Orly Taitz

Judge Clay Land v. Orly Taitz, Part II

Justin Elliott | September 18, 2009, 4:38PM

Orly Taitz

Orly Taitz must like the abuse.

Sometime between being thoroughly smacked down by a federal judge and threatened with sanctions Wednesday, then denouncing said judge to TPM as a corrupt puppet, then having a formal complaint filed against her by a fellow member of the California bar for her comments, self-appointed Birther leader Taitz filed a motion in the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Georgia challenging the judge's order tossing her most recent case.

Now, the judge is threatening her with a fine to the tune of $10,000.

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Scott Bloch

Despite Criminal Probe, Ex-Bushie Got Law License After Blunder By DC Court

Justin Elliott | September 18, 2009, 12:50PM

Fmr. Head of OSC, Scott Bloch

Ex-Bush official Scott Bloch was granted a law license last year after the staff of a DC court didn't notice that he is under criminal investigation by the FBI -- and failed to flag that fact to the Committee on Admissions, despite extensive documentation provided by Bloch.

He now practices at a business law firm in the District he joined several months ago. The clerk of the court for the D.C. Court of Appeals revealed the error to TPMmuckraker today after we inquired about the case.

In October 2008, Bloch ended a rocky tenure leading the Office of Special Counsel during the Bush Administration that was marked by charges of retaliation against his employees and politicization of the agency in charge of protecting the rights of federal workers.

But one scandal refused to go away: while being probed for the alleged retaliation, he allegedly destroyed evidence and, investigating Bloch for obstruction of justice, the FBI raided his home and office.

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Orly Taitz

Birther Orly Taitz Faces California Bar Complaint Over Attack On Judge

Justin Elliott | September 17, 2009, 6:45PM

Orly Taitz

Things just keeping getting worse for Queen Birther Orly Taitz. Yesterday, a federal judge not only threw out her latest "birther soldier" lawsuit, but also took the time to demolish Birtherism generally and threaten Taitz with sanctions if she files more frivolous suits.

Now, in response to Taitz's comments to TPM calling the judge corrupt and suggesting he should be tried for treason, a fellow member of the California bar has filed a formal complaint against Taitz.

"I respectfully request that you investigate Ms. Taitz's conduct and impose an appropriate sanction. She is an embarrassment to the profession," writes Subodh Chandra, who practices in Ohio and is also an inactive member of the California bar.

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Gerald Walpin

Axed IG Walpin: Reinstate Me Immediately

Justin Elliott | September 17, 2009, 5:29PM

Gerald Walpin

Gerald Walpin wants his old job back -- right now.

The former inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service, who was fired by the White House, filed a lawsuit in June alleging the firing was unlawful and politically motivated.

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Texas Textbook Hearings

'Expert' Barton Brings Religio-Historical Road Show To TX Board Of Ed Hearing

Justin Elliott | September 17, 2009, 2:56PM

From display by David Barton, Texas board of education hearing room

David Barton, who critics call a "Christian nationalist history revisionist," comes off more as smooth-talking history buff than fiery evangelist.

Among the panel of experts appointed to guide the Texas textbook standards writing process, Barton is probably the most committed right-wing activist. He served as vice-chair of the Texas GOP for many years. He was responsible for the uproar over deletion of a reference to Christmas that the chair of the board of education tried to tamp down first thing this morning.

And when his turn to speak came at the hearing on new history textbook standards in Austin today, Barton was the only expert to bring along a slideshow.

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Texas Textbook Hearings

Evangelical Minister 'Expert' Spars With TX Board Of Ed Members About Inclusion Of Minorities

Justin Elliott | September 17, 2009, 1:34PM

Rev. Peter Marshall

The Rev. Peter Marshall is one of the "experts" appointed by the Texas State Board of Education who has come under fire for his lack of academic credentials and unapologetic right-wing Christian agenda.

Testifying today at the board of ed hearing on controversial new social studies standards, Marshall didn't disappoint. He got things started with a rousing 10-minute tour through a Christian-centric version of US history.

"It is obvious beyond contradiction that [the founders] structured American government on the natural rights of mankind, which they firmly believe were the gift of God," he said.

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Texas Textbook Hearings

Texas Education Board Chair Kicks Off Hearings: There Is No War On Christmas

Justin Elliott | September 17, 2009, 11:43AM

Board of Education Chair Gail Lowe

As we told you yesterday, the Texas State Board of Education is meeting in Austin today for the first public discussion of new history textbook standards, which include a controversial section that would require knowledge of Newt Gingrich, Phyllis Schlafly, et al.

Before the board turned to social studies, the hearing got to an odd start when an animated member of the public testifying about the importance of health education declared, "I'm 56 years old and I'm a virgin." The chair promptly warned her to stay on topic.

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Justice Department

Judge Dismisses Large Part Of Hiring Case Against Bush DOJers

Justin Elliott | September 17, 2009, 10:39AM

Fmr. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

A federal judge has thrown out most of the class action suit alleging the Bush-era Justice Department improperly rejected intern applicants, the Legal Times reports.

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Textbooks

Right-Wing Ideologue 'Experts' Weigh In On Texas History Standards; Hearing Tomorrow

Justin Elliott | September 16, 2009, 1:59PM

Rev. Peter Marshall and his book, "The Light and the Glory for Children"

The circus down in Texas surrounding new history textbook standards continues.

Now, a panel of experts appointed by the GOP-controlled State Board of Education has released reviews of the proposed curriculum, which, as we noted recently, would require students to be conversant in Reaganomics and the heroes of movement conservatism.

The group of six experts is "extremely influential" in the curriculum writing process, says Dan Quinn of the Texas Freedom Network, which closely tracks the activist board of education. And they can be broken into two groups: mainstream academics and right-wing ideologues.

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Daniel Bogden

Bogden Confirmed -- Again -- As US Attorney

Justin Elliott | September 16, 2009, 9:48AM

US Attorney Daniel Bogden (NV)

Daniel Bogden, who was fired by the Bush Administration in 2006 during its purge of US Attorneys, officially got his old job back yesterday as the Senate confirmed him by unanimous consent to be US Attorney for Nevada.

President Obama nominated Bogden for the job earlier this year. Nevada Senators Harry Reid (D) And John Ensign (R) each hailed Bogden in statements.

Reid's statement after the jump:

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Gun-Toters

Secret Service Questioned Man With Guns Outside Obama Rally In Minnesota

Justin Elliott | September 15, 2009, 3:58PM

A Kel Tec 380 pistol

When 32-year-old Josh Hendrickson left his house for a protest outside President Obama's health care rally in Minneapolis Saturday, he considered whether to go armed.

When he typically goes out, he told the Star-Tribune, "I grab my wallet, my keys and my gun."

Make that two guns.

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Scott Bloch

Scandal-Plagued Ex-Bush Official's Law Firm Bio Brags He 'Attained Notoriety'

Justin Elliott | September 14, 2009, 6:05PM

Fmr. Head of OSC, Scott Bloch

Nice catch by the Legal Times: Looks like Scott Bloch is putting out an interesting spin on the five scandal-plagued years he spent as chief of the Office of Special Counsel.

Bloch's bio page at D.C.-based Tarone & McLaughlin LLP, the business law firm where he now works, says "he attained notoriety as the head of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel."

Indeed.

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