Monday, April 13, 2009
This Is Not Good
TPM Muckraker:
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that detainees at Guantanamo had the right to appeal their detentions in federal courts. But since then, only a few cases have been completed. And in an interview with TPMmuckraker, David Cynamon -- a lawyer for four Kuwaiti Gitmo detainees who are bringing habeas corpus claims against the government -- said that the Justice Department has been consistently dragging its heels in the case, denying detainees their basic due process rights and furthering what he called the "abandonment of the rule of law."
"The Department of Justice has been doing everything in its power to delay and obstruct these cases," said Cynamon, whose clients were picked up in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region in the period after the 2001 U.S invasion of Afghanistan. "They're not doing anything to move the case along, and doing everything to avoid it."
Asked whether he had observed a shift of any kind in the government's approach since the Obama administration came into office, Cynamon flatly replied: "None whatsoever."
Nor is this.
TPM Muckraker:
Is the Obama administration mimicking its predecessor on issues of secrecy and the war on terror?
During the presidential campaign, Obama criticized Bush for being too quick to invoke the state secrets claim. But last Friday, his Justice Department filed a motion in a warrantless wiretapping lawsuit, brought by the digital-rights group EFF. And the Obama-ites took a page out of the Bush DOJ's playbook by demanding that the suit, Jewel v. NSA, be dismissed entirely under the state secrets privilege, arguing that allowing it go forward would jeopardize national security.
....
Ken Gude, an expert in national security law at the Center for American Progress, supported the administration's invocation of the state secrets claim when it was made earlier this year in an extraordinary rendition case. But its position in Jewel is "disappointing," Gude told TPMmuckraker, calling himself "frustrated."
Gude confirmed that the Obama-ites were taking the same position as the Bushies on state secrets questions. "They've taken the maximalist view that the judge has hardly any role in determining whether national security" would be compromised by the release of classified information," he said. "There's going to be people who are very unhappy, and justifiably so."
He added: "I'm very uncomfortable with the notion that the people who get to decide [whether national security would be jeopardized] is the government."
Obama is getting bad advice, and he should know better than to listen to it. We did NOT elect him to mimic Bush on habeas corpus or state secrets.
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that detainees at Guantanamo had the right to appeal their detentions in federal courts. But since then, only a few cases have been completed. And in an interview with TPMmuckraker, David Cynamon -- a lawyer for four Kuwaiti Gitmo detainees who are bringing habeas corpus claims against the government -- said that the Justice Department has been consistently dragging its heels in the case, denying detainees their basic due process rights and furthering what he called the "abandonment of the rule of law."
"The Department of Justice has been doing everything in its power to delay and obstruct these cases," said Cynamon, whose clients were picked up in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region in the period after the 2001 U.S invasion of Afghanistan. "They're not doing anything to move the case along, and doing everything to avoid it."
Asked whether he had observed a shift of any kind in the government's approach since the Obama administration came into office, Cynamon flatly replied: "None whatsoever."
Nor is this.
TPM Muckraker:
Is the Obama administration mimicking its predecessor on issues of secrecy and the war on terror?
During the presidential campaign, Obama criticized Bush for being too quick to invoke the state secrets claim. But last Friday, his Justice Department filed a motion in a warrantless wiretapping lawsuit, brought by the digital-rights group EFF. And the Obama-ites took a page out of the Bush DOJ's playbook by demanding that the suit, Jewel v. NSA, be dismissed entirely under the state secrets privilege, arguing that allowing it go forward would jeopardize national security.
....
Ken Gude, an expert in national security law at the Center for American Progress, supported the administration's invocation of the state secrets claim when it was made earlier this year in an extraordinary rendition case. But its position in Jewel is "disappointing," Gude told TPMmuckraker, calling himself "frustrated."
Gude confirmed that the Obama-ites were taking the same position as the Bushies on state secrets questions. "They've taken the maximalist view that the judge has hardly any role in determining whether national security" would be compromised by the release of classified information," he said. "There's going to be people who are very unhappy, and justifiably so."
He added: "I'm very uncomfortable with the notion that the people who get to decide [whether national security would be jeopardized] is the government."
Obama is getting bad advice, and he should know better than to listen to it. We did NOT elect him to mimic Bush on habeas corpus or state secrets.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter Day - St. John's In Thibodaux
Before the hungry hordes arrive, here is my little church on Easter morning. I love my church building. It's a beautiful church where people have worshiped since 1844, full of prayers of the saints who have passed on, and the saints who pray there now.
According to legend, the emperor Diocletian once tried to poison John by ordering him to drink a cup of poisoned wine. Saint John blessed the wine and the poison slithered away in the form of a snake.
The stained glass behind the altar depicts the legend, with John holding a cup with a snake rising up from it. If you click on the picture for the enlarged view, you can see the cup and the snake.
The picture below shows the Easter cross. At the beginning of the service, the children process to the front and decorate the cross with flowers. The flowers cover a plain white cross wrapped with chicken wire to hold the flowers. A former rector disliked the cross rather intensely and wanted to get rid of it, but his side of the battle was lost almost before it began, because the protests were so many and so loud that he quickly gave up his idea.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Easter Day - Jesus Rises
ALLELUIA. CHRIST IS RISEN.
THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED. ALLELUIA.
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Mark 16:1-8
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, pp. 170-171)
¶ THE DAWNING
Awake sad heart, whom sorrow ever drowns;
Take up thine eyes, which feed on earth;
Unfold thy forehead gather’d into frowns:
Thy Saviour comes, and with him mirth:
Awake, awake;
And with a thankfull heart his comforts take.
But thou dost still lament, and pine, and crie;
And feel his death, but not his victorie.
Arise sad heart; if thou dost not withstand,
Christs resurrection thine may be:
Do not by hanging down break from the hand,
Which as it riseth, raiseth thee:
Arise, Arise;
And with his buriall-linen drie thine eyes:
Christ left his grave-clothes, that we might, when grief
Draws tears, or bloud, not want an handkerchief.
From "The Temple" (1633), by George Herbert
A BLESSED AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!
The painting above is another in the series titled "The Passion of Christ" by New York artist, Doug Blanchard. Doug blogs as Counterlight at Counterlight's Peculiars.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Vatican Says "No" To Caroline Kennedy
From the Telegraph:
Vatican sources told Il Giornale that their support for abortion disqualified Ms Kennedy and other Roman Catholics President Barack Obama had been seeking to appoint.
Mr Obama was reportedly seeking to reward John F Kennedy's daughter, who publicly gave her support to his election bid. She had been poised to replace Hillary Clinton as New York senator, but dropped out amid criticism that she lacked enough experience for the job.
The Italian paper said that the Vatican strongly disapproved of Mr Obama's support for abortion and stem cell research. The impasse over the ambassadorial appointment threatens to cloud his meeting with the Pope during a G8 summit in Itay in July.
Posted with no comment in the spirit of the season.
Vatican sources told Il Giornale that their support for abortion disqualified Ms Kennedy and other Roman Catholics President Barack Obama had been seeking to appoint.
Mr Obama was reportedly seeking to reward John F Kennedy's daughter, who publicly gave her support to his election bid. She had been poised to replace Hillary Clinton as New York senator, but dropped out amid criticism that she lacked enough experience for the job.
The Italian paper said that the Vatican strongly disapproved of Mr Obama's support for abortion and stem cell research. The impasse over the ambassadorial appointment threatens to cloud his meeting with the Pope during a G8 summit in Itay in July.
Posted with no comment in the spirit of the season.
A Good Good Friday?
In my family and in many families in this area, a common custom on Good Friday is to gather friends and family to eat boiled crawfish. At first I protested. "What are we doing having a party on Good Friday?" But no one paid attention, and the tradition was established and carried on - now for a good many years in our family.
Back in the day, (I know y'all get tired of hearing me say that, but all old people do it, so get used to it) we kept an austere Good Friday, often attending the three hour church service. No radio, no movies. We were encouraged to do spiritual reading only, no novels or trivia allowed. It was a solemn day.
No longer, and I've come to wonder if the old way was best, after all. I make room in my day for a church service, but I go along with good humor and enjoyment now with the Good Friday crawfish boil.
Pictured above is the greatly diminished pile of crawfish, after most folks have had their fill, although, after a little rest, some go back for seconds. You can see the other ingredients that go into the pot with the crawfish - onions, whole garlic pods, corn, potatoes, lemons, along with the many seasoning ingredients. The crawfish were delicious! My son did a terrific job of cooking them.
The only time I drink beer is when I eat boiled shrimp, crabs, or crawfish. My preference is Corona. I ate a whole pod of garlic. I couldn't resist, although I was going to church after the gathering. We were only a faithful few at the simple, but very nice, 6:00 PM service, most of the parishioners having attended the 12:00 PM service with the traditional musical drama in the churchyard preceding the service. I read two parts in the Passion narrative, the slave and the gatekeeper, but even with that, I had only two lines early on, so I could sink into the rest of the reading without having to worry that I'd miss my cue.
Below are pictures of the doggies who were at the gathering yesterday. The first is Gino, the Maltese, who belongs to my daughter and her family. Isn't he the cutest thing ever? I want one just like him. Do you think we might find a rescue Maltese? Of course, we must wait until Diana passes on, because she thinks all small animals are cats, and I fear that she would do harm to the little dog.
Pictured below are the three Bassets that belong to my son and his family. In the foreground is Trigger, the father of the family. On the right is sweet Babs, the mother, who was supposed to have died of untreatable cancer some time ago, but is still here. She seems comfortable, is apparently not in pain, and is not off her food. In the rear is the dumb son of Babs and Trigger, Junior, one of the stupidest dogs ever. If you knock on that huge head of his, it rings hollow, proof of a very small brain.
The cauldron below, attached to the butane tank, is the cooking pot for the crawfish, crabs, or shrimp. We seldom do large-quantity shrimp boils any longer, because shrimp are more expensive now.
I also use the pot to make my "Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble" witch's brew for my voodoo practice.
When I was in England, I gave MadPriest a very special set of Mardi Gras beads with the ingredients for boiling crawfish strung between the beads, a tiny crawfish, a garlic pod, an ear of corn, a lemon, a potato, and even a tiny chef!
Holy Week - Jesus Among The Dead
O Lord, God of my salvation,
when, at night, I cry out in your presence,
let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.
I am counted among those who go down to the Pit;
I am like those who have no help,
like those forsaken among the dead,
like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no more,
for they are cut off from your hand.
You have put me in the depths of the Pit,
in the regions dark and deep.
Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
and you overwhelm me with all your waves.
Psalm 88:1-7
O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, p.283)
Sweet hours have perished here;
This is a mighty room;
Within its precincts hopes have played, --
Now shadows in the tomb.
Emily Dickinson
The painting above is another in the series titled "The Passion of Christ" by New York artist, Doug Blanchard. Doug blogs as Counterlight at Counterlight's Peculiars.
Our Friend Ivor Fired From LSU
From the Times-Picayune:
Ivor van Heerden, the outspoken coastal scientist who led the state's independent Team Louisiana investigation into Hurricane Katrina levee failures, has been notified by Louisiana State University that he will be terminated as a research professor in May 2010.
Van Heerden, who is not a tenured professor, also has been stripped of his title as deputy director of the LSU Hurricane Center. Also, engineering professor Marc Levitan has stepped down as the center's director. University officials say they will reshape the center's research direction in the wake of the moves.
The university authorities give no reason for his termination.
Van Heerden said the university would not give him a reason, either. David Constant, interim dean of LSU's College of Engineering, told him the decision "wasn't due to my performance. But he couldn't tell me why," van Heerden said.
The decision has been brewing ever since van Heerden agreed to head the forensic investigation team in the days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005, he said. Within days of the team's formation, van Heerden was frequently quoted in national newspaper and television reports, and most of his comments were highly critical of the Army Corps of Engineers' levee and floodwall construction policies and designs.
The flooding of New Orleans after Katrina was not from the storm, but from faulty levees built to protect the city in just such a situation that Katrina produced. The levees gave way, causing the resulting death and devastation. For years, Ivor warned that the levees were faulty and inadequate to protect the city from possible disaster. I heard him express his concern more than once, but no one who mattered paid attention.
Ivor spoke the truth to those in power. If I ever met an honest man, Ivor was that man. Because he was never given tenure, the authorities at LSU could terminate him at any time. He knew that there could be serious consequences for him because of his truth-telling, but he continued to speak out. The wonder is that he lasted as long as he did at LSU. Ivor is a hero.
Ivor van Heerden, the outspoken coastal scientist who led the state's independent Team Louisiana investigation into Hurricane Katrina levee failures, has been notified by Louisiana State University that he will be terminated as a research professor in May 2010.
Van Heerden, who is not a tenured professor, also has been stripped of his title as deputy director of the LSU Hurricane Center. Also, engineering professor Marc Levitan has stepped down as the center's director. University officials say they will reshape the center's research direction in the wake of the moves.
The university authorities give no reason for his termination.
Van Heerden said the university would not give him a reason, either. David Constant, interim dean of LSU's College of Engineering, told him the decision "wasn't due to my performance. But he couldn't tell me why," van Heerden said.
The decision has been brewing ever since van Heerden agreed to head the forensic investigation team in the days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005, he said. Within days of the team's formation, van Heerden was frequently quoted in national newspaper and television reports, and most of his comments were highly critical of the Army Corps of Engineers' levee and floodwall construction policies and designs.
The flooding of New Orleans after Katrina was not from the storm, but from faulty levees built to protect the city in just such a situation that Katrina produced. The levees gave way, causing the resulting death and devastation. For years, Ivor warned that the levees were faulty and inadequate to protect the city from possible disaster. I heard him express his concern more than once, but no one who mattered paid attention.
Ivor spoke the truth to those in power. If I ever met an honest man, Ivor was that man. Because he was never given tenure, the authorities at LSU could terminate him at any time. He knew that there could be serious consequences for him because of his truth-telling, but he continued to speak out. The wonder is that he lasted as long as he did at LSU. Ivor is a hero.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Holy Week - Jesus Dies
Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.
It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’ And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’ In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’
Mark 15:22-39
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 280)
Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Teresa of Avila
The painting above is another in the series titled "The Passion of Christ" by New York artist, Doug Blanchard. Doug blogs as Counterlight at Counterlight's Peculiars.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Prayers Needed - From Roseann
Prayers needed
Gary has injured his shoulder and is in quite a bit of pain. He went to the doctor yesterday and tomorrow will have an MRI. This is a critical situation for us. If he can't work at Whole Foods we lose our insurance. He works another job as an internet programmer for a company in Austin and they haven't been able to pay him since February. This economy is sucking hard.
Please pray that he can work at least light duty. He has vacation hours built up and if he needs to rest the shoulder give him the good sense to take some time off. He is saving all his vacation time now to help me.
I hate to say it but we really need help. I wrote my priest today and asked if there are some people who will bring us meals. Frankly, the house can go to hell, I just want him to be okay. Please pray that some kind souls will help us over this hump.
It is embarrassing to admit this but I have to share the truth with you all.
Love, Roseann
Roseann, don't be embarrassed. We all need help sometimes. You and Gary have had more than your share of troubles recently. I think you are both quite courageous.
Love and prayers go your way.
Gary has injured his shoulder and is in quite a bit of pain. He went to the doctor yesterday and tomorrow will have an MRI. This is a critical situation for us. If he can't work at Whole Foods we lose our insurance. He works another job as an internet programmer for a company in Austin and they haven't been able to pay him since February. This economy is sucking hard.
Please pray that he can work at least light duty. He has vacation hours built up and if he needs to rest the shoulder give him the good sense to take some time off. He is saving all his vacation time now to help me.
I hate to say it but we really need help. I wrote my priest today and asked if there are some people who will bring us meals. Frankly, the house can go to hell, I just want him to be okay. Please pray that some kind souls will help us over this hump.
It is embarrassing to admit this but I have to share the truth with you all.
Love, Roseann
Roseann, don't be embarrassed. We all need help sometimes. You and Gary have had more than your share of troubles recently. I think you are both quite courageous.
Love and prayers go your way.
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