Out of the virtual office

The Waveflux staff has been called away by duties in the literal world. This sort of thing happens when you have to supplement blogging with outside income. Attendance here should improve later.

MiniBlog: Once again, the streets aren’t safe for Foxy Brown

¶   Foul-mouthed hottie rapper Lil’ Kim celebrates independence a day earlier than the rest of us, will be sprung from hoosegow on July 3.

Message to liberals, lefties, progressives, what have you

The current fundraising quarter for political candidates comes to an end tomorrow. Time to donate even a little love to a candidate of your choice. Come on - they’d do it for you.

The best beer commercial ever

Or best stout commercial, rather. Register, then watch. But if you’re an “intelligent design” adherent, I’m afraid this will be rather wasted on you.

(Thanks to Shakes, who caught it from Mark.)

Technorati Tags: Advertising

Anything to add, Senator Bond?

Rebuked by the Supreme Court

Josh Marshall directs our attention to Marty Lederman at SCOTUSblog, who focuses on what he calls the central element of the Supreme Court’s Guantanamo decision:

Even more importantly for present purposes, the Court held that Common Article 3 of Geneva applies as a matter of treaty obligation to the conflict against Al Qaeda. That is the HUGE part of today’s ruling. The commissions are the least of it. This basically resolves the debate about interrogation techniques, because Common Article 3 provides that detained persons “shall in all circumstances be treated humanely,” and that “[t]o this end,” certain specified acts “are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever”—including “cruel treatment and torture,” and “outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment.” This standard, not limited to the restrictions of the due process clause, is much more restrictive than even the McCain Amendment. [...]

This almost certainly means that the CIA’s interrogation regime is unlawful, and indeed, that many techniques the Administation has been using, such as waterboarding and hypothermia (and others) violate the War Crimes Act (because violations of Common Article 3 are deemed war crimes).

We anxiously await a rebuttal from the pro-torture senator from Missouri (and Senate Intelligence Committee member), Kit Bond. As we’ve noted before, Bond has dutifully and publicly carried the waterboard for the Bush administration by supporting the exemption of the CIA from limits on interrogation tactics.

The rule of law is a real bitch

George Bush’s à la carte approach to the laws governing wartime detainees ran afoul of the Supreme Court today. SCOTUS determined that the president’s plan to try the Guantanamo prisoners under military tribunals of his own devising is unconsitutional. So much for the notion that a wartime executive could simply sideline the judicial branch with claims of ever-expanding authority, or dismiss the Geneva Convention and defendant rights just because they aren’t convenient.

An interesting side note to the story is the gratuitous spin put on it by CNN, which goes out of its way to stress that the SCOTUS judgment “does not affect right to detain terror suspects.” In whose universe was that even an issue? The WaPo didn’t feel the need to add that helpful editorial note. Neither did the New York Times. Does CNN think its readers are so confused that they need help interpreting a straightforward news report? It’s as though the network feels the need to provide talking points for the administration.

Technorati Tags: Guantanamo, Supreme Court

“Taylor Hicks must be stopped”

“Pos-si-bil-i-ties!”

There’s a thread on the P-D’s Cards Talk forum whose sentiment is close to my heart. The heavily-run Ford commercial featuring Hicks on an American Idol-type stage, whirling and shouting and gesticulating to beat the band, has quickly become the most irritating ad in recent memory. It would be bad enough if the commercial appeared infrequently; as it is, you just can’t get away from it. And the rapidity with which the self-styled “Soul Patrol” singer began cashing in on his new-found celebrity doesn’t help. When Hicks shouts “I get what I want,” surely he’s talking about the generous paycheck Ford gave him for his trouble. Nothing wrong with getting paid, but couldn’t Hicks have waited a few months at least before he started shilling?

Of course, Hicks and his commercial do have their admirers:

Reviewing the Ford commercial and the song “Possibilities” written for the promotion, Hicks does a dynamic job, believably belting out the tune. Interestingly, there is some on-line buzz being generated for the song to be recorded outside the bounds of the Ford pitch.

I’m proud to [be] watching the Soul Patrollman ride his wave of destiny.

It’s interesting all right, watching ubiquitous commerical fodder become artistic (nominally) product.

Urgh.

Technorati Tags: Taylor Hicks, Ford, Advertising

Did somebody say “timetable”?

Eleven insurgent groups said the “T-word.”

Eleven Sunni insurgent groups have offered to halt attacks on the U.S.-led military if the Iraqi government and President Bush set a two-year timetable for withdrawing all foreign troops from the country, insurgent and government officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

What are the odds that Bush will reject this out of hand?

Technorati Tags: Iraq

Let’s take a timeout, everybody

Since Condoleezza Rice is currently counseling embattled states, maybe she could spare a moment to have a quick and calming word with Israel? Overflights are all fun and games until somebody loses a eye. Or starts a war.

Technorati Tags: Israel, Syria, Palestinians, Gaza

It logically follows

CNN validates professional gay hater James Dobson by allowing him to provide “commentary” on the media and gay marriage.

What to expect next week? CNN validating former Klan leader David Duke by allowing him to provide “commentary” on race relations?

Technorati Tags: James C. Dobson, Gay Marriage

Next Page »