me nuts! Who CARES how much each candidate begs! It doesn’t mean anything! I seriously resent the media assuming that I’m stupid enough to choose a candidate by how much $$ they bring in! Tell me what your opinion on the issues is! I don’t CARE how many marriages you’ve had! AWK! Screech!!

Scarecrow @ 91

Looks like the smearing of Matthew Dowd may be this week’s offensive WH story. C&L has Bartlett, and the temp press secretary repeated the line today.

These people are truly shameless and despicable.

Same old, same old. I wonder if there’s a point where everyone else has the same reaction to the predictable smears that we do.

Perhaps we’re already there, even.

Not that I have a whole lot of sympathy for Matthew Dowd…

conniptionfit @ 93

G*DDAMN it! Keith is butin’ into that stoopid horserace meme that we have to sit thru every gd election cycle. It makes me nuts! Who CARES how much each candidate begs! It doesn’t mean anything! I seriously resent the media assuming that I’m stupid enough to choose a candidate by how much $$ they bring in! Tell me what your opinion on the issues is! I don’t CARE how many marriages you’ve had! AWK! Screech!!

There is such a casual acceptance that our elections are bought that the MSM no longer even pretends that the voters count.

conniptionfit – I have been yelling that fit at my tele all day… it’s pathetic. Hey, MSM, what about some issues!!

dmac @ 88

Don’t know what to say, it works for me. Click on the article and to the right under – I think it says ‘Related Articles’ – click on ‘animated graphic’

————-

Article @ the California Progress Report on the SCOTUS ruling

conniptionfit @ 93

G*DDAMN it! Keith is butin’ into that stoopid horserace meme that we have to sit thru every gd election cycle. It makes me nuts! Who CARES how much each candidate begs! It doesn’t mean anything! I seriously resent the media assuming that I’m stupid enough to choose a candidate by how much $$ they bring in! Tell me what your opinion on the issues is! I don’t CARE how many marriages you’ve had! AWK! Screech!!

I’m with you conniptionfit, it gives me conniption fits

1,474 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Patriots:

First of all sister Jane, one of your namesakes (our oldest daughter whose middle name is “Jane”)jest got awarded Phi Beta Kappa. But back to the topic at hand…remember that ratio of 5/4 because the future of our 2 century experiment with constitutional government is gunna hinge on the vote of Mr. Justice Kennedy. Every single supreme court test from “executive privilege” to the authority of Congress to set a deadline on funding for the war is gunna hit the court…and the fascists will contest every single threat to their power all the way ta the court. One single vote for the administration could have the new American Nazis declaring “victory” and replacin’ the Constitution with the Patriot Act.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, WE MAY HAFYA IMPEACH SOME COURT MEMBERS BEFORE IT’S ALL DONE!!

Eli @ 94

Scarecrow @ 91

Looks like the smearing of Matthew Dowd may be this week’s offensive WH story. C&L has Bartlett, and the temp press secretary repeated the line today.

These people are truly shameless and despicable.

Same old, same old. I wonder if there’s a point where everyone else has the same reaction to the predictable smears that we do.

Perhaps we’re already there, even.

Not that I have a whole lot of sympathy for Matthew Dowd…

I think it’s helpful for more former Bushies to recant and speak out. I think it’s in our interest to welcome people back from the darkside. Worry about atonement later. And I think it’s important to speak out against the smearing of those who come over — its purpose is to discourage others — just like Joe/Valerie. The number one priority is to bring this regime down, and we need all the help we can get. JMO.

Think we should get up a petition and send it around to all the lefty blogs demanding that the MSM never again mention horserace measures?

Semi OT, but did anyone catch this piece? Some BYU students are upset that Cheney is giving their commencement address, given his, um, you know, being a lying treacherous weasel an all that.

Since I always saw Utah as the last safe haven for this administration, does this mean that there is no place safe for beleaguered members of this administration, hounded by heartless liberals day after day? Isn’t Utah the political Green Zone for Bushies?

What next – will a former Bush pollster claim he was wrong about Bush all these years?

squirrel hiller @ 8

i want to seceed (sp?) from this insane country and live in the state of Hamsher!

That’s New Hamsher, I think.

Well, I guess I think of Joe B. as Curly *pretending* (aspiring?) to be Larry…

Yes indeed, it’s still a free country for Democrats. It’s the repugs who will sell it out for a price.

Check your mail, I sent a visual.

I remember when I was growing up, if I took a flight from new york to L.A and back you would see a film of yellow that encapsilated these two cities.

now, thanx to clean air regulation (thank you richard nixon), that is no longer the case

however, with the rape and pillage of our air and water now allowed by the cronies bush appointed to the epa, our children will be breathing sulpher and crap from the corporations that lobbied and bought law from the American middle class.

we have GOT to legislate public finance of elections, we can NOT allow corporations the ability to buy law

Scarecrow @ 100

I think it’s helpful for more former Bushies to recant and speak out. I think it’s in our interest to welcome people back from the darkside. Worry about atonement later. And I think it’s important to speak out against the smearing of those who come over — it’s purpose is to discourage others — just like Joe/Valerie. The number one priority is to bring this regime down, and we need all the help we can get. JMO.

I don’t really disagree, but the fact is that Dowd really hasn’t done very much other than saying, “Oops, my bad. Bygones?” and navel-gazing about how he was so swept up in his love for Dubya that he deliberately tuned out all the shit that was obviously going wrong for SIX YEARS.

It looks more like a self-serving attempt to salvage his own reputation.

Scarecrow @ 100

I think it’s helpful for more former Bushies to recant and speak out. I think it’s in our interest to welcome people back from the darkside. Worry about atonement later. And I think it’s important to speak out against the smearing of those who come over — its purpose is to discourage others — just like Joe/Valerie. The number one priority is to bring this regime down, and we need all the help we can get. JMO.

If he’s truly repented, he’ll tell us where the bodies are buried.

Elliott @
22

eCAHNomics @ 19

Elliot @17 Let’s hope there will be no more Bush appointees

Can D Congress run out the clock if one of the Supremes quits/dies?

Dunno, but then there’d be eight — what happens in a “tie” decision?

Yes the D’s can run out the clock. It happened in ‘67-68. Earl Warren stepped down. LBJ nominated his good buddy Abe Fortas then info came out that Fortas had a few financial skeletons iirc, and he resigned as well.

IANAL, but I believe a 4-4 tie means lower court ruling or Congressional action would stand and not be overturned.

I wonder whether Clarence Tomas will, sometime before he dies, decide a case correctly.

I’d say that the odds are against it.

He’s 0-for-the-career at this point – good thing he isn’t a baseball player.

Ahh yes, the great land of New Hamsher. Where poodles dissect Republicans.

Issues?

Issues. They don’t need no stinkin’ issues!

Millineryman @ 104

Check your mail, I sent a visual.

Oh my.

NorskeFlamethrower @ 99

1,474 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Patriots:

First of all sister Jane, one of your namesakes (our oldest daughter whose middle name is “Jane”)jest got awarded Phi Beta Kappa. But back to the topic at hand…remember that ratio of 5/4 because the future of our 2 century experiment with constitutional government is gunna hinge on the vote of Mr. Justice Kennedy. Every single supreme court test from “executive privilege” to the authority of Congress to set a deadline on funding for the war is gunna hit the court…and the fascists will contest every single threat to their power all the way ta the court. One single vote for the administration could have the new American Nazis declaring “victory” and replacin’ the Constitution with the Patriot Act.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, WE MAY HAFYA IMPEACH SOME COURT MEMBERS BEFORE IT’S ALL DONE!!

Rather than impeachment how about trying,again, expanding the court. The country is much bigger than it was in the 30’s and I think two more justices, after the 08′election would be about right.

Elliott @
35

SHOULD TREES HAVE STANDING?
“In this influential work, Professor Stone argues that special guardians be empowered to speak for the “voiceless” elements in nature, in effect, to give legal standing in the court of law to endangered species and threatened forests.

Should Trees Have Standing?

Well, this reminds me of Lord of the Rings, where slow-thinking trees decided that they DID have standing, and had a decisive role in the Final Battles.

Also, what’s that phrase in Hamlet about the Woods in Dunsinore (sp?) moving around?

Bob in HI

Elliott @ 107

If he’s truly repented, he’ll tell us where the bodies are buried.

I think he’s already done all he intends to do. He couldn’t even be bothered to submit his “Kerry Was Right” op-ed piece.

dakine01 @ 108
thank you !

Steve @ 113

NorskeFlamethrower @ 99

1,474 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Patriots:

First of all sister Jane, one of your namesakes (our oldest daughter whose middle name is “Jane”)jest got awarded Phi Beta Kappa. But back to the topic at hand…remember that ratio of 5/4 because the future of our 2 century experiment with constitutional government is gunna hinge on the vote of Mr. Justice Kennedy. Every single supreme court test from “executive privilege” to the authority of Congress to set a deadline on funding for the war is gunna hit the court…and the fascists will contest every single threat to their power all the way ta the court. One single vote for the administration could have the new American Nazis declaring “victory” and replacin’ the Constitution with the Patriot Act.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, WE MAY HAFYA IMPEACH SOME COURT MEMBERS BEFORE IT’S ALL DONE!!

Rather than impeachment how about trying,again, expanding the court. The country is much bigger than it was in the 30’s and I think two more justices, after the 08′election would be about right.

Well that would be one way to dilute the damage done by the Bushie Supremes!

jayt @ 109

I wonder whether Clarence Tomas will, sometime before he dies, decide a case correctly.

I’d say that the odds are against it.

He’s 0-for-the-career at this point – good thing he isn’t a baseball player.

OMG,
and he’s never asked a question either

Elliott @ 116

dakine01 @ 108
thank you !

You’re wlecome. I forgot to mention the salient fact that after the election, the trickster nominated his people being I believe Burger as Chief and forget, maybe Blackmun at the same time. But the clock was definetly run out while waiting for the election.

Millineryman @
72

Eli @ 70

Rob Zuber @ 68

Ooh! Joe Biden is on KO! It’s exciting to finally see him on TV.

:)

Maybe he can have Lieberman or McCain on next. We hardly ever get to see them either.

Or all 3 as an updated version of the Three Stoges.

gee – I don’t miss any of these modern 3 Stooges. Blinding teeth plagarist, senile McGain, sociopathic liarman and keep the remote handy at all times daily…does wonders for healthy living.

No seriously, I hope you will all go to Keiths’ email/comments section and express your distress/disgust that Keith is “reporting” on that stupid horserace meme. Encourage (rag on) him to bring out a Special Comment about it.

Steve @ 113

Rather than impeachment how about trying,again, expanding the court. The country is much bigger than it was in the 30’s and I think two more justices, after the 08′election would be about right.

do not speak of this again until Inauguration Day 2009

conniptionfit @ 121

No seriously, I hope you will all go to Keiths’ email/comments section and express your distress/disgust that Keith is “reporting” on that stupid horserace meme. Encourage (rag on) him to bring out a Special Comment about it.

I will!

Elliott @ 123

conniptionfit @ 121

No seriously, I hope you will all go to Keiths’ email/comments section and express your distress/disgust that Keith is “reporting” on that stupid horserace meme. Encourage (rag on) him to bring out a Special Comment about it.

I will!

THANK YOU ELLIOTT!

Mutant Poodle @
102

Semi OT, but did anyone catch this piece? Some BYU students are upset that Cheney is giving their commencement address, given his, um, you know, being a lying treacherous weasel an all that.

Since I always saw Utah as the last safe haven for this administration, does this mean that there is no place safe for beleaguered members of this administration, hounded by heartless liberals day after day? Isn’t Utah the political Green Zone for Bushies?

What next – will a former Bush pollster claim he was wrong about Bush all these years?

Saw that too..Signed the petition.. The Pres. of the Univ. said “They believe in truth and integrity and V.P. Cheyney does not measure up”.. Good for him.. DKos also has a diary about Matt Drudge being caught with child porno. Also, there is a pix of the Mormon Tabernacle undies relating to Romney.. Between the Lake and Dkos am having a busy informing day.

Elliott @ 118

jayt @ 109

I wonder whether Clarence Tomas will, sometime before he dies, decide a case correctly.

I’d say that the odds are against it.

He’s 0-for-the-career at this point – good thing he isn’t a baseball player.

OMG,
and he’s never asked a question either

but he’s dependable.

If you wanna know what the truth is – ask Dick Cheney – then assume the opposite.

If you want the wisest course of action in a given situation, ask George Bush – then do the opposite.

If you’ve got a legal question, ask Clarence Thomas, and – well you get the point.

Grandma Millie @ 125

DKos also has a diary about Matt Drudge being caught with child porno.

Oh, please let it be so. That would be the ultimate in karma. A bit close to April Fool’s, though…

Ewww, Mitt Romneys’ undies?? Ick, ick, bad mental image! Do we really have enough people in this country willing to vote for someone who wears magic underpants?

conniptionfit @ 121

No seriously, I hope you will all go to Keiths’ email/comments section and express your distress/disgust that Keith is “reporting” on that stupid horserace meme. Encourage (rag on) him to bring out a Special Comment about it.

Considering there was a segment with a real horserace…alternate wording may be helpful. *s*

conniptionfit @ 121

No seriously, I hope you will all go to Keiths’ email/comments section and express your distress/disgust that Keith is “reporting” on that stupid horserace meme. Encourage (rag on) him to bring out a Special Comment about it.

Here’s the addy: countdown at msnbc dot com

eCAHNomics @
81

Mauimom @ 77

[Milinaryman @ 72 snipped]

Aw, c’mon. Joe Biden’s a motormouth, but he’s got good ideas and has experience. I’m not backing him for Dem. candidate, but he deserves props for what he does have.

Biden’s in the ‘useful fool’ category.

A fool he is not. Deceived, maybe. Wrong on some things assuredly. Exhibits grandiosity, yes. But a fool, no.

Bob in HI

Robert Paehlke @ 103

squirrel hiller @ 8

i want to seceed (sp?) from this insane country and live in the state of Hamsher!

That’s New Hamsher, I think.

Live Freeperless or Die.

Hmmmm. The Kos piece on Drudge is labeled “satire” and “snark”…

conniptionfit @ 128

Ewww, Mitt Romneys’ undies?? Ick, ick, bad mental image! Do we really have enough people in this country willing to vote for someone who wears magic underpants?

LOL. I have several prominent Mormons in my family, we very much disagree on religion and politics, I have never seen the under garments and have always kinda wondered. Now I know. Look’s rather warm for summer-time.

CD @ 133

Hmmmm. The Kos piece on Drudge is labeled “satire” and “snark”…

Yes, it’s making fun of Drudge’s ridiculous false claim today.

Elliott @ 122

Steve @ 113

Rather than impeachment how about trying,again, expanding the court. The country is much bigger than it was in the 30’s and I think two more justices, after the 08′election would be about right.

do not speak of this again until Inauguration Day 2009

Not sure packing the court is the right answer – look, it’s the Dems fault we have Thomas, who very clearly was an inferior lawyer as well as a perjuror, and a set of stones might have gotten in the way of Alito, at least. And what does population have to do with it? Justices aren’t representatives. You need to win elections and appoint good people. And keep winning elections (which we did, of course, in 2000) and appoint more good people. The quick fix isn’t right, won’t work, and shouldn’t be the focus.

Now, expanding the apellate courts to handle the additional cases in this much larger country does make sense, and because nearly every circuit is overburdened with cases, would probably be supported nearly everywhere by those on the right & left…

Rob Zuber @ 135

CD @ 133

Hmmmm. The Kos piece on Drudge is labeled “satire” and “snark”…

Yes, it’s making fun of Drudge’s ridiculous false claim today.

Thank’s. That’ll teach me to read more closely altho with this regime nothing suprises me..

eCAHNomics and Elliott:

I slightly mis-typed. Warren resigned. LBJ nominated Fortas as Chief. R’s and conservative D’s filibustered (took 2/3 vote in those days to break). LBJ dropped Fortas. Warren agreed to stay on until new chief who was Burger after Nixon elected. Blackmun did replace Fortas but only after a couple of failed Nixon nominees. I think one was named haynesworth or something but iirc, they wee a couple of lightweights along the lines of Thomas. Wiki does help sometimes.

Mutant Poodle @ 136

Not sure packing the court is the right answer – look, it’s the Dems fault we have Thomas, who very clearly was an inferior lawyer as well as a perjuror, and a set of stones might have gotten in the way of Alito, at least. And what does population have to do with it? Justices aren’t representatives. You need to win elections and appoint good people. And keep winning elections (which we did, of course, in 2000) and appoint more good people. The quick fix isn’t right, won’t work, and shouldn’t be the focus.

Now, expanding the apellate courts to handle the additional cases in this much larger country does make sense, and because nearly every circuit is overburdened with cases, would probably be supported nearly everywhere by those on the right & left…

I don’t want to pack the courts, I want for justice for ALL.
But I sure don’t want Bush packing any more of his in there. Let’s not give him any ideas.

john in sacramento

tried graphics link from 67 again and it worked this time!

don’t know why it didn’t the first time, was a blank page with ventura star at the top…….and yes, it was pretty neat.
thanks

Turn up the heat Democrats. Turn up the heat.

AP – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday he wants to cut off money for the Iraq war next year, making clear for the first time that Democrats are willing to pull out all the stops to end U.S. involvement.

eCAHNomics @
81

Mauimom @ 77

Milinaryman @ 72:

Or all 3 as an updated version of the Three Stoges.

Aw, c’mon. Joe Biden’s a motormouth, but he’s got good ideas and has experience. I’m not backing him for Dem. candidate, but he deserves props for what he does have.

Biden’s in the ‘useful fool’ category.

Uh oh Millineryman – first time I’ve ever disagreed with you and so sorry but Joe Biden is a light weight poseur with scant chops and an admitted plagarist….not to mention way too cozy with so-called moderate rethuglicans throughout his political career, in MHO.

Such timing. My teenaged son was telling me about “Silent Spring” just this afternoon. To think they cover that in his American history class is quite something.

OT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Newly released documents show that former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger delayed telling President
Richard Nixon about the start of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 to keep him from interfering, according to new book excerpted in Vanity Fair on Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT

“Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power,” is by presidential historian Robert Dallek, who spent four years reviewing the Nixon administration’s recently opened archives, including 20,000 pages of Kissinger’s telephone transcripts and hundreds of hours of Nixon tapes.

About the Supreme Court’s decision today on global warming pollution:

Scarecrow @
83

But she said the next Administration will use this decision to adopt regulations and can now do so without returning to Congress for authorization.

Is that what we want — to wait until 2009 or 2010 to start giving orders to the automobile industry to reduce dramatically greenhouse gas emissions from the cars they manufacture?

Legislation is messy, but I wonder if with Waxman, Pelosi and Boxer we might have a better shot at something decent being enacted into legislation instead. Of course, we do have Dingell standing there to defend big auto’s interests. But he will also be there to try to overturn anything that EPA does.

The fact is that even a new EPA Administrator under a President Gore (and it might be someone of lesser concern and stature) is likely to do little more than what is techologically “feasible.”

What we need, instead, is action that is “technology forcing.”

Government action that forces technology rarely, if ever, comes from a bureaucrat, or even a high administrator in a government agency. I cannot think of a single example in the past 37 years of pollution control law (and I have been involved in implementing or teaching that law for 35 of those years). Well, maybe the phase-out of lead from gasoline.

But there areseveral clear examples of technology-forcing by legislation. In fact, the Clean Air Act of 1970 is the quintessential example of that.

The 1970 CAA ordered automobile companies to reduce emissions by 90% by 1975. This set off intensive research and success. The 1970 CAA ordered air quality standards to be promulgated and then met, without regard to feasibility. This set off its own round of technological inventiveness.

Congress can always stop such actions. But it can also start them.

Without using the power of our democracy, we cannot solve global warming or anything else. We cannot expect Patrick Fitzgerald to give our government back to us, and we cannot expect this EPA or a future one to give our planet back to us.

Only political organization and mobilization can do either one.

I hope somebody smarter than me will come up with the true cost of Sen. Grahams rugs. 5 rugs = 5 dollars plus sweeping before hand, 100 troops, 5 helicopters, humvees, etc. Our taxpayers dollars at work.

Elliott @ 139

Mutant Poodle @ 136

Not sure packing the court is the right answer – look, it’s the Dems fault we have Thomas, who very clearly was an inferior lawyer as well as a perjuror, and a set of stones might have gotten in the way of Alito, at least. And what does population have to do with it? Justices aren’t representatives. You need to win elections and appoint good people. And keep winning elections (which we did, of course, in 2000) and appoint more good people. The quick fix isn’t right, won’t work, and shouldn’t be the focus.

Now, expanding the apellate courts to handle the additional cases in this much larger country does make sense, and because nearly every circuit is overburdened with cases, would probably be supported nearly everywhere by those on the right & left…

I don’t want to pack the courts, I want for justice for ALL.
But I sure don’t want Bush packing any more of his in there. Let’s not give him any ideas.

given the rulings after FDR’s attempt, it would probably take constitutional amendment. His was legislative action if I remember my readings correctly.

eCAHNomics @ 49

Twisted Martini @ 44

Hey, if you don’t like any of the Dem candidates in ‘08, vote for Al Goldstein.

I like his campaign promises myself.

i love his logo and website. i just posted a comment on his blog asking him for a button on his website pointing to his position on the environment.

raven @ 144

OT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Newly released documents show that former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger delayed telling President
Richard Nixon about the start of the Yom Kippur War in 1973 to keep him from interfering, according to new book excerpted in Vanity Fair on Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT

“Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power,” is by presidential historian Robert Dallek, who spent four years reviewing the Nixon administration’s recently opened archives, including 20,000 pages of Kissinger’s telephone transcripts and hundreds of hours of Nixon tapes.

J3sus!

I’m a bit confused about this case. Could someone write a short description of the case that was before the court and something about what the majority and minority decisions say or mean?

It certainly seems to have been a very Right v. Left kind of decision, with Kennedy swinging Left this time. What made him go Left in this particular case?

Mutant Poodle @ 136

Elliott @ 122

Steve @ 113

Rather than impeachment how about trying,again, expanding the court. The country is much bigger than it was in the 30’s and I think two more justices, after the 08′election would be about right.

do not speak of this again until Inauguration Day 2009

Not sure packing the court is the right answer – look, it’s the Dems fault we have Thomas, who very clearly was an inferior lawyer as well as a perjuror, and a set of stones might have gotten in the way of Alito, at least. And what does population have to do with it? Justices aren’t representatives. You need to win elections and appoint good people. And keep winning elections (which we did, of course, in 2000) and appoint more good people. The quick fix isn’t right, won’t work, and shouldn’t be the focus.

Now, expanding the apellate courts to handle the additional cases in this much larger country does make sense, and because nearly every circuit is overburdened with cases, would probably be supported nearly everywhere by those on the right & left…

If Justice Stevens leaves the court before Bush is done, the country is really screwed. Impeaching a Justice isn’t going to happen, so if we are stuck with a Fascist court; pack it!

Margot @ 143

Such timing. My teenaged son was telling me about “Silent Spring” just this afternoon. To think they cover that in his American history class is quite something.

‘cuz they haven’t gotten around to banning it…

Magic underpants:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..91224/3055
Somehow I expected something cooler, maybe with a cape?

.

J3sus!

Nobody in the current administration would do anything like this would they?

Steve @ 151

If Justice Stevens leaves the court before Bush is done, the country is really screwed. Impeaching a Justice isn’t going to happen, so if we are stuck with a Fascist court; pack it!

I think Stevens is very aware of who’d pick his successor and has no desire that it be Chimpy – I think he’d be gone now if Kerry had won…

perris @
105

I remember when I was growing up, if I took a flight from new york to L.A and back you would see a film of yellow that encapsilated these two cities.

now, thanx to clean air regulation (thank you richard nixon), that is no longer the case
. . .

Well, it was not Richard Nixon who passed the Clean Air Act of 1970. It was Maine’s U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie (and his leading aide, Leon Billings) who had the most to do with it — as well as the vast mobilization of Earth Day that helped create the political client for it.

Legislation, not Presidents (and not bureaucrats, and not prosecutors, and not judges) is what makes things better. And we make the Congress better.

Nixon rode the environment issue for perhaps 18 or 24 months, and then decided the Republicans weren’t picking up any votes for his doing so, and dumped it. Among other things, he vetoed the Clean Water Act (called at that time the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972), but Congress overrode his veto.

Because the people cared.

conniptionfit @ 153

Magic underpants:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..91224/3055
Somehow I expected something cooler, maybe with a cape?

LOL. Not very sexy looking for a wedding nite.

dakine01 @ 138

eCAHNomics and Elliott:

I slightly mis-typed. Warren resigned. LBJ nominated Fortas as Chief. R’s and conservative D’s filibustered (took 2/3 vote in those days to break). LBJ dropped Fortas. Warren agreed to stay on until new chief who was Burger after Nixon elected. Blackmun did replace Fortas but only after a couple of failed Nixon nominees. I think one was named haynesworth or something but iirc, they wee a couple of lightweights along the lines of Thomas. Wiki does help sometimes.

yes, and the other one was named carswell, I believe.

Heads up… a brand new thread

Mutant Poodle @ 152

Margot @ 143

Such timing. My teenaged son was telling me about “Silent Spring” just this afternoon. To think they cover that in his American history class is quite something.

‘cuz they haven’t gotten around to banning it…

Educate me pups, isn’t there still a question about the pros and cons of DDT?

newspaperbrat-

There’s some misquotes there. Mauimom at 77 came to Joe’s defense. I want to state for the record that Joe Biden is a putz of the Joe Liberman caliber.

eli posted an interesting article that is supposed to come out soon in reference to dowd and what he’s doing next-hope it’s true

http://multi-medium.net/2007/04/01/dowd-and-out/

Three times today I have posted and a new thread pops up, is that what cookies do????

dmac @ 161

eli posted an interesting article that is supposed to come out soon in reference to dowd and what he’s doing next-hope it’s true

http://multi-medium.net/2007/04/01/dowd-and-out/

Unfortunately, yesterday was really the only day that post should be read…

Hi folks raven @ 160

Mutant Poodle @ 152

Margot @ 143

Such timing. My teenaged son was telling me about “Silent Spring” just this afternoon. To think they cover that in his American history class is quite something.

‘cuz they haven’t gotten around to banning it…

Educate me pups, isn’t there still a question about the pros and cons of DDT?

The “question” has been pushed extensively by the pesticide folk, who porvided th eimpetus for the “ressurection”

Pesticide-treated mosquito nets/bedroom walls do decrease malaria in humans. The pesticide folk push that DDT is the only pesticide that can work. IIRC the cited studies don’t compare a broad spectrum of other pesticdes for use in the same manner with DDT. So DDT looks good in the one horse race.

Sometimes the megacorps go after landmark environmental successes just for spite. The corporations never die, and never forget. Undead.

Hey – here’s a way to start the Iran War:

The botched US raid that led to the hostage crisis

By Patrick Cockburn

Published: 03 April 2007
A failed American attempt to abduct two senior Iranian security officers on an official visit to northern Iraq was the starting pistol for a crisis that 10 weeks later led to Iranians seizing 15 British sailors and Marines.

Early on the morning of 11 January, helicopter-born US forces launched a surprise raid on a long-established Iranian liaison office in the city of Arbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. They captured five relatively junior Iranian officials whom the US accuses of being intelligence agents and still holds.

In reality the US attack had a far more ambitious objective, The Independent has learned. The aim of the raid, launched without informing the Kurdish authorities, was to seize two men at the very heart of the Iranian security establishment.

Better understanding of the seriousness of the US action in Arbil – and the angry Iranian response to it – should have led Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence to realise that Iran was likely to retaliate against American or British forces such as highly vulnerable Navy search parties in the Gulf. The two senior Iranian officers the US sought to capture were Mohammed Jafari, the powerful deputy head of the Iranian National Security Council, and General Minojahar Frouzanda, the chief of intelligence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, according to Kurdish officials.

[snip]

Bob Schacht @ 114

Elliott @
35

SHOULD TREES HAVE STANDING?
“In this influential work, Professor Stone argues that special guardians be empowered to speak for the “voiceless” elements in nature, in effect, to give legal standing in the court of law to endangered species and threatened forests.

Should Trees Have Standing?

Well, this reminds me of Lord of the Rings, where slow-thinking trees decided that they DID have standing, and had a decisive role in the Final Battles.

Also, what’s that phrase in Hamlet about the Woods in Dunsinore (sp?) moving around?

Bob in HI

It’s Macbeth Act IV sc.II:
Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill
Shall come against him.

and

Act V Sc. III
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane.
I cannot taint with fear.

Mutant Poodle @ 152

Margot @ 143

Such timing. My teenaged son was telling me about “Silent Spring” just this afternoon. To think they cover that in his American history class is quite something.

‘cuz they haven’t gotten around to banning it…

apologies for three consecutive posts…but..

So glad you both have children (and schools) that celebrate Silent Spring and Rachel Carson – whom we also lost to cancer.

Sandra Stiengraber’s Living Downstream and Having Faith are the Silent Spring of the new century.

Sandra is a poet and biology professor who developed bladder cancer as a young woman and traces the roots of her disease – and ours – in a lyrical journey across the Illinois river valleys that bring our crops and our peril.

Raising Faith is a cancer survivors meditation on the new life within her – a life saturated with manmade persistant chemical pollutants before she ever leaves the womb.

In discussing Raising Faith in 1999, Sandra passed around a jar of her breast milk. The milk she fed her infant daughter. She read aloud a poem of the long list of tortuously named chemicals – all manmade – found in her body, and hence in her body’s gift to her daughter.

Shattering.

_____________________________________

nerd notes:

Women who have breast-fed young ‘uns have lower cancer rates than do women who have not. The persistent manmade toxins in breast milk are stored and carried in our fat. Lactating women’s breast glands use their fat (and stored chemicals within) as the basis for breast milk.

Women who have breast fed have lower cancer rates because the toxic chemicals which would have increased mom’s risk of cancer were swallowed by her babies.

Still, breast feeding is far better for infant health than other feeding methods. The infant will get the toxins anyway – the same way mom did.

By breathing, drinking, and eating in the post-WWII United States.

Bad news for Gen X’ers – Boomers have it better here, too.

With each pasiing year, the sheer volume of persistant manmade toxins distributed around the planet – and around our bodies – increases.

So the younger you are, the more toxins you’ve been able to eat and drink and breathe. Yay you!

Compared to your parents, you’re screwed.

But hey – think how good you have it compared to your kids!

…. if you’re among those with fertility not yet disrupted by “endocrine mimic” pollutants….

In the post war year the chemical megacorps faced a sharp loss of Fedeeral demand and neede markets fast.

They created industrial, chemical based agriculture in the United States.

They began to sell the persistant chemical toxins (as pesticides) then, and since then the release of new chemicals has increased exponentially.

If one sumperimposes a graph of the above on (non-tobacco) cancer rates, the cancer curve rises along with the chemical release curve, with a response lag of around 20 years.

About the time required for a human organism to have fully developed all the body systems the pesticides and toxins have damaged.

Bon appetit.

Thank you, Hugh. I’ve saved those links to the books you mentioned.

Scarecrow @
62

I heard the Andrea Mitchell report — I thought she said that Petraeus gave a video conference briefing to several officials, both Repub and Dems; according to Mitchell/sources, he indicated he thought that he would be able to show progress by August. She also said that Republicans were prepared to stay with Bush until then, but if there was no progress by then, they would stop supporting the war. That’s what I heard.

AS I pointed out last night though, any quick look at monthly casualty trends over the last four years would make the August call an easy bet. And if you want to understand why, just look at the weather in Iraq June-Sept. Too hot and dusty to do anything. But what is Petraitor going to say when the bloodbath starts again in October?

This makes sense:

A Dionne article in WaPo for the popular vote in Presidential elections:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..00808.html

kirk @ 168 – A more comprehensive, edited/refined version of your comment, with a number of the research data links included, would make a good front-page post here sometime, I think. The post-war conversion of the modern industrial war machine – created by Hitler and his industrialists and copied by those forced to back Germany down – into a domestic peacetime pollution and “factory agriculture” industry in the name of almighty corporate profit, is yet another UNreported reality of post-WWII American life that the new Congress could/should certainly start to address, with the incidence of cancer in our lives starting to look more and more like an epidemic.

did a quick read through the opinion… so, basically, the Supremes told shrub that he can’t make an official Federal policy out of his desire to drown all (liberal) coastal Massachusetans (Hyannis is pretty low, I guess.. so is Kerry’s Beacon Hill…)

Didn’t the Bush/Cheney EPA declare shortly after 9/11 that Ground Zero was safe and clean-up crews as well as other New Yorkers living around Ground Zero had nothing to worry about from toxins and other bio-hazards stirred up by the 9/11 attacks?

Thus, the Bush/Cheney EPA was criminally negligent in doing it’s congressionally mandated duty. Politics once again overshadowed the health and well-being of U.S. citizens, specifically those in New York either working at Ground Zero or living close by.

So, the four criminally-insane Justices on the Supreme Court who just dissented and sided with the Bush/Cheney criminally-run EPA have indicated just how corrupt they really are.

When Democrats gain a clear and large majority in both branches of the U.S. Congress after the November 2008 elections (as well as gaining the White House), Democrats should hold impeachment hearings in early 2009 and remove all four of these criminally-insane Justices, Roberts, Alito, Scalia and Thomas, because it is quite obvious that they have been just as criminally-negligent in their uber-partisan decisions as Bush’s and Cheney’s criminally-negligent EPA has been in it’s uber-partisan decisions…and people have died or suffered unnecessarily or been tortured because of these flagrantly partisan decisions.

I think we’ve all had about enough of the Bush/Cheney suck-ups on the Supreme Court, criminally-insane Justices who have served only as enablers to the worst administration in American history.

pow wow @
172

kirk @ 168 – A more comprehensive, edited/refined version of your comment, with a number of the research data links included, would make a good front-page post here sometime, I think. The post-war conversion of the modern industrial war machine – created by Hitler and his industrialists and copied by those forced to back Germany down – into a domestic peacetime pollution and “factory agriculture” industry in the name of almighty corporate profit, is yet another UNreported reality of post-WWII American life that the new Congress could/should certainly start to address, with the incidence of cancer in our lives starting to look more and more like an epidemic.

thanks, pow wow!

I’ve been fiddling on one to submit to the Powers of the Lake – I should hurry up and finish.

Thanks for the prompt!

That’s great, kirk. The mystery of the world’s suddenly-disappearing honeybees, and the saga of our industrial-chemical-flavored pet food are two topical dots very much in need of connecting…

I’m glad you’re willing to tackle this subject area; your scientific background and experience add valuable perspective to the discussion.

What would it take to empower Congress to conduct a no-confidence vote in order to remove Supreme Court justices? A simple little addendum to the Bill of Rights?

In response to another post concerning honey bees, I wonder who would profit from the kill-off of our bees? If the bees don’t pollinate, who will? Monsanto or another corporate monstor? We cannot tolerate the insidious destruction of our environment. Actually, we may at this point have no recourse.