Deep Something

War Powers

August 27, 2008 B. John 335 Views 0 Comments James Madison, Christian Science Monitor, Mickey Edwards, David Skaggs, Baker-Christopher commission, War Powers Act

I am certain I have previously discussed the idea that the President of the United States does NOT have the power to take the United States to war. That authority was reserved expressly for the Congress by the founders of this country. The Constitution is quite clear on this point, but that authority has been usurped by several Presidents in their over-reach. I usually find it best to defer to the founders in these matters, and when checking we find that James Madison once observed, “In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not to the executive department… [T]he temptation would be too great for any one man.”

Politics Election

Democratic Ad for N.C. Senate Race

August 26, 2008 B. John 374 Views 1 Comment Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, senate, republican, Kay Hagan, Liddy Dole, Elizabeth Dole, DSCC

Kay Hagan is a Democrat running against Elizabeth Dole for a U.S. Senate seat from North Carolina. After trailing by as much as 14 points, Hagan has now pulled slightly ahead of Dole in a PPP Poll. This gain appears to come largely as a result of an ad being run by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. It is a great ad.

Religion Science Right Wingnuts Featured Politics Election Presidency

The Price Paid for Power

August 21, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 448 Views 0 Comments torture, Dick Cheney, Mother Teresa, War crimes, Enhanced Interrogation, John McCain, Cindy McCain, george bush

John McCain’s military service deserves the thanks and respect of the American people, especially given his time spent as a POW in Vietnam. However, the over-use of this status for political gain becomes laughable after a while. It seems to be used to explain everything. Problem is, according to George Bush and the Military Commisions Act voted for by McCain, the techniques used on McCain while a POW are merely, “enhanced interrogation techniques.” Who wouldda thunk it?

Politics Election Presidency Religion Science Right Wingnuts

Now How Does Dobson Handle This One

August 21, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 380 Views 1 Comment focus on the family, james dobson, John McCain

It’s all that uncommon for me to, as my grandfather might say, let my mouth overload my ass. By that he meant saying things I’d regret later on. While I seem to have a knack for it, James Dobson seems to have perfected the art. To wit, his comments about John McCain from 2000.

Featured Politics Congress Constitution Presidency

Justice Department Continues the Assault on Justice

August 20, 2008 B. John 397 Views 0 Comments Attorney General, FBI, senate, Michael Mukasey, Attorney General Guidelines, Senators

Most likely it will come as no surprise that the Bush Administration’s Justice Department continues it’s assault on freedom and the Constitution. According to a report in the Washington Post, the Justice Department is about to issue guidelines for starting FBI investigations that a number of U.S. Senators believe could lead to innocent Americans being spied upon by government agents or informants, “all without any basis for suspicion.”

Featured Politics Election

Trading Places-The Karl Rove Wager

August 15, 2008 B. John 366 Views 0 Comments george bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Dan Akroyd, Trading Places, Eddie Murphy

Back in the early ’80s, a movie was released staring Dan Akroyd and Richard Prior called Trading Places. Two characters in the movie, Mortimer and Randolph Duke (played by Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche) are wealthy commodity brokers who argue constantly over social issues, and enjoy a small wager from time to time. The $5 wager between the Mortimer brothers is that if they put the Pryor character into the right situation, he’ll rise to his new circumstances, and behave like a well-bread, educated wealthy person. On the flip side, if Winthrope has all the trappings of wealth and influence removed from him, he’ll quickly resort to a life of crime and scamming. In the end, the joke was on the Duke brothers, as Winthrope and Valentine came together to not only financial destroy the Dukes, but become rich themselves. I think Karl Rove made a similar bet some years back.

Politics Election

John Edwards Blows It

August 10, 2008 B. John 381 Views 1 Comment John Edwards, Extramarital Affair, John McCain, Rielle Hunter

It seems that the tabloid National Enquirer has a knack for catching wandering politicians, and they’ve nabbed another now…my favorite recent presidential candidate, John Edwards. It appears that back in 2006 Edwards had an affair with Rielle Hunter, a lady hired to produce campaign films for the Edwards campaign.

Politics Congress Election Corruption

Election Roundup for 08-07-2008

August 7, 2008 B. John 361 Views 0 Comments FEC, Federal Elections Commission, republicans, george bush, Dick Cheney, Democrats, Barack Obama, John McCain, Political Fundraising

I thought I’d consider a single post to provide my observations on the election shenanigans for this first full week in August.

Politics Legislature Society Gay Issues

Florida State Legislator-The Law Is Supposed To Discriminate

August 6, 2008 B. John 369 Views 0 Comments gay, discrimination, homophobia, Florida Legislature, Darryl Rouson, African-American, Lesbian, Gay Adoption

Well, it seems that African-American Florida House Representative Darryl Rouson has some pretty nasty things to say about Gay and Lesbian people.

War Society Crime Politics Congress Presidency

The Anthrax Questions

August 3, 2008 B. John 498 Views 0 Comments 9/11, Gleen Greenwald, Salon, Bruce Ivins, Anthrax, Tom Daschle, Iraq, Pat Leahy, War, Dick Cheney, PATRIOT Act, False Flag

Glenn Greenwald has an excellent article up at Salon.com discussing the unresolved issues around the 2001 anthrax incident. As everyone knows Bruce Ivins committed suicide earlier this week as a Grand Jury prepared to indict him in connection with the anthrax incident. Ivins had been a top anthrax researcher at a U.S. Government research facility for 18 years. So seven years after the incident, and after having to pay a settlement to one falsely accused researcher, we’re to believe the government had an airtight case against Ivins witnessed by his apparent suicide.

Politics Congress

Cathy Castor Telephone Townhall

July 31, 2008 B. John 222 Views House of Representatives, Cathy Castor, Townhall Meeting

Yesterday I received an automated call announcing a telephone town hall meeting with Congresswoman Castor. I was told the call would come between 6:30 and 7:00 pm.