Ben: I think if the death penalty was being applied to you or anyone else for that matter I think there would be no question about whether it is Cruel and Unusual. Its like waterboarding, people can argue about this ad nauseum, until you waterboard all of the people discussing it and then ask them to vote on it. I think taking a person's life is certainly unusual and would you think it cruel to have your life ended? So much of the law and precedent is about continuing to do what has always been done. Slavery is a glaring case in point. Only those who take a moral position and stand up for it have ever changed anything.

Posted at June 26, 2008 3:52 PM in response to Supreme Court Decision on Child Rape: An open Letter to Barack Obama

What I find hard to understand here is that we on the left have for the most part taken as an established fact that Obama is our candidate. Why then is it that he is not representing us? Almost all enlightened countries in the world over the past 30 years have eliminated the death penalty completely. In the 80's the Democratic governor of New York Mario Cuomo refused to sign any executions during his term. He did this as a matter of conscience and a matter of principle. That principle being that for the state to say that it can take life whenever it deems it necessary and then to specify the death penalty for anyone who takes another's life is beyond hypocritical, it is downright immoral. Has the left become so weak during these years of the rightward drift that even one who is considered "the most liberal senator in the senate", is actually far to the right of almost all of the countries who call themselves our allies? Ending the death penalty was a basic principle of the Democrats for years. What has happened to us? A famous man once said: "Be careful who you choose as enemies for you are destined to become just like them".

Posted at June 26, 2008 3:08 PM in response to Supreme Court Decision on Child Rape: An open Letter to Barack Obama

Just a question for all: What is the status of those cases she was working on: Dusty Foggo and Brent Wilkes. Were they dropped or have they moved forward?

Posted at June 24, 2008 9:48 PM in response to Fired U.S. Attorney Among Those Who Appealed DOJ's Hiring Decision

The question is not whether he is a troll but the veracity of his remarks. Let's be civil. This election is not just about getting rid of the Repulseicans but of electing someone who will restore the rule of law and restore the constitution. It's not just about Barak Obama it's also about the other Dems who represent us and will commit themselves to honoring the laws of our country rather than compromising them in the name of National Security. This is a really important election for us all and we can't afford to roll over as the Democratic party has done again and again, the latest being HR6303 (Telecom immunity, etc) today.

Posted at June 20, 2008 4:28 PM in response to Exclusive: MoveOn To Close Its 527 In Response To Obama's Candidacy

The Republican disinformation machine still rolls. No need for accuracy or resemblance to reality. It's much simpler that way and you don't even need real reporters. You can just hire anyone off the street that fails a polygraph test.

Posted at June 20, 2008 3:45 PM in response to Olbermann "threatening to quit" if not given Russert's spot

How about Nancy Pelosi? 5 months before the election and still pandering to the presnit. or... Steny Hoyer Democrat architect of the Democrat roll over on telecom immunity? How about male a female prostitute of the day?

Posted at June 20, 2008 3:43 PM in response to Olbermann "threatening to quit" if not given Russert's spot

Rumpole: I agree. I really feel that we on the left have to hold Obama's feet to the fire. His recent pandering to AIPAC was pretty slimy and disgusting. Search his web site for the keywords: wiretap or telecom and you will come up empty. One of the greatest travesties was just signed into law today granting the telecoms effective immunity for spying on us all and the Obama issue is public funding? Also search for the word: constitution; 2 entries, none related to the destruction of our constitutional protections under this fascist regime. Like I said, we need to hold his feet to the fire. These are the important issues.

Posted at June 20, 2008 3:23 PM in response to Exclusive: MoveOn To Close Its 527 In Response To Obama's Candidacy

No, the new Republican word is Obamanation. The talking heads (wo/ brains) trotted it out last night.

Posted at June 20, 2008 3:13 PM in response to Exclusive: MoveOn To Close Its 527 In Response To Obama's Candidacy

CGAG: I'm with you. empty the god damn place and keep it warm with a nice assortment of orange jump suits then in January line em up and put em on planes without seats tied in stress positions after a shot of tranquilizer. Put em in cages and let the lawyers and supreme court argue about what kind of representation and charges they deserve. Hell it might take 6 years before they even get to the kangaroo court. Meantime we can use some of those John Yee approved interrogation methods to get some juicy confessions out of em.

Posted at June 12, 2008 8:14 PM in response to Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gitmo Detainees

There's something I don't get here. Waxman asks Johnson a question. Johnson doesn't answer the question, Waxman askes again, doesn't get an answer. Waxman asks: "Are you citing executive privilege". Johnson says no. So why is Johnson not in contempt of congress for not answering?

Posted at May 21, 2008 4:46 PM in response to Boehner Demands Apology From Waxman for "Abusive Outburst"