Povertybarn

Hillbillies on Politics, They're Scary

Republicans: Worse than the Stomach Flu?

(Today's guest author is SourKraut. Catherine is in Firenze this week discovering that the Renaissance was an early form of a government endowment)

Call me interested, or call me a fool, but I wasted an hour or so last night watching the Republican debates.

Overall, I found the candidates to be scary. Really. The whole Roe v. Wade discussion just made my stomach turn, especially when they were talking about putting members on the SCOTUS who would overturn it.

Pass the Pepto-Bismol. It's going to be a long time between now and November 4, 2008.

One Down Too Many To Go

Tommy Thompson has dropped his bid to be the repub presidential nominee. He has made this decision after he placed sixth in the Iowa straw poll over the weekend. At least, SCOTUS is safe from this conservative.

He is going to take some time off then most likely go back to working for some drug company.

One down, a million pieces of crap candidates to go.

Always Trust a Teddy

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.
                -Theodore Roosevelt

Unlucky Numbers: 5-4, 5-4, 5-4

Damn Justice O'Connor and her silly plans of retirement!  Our fears of a 5-4 majority are becoming commonplace are ringing true.  Hence today's U.S. Supreme Court decision on a Kansas death-penalty statute.

The Kansas law requires the death penalty when jurors conclude that so-called aggravating and mitigating factors -- those arguing for and against capital punishment -- are equally balanced. The court, voting 5-4, rejected arguments that the state's law unconstitutionally creates a presumption in favor of the death penalty for convicted murderers.  In other words, you're going to fry no matter what in Kansas even when there's doubt among jurors over capital punishment.  So much for a fair justice.

Dumb Ass of the Day: Gov. Kathleen Blanco

As if she and the state Legislature of Louisiana don't have enough to do trying  to help the citizens of New Orleans and surrounding areas recover from Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco (a woman and Democratic no less) signed into law today a ban on most abortions.  This comes on the heals of similar legislation from South Dakota, a law that was enacted partly to invite a court challenge in the hope a more conservative Supreme Court would overturn its Roe v. Wade decision that established a woman's right to abortion.

Ms. Blanco, you let your people down after the hurricane with your incompetence under pressure, and now you're letting woman around your state down under the pressure of the winds of ignorance.

Round 'em up

I first read about these "round-ups" over at Detroit Diva. This outraged and pissed me off.

While I do realize that some of these people are violent offenders, it did make me think.

The last time that a government rounded people, they disappeared were killed and started a World War. Oh, wait. We have people being gathered, disappearing and a war going on. Hmmm.

Not, Not Knocking on Your Door

Five is a magic number.

Have you felt the power? Do you feel your civil rights being chipped away?

Can you say b-u-l-l-s-h-i-t?

Not All Immigrants Look Alike

Immigration seems to have many faces and covers more than those from Mexico and South America. Today of all days, take a moment to dig deep and think about your perceptions.

I have pasted in an article that ran in March in the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Irish are standing up to be counted among the nation's illegal immigrants, hoping their civic appeal at St. Patrick's Day will soften the debate over immigration reform.

At St. Patrick's Day parades in San Francisco and Chicago last weekend, activists with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform wore white-and-green T-shirts saying "Legalize The Irish" and passed out flyers urging people to call their elected representatives in support of allowing undocumented workers to earn legal status as guest workers. Similar activism is expected at parades in other cities in coming days.

Adding heft to the immigrants' message, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who visited San Jose on Tuesday, plans to push President Bush for legal status for illegal Irish immigrants when he visits the White House on Friday, St. Patrick's Day.

Although most of this country's 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants are from Mexico and Central America, about 50,000 Irish people are among 3 million illegal immigrants from countries outside Latin America. Other countries contributing significantly to illegal immigration are Russia, Poland, Canada, Haiti, Korea, India, China and the Philippines.

"We've had some very surprised reactions when they hear it is an issue for the Irish," said Celine Kennelly, executive director for the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center in San Francisco, an advice and referral service sponsored by the Irish Catholic Conference of Bishops.

"They are in as dire straits as any other ethnic group," said Kennelly, who estimates there are 3,000 to 4,000 Irish illegal immigrants in San Francisco, most working in construction, in restaurants or as nannies and caretakers for the elderly. "They cannot get driver's licenses, it's harder to open bank accounts, they cannot travel home and return again. ... The relationship between Ireland and America is so long and fantastic, but it's in danger now."

More than 250,000 Irish immigrants reside in the United States, according to the census, and most of them are here legally. But in recent decades, most arrivals from Ireland have overstayed their visas and become illegal immigrants, said Kennelly, because the government is issuing fewer work visas. A 1991 program offered legal permanent residence to about 16,000 undocumented Irish, but there has been no legalization plan since then.

Kennelly helped organize a town hall meeting in San Francisco this month that drew 1,000 Irish immigrants ready to campaign on the issue. And she was among 2,000 Irish people who rallied in Washington last week for guest-worker legislation sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

San Francisco Federal Building in a push for immigration reform. Organizer Sheila Chung said she expects participation from Irish immigrants, as well as Latino, Filipino, Chinese, Caribbean, Arab and others.

Irish participation -- motivated in part by Catholic archbishops -- can help advance the immigration-reform movement, said East Bay immigration lawyer Sarnata Reynolds, who is Irish by birth.

"They're a community that isn't viewed as 'bad.' People don't assume they might be undocumented," she said. "The Irish lobby has been very well organized for years, and they have a tradition of rallying around issues of social justice."

In Chicago on Friday, hundreds of Irish residents joined an unprecedented 100,000-strong rally opposing a bill that passed the House last year and another proposed bill that's scheduled to come to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday that would make it a felony to be an illegal immigrant or to aid one.

"Most people thought it was just a Mexican thing, but it's not. It's Irish, Polish, Korean, Chinese," said Billy Lawless, the owner of two Chicago pubs who led a contingent called Celts for Immigration Reform. "If they want to deport the whole group, who's going to work in our kitchens? Who's going to work in our construction industry?"

Lawless compared the anti-immigrant sentiment he has encountered from groups like the Minutemen to the cold reception Irish immigrants received when they fled the potato famine in their homeland in the 19th century.

Illegal Irish immigrants, like those from other parts of Europe and Asia, generally enter the United States on a legitimate work, school or tourist visa and stay after it expires.

In the Bay Area, immigrant advocates plan a hunger strike and candlelight vigil all next week at the

South Dakota: Women's Rights Diminished

I think that my blood may have just stopped boiling long enough for me to discuss the recent abortion ban in State of South Dakota. Is this 2006 or 1946? I am confused.

So, please take a good look at the man to the right. Memorize his face. He is starting a revolution. Right here, right now.

What’s worse the ban or the seemingly little opposition from women? Where is the rallying cry? Where is our demonstration of free speech and outrage at this ass backwards ban? How can we accept this?

Do you want to join the fight that will surely take this all the way to the Supreme Court? The first step is to make a donation to Planned Parenthood.

Brace yourselves, the Roe v. Wade is coming NOW. Will you stand up and be counted? Or will you sit silently on your couch letting it happen?

X-posted at Daily Pepper

SCOTUS May Ram Down Roe's Door

Mama, take this right off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on Roe's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on Roe's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on Roe's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on Roe's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on Roe's door

Mama, put my parts in the ground
I can't use them anymore.
That long black decision is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on Roe's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on Roe's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on Roe's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on Roe's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on Roe's door

Cross-posted at Daily Pepper

PS. Thanks for the inspiration, Bob Dylan.

It's Religious Tea Time

The US Supreme Court today announced that it has decided to allow O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal, a Brazilian religion, continue its practice of using tea that has contains an illegal drug dimethyltryptamine, also known as DMT.

The Court ruled that Bush Administration had failed to meet the burden of proof.

Apparently, there are only about 130 practicing members of this religion in the Unites States who primarily live in New Mexico and Colorado. They say that they only take the tea about twice a month and then only during a four religious ceremony.

Anyone out there wiling to convert? A great victory for small religions.

Goodbye Roe, Goodbye Wade

So long equal rights for those of all sexual orientations. Goodbye my sweet civil liberties, you will be missed!

Alito was confirmed and then sworn in.

Where can I move to abroad and claim political assylum, anyone?

Alito Should Be A No

Watch the growing list of Democrats who suck. What is their strategy? Do they even have one? It does seem to be those in 'safe seats.'

Perhaps, we should all become Green Party members instead? They at least seem to have some balls.

Alito Passes Senate Committee

Surprise, surprise, suprise!

Alito passed the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Yawn. It is only a mater of hours now before the Democrats bend over and vote him into the Court.

DiFi gives a weak statement, I am not blown away at all.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., declared, "If one is pro-choice in this day and age, in this structure, one can't vote for Judge Alito. It is simply that simple."

Bye Bye DiFi

After reading blogenfreude and Daily Pepper's posts over the last few minutes, I have to finally voice my outrage and annoyance.

California Moderate Dianne Feinstein said that she will not vote for Alito, but she doesn't see a need for a Filibuster. Excuse me? Does she remember that she is a woman? Um, hello!!!!!!!!!

Dear Senator Clueless:

You are the only woman on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Alito has made his stance clear by his past actions that he is anti-choice and anti-woman. What in the hell are you thinking? By merely voting no and putting your head up your ass, you are turning your back on woman-kind.

I find you to be cowardly and unworthy of my support any longer. You are old and will be out off office fairly soon, maybe you are going senile? This could be the only possible explanation!

When roe v. Wade is over-turned, I will lead a demonstration in front of your office in San Francisco and all of the of the cushy homes that you own. How nice for you that you get to sit in your mansions and look down at, we the voters, the people who pay your salary.

You make me sick and I am now supporting the Green Candidate who is running to unseat you, you miserable, daft cow who has forgotten whom she serves.

Signed,

A disappointed, woman Democrat and registered voter

NO ON ALITO

New documents have been released which show that Samuel Alioto made arguments to overturn Roe v. Wade in 1985. This is unacceptable in a candidate for the Supreme Court.

In a recommendation to the solicitor general on filing a friend-of-court brief, Alito said the government "should make clear that we disagree with Roe v. Wade and would welcome the opportunity to brief the issue of whether, and if so to what extent, that decision should be overruled."

His boss even knew that the mere mention of this idea was explosive.

. . . with a forward note from Reagan administration Solicitor General Charles Fried acknowledging the volatility of the issue and saying that it had to be kept quiet.

Fried took note of the implications of the emerging policy in his introduction to the June 1985 memo. "I need hardly say how sensitive this material is, and ask that it have no wider circulation," he said.

The confirmation hearings for Samuel Alito are scheduled to begin on Monday, January 9. Please contact your Representative and request that he/she vote NO ON ALITO. Let's not send women in back in time.

Cross-posted at Daily Pepper and Typepad Refugees

US Hits New Milestone

The United States will hold it's 1000th execution this week. Well, it will be the 1,000th since the Supreme Court overturned the ban on executions in 1977. (Reuters) The three states that have the most capital punishments? Texas (surprise), Virginia and Oklahoma.

According to Amnesty International, 121 Countries have banned Capital punishment. You can see a list and time line from them by going here.

It seems to me that our leaders need to take a long, hard look at our approach to crime and more importantly, how to reduce rates altogether. We have more violent crimes than an other Country in the World. Is it our self-centered, poor vs. rich to almost everything that we do? Is it because we do not teach our children to use words and how to resolve conflict? 

This is not a milestone of which we should be proud. We owe ourselves better. Also at Daily Pepper.

Closed Door Policy?

(I'll be continuing to fill in now and then for Catherine while she's cruising the high seas of the Greek Isles on holiday. -- SourKraut)

Just when you think you know every rule and policy of government procedures, you learn something new.  Senate Democrats invoked a rarely-used rule (who knew) that allowed them to clear out the Senate chambers. This action was to protest what they claimed as Republican inattention to intelligence failures on Iraq and the leak of a CIA operative's identity. (well... um, d'uh)

While I agree the we're pretty much screwed with the Republicans hold both houses of the Congress, but they're cronyism and raping of this country is inexcusable, I'm not sure these Senate Democrats actions is good for what can be best described as a hell of a fight in the months to come.

With the looming, protracted debate coming with the 'Scalito' SCOTUS nomination, and the mid-term elections now less than 12 months away, the Democrats need the moderate Republican votes to stop this right-wing nominee and to build restore faith in Congress.  These partisan tactics don't help. 

What do you think?  Am I wrong?  Do actions like this, help or hinder the Democratic cause?

"Scalito" - A Rotten Apple with a Razor Inside

(I'll be continuing to fill in now and then for Catherine while she's cruising the high seas of the Greek Isles on holiday. -- SourKraut)

Ironies of ironies, Dumb-Dumb decides to submit his next nominee for the empty SCOTUS seat on Halloween.  And what a fright it is!  Ekkks!  All tricks and no treats for us with rational minds.  Samuel Alito, 55, is considered so conservative, that his nick name is "Scalito", a comparison to our favorite justice Scalia (not!) "Scalito" is currently a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.

"Lassie, quick!  Get Harry (Reid) and tell him there's been a cave-in (towards the right) at the White House" I guess Karl Rove and Cheney took five minutes away from their legal affairs and took the gavel away from W.  What a crook of shit this is. 

"Scalito" has a horrible record on everything from gun control to the main issue for the fight: abortion.  (He was the lone dissent in the 1991 case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey, in which the 3rd Circuit struck down a Pennsylvania law that included a provision requiring women seeking abortions to notify their spouses.)

While Dumb-Dumb caved-in to the right for this nomination, we Democrats, and other rational, progressive thinking people can't.  This is a fight worth fighting!

Miers Moves Aside

This morning, Harriet 'Sycophant' Miers sent W a letter formally withdrawing herself as a nominee for the Supreme Court. It seemed clear that in the last few days, Shrub was slowly distancing himself from her.

While it is apparent that she is not qualified, it is not apparent what will replace her. We will just have to watch, intensely. Will Dumb Dumb pander to his right wing base? Or will his Administration be crumbling and need to appease the rest of us?

Cross-posted at Daily Pepper!

Bush Labels Miers As Fine

A real ringing and articulate endorsement came out of the mouth of W this morning regarding his SCOTUS nominee, Harriet Sycophant Miers. The CEO (Chief Embarrassment Officer) says that she is a fine person and has a good record. Whoa, am blown away with the comments. He could have said that she is swell and neat-o.

When asked about documents that Miers has generated while working in the White House, Bush said that he will not release them.

"Requests ... have been made by Democrats and Republicans about paperwork out of this White House that would make it impossible for me and other presidents to be able to make sound decisions," Bush said.

"People can learn about Harriet Miers through hearings, but we are not going to destroy this business about people being able to walk into the Oval Office and say, 'Mr. President, here's my advice to you. Here's what I think is important,'" he added.

Oh, like the sound decision to go to War in Iraq? The sound decision to have your brother steal the State of Florida for you? Or, how to help the poor, black people in New Orleans?

Cross-posted at Daily Pepper, too.

Ms Miers Muffs It Up

Harriet "Sycophant" Miers has apparently irked those who are set to hear from her in the confirmation, or in my hopes non-confirmation hearing, by giving inadequate responses to her formal questionnaire that is distributed amongt the Judiciary Committee.

Okay, this is not a high school mid-term! Real answers are expected. This is the woman who supposedly engages in the minutia? Did she think that she was being cute? I think that a first-year law school student would have given more complete and professional answers.

It speaks volumes to me when once-rejected nominee Robert Bork writes a scathing commentary about you on MSNBC. "It's a little late to develop a constitutional philosophy or begin to work it out when you're on the court already," he told Carlson. "I'm afraid she's likely to be influenced by factors, such as personal sympathies and so forth, that she shouldn't be influenced by."

Pepper, this does not make you look mean at all!

Your Thoughts on This Photo?

Um, how many uptight white guys fit in one phot frame?

Is this the I f&$ed Harriet Miers club meeting?

Tell me, what do you think?

Miers' Moxie Motivates

Well, there may be a real donnybrook coming to Congress. Both sides of the aisles have serious doubts and questions about the "qualification" of Harriet Miers.

Here are a few interesting quotes:

"If ever there was a wait-and-see nomination, this is it," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat who has close ties to the Senate Democratic leadership. "Anything can happen."

Boxer admits that the nomination is in jeopardy.

Jan LaRue, chief counsel of the conservative Concerned Women for America, issued an extensive position statement Monday, saying, "We find it patronizing and hypocritical to focus on her faith in order to gain support for Miss Miers."

Her own party cannot come to an agreement on her nomination. So, this is a time for the Democrats to sit back and watch the Republibrats fight amongst themselves.

The best quote on Miers:

White House spokesman Scott McClellan, in a testy exchange with reporters, denied that Miers would withdraw. "No one that knows her would make such a suggestion," McClellan said. "And no one that knows her record and her qualifications would make such a suggestion." Source: SF Chron

Scott, what record and qualifications? Yea, dance white boy, dance around the issue. He later said hell no, Miers will not go! Or is she a plant until they can find a real conservative?

Also, take a gander what the Heretik and Poetic Leanings have to say.

Miers is Quite the Conundrum

Harriet Miers is causing a fuss.

As a big time believer in equality and human rights, I am moved by her *seeming* and enlightened stance on LBGT issues. There is an excellent article about this issue in the San Francisco Chronicle. While she is hardly the poster-child for Repulibrats for Gay Equality, she sounds pretty damn close.

Hilary Rosen, former head of the Recording Industry Association of America and a leader in the city's gay politics, wrote in a blog Wednesday that when Miers served on the Dallas City Council, she had appointed an openly gay man, Don McCleary, to the Dallas Board of Adjustment.

When McCleary died of AIDS in 1996, Rosen said, Miers, then managing partner of a large Dallas law firm, lent public support when his funeral made prominent mention of AIDS, noting that "it caused a stir."

Rosen said she found the story "seemingly comforting," but not comforting enough.

After all, she did spend a summer living and interning in San Francisco with Melvin Belli. She was rumored to be a democrat for some portion of her life. Although, there are some new conservative ads that won't air here. It seems that while she may have some enlightened views, she could become a flip flopper or she could become more liberal. With the balance of the Supreme Court and so many important freedoms and liberties at stake, we cannot afford to play the odds.

More Miers Mischief

Apparently, the White House Suck Up aka Harriet Miers is not making anyone happy -- liberals, moderates or conservatives. Oh boy!  You can find bitching about her on both sides of the aisles across this great blogosphere of ours.

A great article from the San Francisco Chronicle quotes this professor who hits the nail on the head:

"It's not her lack of judicial experience by itself but her lack of experience combined with any other public record," said Vic Amar, professor at Hastings Law School in San Francisco. She wasn't a law professor, a solicitor general, a senator -- as were other justices who vaulted onto the court without being judges first.

"It's wrong to call her a blank slate," Amar said. "It's more accurate to call her a closed slate. It's not that nobody knows what she thinks, but the public doesn't."

The cynic in me thinks that she is being appointed , so she can never testify against Bushie or any of his cronies. Who are we kidding? She has read every piece of paper that has come into the White House and the Oval Office. It is this or she suddenly disappears, people.

Harriet Miers' ProBono Hint

According to Whitehouse.gov, Miers has done probono work for EXODUS Ministries. Let's take a look at them, shall we?

From their site:

At EXODUS, we recognize that recently released and paroled ex-offenders need help. In addition to their need for intimate knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, these individuals and their families also need a sense of belonging and acceptance. Most need a place to live. Some need counseling, including treatment for drug and alcohol dependence. All need Christian fellowship.

In its six-month intensive, resident program, at it's 20-unit apartment center, EXODUS reaches ex- fellowship, counseling, arrangements for housing and food, and a supportive church home.

Translation: After six months you, too, will be brainwashed into being a Bible-thumper. Also, please stop breeding, we really do not like poor people.

Stability. Maturity. Strength of character. EXODUS seeks to instill these traits in its residents through Bible study and discipleship training. As families reunite, the program nurtures healthy family relationships.

Translation: You can pretend that you are uptight white people, just like us.  Discipleship training -- what the hell is that?

Take a look at the qualifications -- forcing us to have to be families and have religion crammed down their throats. To re-affirm this view, read the objective section of their website.