Tuesday Cookys: Terror Memos, SF Chronicle and Prop 8

Constant Readers,

Apologies for the delay  - putting together a new website is no joke, y'all. And anyway, news has been pretty slow recently.  So, imagine my excitement at seeing that the Department of Justice released nine legal memos related to civil rights and the war on terror!

1)  Neither Shock Nor Awe -  My CRs know I'm a stickler for reading the original documents, so I went to the DOJ website to check them out for myself. Okay, so here's what I found: likeIsaid, nine memos were released. Well, two of those memos repeal or limit the application of six of the other memos. (Although the Bush DOJ waited until way late in the game to issue the two "clarifications" that retire the prior legal opinions - they are dated October 2008 and January 2009.)

So, to recap: of the nine released documents, two say "Dude, do not rely on that crappy old advice." And six contain that crappy old advice.

And the ninth memo? It says Jose Padilla is an enemy combatant who can be detained as such - U.S. citizenship notwithstanding. In doing so, it relies on two of the memos that were released and later negated.

Aw, man.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful - no doubt releasing these are better than nothing, but since the administration has said they will be releasing more documents in the future,  here's hoping we get so see some really dicey ones!

2) News About the News: We have all read about the troubles facing the Chronicle, and I've been enthralled by people's opinions on the causes and the cures. These are mostly found in comments sections on places like SFist and Bronstein's blog. One thing that folks seem to agree on is that the structure and operations of traditional newspapers in unsustainable. What to do? Last Friday, the Hearst Corp. (which owns the Chronicle) announced plans to roll out a device (like a Kindle) that people can use to read Hearst content for a fee. (Amount unknown at this time.)

Will it work? While people might be open to paying some amount annually for access to the Chronicle and other Hearst publications, I'm not so sure we'll want to buy a special device to do it. Especially if that device is larger than a Kindle - the Hearst reader is will supposedly be 8.5 in. x 11 in. - the size of a regular page.

But hey, it's something new and innovative, and San Franciscans love that.

3) Milk Toast: Ever since Sean Penn won an Oscar for portraying Harvey Milk in the movie "Milk", everyone is getting in on the action.

Penn is in town today to push for a state recognition of Harvey Milk Day. And Equality California just released a new pro-gay marriage spot that features Monsieur Milk. It's pretty good, too. Check it out:

--Melissa

Comments

[gdewar]

hmmm a kindle-like device eh? they should have done a blackberry app and an iphone app too to go along with it...

[kwk]

Question for the lawyer about item (3):

In People v. Hofsheier the guy has that old "sixteen will get you twenty" problem. In Shilts' book the same situation is depicted (see first entry in index at 'McKinley, John') and nobody blinks.

Maybe Sean Penn is going to play Roman Polanski next.

[Mousqueton]

Mel:

This is the device ( http://www.plasticlogic.com/product.html ) and actually it is pretty neat. Further, you can receive any printed publication through it including board minutes, judicial postings, laws, etc. if someone decides to provide the service.
Rgds;