My Letter to "Reliable Sources"

Debra Saunders said that Karl Rove's outrageous statements were true on today's show and you left the lie there as if it was true and did not challenge it. Let me remind you:


CBS/New York Times, 9/13-14/2001, n=959 adults (source: National Journal's Hotline).

Should the U.S. take military action against those responsible? Yes: 93% of Republicans, 86% of Democrats, 76% of independents

Should the U.S. take military action against those responsible for attacks, even if it means innocent people are killed? Yes: 74% of Republicans, 64% of Democrats, 67% of independents

What if that meant going to war with a nation harboring those responsible for the attacks, then should the U.S. take military action against those responsible for the attacks? Yes: 74% of Republicans, 61% of Democrats, 65% of independents

What if that meant thousands of innocent civilians may be killed, then should the U.S. take military action against whoever is responsible for the attacks? Yes vs. No: Republicans 66% to 16%, Democrats 55% to 28%, independents 60% to 19%.

And, regarding the question of whether or not the U.S. was in a state of war:

Los Angeles Times, 9/13-14/2001, n=1,561 adults:

In your opinion, is the United States now in a state of war? Yes: 74% of Republicans, 70% of Democrats, 66% of independents (Q11)

If it is also determined that the Taliban ruling party in Afghanistan is harboring Osama bin Laden, would you support the United States and its allies retaliating with military action against Afghanistan, even if it could result in civilian casualties, or would you oppose that? Support: 91% of Republicans, 80% of Democrats, 78% of independents (Q37)

What about Osama bin Laden's organization itself? Do you think the United States should retaliate against Bin Laden's group through military action, or should the United States pursue justice by bringing him to trial in the United States? Retaliate vs. bring to trial: Republicans 80% to 17%, Democrats 66% to 28%, independents 64% to 27% (Q38)

It is bad journalism to let people lie and not challenge them on it. I expect more from CNN.


I have to admit that I was one of the ones Rove was talking about. I would much rather that we showered Afganistan with aid, roads, homes, tractors, airports, etc. than shower poor people with bombs. I'm not big on revenge -- I feel it but I don't act on it. Rove's comments were outrageous not only because they were wrong but because they had NOTHING to do with Iraq and just celebrate man's baser insticts of revenge. If revenge is really the best way, why doesn't Karl sign up with the Marines?

My E-Mail to Tammy Bruce

Discussing recent comments by Howard Dean, former NOW LA President Tammy Bruce said that electing Dean chairman of the Democratic National Committee was "like putting O.J. Simpson in charge of a battered women's shelter." She would know being a tight friend of Nicole Simpson's obsessed sister. Bruce is always trying portray herself as a "real" Democrat

So here is a copy of my e-mail to her:


Subject: You don't like Howard Dean?
To: heytammybruce@yahoo.com

Ask yourself this, did anything Dean say make the republicans angry? If so, good! Do you think when republicans say something that hurts our feelings or is outrageous they worry about it? You don't see republicans castigating their own when one of them gets passionate. Why are Democrats always the first to turn on our own?

We Democrats are tired of taking it like one of those toys from my youth -- the blow up clown with sand in the bottom -- the republicans keep hitting us and we're just supposed to pop back up and silently wait for the next hit. "Flip flop" Thank you, sir can I have another? "Democrats are unpatriotic" (or even in some cases "traitors") Thank you sir, can I have another? "Democrats are anti god" Thank you sir, can I have another? "Democrats committed fraud in
Washington State" -- NO! and as we just proved here in Washington, when we fight back, we win.

It's time for some passion. It's time to shout the truth because quietly trying to explain is getting us no where.

So you think Dean makes people uncomfortable? Good. It's about time.


Jane Johnson
Life Long Democrat
Olympia, WA

Justice Thomas is No Model Justice

Bush has sited Justice Thomas as a model of the kind of judges he would appoint. This scares the shit out of me. Yesterday was a great example.

As you may have heard the Supremes unanimously rejected an Establishment Clause challenge to the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act ("RLUIPA"), which applies to individuals in institutions. You probably read something in the mainstream press like witches and satan worshipers win court case. But in my opinion that wasn't the big story. Justice Thomas joined the opinion of the Court, but wrote separately to express his view that the Establishment Clause does not apply to states and that RLUIPA likely exceeds Congress's power under the Spending and Commerce Clauses. WTF!!?? WOW!!

What he is saying is that the states can establish religion and Congress cannot preclude them from doing so.

He also cited in his concurrence in last year's decision in Sabri v. United States that Spending Clause legislation must be reviewed under a higher standard than mere rationality to ensure that there is an obvious, direct condition between spending conditions and the spending itself. Such an approach would doom many of the thousands of measures that Congress has adopted to require recipients of federal spending to comply with Consititutional protections like discriminating against the elderly, disabled and other groups, as well as possibly rights under the Nursing Home Reform Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Housing, Occupational Safety, Truth in Lending, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave, the Freedom of Access to Clinics Act, as wells as minimum wage and maximum hour laws and labor and environmental laws.

And Bush wants to find more judges just like him to appoint to the Court. GAWD let's home they're too scarce to find!

J