As a counter-balance, this editor will offer a piece written by Marcy Wheeler (known as emptywheel on line) who has written a book about Plamegate. We_Owe_Karl_Rove_No_Apology explains with some nuance (which some may not appreciate) why there is such concern about the role of Rove in the Plame outing.  Enjoy.

The Framing of Immigration
By George Lakoff and Sam Ferguson

(c) 2006 The Rockridge Institute (We invite the free distribution of this piece)

http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org

As a simple introduction I excerpt below an idea about the use of the phrase "illegal alien" as it is employed to name a group

"Illegal alien" not only stresses criminality, but stresses otherness. As we are a nation of immigrants, we can at least empathize with immigrants, illegal or not. "Aliens," in popular culture suggests nonhuman beings invading from outer space -- completely foreign, not one of us, intent on taking over our land and our way of life by gradually insinuating themselves among us. Along these lines, the word "invasion" is used by the Minutemen and right-wing bloggers to discuss the wave of people crossing the border. Right-wing language experts intent on keeping them out suggest using the world "aliens" whenever possible.

These are NOT neutral terms. Imagine calling businessmen who once cheated on their taxes "illegal businessmen." Imagine calling people who have driven over the speed limit "illegal drivers." Is Tom Delay an "illegal Republican?"

The whole article is in the full story or here

When in the state legislature, there are only two times that matter, legislative time and campaign time.  Time is winding down on the legislative clock and the campaign clock is beginning to tick.  This is the time when legislators make the shift from public policy to reelection policy.

Take for example Representive Jeff Wood's, R-Chippewa Falls, last minute attempt to amend the state constitution.

picture by Universal Studios

As I write this, the news media all across the world is discussing the winners of the 2006 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science Awards, the Oscars. As I review the lists of both winners and nominees in almost all major categories, I realize that almost none (with the exception of Walk The Line--Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and King Kong --special effects and sound editing)  of even the nominees has played at our local movie theater.

The amendment has nothing to do with the religious covenant of marriage. Because of the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution, the government cannot force churches to sanctify gay marriage. Therefore, unlike citizens of theocracies like Iran, we are free to belong to a church that does not sanctify gay marriage. Or to one that does.

So what would the Legislature's "DOMA" amendment do?

The USA PATRIOT Act includes provisions that Alberto Gonzales and the Bush regime want to make permanent - including a provision that allows the FBI to investigate the records of bookstores and libraries.We should be proud of our reading habits, right? And if the government is so curious to know what we consider worth reading - well, why don't we just go ahead and tell them?

State Senator Kapanke is seeking co-sponsors for a bill he authored, LBR4105.  Ostensibly the bill would make Wisconsin methods of counting animal units in line with new federal methods, the reasoning being that this would streamline regulations for CAFO's, more commonly known as factory farms.  In reality it would lower standards for manure management through a complicated and convoluted counting system, which would make the factory farms less accountable for how they handle their huge volume of manure.

Call to Say NO!