Paul McHugh (in photo) should have known better than to talk about specific, sealed records in the ongoing investigation of late-term abortions by Wichita doctor George Tiller. The psychiatrist with John Hopkins University, who was hired by former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline to review some of the abortion records, has made public statements and judgments about what’s in the records. He also had planned to speak about the records Tuesday at a pro-life meeting in Overland Park until Attorney General Paul Morrison ordered him to stop, stating in a letter that hired experts for the prosecution are prohibited from making extrajudicial statements that could prejudice future legal proceedings.
That said, why is it taking Morrison so long to reach a decision on this case? He has been saying since March that the announcement would be coming soon, and it seems as if every few weeks his office says that the investigation will be completed in another couple of weeks.
Is it really that difficult to determine whether Tiller may have violated state law?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales survived a failed no-confidence vote in the Senate, but he’s far from out of the woods on the controversy over the sacking of eight federal attorneys and other Justice Department issues.
Congressional leaders this week issued their first subpoenas in the U.S. attorney firings, with a House committee calling former White House counsel Harriet Miers and a Senate committee calling former White House political director Sara Taylor, a close aide to Karl Rove, to testify.
The focus will be on the White House’s role in the firings and whether the traditionally independent Justice Department has been improperly politicized. This controversy isn’t going away. It’s going to heat up.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Google’s Street View program is raising privacy questions by providing up-close, street-level surveillance photos of life in major cities, including shots of unsuspecting people going about their lives, picking their noses, etc.
There’s a definite creepiness factor here.
These street level views are fascinating and potentially useful, but they also reflect the dramatic increase in surveillance techniques of all kinds in our society.
Americans assume a certain anonymity to public life, but that’s fast disappearing. And Big Brother, it turns out, is just as likely to be a private company as the government.
One privacy group this week rated Google the worst offender among some 20 major Web sites on privacy issues, citing the company’s “aggressive use of invasive or potentially invasive technologies and techniques,” including Google’s practice of keeping a massive database of every users’ search descriptions.
How much is too much? Do the advantages of Street View outweigh the privacy concerns? What do you think, bloggers?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Some Wichita City Council members are right to be raising questions about plans for a citywide wireless Internet system in Wichita.
It sounds like a cutting-edge idea, and proponents, including Mayor Carl Brewer, point to efficiencies gained by giving city workers and police access to computer databases in the field.
But the spotty experience of other cities is reason to move cautiously. In some communities, the city wireless hasn’t attracted as many low-income subscribers as planned, and costs to taxpayers have been higher than expected.
“I’ve learned enough that I’m skeptical,” council member Paul Gray said this week.
The council was wise Tuesday to move to get more input from a wireless expert before acting on any proposals.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
A statement written on behalf of 13 of the families of Virginia Tech victims discussed feeling ostracized from the government-chartered panel that is investigating the April massacre and concern about how the memorial fund is being used. Panel chairman W. Gerard Massengill made the obvious point that while the families are important to the panel, it is pertinent that panel members be objective and not stricken with emotion. Also, the family members could shed light on the result of the massacre but could not help explain why and how it was able to happen, which is the purpose of the panel. On the other hand, their concern about the Hokie Spirit Fund is justified. The fund, now about $7 million, has been raised using the names and images of the 32 victims.The families should be consulted on how funds honoring their slain loved ones are to be used.
Posted by Andie Clum
The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com:
TB GUY TOPS BUSH IN NEW POLL; Latest Sign of Trouble for White House
HILLARY SENDS GORE BASKET OF CALORIE-RICH TREATS; Attempt to Thwart Potential ’08 Run, Observers Believe
BUSH NAMES WOLFOWITZ PRESIDENT OF AL-QAIDA; Hopes to Undermine Terror Network
Posted by Rhonda Holman
