With President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder blocked any investigation or prosecution of those responsible for the torture program, Bush officials like Vice President Dick Cheney have been publicly celebrating the use of torture. Now, Karl Rove says that he is “proud” that the administration used torture “that broke the will of these terrorists.”
Continue reading “Pride in His Work: Rove Publicly Rejoices in the Use of Torture”
Gov. Tim Pawlenty appears to have a broader definition of who constitutes his “troops” in Minnesota. Sen. Don Betzold, has accused Pawlenty of diverting funds from the “Support Our Troops” license plate program to his Governor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives. The office works to connect religious organizations with state funds — organizations viewed as a critical part of the Republican political base.
Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for governor in California, had a curious way of calling a press event. Whitman invited the press and was then shocked to learn that they actually wanted to ask questions. It then went from bad to worse.
Continue reading “The No-Press Presser: California Candidate for Governor Throws Press Out of Press Conference When They Try To Ask Questions”
Monica Conyers, former Detroit City Councilwoman and wife of Judiciary Chairman John Conyers was sentenced to 37-month prison term for birbery — a sentence that has been challenged by some on the city council as too light, here.
Continue reading “Monica Conyers Sentenced to Three Years in Jail”
The Vatican’s Chief Exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, 85, has gone public with an allegation that “the Devil is at work inside the Vatican.” He also reveals that the devil has a playful side and often mocks him.
Continue reading “Vatican’s Chief Exorcist Claims Devil Is Gaining Ground Within the Church”
We have been following the crackdown on free speech in the West and particularly the alarming trend toward Western blasphemy prosecution, here. Now, in Poland, one of the lead signers and guitarists in the heavy metal band Behemoth has been criminally charged with insulting Roman Catholics for tearing up a Bible on stage and calling the Catholic Church “the most murderous cult on the
planet.” For a video, see below.
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts spoke publicly to criticize President Barack Obama for his State of the Union — calling his reference to the Citizens United “very troubling.” He implicitly denounced the President for allowing the speech to “degenerate[] to a political pep rally.” Most notably, however, he did not have a single word of objection for fellow conservative Justice Sam Alito for his expression of disagreement during the address. Robert’s Rules of Order now appear to be rather selective in their application.
In the past, political scandals center on back taxes. In Florida’s senatorial race, however, it is back waxes. Gov. Charlie Crist raised the question on Fox News — questioning whether his opponent Marco Rubio charged the Republican party for a back wax.
Continue reading “Crist v. Rubio: Forget Back Taxes, How About Back Waxes?”
Where Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is widely criticized for abuses in office, many of those abuses (including investigating judges who stand up to Arpaio) are only possible with the help of his enabler Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. Now, Thomas appears to finally be facing a professional review. The Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court has ordered a special investigator to look into his alleged unethical conduct.
Continue reading “Doubting Thomas: Court Appoints Special Investigator To Look Into Alleged Unethical Conduct of Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas”
Last week, we discussed the arrest of anti-gay California Senator Roy Ashburn (R., Bakersfield) for DUI after reportedly leaving a gay bar with an unidentified man. He has now confirmed that he is in fact gay.
Continue reading ““I’m Gay”: Anti-Gay Rights Legislator in California Comes Out of The Closet Following Arrest”
Romanian officials are posting signs to deal with a growing problem: cars running over drunks.
Continue reading “Drunk Crossing: Romanian Government Erect Drunk Crossing Signs”
We have been following a number of “stolen valor” cases recently on this blog. The crime of falsely claiming medals and military service is all the rage. Even journalists have been implicated as with Darrow “Duke” Tully, publisher of Arizona Republic and close associate to Sen. John McCain. Tully resigned as publisher after it was learned that he did not fly 100 combat missions over Vietnam, crash a fighter in Korea, or receive the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. Indeed, he never served at all. Below is today’s column on the subject (which was the subject of this segment of NPR’s Talk of the Nation.
Continue reading “Stolen Valor is Offensive, But Is It A Crime?”
Answer: A naked enraged Rahm Emanuel poking his finger in your chest while you are taking a shower.
That is what outgoing Rep. Eric Massa (D, NY) says happened when he was taking a shower in the member’s club. Massa says that he was forced out because he planned to vote against the health bill.
A former Milwaukee County sergeant was sentenced to 18 months in prison for assaulting a handcuffed suspect in a police cruiser. As shown in this video, former Milwaukee County Sergeant Scott Krause punched Ray Calderon several times after he kicked the patrol window and cursed at deputies.
There is a transcript from executives at the American International Group (AIG) that is likely to infuriate many Americans, still smarting over the $165 million in bonuses paid to executives after the huge federal bailout. Statements from a conference call reveal executives who express contempt for the public and bravado in their own business abilities. These include statements from employees hoping that the public loses a trillion dollars and blaming the problems on Congress, and the public rather than their own business decisions.