Hello,

I recently had a comment censored and my account posting privileges revoked at Huffington Post after submitting a single comment. The article concerned Depression, not mainstream politics:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-e-levine/why-i-dont-disease-dep_b_74369.html

My comment questioned the author's use of a NY Times lay article to refute an assertion quoted by another author, a psychiatrist whose quoted work cited peer reviewed studies to support his assertion. For this my comment was not published and my posting privileges suspended.

I've send two emails to the editorial staff at Huffington Post, none of which have been returned. I must now assume this is policy at the site and not a rogue editor.

In positive news, a helicopter co-pilot stood outside on the wing of his Apache helicopter to give room for a severely wounded soldier, who had been waiting 40 minutes for a medivac. This daring decision during a firefight saved the soldier's life. A few choice quotes below the fold:

The ACLU announced today that it considers the current stalemate between the Bush administration and Congress to be a "constitutional crisis", further asserting that congress must "[...]reaffirm itself as an equal branch of government and vote to hold White House officials in contempt for refusing to cooperate with legitimate congressional subpoenas." The press release further states that it is "do-or-die time" and that without further action to restore congressional checks and balances the US risks "[...]a historic moment when it can fight for its rightful place in our Constitution or accept the president’s continued and sweeping claims of supremacy."

I think we all know what that means. Critical outtakes from the press release below the fold. Also: secondary source from UPI.

According to the Washington Post, the Bush Administration is asserting broad executive privilege over congressional attempts to investigate the US Attorney firings. In detail, they claim that the Justice Department may not bring forth contempt charges against an executive official once the President invokes privilege. Further, they argue that the Justice Department may also refuse charges of contempt filed against those who have been granted privilege. This would appear an end-run around all congressional oversight.

"What would convince me not to join [the armed forces]? Well, if I was - like - a really good speaker and all - and, like - stuff like that. That's what convince me not to join. What would convince me to join? Well... if - like - something really big happened." - Student at the Young Republicans Convention on whether he would be willing to join the armed forces for the war he supports.

Text of my letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, below the fold:

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2017639920070620?feedType=RSS

"By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday moved to block President George W. Bush from developing a new generation of atomic warheads, as Democratic and Republican opponents said the administration had not developed an adequate post-Cold War nuclear strategy.

A fiscal 2008 bill funding Department of Energy weapons programs that is moving through the House provided none of Bush's nearly $89 million request for continuing to develop the new warheads over the next few decades at a multibillion-dollar cost."

I haven't been around much, mostly because I got promoted to an interim management position and have been overwhelmed by the additional workload. But I am frustrated. I'm angry. I plain fed up. With the Democratic party.

Last night I watched the Frontline program "Endgame". Truthfully, I was always opposed to the Iraq War. However, once we got in and stuck, I decided to wait and see. Mostly because I think it's horribly wrong and immoral to invade a sovereign nation on pretext, and then never follow up by providing reasonable security for the population. So I decided that once we committed, I might disagree with the initial policy but at least I figured we'd follow through and provide real security.

About two weeks back, the ACLU hosted a one hour long televised debate between ACLU president Nadine Strossen and Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia. C-SPAN has posted a podcast of the debate, however, unfortunately, no written transcript is available. I've hand transcribed about fifteen minutes of the program for my own project, and thought there might be some members who would appreciate the posting of it here. Transcript is below the fold:

OK. So I wrote a diary called FCC Chairman Copps stumps for media diversity. I thought it was a good story so I submitted it to slashdot. It got posted. It is now on the front page of one of the most popular sites on the internet.

Unfortunately, I got the story horribly wrong:

Meet FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

This happens to be FCC Commissioner Michael Copps.