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February 6, 2009 archive
Feb 06 2009
Muse in the Morning
Feb 06 2009
Saving 49 Lives (Part 6)
cross-posted from The Dream Antilles
The voice of him that cryeth in the Wilderness
Isaiah 40:3
Ut oh. Ut oh. Ut oh. I’m wondering whether my little, disorganized, spontaneous, repetitive campaign to require the new Attorney General to review the 49 pending federal death penalty cases and to decide that federal prosecutors shouldn’t be seeking the death penalty in these cases, has worn out my readership, my welcome, and any remaining goodwill. That’s how it is, sometimes, when there’s more persistence than creativity. But I soldier on, vox clamatis in deserto.
The petition now has 75 signatures, for which I am incredibly thankful. If you haven’t signed it yet, please do so. It is a concrete way to ask Attorney General Holder to review all of the 49 pending federal death penalty cases and to decide that his prosecutors have no business seeking the death penalty in these cases.
And many, many people have sent Attorney General emails at Whitehouse.gov or via [email protected], the Justice Department’s email address, encouraging him to review these 49 cases and not to seek the death penalty in them. Again, please do so, too.
Please join me in the wilderness.
Feb 06 2009
BREAKING: Obama OK’s ICC Arrests And War Crimes Prosecution
No, it isn’t what the title sounds like, and it’s dangerous to read things into it that may not be there, but what Obama did do on Thursday, February 05, 2009, according to a report in The Washington Times (yes, yes, I know…) was signal his support of the International Criminal Court indicting and arresting Sudanese President Omar Bashir for war crimes.
And an Obama national security spokesman used some very interesting language in the announcements.
“We support the ICC in its pursuit of those who’ve perpetrated war crimes. We see no reason to support deferral [of the indictment] at this time,” said Ben Chang, a spokesman for Mr. Obama’s national security adviser, retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones.
The Obama administration has signaled awareness of potential blowback if a warrant is issued.
[snip…]
The Obama administration has a more favorable attitude toward the ICC [than the Bush administration did], although it is reviewing whether it should re-sign the treaty and seek Senate ratification.
“It is in our country’s interest that the most heinous of criminals, like the perpetrators of the genocide in Darfur, are held accountable,” said Mr. Chang, the National Security Council spokesman.
At the same time, he said, Mr. Obama, as commander in chief, “wants to make sure that [U.S.] troops have maximum protection” against politically motivated indictments.
The president “will consult thoroughly across the whole government, including with the military, and also examine the full track record of the court, before reaching a decision on how to move forward,” Mr. Chang said.
Dangerous to read into it of course… but a rose or a president committing war crimes by any other name is still a rose or a president committing war crimes, no?
*emphasis added…
Feb 06 2009
Bank Bailout Won’t Fix Systemic Criminality Its RICO Time
Banks are more than broken, they have become ongoing criminal enterprises. This goes beyond simple bookkeeping errors to systemic criminality. Want to fix the mortgage problem? Start auditing banks and prosecuting under RICO. Giant bonuses, trips to Vegas and Super Bowl sponsorship are really the LEAST of the problems with banks. Follow me below the fold for what they aren’t talking about on Morning Joe, or any of the MSM.
Feb 06 2009
The Clenched Fist
In his Inaugural Address, President Obama told the Muslim world, “We seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” He told leaders around the globe “who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West” that their people will judge them on what they can build, not what they destroy. He told those “who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, that they are on the wrong side of history, but that “we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
It would have been more fitting to target Republicans with that message, Mr. President. You’ve extended your hand to them, but they will not unclench their fists. You’re offering a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect, but they will not unclench their fists. You’ve given them three fucking cabinet positions, but they will not unclench their fists. Those mouth breathers will never unclench their fists; beating Democrats, liberals, gays, minorities, and the poor and the powerless to a bloody pulp is what they do, it’s hardwired into their lizard brains.
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