The Miami Seven: The gang that couldn’t shoot straight. A Major Terror Ring Or 'Al Qaeda Lite'?

Imagine, if you can, you’re President of the United States. You’re the only president in the history of the country to be appointed, rather than elected. Then, 9/11 happens on your watch! Now, you have to perform. With characteristic schoolboy bravado, you naively proclaim, “bring it on.”

You stake your entire presidency on the invasion of two countries. After all, you do command the strongest military in the history of the world. You can’t miss, right? You foolishly proclaim, “Mission accomplished,” before the last shot is fired. But, your tough talk and braggart ways leads to bloodshed with no end in sight.

Then, you’re caught spying on American citizens and coaxing major corporations into selling you personal data on private individuals. You’re caught searching international business records of Americans.

Couple international blunder after blunder with a soaring federal deficit, employment numbers that aren’t great, and a Misery Index that’s rising. Your job approval numbers are low and getting lower. Respected journalists consider you the worst president in the history the country. And, mid-term Congressional elections loom.

Ah, there’s the rub: mid-term Congressional elections.

If your party loses the House and the Senate, you’ll likely be the first president in the history of the country to be impeached and convicted. So what do you do to salvage your presidency? How do you avoid accountability?

When you’re the most powerful man in the world, you use that power to create conditions that save your presidency and keep your party in power. You do what’s always done. Find a scapegoat – a patsy – a Quasimodo.

Every generation has an anti-hero who can rejuvenate a political base and salvage control. In the 20s, it was Sacco and Vanzetti. In the 50s, it was Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. In the 60s, it was the Chicago Seven. Ah that’s it! Numbers and traitors… traitors and number…oh my!

Why not a “Miami Seven”? It’ll work. It has to work.

So under the direction of Alberto Gonzales and the FBI, seven men - Narseal Batiste, Patrick Abraham, Stanley Grant Phanor, Naudimar Herrera, Burson Augustin, Lyblenson Lemorin and Rothschild Augustine – from a Miami shantytown were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism.

But, something just doesn’t add up.

First, there’s the perennial "Jeb Bush-George Bush" connection. You know Florida, the rigged election of 2000, the 9/11 terrorist connections, etc. Is it a matter of chance or design that the seven men accused of being Al Qaeda operatives were exposed by FBI undercover agents in a state riddled with questionable activity on behalf of President Bush and controlled by Jeb Bush, Florida’s Governor and the President’s brother?

Next, there’s the accusation that the Sears Towers in Chicago, which is thousands of miles away, was the target.

And then, there’s the Justice Department’s characterization of the Miami Seven. "This group was more aspirational than operational," FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said. What does “more aspirational than operational” mean? Those close to the operation called the Miami Seven "bungling wannabes."

Bungling wannabes? Is that another way of saying the Miami Seven are little more than contemporary Walter Mittys, “Al Qaeda Lite,” or simply “the gang that couldn’t shoot straight”?

The Miami Seven are accused of trying to raise an army. And yet, spokesman for the US attorney's office said, "We are confident that we have identified every individual who had the intent of posing a threat to the United States." What about the army they were raising? Where is it?

Ah, but something is rotten in Miami. The Bush administration insisted the November midterm congressional elections didn’t motivate the arrest. Or, did it? Read: Major Terror Ring Or 'Al Qaeda Lite'? Andrew Cohen Is Skeptical About Arrests In Miami Terror Plot

Holistic Dentists Become Target of Lawsuits

Holistic dentists believe many of the body's ailments come from the mouth. A 36-year-old California woman had all of her teeth removed after a pair of holistic dentists told her that silver dental fillings were poisoning her. She filed suit against the licensed dentists after learning about the extent of damage they had done. Insurers and regulators are cracking down on this practice by denying claims, suspending licenses and issuing fines. Daniel Yi, LA Times 06/18/2006 Read Article: LA Times

CA Bar Considers Rule on Disclosure of Malpractice Insurance

Some estimate that as many as 20 percent of lawyers in California lack malpractice insurance. The state bar is considering rules to require attorneys to tell new clients that they don't have insurance. The owner of Law-Biz Management Co. agrees that the concept of insurance is a good idea but only if there is a plan to provide affordable insurance. Mike McKee, Law.com 06/21/2006 Read Article: Law.com

Nurses Claim Hospitals Conspired to Keep Wages Low

Four class action lawsuits have been filed against some the nation's largest hospitals for allegedly sharing information on nurses' wages in an effort to suppress pay. Kim Dixon, Reuters 06/20/2006 Read Article: Reuters

NY Judge Denies Disclosure of Defendant Doctor's Medical Records

Dr. George J. Beraka is being sued for allegedly botching a facelift, which caused his patient to have difficulty swallowing and speaking. The plaintiff claims the surgeon's physical condition caused him to make a mistake. However, the judge ruled that the plaintiff could not compel the doctor to disclose his own medical records but he can be asked questions about his condition during his deposition. Daniel Wise, Law.com 06/21/2006 Read Article: Law.com

How to Survive a 'Really Broken' Healthcare System

Experts advise patients to be their own health advocates because of the high number of medical errors. The American Public Health Association and Consumers Union say one of the most important things hospital patients can do is to have someone at bedside at all times to help guard against mistakes in overworked, understaffed hospitals. Greenville News, South Carolina, 06/18/2006

Video-Game Industry Granted Restraining Order for New Law

A federal judge has agreed to put a new Louisiana video game law on hold. The law bans the sale of violent video games to minors and establishes a fine of up to $2,000, one year in prison or both for violators. Judges in California, Illinois and Michigan have found that similar laws violated the industry's right to free speech. Reuters, Reuters 06/21/2006 Read Article: Reuters

Proposed Bill to Improve Oversight of Drug Safety

Senators Michael B. Enzi of WY and Edward M. Kennedy of MA plan to introduce a bill that could dramatically change how drugs are tested and approved. The bill would essentially require drug makers to disclose the results of Phase 3 and 4 trials, have a detailed risk management plan to address safety problems after a drug is approved and pay fines for failing to execute this plan. Gardiner Harris, The New York Times 06/21/2006 Read Article: The New York Times

Victim of Sexual Assault Sues MySpace.com

MySpace.com is being sued by a 14-year-old girl who claims the Web site does not provide "meaningful protections or security measures to protect underage users." The girl claims she was sexually assaulted by another user who lied about his profile to gain her trust. The chief security officer for MySpace.com said, "Ultimately, Internet safety is a shared responsibility. We encourage everyone on the Internet to engage in smart Web practices and have open family dialogue about how to apply offline lessons in the online world." Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle 06/19/2006 Read Article: San Francisco Chronicle

Sunscreen May Be 'Snake Oil of the 21st Century'

A New York attorney, whose firm is filing a class action lawsuit against several major sunscreen manufacturers, claims these companies have given consumers a false impression that they are protected from harmful rays. He would like claims such as "sunblock," "waterproof" and "all-day protection" removed from labels. However, doctors are concerned that these lawsuits may cause people to stop using sunscreen, which may result in even more skin damage. Elizabeth Olson, The New York Times 06/19/2006 Read Article: The New York Times

Fosamax Risks Becoming More Apparent

Fosamax, a drug used to fight osteoporosis, has been linked to jaw decay, also known as osteonecrosis. A Florida attorney filed a class action lawsuit against the drug maker Merck & Co. He believes Merck knew about the risks for years, while many doctors and patients are still not aware of the potential risks of ONJ for dental patients on bisphosphonates. Carey Hamilton, The Salt Lake Tribune 06/20/2006 Read Article: The Salt Lake Tribune

The Pigs are at the trough: Louisiana Legislators Vote Themselves Insurance Perk...

The Pigs are at the trough! Gov. Blanco has not revealed her position on a bill that would authorize the state to pay 75 percent of health and life insurance premiums for former and current legislators who have served for at least 10 years. Existing law permits the state to pay 38 percent of premiums for legislators and state employees who have 10 years of service. Rep. Mike Powell of Shreveport said it is wrong for lawmakers to give themselves privileges while many residents and the state struggle with hurricane issues. Ed Anderson, New Orleans Times-Picayune 06/20/2006 Read Article: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Medical Malpractice Reform Not Working in Georgia

Despite claims that sweeping medical malpractice reform would reduce insurance rates for doctors, a number of medical malpractice insurers in Georgia increased premiums. Some insurers raised liability rates for doctors and dentists by up to one-third. The state passed medical "reform" legislation in 2005 that restricted malpractice lawsuits; capped pain and suffering awards at $350,000; set tougher guidelines for expert witnesses and enticed patients to settle out of court. Associated Press, 06/15/2006

Side Impact Air Bags Can Significantly Reduce Risk of Injury

Several vehicles including the Chrysler 300 and Ford Five Hundred failed side impact crash tests performed without side air bags. The side air bags are standard equipment on 40 percent of 2006 models and should be standard on all models by 2009. Nick Bunkley, The New York Times 06/19/2006 Read Article: The New York Times

Private Judging Has Its Advantages

Many divorcing couples are turning to private judges because of the speed and convenience of a private trial. Courts in Dallas County are swamped, so hiring a private judge can be a way to "fast-track" a case and maximize a lawyer's time in court. This can lead to less expensive cases, but a California justice argues that the same dispute can keep coming up because no precedent is set in a private case. Mary Alice Robbins, Law.com 06/19/2006 Read Article: Law.com

Lawyer Claims Merck Canceled Vioxx Study After FDA Decision

Merck was planning a study on the cardiac risks of Vioxx but scrapped the project in March of 2002 soon after the FDA decided to tone down its warning about heart risks. The FDA and Merck agreed that a notice should be added in the precautions section of the drug's label rather than a more conspicuous warning section. Merck's former head of marketing claims the decision on the study and the labeling were merely coincidence. Linda A. Johnson, Houston Chronicle 06/16/2006 Read Article: Houston Chronicle

Jury Verdict Sends Message to Drunk Drivers

A family was awarded $28.2 million for the death of 33-year-old man who was hit by a drunk driver. The driver's blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit when his truck pinned the man between two vehicles and dragged him to his death. The driver was sentenced to seven years in prison for intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault. Dallas News, The Dallas Morning News 06/19/2006 Read Article: The Dallas Morning News

Free markets? What free market? Drug Companies Face Lawsuits Alleging Price Fraud

A number of states are suing pharmaceutical companies for inflating drug prices, which adversely affects Medicaid and Medicare. The industry plans to vigorously defend themselves against these allegations and Baxter International claims "there is a great deal of transparency and has been for quite some time." The DOJ is confident that hard evidence will show overcharging by the industry. Tresa Baldas, Law.com 06/19/2006 Read Article: Law.com

Insurance Industry Controlled LIBA Pushes House To Vote Down Amendments For Homeowners Insurance Break

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) opposed House amendments that would have given you, Louisiana homeowners, a $50 million break on premiums after the hurricane season.

The Senate had added amendments to two spending bills that would have given Louisiana Citizens Insurance Corp. $50 million at the end of hurricane season to pay off bonds early. That would have offset the amount that Louisiana homeowners will be assessed to support the Citizens insurance program. Florida turned all of its $700 million surplus over to its state-operated insurance program, which eliminated the need for a homeowners' assessment. Lake Charles American Press, 06/19/2006

U.S. Supreme Court 'Fractured' Wetlands Ruling Could Impact Louisiana

A 5-4 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on a wetlands development issue is so "fractured" that one justice said "lower courts and regulated entities will now have to feel their way on a case-by-case basis." The court said the federal Clean Water Act may have been misinterpreted in a case that barred Michigan property owners from building a shopping mall and condo on wetlands that they own. Justices could not reach a consensus on whether government protections extend past waterways, which means lower courts will have to decide whether ditches and drainage outlets are included as part of a government-protected waterway and wetland area. The ruling could have significant impact upon Louisiana and the "taking" of property without due compensation. Lafayette Daily Advertiser, The Advertiser 06/19/2006 Read Article: The Advertiser

Panel Created to Redesign Health Care in Louisiana

The Legislature passed a resolution to create a 37-member panel that would recommend ways to improve health care in Louisiana. Panelists would be named from LSU and other medical schools, nursing homes, hospitals, pharmacies, business, lawmakers and others. Head of the panel will be Fred Cerise, secretary of the state Department of Health and Hospitals. The task is to tackle health care problems in the New Orleans area first, then the rest of the state. A final report would be due by Dec. 31, 2007. Will Sentel, The Advocate 06/19/2006 Read Article: The Advocate

If you commit corporate fraud and you can’t deny it, then attack the Courts that hold you responsible: Courts are Newest Target in Tort Reform Effort….

That’s the new tactic of tort reformers! Attack the courts instead of legislatures. Corporate defense counsel are urged to push for jury trials and challenge torts common law case-by-case before business-friendly judges. One corporate defense attorney said, "(T)he quickest and easiest way to change laws is through the courts…All you need are a couple of good rulings from an appellate court, and suddenly you have something to talk about in other jurisdictions and in your own." Critics say under the guise of asking for jury trials, they are really asking juries to "hickjack the law" and that it's "very easy to flimflam a jury" on complex issues. The American Justice Partnership, an attack-dog group formed in 2005 by the National Association of Manufacturers, promotes the tort-reform-in-the-courts effort. Read "Moving Toward the Fully Informed Jury" and a practice guide. ABA Journal, 06/19/2006

Addicted to war...

It’s reported Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in the world, will spend $6.8B to fight poverty. By contrast, the United States, the richest country in the world, will spend $400B to protect the property of international corporations. So, is the world better off with George W. Bush? who is “addicted to war.”

What does Chickenhawk Karl Rove have in common with Dick Cheney and George W. Bush? They dodged the draft during the Vietnam War …

Just hours after the special prosecutor decided not to indict Karl Rove in the Scooter Libby CIA- leak scandal, Rove emerged from hiding and , once more, assumed his role as chief hatchet- man for the Bush administration.

Trying to salvage the Bush administration, Chickenhawk Rove attacked John Kerry and Jack Murtha. Both Murtha and Kerry have distinguished military records as compared to Rove, Bush and Cheney.

We all know that George W. Bush was given preferential treatment during the Vietnam War by which he was allowed to enter, but never complete, military duty with the Air National Guard.

Dick Cheney was no better. After multiple DWIs, Cheney was eventually given a deferment from the draft.

As the Bush administration continues to spiral downward, the Blogs are buzzing with information about the draft-dodging efforts of Bush’s Brain, Karl Rove, during the Vietnam War. Here are some excerpts:

“Except for a lapse of several months, Selective Service records show presidential adviser Karl Rove escaped the draft for nearly three years at the height of the Vietnam War using student deferments....[Rover's]draft record and accounts from friends reveal a young man who didn't necessarily agree with the war and managed to avoid being drafted…. Far from being a conscientious objector, Gustavson [a friend of Rove] recalls, Rove's opposition to the war was political. He considered the conflict a ‘political skirmish that was not being properly administered.’"

More Guantánamo Newspeak...

Yesterday we reported on the suicides at Guantánamo, Cuba. We pointed out the use of Orwellian style Newspeak to confuse the public into believing that an act of desperation was actually an act of asymmetrical warfare.

Continuing that theme, The New York Times examines unspeakable aspects of American justice as applied at Guantánamo:

"[Guantánamo] is a place where secret tribunals sat in judgment of men whose identities they barely knew and who were not permitted to see the evidence against them. Inmates were abused, humiliated, tormented and sometimes tortured. Some surely are very dangerous men, committed to a life of terrorism and deserving of harsh justice. But only 10 of the roughly 465 men at the camp have been charged with crimes. The others, according to senior officers who served there, were foot soldiers of the Taliban or men who just happened to live in a country invaded by the United States after the 9/11 attacks."

Read: The Deaths at Gitmo

In Prisoners' Ruse Is Suspected at Guantánamo , The New York Times details the suicides. Most intriguing is the continued Newspeak. For example, one official described the suicides as “an attempt to influence the judicial proceedings in that perspective." This is a far stretch.

Read: Prisoners' Ruse Is Suspected at Guantánamo

Bush administration continues downward international spiral: The Chilean President Defied US Pressure to Oppose Venezuela's Security Council Bid..

The Bush administration is feeling stiff resistance internationally. The latest obstacle: Chile. Roger Burbach reports:

"President Michelle Bachelet came to Washington on Thursday for a one day whirl wind trip that included a meeting with George Bush. Both exchanged pleasantries after the meeting, neither referring to the heavy-handed efforts of the Bush administration to pressure Chile to oppose Venezuela's bid for a seat on the United Nations security council....At a meeting of Latin American and European nations in Austria in May, President Bachelet, alluding to the growing US hostility towards the so-called "power axis" between Venezuela and Bolivia, stated: 'I would not want us to return to the cold war era where we demonise one country or another. What we have witnessed in these countries [Bolivia and Venezuela] is that they are looking for governments and leaders that will work to eradicate poverty and eliminate inequality.'"

Read: Bachelet Refuses to Back Down to Bush

Are Supreme Court Justices Roberts and Alito determined to judicially rollback the racial clock?

New York Times reports, "now that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases challenging racial balancing in public schools, some conservatives hope the end of affirmative action is near."

Read: Perhaps Not All Affirmative Action Is Created Equal

More Executive abuse of power: DOJ targets plaintiffs' law firm….

Determined to keep the average person defenseless against the likes of Ken Lay, the Bush administration has targeted the securities law firm of Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman. Four Democratic congressmen have spoken up in defense of Milberg Weiss and, indeed all trial lawyers, stating:

"The Justice Department's crusade against trial lawyers, the first line in the average citizen's protection against corporate greed, has taken a new low in the indictment of an entire leading law firm in the plaintiffs' bar."

Representatives Charles B. Rangel, Carolyn McCarthy, and Gary L. Ackerman of New York and Robert Wexler of Florida signed the statement.

It’s time for all trial lawyers to sever ties with the Republican Party. For decades, the Republican Party, along with the Chamber of Commerce, have been on a relentless campaign to discredit trial lawyers nationwide.

Read: 4 From Congress Defend Indicted Law Firm

Attorney Whistleblower Sues Orleans Levee Board

Former staff attorney Gary Benoit sued the Orleans Levee Board and two officials, claiming officials tried to force his resignation after he decided in September to tell the governor's office about illegal activities at the agency. Benoit worked for the levee board for 17 years. Frank Donze, New Orleans Times-Picayune 06/09/2006 Read Article: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Editorial: 'Overindulged' Nursing Home Industry Needs No More Special Breaks

Editors call for Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco to veto any bill that offer more special favors to the "politically powerful" nursing home industry.

Louisiana HB 613 would protect nursing homes from state budget cuts and is part of a "long, disturbing pattern" in the way federal Medicaid funds support long-term care in Louisiana. Instead of protecting nursing homes, legislators should pay more attention to the health of Louisiana citizens.

Editorial, New Orleans Times-Picayune 06/09/2006 Read Article: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Bush administration’s newspeak continues: Is the U.S. at war with Saudi Arabia and Yemen?

Riddle: When is suicide not an act of desperation? Answer: When it’s an act of asymmetrical warfare. At least that’s how Rear Adm. Harry Harris, commander of Joint Task Force-Guantanamo, sees it.

Commenting on the 2 Saudis and 1 Yemeni who committed suicide at Guantanamo, Harris said:

“This was clearly a planned event, not a spontaneous event…I believe this was not an act of desperation, rather an act of asymmetric warfare waged against [the U.S.]”

"Asymmetrical warfare" is defined as "a conflict in which a much weaker opponent uses unorthodox or surprise tactics to attack the weak points of the much stronger opponent."

So, who will Bush bomb next for this asymmetric act of war? Saudi Arabia? Or Yemen?

Wake up: the American Dream is over

In “Wake up: the American Dream is over,” Paul Harris of The Guardian (U.K.) examines the plight of working class Americans. Calling America the land of extremes, Harris observes:

“America has some of the worst urban sprawl in the world and also the most beautiful and well-protected wildernesses. Its politics is awash with lobbyist inspired corruption. Yet passionate political engagement among millions of Americans puts many other countries to shame.”

Sadly, however, Harris rhetorically asks:

“So in this land of black and white, we should not be too surprised to find some of the biggest gaps between rich and poor in the world. Such a yawning chasm is just the American Way, it would seem. Besides, the American Dream offers a way out to everyone. All someone has to do is work hard and climb the ladder towards the top. No class system or government stands in the way.”

Not so, Harris concludes, supporting his conclusions with startling statistics:

“Over the past 25 years the median US family income has gone up 18 percent. For the top one percent, however, it has gone up 200 percent. A quarter of a century ago the top fifth of Americans had an average income 6.7 times that of the bottom fifth. Now it is 9.8 times. Inequalities have grown worse in different regions. In California, home to both Beverly Hills and the gang-ridden slums of Compton, incomes for lower class families have fallen by four percent since 1969. For upper class families they have risen 41 percent.”

Was he beaten to death, or was he bombed? New questions raised about the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Associated Press reports Iraqis have raised questions about the death Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. According to AP, U.S. officials altered their account of al-Zarqawi’s death. At first, U.S. officials said al-Zarqawi was alive and partly conscious after bombs destroyed his hideout. But an Iraqi witness has raised fresh questions about al-Zarqawi’s death.

The informant, identified only as Mohammed, said, “[al-Zarqawi] was still alive. We put him in the ambulance, but when the Americans arrived they took him out of the ambulance, they beat him on his stomach and wrapped his head with his dishdasha, then they stomped on his stomach and his chest until he died and blood came out of his nose."

"Hate-filled attack," said the 9/11 Comission to the Queen of Mean

"Hate-filled attack." That’s what the 9/11 Commission called Ann Coulter’s latest assault on 9/11 victims.

The Queen of Mean was unmoved and on message, a la Karl Rove, responding: "These broads (9/11 widows) are millionaires, lionized on TV and in articles about them, reveling in their status as celebrities and stalked by grief-arazzis. I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much.” The “grief-arazzis” phrase is a play on words taken directly from Rush Limbaugh who fondly calls independent women “femi-nazis.”

Ah thanks, Ann, for reducing feminity to an all time low as only a rabid right wing wacko could do.

The Bush administration continues its assault on the U.S. Constitution...

The Bush administration continues its assault on the U.S. Constitution. Recently, Republican Sen. Arlen Specter rebuked Cheney for trying to impede subpoenas of the phone company executives.

As only he could, Cheney responded that his behavior was "not unusual" in his role as vice president. "I have frequent contact with senators,” Cheney claimed, “both at their initiative and mine."

Specter, however, put “executive abuse” in the correct prospective: "I am not looking for an apology,” Specter responded. “I am looking for protection of civil rights and recognition of congressional oversight…I am looking for a substantive result and I think we may be on the way."

Ann Coulter, the Republican Bitch of Buchenwald, attacks 9/11 widows…

Gays and lesbians can breathe easy for the moment. The Republican Inquisitors have a new scapegoat to prop up the failing Bush administration. It's the widows of 9/11 victims!

Ann Coulter, the Republican Bitch of Buchenwald, has been given the responsibility of distracting the public from the Village Idiot’s (GWB) failures by attacking the widows of 9/11 victims. In the spirit of Ilse Koch, who made lampshades out of her Jewish victims, Coulter called the widows of 9/11 victims "witches" saying, "I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much.”

The public will be outraged, and rightly so. But, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh will come to the aide of the Queen of Mean by comparing her rancor to the vitriol of Ward Churchill, which will then cause David Horowitz to crawl from under his rock and enter the deabte.

In the end, America will be distracted from the murder of Iraqi civilians, runaway gas prices, a failing economy, etc., in a way that the debate over gay marriage could never distract.

Has the Bush administration re-ignited the “Cold War"?

“The Mystery of the 'Two Cheneys,'” reads the op-ed piece from People's Daily, China's Communist Party-controlled newspaper.

The article discusses Cheney’s hypocritical criticism Russia, only to embrace dictator and human rights abuser Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan.

The article asks: Has the Bush administration re-ignited the “Cold War"?

Read: The Mystery of the 'Two Cheneys'

Donald Rumsfeld: “Shit happens. Get over it. ”

The Sunday Times, U.K., presents a chilling article on the Haditha massacre.

“As his stomach churned,” the article reads, “Roel Briones mechanically clicked the button on his digital camera. With every shot, he felt his humanity was being tested. The dead, he said, ‘ranged from from little babies to adult males and females. I’ll never be able to get that out of my head. I can still smell the blood.’”

The article also opines: “If proved, the massacre could change the course of the war in Iraq.”

And, Donald Rumsfeld’s response? if you can call it that: “Things that shouldn’t happen do happen in war.” Or, in street slang, “Shit happens. Get over it. ”

Read: Focus: America's shame

Thank you, Mr. Rumsfeld, for proving “old men lie” and “young men die.”

It was called the “Domino Theory.” If we didn’t stop the advance of Communism in Asia, Communism would eventually engulf the world. The “Domino Theory” became the raison d'être for Vietnam. Of course it wasn’t true. But we learned that too late:

58,148 killed during service;
114 captured and died in captivity;
9,000 suicides as a direct result of the war (1.7 x the non-Veteran population).

Total of approximately 67,000 Americans.

Fighting with the U.S.:

223,748 South Vietnamese soldiers killed,
5,282 of other nationalities.

A total of approximately 300,000.

Fighting for North Vietnam:

1,000,000 military casualties;
600,000 wounded.

Civilian casualties:

2,000,000 in the north,
2,000,000 in the south.

A total of 5.1 million total Vietnamese casualties.

But today…today Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said: the United States wants to expand its military relationship with Vietnam, but has no plans to seek access to military facilities in this former enemy nation.

Thank you, Mr. Rumsfeld, for proving “old men lie” and “young men die.”

Listen to: George W. Bush, the unfeeling president….

Listen to: George W. Bush, the unfeeling president….

Fear and hate…fear and hate and more fear and hate…

How do you convince a nation to vote for you? Fear and hate…fear and hate and more fear and hate…

Watch: THE BBC REPORT on the Ken Lay & George W. Bush connection...

Watch: THE BBC REPORT on the Ken Lay & George W. Bush connection. A must see!

Massacre of civilians at Haditha worse than Abu Gharib...

We’ve been following the development about the massacre at Haditha: See, US Rep. Jack Murtha: Evidence the US military deliberately ... and Rep. Jack Murtha vindicated: US opens probe on Iraq civilian's death

Today Associated Press reports the massacre of civilians at Haditha in the Anbar province is worse than Abu Gharib:

The shootings last November at Haditha, a city in the Anbar province of western Iraq that has been plagued by insurgents, were covered up, said Rep. John Murtha…"Who covered it up, why did they cover it up, why did they wait so long?" Murtha said on "This Week" on ABC.

"We don't know how far it goes. It goes right up the chain of command….I will not excuse murder, and this is what happened," Murtha said. "This investigation should have been over two or three weeks afterward and it should have been made public and people should have been held responsible for it."

Additional coverage:
Haditha killings will likely weaken U.S. war support
The Shame of Haditha
Witnesses describe Haditha slayings of Iraqis

4th Amendment? What 4th Amendment? Police Can Enter Homes Without Warrant; only need pretext: an Emergency

The Supreme Court ruled that police officers can enter a home unannounced in an emergency situation. The decision affirms that officers were justified in going inside a home to break up a fight during a house party. A lower court had thrown out charges stemming from their search because the officers violated the Fourth Amendment. Gina Holland, Law.com 05/23/2006 Read Article: Law.com

New Orleans Mayor:Businesses are 'Predators'

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said he is not bothered by businesses that said they may leave the city if he was reelected to office. Nagin said, "Business people are predators, and if the economic opportunities are here, they're going to stay. If not, they're going to leave…God bless them. I hope they stay, but if they don't I'll send them a postcard." Associated Press, New Orleans Times-Picayune 05/21/2006 Read Article: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Corporate greed: More 'Looted Body Parts' Lawsuits Filed in Baton Rouge

A total of eight lawsuits are now filed in federal district court in Baton Rouge, alleging that New York-based Biomedical Tissue Service sold stolen body parts from corpses to hospitals for transplant procedures. Judge Frank Polozola issued a stay in the cases until a decision is made on consolidating the Baton Rouge cases with others in the nation. The Advocate , The Advocate 05/23/2006 Read Article: The Advocate

Panel on Judicial Conduct Censures Texas Republican Supreme Court Justice

The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished Republican Justice Nathan Hecht for endorsing Harriet Mier, a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. Hecht argues that he has the right under the First Amendment to free speech. He plans to "vigorously contest this charge" before a panel of three appellate judges. Chuck Lindell, Austin American Statesman 05/24/2006 Read Article: Austin American Statesman

Jury Finds for Family of Slain Knox College Student

A Naperville couple was awarded $1.05 million for their daughter's wrongful death. The student was brutally murdered in a dormitory stairwell at Knox College in Downstate Galesburg. The lawsuit against the college alleged poor lighting in the stairwell and inadequate security on campus provided an unsafe environment. Bill Bird, Chicago Sun-Times 05/24/2006Read Article: Chicago Sun-Times

Family of Train-Wreck Victim Plans to Sue

The family of a 24-year-old man who died in a train wreck plans to seek $1 million from the town of Terry, railroad company CN and Amtrak. Investigators determined that recently installed lights at the crossing had not been activated. A truck driver and about two dozen cattle he was hauling were killed in a collision at the same crossing in 2000. Kelli Esters, The Jackson Clarion-Ledger 05/23/2006Read Article: The Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Bare-knuckle entrepreneurs poised to Fight Insurance Reform Bills

Bare-knuckle entrepreneurs composed of insurers, bankers and other businesses have formed a coalition to protect none other than...insurance companies! The purpose? To stop the House Insurance Committee vote on SB 693, which would abolish a law that allowed insurance companies to increase rates by 10 percent or less without the approval of the Insurance Rating Commission. Robert Travis Scott, New Orleans Times-Picayune 05/24/2006 Read Article: New Orleans Times-Picayune

Rep. Jack Murtha vindicated: U.S. opens probe on Iraq civilian's death

Recently Rep. Jack Murtha, decorated Vietnam vet, condemned U.S. Military cover-up of the massacre of Iraqi civilians. On May 17, Murtha said the Haditha attack was far worse than originally reported. He accused U.S. troops of killing innocent women and children "in cold blood." Nearly twice as many people were killed than first reported. Murtha blamed the killings on an "overstretched and overstressed" military. See, US Rep. Jack Murtha: Evidence the US military deliberately ...

Today the U.S. military announced it was opening criminal investigation into allegations. Associated Press reports, “A preliminary investigation by Multinational Force-West found enough information to recommend an investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigation Service.”

AP further reported, “Videotape aired by an Arab television station showed images purportedly taken in the aftermath of the encounter: a bloody bedroom floor, bullet holes in walls and bodies of women and children. An Iraqi human rights group called for an investigation of what it described as another deadly mistake that had harmed civilians.”

U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha: Evidence the US military deliberately massacred Iraqi civilians

Sometime last year, when we wrote about the real atrocities at Abu Ghrib, we were called liars. But, references to photographs and videotapes mentioned only in European newspapers began to surface, albeit cryptically, during official investigation of the allegations.

After months of denial and a lawsuit by the ACLU, the Army admitted it had evidence that was more shocking than pictures of soldiers holding vicious dogs over prisoners. It had evidence of murder and rape.

Notwithstanding, a federal judge's order to release the evidence, the military stonewalled "full disclosure." Finally, an Australian newspaper had the courage to print what the American news media shunned. And with its disclosure, there was more evidence of pres. Bush’s dishonesty. More evidence the Bush administration was desperately trying to salvage war in Iraq in order to salvage Bush’s presidency.

Today, senior House Democrat Jack Murtha, himself a decorated Vietnam veteran, disclosed evidence the US military deliberately massacred Iraqi civilians. In Murtha's words, the evidence will prove to be a "very, very bad thing" for the US.

The slaughter stems from the death Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas on Nov. 19, 2005. A roadside explosive device killed Terrazas. Initially, the military covered up the atrocity, claiming the same roadside bomb that killed Terrazas also killed civilians. But, that wasn’t the case. As a result of Terrazas’s death, US marines conducted a house-to-house search that resulted in the slaughter of 23 civilians. But Murtha's sources say the killings were deliberate.

Those of us who lived through the Vietnam, remember the horror of My Lai Massacre. We also remember its cause. At that time, US soldiers were caught in a war that was ill advised and could not be won. Common sense dictates that our leaders would have learned a lesson, but they didn't.

Murtha explained, "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Like My Lai, information about the Iraqi atrocities came from military personnel. Murtha said his information "comes from the commanders, it comes from people who know what they are talking about." It is difficult to believe that this nation will ever recover from the incredible damage inflicted upon it and the rest of the world by Pres. Bush.

Bush administration’s newspeak, and another attack on the U.S. constitution…

"Newspeak" is the use of language in a deliberately ambiguous and contradictory way to mislead and manipulate the public. George Orwell first described the idea in the novel 1984. With the rise of international authoritarianism, conservative governments worldwide use "fighting terrorism" and "national security" to "chill" natural rights, such as "freedom of expression," which individuals in Western democracies have long enjoyed.

The method is simple: First, have an authoritative figure in the government, someone like Atty. General Alberto Gonzales, threaten prosecution for a crime that is described in ambiguous language. Second, have a government-controlled news agency, like Fox news, communicate the threat in clear language. And, a timid press already softened by false-patriotism and greed will do the rest. Silence!

On Sunday May 21, 2006, Fox news reported, "Attorney General Says Reporters Can Be Prosecuted for Publishing Classified Leaks." Of course, when you wade through Gonzales's newspeak, the description of the crime is just vague enough to permit the Bush administration to say it wasn't trying to intimidate the press and yet achieve that effect.

"There are some statutes on the book," Gonzales said, which "if you read the language carefully, would seem to indicate that that is a possibility." Words like "read the language carefully," "would seem," and "is a possibility" are never used to describe a crime. Criminal acts must be clear; otherwise they are not considered crimes. Can you imagine saying, if read carefully, there is a statute that seems to define the crime of robbery? Or, use of a gun rob someone "would seem" to be illegal? Or, if you rob someone with a gun, prosecution "is a possibility."

Such a situation would be silly. You can't be prosecuted for a crime that is ambiguous, unless the fix in with the judge. Or unless, prosecution isn't the objective; rather, the objective is curtailing "freedom of expression."

While keeping the alleged illegal act vague, Gonzales makes the threat clear. Referring to prosecutions Gonzales said, "We have an obligation to enforce those laws. We have an obligation to ensure that our national security is protected." Words like "obligation," "enforce," and "national security," are strong words that communicate the intended threat. A timid press will get the message and remain silent to avoid the risk of prosecution.

When a government, like the Bush administration, violates the peoples' constitution, hasn't national security been compromised? And, when an authority figure, like Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales, facilitates the violation, isn't he aiding and abetting. Besides, didn't both Cheney and Bush leak classified information? If so, who's the criminal? You decide.

Is it "we the people" or "me the people?" Presidential signing statement. A must see!

Phillip Cooper, a leading expert on Presidential signing statements, takes Pres. Bush to task in his 2002 book, By Order of the President: The Use and Abuse of Executive Direct Action. Cooper assesses the uses and abuses of signing statements by presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

By Cooper's count, “George W. Bush issued 23 signing statements in 2001; 34 statements in 2002, raising 168 constitutional objections; 27 statements in 2003, raising 142 constitutional challenges, and 23 statements in 2004, raising 175 constitutional criticisms.” In total, during Bush’s first term Bush raised a remarkable 505 constitutional challenges to various provisions of legislation that became law.

“It’s ‘we the people,’ not ‘me the people,’ Mr. President. The new animation "Decider." A must see!

The determined killing of Joseph Clark...

Determined, an adj., meaning: Marked by or showing determination…resolute… decided or resolved, as in: “was engaged in a protracted struggle with a determined enemy.”

Determined to get drug money, Joseph Clark killed David Manning. The day before he killed Manning, determined to rob a store, Clark killed a store clerk. Joseph Clark was determined man – determined to kill Manning, determined to rob a store, and determined to kill the store clerk.

When the State of Ohio got its turn, it was determined – determined to kill Joseph Clark.

Determined to kill effectively, Ohio’s execution team anticipated special problems in killing Joseph Clark. One member of the execution team admitted, we knew Clark’s veins "were not going to be easy to find." Determined to succeed, Ohio’s execution team struggled to find a vein in Clark’s arm. Finally, success! And, then Clark’s vein collapsed.

Determined to assist in his own killing, Clark pushed himself up from his gurney saying, "It don't work."

Determined to die for Ohio’s execution team, Clark offered a solution. "Can you just give me something by mouth to end this?" Clark asked his killers.

Determined not to be embarrassed, a member of Ohio’s execution team explained, we “tried to administer the lethal drugs through the first shunt by mistake.”

Determined not to hide the error, Ohio officials explained, “The vein simply collapsed — that wasn't a flaw in the process."

Then, Joseph Clark died.

The system ain’t broke! Harvard Study Analyzes Medical Malpractice Claims

According to a recent study, about 40 percent of medical malpractice cases filed in the US are groundless. The majority of these cases were dismissed but still accounted for about 15 percent of the money paid in verdicts or settlements. The study's lead researcher said, "We found the system did reasonably well in sorting the good claims from the bad ones, but there were problems." Still problems? You mean like maggots in an infected leg! Alicia Chang, Law.com 05/11/2006 Read Article: Law.com

Texas tort reform at its best: Homeowner Still Battling Insurance Cos. Months After Rita

Thousands of homeowners across Texas have filed complaints against dozens of insurance companies for not covering damage done by Hurricane Rita. The TX Department of Insurance returned $15 million back to hurricane victims that filed complaints. About one-third of the complaints were against Allstate, but the company maintains that no complaints were filed for 98 percent of its claims. Click2Houston, Click2Houston 05/08/2006 Read Article: Click2Houston

FDA May Have Power to Force Drug Makers to Complete Trials

A US House committee added an amendment to a must-pass appropriations bill that will give the FDA the legal authority to force drug makers to complete post-marketing studies of new drugs. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America argued that the agency already has "broad authority to monitor and ensure the safety of prescription drug products after approval." Diedtra Henderson, Boston Globe 05/11/2006 Read Article: Boston Globe

Attorney Proceeds with 'Good Hands' book about Allstate

Plaintiff attorney David Berardinelli of Santa Fe is the author of From Good Hands to Boxing Gloves, which is a book that Allstate Corp. does not want published. The book tells the story of the role of a management-consulting firm in reengineering automobile insurance claims practices at Allstate. The firm allegedly advised Allstate to using "boxing gloves" rather than "good hands" in dealing with some of its policyholders. BusinessWeek online, Business Week 05/01/2006 Read Article: Business Week

Good guys win: Owens Corning to Resolve Billions in Asbestos Claims

Victims of asbestos will receive $5.2 billion as part of a settlement with Owens Corning, the world's largest maker of insulation products. Creditors will also receive $2.5 billion, which will allow the company to emerge from bankruptcy. Other companies such as W.R. Grace, Federal Mogul Corp, and USG Corp. have also filed for Chapter 11 in order to wipe out their asbestos liabilities. Bloomberg, Bloomberg 05/11/2006 Read Article: Bloomberg

Darn frivolous lawsuit! Maggots in an injured leg aren’t medical malpractice. It’s alternative medicine.

A jury found the nursing home staff at Renova Health Center in Lake Park responsible for a woman's amputated leg. The women had been suffering from gangrene after having foot surgery, but the staff rebandaged the wound rather than cleaning it. After staying there for 18 days, a doctor reexamined her and found hundreds of maggots on her infected foot and leg. Sonja Isger, Palm Beach Post 05/11/2006 Read Article: Palm Beach Post

Big Oil does everything big: Lawsuits Mounting Over Exxon Gas Leak

An additional 50 claims seeking $1 billion in punitive damages will be filed today against Exxon Mobil. The lawsuits accuse the company of allowing gas from an underground fuel line to leak into the ground water near Jacksonville. The lawsuit also alleges Exxon and a station operator failed to report the leak for 37 days and exaggerated the success of their cleanup efforts. Timothy B. Wheeler, Baltimore Sun 05/11/2006 Read Article: Baltimore Sun

Thank you, Mr. President: Disaster Unemployment Benefits Expire Soon

A Rebublican-ledCongress just approved big - and I mean big - tax cuts for the rich, but the working-stiff is told "get a job; if you can!"

The U.S. Labor Department announced the 13-week extension of disaster unemployment benefits approved by President Bush in March will expire June 3. This will affect about 72,000 Louisiana residents who are still receiving the assistance. New Orleans CityBusiness, 05/11/2006

Money…Money…Money: Insurance Industry Riding Wave of Profits

Money…Money…Money: Insurance Industry Riding Wave of Profits

Can you believe it! Every day insurance companies “poor-mouth” it. Yet facts show, as hurricane season approaches, the insurance industry is "riding a wave of tidy profits." Industry profits hit a record high in 2005, despite storm damage across the Gulf South.

Analysts say its "good times in the property-casualty industry." Since 1992, insurers insulated themselves with increased prices, new deductibles, scaled-back high-risk coverage and shifting risk to other insurers. "The net result: Catastrophes don't hurt sellers of homeowners' insurance as much as they used to." An analyst says consumers are bearing the cost of higher insurance while the overall equation has shifted in favor of insurers.

Associated Press, New Orleans CityBusiness, 05/11/2006

A great champion is gone: Former Boxer Floyd Patterson Dies....

In boxing, they strike the bell 10 times to show a great champion can’t answer the bell.

Bong… Bong… Bong… Bong… Bong… Bong… Bong… Bong… Bong… Bong… to show a great champion is gone.

Today, from New Paltz, it’s reported 71 year old Floyd Patterson, “who came back from an embarrassing loss to become the first boxer to regain the heavyweight title, died Thursday.” Patterson was a kind, humble champion, who overcame many disabilities to achieve what few men have achieved.

See it here: Comedian Stephen Colbert nails Pres. Bush....

Comedian Stephen Colbert nails Pres. Bush at the Whitehouse Correspondents dinner. Unlike the mythical WMDs, Bush had no place to hide ... Play: Colbert Speech

When Pharmaceutical company tells you they want to help, run! Pfizer Tested Unapproved Experimental Drug on Nigerian Children

A Nigerian government report found, Pfizer tested the experimental drug Trovan on children without their authorization. Nearly 100 children and infants who suffered from a deadly strain of meningitis received the drug at a field hospital in Kano. The report remained confidential for almost five years. The Washington Post, Austin American Statesman 05/08/2006 Read Article: Austin American Statesman

Good guys win: Jury Finds for Rail Road Machinists in Asbestos Suit

Long Island Rail Road must pay three machinists $16.4 million for exposing them to dangerous substances such as asbestos. The men now suffer a potentially fatal disease known as asbestosis and will probably "suffer a lifetime of misery in the years they have left," said their lawyer. Susan Edelman, New York Post 05/07/2006 Read Article: New York Post

Riddle: When can a stick or golf club be a proxy?

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports, legislators use sticks and a golf clubs to reach across the aisles and punch the electronic voting buttons on the desks of colleagues who are absent at the moment a vote is called. House Speaker Joe Salter said technically if lawmakers are not present then they should not have votes cast for them in their absence. I'll say they shouldn't. Robert Travis Scott, New Orleans Times-Picayune 05/08/2006 Read Article: New Orleans Times-Picayune

No shame: The rabid right wing wackos declare a ULL grad a terrorist…

When dissent is threatened, what’s at strake? Nothing less than “the entire country.”

"It is the duty of the patriot,” Thomas Pine said, "to protect his country from the government.”

Each year a group of Americans gathers in Georgia to protest the School of the Americas (SOA), now called “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.” The SOA has the dubious honor of having been involved with:

El Salvador death squad leader, Roberto D'Abuisson
Panamanian dictator and drug dealer, Manual Noriega
Haitian coup leader, Raoul Cedras
19 Salvadoran soldiers linked to the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter
Col. Julio Roberto Alpirez, Guatemalan officer linked in the death of an American innkeeper
Hector Gramajo, former Guatemalan defense minister found liabile in United States court for abduction, rape, and torture of Sister Dianna Ortiz, a United States citizen.
Argentinian dictator, Leopoldo Galtieri, leader of the "dirty little war: responsible for the deaths of 30 civilians
Two of the three killers of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador
El Mozote massacre : Ten of the twelve officers responsible for the murder of 900 civilians in the El Salvadoran village of El Mozote.

I’ve only listed a few; there are thousands more. So mush so, in 1997, U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy introduced H.R. 611 to close the campus the SOA because it exports murder.

But, nothing has gotten the attention of rabid-right-wing-wackos better than “Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Maryknoll Missionary Priest, ULL graduate, Vietnam veteran, Purple Heart winner, and founder of School of the Americas Watch.” Fr. Bourgeois’s group, which numbers in the thousands, gathers each year at the gates of the SOA to register a Patriot’s Protest to export of American totalitarianism.

Now the FBI has turned its sights on Fr. Bourgeois group. In “FBI Puts SOA Watch Under ‘Counterterrorism Surveillances,’” Matthew Rothschild explains.

When the government wanted to abuse you, they used to call you a “Red.” Now days you’re called a terrorist. Terrorism is the code word for international totalitarianism.

Labor arbitrage: Happy Meals, Unhappy Workers

Labor arbitrage exploits human effort by searching the world for the cheapest labor possible, regardless of the effects. Labor arbitrage is one of the major causes of the worldwide totalitarian endeavor called Globalization.

But, labor arbitrage would not be possible without economic collaboration and cooperation of former communist and bare knuckled capitalist.And, no one abuses workers better than brutal communist states, like Vietnam, in partnership with bare-knuckled capitalist states, like the U.S.

Adam Smith envisioned such an effect as negative. Karl Marx, who read and understood Smith, envisioned it as well. Both men would condemn the joint efforts of communist states and capitalist states that arbitrage labor.

Aaron Glantz and Ngoc Nguyen report, "Vietnamese workers earn less than $2 a day making stuffed animals and Happy Meal toys for U.S. consumers.” You know the little package of toys kids cry for at fast food restaurants. But, Vietnamese workers fought back, calling for wildcat strikes until the government raised wages to prevent factories from moving to other countries. Read: Happy Meals, Unhappy Workers

KY Nursing Home Loses Wrongful-Death Lawsuit

Beverly Health and Rehabilitation of Frankfort and two nurses were found responsible for the death of an 84-year-old man. The man had repeatedly called for nurses because of abdominal pain. They ignored his calls and he later died of a heart attack and blood clot in his left lung. A jury awarded his estate $20 million for the wrongful death. Greg Kocher, Ft. Worth Star Telegram 05/05/2006 Read Article: Ft. Worth Star Telegram

Doctors fail us again: Kaiser Transplant Center Turned Away Organs from UC San Fran

Officials at UC San Francisco offered to transplant organs they had matched to 25 Kaiser patients. However, Kaiser would not authorize the transplants and did not tell the patients that they were declined. These organs could have given patients a better chance of survival and now they may have to wait a long time before they get another opportunity. Tracy Weber and Charles Ornstein, LA Times 05/04/2006 Read Article: LA Times

Broward Judge to Unseal Cases Hidden on Secret Docket

Secret dockets? Removal of documents? Hey, that’s not justice! Judge Robert Carney plans to open up more than 100 civil lawsuits that were hidden on a secret docket. However, he plans to delay the action in order to give the parties involved an opportunity to remove the settlement agreements. A former attorney for The Miami Herald said he's "unaware of any law or rule that permits judges to withdraw documents from public court files." Patrick Danner and Dan Christensen, Miami Herald 05/05/2006 Read Article: Miami Herald

When a conservative’s liberty is at risk, who’s he going to call: The ACLU

Yea…yea…yea…all conservatives say the same thing over and over: “How can anyone seriously try to claim that the ACLU is helping our country these days? Which of their causes [is] noble and admirable?” Yet, when conservatives and conservative causes are in trouble – really, really in trouble – they don’t go the Fox News or conservative pundits; they go to the ACLU. Conservatives know who really defends personal liberty in this country.

Consequently when religious liberty – real religious liberty – is under attack, it's the ACLU who comes to the defense. Here's a short list:

ACLU of Nebraska Defends Church Facing Eviction by the City of Lincoln (8/11/2004)

ACLU's Defense of Religious Liberty (3/2/2005)

ACLU of Rhode Island Files Appeal on Behalf of Christian Prisoner Barred from Preaching at Religious Services

ACLU of Michigan Defends Catholic Man Coerced to Convert to Pentecostal Faith in Drug Rehab Program

ACLU of New Jersey Joins Lawsuit Supporting Second-Grader’s Right to Sing "Awesome God" at Talent Show

After ACLU Intervention on Behalf of Christian Valedictorian, Michigan High School Agrees to Stop Censoring Religious Yearbook Entries

ACLU Argues for Legal Recognition of Small Christian Church

ACLU of MA Defends Students Punished for Distributing Candy Canes with Religious Messages

ACLU of Nebraska Defends Church Facing Eviction by the City of Lincoln

ACLU Defends Church’s Right to Run "Anti-Santa" Ads in Boston Subways

Following Threat of ACLU of Virginia Lawsuit, Officials to Agree Not to Ban Baptisms in Public Parks

ACLU Defends Families Fighting Removal Of Religious Symbols from Florida Cemetery

ACLU Fights For Right Of Students To Distribute Christian Literature At School

ACLU Argument In Support of the Display of a Christian Cross in a Public Forum

ACLU Defends Free Speech Rights of Christians And Others On Main Street Plaza

ACLU Defends Prisoner’s Rosary Beads

ACLU Pledges to Back Church in a Zoning Battle

ACLU of PAFiles Discrimination Lawsuit Over Denial of Zoning Permit for African American Baptist Church

ACLU Offers To Represent Private Prayer on Public Property

Pro-Life advocates turned to the ACLU to defend their right to protest abortion clinics:

ACLU Backs Abortion Protester

When “rabid right wing wackos,” such as Rev Jerry Falwell, Rush Limbaugh, and Bob Barr, are under attack, they run to the ACLU:

Rev. Jerry Falwell - In Win for Rev. Falwell (and the ACLU), Judge Rules VA Must Allow Churches to Incorporate (4/17/2002)

Rush Limbaugh – ACLU Asks Court to Protect Confidentiality of Rush Limbaugh's Medical Records (1/12/2004)

Conservative Rep. Bob Barr - ACLU Announces Collaboration With Rep. Bob Barr; Says Conservative Congressman... 11/25/2002

Most conservatives are just unhappy, but they don’t know why!

Man on the run: Rumsfeld Is Confronted by Antiwar Protesters…

First, there were high-level accusations Rummy allowed torture at Gitmo. See, Man on the run: Rumsfeld personally allowed the abuse at Gitmo

Then, U.S. generals waded in making a strong case for Rummy’s incompetence. See, Man on the run: Rummy becomes “art of a sort” and the object of military scorn…

Today, in Atlanta, the public ratcheted it up a notch.

"Why did you lie to get us into a war that caused these kind of casualties and was not necessary?" Ray McGovern, the former CIA analysts, publicly demanded of Rumsfeld. Patricia Robertson, a grieving mother who lost her son in Iraq, insisted Rummy come clean.

"I did not lie," said Rummy unconvincingly.

But, facts show Rummy lied:

"But no terrorist state poses a greater or more immediate threat to the security of our people and the stability of the world than the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq." (Testimony of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld before the House Armed Services Committee regarding Iraq, Rayburn House Office Building (Washington, D.C.), 9/18/02)

"His regime has amassed large clandestine stocks of biological weapons, including anthrax and botulism toxin and possibly smallpox. His regime has amassed large clandestine stockpiles of chemical weapons, including VX and sarin and mustard gas." (Rumsfeld Testimony, 9/18/02)

Saddam's removal is necessary to eradicate the threat from his weapons of mass destruction (Donald Rumsfeld March 30, 2003)

Big Oil’s new best friend: State Government

The assault on private property is unending. First, there was Kelo v. City of New London. Now, Big Oil has State Government as its new best friend. Sen. Robert Adley (District 36), who is welded to Big Oil, is pushing a bill that says a landowner whose property is damaged by Big Oil must turn the proceeds over to the State. Regrettably, Gov. Kathleen Blanco backs the bill. And, shamefully, both Blanco and Adley are Democrats.

Lafayette Parish Republicans, Sen. Mike Michot and Sen. Craig Romero, warmly supported Adley’s bill, which favors Big Oil over landowners. Both men jumped at the chance to favor Big Oil.

But, Sen. Butch Gautreaux (St. Mary Parish), Sen. Nick Gautreaux (Lafayette), and Sen. Reggie Dupre (Terrebonne Parish), all Democrats, fought Adley’s bill arguing, a landowner, and not the State, has the right to decide what happens to his own property.

Sen. Butch Gautreaux says he'll offer SB 702 that would put district courts in charge of remediation plans and supervision. Gautreaux said, "If we depend on DNR to do it, they could defer action for years and years." Mike Hasten, The Shreveport Times 05/01/2006 Read Article: The Shreveport Times