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gotham city without the matrix? (no, not that matrix, the multistate anti-terrorism information exchange) how will we ever catch the joker now?
interesting news from the ap wire…
“New York has dropped out of a multistate crime database program”
straight from the state department
it’s a long read, and i barely scratched the surface, but i do think it’s time to include the united states in the analysis.
Because the promotion of human rights is an important national interest, the United States seeks to:
* Hold governments accountable to their obligations under universal human rights norms and international human rights instruments;
* Promote greater respect for human rights, including freedom from torture, freedom of expression, press freedom, women’s rights, children’s rights, and the protection of minorities;
* Promote the rule of law, seek accountability, and change cultures of impunity;
* Assist efforts to reform and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Commission on Human Rights; and
* Coordinate human rights activities with important allies, including the EU, and regional organizations.
free speech zones, detention without due process and that whole government accountability thing are right up there on my list of things i’d like to see laid open….
the dallas observer reports the story of a tsa (transportation security administration) employee that isn’t what the tsa thought he was.
at least they didn’t accuse him of being a fish.
[ via boing boing ]
just a tiny little blip in the news machine, but apparently 5 people were convicted recently of violating the crawford texas protest ordinance that requires a 7 (was 15) day waiting period and $25 fee to get a permit.
“It’s an overall picture of the complacency of our nation and how the president has this sort of no-protest zone around him at all times, ” said Amanda Jack, 23, of Austin, one of the quintet. “It’s completely absurd that you can’t even get near the people’s president. You can’t even petition your own government representative.”
briefly covered by a national wire service: 5 Convicted of Violating Protest Ordinance [ap wire via waco tribune]
more on the bush administration designated free-speech zones. busses were a big deal in the reverend doctor martin luther king’s life, and on the 75th anniversary of his birth, protesters and dissent is hidden from president bush by the buses.
new york times, Protesters Chant and Boo as Bush Honors Dr. KingMr. Bush was met by hundreds of demonstrators when he arrived at The King Center to mark the 75th anniversary of Dr. King’s birth. He was shielded from their view by a row of transit-authority buses with police officers in riot gear atop them, according to the pool reporter who accompanied the president into the center.
let’s not upset our fragile president.
i’m sure king appreciates the wreath, but it would be more meaningful if an administration policy or two supported king’s work.
new york times, Protesters Chant and Boo as Bush Honors Dr. KingHe also made an appearance at a predominantly black church in New Orleans and held two fund-raisers, one in New Orleans and one in Atlanta, which brought in $2.3 million for his re-election campaign.
but it was worth the trip, eh?
for all my lightness and the glancing blows i take at serious subjects here, once in a while you just have to ask the important questions. ross is. i am.
Is it simply that now that our rights have been taken away we don’t feel like fighting for them?
ap wire Court Tosses Suit Vs. Barbie Lampooner“Mattel cannot use trademark laws to censor all parodies or satires which use its name, ” Judge Harry Pregerson wrote for the three-judge panel.
so, feel free to blend your barbie or whatever else makes you happy.
with a little prompting from betsy devine, i’m moving this to the front of the line….
a few days ago, the san antonio current (yes, virginia, that’s in texas) ran a story [included below when the link dies] on bush’s saturday signature of a bill.
the new modus operandi for the republican-controlled senate appears to be the magic of the unaccountable voice vote. we saw this not too long ago with the supplemental appropriation for iraq (and afghanistan).
ashcroft has demonstrated that he is willing to be amazingly creative and flexible when it comes to the law. john ashcroft apparently serves a higher calling – much higher than the law – ashcroft has taken it upon himself to save us from ourselves, and won’t let any annoying laws or constitutional provisions get in his way.
get this man away from my laws.
(more…)
in a 2-to-1 decision, the us court of appeals for the 2nd circuit in new york ordered that jose padilla be released from military custody. perhaps less reported, but more interesting to me, even the dissenting judge in this case agreed that padilla must have access to counsel.
“Let’s remember,” [White House press secretary Scott] McClellan said, “we’re talking about an individual who was involved in seeking to do harm to the American people. And the president has repeatedly said that his most solemn obligation . . . is to protect the American people.”
let us also remember, that we are talking about an individual who is guaranteed the protection of law, and is, in matters of law, innocent until proven guilty. then consider the potential bias introduced into legal proceedings when the white house press secretary affirms the guilt of a suspect in public statements. nothing new in this administration, ashcroft set the precedent.
also yesterday, and also a 2-to-1 decision, the us court of appeals for the 9th circuit in san francisco ruled that detainees held as enemy combatants at guantanamo bay also get lawyers and fall under the jurisdiction of us courts.
both, of course, will be appealed by the bush administration, and both are being spun by the white house as bad decisions. i hope the next round results in a more dramatic rebuke, but my observation of the supreme court of late suggests that is unlikely. for now, anyway, there’s a little life left in the old constitution…
14th amendment to the united states constitution, 1868 (emphasis mine)No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
once upon a time (in 2000), attorney general john ashcroft thought he’d make a good president. the federal election commission has fined [washington post, some demographics may be requested] his campaign for illegally accepting $110, 000. that the fine is only $37,000 (it helps to have friends decide your penalties) and there’s definitely some follow-up coming, but what we have here is a disregard for election law that even the republican half of the federal election commission couldn’t make go away.
strike two is in the form of a statement [also the post, same deal] from u.s. district judge gerald rosen, criticizing ashcroft for violating his order to avoid comment on a pending terrorism trial. ashcroft seems to have decided that talking about convicting terrorists is more important than functional legal proceedings, and in so doing jeopardized the trial (which may have “let the terrorists go”!).
there’s more to both stories, but they’re getting good coverage – i encourage you to develop your own perspective. myself, i’m left with the same request i’ve for so many years now:
please, someone. get this man away from my laws.
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