The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (former home to Chief Justice John Roberts) held today that detainees at Guantanamo cannot challenge their detention by filing habeas corpus petitions in U.S. courts.
A Justice Department official hailed the decision, which relied on the Military Commissions Act, which the Republican controlled Congress passed last year before the midterm elections.
Senator Leahy (D-VT), the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is pushing for a law that would restore detainees’ rights. A similar bill was narrowly defeated last year, before Congress changed hands.
Which brings me to the title of this post. I think that until the D.O.J. really starts to promote justice, we shouldn’t call it the D.O.J. Of course its official title is not going to change. And maybe it shouldn’t (and can thus continue to be aspirational). But by labeling the D.O.J. something else (department of torture anyone?) we can call out just how far the federal government has strayed from treating people justly. And have a little fun at at the Attorney General’s expense the same time.
Suggestions? I’d be happy to hear ’em in comments.
(via shakes)
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a bird and a bottle 
New Health Spa Franchise Sweeps the Nation:
My daughter hardly needs a tanning salon. She has lovely olive skin inherited no doubt from her half-Jewish, half-Scottish ancestors. She enjoys health spas and would like to own her own business someday, she says.
So I’ve been looking into the latest health spa fad called “water-boarding.” I have not seen it firsthand but understand it has something to do with taking a “dunk.” I am told it improves respiration, or at least the ability to hold one’s breath under water.
Aromatherapy bath oils improve the experience, especially those new designer fragrances like: Choke, Heave, Spirit of Sanson, and Ephemera Alberto.
I rate this franchise opportunity a “no-brainer” and plan to be the first in my neighborhood to start one. Of course, the Bush and Cheney families will receive free introductory gift certificates to try water-boarding for themselves. To build your base, it helps to have testimonials from influential customers.
Comment by Swampcracker February 20, 2007 @ 4:05 pmOur government invents abuses faster than we can protest against them. Check out the latest (source: NYT).
“Making Martial Law Easier (Published: February 19, 2007).
A disturbing recent phenomenon in Washington is that laws that strike to the heart of American democracy have been passed in the dead of night. So it was with a provision quietly tucked into the enormous defense budget bill at the Bush administration’s behest that makes it easier for a president to override local control of law enforcement and declare martial law.”
Full Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/19/opinion/19mon3.html?em&ex=1172034000&en=a62c4d8c568f28fc&ei=5087
Comment by Swampcracker February 20, 2007 @ 4:33 pmThe Department of Ambitious Disenfranchisement (DAD)
fits well with the patriarchy…
Comment by maxwell February 20, 2007 @ 9:16 pmThe Department of Surveillance and Mire
Comment by professorplum February 21, 2007 @ 5:19 am– or the dept of S&M for short