Barack Obama Signs "Detention" Bill

See you all in hell. By which I mean Guatanamo Bay.

In a move that has horrified civil liberties advocates (not to mention thousands upon thousands of Americans) President Barack Obama signed today a controversial defense authorization bill which contains amendments authorizing the White House to detain persons of interest in terrorism investigations indefinitely by using the US military:

The White House had said that the legislation could lead to an improper military role in overseeing detention and court proceedings and could infringe on the president’s authority in dealing with terrorism suspects. But it said that Mr. Obama could interpret the statute in a way that would preserve his authority. 

The president, for example, said that he would never authorize the indefinite military detention of American citizens, because “doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a nation.” He also said he would reject a “rigid across-the-board requirement” that suspects be tried in military courts rather than civilian courts.

Basically, he has given himself the authority to detain Americans without due process but really really wants us to know that he is going to do the right thing and not use that authority. Right.

Keep in mind he also was going to ease federal restrictions on medical marijuana laws yet has instituted crackdowns on dispensaries in Washington State. He promised to have more lax deportation standards but instead has deported more immigrants than any previous president. So are we supposed to trust him?

US Senate Votes To Allow Military To Indefinitely Detain American Citizens

Fuck you, US Senate.

In a move that has many Americans stunned, the US Senate has voted to approve an amendment in the most recent Defense appropriations bill which would allow the military to detain American citizens on US soil indefinitely, a drastic expansion of powers which first were used to hold, without trial, enemy combatants in Afghanistan.

Could this be your new home?

In light of the Obama administration's failure to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, the White House was quick to denounce the amendment and has threatened veto twice.  I assume the Republican controlled House of Representatives will pass this disgusting piece of legislation, assuring a showdown between the White House and Congress:

The measure, part of the massive National Defense Authorization Act, was also opposed by civil libertarians on the left and right. But 16 Democrats and an independent joined with Republicans to defeatan amendment by Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) that would have killed the provision, voting it down with 61 against, and 37 for it. 

"I'm very, very, concerned about having U.S. citizens sent to Guantanamo Bay for indefinite detention," said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), one of the Senate's most conservative members.
Rand's top complaint is that a terrorism suspect would get just one hearing where the military could assert that the person is a suspected terrorist -- and then they could be locked up for life, without ever formally being charged. The only safety valve is a waiver from the secretary of defense.

The division of Senators who voted for and against the provision is a bit bewildering, with a sizable Republican contingent (to include Paul) voting against it and a significant bloc of Democrats siding for the amendment, to include Sens. Bob Casey (Pa.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Daniel Inouye (Hawaii), Herb Kohl (Wis.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Carl Levin (Mich.), Joe Manchin (W. Va.), Clair McCaskill (Mo.), Robert Menendez (N.J.), Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), Jack Reed (R.I.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.). The White House is staunch in its criticism of the amendment:

This unnecessary, untested, and legally controversial restriction of the President's authority to defend the Nation from terrorist threats would tie the hands of our intelligence and law enforcement professionals. Moreover, applying this military custody requirement to individuals inside the United States, as some Members of Congress have suggested is their intention, would raise serious and unsettled legal questions and would be inconsistent with the fundamental American principle that our military does not patrol our streets. We have spent ten years since September 11, 2001, breaking down the walls between intelligence, military, and law enforcement professionals; Congress should not now rebuild those walls and unnecessarily make the job of preventing terrorist attacks more difficult.

 I'm a bit concerned that the White House didn't include in its statement: "Also, this is unconstitutional and a gross abuse of power."

I know I might be a bit "conspiracy theorist" in supposing that this is a well-timed provision coinciding with nationally coordinated attacks on Occupy Wall Street encampments.  Who knows when some governor is going to decide that OWS protesters are terrorists and calls in the National Guard?  Should Congress overturns the President's veto, will Occupiers run the risk that they will be moved, without justification, to Gitmo?

OneAngryClotheshorse: Don't do gymnastics - you'll get hurt and catch the gay.

Bon Apres-midi, mes amis! I awoke today from my post breakfast, pre brunch nap to read this story from the Daily Mail (a UK publication prone to scandalmongering): "Burly rugby player has a stroke after freak gym accident…wakes up gay and becomes a hairdresser". Apparently a large heterosexual in Wales was attempting a backflip to impress his friends and botched it, breaking his neck and causing a stroke. When he woke up everything had changed, including his sexuality. Well, now...That's very convenient for him, but it invites so many questions. Were you gay before, and are you just lying about it now? Was the stroke responsible for your questionable styling decisions (pun definitely intended)? Would it work for various Tea Party politicians, who could CLEARLY use a good stroking? His massive weight loss - going from 19st to 11st (nearly 115 lbs) is also problematic, contributing to the unfair stereotype that all gay men are in fabulous shape.

Obviously we need to research this dubious claim in the name of science, so the Liberal Media Elite can add "stroke recruiting" to its Gay Agenda. As soon as we figure out how to fix the ensuing fashion disaster apparently innate to this technique.

Bisous,

Wesley

Eric Cantor Is Real Worried About The 99%

Cantor wants you to believe that it's the protesters that are dividing America.  I say the protesters ARE America and he'd better start jotting down some demands. 

Eric Cantor, last week, made waves attempting to paint the #Occupy Wall Street movement as unruly mobs who are threatening society and condemned the protesters as "pitting Americans against Americans."  Now Nancy Pelosi responded in kind, asking where Cantor was when Americans were spitting on Americans, IE, the Tea Party demonstrations on Capitol Hill where gun-toting Teabaggers spit on Congresspeople coming to work:

“I didn't hear him say anything when the Tea Party was out demonstrating, actually spitting on members of Congress right here in the Capitol. And he and his colleagues were putting signs in the windows encouraging them.”

You go, Nancy!

Here's the thing, though.  I'm kind of tickled that Cantor, the number two House Republican, has started to quake in his boots.  Isn't that the purpose of a popular uprising, even a peaceful one such as the #Occupy movement?

Inspired by the recent protests and some of the costuming used by some of the marchers, I found myself watching V for Vendetta the other day.  It contains one of my favorite lines of any movie ever, one which has repeated often and is, I'm sure, a quote from elsewhere:

People should not be afraid of their governments.  Governments should be afraid of their people.

I think we're beginning to see that.  Human rights abuses at the hands of police in New York aren't stopping people from demonstrating.  Americans are showing that they are tired, they are poor, and they just aren't scared anymore.  They're standing up and saying "something isn't right, and you have to make it right, because there's a hell of a lot more of us than there are of you."

So good job, Eric Cantor, for demonstrating that people who are pissed off are scary.  In order to make them not be so scary, I suggest going down to the General Assembly of #Occupy Wall Street and find out what their demands are, and doing what you can to meet them.  This is the American people, and it's your duty to ensure that the government is meeting their needs.

Because in the end, it's not the banks that are too big to fail, Cantor.  It's us.  

OneAngryClotheshorse: Lanvin's redonkulous FW 2011 ad

Hello Lovers! What you are about to see is real. Do not try to adjust your computer screens. If your brains explode, well - it was nice knowing you.

Things I learned from this video:

1: Models can't dance.

2: Pitbull and French fashion do not go together.

3: That is a really hard song to get out of your head.

Bisous,

Wesley

Ghana Intensifies The Crazy, Targets Schools And Educators

Ghana began an anti-gay witch-hunt last month, with the Minister of the Western Region declaring open season on gays, ordering the arrest of all LGBT citizens within his jurisdiction.  While it is unclear whether or not any arrests have actually taken place, various government institutions have ramped up their rhetoric, with the Ghana Education Service now admitting that homosexuality is running rampant through the school system.

From GhanaWeb, an anti-gay news service:

"GES, however says that neutralizing these schools, will not address the issue of homosexuality creeping into the Ghanaian society.

"Teachers in some single sex schools have been reported recently of forcefully having sex with some of their students.

"Students in these schools are also reported to be involved in intimate relationships with their colleagues.

"Critics of homosexuality say these incidents show that single sex schools are promoting the practice.

"The Deputy Director General of the GES, Stephen Adu told Citi News, a holistic approach is required to deal with the situation. He does not agree with calls for such schools to be converted into mixed schools."

I find any attack on the education of a nation's children to be disturbing and reminds me of certain historical precedents-- fears that homosexuals are "infiltrating" schools can only bring to mind parallel tactics used by the Third Reich to ensure that the education system fell into the Nazi Party line.  What's next?  The Aidoo Youth?

Ghana Orders Arrest Of All Gays

The Western Region Minister in Ghana began a witchhunt today, urging landlords and tenants to snitch on their gay neighbors in order to arrest them.  Who knows what is going to happen to these poor people.

From a Ghanaian anti-gay website:

'Mr. Paul Aidoo minced no words at all in his dislike for the practice. He stated that 'all efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society.'

"He said once they are arrested they will be hauled before court to test the strength of the law which frowns upon homosexuality in the country.

"But a Lawyer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has challenged the legitimacy of the minister's action.

"Ernest Kofi Abotsie told Joy News’ Dzifah Bampoh that no person can be arrested for breach of morality, explaining that the law on 'unnatural canal knowledge' in the criminal code is still ambiguous and cannot necessarily be said to be the same as homosexuality."

This is horrifying, and I will assert that our administration should and must condemn this action.  

Oh, That Gal Is Just So Wacky

I would laugh more but it's frightening how serious some people are taking her campaign.

Man Robs Bank In Order To Gain Access To Health Care

This gave me goosebumps.

James Verone, a 59-year old man with a depleted savings account and no job, walked into a Gaston County, North Carolina bank and delivered a note to the teller demanding money.  He had no gun, but the teller handed over the requested amount and called the police.  Strangely, Verone then took the money, sat down in a chair and waited for the police to arrive.

They arrested him, and listened to a sad story unfold.  For you see, Verone didn't have a gun on him, didn't attack anyone and demanded only a very small sum of money.  That sum?  One dollar.

Why the hell would he only rob a bank for $1?

Very simple.  Verone has a growth on his chest, two ruptured disks, and a problem with his left foot.  Prison, he reasoned, has good health care and he had no other options.  So he robbed a bank for $1, and is now hoping for a three-year sentence in order to get the care that he needs.


What.  The.  Hell.  How is it that now we have seniors robbing banks just to get the health care that they need?  This is what they're left with doing?  Thanks a lot, Congress, for ruling out the public option.

Buy Beatrice's Hat

I almost squeed in the DC coffee shop where I'm so dutifully trolling the news for juicy tidbits for you to consume.  Why?

Princess Beatrice is selling her hat.

"'She's putting it up on eBay to auction it for UNICEF and for Children in Crisis,' Beatrice's mother, Duchess Sarah Ferguson, announced Wednesday during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show."

At this point, Beatrice's hat is far more famous than Beatrice herself!  Imagine the magic powers it will convey to you should you purchase it and rest it on your locks!

[People]

OneAngryCultist: Good News and Bad News

GOOD NEWS:

After thirty or so years of hemming and hawing, the Presbyterian Church USA has proudly joined the ranks of other mainline Protestant churches in the United States by ratifying a vote to allow openly-identified LGBTQ clergy to be ordained as ministers. LA Times reports:

With the vote of its regional organization in Minnesota, the Presbyterian Church USA became the fourth mainline Protestant church to allow gay ordination, following the Episcopal and Evangelical Lutheran churches and the United Church of Christ. The Minnesota vote was closely followed by one in Los Angeles.

The change to the Presbyterian Church constitution was approved last summer by the church's General Assembly, its governing body. But under church rules, such changes must then be ratified by a majority of the 173 regional organizations known as presbyteries.

Late Tuesday, at a meeting in St. Louis Park, a Minneapolis suburb, the Twin Cities Presbytery put the measure over the top with a vote of 205 to 56, becoming the 87th regional body to vote yes. About 90 minutes later, the Pacific Presbytery, representing parts of Southern California and all of Hawaii, added its voice, voting 102 to 60 in favor.

Congratulations Presbyterians! Hopefully more churches start following your example by following in the example of the radical acceptance that J.C. taught 2000 years ago.




BAD NEWS:

After proudly announcing that Navy Chaplains would be allowed to perform same-sex unions on base and have them legally binding in states and territories where teh gay is accepted, conservatives crying wolf have unfortunately pushed progress on the backburner yet again. MSNBC reports:

Under pressure from more than five dozen House lawmakers, the Navy late Tuesday abruptly reversed its decision that would have allowed chaplains to perform same-sex unions if the Pentagon decides to recognize openly gay military service later this year. House members wrote to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus (Pdf) to object to the Navy's initial ruling, saying the service was violating the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act by appearing to recognize and support same-sex marriages.

That law defines marriage as only between a man and a woman, and it also says states don't have to recognize gay marriages performed in other states where they are legal.

"We find it unconscionable that the United States Navy, a federal entity sworn to preserve and protect the Constitution of the United States, believes it is their place alone to train and direct service members to violate federal law," said the lawmakers' letter, which was signed by 63 House members.

So, yeah, once again the GOP has proven itself consistent in being the party of Grumpy Old People. Sorry guys.

Huckabee Wants You To Be Indoctrinated At Gunpoint

Not sure how I missed this.

Last week, popular GOP prez hopeful Mike Huckabee had this to say about historical revisionist David Barton, an outspoken supporter of Seven Mountains Dominionism (more on that in a sec):

"'I don’t know anyone in America who is a more effective communicator [than David Barton.] I just wish that every single young person in America would be able to be under his tutelage and understand something about who we really are as a nation. I almost wish that there would be like a simultaneous telecast and all Americans would be forced, forced — at gun point no less — to listen to every David Barton message. And I think our country would be better for it. I wish it’d happen.'"

So who is this guy that Mike Huckabee wants to indoctrinate you?  He is a Christian historian who revises history in order to spread the belief that our founding fathers wanted the US to be an explicitly Christian nation.  He furthers this idea through his support of Seven Mountains Dominionism, a disgusting philosophy and political movement aimed towards surrendering every aspect of American life to Christian leaders.

What are the Seven Mountains?  Right Wing Watch explains:

"As we have explained before, Seven Mountains dominionism seeks to place Christians in control over the seven forces that shape and control our culture: (1) Business; (2) Government; (3) Media; (4) Arts and Entertainment; (5) Education; (6) Family; and (7) Religion.  The reason for this, as Lance Wallnau, the leading advocate for Seven Mountains theology, explained is that Jesus 'doesn't come back until He's accomplished the dominion of nations.'  And the way 'dominion of nations' is accomplished is by having Christians gain control of these "seven mountains" in order to install a 'virtual theocracy' overseen by 'true apostles' who will fight Satan and his Antichrist agenda."

That's right guys, Huckabee is a crackpot who wants to indoctrinate our youth and convert our country into a theocracy.

[NewsHounds]