thepoorman.net » Words to remember

The Poor Man has a terrific look at some of the juiciest quotes from the Republican leadership during Bill Clinton's war in Bosnia. These should be required reading for anyone who is irony impared. (Republicans this means you!)

Truly inspired suff.

There's gonna be Hell to pay...

Italy Judge Orders Arrest of 13 CIA Agents - New York Times

Filed at 9:28 a.m. ET

ROME (AP) -- An Italian judge has ordered the arrest of 13 CIA agents for allegedly helping deport an imam to Egypt as part of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts, an Italian official familiar with the investigation said Friday.


The agents are suspected in the seizure of an Egyptian-born imam identified as Abu Omar on the streets of Milan in February 2003, according to the official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.

Call me crazy but it looks as if one of our little pet "Coalition of the Willing" has gone and started an international incedent due to the way we treated one of their citizens. I am guessing that Mr. Berlusconi is going to become persona non grata in the White House in the very near future.

This looks on the surface like something that will blow up into a very noisy and public shitstorm that with its public investigation might just get some media attention focused on the cloak and dagger dealings of the "Extrrordinary Rendition" crowd.

the idea that the CIA would kidnap and exoprt people, even suspected terrorists, to jurisdictions where they were to be tortured has always sat badly with me. I hope that the findings of this court case will help to dismantle the apparatus that allows this kind of thing to happen.

Once there are no more protections of law for citizens, there is no more protection of anything.

CNN covers the Downing Street Memo Forum

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Some congressional Democrats, brandishing a document known as the "Downing Street memo," are insisting that the White House provide more information about what led to the decision to go to war in Iraq.

Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan, and other Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee were conducting a public forum Thursday afternoon, prompted by documents that have surfaced from inside the British government about pre-war planning.

Apparently there is a rally going on in Lincoln park in DC right now and there might even be some coverage on CNN of this as well. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

That's my man!

Kudos to my Representative, Jay Inslee for being a stand up guy and for appearing at the end of the facinating and infromative Downing Street Minutes and Pre-War Intelligence Forum that just wrapped up. It was a very good hearing with more and more members of congress arriving as it wore on to add their observations. The outrage was palpable and the questions were pointed.

All in all I was very happy to see it and will be looking forward to another round. More like this, please!

Washingto Judge: In your face GOP!

The Seattle Times: Local News: Judge upholds election, rejects every GOP claim

A fantastic article that finally (almost) puts anend to the nearly year long election for WA governor has a few choice quotes:

WENATCHEE — Judge John Bridges today upheld the election of Gov. Christine Gregoire, dismissing a Republican lawsuit and soundly rejecting claims that wrongdoing, fraud and felon voters robbed Dino Rossi of the election.

Bridges said Republicans did not meet the burden of proof for nullifying an election.

Then there was this great nugget:

"An election such as this should not be overturned because one judge picks a number and applies a proportional deduction analysis," Bridges said. "To do so within the context of the facts of this case would constitute the ultimate act of judicial egotism and judicial activism."

Man you've got to love that as a direct quote! Taking all of the thunder right out of the GOP talking points. How 'ya going to spin it now?!

Well, I assume that the GOP will appeal to the supreme court, I also thinnk that because of the way in which this case was tried and the sheer amount of evidence that the GOP was able to introduce they will have very little to actually stand on. In what has clearly become a sensational fit of sour grapes I expect nothing less...