Eric Holder Jr: " Waterboarding is Torture"

   From the Blog Of Legal Times comes this from the confirmation hearings going on concerning Eric Holder's nomination for Attorney. General..

Attorney General nominee Eric Holder Jr., in response to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy's first question, said unequivocally that waterboarding amounts to torture.

The question, which nearly sunk the nomination of Attorney General Michael Mukasey, means Holder will have to make a decision, if confirmed, whether to investigate Bush administration officials who condoned the use of the tactic on suspected terrorists.

"I agree with you chairman that waterboarding is torture," Holder said. He also said U.S. officials could be held accountable for transferring prisoners to the custody of foreign agents who use such tactics.

  It is Holder's comments such as these that will have Spector and the rest of the Republicans coming out swinging since they approved of Alberto Gonzales's views and walked in step with Bush.

Leahy, pushing further, asked whether the commander in chief could immunize officials who sanctioned the use of waterboarding against legal fallout. Many have speculated that President George W. Bush may preemptively pardon members of his administration who were involved in devising and carrying out a CIA detention and interrogation program that involved the use of waterboarding and other harsh methods on suspected terrorists.

"Mr. Chairman, no one is above the law," Holder said."The president acts most forcefully when he acts consistent with congressional intent."

    An Attorney General who knows the difference between right and wrong.

    Be Afraid Republicans. Be Very Afraid!

Technorati Tags: Eric Holder,Attorney General,Confirmation Hearings,President,George Bush

Serious Materials May Be Republic Windows Knight In Shining Armor

   UE Local 1110 

announced today that the leading company in the green window business -- Serious Materials, based in Sunnyvale, California -- is in the final stages of working out an agreement to purchase the assets of Republic Windows and Doors.  Members of UE Local 1110 staged a sit-in last month to win severance, health benefits and earned vacation pay, after the plant's previous owner shut down with only three days' notice to workers.

Though some details still need to be finalized, the union is told that the parties are very close to inking a deal.  "We are all hopeful about the possibility of Serious reopening our plant.  This would be a very happy ending to our struggle,"  said former Republic worker and Local 1110 Vice President Melvin Maclin.

Serious has said that it hopes, after a ramp-up period, to eventually hire all of the former Republic workforce.  For that to happen, however, the bankruptcy court must act quickly.  The local fears that if the court delays,  the business will evaporate and it will be difficult to re-hire anyone.  "We hope that the creditors, trustee and judge will allow Serious to purchase the assets soon, so I and my co-workers can start making windows again," said Robles.

   That would be Armando Robles, a one-time maintenance worker for Republic Windows and president of union local 1110.

      I wish all of the best for these men/women and their families. Things can be accomplished when you get together and organize instead of just bitching and moaning.

Technorati Tags: UE1110,Unions,Republic Windows,Serious Materials