More BS from the Democrats
You have to love democrats. If nothing else, they provide the right with dozens of sound bites every time they open their mouths. Take these examples:
Howard Dean - "The president and his right-wing Supreme Court think it is 'okay' to have the government take your house if they feel like putting a hotel where your house is."
Bravo Howie! Strike one for the little guys! Except for one thing...Bush has yet to appoint a justice to the Supreme Court. And the ones who voted FOR the eminent domain provision? They are generally recognized as being the "left" members of the Court. Scalia didn't vote yes, Thomas didn't vote yes, Rehnquist didn't vote yes, and O'Connor (ted kennedy's paragon of moderate conservativism) didn't vote yes either. Oops. But Howard Dean was never one to let accuracy get in the way of a good quote
Christopher Dodd (on the nomination process for John Roberts) - "The open-ended question for us clearly is what are his views about some of the basic values, the equal protection clause, the privacy clause of the Constitution. These are things that members of the Congress through their -- and their representatives want to know about during the confirmation process." (emphasis added)
Wow. A US Senator wanting to know where a potential nominee stands on the privacy clause of the Constitution. We'd love to give you a hint Senator Dodd, just as soon as we can find it. Standing offer! We will send $100 dollars to the charity of your choice if you can find the words "right to privacy" anywhere in the Constitution. An additional $100 per instance if you can find us the words "right to abortion", "right to sodomy" or "right to gay marriage." C'mon people, your charity is waiting!
John (the frenchman) Kerry (on the nomination of John Bolton to the UN) - "The president has the right to make this recess appointment, but it's the wrong decision. It only diminishes John Bolton's validity and leverage to secure America's goals at the U.N. John Bolton has been rejected twice by the Senate to serve as our Ambassador to the United Nations." (emphasis added)
Actually frenchie, Bolton wasn't rejected twice by the senate. If his name actually came to the floor for a vote, he would have been confirmed. Simple fact, the votes were there. Your obstructionism isn't a "rejection" of a nominee. It's a failure to come to grip with the fact that you are in the minority and we are definitely glad that the president has finally remembered that he has the votes to pass his agenda and install his people.
And finally, Ted (the swimmer) Kennedy (also on Bolton) - "The abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy from the White House continues. ... It's a devious maneuver that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent and only further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton's credibility at the U.N."
Abuse of power? Cloud of secrecy? Is teddy quoting the Chappaquidick coroner's inquest? Because in the US Constitution it says, "The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session." Is the Senate in recess? Yup. Is the President acting within the powers delineated by the Constitution? Yup. Is the swimming fool further making a mockery of his already foolish tenure in the "world's greatest deliberative body?" We'd say yup.
Howard Dean - "The president and his right-wing Supreme Court think it is 'okay' to have the government take your house if they feel like putting a hotel where your house is."
Bravo Howie! Strike one for the little guys! Except for one thing...Bush has yet to appoint a justice to the Supreme Court. And the ones who voted FOR the eminent domain provision? They are generally recognized as being the "left" members of the Court. Scalia didn't vote yes, Thomas didn't vote yes, Rehnquist didn't vote yes, and O'Connor (ted kennedy's paragon of moderate conservativism) didn't vote yes either. Oops. But Howard Dean was never one to let accuracy get in the way of a good quote
Christopher Dodd (on the nomination process for John Roberts) - "The open-ended question for us clearly is what are his views about some of the basic values, the equal protection clause, the privacy clause of the Constitution. These are things that members of the Congress through their -- and their representatives want to know about during the confirmation process." (emphasis added)
Wow. A US Senator wanting to know where a potential nominee stands on the privacy clause of the Constitution. We'd love to give you a hint Senator Dodd, just as soon as we can find it. Standing offer! We will send $100 dollars to the charity of your choice if you can find the words "right to privacy" anywhere in the Constitution. An additional $100 per instance if you can find us the words "right to abortion", "right to sodomy" or "right to gay marriage." C'mon people, your charity is waiting!
John (the frenchman) Kerry (on the nomination of John Bolton to the UN) - "The president has the right to make this recess appointment, but it's the wrong decision. It only diminishes John Bolton's validity and leverage to secure America's goals at the U.N. John Bolton has been rejected twice by the Senate to serve as our Ambassador to the United Nations." (emphasis added)
Actually frenchie, Bolton wasn't rejected twice by the senate. If his name actually came to the floor for a vote, he would have been confirmed. Simple fact, the votes were there. Your obstructionism isn't a "rejection" of a nominee. It's a failure to come to grip with the fact that you are in the minority and we are definitely glad that the president has finally remembered that he has the votes to pass his agenda and install his people.
And finally, Ted (the swimmer) Kennedy (also on Bolton) - "The abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy from the White House continues. ... It's a devious maneuver that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent and only further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton's credibility at the U.N."
Abuse of power? Cloud of secrecy? Is teddy quoting the Chappaquidick coroner's inquest? Because in the US Constitution it says, "The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session." Is the Senate in recess? Yup. Is the President acting within the powers delineated by the Constitution? Yup. Is the swimming fool further making a mockery of his already foolish tenure in the "world's greatest deliberative body?" We'd say yup.
posted by SCC at 9:00 PM
2 Comments:
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Posting of 'Johns' on the Web Raises Rights Issue
Tresa Baldas
The National Law Journal
08-01-2005
Chicago's use of the Internet to humiliate customers of prostitutes, or "johns," has led to concerns that the practice may violate constitutional rights.
At issue is Chicago's recent decision to run a Web site that posts the names and photos of people who have been arrested for soliciting a prostitute -- but not convicted.
Attorneys and law enforcement officials argue that the practice violates a person's constitutional right to a fair trial, and could lead to lawsuits down the road.
The arguments whirling around in the Windy City have also taken place in cities in Kansas, North Carolina and Ohio.
"Clearly it's punishment before judgment. How could it not be? It causes humiliation for the arrestee, his friends and family … and they're all being punished without any hint of due process," said attorney Jack King, director of public affairs of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. "The city of Chicago is opening itself up to a lot of potential liability."
But Mayor Richard Daley has brushed aside potential constitutional concerns about the Web site, asserting that the public's right to know outweighs an arrestee's disapproval.
"It's a matter of public record," Daley spokesman David Bayless said of the mugshots that are posted on the Internet. "We're also responding to a demand from the media and the public to see who the individuals are." The Daley administration also has asserted that prostitution is "a terrible life" that subjects women to violence and abuse and jeopardizes the safety of neighborhoods.
Police Lieutenant Rick Edwards, of the Akron, Ohio, Police Department, which has a similar shame Web site, disagrees. "You're innocent until proven guilty. You could really bury somebody," noted Edwards, whose police department runs an "Operation John Be Gone" Web site that features only those convicted of prostitution charges.
WARNINGS INCLUDED
According to Daley's office, Chicago police last year arrested 3,204 prostitutes and 950 customers, and impounded 862 cars.
Hoping to cut the demand for prostitution, the city is also distributing posters, warning potential customers about the Web site and adding that "you will be paying thousands of dollars in fines for your public humiliation."
A similar public shame program was introduced in Kansas City, Mo., in the 1990s, where the police posted the images of people arrested on prostitution charges on a community-access TV channel.
Like Chicago, Kansas City also didn't wait for a conviction to run the photographs.
Kansas City Police Sergeant Brad Dumit defended the tactic, saying "it's a matter of public record and anyone can view it." The program ended due to a manpower shortage, he said. But in its four years of existence, he said, the city never ran into any legal troubles.
"We never had a problem with it whatsoever," Dumit said. "And I'm imagining Chicago's pretty smart. They won't be violating people's rights."
Charlotte, N.C., also has an off-again-on-again program called Shame TV, which runs the names and faces of convicted "johns.
100,000 'HITS'
Publicizing the names of just suspects was also debated a few years ago, but the city decided to name only those convicted "for obvious reasons," noted Julie Hill, a spokesperson for the city of Charlotte.
Edwards noted that Akron's prostitution Web site got more than 100,000 Internet hits in the last year. Attorneys often try to keep their client's name off the Web site, seeking more jail time or a higher fine.
"They try to use the Web site as a bargaining tool and we don't bargain with it," Edwards said. "If you're guilty, you're going on the Web site."
Chicago public defender Darlene Williams, who handles prostitution misdemeanors for the Cook County Public Defender's Office, said she is opposed to Chicago's humiliation tactic.
"You're putting people's pictures out there on a Web site and there isn't a presumption of innocence," Williams said. "They might not be convicted of anything and now there's this picture on this Web site and there's this humiliation brought to their family."
Right on! And Ted Kennedy's own brother used a recess apoointment to put Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court. F$%^ him and his sactmonious attitude.
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