Getting somewhere?

Are we at last perhaps actually beginning to "get somewhere?" Senators Warner, McCain and Graham have indicated they are not going to roll over for Bush's claim he does not have to follow the McCain amendment regarding torture. When Bush signed the amendment he also executed what is known as a "signing document." While this is not a legal document, it is an indication of how the President views this matter. And he views it as something he can completely disregard if he feels like it. This is another claim on absolute power by the President. So now there is a direct conflict between the Senate and the President over the extent of Presidential power (the President is going to eventually lose but no doubt after weeks if not months of controversy, effectively keeping any other important business from being considered). Does Bush really believe that McCain, having fought so hard for this amendment which passed something like 92 to 6 (or some such figure) is going to just stand by and let him claim he doesn't have to obey it? Now the battle is truly joined. Stay tuned for the fun.

Pat Robertson, the senile and idiotic "leader" of a least some so-called "Christians," is at it again. It is now reaching the point where one has to wonder if he is even sane. His latest foray into something that is not his business in the first place has to do with Sharon's massive stroke. According to Robertson this stroke was God's punishment for Sharon trying to divide up "God's land." That is, withdrawing from the Gaza strip. God, according to Robertson doesn't like it when someone tries to divide up his land. I guess this has nothing to do with the fact that Robertson and his cronies want Israel to sell them (or perhaps give them) 35 acres or so where they can establish "Jesusland." This is going to be a theme park featuring, I guess, walking on water, feeding hundreds on a loaf of bread, perhaps parting the waters, and such things. No doubt it will be a non-profit enterprise devoted entirely to the worship of Jesus. Would someone tell me how these people keep escaping insane asylums?

Alito comes up next week for confirmation for the Supreme Court. From what is now known about Alito it would seem that he is singularly inappropriate for such a position. Not only is he on record as being opposed to abortion, he is also on record as favoring an Imperial Presidency (just what we need at the very moment that Presidential powers are an exceedingly contentious issue). So far there is no indication that he will not be confirmed although there is some very remote possibility the Democrats may filibuster. But why is he being allowed to come up at all at the moment, given the current problems with the Bush/Cheney administration? Surely we ought to be able to wait until we know whether Bush/Cheney are going to survive the next year or two. If Democrats allow this appointment they clearly have a death wish.

One interesting and unprecedented development has come up. The Human Rights Watch has written to Bush suggesting that our massive (and heretofore never challenged)support for Israel should be cut back in the amount they are spending on their illegal wall and expanding their equally illegal west bank settlements. It is clear the wall is not merely for security but is more importantly a blatant land grab that is and will create terrible hardships for Palestinians. Sharon, of course, has gone ahead with this even though he has been told not to by the U.S. and the U.N. (when has Israel ever paid any attention to anyone that attempted to be fair and balanced with respect to the Israeli/Palestinian problem?). Nothing will come of this, of course, but it is interesting that as far as I know it marks the first time anyone has actually suggested that monies should be withdrawn because of Israeli violations.

Fasten your seat belts! It's going to be an interesting and exciting year. Come on Fitzgerald, join the fun. The sooner the better.