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April 22, 2009

A Lovely Lunch with Jay Bybee

B
ack in the spring of 2003, several of my UNC faculty colleagues and I had a very pleasant lunch with Jay Bybee, who was still at OLC while he awaited confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

How I wish I could turn back the clock so that I could get up and leave.

(It's worth recalling, by the way, that Senator Russ Feingold opposed Bybee's nomination on the ground that the Administration had refused to make available the legal memoranda that Bybee prepared while at OLC. How prescient that objection now seems...)

Posted by Eric at 9:56 AM

April 21, 2009

Warner Brothers on the Second Amendment

T
wo days ago, a U.S. Marine was caught carrying an arsenal of weapons in his luggage through security at Boston's Logan Airport. He was charged with the crime of "possession of an infernal machine."

Boston District Attorney Yosemite Sam had the following to say: "Dagnabit! What in tarnation does a fella need these doggone infernal machines for?!? Blast it all, I'm a-gonna make him pay!!"

Posted by Eric at 1:28 PM

April 17, 2009

"Laying Blame for the Past"

P
resident Obama yesterday on Justice-Department approved torture by CIA agents:
This is a time for reflection, not retribution. I respect the strong views and emotions that these issues evoke. We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history. But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past. Our national greatness is embedded in America's ability to right its course in concert with our core values, and to move forward with confidence. That is why we must resist the forces that divide us, and instead come together on behalf of our common future.
Why is it that we think it right that the South Africans lay blame for the past, and the Argentinians lay blame for the past, and the Austrians lay blame for the past, and the Germans lay blame for the past, and the Russians lay blame for the past, and the Iraqis lay blame for the past ... but not us?

Posted by Eric at 8:34 AM