Ray Charles and Betty Carter
“Baby It’s Cold Outside”

The Bush administration, (you know, the people that put CORRUPTION in the word corruption.), are siding with the Justice Department in their attempt to have the SCOTUS toss out a lower court ruling that, ultimately, will hinder investigations into corruption cases within Congress. Specifically, the request arrives from the FBI investigations of disgraced democrat, William Jefferson, of Louisiana.

Gives one pause, doesn’t it? I mean, what if the conservative-leaning, GOP-butt-licking SCOTUS sides with the lower court on this? For the aforementioned cases, and any new charges of corruption that might (or rather, probably will) arise in the near future, would these participants be more likely to “wriggle off the hook”? Something to ponder.

High court asked to review Congress raid

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to toss out a lower court ruling that says the FBI was wrong to raid Democratic Rep. William Jefferson’s office, a decision the Bush administration argues will hinder corruption investigations of Congress.

In an appeal filed this week, government lawyers said that only the nation’s highest court can decide whether the 18-hour raid was an unconstitutional breach of congressional authority or a proper tactic in a lengthy corruption inquiry.

“Only this court can resolve this important question,” the Justice Department wrote in its 28-page appeal, filed Wednesday. “Until it does so, investigations of corruption in the nation’s capital and elsewhere will be seriously and perhaps even fatally stymied.”

If you haven’t heard Natalne Sarkisyan’s story, you can catch it here.

Cigna’s statement:

The family’s “loss is immeasurable, and our thoughts and prayers are with them,” Cigna said in a news release Friday. “We deeply hope that the outpouring of concern, care and love that are being expressed for Nataline’s family help them at this time.”

Gee, what would of helped them is if you had done the right thing in the first place and let her have the liver she needed in order to live. I realize no amount of money will bring back their daughter, but I hope they get millions in this lawsuit.

“Republicans sharply limited Democrats’ influence“?

I think the word they should have used here is ‘annihilated’. And with good reason. If Republicans had maintained their majority in ‘06, there wouldn’t have been much difference this past year. Oh, maybe a lot of time would have been saved on investigations - that ultimately went no where! Sure, Gonzo stepped down. But did that really change anything?

Majority Democrats’ Power Checked by GOP

The look of failure

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats running Congress for the first time in more than a decade faltered at key points this year as they grudgingly passed important bills that many, or even most, of their House members opposed. When Republicans were in charge, they pledged to avoid such a fate.

Republican solidarity also forced House Democrats to abandon a campaign promise to pay for new programs with tax increases or budget cuts, and thereby not resort to new deficit spending.

In the Senate, Republicans repeatedly used their filibuster powers to block or weaken Democratic proposals. Backed by President Bush’s veto threats, the minority party managed to sharply limit the Democrats’ influence on a range of issues throughout the year.

It’s been a whacky week around here. My computer crash landed in the middle of the week. Not fun. Getting ready for Christmas. Trying to keep up with this puppy! She’s either really really smart, or really really dumb. I haven’t figured it out yet. I think I’ll send her to Buck for Christmas. Miss Kitty will love her. ha! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! It’s a cool 50 here this morning. Brrrrrr!!!!!