Global warming gets real

Last week's heat wave in SoCal was unusual for it's humidity and duration.
But there was more than that going on. This heat wave was virtually global.

'Greenhouse gas emissions raise the likelihood of heatwaves like this one,” said Dave Griggs, a Met Office representative on the Joint Scientific Committee for the World Climate Research Programme. “By 2040 this will be just an average summer and by 2060 it will be a relatively cool one.”' Heatwave with a global grip

It is happening so fast! Perhaps we can't adapt?

And still there are some who mock Gore for the "Inconvenient Truth".

What will 120 degree summers do to the housing market in Southern California? Hello Seattle!

Exit polls

I just wanted to remind readers that exit polls that are inconsistent with the election results are a red flag for corruption if they happen in eastern Europe but no where else.
You buy that?

Bush diplomacy

Perhaps someday "Bush diplomacy" will be defined as the opposite of diplomacy.
He's really made a mess of it hasn't he?

For an excellent example of "Bush diplomacy" read North Korea Know-Nothingism by Eric Alterman

Views from the right on the Hamdan case

I have read what several of the right wing blogs have to say about the SCOTUS decision on Hamdan (June 29th).

A common gripe is that the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 (DTA) forbade the Supreme Court from reviewing these cases, and that Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution allows Congress to restrict what the Supreme Court may or may not rule on.
here

SCOTUS rejected that argument on the grounds Hamdan was already pending when DTA was enacted, and unless DTA addressed existing cases explicitly, they were excluded from the act.
This was to avoid a more far reaching decision, that would have ruled whether Congress had inadvertently and unconstitutionally suspended the writ of habeas corpus via DTA.

Another argument is that the courts are second guessing the presidents reasonable interpretation of international law.
I believe the courts said (5 to 4) that the president's interpretation is unreasonable on the face of it. So I don't see any traction in that point.
I would hope that everybody agrees that the president is to be held accountable and is not omnipotent?

Attacks on the character of the five is not rational debate. Unfortunately some right wing blogger have nothing better to offer. You guys are emotional worm cans. Please, let you brain do at least some of the work.
here


Others seem to interpret the ruling as invalidating our war on Terror. That's a knee jerk panic reaction. Relax and do your homework.
here, here and here


And many see the ruling for what it is.
here and here

And special kudos here


I suggest the right wing join the left and celebrate this ruling, because it reinforces separation of powers and the rule of law. It is very narrow in scope... and even provides guidance to both Congress and Executive to remedy the situation lawfully.
If you are really wanting Bush to be dictator of America, then, and only then, this ruling would be a setback.

As for the left thinking Bush has been slapped down? No, I don't think so. Although it does reinforce the 2004 decision here that AUMF and Article II do not give Bush a blank check.


Also read Slate for an overview of blogger reactions.