September 7, 2007 – Capitol Hill Blue

Judge strikes down part of Patriot Act

September 7, 2007

A federal judge in New York Thursday slapped down parts of the controversial USA Patriot Act and criticized Congress for abandoning its role of oversight, saying when “the judiciary lowers its guard on the Constitution it opens the door to far-reaching invasions of privacy.”

The ruling is a victory for the American Civil Liberties Union and an Internet service provider that challenged an FBI-issued National Security Letter that allows the government to gain access to personal records without court oversight.

In the end, nothing will change

September 7, 2007

As America waits for the long-anticipated but even longer predetermined report from Gen. David Patraeus on the situation in Iraq it becomes more and more obvious that little, if anything, will change in the war that just today cost seven more American soldiers their lives.

Seven more Americans die in Iraq

September 7, 2007

Four U.S. Marines were killed in fighting in Anbar province, and three soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in northern Iraq, the military said Friday.

The four Marines assigned to Multi National Force — West were killed Thursday while conducting combat operations in Anbar, a predominantly Sunni province west of Baghdad that has seen a recent drop in violence, according to a statement.

Three Task Force Lightning soldiers also were killed Thursday when a bomb exploded near their vehicle in the northern Ninevah province, the military said separately.

Still out there and still dangerous

September 7, 2007

Thanks to German-U.S. intelligence cooperation and heads-up German police work, three Islamic militants were arrested in the last stage of what authorities called a “massive” plot aimed at the U.S. military presence there.

Authorities said the trio, two German nationals, converts to Islam, and a Turk, had accumulated military-grade detonators and 200 gallons of a concentrated hydrogen-peroxide solution, the equivalent of 1,200 pounds of TNT. Police said the bombs were similar to but more powerful than the bombs that killed 191 people in Madrid, Spain, and 52 in London.

Can we really trust Hillary Clinton?

September 7, 2007

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who both fascinates and infuriates, has a new message in her determined quest to return to the White House, this time as president.

The new TV ad campaign, running in New Hampshire, the latest state she has adopted, trumpets the New York Democrat as the true agent of political change, although she has spent more time in the White House than any other U.S. presidential candidate except for Franklin Roosevelt.

Winning hearts and minds in Iraq

September 7, 2007

As the world awaits Gen. David Petraeus’ progress report on President Bush’s troop surge, even war critics concede that deploying 30,000 additional GIs has improved Iraq’s security. Largely overlooked, however, is how increased safety has helped U.S. soldiers and contractors rebuild the country’s physical and institutional infrastructure.

Why we must never forget 9/11

September 7, 2007

Let’s quit making a big deal out of 9/11, some are saying as the sixth anniversary rolls around, and maybe you disagree as I do, but hold your arguments. A recent event speaks louder than our words could.

It occurred in Germany, where police arrested three Islamic-fascists who had cruelty up their sleeves. They had their own recognition of 9/11 planned, but no reading of the names of the 3,000 who died in that day’s attacks, no families joining to pray for the victims, no speeches about the need for vigilance.

Feeding the need for praise

September 7, 2007

Have you gotten an “applause note” recently?

If you are in an office with a lot of “millennials” (twentysomethings), chances are you have. Jeff Zaslow wrote recently in The Wall Street Journal that “companies are celebrating young employees by throwing confetti at them, passing out ‘applause notes’ and giving them kudos just for coming to work on time.”

Bagging the suckers

September 7, 2007

In the words of the patron saint of political consultants, there’s a sucker born every minute. In California it’ll cost you a couple of million to reach the suckers. But the consultants aren’t complaining.

For evidence, consider the likely initiative menu for next year’s three — count ’em, three — elections. There’s the initiative, almost certain to make the February presidential primary ballot, that would replace the existing legislative term limits — six years in the Assembly, eight in the Senate — with a system limiting any legislator to a total of 12 years.

Hate crime or overreaction?

September 7, 2007

Germantown, Tenn., officials defended the firing of three theater workers who tied stage-rigging ropes into hangman’s nooses.

City Administrator Patrick Lawton likened the knots left hanging at Germantown Performing Arts Theatre to cross-burnings and swastikas.

“It is the symbol of hatred and bigotry,” he said.

Meanwhile, the city took criticism from people inside and outside the local theater community for either overreacting to or misinterpreting the knots.