The New York terror trials will only cost $400M.
Money means absolutely nothing to these people. And why should it? After all, it’s other peoples’ money…
[Thursday morning update]
You can’t bargain with terrorists. Thoughts from a (sensible) liberal defense lawyer.
Sounds like it’s worse than that.
You don’t UNDERSTAND. Government spending STIMULATES the ECONOMY. It doesn’t matter what they spend it ON.
You’re right, I don’t understand. I’m the perfect stimulus packaging solution. Given me a check with a lot of zeroes on it (or nothing at all) and I will stimulate the economy far better than all of this so called spending. You’ll look so cool when you see me stimulating the economy. There is no downside!
Karl,
We’ve been reviewing your request for funding. The proposed program seems fine, but there are a few errors in the way you’ve filled in the details on the form.
1) You included a real address, from a real district. That doesn’t fly here.
2) You’re named directly. You have to come up with a catchy front group name and use that.
3) The box “Check if you are tax cheat” was unaccountably left blank.
4) We assume the 20% baksheeh is just delayed in the mail. But failure in that department would, obviously, be completely fatal.
5) Your accounting for ‘jobs saved or created’ has some clear errors. You marked ‘One’, and there just has to be a lot more. As an external reviewer, I can come up with (me, you, my internet provider, your internet provider, Rand’s internet provider, Rand’s hosting service, Rand, my computer’s manufacturer, your computer’s manufacturer… the miner that mined the bauxite for your computer… ) so that’s eleventy bajillion right there.
If there’s anything to be gained from questioning Abdulmutallab, it can be gotten, and we are no less safe for the decision to try him in federal court.
While I generally agree that these people should be treated as combatants, not criminals (per se), but Shargel goes a bit far in claiming that these guys’ skill sets approach that of our most elite forces.
Nonsense. You can teach a ten year old to strip and clean a weapon blindfolded. It isn’t that difficult. Most of them are NOT “experts” in explosives and tactics. Most of these guys are not “highly trained”; maybe to level of AIT, but other than that, they’re just cannon fodder.
These guys (and gals) shouldn’t be tried in civilian courts, nor should they be imprisoned. They should be shot. QED. There’s nothing “alleged” about the Christmas bomber. Why the hell are we even having this discussion?
And you know what? Their families ought to be imperiled, as well. Turnabout is fair play, and how fast will we get some young potential terrorist’s attention when he realizes that his entire family risks destruction for his acts.
Harsh? Yeah. So solly.
Karlius Hellovaparte, Supreme Galactic Emperor of the Peoples’ Socialist Front of the Milky Way.
[X] Tax cheat? It’s not cheating, if it doesn’t get in the papers.
[X] Yes, I do wish to compensate everyone responsibly appropriately and shall we say extremely generously for the fine advice and support they have given me in coming up with my plans for a vigorous and positive stimulation plan. Their personal wealth and retirement plans shall be, um, vigorously stimulated.
[x] Not one! Not two!! But THREE BAZILLION jobs created or saved! You will not only be creating or saving the jobs of your constituents and donors (amply I might add for the latter), but of galactic citizens, none of us really care about nor can verify. That really allows you to throw around some large, unquestionable numbers!
So what is my plan for stimulating the US economy? Focused, galactic-scale socialization events (well actually one rather broad and lengthy event lasting till the money runs out) all across the “Blue” portion of the US supplied with nurturing alcoholic beverages, enlightened social consciousness media played at acceptably loud levels, and booty action, resulting in empowerment and um, lubrication of the constituencies you most care about. Job generation won’t merely be just due to the massive and hoppin’ stimulation, there’ll also be vastly increased demand for environmental services, medical professions, and construction workers on a scale unseen since the wonderful economic recovery at the end of the Second World War (and we know that turned out great!).
This is your chance to make epic history! Don’t hold back!