The US District Court for Arizona handed down an order of partial summary judgement in the big Prop200 election rights case, Gonzales v. Arizona, and Secretary of State Jan Brewer reacted as if she had just parted the Red Sea. Her press release crowed: “I am extremely happy to have earned this sweeping court victory … Read more
The excuse most often offered by the Bush Administration for many of its blatantly illegal acts, including torture, secret detention, extraordinary rendition, and the use of signing statements to refuse to enforce selected parts of Congressional legislation, is that these actions were justified as legally defensible, or simply legally non-controversial, by the Administration’s attorneys, including … Read more
The best guide for the citizen interested (as few are) in making an informed vote on judicial retention is the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review. Unlike voting based on party affiliation like the ideologues over at Sonora Alliance are advocating, retention should be based on ability, not ideology. I’m not kidding myself that many … Read more
There are some countries where the only rational reaction to the police is to run, fight, or bribe, and where the courts are nothing but an extension of a corrupt government. Luckily, America is not such a country… yet.
21 year-old Michael arrived in Phoenix as a refugee from the 30-year genocidal war in Sudan. His story is part of a tragedy that has destroyed 2.5 million humans, and made refugees of 4 million more. Sudan’s legal system has become a system of torture, and the courts simply puppets of a regime bent on annihilation of black Sudanese.
Michael was hit by a car in Phoenix while riding his bike home from work. He was badly injured in the accident, but was given a ticket by the officer who responded to the accident. He was bewildered and frightened; the car had hit him and he had done nothing wrong. What was going to be done to him when he responded to the wrongful citation?
The Democratic Senators who voted for cloture have put Alito on the bench. One can debate how much of an effect it will have for a Catholic majority to control our highest court, but the simple fact is that Bush should not have been able to put as conservative a justice as Alito on the bench when laboring under his scandalous record and a pitiful performance rating.
The Democratic party folded over one little word, "obstructionist". Again, instead of taking such a pissant little label, like "liberal", and making it a badge of honor, they slunk off an did the GOP’s dirty business.
This nomination should have been a line in the sand, er… well, those haven’t worked out very well lately… this nomination should have been a make or break moment for every Democrat. Either you’re with us or your dead electoral meat. In the end 25 Democratic Senators did the right thing, but there are several who need to feel a little wrathiness from their base.
The Vichy Democrats are:
Akaka
Inouye
Cantwell
Rockefeller
Byrd
Bingaman
Lieberman
Nelson (FL)
Nelson (NE)
Baucus
T. Johnson
Dorgan
B. Lincoln
Salazar
Conrad
Landrieu
Pryor
Carper
Kohl