Dahlia Lithwick had an excellent piece yesterday on how the administration's recent release of information in the Padilla Case basically glorifies in overturning the Constitution. She reminds us that many of the protections found in that document grew out of abuses during investigations of some serious matters, including treason. Likewise, they are partly in place to protect the integrity of the system. The Interested Observer also dealt with the matter along with other related issues. Finally, someone pointed out to me that President Bush lawyered up for the Valerie Plame grand jury. Doesn't he know this inhibits the investigation of serious national security matters? And then, maybe he needs one. [Update: I was informed the latter source is a bit dubious; let's see how it pans out.]
I found Laura Flanders book Bushwomen excellent and find her weekend shows on Air America often the best stuff on the station. Laura Flanders and Farai Chideya have a daily radio station in California entitled Your Call, which the wonders of the Internet allows one to listen to live or archived. I sampled some of the past shows and enjoyed them as well. For instance, one show hosted by Farai Chideya on plastic surgery was quite interesting.
Recently, there was an article concerning the longevity of conservative/controversial radio host Bob Grant. Grant noted that he started in the business when talk radio was not yet popular. He also welcomed the creation of liberal backed radio stations like Air America as adding to the conversation. I think Grant might be correct as well for noting that the station made a mistake by saying it would come and overturn the administration. A bit too cocky and it makes the station appear to have a narrow focus.
Film Time: A couple of quick movie comments. The Mother is a British film controversial because of an intergeneration affair between a mother in her sixties and her daughter's thirtysomething lover. This is but one aspect of this powerful (and at times disturbing) film about a woman trying to deal with what to do with life after the death of her husband, especially since her kids basically don't want anything to do with her. Strayed is a French film about a war widow with two children meeting up with a troubled seventeen year old while fleeing Paris in June, 1941. A well acted character study with Emmanuelle Beart heading a good cast.