Tell Harry Reid to block granting telecoms immunity from the spy scandal

It’s heartening to see how Democrats and the American public alike are rallying behind the idea that the major telecom companies should not be immune from prosecution for their role in abetting the NSA’s illegal spying. The common wisdom is that Americans care less about esoteric issues like privacy than those that hit them in [...]

Quotabull

Our purpose is, and has always been, to ensure a civil and safe environment where the many types of campus activities and open discourse can occur.
— University of Florida Police Chief Linda Stump. According to an Oct. 25 Associated Press story: “University of Florida police were justified in using a Taser against a student who [...]

The “untouchables” of Virginia

Today’s Washington Post looks at the net result of anti-illegal immigration measures passed in Virginia’s Prince William County last week–an exodus of Latinos (both legal and illegal) from the region:
Diaz, a supermarket checkout clerk, was one of nearly 400 people who waited for hours to comment on the bill during the marathon pre-vote session that [...]

Dodd threatens filibuster of FISA bill

“Why does Harry Reid hate America and freedom?”
That’s the question I was asking myself after S&R reader “Dee Loralei” pointed out in comments to my post yesterday that Senate Majority Leader Reid was planning to move ahead with a vote on the FISA update, even in the face of Dodd’s hold on the bill. [...]

Democrats’ spines turn to jelly on warrantless spying once again–but there’s still hope

It was largely expected, but no less disappointing to wake up this morning and find out that Senate Democrats on the Intelligence Commitee agreed to carry water for the Bush administration by granting retroactive immunity to the telecom companies involved in the NSA’s warrantless wiretapping scandal:
The draft Senate bill has the support of the [...]

Quotabull

Charity is not a health care system.
— Dr. Terry D. Dickinson, executive director of the Virginia Dental Association, defending dentists against critics “who include public health experts, some physicians and even some dental school professors — [who] say that too many dentists are focused more on money than medicine.”
The President feels very strongly that this [...]

Former President George W. Bush: What will he do next?

At noon on January 20, 2009, George W. Bush will become a former president of the United States. Assuming they live, he will join former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and his father in a unique fraternity.
He will be 62. He is a relatively young man in good physical health. He will be capable [...]

USAToday’s match game: All you need to pick a candidate

I feel sorry for those folks who cannot decide which presidential candidate to vote for when the time comes to pull that lever, poke that chad or touch that screen. Thanks to the infinite wisdom of USAToday — which has done my thinking for me — I now know which candidate righteously deserves my vote.
USAToday’s [...]

Quotabull

We have a responsibility to provide a moral framework for our kids.
— John Arthur Eaves Jr., Democratic candidate for governor in Mississippi, who once “rebuked the Democratic National Committee for leaving Jesus out of an Easter statement” and says he wants a “new day in Mississippi, where our children go to school with voluntary, student-led [...]

Democrats battle Bush–and each other–over telecom immunity for spying

Although this Reuters article does a masterful job of burying the lead (as Denny would say), the fact remains–the House Judiciary Committee refused to grant immunity to telecom companies for illegal spying in their FISA law update
[T]he House Judiciary Committee voted 21-14 to reject an amendment sought by the White House that would shield telecommunications [...]

Will the Democrats sell out America on FISA spy bill vote again?

If Ellen Nakashima’s article in yesterday’s Washington Post is to be believed, the upcoming reassessment of the new FISA law is going to be even worse than what was originally passed:
House Democrats plan to introduce a bill this week that would let a secret court issue one-year “umbrella” warrants to allow the government to intercept [...]

Infrastructure? A problem? Your politicians are on it

On Aug. 2, the day after the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River near downtown Minneapolis collapsed, Sen. Chris Dodd, a presidential candidate, told his fellow senators:
Fixing our Nation’s crumbling infrastructure is an issue that cannot be neglected or deferred any further. This demands our immediate attention and commitment in the Senate. The quality [...]

Quotabull

Today, a megayacht is indispensable. It’s not like 15 years ago, when a yacht was a luxury item.
— Olivier Milliex, head of yacht finance at the Dutch bank ING, on the occasion of this year’s Monaco yacht show.
At the moment, there is a definite war being waged in fashion, a move by a handful [...]

Candidates: Just send me a check next November

The political money keeps on flowing.
Hillary says she raised $27 million in the last three months and proclaims impending victory. Barack says he’s still on top overall and adding another $20 million to his total. John (the Dem) says he got $7 million. Others aren’t talking — yet — but Federal Election Commission totals* will [...]

Quotabull

WOLF BLITZER: In the Gallup poll, the last one, only 24 percent of the American public thinks Congress is doing a good job.
Rep. NANCY PELOSI: Well, to tell you the truth, I don’t approve of the way Congress is ending the war in Iraq myself. And that’s because of the 60-vote barrier in the United [...]