Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

Darren Hutchinson continues his dissents on the current administration:

On Rendition:

The Obama administration has indicated that rendition will continue and that it, like Bush, will not utilize rendition to torture. Obama’s executive orders close CIA black sites, but they do not close other United States-run facilities, such as Bagram, which can (and already) house terrorism suspects. Because the administration has claimed legal authority to deny habeas corpus relief to Bagram detainees and to detain indefinitely Al Qaeda suspects, Bagram could become the functional equivalent of Guantanamo Bay.

I would of course dissent from him on Guantanamo.

Earmarks:

Sorry guys, but this one does not pass the laugh test. The bill was structured last year, but Obama, who campaigned on earmark reform (last year), also co-sponsored a $7.7 million earmark while he was still Senator (last year). Thus, even though he campaigned against earmarks, Obama still sponsored one worth millions of dollars. Now that he is President, however, Obama has deleted his name from the list of sponsors. The spending item remains in the budget. [Note: The Obama administration denies that the spending provision is an earmark. Please read the Congressional Quarterly article to see this argument dissected.]

He rightly hits republicans on this too and we deserve it!

DNA evidence:

I believe that inmates should have the right to test DNA evidence used to convict them. They certainly should have the right to test the evidence prior to a conviction. The issue of cost is not relevant in this particular case, because Osborne’s lawyers will pay for the DNA analysis. Because I strongly believe in due process and because science can answer the question of guilt or innocence, I believe that the Court should rule against Alaska and reject the Bush-Obama arguments.

I can’t see how you can restrict this use of evidence myself.