Via Democrats.com:

Harry Reid Confirms Mukasey in “Midnight Massacre”

At midnight on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid betrayed the Constitution and the American people by holding a quick vote to confirm Michael Mukasey despite his refusal to admit waterboarding is torture. And thanks to excellent reporting by Greg Sargent of Talking Points Memo, we now know why.

The vote was 53-40, with six Democrats joining every single Republican – Evan Bayh, Tom Carper, Dianne Feinstein, Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson, and Chuck Schumer. (Schumer ignored urgent calls and emails from thousands of his constituents, and his staff refused to meet with activists outside his office.) The four Senate Democrats running for President, who were all opposed, were out campaigning – but Reid refused to delay the vote to give them time to return. If he had, there could have been 44 votes for a filibuster to block Mukasey’s confirmation.

Reid rushed the vote because he cut a deal with Republicans to avoid delays on the $459 Defense Appropriations bill (not including Iraq funds), so Bush couldn’t attack Democrats during the upcoming battle over Iraq funds. In effect, Reid sold the Constitution to the neocons for a talking point.

There is only one way to send a message of outrage that Schumer and Reid will hear, and that is by refusing to contribute to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC), which Reid controls and Schumer chairs.

Join the Democratic Donor Strike Against DSCC and DCCC
www.democrats.com/donor-strike-2007

Smashing idea. I’m in.*

* Not that I’ve ever donated to a political campaign in all my life, but still. It’s the though that counts, right?

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Tagged: democrats.com democrats strike donor strike politics spineless Harry Reid Michael Mukasey Evan Bayh Tom Carper Dianne Feinstein Mary Landrieu Ben Nelson Chuck Schumer Democratic Senate Campaign Committee DSCC DCCC civil liberties waterboarding attorney general action alert

And I’m not the only one.

(More below the fold…)

I mean really, these fuckers are practically useless:

A divided Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved Michael Mukasey as U.S. attorney general despite concerns about the retired judge’s refusal to denounce simulated drowning as unlawful torture.

On an 11-8 vote, with two Democrats joining all nine Republicans, the committee sent President George W. Bush’s nomination of Mukasey to the full Democratic-led Senate for anticipated confirmation as chief U.S. law enforcement officer. The vote is likely to take place next week.

Bush’s selection of Mukasey to replace former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales initially drew broad and bipartisan support. But Mukasey ran into trouble at his confirmation hearing when he declined to say if he considered the so-called waterboarding interrogation technique illegal torture.

The two committee Democrats who voted for Mukasey were Charles Schumer of New York, who had suggested Bush nominate the former judge as attorney general, and Dianne Feinstein of California.

But wait! It gets better:

But Specter said Mukasey personally assured him that if Congress passes legislation to specifically declare waterboarding illegal, he would uphold it.

Even though GW would most likely veto any such legislation. Just like he has with the few scrappy bills the Dems have actually managed to pass in the past year.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, though. The Dems are so weak and spineless that they feel threatened by fake presidential rivals. Tsk, tsk, tsk. That’s OK, Barack – I never liked you anyway.

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Tagged: Michael Mukasey Democrats attorney general torture civil liberties Barack Obama Stephen Colbert South Carolina Democrats godbags homosexuality homophobia war on terra two-party system

For more on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) – including recent developments – please see past alerts here (or here), and check out Will Potter’s work at GreenIsTheNewRed.com.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – info [at] kinshipcircle.org
Date: Mar 20, 2007 3:33 PM
Subject: ACT TODAY/ Invite Congress To AETA Briefing On Hill

Kinship Circle Primary – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

Equal Justice Alliance Hosts AETA Briefing On The Hill
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 * 2:00 to 3:30pm

Do your elected officials know about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA)? Do they understand its negative impact on First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly?

1. Copy/paste flyer below into an email to: YOUR federal Representative and Senators.

2. Include a brief note about why you want AETA repealed. See talking point in press release below flyer.

3. For a HIGHER RESOLUTION copy of flyer to Congress, email: kinshipcircle [at] brick.net

4. DELETE ALL REFERENCES TO KINSHIP CIRCLE BEFORE SENDING FLYER/COMMENTS TO REP AND SENATORS. The message is from YOU, not Kinship Circle

To identify your federal legislators and find contact info, try:
Congress.org – www.Congress.org
USA Senate – www.senate.gov
USA House of Representatives – www.house.gov
Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121

(More below the fold…)

My six-year-old, Catherine, she said to me ‘Father, they came for those with cooties, and I said nothing. Then they came for those with boogers, and I said nothing. And then they came for me, a poopy-pants, and there was no one left to speak.’

- Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska, on his precocious little poopy-pants, as interpreted by The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart.

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Tagged: the daily show tds jon stewart congress 110th congress iraq debate resolution crooks and liars comedy central quotables

Originally posted @ www.kellygarbato.com/blog/2007-03-05/
Filed under: Politics — Kelly @ March 5, 2007 10:21 pm

A little holiday ditty via the ACLU.

An Overdue Visit

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the nation
Friends of Freedom knew it was a special occasion.
Lady Liberty stood taller just off the shore
Her torch shining brighter than a few weeks before

But it wasn’t the flame turning her cheeks all rosy
It was thoughts of Snowe, Feingold and Nancy Pelosi
And leaders from every side of the aisle
Who would soon bring the Bill of Rights back into style.

The Amendments had all hurried out of their beds -
Which was no easy task, they were nearly in shreds -
And they rushed to the window on papery feet
As a jolly old man flew right over their street.

“Could it be!?” they inquired as the roof shook and trembled
And they crept toward the mantle, peaceably assembled,
Just as someone emerged from the chimney with flair
In a shiny red suit, with a shock of white hair

And a top hat, and pants all in red, white and blue -
“Wait a minute,” the Amendments exclaimed, “Who are you?”
“Don’t be frightened my children,” he said, “it’s no scam.
“You can’t have forgotten your old Uncle Sam!”

“Holy crap!” said Free Speech. “Stop right there!” yelled Bear Arms
And Privacy cried “Who shut off the alarms?!”
The Fifth remained silent, but Uncle Sam said
“We’ve been having some trouble, but Freedom’s not dead.”

The Amendments were cautious. “It’s just been so long
“We’ve seen Liberty lost, we’ve seen so much go wrong.
“The President’s trying to mangle and warp us,
“The Fourth is in tatters, so’s Habeas Corpus!”

The old man sat down – he had had quite a ride -
But he told them “Don’t worry, the Law’s on our side,
“‘Cause the nation’s fed up and more people are crying
“For Justice and an end to illegal spying,

“And secret abductions by the CIA,
“And laws that would take women’s choices away,
“And Gitmo tribunals and secret detention,
“And other intrusions too numerous to mention – ”

“Not so fast,” said a grinchity voice from above
And Don Rumsfeld pushed past the Fourteenth with a shove.
He was covered in soot and he looked kind of scary.
It seemed like his Christmas had not been so merry.

The Amendments said they weren’t happy to see him:
“You tried to throw all of us in the museum!
“You’ve done so much the Constitution forbids!”
“And I would have gone on, but for you meddling kids!”

Uncle Sam told him “Rummy, your plans just won’t do,
“So we’ve got a brand new timetable for you!”
And as Rumsfeld retired and crept into the night
The Amendments cried out “Have a good secret flight!”

From the distance they heard him reply with a snort.
“Bye-bye, Rummy!” they answered, “we’ll see you in court!”
Uncle Sam rode the chimney up out of the room
And, like Frosty, he said “I’ll be back again soon.”

But they heard him exclaim “Oh, and just one more thing!
“This year, when the holiday bells start to ring,
“Try to honor religion. Honest faith can’t be wrong.
“It’s America, can’t we all just get along?

“So, on Christian,” he cried, “Muslim, Hindu, and Jew!
“On Quaker! On Shaker! And Atheist too!
“On Buddhist! On Taoist! And to show we’re not chickens
“We’ll file a few lawsuits defending the Wiccans!

“Your belief is your right, so get out there and savor it.
“Uncle Sam’s not a preacher, and he doesn’t play favorites!”
So this holiday season, whatever you do,
Warmest wishes for Freedom, from the ACLU.

Just as long as you don’t – *gasp* – agitate for animals.
In that case, g’luck at Gitmo, sucka.

————

Tagged: animals animal+rights action+alerts free+speech first+amendment censorship aeta Animal+Enterprise+Terrorism+Act terrorism animal+terrorism eco-terrorism activism advocacy aclu american+civil+liberties+union christmas x-mas poem holiday holidays

Originally posted @ www.kellygarbato.com/blog/2006-12-12/
Filed under: Animals, Current Events, Holidays & Observances, War on Terra — Kelly @ December 12, 2006 4:10 pm

Via Kinship Circle.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – info [at] kinshipcircle.org
Date: Dec 8, 2006 10:21 PM
Subject: AETA UPDATE/ Hope For Repeal?

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY – permission to crosspost

www.KinshipCircle.org

12/8/06: AETA UPDATE / Hope For Repeal?

IN THIS ALERT:

1. President Signs Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act Into Law
2. Keep Fighting, The Animals Need Us – A message from Chris DeRose
3. Equal Justice Alliance Enacts Strategy In Wake Of AETA’s Passage
4. McGovern Pledges To Help Overturn Animal Terrorism Law
5. Sunday 12/17: Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act Seminar
6. Judge Strikes Down Bush On Terror Groups
7. AETA In Reverse? Portland Fur Dealer “Terrorizes” Protesters
8. Levity – Dubya’s “Letter” To An Animal Rights Activist

====================

(More below the fold…)

Representative Dennis Kucinich – you know, the only guy in all of Congress with enough gravitas to vote against the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) – emailed me in regards to said bill yesterday. Well, OK, he didn’t email me, his office did. Cool beans either way. I’m a C-list blogger, so when a Rep’s rep emails me outta the blue, I get a warm and fuzzy feeling. At least I know someone out there’s listening.

Anyway, here’s what the man had to say about AETA:

(More below the fold…)

After doing some more digging re: the ACLU’s position on AETA, I’m now convinced enough that they screwed us to do the previously unthinkable: put them On Notice.

And – if they don’t watch their sorry arses – they may soon be Dead To Me. Assuming I can find a Dead To Me generator.

Anyway, back to that Kinship Circle alert for a moment. Rumor #4 involves the ACLU’s opposition – or lack thereof – to the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA).

The whole section, verbatim:

4. QUESTION/RUMOR: The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) didn’t take a stand for free speech by opposing AETA.

4. CLARIFICATION

From D. Barber, Correspondence Manager, American Civil Liberties Union:

The ACLU Letter to Congress Urging Opposition to the Animal Enterprise Act, S. 1926 and H.R. 4239 (3/6/2006) can be read at www.aclu.org/freespeech/gen/25620leg20060306.html.

If you are not already an ACLU member, we encourage you to help support our aggressive work on the issues you care about. To join please visit www.aclu.org/contribute/contribute.cfm or call 1-888-567-ACLU. Once again, thank you for your interest in the ACLU.

Sincerely, D. Barber, Correspondence Manager, American Civil Liberties Union

11/14/06, from Karen Dawn, news [at] dawnwatch.com:

Actually, Sensenbrenner lied about lack of opposition from the ACLU. Sigh. ACLU did not oppose the whole bill but did ask for changes: www.aclu.org/safefree/general/27356leg20061030.html.

After contacting Kinship Circle for clarification, I was told that they were simply providing information regarding the ACLU’s stance on AETA, and leaving it to KC readers to draw their own conclusions.

My conclusion: at best, the ACLU is being duplicitous in their replies to animal advocates who dare to criticize the ACLU’s actions on AETA. Worst-case scenario – they totally sold us out.

Let’s have a little looksee at the facts, shall we?

(More below the fold…)

My reply to “rumor” #4 to follow.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] brick.net
Date: Nov 16, 2006 1:03 PM
Subject: Questions/Rumors: ANIMAL ENTERPRISE TERRORISM ACT

KINSHIP CIRCLE – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

11/16/06: Questions & Rumors About The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

A lot of questions and rumors are circulating the internet regarding the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) and its passage on Monday, November 13, 2006. I hope you find the information below useful, as animal advocacy and social justice orgs regroup for the continuing fight. Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle

(More below the fold…)