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The Daily Muck
Republicans in Washington D.C. have asked Office of Special Counsel chief Scott Bloch to resign. This follows an FBI-led raid of his offices uncovered documents related to an investigation into allegations of Bloch's political bias and obstruction of justice in an office designed to protect whistleblowers and enforce rules on political activity in federal workplaces. (Washington Post)
Pentagon officials are pointing to the suicide bombing in Iraq by Guantanamo detainee Abdullah Salih Al Ajmi as a justification of holding prisoners there until the government is sure they are innocent. The Pentagon went on to release a list of a dozen former Guantanamo prisoners they claim have been released and then returned to fighting against the U.S. and its allies. (Boston Globe)
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is once again crying foul over ads from the organization Freedom's Watch. The DCCC claims the conservative group did not follow election guidelines by not reporting more than $600,000 of television ads in Louisiana and Mississippi elections. Freedom's Watch says the ads followed the rules, yet the complaint filed by the DCCC accuses the group of airing "electioneering communications" on April 22 and 29 regarding the race for a Louisiana Congressional seat without proper notice to the FEC. (Roll Call)
Former UN Ambassador John Bolton reiterated his views on bombing Iran: He's for it. Bolton said it would be an "entirely resposible" action for President Bush to target supposed Shiite insurgent training camps Iran before the end of his presidency. And despite regional ramifications of bombing Iran, Bolton thinks Israel would be "delighted." (Think Progress)
Josh
Zachary
And since the FEC is basically neutered, pray tell who might actually do something about it?
Can't wait to see that up and down vote on Spakovsky. That should be just dandy. Mr. Election-Fraud-Cage-'em running the FEC. Priceless.
What a pathetic excuse for a government we have, and that goes for the Democrats, too.
Open government is dead.
And, repeat after me: We. Are. Screwed.
May 8, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Pentagon officials are pointing to the suicide bombing in Iraq by Guantanamo detainee Abdullah Salih Al Ajmi as a justification of holding prisoners there until the government is sure they are innocent."
This makes no sense. Read the Wiki on Abdullah Salih Al Ajmi. He was accused of being a Taliban fighter, and went before an American tribunal. Before the tribunal, he had denied any involvement with the Taliban, and said he had been in Afghanistan to learn the Koran and to pray. The Americans repatriated him to Kuwait after he was ACQUITTED in 2006.
Thus, the proper interpretation of the Pentagon's position is that they're going to hold detainees until they rot, or, that the practical effect of Guantanamo is to make terrorists of initially innocent Muslims.
May 8, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if the treatment he received down in Gitmo might have generated hard feelings?
May 8, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Poor Treatment at GITMO? Come on! Free drugs and sexual abuse from military boys. Hell, a few miles away tourists have to pay hard cash to get that stuff in Key West.
May 8, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
What Freedom's Watch failed to do was report the donations it received to cover the cost of the ads. It reported the expenditures but left the donations page of the filing blank.
Their December filing for OH-5 special election was done properly; it's a no-brainer that they failed on the latest filings.
May 8, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, I wouldn't be surprised if the Labour Party in Israel tried to declare war on the US if we bombed Iran.
May 8, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want to add to gloriasolideo's comment.
How often have you heard of someone who is characterized as being bad (simply because of their class, social circumstances, or associations) who isn't but becomes so angry, frustrated, and demoralized by the accusation that they become bad?
It's accepted knowledge that children of parents who demean them by calling them stupid or worthless come to believe it, and they spend their lives feeling they are stupid and worthless, therefore squandering any potential they might have had under different circumstances. It's not just parents who can make people believe this of themselves; authority figures can accomplish this, as well.
Combine those two conditions above, when this is the only thing coming into a detainee's brain, and you've got a situation in which the innocent person who doesn't become what he's had drummed into him is going to be the exception.
May 8, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that Office of Special Counsel chief Scott Bloch should resign for his political bias and obstruction of justice in an office designed to protect whistleblowers. Mr. Bloch appears to have miserably failed his duties and responsibilities and should be held accountable.
John Schilling
Author of "Undercover"
http://ethicsolutionsllc.com
May 20, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink