Criminal law, International, Military, Politics, Society

Death Panel: Obama Delegates Hit List To Panel of Unnamed Officials

I recently ran a couple of columns (here and here) and postings criticizing President Obama’s assertion of the right to kill citizens as a presidential prerogative. It now appears that he has delegated the selection of targets for killings to a panel of unnamed officials who determine which people should be killed without a trial or even a charge. When it comes to citizens like Anwar al-Awlaki, the killings raise serious constitutional problems that are being kept from the courts by the Administration.

Continue reading “Death Panel: Obama Delegates Hit List To Panel of Unnamed Officials” →

Bizarre, Justice, Lawyering, Media

Surprise! Nancy Grace Proclaims Knox Guilty and Denounces Acquittal as “Miscarriage of Justice”

Nancy Grace took time away from her dancing stint on Dancing With The Stars to rally the mob in condemning an acquitted person. Grace called the acquittal of Amanda Knox a “miscarriage of justice” despite the few of many (including myself) that the case was riddled by mistakes, false statements by the police or prosecutors, and open speculation. Nevertheless, in Grace’s preference for “sentence first — verdict afterwards,” the Italian jury was the outrage by looking at the evidence and standard of proof.

Continue reading “Surprise! Nancy Grace Proclaims Knox Guilty and Denounces Acquittal as “Miscarriage of Justice”” →

Bizarre, International, Politics, Society

Putin’ On A Show: Russian Aide Admits Putin Discovery of Ancient Urns Was Staged

In a previous, I expressed profound doubt over the latest installment of “Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin: Action Hero.” If you recall, after his being featured a race car driver, great white hunter, jet pilot, oceanologist, martial artist and Hell’s Angel, Putin was shown as a scuba diver. While only having dived three times, Putin was filmed at an ancient Greek Black sea site and . . . you guessed it . . . he “discovered” two sixth century urns under the water — one of which was in pristine condition with nary a seaweed adhering to its surface. Most of us laughed at the display of unrestrained megalomania, but the Russians insisted that it just shows how superhuman Putin is. Now, after ridicule outside of Russian, an aide admitted it was staged.
Continue reading “Putin’ On A Show: Russian Aide Admits Putin Discovery of Ancient Urns Was Staged” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law

Justice Department Appeals Alabama Immigration Ruling

The Obama Administration is moving against the new Alabama law on illegal immigration — as it has the Arizona law. I have discussed the novelty of such challenges, which may soon include other states. I will be discussing the Alabama law on NPR’s Diane Rehm Show on Wednesday, October 5th.
Continue reading “Justice Department Appeals Alabama Immigration Ruling” →

Bizarre, Politics, Society

PM Cameron Calls For Fat Tax To Prevent England From Becoming . . . Well . . . Us

Well, we finally have been cited as the inspiration for reforms in England. Prime Minister David Cameron is suggesting a “fat tax” on foods to combat obesity and to avoid becoming like the United States — a nation of fat people. He appears to be unaware that we prefer to call ourselves a Rubenesque nation.
Continue reading “PM Cameron Calls For Fat Tax To Prevent England From Becoming . . . Well . . . Us” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Topeka District Attorney Refuses to Prosecute Domestic Abuse Cases After His Budget is Cut

Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor has created a firestorm of controversy in Topeka, Kansas by announcing that his office will no longer prosecute domestic abuse cases and other misdemeanors due to a lack of funds. Notably, Taylor was faced with a 10 percent budget cut, but elected to simply bar prosecution of crimes like domestic abuse.
Continue reading “Topeka District Attorney Refuses to Prosecute Domestic Abuse Cases After His Budget is Cut” →

Science

New Images of the Asteroid Vesta Reveal Massive Mountain

I have long declined to climb Mt. Everest and now my decision has been vindicated. It turns out that Mt. Everest is a mere ant hill in comparison to the peak on the asteroid Vesta. NASA’s Dawn probe captured the image of the mountain which not only dwarfs Mt. Everest but almost ties the shield volcano Olympus Mons on Mars — which still holds the record. It turns out that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay ascended to the top of what Vestans call a foothill.

Continue reading “New Images of the Asteroid Vesta Reveal Massive Mountain” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, International, Military, Politics, Society, Supreme Court

The Hit List: The Public Applauds As President Obama Kills Two Citizens As A Presidential Prerogative

Below is today’s column in USA Today (to run in paper form on Wednesday) on President Barack Obama’s claim to the right to kill citizens as dangers to the nation. Ironically, the day after I wrote the Los Angeles Times column on Obama’s disastrous impact on the civil liberties movement in the United States (including his assertion of the right to kill citizens on his own authority), the U.S. killed two citizens in Yemen. Notably, Ron Paul (who has emerged as the only candidate discussing these issues from a civil libertarian perspective) suggested an impeachment inquiry based on the killing of the two citizens. Below is the column in USA Today.
Continue reading “The Hit List: The Public Applauds As President Obama Kills Two Citizens As A Presidential Prerogative” →

Free Speech, International, Religion, Society

Dalai Lama Blocked For Second Time in Visiting South Africa — After a Visit of South African Delegation To Beijing

For the second time in two years, a visit by the Dalai Lama has been blocked by the South African government — only a week after South Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe visited with Chinese leaders in Beijing. However, the government insists that it was under no pressure from China and the visa was simply not processed fast enough.

Continue reading “Dalai Lama Blocked For Second Time in Visiting South Africa — After a Visit of South African Delegation To Beijing” →

Academia, Bizarre, Justice, Lawyering

Gonzales Hired To Teach At Unaccredited Belmont Law School in Tennessee

While former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has been able to escape investigation and prosecution for his role in the torture program, no law firms or ranking law schools wanted to touch him as he sought gainful employment. Gonzales has been struggling to find someone who wants to be represented or taught by an individual ridiculed for politicizing the Justice Department and bringing in hacks who were accused of a variety of criminal and ethical violations. Well, he finally found one school. Belmont University has created an unaccredited law school in Tennessee. Its new Doyle Rogers Distinguished Chair of Law is no one else than Alberto Gonzales.
Continue reading “Gonzales Hired To Teach At Unaccredited Belmont Law School in Tennessee” →

International, Society

Amanda Knox Conviction Overturned

An appeals jury in Italy this afternoon overturned the convictions of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito in the killing of Knox’s roommate Meredith Kircher four years ago. While it has shocked many, it was a victory for the rule of law given the lack of evidence and serious mistakes of police in the course of the investigation. What was interesting, however, was the fact that slander convictions against Knox and Sollecito were upheld.

Continue reading “Amanda Knox Conviction Overturned” →