Printable Version Tell a friend

September Column as published in Kenosha News

• Sep 26, 2007 Posted by Bryan Miller
  Democrats won't miss Gonzales
  
  The founding fathers of our vast country took great care in planning against the largest possible coupe to overthrow our government. For example, the electoral college and having three separate powers of government, executive, legislative, and judicial. However, cut throat politics have devoured their vision of liberty and justice for all as the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales confirmed.
  
  
  The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) mission states that they are “…to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.” Is this why the DOJ is under investigation, by our legislative branch none the less, for firing 8 Democratic attorneys and replacing them with Republican attorneys? Is this also why they are under investigation for using DOJ employees to publicly smear Democratic political candidates?
  
  
  Politics aside, what right does the DOJ have smearing any individual? This surely affects the ability for an American to pursue happiness, an inalienable right. Shouldn’t they simply be protecting the innocent while investigating and prosecuting guilty criminals? Given the political involvement of the DOJ, might Gonzales be more appropriately compared to Sadam’s son Uday who managed the Feda’iyee in Iraq? Due to the Patriot and Military Acts, they don’t need a warrant, and you can be accused and investigated for a crime even if there is no evidence. People have been held indefinitely without trial, and prisons around the world use torture. This doesn’t sound like justice.
  
  
  In the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Attorney General is “…to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the President of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments.” In addition, the Attorney General is supposed to be “learned in the law.” Considering Homeland Security doesn’t walk around in a uniform and a badge on their shirt, they could get away with murder.
  
  
  What on earth was Gonzales’ advice when asked about the 911 investigations, domestic spying, illegal wiretapping, etc.? It must have been something like, “I’ve got your back George, just keep a majority in the legislative branch and have the Project for a New American Century (PNAC) get involved in case things get out of hand. I’ll put people under surveillance for years without telling them, destroy their reputations and their ability to make a living, and then I’ll hire them which will take care of our personnel shortage of 25%.” What was Gonzales’ advice to President Bush?
  
  
  The Democratic Legislature has their police work cut out for them in investigating Gonzales’ fiasco at the Department of Injustice. Our U.S. Senator Russ Feingold deserves the Medal of Honor for standing up against the GOP, many times by himself, on issues such as Iraq and the Patriot Act. Hopefully Russ can convince the rest of the Democratically controlled legislature to uphold our Constitution and reverse the Republican legislation that tore away our privacy, freedoms, justice, the pursuit of happiness. The daunting task will be to repair the damage once the investigations are complete.
  
  add a comment      main blog

• Kucinich Campaign Needs State Chair
  Oct 24, 2007 | Larry A. Harding | larryaharding@sbcglobal.net 

  The state co-chairs of the Kucinich campaign have resigned, leaving the positions open. Is there anyone out their interested in taking over? If yes, please contact the campaign. Contact information can be found on the website, www.dennis4president.com. I have been asked, but declined as I intend to be busy with local campaigns, perhaps my own this Spring. I have agreed to be the contact for Kenosha County, however. Peace, Larry A. Harding

• candidates; Far and few between
  Oct 2, 2007 | Anonymous Anonymous | jenniferjackson@wi.rr.com 

  It is that time of year again when candidates for local offices are recruited. where do we think the presidential candidates come from? Most of them have climbed the local ladders to the state and on to the federal government. but that is just it, they started here, at the grassroots level. they ran for stuff like county board and alderperson. When I ran for county board, I had absolutely no intention of working in government. I was just the canvasser or the person who made phone calls on behalf of other people running for office. Me? Run for office ? I never considered I mught even be good at it. It just wasn't me. But , as usual, my friends talked me into it. Once I had decided to run, I threw all I had into it. and I won. To my amazement , I would soon sit with others and help shape the future of kenosha county. Then I found that half the board was mostly asleep. This frustrates the heck out of me. Some are just prejudice against women, others felt you didn't have a say till you were on the board for a few years ( what ever happened to representing your disrtict ?) This needs to change I said, at the democratic party meeting. We need more progressive democrats that will be proactive. People like me who arsatisfied with the status quo. We are not yes people for the county executive. So all you progressive denmocrats out there, do you know who your county board member is? do you know who you alderperson is? Are you happy with the way they vote? do they show up to vote? Are you being represented the best you can be? Or is special interest being represented. If the answers to these questions are no It is time for a change. Even if you do not know roberts rules of order or the difference between a resolution and an ordinance. you will learn it. what matters is that your heart is in the right place and so are your convictions. RUN FOR OFFICE !!!!I

add a comment