Graham has provided Obama a way out of this standoff: Send KSM to a military tribunal in exchange for Congress abandoning legislation that would deny funding to close Gitmo. Next, the administration would work with Congress to create a “national security court,” which would govern how other current and future terrorism suspects can be held in preventive detention.

This was criticized rightly by Glenn Greenwald who suggested it might lead to something like Minority Report, the adaptation of the Philip K. Dick short story where the police receive telepathic indications of crime before it happens.  But the real crime is having the venue of a criminal trial decided by political branches like a health care bill.  Where is due process in all this?  This invites intervention by the federal courts in a way injurious to the cause of justice.  How would you like politicians deciding whether say you get tried by a jury or not?  It’s outrageous. 

Besides, Senator Graham is also involved in an intrusive effort that is more dangerous than the Dangerous REAL ID that the states beat back in an monumental political effort.  It would require an ID card for all legal workers in the United States.  Check this out from the New York Times:

In addition to opening a path to legal status for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants, the bill Mr. Schumer and Mr. Graham are shaping would tighten enforcement against hiring illegal immigrant workers by creating a national biometric identification card for all workers, including American citizens and legal immigrants.

A national BIOMETRIC identification card?  ALL workers?  This is what the Wall Street Journal described for such an ID card:

A person familiar with the legislative planning said the biometric data would likely be either fingerprints or a scan of the veins in the top of the hand. It would be required of all workers, including teenagers, but would be phased in, with current workers needing to obtain the card only when they next changed jobs, the person said.

Has Senator Graham read the Book of Revelation? 

“He [the second beast] also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beats or the number of his name.”  Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV)

I once admired Senator Graham so much I sent him an email hoping he would someday run for President.  But any politician who would advocate a biometric ID card for all American workers is beyond the pale of my support.  “I know not what course others may take,..” the most famous Hanoverian once said, but I know my choice.  As a follower of Christ, I have no choice.  If Senator Graham does not repudiate this idea I will not support him for any office nor encourage others to do so. 

PS:  If anyone reads this and is convicted to know more about Jesus Christ, contact me off post at eesjresquire@netscape.net.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (R). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. (Of course this is no endorsement of this blogpost or blog by the International Bible Society or Zondervan)

The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society.  Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

But the Constitution is clear:  The Federal Government has no role in education other than enforcing civil rights.  No standardized tests, no “No Child Left Behind”, no block grants, no Department of Education.

Here is my suggestion:  Have a appointment with Cong. Paul and take his advice.  These famous debate words cited elsewhere on this blog:

“I’d start with the departments.  Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security…”

Let’s work on both foreign policy and domestic cuts to constitutional levels.  I am sure Cong. Paul would like to help his President…

(What’s this thing about the Post lately, Sandy?  I just get the opinions and political news from the Post!)

The Saints (and Colts) can and should try for perfection.  You do not have to make stupid decisions to reach for the best.  Besides, the Saints have to win the next two just to clinch home field throughout the playoffs.  The Vikings are a good team.  We need every advantage.  Then there’s just one more game – the Panthers in Charlotte.

CEAUX SAINTS!  BEAT COWBOYS!

Here is the Post’s analysis on Jindal:

If Barbour and Daniels form the ranks of old pros, there are young pros rising within the ranks. The youngest is Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has been on a fast track all his adult life. He had a terrible introduction to the nation this year when he was picked to give the GOP response to Obama’s first speech as president to a joint session of Congress.

But appearances can be deceiving. Jindal has a considerable intellect and a command of many of the policy issues that will be front and center in the next few years, including health care and energy. Whether he can prove himself on a national stage still isn’t known, but he could give Republicans fresh ideas and a platform from which to test them.

Although the Speech was mentioned (Boo!), it was admitted that Gov. Jindal is smart and has some experience/training in hot-button political issues such as health care and energy.  I think Jindal’s personal energy and accomplishments in Louisiana will help him. 

Another pro-Jindal item is his “fast-track” resume.  This is the main reason I am fascinated with Governor Jindal.  Remember that list of potential 2012 GOP Presidential candidates several months ago?  the one with the best resume (state cabinet official, university system president, federal sub-cabinet, Congress and governor) is the youngest one:  Bobby Jindal. 

Again, I cannot condone the hacking into a computer system.  It’s illegal and immoral.  But this is a revealing story.  Perhaps the “global warming” rage is on its last legs.

Ellicott City, MD: Apparently yesterday, when the President was in Louisiana, Bobby Jindal was booed pretty loudly by the crowd. Because is was a crowd of democrats or because the people in Louisiana don’t like him these days? Even after the iffy speech, is he still considered a darling of the republicans?

Chris Cillizza: I think it’s because the crowd was largely composed of Democrats.

Polling suggests Jindal is on very strong ground in the state when it comes to how voters see the job he has done.

I do think Jindal — Kenneth the Page speech aside — is still one of the rising stars within the party. I am also convinced that he will not run for president in 2012 but could wind up on a ticket as the veep pick.

I am pleased to see that there is genuine political interest in Governor Jindal.  He would be a great pick for VP if he decided not to run for President in 2012.

Some highlights are:

• Enabling small businesses to pool together to buy insurance
• Making health insurance truly portable
• Tort reform
• Insurers would be required to cover pre-exisitng conditions
• Health carriers would have to give consumers more information and prices would be more fair and uniform
• Electronic medical records to protect privacy
• Health Savings Accounts with tax benefits
• Insurance premium discounts for good health
• Cover young adults for a longer period of time on their parent’s coverage
• Tax credits to help consumers buy insurance. 

Jindal’s plan drew some fire from libertarians and conservatives.  Scott A. Robinson contended at www.politicalderby.com there are too many mandates.  The Cato Institute was severe in its criticism. 

It is simply a lie of those favoring the Obama plan that the GOP has not offered a constructive alternative.  Senator Coburn of Oklahoma and Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, among others, have proposed the Patient’s Choice Act in May 2009.  It’s major provisions are similar to the Jindal plan.

Jindal has been interested in health care, Medicare and related issues since college.  He wrote a paper as an intern on reforming Medicare for his first congressional boss, Jim McCrery (Louisiana Republican) and was at 24 the youngest Secretary of the Louisiana Health and Hospital system:

One summer, Jindal worked on Capitol Hill as an intern. About a week into his job with Rep. Jim McCrery, Jindal asked for more substantive work. “I thought, ‘Oh boy, an eager-beaver college student,’” says McCrery, a Louisiana Republican. “I told him to write a paper on how to improve Medicare. I figured that would keep him busy and I wouldn’t see him again.” Just before the internship ended, however, Jindal dropped a thick manuscript on McCrery’s desk. “It was an excellent piece of work,” says McCrery. “It identified problems, discussed budgetary implications, and suggested reforms.”

That contact helped Jindal land his first big job in government. In 1995, Jindal was working as a management consultant in Washington, and voters in Louisiana were getting ready to elect a governor. The young man phoned his old boss. Would McCrery help him become Louisiana’s next health secretary? The congressman asked his 24-year-old caller whether he would consider something a little more junior, such as assistant secretary. No thanks, said Jindal. McCrery promised to make an inquiry or two. To the amazement of everybody except perhaps Jindal, Gov. Mike Foster hired the wunderkind. Jindal was put in charge of an agency that consumed about 40 percent of the state’s budget. In two years, he wiped out a $400 million deficit.

Thanks to National Review, John J. Miller, May 14, 2007. 

The GOP cannot get its health care passed without those who bravely went out and faced hostile representatives and some fierce opposition to insist this plan be debated.  If Cong. Paul’s Audit the Fed Act can be cosponsored by nearly 300 in the House and get hearings, based largely on grassroots agitation by his followers and others, this can get traction.  I also urge the reader to ponder the confidence of a young man who at 24 became a state cabinet secretary.

I will have more details on the Jindal op-ed in Politico but trust me for now – it’s great!  Also read the Cillizza piece in the Washington Post. 

Keep an eye out for the Governor tonight and tomorrow on CNN and Fox!

From the Ross Douthat (via Andrew Sullivan from The Daily Dish):

“A multicultural prince who channels Ronald Reagan, and whose nomination would at least reduce the taint of racism that clings to the American Right.”  (

From the AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Let the 2012 presidential race begin — or at least the speculation about it.

From their travel schedules to their public comments, several Republicans seem to be testing the waters for potential White House runs. At least two are on tap for visits this month to Iowa, which traditionally opens the nominating season with its presidential caucuses.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, considered a rising star in the GOP and thought to be on John McCain’s short list of potential running mates, is slated to deliver the keynote address on Nov. 22 to the Iowa Family Policy Center, a prominent Christian conservative group.

From Politico:

“Jindal, elected governor of Louisiana in 2007 after serving in Congress and holding health care posts in state and federal government, makes his first trip to Iowa on November 22nd.

He’s keynoting the statewide banquet of the Iowa Family Policy Center, a Christian conservative group, in suburban Des Moines and will tour flood-ravaged Cedar Rapids, offering his insights as a hurricane-state governor to state and local officials.

Though only 37 and in his first year in statewide office, Jindal is already drawing rave reviews.

Asked in a post-election chat which Republican office-holders impressed him during the campaign, McCain campaign chief Steve Schmidt didn’t hesitate: “Bobby Jindal, no question.”

Anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist, who wanted Jindal to be McCain’s vice-presidential nominee this year, said flatly: “Jindal will be president. I don’t know the year.”

From The Washington Post:

Will he run? That remains to be seen. But in an interview with the David Broder of the Washington Post for the Dean’s Sunday column, Jindal certainly sounded like a candidate.

“To succeed,” Jindal told Broder, “we have to be the party of change, we have to root out corruption in our own ranks and we have to be the party of solutions.”

That sounds suspiciously like the foundation of a national platform centered around reform, no? We have said for months — keep an eye on Jindal. He is a comer.

From WWLTV.com:

“This smacks of a guy who is laying the groundwork to run for president,” said Eyewitness News Political Analyst Clancy DuBos. “That’s what you do if you’re running for president. If you’re just the governor of Louisiana, you don’t go to Iowa because you want the corn.” Video

There you have it. The latest and greatest on speculation about Bobby Jindal and a potential run for the office of President of the United States of America.  Do you think he’ll run?  Let me hear from you in the comments below.