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Um, the whole point of the lawsuit is that Mr. Kariye has no idea why he's on the list. You can't find out why, you can't ask to be removed. It's punishment without any trial, evidence, or appeal.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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Those are all wonderfully valid questions... which the government refuses to answer.

That's why the No-Fly list makes a mockery of the Constitution.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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Jacob, I can only hope a mystery bureaucrat decides you're a threat to national security and ruins your next vacation. Maybe then you'll start thinking about the erosion of your Constitutional rights.

We're a nation built on rights and procedures. The No-Fly List makes a mockery of due process, punishing citizens without notification or the right to redress.

As an American, I'm ashamed my government conducts itself in this way.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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Why does Emily Harris keep referring to the government's "redress procedure?"

A procedure is a series of steps that result in an outcome.

The TSA has no procedure for people who are on the No-Fly List. 

An unknown bureaucrat places you on the list for unknown reasons. You cannot get confirmation that you are on the list, and you cannot request to be removed from it.

The only procedure that exists is a procedure to clarify the names of people NOT on the No-Fly list.

It's irresponsible for OPB to keep repeating there's a "redress procedure" when no such procedure exists.

posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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The political divide is certainly geographic in origin -- and furthermore, that divide is far wider in Oregon than any other state.

There was a fabulous post over the weekend on FiveThirtyEight.com about that:
[url]http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/05/oregon-swing-state-or-latte-drinking.html[/url]

Executive summary: Oregon has the most liberal AND most conservative voters in the country -- there's just no one left in the middle!

On the following graph, the most liberal voters are on the top, the most conservative voters are on the right. Check out Oregon:
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2499940349_f95a26550e_o.png[/img]

posted 5 years ago
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The real tragedy in the James Chasse case is the lack of a grand jury indictment -- just as we've seen in every other Police death in Portland.

There's a saying, "A district attorney could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich." The opposite holds true as well -- a district attorney can get a grand jury to NOT indict a ham sandwich just as easily.

In Multnomah County, D.A. Mike Schrunk is way too close with Portland Police. His repeated refusal to bring charges against officers who kill the people they're supposed to protect contributes to the distrust between citizens and officers. Police think there are no repercussions for their actions, even when they kill innocent unarmed people.

Until we vote in a district attorney who represents the people instead of the police, there will never be any true accountability in Multnomah County.

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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I'm curious if the recent spike in gang activity in Portland (and the police saturation patrols) are relatd to the Asia Bell murder trial?

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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Sorry -- I should have included a link to the FBI reference.

It's in this Politico story: [url]http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8691.html[/url]
[quote]"NRCC officials contacted the FBI soon after discovering that the former employee, Christopher J. Ward, had submitted what they believe to be a fake internal audit to Wachovia as part of a loan application by the committee."[/quote]
Walden was the NRCC's audit chair, so he's in the middle of this mess.

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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I was amazed to read in this morning's Oregonian that Jeff Merkley is sending out fundraising letters touting his victory in "passing" mortgage reform during the special session.

Merkley watered down a weak bill to make it sufficiently unpalatable to all sides, then watched it die in the Senate.

Is this the kind of strong leadership he wants to provide Oregon in the U.S. Senate? If so, he's making a great case for voting Novick in May.

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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