Catch Them If You Can

Apparently there is no "Know Your Donor" rule at Team Obama:

Obama to Return Major Donations Tied to Fugitive

By MIKE McINTIRE

Two American brothers of a Mexican casino magnate who fled drug and fraud charges in the United States and has been seeking a pardon enabling him to return have emerged as major fund-raisers and donors for President Obama’s re-election campaign.

The casino owner, Juan Jose Rojas Cardona, known as Pepe, jumped bail in Iowa in 1994 and disappeared, and has since been linked to violence and corruption in Mexico. A State Department cable in 2009 said he was suspected of orchestrating the assassination of a business rival and making illegal campaign donations to Mexican officials.

When The New York Times asked the Obama campaign early Monday about the Cardonas, officials said they were unaware of the brother in Mexico. Later in the day, the campaign said it was refunding the money raised by the family, which totaled more than $200,000.

...“On the basis of the questions that have been raised, we will return the contributions from these individuals and from any other donors they brought to the campaign,” said Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for the Obama campaign.

Uhh, why weren't these questions raised by the campaign?

On Monday, Democratic fund-raisers who have had encounters with Alberto and Carlos Cardona expressed surprise upon learning about their family history. Manuel Sanchez, a Chicago lawyer who is deeply involved in Latino outreach for the Obama administration, said he first met them in December at a finance committee meeting for the president’s campaign in Washington.

He said he had been told that they were involved in “marketing and advertising.” They impressed him as “very smart young guys who wanted to support the president,” he said.

“I did get the distinct impression that both of them are very well-to-do and successful in their businesses,” Mr. Sanchez said, adding that he “had no idea” they had a brother in Mexico or what his background was.

Surprised by their family history?  I am not paid to vet unknown donors, but a simple Google search (taking out the current stories about donors and Obama) kicked back the result below; results two and three might have prompted the suspicions even of non-Spanish speakers:

My reaction is that "siniestra" sounds sinister and "corrupcion" doesn't look good.  One wonders why no one took a closer look.  Oh, not really.  And does the timing work?  I am trusting the Times on this:

The first campaign donations by Alberto and Carlos Cardona came shortly after news articles revealing Pepe Cardona’s criminal past appeared in the United States and Mexico last fall.

Apparently Team Obama will take money from anyone and then apologize if the media or diligent Republican sleuths catch them at it.  As to the media, well, the Times is getting their balance in early - there is no way they run this story after June, unless the "Gotcha" applies to a Republican.

Comments

[Clarice]

You don't suppose this explains F & F do you? Have the Obama campaign workers fiddled with the website donor info again yet?

[narciso]

In that continuing 'Duke and Duke' investment scheme, known as Newsweek they rate DEA informants against the Sinaloa cartel's rivals, as t he reason for their rise to prominence, as much as the Bulger formula applies, I don't think that is.

So a fugitive, like Al Samarrai, a middleman
like Auchi, nothing to see here.

[bgates]

I think it's shameful that someone with known ties to drugs, illegal campaign contributions, and political violence in Mexico would have money donated to him by these Cardonas characters.

[rse]

You know if you think about those Super Bowl commercials through the template that Big Business has been told we have shifted to a Corporatist economic system and BO is the leader. And if he's not reelected their Five Year Plans, I mean Business Plans, are in jeopardy. And thus the bonuses they are counting on.

It sure does fit.

[Melinda Romanoff]

None better, I tell you.

None better.

[Neo]

July 2008:

"As President, I will pursue a tough, smart and principled national security strategy -- one that recognizes that we have interests not just in Baghdad, but in Kandahar and Karachi, in Tokyo and London, in Beijing and Berlin," he continued. "I will focus this strategy on five goals essential to making America safer: ending the war in Iraq responsibly; finishing the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban; securing all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states; achieving true energy security; and rebuilding our alliances to meet the challenges of the 21st century."

Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis tells us that the Afghan War has evolved into a failure of epic proportions.

[jimmyk]

Since we're going off topic, the Times has created a kerfuffle with a silly article by Adam Liptak about how the U.S. Constitution (being more than 100 years old and all) is no longer in vogue as a model for other countries' constitutions. In describing how relatively few rights it guarantees (no right to affirmative action!), he seems blissfully unaware that its point was to enumerate (and thereby limit) the powers of the government. Which is why, of course, we are still relatively free compared to lots of other countries that have more "rights."

[Janet]

Speaking of our military in Afghanistan...If anyone is in the DC area this weekend -

WIA (wounded in action ministry) is having a "Come and Go" Baby Shower for the young widow of a service member who recently died after being shot in Afghanistan -

Sunday - FEB 12th
2 PM to 4 PM
McLean Bible Church Tysons Campus
8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA
in The Rock Lounge
Thank you for the wonderful offers of support for this military widow who is due to give birth to a baby daughter on March 2nd. Many of you wrote in and asked how you could help this young woman left behind with a 2-yr. old daughter and a baby on the way. Please come and join us this Sunday in "The Rock Lounge" at MBC Tysons to shower this family with Christ's love and baby items.

[centralcal]

A new bookmark for everyone - The Washington Free Beacon - Combat Journalism (man, do I love the sound of that!). Editor, Matthew Continetti explains:

What would happen, though, if a website covered the left in the same way that the left covers the right? What picture of the world would one have in mind if the morning paper read like the New York Times—but with the subjects of the stories and the assumptions built into the text changed to reflect a conservative, not liberal, worldview? What would happen if the media wolf pack suddenly had to worry about an aerial hunting operation?

You are about to find out. The Washington Free Beacon is here to enter the arena of combat journalism. Our talented staff will add to the chorus of enterprising conservative reporters, publishing original stories, seeking out scoops, and focusing on the myriad connections between money and power in the progressive movement and Obama’s Washington. Our research and war room divisions will supplement that reporting with context, additional materials, and breaking video. At the Beacon, you will find the other half of the story, the half that the elite media have taken such pains to ignore: the inside deals, cronyism cloaked in the public interest, and far-out nostrums of contemporary progressivism and the Democratic Party. At the Beacon, all friends of freedom will find an alternative to the hackneyed spin, routine misstatements, paranoid hyperbole, and insipid folderol of Democratic officials and the liberal gasbags on MSNBC and talk radio. At the Beacon, we follow only one commandment: Do unto them.

Janet, I think you will like this news site.

[Porchlight]

I like Matthew Continetti. Good luck to him.

[MarkO]

For me, the less attention the country pays to the NYT, the better for the country.

I would like to see conservatives take over more media outlets, like NBC, but for all the supposed money in the hands of conservatives, it doesn't happen. Why?

[NK]

Please! we wonder about 'Bam taking $200K from nephews of a Mexican crook and drug dealer? "Bam/Holder walked 2000 weapons to Mexican gangsters so people would be killed in Mexico and mexican enclaves in the USA, to justify more gun laws restricting law abiding US gun dealers. And we expect 'Bam to vette money bundlers? Please. 'Bam and his crew are lawless: they justify anything and everything as being for "the cause". Anyways, 'Bam needs the money. He's falling way short of donors to his campaign because the presidency brings scrutiny. so he's pushing the more lax superPAC money now. That will be a huge slush fund come August.

[Ranger]

Well, another "community organizer" president just went down:

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed resigns amid unrest

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has resigned after weeks of demonstrations and a mutiny by some police officers.

Why do I call him a "community organizer" you ask?

Mr Nasheed was elected on a wave of optimism in 2008, in the islands' first multi-party election.

Mr Nasheed, a former human rights campaigner...

But apparently, he turned a lot of the population off pretty quickly...

Since then, correspondents say, the country has been gripped by constitutional gridlock - parties opposed to the president have dominated parliament since general elections the following year.

And the Beeb is obviously sorry to see him go...

A one-time political prisoner, Mr Nasheed became a vocal figure in office on issues relating to the environment and climate change.

But he has faced constant opposition - from those loyal to former President Gayoom and from religious conservatives who accuse him of being anti-Islamic, says the BBC's South Asia analyst Jill McGivering.

See, he was one of the "good guys," and those reactionaries took him out.

[Danube of Thought]

Quien es mas macho?

[Appalled]

Observation 1 -- There is no evidence that the brothers giving money to Obama's campaign are tied up with the drug lord. If the brothers simply went out and bought ads with their own cash, the New York Times (or Fox news) would not ask the brothers where the money came from. As long as the brothers are citizens, I do not see the issue with the donation of cash. Of course, should the Obama administration fail to persue the drug lord, or should the President pardon the guy, there is a story.

Observation 2 -- Like the Combat Journalism site. Frankly, most stories are broken because somebody has an axe to grind. Hope they do well and the Koch Brothers are generous.

Observation 3 -- Most other democracies do not emulate our system, and it's fair to point that ours in an NYT article. But then, our system works better in a lot of ways and, while not immune from insane anti-democratic bureaucracises, is at least no worse than most modern democracies in that respect. Plus, the rights enshrined in the constitution tend to be more for the individual, than for than the group, which is a better protection against tyranny.

[Neo]

I'm sure the Obama campaign officials saw nothing wrong with taking money from "Pepe" (wasn't that the name of the pickup truck owned by the druglord in "Romancing the Stone" ?).

[Sheriff Joe Biden]

Pepe-Oh that French skunk! Sure we'll cash that check.

[Ranger]

Well, it looks like the Greeks are about to get the old "Don't let the door hit you in the assets" treatment:

Greece exit would not end euro, says EU commissioner

"What's a man overboard?" Mrs Kroes told the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant. "It's always said that if you let one country get out, or ask it to get out, then the whole structure collapses. But that's simply not true.

"The Greeks have to realise that we Dutch and we Germans can only sell emergency Greek aid to our taxpayers if there's evidence of good will."

And there is always the eternal optomist to quote:

A similar message was delivered with a more optimistic spin by Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the "eurogroup" of eurozone finance ministers, who said he had no doubt that Greece would remain within the eurozone, provided that it met its obligations to other members.

"The euro will outlive us all," he said.

I think that final statement goes under the heading of "famous last words."

[NK]

Ugh-- the point of the story is that the evidence indicates is that Pepe is laundering money through his nephews to buy a pardon of Federal and Iowa crimes. I'd say 'Bam giving back the $200K in order to make this story go away substantiates the evidence. Does anyone on the Left even care about facts?

[Sue]

I do not see the issue with the donation of cash

Someone besides us saw the issue because they returned the money.

[Danube of Thought]

Ever since I studied constitutional law I have been convinced that it is necessarily unique to this country, for reasons having to do with our pre-revolutionary history. I think it would be nearly impossible even to attempt it, for example, in any place with no history of English common law.

[Clarice]

I think so, too, but I think Greece's leaving it will not sink the Euro.

If Greece leaves, the drachma will be pegged by the market--much lower than it now is--and that may attract tourists and eventually buyers and investors/
If Greece leaves, it may encourage other debtor nations to follow suit. And I don't think that's a bad thing.

Italian commerce is just about completely under the radar anyway. Spain can sing and dance on its own pesos, not German labor, etc. etc. etc.

[matt]

we're in the best of hands!

If you recall, there was a huge stink about Obama's campaign funding in the last election. $750 million, all of it privately raised with no FEC oversight.

In fact, the FEC said it had no authority to investigate contributions form among others, M Mouse (many), E Fudd, J Stalin, etc....

They may or may not have declined donations from A. Hilter.

[Danube of Thought]

Minus 10 at Raz today.

[henry]

The GAB has ratcheted "non-partisan" up to eleven- GAB will not accept challenges to petition signatures from Tea Party efforts. The head of the GAB avoids accountability, "There is no recognized process for intervention by non-parties," director Kevin Kennedy wrote. "Given the unprecedented nature of these recall efforts, it would be improper to change procedures in the midst of our review." Dueling courts to follow, with Waukesha backing the Tea Party and Dane appeals continuing its own hackery.

[Sheriff Joe Biden]

Two American brothers of a Mexican casino magnate who fled drug and fraud charges in the United States and has been seeking a pardon enabling him to return...

Yep, they wouldn't know a thing. And man that Pepe is something with the ladies.

[Neo]

i·ro·ny
1    /ˈaɪrəni, ˈaɪər-/ Show Spelled[ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er-]
noun, plural -nies.
1. the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning

I'm sure that Un-FairCampaign.org missed the irony of their racist sign.

it's hard to see racism when you're white

[MarkO]

Yo soy mas macho. Y tu?

Minus 10? He can't win, then, can he?

[Clarice]

A friend told me the Italians recently raided hotels and restaurants in fancy resort areas, had forensic accountants examine the receipts and books and compared them with receipts reported to the govt on the same days one year earlier--they found out (surprise) that the receipts reported were 25% of what current tallies showed these outfits took in a year later.

[NK]

Ranger-- you are correct -- Hello Complete Greek default (they can't even carry government 'services' on their revenue, much less the debt service) Hello Drachma, good bye Euro, and we are down to the PIIS. Greece will devalue the Drachma to about 100/1 Euro/Drachma, there will be turmoil, but it will also lead to a tourism and agriculture boom that will lead to real economic growth which is at the root of all of the PIIGS problems. Point is, when Spain, Portugal, Ireland and even Italy see what Greece is doing why do they stay in the EuroZone? Why do they stay in? Well German and French bankers love the interest they make off of the PIIGS sovereign bonds. Greek socialist politician stay in because selling these bonds keeps them and their government worker supporters employed. The people will figure this out soon enough. There will be a EuroZone for Germany, Holland, France, Austria-- that's about it.

[Old Lurker]

Rick is our resident expert on the cash economy of Italy...

[Appalled]

Sue:

Someone besides us saw the issue because they returned the money.

It's politically embarassing, and it makes the Prez look bad, if he can't catch the drug lord. I understand the appearences part of things. These guys would have been smarter to give the money to a SuperPac.

My own, quirky I'm sure, opinion is that money is free speech, and everyone has a right to engage in it in this country. Persuading the 1%, after all, is part of governing.

[Ranger]

I would also say that it is important to remember that a large number of the people who designed the American Constitutional system were decendants of people who were trying to escape a democratic system that was in many ways a tyranny of the masses (at least the voting masses). They were just as affraid of the power of Parliament as they were the power of the King.

[Sue]

Minus 10 at Raz today.

I think I'm going to go over to Ace's and join the "Doom" gang. ::sigh::

[Captain Hate]

Malor has started a nice food fight @ AoS by linking LI and pre-emptively blaming the Tea Party for not getting in line behind Willard.

[Sue]

It's politically embarassing,

I'm sure they were embarrassed. That they got caught.

[Ranger]

These guys would have been smarter to give the money to a SuperPac.

Ah, but then they wouldn't have gotten access when it came time to ask for the pardon again.

Do we really need to go over the Clinton/Holder pardons again to refresh your memory of how this works when there is a Dem in the White House?

Putting Holder in as AG was like putting an "open for business" sign in the Pardon for Pay shop window.

[Sue]

LOL. Ann Compton, ABC News Radio, just reported that although Obama "loathes" (you had to hear how she said the word loathes, emphasizing just how much Obama loathes)super pacs, he is now being forced to use them because he realizes that rivals super pacs will be coming after him.

[Appalled]

Ranger:

The best way to handle this crap is publicize the link of donations to favors, not pass laws attempting to ban things, which has the perverse effect of making such arrangements far harder to see, and a giant legal game.

[A Casual Observation]

A vote for Romney in a primary will be a vote for Obama's reelection and socialism.

[Captain Hate]

If Il Douche gets run in November and Stedman is still in place, the pardons next January will make Slick's seem to have possessed the wisdom of Solomon.

[matt]

I think perhaps the most effective campaign would be "This is what he said. This is what he did."

The Drudge headline is about Obama's reversal of his decision on PAC money.

[Ranger]

Appalled,

I don't recall asking for any new laws. Just pointing out why they gave to the campaign, not a super PAC.

[A Casual Observation]

For the primary in California, Newt should petition the court for a change of venue.

[Appalled]

For the primary in California, Newt should petition the court for a change of venue.

Hey, if Newt wants to go run for President of Chile, I'll support that effort.

[narciso]

Well of course, really Markinson have you learned nothing in four years;

https://twitter.com/#!/jmartpolitico/status/166885314277810178

[Clarice]

" he is now being forced to use them because he realizes that rivals super pacs will be coming after him"
Shows you the wi and Wisdom of McCain who stuck with public campaign financing after Obama went back on his word and canned that stupid idea..

[Jack is Back!]

Regarding our constitution and whether it fits all sizes:

I recently read online a wonderful essay (which I'll try to find) on how Simon Bolivar tried to use our Constitution as a basis of installing democratic institutions in Venezuela and across Latin America. He tried in vain and couldn't make it work. Why?

The people. They were not the same with the same motivation, the same culture, political philosophy as that of our colonies. After all, our's was a War of Independence not revolution.

Probably in a way Ginsburg is right but for the wrong reason. The Egyptian people are not the same as the colonial American's in their motivations and outlooks.

[Clarice]

**Wit and wisdom**

[narciso]

No, Ginsburg is a fool, regardless, haven't the last 60 years since the '52 coup, tough
that 'positive rights' are a mug's game.

http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2012/02/07/huffpo-catholics-need-to-just-forget-2000-years-of-church-doctrine-because-people-have-sex/

[Threadkiller]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-07/google-removes-search-youtube-content-from-india-domains-on-court-order.html

“The order follows a civil complaint filed by Mufti Aijaz Arshad Quasmi, an Indian activist who seeks the removal of videos and images that could be seen as offensive to Muslims, his lawyer Santosh Pandey said today.”

Only beheadings and beatings will be seen on YouTube.

[A Casual Observation]

When viewing Romney's popularity, one has to ask at what point did there become as many Democrats in the Republican Party as there are in the Democrat Party?

[PDinDetroit]

Another take on Clint Eastwood's "Halftime in America" TV Ad at LUN.

[Danube of Thought]

A vote for Romney in a primary will be a vote for Obama's reelection and socialism

I'd welcome a suggestion for an alternative to Romney.

[narciso]

Other than those details, they told the truth;

http://www.pagunblog.com/2012/02/06/count-the-lies/

[A Casual Observation]

No, you wouldn't.

[narciso]

Between him, and Milbank, and Wiesberg, the skepticism of Elis are merited, also McCarry's
Shelley's Heart was disturbingly prophetic on that score, more than 15 years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Liptak

[narciso]

Yes, I know they are exceptions,

[Appalled]

When viewing Romney's popularity, one has to ask at what point did there become as many Democrats in the Republican Party as there are in the Democrat Party?

Gee, there, Casual. When everyone is a RINO, I mean is there really a Republican Party? Quite the existential conundrum, isn't it?

[NK]

Well Drudge is really hammering 'Bam's hypocrisy on SuperPacs, Feingold's pissed as well. Feingold is a rare honest liberal, a fool of course, but rare honest liberal.In other news, turns out Holder is smarter and sneakier than I believed -- andthat's not a god thing. Holder clearly set up plausible deniability in walking guns to Mexican gangs. So says the former Tuscon DEA boss. Even I have a hard time believing that the Obamaniacs put their political goals above the slaughter of innocents -- but that's exactly what they did. Here's the link: http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/07/former-tucson-dea-head-holder-either-knew-of-gun-walking-or-was-willfully-unaware/

[Danube of Thought]

No, you wouldn't

Of course I would. I want to see how dumb you are.

[A Casual Observation]

Appalled, I'm trying, I'm really trying to be dazzled by your rationale.

[Danube of Thought]

Via Drudge, the delightful Gore-Olbermann saga.

[MarkO]

Whatever else one might consider, the contrast between any GOP president and Obama is stark.

[Threadkiller]

Normally I would wait to see mustang hanging out here before I posted something like this, but it would not be fair to Ig, DoT, Soylent, PD, Mel and anyone else who shares one of my passions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAvYQSsGdMw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[jimmyk]

Most other democracies do not emulate our system, and it's fair to point that ours in an NYT article.

I wasn't objecting to that, just to the "analysis" that misses the elephant in the room. Ranking constitutions by how many rights they enumerate is idiotic when, for example, our 9th Amendment says: "The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

MarkO, I always hesitate to bring up the NYT, but sometimes it's a good window into how the elites think about things.

[Ranger]

Hmmmm... The BBC is flashing that all of the Gulf States, including SA are closing thier embasies and recalling their entire diplomatic staffs. No details or confirmation, but that would seem a rather significant development. It seems that the Russians may have overplayed their hand here:

Syria crisis: Russia 'wants Arab League role'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for a solution to the crisis in Syria based on initiatives put forward by the Arab League.

The military tide is clearly with Assad at the moment, but the diplomatic tide has decidedly turned against him.

[A Casual Observation]

Are you suggesting, MarkO, that there would be a stark contrast between Barack Obama and Mitt "Obama-lite" Romney?

[jimmyk]

Also, it seems not to occur to these geniuses when they refer to the "idiosyncratic" right to bear arms, that that right may be one of the reasons that, in Scalia's words, our rights are not just "words on paper," but actually have resulted in a good measure of freedom.

[Appalled]

Appalled, I'm trying, I'm really trying to be dazzled by your rationale.

Don't try so hard. If you want to be a parody of a GOP partisan commentator, you should make it seem effortless.

[Ranger]

Ok, here is the updated story:

Syria crisis: Gulf Arab states expel Syrian ambassadors

Gulf Arab states say they are expelling Syrian ambassadors in their countries and recalling their envoys from Syria.

The Gulf Cooperation Council said Syria had rejected Arab attempts to solve the crisis and end 11 months of bloodshed.

Pretty stiff stuff at the diplomatic level. It would be hard for the GCC countries to back down from this as long as Assad is in power.

The GCC is calling for all other Arab countries to do the same. Looks like this is turning into a real proxy fight between the GCC and Iran. Turkey seems to be taking this as an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with the Gulf States as well, backing them against Assad and Iran's interests.

[Ranger]

Also, it seems not to occur to these geniuses when they refer to the "idiosyncratic" right to bear arms, that that right may be one of the reasons that, in Scalia's words, our rights are not just "words on paper," but actually have resulted in a good measure of freedom.

Well, the only way the people can truely be soveriegn is if the people are armed, independent of the state's direct control.

[Danube of Thought]

"...there would be a stark contrast between Barack Obama and Mitt 'Obama-lite' Romney?"

Anyone who actually doubts it should consider, for starters, the federal judiciary.

[Captain Hate]

Dear God, DoT, I don't think Iowahawk can come up with anything funnier than that link:

Olbermann is the cornerstone of this strategy. The plan calls for him to anchor Countdown nightly and to be the face of the network for all election coverage and special reports. Though he’s a ghost in Current’s West Coast offices, his spirit suffuses the place. Uygur, who considers him a mentor, describes MSNBC as “the house Olbermann built.” Granholm calls him “the Walt Whitman of political writing.”

[Clarice]

On PJM "Flaming Liberal" uses my post on the Catholic rebellion to attack the Catholics.

Wait till he sees the other religious groups which are joining in the rebellion.http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/02/07/other-religions-join-catholics-in-beating-back-obamacare-overreach/

[centralcal]

More liberal news coming to a cable channel near you (perhaps):

Fifteen years after exploring the idea of a 24-hour news channel, ABC News may soon find itself back in the cable game. The Wall Street Journal is reporting ABC’s parent The Walt Disney Co. and Univision Communications Inc. are in talks to create an English language news channel… and it could be launched before the November elections.

[Jane]

All you need to know DOT is that "A Casual Observer" is an Obama lover.

[Danube of Thought]

After a suitable time spent pondering the federal judiciary, focus next on the Justice Department.

[MarkO]

"All you need to know DOT is that "A Casual Observer" is an Obama lover."

Right. But, that fish in a barrel thing is so tempting. It's just target practice.

[Danube of Thought]

Gotta get me one a them, TK. Maybe two.

[Threadkiller]

From the letter from Attorney Mark Hatfield to Georgia

Secretary of State Brian P. Kemp, February 7, 2012.

“Dear Secretary Kemp:

As you are aware, Administrative Law Judge Michael Malihi issued a “Decision” in the above-referenced matters on this past Friday, February 3, 2012, holding Defendant Barack Obama eligible as a candidate for the presidential primary election. Because you are now charged, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 21-2-5(c), with making a final determination of Defendant Obama’s eligibility to appear on the ballot in Georgia, I am writing to respectfully point out several significant flaws in Judge Malihi’s findings and conclusions.

Initially, I would note that although Judge Malihi ordered my clients’ cases severed, as a unit, from the cases of Plaintiffs Welden; Farrar; Lax; Judy; Malaren; and Roth, and although Judge Malihi conducted a separate hearing as to my clients’ cases as requested, he nevertheless erroneously issued a single “Decision” applicable to all of the Plaintiffs’ cases, despite the fact that the evidence; testimony; and legal argument advanced by my clients differed from that offered by the other Plaintiffs."

http://www.art2superpac.com/UserFiles/file/Powell-SwenssonvObamaAttorneyHatfieldLetterBrieftoGeorgiaSecretaryofStateRegardingDecisionbyJudgeMichaelMalihi2-7-2012.pdf

I will not wreck this thread, I promise. I have only one question. Should the judge have issued separate decisions? Is he required to do so after severing the trials?

(Ok, two questions)

[jimmyk]

After a suitable time spent pondering the federal judiciary, focus next on the Justice Department.

Just try to avert your eyes from Treasury and Commerce, where Mr. "let's raise the minimum wage" and "the auto industry is a success story" might be not so different from the current occupant.

[A Casual Observation]

Yeah, right, Romney has a history of appointing conservative judges. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Oops, (Ahem), sorry, I lost it there for a minute. he he he

Au contaire, blowhard, the evidence refutes your usual bullshit.

www.wnd.com/2012/01/romney-judicial-record-liberals-running-wild

www.amycontrada.com/Romney_s_Judiciary.html

www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2808483/posts

^And that's just for starters.^

Romney [consistently] oversaw the appointments of feminists, gay activists and other liberal activist judges when he was one of Massachusett's most liberal governors.

You don't know squat about issues that you raise here. Squaredance was being kind when he said that you are "obtuse".

[Sue]

A "large" republican pac has been slamming Obama. A "smaller" democratic pac has been trying to hit back. Now Obama has authorized...

That is what ABC News just reported.

[MaryD]

Clarice, you've been nothing less than heroic in keeping the Obamacare war on the Catholic Church (and religious freedom) front and center. Many,many thanks!

[A Casual Observation]

Jane, fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life.

[MarkO]

The more information out there about Obama, the better. Last time, that sweet little Senator was just so nice to Obama.

All in. All in.

[narciso]

The counterparts to the fine Mr. Freeman;

http://freebeacon.com/chinese-government-influencing-policy-through-ex-military-officials/

[glasater]

If anyone missed Santelli's closing worry on what is going on in Germany, below is the headline:

http://news.yahoo.com/german-industrial-output-down-2-9-pct-december-112932365.html

[Danube of Thought]

Suffice it to say that Romney would never have appointed Sotomayor or Kagan.

TK, I would have expected separate decisions, but in any event the one he wrote applies directly to Hatfield's case. I have only read the decision once, but as I recall he didn't even address some of Orly's stuff, e.g. the SS number.

[Jim,MtnViewCA,USA]

"...one has to ask at what point did there become as many Democrats in the Republican Party as there are in the Democrat Party?"

"When everyone is a RINO, I mean is there really a Republican Party?"

Ummm, is there anyone here who does NOT know a former Repub who is now registered independent?
Wasn't Clinton given the Presidency and both houses of Congress?
Wasn't W given the same?
And Obama?

When history is written, it may be apparent that the People were casting around for actual, you know, solutions. While the 2 major parties continued with the same-old/same-old.
It would not be a total surprise if one or both of them went onto the scrap heap of history, would it?

[Clarice]

Nothin heroic about it. I nose for news says it's a big deal and the MSM is ignoring it.

ACO,Jane is none of those things so your comment is both rude and inexplicable.

[Benjamin Franklin]

"(Ok, two questions)"

There oughta be a pic of TK next to the Websters def for
'persistance'.

Alas. Persistance can be overextended and become a vice, instead of a virtue

[Ranger]

Now Obama has authorized...

Hmmmm... That would appear to be a violation of campaign finance laws. It was my understanding that candidates are not allowed to co-ordinate, let alone "authorize" any spending by an outside organization, nor co-ordinate any activities.

[MarkO]

"Persistance can be overextended and become a vice, instead of a virtue"

Ben-Dana is so self-aware.

[Sue]

You would never find it if you looked for persistance. Just sayin'...

[Sue]

Ranger,

I stopped before I finished the sentence. He has authorized people close to him to attend fund raisers, or something like that.

[Clarice]

Bob Kerrey is not going to run for the seat Nebraska Senator Nelson is vacating..

[Captain Hate]

Romney could very well appoint another Souter so we need as many conservatives in the Senate as possible to avert that.

[Extraneus]

You guys really don't know what you're dealing with.