by TChris

The man who raped and murdered Michelle Moore-Bosko in Norfolk told the police he acted alone. Despite the absence of physical evidence to the contrary, the police and prosecution pursued four other men, all serving in the Navy. After being threatened with the death penalty, the men confessed. The true killer, Omar Ballard, "changed his tune and supported the gang-rape story -- and authorities spared him the death penalty, too."

Police never seem to have had much evidence of a gang rape -- other than confessions that took place when one suspect after the next was threatened with capital punishment. Indeed, charges had to be dropped against three other sailors who stood their ground and didn't confess. The physical evidence at the scene indicated a single attacker.

Ballard -- whose DNA confirmed his presence at the crime scene -- has now reverted to his original story, admitting that he acted alone. The four convicted sailors say they're innocent, that they were coerced to confess to avoid execution. The state parole board is investigating, but as this editorial suggests, it may take an act of bravery on the part of Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine to set aside these troubling convictions.

by TChris

Curing disease and disability isn't on the president's list of American values, leading to a veto of the stem cell research bill. Of the ten bills that comprise "The American Values Agenda" (crafted by House Republicans to energize a disenchanted base before the midterm elections), only one has passed: a bill that prohibits condominium and homeowner associations from restricting the display of the American flag. The president signed that bill yesterday, showing that he values the federalization of local condo rules more highly than he values your health.

I'm on the road today and tomorrow. Here's a space for you to discuss whatever's on your mind. I'll be checking in periodically, but blogging will be light on my end.

Do our federal prosecutors really need more money? That's what Reps. Henry Waxman and John Conyers think. Here's their letter to Congress.(pdf)

Will there be an equal increase for federal defenders?

White Collar Crime Blog has some thoughts on the matter.

While Hillary was in Denver at the DLC convention, Bill Clinton was in CT stumping for Joe Lieberman. Firedoglake has the details.

New York Magazine has a long article on Lieberman's war to remain a Senator.

Bump and Update (TL): The ABA issued its task force report today. The task force was chaired by Neal Sonnett of Miami. You can access the report here. From the ABA press release:

The task force determined that signing statements that signal the president's intent to disregard laws adopted by Congress undermine the separation of powers by depriving Congress of the opportunity to override a veto, and by shutting off policy debate between the two branches of government. According to the task force, they operate as a "line item veto," which the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional.

Noting that the Constitution is silent about presidential signing statements, the task force found that, while several recent presidents have used them, the frequency of signing statements that challenge laws has escalated substantially, and their purpose has changed dramatically, during the Bush Administration.

Say hello and give a big welcome to the just launched Colorado Media Matters. CEO David Brock and Colorado Editorial Director Bill Menezes explain:

Since May 2004, Media Matters for America has posted more than 5,000 items correcting conservative misinformation in the national media. Now, we bring this mission to Colorado.....While we continue our work at the national level, this week we are launching Colorado Media Matters.

It will replicate in Colorado our proven methods of monitoring and analyzing media reports every day and correcting conservative misinformation in real time. We will keep a watchful eye on Colorado media -- newspapers, television, radio, and the Internet.

Ned Lamont has issued a statement on the Israel-Lebanon conflict. He affirms his support for Israel and criticizes the Bush Administration for its ineffectiveness which he in large part ties to the war in Iraq.

At this critical time in the Middle East, I believe that when Israel's security is threatened, the United States must unambiguously stand with our ally to be sure that it is safe and secure. On this principle, Americans are united.

....Unlike previous administrations - Republican and Democratic - President Bush has embraced the wrong priorities in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ...Let's be clear that Bush emphasized Iraq at the expense of an Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement, and we are reaping the consequences. Just think what the situation could have been if the United States had invested its power, prestige, and resources in a peace settlement. Instead we chose a failed war and stand virtually alone, paying a heavy price for a profoundly failed set of decisions.

His proposal:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has embarked on her trip to the Middle East. To the surprise of many, her first stop was Beirut.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise stop in the besieged Lebanese capital today to try to prop up the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and to reassure Arab allies who have become increasingly impatient with the Israeli bombardment, which has killed close to 400 people, mostly Lebanese civilians.....Besides Mr. Siniora, Ms. Rice was to meet with Shiite members of Lebanon's parliament who have close to ties to Hezbollah, the militant group that is Israel's target, aides said.

The Bush Administration doesn't want a cease-fire now. First, Hezbollah has to be taken down. Israel wants the return of its soldiers and the dismantling of Hezbolla before a cease-fire. Then, it says it may consider a peace-keeping force, something it always has opposed in the past.

Sen. Arlen Specter has an op-ed today in the Washington Post asserting that his bill to fix the problem of warrantless electronic surveillance by the National Securuity Agency is the way to go because it will provide us with "surveillance we can live with."

Many disagree. In fact, as Yale Law Professor Jack Balkin writes, this bill is a capitulation and gives Bush everything he wants.

Specter's bill looks like a moderate and wise compromise that expands the President's authority to engage in electronic surveillance under a variety of Congressional and judicial oversight procedures. But read more closely, it actually turns out to be a virtual blank check to the Executive, because under section 801 of the bill the President can route around every single one of them. Thus, all of the elegant machinery of the bill's oversight provisions is, I regret to report, a complete and total sham. Once the President obtains the powers listed in section 801, the rest of the bill is pretty much irrelevant. He will be free of Congressional oversight forever.

Note, this is Specter's second attempt at a bill. It's a modification of the bill he originally proposed -- modifications he made after closely consulting with the White House and Dick Cheney in particular. The text of this latest bill, introduced on July 14, is here. If you are not into legalese, a summary is here.

If you have a heart condition, diabetes or some other ailment for which you can't make it a few days without medication, be careful about ordering drugs from Canada. As if U.S. Customs doesn't have enough on its plate already, it has embarked on a new program at the Canadian border of seizing packages of prescription medication intended for U.S. patients.

We're not talking about illegal prescriptions here, but legal ones. Since Canada's drug prices are lower than those in the U.S., the pharaceutical companies here and their lobbyists in Congress don't want you to get your hands on them.

Earlier this month, the Senate voted 68-32 to approve an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill that would bar Customs from using federal funds to seize prescription drugs imported by individuals from Canada. The House passed a similar amendment in May. However, it remains unclear whether the amendment will make it into law. Drug-industry lobbyists are expected to push to scrap it when the bill goes to conference in coming weeks. The Bush administration and Republican congressional leaders have supported the industry's stance against Canadian imports.

Saddam Hussein has been on a hunger strike since early this month. He is now hospitalized and is being force-fed.

This is also an open thread on Iraq, where the violence is growing, more people are being killed and the media is focusing almost exclusively on Israel and Lebanon.

Let's also not forget Afghanistan, where the New York Times says we are losing ground.