By Andrew Kreig
Justice-Integrity Project

Republicans on Capitol Hill this week escalated their attacks on Obama administration for alleged national security leaks, fatal lapses in gun-control and supposed interference with state power to curtail voting fraud lapses. Some Republicans are questioning the integrity of Attorney General Eric Holder, below left, and calling for his resignation.

Democrats are used to relying on the civil liberties community for support in such battles. But here the facts are still largely hidden and Obama officials who have pooh-poohed domestic civil rights issues for most of their administration don’t deserve much support as they withstand attacks, fairly or not, for their own conduct.

Led by Holder, the Obama administration has whitewashed bogus Bush-era political prosecutions in Alabama, New Jersey, North Carolina and elsewhere. Also, it has crushed civil rights protections for torture victims and other detainees and whistleblowers. Further, it has fostered an unprecedented war on news reporters such as James Risen of the New York Times covering such matters. The DOJ’s overall strategy clearly came from high levels at the White House. Why, therefore, should civil rights advocates grieve if Republicans hound Holder and snipe at the White House? Read the rest of this entry »

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By Michael Collins

It’s about time.


John Edwards Trial: Justice Department Drops Case Against Ex-Senator

By MICHAEL BIESECKER 06/13/12 08:44 PM ET AP

RALEIGH, N.C. — Federal prosecutors dropped all charges Wednesday against John Edwards, triggering criticism that the year-long prosecution of the former presidential candidate was a waste of time and taxpayer money.

The U.S. Justice Department said in a court order that it will not seek to retry Edwards on the five unresolved counts.

“Last month, the government put forward its best case against Mr. Edwards, and I am proud of the skilled and professional way in which our prosecutors…. conducted this trial,” he said, adding that he respected the jury’s judgment and decided not to seek a retrial “in the interest of justice.”

How many times have you seen a Discovery ID or other documenarycrime show in which a prosecutor is adamant on the guilt of a convicted murderer who was just proven innocent by reason of DNA testing.

Why is this any different?  Never mind that the Supreme Court’s Citizens United made the charges irrelevant, largely  Never mind that cases against politicians brought by the Federal government against politicians are on a losing streak (see Justice-Integrity Project).

This was a turkey from the start.  That’s all the motivation by the government we need to know now.

The Edwards Prosecution – They have better things to do, June 7,  2011

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By Michael Collins
Somebody released information concerning one of President Barack Obama’s methods for fighting terrorism. (Image)

“Mr. Obama has placed himself at the helm of a top secret nominations process to designate terrorists for kill or capture.  Secret ‘Kill List’ Proves a Test of Obama’s Principles and Will, New York Times, May 29

Republicans are furious.  Sen. John McCain says the White House intentionally leaked the story to make Obama look good.

“Regardless of how politically useful these leaks have been to the administration, they have to stop.”  John McCain, CBS News, June 6

This is the new looking good.  You sit around, eyeball photographs of people you don’t know, about whom there is little information.  You pick a few to be killed, and then it’s lunch time in the West Wing.

There is a bipartisan consensus among political leaders and unquestioning media – it looks good to bump people off.  The financial, political, and media elite are in a free fall decline that does not reflect the people and a decline that is and will be very difficult to stop.

If this is what counts as principles, what is the definition of unprincipled action?

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By Michael Collins
This isn’t new but it’s certainly clear and devastating in its implications. From Paul Craig Roberts last week:

“US banks’ derivative bets of $230 trillion, concentrated in five banks, are 15.3 times larger than the US GDP. A failed political system that allows unregulated banks to place uncovered bets 15 times larger than the US economy is a system that is headed for catastrophic failure. As the word spreads of the fantastic lack of judgment in the American political and financial systems, the catastrophe in waiting will become a reality.” Paul Craig Roberts, Collapse at Hand, June 5

Numerian had a solution for this in 2008:

There needs to be an accounting and a correction – and not by the usual suspects.  Here’s one way to start with derivatives crisis in major institutions:

“If all the top 25 financial institutions were put into receivership, and (big if) if they all could be liquidated under an agreed legal framework, many of these risky contracts could be allowed to offset each other, and much of the risk eliminated.”   Private correspondence, Numerian, The Agonist, Sept. 21, 2008 From   Michael Collins, Meltdown Perpetrators, Sep. 2008

So, how long are we going o be held hostage by the big banks and the uber wealhy?

Roberts solution is clear and in line with Numerians:
Read the rest of this entry »

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