Porter Goss and Hookergate

UPDATE: The Center for American Progress has much more details on the links between ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-jail) and Goss. A sudden, unexpected resignation on a Friday afternoon smacks as being part of a bad news dump.
a href="http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/05/05/breaking-porter-goss-resigns-as-cia-chief/">BREAKING: Porter Goss Resigns as CIA Chief:

"Breaking news being reported by MSNBC: they have confirmed that Porter Goss has resigned as Director of CIA. Rumor has it that Francis Townsend may be the President’s new nominee for the position. NBC saying that they do not expect for a replacement to necessarily be named today."

The key here is that Porter's deputy (executive director) Billmon has more:

It seems Foggo's procurement duties were originally what made him such a welcome guest at Chez Wilkes. As director of the CIA's forward logistics office in Germany, he helped Wilkes (a boyhood buddy) get to first base with the agency, winning a $2-3 million contract to supply water and first aid kits to CIA agents in the field in Afghanistan and Iraq....The alleged amount of the contract under negotiation? Close to $300 million, I've heard.

How far down the um rabbit hole do we want to go on this one? "No where!" says the Traditional Media. "All day long!" says the lefty blogosphere. "[crickets]" says the rightwing blogospere.

The announcement on the resignation ought to be made today."

Friday round-up

Wherein I cull all the best tidbids from around the blogophere.

• “The official team bus to be used by the United States during the World Cup will not bear a flag for security reasons. The 32 official buses were presented Thursday in Frankfurt and the other 31 buses have large national flags of the teams painted on rear sides.”--The only one. Why don't we put a Canadian flag on our bus like all the tourists have to do with their backpacks? [hat tip Center for American Progress]



• Following up on Rep. Kennedy's exploits: "Kennedy: I Wasn't Drinking. I Was High." On what you ask? Why Ambien of course! Isn't that the stuff that makes you eat while you sleep? But then again we have this juicy nugget from an employee of the Hawk and Dove (great Bar) "He was drinking a little bit."
  
  [hat tip TPM] Patrick's statement:
  

  "Last Tuesday, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress treated me for Gastroenteritis," a stomach illness. According to Kennedy, the attending physician prescribed Phenergan, an anti-nausea medication, which in addition to treating gastroenteritis, "I now know [it] can cause drowsiness and sedation."
  
  "Following the last series of votes Wednesday evening, I returned to my home on Capitol Hill and took the prescribed amount of Phenergan and Ambien, which was also prescribed by the Attending Physician some time ago and I occasionally take to fall asleep. Some time around 2:45am, I drove the few blocks to the Capitol Complex believing I needed to vote.
  
  "Apparently, I was disoriented from the medication. At that time, I was involved in a one-car incident in which my car hit the security barrier at the corner of 1st and C St, SE. At no time before the incident did I consume any alcohol."




• Crime doesn't pay, in fact, it costs you lots...in attorney's fees. "Ohio Republican Rep. Ney, struggling to survive Abramoff link, used campaign funds to pay lawyers more than $200,000; now he taps legal defense fund. Montana Republican Sen. Burns also considers using campaign account despite re-election battle. Federal Election Commission permits such spending if alleged wrongdoing relates to official duties." [hat tip Washington Wire] Can some one tell me why we let people raise $2,100 checks for their "reelection" and then let them turn around and fork that over to a criminal defense lawyer? Doesn't seem right to me. As a donor, I would ask for my money back. But I guess the people that give to these crooks know what they are buying. Oh and don't forget the token Democrat: Rep. William Jefferson (LA) wasted $34k of his donors money on defense lawyers, and that will probably go up since someone just pled guilty to bribing Jefferson. I say throw all the bums out and the DCCC and unions better not be giving to this crook.



• In local news, Sandy won't give up keeping [it] Real: "Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon argues the numbers "don't work," so Sandy officials are going to work on those numbers. The goal: See if they can salvage a Major League Soccer stadium."



• Does somebody have a book to sell? We wouldn't want anyone [else] to profit from a tragedy/crime! "Appearing on "Larry King Live" with her father, Ed Smart, [Elizabeth] Smart answered questions about the kidnapping and her life after it. Today, Smart works as a bank teller and has a boyfriend. At high school, she is treated pretty regularly, she said."

insert Drunken Kennedy/Irish joke here

Hotline asks us to "Picture it.":

This morning at 2:45 a.m., "a Member of Congress nearly smashes his car into Capitol Police officer's vehicle. Member 'staggering' out of car. Allegedly says he's late for a vote. Cap. police sergeants show up. Member is apparently given a ride home. Cap. police patrol officer's union protests. Roll Call gets wind of the incident."

And Roll Call names names "Police labor union officials asked acting Chief Christopher McGaffin this afternoon to allow a Capitol Police officer to complete his investigation into an early-morning car crash involving Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.)."

Why do House incumbents do this sort of thing, and why does Patrick Kennedy in particular do this sort of idiotic behavior every so often? There is something wrong with the House and its de facto ten year terms. Well over 90% of all House members win their reelection by overwhelming margins. Is it because they are especially skilled or likeable? Look to Patrick Kennedy to answer that one.

It is because of redistricting. In order for Democrats to recapture the House, they need 15 seats. That alone will reduce those high-reelect numbers and hopefully will be helpfull for democracy.

And drunk driving

Carroon is no Marroon

The Salt Lake Tribune Headine: No deal for Real.

"Real Salt Lake's aspirations to tap hotel-tax money to build a soccer stadium in Sandy are dead, after Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon announced Wednesday that the 'numbers just don't work' for county taxpayers."

The $35 Million tax subsidy of the team is not 100% dead. "Corroon's bold move...[could be counteracted if] [v]oters...approve stadium funding - through a property-tax increase - if the County Council or Sandy agreed to place that question on November's already-crowded ballot."

Carroon went against the powerful mayor of Sandy, the House Speaker (also from Sandy) and one of the most popular governors in the Union. "We must have tried 20 iterations of how to do this deal," the County Mayor told columist Holly Mullen, "what it would look like if we did this or did that. It always came back to the same thing. We couldn't find a fiscally responsible way to make it work."

"It struck me that day," Mullen said about RSL's season kickoff and announcement about the Sandy Stadium last fall, "as slightly tacky and even politically risky that Checketts et al pulled Corroon onto the dais almost as an afterthought. He was the man who, as it turned out, the rest of them really, really needed. And his name was last on the thank-you list. "

As much as I like soccer and as sad is I would be to see RSl go if they did leave for Phoenix as they have threatened, I say good riddence to taxpayer subsidized sports and whiny idiotic sports management.

And to Carroon, if he keeps this up, he will be reeelected in a landslide. A Democrat that stands tall and calls it like it is to save his constituent's money? That's a winner.

hello kettle, it's me, Dick Cheney

Vice President Dick Cheney today said that "the government has unfairly and improperly restricted the rights of her people" and that other "counterproductive" actions could "begin to affect relations with other countries." "No legitimate purpose is served," Mr. Cheney said, to the use of oil and gas as foreign policy weapons, he added. No, he wasn't talking about the United States silly, he was talking smack to Russia. What ever gave you the idea he was talking about his own administration?

Next thing you know, he will go to China and critize them for torturing people.

The moral high ground to critize countries for their lack of democracy, protections for minorities, human rights, foreign policy, abiding by international treaties and laws, energy policy, and torture was all washed away by the Cheney Administration.

How did these clowns get into office? Well this might be an answer: A TV Guide poll finds that 35% of American Idol viewers believe their votes count as much or more than voting in a U.S presidential election.

Kanab we all just get along?

The little story that wouldn't die now hits the big time: the old grey lady has taken up the Kanab Natural Family Resolution. The latest twist, some stickers businesses are displaying have little rainbow people, which some in the town insinuate to mean little gay folks are welcome. To make sure no one gets that mistaken impression, the august mayor is proposing every business have a "Everyone is welcome here" sign minus the little rainbow people. By the way, the local Shilo Inn lost $14,000 in March.

photo credit: George Frey for The New York Times
"A natural family is a fundamental part of our infrastructure that we need to protect and promote," Mayor Lawson told the Times. Yes the "natural family" is under attack in a city of a little over 3K.

Kortney Stirland, a pharmacist who describes himself as a conservative Republican and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, displays the sticker and opposes the natural family resolution, which he has twice asked the council to rescind. He says he has also been offended by people in the community who have told him that a person cannot oppose the resolution, as he does, and still believe in traditional values.

"Originally it was a religious issue, then it became a gay and lesbian issue, but for me now, it's economic," Mr. Stirland said.

Originally it was a stupid idea, then it became a stupid idea because it necessitated intimidation, then it was a stupid idea becuase it divided the town, now it is a stupid idea because local businesses have lost revenue. I really hope this resolution is A) repealled and B) the Mayor loses in his next reelection campaign.

Hat tip State of the Beehive.

Quote of the Day

"I think that Senator Allen, if Jim Webb is his opponent is going to have a very challenging year, particularly in Northern VA."-- VA State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis, the wife of Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA).

Rep. Davis is planning on running for the other senate seat in 2008 when he assumes Warner will retire. And a near or actual loss by Allen would get conservatives to rally to Davis' side, or so he thinks.

Nonetheless, Davis is about the last conservative GOPer in the House from Northern Virginia. He and his wife know the turf well, and statewide, Democrats have been doing better and better in NoVa each year (2001 Mark Warner, 2004 Kerry, 2005 Kaine). Even though Democratic Senate Candidate Harris Miller is from Northern Virginia, Davis thinks that ex-Reagan Navy Sec. Jim Webb (D) is a more viable candidate statewide and particularly in Northern Virginia against George Allen. That says something.

Courtesy of Hotline OnCall

I feel a blogstorm coming

I am joining in on the brewing blogstorm today for Pete Ashdown for US Senate. I hope and dream that he will replace my current hack senator, Orrin Hatch.

Yesterday, Wired Magazine, where my former boss (from my first job out of college) used to work, wrote a great article on Pete. For my readers, I urge you to read the article. It shows that Ashdown understands technology and the power of the internet more than any politican. Afterall, he founded a local ISP here. Pete's campaign has a wiki, and he opposes the draconian Digital Milenium Copyright Act (DMCA) which the more I learned about in my intro to IP class at law school, the less I liked about it.

Partisan politics aside, it would great for the internet to have such a smart and stauch advocate in the senate who could explain to his fellow senators the impact of various legislation on the development of technology that keeps the US economy going.

Here are some of the growing number of sites talking about Ashdown today (I think all or mostly local bloggers), let's gin up some support for Pete!
Pete Ashdown Day (SLC Spin)

Why I Support Pete Ashdown For US Senate- Obiter Dicta By Steve
Mr. Wiki Goes to Washington- Signifying nothing
Why I support Pete Ashdown- Gary Thornock
Senator Pete goes to Washinton- The Utah Amicus
Pete Ashdown for U.S. Senate- One Utah
Fat Pete Ashdown: Quote of the week- The Utah Amicus
I'm with Pete- Formaline
Mr. Ashdown- Utah Democrats
Bob Aagard's Daily Kos Diary

Steve Urquhart

Hot Blava
Pete Ashdown
Gary Thornock
Ye Olde Swimming Hole
Davis County Watch
Liar Paradox
Dee's Dotes

Friday Tulip blogging 

gas prices panacea

How many times...think back now...how many times have you heard people complaining about high gas prices over the past say decade? Every spring and summer prices get high and some idiot pundit says this will hurt the party in power in DC, which lately has been the GOP. And what happens every year? Nothing.

And that is what is going to happen again this year. Chuck Schumer may think he found the magic bullet, or as he put it the final nail in the coffin, that will seal the deal for a Democratic majority in Congress. I wouldn't hold your breath.

It doesn't matter how high the price of gas goes, or how much profits the oil companies make by purposely shutting down or failing to build new refineries. The American people love their giant cars, trucks and SUVs too much.

While my parents are away on vacation for my father's birthday, they let me use their SUV, so that my wife and I now each have a car for the time being. And I have to admit that I have enjoyed the ability to go anywhere any time. Still, we won't buy another for a while. Taking the bus and TRAX is great as is walking or riding my bike. But understand the lure of the automobile. It defines the American dream of being able go anywhere anytime without someone telling you what to do. The Supreme Court has found the freedom to travel is constitutionally protected.

So as much as people moan and whine about gas prices, they still haven't bothered to get on a waiting list for a Prius, demand hybrids from the manufacters, or kick out those oil-loving congressmen (mostly because those guys represent oil-rich districts). So the Democrats might take over Congress this year, but it won't be because Exxon gave their CEO $400M or that gas costs $3/gallon.

Will Kanab become the next Dover, PA?

Signs point to no...but there is still time.

While Kanab Mayor Kim Lawson narrowly defeated a challenger in 2001, no one stepped up to face him during his re-election campaign last year. Incumbent council members also faced little opposition. To date, only one council member, Carol Ann Sullivan, has publicly pulled support for the resolution.

The group called Kanab Take Our Community Back committee might morph into Dover CARES II.

"We are reaching out to a broad spectrum of individuals and political groups to make sure they know about the resolution and the way it was handled down here in Kanab," said Scott Clemans, a member of a grassroots organization in Kanab that is calling for state legislators to create a method for recalling elected officials who fall from favor.
"I don't know what kind of a response we'll get, but I do know there are many folks who recognize the need for a recall law." [snip] The mayor and City Council members are autocrats rather than public servants," McCrystal said. "This is not a partisan issue. When elected officials are more interested in suppressing public opinion than listening to it, they've violated their sacred trust and need to be removed from office."
Utah has no provision for recalling elected officials. The Kanab group hopes to gather support in the state Legislature to consider passage of a recall law, Clemans said.
"I truly believe the word is getting out that there is a vast majority of people in this town that do not support this resolution, or the mayor and council in their actions," he said.

Folks are angry, but will that energy coaless into a ticket for the city council or mayor? I just hope that high school kid who the mayor tried to silience by calling up his school superintendant and his LDS stake leader runs against the mayor some day. I would donate to that kid's campaign.

Folks down in Kanab are worried about tourism, and during the radio broadcast cited a number of hotel bookings that had dissipeared specifically due to the resolution. The mayor during the broadcast said he would eventually be willing to reexamine the resolution if it really was hurting business, but he didn't think it was. A principled stand as usual.

But how can people boycott Kanab if they don't even know what's in Utah?

Images that Utah residents always thought defined their state — the golden spike at Promontory Point, Delicate Arch at Arches National Park and the Salt Lake City skyline — apparently aren't all that identifiable with Utah.
Pictures of those locations and six others that tourism officials always considered iconic to Utah were more closely associated with surrounding states, according to the survey's findings, which were released Tuesday.
"It's shocking," said Bob Syret, a Utah Board of Tourism Development member.

[photo credit, Lynn Arave, Deseret Morning News. (c) 2006 Deseret Morning News]

Sounds like someone has their work cut out for them. First off, people are dumb. Usually questions about Utah are on Jeparody! Why do people confuse Utah with Arizona, Colorado, etc? People most people who took the survey are probabbly from the Northeast. Those folks never had a clue where Utah was unless they went skiing/hiking there. All the big western box states for them blended together. For Utahns, they don't know where those Northeast states are exactly, only that they are "on the East Coast," so the ignorance is mutual.

ripe for the pickin'

New York, Pennslvannia, Connecticut and California should be where the democrats' bid for a majority in the House is either found or crushed. NY has two blow outs at the state level that should discourage GOP voters from the polls (Hillary and Elliot), this formula helped Mellisa Bean in 2004 with Barrack Obama crushing Alan Keyes. Same goes for Penn possbily if the Santorum-Casey race continues to be a snoozer...although the Swann-Rendell race should keep GOPers interested. Connecticut, should Joe Lieberman prevail, would also face snoozers of statewide elections. California will be a hard fought battle for the governorship. E-bay millioniare versus planet hollywood millioniare.

Also going for the democrats this year is all the scandals. It seems almost every member of the California GOP delegation is tied to some sort of scandal, whether it be Doolittle and his wife's 15% cut of every donation, Pombo's ties to Cunningham's bribers, Dier's rumors of homosexuality, there are too many to name. But NY GOP just got itself a big headache:

Sweeney showed up drunk to a frat party near, but not in his district. The one good note: "It was reported that one student approached the Congressman with drug paraphernalia and asked to take a picture. The Congressman refused." When fratboys say you are openly-drunk, I take that as an expert witness testifying.

It will be interesting to see whether the Democrats' "Northeast Strategy" plus all the scandal fall out from Duke-stir will help them take back the House.

Here's to hoping.

1 down, 2 to go

Monday was an 8 hour thrill ride for the sake of Due Process, Equal Protection, and The Freedom of Speech. Glad that is over with, even though I enjoy constitutional law.

Next up, tomorrow I match wits with a guy that argued against Miranda in at SCOTUS on a criminal procedure exam. I am sure Dickerson will be a topic of discussion, and I am happy to have the guy live out his high light, especially since his 7-2 loss in 2000 would now likely be a 5-4 loss now. Even though I have disagreed with him, I think Cassell is a great teacher and fair minded judge. He has trouble at times seeing things from the Public Defender's tilted view of the world, but generally I would say he is a good person.

Everyone likes Prof. Richards who will be giving me my last exam, but I don't think I am such a big fan. First off, he blows me off when I raise my hand. Granted I am a talker in all my classes and I could see how I might be annoying or distracting to discussion, but I can think of several other worse offenders at my law school. Plus, he lets others go off on tangents becuase he possibly knows them from first year.

But my real beef is that he has given us no clue what to do to prepare for this test, and the amount of information is staggering. At least my notes are crazy long.

Just now my wedding videographer arrived and delivered the DVD. For those of you keeping score, my wedding was last June. We had a nasty fight over the bill, giving me a remedial contracts lesson and general frustration with business transactions. Hopefully it won't be too cheezy. He has granted us permission to make copies of it, so I will use that permission to place it on google video and send the link to those who were at the wedding or those we wished could have come. Ah the joys of technology.

lifting my head up

sorry for the non-existent blogging lately. I am studying for my law school exams which will kick off in a manner of minutes and last 2 weeks. So light blogging in the next while.

Ethan seems pretty modest, so I will link to the Deseret News article about SLCspin and him. As far as I know, he is the first local blogger to get some MSM love. I think it is because of his short but biting commentary. Mine are much more long winded and often focus on outside events...although I love to write about Kanab because it is indicative of a larger problem with red-state cities (the blurring of church and state and officials sticking their noses into the town's most personal business).

But I love how the press covers blogs, with a picture of a computer on the blog's home page. Even better is Ethan's quote: "In the end, I'm just a dude with an Internet site. If everyone stopped reading it tomorrow, I'd just disappear."

We all love to read your commentary, which is pretty fair and honest I would say. Perhaps he has no love for Hatch. But really, the man is fraud. The only good thing I can say about him is that his seniority means that if he wanted to, he could get stuff for Utah. But he doesn't.

Well, my exam's here. See you all on the flipside.

Moussaoui is Schizo

Can someone explain to me why they let Moussaoui pled guilty and the jury was allowed to decided whether or not to execute him? Sure the man wanted to kill Americans like his Al-Qaeda friends. Sure he tried to learn how to fly an airplane, but he was not involved in the planning, nor did he know about the 9/11 plot in any real detail. I suspect bin Laden or his lieuteniants decided Moussaoui was too unstable for the job.

It seems to me that the U.S. government will execute Moussaoui for being an Al-Qaeda member and a wannabe standby member of the 9/11 crew. Any rational actor would not behave the way Zacharias has these past years. Just contrast his behavior to that of Brain David Mitchell, who was found insane in Utah. And I am not the only one who thinks Moussaoui is crazy. [From the NY Times]

Dr. Xavier Amador testified about an encounter with Mr. Moussaoui last April in the holding cell of the courthouse in which the trial is taking place. He said Mr. Moussaoui repeatedly spat water on him and exhibited several classic symptoms of schizophrenia, including sudden shifts in the defendant's views accompanied by denials that he had only moments earlier held the opposite views.

Under questioning by Gerald T. Zerkin, one of the court-appointed defense lawyers, Dr. Amadeor picked apart Mr. Moussaoui's testimony last week in which he seemed to offer rational, if not plausible explanations for his odd behavior over the previous four years. For example, Mr. Moussaoui had regularly charged that his lawyers, whom he reviles, were part of a conspiracy to kill him.

I know people want revenge for 9/11, and the families deserve justice. But killing this man really isn't going to do it, because he did not do anything to further the 9/11 attack, didn't know about it, and was mentally incapable of doing so.

If you are so wacko that bin Laden doesn't think you are a good candidate for a suicide bombing, you have some serious issues, to say the least.

Kanab keeps koming

"The bottom line is that it's not the business of a city to tell people how to live their lives." I couldn't have said it better myself (JoAnne Rando-Moon, who moved to Kanab seven years ago and owns a pet-supply business there said it). According to the Deseret News:

Residents now are starting a campaign to send a different message than that of the resolution. One group of residents is distributing a 6-inch round decal to businesses in Kanab that states, "Everyone is welcome," said Rando-Moon. So far, 82 businesses are displaying the decal on their front doors.

Only 7 businesses refused the decale, according to Rando-Moon. "Carol Sullivan, the only council member who voiced support for revoking the resolution during the Feb. 28 meeting, said the issue has severely divided her town." That's the trouble with Culture wars even in fairly red areas like Kanab, they create struggle and animostity where there doesn't need to be any. "I'm really worried for our businesses. One hotel in town has lost $14,000 because of cancellations," said Sullivan. "There are a lot of innocent people in business who are caught in the middle of this. I don't know where it's going or where it will end."

Of course, the supporters are not backing down. But is nice to see that the theocrats are wasting everyone's time effort and livelihood on a powerless yet hate-filled resolution. The folks in Kanab, Utah should meet with the folks in Dover, Penn. Seems like they both have something in common.

the fundamental problem with Bush foreign policy

If you thought this would be a post about how dumb invading Iraq was, sorry, that is overplayed and everyone pretty much knows it by now. What I wish to discuss is how the Bush foreign policy team doesn't just have pre-9/11 thinking but pre-1989 thinking.

The reaction to the 9/11 attacks by the Bush team was one that Reagan would have had, not because Bush is like Reagan, but because Reagan fought against Nation-States, specifically the USSR (and Granada and Panama). The Nation-State is so 20th Century. Al-Qaeda is focused on an ethno-religious identity-- the Wahabist, who is usually Arab. Although the Fillipinos are heavily Muslim, most of Al-Qaeda's most active recruits are Arab. The know no country, in fact, these folks are militant preciesely because they are unwanted in their own countries.

Yet Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld's approach was to take out Afghanistan rather than Al-Qaeda. In reality, they did neither well. Both are back and the country is unstable as ever. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to invade Afghanistan in 1998 when I learned what the Tailban were up to and that is where bin Laden lived (who had killed people in American Embassies in Kenya). But to do it on the cheap outsource the hunting of the actual people that were responsible for 9/11 was criminal negligence.

When they decided to topple Iraq, they ignored the fact that Iraq is a middle eastern Yugoslavia, with competing ethinic groups that don't necessarily get along. Even worse than Yugoslavia, these three groups are also found in other not so stable countries and so the impact is felt more widely. Now because of no post-war planning, not enough troops, no international support, and general bungling by Rummy, we have a ethic war that is making Sarajevo look relatively better everyday.

As Bush drums up for war with Iran in a feable attempt to repeat his 2002 off-year election performance, his people should be made aware that Iran probabbly already has lots of its intelligence people in Iraq right now instigating more violence. The Persians share religious sectarian beliefs with a large portion of the Iraqi people. And Iran is a mountainous country with lots and lots of young men with not much to do. These young people like some parts of American culture, and Bollywood stars, but they don't like Bush and his Bible thumping friends.

And frankly, most of Americans don't anymore either. So don't let yourself be distracted into worrying about Iranian nuclear technology. Sure their leaders are nuts, but their people aren't, and the leaders aren't so nuts as to actually pick a fight with us. But if they are attacked, watch out.

rethinking the immigration debate

previously I posted my praise of the immigrant protests and how much solidarity I believed there was between all classes of immigrants. Having talked to children and relatives of recent legal immigrants on Thursday, I can tell you that they are honestly upset with a easy amnesty program.

I learned about how many hoops would-be legal immigrants have to go through, the years of waiting. And if one little thing goes wrong, it can be decades before they let you back in (of course, the deport you). My friend Jeff, whose father is Pakistani, told me of a Jordanian friend of his who let his student visa lapse. Unlike the 9-11 hijakers, he was caught after he had married and fully immigrated into America. In fact, when he was deported to Jordan, the country didn't want him, so he had to move to Kuiwait, where he is a perminant second class citizen. His wife, a white woman with no language skills, cannot get a job in Kuwait and he can't get a good job because he is not Kuwaiti. So she has to fly out to the middle east to see her husband, and I believe they have a child.

Another 3L told me of a relative of his who cannot come back to America for 10-15 years because of some technicality (his family is from India I believe). Both were upset with the idea that just because some one snuck in over the boarder a couple years ago, they should get amnesty while their friends and relatives are banished from the US for decades. A woman who works for the US district court told us that the number one type of case they hear is illegal immigration.

There is no easy solution to this. On the one hand, we can all agree that illegals who commit crimes in the US have no business being in America. And we can all agree that granting a Reagan-style Amnesty to current illegal immigrants while letting the rest who were deported for silly reasons languish in places like Kuwait for 10-15 years when they have clear ties to US is ridiculous. On the other hand, these folks didn't immigrate to America illegally because they wanted to, it was because there weren't enough temporary visas. Most of these undocumented peoples work hard, go to church, pay someone elses taxes, send their kids to school and try to learn English and how to be an American.

We need to cut out the red tape to get in and get visas while doing a better job of doing background checks and monitoring of immigrants, especially if they come from countries with terrorist ties. My half Pakistani friend and my Indian (south asia) friend both agreed that we need more liberalized immigration, not to round up all the illegal Mexicans.

I just wonder how serious Bush and Frist really are about true immigration reform that both parties can agree on, besides that it needs to occur and they need to use it against the other party. After the recess, I think it won't come up again, and Bush and Frist will stick to their blame it on Reid plan. After all, it eventually worked against Daschle.

The second year, at dusk

As I sit in the downtown library enjoying the sun from the saftey of UV-blocking glass, I think back on the guantlet that was my 2L year. It is much better think about this stuff now before the grades come in, let alone think about the world outside with its daily car bombings and impending official war with Iran.

I learned more about the first amendment as a "high school teacher" than I did in my Con Law class. I learned more about Criminal Procedure, Tax Law, Constitutional law, etc. at my job than I did in any class I took. But nonetheless, I think the tuition was worth it to hear some of the great professors and to meet and get to know my future collegues, assuming we all get jobs.

School work was very taxing, especially this trial and journal work, as well as my student organization. But the nice thing is, I am 99% done with that.

Hopefully Bush doesn't think that bombing Iran is the wise thing to do or that it will improve his ratings, because neither is true. He has lied too much to be believable to the American public and bombing Iran will only make things worse.

waking up to 21st century America

Until immigration was pushed to the forefront by President Bush in a last ditch effort to revitialize his ratings, many Americans were probabbly ignorant as to the extent of immigrants (illegal or legal) who have recently come into this county.

These massive protests proved that the First Amendment still works and that there are Americans who care a lot about this issue. Notice I said Americans. All of the protesters, illegal or not, consider themselves Americans and Mexicans, or Chinese or Purvians or whatever. What was also amazing for me was that while a few people showed up to protest the Iraq war, this turnout has been impressive for how widespread, how large, and how grassroots it was. This was not a bunch of Unions and immigrants rights members marching around, like the war protestors were mostly members of certain peace groups. Nor was this organized by partisan officials. Rather, this was something talked about on Spanish-speaking radio, flyers in mom-and-pop businesses & churches. This was the real deal.

I would imagine, contrary to what Rep. Tom Tancredo belives, that most of the protesters were legal immigrants. There is a lot of solidarity amoung immigrants, both illegal and legal, not because they are all from the same county or speak the same language, but because they are related through mutual friends, marriage, and they are all struggling to make it in strange land. Granted, they came here willingly and are overjoyed with the oportunties in America.

This is just what you want in an American, someone who believes in the American Dream. Those who marched against the war were mostly middle-to-upper class folks who had maxed out all of what America could do for them. They aren't hanging out next to the Home Depo hoping some Gringo will hire them as a day laborer under the table. They aren't using fake tax IDs to get a job picking vegatables. But that's who marched on Sunday and Monday against the Sensenbrenner bill.

In politics, like if life, decisions are made by those who show up. Will the hundreds of thousands who marched the last couple days show up to their polling place in November? If they are illegal, the answer is no. Will it encourage folks like Chinese-Americans, many of whom have lived in America for a long time and have sympathized and marched with Hispanics on April 9th and 10th, to vote this time? That is the $10,000 question.

Democrats have new reason to hope that is the case, as most who marched remembered only that Republicans are the ones that supported the Sensenbrenner bill, but Democrats shouldn't count on these votes putting them over the top. The GOPers should be nervous however. The counter protests by Minutemen groups have been pathetically small in comparison when they even occured.

Maybe there is a Nixonian "silent majority" wanting to criminalize undocumented workers and those who protect them, as well as a burning desire to deport them. But I bet they only exist in GOP primary voters and not the public at large.