Where’s the Outrage?

This afternoon I visited the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. I saw a number of graves of historically significant Texans. One I found interesting was the grave of former Houston Congresswoman Barbara Jordan.

Representative Jordan served in the U.S. House from 1973 until 1979. She did not run for reelection in 1978. She gained national attention for her service on the House judiciary committee during the Watergate hearings.

Ms. Jordan was the first black state senator in Texas since Reconstruction. She was one of the first two black Congresspersons from the South in the 20th Century (Andrew Young of Georgia was also elected in 1972.) Ms. Jordan was the first black woman Congressperson from the South.

Ms. Jordan’s headstone refers to her as an “Eloquent Champion of Ethics and Justice” and as a “Patriot.”

Ms. Jordan is buried on a hill in the cemetery that overlooks many Confederate war dead.

Ms. Jordan lived from 1936 until 1996.

Considering the lives of notable figures of the past is a way to evaluate the present. Doing so in the quiet setting of the Texas State Cemetery was an opportunity for useful reflection. If I lived in Austin, I would visit this cemetery often.

Tags: Other Political Thoughts by Texas Liberal
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Dana Priest from WaPo has another great investigative piece this morning. Many of vets are still not getting the care that need. Red tape, government mismanagement and the VA system have all combine to frustrate our returning Vets.

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From WaPo:

… At a low point, he went to the local Department of Veterans Affairs medical center for help. One VA psychologist diagnosed Cruz with post-traumatic stress disorder. His condition was labeled “severe and chronic.” In a letter supporting his request for PTSD-related disability pay, the psychologist wrote that Cruz was “in need of major help” and that he had provided “more than enough evidence” to back up his PTSD claim. His combat experiences, the letter said, “have been well documented.”

None of that seemed to matter when his case reached VA disability evaluators. They turned him down flat, ruling that he deserved no compensation because his psychological problems existed before he joined the Army. They also said that Cruz had not proved he was ever in combat. “The available evidence is insufficient to confirm that you actually engaged in combat,” his rejection letter stated. (more…)

Tags: Bush Administration, Military, Walter Reed by ecthompson
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Bill Moyers has what can only be called a rant. He looks at the neocons that are calling for Scooter Libby to be pardoned. Richard Perle, Douglas Fife, Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz are all key planners of the War in Iraq. They have all written glowing letters in support of their friend, Scooter Libby. The fact that Wolfowitz supports Scooter should be a reason to double his sentence.

They lied us into an unjust war.  Over 3500 of our wonderful soldiers have died and there is no end in sight.  All of these things are true but most importantly, Scooter Libby lied.  He obstructed justice.  A jury of his peers found him guilty.  He should pay the price like the rest of us.

 

 BMJ - Scooter Libby pardon [5:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Bill Moyers by ecthompson
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Can a burka contain her hotness?  Yep, he actually asked that question.  She talks about her new movie - A Mighty Heart.

 

 TDS - Angelina Jolie [6:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Movies, The Daily Show by ecthompson
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His star power isn’t shining as bright as it use to be.

 

 Bush fundraising [1:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Bush Administration, Party Politics by ecthompson
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There is something very different about Diana Krall.  It isn’t … I can’t put my finger on it.  She is an outstanding piano player but her playing is almost always understated.  Her voice isn’t that high piercing tone that many jazz singers have.  It also isn’t that low “I have been through hard knocks” type of voice either.  Her voice is somewhere in between.  Maybe that’s it.  Her sound is understated and for her, that’ s perfect.

 

 Diana Krall - The Look of Love [3:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Music by ecthompson
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I work.  This is one of those fun raps.

 

 Big Daddy Kane - I get the job done [3:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Music by ecthompson
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I’m not a lawyer. I don’t pretend to be one on TV but this Duke Rape case always smelled funky. There was always something not quite right. If Nifong was so wrong with how he handled the case why didn’t the State Attorney General step in. Why didn’t someone of authority step in and say, “Stop. Let’s think about this before we have another press release or news conference.”

In trauma, my job is to take chaos and force some order. In our system of checks and balances someone should have been able to restore some order before everything went so wrong for so many people.

Update: Another interesting perspective here.

Update II:  I had forgotten that the boys were suspended, if I’m not mistakened, from Duke.  The coach resigned.  CNN announced that Duke’s Board of Trustees and the 3 men that were suspended have reached a settlement.  The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.    Man, what a mess. 

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From CNN.com:

The prosecutor in the Duke University lacrosse team rape case was disbarred Saturday for unethical conduct, and the chairman of the disciplinary committee blamed “political ambition” for his downfall.

Earlier Saturday, the panel of the North Carolina State Bar concluded that Durham County, North Carolina, District Attorney Mike Nifong violated more than a dozen ethics rules in prosecuting the case against the now-exonerated players. (more…)

 

 Nifong Disbarred [2:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Legal by ecthompson
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