Aptenobytes

Some good news for a change.

Jan. 7, 1972 — Rehnquist, who had been an assistant U.S. attorney general, joins Supreme Court after being nominated by President Nixon and confirmed by Senate, 68-26.

June 1972 — The court strikes down all state death penalty laws, saying inadequate procedures led to arbitrary results. Rehnquist dissents.

January 1973 — Court finds right to abortion in Constitution's guarantee of personal liberty. Rehnquist dissents.

July 1974 — Court says Nixon must comply with a judge's subpoena for Watergate tapes. Rehnquist doesn't participate because he served under Attorney General John Mitchell, on trial for his involvement in Watergate.

July 1976 — With Rehnquist's vote, court reinstates death penalty laws with new procedures.

June 1978 — Court allows affirmative action in higher education. Rehnquist dissents.

June 1979, July 1980 — Court upholds affirmative action in public contracting. Rehnquist dissents.

September 1986 — Rehnquist becomes chief justice after being nominated by Reagan and confirmed by the Senate. He succeeds Warren Burger. Antonin Scalia joins court and provides another strong conservative vote.

February 1988 — Reagan appointee Anthony Kennedy joins court, giving Rehnquist a majority of five conservatives on many issues.

January 1989 — With Rehnquist in the majority, the court sets a strict standard for local governments' affirmative action policies.

February 1989 — With Rehnquist's vote, court dramatically cuts death row prisoners' ability to challenge their cases.

October 1991 — Clarence Thomas joins the bench, appointed by Bush and succeeding Thurgood Marshall. Thomas gives Rehnquist a consistent conservative vote. Marshall was the last justice who opposed the death penalty in all cases.

June 1992 — Over Rehnquist's dissent, the court upholds the 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling that made abortion legal nationwide.

June 1993 — With Rehnquist's vote, the court for the first time allows white voters to challenge black-majority congressional districts, which were intended to boost minorities' political power.

January 1995 — In a whimsical touch, Rehnquist adds gold stripes to the sleeves of his black robe after seeing a Gilbert and Sullivan production of "Iolanthe" and being amused by the garb of the British lord chancellor.

June 2000 — Rehnquist writes opinion allowing continuation of so-called Miranda rights read to criminal suspects. Despite his personal objections to Miranda, he writes that Congress cannot legislatively overturn the constitutional decision that dates to 1966. Also in June, a five-justice majority, over Rehnquist's dissent, strikes down state laws banning what critics call "partial birth" abortions.

December 2000 — Rehnquist votes with O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy and Thomas to stop recounts of Florida presidential ballots, leading to Republican George W. Bush's victory.

June 2003 — Over Rehnquist's dissent, the court rules 5-4 that colleges may favor minority applicants to achieve racial diversity on campus. Separately, over Rehnquist's dissent, a six-justice majority rules that state laws banning sexual relations between people of the same sex are unconstitutional.

June 2004 — After the court hears the first major challenge to the Bush administration's legal policy on terrorism, Rehnquist rules with the majority that a U.S. citizen held as an "enemy combatant" has a right to be told the reasons for his detention and to rebut those claims before a judge. Rehnquist dissents, however, from a decision that says foreigners in military custody at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, may challenge their detentions in federal courts.

January 2005 — Rehnquist administers oath of office to President Bush. As he descends steps to inaugural platform, ailing Rehnquist receives a standing ovation.

Sept. 3, 2005 — Rehnquist dies at his home in Arlington, Va.

Allow me a quiet smile at his passing. The only downside is that his successor will be nominated by the only president worse than Nixon I can think of.

Oh hell, might as well add another link to this one

Either the Bush Kids Put Their Lives on the Line for George's "Noble War" or the Troops Come Home.:
"I demand that George W. Bush's daughters, and his eligible nieces and nephews, serve in Iraq to prove their support of Bush's 'noble war for a noble cause.' If the Bush family does not believe in 'sacrificing' for the war and is not willing to put their lives on the line, then Bush must bring the troops of middle class and poor Americans home now."

I really, really, really fucking hate Monsanto.

From Greenpeace:No More Patents on Life
Monsanto has filed several patents on breeding herds of pigs. The only "invention" is a particular combination of natural breeding methods and ways of screening for particular genetic characteristics. But they are claiming patent on the resulting pig and its genetic makeup, meaning anyone raising pigs with similar characteristics will be violating their patent.

This is only the latest attempt by Monsanto to monopolize a food source -- other examples being their relentess attempt to create global hegemony around single genetically-engineered seed species that they own, without regard for negative environmental and biodiversity impacts.

Tell Monsanto to stop using patents to try and control our world's food supply. It's time for a moratorium on patents on life.

Gives new meaning to the term Capitalist Pig.

Mullah Robertson issues a Fatwa

Televangelist suggests assassination of Chavez:
"We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator," he continued. "It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."

... But the Americans have the moral high ground....

See, this is one of the many problems with "intellectual property"

Stuff that is part of our everyday culture, like the murals on our walls, can't be reproduced, even to make a political statement. Or should I say especially when it's to make a political statement.

Click the image for the story:

A very bad Supreme Court (US) decision

Kelo v. New London. The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that if the government decides that they can get more tax revenue from a property by giving it to a developer, then they can excercise eminent domain.

It's one thing to say, we're taking this from one person for the use of everybody, as in a highway or park. Taking from one citizen to give to another is not what eminent domain is for.

I predict that this will have as many far reaching effects as the Santa Clara decision, for many of the same reasons. It tilts power away from the individual, towards larger organizations that already have power and money.

Yup, this is the same supreme court that fucked us on Eldred v. Ashcroft.

'Course, living in Canada I don't have any constitutionally enshrined property rights anyway. Well, thanks to the Notwithstanding Clause, I don't really have any rights, may Trudeau rot in hell. I'll never, ever forgive the bastard for that clause. Ever.

The inexorable tide of propaganda.

First off, there is the opinion piece on Al Jazeera by Scott Ritter: entitled "The US war with Iran has already begun". It reminds me of a few years back (August 2001)when I read a National Geographic piece on Afghanistan decrying the destruction of some historical statues. I thought at the time, that's odd, I wonder why this is such a big story. I keyed in on it, and started noticing a lot of stories about how bad the Taliban was. The Taliban had been bad like this for years, but suddenly it seemed to be a major story. I said to myself that it almost seems like we're getting revved up for war, that we were being fed propaganda to make us willing to go to war. Then 9/11 happened the next month.... hmmm said I.

Have you noticed how much coverage the Iranian election got this year? A lot more than ever before? Always with references to the Mullahs having veto power over candidates, etc.

Things that make you paranoid...

What's happening in Chiapas?

Apparently something has stirred up the Zapatistas! They've issued a red alert, and have "release(d) from responsibility for any of our future actions all persons and civil, political, cultural, citizens and non-governmental organizations, solidarity committees and support groups who have been close to us since 1994. We thank all of those who have, sincerely and honestly, throughout these almost 12 years, supported the civil and peaceful struggle of the zapatista indigenous for the constitutional recognition of indigenous rights and culture." To the Government of Mexico: We are watching you.

I haven't been following this much...

.... but what does Scott Peterson's guilty verdict for second degree murder of his unborn child mean for abortion rights. I remember at the start there was some noise being made about it. The first degree charge is pretty standard, but that second charge seems to be being glossed over, and I'm curious about it. On the flip side, it's a bit more protection for pregnant women...

Libertarians and Greens are demanding a recount in Ohio...

Somebody at least is fighting . Two somebodies actually.

Washington, DC - David Cobb and Michael Badnarik, the 2004 Green and Libertarian presidential candidates, today announced their joint intent to secure a recount of presidential ballots cast in Ohio.

“Due to widespread reports of irregularities in Ohio’s voting process, we are compelled to demand a recount of the Ohio presidential vote,” the two candidates said in a joint statement. “Voting is at the heart of the American political process and its integrity must be preserved. When Americans stand in line for hours to exercise their right to vote, they need to know that their votes will be counted fairly and accurately. We are acting to protect the rights of the people of Ohio, and the rights of all Americans. Public trust in the democratic process is at stake.”

I've really been impressed at the level of cooperation this year between the Greens and the Libertarians.