Christy!

It might be me, but I’d sure like to see Senator Obama step up and tell Reyes, Hoyer, Rockefeller et al to stand down on this nonsense; that retro-active immunity is NOT a value supported by HIS Democratic Party.

Morning, dakine. How’s tricks with you today?

jus cogens!

Oh same ol same ol.

Trying to remind folks that it’s a marathon not a sprint.

And trying to talk folks down from the ledge and realize that not everything bad is a conspiracy against whomever.

Another typical day in the life of the world.

what do they not get?

if they acted in good faith and followed the law they ALLREADY have immunity

if they broke the law they do not

simple stuff here

I don’t know — I spent most of yesterday trying to e-mail and call a number of staffers in Senate and House offices to find out just exactly what in the hell these people are thinking with this. McJoan hits the nail on the head in her piece linked above that this is not a compromise they have to do — it isn’t necessary — so I started digging on the numbers on this and…voila!…look at that increase in payola!

We are missing some fundamental piece of the puzzle, and I’d say it is coming from KStreet via some pal of Dick Cheney’s, but I haven’t been able to find that missing link yet.

TO THE PHONES!!

Good Morning Christy

back to that “street money”

will Barack Obama’s directive to the DNC on no more PAC/Lobbyist money

have an effect here ?

forgive me if the answer to obvious to all, I”m a little twitterpated by all this morning’s news :D

Christy – did my duty on the House and Senator sides. What are these boneheads thinking – that we are all so excited about Sen. Obama that we won’t notice their slinking around? Huh? Idiots.

Then they haven’t been paying attention, because several of us around the blogs have been tracking this for weeks now — and we’ve been bouncing articles back and forth to keep pressure going. If they thought we’d just back off, they don’t know us very well. Hell, we’ve been talking about this since 2005…

Hi Christy.

Why is it that mention of those 3 bandits triggered a memory of a certain Barbar-shop quartet that used ta’ warble around togedder in the howls of the Senate? Go figure.

btw, if anyone gets an answer one way or the other from any of the elected folks on where they stand on this, do let me know in the comments please…thanks!

Just spoke with a staffer in Sen.Obama’s Washington office who assured me he is on record of opposing any retroactive immunity, FWIW.

Am I understanding you to be saying, Christy, that MONEY is somehow involved?

If that is the case, then should we all not be hitting the banks, rather than the phones?

If we put all ‘our’ money together, then, perhaps, we could persuade Congress which side their bread is actually buttered on.

Some butter the top and some, so I am told, butter the bottom …

On record is one thing. Standing up in the well of the Senate—or pulling Jello Jay over in a corner and telling him what to do like he did with Holy Joe — is another.

Time for him to show some real leadership!

Yep, he is — but neither he nor Sen. Clinton have used much muscle to pressure supporters to stand up on this issue as well. Which is why phone calls are necessary. For example, Jay Rockefeller is an Obama supporter — have they spoken about the bad idea that is telecom immunity? No idea. Haven’t been able to get either office to let me know. But the more pressure we put on these folks, the more they understand that we are watching — and thus far, that’s kept telecom immunity for becoming a permanent fixture…

Thanks for calling and reporting back!

Being “on record” is all well and good. He needs to stand up now and specifically inform Reyes, Rockefeller and the rest that what they are proposing is not acceptable in HIS Democratic Party.

My $.02

Obama needs to have a chat with these folks, STAT.

One hopes one is not holding one’s breath.

Hiya y’all.

I don’t understand the relationship with getting a lot of money in contracts and also getting immunity. Are they using that money to pay the congressmen? Or just to tell them why they want immunity?

imagine the coaches and players of your local major sports franchise had to be cajoled and implored by thousands of plaintive faxes, letters and phone calls in order for them to get out on the field and try to score points for their own team?

because in the absence of such pressure, if it can be called that, the players and coaches just feebly went through the motions, let the other team score, even scored points for them, then shook their heads in mock defeat and hollowly vowed to ‘do better next time’ because they ‘didn’t have the votes’?

but the players and coaches were still obviously very prosperous, and quite content with the state of affairs, clearly having more in common with the coaches and players of the other team than with the rabble in the stands?

since this is sports, where Americans can speak freely and are not strenuously delluding themselves, it would be clear that something crooked was going on, the games were fixed, the rhetoric about New Dawns and Audacious Change was a little bit hollow in contrast to the chummy capitulations being worked out, as with the whole FISA deal.

ah, so the solution must be more and better real players on the old team, that’ll fix everything. Because rooting for a new team is an unthinkable taboo – people who grow up in this neighborhood always, always root for the (D) team, no matter what happens, nuff said, now shut up, no “but, but, but they went along happily with the war crime in Iraq until public opinion turned so decisively against it they had to tactically adjust…”

just another Forbidden Thought on the putting green – now play through!

Okay, Christy. Into the breach, yet one more time. I have to admit to a certain level of battle fatigue. If their goal is to wear me down, they’re gaining. I am beyond tired of the game. But, although their gaining, they’ve not caught me yet… So, one more time.

That sounds a lot like the Dallas mavericks.

Here’s just one example of increases in telecom lobbyist money going to a key player in this. And Glenn has a good round-up as well here.

Do you trust the word of George Bush and Dick Cheney?
You asked? In a word, No.
As much as I try not to buy into conspiracy theories…oh, like, yeah, this site goes down every once in a while because people question authority…I used to have one of those posters that says Just because I’m paranoid, doesn’t mean they are not out to get me.”

jut got off the phone with Reyes’ Intel Comm Office -

completely non committal – thanks for your call blah blah blah – let’s see if I get a little more from his office

Called all above and also Spotlit this post. Perhaps if we pressed the MSM to report on this it would help? Optimistic, I know, but maybe Scottie’s barb is still stinging…..?

LOL.

Beautifully put, er, putted, sporkovat …

Do very much appreciate your comments.

Sen Voinovitch’s office states they aren’t aware of any new FISA bill and wouldn’t have a position on it until it clears committee anyway. Thanks for calling.

Boxturtle (Reasonable position or dodge? You decide.)

Got it!

And is the FISA immunity a problem in the senate, the house or both?

House Intel Comm

all kinds of contact info -

What is it going to take before Congressional Democrats begin representing the interests of the “people” and defending the constitution? It just goes from tragedy to farce. Completely unacceptable.

Christy – I faxed Hoyer and Pelosi.

ah Texas, I’ve heard there might be a little corruption down there sometimes.

but hey, maybe its everywhere, and they just have more style.

Obama’s voice mailbox is full. I guess a fax is in order.

OT – Sen. Byrd released from hospital

Dear Bystander,

Don’t give up. Little Georgie and The Big Dick will do just about anything to ensure there is no testimony from telecoms regarding the enormity of the electronic evesdropping they perpetrated at the behest of Little Georgie and The Big Dick.

It’s becoming obvious that if whatever thy Disfunctional Duo did to request and/or authorize the incredible breach of the 4th Amendment will easily send them to jail for a long time. This will not be the last time.

I want to see those two held accountable for their misdeeds and malfeasance – legally accountable. I also want to see them impeached.

Keep heart. We will hold them accountable.

ITMFA

And it’s not just about cash money either, how can you get lucky enough to have ATT or a similar company build a manufacturing plant in your district, your state? Not now, but there was a time when siting manufacturing plants and operations centers was a feather in a legislator’s fringed benefits cap.

Sen Browns office says they aren’t aware of an FISA compromise, but that he doesn’t support telecom immunity. Also mentioned the bill would likely not go through any of his committees before it hit the senate floor.

Boxturtle (Guessing I’m not the first person to call)

Now that the Lake is back we need to do some Digging to get the Lake’s ratings back up. So digg this post for Christy and the Lake….

and I might add the wires go way back between the telecoms and the pols.

Nice.

Reyes Contact info

El Paso Office (Directions below)
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. MT
310 N. Mesa, Suite 400
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: (915) 534-4400
Fax: (915) 534-7426

How to request a meeting with Congressman Reyes in El Paso: Fax or mail to the attention of Yvonne Escobar. Make sure to include dates, times, attendees, and reason for appointment. Please note that requests cannot be made over the phone.

Washington, DC Office (Click for map of Capitol Hill)
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET
2433 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4831
Fax: (202) 225-2016

****************************************************

Spoke to the offices of my Congressman (Chris Murphy) and Senator (Dodd). I didn’t bother to call Joe. My last communication to him on this subject resulted in a reply that was a monument of self-justification.

I’m afraid we’ll have to prevail without his vote.

Cassero in the house!

my overall point is usually much more unwelcome:

they are playing a different game, they are not ‘our’ Team at all.

but team loyalty is strong, and tribal loyalties are strong, and can lead to vociferous disputes and bar fights, as was seen on another scale in the battle between Obama and Clinton partisans.

indeed such disputes can serve to strengthen tribal bonds, and so very good, carry on.

but, there is room every now and then for a wider view, and the Constitution and the cause of peace are even more important than sports championships.

But the Constitution and the cause of peace do not have a team on the field.

so I started digging on the numbers on this and…voila!…look at that increase in payola!

that’s some great leg work christy

we need to let them know that we know and if they want to keep their seat in power they will not do this “compromise”

a few too many mixes in the sports metaphor, but think Black Sox.

Hey, Cassie is in El Paso, have her swing by!

I’m sure it will shock everyone to know that Rep. Hobson is a strong supporter of immunity for telecoms. We’ll have to do without his vote as well.

Boxturtle (Another canned answer)

Oh I would but I am in Austin (and out from behind the camo curtain) this week. Then Dallas. Then Austin again. Then Corpus with my grandparents. Then NEW YORK CITY!!!

Don’t go back to El Paso until August.

Hoyers Office:

1705 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Phone – (202) 225-4131

Fax – (202) 225-4300

E-mail Congressman Hoyer

***************************************
Rockefeller’s office:

531 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC

20510

(202) 224-6472

(202) 224-7665 Main Fax

(202) 228-1610 Scheduling Fax

E-mail Scheduler

So is it too much to expect Chris Dodd to take to the floor again and speak truth with power?

So if I call them, the message is “Don’t give the telecoms immunity” right?

dugg

Around $50,000 in one month went to Jay Rockefeller from AT&T and Verizon. Its like they think they can buy his influence! Rocky needs a primary challenger.

KagroX is also on the case. As expected.

“… if you want my vote” might be a nice way to end that sentence …

((( Cassie )))

That is a most-ecellent question, RevDeb.

It would be ‘nice’ if our ‘representatives’ would do what is needful and proper and ‘right’ without the expectation of ‘reward’

Dodd may well rise to the occassion. The nation needs him to do so.

I suspect, were he to do so, once again, that his action, and courage, would not be forgotten …

OT – MSNBC.com

BREAKING NEWS: Air Force secretary, chief of staff asked to resign, NBC News confirms

Thanks! (I won’t mention that I can’t vote till 2010!)

Oh my — wonder what that’s all about?!?

oh no, thank you Christy for this oh so important post. Called back, spoke to another oh so courteous staffer suggesting she read your post. What a kick it was to know she knew of firedoglake & thanked me, twice. Lordy what a difference between the staffers of both my CA Senators and these two I spoke with in Obama’s DC office.

Dunno. Can’t be good, though.

Air Force Chief, Secretary Resign

Congressman Zack Space’s staffer didn’t know his position on this, asked if I was hoping he would be for or against, I said “against telecom immunity, for the rule of law.”

Ahhhhhh — I knew the guys at Wired would have sourcing on the Air Force resignations. Here you go:

“…The Air Force’s civilian and uniformed leaders are being booted out of the Pentagon, according to Inside Defense and Air Force Times. Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael “Buzz” Moseley has resigned, and Secretary Michael W. Wynne is next.
The move isn’t exactly a shocker. For months, the Air Force’s leadership has been on the brink of open conflict with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England. In the halls of the Air Force’s chiefs, the talk has been largely about the threats posed by China and a resurgent Russia. Gates wanted the service to actually focus on the wars at hand, in Iraq and Afghanistan. “For much of the past year I’ve been trying to concentrate the minds and energies of the defense establishment on the current needs and current conflicts,” he told the Heritage Foundation. “In short, to ensure that all parts of the Defense Department are, in fact, at war.”
Last fall, the Pentagon’s civilian chiefs shot down an Air Force move to take over almost all of the military’s big unmanned aircraft. “There has to be a better way to do this,” Moseley complained at the time. Things only got more tense when Gates said that the future of conflict is in small, “asymmetric” wars — wars in which the Air Force takes a back seat to ground forces. Then Gates noted that the Air Force’s most treasured piece of gear, the F-22 stealth fighter, basically has no role in the war on terror. And when a top Air Force general said the service was planning on buying twice as many of the jets — despite orders from Gates and the rest of the civilian leadership — he was rebuked for “borderline insubordination.”…”

Attack on Iran maybe?

I wonder if this has something to do with all the pressure to ‘be a Christian” at the Air Force Academy, etc.?

btw, when I was talking to one of the staffers about the FISA issue yesterday, I got this comment, “oh God, are you going to unleash phone calls again? I’d better let the front office folks know.” hehehehehehe I think you guys are getting a reputation for persistent follow-through…

They should know that there is a way to get the calls to stop.

w00t! Way to go CHS and the fire-in-the-belly-dogs!!!

I hope they are not “tuning out” their constituents’ phone calls…

It may be multiple things, including Christy’s info from Wired (above), your link, and the stuff about the harassment that seemed to continue unbated. Oh, and the Christian mission that many in their senior ranks seemed to promote. In other words, they weren’t following orders and they finally got a boss who wouldn’t look the other way. Imagine that.

there you go! :]

Oh, wait a min. – am I supposed to say, “Hi, I’m xxx and I’m from Firedoglake” when I call? Woopsie.

Will new leadership clean up the religious bias and intolerance at the Air Force Academy? Probably not while Bush continues in office, but it needs to be cleaned up.

I called Reyes’s office from my cell phone! It has an El Paso area code and I told them I am in his district. Way cool!

I’ve done emails before but this was the first phone call.

I can’t help but think of Scottie McClellan right now. Showing up at a time when we’re hooting and hollering about elections, then FISA and Iran are right there to be shoved down our throats. I’m going to call Feinstein and Speier now.

Oh wow! what’d you say? what’d they say?

The first one is a real thrill, isn’t it?

I introduced myself, said that I live in his district and that I think the telecom companies should not get immunity. That they had the right to tell the government “Not without a warrent” and they chose not to even though they have lawyers. And we can’t give them immunity especially if they won’t even admit what they did wrong.

Why do I get this sinking feeling that this FISA sellout is never going away? I called Obamas senate office and suggested that he, as the presumptive nominee should call Reyes and ask him to kill or hold it until after the inauguration.

And the lady just listened and thanked me for calling.

I think there is a tendancy in the AF to focus on countries/militaries/threats that actually have an air power. The Wired article mentiones this, as well. Maybe they weren’t fully on board with the WOT.

More from Wired — rank incompetence and incredibly lax security seems to have been the crux of the matter if this is accurate:

But, according to Air Force Times, “the last straw appears to be a [daming] report on nuclear weapons handling… [that] critical report convinced Gates that changes must be made.”
According to the report, “the service mistakenly shipped four ballistic missile detonators — instead of helicopter batteries — to Taiwan,” Inside Defense reports. “The incident occurred three years ago, but was discovered in March.”

Last fall, the Air Force’s 5th Bomb Wing lost track of six nuclear warheads. Then, in mid-May, the service flunked a nuclear surety inspection, when security personnel couldn’t even be bothered to stop playing video games on their cell phones. Now, it looks like Moseley and Wynne has some serious time to play with, themselves.

The telco money flow described above for 2007 is a drop in the bucket. Telco industry mergers alone over the past five years have generated far more money and even more political power.

Hush money routed to Democrats via K Street to further the interests of Bush’s primary backers? Sounds routine, and safer than a freebie at the Mayflower. If you control the executive and a neocon majority on the Supreme Court, and can co-opt the former minority, now majority, members of Congress, it doesn’t matter what the people say. That is, until they decide to assert their interests together, and more than once every four years.

Please keep those phones and e-mail servers busy. This is not about a single piece of obnoxious special interest legislation. It isn’t even only about them protecting their backsides and staying out of jail. It is about CheneyBush trying to halt the movement to return the government to its original purpose – governing in the interests of all the governed. That’s us.

So, Cassie – what will you be doing in NYC? Where are you staying?

They appear to be getting as practiced at this as we are. Staffer cut me off mid-sentence and put me though to Pelosi’s voice mail. Ergo, all I could do is leave a message.

Just as a precaution, I wouldn’t talk about where you’ll be staying, Cassie. Toby is a great person and asking this in a friendly way — but other people reading your answer may not be benign. Never, ever give out location specifics or personal information online. Thanks!

Follow the money.

From Marcy’s most excellent post on the SSCI report that Pat Roberts and Jay Rockefeller sat on as long as possible.

Mr. President, five years ago, President Bush and this administration misled this country into a war that should never have been waged, a war that has cost our nation the lives of more than four thousand courageous men and women, squandered many hundreds of billions of our tax dollars, and diminished the world’s faith in our country.

That ought to be blast-faxed into every congressman’s office who is considering this FISA crap, most especially Reyes.

When the lying scumbags of the 1600 Crew say: Trust us? I say and have for seven years: Never. The fuckers only know how to lie and cover their asses about lying. Reyes pushes this, it should be the goal of every and any thinking Democrat to see he’s unemployed Jan 2, 2009.

Oh, Christy – I am so sorry — I just wanted to make sure she HAS a place to stay. I’m a Mom, too. (head, meet desk)

Touristing! Everything! Broadway and shopping and looking at tall buildings! Staying with my grandparents, and then they are bringing me up to Cornell for the three week program I am doing there.

Oh! Should I ask a mod to delete Cornell?

Delete!!

I knew you were probably just being a Momma — but my prosecutor instincts kicked in. *G* And Cassie, you are probably fine — just no dorm/room info, okay?

Go to the metropolitan museum of art!

My favorite place in nyc. Just plop a quarter down on the counter and they’ll let you right in! :)

Yes maam.

Ha, it’s a bit late for that! Now if you said you were going to Moosewood for lunch on so and so day. . .

My comment got lost. Did it get modded?

You know, that’s a bloody brilliant tactic. Make this an issue Obama has to face now, but can actually forestall until after he beats McCain like a rented mule.

After the inaugural, the TELCOs will be sweating bullets, and rightly so… unless Bunnypants issues some sort of “blanket pardon” to all their CEOs and such as he heads out the door. Can a corporation get a Presidential Pardon? Hmmmmmm….

I will try again. Right now I am with Aunt Betsy and my grandma is here. And we went to three museums yesterday. She LOVES museums! Two of them were ones she wanted and the third was one I went to with school once.

I thought he could grant immunity if he wanted, didn’t we hash that out a while ago?

Cassie – when you are coming up to Cornell, give me an email jingle at htwollin at yahoo dot com. I live 45 min. away and the SO and I will give you a tour around the Finger Lakes if you’d like.

OT
According to Salon Howard Dean will be staying as Chairman. Hooray

Did you go see the bats?

To a corporation? That’s interesting, if true.

She saw them a few years ago and I have seen them a bunch of times.

OT–

Air Force Secy and COS fired per MSNBC for flying nukes over America…..

man, oh man, the news is coming fast and furious now, eh?

Not sure, Redd?

jeez are we like the USSR sending nukes and missiles to Cuba?

USSR is to Cuba as USA is to Taiwan?

OT But please get behind our Vets!

Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,
Yesterday, along with officials from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and two Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who are battling the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability claims, I attended a hearing and press conference with the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, on issues regarding PTSD diagnosis and claims.
All of this came about because of the work VoteVets.org and CREW did, to expose an email from a Temple, Texas VA administrator urging psychologists to diagnose veterans with “adjustment disorder” over PTSD, as a cost-cutting measure.
You can read about yesterday here and here.
Now, we need the Inspector General to expand its investigation into VA procedure, specifically focusing on how we treat those with mental injuries, including how they are diagnosed, why so many are having claims issues, and a pay bonus program that rewards administrators who quickly move veterans from VA care. You cannot imagine the number of stories I have heard, and others have heard, about veterans not getting the proper diagnosis. Even when they do get it, they have far too many problems getting their just disability payment.
SIGN OUR PETITION TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE VA HERE
VoteVets.org brought two veterans – Kenneth Gumm and Will King – to Washington for one reason. Because we knew that the VA would attempt to brush over this problem, and we wanted Senators to know that what happened in Temple was not overblown, and not an isolated incident.
Thankfully, Senators on the committee did not let the VA off easily. Senators Daniel Akaka, Patty Murray, Jon Tester, and Bernard Sanders stood up for us, and asked the tough questions that needed to be asked, and cut right through the spin to get to the truth. For that, we veterans thank them.
Now it is time for even more accountability. It is time for the Inspector General to open up the entire case, and see just how widespread this issue is within the VA. Help us get to that goal.
SIGN OUR PETITION TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE VA HERE
Thank you for all of your support.
Sincerely,
Jon Soltz

Yep, the whole Administration is reminding me right about now of one of those woodchucks by the side of the road on an August afternoon…once the bloating hits a certain point….

Around $50,000 in one month went to Jay Rockefeller from AT&T and Verizon. Its like they think they can buy his influence! Rocky needs a primary challenger.

and we need to let HIM know that WE know and we are NOT gonna let him get away with it

Trying to sneak them out of the country under orders from Cheney?

Just got off the phone with Jackie Speier’s office. I made sure to congratulate her on her recent special election victory! yay!

The nice staffer says they do not have an official position re FISA yet because the actual bill is still being “hashed out”. So I relayed that FISA is adequate, that telecom immunity is a really bad idea, and that I knew that Ms. Speier knew that we need someone to stand up for the rule of law and privacy rights. “Absolutely!” was the answer.

I am supposed to get an email with an update later on.

I thought pardon power only applied to individuals with regard to clemency, but I could be wrong. Will see if I can find some time to look that up. It’s not something I’ve ever had to deal with personally, so I can’t say for certain off the top of my head…

Color me paranoid but I think this is an opportunity to put more Cheney friendly staffers in there, so they can fly those nukes with orders instead sneaking around.

btw, Tula has a fantastic post up top…

…some serious time to play with, themselves.

[juvenile cackling] [snort] Well, maybe that’s what they were doing instead of keeping track of nuclear weapons and detonators… [more juvenile giggling]

”The terms of the impending deal, details of which have been leaked to The Independent, are likely to have an explosive political effect in Iraq. Iraqi officials fear that the accord, under which US troops would occupy permanent bases, conduct military operations, arrest Iraqis and enjoy immunity from Iraqi law, will destabilise Iraq’s position in the Middle East and lay the basis for unending conflict in their country.

But the accord also threatens to provoke a political crisis in the US. President Bush wants to push it through by the end of next month so he can declare a military victory and claim his 2003 invasion has been vindicated. But by perpetuating the US presence in Iraq, the long-term settlement would undercut pledges by the Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, to withdraw US troops if he is elected president in November.

The timing of the agreement would also boost the Republican candidate, John McCain, who has claimed the United States is on the verge of victory in Iraq – a victory that he says Mr Obama would throw away by a premature military withdrawal.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/n…..40512.html

Can a corporation get a Presidential Pardon?

I don’t have an answer to that specific question but I think after Jan we need an all out effort to reverse the trend within the judicial system to treat corporations as persons. Since businesses cannot be incorporated within the federal system, we also need to push the states into changing the charters of corporations regarding the requirement that the first obligation of the corporation is to increase shareholder value. Until that is changed corporations will continue exploiting resources and workers and manipulating state and federal legislation. Far as I’m concerned, corporations need to be at the bottom of the food chain, not the top.

Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…

Can we puh-leeze have Impeachment now Ms. Pelosi? Pretty please?

Thanks, I don’t knw why I thought we had talked it over. . .gettin old.

hey Christy -
did you see the blurb in the news box yesterday about Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen trying to distance herself from Chimpigula ???

in a press release/ email – she stated she was not a “rubber stamp” for Bush

laughed my dfh fanny off – who knew an ‘action’ on the part of ’some bloggers’ would reverberate through 2, count ‘em 2 election cycles

Absolutely, SD!

Well said and it needs to be repeated until corporations are no longer seen as ‘persons’ but as business entities, and NOTHING more.

LHP did a post for us way, way back during Libby coverage on pardon power issues — but I don’t think it hit corporate versus individual that I remember. But I’m getting old, too, so I’m not entirely positive on that, either…

HAHAHAHAHA! No, I missed that! Awesome…and if she’s not a “rubber stamp” for the Bush Administration? Ha!

It is likely case law unclear, I would think. Corporations are “persons,” recall.

Right on. Already signed petition. I’m on their list.

These clowns at VA don’t realize there are millions of vets out here. Not real bright tryin’ to screw over a bunch of men and women who are a lot wiser and sophisticated to the ways of the world than pampered elitist bureaucrats.

It’s like holding off a Bengal tiger by the ears. Waddaya gonna do now?

Bu’ush’s M.O. is to push things to the firewall.

I just finished my “buddy letter” pretty ironic that I am testifying about someone else being fucked up!

Thom Hartman often talks about the evolution of corporations becoming “persons” in the eyes of the court. Very interesting. It’s time to strip corporations of that designation. It would turn the world upside down, to the benefit of the “people.”

Well, technically they are treated as persons for purposes of corporate and civil law cases, because to do otherwise is really, really confusing in terms of legal application as the law stands. But they are not, necessarily, treated as persons in terms of criminal case law, depending on the situation…which is why I’m trying to figure out whether they would have standing for clemency. And I just don’t know the answer without doing a bunch of research.

This is the first I heard that you were going to the Cornell program for sure. I think it’s great. I will be there in mid-August for a computer policy and law seminar — will just miss you. It is a great campus.

Of course in wingnuttia language, she meant precisely the opposite of what she said …

I’m starting to think we need a Finger Lakes FDL meet up.

All I’m sayin’ is that Bu’ush always likes to push stuff to the firewall. IANAL, so I defer. But it would not surprise me in the slightest were I to wake up to the news one day that Bu’ush had “pardoned” a corporation were he to find it necessary. Of course, he’s hoping that that peeps like Rockefeller will take care of this shit for him.

Congress, recall, gave him Final Cut on treaties in the MCA, notwithstanding its glaring explicit contradiction of the Judicial Clause in the Constitution. If SCOTUS lets that stand, well…

Wouldn’t surprise me, either — especially since he’d get some attention out of it at a time when most of the attention will be on whomever is elected as his successor. Nothing like throwing yet another stink bomb into the room to get everyone looking at you…

When I was on the nucweaps staff in the Navy such behaviour led immediately to the commanding officer being relieved and disciplinary action to the people directly involved. I was on a team once that found such outrageous violations of policy on a destroyer that the CO was relieved that evening. We spent a large part of the day on the phone with the nucweaps people in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). That’s how serious it was and it came nowhere near the seriousness of this nonsense.

Toby,

What an apt image …

In the hot summer sun, they just keep swelling and swelling, until they explode, and then … phew wee!

Of course it also happens to whistelepigs and groundhogs who try to stay in the ‘middle of the road’ as well.

Yeppers, ole Dick and his sidekick, frogblaster Georgie, might just raise the biggest stink this country and the world have evah seen …

And that’s BEFORE they’re brought to justice.

Can ya tell I’m a little left of Trotsky?

Strange feeling, isn’t it?

The scariest part in my mind is that no one bothered to even take notice of it until March of this year. How lax is that? Jeebus, in past years, people would have been publicly cashiered out post haste…

Oh yes, familiar territory, and ya clearly know the lay of the land, SD.

More power to ya!

Great I am hoping that we can also reverse all the decisions of the past 7 years that has denied benefits for many Vets by instituting a means test. Which has effectively shut out many Vets who are living just above or at the poverty line from the medical care they were promised when they served. Talk about honoring our Vets, These Republicans have turned their backs on those who served our country, just because they don’t want to spend the $$$$ on honoring the contract that the US Go9vernment made with every Vet for serving in the Military!

Constitutional Authority for Presidential Pardons
The presidential power to pardon is granted under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution.

“The President … shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.”

No standards, and only one limitation — no pardons for the impeached.

Can you believe that it was started by an intro written by a clerk to a Supreme Court decision?

But…but…George Bush says he’s compassionate and supports our troops…

(Dammit. I couldn’t even type that with a straight face.)

The Telephone is Ringin

said it was chairman Mao

Or that Abraham Lincoln was the attorney for the railroads?

He would have preferred to represent the ‘little gus’ in this case but they hadn’t sufficient ‘effective demand’ …

that should be ‘little guys’

We’re just cannon fodder to them. Darth figures since I volunteered and I got paid that’s the end of the discussion. Darth wouldn’t make a pimple on any soldier’s ass.

Dang, it looks like it is going to rain here again today. We’ve been having major flooding around town and I was hoping we’d get a break today. Our house is on high ground, so no issues for us, but a lot of folks have had major problems the last coupla days.

Wish we could send some down to you, Raven…

Aw, man, I’m done talkin’ to dead folks.

Arlo Guthrie does a great bit about Uncle Ho comin’ to dinner.

And it does not even refer to “persons.” Recall further the Ford/Nixon challenge, wherein it was adjudged that the offense not even need yet have been charged. Now, we all assume they meant “offenses committed but not yet charged” but it would not surprise me, again, for Bu’ush to (absurdly, to be sure) interprete the pardon power as enabling him to proactively put a crony beyond the reach of the law — indemnity going forward.

Preposterous? Of course. Preposterous that the likes of a George W. Bu’ush could even be the President? Equally so. Again, what is deemed “constitutional” is what SCOTUS says is so.

And then, right afterwards…implosion…

well after the last 8 years, and more specifically all that hasn’t happened since 11/06, this central texas housewife has a clear understanding on what would push a person “a little left of Trotsky”, now pass me that pitcfork laying next to my torch please :D

Please do!

Ho died the day I came home 3 Sept, 69.

No joky bout violins now, a pithfork is as bad as a claymore!

…And then the Turkey Vultures move in to clean away the large debris, then the ants … and then the worms …

Ah, the LIfe Cycle, it kinda gets ya where ya live …

OT, but have we talked about this yet today?
“A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November….But the accord also threatens to provoke a political crisis in the US. President Bush wants to push it through by the end of next month so he can declare a military victory and claim his 2003 invasion has been vindicated. But by perpetuating the US presence in Iraq, the long-term settlement would undercut pledges by the Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, to withdraw US troops if he is elected president in November. The timing of the agreement would also boost the Republican candidate, John McCain, who has claimed the United States is on the verge of victory in Iraq – a victory that he says Mr Obama would throw away by a premature military withdrawal..”
http://www.independent.co.uk/n…..40512.html

I read that yesterday. Yeah.

“According to both sources, Lampton is alleged have shared the confidential income tax returns of a target of one of his prosecutions with “non-authorized” individuals. Neither source would provide the name of the person whose income tax returns were shared or with whom Lampton shared the private information of his target and in what context.

The alleged misuse of private tax information would make the probe into Lampton a criminal investigation and likely under the purview of the DOJ Inspector General’s office, with OPR as part of a joint..”

Hmmm….d’ya think they might be talking about Roveco?

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/….._0604.html

Sorry, Raven;

The storm’s comin’ this way, towards Pittsburgh, but I sure as hell wish you folks down thataway could get some of it. Even the ducks are getting tired of it and are starting to roost on tele-communication poles, I guess they don’t receive immunity …

Must be getting a bit grim, moisture-wise, and I suspect more and more people, all over the world, are going to be facing some dire consequence.

Maybe it is NOT oil.

Maybe it is water …

where have all the weasels gone
long time passing
where have all the weasels gone
long time a-go

where have all the weasels gone
gone to prison every-one
when will they ever learn
oh when will they ever learn

first string dumbasses – all of ‘em – pass the popcorn

My #165 should have been addressed to Toby not Raven …

Yeah but he does resemble the puss in it!!

Just called the Speaker’s office, they kicked me over the comment line, where I left a message.

Thanks Christy.

Send some of that rain to us here in California… we need it the Governator has declared a drought for the state…. Time to get the well pump fixed!

Nice woman answered in Hoyer’s office. I asked if she needed my name. She said “no,” all I need is your phone call.

The FISA/immunity issue is the icon for this administration’s wrongdoing. It’s clear and in-your-face. Nothing complicated about it.

The dems now serving must get that. Need to be reminded the people do too.

Yes, what you say is more than pus-able …

Within all great pustulates, pimples and carbuncles there resides an evil, foul-smelling cheney-like center, a coallescent bit, around which much rank putridity may flourish …

I Agree DW

KagroX’s post on this, over at Kos, is pretty good, too. Some nice lines to try out on your official Congressperson. (Put that way, because a lot of them seem to forget who they’re supposed to be working for.)

that’s part of the whole plan to outsource everything.To incorporate Irac.Everything is going to be run by corps with little or no congressional oversight.IE, “Spies for hire”stuff.It’s not just fisa it’s everything.The brits the saudis and the US are circumventing the traditional methods and building private militaries that can’t be controlled by their repective governments.Even if congress was effective they would play hell trying to stop the affect that these people are having on the international communities.They stir up shit all over the world.The new foreign,corporate policies,each with their own militaries,that will conflicts with the gov militaties,ie chaquita/farc. What a huge mess!!

Is anyone else out there bothered by this…???

“Obama spent weeks in October and November attacking Clinton’s support for a measure that allowed President Bush to declare the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization, a move Obama said was a step toward war. Clinton said the measure enhanced U.S. negotiating strength with Iran.

A couple of things stick out. One — I’d still like to see any indication made by Obama prior to the vote that he opposed the Kyl-Lieberman bill, because I just did not hear it. He doesn’t get to campaign now on opposing it after sticking his finger in the wind — at the time, many were watching that vote as a way to measure how sincere his desire to challenge the foreign policy establishment really was. He didn’t vote. For him to pretend now that his opposition was full-throated and sincere is probably the most cynical move I’ve seen on the Democratic side of the ticket in this campaign.

And two — we told you, everyone. Don’t have anything to do with Joe Lieberman, ever, at any time. He’s a toxic little waste pile of a man who will lay an instant load of political cooties on anyone he comes in contact with.

When will they ever learn?”

This was Jane back in 2007:

http://firedoglake.com/2007/12…..iowa-poll/

Now…here is what Obama said to AIPAC yesterday….

“And we should work with Europe, Japan and the Gulf states to find every avenue outside the UN to isolate the Iranian regime – from cutting off loan guarantees and expanding financial sanctions, to banning the export of refined petroleum to Iran, to boycotting firms associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, whose Quds force has rightly been labeled a terrorist organization.”

http://elections.foxnews.com/2…..onference/

This is huge. It means that the persons who set up the illicit transfer of atomic weapons has been fingered. Gates must have told the President that either he is allowed to fire the persons ultimately responsible for the fiasco (and who might have been somehow involved in it) or Gates resigns and goes public with what he knows. And we can bet that what he knows is that Big Dick had his finger in this pie. Gates was Bush Sr’s pick, and is there to keep an eye on the shrub so we don’t all get incinerated before he leaves office.

New Jane a couple of flights up taking on Karl Rove

I called Hoyer’s office when we first got word about this “compromise” so today I called Speaker Pelosi and Senator Obama. I let both of them know that as a Democrat I’m really getting tired of seeing Democrats go out of their way to give Bush what he wants and that if any Democrats vote for the Bond bill I will not support them with my cash and in fact, will donate to their opponent. Egads…what is the matter with these people.

illicit transfer?

Update to my last post. After thinking about it some more I decided to go head and call Hoyer again today too.

Thanks heaps for all the calls — to you and everyone else who is making them. You guys rock!

faxed pelosi, hoyer, reyes and obama.

closing line: “You cannot compromise with an Unitary Executive who claims the powers to secretly ignore in practice any compromise you may reach together in public.”

You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen anything positive from Sen. Rockefeller or Rep. Hoyer, particularly smirkin’ Steny. At every turn he seems almost eager to sell the progressives, and even the rule of law, down the road.

Down in extreme EPUville here, but just got home. Great closing line, rosalind. I’m pretty sure you don’t mind if I borrow it for the multifax I’m writing now & will send tomorrow morning.