tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post8005647338877012536..comments2023-10-10T05:07:13.577-07:00Comments on En Tequila Es Verdad: Happy Hour DiscursoDana Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00890312745525306991noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-5366808849139715892008-12-10T09:28:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:28:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-66765989798133532892008-12-10T09:05:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:05:00.000-08:00A balanced budget amendment proposal. How convenie...A balanced budget amendment proposal. How convenient now that the Dems are back in power that they want a balanced budget NOW.<BR/><BR/>It's patently ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>I AM for a balanced budget amendment in the future. But to start talking about it at this very moment is the height of foolishness. <BR/><BR/>At the very least we need to clean up the mess left by the last 8 years of shit before we can start talking about a balanced budget.RickUhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16440973897449920438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-9189822400786766012008-12-10T07:12:00.000-08:002008-12-10T07:12:00.000-08:00As Cujo implies, there may be more to the Blagojev...As Cujo implies, there may be more to the Blagojevich arrest than meets the eye: <A HREF="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4617763" REL="nofollow">Yesterday Gov. Rod Blagojevich Attacked Bank of America, Today the Bush DOJ Makes Him Disappear</A><BR/><BR/>Not that this means he is being wrongly accused, or that this is "just how politics is" in Chicago so he's being unfairly singled out, but more that it begs another question: How many other officials are doing the same thing, but are being allowed to get away with it because they're being "team players"?<BR/><BR/>I'd suggest that, along with more transparency in government, we need more transparency into law enforcement. Obviously they can't give a list of people they're investigating (that would be a bit of a tip-off), but at least a list of <I>how many</I> people they currently are investigating, <I>when</I> each investigation started (not too precise, again to avoid tipping anyone off -- perhaps by month), and a general idea of <I>what</I> they're being investigated for.<BR/><BR/>Investigations that remain open for more than some length of time (a year? two years?) should require more intensive explanation. Again, we have to balance the public's need-to-know against the value of the investigation, but I'm sure that a set of rules could be worked out with a little investigation into the procedures generally used and some dialog with the people who conduct them.<BR/><BR/>To give these rules teeth, there should be some penalty attached to prosecuting someone for something for which they weren't already being investigated <I>using evidence uncovered by the investigation</I>, unless there's some connection (e.g. going after someone for bribery and then charging him/her with drug possession wouldn't wash -- unless they can show that the drugs were part of a bribe).<BR/><BR/>If an investigation into Suspected Crime X reveals evidence of Suspected Crime Y, then they should have to officially announce a change in the direction of the investigation (and whoever approves these things should have to approve that new direction).<BR/><BR/>(This is just a first cut at a solution and may be impractical, but the response to an impractical idea for solving a known problem is to come up with a better one.)Woozlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948248776908775080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-89677672089867237432008-12-09T20:56:00.000-08:002008-12-09T20:56:00.000-08:00Until the article reminded me that Patrick Fitzger...Until the article reminded me that Patrick Fitzgerald was the prosecutor here, I was thinking this had to be some kind of setup. No one can be that openly corrupt, right? Obviously not.Cujo359https://www.blogger.com/profile/10385213658828021737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-65111977445756925882008-12-09T19:01:00.000-08:002008-12-09T19:01:00.000-08:00So glad I don't live in Illinois anymore.So glad I don't live in Illinois anymore.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12268407996242055175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6851578517872251953.post-27471709924209952932008-12-09T19:00:00.000-08:002008-12-09T19:00:00.000-08:00Here in Illinois, everyone seems thrilled with the...Here in Illinois, everyone seems thrilled with the latest developments in the Governor situation - he's done an awful lot of damage to state government, universities, etc. We're happy to see him go - we want another Paul Simon, please.Ceuthophilushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07449653104268278363noreply@blogger.com