Federal Government Finds the Answer
August 13

Blue-dog Democrats working to put together a medical reform bill palatable to the tea-bagging wing of the Republican party today announced a breakthrough of historic proportions.

A cornerstone of the compromise will be a stipulation that local health officials will provide – at no charge – federally funded generic crystal meth to any American citizen who requests it.

The announcement was met with applause by Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and town-hall goers alike. 


A Senate aide stated, on condition of anonymity, that “I think it’s safe to say we’ve seen the end of yelling, screaming, writhing-on-the-floor, foaming-at-the-mouth opposition to health-care reform we’ve become familiar with in the past few weeks.”

Mr. Krispy Kreme got me strolling down memory lane.

Me so Dorothy.  Me love you long time.

(Keep the change.  If there is any.)

From the ACLU:

Dear ACLU Supporter,

There are no two sides to the debate over indefinitely detaining individuals without charge or trial.

Indefinite detention means allowing the government to imprison people for an unspecified period of time without charging them with a crime and without holding a trial.

That would fundamentally alter the character of our democracy. It would also gut the very meaning of the Fifth Amendment which guarantees due process. In short, it would be a human rights disaster.

The ACLU has been gearing up for a big legislative battle to stop any and all proposals to create a new system of indefinite detention. But now, news reports reveal a more immediate threat.

According to an article in the Washington Post last week, a strategy is taking shape in the White House that would authorize indefinite detention — not through legislation, but with a presidentially signed executive order. And just hours ago, the president’s press secretary said they would now go through Congress. One thing is clear: the Obama administration is seeking the power to indefinitely detain individuals without charge or trial.

What is also clear is that whether through executive order or legislation, indefinite detention is un-American.

You and I have to respectfully urge the President to make sure that idea never sees the light of day.

President Obama needs to hear from you. Let him know that — whether through legislation or executive order — you are firmly opposed to indefinite detention.

The key to stopping dangerous ideas is to act decisively right from the start. In the weeks ahead, it’s going to be up to you and the ACLU to lead a sustained effort to stop indefinite detention. And we can’t wait until this dangerous proposal is issued — especially not when the President is being pressured by advisors within the White House to immediately sign an executive order.

We need everyone who believes in the Constitution and the American system of justice to let the President know that preserving our values and the rule of law is a top priority.

This principle is fundamental: In America, we do not imprison people indefinitely without charges or a trial.

Our democracy and the rights that we cherish cannot rely on the wisdom of individual people in the government. It must rely on the Constitution and the rule of law. And we know that our justice system has successfully prosecuted terrorist suspects in the past and there is no reason to think it cannot do so in the future.

President Obama needs to hear from you. Let him know that — whether through legislation or executive order — you are firmly opposed to indefinite detention.

Please stand with the ACLU and do everything you can to reach the President with our message: the only way to put the civil liberties and human rights outrages of the Bush administration behind us is to end them.

They cannot be amended, tidied up, or recalibrated; they must be rejected and dismantled if we hope to reclaim an America we can be proud of again. We’re counting on you to personally commit to an all-out effort to reject indefinite detention — starting right now and carrying forward for as long as it takes to succeed.

Remember, we need as many voices on this as possible. After you take action, please ask your friends and family to join the fight. And thank you for everything you do.

  I just watched this, and of course I felt I had to share it with anyone living with an epileptic dog.

1.    Yay.  +    (Although it’d have meant more if it’d been Nadal he beat.)

2.  Well, that’s particularly sad.  I’d been watching coverage of the Iranian campaign and really thought Mousavi would win.  Everyone looked so hopeful.

3.  I’d pay £80 billion (or however much it was) for Ronaldo, who is undoubtedly the sexiest man on the planet.

4.  Another gorgeous day in paradise.  No storms on the horizon.  I think I’ll be putting the top down and driving to the Coop in Oron.  Very very exciting.

5.  Whenever I see the tennis player in this ad, guess who I think of.

My Very First Eurovision Song Contest

Feeling melancholy…