First, the Republicans say "our motives were pure" when gutting FISA. Now we're on to the kangaroo courts Bush set up under the MCA, and they're telling us the same thing:

The nation's new terrorism appeals court [sic] opens for business this week and among the first questions it faces is whether the court itself is even legal.

Then there are questions about whether its judges were ever really appointed and if the military can appeal a case to a court that, until recently, existed only in theory.

Only then can the U.S. Court of Military Commission Review, meeting in a borrowed courtroom near the White House, decide its first case.

"We'll get back there and there will be 30 or 40 more motions, and on and on," [said attorney Nathan Whitling, who will argue the system's first appeal Friday] "This is hastily prepared legislation and it's full of little ambiguities."

It's only a completely new and parallel "court" system!

And now the money quote #1:

"The one redeeming thing is it proves this is not any kind of rigged system by any stretch," [said Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon].

Always look on the bright side of life! The process is so fucked up it can't possibly be rigged!**

But don't worry. Money quote #2: Read more…

Jackie Whatsherface from NPR might as well have ripped her coverage from the AP wire, which is also teh suck:

With one word — "unlawful" — the only two war-crimes trials against Guantanamo detainees fell apart in a single day, marking a stunning setback to Washington's attempts to try dozens of detainees in military court.

Now, to be fair to AP, Jackie did crank the vapidity knobs up to 11 by revising AP's copy to read "Just one word."

Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? Read more…

"How convenient!" Read more…

Y-e-e-e-s!

A federal judge struck down President Bush's authority to designate groups as terrorists, saying his post-Sept. 11 executive order was unconstitutional and vague, according to a ruling released Tuesday.

Detail on the ruling: Read more…