Larry Craig's Loophole

When Senator Craig was arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, on June 11, 2007, he should have invoked a little known power of the legislative branch, as afforded by the Constitution, instead of simply throwing down his Senate business card and asking, "What do you think of that?"

If I had been him, and truly innocent of the charges, I would have excused myself from the interrogation room and set myself free from the judicial branch's authority.

Article I, Section 6, of the United States Constitution, states: "[Members of Congress] shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same."

In doing so, the checks-and-balances of our government may be maintained, without undue interference from the other branches of government.

So you see, unless Senator Craig was attempting to join the Minnesota chapter of the Taliban, in hopes of engaging in an insurrection against his nation, robbing an airport shop, or leading a riot on the tarmac, he was pretty much free to come and go as he pleased, without the hassle of the police interfering with him.

Simply engaging in lewd behavior may not meet the burden of being a felony. Besides, it would be up to state law to determine if the crime was felonious, or only a misdemeanor, as I believe it was (under Minnesota law).

But he wasn't in Washington, DC, at the time. Does he still get the protection of this portion of the Constitution? Of course he does. He was en route from Washington to his home in Idaho. As a result, he met the burden of the portion stating, "...in going to and returning from the same."

Certainly, George W. Bush, as president, uses the Constitution to his advantage (even the parts he creates) to protect himself, and his cronies, from congressional oversight, for such things as illegal wiretapping and secret international prisons; therefore, I believe it is plausible that a senator could use such directly expressed constitutional protection to ward off a policeman who said he/she was attempting to solicit sex in a public restroom.

Larry Craig to resign

Sources have reported that Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) will officially announce his resignation from the United States Senate tomorrow.

Also, according to the source, the resignation will take effect on September 30.

Mike Nifong gets jail time

Former North Carolina prosecutor, Mike Nifong, who was charged with maliciously prosecuting several members of the Duke University's lacrosse team, was sentenced today.

Nifong was sentenced to one whole day in jail, for contempt of court.

I really hope that he can pull it off.

ONE WHOLE DAY!!! My God, it scares me senseless. He won't even get his cell decorated. What a waste of the tax payers' money.

A Larry Craig Resignation on Saturday?

Embattled Republican Senator Larry Craig (ID) is going to make an announcement about his future plans tomorrow.

I have a sneaking suspicion that it might entail resignation with a bit of contrition.

(I just hope the announcement isn't made from the bathroom!)

Hillary's 'Top Ten' Campaign Promises

Same sex marriage legal in Iowa, for a while

Yesterday, a judge in Iowa found that the state's Defense of Marriage Act (1998), violated the constitutional rights of six gay couples who stated the law violated their rights to due process and equal protection.

Later today, the same judged issued a stay to his original ruling, in order to allow the supreme court of Iowa to rule on the case, after an official request from the Polk County (Iowa) County Attorney.

Before this happened, though, ten homosexual couples had applied for a license, with several of them being officially and legally married.

Hillary & Bill in "The Soprano's"

I know it's a little old now, but I was watching it and thought I should add it.

Senator Craig a Victim?

After listening to the audiotape of the police interview of Republican Senator Larry Craig (ID), I am pretty convinced that he was looking for some man-on-man sex in that airport bathroom stall.

Craig conceded that he was "not going to fight" the arresting cop on the charge. Apparently, he was more concerned about the facts of the case getting out to the media, which might trash his reputation. The cop then told him that he was not interested in media publicity, but simply getting at the truth of the matter.

Additionally, Senator Craig stated that he visited the particular airport frequently, in what I can only assume is a connecting airport for flights between Washington and his home state of Idaho. Perhaps, as a frequent visitor to this particular airport, he was familiar with the availability of the types of sexual activity he could receive.

In the audiotape, Craig stated that he utilized a wide stance, in order to keep his pants from simply falling down his legs and landing against the floor, which was the immediate cause of his foot brushing up against the undercover policeman's foot in the next stall. Okay, that is pretty understandable and plausible.

Next, the senator alleged that he was reaching down for a piece of toilet paper, which was on the floor, and not running his hand along the bottom of the stall as the cop states. My suspicion with this statement is simply why would anyone want to pick up a piece of toilet paper from the floor of a public bathroom?

That's pretty icky.

Furthermore, the cop got pretty upset at what he called the senator's inability to be honest with him about the facts of the case.

He accused Craig of passing his left hand--palm up, not down as if picking up an item from the floor--along the bottom of the stalls' diving wall, even though his right hand was immediately closest to the wall in question. The police officer stated that he could see the position of the hand's thumb and the gold ring that was on a finger of the senator's left hand.

So what does it all mean? It means that Senator Larry Craig was overly zealous in accepting a plea in this case, if he was truly innocent. He simply wanted to pay his fine, hope the cop really didn't want publicity, and go on about his merry way, as if nothing had happened.

I think that more interesting facts in this case will surface as it goes further.

Craig being pushed from the Senate by fellow GOP

After the story that broke Republican Senator Larry Craig's silence was discovered and reported, he has been forced to defend his decision to plead guilty to a charge of attempted lewd behavior in a Minnesota airport restroom, which is costing him dearly today.

Today, Senator Craig has been forced to stand-down from his Senate committee positions. Several fellow Republican senators, including John McCain (AZ) and Norm Coleman (MN), have called for Craig's resignation resulting from acknowledging participation in a crime, which they say makes him unworthy to serve as a senator.

I think they are right! (How often does that happen?)

Senator Larry Craig (R-ID)

After being arrested and pleading guilty to committing a lewd act, while at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, on June 11, 2007, Republican Senator Larry Craig (ID) is denying that he is gay, or committed any of the acts he openly admitted to engaging.

Apparently, Senator Craig was looking for some hanky-panky, with another man.

The Republican Party seems to be full of old men, who never quite made it out of the closet. Like Senator Craig, former Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL), spent time online soliciting former congressional male pages.

Unlike Foley, Senator Craig pleaded guilty to attempting to solicit an undercover police officer, while inside the airport's bathroom.

Now the question remains, will Senator Craig resign or be retired by the voters of Idaho? He is up for re-election in 2008. Perhaps, the voters of Idaho will be forgiving of their "closeted" elected official.

Gay Unions During the Middle Ages

I found a very interesting article about gay unions during the growing oppression of the Roman Catholic Church, in Europe.

It would seem that men were allowed to enter into "brotherments" (affrèrement) with other men, with whom they weren't related to. Of course, it is impossible to know if this was the case or not. But many of the agreements seem to imply that both individuals agreed to share all aspects of their lives.

It sounds like a union to me!

Gonzales says, "Adios!"

After much pressure relating to alleged illegal activities, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is finally stepping down from his post.

George W. Bush said that Gonzales endured "unfair treatment that...created harmful distraction at the Justice Department."

Now, which Bush crony will be nominated? It is only fair that the U.S. Senate conduct a very thorough investigation before confirming whomever Bush nominates.

Hillary and Terrorism

On Thursday, Senator Hillary Clinton said that if terrorists were to attack the United States again, then it would be the Republican Party which would win.

I agree.

Republican presidential candidates would use the post-terror pandemonium to create a renewed atmosphere of fear and distrust. After all, that is what George W. Bush did. It won him re-election, even though he is a bumbling buffoon, who hasn't had an original idea in years.

An attack on our soil is not something to be capitalized on by politicians.

Thank you, Hillary!

Noriega can be extradited

Former Panamanian president, Manuel Noriega, can be extradited to France, following his release from a Miami-area federal prison, on September 6, according to a federal court.

In 1999, a French court found Noriega guilty, in absentia, for money laundering, and subsequently sentenced him to ten years in prison.

If I were him, I'd appeal.

He should be careful, though. The United States might get really upset and hang him, like Saddam, if he gets too sassy.

A day in the life of a "strict" teacher

Every year, I start my school year--as a teacher--swearing that this year is going to be the year I get "strict." I always start out strong, but then I falter as the days, weeks, and months wear on.

This year was my strongest. I was a harsh disciplinarian on the first day of school. I think the kids were genuinely in fear of my class. But all that fuss and smoke is not really me, I've found out.

I love being a teacher. I am happiest when I am in the classroom. I may not always own up to it, but I look forward to my day. My students--even those new ones I have this year--have discovered a single fact about me that has always evaded me.

It may sound conceited, but I am the teacher that every student wants to have. They break their necks to speak to me. Sometimes in the hallway, between classes, I have to work it like a politician with rock star status. I have to stop and hear about a former student's life, how much they wish they had me again as a teacher. They want to give me five, shake my hand, show me something they've done. In essence, I think they want me to be proud of them, as individuals. I think it's because I genuinely listen and talk to them.

Isn't that what every living human wants, after all?

Even my new students, who are supposed to be afraid of me, remember, giggle and speak to me as we pass. They share their hopes, fears, dreams, and uncertainties without reservation, with me. I have to admit that my "strict" persona has presented substantial holes in it. I find myself making a joke in class, and generally carrying on while I'm teaching. The thing is I have fun teaching and they actually learn something because they listen and are willing to take risks for me that they ordinarily wouldn't take for that hateful teacher. They always wonder what absurdity I am going to come up with in the next minute, during class. It would seem, I have no limit!

What this year's "strictness" has told my students is that I am willing to meet them half way. I can be fun, exciting, devilish, but they seem to understand that I also demand respect from them, and for them; it's unspoken.

Don't get me wrong. We're not sitting in class doing nothing. I'm not simply doing a stand-up comedy bit for fifty minutes, six times a day, five days a week, thirty six weeks a year. Consistently, my former--and current students--tell me my class is challenging, even hard. I teach, after all. It's sort of funny still that they would take another one of my classes, even knowing that they will have to work. That speaks volumes to me.

Yeah, my class might be a bit louder than the one next door. I might clap my hands a bit too much when I get excited. I might hoot and holler when they make it a step further toward self-actualization. I hand out candy, stickers, and give thumbs-up, but it's just how I am; essentially, it is how I am happiest.

Why not capitalize on what I do best?

Being a nice guy.

Crandall Canyon Mine to be closed as a memorial

After more than two weeks of searching, hoping and wishing, the executives at the Crandall Canyon Mine, in Huntington, Utah, is about ready to call the whole thing off.

After boring a fifth hole into the ceiling of the mine, they were unable to raise any hopes that the miners might still be alive.

The mine will bore a sixth hole, at a different location. If there are no signs of life present at this hole sight, then the mine will be closed as a memorial--albeit, tomb--to the six coal miners who are missing, and seemingly presumed dead, according to Bob Murray, who is the CEO of Murray Energy Corp, which owns the mine.

Although, many family members, at the site, seem to be holding on to false hope, there doesn't appear to be any thing to substantiate a continued, prolonged search for the miners.

George W. Bush snubs Vermont

Since being "elected" president, George W. Bush has not visited the state of Vermont.

It is the only state the president has not visited. For some reason, some people in Vermont are a bit hurt by this, even though he is well hated in their state.

This must be some sort of presidential fluke, considering Bill Clinton did not visit the state of Nebraska, until almost the end of his second term in office. Clinton finally went to say that he had, well, went. (Actually, he gave a speech at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.)

I wonder if Bush will do the same?

I envision if I didn't go to a state, it would be Alaska. It just seems so remote and cold, in my opinion.

Bullying & Myspace

In what seems to be a growing trend among school districts across the United States, students are being monitored--and punished--by their schools, for the things they post on social websites, like Myspace.

Is it the job of the school to punish students for content that is posted on a privately controlled website?

I am not sure if the answer is so easily clear cut.

Although, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is monitoring such cases, some of which have gone before federal courts already. The ACLU is worried that the fear of retaliation by an individual's school may work to curb freedoms enjoyed under the First Amendment.

In essence, students should expect that their personal communications will be protected by the Constitution of the United States, via the First Amendment's protection of the freedom of speech, but at the same time they must be wary that such communication can become extra-constitutional when it goes as far as to limit the freedoms of another individual, through the direct--or indirect--threat of pain or injury.

The question still remains: should schools be the entity to provide punishments arising from verbal threats against other students made on privately-owned social websites?

Surely, any administrator or teacher, who works within a school, and has reasonable knowledge of impending injury toward a student, is within their rights to take necessary precautions to safeguard that student. In the end, however, there is an entity that exists to deal with such matters, which take place outside of the school campus, and that is the police, and to a greater scope, the judicial system.

Hurricane Dean

Should what's left of New Orleans be afraid of Hurricane Dean, who now sits in the Caribbean Sea?

The storm now packs winds of up to 145 mph, as it moves closer to the island of Jamaica. The storm has already brought devastation to the Lesser Antilles, over the past couple of days. In St. Lucia a man was reportedly drowned when he tried to ford a river to save a cow.

Mexico has already issues hurricane watches along its eastern coastline, as the storm begins its ever slow journey toward the Gulf of Mexico.

Barack Obama limits debate schedule

Senator Barack Obama's campaign is going to limit the amount of debates and forums the senator participates in during the upcoming months, leading up to key Democratic primaries and caucuses.

The Obama team states that this will improve the "face time" the senator has with the voters of key states, like Iowa and New Hampshire. They also note, however, that their strategy may work to alienate certain key groups, if he does not participate in their forums and other first tier candidates do, which could cost him votes and important political endorsements.

I detect a bit of desperation forming in Camp Obama.

Karl Rove's New Job: Hillary Watching

It would seem that some in the Republican Party Ivory Tower have moved to have so-called former George W. Bush "brain" and "architect" settle into a new role: Hillary commentary.

Since his retirement from his cushy aide's job in the White House, Rove has found it necessary to criticize the Clinton presidential campaign.

Why?

The answer is easy, or so it would seem, Republicans are afraid of what a Clinton win of the Democratic primaries would mean for their chances in November 2008. With Bush at the head of the Republican Party, it is hard to digest any belief--even false belief--that they have a chance in hell of winning the White House.

Rove we see through you!

Tony Snow stepping down

White House press secretary, Tony Snow, is stepping down, according to the Associated Press. The transition could come as early as the beginning of September.

Good for him.

Fred Thompson advocates repeal of Roe v. Wade, ban gay marriage

Former United States senator, Fred Thompson (R-TN), was unofficially campaigning today, when he stated that he would work to repeal the decades' old Supreme Court opinion of Roe v. Wade, which protects a woman's right to choose what she does with her body. In addition, he went further to state that he would work for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

Is Fred Thompson trying to send us back to the stone-age with this political crap?

In regards to gay marriage, Thompson said, "I don’t think that one state ought to be able to pass a law requiring gay marriage or allowing gay marriage and have another state be required to follow along."

I suppose Mr. Thompson is working to create some sort of narrow political base among Republicans for his campaign. By limiting his appeal this way, he is also guaranteeing that he will lose the Republican Party's nomination in 2008.

Hillary is a nurse for a day

Jenna G.W. Bush Is Getting Married

I think it is great that Jenna Bush, the daughter of George W. Bush, is getting married to Karl Rove. That is just wonderful. I guess that is how Bush pays back his friends, by offering them one of his daughters.

(P.S. I know she isn't marrying Karl Rove; it's just funny.)

Karl Rove is looking for a new job

After "retiring" from George W. Bush's side, Karl Rove is now looking for someone else to sink his tentacles into.

While sitting in on the Viagra sponsored portion of The Rush Limbaugh Show today, Rove put down Senator Hillary Clinton; specifically, he called her bid for the presidency as being "fatally flawed."

Why?

Karl Rove, although he is officially out of politics for the time being, is hoping to receive a call from either the Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney campaigns. He thinks they need someone with his stature to help them win the election in 2008. If he is really as smart as everyone claims he is, then he understands that the Republicans are the ones who are "fatally flawed" in the upcoming presidential square-off, between Republicans and Democrats.

Besides, I don't think any Republican campaign would hire him. He comes with way too many liabilities, and after serving as Bush's "right-hand man" for all these years, his credentials are rather tarnished, in the public's eye.

Bush attacks Hillary for the truth

After Hillary Clinton's first Iowa presidential campaign ad hit the air, showing the inconsistencies of the Bush administration for the past six years, George W. Bush was on the war path.

Bush's retort was that he helped to bring down the cost of healthcare for seniors. Okay, that sounds pretty good, but could he have done much better? By adding extra benefits, through Medicare, senior citizens can get their medicines at reduced prices, yes, but many times the reduced price is still too steep for someone on a fixed income.

Bush has stepped out on veterans returning from his wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Department of Veterans' Affairs cannot completely administrate the capital's veterans' hospital, Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Simply, where is the funding?

Hmmm...is Bush really mad because Senator Clinton highlighted only a few of his larger failures?

I think all avenues lead to a single, unifying answer: YES!

Hillary Clinton on why some Americans are invisible

Hillary takes on the draft, Bush

After the Bush-styled war czar, Lt. General Douglas Lute, testified that the draft might be a viable alternative to the strains felt by the current all-volunteer armed forces, in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush administration has leaked that it has always had that option on the table.

Senator Clinton has called on President Bush to clarify his position on the military draft.

Pompous Ass

After the Ames, Iowa straw poll, former Republican Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, in regards to his win of the baseless poll, stated that Giuliani, Thompson, and McCain's decisions not to participate were based on their beliefs that they couldn't win.

Let's face it, Mr. Romney, the Republican Party is not going to win the presidency in 2008. So why do you even bother to run?

Musharraf Attends Afghan Jirga

Speaking at the close of the Afghan jirga, Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf, stated that he fears the "Talibanization" of his country's infrastructure..

Then, perhaps he should do something about it.

Merv Griffin Dies

It would seem that game shows will never be the same.

Draft

The president's war advisor, Lt. General Douglas Lute, is a raving moron.

In order to maintain the morale of the military, he thinks that a draft would do more to make those currently serving in the military--on a volunteer basis--feel better about their service. It might cut down on the number of tours of duty they have to complete. In addition, it makes their families feel more at ease about their loved one's service.

Aw, how touching.

Perhaps, instead of panhandling to Bush's incessant belief that war in Iraq is good for America, he might want to tell the president that the war should be ended immediately.

But for the most part, Bush is happy with the current status quo, inasmuch as the military is concerned. He says that the all-volunteer armed forces is just peachy with him.

Why are people raving lunatics?

People are up in arms that someone--who allegedly committed a crime--is receiving compensation for their job.

An Alabama teacher, who was dismissed for a rape charge, is apparently receiving compensation for his years as a teacher. What is wrong with that?

If I do a job satisfactorily, then I deserve to be compensated for doing it. If I am found guilty of a crime, while on the job, then fire me, but can you legally take away the benefits I have earned up to that point?

The state of Alabama tends to agree with me.

Although, opponents to the law, would strip the former teacher of his rights and benefits, they fail to see the fallacies of their logic.

Let's look at it from a less ominous legal perspective.

If I am driving 80mph in a 50mph speed zone and get caught, I will probably be fined for violating the speed limit, which is set by the state. Up to this point, I have not been charged with a similar criminal action. Some people might be upset that I was driving so recklessly in front of their homes, which is a valid concern. Even though, I have paid for my car, some of the homeowners want the state to take away my car, even though I legally own it.

Absurd, vigilante logic? You bet!

600th Post

Something to celebrate!

Miner Report

After more than six days--three miles beneath the earth, it is my solemn opinion that the trapped coal miners, in Utah, are dead.

Is Barack Obama "black enough"?

Yesterday, at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention, in Las Vegas, Barack Obama was confronted with the issue of his so-called "blackness."

He stated that there appears to be a problem, for a black candidate, if he or she can appeal to white people also.

The basic answer, according to Obama's response, is this is silly. Let's move on beyond the color of a person's skin.

I agree.

(On a lighter side, there are those that argue that no one can be as black, when it comes to politics, as Bill Clinton is.)

Stock Report

What's up with the stock market?

They say it has to do with the housing market crisis that has suddenly bloomed in recent weeks. I guess no one had the foresight to understand that when you give poor people low interest loans to buy homes, and then jack them up to double and triple rates they cannot pay them.

Sounds like a lame excuse to me.

Let's face it, they used the so-called oil problem for a while when stocks plummeted, too. I am not an expert on the stock market, and what motivates it, but when approximately 85% of my net wealth is linked to it, I have to take notice.

MasterCard came out with its stock over a year ago. I took a risk and gambled that it would do very well. Now, almost 70% of my personal investment portfolio is connected to this stock. Dumb? Perhaps, but you wouldn't say that if you made as much money as I did, when the stock jumped from $50/share to $170/share. Those were good ol' days. Now the same stock is hovering around $140/share (still not quite to the crisis point, but still enough to create a panic for me), which is a large wallop on any person's wallet, when they are invested in it.

The banking industry is losing its proverbial shirt because of these interest rates. As a result, I have decided to attempt to capitalize on it--in any event--by buying heavily into Deutsche Bank Ag Namen (Symbol: DB) and Credit Suisse Group (Symbol: CS). I am always drawn to foreign stock. I suppose I like the foreign tax. (Not really!)

I hope that my gut feeling over this proves to be correct after the end of next week!

Will the United States invade Pakistan?

After nearly eight years of unopposed rule, is General Pervez Musharraf's tenure as president of Pakistan about to end?

The United States is growing less patient with Musharraf's inaction regarding the growing insurgency--along the Pakinstan-Afghanistan border--that threatens America's agenda in Afghanistan.

Many believe that the Taliban, which once ruled Afghanistan with an iron fist, before the United States-led invasion, has regrouped inside of Pakistan. Then, there's the biggest obstacle of all: is Osama bin Ladin heading al-Qaeda from an undisclosed location in the mountainous provinces of northwestern Pakistan?

There are indications that General Musharraf feels his own presidency might be in jeopardy. Recently, a Pakistani court unanimously found that Musharraf's suspension of the country's popular chief justice, on suspicion of corruption, was illegal, and he was subsequently reinstated to his position. This defiant action resounds with those elements who might be looking to unseat Musharraf from his pro-Western position in Islamabad.

In an effort to provide some stability to his presidency, Musharraf made the unprecedented move of meeting with former Pakistani prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, who is the head of Musharraf's main opposition, the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Under a tentative agreement, Musharraf retains his position as president, but Bhutto will return to Pakistan, from her nine years in self-imposed exile, in the United Arab Emirates, to head the government.

For both Musharraf and Bhutto, the task of attempting to stabilize Pakistan's growing domestic unrest will be arduous.

George W. Bush's Recent Accomplishments

Here is a list of accomplishments for George Bush over the past week, or so, with his personal annotations in parenthesis:

• Found out he doesn't have colon cancer, after all (what was that anal probe for again?)
• Beat Lyme Disease (damn ticks, they should all die, must call Dick Cheney for details on how to do that)

And his proudest accomplishment:

• Finally, got in touch with Barry Bonds (he's a dope-head like me, and he is loved...kind of)

Congratulations, Mr. President, on a job well done!

Higher Taxes

A Republican member of Congress, Don Young (AK), stated that it might be necessary to increase the taxes on gasoline, in order to pay for the update of long neglected bridges across the United States.

Since the collapse of the bridge in Minneapolis, last week, it would seem there about 500 other comparable bridges, around the country, which fall into a similar category as this bridge.

Why should we have to pay more taxes on something that is already outrageous? Perhaps, Congress should find the money to pay for these kinds of repairs--from existing funds--without requiring Americans to pay more in taxes, as a result. Congress sure finds the money to pay for Bush's private war, when he demands it. Instead, Congress should divert funds, by downsizing armed forces abroad.

It makes sense.

In Iowa, Hillary talks about the END of the war in Iraq

Hillary moves ahead in polls

A Newsweek poll shows that Senator Hillary Clinton is ahead by up to 21-percent among potential Democratic candidates, including Barack Obama.

Just like I said, I see a Clinton-Gore ticket coming up for 2008!

Russia's Mission to the Arctic

Last week, Russia "planted" its flag at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, via a sub, in an attempt to lay claim to the area's wealth of natural resources (i.e., oil and natural gas).

The governments of the United States and Canada claim that the media event doesn't justify Russia's exclusivity, when it comes to the exploitation of the resources.

I agree. I think the time of planting flags on the shores of distant lands (or sub-marine landscapes) is passe.

Congress gives in to Bush...again

You know, I have been upset by the new Democratic-led Congress.

They give into Bush's demands way too easily. Just because he calls for an expansion of the government's ability to eavesdrop, doesn't mean they have to do it!

Congress approved Bush's request to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, after a rather unimpressive squabble. Apparently, Bush threatened to veto the bill if it didn't meet his director of National Intelligence's needs, which must have caused congressional leaders to quake in their boots.

Big whoop!

Exactly when was the last time Bush gave into the demands of Congress?

All of this talk about "secret courts" really sounds un-American to me. A defiant Congress would have told Bush to toot it out of his bum, and then went on a month long vacation, leaving him high-and-dry. Why should Congress be obliged to do anything the president wants, when he is so rigid in his agenda?

I want a Congress that stands up against the president!

Home Run Tie

Wow! I am so not excited by this Barry Bonds thing. Why do I care that a grown man can hit a ball out of the park 755 times?

Sounds like he needs to do something constructive with his time, like take up the abuse of steroids.

Soldier Gets 110 Years For Rape

After being found guilty of raping a fourteen year old Iraqi girl and the subsequent murder of the girl's family, Pfc. Jesse Spielman was sentenced to 110 years.

I found this quite shocking, actually. Considering the Bush administration's policy on nation building and general war, I figured they would have found him guilty and then pinned a medal on him, while congratulating him, "Good job, soldier!"

Sometimes I can still be surprised!

Nicole Richie Is Jail Shopping

Nicole Richie has decided that she would rather serve her ninety hours at Los Angeles County Jail, rather than a Los Angeles city jail.

For her convenience, she has until September 28 to check-in for her unfortunate incarceration.

It must be nice to get to shop for everything!

Bush's Delight

After the bridge fell in Minneapolis, the media has switched gears completely. What war in Iraq?! The media's response: "We've got to cover a bridge that fell down!"

Of course, I sympathize with the families of those people who died, as a result. (I'm not a heartless monster...well, not always.)

Bridges of Minneapolis

After the interstate bridge failed, the other day, in Minneapolis, there has been beefed up inspections of all the nation's bridges.

I have witnessed--first-hand--how busy the Transportation Cabinet has been in Kentucky, alone. It would seem that our bridges (Kentucky has 14,000 of them) only need to be inspected after a major disaster hundreds of miles away occurs.

Good going there, guys!

Foreign Beats Domestic

A report shows that last month foreign made vehicles outsold those made in America, for the first time in auto history.

Automobile makers in the United States saw a 19-percent dip in their sales for the month, compared to July 2006.

Asian made vehicles accounted for about 45-percent of those sold inside the U.S.

What does it all mean?

Basically, it is a kick in the butt for American automakers. It shows them, quite matter-of-factly, that they must endeavor to solve their sales slump, through unique innovations, or face greater financial difficulties in the future, as a result.

Ha!

I told you I'd be here forever!