Where’s the Outrage?

Why is Harry Reid trying to give the telecoms immunity against future prosecution?  I have talked about the FISA bill on a number of occasions.  There were 2 bills which Senator Reid could have chosen for the “basis” of discussion.  He chose the Intelligence Committee bill which has the telecom immunity gift and just about everything that Bush and the White House wants.  My question is why?

Harry Reid’s statement seemed inadequate.   Maybe it is just me.  As usual, Glenn Greenwald has a very good discussion on this.  Senator Christopher Dodd plans to filibuster any bill that gives away the store.

Update: Okay, just to make sure that the telecoms get off scottfree the senate has voted to move the bill for discussion.  The vote wasn’t even close.  Again, we see all of the Republicans voting together and the Democrats split.  I wish I could figure out why someone like Senator Edward Kennedy would support this bill.  I don’t buy what he said on the floor today, “too important to hold up any longer.”  If it is that important, shouldn’t we get it right?

Senator Russ Feingold wrote the following this morning to explain the problem that we are facing -

Unfortunately, the bill we are going to be considering is the one reported out by the Senate Intelligence Committee in October, S. 2248. It did not have to be this way. Thirteen Senators joined me last week in asking the Majority Leader to instead bring up a bill that includes the changes approved by the Judiciary Committee last month. That bill, while not perfect by any means, was the product of an open process and heeded the advice of many experts and advocates to provide greater protection for the international communications of innocent Americans. And, unlike the Intelligence Committee bill, the Judiciary bill does not provide automatic, retroactive immunity for companies alleged to have cooperated with the administration’s illegal warrantless wiretapping program. (more…)

Tags: Congress, Domestic Spying by ecthompson
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One of Romney’s biggest problems, as least as I see it, is the Mormon church’s civil rights policy.  Blacks were unclean.  So, Tim Russert asked Mitt Romney about his church’s record on Blacks and race relations.

Russert asks: Here was the headlines in the papers in June of ‘78. “Mormon Church Dissolves Black Bias.  Citing new revelation from God, the president of the Mormon Church decreed for the first time black males could fully participate in church rites.” You were 31 years old, and your church was excluding blacks from full participation.  Didn’t you think, “What am I doing part of an organization that is viewed by many as a racist organization?”

Romney:  [snip] I can remember when, when I heard about the change being made.  I was driving home from, I think, it was law school, but I was driving home, going through the Fresh Pond rotary in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  I heard it on the radio, and I pulled over and, and literally wept.  Even at this day it’s emotional, and so it’s very deep and fundamental in my, in my life and my most core beliefs that all people are children of God.  My faith has always told me that.  My faith has also always told me that, in the eyes of God, every individual was, was merited the, the fullest degree of happiness in the hereafter, and I, and I had no question in my mind that African-Americans and, and blacks generally, would have every right and every benefit in the hereafter that anyone else had and that God is no respecter of persons.

I was at the malt shop with Archie and Reggie and Sally Sue came in and told us that Blacks were okay.  I was so happy.  Golly gee.   Really.  That’s how it happened.  That is so clean.  So, mom and pop and apple pie.  It may be true but I doubt it.  If Romney has his family were so pro-civil rights, what he do in his church to push for change?  Earlier he spent some time taking about how his father was a big supporter of civil rights.  Really?  What did he do in his church to make them see the error of their ways?

I think that Mitt Romney like most politicians is an opportunist.  He has flip-flopped on abortion a couple of times.  I just can’t square his abortion positions with a man of true convictions.  I don’t know.

Tags: Election 2008, Race by ecthompson
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If Bob Jones, III, agrees with me then I have rethink my original statement.  Bob Jones has endorsed Mitt Romney who is a Mormon.  Now, in this situation, when a far right Christian leader endorses Romney over Huckabee that says something.  Mike Huckabee is a conservative preacher but Bob Jones points to Romney has his choice.  Why?  As a matter of fact, Bob Jones has trashed the Mormon religion, so why endorse him?

I find it interesting that Mitt Romney is playing his faith off as a different variety of Christian.   Like a different flavor.  Romney then does something very interesting, he goes back the founders and religious tolerance.  He forgets to mention that there was disagreement amoung the founders.  He also really doesn’t answer the question.  The question was how can you accept the endorsement of someone who believes that your religion is a cult?  Romney in essence says I’ll take my endorsements where I can get them.

 

 Romney side steps Bob Jones question [4:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Election 2008, Sunday Morning Shows by ecthompson
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Mitt Romney has ask for a candidate to apologize before. He was wrong.  The great thing is that Mitt Romney is very consistent.  He has now asked for Mike Huckabee to apology for stating the obvious.  The Bush foreign policy has been arrogant.  There is no other way to describe it.  Yet, Romney has asked for an apology.

 

 Romney - clueless [1:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Election 2008, Sunday Morning Shows by ecthompson
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Joe Lieberman is a Republican.  Why did he get re-elected?  Someone help me with this?  What happened?  He is endorsing a Republican who wanted us to be Iraq forever, John McCain.  This is no surprise.  If he endorsed Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich, now that would be a surprise.

Tags: Election 2008 by ecthompson
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The Dallas Cowboys were swept by the Philadelphia Eagles last year. The final game was awful if you are a Dallas fan. Remember that Donavon McNabb was out with an injury. Jeff Garcia was the quarterback. The Dallas defense couldn’t get off the field. The Eagles ran for over 200 yards on the ground. Garcia looked like he was back in pro-bowl form. The biggest problem was if the Cowboys wanted to win the division or secure a playoff spot, the Cowboys had to win that game. They looked unprepared. It was awful.

So, the Cowboys must avoid the last year, end of the year syndrome (where the lost far more than they won). They must look sharp. Donavon McNabb is back for the first time in a couple of weeks. He has something to prove. He has to prove that he can still throw the ball accurately, that he can still win in this league and that he is still an elite quarterback. Look for the Eagles to try to get a big lead early because that’s their formula for success this year. The Cowboys must be able to defend the deep ball. As usual, the key to the game is keeping Brian Westbrook under wraps. Watch for the Eagles to use Westbrook as a decoy to get Kevin Curtis open down the field.

The Eagles are a team in disarray. The Cowboys must take advantage of this early. The Cowboys must come out and set the tempo. If they are not able to do this it will be a long afternoon for Cowboy fans. Mixing up the run and the pass will be important to control the clock. We need to limit the number of opportunities that the Eagle offense has to score. At the same time we have to feed the beast this week. Terrell Owens only had 4 catches last week and no touchdowns. He will pout if he doesn’t get the ball. We don’t need that.

The Cowboys need to take care of business. We need to put a 5 - 8 team away early. I want to see Romo and Whitten sitting on the side lines laughing in the 4th quarter.

 

 Dallas - Philly preview [2:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Sports by ecthompson
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