ment's handling of Native American trust funds."
Davidson quotes Dennis Gingold, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs: "If they hadn't destroyed documents or violated the law, they wouldn't have anything to worry about, .. There isn't a single person given blanket immunity to violate the law. Government officials are public servants. They have a duty to follow the law."
In an attempt to gain control of the situation, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth is considering personal fines for Norton and Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb. He has also been asked to consider jail time for the top officials. The judge has reasoned that there's no point in imposing fines if the government is going to pick up the tab.
Judge Lamberth believes he's been mislead by former TAAMS project manager Dom Nessi and others, who "knew" that the newly instituted Trust Asset and Accounting Management System (TAAMS) wouldn't work, but allowed him to rule to institute the system regardless. "They let me rule in ignorance," Judge Lamberth charged. Three months later he says he discovered that the system was becoming an entirely different monster: "I knew TAAMS was never going to work the way they told me," Lamberth said.
"That's when I knew I had been duped," he said. "That's when I knew this case was going to go on forever."
Now according to Davidson, Rep. Norman Dicks (D-Wash.), suggested at a House hearing March 14 that the government pay the costs for any government employee working on the trust, effectively neutralizing any threat Judge Lamberth could make short of jail time. The judge may be right. At this rate Cobell v. Norton could go on forever.
Tuesday, March 26, 2002- - -
Will wonders never cease. I was actually able to conduct business with the Department of the Interior over the internet yesterday. For the first time since December 7th. It's such a relief to be back to normal, that it's easy to forget that it was business as usual that prompted the Cobell v. Norton class-action lawsuit that eventually shut down the DOI's internet systems in early December.
I've been working on a lengthy piece outlining the current state of affairs, but it's obvious that I can't do it justice in a couple of hours this morning. Suffice it to say that when all is said and done there's going to be a lot more said than done in this situation.
Through this internet shutdown the DOI has successfully demonstrated that they could make things a lot worse if they were so inclined. Over five years of legal wrangling and there's still no adequate accounting system in place. The lawsuit that set out to demand reform of the system is seen by the DOI as ".. hampering their ability to fix the trust and is taking a toll on the work force. Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles recently told Congress that some employees have refused to work on the trust anymore -- and that those still working on the case have taken out insurance policies to protect against potential judicial sanctions. Yes, it's all the Indians' fault for suing, don't you see?
Monday, March 25, 2002- - -
Gee guys, how could you have missed Harry Butt Weasel Browne? The Weasel's recent WorldNetDaily article: This just in: Bin Laden wins Afghan war, should be good for a nomination to the Academy of Drivelling Idiots.
Says the Weasel: The root fallacy in the War on Terrorism is the idea that we have no choice but to fight people who won't rest until they destroy us.
I rest my case.
Update: Odd, the link to Samizdata doesn't appear to be working at present. You can find them in my favorites though.
The ranks of the professionally offended are well represented by Shelter Inc., who found reason to complain about a Hardee's restaurant chain placemat promoting their new "Six Dollar Burger for $3.95." The placemat lists 38 suggestions for how customers might spend the $2 they save by buying the Hardee's sandwich instead of a more expensive one. The sixth suggestion is, "Make a homeless person really happy." It follows the fifth item on the list, "Replace your shoelaces."
"Is this to say that you can make a homeless person 