Murtha and the Mudslingers By E. J. Dionne Jr.
I
underestimated the viciousness of the right wing.
in a word, appalling
ABQjournal: Letters to the Editor
Moving
Petroglyphs Deceitful
RE: “CITY Handles Rocks with All Due Respect” editorial
The Albuquerque Journal stated that
it is “hard to imagine … any greater measure of respect” by the city of Albuquerque in moving petroglyphs to make way for the Paseo del
Norte extension.
It takes great stretches of the imagination to conclude that wrapping these boulders in a blanket and moving
them during the quiet of the Christmas holidays constitutes “respect.”
“Tragic” might be a more appropriate
descriptor, for Mayor Martin Chávez has desecrated a nationally recognized cultural treasure and religious site in order to save
just 4.5 minutes of commuter time. . ..
“Deceitful” is another good option, for Chávez still has not
explained to taxpayers why he gave up federal funding for this project to avoid conducting an environmental impact
statement.
Rest assured, we will soon see major new cost escalations, like the new bridge over the Piedras Marcadas
Arroyo, done to avoid approval from the Army Corps of Engineers. Let us not forget that Mayor Chávez used to say
that not a single petroglyph would be impacted by the Paseo extension.
The Journal and Mayor Chávez have known for
over a decade the strong opposition to this road by every tribe in New Mexico and the National Congress of American Indians. To use the
word “respect” to describe the very act that desecrated this area is, in a word, appalling.
LAURIE WEAHKEE
Executive director
SAGE Council
Albuquerque
Show Me Your ID and Sign This Loyalty Oath!
Patriot Act for Ohio
On Wednesday, Gov. Bob Taft signed what critics call the Ohio Patriot Act, a package of laws that its
sponsor, Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Butler Twp., said “will put Ohio on the front lines of fighting terrorism.”
Among its provisions,
the legislation, effective in April, will create criminal offenses for terrorism, allow police to require ID to enter a transportation
hub, and prohibit people in public places from refusing to disclose their name, address or date of birth to police when the officer
suspects the person witnessed or is involved in a violent felony.
The bill will also require those seeking state contracts,
employment or some licenses to fill out a questionnaire affirming that they are not involved in terrorism. [mjh: also
known as a “loyalty oath”.]
I had read that there was also a provision to discourage local
governments from expressing their objection to the USA (gag me) PATRIOT Act, as many cities — including Santa Fe — have done. mjh
Ohio Patriot Act
He is a bad version of us!
In Ga., Abramoff Scandal Threatens a Political Ascendancy By
Thomas B. Edsall, Washington Post Staff Writer
One of the most damaging e-mails was sent by Abramoff to partner Michael Scanlon,
complaining about Reed’s billing practices and expenditure claims: “He is a bad version of us! No more money for him.”
…
After Reed first entered national politics as executive director of the Christian Coalition, he described to the Norfolk
Virginian-Pilot his tactics in mobilizing Christian conservatives to sway elections: “I want to be invisible. I do guerrilla warfare. I
paint my face and travel at night. You don’t know it’s over until you’re in a body bag. You don’t know until election night.”
Crushing Our Rights
Protecting Abortion Rights by ELLEN GOODMAN
This is the only
clinic in the state and this is the only day in the week when a woman can get an abortion in South Dakota. Today, they’ll be treated by
one of four doctors flown in from Minneapolis because it’s impossible to recruit locally. …
One clinic, one day, one
doctor. [mjh: for an entire state.] This is what it’s like in South Dakota right now under
Roe v. Wade. It’s also like this in North Dakota and Mississippi, and not very different in Arkansas or a dozen other states.
Anti-abortion lobbyists here boast that South Dakota is the legislative laboratory for testing and imposing state restrictions. …
It goes without saying that South Dakota is one of seven states with a “trigger law” ready to ban abortion if Roe is overturned.
But something else requires saying: it’s possible to add so many burdens onto the back of Roe that it collapses without ever being
overturned. …
But the question is not just whether [Alito would] overturn Roe. It’s whether he’d let it be
crushed. In 10 years, more than 400 state regulations have been added and more are coming. When do burdens that force
women to state-shop for their rights become “undue”?
My Mom
Ohio Patriot Act
How does a law that allow police to arrest you if you don’t show an ID *and* requires a loyalty
oath *and* discourages municipalities from expressing opposition to the USA PATRIOT ACT (a deceitful name) — how does such a law get
passed “with barely a word of dissent”? Because people are scared and legislators are scared of the people. We have nothing to fear but
fear itself. mjh
Politics – New Ohio Law Allows Cops to Request ID
Ohio Republican Gov. Bob Taft on Wednesday signed a bill into law passed by
the state legislature with barely a word of dissent. Supporters of the state’s security measure, which takes effect in 90 days, say
it’s a tool the state can use in fighting terrorism. …
But dissent is building over authority given to police officers, who can
now ask, “What’s your name?” as a tool to fight terrorism. Failure to identify oneself could land an individual in jail.
Critics
call the measure the Ohio Patriot Act. The law also requires those applying for state driver’s licenses to sign a form that they
haven’t supported terrorist organizations.
blog — Let Me See Your ID