Hussein: Hanging. Hasan: Hanging? The Scoop on Military Executions

Military police officially charged sleeper jihadist Nadal “Saddam” Hasan with 13 counts of premeditated murder yesterday for his terrorist attack on Ft. Hood, leaving many Americans wondering if he will get the death penalty.  I generally think that the death penalty should be limited to “beyond a shadow of a doubt” cases given its historic problems of accuracy, and I am all for it in this case.  A public hanging would probably be best, followed closely by a firing squad, then electric chair, then lethal injection, and finally, vigilante justice as a last resort.  The military performed their last execution on April 13, 1961 on Army private John Bennet for rape and attempted murder.  Method of execution?  Hanging.  The military currently uses lethal injection as the method of execution now, and the execution chamber is located at U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  Death Penalty Info reports that 8 people are on military death row: Kenneth Parker, Wade L. Walker, Jessie Quintanilla, James T. Murphy, Ronald Gray, Dwight J. Loving, Asan Akbar, and Andrew Witt.  No executions are currently scheduled.  The President of the United States must sign the execution order for a military prisoner to be executed as a result of a court martial trial.  Note to my Republican friends: your hero George W. Bush didn’t sign any.

Through Racism and Threats of Violence, Upstate SC's Organizing for America Still Fired Up

In the heart of Republican country, in the middle of the teabag of America, a small group of dedicated, patriotic Americans is still committed to positive change.  They have persevered through racism and threats of violence, doing the most American of political activities–talking to their friends to support ideas that move America forward.  Kayla Mallett, the head of Greenville for Obama told Daily Palmetto, “It all starts right here, with a few volunteers.  We’re fired up.  We had one of the largest turnouts at our meetings earlier this week.  I think people are really fed up with all the teabaggers waving racist signs and shouting profanities.  Most people know that we need healthcare reform, and that’s what we’re focused on right now.”  All across America, Organizing for America has held 28,000 events and sent 1 million healthcare declarations to Congress just since the August recess.  Just in upstate South Carolina, friends, neighbors, and regular joes and janes have made 29,042 calls and hosted 2,728 events.  Still fired up!

Charleston Republicans to Graham: Grab Your Ankles for the Tea Partiers

The Charleston County GOP voted Monday night to censure Senator Lindsay Graham for “believing in” climate change.  As a sidebar, I have a serious problem with the term “believe in” climate change.  The science of climate change is utterly overwhelming.  You do not “believe in” it.  You either accept it, or reject it.  If you reject it, you might as well also reject the entire science of particle physics.  County chairwoman Lin Bennett claimed that the vote was unanimous, but the resolution was voice-voted…weak.  If you’re going to censure a sitting Senator for “believing in” climate change, at least have the guts to vote on the record.  Bennet claimed that she pursued the resolution to “get his attention. They (party leaders) are just fed up, and they want him to know they’re fed up.”  The Republican purge continues.

Cakalack Coach Chunkin': Bobby Lamb and Steve Spurrier Under Fire

Poor performance, and you’re outta here!  South Carolina football teams are pressuring their head coaches to put up or get out.  WYFF 4 reported last night that Furman coach Bobby Lamb is under pressure to win the next 2 football games or resign.  The pressure comes after a weak season for the veteran Furman coach, on the heels of a 63-31 blowout by the Auburn Tigers, a game that Furman was expected to win.  The Furman Paladins are scheduled to play @ Georgia Southern Eagles, Nov 14 2:00pm ET and against Wofford on Nov 21 2:00pm ET on their home turf.  Clemson coach Steve Spurrier is also under pressure to win or resign because of Clemson’s weak season, but many sports analysts are saying it’s too early for Spurrier to go.

Queenmaker? The Failed Marriage and Jenny's Pick for Gov

Wife of scandal-plagued Republican Governor Mark Sanford recently endorsed Nikki Haley to succeed her husband as governor.  Haley is an outspoken teabagging partier, competing with rival Larry Grooms in number of teabagging party appearances.  Haley recently stepped in controversy when she sent a letter to Sanford opposing the transfer of gitmo inmates to the Charleston Naval Brig, despite not raising the same objections when Bush transferred Jose Padilla to the brig in Charleston.  Jenny Sanford also recently announced that her marriage is over, saying on her personal web site that she “is separated from her husband.”  We wish them the best.

Commander in Chief: Obama's Afghanistan Analysis

Challenging his national security team to ensure that our commitment to Afghanistan is not open ended, President Obama ordered a review of options for Afghanistan before making the weighty decision to commit U.S. troops to a war, one of the most important decisions any President ever faces.  The questions being considered in the new analysis include the stability and credibility of the Karzai government, the pace of training and competence of Afghani forces, and the ability of the Afghan government to accept responsibility for large swaths of the country, without qaeda regaining a foothold.  Obama’s analysis and decision process stand in stark contrast to Bush’s offhand decision to invade Iraq, ordering the fabrication of evidence to fit his predefined result.  Senior Obama administration officials anonymously  told AP that a decision will be announced after Nov 19.

The Body Count: Skyrocketing Swine Flu in SC, Scary!

SC DHEC ranks the swine flu epidemic in SC as “widespread.”  Here are the latest numbers:

• 3,350 positive rapid flu tests
• 82 hospitalizations from flu-related illnesses
• 5 deaths from flu-related illnesses.

Since September 1, South Carolina has had:

• 456 hospitalizations from flu-related illnesses
• 16 deaths associated with flu.

With no end in sight for the swine flu body count, South Carolinians are lining up for the H1N1 vaccine, but supplies in South Carolina are currently limited to CDC priority groups.  Clinic locations are available on the SCDHEC web site.

Update with Video: Carrie Prejean Temper Tantrum on Larry King Live

Carrie Prejean appeared on Larry King Live in the last five minutes, and she blew up at Larry King when King asked her about her motives for settling the pageant lawsuit, calling his actions “inappropriate.”  When King took a phone call, Prejean took off her mike and accused King of “being inappropriate.”  Trying to make light of the accusation, King cut to commercial with, “Inappropriate King Live back after these messages.”  Apparently, the dispute was over an alleged agreement that the show would not take phone calls, an agreement which King was not aware of.  Prejean previously canceled an appearance on Larry King Live in May 2009, with some speculation that she was too hungover to appear on the show.  Her rocky relationship with Larry King continues.

Carrie Prejean Sex Tape Scandal Continues: Pageant Rival Trying to Buy It

Shannon Moakler, former Miss USA, former Playboy Playmate, and professional celebrity girlfriend, told TMZ today she wants the Carrie Prejean sex tape.  Moakler was an outspoken advocate for Prejean’s removal from the pageant after her controversial anti-gay publicity campaign.  Moakler is most famous for being a professional celebrity girlfriend, having dated Travis Barker, Oscar de la Hoya, Billy Idol, and Dennis Quaid.  We have our doubts about her ability to get the tape: Prejean was underage when she shot the tape, prompting TMZ’s “editorial decision” not to post the tape on it’s site, no word yet on whether Prejean’s former boyfriend will be charged with trafficking child pornography.

Command Presence: President Obama's Eulogy for Ft. Hood Casualties

President Obama, serving in his capacity as Commander in Chief, delivered the eulogy at Ft. Hood, commemorating the 13 American soldiers who died in the terrorist attack perpetrated by sleeper jihadist Nidal Hasan on Nov. 5, 2009.  Those who died gave the last full measure of devotion in the defense of the United States, at the hand of a sleeper jihadist who committed the worst terrorist attack on a military base in American history.  They did not die on the battlefields that dominate the headlines of our time, but let there be no doubt that they died in the defense of America, in a brutal massacre at the hands of the worst kind of traitor, a traitor who spent years feeding off America’s freedom, so he could join the military, deceive his superiors, deceive his fellow soldiers, just so one day, he could plan and execute a massacre of American soldiers.  Hasan deserves to be charged with treason, murder, and he deserves to be given the death penalty, by the courts or otherwise.  The lives that those 13 Americans left behind demand nothing less.