Argue With My Dad

Wow!  Is it Monday already?  If so, it is time once again for AWMD’s Monday Musings.  There are plenty of news items to choose from after the weekend.  There are so many possible issues to discuss, it is hard to choose just a few.  I don’t know if anyone else will be interested in the ones that I have chosen, but if so I hope you enjoy it. If any of my “Musings” interest you, let me know what you think.  Hell, even if they don’t interest you, let me know!  I am interested in your opinion too….as long as you agree with me!

I wonder if Sarah Palin has any brains in her head.  After all of these months where she has repeatedly railed against health care reform and even claimed that Canada’s health care system is horrible, she admitted that when she was younger, her family used to go across the border into Canada for Health Care!  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/sarah-palin-sees-eye-to-eye-with-albertans-in-calgary-speech/article1492634/  I can’t even make this stuff up.  She made this latest comment while presenting a speech in Alberta, Canada. ‘ “We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada,” she said. “And I think now, isn’t that ironic?” ‘  No, Sarah, it isn’t ironic, it is hypocritical. Can you spell that?  By the way, it seems she had stated earlier that her mother took her brother to Juneau, Alaska for the needed health care for the incident she was discussing in this latest speech.  Could Sarah be lying??

I was shocked earlier today when I saw a Raw Story article that quoted our old friend, Tom DeLay, as stating that anyone who is unemployed wants to be unemployed!  http://rawstory.com/2010/03/delay-unemployment-benefits/  First of all, I was amazed that he was on TV at all. Secondly, I was surprised that DeLay wasn’t in jail.  After all of that amazement and surprise, it is obvious that Mr. DeLay has not been collecting unemployment benefits recently.  He needs to ask anyone who was laid off, whether they prefer to be getting less than half of their former salary in unemployment benefits?  As someone who was out of work for over 6 months in 2008, Tom DeLay should be ashamed of spreading that lie. 

A short time ago we discussed the interesting story about an anti-gay Republican state Representative from Bakersfield, California who was arrested for a DUI after frequenting at least one gay bar in Sacramento.  Of course, he denied that he was gay.  It seems now that the good Representative has come out of the closet!  ‘ “I am gay. And so, those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long,” Ashburn told radio host Inga Barks on her show on the KERN station in Bakersfield” ‘ http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/blogs/nov05election/detail?&entry_id=58665  Who would have guessed that a Republican legislator would be lying about being gay?!   The sad part of this entire story is that if he had only come out of his closet and not done everything in his power to deny rights to Gays, noone would have cared.  I think this guy has been taking truth lessons from Sarah Palin!

Finally, it looks like the Vatican is in the news again and not for good things.  “A police investigation into corruption at the Vatican has taken a twist with the discovery of an organised network of male prostitution. So far a senior aide to the Pope and a Vatican chorister have been removed from their posts over allegations of involvement in the homosexual prostitution ring.  The allegations were made public when Italian newspapers published transcripts of phone calls recorded by police. Police had been conducting an unrelated corruption investigation. Apparently the tapes record Angelo Balducci, a Gentleman of His Holiness, negotiating with Thomas Chinedu Ehiem, a 29-year-old Nigerian Vatican chorister, about men he wanted brought to him for sexual purposes.”
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/vatican-rocked-another-sex-scandal  The Vatican consistently takes stances against the gay community and these high Church officials are caught red-handed.  Or should I say Red……no I won’t go there.  You get the idea.

What do you think?  It is time for you to let us know what you think!  Don’t be shy.  Get busy and give us your opinion!  Take the first step and write down what you think.  It won’t hurt!  I promise!

It is time for yet another edition of the AWMD Friday Free For All.   This is the only time of the week when our arguewithmydad.com readers can control the topic(s) for discussion.  All you have to do is get someone else to respond to your suggested topic and then the floor is yours.  Don’t be shy and don’t hesitate.  Get busy and be sure to let us know your views and arguments so everyone can read and react to them.  Right here on arguewithmydad.com.  I will make two suggestions for possible topics, but they are only suggestions.  Today is Friday so only you can be the decider.   But you need to tell us what you want to discuss.  So, what is on your mind today? With all that is going on, how can you not speak your mind?  Let’s hear from you!

My first suggested topic concerns an Illinois lawsuit that has been flying under the radar.  Two U.S. contractors who went over to Iraq to work were grabbed by U.S. Military forces and tortured for a month or two and they are suing former Secretary of Defense under George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, alleging that Rumsfeld approved the torture techniques that they were subjected to.  U.S. District Judge Wayne Anderson allowed their suit to proceed on the issue of the alleged torture. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RUMSFELD_TORTURE_SUIT_ILOL-?SITE=ILKAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT  This case is an interesting one because these two individuals are U.S. citizens and should not lose their constitutional protections just because they are working in Iraq.  “Andersen said his decision “represents a recognition that federal officials may not strip citizens of well settled constitutional protections against mistreatment simply because they are located in a tumultuous foreign setting.” ‘  This case becomes more interesting when you dig a little deeper and find out that Judge Anderson was nominated for the court by George H. W. Bush in 1991.  What do you think of the decision to allow this lawsuit to proceed against Rummy?

My final suggested topic involves the news reports lately that are suggesting that the Obama Administration may be reconsidering their earlier decision to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in a civilian Federal court in New York City and instead, try him in the Bush military commissions. This possible change of heart is party due to efforts by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to negotiate this possible change of policy in exchange for his support in closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/us/politics/04commissions.html?adxnnl=1&ref=us&adxnnlx=1267794491-jR1O3GhHtWLpLv4NTiJv2A  It seems that Sen. Graham is not only trying to get the Obama administration to try KSM in a military commission.  “Beyond that one case, though, Mr. Graham and others familiar with his proposals said he was seeking Mr. Obama’s support for comprehensive legislation setting detailed guidelines for handling all detainees. Such legislation would allow investigators to delay reading suspects their Miranda rights, send most top-level Qaeda figures to military rather than civilian courts and explicitly authorize the government to imprison some terrorism suspects without trials — not just Guantanamo inmates, but detainees who may be captured years in the future. “  If I understand this correctly, Senator Graham is advising the Obama administration to deny the constitutional rights that any prisoner in the United States is entitled to.  The scary part of this story is that Obama, through his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmanuel, is actually listening to this garbage.  Why would any Democratic President believe and listen to any Republican Senator on any topic after the crap they have been slinging for over a year?  What do you think?

I have made my suggestions, and they are just that, suggestions.  Let’s hear what You want to talk about.  I will be anxiously waiting to see what You want to talk about.  It is time to get busy and let everyone know what you are thinking about.  Let’s hear from all of You!  Don’t be shy and do not delay in telling us what you think.   It won’t hurt to let us know what You think!

I can’t wait until our Friday Free For All so here are this week’s Wednesday’s Shorts.  I will take a quick look at some of the hot issues of this week and even some of the issues that fly under the radar.  I hope you like them.

The first Short this week is from Politico.com and it highlights a recently discovered RNC fundraising presentation that said the best way to defeat Barack Obama and the Democrats in the November, 2010 mid-term elections is as follows,’ ” The presentation explains the Republican fundraising in simple terms. “What can you sell when you do not have the White House, the House, or the Senate…?” ‘ it asks. The answer:’ “Save the country from trending toward Socialism!” ‘ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33866.html   Here we go again with more Republican lies and fear mongering.  I guess they do need to fall back on what they do best.

Has anyone else seen the funnyordie.com video with all of the SNL past presidents and their talk with current President, Barack Obama?  It is excellent and funny.  Here is a link to a Firedoglake posting that includes the video. Take a look at it. http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/03/03/snls-ex-presidents-produce-video-for-financial-reform-and-cfpa/

Crooks and Liars has another vivid example of the obstructionist tactics being used by the Republican Party.  It seems that in the Senate today, another cloture vote had to be taken in order to get a vote on another Judicial nomination of President Obama.  That isn’t surprising except this nominee was chosen after consultation with the Republican Senators of the home state.  The cloture vote resulted in a 99-0 vote in favor of cloture and ending of the filibuster.  After filibustering the nomination of Barbara Milano Keenan, there were no votes against her!  Zero, Zilch, Nada! http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/senate-republican-even-obstructing-ju  As Senator Patrick Leahy stated in this article, the Senate Republicans have filibustered 17 judicial nominees. “Last year’s total was the fewest judicial nominees confirmed in the first year of a Presidency in more than 50 years.”  The Republicans aren’t real Americans because they are doing everything that they can to harm America and harm Americans.  Disgusting.  Have they no shame?

Finally, As reported on Think Progress, Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, has a great idea.  He is introducing a bill to limit the use of filibusters and to limit earmarks. http://thinkprogress.org/ & http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14502062#ixzz0h6NRwakF  Do you think that the Republicans might filibuster this bill??

Those are our Wednesday’s Shorts.  Take a look at them and the sites where I found the stories and let us know what you think!  We’ll be waiting for you! Let’s hear from you!

Is it Monday already?  If so, it is time once again for AWMD’s Monday Musings.  There are plenty of news items to choose from after the weekend.  There are so many possible issues to discuss, it is hard to choose just a few.  I don’t know if anyone else will be interested in the ones that I have chosen, but if so I hope you enjoy it. If any of my “Musings” interest you, let me know what you think.  Hell, even if they don’t interest you, let me know!  I am interested in your opinion too….as long as you agree with me!

My first issue is related to one of the prime examples of the Republican obstructionist policy.  For a couple of weeks, the Republican Senator from Kentucky, Jim Bunning, has had a hold on the vote to extend unemployment benefits, COBRA subsidies and even small business loans.  http://thinkprogress.org/2010/03/01/bunning-transportation/ & http://www.abc-7.com/Global/story.asp?S=12048562. This hold has harmed over 400,000 unemployed Americans.  Of course, that means nothing to a Republican like Jim Bunning.  As it turns out, putting a hold on this bill has also caused 2,000 Federal Transportation workers to be furloughed because of Bunning putting his foot down! http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/01/politics/main6254172.shtml  Bunning’s actions have been supported by his fellow Republicans which tells me a lot.  Since Bunning is not running for re-election, I will bet you a bottle of Mad Dog that he is the fall guy for a Republican strategy to have a Senator who is retiring and  who doesn’t have to worry about re-election, put the hold on the bill and continue the policy of the Republican Party to obstruct everything the Obama Administration is attempting to achieve. Is there no end to the anti-American activities of these obstructionists?  To make matters worse, Sen. Bunning’s arrogance has no limits.  Just ask the ABC producer who Bunning flipped off when the producer was trying to get his reasons why Bunning would harm so many people by taking this horrible action. http://rawstory.com/2010/03/gop-senator-flipped-abc-news-producer/.  By the way, Bunning’s disgusting action is also causing doctors to take a pay cut in Medicare payments because the bill he is blocking included language to block a  pay cut that will be taking place without it! http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/bunning-blockade-leads-to-21-percent-pay-cut-to-doctors.php  What a scumbag! 

Continuing the Republican obstructionist theme, my next musing concerns that fact that the Republicans are on track to set a filibuster record in the Senate.  “ Last year, the first of the 111th Congress, there were a record 112 cloture votes. In the first two months of 2010, the number already exceeds 40.That means, with 10 months left to run in the 111th Congress, Republicans have turned to the filibuster or threatened its use at a pace that will more than triple the old record. The 104th Congress in 1995-96 — when Republicans held a 53-47 majority — required 50 cloture votes.” http://rawstory.com/2010/03/ap-republicans-set-record-filibuster/  This Raw Story posting quotes an AP report with those amazing cloture vote numbers.  The “Republicants” set a filibuster record in 2009 and they are on track to triple that record number.  Did you understand that?  They are on track to Triple their own filibuster record.  This is additional evidence that the Republicans will do anything to stop Obama and the Democrats.  Even if it hurts the country and puts people out of work and harms those that are already out of work due to a Recession which was caused by the wild tax cutting and war spending of the Bush regime!  Is there anything they won’t do to harm this country?

What do you think?  It is time for you to let us know what you think!  Don’t be shy.  Get busy and give us your opinion!  Take the first step and write down what you think.  It won’t hurt!  I promise!

It is time for another edition of the AWMD Friday Free For All.   This is the only time of the week when our arguewithmydad.com readers can control the topic(s) for discussion.  All you have to do is get someone else to respond to your suggested topic and then the floor is yours.  Don’t be shy and don’t hesitate.  Get busy and be sure to let us know your views and arguments so everyone can read and react to them.  Right here on arguewithmydad.com.  I will make two suggestions for possible topics, but they are only suggestions.  Today is Friday so only you can be the decider.   But you need to tell us what you want to discuss.  So, what is on your mind today? With all that is going on, how can you not speak your mind?  Let’s hear from you!

The first suggested topic that I have involves one of the authors of the Torture Memos, John Yoo.  It seems that in the recently released Office of Professional Responsibility report which gives us the results of their investigation of Yoo and another Bush era attorney, Jay Bybee, we learn that the investigators were told that most of Yoo’s email records had been deleted and were not recoverable. http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/26/yoo-email-deletion/  Where have we heard that excuse before?  Oh yeah, the Bush White House made that very same claim about their email records that are supposed to be saved, by Federal Law, and lo and behold they surfaced later on.  Senator Pat Leahy is pushing for an investigation of the missing emails as are the National Archives.  http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/archive/2010/02/25/exclusive-archives-demands-doj-explain-missing-emails.aspx  I will be following the ongoing investigation of these “missing” emails.  The Bush Administration follies continue.  Where do you think these emails went? 

It seems that we found another GOP elected official who has gone way over the deep end.  Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona, claimed that Blacks today are worse off than the Blacks who were slaves in our country because of abortions depleting their numbers! http://rawstory.com/2010/02/gop-rep-implies-blacks-slavery/  Now, whether you agree with the legal procedure of abortion or not; to make the statement that slaves had a better life than today’s African Americans is absolutely ludicrous.  It seems that Franks has made false claims about abortions before as the linked Raw Story posting lays out for us.  It turns out that the figure that he uses to claim that the abortion rates in the black community are almost 50% are incorrect.  Now, are any of you surprised that a Republican Congressman would be caught using false numbers and false arguments?  I know I’m not surprised.  What you think?

I have made my suggestions, and they are just that, suggestions.  Let’s hear what You want to talk about.  I will be anxiously waiting to see what You want to talk about.  It is time to get busy and let everyone know what you are thinking about.  Let’s hear from all of You!  Don’t be shy and do not delay in telling us what you think.   It won’t hurt to let us know what You think.  Let’s hear from all of you neocons out there too!

I couldn’t wait all the way until our Friday Free For All so I decided to start a new, regular mid-week feature.  We will take a quick look at some of the hot issues of this week and even some of the issues that fly under the radar.  I hope you like them.

The first new item that interested me was this one about our current BFF, torture apologist, John Yoo.  It seems that Yoo is upset with the criticism he received from President Obama’s nominee to head the Office of Legal Counsel, Prof. Dawn Johnsen. You can find the story here http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/23/MNPH1C5G70.DTL and here at the How Appealing site, http://howappealing.law.com/.  The Office of Legal Counsel, of course, is the office where John Yoo authored his now infamous Torture Memos.  Professor Johnsen’s criticism is probably one of the main reasons why the obstructionist Republicans have been doing their best to block the nomination.  I wish Prof. Yoo luck in fighting the lawsuit against him brought by a former detainee.  Okay, I admit it.  I hope Yoo goes down!  He is an stain on the profession and should be in jail.

The next “short” is the story about the Senate approving a $15 Billion dollar jobs bill.  It seems that some Senators actually voted for it.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704240004575085410014175900.html?mod=rss_whats_news_us   Wow!  Could the Republicans be having second thoughts about blocking everything the Dems try to pass?  No.  I think they just realized that there was no way that they could vote against a Jobs Bill in this economy.  13 Republican Senators actually voted to pass this bill.  Of course, 6 of those Republicans who voted for the bill actually voted two days earlier to enforce a filibuster against this bill!  The Think Progress site has the goods on these champions of hypocrisy: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/24/sens-flip-jobs-bill/. 

My last “Short” is this Feel Good story about an organization whose sole goal is to match Veterans and injured Veterans with jobs. Check out this Truthout site story about Hire Heroes USA:  http://www.truthout.org/hire-heroes-pairs-veterans-with-job-recruiters57136  This story almost brought tears to my eyes.  This group specializes in finding jobs for injured vets, but it helps all vets.  This is the best way to support the troops!  Here is a link to the website for Hire Heroes USA.  http://www.hireheroesusa.org/  Pass the word!

Those are our first Wednesday’s Shorts.  Take a look at them and the sites where I found the stories and let us know what you think!  We’ll be waiting for you!

 Is it Monday already?  If so, it is time once again for AWMD’s Monday Musings.  There are plenty of news items to choose from after the weekend.  There are so many possible issues to discuss, it is hard to choose just a few.  I don’t know if anyone else will be interested in the ones that I have chosen, but if so I hope you enjoy it. If any of my “Musings” interest you, let me know what you think.  Hell, even if they don’t interest you, let me know!  I am interested in your opinion too!(Most of the time.)

The first news item that grabbed my attention was the news that the one of our old friends, former Office of Legal Counsel attorney, John Yoo, was quoted that the President has the authority to massacre an entire village of civilians and the Congress can’t do anything to stop him, except pull the funding or to impeach him!  http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/archive/2010/02/19/report-bush-lawyer-said-president-could-order-civilians-to-be-massacred.aspx  I guess Professor Yoo didn’t think that statement was crazy enough because he even went further to state that the President can order the use of nuclear weapons “…and if the Congress doesn’t like it they can cut off funds for it or they can impeach him.”  http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/22/yoo-nuke/  As the Think Progress article tells us and as confirmed by this article, http://www.acslaw.org/node/11239; ” When Congress, acting in the vast areas of overlapping power, tells the President “no,” the President must comply.”  Think Progess also gives us the Supreme Court precedent that flies in the face of Professor Yoo’s wild claims: LITTLE v. BARREME, 6 U.S. 170 (1804); HAMDI V. RUMSFELD (03-6696) 542 U.S. 507 (2004); and HAMDAN v. RUMSFELD (No. 05-184) 415 F. 3d 33,.    When I asked the question on my Friday Free For All posting why Cheney isn’t in jail yet, I guess I should have included John Yoo in that query as well. 

My next issue tonight concerns the latest Republican birther(Dr. Eric Wargotz) who is running to be the Republican candidate for the Senate from Maryland and claims that he does not believe that Obama was a natural born citizen of the United States.  http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/22/wargotz-obama-birther/  Where do these wingnuts come from?  Do the Republicans have a training camp for people who refuse to live in the real world?  Does anyone else think that this guy is playing with less than a full deck?

Speaking of Republican wingnuts, I believe that I have found the champion.  It seems that a Virginia State legislator claims that disabled kids are God’s punishment for women having abortions!  http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100222/NEWS01/2220318  Yes, you read that correctly.  And Yes, he is a Republican!  What a surprise?!  What an insult to all families with disabled children.  Are these the kind of people that America wants to have leading them?  This is just one more example of the cold hearted politicians that call themselves Republicans.  I think a true Republican conservative like the late Senator Barry Goldwater, would turn over in his grave if he read who has taken over his Republican Party.   What do you think of this kind of creep?

What do you think?  It is time for you to let us know what you think!  Don’t be shy.  Get busy and give us your opinion!  Take the first step and write down what you think.  It won’t hurt!  I promise!

I may be a little late, but it is time for another edition of the AWMD Friday Free For All.   This is the only time of the week when our arguewithmydad.com readers can control the topic(s) for discussion.  All you have to do is get someone else to respond to your suggested topic and then the floor is yours.  Don’t be shy and don’t hesitate.  Get busy and be sure to let us know your views and arguments so everyone can read and react to them.  Right here on arguewithmydad.com.  I will make two suggestions for possible topics, but they are only suggestions.  Today is Friday so only you can be the decider.   But you need to tell us what you want to discuss.  So, what the heck is on your mind today? With all that is going on, how can you not speak your mind?  Let’s hear from you!

The first suggested topic that I have tonight is one that has been bugging me all week.  Earlier this week our old friend, former Vice President Dick Cheney went on the record that he is a big fan of waterboarding. http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/week-transcript-vice-president-dick-cheney/story?id=9818034&page=3  In this linked ABC interview, Count Cheney said” KARL: … waterboarding, clearly, what was your… CHENEY: I was a big supporter of waterboarding. I was a big supporter of the enhanced interrogation techniques that… KARL: And you opposed the administration’s actions of doing away with waterboarding? CHENEY: Yes. “  It was so matter of fact that I almost went right by it.  The former Vice President of the United States, once again, confirmed that he was a big supporter of waterboarding.  George Washington University Law Professor, Jonathan Turley put the exclamation point on Cheney’s torture cheerleading, “Cheney’s statement should be a moment of unspeakable national shame.”  http://jonathanturley.org/2010/02/15/cheney-i-was-a-big-supporter-of-waterboarding/  We already know that waterboarding is illegal and that the United States has prosecuted our own people and enemy soldiers for this exact activity.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/02/AR2007110201170.htmlWe also know that the international community considers waterboarding torture.  Can anyone tell me why Dick Cheney and everyone else in the Bush administration that authorized and allowed this activity to occur, are not behind bars?  Let’s have it out right here.  Give us your best shot and try to convince the AWMD nation that waterboarding is not torture.  I dare you!

I read earlier today with interest that Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, has gone on the record that he could support a health care reform bill, including a public option, that was passed through reconciliation. http://rawstory.com/2010/02/reid-public-option-white-house-hedges/  In that same article, the Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, confirmed that the White House could support it if the Senate leadership was also behind it.  I have been let down a few times already by the Democrats in their on and off again efforts to pass a Health Care reform bill, but maybe the Republicans continued obstruction combined with Health Insurance companies recently trying to raise their rates by almost 40%, even when their profit margins are at record levels, will actually help the Democrats to gain some courage to do what 60% of the American public wants them to do. http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/poll_Obama_120909.pdf?tag=contentMain;contentBody  Who else here believes that health care reform and more particularly, the Public Option still has a chance?  Let’s hear from you!

I have made my suggestions, and they are just that, suggestions.  Let’s hear what You want to talk about.  I will be anxiously waiting to see what You want to talk about.  It is time to get busy and let everyone know what you are thinking about.  Let’s hear from all of You!  Don’t be shy and do not delay in telling us what you think.   It won’t hurt to let us know what You think.  Let’s hear from all of you neocons out there too!  One special note here.  I will be taking in my beloved Salukis in their Bracket Buster battle against Western Michigan tomorrow, so I may be a little slow in responding, but I will respond as soon as I get back in front of my laptop.  Go Dawgs!

I know that I am a little late, but it is time for another edition of the AWMD Friday Free For All.   This is the only time of the week when our arguewithmydad.com readers can control the topic(s) for discussion.  All you have to do is get someone else to respond to your suggested topic and then the floor is yours.  Don’t be shy and don’t hesitate.  Get busy and be sure to let us know your views and arguments so everyone can read and react to them.  Right here on arguewithmydad.com.  I will make two suggestion for possible topics, but they are only suggestions.  Today is Friday so only you can be the decider.   But you need to tell us what you want to discuss.  So, what the heck is on your mind today? With all that is going on, how can you not speak your mind?  Let’s hear from you!

The news story today that caught my eye was the revelation that Attorney GeneralEric Holder stated that it is possible that the planned civil trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed may be abandoned in favor of a military trial due to complaints by New York City authorities that they did not want the trial in their city. http://cbs2.com/national/eric.holder.911.2.1490483.html  I don’t know about you, but the idea that the Justice Department initially decided to try the alleged 9/11 mastermind in Federal Court was great news for those of us who actually believe in the rule of law in this country.  If Holder is now folding under the pressure from NYC and Republicans, he is not honoring his oath and not doing his job.  A decision by the Attorney General should not be impacted by public opinion or political pressure.  If I was Holder, I would stick to my guns and hold the trial in Federal Court in NYC, and if the security issues are too great, in Federal court in a substitute domestic location.  I hope this quote from Holder is still accurate, “Holder still maintains that a civilian trial would be the best option for the case and “best for our overall fight against al-Qaida.”‘  http://cbs2.com/national/eric.holder.911.2.1490483.html   Keep the military out of it. 

My final suggested topic is the continuing saga over just one of President Obama’s nominations that continues to be delayed. The nomination of Prof. Dawn Johnsen, to head up the Office of Legal Counsel, made famous by John Yoo and his fellow felons, was delayed once again until February 25, 2010.  Her nomination passed through Committee back in March of 2009, but was stalled earlier by Republican holds and most recently when the Senate panel reviewing the nomination lost their quorum and it was pushed to the 2/25 date. http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/02/11/judiciary-panel-holds-over-johnsen-again/  George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley is a big fan of Dawn Johnsen and what she will bring to the Office of Legal Counsel which was often abused during the Bush regime. “ ”What is missing in Obama’s inner circle are any prominent voices in favor of civil liberties,” said Jonathan Turley, a liberal law professor at George Washington University and an expert on homeland security and constitutional law. “She would help bring greater balance.” http://www.truthout.org/senate-committee-set-take-up-nomination-dawn-johnsen56617  Human Rights attorney, Scott Horton, also is on record of backing this important nomination. ‘ “The OLC is supposed to give guidance on how to follow the law, not on how to avoid it,” said Scott Horton, a human rights lawyer and author who frequently writes about legal affairs. “Johnsen would restore the office to its proper role.” ‘  http://www.truthout.org/senate-committee-set-take-up-nomination-dawn-johnsen56617  We have discussed Professor Johnsen’s nomination earlier here on AWMD. Hopefully, she will be confirmed on 2/25/10 or when and if Obama is forced to resort to recess appointments.  Her voice in the Justice Department and its Office of Legal Counsel is sorely needed.

I have made my suggestions, and they are just that, suggestions.  Let’s hear what You want to talk about.  I will be anxiously waiting to see what You want to talk about.  It is time to get busy and let everyone know what you are thinking about.  Let’s hear from all of You!  Don’t be shy and do not delay in telling us what you think.   It won’t hurt to let us know what You think.  Let’s hear from all of you neocons out there too!