"When it comes to justice it’s just us."

Remember that phrase?

Well, I am afraid that, after years of being the backstop for civil right violations, the Justice department may soon become the U.S. Department of "just them".

With the confirmation of John Ashcroft for the position of Attorney General, after what could be considered "meager" opposition, the nation’s top lawman is someone who has fundamental disagreements with major aspects of a woman’s right to choose, equal access un-hindered by racial barriers or sexual orientation, and gun control.

These are three things that already have an enormous amount of influence on the lives of people of color.

Ashcroft’s appointment should be no surprise since there are no people of color in the Senate who could even put up a token effort to stop the lunacy of such an affront.

History isn’t on our side — the Senate has only rejected an appointment nine times.

Too bad ten wasn’t a round enough number for them this year.

Our country, like it or not, now has a second rate attorney general appointed by a second place president who lost by some 500,000 popular votes.

Despite this guy’s repeated overtures to the judiciary committee and the nation, I get the feeling that Ashcroft will look the other way on matters of police brutality and racial profiling, not to mention the potential incidents of right-wing extremists who harass and even bomb abortion clinics.

Will he look the other way if the "ole boy" political and social bastions attempt to block efforts made to break down racial obstacles.

Is he really going to care when one of us is beaten or killed by police officers?.

If another Abner Louima or Amadou Diallo should be created, I only hope that people here don’t feel that there will be a need for immediate action.

Since it seems like now a cop can pick a judge that is likely to acquit him or her of wrongdoing, or move a trial to a rural venue where country folk who don’t understand the machinations of police brutality can also acquit, will there be no fear of federal lighting?

This all comes on the heels of the NYPD’s refusal to cooperate in the investigation of it’s "stop and frisk" policies.

Who on either end of that equation will move to resolve it?

Sins Of The Father

Just when you thought that our new president was going to simply ride out his four years quietly, think again.

It seems that he couldn’t wait to stoke his dad’s nemesis just six weeks after raising his hand and pledging to protect the Constitution of the United States.

George W. Bush’s ordering of a surprise launch of a bomber attack on Baghdad, without notifying Congress, or even other allies, is a dangerous way to let the world know your taking the training wheels off of your foreign policy.

The already fragile alliance between the U.S. and countries in the Gulf is a little thinner now.

It appears that while Bush was pushing his benefit-the–rich tax cut program, he decided to play a little war? Scary stuff.

Though it is unlikely that this latest attack will lead to another major military conflict, if there is another war, who do you think will be out there fighting?

It surely won’t be the sons of the people who’ll benefit the most from his ridiculous tax cut plan.

The situation is almost like when Hollywood producers can’t come up with new ideas — they simply re-make something old.

Could there be a Desert Storm II? A sequel hoping to capture the same public/box office success of the first episode?

After ten years, Hannibal is back, but not just on the silver screen. Maybe he’s in the White House as well.