Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Durbin and Torture

From today's Sun Times,

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois asked the Justice Department on Monday for an update on its progress prosecuting government employees who were accused in at least 17 cases of abusing detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan.
So why doesn't Drubin call a hearing on the Burge Report? Or maybe look into why Cook County is the only County in Illinois where politicans run the Juvinile Detention Center. Pat Murphy writing in the Trib,
Not only is this the way that it is handled in all but one county in Illinois, it is the way it is handled in many major metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles. Politicians in these jurisdictions recognize that the best people to work with delinquent and troubled kids are those who have dedicated their lives to this task. Who better to be in charge of a detention center for children?

But, of course, political leaders in Cook County do not see it that way. Cook County is the only jurisdiction in Illinois, and one of the very few in the U.S., where the detention center is run directly by a politician--the president of the Cook County Board.

The county's chief judge, the juvenile court judges and the juvenile probation department have nothing to do with running the detention center.

I do not write this article to criticize the patronage system. It's just that patronage does not work very well when it comes to providing the type of expertise in employees that troubled kids need.
I've got far more confidence in the Army's ability to police itself on abuse then Cook County.

And there's plenty of Fed funds and Fed Grants going to both County and City Gov for Durbin to have plenty or reason for asking what's going on.. plenty.

25 comments:

Anonymous,  11:22 AM  

Because he's a United States Senator and not a Chicago Alderman or an Illinois State Senator.

Just tossing ideas out there.

Anonymous,  12:51 PM  

Here's an idea, skeeter...
The Illinois Chicagocrats..er, I mean Democrats, are interested in patronage, power, and nothing else. Durbin is the only statewide elected official NOT from Cook County. If he won't help clean up state government, now unofficially seated in Cook County, then we're on our way to a government criminal enterprise that even Washington would envy.

Anonymous,  1:34 PM  

Anon,

You aren't from here, are you?

Try and take a drive down Madison from the river west to the UC. Ten years ago it was blighted. Now it is a thriving neighborhood with old people walking purse dogs.

Sure there is some corruption, but there is corruption in Kankakee and Wheaton and Rockford and in the rest of the state.

The Democrats who run Chicago and Cook County are not perfect. County Governmment in particular needs reform.

But overall, the results in the Daley years have been very impressive.

And if you can't see that, you are probably so dumb you can't distinguish a United States Senator from an Illinois State Senator.

Anonymous,  1:50 PM  

By the way, Bill:

Do you think the United States Senate should hold hearings regarding fundraising abuses in the George Ryan administration? That impacted inter-state trucking.

Why haven't you posted on that issue?

On a related note, do you recall the precise moment when you were overcome by blind partisanship? Was it sudden and unexpected, or did you feel it building for a while?

Bill Baar 3:45 PM  

Do you think the United States Senate should hold hearings regarding fundraising abuses in the George Ryan administration?

The Federal Attorney took care of it for me Skeeter... as I suspect he will Cook County too....

Anonymous,  4:06 PM  

Bill Baar said...
"Do you think the United States Senate should hold hearings regarding fundraising abuses in the George Ryan administration?

The Federal Attorney took care of it for me Skeeter... as I suspect he will Cook County too...."

That doesn't really answer the question now, does it?

You advocate that the United States Senate take our time (we pay for the Senate, so it is our time) and spend our money investigating abuse in a city's police department, but you do not advocate the United States Senate holding hearings about abuses that impact interstate trucking.

Enlighten us, Bill. Why should the Senate take our time by investigating a 15 year old closed case, but not investigate the fact that there may be trucks on our interstates that have bad licenses? You are a smart guy (or so you claim). Explain that one.

grand old partisan 4:33 PM  

skeeter,

you routinely want to crucify local Illinois Republicans for the crimes of DC Republicans, so where do you get off being so self-righteously outraged when someone does the reverse? If anything, Durbin has more reason (not to mention a greater ability) to stop the corruption of local Dems than IL House Republicans had to stop Hastert or Delay from doing anything you found objectionable.

Enlighten me, skeeter. how could IL House Republicans have stopped Hastert from implimenting the majority-of-the-majority rule, as you suggested that Speaker Madigan should do in Springfield in retribution. Is partisan spite a more important and worthy goal than good government to you?

Anonymous,  6:10 PM  

GOP,

This is not about crucifing anyone.

This is about whether the United States Senate should hold hearings as to the job done by the Chicago Police Department.

I disagree with you and Baar on that issue.

I believe that the federal government and the United States Senate should focus on truly national concerns.

On the other hand, you and Baar believe that the federal government should be telling the Chicago Police Department how to do its business, after the CPD has already completed its investigation and the offending officers have been removed from power.

You too also want the federal government to dictate which individuals should run a local juvenile detention center. I, on the other hand, believe that is a local concern.

Overall, it is a different approach to government. I favor a limited national government, and you favor a massive federal government.

Bill Baar 6:53 PM  

You don't think federally protected civil rights are being violated here Skeeter?

What laws to you think the guys mentioned in the Burge report are suing the city under?

You don't think it's Federal law that would call the JDC cruel and unusual punishment (for kids not even convicted of anything)?

Get real guy. Durbin's on the Judiciary Committee. Constitutional rights are his concern.

Bill Baar 7:16 PM  

Durbin should call Fitzgerald and ask him to explain this,

Meanwhile, the special prosecutors said they delivered a copy of the report [Burge Report] to the U.S. Attorney's office, but declined to say whether they expect federal authorities to seek criminal charges. Boyle suggested it was unlikely.

"[Fitzgerald] and the justice [department] in Washington have looked at this matter twice . . . and concluded that they could not proceed and . . . that their statute of limitations had run," Boyle said.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago declined to comment.

Anonymous,  10:30 PM  

"You aren't from here, are you?"
- I live in Chicago, right by a public housing tower, a hotel for prostitutes, and a pawn shop. Thanks for the great neighborhood Chicagocrats!

"Try and take a drive down Madison from the river west to the UC. Ten years ago it was blighted. Now it is a thriving neighborhood with old people walking purse dogs."
- WhooHoo! An improvement in one tiny section of a city with 3 million, and it only took the Chicagocrats a combined budget of several billion to work with. Congrats on their sliver of competence! Something you should probably envy.

"Sure there is some corruption, but there is corruption in Kankakee and Wheaton and Rockford and in the rest of the state."
- And Fitz is conducting a federal investigation where else in IL? Next.

"The Democrats who run Chicago and Cook County are not perfect. County Government in particular needs reform."
- Like several years behind bars. They could even serve in County and taste the abuse they have condoned for years.

"I favor a limited national government.."
- that cannot investigate the Chicagocrats you run and fetch for. Stay on your leash now, Skeeter!

JBP 7:52 AM  

This statement is brilliant

"Try and take a drive down Madison from the river west to the UC. Ten years ago it was blighted. Now it is a thriving neighborhood with old people walking purse dogs."

Only took $10 Billion in investment, and a 2 thriving big-government sponsored industry to fix up six square blocks of Chicago. I don't think pouring money into the health care racket qualifies any more than pouring money into any other pork as economic development.

How about going 4 more blocks west on Madison where the police refuse to patrol?

JBP

Anonymous,  10:52 AM  

JB,

First, I routinely drive those four blocks west. I know them. There are a bunch of new townhouses west of there also.

With all due respect, make the drive.
The whole area was a slum and has come back to life.

If you aren't from here, keep your mouth shut. It makes you look like a complete raving idiot when you make comments like the one above.

Anonymous,  10:54 AM  

Anon 10:30 --
Thanks for the odd (drunken?) ramble.

I note that there was not one line pertaining to the topic, i.e. whether Sen. Durbin should hold hearings.

Try and sober up before posting next time.

Bill Baar 1:11 PM  

Skeeter... my first job was at 1033 W. Van Buren. It's always been industrial and never a slum. SRO's and bars but it's always been an industrial area until now. The jobs are gone. The drinkers are gone.

Now, back to Durbin...if torture in America by America isn't under the perview of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate...would in the world is?

Anonymous,  2:23 PM  

Bill,
You and I have a different view of the role of the federal government.

You want an expansive federal government that should tell a state how to run its Juvenile Detention Centers and to review long closed investigations of local abuses.

I believe in a limited federal government that should focus on truly national concerns like interstate commerce (including interstate trucking) and matters that impact the nation as a whole.

That helps explain why under your friends in the GOP our federal budget has exploded with the massive new spending and while under my friends in the Democratic Party, the federal budget was balanced.

We have a different outlook on the role of government.

Anonymous,  3:10 PM  

Skeeter,

Since they were all response to your original comments, I guess that makes you the one who got off topic. Try avoiding blatant hypocrisy before posting next time

"I believe in a limited federal government that should focus on truly national concerns like interstate commerce (including interstate trucking) and matters that impact the nation as a whole."
You mean like...
- FEDERAL court orders which Chicago has repeatedly violated in hiring.
- Cook County and Chicago advocating the violation of our NATIONAL borders by becoming an official sanctuary for illegals.
- FEDERAL civil rights violations in Cook county juvie, Cook county jail, and by the CPD.
- violation of FEDERAL law by Blago importing unscreened drugs from foreign nations.
all of which "impact the nation as a whole" as much as Ryan's interstate trucking scandal.

Durbin is proving to be less an ILLINOIS Senator and more a honorary Chicagocrat.

Anonymous,  3:34 PM  

My nameless friend:

Bank robbery is a federal offense.
Want the United States to hold a hearing every time a bank is robbed?

By the way -- want another response? Come up with a name. I am not wasting any more time with people so lacking in creativity that they can't pick a name.

grand old partisan 4:07 PM  

Skeeter,

Allow me.....

Yes, the west loop has gotten safer and cleaner. But next time you’re on Madison heading west, take a left on Ashland and head south to 63rd Street. Tell me how “impressive” the Daley years have been for Englewood. (oh, that’s right, all the crime there is the fault of the NRA, and has nothing to do with Mayor Daley or the corruption/cronyism riddled CPD)

And I’m sorry, but your argument that Durbin has no business holding hearings on the alleged torture and abuse of his own constituents, but should instead concern himself only with the “rights” of non-US citizens, is just stupid, period. If the City of Chicago and State of Illinois are unable (or unwilling) to police corruption and abuse within their own departments and agencies (as they have routinely showed that they are), then who IS going to do it? The Feds, that’s who. That’s why it was the Feds who indicted Ryan and Sorich, and executed Operation Silver Shovel. That’s why a Federal Court had to issue that Shakman decree. If you want to raise a federalism argument against the Senior Senator from Illinois getting involved in “Chicago matters,” then why aren’t you decrying the “big government” over-reach of the U.S. Justice Department or U.S. Court of Appeals?

Finally, as for your glib retort that “Bank robbery is a federal offense. Want the United States to hold a hearing every time a bank is robbed?” Well, if there was an endemic rash of unsolved bank robberies in a concentrated area, then yes, I think the U.S. Senate might be justified in asking a few questions. And make no mistake, when it comes to the corruption of Chicago politics, we aren’t talking about a few isolated incidents; we are talking about a crime wave that is entirely worthy of the Senior Senator from Illinois’s time and attention.

Anonymous,  5:14 PM  

"want another response? Come up with a name. I am not wasting any more time with people so lacking in creativity that they can't pick a name."
- Wow. Your lame excuse for not having to defend your hypocrisy is almost believable. Not. You lost. Now go enjoy another glass of the Chicagocratic Kool-Aid.

Anonymous,  5:50 PM  

GOP,

Because I believe that it is the business of the U.S. Attorney to enforce the law and it is the job of the United States Senate to make the law.

As I said -- I believe in limited goverment and you disagree.

In any case, and getting back to the facts: The Burge matter is nearly twenty years old. Any other 20 year old matters you want the United States Senate to spend time on?

Why don't you just come out and admit what is obvious: Baar tried to make a cheap hack political move and it blew up? His idea was bad and it should be obvious. Call him on it. Tell him that you believe in limited government, and his proposal is an attack on those ideas.

grand old partisan 11:37 PM  

skeeter,

are you saying that oversight isn't part of the senate's job? isn't that exactly what the Gitmo hearings are about?

Anonymous,  8:08 AM  

GOP,

Sure oversight is part of the job of the United States Senate.

However, Bill Baar wants the United States Senate to investigate how Cook County has decided to manage its juvenile facilities. Is that really a national issue?

Gitmo was about an ongoing abuse by Americans troops. It is about how America wages war and defends itself. It asks whether the conduct at Gitmo makes America stronger or weaker.

I think there is a difference between that and the purely locaL issue of 20 year old abuse by Chicago Cops, or how Cook County organizes itself.

Of course, I differ from you and Bill in that I believe in a limited federal government.

GOP, given the record of the Republicans since 2000, it is clear that the opinions you have expressed are consistent with the views of your national party. The GOP is the party of big government. It is obvious to any observer so you may as well admit that our debate here boils down to nothing more than a small government conservative Democrat arguing against a big government Republican. That's it and nothing more.

Bill Baar 8:18 AM  

Bill Baar wants the United States Senate to investigate how Cook County has decided to manage its juvenile facilities. Is that really a national issue?

The kids have federally protected civil rights. Federal Courts have shut down or taken over jails before.

I bet there's Fed Funds going to the place.

So yes.

Anonymous,  10:41 AM  

1. Sure they have rights. If those rights are being violated, we have courts.

2. I assume (but don't know for a fact) that the facility probably receives some federal funding. But that doesn't mean that the federal government should dictate every decision made at the facilities.

You want the federal government to run the Cook County juvenile facilities?

You believe that that the federal government in Washington would do a better job and would know local concerns better than people who live here?

Face it, Bill. You want a massive federal government with no local control.

No wonder you vote Republican.

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