Something momentous occurred and the news media said nothing. The press spoke of North Carolinian voters, and those in the Hoosier State. Citizens in these regions would cast their ballots today. The results, undoubtedly, would be significant. While no one, and nothing can lessen the impact of what is expected to ensue, before the polls closed, another event quietly occupied the attention of many. The occurrence is meaningful, noteworthy and will effect the election. A prominent person, one who had long remained neutral in regards to the Democratic primary race finally expressed his opinion.
As a former resident of the Great State of New Jersey, I am familiar with the name Christopher J. Christie, the current U.S. attorney in the state, a Bush appointee. Christie was consistently portrayed as "aggressive" and willing to take on corrupt politicians in a state known for sleaze and corruption. Today, it becomes clear that Christie himself was the sleazies of the bunch, through illegal no-bid contracts and politically-driven, trumped-up cases. The irony, folks. The irony.
Why then did you -- our trusted senators -- vote for a bill that by your own admission allows torture, violates the Geneva convention and the U.S. Constitution? Here's what you had to say last year:
Here is a link to a letter being drafted by UniteFamilies and American Families United, to be mailed out to US Senators. This is to request support of Clinton-Hagel-Menendez ammendment that would allow nuclear families and spouses of Legal Permanent Residents to the US.
Channel the anger you felt from Thursday's vote to helping the troops directly. IAVA has some links to organizations that help troops and their families. Also, listed are organizations that help Iraqi civilians.
Below the fold: Multiple Choice Mitt, Toobin zings, Obama and HRC sing, sports rants and more.
The Lineup (link back here, if you're copying to another site):
Meet the Press: Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM)
Face the Nation: Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL); Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI); CBS's Kimberly Dozier
This Week: Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ); Commerce Sec. Carlos Gutierrez; Jim Gilmore (R-VA); roundtable of LA Times' Ron Brownstein, Donna Brazile, Jake Tapper and George Will; voices segment features Beth and Michael Belle (parents of fallen Marine)
Fox News Sunday: Mike Huckabee (R-AR); Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA); Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX); commencement speeches
Late Edition: Pakistani PM Shaukat Aziz; Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY); Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA); Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE); Maj. Gen. William Caldwell; Walter Isaacson; roundtable of Candy Crowley, Andrea Koppel and Elaine Quijano.
Washington, DC - Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today introduced an amendment to the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 that would remove barriers to reunification for the nuclear families of lawful permanent residents. The amendment would reclassify the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent immigrants as "immediate relatives," thereby exempting them from the visa caps.
At this point, the question is no longer why did Rove, Bush, Gonzales, Cheney et al get rid of the federal 8. They were not reliable "Bushies". The question then becomes, who did they put in place as loyal "Bushies"? What are those prosecutors doing? I remember the federal prosecutor in New Jersey bringing corruption charges against Senator Menendez right before the midterm elections. Menendez was in a close race and with the corruption charges tacked on, the race got even closer. Typical Rovian tactic: the slash-and-burn right before an election. Memorably, the push pull question right before the primary in 2000: "Would you vote for John McCain for President if you knew he fathered an illegitimate black child?" Do all loyal "Bushies" share this vision of a permanent Republican majority? Who needs "democracy" when one can put in place the building blocks to wield power in perpetuity? (If you're a Regent University-trained lawyer, look up "perpetuity". It means, "the rest of us are in deep doo-doo.")
About a mile away from my home is 26 Wall Street, where almost two hundred and eighteen years ago, one of the most momentous occasions in human and American history took place. At that spot, on March 4, 1789, the First United States Congress established the Federal Government of the United States of America in accordance with the Constitution. The following April, George Washington took his oath of office as the first President of the United States in front of that building. The Bill of Rights was adopted at 26 Wall Street that September, as was the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established our system of Federal Courts.
The following year, in 1790, the Capitol of the United States left New York for Philadelphia, where it remained until the foundation of the District of Columbia. But for over one hundred years, until the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, March 4 was Inauguration Day in the United States, and that anniversary of the First U.S. Congress was observed by the swearing in of the President on that date every four years.
Last fall you voted for a bill which revoked Habeas Corpus and
protected American torturers from legal exposure.
I wrote you with harsh words (I believe I may have used the phrase
"expect a well-funded netroots-backed primary challenge").
Regardless, I set aside my strong disagreement with you on that vote
and volunteered (through Move On) to get-out-the-vote phone-bank for
your re-election in hopes that we could retake the senate. (Primaries
are for resolving our differences. General elections are for winning.)
I am overjoyed to read that you are introducing a bill to undo the
damage done to our civil liberties by last fall's Military Commissions
Act (or whatever it was called).
Thank you, Senator. Today you make me glad that you are in the senate
and proud to be from New Jersey.
Last fall Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) cast an unbelievably unnecessary and damaging vote in favor of the Military Commissions Act which eliminated habeas corpus and legalized torture.
Now comes news from Blue Jersey that Menendez will co-sponsor legislation to repair some of the damage done with that vote.
WASHINGTON - TOMORROW, Tuesday, February 12, 2007, U.S. Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) will hold a press conference to discuss the Effective Terrorists Prosecution Act which will restore habeus corpus rights, ban torture and uphold the Geneva Conventions. The senators, both members of the Foreign Relations Committee, will discuss the need for these protections in the fight against terrorism.
The legislation will be called the "Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007." More can be found about the legislation at Senator Dodd's site, Restore-Habeus.org.
I apologize for the brevity of this diary but not much more has been reported on this yet.
The good folks over at Blue Jersey are reporting, Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) will introduce a bill tomorrow on the Senate floor banning torture.
It seems Sen. Menendez is seeking to make amends for his vote on the Military Commissions Act, which effectively eliminated habeas corpus and legalized torture for "enemy combatants."
President George W. Bush, modern day reincarnation of Winston Churchill, has just submitted his budget. Senators Lautenberg and Menendez of New Jersey observe:
A preliminary assessment of the president's proposed fiscal year 2008 budget uncovered a series of reckless cuts to programs and services critical to New Jersey families. The budget inexplicably cuts state homeland security grants almost by half. These funds, which help first responders and local governments prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks, are critical for communities with high-risk targets like New Jersey. New Jersey's funding has already been cut dramatically in recent years.
Can one of our Republican lurkers step up and let us know that the war on terror is over? Did Osama bin Laden turn himself in? Because otherwise I don't see how this can be explained.
Mark Sheridan of the New Jersey GOP says there's a "developing and disturbing trend" of voters going into an electronic voting booth and finding that the machine already has registered a vote for Democratic Senate incumbent Bob Menendez.. They're saying complaints keep coming into their office. "It's too widespread for it to be a coincidence," Sheridan said.
I've taken to think of it as a gift, particularly useful in crowds or on subways. I have a knack for repelling people away - no, not with my ugly mug, but with a distinctly nasty glare. Many have told me it's scary to see it in action, and there was once a time when I tried to control it, for use at will, though I can't say I've been sucessful; every now and then, it slips out when I'm not paying attention.
Well Kean, Jr. has finally brought out the BIG guns!
According to Northern NJ-based web site Baristanet.com robocalls are now featuring lame-brained comic/bodybuilder Joe Piscopo in New Jersey...
Hi, It's Joe Piscopo. Yes, it's really me Joe Piscopo...[as if there are people who want to impersonate him...]
I'm reaching out to all my Italian-American friends to ask them to vote for a good friend of the Italian-American comunity, Tom Kean.
At the end of the call...
Paid for by the Filangieri Society for Justice and Good Government.
Additionally, the site says that mailers are being sent out accusing Menendez of "betraying" Garden State right-wing justice Sam Alito. [flip...]
Tonight I had the opportunity to meet several Democratic politicians stumping for U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) at a rally in Hackensack, NJ.
I had not participated in any local election campaign events this year, and had already decided not to go to this one -- but at the last minute I thought it might be a good place to do a little polling of my own, to see what support Senator Biden has out here in northern NJ.
