yay Fitz, Lamont and Krugman!

Fitz! roots!

Fitz Boom Bah!

That picture– at first glance, it looks like wolves in a very northern and human free landscape…

Hubba Hubble

some folks are saying that abu [chinga su madre] gonzales has squashed rove’s indictment

is that how grand juries work? some appointed bureaucrat can step in & thwart their work?

I’m sure I’ve missed some other fabu posts today. I try to do a blog-around at least once a week, because it’s tough to keep up with all the amazing work that everyone is doing. If you’ve got a favorite that I’ve missed, please note it in the comments thread. Thanks!

Over on HuffPo and the News Blog, they have the lastest on the dust-up between Ms. Jean Rohe (the New School graduate who called McCain out to his face) and Mark Salter, McCain’s WATB chief of staff.

http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/

undercoverdick — that’s not my understanding of how things work. I think some people ought to read things with larger grains of salt. But maybe that’s just me…that is especially true where Gonzales is conflicted out of oversight on this particular case, due to having previously been the WH Counsel and involved in discovery matters for the case.

A good read;

‘Viguerie And The Fine Art Of Rhetorical Omission’

by tristero @ http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/

John Casper – I’ll agree that the purpose of the distraction goes beyond criticism of the CM itself to other important issues.

kinda funny at d r i f t g l a s s: Dawn of the Ned

Holy smoke! Post on the main thread for the first time in a moon’s age and get EPU’d. Oh, well. Here’s my reposting because the fake Fitz has been a pain for a long time and people should know.

For everybody dealing with the fake PJF site and it’s non-responsive author, here’s some history.

The commentariat first started dealing with him way back in November. IIRC suntzu first complained. I seconded suntzu here. Read into the thread to see how hard he was hit.

He has proxies who also comment with some frequency. Or perhaps they’re his disassociated personalities filling in as proxies, who knows?

Just what are the blog equivalents of hot tar, baskets of feathers, rope, and a rail? I dunno.

–

The Eagle Nebula is an enormous cloud of gas and dust in our home galaxy, the Milky Way, where hundreds of new stars are forming, not just one. At the scale of this photograph, the Sun and the nine planets of our Solar System would be too tiny to see.

from the previous thread:

>>>>>>>>>>
looseheadprop says:
May 22nd, 2006 at 11:19 am

To add to the confusion, ABC’s “The Note” is reporting that Karl Rove was ssen at O’Hare airport (which is only a good brisk walking distance from the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago) this past Friday at 6pm.

What’s up with that?

I can’t link, maybe someone else can put it up in another comment
>>>>>>>>>>>
A Note Notebook to the first person who can tell us why Karl Rove was at O’Hare last Friday afternoon around 6pm ET. Karl Rove and members of his staff are not eligible.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics…..?id=156238
>>>>>>>>>>

Maybe it was Dr. Phil?

Maybe he took Luskin’s cat for a second opinion wrt to fecal parasites?

Maybe a bit of sand in our eyes?

I also thought the “You Snooze & World Report” article about David Addington was interesting, in that Scooter Libby appears to have completely disappeared from the narrative of the Cheney Presidency:

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/n…..ington.htm

Oh,my, Mr.Salter needs a spell on the fainting couch. What a fuckwad.That kind of condescending shit pisses me off.And who the hell is he to be talking down to this girl? My advice to him is STFU,WATB. The best part is that he comes across as a petulant little bitch.

Why am I not surprised at this?

If a grand jury issues an indictment- I don’t believe it can be squashed- even by the Attorney General. Lots of apparently groundless speculation goin on at this point.

There’s a vacuum about the Rove story and it’s being filled.

..oh, maybe because it’s an Inconvenient Truth?

I really liked the New York cover story about Al Gore. Lots of views from Al himself. A great read.

…and, after all, “reality has a left-wing bias.”

Christy & rwcole — thank you for commenting

it’s my nature to read good news with a grain of salt & to read bad news as if it might be true: that goes hand in hand with shorting the market

Thanks EPU.

Maybe Rove has asked that Fitz meet with him in Chicago to work out the plea deal, so no one can sniff around in DC…..hmmmm..OK I have my tinfoil hat on now. Sorry!

klevenstein 18 -

Read Tim Flannery’s scary and depressing “The Weather Makers”. The Pretend President can pretend all he wants that human caused global warming ain’t happening. If we don’t start taking concerted large scale action world-wide soon, people 100 years from now are gonna be in a literal World of Hurt. I won’t be around, but my progeny will.

Most likely explanation for The Note’s report on Rove is that he was doing advance work for Bush’s Chicago visit today.

Norske – Thank you

rwcole – You quash, which is annulment by judicial action.

Franco at 25 — Rove is represented by counsel. And under investigation. Fitzgerald wouldn’t even say hello to him from across the room unless his attorneys were present.

#17, who or what is “Mr. Salter”?
Ghostman

back-quash: the shill’s swill

Tony Blair has just talked with the new Iraqi government — he was in Baghdad today — and he’s coming close to the sort of commitment that Rumsfeld and Rice have avoided. Blair appeared at a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who announced an “agreement for the transfer of security” that would start next month and lead to Iraqi control of 14 of 16 provinces by the end of 2006.

Blair apparently refused to commit publicly to a specific timetable, but there’s word that he may be saving that for his trip to Washington later this week. Writing for Raw Story, Michael Smith, the reporter who broke the story of the Downing Street memos, says that Blair and George W. Bush will jointly announce a “phased withdrawal” of troops from Iraq as they meet for an Iraq summit at the White House. The withdrawal, Smith says, will reduce U.S. troop levels in Iraq from about 133,000 to about 100,000 by the end of the year.

If Smith is right, Bush will no doubt use the announcement as a way to show that the United States really is turning corners and making progress in Iraq. But we’ve seen that “100,000 by the end of 2006″ formulation come and go a lot of times over the last year, and we can’t help remembering Rumsfeld’s claim — back in the spring of 2003 — that U.S. troop levels might be reduced to 30,000 by the end of 2003. We’re all for bringing the troops home. But we’ll believe that it’s happening — and that it’s not just words meant to buy time until after the midterm elections in November — when we see their planes landing on U.S. soil.

(Salon)

Jean Rohe responds to dickhead Salton.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..21442.html

EPU–thanks.

But could the Attorney General quash an indictment?

Bustedknuckles 33 – recycled from last night:

Rohe v. wade (through the fever swamp)

Thanks Christy…I took the hat off and threw it away. LOL.

J i O thanks for recommenting that.

I took the time to read Ms, Rhoe’s response. She is a class act. I especially love the last line.
“Please don’t try to bully me anymore”. like I said before, Salton?, STFU.

anon @ 27– you are probably right– got to coach those questioners and triple check the guest list, doncha know.

Bet they’ve had enough of the uppity citizens popping up here, there and everywhere.

Christy — Could you talk a bit more about the AT&T whistleblower documents when you get a chance?

ghostman 30: Salter is a McCain speechwriter who ill-advisedly posted an editorial on HuffPo trying to cast shame on Ms. Rohe’s truth-to-power takedown of the spineless rove-whipped senator from Arizona.

He has since been summarily drawn and quartered by almost 500 commenters … with unusual skill and decorum (for that venue) I might add.

rwcole – The AG could ask a judge to dismiss it, but I don’t believe any prosecutor can dismiss on his own accord. There are different ways to have a case dismissed – with prejudice and without prejudice. In criminal law, the defendant would want double jeapardy to attach so that they could not be indicted again for the same crimes. Whether jeapordy attaches is something the judge would rule on? – I am not going to do the research – but there is a pretty good chance that jeapardy would attach if the AG sought a dismissal without prosecuting.

33 and 41: got it, thanks.
Ghostman

EPU–That sounds right. Could ANY judge dismiss the indictment?

@ 42 – The question mark preceding the hyphen should not be there. The judge WOULD rule on whether jeapardy attaches or not, there is no question about it.

One other point – It is also not simply up to the prosecutor. There are rules concerning speedy trials, etc., so that if, following an indictment, a prosecutor sits on his ass, a defendant can seek to have an indictment dismissed – they don’t need to wait for the proscutor. The defense can also seek to have an indictment dismissed on other grounds – insufficient evidence, things like that – though it is very, very rarely successful.

Salter, Salton, Whatever,The guy pissed me off and I am glad she took him down a peg or ten.

Billmon’s presentation of sharm el-sheikh is spot on.

I hope he keeps tourist blogging, because Luxor is also very interesting.

And if anybody has his email, ask him for a hoopoe picture.

Re Gonzalez . . .

I know things have shifted over time with the various laws (or lack thereof) governing independent counsels and special prosecutors, but I think that Gonzalez *does* have the power to remove Fitz from his post. After Ashcroft recused himself, Fitz was appointed to his post by a lower-level Dept of Justice person. Thus, it follows that Gonzalez could – emphasize the subjunctive, people – remove him.

Could G. squash an indictment? Doubtful.
Could he remove a prosecutor? Legally yes; politically even more doubtful. (Hard to imagine JAR’s in the single digits, but if he pulled that stunt, we might just get there.)

Raw Story’s got lots of stuff up now.

The big story is that Bush and Blair are going to announce a withdrawal of troops in hopes of saving their political asses (US troops down to 100,000- Iraqis in control of security in most provinces)

Then there are two Drudge stories..

1) Gore denies that he took a five car motorcade 500 yards to promote his movie as Drudge alleges.

2) Dean is looking into suing Drudge concerning Drudge’s claim that Dean was working to defeat Nagin in NO.

If all this is true- Drudge is a VERY bad boy- but we kind of suspected that!

EPU — what is jeapardy? or jeapordy, for that matter — them’s new words to me

1,158 DAYS AND THE KILLING GOES ON AND ON AND…

Bustedknuckles,

She didn’t jest take’im down a peg er 10…she took ‘im all the way down ta the mat – match over!!!

KEEP THE FAITH AND OUR KIDS’LL TAKE OVER!!!

More me – I really should think out some of these answers more.

Indictments are found insufficient at times (although I don’t think it is that common – the more comlicated the law involved the greater the chance)* b/c the prosecutor has not “properly” pled all the elements of a particular crime in the indictment. Typically what happens then is that the prosecutor will seek a superseding indictment where everything is pled correctly and the prosecution goes on from there. You can also get a superseding indictment when the prosecution finds new evidence or new, additional, crimes. Of course, the above presumes that the prosecutor actually wants to pursue the case.

_____________________________________
* I have a friend who does organized crime defense work. He is a bright guy, and he swears (and has a fair amount of evidence to support the contention) that for the most part neither prosecutors nor judges understand RICO law. He does, and when he points out the failings of a RICO indictment he is invariably met with silence and invariably gets nowhere. So, at times it just simply does not matter.

Looks like Rove was in Chicago Friday for a fund raiser.Quote from Lynn Sweet-Chicago Sun times

“
Meanwhile, Karl Rove, Bush’s chief political adviser, is the keynoter at a fund-raiser tonight to benefit Lake County Republicans in north suburban Lincolnshire.

On Saturday, Rove breakfasts in Wheaton in an event designed to rally troops to work the grass roots for state Sen. Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton), who is pitted against Democrat Tammy Duckworth in the race for the 6th District west suburban House seat being vacated by Rep. Henry Hyde.”

http://blogs.suntimes.com/swee…..ago_m.html

Both Joe Conason and Mark Shields have said that General Hayden is the best DCI we could possibly hope for. In Up-Is-Down BushWorld, that might be true — strengthen the Agency now, lest it be completely destroyed and replaced by Rumsfeld’s Mil-Spies who can’t piss straight. President Gore can clean up the mess.

Isn’t Abu G a potential target of the Fitz investigation? Obstruction of Justice, and all that. Any attempt on his part to quash anything would be shot down pretty quickly, in my opinion.

OfT: NYT’s: The Dixie Chicks: America Catches Up With Them
Article Tools Sponsored By By JON PARELES Published: May 21, 2006 “THE DIXIE CHICKS call it “the Incident”: the anti-Bush remark that Natalie Maines, their lead singer, made onstage in London in 2003. “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas,” said Ms. Maines, a Texan herself…”
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05…..ei=5087

I loooove hoopoes !

rcauthen @ 40

While you’re waiting on Christy – here’s EFF’s homepage w/ lots of docs and commentary on it

also Talk Left has had plenty of commentary on it

Orin Kerr has been everyone’s go to guy as to legalities

Orin Kerr Homepage

EFF Homepage

Undercover Dick – Jeopardy, as in Double Jeopardy.”

The Fifth Amendment states:

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Faced with the possibility of Congress turning over this November, a Rove (or Cheney) indictment would surely motivate Gonzales to fire Fitz. In the Unitary executive theory, everyone in the executive Branch works for the Preznit and no one may stray from his wishes. The Unitary Theory ain’t just for warmaking anymore! L’etat, c’est W.

rwcole 34 But could the Attorney General quash an indictment?

Christy or EPU or anybody can correct me, but given that Abu handled discovery matters for the White House in the Plame investigation, and for that reason recused himself, wouldn’t it be sort of a conflict of interest and violation of the code of professional responsibility for him to now intervene in the case, whether to quash an indictment (if he can) or otherwise?

Double Jeopardy?
Jason Leopardy

can a leopard change its spots?
(fool me once, yadda yadda)

#31, #44 rwcole

“But could the Attorney General quash an indictment?”

“Could ANY judge dismiss the indictment?”

there was in fact a bit of a dust up about this very question at daily kos yesterday.

Froomkin catches: “…finds that people just don’t like Bush much anymore…” Anymore? Can anyone (seriously) explain what there was to like about Bush in the first place? Ronald Reagan’s policies were abhorrent, but I suppose one could say, exclusive of his politics, he was likable. And IMO he was a somewhat talented actor. To say George Bush is, or was likable, is for me a major stretch. Of course I suppose there were people who found Atilla the Hun, Genghis Kahn, Rasputin and Stalin likable. Georgie Bush has always been a selfish spoiled rich brat, who has always gotten his way. And now he’s murderer responsible for thousands of deaths in Iraq. Bush. What was there ever to like? This man Bush has pretty much been for most of his life a liar and a war criminal in the making.

58:

Conflict of interest?

Code of professional responsibility?

Christy: I always knew I had a lot in common with the writers and commenters on this blog, but your mention of soup dumplings at Joe’s Shangai was too much for me to handle! Whenever my husband and I go visit family in downstate NY and Northern New Jersey from Rochester NY, we ALWAYS make sure we get to Joe’s for some (or rather lots–I’m good for 2 entire orders myself). For many years now, my entire family (parents, siblings, neices) have braved some nasty weather and terrible traffic just to savor the taste of what I consider to be one of the best dishes on earth. Mmmmm. I want some now. On your next visit there, might I also recommend the green beans and pork, as well as the whole fish Shangai style. That is of course, if you save some room after the soup dumplings.

Whew! Thanks for clearing that up EPU. For a second I thought maybe Alex Trebeck had a twin!

1.158 DAYS AND THE KILLING GOES ON AND ON AND…

Evil Parallel Universe,

Thanx fer the info on organized crime prosecutions and RICO…I have often found myself hopin’ that Fitz would or could bring a RICO case namin’ Bush and Chaney. I feel badly about these hopes (fer about 2 seconds) because I have long felt that RICO is among a growing body of recent law that could easily be used politically ta shut down 2 party politics and cement a totalitarian regime.

Do you think Fitz has the stones ta bring a RICO case here?

KEEP THE FAITH AND THEY’LL ALL END UP AGAINST THE WALL!!

OT: Blogs are great!

Thanks to alert blogger shoephone, I found out about a party for my district Saturday, which ended up featuring not only Russ Feingold, but our Senator Maria Cantwell, our Rep Jim McDermott, and lots of other local Dem notables . . . all in a group of no more than 200 folks (seemed like less)—I got to shake Russ’s hand and tell him to run for president (no time for more, unfortunately!!). I chickened out and did not tell Maria how grievously disappointed we are with her . . . anyway, hear hear for blogs!!

I’m also looking forward to an event in the works for local (Seattle area) firedoggies!
Keep up the good work, all! We are making a difference!

neurophius & TeddySF – If, as an attorney, the AG violated the code of prof. responsibility it could lead to sanctions at some point in the future.

Regardless though, it would not prevent him from trying to end the investigation. I don’t know whether he can or can’t seek to dismiss an indictment. Ashcroft agreed that he had to remove himself b/c of conflicts, and for that we should be thankful.

At the end of the day I think it is a political question, not a legal ethics one. Nixon after all kept firing attorneys general until he found one to do what he wanted.

Personally, I don’t think the AG or anyone else is going to either remove Fitz or seek to dismiss indictments – it would be very bad politics. But that’s me.

EPU

thank you — you handled that one well

TSF 62

“Generally, when used to suggest disqualification of a public official from performing his sworn duty, term “copnflict of interest” refers to a clash between public interest and the private pecuniary interest of the individual concerned.” Black’s Law Dictionary, 5th ed. But that wasn’t really the meaning I was trying to capture. It’s more like the fact that the White House and the Office of Attorney General (as prosecutor) are on opposite sides of this case (at least for discovery purposes) and the same attorney (abu) can’t act on behalf of both. Now that you’ve made me define it, I’m not sure how applicable it is. EPU?

Code of professional responsibility = lawyers’ code of ethics, which varies from one jurisdicction to another.

65: watched that party invite happen here Saturday nite, thanks for your report! Don’t worry, there’ll be a next time for you to tell your Senator of your disappointment, and I bet she’ll remember you from Saturday nite, given such a small crowd.

just saw an ad for this crap on CNN. I believe it falls in to the WTF category. Grasping at straws. Isn’t there anything from the last 20 years they can dig up?

http://www.censurecarter.com/

…maybe I shouldn’t have posted the link. Here’s some text from the site:

It’s Time to Censure Former President Jimmy Carter

Since leaving office, President Jimmy Carter has repeatedly undermined U.S. foreign policy, criticized the missions of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, as well as embracing known terrorists and terrorist organizations.

This website contains extensive documentation of the offenses described above that you can read for yourself here.

What is Censure?

The Legal Information Institute defines a congressional censure as, “a process of Congressional reprimand–the political equivalent of a strongly-worded letter.”

Help Us Get The Word Out

We are putting together commercial spots to spread the word. You can help by making an online contribution with VISA or MasterCard. Click Here to Contribute.

A Case for Censuring Jimmy Carter – by Melanie Morgan

In her weekly online column, Move America Forward Chairman, Melanie Morgan, outlined the case for censuring former President Jimmy Carter. You can read her column “Censuring Jimmy Carter” here.

Contact Us

-sorry if this has already been discussed. I have been away from my computer and TV for a while.

dear Christy – like rcauthen #40 I too would appreciate your take on the AT&T whistleblower revelations, dateline San Francisco. Or links to any watchdog netroots AT&T sites in general fdl’ers could recommend. Thanks to all.

Tank at 52

Quick callup/email “the Note” , you will win their contest!

Thanks for the Second shout out today Christy.

And if I may I also have an analysis of the New Orleans Mayoral Race which blasts the racist idiocy of Michelle Malkins post “The Definition of Insanity.”

My response is “The Definition of Bullshit”

It outlines and show support of NOLA bloggers theory on how Republicans backed Nagin to hurt the Dems in future state elections using a segment of the white population’s disdain for Landrieu’s father having desegregated city hall years ago.

Needless to say much more nuanced than Michelle’s Black are Stupid screed

68 sorry about the typos, I really am more literate than that.

NYT has a story up quoting a british aid who says that the withdrawal from Iraq will be slower than indicated in Blair’s remarks.

Blair to come to Washington this week.

This may be the story of the week- if Blair and Clusterfuck DO announce a troop reduction.

Will it be enough to save Clusterfuck’s sorry ass? Stay tuned.

DOW slipping back into slightly positive territory for the day.

EPU,
Double Jeopardy usually attaches when a petit jury is empaneled and sworn.

For the non-lawyers; petit jury=trial jury

Norske – I believe that if a prosecutor has the evidence to bring an indictment for a particular crime (and also, perhaps, prove it beyond a reasonable doubt), then they indict on it; on as many different crimes as the evidence supports. In Plame, I don’t think we can dream beyond conspiracy.

The basic theory of RICO is that an organization (e.g. a corporation) is used as the vehicle through which to commit crimes (and you need more than one). Even if the biz has legitimate business interests, its real purpose is to commit crimes. E.g. a mob carting company, which may collect trash, but really is there to extort money from multiple people.

Yeah, much of what TEAM LOSER does is “criminal,” but, sadly, not in the RICO context.

rwcole: Inflation fears are quite justified—if inflation does continue to rise (and oil drives all prices, so expect inflation to continue) the Fed will continue to combat the inflationary pressures with the only tool in their toolbox: money rates. Every aspect of the economy is driven by money rates. Housing will blow up in our faces if rates go up by very much more. Many businesses are sitting on loans with adjustable rate terms, and increased money costs take increased payments straight from the bottom line. Higher interest rates will strangle business expansion, as capital expenditures will dry up. Wall Street investors should be very cautious about inflation—this would be the chickens coming home to roost…

If I am not mistaken, Fitzgerald was appointed by Comey, who was the acting AG after Ashcroft resigned and before a new AG was nominated and confirmed. This is not exactly the equivalent of being appointed by a “lower level” person.

Gonzales was White House Counsel at the time of the initial DoJ investigation, and at the time of Fitzgerald’s appointment. He was the one who got the call that White House records were going to be subpoenaed, and presumably advised White House staff about what was being requested. It seems to me that his decisions as WHC could be a factor in this case, and as such, I do believe it would be a conflict, now that he is AG, for him to dismiss a special counsel or quash an indictment. This is no different, I don’t think, from a Supreme Court justice recusing himself on a case in which he advised the White House in an earlier legal role.

Now, maybe I’m all wet on this, and perhaps this is another one of those things against which there is no strict legal prohibition, but for which there is widespread recognition that it verges on the unethical and should not be attempted.

I think some of you are getting way ahead of yourselves on this. It’s not hard to imagine an end-run being attempted by the administration to “save” themselves, but I look at it this way: if quashing an indictment or dismissing Fitzgerald were an option, why would they have just let Libby twist in the wind? I don’t think they can do this and get away with it – the phrase “we’re a nation of laws, and we believe in the rule of law” would sink it’s big, sharp teeth deeply into Bush’s butt and shake him like a cheap dog toy until he begged for mercy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..21404.html

Link to the text of a great commencement speech by Catherine Crier about losing our liberty. I was proud once to serve as jury foreman in her court. Beautiful woman- inside and out. Worth a read.

ROVE’S FLIPPING LIKE A FISH

http://www.choicechanges.com/m…..mp;sid=585

We believe that we hit a nerve with our report. When I get calls on my cell phone from Karl Rove’s attorney and spokesman, I have to wonder what’s up. “I” believe – but cannot confirm – that Mark Corallo, Karl Rove’s spokesman gave Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post my phone number. I believe Howard Kurtz contacted me with the intention of writing a piece critical of our organization. I know that Anne Marie Squeo of the Wall Street Journal attacked us and independent journalism as a whole in her piece titled, “Rove’s Camp Takes Center of Web Storm / Bloggers Underscore How Net’s Reporting, Dynamics Provide Grist for the Rumor Mill.” We believe that rolling out that much conservative journalistic muscle to rebut this story is telling. And we believe that Rove’s camp is making a concerted effort to discredit our story and our organization.

Further – and again this is “What We Believe” – Rove may be turning state’s evidence. We suspect that the scope of Fitzgerald’s investigation may have broadened – clearly to Cheney – and according to one “off the record source” to individuals and events not directly related to the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. We believe that the indictment which does exist against Karl Rove is sealed. Finally, we believe that there is currently a great deal of activity in the Plame investigation.

We know that this story is of vital interest to the community, and that providing as much information as we can is very important to our readers. We want you to know that this is challenging territory and that we are proceeding with as much speed as the terrain will allow.

Marc Ash, Executive Director – t r u t h o u t director@truthout.org

See Original article and the comments which follow it, at:

With respect to the potential dismissal of Mr. Fitzgerald, I’d like to point out the obvious precendent:

On Saturday, October 20, 1973, Richard Nixon fired Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox and forced the resignations of Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William D. Ruckelshaus.

Having lived through that event, the most notable thing I can tell you about what became known as the Saturday Night Massacre was that it was at that very moment when we all knew for certain that, one way or the other, Richard Nixon was going down. He would not finish his presidency. He was a criminal who had disgraced his office and did not deserve to remain in the Oval Office.

From that moment on, his legacy as the criminal president would forever overshadow anything else have may have accomplished.

Everyone has a defining moment. The moment when the true nature of their character come shining through. For Richard Nixon, that moment was October 20th, 1973. For Colin Powell, it was February, 5, 2003 And for George W Bush, well, frankly it’s getting difficult to pick from all the available choices.

Looseheadprop – If you are a defense attorney, you argue that jeopardy has attached regardless, and maybe the judge agrees on an ad hoc basis – e.g. bad faith on the part of the prosecution like subpeorning perjury in the GJ or a “fishing expedition.” In the type of defense work that I have experience with (high profile white collar criminal prosecutions), it is exceedingly rare that prosecutors indict without carrying through with prosecutions after years long investigations, etc. I think judges are at least willing to listen to a motion at that point in time.

Mark–I agree with everything you say- but I am not sure that the inflation fears tell the whole story of the recent declines. I would like to see some detailed reporting of who is selling and why. Mainly I would like to know what the institutional investors are doing.

Anne 81 “I don’t think they can do this and get away with it…”

I agree with you. The question is, are they stupid enough to try to get away with it? Many of us remember the Saturday Night Massacre. I can’t believe Abu would fire Fitzgerald or dismiss the indictment without orders from Bush, and Bush is so unpopular now that I believe that would bring out the villagers with their torches and pitchforks. The only way I can see it happening is if Fitz indicts Cheney–that would raise the stakes substantially. But I don’t recall Nixon doing anything to try to save Agnew’s sorry ass…

greg palast says bush’s low poll figures mean nothing because the party elite have already moved far beyond bush — i like palast: he beings a degree of investigative skill & zeal that only seymour hersh can rival here

I like Palast too. Haven’t heard much from him lately.

new thread, y’all

I’m skeptical of the whole “Rove’s Flipping” theory primarily because a presidential pardon is Rove’s ace in the hole. If all else fails, a pardon will no doubt be issued before he ever serves a day in jail.

With that kind of hole card, there’s no need for serious worry and there’s no need to turn on the people that brought you to the dance.

Why won’t the new thread appear when I hit F5 refresh or log out of FDL and back in?

http://www.theweekly.com/news/…..iners.html

“Isakson Mourns Deaths of Five Miners in Kentucky Mine Explosion

WASHINGTON (May 20, 2006) – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), who chairs the Senate Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee, issued the following statement on the mine explosion in southeastern Kentucky that killed five miners early this morning:

“I was heartbroken to learn this morning of yet another catastrophe in an underground coal mine, this time in Holmes Mill, Kentucky. Dianne and I express our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those who perished.

“It was just this week that I had the privilege of meeting again with some of the family members who lost love ones in the Sago Mine Disaster in West Virginia earlier this year. Now, another five families must experience a grief that none of us can imagine.

“I commend the immediate response by the brave mine rescue team members who raced to the scene to attempt to save their fellow miners.

“I will keep the families of those who died and the entire Holmes Mill community in my thoughts and prayers.”"
———
THis guy should coordinate w/Arlen about how not to investigate admin enforcement of mine safety. Cuz I see no evidence that either is contemplating such. Operate them mines w/Cone of Silence, plz.

neurophius:

Not sure. I couldn’t see it either until I opened up a fresh browser. Then it came up fine.

Hey Christy,

If you’re still here, and if you like pics from Hubble and the like – check this site out – new pics every day.

I’ve used some for my blog

Christy, I believe that the ultimate source for your picture was the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) out of NASA. Here is the link to their archives, which contains thousands of beautiful astronomical photos.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html

The Blair Bush talk of troop drawdown is simply further PsyOps for the folks at home. The Pentagon has consistently deployed the maximum number of troops current force structure allows. To keep the numbers up, Navy and Air Force personnel are now assigned to Iraqi convoy duty. As late as last Friday, Reuters reported Military may send soldiers from Kuwait to Iraq

The current force structure will remain the stable in Iraq and Afganistan until outside happenstance makes the US position untenable; a GOP defeat in a Congressional or Presidential Election, Crash of the US Dollar, or Bombing of Iran and subsequent Shiite rebellion against the occupation.

#89 Palast was on the same edition of Radio Nation as Christy last night. Excellent!

A million thanks, Christy for linking to scout and helping to give the levee issue some visibility. It matters a great deal.

Billmon needs to learn a bit about the sea. White coral is dead coral (and the stuff that’s alive is many-coloured). That’s why they call the death of reefs “coral bleaching”. Stonefish don’t kill you instantly (although you’re in for pain if not infection and worse if you step on one). But he’s a good egg, and will learn (and is willing to) … unlike some folks we know of in Washington.

We were just over in Sharm around New Years, and it is a great place to dive (and the town is like many places in Egypt and elsewhere in the third world; nice around the hotels, but tons of people livng on a couple dollars a day). Haven’t posted the U/W pics from our trip yet (on my blog), but I’ll do it eventually. Anyone want to see what the underwater world is like amidst some random political musings, check it out.

Cheers,

Teresa Nielsen Hayden, not “Teresa Nielson-Hayden”. (When Teresa was a guest at one convention, the organizers had a stack of badges about a foot thick with every conceivable variation of her name–to ensure, they explained, that the right one would be somewhere in there.)