Cornyn’s fence flipflop

StopCornyn.comFiled by Charles Kuffner on July 19th, 2007

You think having two Democrats with strong South Texas/Rio Grande Valley credibility might have an effect on next year’s Senate race? Look who’s concerned about the effect of the border fence on the surrounding communities all of a sudden.

• Frustrated by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff’s decision to start construction of a controversial border fence in Texas this year, Sen. John Cornyn pledged today to fight any effort that proceeds without community input.

• I assure you there will be local consultation,” the Texas Republican said in a call with state reporters. “There will not be … unilateral actions on the part of the Department of Homeland Security without local input.”

• With border communities up in arms about the fencing, Cornyn is ramping up his criticism, saying he’s very frustrated by what he termed the department’s “ham-fisted” handling of a highly controversial matter.

• “This could not be mishandled any worse, as far as I’m concerned,” said Cornyn, who voted last year for legislation mandating the construction of 700 miles of double-layered fencing at the Southwest border but insisted that local leaders be consulted.

• Cornyn said the department has ignored its pledge of consultation, noting that Homeland Security officials prepared a map identifying 153 miles of fencing in Texas without talking to local elected officials. Department officials have repudiated the map, saying it was a preliminary plan meant only as a starting point for discussion.

• “Now I read that Secretary Chertoff has said that construction will begin this year,” Cornyn said. “But he won’t say where.”

Welcome to our world, Senator Cornyn. Of course, if you had voted against this boondoggle instead of championing it, then perhaps your words now would have more meaning. Hopefully, your Democratic replacement will arrive in time to clean up this mess you helped create.

Bush Executive Order: Criminalizes the Antiwar Movement

So you thought you lived in a free society, where dissent is patriotic, where speaking your mind is your Constitutional right. Well, not any more my friends. A new Bush Executive Order, signed July 17^th allows Bush to seize property and other fun stuff from anyone who is against the war. So I guess Congress, all the anti-war movements, all the progressive movements and blogs are in for a treat.

The executive order violates the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the US Constitution.

This seems to go hand in hand with the Executive Order Bush signed in May giving him complete control after a catastrophic event is announced.

Global Research, July 20, 2007, by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky

The Executive Order entitled “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq” provides the President with the authority to confiscate the assets of whoever opposes the US led war.

A presidential Executive Order issued on July 17th, repeals with the stroke of a pen the right to dissent and to oppose the Pentagon’s military agenda in Iraq.

The Executive Order entitled “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq” provides the President with the authority to confiscate the assets of “certain persons” who oppose the US led war in Iraq:

“I have issued an Executive Order blocking property of persons determined to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq or undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people.”

In substance, under this executive order, opposing the war becomes an illegal act.

The Executive Order criminalizes the antiwar movement. It is intended to “blocking property” of US citizens and organizations actively involved in the peace movement. It allows the Department of Defense to interfere in financial affairs and instruct the Treasury to “block the property” and/or confiscate/ freeze the assets of “Certain Persons” involved in antiwar activities. It targets those “Certain Persons” in America, including civil society organizatioins, who oppose the Bush Administration’s “peace and stability” program in Iraq, characterized, in plain English, by an illegal occupation and the continued killing of innocent civilians.

Indict Bush After Immunity Is Gone, Like Chirac

Chirac on trial

No other former president in the nearly 50-year history of the Fifth Republic has been questioned by a judge investigating criminal activities.

France’s Chirac Queried in Probe of Party Financing

PARIS — A judge questioned former president Jacques Chirac for more than four hours Thursday in an investigation into a party financing scandal that dates to his time as mayor of Paris, his attorney said.

Chirac faces investigators, his immunity gone

Mr. Chirac lost his presidential immunity from prosecution on June 16, a month after he left office. He has denied committing any wrongdoing during his time as mayor of Paris.

France: Chirac Faces Corruption Inquiry

In light of these developments surrounding France’s Ex-President prior criminal activities, this country must have the resources to do the same to the Bush Crime Syndicate! Someone, please, gimme a legal take on what we must do to hold them accountable if impeachment fails!

Beware! Bush has a terrorist production in the wings to postpone coming elections! He is laughing from his ass now that the polyps are gone …

John Cornyn & Rove Together On The Texas Trail

You really have to wonder what universe Senator do nothing Cornyn lives in.  As Cornyn slips further and further in the Texas polls, he thinks getting Karl Rove to campaign for him is going to improve his standing.

From the Texas Democratic Patry

Cornyn (R-Rove) Gets His Political Payoff
Following the Rove/Republican Script Won’t Fool Texas Voters

(Austin, TX)— This week, John Cornyn proved once again that he represents the political interests of Karl Rove, rather than the best interests of middle-class Texans, in the U.S. Senate.  Cornyn, who is suffering from low approval ratings, has enlisted presidential advisor and political ally Karl Rove to appear at a series of fundraisers he is holding this weekend. [Houston Chronicle, 7/11/07]   Cornyn has unfailingly promoted the Bush Administration’s failed policies in the Washington.

“From the day he arrived in Washington, John Cornyn has proven to be Karl Rove’s most faithful servant in the U.S. Senate.  The White House can always count on Cornyn to toe the Republican Party line and gladly champion their failed policies,” said Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie. “By placing politics over the people of Texas, it’s no secret who John Cornyn truly represents in the Senate.”

Cornyn’s long-time association with Rove, who first recruited him to run for office, has benefited his political career – until now.  Recent Survey USA polling has shown Cornyn’s approval ratings consistently hovering well below 50% — dangerously low for an incumbent Senator.  As a result, Cornyn is trying to downplay his devotion to Rove and the Administration, claiming this week, “I work for the people of Texas. I don’t work for anyone who comes from the beltway of Washington, D.C.” he said. [Dallas Morning News, 7/17/07]  Yet Cornyn has aligned himself with the White House on everything from limiting access to quality health care for Texans to restricting educational opportunity for our children to dismissing the politically motivating firings of nine U.S. Attorneys as a “political witch hunt.” [ABC News, This Week, 3/18/07]

“It is hypocritical for Cornyn to dismiss his extreme partisan credentials and then use his friend Karl Rove to raise money the very next weekend.  His transparent attempt to distract from his real record of failure with hollow rhetoric is cynically designed to mislead Texas voters,” added Richie.  “But Texas Democrats won’t let Cornyn run from his dismal record and will make sure is held accountable to voters in 2008.”