President Bush Signs the Military Commissions Act of 2006 Today

Doug Mills/The New York Times

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 ~ President Bush signed legislation today that created new rules for prosecuting and interrogating terror suspects, a move that Mr. Bush said would enable the Central Intelligence Agency to resume a once-secret program to question the most dangerous terrorists.

The New York Times


Shall we say R.I.P. Habeas Corpus, or are we renewed in our efforts to fight this party of oppression? Get thee to the polls this November. Your freedom is in your hands. Don't waste a single vote-- send those Republicans home and any Democrats who signed the Act.

Democratic Political Ads-- Smartening Up This Campaign

The Democrats are getting savvier in their ad campaigns. These two ads are very slick with high production values. Hopefully they have learned from the tactical errors made in campaigns past against the Win At Any Cost Party. Perhaps it is possible to get down in the mud with the pigs and come out with ethics. I like to think some of the ads we are seeing are about true ethics. Don't tell me there's no difference between the two parties.




"Walsh Stem Cell" (2006)
Majority Action, a group formed to "promote and build a progressive majority agenda in the U.S. House of Representatives," has taken out some very aggressive ads against four Replubicans who voted against federal funding for stem cell research.


"Have You No Decency, Mr Sweeny?" (2006)
Candidate/Organization: Kirsten Gillibrand | Race: House, New York

Ten Thousand Mirrors

Ten Thousand Mirrors
- A Japanese Sun Goddess Myth

No one today can remember the time when Amaterasu Omikami, the Great Mother Sun, hid herself deep in the cave of heaven and refused to come out. But to those who know the story, every mirror is a reminder that there once was a time when all the spirits of living things had to join together to bring life back to the Earth.

In those very early times, the spirit of every living thing was called its kami. The kami of the mountain was lavender and long. The kami of trees was great and green. Animals' kami was as smooth as silk. The kami of rocks and rivers was silent as the moon. All the strength of these kami poured forth from Amaterasu Omikami, and in her honour the great pattern of the seasons of planting and harvest was woven.

One day it happened that Amaterasu Omikami fell into despair because of the actions of her jealous brother Susanowo. Some say he betrayed the Great Goddess by tearing through the rice paddies in a drunken fit of rage, until every plant in every field was broken and dying. Others remember Susanowo heaving a calf through the windows of the celestial weaving house, smashing the looms and breaking the sacred threads of connection between every living thing. But though some say this and some say that, everyone agrees on what happened next.

Amaterasu fled to the Cave of Heaven and locked herself inside. Without her light, all the realms of heaven and earth were plunged into darkness. The kami of the rice withered. The kami of the birds and animals and mountains and trees and fishes turned into frail ghosts. The earth and all that was of it began to die.

Eventually, and none too soon, the kami gathered together to discuss what to do. "We must moan and weep outside her cave," some said. "That will never work," said others. "Who wants to join a crowd that's moaning and weeping?" Finally someone said, "Let's have a celebration with stories that make us laugh and music that sets our feet tapping. And let's have dances with lots of stomping and whirling. Surely that will bring the Great Sun out of her cave."

Everyone agreed, but they decided that one more thing was needed: a huge mirror. "If we reflect Amaterasu's radiance back to her," they said to each other, "maybe she'll take heart and remember us. Maybe she'll return to the round of Life."

But as soon as they thought of the need for a great mirror, their courage failed. Because not one of them had the strength to lift such a mirror. Then someone said, in a voice so feeble that everyone had to strain to hear, "Let's each bring a tiny piece of mirror hidden in our clothes. As soon as Amaterasu Omikami peeks out of her cave, we'll all hold up our shards at the same time - and our tens of thousands will make a single mirror."

And that is precisely what they did. The very next day, all the kami in the world gathered outside the Cave of Heaven and slowly, almost inaudibly, started to sing. In time their voices rose high and deep into the night. But even while the kamis' drums beat their irresistible rhythms, and even while the kamis' feet stomped and tapped in splendid whirling dances, no one forgot to watch the door of the Cave of Heaven. Finally, very late in the evening, the cave door cracked open, and a single beam of light slipped out. Instantly, the kami lifted their slivers of mirror to Amaterasu's radiance.

The Goddess gasped in amazement. Fascinated, she took a step forward. And another. Soon she had stepped all the way out of her cave. Laughing and clapping her hands to see herself reflected in so many thousands upon thousands of forms, the Great Mother Sun danced all the way out of her hiding place and all the way into the wide blue sky.

Once again the kami of the mountains grew lavender and long. The kami of trees was great and green. Animals again had kami as smooth as silk. The kami of rocks and rivers and fish and flowers once more poured forth from the Great Mother Sun. And in her honour the pattern of the seasons of planting and harvest was again woven. And so it is to this very day.