OK, I have now decided to reverse myself. Until the memos come out, no vote.
Near as I can tell, I'm the only person who first lost faith in democracy when Ollie North not only got away with telling Congress to fuck itself, but was largely lauded as a hero. (That Fawn Hall sure did help. But still...)
If that's part of what we're fighting here, it's worth taking a hit for it. Nobody who has a notion of Separation o' Powers that would excuse those Iran/Contra shenanigans has anyplace on the federal bench at all, much less the Supreme Court.
Posted by dj moonbat at August 25, 2005 02:17 PMI'm pretty sure from reading Berke Breathed at the time that you weren't the only one who lost faith during Ollie's testimony. But I think Breathed was a cynic in American democracy far before that point.
If Roberts had a hand in Iran/Contra, I'm all for the reinstatement of true litmus testing. The one where giant vats of acids and bases are filled, and the nominee has to do a quick lap in each one.
Posted by idiosynchronic at August 25, 2005 02:42 PMSo what? Hell, being an Iran-Contra felon is damn near a prerequisite for a job with this administration!
Posted by Vinnie at August 25, 2005 03:22 PMGood point, Vinnie!!!
Posted by Herman at August 25, 2005 04:53 PMThe only thing this revelation of involvement in American terrorism will accomplish is to ensure that John Roberts will never sit on the Nicaraguan Supreme Court. The American people didn't care enough then to see to it that Ollie North and many others were convicted, they didn't care enough that Poppy Bu$h pardoned them, and they aren't going to care now.
Posted by pessimist at August 25, 2005 05:24 PMWould be mighty uncomfortable if that memo had a cc: GHB on it.
What's this with executive privilege? I thought that had been shot down.
Anybody know if historians or researchers would have been given these papers if requested before the Roberts nomination?
Posted by Marie at August 25, 2005 06:04 PMThere are more on Roberts that meets the eyes. He does have tight lips.
“Now here’s where it gets interesting, as a member of the DC Circuit, Judge Roberts joined the decisions’ finding that the Geneva Convention, which provides trial protections to prisoners of war, is unenforceable in United States courts. This is a decision that could profoundly and adversely affect our own soldiers’ well-being when they are taken prisoner during war time. It is a decision that has been discussed in the press lately, and it’s a decision that raises questions about Judge Roberts’ views on Presidential power and deference to the Executive Branch. This is an important and critical line of questioning for us on the Judiciary Committee.”
I choose to use Diane Feinstein, CA, while I do not live there, her site do put forward what is another side of Roberts. He was meeting with Gonzales, the father of that decision, and Bush the defendant in the case. And did not rescue himself from been the deciding vote. This was one of the impeachable reasons used against Nixon. He was meeting with Daniel Elsberg’s judge.
Her site is interesting because it outline what the Neocons, the Rehnquist Court , have done since the 80’s. I heard it on INN world report that she was going to question Roberts about it!
http://feinstein.senate.gov/05speeches/s-supreme-ct.htm
Does anyone notice Bolton works at the UN, women and children are not worth protecting, poor, environment, he is out of control (where is Rice who is suppose to control the walrus) but with our recovered alcoholic, new reborn leaders who cannot meet a gold star mother, is proof that the never elected little boys has a lot of problems. All the repugs running for re-election are running scare. Look at Richard Lugar, Trent lott and Rick Sartorum who now trying to find a none existing “I did not wanted the Iraqi war” stupid comments? I knew it was a retaliation foe DADDY.
On Roberts' being a liar: when his nomination was first announced, his "holographic" answers to the questionnaire was online. The first page regarding Marital status was: wife Cynthia, one daughter; and wife Jane, 2 children. Now if you go to his questionnaire online, it is typed and only his current wife Jane and 2 children are named. This is very strange and bothersome as the WH wants him to look picture perfect. Why else would Jane be dressed up like Jackie O, Josie and Jack all done up like the Kennedy children. Nauseating. I took the picture from the newspaper and put on my refrigerator - I've lost 10 lbs.
Anything Bush does is a set up. I would never approve of any nomination of his choice - his copresident makes those decisions. Bush can't even put a complete sentence together!
Posted by sara swati at August 26, 2005 01:52 PMThis was confirmed last year by the release of declassified documents that prove Ollie knew, and that he was in constant contact with admin officials about it.
Yet another major failure of the msm to cover a major story.
I posted at great length about it on this thread over at americablog.
This is what I'm talking about. This is good!!!
Add this to your story, you've got a serious checkmate on the Roberts nomination
There's more if you follow the link in my post above this one.