The Republican Thread

[mr_genius]

I heard the Obama regime is making all women in the courtroom wear a Burqa (don't want to offend the defendants).

[Jenksismyhero]

They're being extremely patient with them to the point that it allows them to create a show (with requests like the one noted there)...but they have no choice but to do that since the court itself has so little credibility.

 

In a normal court, they'd have been in, arraigned, and out, and if someone tried to make a scene, the judge would have simply dealt with it and moved on with the proceedings, and that wouldn't have cost the court any Credibility, whereas a kangaroo court denying the people the right to speak every day costs the kangaroo court whatever little credibility it has.

 

I find these sort of assertions (about the lack of credibility) somewhat laughable. There's zero difference between this tribunal and your every day county court except the amount of time they've existed. A small group of people created them and created the rules that are followed.

 

This system is no different than the Nuremburg trials. There's no precedent really, so they're doing the best with what they have.

 

Edit: Gotta love wikipedia: the prosecutor for the main war crimes trial said it pretty good here:

 

In his opening statements to the trial, after the indictments had been read and the defendants had enterered pleas of not guilty to the charges, Mr Justice Jackson explained some of the difficulties faced by the prosecution:[80]

 

In justice to the nations and the men associated in this prosecution, I must remind you of certain difficulties which may leave their mark on this case. Never before in legal history has an effort been made to bring within the scope of a single litigation the developments of a decade, covering a whole continent, and involving a score of nations, countless individuals, and innumerable events. Despite the magnitude of the task, the world has demanded immediate action. This demand has had to be met, though perhaps at the cost of finished craftmanship. In my country, established courts, following familiar procedures, applying well-thumbed precedents, and dealing with the legal consequences of local and limited events, seldom commence a trial within a year of the event in litigation. Yet less than eight months ago to-day the courtroom in which you sit was an enemy fortress in the hands of German S.S. troops. Less than eight months ago nearly all our witnesses and documents were in enemy hands.

 

He also acknowledged that the trial would not be perfect, as well as asserting the legal precedent being set:[81]

 

I should be the last to deny that the case may well suffer from incomplete researches, and quite likely will not be the example of professional work which any of the prosecuting nations would normally wish to sponsor. It is, however, a completely adequate case to the judgment we shall ask you to render, and its full development we shall be obliged to leave to historians... At the very outset, let us dispose of the contention that to put these men to trial is to do them an injustice, entitling them to some special consideration. These defendants may be hard pressed but they are not ill used... If these men are the first war leaders of a defeated nation to be prosecuted in the name of the law, they are also the first to be given the chance to plead for their lives in the name of the law.

Edited May 8, 2012 by Jenksismybitch

[Balta1701]

There's zero difference between this tribunal and your every day county court except the amount of time they've existed.

There are huge differences in the evidence standards, at the very least, since Hearsay is allowable as evidence. And if these were any other court working on the current globally accepted standards, the people would be released summarily after having been repeatedly tortured.

[kapkomet]

It's a pity they couldn't have their spectacle in NYC, just like they wanted.

[Balta1701]

It's a pity they couldn't have their spectacle in NYC, just like they wanted.

Yeah, the idea of a fair, public trial in new York city of an al Qaeda terrorist is just nuts. The media would be insane. Itd be all over everything and just crazy.

[StrangeSox]

DePauw has a poll out showing the Lugar race turning into a 10 point deficit for the Senator. Lugar sounds like he's desperately begging for help.

 

I seriously don't want to believe you guys will get rid of Senator Lugar.

 

Lugar lost.

[southsider2k5]

Lugar lost.

 

Not just lost, crushed.

 

 

[StrangeSox]

Yup

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/09...y-with-victory/

[southsider2k5]

Yup

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/09...y-with-victory/

 

I have to get this out of my way real quick....

 

support an honest, common sense job creator like Joe Donnelly,"

 

support an honest, common sense job creator like Joe Donnelly,"

 

:lolhitting :lolhitting :lolhitting

 

Donnelly isn't going to beat Mourdock anywhere but NWI where he is from. I've dealt with the guy on many occasions, and he isn't winning over the rest of Indiana.

 

 

 

 

[Balta1701]

Senator Lugar released both a congratulatory statement last night and a long, much more detailed statement basically ripping Mourdock.

If Mr. Mourdock is elected, I want him to be a good Senator. But that will require him to revise his stated goal of bringing more partisanship to Washington. He and I share many positions, but his embrace of an unrelenting partisan mindset is irreconcilable with my philosophy of governance and my experience of what brings results for Hoosiers in the Senate. In effect, what he has promised in this campaign is reflexive votes for a rejectionist orthodoxy and rigid opposition to the actions and proposals of the other party. His answer to the inevitable roadblocks he will encounter in Congress is merely to campaign for more Republicans who embrace the same partisan outlook. He has pledged his support to groups whose prime mission is to cleanse the Republican party of those who stray from orthodoxy as they see it.

 

This is not conducive to problem solving and governance. And he will find that unless he modifies his approach, he will achieve little as a legislator. Worse, he will help delay solutions that are totally beyond the capacity of partisan majorities to achieve. The most consequential of these is stabilizing and reversing the Federal debt in an era when millions of baby boomers are retiring. There is little likelihood that either party will be able to impose their favored budget solutions on the other without some degree of compromise.

[mr_genius]

Senator Lugar released both a congratulatory statement last night and a long, much more detailed statement basically ripping Mourdock.

 

what a sore loser.

[Jenksismyhero]

There are huge differences in the evidence standards, at the very least, since Hearsay is allowable as evidence. And if these were any other court working on the current globally accepted standards, the people would be released summarily after having been repeatedly tortured.

 

Hearsay evidence is allowed in civil/criminal trials too. Just depends on the situation. Go read up on the Nuremberg stuff. Lots and lots of normal, routine judicial procedures were ignored/changed to fit the type of trial they were putting on.

[southsider2k5]

what a sore loser.

 

That is how everyone reacts to a lost election. Just most don't say that.

[illinilaw08]

I have to get this out of my way real quick....

 

 

 

:lolhitting :lolhitting :lolhitting

 

Donnelly isn't going to beat Mourdock anywhere but NWI where he is from. I've dealt with the guy on many occasions, and he isn't winning over the rest of Indiana.

 

Mourdock could end up his own worst enemy with the rest of the state. He energizes the base, but a lot of people I know that consistently vote R here in Indy are going to do their homework on Donnelly (who I confess, I know nothing about) because of how extreme Mourdock is. Lugar would have won in a landslide, Mourdock might put the seat back into play.

[southsider2k5]

Mourdock could end up his own worst enemy with the rest of the state. He energizes the base, but a lot of people I know that consistently vote R here in Indy are going to do their homework on Donnelly (who I confess, I know nothing about) because of how extreme Mourdock is. Lugar would have won in a landslide, Mourdock might put the seat back into play.

 

There isn't much to know. He is your typical NWI machine Dem.

[cabiness42]

There isn't much to know. He is your typical NWI machine Dem.

 

Donnelly lives in Granger, so not really from NWI. Also, I don't think NWI machine Democrats get positive ratings from the NRA and Right-to-Life folks. Donnelly is not even remotely like Visclosky.

[Balta1701]

Donnelly lives in Granger, so not really from NWI. Also, I don't think NWI machine Democrats get positive ratings from the NRA and Right-to-Life folks. Donnelly is not even remotely like Visclosky.

I have really no insight into the guy, but if he's actually able to run a good campaign he probably has a shot. A crappy, classic, machine style campaign will just wind up with him being overwhelmed with Superpac money against him, but a well run campaign won't have any trouble at least making the guy saying "I think bipartisanship should be Democrats accepting Republican principles" this morning look out of touch and a little nuts.

[southsider2k5]

Donnelly lives in Granger, so not really from NWI. Also, I don't think NWI machine Democrats get positive ratings from the NRA and Right-to-Life folks. Donnelly is not even remotely like Visclosky.

 

His district included my town until just a few months ago. I've met the guy on many occasions. He is the typical pro-union, pro-protect steel Democrat that gets pumped out of these parts on a regular basis.

 

The Indiana right to life group refused to endorse him. The NRA thing is normal for pretty much all pols who aren't in a big city.

[southsider2k5]

I have really no insight into the guy, but if he's actually able to run a good campaign he probably has a shot. A crappy, classic, machine style campaign will just wind up with him being overwhelmed with Superpac money against him, but a well run campaign won't have any trouble at least making the guy saying "I think bipartisanship should be Democrats accepting Republican principles" this morning look out of touch and a little nuts.

 

Right, because no Dem SuperPAC money is going to go to Donnelly...

[Balta1701]

Right, because no Dem SuperPAC money is going to go to Donnelly...

How much you willing to bet that you're right and specifically SuperPAC funds in this race will be close to even, as opposed to overwhelmingly favoring one side?

[southsider2k5]

How much you willing to bet that you're right and specifically SuperPAC funds in this race will be close to even, as opposed to overwhelmingly favoring one side?

 

You seriously believe that there won't be a ton of cash thrown at this race to steal Lugar's seat? Get off of the kool-aid.

[Balta1701]

You seriously believe that there won't be a ton of cash thrown at this race to steal Lugar's seat? Get off of the kool-aid.

I specifically said "SuperPAC" money.

 

There'll be a lot of money available if the race is polling competitively, but Lugar already got hit with the SuperPAC wall street surge. Mourdock's campaign, for example, spent about $2 million, while the SuperPacs supporting him spent $3 million.

 

Corporate SuperPAC money flowing into these campaigns to elect pro-wall-streeters is a force unlike anything we've ever seen before in political fundraising.

[southsider2k5]

I specifically said "SuperPAC" money.

 

There'll be a lot of money available if the race is polling competitively, but Lugar already got hit with the SuperPAC wall street surge. Mourdock's campaign, for example, spent about $2 million, while the SuperPacs supporting him spent $3 million.

 

Corporate SuperPAC money flowing into these campaigns to elect pro-wall-streeters is a force unlike anything we've ever seen before in political fundraising.

 

The Dems see this as a huge chance to steal a seat they haven't had since 1966, and they aren't going to throw SuperPAC money at it. Only those dirty Republicans will do it. Yeah, ok.

[southsider2k5]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion...0,6645533.story

 

My stroke

Sen. Mark Kirk writes about his illness and rehabilitation

 

By Mark Kirk

 

May 9, 2012

On Saturday, Jan. 21, I woke up with a headache. The headache worsened as the morning progressed, but I wanted to keep to my work schedule. At 11 a.m., a member of my staff, Andrew Weissert, picked me up at my house in Highland Park to take me to a noon meeting of my Eastern European Advisory Board in Chicago. In the car, I felt new symptoms — numbness in my hands and problems with my vision. I realized this was not a headache or even a migraine.

 

From the car, I called my physician and good friend, Dr. Jay Alexander. Jay told me to get to the emergency room at Lake Forest Hospital as soon as possible and he would meet me there. Andrew turned the car around and we headed back north. I walked into the hospital and checked in. Jay and the doctors at Lake Forest examined me and conducted a number of tests. My condition worsened. All of my symptoms became more severe. It was determined that my right carotid artery had been "dissected" — that is, blocked — by unknown causes. The reduced blood flow to my brain had caused a moderate ischemic stroke.

 

The medical team decided to transfer me to Northwestern Memorial Hospital late that afternoon in case surgery was necessary. Late Saturday afternoon, I rode downtown in an ambulance with Jay by my side. At Northwestern, I was examined by Dr. Richard Fessler, a renowned neurosurgeon. Dr. Fessler had been involved with me in various health policy initiatives over the years, so I knew I was receiving the best possible care.

 

On Sunday, I felt four waves pass through my brain, each lasting approximately 15 minutes. I cannot describe the feeling except to say that something profound was happening inside my skull. Those waves were causing my brain to swell and my symptoms worsened. The strokes affected the portions of my brain that regulate movement on my left side.

 

The medical team at Northwestern, in consultation with my family, decided to operate. Sunday evening, Dr. Fessler and his surgical team removed a 4-by-8-inch section of my skull to relieve the swelling. I am told that I woke up on Monday morning and asked for my BlackBerry, although I have no recollection of that now.

 

Over the next two days, the swelling in my brain did not go down, and Dr. Fessler and Dr. H. Hunt Batjer operated again, removing the dead portion of my brain as well as more bone to allow for more swelling. Since that second surgery, I have been on a steady course of recovery. Two weeks later, the removed section of my skull was replaced and my head was back in one piece. A week after that, I transferred out of Northwestern's intensive care unit and moved into the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, just a few blocks away. For the past two months, I have been working for hours each day to regain my ability to walk and other motor functions.

 

I was very fortunate that the stroke affected the right side of my brain. While I could not at first move the left side of my body, my cognitive and speech functions were not impaired. With a lot of work and a lot of help, I have been slowly regaining movement on the left side of my body.

 

Throughout this time, I have been blessed with great care from some of the finest health care workers in the world. Jesserine, "Jazz," one of my nurses at RIC, has become a great friend. I do not know what I would have done without her skills and professionalism. Jazz and her colleagues saved my life and have facilitated my recovery in more ways than I could list.

 

I am most indebted to my family — my mother Judy, my stepmother Bev, my sisters Robin, Maya and Kira, my brother Eric — for standing by me during these past 31/2 months, holding my hand during the darkest hours. I have also been blessed by my congressional family, which has stood by me and my staff during this period. Sens. Dick Durbin, Joe Manchin, Scott Brown, Bob Corker, Mitch McConnell and others in the Senate and House have all gone out of their way to help us continue to work on behalf of the people of Illinois.

 

May is Stroke Awareness Month. Approximately 700,000 Americans suffer from strokes each year. Nearly one-fourth of these strokes are fatal. Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in our nation, and one of the top causes of long-term disability. Thousands of Illinoisans will die of a stroke this year.

 

Early detection is key to survival. My early symptoms — severe headache, numbness and vision problems — are typical. Other symptoms are dizziness, confusion and trouble speaking. Many strokes are preventable through quitting smoking, improving diet, more exercise and other measures that reduce blood pressure.

 

My staff and I are working on a legislative package to help with early detection and prevention programs.

 

Thank you to my family, my health care providers and the people of Illinois for standing by me during this long recovery. I intend to be back at work as soon as possible, working for Illinois and for greater awareness of the challenges we all face from stroke.

 

Mark Kirk is a U.S. senator from Illinois.

 

Copyright © 2012, Chicago Tribune

[mr_genius]

money flowing into these campaigns to elect pro-wall-streeters is a force unlike anything we've ever seen before in political fundraising.

 

No we have seen it before. Obama in 2008.