The Nith U.S. Circuit Court has ruled on the Jeppesen case

The court makes short work of the Obama administration's invocation of States Secrets to quash legal actions against the government:

"According to the government's theory, the judiciary should effectively cordon off all secret government actions from judicial scrutiny, immunizing the CIA and its partners from the demands and limits of the law."

The upshot of this is that the court has (re-)affirmed that the only legitimate use of the State's Secrets privelege is for individual pieces of evidence which are evaluated by the courts.

A stirring victory for government accountability and transparency. 

As always, Glenn has more.

Best Movie Review Ever

Paul Constant, writing for The Stranger, reviews Crank 2.

"It's like if Michael Bay and John Waters had breakup sex and made a little ADD baby who hated humanity. Awesome! Awesome!"

via Crooks and Liars.

The Decemberists on the Report

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Gay Marriage Commercial

Here's a movie Nick and I did.

Susan Boyle World Record Internet Views

Susan Boyle World Record Internet Views from Bob Odenkirk

Denny Chitterbottom (Bob Odenkirk) has viewed Susan Boyle's video more than anyone else has. He's her biggest fan.

Meet Maggie

Black Bevis and Butthead.

check it ( might need to let it buffer)

GI Joe: Resolute

Warren Ellis has written a new GI: Joe miniseries for the Cartoon Network. Parts 1 - 8 are currently available, and parts 9 and 10 are scheduled to be released later today.  The finale will be aired on the Cartoon Network on April 25th at midnight.

Part 2 contains some serious Snake Eyes action.

The Georgia Guidestones

In 1979, a mysterious stranger claiming to represent a secret organization commissioned the construction of a gigantic monumental structure whose purpose is to aid the survivors of the apocalypse in rebuilding society. The monument contains written instructions in the world's major languages, a clock, compass, and calendar.

via Metafilter.

How Obama Excused Torture

"The evidence is now undeniable. President Barack Obama is flouting his unflagging constitutional obligation enshrined in Article II, Section 3 to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” He is also reneging on his signature campaign promise to restore the rule of law, transparency, and accountability to the White House. He is displaying the psychology of an arrogant empire as opposed to a modest republic in continuing and escalating the Bush-Cheney duumvirate’s global and perpetual war against international terrorism heedless of foreign sovereignties or the lives of civilians."

Bruce Fein, constitutional lawyer and former Associate Deputy Attorney General under Reagan, discusses the Obama administration's record on torture, secrecy, and the rule of law.

Update: Andrew Sullivan on Obama, Bush, and the Rule of Law: "...Obama's refusal to investigate war crimes is itself against the law."

Update II: Regarding Torture (via Glenn).

http://gobacktoohio.com/

Finally!!!!!!!!

John Madden retires.......

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9462768/Boom!-Madden-announces-retirement-from-booth?GT1=39002

Spanish Prosecution Update

Spain's Attorney General has apparently decided to quash the prosecution of the "Bush Six," despite earlier reports that National Court prosecutors intended to bring charges. 

Since the Obama administration, despite its legal obligation to investigate these matters, seems determined to let this go, this might be the end of the matter. 

Civil War General Quote of the Day

"If I owned Texas and Hell, I would rent Texas and Live in Hell."

                              - Philip Sheridan

This one's for you, Rick Perry! 

via Metafilter. With apologies to all of the good Texans.

The Ballad of Catan

The Party of Fiscal Discipline

In honor of the April 15th "Teabagging," I present to you colorful representations of the national debt under Republican presidents:

Source: zFacts - US National Debt Graph

Source: zFacts - Presidents and the Federal Debt

Spanish Prosecutors to Indict the "Bush Six"

The indictment will charge that six members of the Bush administration sanctioned the torture of five Spanish citizens held at Guantanamo.

The indictees are:

Fmr. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Fmr. Asst. Attorney General Jay Bybee
Fmr. Deputy Asst. Attorney General John Yoo
Fmr. Defense Department Counsel William J. Haynes II
Fmr. Chief of Staff for the Vice President David Addington
Fmr. Undersecretary of Defense Douglas "Dumbest Fucking Guy on the Planet" Feith.

More of the same...

On the heels of the Obama administration's decision to embrace some of the more egregious elements of the Bush administration's policy on secrecy (see here and here), the Justice Department has appealed a district court ruling that granted Habeas Corpus rights to prisoners held at Afghanistan's Bagram Airforce Base.

In essence, the Obama administration is arguing that prisoners of the United States can be flown from anywhere in the world to Bagram and imprisoned without due process, indeed, without rights of any kind.

Keep in mind that the Obama administration isn't merely continuing a Bush-era lawsuit on this matter - it is actually appealing the ruling of a conservative Bush appointee who claimed that this procedure was as unconstitutional as what was happening at Guantanamo. In fact, the judge claimed that detainees at Bagram received fewer rights than detainees at Guantanamo.

More from Glenn Greenwald.

Pygmy Marmoset!

That is all.

Wolfgang's vault

Yeah I know you got to create a fake sign in name and all but just do it and hit play. Maybe even search around if you like.
http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/dt/muddy-waters-blues-band-concert/131-9950.html

Civil War Quote fo the Day

"Send for a clergyman, I wish to be baptised. I have been basely murdered." - The last words of the aforementioned General William Nelson.

Sam Watkins was one of only seven men who survived from the First Tennessee Infantry, Company H, out of an original number of 120. His take on the war:

I always shoot at privates. It was they that did
the shooting and killing, and if I could kill or wound
a private, why, my chances were so much the better.
I always looked upon officers as harmless personages.

Civil War Colonel's Quote of the Day, Pt. I

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
In the Field, October 12, 1864.

To the Officer Commanding U. S. Forces at Resaca, Ga.:

SIR: I demand an immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled within a few days. If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken.

Most respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. B. HOOD,
General.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Resaca, Ga., October 12, 1864.

General J. B. HOOD:

Your communication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that "If the place is carried by assault no prisoners will be taken." In my opinion I can hold this post; if you want it come and take it.

I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

CLARK R. WEVER,
Commanding Officer.

Civil War General's Quote of the Day, Part 2

Union Major General William "Bull" Nelson to his subordinate, Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis in regards to Indiana soldiers, whom Gen. Davis had commanded at the beginning of the war:

"(Indiana soldiers are) uncouth descendants of poor trash from the mountains of Kentucky."

Shortly thereafter, Gen. Davis confronted Nelson in a hotel lobby and shot him dead.

Your Civil War General's Quote of the Day

From York, South Carolina native, Confederate Major General Daniel Harvey Hill in response to Federal General John Foster's reprimand for the burning of Plymouth, NC in order to prevent it's capture:

"A meddling Yankee troubles himself about everybody's matters but his own and repents at everybody's sins but his own. Should the Yankees burn a village in Connecticut or Massachusetts, we would bid them Godspeed in their work of purifying the atmosphere."

Get it G-Ma

The Land Walker

via Metafilter.

Rush Limbaugh is leaving NYC

Due to the threat of increased taxation on those making in excess of $500,000 per year (which Rushbo certainly does), Rush Limbaugh has threatened to leave New York City. New Yorker Jon Stewart responds:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Rush Limbaugh Leaves New York
comedycentral.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor