In “Parse-imony” I break down current news stories with my pithy, running commentary…
First the headline…
…and now the story:
LOS ANGELES — Federal immigration officials Thursday announced creation of a telephone hotline to ensure that detainees held by local police are informed of their rights [I thought that was what the courts, and lawyers, and hearings, and trials were for?]
In their attempt to cover all scenarios with regulations governments never seem to learn from their mistakes and always creates unintended consequences. This is quite a dilemma for government as they certainly want to give the perception of fairness and create a set of rules that will achieve their goals and cover all of the bases. Rather than simplifying things they increase the complexity and you end up with 2000+ page bills. I would estimate that for each page of law you probably get 250 pages of regulations. We should keep in mind that by creating this bureaucracy they also provide cover (i.e. covering their butts) for themselves when/if the spit hits the fan.
This series is a variation of the game you play with your fortune cookie by adding the phrase “in bed” after your fortune. In this case the headline will be displayed followed by the phrase that should follow. I hope that you enjoy.
Ahmadinejad says Iran may end enrichment…It’s just cheaper to buy it from Russia
Council on American Islamic Relations (“CAIR”) promises to sue and that heads will roll
Miracle Whip could not be reached for comment
There is daily news implicating House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in the “scandal” over Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EIT). Rep. Pelosi (D-CA) had been a long-time opponent to EITs and the practice of water boarding in particular. In an article that she wrote for Washington Monthly in March 2008, Pelosi 
(D-CA) was clear in her opposition to enhanced techniques.
“The use of torture violates fundamental American values. It damages the reputation of the United States in the eyes of the international community, and it increases the risks for our military personnel, diplomatic officers, and intelligence agents around the world. Many intelligence professionals have stated that torture is ineffective: it is unlikely to produce the kind of timely and reliable information needed to disrupt terrorist plots. The negative consequences of the use of torture far outweigh the supposed benefits.”
