Rowan Wolf of Uncommon Thought Journal and CJO’s Avenger
In Refusal to Testify - Hubris or Cover-up?, I felt that the refusal of the White House to release documents on the firing of U.S. attorneys, and the no-show of Bolten and Miers, was probably equally hubris and cover up. After watch “Now” last night, I am shifting much more heavily towards cover up.
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Rowan Wolf of Uncommon Thought Journal and CJO’s Avenger
There are those who are trying to minimize the issue of the firing of the U.S. attorneys as political comedy, and no big deal. It is a very big deal when the Department of Justice becomes an arm of politics rather than an arm of justice. Gonzales has testified repeatedly that he “doesn’t know” or “can’t remember.” Certainly a stonewalling technique. Bush then extended executive privilege to White House staff so they would not testify. Now the two highest ranked staffers subpoenaed have refused to even show up to testify before Congress. Is this just a flaunting of executive power, or is there a cover up?
By: Rowan Wolf of Uncommon Thought Journal and Cyrano’s Journal Online
While I doubt that the United States was ever quite the “Light on the Hill” as romanticized, we did once stand for some things that were worth being proud of. There were times when - even in war - we held ourselves to an ethical standard that was respected. During World War II, German soldiers had no fear of surrendering to U.S. troops, because they knew they would be well treated. How did the U.S. turn into some version of Mordor with the “light” now the “eye of Sauron?”
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By Rowan Wolf of Uncommon Thought Journal
The questionable firing of Federal Prosecutors by Gonzales (a.k.a. Bush administration) and replacing them with Bush loyalists has brought to light a much deeper manipulation - the placement of a select cadre within the DoJ in civil service positions. Charlie Savage of the Boston Globe uncovers part of the story in his April 8, 2007 article “Scandal puts spotlight on Christian law school.”
By Rowan Wolf of Uncommon Thought Journal
Remember the March 2007 raid of Michael Bianco Inc. in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Over 300 Immigration and Customs agents raided the factory and detained 361 undocumented workers. (According to Ali Noorani in a March 9, 2007 article in Boston.com - “US Immigration System at its Worst” - there were 500 homeland security personnel involved in the raid.) The workers were detained and separated from their families - some from young children and infants.
2007-03-15 | Give the author Feedback | Digg This!
Legal Training, Legal Mind
When I was in law school, professors always extolled the virtues of “thinking like a lawyer.” What they meant by that, in the abstract, was that one could argue either side of an issue. As part of a mere academic exercise, designed to prepare one to operate in an adversarial system, supposedly we need people who know the rules of evidence, law, and so forth, who can act as advocates for others without this special (esoteric) legal knowledge. But in a practical and real world sense, the idea of “thinking like a lawyer” is usually about dogma and unthinking – sheer obedience.
A brilliant legal mind is not one of rigor – instead it is one fully trained in double-think. A Double-think is not just some fantasy of Orwell, but a process that occurs everyday within the Kafka-like world of American courts. Like any alter boy who can tell you that God changed his mind about eating meat on Fridays, or the command that priests be celibate, or a Mormon who knows that God has seen the light so NOW those children of Cain (you know, they have that dark skin so they can be more easily identified as children of the first murderer), may enter the temple in Salt Lake – but they still cannot head the church, a good law student, and consequently the best federal judges, tolerate and ignore contradictions that do not serve the master (either the professor, the President or Congress).
Joys and Ills of Dogma
By: Rowan Wolf of Uncommon Thought Journal
It is being called a “compromise,” but that seems to be in name only. The “rebellion” by key Senate Republicans against Bush’s wishes for constitutional right to torture, hold prisoners without charges or access to courts, approve military tribunals and the use of “secret” and hearsay evidence, has essentially survived in tact.
By: Rowan Wolf of Uncommon Thought Journal
The politicians are back in Washington for a flurry of activity before the mid-term elections, and Bush is out stumping for funds and to reinforce GOP tactics. While we could sit back and say that all the activity is for show, it is critical to remember that the Republicans might lose control of the House - and possibly the Senate. Such a shift in power would dramatically effect the overall agenda of the neoconservatives and the Bush administration. Therefore, the direction of the flurry of activity in Washington and Bush’s “messages” to the public, take on great significance.
I’m not sure which dystopic police state I prefer — George Orwell’s 1984, or John Carpenter’s They Live. Orwell had postwar literary street-cred, but They Live has way better dialogue.
The truth must fall somewhere in the middle, although teasing out the subtle differences between authoritarian narratives is less interesting to me from a critical perspective than ridiculous fight scenes that last for five minutes. Instead, after the jump, a discussion of how to endure an authoritarian police state, or a little jail time, with stoicism and manliness. Plus: a totally unfair swipe at your grandma.
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