Starr Agrees to Represent Death Row Inmate

Didn't see this happening...

Conservative scholar and former federal judge Kenneth Starr, the special prosecutor in the impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton, is representing California death row inmate Michael Morales in his bid for clemency.

What's up Kenny?

Starr said he agreed to represent Morales in his clemency case because the inmate has taken responsibility for the murder, expressed remorse and tried to atone for his crime while on death row. Starr also plans to argue in the petition that Morales' trial was tainted by an unreliable jailhouse informant.

I hope Starr knows what he is getting himself into: pissing off a lot of conservatives.

Tag: Death Penalty, Kenneth Starr, Michael Morales

The Pentagon Hates the Troops

It seems that our own Department of Defense is trying to undermine our Grand War on Terror.

Stretched by frequent troop rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan , the Army has become a "thin green line" that could snap unless relief comes soon, according to a study for the Pentagon .

Why does the Pentagon hate our troops?

Illustrating his level of concern about strain on the Army, Krepinevich titled one of his report's chapters, "The Thin Green Line."

He wrote that the Army is "in a race against time" to adjust to the demands of war "or risk `breaking' the force in the form of a catastrophic decline" in recruitment and re-enlistment.

They even admit they are encouraging the enemy.

Krepinevich said in the interview that he understands why Pentagon officials do not state publicly that they are being forced to reduce troop levels in Iraq because of stress on the Army. "That gives too much encouragement to the enemy," he said, even if a number of signs, such as a recruiting slump, point in that direction.

To recap: Army is stretched, but admitting it encourages the enemy. Best that we all live in a dream world where we believe the army does not need extra money or soldiers.

Tag: Pentagon, War on Terror

National Guard Troops Return to California

Good to have them back.

Pat Robertson Petition

Do you have to be Christian to sign?

Moratorium Bill Through Assembly Public Safety Committee

This is a good start.

A state Assembly committee on Tuesday approved a bill that would impose a two-year moratorium on death sentences in California, allowing time for a state commission on executions to complete its review of the system.

Now then, there are still some other hurdles, like the Appropriations Committee and then of course the actual floor vote - if it gets to that. I am pretty confident it will get to the floor, but I don't know what will happen once it gets there. It looks certain that the Republicans will stand united against the bill, but will there be some cowardly Democrats that join them? I am sure that at least a few will. The most important hurdle, however, is the governor. It seems quite unlikely he will sign the bill - especially since it might be unconstitutional.

My favorite line from the hearing comes from good old Todd Spitzer.

"At the end of the day, justice has to be done," Spitzer said. "Someone has to speak for the victims."

Yes, someone does have to speak for the victims. Nobody is arguing that. What we are arguing is that the person "speaking" for the victim might be innocent. Or represented by an incompetent attorney. Or not given a fair trial. Or...

Hopefully we will have the guts to follow New Jersey's recent example.

Tag: Death Penalty

Still waiting for the answer...

Atrios is wondering the same thing,

No one has yet managed to explain how revealing that the administration illegally spies on American citizens without obtaining warrants, instead of legally spying on people after obtaining such warrants, damages national security.

Anyone?

The process of getting warrants is certainly a formality and requires little extra than a small waiting period. Clearly though, the administration thinks that they scare people into letting them get away with anything. Sadly, many are okay with it.