David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Wednesday July 9, 2008
The United States Senate is about to vote on a FISA bill that would not only expand the president's powers of surveillance over American citizens but would also forestall civil suits against the telecoms that illegally participated in past surveillance.
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, substituting for Keith Olbermann on Countdown, expressed
The Supreme Court of the United States was not the only Supreme Court to recently rule on some interesting cases. Before taking summer recess the Supreme Court of Canada decided the constitutionality of a communal fishing license issued to aboriginal fishers in R. v. Kapp, 2008 SCC 41.
The Canadian government implemented an affirmative action [...]
Those who question the existence of dangerous liberal hypocrisy need only consider two major issues of the day to be disabused of all such doubt.
Consider please: Liberals oppose the right of Americans to keep and bear arms, and do so allegedly out of concern for human life and safety. However, those same liberals are
The Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colleyville church Friday saying that church members involved in a traumatic exorcism that ultimately injured a young woman is protected by the First Amendment.In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that the Pleasant Glade Assembly of God’s efforts to cast out demons from the Laura Schubert presents an ecclesiastical dispute over religious conduct that wou
(Note: I asked Coleen Rowley for her first impressions on yesterday's Supreme Court decision regarding the Guantanamo detainees. Her response follows...)by Coleen RowleyAs happy as we should be about the restoration of the right of Habeas Corpus, we need to remember that the Military Commissions Act has another terrible consequence that is still in need of being corrected. As a result of Cheney
On days like today it is hard to sit down and type. On days like today my heart really isn’t in it, but I am going to try. I have no choice, I feel as though I must type, because days like today are the most important days to type. So here goes.
Today is the [...]
Democratic nations invariably confront moments in their history when core principles of government emerge to separate political parties. The recent decision by Turkey’s Constitutional Court to declare illegal recent legislation passed by the Justice and Development Party(AKP) that would allow females to wear a headscarf in universities has ripped asunder normal political relations between op
Bloggers are raising questions about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's qualifications to be U.S. president, because of the secrecy over his birth certificate and the requirement presidents be "natural-born" U.S. citizens.Jim Geraghty cited the "unlikely" rumor that Obama was born not within the United States, but possibly in Kenya.
A top adviser to Senator John McCain says McCain believes that President George W. Bush's program of wiretapping without warrants was lawful, a position that appears to bring him into closer alignment with the sweeping theories of executive authority pushed by the Bush administration legal team.read more | digg story
The theme of this post is the often difficult relationship between citizenship and human rights. This relationship is difficult because human rights, which are explicitly rights for all people everywhere, without distinctions of any kind, seem to require citizenship, and hence a distinction between groups of somehow differentiated people, for their protection. Without citizenship, it [...]
From the Washington PostD.C. police will stop cars and question drivers along a main thoroughfare of the Trinidad neighborhood starting this Saturday, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said, in an unprecedented effort to stanch a rash of shootings in that part of Northeast Washington. Fenty appeared with D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier and interim Attorney General Peter J. Nickles to announce the new progra
RAIWIND: Federal Minister of Law Farooque H. Naek Sunday said the proposed constitutional package would be tabled in the parliament for debate after consultation with allied parties. Talking to newsmen after meeting with Muslim League-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif at his residence in Raiwind, federal minister of law said that the judges would be restored [...]
Former director of the Educated Media Foundation Manana Aslamazyan has had her appeal against a five year prison sentence for bringing in undeclared money above the legal limit to Russia in January 2007 upheld.She will now face an an administrative case with a maximum possible fine of $100 (US).The Educated Media Foundation has been under investigation by Russian police, and according to Article 1
The Supreme Court of New Jersey recently became one of the first courts in the nation to determine that Internet users have a Constitutional right to privacy under Article I of the New Jersey Constitution. Because of the ruling, a...
LAHORE, May 28: Although the PPP wants President Pervez Musharraf to quit, its immediate objective is to get the constitutional package adopted because reforming the system and state institutions is an important task, according to MNA Farzana Raja.Ms Raja, who is central coordinator of the PPP’s information bureau, said her party wanted to strengthen the democratic system, achieve a balance betw
ISLAMABAD: PML-N central leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that the proposed constitutional package of the PPP government is not an appropriate solution of the problems created as a result of the judicial crisis.He stated this while talking to newsmen after meeting with the Chairman of US Senate Committee on Armed Services and member [...]
Are we coming Back to politics of 90'es? Unexpected policies of peoples elected parties. Where are we going and what could we achieve by so called democratic elected government? Most importanly we should set the priorty first to be address. But we as a nation are completely losted in the wested interest of the world power. we couldnt even understand that it is Allah who gave life and decide the R
Gay Marriage are now constitutional in California, the Supreme Court of California ruled in a 4-to-3 decision to overturn the same sex marriage ban in California on Thursday, May 15, 2008
“In view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship,” Chief Justice Ronald M. George wrote of marriage for the majority, “the California
By: Todd Knode
The Supreme Court earlier this week ruled that executions by lethal injection are not a cruel an unusual punishment, which would be prohibited by the 8th Amendment, partly because it is currently the most humane way to execute a condemned criminal. The plurality opinion concluded that it may be cruel and unusual [...]
Devil's Advocate posted earlier this month about the new Constitutional Amendment against spending. Here is the text of the Amendment and what it means for you if it is passed. Please call your Congressman and tell him or her to support this.
Spending Limit Amendment
“Our government has no power except that granted it by the people. It is time to check and reverse the growth of...
Click the Headline Link to Visit Copious Dissent and Read the Full Story.
Background and justification to Amendment 28
(self-defense/survival measure)
Whereas; Religion is defined as an institution dedicated to improving social conscience and promoting individual and societal spiritual growth in a way that is harmless to others not participating in or practicing the same;
So there I was watching the debate, night before last, between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, which was broadcast from Philadelphia, PA. Honestly, I felt that both candidates did pretty well considering the “shoddy, despicable performances” of moderators Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos.
Hillary was constantly reciting the words, “…like we had in the 90’s,” [...]
Representative Michele Bachmann again is coming out on the side of sanity. She is proposing a Constitutional Amendment to limit wasteful spending in Washington. I am told that it would mirror many of her proposals found within the Taxpayer Bill of Rights back in Minnesota.
Essentially, the amendment would ensure that the growth in government spending should never exceed the growth of our...
Click the Headline Link to Visit Copious Dissent and Read the Full Story.
Warner Todd Huston , a fellow Grizzly Groundsweller, has written an excellent post about the 20 year Constitutional Convention(ConCon)in Illinois' constitution. Inarticle14 ofthe Illinois Constitution, that every 20 years the citizens can call a ConCon to consider chagesto the Illinois...
If one of the many people who think me a snarky bitch, anonymously called up the local police and told them that I, and a guy who has not been in Arizona for thirty years, was holding them captive , even though the evidence is somewhat less than overwhelming, I think it would be a good idea for the police to check out the situation.If when they arrived, they did not find this anonymous person, nor the person who has not been anywhere near here for three decades, but noticed a couple of pregnant teenagers, that should be the end of the matter. After all, pregnant teenagers are not exactly an endangered species.That is precisely what should have happened in Texas with the FLDS. Now I am far from sympathetic to those who abuse children, and I have even argued, much to the distress of my
During the past few years, Turkey has been governed by the Justice and Development Party(AKP) which is based on Islamist principles. The Turkish nation for nearly a hundred years has been committed to secular ideas that derive from its founder, Ataturk. Prime Minister Erdogan and President Gul have aroused controversy by their efforts to end [...]
Joseph Farah makes a great point:
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States [...]
Welcome to this week's Holyrood Herald. In one sense, this is quite an easy Roundup to put together as there has only been one big story, and it's Scotland's place in the Union. Momentum has been gathering on this matter since before the election: when an SNP-led Government looked like a possibility (around the Summer of 2006, after the Moray By-Election which saw the SNP not only hold the seat but increase their share of the vote, aong with the collapse in the Labour vote in a handful of Council By-Elections), pundits began discussing independence in the most serious terms since the 1970s - even the constitutional discussions of the 1990s centred around devolution.
For a few moments I’ve become a fan of Fox, and even Rupert Murdoch. Fox is standing up to the FCC on their ridiculous fines for “indecency” and fighting for the right to broadcast whipped-cream-covered strippers. Freedom of expression is freedom of expression after all. The Washington Post reports:
In an unusually aggressive step, Fox [...]
Magee v. Magee, 32 Fla. L. Weekly 02307 (Fla. 2d DCA September 26, 2007) In a challenge to the constitutionality of Florida’s elective share statutes, the Second District Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling that the statute is...
"Love Will Find A Way (Extended Version)" - Yes
From 1987's, "Big Generator" released on Atlantic Records' owned Atco label. Conflicts between singer Jon Anderson and guitarist Trevor Rabin caused this record to take nearly 2 years to finish. Anderson wanted to bring back the old Yes sound that started the group and Rabin wanted to be more commercial and mainstream. The following year bassist
Malaysia Constitutional Democratic Election by Andrew K H TanComing this March 8 2008The Constitution of Malaysia requires that a general election must be held at least once every five years, Malaysian citizen would be going to cast their votes and carried out their citizen responsibilities and constitutional rights.Malaysian can check their electoral information at Election Commission of Malaysia online with efficient and transparency. linksElection Commission of Malaysia : General Election 2008 News & Result
In this situation, the First Amendment steps in and says, in effect, no, the government may not impose such a sanction – no way, no how. It may not prevent those in the minority from speaking, writing, and...
by Michael Boldin
Recently, the TSA - in an effort to improve their awful public image - launched a blog. Yes, the TSA is “reaching out” to all of us - and it’s not to pat us down without a warrant…this time.
According to a post at ThinkProgress.org, it didn’t kick off too well. In [...]
Let us move on now to Article II, the much shorter piece that deals with the chief executive. The most important thing to note about this article – in terms of current events at least, is the process by which our presidents are elected. The wool is off my eyes now, and I finally understand; my vote truly does not matter. The votes of the Electors (whoever they are), are what decides this race from start to finish. There is not one mention in this document – the legal foundation of our republic - of the people choosing the president, not one. What is telling about this little discussed fact, is the effect that it has had on the vibrancy of our democracy over the last twenty or thirty years. In the popular mind, it is the election of the pres
I am rather ashamed to admit this, but here goes. I had never read the founding document of our nation all the way through until last night. Wait, where is the outrage? The righteous indignation, why do I not sense it pouring out of you through my monitor? Could it be because you have not read it either? No, surely not, but, just for the sake of argument, let us pretend that you have not taken the time to get to know your country’s legal soul, and take a look at it together. Do not be afraid, we’ll just cover some highlights – the rest you can read on your own. This is not meant to be a definitive read of the document. I am not a legal expert, nor an historian of the Federalist Papers. I am simply a citizen, reading and interpreting the Co
Almost everyone agrees we have to do something about our energy problem. Even those Republicans who, for some unknown reason, believe that Big Oil is their friend, are beginning to realize there is a problem, when they have to give up their first born child for a full tank, see suicide bombers on the news, and endure the threats of Petro-megalomaniacs.Al Gore is advocating a power to the people approach. He is hoping to stir people from around the world to arise and force their leaders to go Green. But buying that soy candle and stuffing the Christmas stocking with carbon credits, is not going to do shit. And more marches on Washington—yawn.I think we can all agree that hippy-dippy power is not the answer.But it is probably as realistic, and certainly less expensive, than the ideas circulating around the halls of Congress.One thing Congress used to really like was ethanol. The politicians got to pass out some big subsidies to agribusiness. And this is a requirement to get votes i
When attempting to respond to extreme forms of religious idiocy, I often feel as if I am attempting to empty the oceans with a spoon. Well, it is time to again visit Kentucky for some more snake-handling fun!It seems that a Kentucky couple is suing a foster-care agency after the agency revoked their foster-care license for refusing to steer clear of snake-handling religious services. The couple claims that they have never taken their foster children to the services but refuse to say whether they have handled snakes themselves. Now they are alleging that the foster-care agency has violated their Constitutional freedom to practice their religion after taking back their foster children and revoking their license. I certainly hope a foster-care agency has the right to screen potential foster parents for serious mental illness and to respond accordingly when a mentally ill couple demonstrate the dangerous nature of their delusion.Tags: religion, Constitution, snake-handling, Christianity, c
Venezuela says no to dictatorship;President Hugo Chavez suffered a stinging defeat Monday in a vote on constitutional changes that would have let him run for re-election indefinitely and solidify his bid to transform this major U.S. oil provider into a socialist state.The changes would have created new forms of communal property, let Chavez handpick local leaders under a redrawn political map, permit civil liberties to be suspended under extended states of emergency and allow Chavez to seek re-election indefinitely. Now, Chavez will be barred from running again in 2012. Other changes would have shortened the workday from eight hours to six, created a social security fund for millions of informal laborers and promoted communal councils where residents decide how to spend government funds. The reforms also would have granted Chavez control over the Central Bank and extended presidential terms from six to seven years.Chavez Loses Constitutional Vote - TIME
The following article was submitted to me from a reader in Arizona after he saw some of my statements over in the Jihad Watch comments sections concerning my dedication to the notion of amending the U.S. Constitution and, more specifically, the First Amendment. This is a subject I first discussed in any real detail in an article titled: The Threat Worse than Islamic Terrorism.
Before anyone reacts from the gut on this, read this proposal carefully. This in no way strips anyone of religious freedoms that actually follows a peaceful religion, but Islam itself does not fit into this category and must be opposed. This idea, along with my other proposal of boycott, can do much to stop the Islamic Glacier and Sharia Creep.
The following words were first posted over at Pedestrian Infidel, but since the author has found it very difficult to have these ideas reposted on other blogs, I’ll do my part today. I was impressed by the structure of this article, it being so close to my ow
Succession ban would prevent handing down of elected, appointed offices from one family member to another. About time. Why should a family member get to take the place of a dead politician? That's just stupid.read more | digg story
It's 'King's Prerogative'The extension of the chief justice's tenure is the prerogative of the king, lawyer and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh said yesterday.He said a phrase in Article 125(1) of the Federal Constitution stated that a judge shall hold office until he attained the age of 66 and a further six months "as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may approve" should be read together with Article 40(2).Karpal said it was the king alone who had the discretion on whether to extend Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim's tenure after he turns 66 on Nov 1."The king may consult the prime minister, but it is purely consultation and nothing else," he said.Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said on Tuesday that the king had to act on the prime minister's advice in the extension of the term.Ahmad Fairuz had applied to the king in July for a six-month extension, but with less than two weeks to go before retirement, he has not received a letter to allow him to rema
“Ninety” Appeals To Gov’t:
By Candia Dames -
Nassau, Bahamas:
In a letter to the media delivered on Monday, accused drug kingpin Samuel "Ninety" Knowles appealed to the Bahamian government to protect his constitutional rights, but stopped short of asking for an outright push by officials to have him returned to The Bahamas.
"I am asking for the lawful Bahamian government to provide me with the assistance, concern and intervention that is due to all Bahamians under the mighty and upright constitutional law of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, as well as also under all the international treaties that The Bahamas [has] with all respected countries," Knowles says in the letter, which was sent in care of his attorney, Roger Minnis.
Mr. Minnis’ office confirmed Monday afternoon that the letter, which was typewritten and signed "Samuel Knowles", was authentic.
After fighting extradition for six years, Knowles was flown to the United in August 2006 to face drug-related charges.
Kno
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics Podcast, whose web site is MyHistoryCanBeatUpYourPolitics.com, takes a hard look at our history’s past, specifically at the signing of the Constitution and what went on at the Federal Convention. The anniversary of the signing of our Constitution has just recently passed, yet it seems we do not celebrate that day and the people who gave us our rights to free speech, bear arms, etc. Not many people know a lot about how the Constitution was created, nor do they know all the people that were involved. This is an important event in our history and should be something we all remember and pass on.
There is very little celebration of the passing of a date Sept. 17, 2007: the belated Birthday of the Signing of the Constitution.
And the Federal Convention that ended its business on Sept. 17, 1787.
It seems unfortunate, since we should be celebrating the people who gave us right to speech, right to assemble, right to bear arms, etc.
Except they didn&
Guest Commentary by Rep. Ron Paul
Recently, the General Accounting Office studied nineteen instances where the President issued so-called “signing statements.” In such statements, the President essentially begins the process of interpreting legislation – up to and including declaring provisions unconstitutional—hence often refusing to enforce them.
The GAO study found that in nearly 1/3 of the cases studied, the administration failed to enforce the law as enacted. This approach is especially worrisome for several reasons.
First, these signing statements tend to move authority from the legislative branch to the executive, thus upsetting our delicate system of checks and balances. Next, these statements grant the President power not given by the Constitution, allowing him to usurp powers of the judicial branch. Finally, the idea of agencies refusing to enforce the law as enacted sets precedent for the type of run away administrative actions our constitution was expressly enac
Patrick Leahy, the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said today that he is ready to go to court if the White House continued to resist subpoenas on documents related to the firing of federal prosecutors.This ratchets up the confrontation looming between the White House and Congress. We will see if the Democrats hold tough (as they should) and force this White House to follow the rule of law.
It’s rather odd that only 20 years after Ronald Reagan called on the communists to “tear down” the Berlin Wall, which initiated the liberation of millions from oppression, that the European Union is slowly resembling anything but a democracy.
(more…)
Well, Starman, normally I respect my employees' rights to privacy, not to mention the obvious civil rights lawsuit I'm gonna be getting, but I'll risk it all for a man dressed up like the sad little tree from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
I have not yet read this entire article, but it seemed like some good reading for the weekend for those of you so inclined. (You can download it via the link provided at that site.)I'll preface this with a definition, from the Free Online Dictionary:lib·er·al a. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.c. Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.Free from bigotry, and tolerant of the ideas and behaviors of others. That is important. Now I'm just going to pull some quotes from this paper by Kimberly Yuracko of the Northwestern University School of Law.For decades political theorists have worried and argued about what steps a liberal society must take to protect children being raised in illiberal communities. They have focused their attention on the extent to whi
Jakarta Gubernatorial candidate, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, acknowledged he could not register as gubernatorial candidate because he was not supported by a political party.“I can't register anymore,” said Sarwono after attending the material review trial of the Regional Governance Decree at the Constitutional Court, today (7/6).Now he is waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Court which is still in the middle of its Regional Governance Decree judicial review.“Because I chose the independent lane,” said Sarwono.
The Michigan Supreme Court is about to decide that question for its 388 public libraries and the decision is bound to have a major impact on those libraries either way the court rules. Up to now, Michigan communities without a public library of their own have negotiated an agreement with a neighboring town that, for a price, allows their citizens to use the libraries located in those towns. This system seems to have worked well enough until one such agreement expired and was not successfully renegotiated, resulting in Bloomfield Hills residents being left without access to any public library.Talks had broken down over what the township could charge Bloomfield Hills for letting all of its nearly 4,000 residents borrow books. The township wanted about $1.4 million over three years, more than double what it charged the city from 2000 to 2003.The township was fed up that its smaller neighbor was paying about $150 per household to use the library when township residents had to pay nearly
There was a call today for a new constitutional convention, but only on a state level. Citizens in Pennsylvania, distraught over a growing number of political scandals, are considering a constitutional convention to radically reshape the government. Interestingly, a former delegate to a previous constitutional convention in Pennsylvania (the state has had five), Bob Butera remarked that the convention could "bring people out of the woodwork who ordinarily wouldn't get their hands dirty in politics, and they will get involved in the making of history."The convention raises a larger and more interesting issue: why not a new constitutional convention for the United States as a whole? There is no indication that the founding fathers ever intended the original Constitution to be the be all and end all of American government. We've had two hundred and twenty years to see what works (separation of powers) and what might need some tweaking (the electoral college). Why not convene a new conve
The original intent of the Constitution of the United States was to limit the power of the central government. The rights of the people were considered God-given and unalienable. We have drifted far from that vision, and some of our founders saw this inevitable slide even in the arguments for the inclusion of the Bill of Rights. The entirety of Federalist Number 84 by Alexander Hamilton makes
Alberto Gonzales' coming out party...out of the fascist closet that is.The Peoples Top Attorney Says Americans Have No Constitutional Right To Habeas Corpus Congressional Hearings: Alberto Gonzales: "There is no expressed grant of habeas in the Constitution; there's a prohibition against taking it away".Arlon Spector: "Wait a minute, the Constitution says you can't take it away except in case of rebellion or invasion. Doesn't that mean you have the right of habeas corpus unless there's a rebellion or invasion?"Alberto Gonzales: "The Constitution doesn't say every individual in the United States or citizen is hereby granted or assured the right of habeas corpus. It doesn't say that. It simply says the right shall not be suspended" except in cases of rebellion or invasion.Arlon Spector: "You may be treading on your interdiction of violating common sense". Me: That is so fucked up, Mr. Gonzales. Now…I ask you, right wing conservatives, still think it's the lefties who a
If you have read Part I, and hopefully you aren’t reading Part II without having read Part I, you might be scratching your head right now. What the hell is he talking about? If you’re having trouble figuring out what I was referring to at the close of Part I, let me end the suspense [...]
If you have read Part I, and hopefully you aren’t reading Part II without having read Part I, you might be scratching your head right now. What the hell is he talking about? If you’re having trouble figuring out what I was referring to at the close of Part I, let me end the suspense [...]
{mosgoogle right}The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled for the first time that the computerized Basic Resident Register Network is constitutional, overturning an earlier Osaka High Court ruling and dismissing claims by residents opposed to the network.The top court's ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by residents in the Osaka Prefecture cities of Moriguchi and Suita who had claimed that the network violated their privacy and was therefore unconstitutional. Earlier, the Osaka [...]
{mosgoogle right}The chief justice at the Supreme Court secretly met with the U.S. ambassador to Japan in 1959 shortly before the top court overturned a lower court ruling that had declared the U.S. forces' presence in Japan was unconstitutional, according to a diplomatic document.Shoji Niihara, a 76-year-old international affairs researcher, has found the document -- a telegraph message that then Ambassador Douglas MacArthur II sent to the U.S. secretary of state on April 24, 1959 [...]
