CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Less Posting

Originally posted on 1-25-05.

Posting will be lighter this week while I attend the New York State Bar Association's Annual Meeting in Manhattan.

Proposed Legislation Restricts Illegal Aliens' Use Of Driver's Licenses

The Washington Times reports that House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. introduced a bill to restrict illegal aliens' ability to obtain and use driver's licenses. According to the Times, Mr. Sensenbrenner's new bill includes four of the provisions that he fought for but which were dropped from the final intelligence overhaul bill last month:

The bill would fill a gap in the fence on the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego, would extend the law so that terrorism-related grounds for excluding someone from entering the United States also become grounds for deportation for those already here and would revamp the asylum system to make it easier for judges to deny a claim for asylum.

But its major focus is to crack down on illegal aliens' ability to obtain and use driver's licenses.

The measure requires that any driver's license used as a form of identification to a federal official, such as a Transportation Security Administration screener at an airport, meet national standards that include a check on whether the holder is in the country legally.

The bill doesn't force states to change their laws, but makes driver's licenses from such states inadmissible for federal identification purposes.

The provisions of Sensenbrenner's bill are the same as those approved by the House last year in the House's version of intelligence reform. The Senate refused to include those provisions resulting in a standoff that nearly caused the reform law to die.

This is a step in the right direction. Illegal aliens should not be provided with a drivers license. As Sensenbrenner said:

The 9/11 hijackers could have used their passports to board the plane, but only one did. And why was that? Those murderers chose our driver's licenses and state IDs as a form of identification because these documents allowed them to blend in and not raise suspicion or concern.

Sensenbrenner's bill has 114 Republican co-sponsors and one Democrat, Rep. Lincoln Davis of Tennessee. A similar bill will be introduced in the Senate by Senator Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican.

Of course nothing ensures passage of Sensenbrenner's bill.

Representative Jane Harman of California said Mr. Sensenbrenner's bill is not needed:

She said the bill passed in December does enough by requiring states to create tamper-proof driver's licenses and allowing the Transportation Security Administration to decide what documents can be used by passengers to board airplanes.

Then there is always the immigration advocacy groups that oppose everything that would restrict anything an illegal alien could do oppose the bill. The Times reports that some of these advocacy groups argue that Sensenbrenner's bill is a broad-brush approach that groups most illegal aliens together with terrorists.

They just don't get it. Those that broke laws and entered the U.S. illegally don't have, and shouldn't have, the same rights and benefits as those who have been given the privilege to be allowed into the U.S.

This post has been linked to the Beltway Traffic Jam.

Black Leaders Support Rice

Citing what they call the unfair and unreasonable treatment of Dr. Rice, a group of black leaders voiced their support of Dr. Condoleezza Rice and her nomination to become Secretary of State. At a press conference on Tuesday, they contended that Dr. Rice's outstanding credentials and background would have all but assured any other nominee swift and certain confirmation as Secretary of State. It is further contended that Dr. Rice is being unfairly targeted as a close confidant and advisor to the President.

Among the leaders joining in this effort was Andrew Young, former Atlanta mayor, U.S. congressman, United Nations ambassador in the Carter administration, and a principle lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King. According to CNSNews.com, Young said:

"We think that Condoleezza Rice not only deserves the support, but the country needs a strong, wise secretary of state with a bipartisan mandate to help establish democracy, not only in Iraq, but around the world."

"We think that this should be a strong, civil process that gives her (Rice) the mandate to lead America's foreign policy in a very, very troubled world."

C. Delores Tucker, chair of the National Congress of Black noted that no African-American woman has ever been nominated to such a high position, adding that Rice's credentials make her better qualified for the job "than possibly 80 percent of the persons that sat in that office" before her.

Tucker questioned the Senate's need to debate Rice's qualifications on Tuesday. "And why we're doing this Monday morning quarterback -- I don't know why," she said.

[. . .]

And I just think now that we need to stop trying to find any kind of Monday morning quarterback problems [on] why [Rice] should not be immediately confirmed.

And we just are here to support her and let her know that we're with her and we don't like what is being done here.

I simply don't get it. Why are Senate Democrats slandering a woman whose accomplishments speak for themselves. And doing so to the extent that some prominent black Democrats are upset about it.

Pen Is Mightier Than The Lock

The Boston Herald reports that Kryptonite wins Business 2.0's "the dumbest business moment" of 2004:

It's a bit embarrassing to discover that the bicycle locks you've been selling for 30 years can be picked with a Bic ballpoint pen.

Business 2.0 says the company stayed "in denial" for four days after the discovery of its products' embarrassing weakness, still insisting the locks, whose prices start at $30, remained "an effective deterrent against theft."

Kryptonite defended itself yesterday, noting that "within eight business days" the company had set up a replacement program for the locks:

Kryptonite has so far replaced about 25,000 locks. It expects to replace up to 75,000 more. The cost, Tocci admits, may well be more than the $10 million original estimate. "That $10 million (figure) is a placeholder," Tocci said. "We really won't know the full cost until we've been through the program."

The $50 Kryptonite Evolution 2000 U- Lock is supposed to be one of the best for “toughest bicycle security in moderate to high crime areas”—unless the thief happens to have a Bic pen.

In September Wired News reported that a brand new Kryptonite Evolution 2000 was opened in seconds using a Bic pen.

After cutting four small slits in the end of the pen's barrel to ease it in, the lock opened with a single twist.

You can watch a Kryptonite lock get opened with a pen here.

According to Wired the lock's flaw was publicized in 1992. Even the BBC covered it.

Gun maker Smith & Wesson also made the dumb list because Chairman James Joseph Minder had to resign after the discovery he had spent 15 years in prison for armed robberies and an attempted prison break.

You really can't make this stuff up.

Country Divided By National Security

The Washington Post reports that a new Pew study finds "national security as the new principal fault line in the U.S. electorate:"

In a December survey released yesterday, Pew found that 76 percent of Democrats but just 32 percent of Republicans agree that "good diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace." Bush voters were far more likely to believe that "military force is the best way to defeat terrorism."

Another question likewise illuminated the difference in basic assumptions about use of force: Sixty-six percent of Republicans agreed that "We should all be willing to fight for our country, whether it is right or wrong"; 33 percent of Democrats endorsed that statement.

According to the post, a person's answers to these questions are "by far the strongest predictors of whether a person is a Republican or a Democrat:"

Analyzing Pew's data, as well as exit polls taken on Election Day, the report concluded: "Bush won for one reason above all others: The electorate judged him to be the stronger leader at time when Americans feel threatened by terrorism."

That certainly isn't a surprising conclusion. Maybe the Pew study explains the Democrats using the nomination of Condoleezza Rice to be secretary of state to take pot shots at Iraq war policy.

Senator Boxer For President?

Senator Barbara Boxer's recent obnoxiousness objecting to the Ohio Electoral Vote and calling Condoleezza Rice a liar, then calling herself the victim has resulted in the "President Boxer" blog.

HIV Vaccine Best Hope In 20 Years

The Seattle Times reports that testing will soon begin 13 U.S. cities and in five other countries with the most promising AIDS vaccine in more than 20 years of research:

In smaller trials, the vaccine has produced the strongest immune response ever against the AIDS virus, said Dr. Larry Corey, lead scientist for the international HIV Vaccine Trials Network, based at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

[. . .]

If the vaccine succeeds in the trial, a widely available immunization could be ready in about seven years, he said. A larger effectiveness trial would first be needed, as would reconstruction of the vaccine to cover additional variations of HIV.

"Right now, I think it's the best we've seen," said Dr. Julie McElrath, lead scientist in the Seattle arm of the trial and a Fred Hutchinson researcher.

According to the Times, the vaccine uses a disabled form of a common cold virus, called adenovirus, to take three HIV genes into the body. The combination tricks the immune system into producing cells that would kill the whole AIDS virus. It is impossible for the vaccine itself to cause HIV infection:

In the new trial, volunteers will receive three injections over six months. Half will receive the vaccine, half will receive a placebo (a dummy vaccine) and no one, including the researchers, will know who gets what until the end of the trial. For about four years, each participant will be tested every six months for HIV.

Scientists have been telling us for twenty years that an AIDS vaccine would be developed in five to 10 years. More than 100 vaccine preparations have been tried in animals and humans. More than 40 different vaccines have made it to initial trials in humans. None has passed muster, the virus is able to mutate, allowing it to escape an immune system attack.

Heinz May Not Relish Another Presidential Campaign

I missed this.

Earlier this month the Boston Herald reported that ketchup heiress Teresa Heinz Kerry has made it clear to her husband that she won't sit still for another campaign:

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," said a FOT. "She's 66 now, though God bless her, you'd never know it, and you know as you get older, your priorities change. Teresa will never do it again."

But Teresa's spokesman, Jeff Lewis, was quick to deny the report.

"Teresa Heinz is too smart to say that," he said. "She campaigned her heart out, as did her husband. The people loved her and she loved the people. It was hard work and a great experience and we'll just go from there."

Sources say Heinz, who claims to have gone into the campaign kicking and screaming, went into a deep funk after George W. Bush was re-elected - especially because the junior senator came so close to victory.

"She was angry and hugely disappointed and pissed off," said our Ta-ray-za spy. "She wanted to win so badly."

Teresa notwithstanding, Kerry sure seems like he intends to run in 2008.

Thanks to Taegan Goddard's Political Wire for the tip

Scalia To Replace Rehnquist?

TIME magazine reports that Antonin Scalia is likely to be President Bush's choice to replace William Rehnquist as Chief Justice.

According to Time, Scalia may not have a lock on the job:

According to several sources familiar with White House thinking on judicial nominations, the President and his advisers are worried that the tart-tongued Justice may not have the people skills to manage the court, build consensus among its nine members and represent the institution in public. That may explain why the famously dyspeptic Scalia has become a merry mainstay on the A-list Washington social circuit of late

.

Newsweek also reports that Justice Scalia may be elevated to Chief Justice:

A Supreme Court headed by Scalia would seal Bush’s legacy as a transformational president.

According to Newsweek, the battle for the supreme court has broadened beyond social issues and now includes corporate interests:

For the first time, the National Association of Manufacturers is throwing its weight behind Bush’s judicial appointments. John Engler, former governor of Michigan and the group’s new head, announced publicly that the NAM would wage a multimillion-dollar campaign to support Bush’s nominees. “It’s a stark example of the quid pro quo of judicial politics,” says Henderson. The business community has a vested interest in issues like tort reform, limiting class action and victims’ rights. But Engler may have overplayed his hand.

President Bush should name Justice Thomas to replace Rehnquist as Chief Justice. Thomas and Scalia have similar voting record on the Supreme Court. Thomas has better people skills and is twelve years younger than Scalia. Then there is the idea of appointing the first African-American Chief Justice.

There is going to be a bruising battle over anyone President Bush is likely to name as Chief Justice, so he may as well make his choice last as long as possible by appointing the younger Justice Thomas.

Thanks to Taegan Goddard's Political Wire for the tip.

Zarqawi Aide Captured

Reuters reports Iraq announced the capture of a senior aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Monday:

The seizure of Abu Omar al-Kurdi, accused of masterminding some of the worst car bombings in Iraq, appeared to be a major breakthrough ahead of next Sunday's landmark election, which Zarqawi and his followers have vowed to disrupt.

Abu Omar, also known as Sami Mohammed al-Jafi, was seized in a raid in Baghdad on Jan. 15, the government said in a statement released six days before the election.

He is blamed for over 30 bombings including the attack on U.N. offices in August 2003 which killed the U.N. representative and 20 others, and a blast in Najaf the same month which killed 80, including a top Shi'ite cleric.

"Kurdi has confessed to some 75 percent of the car bombs that were used for attacks in Baghdad since March 2003 and to making the explosives used in the attack on the Jordanian embassy in August 2003," said Thair al-Naqib, spokesman for Iraq's interim government.

"Kurdi also confirmed he was responsible for some of the bloody attacks on the police."

The government said Abu Omar had received instructions from Zarqawi to carry out a series of bomb attacks on election day.

The Associated Press reports that "two other militants linked to al-Zarqawi's terror group also have been arrested, authorities said -- a man described as the chief of al-Zarqawi's propaganda operations and one of the group's weapons suppliers."

The Washington Post revealed, in an article about Zarqawi's war against democracy, it was the Iraqi police who caught Abu Omar al-Kurdi:

Meanwhile, the U.S. military said Iraqi police arrested one of the top insurgent suspects and two other people Saturday. The military said U.S. soldiers had been trying to catch the man, whom it did not name, for almost a year.

This very good news. Not only has an impotant bad guy been captured by the Iraqis.

At Rantingprofs, Cori Dauber criticizes the post for burying the news is in one paragraph in an article on another topic, so of course when it's said that the Iraqis aren't ready, haven't accomplished anything, no one will think or remember otherwise.

Unfortunately, professor Dauber is absolutely right. Just more evidence of the biased mainstream media.