Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.

Would that passage even get by the Supreme Court when this little bit of legislation is reviewed for constitutionality? I would think that any laws passed to grant broad executive branch powers free of legislative and judicial oversight would have to be made via amendment to the Constitution.

That's pre-9/11 thinking, Matt.

(Also, to the best of my knowledge the SC doesn't review anything for constitutionality - they step in if and when a suit is filed and makes it's way to that level. Say around 2014. I don't know if that's an absolute, if they could step in in extraordinary circumstances. But I sure doubt this bunch is likely to even if they have that power.)

Rick Sanchez just quoted my tweet on the air on CNN. Nothing stranger than hearing "Cashmere says" on teevee.

You're a pundit now.

This Wonkette post cracked me up - is that wrong?:

New Lincoln Penny Honors Republican Homosexuals

Now that American Capitalism has completely failed and the U.S. currency is even more worthless, the folks at the U.S. Mint are having some fun by releasing this new Lincoln Penny, which reminds us that all Republicans are terrible closet-case homosexuals having grim bathroom encounters in these Log Cabins on the edge of town, by the interstate rest stop.

Abraham Lincoln was our first gay president. As a social liberal, he thought slavery was “wrong,” so he freed the slaves and attempted to kill all the Southern whites, so America could heal. But many white Southerners survived, including Jesse Helms and George Allen, and that’s why we still have all these problems today, as Trent Lott famously noted.

Lincoln was enjoying his favorite pastime — seeing RENT at a Washington theater — when a wingnut blogger killed him.

Glad you're well, Shir, thanks for reassuring us.

I can't log into the Bank of America website. Grr.

I'm blanking on my logo project for my sister. Grr.

My cheek scar is suddenly pinker than Allyson's wall. Grr.

eta: no grr about Shir checking in, but a general grr for the violence.

Glad to hear you're ok Shir.

Speaking of the financial crisis, I was just thinking maybe I should write a letter to WaMu offering to lend them some money at a low introductory rate of 7.9% APR. increasing to 19% after the first three months

It's sad. I hang out there, a lot. One of my favorite places in J-city, and I planned to be there tonight, but decided going tomorrow night instead this afternoon.

Also, two of the most left-radical meeting places are within a minute walk from there. What's the point to try and hit people who might be in your favor?

I'm glad you're fine Shir, but I'm sorry to hear about the bombing.