Details on the FISA "Compromise"
The new "compromise" on FISA suggests that the head of an intelligence agency certified the illegal warrantless wiretapping program, along with Alberto Gonzales.
The FISA Shaft Is Underway
Steny's Discharge
Steny Hoyer wants you to believe he's having a discharge problem.
But he's not.
Which is kind of weird, don't you think? That Steny would try to excuse his own cowardly actions because of someone's--or someone's lack of?--discharge, when, as sympathetic as you might be to Steny about his discharge problem, you know it's just an embarrassed excuse.
Lamberth Doesn't Seem to Think the Boumediene Sky Is Falling
Because Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the DC Circuit (where many Gitmo habeas petitions are currently pending) sure seems to be moving forward on developing procedures to give the Gitmo prisoners their habeas petitions.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth met today with lawyers from the Department of Justice and representatives of the Guantanamo detainees to discuss how the court should proceed in light of last week’s Supreme Court decision
The Removal of Clothing Does Not Lead to Nudity
In a pathetic attempt to claim that the techniques--including the use of phobias and the removal of clothing--approved by Rummy in December 2002 did not lead to the abuses at Abu Ghraib, Jim Haynes, Diane Beaver, and Jane Dalton are all claiming that the removal of clothing is qualitatively different than nudity.
But ... But ... What about Oversight?
"Scottish Haggis" Specter, letting his better judgment get the better of him, has decided he has better things to do with his time.
Sen. Arlen Specter said he won't call for congressional hearings on the NFL's investigation of the Spygate scandal after previously threatening to do so. Specter's office confirmed Tuesday his comments a day earlier to the Philadelphia Daily News editorial board, in which he said "I've gone as far as
Senate Armed Services Torture Hearing, Four (Haynes)
Haynes: How our country deals with this unprecedented threat. This is as it should be. The end of this can only come with history's judgment of how our Administration served in protecting America. We know that America's enemies are relentless. I look forward to watching our nation's leaders to advancing our nation's security and freedom.
[Alright, Levin, just like you did to Ickes.]
Levin:
Senate Armed Services Torture Hearing, Three
Graham: I understand from Schmitt-Furlow report that a dog was used in interrogation.
Beaver: I was not aware of it.
Graham when you said this didn't happen at Gitmo, you're not right.
Beaver: What was approved did not happen.
Graham Who did this?
Beaver: I don't know.
Graham it was part of interrogation plan. Also strip-searched in front of female personnel.
Senate Armed Services Torture Hearing, Two
Here are the documents released by the committee.
Are here are some links to Spencer Ackerman's work on this: here, here, here, and here.
McCaskill: We disrespect men and women who serve if we don't have this hearing. Did you review Beaver opinion?
Shiffin:No
McCaskill: If you came across phrase, "immnuity in advance," would it cause you pause?
Shiffrin:
Senate Armed Services Torture Hearing
The Senate Armed Services Committee has a hearing on torture that promises to feature fireworks.
Waxman Subpoenas the Bush and Cheney Transcripts
Well, it looks like Henry Waxman isn't going to wait around for HJC to follow my suggestions on getting the Bush and Cheney transcripts.
From the Oversight Committee:
Oversight Committee Subpoenas Justice Department for Plame Documents
Today, the Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to Attorney General Mukasey compelling the production of FBI interview reports of Vice President Cheney and President Bush and other documents regarding the outing of covert CIA agent Valerie
Why Might Schlozman Have Been Referred to a Grand Jury
Here's a selection of just a few of the reasons why Brad Schlozman may be under investigation for perjury.
Obama in Flint, MI
Hello everyone. I'm blogging from Flint, MI, where Obama will hold a town hall starting at 12EST. The town hall will be a big unity event--with some of our Congressional delegation and other top officials joining Obama to unify the Democratic Party. This follows our State Central Committee meeting--which was held Saturday--at which the same message of unity was emphasized.
How to Get the Transcripts
Here's how I would go about getting Mukasey to release the transcripts.
A Response to Dean: The Failure, So Far, Has Been Congress'
John Dean is pointing fingers at the wrong entity for going soft on this Administration. The fault has been with Congress, not the Special Counsel.
$225,000 in Credit Card Debt
Are the $225,000 in credit card balances Cindy McCain has just another example of the Sugar Momma Express, or does she really have that expensive of taste?
At the Risk of Being Churlish
I'm sorry Tim Russert passed away. But I'd like to see the media give the same kind of eulogy for all the men and women who have died in George Bush's war as they're giving Russert.
Revenge of Article III
The opinion restoring Habeas does more than give 200 Gitmo detainees their day in court. It also makes a stand for the power of the Courts.
Matt Apuzzo Pushes Back
Matt Apuzzo gets cranky in good cause. And DOD and DOJ pout.
The Rule of Law Prevailed
I'm just getting off a conference call with the Center for Constitutional Rights, one of the organizations that has been pushing for Habeas at Gitmo for years. Gita Gutierrez, one of the CCR lawyers that's been fighting this fight the longest, said of the ruling that "unambiguously the rule of law prevailed."
Here's some of what they believe the opinion to mean:The 40 to 60 people who have already been determined