The Des Moines Register editorial board today says that U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor's ruling is correct and needs to be supported. link:http://desmoinesregister.com/...

A ruling last week by U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor of Michigan declaring the Bush administration's warrantless wiretaps unconstitutional has been widely criticized as poorly argued. That's like deducting style points from a batter who hits a home run. Her conclusion is what matters most, and even some critics of the judge's reasoning agree: She's right.

The president, of course disagrees:

President Bush insists that wiretaps by the National Security Administration are justified under the president's powers as commander in chief and through Congress' authorization of sweeping executive-branch authority to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against past and future terrorist acts. Taylor found nothing in that act of Congress repealing any provisions of the Constitution, including the Fourth Amendment.

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From: BoyScoutLeader_1
Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2005 8:34 AM
To: BoyScoutLeader_2; BoyScoutLeader_3
Subject: What about the children?
There is a situation in this country where children, some as young as 12, are living in tents for up to months at a time simply because their parents believe they need some `special education', some might call it indoctrination. These children are living with no air conditioning, and though they are allowed to have insect repellant that is basically the only defense against the insects including spiders, ticks, flies, and disease-carrying mosquitoes. The floorless canvas tents are principally the only protection against the elements. They are served 3 meals a day but must do their own laundry and foot travel is about the only form of transportation and these children walk miles every day. Most of their day is spent performing manual labor or attending `special education' classes. What, if anything, can be done for these children?

Suggestions after the break...

Yesterday morning, I received the following email notice:

DES MOINES (AFSC) -- The public is invited to come to the Iowa State Historical Building in Des Moines to hear actor Clarence Key Jr. perform Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous 1967 speech:   "Time to Break the Silence."
Clarence Key Jr. will perform readings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech at the Iowa State Historical Building on Saturday, May 21, at 7 PM, and Sunday, May 22, at 2 PM.
A panel discussion featuring Rudy Simms, Dr. Mary Sawyer, Jonathon Narcisse, and Paul Danforth (who marched with Dr. King) will follow.
The event is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, a peace and justice organization located at 4211 Grand Avenue.
The event is free to the public and child care will be provided on Sunday, including a 2:15 reading by artist Skyewalker Payne (the reading is appropriate for children ages 3-14).
For more information, call Jeffrey J. Weiss at 274-4851, ext. 22

I was in Des Moines for an Optimist meeting Saturday, so I hung around after and went to this.
More below: