"We exist in moments of gentle apocalypse"                       Roland Barthes      

 

24 May 06:  Asleep at the wheel 

   

    Being without CSPAN, if someone asked me if I believed there was a congress I would still have respond affirmatively, but by default. 

 

    I hoped to find documentation of activity via the time honored Congressional Quarterly, but you have to pay.  There is this site which brings things into a local context, however.

 

And as always, Project Vote Smart is a good resource. 

 

    There are myriad of things that one can say about congress, but invertebrate, and self interested come to mind most frequently.

 

    A pox on both your houses, the one you normally live in and your vacation homes.  I took some sort of oath when I joined the army.  There was a clause about defending the constitution.  I am pretty sure that congress and the executive take a similar oath. 

   

    Republicans hold the majority and are letting party loyalty, self interest, come before their duty to the constitution by blocking congressional inquiries into constitutionally questionable activities set forth by the executive.  And that is well and good unless maybe it bites you in the ass.

 

    Democrats get a small amount of leniency for being the minority, but does minority mean vacation?  While it is amusing to watch the opposition struggle, to say the least, and not using the opportunity to push your agenda, sorry, still don't have one do you, is not winning you any support.  I love these low polls.  It makes me think that maybe will get pissed off enough to get involved.  Lately, folks don't seem to think the country is doing all that well.  News flash, no one thinks that the dems can do any better.  What a shame. 

 

    Bad news about the war does not make me feel bad.  I am here, I know what it is like, and am pretty sure how it will end up.  Bad news about the home bothers me.  My outrage of late, and the item that makes congress look pathetic is the presidential signing order issue.  No wonder there have been no vetoes, if you are not planning on applying the law, it doesn't really matter.

 

Great reporting from Boston Globe's Charlie Savage, third estate, take note!  

 

Background: DOJ, Knight Ridder, John Dean, Lawrence Tribe, Torture Law

 

    Where is the outrage? 

   

    One, for it occurring to such an extent, particularly so for the torture ban which went back and forth in a lively but in an apparently moot debate. 

 

    Second, I think that maybe congress would start looking into these things around maybe signing order #350 or so.  Congress you have been pimp-slapped. 

 

Other favorites include....            Trust Us, really...

 

 

NSA Sweep "Waste of Time," Analyst Says

 

NSA won’t grant Justice Department lawyers required security clearance

and while not on topic...this is just a bit disheartening as well

New tax law hurts college-savings plans

 

The morning commute...