Charges Against George W. Bush

I have received numerous e-mails requesting to know what the 35 charges of high crimes and misdemeanors George W. Bush has been charged with. The charges range from creating a secret propaganda campaign against the American people to kidnapping, torture, illegal detentions and obstructing the 9/11 investigation.

For an overview of the charges, click here.

The War Prayer

Mark Twain has always been a favorite of mine and today I was reading the C&L blog and found this wonderful drawn animation of his work, "The War Prayer". It addresses the wonders of jingoism and the prayers of God's people. (NOT FOR CHILDREN!)



If you would like to read the full text of "The War Prayer", click here.

CIA Insured to Break the Law?

The CIA announced last Monday that it will pay the full cost of legal liability insurance for about two-thirds of the agency workforce.

"The insurance comes from private companies to cover legal expenses that arise out of actions undertaken in the course of a CIA officer's official duties. It is meant to cover potential litigation expenses including damages. It covers legal expenses associated only with those activities undertaken after liability insurance is taken. The reimbursement program began in 2000."

"Any agency employee who supervises one or more employees is eligible to be reimbursed as will attorneys, grievance officers, equal employment opportunity counselors, auditors, IG inspectors and investigators, polygraph examiners, recruiters or hiring advisers and security officers."

Isn't that awesome? The most important law enforcement agency must insure most of its employees against lawsuits for violating the law/Bill of Rights/Constitution.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

CIA Director Michael Hayden appeared on Meet The Press told Tim Russert that he recently urged his CIA employees to buy liability insurance in order to protect them against any lawsuits that may challenge the legality of their legal acts.

I also found a story written by Pamela Hess called, "CIA Expands Legal Help for Workers". You can read her AP article here.

Huckabee on Running for Office - Like Being Waterboarded

Now that we've heard from Mike Huckabee's supporters, let's hear from the man himself:

"Running for office is like being waterboarded."

I put the clip up to show that I'm not making this stuff up.

Jon Stewart - Torture Talk

I am so glad a reporter finally asked the question! If it has been considered torture for centuries and we convicted people for it after WWII, why is it not considered torture now? Finally!

The response is typical: Evasion, redirection and refusal to state an opinion. Our representatives are acting like criminals and attorneys at the same time. Is this what we are supposed to teach our children to aspire to? Should we teach them to operate in self-serving ways, be evasive in public and never take responsibility for their actions?



Ted Kennedy: Would waterboarding be torture if it was done to you?

Michael Mukasey: ... I would feel that it was.

Mike McConnell: Being a water safety instructor and teaching people to swim, he said. “Well, what about if water goes up your nose?” And I said that would be torture. That would be very painful to me.

Unidentified Reporter: American prosecutors actually obtained convictions against Japanese after WWII because of what they did to American captives. What about it—makes it not torture now? Is it just the circumstances?

Tony Fratto: I don’t think that’s a question I can answer… I'd refer you to DOJ on that.

John McCain Speech Music Video

By now, most of you have seen the Obama campaign music video of his speech, "Yes We Can". Someone created a video of McCain (john.he.is) giving one of his speeches in a similar style.

The guys from Election '08 on YouTube (Andy Cobb, Josh Funk, Nyima Funk, Marc Evan Jackson, Mark Kienlen, David Pompeii, Marc Warzecha) put this one out:

The video below is the original campaign music video released in support of Obama.


If anyone is wondering, I have not decided to endorse any particular candidate. However, I will gladly oppose John McCain. I believe it was Pat Buchanan who said, " John McCain will make Cheney look like Ghandi."

Canada Puts United States On Torture List

Hello America! Does it bother anyone that one of our closest allies, physically and metaphorically, has included us on their torture list? I expect it is not something that was said lightly or without consideration of consequence.

Is this what the democracy we are spreading to the world is supposed to look like?

Whose freedoms are we fighting for and where did my habeas corpus go?

Chris Dodd Gets Gold Stars

Five Gold Stars for Chris Dodd

I did not get to put this up before the vote. However, it is important to post. Chris Dodd spoke eloquently and angrily regarding the push to exempt communications companies from any liability regarding trouncing Americans' rights.

The EFF has been at the forefront of this fight.



P.S. He won this round! But the fight is not over, rest assured.

Gonzo Not Lawyer of the Year...Anymore.

Apparently, I was not the only person to be offended by Alberto Gonzales being named "Attorney of the Year" by the ABA and Mukasey being predicted to win the title in 2008. The initial clarification regarding the title came from editor and publisher Edward A. Adams when he told an AP reporter:

"Think about Time magazine's Person of the Year," Adams said in an interview. "In years past they've named people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin. So we're not suggesting by these awards that these are the best lawyers in any sense of the word. We are saying they are the most newsworthy _ and perhaps also the best."

According to a recent editor's note on the ABA website, Alberto Gonzales has been stripped of the title "Attorney of the year" and more appropriately named "Newsmaker of the Year".

You can see my original article with the picture that originally appeared on the website here.

Here is a clip from the most recent editor's note I could locate on the topic:

When this article was posted online on December 12, 2007, it was titled “Lawyers of the Year 2007 and 2008.” The article defined that term as the year’s biggest legal newsmaker, identifying former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as the major newsmaker of 2007. The Journal regrets that we did not make this theme clear.

We appreciate the feedback we’ve received, and we’re acting on it. So that there can be no confusion, the term “Lawyers of the Year” has been changed in the headline and story to “Newsmakers of the Year.” The story is otherwise unchanged from its original version.

Alberto Gonzales Named Lawyer of the Year

(Picture courtesy of the ABA)

I know it sounds like a line I might use to draw you in, but this is the raw truth.

The ABA named Alberto Gonzales "Lawyer of the Year"!!

Read about it in the article Jamie wrote for Crooks & Liars.

When the President Talks to God...

"When the President Talks to God"
by Bright Eyes

I have spent much time contemplating this concept. I saw this the night it aired (May 2, 2005) and was instantly moved. Wow!!! Apparently a lot of other people were too, as it won Song of the Year at the 2006 PLUG Independent Music Awards.

My hope is that this moves you, as it did me, to contemplation and action.
Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) performing on the Tonight Show:

"When The President Talks To God"

When the president talks to God
Are the conversations brief or long?
Does he ask to rape our women’s' rights
And send poor farm kids off to die?
Does God suggest an oil hike
When the president talks to God?

When the president talks to God
Are the consonants all hard or soft?
Is he resolute all down the line?
Is every issue black or white?
Does what God say ever change his mind
When the president talks to God?

When the president talks to God
Does he fake that drawl or merely nod?
Agree which convicts should be killed?
Where prisons should be built and filled?
Which voter fraud must be concealed
When the president talks to God?

When the president talks to God
I wonder which one plays the better cop
We should find some jobs. the ghetto's broke
No, they're lazy, George, I say we don't
Just give 'em more liquor stores and dirty coke
That's what God recommends

When the president talks to God
Do they drink near beer and go play golf
While they pick which countries to invade
Which Muslim souls still can be saved?
I guess god just calls a spade a spade
When the president talks to God

When the president talks to God
Does he ever think that maybe he's not?
That that voice is just inside his head
When he kneels next to the presidential bed
Does he ever smell his own bullshit
When the president talks to God?

I doubt it

I doubt it

In this version, Conor is heard to say, "fil mish mish" at the end.
I have read that it is an Arabic saying that translates as, "When apricot season comes...", meaning something along the lines of, "Don't hold your breath.". I don't know the validity of that, but I do know that Mish Mish is a city in Lebanon...close to the Syrian border.

Police State - Go Skateboarding Day

It's a new world...Torture is what the "good guys" do, skateboarding is a crime, and police hand out beatings to children to help them understand how dangerous the sport can be.

To check out more about Go Skateboarding Day, click here.

Keith Olbermann on Waterboarding

Keith Olbermann special commentary for 5 November 2006:

Bill Moyers on

Bill Moyers addresses the argument over presidential power in his segment, "When the President does it, does it make it legal?" I found the historical perspective particularly interesting.

It's about 10 minutes long, but worth watching.

Jon Stewart on Bush's Defense ofTorture

Funny ha-ha, but not...

"Ask your doctor if torture is right for you."

Presidential Scholars Dissent

50 high school seniors from the Presidential Scholars program presented President George W. Bush with a hand-written letter urging a halt to “violations of the human rights” of terror suspects held by the United States stating, “We do not want America to represent torture.”.

"The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our Nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to 141 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the Nation’s highest honors for high school students. In honoring the Presidential Scholars, the President of the United States symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential." (Presidential Scholars Foundation)

According to spokesperson Dana Perino, the president made certain to remind the student that "the United States does not torture and that we value human rights."

Restore Habeas Corpus!

We have lost a safeguard against illegal imprisonment that has endured as a cornerstone of legal justice since the Magna Carta in 1215 A.D.

It happened when no one was paying attention--During the politically charged atmosphere of the 2006 mid-term elections, the United States Congress (Republicans and Democrats) passed the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

One of the most important and terrifying parts of this act is that it removes the protection of the Great Writ of habeas corpus. The Military Commissions Act allows the government to declare anyone they wish as "alien combatants". Anyone can be held indefinitely, without charges and then be denied all fundamental judicial rights including the ability to appear before a judge and contest the charges.

You can get involved here: DefendHabeasCorpus.org

Habeas corpus is the name of a legal action whereby people being detained (jailed, imprisoned, etc.) can seek relief from unlawful imprisonment. The Great Writ has been one of the most important tools to safeguard the freedoms of citizens and visitors against arbitrary government action for almost 800years!

"The Great Writ," a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum is a court order addressed to a prison official (or other custodian) ordering that a prisoner be brought before the court so that the court can determine whether that person is serving a lawful sentence or should be released from custody. The prisoner, or someone on his behalf, may petition the court or an individual judge for a writ of habeas corpus.

Memorial Day-Support the Troops, Support Peace.

In honor and admiration of those who go into harm's way with the intention of protecting freedom, liberty and people like me: Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. I honor you. I fight for you. I do what I do so that you won't have to do what you do.



I love you and wish you peace, health and a safe return home.

Soldiers bear the weight of the decisions our administration and representatives make. Do your duty as an American to hold our representatives accountable for their actions. Be accoutable for your own actions! Speak up, speak out, become a voice in the choir singing for reason, communication, and peace.

I don't want peace because I hate soldiers and love terrorists. I want peace because I love the people who have dedicated themselves to the idea of protecting me and know that sticking to the ideals that we have always believed to be at the core of America will reduce or eliminate those who wish to create terror within our borders.



If you support the troops, write your representatives in Congress, the Senate and the Whitehouse and ask for a return to an America that believes torture is wrong, imprisoning children is wrong, attacking countries that have not attacked us is wrong, removing habeas corpus is wrong, and that the Geneva Convention isn't just how other countries should treat American prisoners. Remember the Golden Rule: Treat others how you wish to be treated. Honor, integrity, communication, and altruism typically don't infuse people with hatred.

Support the troops, support peace.

3 Republican Candidates Support Torture!?!

It surprised me when I caught a piece of this at a restaurant last night. I thought I heard these people wrong. I went and looked it up on YouTube today and this is what I found:

During last night's GOP debate, Brit Hume set up a hypothetical situation in which 3 terrorist attacks occur at shopping malls in major cities. A fourth attack is thwarted and that would-be attacker, who we "know" has information about an impending, larger attack is captured and taken to Guantanamo Bay. The candidates were asked if "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques", including waterboarding, should be used to get information from the detainee.

All three said torture is acceptable!

McCain said he would use torture in the hypothetical situation presented. He said it would be a "million to one" scenario, but he would authorize and then railed on using torture.

Giuliani said, with no qualms, he would use "enhanced interrogation techniques" including waterboarding (to applause).

Mitt Romney said that he doesn't want them to have access to lawyers. He then said that,

"Some people have said we should close Guantanamo. My view is, we ought to double Guantanamo. (Lots of applause.) There is no question that in a setting like that where you have a ticking bomb and the president, not the C.I.A. interrogator, but the President of the United States has to make the call and enhanced interrogation techniques HAVE to be used, not torture, but enhanced interrogation techniques. Yes."

These people are running for president?

Boston Legal-Gitmo Closing

James Spader in Boston Legal giving his closing statements regarding a Guantanamo Bay detainee. Sound like anyone you know? I know it sounds like people I know. Actually it sounds like every logical American when they slow down enough to think about it and respond.

(courtesy of Crooks & Liars)

Chat with your friends. See what they think. If you all feel like this, see what can you come up with to help put the country back on track.