Bad Deeds for 4-12-07

Inappropriate government lawyers’ membership in Republican group – The Republican National Lawyers Association, which trains lawyers to monitor elections, has several members who work in the Justice Department’s voting section. Bush appointees and civil servants that are members of the group include “at least 25 in the Justice Department, nine in the Department of Defense and others in the Labor and Commerce departments, the White House and the Office of Special Counsel, which oversees investigations into allegations of ethical misconduct by government employees

Failed Vietnam Tactic is the New Plan for Iraq – US forces in the city are now planning a massive and highly controversial counter-insurgency operation that will seal off vast areas of the city, enclosing whole neighborhoods with barricades and allowing only Iraqis with newly issued ID cards to enter. The campaign of “gated communities” – whose genesis was in the Vietnam War – will involve up to 30 of the city’s 89 official districts. The system has spectacularly failed in the past. The system of “gating” areas under foreign occupation failed during the French war against FLN insurgents in Algeria and again during the American war in Vietnam. Israel has employed similar practices during its occupation of Palestinian territory – again, with little success.

Bush Shows His Support of the Troops By Giving Them Three More Months of Combat Pay – One catch: they have to stay in Iraq for three extra months.

White House May Have Erased “Lost” Officials’ E-Mails – The White House said Wednesday that it may have erased “lost” what could amount to thousands of political communications sent improperly through a private e-mail system operated by the RNC and used by Karl Rove and at least 50 other top officials, an admission that “raises serious legal and security issues,” according to Rep. Henry Waxman

Subpoena-Crazy Republican Warns Democrats About Handing Out Too Many Subpoenas – Republican Representative Dan Burton subpoenaed 141 different associates of Bill Clinton. He held hearings for 10 days on the Clintons’ Christmas card list. In one instance, Burton was so reckless, he subpoenaed the wrong man (looking for someone with a similar name). Now he is warning that the new Democratic leadership may be abusing its subpoena powers. Is he trying to pursue a career in comedy?

Republican candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election Tommy Thompson wants everyone to have an electronic ID tag implanted under their skin – He’s going to get one. This announcement comes two weeks after Thompson joined the board of directors of VeriChip, a company based in Delray Beach, Fla., that manufactures RFID tags-including the implantable tag-for tracking people.

Florida Legislature Forces University To Idolize Jeb Bush – Two weeks ago, the University of Florida voted to deny Jeb Bush an honorary degree. By a 38-28 vote, the faculty Senate rejected the former governor’s nomination, citing concerns about some of Bush’s education initiatives, including his dismantling of affirmative action programs in the state. Upset by this lack of Jeb Bush adoration, the conservative-controlled House Schools & Learning Council voted yesterday to force the university to rename its education school the “Jeb Bush College of Education.” The lawmakers acknowledge they “came up with the idea as an answer” to the faculty’s denial of Bush’s honorary degree.

Federal Panel Altered Findings on Voter Fraud to Support GOP Claims – The Federal Assistance Commission suppressed the findings of experts who concluded that there was little voter fraud around the country, instead reporting that the pervasiveness of such fraud is open to debate, according to the New York Times. The Republican Party has used trumped-up allegations of voter fraud to justify stringent new voter ID requirements; the same panel recently tried to block the release its own report on the impact of those ID laws, which found that they often serve to reduce turnout among minority voters.

Army proposing extending duty for everyone in Iraq – The army has put on the defense secretary’s desk a proposal to extend the tour of duty for every active duty soldier in Iraq by three months. They would be required to stay longer, in large part, because the surge of forces the president announced in January is almost certain to be extended. This will affect tens of thousands of American families.

Air Force Report Pushes to Bring Back Chemical Weapons – Chemical weapons have been an international taboo for decades. But now, some in the United States Air Force are pushing to use them again.

Regards,

Jim