White House aides not immune from subpoenas, judge says - CNN.com

White House aides not immune from subpoenas, judge says - CNN.com: "But the White House position 'is without any support in case law,' Judge John D. Bates wrote in a 93-page opinion released Thursday.
He said the notion that 'Miers is absolutely immune from compelled congressional process' is 'unprecedented.'"

Wait, the White House is trying to write it's own laws? Who would have thought that. I like this attempted restrain on the power grab by the White House, but I wish it had been years earlier. Maybe there is still some justice to be found.

Tougher codes kept quake damage down - CNN.com

Tougher codes kept quake damage down - CNN.com: "Tuesday's quake 'was located in an area that's been almost completely built since about 1995,' seismologist Lucy Jones told CNN. 'We had major changes in the building codes because of what we learned in Northridge. And the most modern construction is really much, much better to withstand earthquakes than earlier buildings. There weren't many older buildings nearby.'"

Huh. I wonder how hard builders and landlords fought against those tougher building codes, and how many were free market repbulicans.

State allowed criminals to provide child care, audit reveals

State allowed criminals to provide child care, audit reveals

"State oversight of child care providers was so ineffective that 1,900 people who were unsuitable for giving such care, including convicted sex offenders and child abusers, were not identified and prevented from doing so, according to an audit released today. "

So let's cut taxes for the wealthy, we wouldn't want to make sure that this type of activity was adequately funded.

Oh wait, it couldn't affect any of those people who need support to help care for their children, so never mind, who cares about funding this type of program.

Just a few thoughts on Sunday

Just a few thoughts on Sunday. I watched Padraig play an amazing last few holes to win his second straight Open championship. I am glad I wasn't out there playing. I had a hard enough time in some rain on a easy course yesterday.

I played yesterday in an outing benefitting Sand Castles Grief and Loss Program. This program helps children 3-18 to work through the grief of losing a parent. The event was named for someone that had passed away a few years ago and his children really benefitted from the SandCastles services. It was touching to hear the widow talk about the program and how it realy helped her children. All in all a nice event, except for my lack of decent play and the rain.

I am watching the Tigers game now, and wondering why Sheffield is still a starter on this team, although I don't think this team is going anywhere. But I have a do have a question: Why does Jimmy "Two Smokes" Leyland rest more than one starter on given days? I understand the idea of giving rest, but can we spread it around a little better? Verlander is pitching really well. Rodney seemed to do well last night.

I read two things today: new Playboy - some scary articles, and yes I am reading articles. Mickey Edwards (eight term Republican congressmen from Okla) wrote a strong article about the administration fighting to protect the government from the people - by protecting the executive branch from scrutiny by the public and not answering to Congress.

::Tigers update:: Wait, did Leyland just pull Verlander with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth with a four run lead? In a game where Verlander has a bunch of hometown fans who made the 163 mile trip? Are you kidding me? Verlander shook his head in disbelief as he walked off the mound. /::Tigers update::

He gives examples of the signing statements and ignoring Congressional subpeonas. I was not able to find a link to the Playboy forum.

The other thing I was reading was Al Gore's book - Assault on Reason - and he wrote about the same thing, the secrecy of this administration (plus the massive amount of denial of objective information - pretty good book) and how that is destroying the fabric of democracy. Leads me to this thought, the next president should do two things. Fight to re-establish transparency

::Tigers update:: Jones put the first guy on. /::Tigers update::

in our government, go extremely overboard and publish blogs in an automatic fashion instead of classifying everything. This administration made attempts to take things out of the National Archives that have been public for ever.

::Tigers update:: Inge makes a great play at third to save Jones and Leyland. If Inge does not make that stop, Millar has a double, one run at least scores, and Luke Scott has a chance to tie it up. /::Tigers update::

To quote from Chapter 4 - Convienent Untruths

"To head off complaints from our nation's governors over how much they
would receive under federal programs, the Bush administration simply stopped
printing the primary state budget report.
When mass layoffs become too embarrassing, this administration simply
stopped publishing the regular layoff report that econonomists and others have
been receiving for decades.
More than six thousand documents ... removed from governmental Web sites
... one example, a document ... giving citizens crucial information on how to
identify chemical hazards near where their families live."

This is contrary to democracy and the American concept of good government that the founding fathers envisioned. The adminstration is fighting the Freedom of Information Act in anyway they can. Transperancy needs to be a hallmark of the next administration.

My other thought is that the two candidates should come out and say they are going to rescind most of the Bush administration's signing statements, especially those that are unconstitutional. Let's bring checks and balances back to the government.

Later.

One liners on Right wing editorials.

Military lesson: Willpower often wins: "There are lessons aplenty in this story for us today. One is that the kindness of American soldiers -- the candy bombers -- can be a national asset. There are many similar stories out of Iraq and Afghanistan, even if today's media, unlike the media of 1948, are not disposed to tell them."

Slight difference - in 1948, the atrocities in Vietnam had not occured, and in Iraq, they don't want us there, and keep telling us that.

America's military power works -- with little thanks

If we had not gone to unnecessary war in Iraq - we might be able to help a few others, especially in our own country - would Guardsman have been useful in New Orleans and Iowa?

Why English still matters: "But such rhetoric obscures the detail that millions of immigrants do not learn English in part because government accommodation makes it unnecessary. Drop by Little Havana sometime and ask for directions."

Isn't this more a government responding to their constituency?

(Although I do believe in immigrants learning English and assimilating. That is the story of the country (yes, excluding native peoples)).

Thoughts on baseball

Still working at 10:30 pm - been at the office over 13 hours so far. I rock. Waiting for ACL to count through 3.1 million records, plenty of time to post.

Anyway, i listened to the end of the Tigers game, I think I was too harsh on Cabrera and Guillen this seaon, they won it for us tonight, still not sure if this is a playoff team yet.

I went to mlb.com to check the ChiSox score and there was a picture of Carlos Zambrano. I thought, I fear for the mound of the next Miluwalkee/Chicago series if big Z and CC go against each other. That old mound at Wrigley might not make it.

Oop, files done.

Oakland County exec, Windsor mayor back Downriver border crossing

Oakland County exec, Windsor mayor back Downriver border crossing:

Ok, there are several studies that show we need another bridge, and I am sure the construction jobs would be very helpful around here. I have a few thoughts about these comments.

Critics have slammed billion-dollar plans for another bridge to Canada as
expensive and unnecessary. The proposal would force demolition of up to 414
homes in the Delray neighborhood of southwestern Detroit, one of the city's most
hardscrabble and economically ravaged corners. A bridge would uproot as many as
56 businesses that employ 920 people, according to a draft of an environmental
impact study.

If the Delray neighborhood is so "hardscrabble and economically ravaged", wouldn't it be ideal to tear down and put up a bridge? I am sure there are plenty of homes in other parts of the city that might be nicer that are foreclosed or abandoned. The same thing with the businesses, there are plenty of buildings for lease or sale. Move them to other places.

The Detroit River International Crossing, a group of U.S., Canadian,
Michigan and Ontario officials studying the bridge, claims that eventually
traffic will rise along the border and necessitate another crossing.
The group prefers the proposed site in Delray because it would be less intrusive
than an alternative plan closer to the Ambassador Bridge.
The Delray bridge, which would cost between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion, would lead
to the relocation of seven churches and three historic structures, the
report said.

Maybe you could create a new neighborhood by razing some area and combining the struggling residents from a few others that have been decimated in the last 40 years, and moving these churches, historic buildings and businesses to them. If thought out, this could become a great revitalization. Is this harsh and cruel, forcing people to leave homes they have had for their entire lives? Probably, but if we can make the deal a benefit to the people, with a nicer home, more dense, safer, newer neighborhood, it should be a win for everyone.

HUD secretary announces pilot program to reduce foreclosures - Crain's Detroit Business

HUD secretary announces pilot program to reduce foreclosures - Crain's Detroit Business:

The program would stop foreclosures before they happened by creating a
market in which lenders and investors could sell their nonperforming
mortgages.
Preston said HUD would facilitate this sale, transferring the mortgage
loans to joint-venture partners that specialize in foreclosure prevention. The
partners would then be responsible for servicing the loan and helping families
stay in their homes.

I like this plan, since it seems to present a free market method to solving this crisis while letting people stay in their homes. Hopefully there will be sufficient oversight to minimize abuses.