Before Conservatives Rail Against “Activist Judges”…

Dianne Feinstein pointed out that the term “activist judge” has often applied to conservatives, much as they would have you believe that only liberals fit that category.  In fact, more often that not, it’s been conservatives who’ve been the so-called activists.  Professor Paul Gerwitz of Yale and Yale Law graduate Chad Golder quantified the issue:

We found that justices vary widely in their inclination to strike down Congressional laws. Justice Clarence Thomas, appointed by President George H. W. Bush, was the most inclined, voting to invalidate 65.63 percent of those laws; Justice Stephen Breyer, appointed by President Bill …

Ralph Reed Wants New Christian Coalition

When Ralph Reed worked for Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition he infamously said that enemies wouldn’t know what hit them “until you’re in a bodybag.”  Reed says even though he’s been doing other things, “This is kind of like Steve Jobs returning to Apple.”  Reed was healded as “the right hand of God” by Time magazine when he helped build the original Christian Coalition, but ran into trouble when he ran for Georgia lieutenant governor.

He was in the middle of the 2006 Republican primary campaign for lieutenant governor when his longtime friend Jack Abramoff was convicted in a massive lobbying …

Live From The Sotomayor Hearings

The New York Times is live-blogging the hearings. Senator Pete Sessions sets the tone for the Republicans.

Senator Sessions spares no words. Shortly into his speech, he declares that this confirmation hearing and nomination by President Obama marks a fork in the road. He said he was worried by President Obama’s decision to include empathy as a qualification for the Supreme Court.

As pointed out here before, empathy or ethnic background, which will also surely arise, wasn’t a problem for Republicans at the hearing of Samuel Alito.

U.S. SENATOR TOM COBURN (R-OK): Can you comment just …

It’s Illegal To Dance In Des Moines After 2AM

The Des Moines city council will hear a proposal by the Des Moines Social Club to legalize late-night dancing, which has been banned between 2AM and 6AM Monday through Saturday since 1942.

Susan Ramsey, a spokeswoman for the Greater Des Moines Partnership – which promotes the city with the slogan “Whatever you do, do more of it in Des Moines” – said the city’s move to repeal the ordinance is “indicative of the metropolitan area we are becoming.”

Next thing you know, Iowa will be a place where we choose potential presidents.…

GOP Tried Intervention To Get Palin Back On Track

Monday’s New York Times puts together the pieces that led to the resignation of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. It got to the point where an official from the Republican Governor’s Association went to Alaska to help organize and focus the governor, who was having problems dealing with all that had happened since she was selected to be John McCain’s running mate.

The official, the association’s executive director, Nick Ayers (right), arrived with a memorandum containing firm counsel, according to several people who know its details: Make a long-term schedule and stick to it, have staff members set aside ample and …

McCain on Palin: “I Don’t Think She Quit”

John McCain also said on “Meet the Press” he wouldn’t hesitate to pick Palin again and that she would make a fine president.

…

LaToya: Michael Was Murdered

LaToya Jackson, who was very close to Michael, told the UK’s Daily Mail that her brother was murdered by people who wanted to control him.

She accused them of cutting him off from his family and friends and forcing him, largely against his will, to sign up for the gruelling commitment of 50 concerts at London’s O2 arena.

She believes her brother was fed addictive drugs by handlers who wanted to control his moods. She says they regarded him as a ‘cash cow’ and exploited him at every turn. It was this, she believes, that led directly to his …

BushCo Spied On Americans More Than Previously Thought

A congressional-mandated report by inspectors general from five intelligence agencies reveals that surveillance on Americans by the Bush administration went far beyond warrantless searches.

The inspectors general interviewed more than 200 people inside and outside the government, but five former Bush administration officials refused to be questioned. They were Ashcroft, Yoo, former CIA Director George Tenet, former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and David Addington, an aide to former Vice President Dick Cheney.

According to the report, Addington could personally decide who in the administration was “read into” — allowed access to — the classified program.

 …

Sec. State Clinton Seeking Amnesty For Ling And Lee

Hillary Clinton says the administration is seeking amnesty for Current TV reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee, meaning the US is willing to admit culpability to gain their freedom.

“The two journalists and their families have expressed great remorse for this incident, and I think everyone is very sorry that it happened,” Mrs. Clinton said Friday morning during a wide-ranging question-and-answer session with State Department employees. “What we hope for now is that these two young women would be granted amnesty through the North Korean system and be allowed to return home to their families as soon as possible.”…

CIA Lied To Congress On Orders From Cheney

Sundays New York Times reports that for eight years Dick Cheney ordered the CIA to withhold information from Congress about an as-yet-unidentified counter-terrorism program.

Mr. Panetta, who ended the program when he first learned of its existence from subordinates on June 23, briefed the two intelligence committees about it in separate closed sessions the next day.

The 1947 National Security Act allows for some leeway as to under what circumstances information can be concealed from Congress. But this further validates Nancy Pelosi’s claims that she was not told the whole truth about waterboarding.  However, the CIA is claiming the …

Holder May Investigate BushCo For Torture

Newsweek is reporting that Attorney General Eric Holder is considering investigating the Bush administration for its use of torture.

Four knowledgeable sources tell NEWSWEEK that he is now leaning toward appointing a prosecutor to investigate the Bush administration’s brutal interrogation practices, something the president has been reluctant to do. While no final decision has been made, an announcement could come in a matter of weeks, say these sources, who decline to be identified discussing a sensitive law-enforcement matter. Such a decision would roil the country, would likely plunge Washington into a new round of partisan warfare, and could even imperil …