Yippee....the "pledge case" is likely on its way to the supreme ct. The 9th Circuit has just denied the en banc rehearing. and as Howard Bashman point out (see link), the case is destined for a hearing by the famous 9 as there is conflict amongst the circuits on this issue.
let the fun begin.
How Appealing

Eric Alterman raises an interesting question here:
Eric Alterman: Altercation
Find his link to the newsweek story on the defector who told the UN in '95 that Iraq desroyed all of its WMD. And then ponder, as does Eric, why on earth does the headline suggest the opposite story. I'm baffled...

"The greatest gift you can give to a person is your honest self."
-Fred Rogers
I am sad to see today the passing of Fred Rogers, host of the PBS show Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Despite trends for flashier programming, and despite the idea that only a purple dinosaur could talk to kids about their developing conscious, Mr. Rogers dealt with young folks in a decent and reasoned way. It seems to me he dedicated his life for the good of his viewers.
Still, and sadly, I don't think I would have recognized that his work would have been so clearly wonderful had I not heard the episode of "This American Life" to which I've linked below. Scroll down to the May 11, 2001 episode, called "Neighbors," click the realaudio icon and listen for awhile.
Its really beautiful. And, now, the most appropriate memorial I can suggest.

From WBEZ in Chicago | This American Life

this is an experiment

The link below is to an opinion article from Regis Debray, former adviser to President of France, Francois Mitterrand.
An interesting read, suggesting that America is entering a political sphere through which "old europe" has passed; to wit, the idea that politics and religion are inseperable- and one civilization, in stark right-ness, can and should subjucate another, that is deemed by the prior to be in wrong-ness.
Again, an interesting read...and ultimately only partly satisfying. Debray oversimplifies American foreign policy into the fanatical religio-empire stereotype for the Bush administration.
I think that stereotype is true, but only rhetorically. Bush's greatest blunder these past months has been the alienation of so many allies on this issue (and the people governed by allies). His strategy of talking in absolute terms has led to this notion that Bush's Iraq plan is based on a religious worthiness. I don't think this is true- I tend to think the hope to topple Hussein is basically political. However, his talking points in tones of evil vs good have stupified most observers because it is unconvincing--and most observers I know are willing to deal with a bad actor through non-war means unless there is a perceived direct threat.
Because of Bush's haste and simplistic rhetoric, he has managed to lose legitimacy on the Iraq issue. As an international law professor quiped: he has managed to lose with a hand full of aces.
As I quip: In the face of a legitimate concern in the international environment, Bush has exposed his incompetence. He is destroying international alliance with reckless rhetoric and haste.

The French Lesson

soon to be a permalink
Andrew Owens presents:

I wanted to link to this Balkinization as well in the previous post. its Jack Balking on the Friedman article.
Really just an extension of the theme; but i like the theme...hence the extensions.
also, i need to form a perma-link to Balkin's site- it's a goodie for those law-nerds out there.

a fine Friedman article offering criticism to all except Blair. Pretty good:
Tell the Truth

jack balkin with a nice summation of the president...
Balkinization

why hasn't the U.S. taken out the terrorist camp of which we were shown such compelling pictures? Is it because the camp is needed in the case against Hussein?
Los Angeles Times: Ongoing Iraqi Camp Questioned

here's a pretty neat article on Joe Lieberman, the role/non-role of god in government,
and the subsequent criticism of Lieberman--who, like Bush, expresses the goal
"to dedicate our nation and ourselves to God and God's purpose."
plenty of thoughts arise.
author is vice provost and professor of government at Cornell- and wrote, with
Laurence Moore, "The Godless Constitution."
Boston Globe Online / Sunday | Focus / My Lieberman Problem - and Ours

and this is part II of the social movement/law discussion:
Balkinization

Jack Balkin, professor of law, comparing Bowers v. Hardwick (holding homosexual marriage not protected by consitution) with Eldred v. Ashcroft, the recent copyright case. of interest: Balkin is working on a paper on how "social movements succeed or fail in shaping American constitutional law."
Balkinization

this is a wonderful discussion on the powell presentation. seems to me a thorough and fair treatment- so give a read.
a highlight:
"why hasn't the United States bombed the so-called Zarqawi camp shown in the slide? The administration obviously knows where it is, and Powell spoke of it in the present tense. If it is an outpost of chemical weapons and explosives development for al Qaeda, why not take it out, especially since it is situated within a part of Iraq uncontrolled by any national government? The United States has fighter jets patrolling the northern no-fly zone in Iraq. Cruise missiles can easily reach the area. This part of Powell's briefing reinforced a crucial point: al Qaeda is the pressing danger at the moment"

Capital Games

take the quiz and find out where you float in the liberal/conservative sea:
Where do you fall on the liberal - conservative political spectrum? (United States) - Quizilla

this, and the link below have two purposes:
1) let us never abandone historical analysis of foreign policy crises
2) take notice of the cnn cover-up of Rumsfeld's reaction to them having the photo at all.
MyDD: Rumsfeld & Hussein Follow-up

MyDD: Photo of Rumsfeld with Hussein

i may have more on this later- but for now the times article speaks well enough to the issue. issue being: ashcroft's ridiculous rejection of a plea bargain after a suspect cooperated with prosecutors. any conscious person realizes the implications: less cooperation. any conscious person wonders: where is ashcrofts precedent, or rationale here? my answer: 1) there is none, 2) he loves the death penalty.
my conclusion: ashcroft has violated sound principle. he and the bush administration should be held accountable for this devistating turn in criminal justice. the article below is a follow to a previous ny times article on the main story. if you want the former article, do a nytimes search: ashcroft, death penalty.
Veto of Plea Undermines Prosecutors, Lawyers Say

better than the news:
At Dawn, the Columbia