A new day dawning

Today is the first day of the new Democratic Congress and various folks are covering the day quite well. Americablog was on the Hill and Bob Geiger has some good bits up about the big day for the Dems. Let's just hope they do something after all the promises and tough talk. I still find it rather shocking that, with the introduction of their first 10 bills, the Democratic leadership found a way to ignore the number one item that got them their majority in the first place: Iraq. The stalwart Russ Feingold, however, remains tied firmly to that stake and promises "legislation to establish a timetable to withdraw troops from the civil war" in Iraq. Considering how the Democrats had previously distanced themselves from Feingold's demands for congressional censure of Bush, we'll see how that goes. Perhaps the Dems will now be newly emboldened in the majority. And I am still waiting to hear something from these people about the egregious Military Commissions Act -- aka the torture bill -- something that needs to be repealed immediately before Bush starts designating Congress an "enemy combatant."

Meanwhile, the right wing weird continue their program of grave intonation and over-blown petulance with the inimitable Pat 'take him out" Robertson warning America that imminent "mass killing" is in our future, having been told by God that this will assuredly happen. Despite having been informed by the Lord that millions will die in major cities -- sometime after September -- there was a bright side to the dire warning:

The Lord didn't say nuclear.

So, not all bad.

Pat Robertson imagining
the prospect of 'millions dead'

With the Democrats sure to exact their treasonous agenda, screaming right wing radio wacko, Hal Turner, has drawn up an "assassination schedule" for Congress if they decide to give immigrants a break (all caps, of course, 'cause he's spittin' mad).

ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO INTRODUCES, CO-SPONSORS OR VOTES IN FAVOR OF ANY SUCH AMNESTY WILL BE DECLARED A DOMESTIC ENEMY AND WILL BE CONSIDERED A LEGITIMATE TARGET FOR ASSASSINATION.

Even some listeners were rather appalled by this and one claimed to have forwarded this seeming threat to the FBI. Turner dismisses this, asserting that his rhetoric was perfectly legal, that he made no direct threats and that these bumpkins simply don't understand the subtleties of the law. Lest one think that this might be Turner's first crazed on-air rant, rest assured he tells us, listeners have been warning the FBI about him for sometime. And he is not afraid.

The FBI has been receiving reports about me from morons like you for six years. I'm still here.

Hal Turner, prince among men.

Of course, the introduction of a new Congress -- or even the dawn of a new day -- wouldn't be complete without news that George Bush has claimed "new sweeping powers," this time by issuing a signing statement with the latest postal reform bill. Postal reformers probably didn't have in mind presidential authority to open and read US mail without a warrant, but George Bush claims to have that power now.

President Bush has quietly claimed sweeping new powers to open Americans' mail without a judge's warrant, the Daily News has learned.

The President asserted his new authority when he signed a postal reform bill into law on Dec. 20. Bush then issued a "signing statement" that declared his right to open people's mail under emergency conditions.

Well, Congress, it looks like you've got your work cut out for you.