homeland security and local law enforcement

WASHINGTON -- The Homeland Security Department has failed to ensure that local and state law enforcement partners pursue serious criminals and don't misuse their authority while enforcing immigration law, government investigators say.

Dozens of state and local agencies have partnered with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to carry out immigration laws, the domain of the federal government. But ICE, a Homeland Security agency, has not clearly explained that serious criminal offenders, such as drug smugglers, are the target, the Government Accountability Office said in a report obtained by The Associated Press.

The GAO also found that ICE is not properly supervising its local and state partners nor collecting data needed to assess the program, according to the report GAO was to release Wednesday.

I'll repeat - local police should not be charged with Federal responsibilities for which they have inadequate training and funding.

$$$ but no class . . .

Here's former Bear Stearns CEO Jimmy Cayne's view on Fed Chair Timothy Geithner:

"This guy thinks he's got a big d--. He's got nothing, except maybe a boyfriend."

And this:

"You're not an elected officer. You're a clerk. Believe me, you're a clerk. I want to open up on this f---r, that's all I can tell you."

This is according to a book excerpt obtained by the Wall Street Journal. House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street, by William D. Cohan, is to be published in March, 2009 by Doubleday, a division of Random House.

Cayne, who is known for smoking marijuana and for playing in golf tournaments during some of the now-defunct bank's most trying times, is directing this anger at Geithner because of his role in not opening the Fed discount window before Bear Stearns collapsed.

somebody's days may be numbered . . .

It seems that Chairman Michael Steele's campaign spending from his time as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland could cause him some problems.

taliban rivals uniting

This from the UK Guardian sounds ominous.

glad I'm in Houston this morning . . .

A snow-bound White House.

the new Détente?

Perhaps President Bush's plans for a missile defense system in Europe may bear some fruit after all?

words of steele

Oh, RUSH is so BUSH....so UGLY....









omigawd, I've turned into a pumpkin ....

Oh sweet Rushie, sweet Rushie, you're no Bushie.....forgive me....
....give us a kissie pooh....

when must a judge recuse self...

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- Hugh Caperton was born into the coal business, but for more than a decade he has spent more time in a courthouse than in a mine. The complex, intrigue-filled legal tale he will present to the Supreme Court this week was literally enough to spawn a suspense novel, but it boils down to this:

Caperton and his little coal company sued a huge coal company on claims that it unlawfully drove him out of business, and a jury agreed, awarding him $50 million.

That company's chief executive vowed an appeal to the West Virginia Supreme Court -- but first, he spent an unprecedented $3 million to persuade voters to get rid of a justice he didn't like and elect one he did.

That justice provided the decisive vote in overturning Caperton's multimillion-dollar award.

And the case raises profound questions about the way Americans elect their judges, the duty of judges to recuse themselves when the people who bankrolled their campaigns come before them and, even, the very meaning of judicial impartiality.

More . . .

Independence is declared; it must be maintained.

The above quote is from Sam Houston: today is an official state holiday in Texas, it is Texas Independence Day. The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed on March 2, 1836.

tough year

The renowned investor Warren E. Buffett chided himself and the business world at large in his annual letter to shareholders of his holding company on Saturday as he sifted through the wreckage of his worst year in four decades.

Yes, but his company still turned a small profit and continues to buy bargain stock in other companies.