(no subject)

[johnny9fingers]

Glad to see that Scooter has avoideed a 'cruel and unusual punishment' (Gaol).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6263616.stm

I wouldn't wish prison on my worst enemy.
But it's also true that there ain't no justice. I wonder if Mercy extends to other folk outside the GOP and its placemen.

Gotta laugh.

Comments

[vlion.livejournal.com]

Cheap. Very cheap.
I tend to support Bush in many ways - and I strongly suspect Libby was a political target and was taken down politically - so hard to get good facts on some things! Yet, I think Bush[1](anyone not as Act of Congress or a duly authorized member of the judiciary) should not at all have the authority to commute jail sentences. And even if he did, he should not have done so short of obvious mistrial/political agenda.

I call abuse of power. I think Libby probably was taken down for political reasons, but you don't mess with the law like that unless you have a clear, defensible, and obvious case for commuting.


[1] Slick Willy Clinton did some nifty 11:59 jail releases when he left office. Some absolute scuzzy work there.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Actually, I do think of US prisons as a cruel and unusual punishment. The prisons here are becoming as bad.
Also I never thought he'd do time. He kept his mouth shut....this was bound to happen.
And you are right, the tu quoque jibes stick when you look at Slick Willy.
This is the problem with elected Kings. Presidential power is apt for misuse, and I'm trying to think of a single modern President who has not taken advantage of this.
Ergo: is there a structural problem with the nature of Presidency in a late Capitalist 'Democracy'? Does the oligarchical control of the market determine policies or just veto the ones it doesn't like?
Peak Oil and Climate Change are going to put a lot of the structures of government under pressure. At least it gives political analysts a situation to examine closely.

[vlion.livejournal.com]

It really depends on the prison. There's at least 1 prison in Idaho which is remarkably fine I hear - quite a few ameneties; lots of tv, rec center, etc.
And Idaho is one of the most conservative states in the USA.

Right now what we are seeing is a Presidency which has had since the early '90s to become very strong under Bill Clinton and George Bush. If things cycle correctly, Congress will become cranky, decide that the executive branch needs more restraint, and harrumph and politic its way to being the senior power in DC for the next few Presidents. I judge that Obama or Romney would be the right "weak" presidents for that to happen. H. Clinton would only extend the power of the presidency and therefore should not get into office. I will be voting for the weakest, most likely to be elected candidate.

Generally, I see that in a modern society with the high interconnect of citizens that happens, a lot of laws are needed, and where there are laws, there needs to be enforcement. *grimaces* I'm not sure what the solution is besides to live in a more rural area where there are few people.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

However one hears stories, and...at the risk of seeming delicate, a prison shower is not my idea of a good time [shudder]. But, as has been mentioned, Paris Hilton didn't have too bad a time of it. However it may be different for girls.
Yeah, sophisticated sytems are required to deal with sophisticated conurbations, but these are not beyond our ability. If Hillary gets in the Republicans are going to get a real beating: she'll go after the previous administration: she has motivation enough not to let sleeping dogs lie....ergo, there may be court cases of embarrassing kinds.
Obama has many good qualities, but would the South really sanction a Black Democrat....Colin Powell as a Republican maybe...but a Black Democrat? With Hussain as his second name?
I'd love to think America wouldn't let this matter one bit, but I know this ain't so. There are a few race-issue communities on LJ....some ain't nice.
Romney is interesting. He's a Mormon, which I would have thought would have disqualified him. Also...he's courted the core Republican vote by moving to the right on almost all issues, including civil partnerships.
I'd opt for Obama, but I don't have this colour awareness that folk in the US have.

[vlion.livejournal.com]

Heh. Some prisons are bad. No question. THat's mostly federal-level jails I believe.

I don't have a feel on the race issue really. I've been pretty much brought up color-blind. I strongly suspect that outside of the traditional race cities and the South, race doesn't matter to most Americans; but I well could be projecting. My bet is that a centrist black Democrat who sticks by his belief guns could sweep the nation. A major part of the anti-Democrat image is that they are always shifting their position for political gain. If a Democrat can break that mold, he has a good chance of pulling in many many people.

Romney is going to have a real struggle over his Mormonism. The LDS/former LDS people I've spoken to do not think that he will bow to the church leaders(see, traditional objection to Catholic leaders). I tend to agree, knowing what I do about their belief system. I need to read up on him more, but he seems the least "political animal" of the Republican candidates.

Effectively, I think that the following are the criteria for a winning plank in the 08 elections:
* Small, unintrusive, government.
* Keep the military at home unless in dire need
* Eco-friendly. Moar Hydrogen Research. The US is steadily moving in an eco-friendly/sustainable living direction at the grassroots level.
* Leave Iraq to the Iraqis with only advisors left there.
* Silent about homosexuality. There is no win on this issue in the US.
* Quiet about abortion. No real win here either.
* Friendly to Europe
* They have to support Isreal. Otherwise the pro-Isreal lobby will roast them, and they can motivate part of the conservative Christian lobby. -.-
* Strong on the anti-terrorism front

A quiet, Christian, non-idealogical president who keeps things running smoothly, somewhat isolationist and cycles out after one term is pretty much what most people in the US want I think.

All a bit 'rich'

[ankh156.livejournal.com]

considering he's part of the team who set up 'Camp X-Ray' at Guantanamo.

I feel less tolerant and forgiving than you do.

(I suspect you're a 'nicer person' than I am.)

Re: All a bit 'rich'

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

I'm not naturally nice, m'dear, but if I appear so it's because I have acquired a veneer of such over the years.