The Electronic Frontier Foundation ( http://www.eff.org ) receintly turned 15 years old has been a steadfast friend in keeping the internet free and protecting our online rights. If not for the EFF we wouldn't be enjoying the liberties and freedoms we have today. Over the last 15 years EFF has done an extraordinary job with a small staff and a tight budget.
In these days of multiple hurricanes and disasters I am concerned that people might forget organizations like EFF and donate all their money to other causes that are getting more attention. However - EFF is extremely important and that in the long run our online freedom is something we dare not put at risk because we are focusing on other issues.
So although I care about a lot of things, I'm going to donate to EFF and make sure that they don't get forgotten in a world of overlaping disasters. I would like to help do the things that EFF does, but they do it so much better. So by donating to them I feel like I am hiring them to support the causes and issues that are important to me. So as we approach the end of the year I'd like others to join me and support EFF so that we can continue to keep the Internet in the hands of the people.
Tom Dalay pranced into court demanding the judge recuse himself because he's a Democrat. In Texas judges are elected and all of them are either Democrats or Republicans. So the fact that the judge is a Democrat in Texas doesn't mean the same thing as other states that prohibit judges from being involved in politics.
What Delay screwed himself is that the judge ruled that another judge should make the decision about his recusal. What this means is that he will eventually get a hearing and have to wait maybe 90 days and if Delay wins then he'll get a new judge that may also be a Democrat. Similarly, if a Republican is appointed then the Prosecutor in theory could also ask for a new judge.
In the mean time the charges sit there and Delay is hobbled. Delay won't be back at his job at least until this is resolved and it's not going to proceed while they are arguing about who the judge is going to be. In the mean time my pld buddy Roy Blunt will get used to having Delay's job and is unlikely to hand it back to him if Delay wins down the line. The bottom line is Delay has already lost no matter what the outcome is at this point.
Letter to the Editor
During the nomination of John Roberts various Republican related groups were running TV ads supporting Roberts and saying that he shouldn't be required to answer questions. The also demanded an up or down vote on the nomination. Now Harriet Miers is the nominee and I don't see the Republicans running ads urging that she get a fair process. It seems the Republicans have a different process for nominees they like and nominees they don't like. If Roberts was urged not to answer questions an get and up or down vote then why should Miers nomination process be different? After all - this isn't the first Bush crony sent to the Senate for approval.
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I think the real reason Bush appointed Miers is because he needs someone he can call from jail who will get him out.