"But the Branch Davidians were not a threat to anyone; just an unpopular religious group and Janet Reno tried to defend that outrage by arguing child abuse was going on inside that compound. Child abuse is not a matter of federal jurisdiction.

There just is no defense for what happened at Waco, WT."

I guess it's over for us if you believe there was something wrong with the government attempting to serve a legal warrant to arrest Koresh.

Either we are a nation of laws or we aren't. We cannot be a nation of laws when it comes to Scooter Libby and not be a nation of laws when it comes to Koresh. Regardless of whether he was, or was not, guilty of a federal offense and regardless of whether he was, or was not a religious kook who was abusing children or whether he did or did not have a stash of illegal weapons, the fact remains that there was a legal warrant for him to be brought before a duly constituted Judge and when agents attempted to serve that warrant, they were shot at.

Is there something I'm missing here?

I read the links and I'll ask the question again.....

Am I missing something?

Was there not a legal warrant for the arrest of David Koresh?

Did not someone in the compound violently resist the legal actions of federal agents (of whom I am no fan, believe me), to obey that warrant and bring Koresh before a Judge?

Are we a nation of laws or aren't we?

I believe he meant rogue.

Once again I ask.....who provided start-up funding for the Politico?

I'm not in favor of media circus's such as the initial raid on Waco any more than you are. I am distressed at the realtively recent makeover of Officer Krumpkie into Rambo if only because it tends to generate fear, rather than respect of our LE personnel and their organizations. I don't like to see "street cops" dressed in camo fatigues and I don't care to see them hanging around with MP-7s hanging off their shoulders.

Having said that, however, when Koresh refused to surrender when he knew there was a warrant for his arrest, he was wrong. I don't care if he was or was not guilty of weapons violations, child abuse, or having umteen wives. There was a legal warrant for his arrest and if we are going to piss and moan about Scooter's commutation, we aught not be complaining about how the LE treated Koresh. The law is the law and it makes no difference whether a Democrat runs the show or a Republican runs it.

Arguing that the Feds utilized faulty tactics is one thing (and I happen to agree with you on that) but it's not germane to whether an attempt to take Koresh into custody was legal. It was not only legal, it was mandatory under the law.

My head hurts.

Thanks, Glenn. I (obviously) missed that one.

Reagan Library - Riggs Bank - The Bush Clan - Pinochet - and (I presume)the Saudi Royal Family.

Hypocricy?

Where is the hypocricy in Edwards getting an expensive haircut?

Has he been running around telling people that expensive haircuts are sinful? Has he been attempting to pass laws which make expensive haircuts illegal? Has Edwards been campaigning on a platform of cheap haircuts?

There is no comparison between the real hypocricy of a David Vitter (or the Holier than Thou Republicans in general) and the actions of Edwards getting a haircut, regardless of cost.

Given the subject of this thread, you may wish to amend the following statement...

"Thank god for Glenn Greenwald for bringing these things to our attention."

The only Democratic strength in the Deep South comes from Louisiana, which happens to be the only Deep South state with a significant Catholic population.

Democrats in Louisiana bear no resemblance to Democrats elsewhere whether they be Catholic or Baptist (the majority sects in Louisiana). Highly conservative in the fashion of the South as a whole, they tend to be more Populistic than Progressive and they can be counted on to be socially Regressive. They are also extremely opportunistic and will jump parties when the electoral (or their own financial) need arises. I can't think of a single Democrat from Louisiana who can be counted on to vote the party line either locally or nationally, Landrieu included.

They vote oil.

Good morning, Shooter, you Asshole. Having a bad day?

Have I ever been to Louisiana?

I was extremely proud of Mary last night. She gave an excellent speech on the floor of the Senate. It was probably the best I've ever heard her give but I digress.....

I live in Louisiana. I've danced at Christmas parties with Lindy Boggs and have downed beers and a few pounds of crawfish with Marc Morial, Harry Lee, Billy Tauzin (pre-GOP days), John Breaux and other assorted scoundrels. Edwin, bless his heart, and I used to swap lies in various smoke-filled rooms (we don't see too much of him anymore). Formerly a leftist Republican (now there's an oxymoron for you), I registered as a Democrat the instant I moved to St. Tammany Parish based solely upon the fact that David Duke was the head of the St. Tammany Parish Republican Party. I currently am able to meet other local lefties at our annual meeting held in the small FEMA trailer located at I-12 and US190. We don't need much room. I have the only Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker in the entire parish and own the only pickup truck within 25 miles that doesn't have a Confederate flag or an anti-abortion bumber sticker on it someplace.

Why do you ask?

Huey Long was no Liberal.