The $400 Billion Gift

Stilgherrian — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:02:01 +0000

Catching up on news from earlier this week, I’m astounded to read the real reason the US stock market rallied: “The US Taxpayers just lent the Biggest Banks and Hedge Funds in New York $400 Billion in exchange for ‘mark to market valued’ sub prime mortgage securities that are probably nearly worthless (being so far down on the claims chart in a bankruptcy). This is a ’silent bailout’ of the Republican’s biggest contributors that is going to be much more expensive than the S&L Rescue package of the early 90s. At least Bush Sr proposed the S&L bailout in the sunlight. Bush Jr, Paulson and the Fed are doing the bailout without asking our permission. What does ‘pork barrel’ John McCain think of this corporate welfare?”

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The Bush administration’s Must-Do List

Stilgherrian — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 21:53:46 +0000

The New York Times has just published, as their editorial, a list of things that need to be done to “reverse the unwise and lawless policies of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.”

The Bush administration’s assault on some of the founding principles of American democracy marches onward despite the Democratic victory in the 2006 elections. The new Democratic majorities in Congress can block the sort of noxious measures that the Republican majority rubber-stamped. But preventing new assaults on civil liberties is not nearly enough.

Five years of presidential overreaching and Congressional collaboration continue to exact a high toll in human lives, America’s global reputation and the architecture of democracy. Brutality toward prisoners, and the denial of their human rights, have been institutionalized; unlawful spying on Americans continues; and the courts are being closed to legal challenges of these practices.

It will require forceful steps by this Congress to undo the damage.

And those forceful steps?

Here’s their list as bullet points, though the full editorial is well worth reading.

Restore Habeas Corpus, the ancient right for someone to challenge their imprisonment in court
Stop illegal spying
Ban torture, really
Close the CIA prisons
Account for “ghost prisoners”
Ban extraordinary rendition
Tighten the definition of combatant
Screen prisoners fairly and effectively
Ban tainted evidence
Ban secret evidence
Better define “classified” evidence
Respect the right to counsel

Let’s come back to this list in six months and see what’s been fixed.

Thanks to former senator Stephen Loosley for the pointer.

Stilgherrian » george bush

The $400 Billion Gift

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The Bush administration’s Must-Do List

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