Eric Holder Must Act Fast

Hello Papamoka Bloggers - I am very excited that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) finally dropped his opposition and voted to nominate Eric Holder as our next Attorney General. He should be confirmed very soon.

This is a great day for America. The abused and abusive Justice Department will finally have a new boss to clean house. Not only is Eric Holder considered a highly respected constitutional expert, he will be the first African-American attorney general.

Of course, there were two Republican malcontents who voted against Holder: John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. Cornyn criticized Holder's role in "controversial pardons" during the Clinton years, despite the fact that Holder apologized for not properly vetting Marc Rich and expressed deep regret over the mistake.

Both Senators question whether Holder will "protect intelligence agents who participated in harsh interrogations," the Associated Press notes. "Harsh interrogations?" That's nothing but Republican political-marketing-speak for TORTURE! Republicans are good at lying that way.

I'm sorry Senators, but that's a ridiculous assertion. Whether military or intelligence, "following orders" is not a sufficient defense. People should not be "protected" from breaking the law. Mr. Holder, the majority of Americans want major crimes under the Bush Administration investigated, so please do your job.

Senators Cornyn and Coburn, like so many of their associates on Capitol Hill, turned a blind-eye to Bush's "harsh interrogations" and lawbreaking, and are now partly responsible for US domestic and international lawbreaking. Unlike Bush who - at least - admitted to breaking the law, on issues like torture and eavesdropping, they hid and hoped to avoid the problem. They were cowards, and they were wrong.

The Justice Department should investigate whenever possible, and even if we don't get convictions, for whatever reason, at the very least expose exactly what despicable things happened over the past eight years. Even the lesser crimes need some kind of South African-style Truth and Reconciliation Committee to find the truth. We Americans need to know who broke the law, and why, and make sure that it never happens again.

Anyway, I'm just happy things may begin to change. I, like so many Americans, will be watching to see if Eric Holder restores American justice. In the same way evangelicals cherry-pick bible scripture, Republicans cherry-pick the US Constitution. That Republican BS approach to American justice must change. President Obama and Eric Holder must WORK FAST to restore equal justice under law, and the US Constitution.

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog

PS - The BAD NEWS is that the conservative Washington Times is reporting that Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond, a Republican from Missouri and the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in an interview that he will support Eric Holder's nomination for Attorney General because Holder assured him privately that Mr. Obama's Justice Department will NOT prosecute former Bush officials involved in the interrogations program." That makes me VERY NERVOUS, and it better be WRONG! Please join me in writing President Obama and Eric Holder to DEMAND REAL JUSTICE, NOT Republican justice! Thanks!

American Fear

Hello Bloggers - As many of you already know, I've been on the "Save American Justice" bandwagon lately hoping for leading Democrats and Obama to take a strong position against the Bush lawbreakers since the inauguration. Unfortunately, I may be giving up on convincing our Republican friends based on numerous recent debates.

To be blunt, I'm having trouble meeting ANY Republicans - yes, I mean ANY - that are willing to admit that Bush went too far. They always defend Bush as honest at first, but when pressed with the facts they always turn to a "laws and the Constitution be damned" response. The "he kept us safe" and "that's all that matters" argument always prevails. Many finish with "the ends justify the means" even if they don't always realize they're saying it.

No matter what I say to them, our nation's founding principles of justice, humanity, and fair play during wartime mean very little to today's frightened Republican minority. They are completely uninterested in fair play these days. They seem almost brainwashed.

Our nation's "rules of engagement" have been pretty much the same since George Washington fought the British. Our founding father was a great example of fair play, despite the atrocities committed at that time. A few Americans have been charged with war crimes during past wars, but so far America has been considered a role model on how to act during times of crisis. American presidents have been pretty great leaders, representing our higher ideals during conflict, by and large.

America helped create the international conventions that guide civilized modern conflict. We always fought to protect civilians and war prisoners on all sides for decades. We didn't waiver on our principles in the past despite enemy atrocities and crimes. We always took the high road, hoping to serve as a good example of what is right in the world. Until Bush and his sheep-like Republicans, we were a shining example of good in the world - that "shining city on a hill" that Reagan liked so much.

The Republicans I've been talking to recently all seem willing to do "whatever it takes" to keep us safe. They all seem unconcerned with past rules of engagement. They seem to feel that "everything has changed in the world." I'm sure our forefathers would disagree with them if they could share some of their horror stories. I don't care what you say, but this nation has faced horrible enemies for over two centuries, and I'm sure we can handle a few thousand religious, pirate-like zealots, without abandoning our principles.

Bush and Cheney somehow brainwashed a large part of America into profoundly changing their national mindset. "9/11 changed everything" is a phrase they use far too often, and one that should be eliminated from our national debate. Their "war on terror" is also counterproductive.

The conservatives I've debated seem perfectly comfortable with the idea of torture ("on Americans if necessary" was said), eavesdropping ("on AMERICANS too" was mentioned), open-ended suspension of habeus corpus, soldiers on our streets, detention camps, neighborhood informants, private armies, and even genocide against those who they say "threaten our existence." It's very black and white with them. There is a rancid, ugly fear out there today, and it's mostly coming from Republicans. Let's hope our democracy holds; a potential dictator could have a field-day with today's Republican minority.

Bush, Cheney and the irresponsible right-wing media have helped turn a large chunk of Americans into pathetic, frightened cowards. Yes, if that applies to you, that's what I consider you - a COWARD! Yes, I said it, a COWARD!

That's what I've been calling my Republican friends who espouse undermining our national principles out of fear. You see, I would rather we risk our lives, and remain brave Americans, than sacrifice the best of what this nation is about - justice and human decency - out of fear. YES, I said it, and I mean it. OUR LIVES, ALL OUR LIVES, EVEN YOURS! For God's sake Republicans, grow a pair! Trust me, I'll feel the same way if we're attacked again. Being attacked will change NOTHING! NOTHING!

Just like our soldiers, we need to stand-up for what we believe in. Our nation needs to be an example for good in this world. No matter how bad they get, we need to stay above it. We need to always treat our enemies as human beings. Justice should not be sacrificed at the alter of fear. I will never stop fighting to preserve our national honor and system of justice. We need to fight to remain a just and honorable nation.

Michael Boh

Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor

from Our Rants & Raves Blog

Catching Criminals is Important Too Mr. President

Hello Papamoka Bloggers - It's only the first week, and I don't wish to be negative, but so far President Obama seems lukewarm on Bush crimes. It's early, but I'm still nervous. He signed impressive executive orders restoring transparency and ethics, and ordering Guantanamo Bay closed and ending torture, but going after Bush crimes and Justice Department priorities are still a mystery.

Republicans are still trying to cover their tracks. Many believe Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) is delaying the confirmation of Attorney General nominee Eric Holder by one week to delay him from going after Bush, Cheney et al on wiretapping. They may be trying to make a deal. Other Republicans are threatening to withdraw their support on the stimulus bill and other legislation if the Administration moves against Bush. So far there's a lot of smoke, but the fire is missing.

The biggest crime is about to expire, and Obama knows it. George Bush reauthorized the illegal wiretapping himself because Colmey stopped the hospitalized John Ashcroft from signing the paperwork. Remember, Colmey criticized Gonzales for trying to force him in front of that congressional committee. Well, that bit of lawbreaking is about to expire - the statute of limitations runs out in March. We need Obama and his Justice Department to act soon .

Whistleblowing on the day Obama took office has revealed the extent of the wiretapping. The NSA spied on all Americans, including journalists and politicians. George Bush probably benefited from knowledge learned through wiretaps. It's probably one reason why he always seemed to have inside information. His Administration, especially Rove and Cheney, were a little too good at exploiting weakness; it's obvious now they had an edge. If they did it, it represents a string of felonies and it should NOT BE IGNORED! Obama must act!

I find the whole justice debate mind-blowing. Evidence of Bush lawbreaking is extensive, yet the majority of Republicans still defend him. They impeached Bill Clinton over perjury, yet fail to criticize Bush over anything. They act as if he's above the law. They call anyone who questions him an "extremist." They always describe him as a "good guy" who "did his best" during very "difficult times." They describe him as a "decent man" who "tried to do the right thing" but fell short. It's extraordinary listening to them.

My Republican friends and family won't even question his past actions. They're almost "sheep-like" in their reverence for the man. They say "he kept us safe" as though nothing else matters. It's obvious to me now that objectivity, self-awareness and reflection are not strong Republican personality traits.

It's obvious there's a double-standard in the country today, but I can't figure out why. Is it party loyalty? It's very strange. We threw Nixon out of office, and he was a Republican, so why not question Bush? Do we need White House tapes? What do they need? Ordinary Americans appear almost brainwashed. They scream about Blago, and call for investigations and justice against Democrats on a regular basis, yet rarely question their own actions. It's amazing to watch.

Even journalists seem to ignore the severity of the Bush crimes. Dismissing FOX "News," correspondents on corporate news networks like CNN and MSNBC these days talk about how "difficult it would be to prosecute" and how "most in Washington are looking ahead." Except for a few like Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, they talk as if enforcing the law [for politicians] is optional. I often walk away from the news dumbfounded that our nation has become so selective in the way it views justice.

So, ask yourself what will happen if nothing happens? I'll tell you! Average Americans will begin to question the fairness of justice, and start to see unequal justice. "Why care if they don't" will be asked everywhere? It will mean a slow and steady erosion of respect for the legal system. Is that wise? It may not be obvious right away, but it will begin to surface in courtrooms across America over time. Do you really want to take that risk Mr. President?

The Obama Administration may be playing political gamesmanship, knowing something we don't know. We can only hope they're doing the right thing, because inaction would be a disaster for the future of the nation. A majority of the country knows that Bush lawbreaking was extensive, and ignoring it would set a dangerous precedent for future presidents - both Republican and Democrat. American justice should be more important than political expediency. Catching criminals is important too Mr. President, so please act soon.

Michael Boh
Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor
from Our Rants & Raves Blog

WHAT AN AMIGO THEY HAVE IN GEORGIE

Picture courtesy of the Supreme Court

BY MICHAEL LINN JONES

Bush, Texas at odds over death case reads the headline of this AP article by Mark Sherman.

WASHINGTON - To put it bluntly, Texas wants President Bush to get out of the way of the state's plan to execute a Mexican for the brutal killing of two teenage girls.

Bush, who presided over 152 executions as governor of Texas, wants to halt the execution of Jose Ernesto Medellin in what has become a confusing test of presidential power that the Supreme Court, which hears the case this week, ultimately will sort out.

The president wants to enforce a decision by the International Court of Justice that found the convictions of Medellin and 50 other Mexican-born prisoners violated their rights to legal help as outlined in the 1963 Vienna Convention.

That is the same court Bush has since said he plans to ignore if it makes similar decisions affecting state criminal laws.

"The president does not agree with the ICJ's interpretation of the Vienna Convention," the administration said in arguments filed with the court. This time, though, the U.S. agreed to abide by the international court's decision because ignoring it would harm American interests abroad, the government said.

I then came across High Court Case Pits Texas Against Bush and International Court of Justiceby Randy Hall of CNSNEWS.COM. There is a little more detail which helps illustrate why this latest action by "The Decider" is so disconcerting.

However, Ilya Shapiro, senior fellow in constitutional studies at the libertarian Cato Institute, told Cybercast News Service on Monday that the case is intriguing for legal scholars, because it deals with the law on both international and federal levels.

Rulings from the ICJ "are not self-executing," he said, and depend on local and national governments to enforce them.

As a result, the case may turn on the "swing vote" often being cast by Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy and whether he wants the U.S. and the Supreme Court to be thought of highly in other countries. "After all," Shapiro said, "his decision might only result in one more hearing" for Medellin and the other Mexicans facing a death sentence in the U.S.

Nevertheless, Shapiro said that "not only is this a case of federal leaders trying to commandeer state government," it is also an example of "the executive branch trying to tell the judicial branch what to do."

"Ultimately, the ruling should go against the president," he added.

Let us hope so. It is established fact that two teenage girls were kidnapped, repeatedly raped, and then murdered in the most brutal manner. The perpetrators were tried and convicted. Most were sentenced to death as per Texas law. Two had their sentences commuted to life because they were not yet 18 at the time of the crime. Jose Medillin, however, confessed; was convicted, and after 4 years on death row discovered how "Mexican" he was.

There are three avenues being traveled here.

One, exactly how sovereign is the United States if a state's criminal justice system, including its judiciary, is to be determined by a foreign court?

Two, what is an equal protection clause when a foreigner, upon illegally entering the United States commits a crime, and then is entitled to consular assistance IN ADDITION TO the constitutional process guaranteed everyone else?

Three, how intelligent, or dangerous is it for a president to hold the power of dictating to states?

This time, though, the U.S. agreed to abide by the international court's decision because ignoring it would harm American interests abroad, the government said.

"This time, though"..????? Just what the hell does THAT mean? I don't recall reading anything about the inmates at Guantanamo having consular officers assisting them. Nor do I remember anything about consular officers assisting anyone taken to the secret prisons. The Bush administrations reaction to any International Court of Justice condemnation of said programs can be condensed to a simple "kiss off."

The first two questions will be dealt with by lawyers. Their decisions will affect us all but there isn't much we can do, as our "representatives" oversee the installment of the judges who make the final call.

Yet what difference does it make if we have a president who has stuffed Congress into a closet, shredded the Constitution, and declared himself the ONLY one with true decision-making powers? George W. Bush is not concerned with any international court. Nor is he concerned with any domestic court, or state court, or state government. No, he is concerned with placating, once again, the mafiosi who call themselves the Mexican government.

Bear in mind that the Mexican government sued the United States over the treatment of Jose Medillin and 53 other (now, all of the sudden) Mexican citizens on death row.

I believe it was current Mexican President Felipe Calderon who said, “I have said that Mexico does not stop at its border, that wherever there is a Mexican, there is Mexico,” he said. “And, for this reason, the government action on behalf of our countrymen is guided by principles, for the defense and protection of their rights.”

And so also is Mexican justice. Yet what is forgotten in all this are the graves of two teenage girls who were brutally raped, brutally murdered, their bodies left like trash until discovered four days later.

What an inconsiderate inconvenience when the dead cry out for justice from their government. THEIR government, not someone else's.

Technorati Tags:
Supreme Court, SCOTUS, Illegal Immigration, Murder, Texas, Death Penalty, Electric Chair, Bush, Kennedy, Scalia, Breyer, Souter, Bader, Roberts, Efrain Perez, Raul Villarreal, Murdered Teenagers, Rape, Child Rape, Prisoners, Death Row, Mexico, Mexican Government, International Treaties

Bush adds Rove to Untouchables List

Picture courtesy of the White House

Well it looks like lady justice took her blinder off and wiped her back side with it. At least that is the way President Bush interprets executive privilege. Ummm, Houston we have a serious problem here.

Karl Rove has a note from his mom… I mean the President to not appear before the Congressional investigation of the dirty dealings and firing of the nine U.S. Attorneys.

Karl Rove's Immunity

By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Thursday, August 2, 2007; 1:24 PM

The presidential aide who acts with such impunity now has the ultimate protection: absolute immunity from congressional oversight, at least in the judgment of White House Counsel Fred Fielding.

White House political mastermind Karl Rove had been subpoenaed to testify this morning before the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of the investigation into last year's still-unexplained firings of nine U.S. attorneys.

No one actually expected Rove to show up. But Fielding's assertion of executive privilege yesterday to block his testimony was nevertheless surprising in its breadth.

From Fielding's letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy: "Based upon the advice of the Department of Justice, the President . . . has requested that I advise and inform you that Mr. Rove, as an immediate presidential advisor, is immune from compelled congressional testimony about matters that arose during his tenure and that relate to his official duties in that capacity. Accordingly, Mr. Rove is not required to appear in response to the Judiciary Committee subpoena to testify about such matters, and he has been directed not to appear." - Washington Post

I’m guessing that Karl Rove could steal candy from a baby and the President would insert executive privilege to save his sorry ass. This is just so wrong it simply is not even funny… unless you are Karl Rove. Bush is tossing executive privilege around like snow flakes in a blizzard. For the record, the postal worker delivering mail to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is now covered in executive privilege stamps. Just in case good old Karl happened to have his unmentionable magazine subscriptions mailed to his place of work.

Just an after thought to all of these proceedings is that the Congress is doing nothing to stop the President from tossing the very simplistic vagueness of executive privilege around like a tennis ball at the US Open. I know Nancy Pelosi doesn’t have the (politically correct terminology for male reproductive genitals) to take on President Bush but Harry Reid damn well does! What are they waiting for? Is the President supposed to tell them its okay to insert the powers of the other two houses of our government?

Something is not right with this big picture and if the Democrats are not willing to go after the President and his Soprano crew then maybe the true Republicans have too. What does it take to make the government work as it was designed to do so when situations like the alleged criminal actions of this administration happen. Didn’t they all swear to defend the Constitution or was that just a common oath or phrase like “pass the salt”? So much for upholding the Constitution. Maybe one of them huge paper companies could recycle it so the President could use it in his executive privilege bathroom.

One thing is sure in all of this is that President Bush has set a very dangerous precedent. Future Presidents will look back to these days and think they are Kings or Queens. As we all know now, the crowns court is without guilt even if you had a video tape showing that the law was clearly broken. Our King and his court do not live by the laws they sign for the rest of us. It is what it is.

So how many book deals do you think Karl Rove will get out of this Presidency? Just something to make you go Hmmm?

Papamoka

Bush Lied, Cheney Lied and Scooter is Free

There is no proof more positive that this President and his crew are absolutely above the law than this move by President Bush. I. Scooter Libby will serve no jail time for crimes committed against the American people and its government because Bush says so.

Over at the Washington Post they have this to say about our "Does Not Apply to Me" President and his commutation of Scooter Libby for high crimes against America...

President Bush Commutes Libby's Sentence

By Amy Goldstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 2, 2007; 7:28 PM

President Bush today commuted the prison sentence of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, sparing him the 30-month term to which he was sentenced last month for lying to federal investigators about his role in the White House leak of a CIA officer's identity.
Bush took the action just hours after a federal appeals court ruled that Libby was not entitled to remain free while he was appealing his conviction on four felonies. - Washington Post

America is officially up for sale when it comes to justice. Corruption in our government is only one simple coupon away from the Vice President's office.

Impeach Bush! Send him back to Texas or Maine or Levenworth. This is not a President but a corrupt corporate manager that just happens to be renting the White House out. This news only prooves that it is for sale to the highest bidder.

If your blood isn't boiling over this issue no matter what political party you belong to then you are not a person that believes in what the true America is all about. Justice is blind but it is not percieved the same way that it should apply to all in the eyes of this President.

This makes me sick!

So what are you going to do about it other than bitch and moan and reading this post? Calling your State Senator or Congressional Representative is a start! Let them know that this has your blood boiling! Get involved in the damn process and fix the wrong. No man is an island and this President is not a King. Although this President would like to think he is running a Monarchy he is not. Make your calls and do your part as a law abiding American citizen. Then bitch about it to your friends, family and neighbors and tell them to do their part!

Papamoka

Cross posted at Bring IT ON!