Cool story, bro.

This is probably nothing to worry about (cont'ing)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., noticed that to subject American citizens to arrest without warrant and to detain us without trial violates the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments of the Constitution. Feinstein proposed to specifically exempt American citizens from the NDAA's arrest policy.

Her clarification of the NDAA passed the Senate by a vote of 98 to 1. That's as bipartisan as it gets, even in good times. In these times, passage of Feinstein's clarification was a miracle of agreement.

Yet in the NDAA's final version, as signed by President Obama, American citizens are not exempt. How did that happen? [...]

The Obama White House specifically asked that U.S. citizens be subject to arrest without warrant and detention without trial.

The shortest path between here and 'power'

1. Promise to close Guantanamo facility; be elected President.
2. Publicize plan to follow through on promise by closing "Guantanamo facility" and replacing it with identical facility located elsewhere.
3. Just, fuck, don't waste any more time on this.

"The early talk...all of that's fallen by the wayside."

Was Dick "Dick" (Dick) Dick Cheney referring to this blog?

Meanwhile, LoC enjoys the peace dividend

Salon's Glenn Greenwald:

Barack Obama, like George Bush before him, has claimed the authority to order American citizens murdered based solely on the unverified, uncharged, unchecked claim that they are associated with Terrorism and pose "a continuing and imminent threat to U.S. persons and interests." They're entitled to no charges, no trial, no ability to contest the accusations. Amazingly, the Bush administration's policy of merely imprisoning foreign nationals (along with a couple of American citizens) without charges -- based solely on the President's claim that they were Terrorists -- produced intense controversy for years. That, one will recall, was a grave assault on the Constitution.

Dems now pro-war, GOP now anti-troops

So says the roll call on the war funding bill that just passed.

The great scientist speaks (again)

Paul Krugman, February 21, 2001:

Last but perhaps not least among causes of the consumer funk is the administration’s own determined pessimism. Mr. Bush has a bully pulpit, and he is using it to preach economic alarm. This adds powerfully to the chorus of doomsaying. And when it comes to short-term economics, believing can sometimes make it so.

The title of Krugman's column from this Thursday? "On the Edge." Consider it his own little contribution to the insane amount of doomsaying being done by our current President.

Feinstein: Destroying cars can help economy

CNN reports:

Under a bill introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D.-Calif., owners of older cars would get vouchers worth thousands of dollars toward the purchase of newer, more fuel-efficient vehicle. For the customer to get that cash, the car dealer would have to certify that the trade-in was getting scrapped and not resold. The car's vehicle identification number (VIN) would be tracked to make sure it never shows up on a vehicle registration again.

Crushing the old car has two benefits. First, it ensures that the consumer's purchase of a more efficient vehicle actually has a net environmental benefit. Second, it prevents a glut of used cars on the market, which would reduce trade-in values for new car buyers such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D.-Calif.

O-bomb-a!

18 killed as suspected U.S. missiles hit Pakistan
Alleged U.S. spy planes attack militant areas in first strikes of Obama era
Associated Press
updated 41 minutes ago

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Two suspected U.S. missile attacks killed 18 people Friday on the Pakistan side of the Afghan border, in the first such strikes since the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

thanks for the link go to LoC reader Ken L.

Frank Rich slams the bailout:

Republicans from George W. Bush to John Boehner want to grant immortality to Washington Mutual, Wachovia and AIG. They have decided to follow an earlier $25 billion loan with a $50 billion bailout, which would inevitably be followed by more billions later, because if these companies are not permitted to go bankrupt now, they never will be.

Oh wait...that was David Brooks, talking about what Democrats from Barack Obama to Nancy Pelosi want, with regard to General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford. But by all means, if it helps you get your outrage on, imagine that it were Republicans and banks...