Bad Deeds for 11-14-06

Bush Administration Says Immigrants May Be Held Indefinitely
Immigrants arrested in the United States may be held indefinitely on suspicion of terrorism and may not challenge their imprisonment in civilian courts, the Bush administration said Monday, opening a new legal front in the fight over the rights of detainees.

Republican Report Links Abortion to Immigration
A Republican-led legislative panel claims in a new report on illegal immigration that abortion is partly to blame because it is causing a shortage of American workers. All six Democrats on Missouri’s House Special Committee on Immigration Reform refused to sign the report, calling it ridiculous, while one of the Republicans who did sign it now claims he can’t recall what it said.

Dallas suburb cracks down on illegal immigrants
Farmers Branch, Texas became the first Texas city to pass tough anti-immigration measures, prompting fears of sanctioned discrimination and racism. City Council members unanimously approved fines for landlords who rent to illegal immigrants, making English the city’s official language and allowing local authorities to screen suspects in police custody to check their immigration status.

Ex-GOP Fundraiser Convicted in Ohio
Tom Noe, one-time star fundraiser for the Republican Party, was found guilty yesterday of stealing from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and using the cash to erase debts and to buy and furnish million-dollar homes. The jury found Noe guilty on 29 counts, including the two most serious charges that trigger a mandatory 10-year sentence. All told, he could face a maximum of 72 years in state prison.

Air America Latest To Receive White-Powder Scare Mail
The New York Post reports that three packages containing white powder were found yesterday in the mail at Air America headquarters — one of which was addressed to Al Franken. The white powdery substance in the package turned out to be harmless. The tactic, obviously meant to evoke the anthrax-mail scare of 2001, has suddenly become a popular way of sending a poisonous message: Yesterday, a man named Chad Conrad Castagana was charged after mailing letters with white powder to people like Nancy Pelosi, David Letterman and Jon Stewart. Earlier this month, Chuck Schumer received white powder in the mail, and in September, MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann received white powder at his home address. The renewed “threatening white-powder letter” trend was kicked off this July after the New York Times bank records story controversy, when an envelope with white powder was sent to the New York Times building causing it to be evacuated.

Regards,

Jim