BRAZEN 10 OCT 07

REPUBLICAN DEBATE FALLOUT: Fred Thompson made his debate debut with the other Republicans last night in Michigan. His answers were concise and conservative. Moderator Chris Matthews of Hardball tried to jam Fred up by asking him to name the Canadian Prime Minister. Thompson knew it (I didn't), but no other candidate was quizzed so specifically. The Washington chattering class acts as if Fred is supposed to come out with a song and dance act. He performed well, if you're looking for a solid, steady conservative in times of trouble. Count Chocula Mitt Romney and Yankee Rudy tried to make the entire debate about which of the two of them had cut taxes more. The question of Presidential authority to conduct military action against Iran without Congressional authorization tripped up Romney when he twice answered with responses saying he would first consult attorneys. Consulting lawyers when the security of the United States is at risk: ridiculous. Lawyers aren't elected to make defense calls, Presidents are. Rudy continues to play six degrees of 9/11 seperation at every opportunity. He also annoyingly mentions the New York Yankees at every turn. To me the Yankees are the example of what is wrong with professional baseball, so that personally gets under my skin. John McCain seemed steady, but he long ago alienated conservatives: distancing himself from the religious right in 2000, driving campaign finance reform, and cosponsoring the most recently rejected amnesty immigration bill. As voters become more aware of the liberal social views of Mitt and Rudy, their support will begin to peel away quickly. That will leave them nowhere to turn but Fred. All Mitt's millions and all Rudy's 9/11 hype will not be able to save them. And isn't it time to eliminate the fringe candidates? The debates could take on a more substantive tone if only four candidates were involved. The others basically have no chance of winning and are grandstanding and wasting everyone's time.
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BUSH SUPPORTING DEATH ROW IMMIGRANT: The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in the case of Jose Medellin, a Texas death row inmate convicted in the rape, beating, and murder of two women. It seems Mexican consulate officials were not informed of his arrest, a violation of the Vienna Treaty on the treatment of foreign nationals. Then the "International Court of Justice" ruled Jose and 51 other condemned Mexican nationals should have a hearing to determine whether the technicality affected their cases. Remember the ICJ is an arm of the United Nations. It is actually a ruse by the Mexican government to save convicted murderers. The state of Texas today properly argued that international bodies have no legal authority over the matter. Hero Justice Antonin Scalia also questioned that authority in today's arguments. " I'm rather jealous of that power, " Scalia said. "I don't know on what basis we can allow some international court to decide what is the responsibility of this court, which is the meaning of United States law." The Court should always reject attempts to incorporate "international law" into American jurisprudence. Neither the ICJ nor any other international body is authorized by the American Constitution, period. Our Republican President is arguing the ruling of the ICJ should be followed because the U.S. is a signatory to the Vienna Treaty. What he's missing is that any treaty attempting to supercede American authority is Constitutionally null and void, with or without consent of the Senate. The Supreme Court is it, there is none higher. We should never relenquish powers to foreign entities.
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JINGOCON