constitution? we don't need on stinkin' constitution!

Nelson's Weblog: politics / oversight

Contempt for the Constitution The Bush administration conceded to the Constitution today, agreeing to no longer illegally conduct wiretaps without FISA oversight. Well, maybe, they're vague about just how much oversight the judges will provide. Blanket warrants, anyone?

Speaking Freely: Bush administration official smears attorneys defending Gitmo detainees

In an interview this week with Federal News Radio, Stimpson listed a group of US law firms defending detainees in Guantanamo. He continued on to say, "I think, quite honestly, when corporate CEOs see that those firms are representing the very terrorists who hit their bottom line back in 2001, those CEOs are going to make those law firms choose between representing terrorists or representing reputable firms, and I think that is going to have major play in the next few weeks. And we want to watch that play out."

Senators Feinstein, Leahy, Pryor to Fight Administration's Effort to Circumvent Senate Confirmation Process for U.S. Attorneys

In a little noticed provision included in the Patriot Act reauthorization last year, the Administration's authority to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys was greatly expanded. The law was changed so that if a vacancy arises the Attorney General may appoint a replacement for an indefinite period of time – thus completely avoiding the Senate confirmation process.

i wonder if anyone is rally paying attention

Nuclear, climate perils push Doomsday Clock ahead - Yahoo! News

They pointed to North Korea's first nuclear test, Iran's nuclear ambitions, U.S. flirtation with "bunker buster" nuclear bombs, the continued presence of 26,000 American and Russian nuclear weapons and inadequate security for nuclear materials. But the scientists also said destruction of human habitats wreaked by climate change brought on by human activities is a growing danger. "Global warming poses a dire threat to human civilization that is second only to nuclear weapons," they said.

i'd like to think that we've made progress since the cold war fears of the 1950s and 60s. but maybe not. is this a case of bad 'shared memory?' have we really forgotten how bad it could become?