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"Your presence is politefully requested …"
Three days ago, the blog for the Wall Street Journal, Washington Wire, reported that House Government Reform Committee chair, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles, Calif.), extended an invitation to our favorite civilian administrator in Iraq — L. Paul Bremer.
The inquiry will be part of a larger effort to investigate post-disaster efforts by the Bush administration, including Hurricane Katrina. (At least someone is doing it. No thanks to Republican senator from Connecticut.)
Yochi Dreazen of Washington Wire says Bremer has kept a "low profile" since leaving Baghdad in 2004. That is, if you can call writing a book on the matter "keeping a low profile."
However, Waxman's invitation appears not to be a legal summons to appear.
The Waxman letter makes clear that Bremer would face a wide array of questions – and that he would be in for an unpleasant few hours if he agrees to testify. [emphasis added]
Beautiful.
Waxman looks to find out about the nearly $9 billion that went "missing." Dreazen continues:
Waxman writes that the panel wants to ask Bremer, the former head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, about a government audit that found the CPA had largely lost track of $8.8 billion in Iraqi money that had been entrusted to the U.S. by the United Nations. Much of that money is now believed to have been misspent by the CPA or stolen. Waxman also notes in the letter that he wants to question Bremer about mounting evidence that the Bush administration gave key positions within the CPA to politically-connected Republican operatives and ideologues.
I suggest quoting verbatim from the book Imperial Life in the Emerald City and take it from there.
In addition to hiring 20-somethings with no business or financial experience to open Iraq's stock exchange, Bremer's ruling authority — the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) — made several key missteps in his year in Iraq. Another key mistake made by the CPA was the disbanding of the Iraqi army.
Yet, as Justin Rood reminds us:
Indeed, he walked away with a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Department of Defense award for Distinguished Public Service, and even the Nixon Library's "Victory of Freedom Award."
Also asked to appear will be the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) Stuart Bowen.
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twolf1
All good wishes
I’m finally reading Rajiv’s book on the Emerald City. Seems that Jerry has some ’splainin to do.
Fitz and boy have I been waiting for Waxman Gone Wild
jeffreyw!
Invited?
In-fucking-vited?
Poor start, Mr. Waxman.
Matt O.!
I passed along to Monk the great photo op99 took of us at YK, Matt, for Jane’s collage of support. Hope that’s okay by you!
Listening to KCRW’s Left-Right-Center podcast, with Arianna calling Liarman “dumber than the president”
And what if Bremer declines Waxman’s invite?
$ 8,800,000,000: poof!
Let’s get Mr. Ole Sixty Grit up in front of Waxman as well. Wasn’t he the Pentagon official who vetted all the Young Republicans about their views on the flat tax and forced birth before sending them, all wet behind the ears, to the CPA?
I home Jerry Bremer wears his medal when he goes to testify.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 8
He makes an offer he can’t refuse.
Blub @
8
I caught a snippet of that last night on the radio – Tony Blankey is one reactionary sourpuss!
An interesting old article, in Amcon of all mags, but the facts are nonetheless intriguing: http://www.amconmag.com/2005/2005_10_24/cover.html
“Paul Bremer, meanwhile, had a slush fund in cash of more than $600 million in his office for which there was no paperwork. One U.S. contractor received $2 million in a duffel bag. Three-quarters of a million dollars was stolen from an office safe, and a U.S. official was given $7 million in cash in the waning days of the CPA and told to spend it “before the Iraqis take over.” Nearly $5 billion was shipped from New York in the last month of the CPA. Sources suggest that a deliberate attempt was being made to run down the balance and spend the money while the CPA still had authority and before an Iraqi government could be formed.
The only certified public-accounting firm used by the CPA to monitor its spending was a company called North Star Consultants, located in San Diego, which was so small that it operated out of a private home. It was subsequently determined that North Star did not, in fact, perform any review of the CPA’s internal spending controls. Today, no one can account for billions of those dollars or even suggest how the money was spent. And as the CPA no longer exists, there is also little interest in re-examining its transparency or accountability. “
HUH? A no-name accountant run out of someone’s living room was the auditor of all this fraud?
Sorry if this has been posted: MSNBC/Newsweek Presidential polling, with cross-party matchups:
Clinton vs OldMcCain: 48/47
Obama vs. OldMcCain: 46/44
Edwards vs. OldMcCain: 48/44
Only Edwards beats Rudy in the matchups.
From a Newsweak Poll, via Raw Story
TeddySanFran @ 15
Hillary’s recent policy speeches on Iraq have been abominable.. they’ve basically been Kerryisms, designed to leave herself enough wiggle room to go any which way… she’s learned nothing.
$8.8 billion would buy around 400,000 toyota prius (priuses, preii??)
(Insert image of cheerleaders here)
Bremer, Bremer,
He’s our man.
If he can’t do it,
Kissinger can.
Rotten fruit never falls far from the tree.
Actually the image I will always have of Bremer is him with a kind of stunned expression on his face in a flak jacket sneaking out of Iraq a day early and in an unmarked plane after his official flight took off as a decoy because the security was so bad, and that was in 2004.
twolf1 @ 18
Petraeus
twolf1 @ 18
All I can say is that I hope somebody will be scrutinizing every Bremer family financial transaction for the next century
Although I would like to see Waxman be a bit more aggressive (subpeona, sworn testimony, etc), the Mighty Wurlitzer is waiting with their sob towels ready to sing about the vengeful oversight that the Dems are providing.
Kill em with kindness, bury them with the truth. Unfortunately, it still has to taste like politics for a few more months. Once the ball starts rolling, most Republican Congresscritters will be chasing the train and trying to jump on.
Waxman has been at this for a long time.The force is strong with that one!
Blub @
21
or at least check their driveways for 400,000 toyotas
TeddySanFran @
15
Thanks Teddy – intriguing poll news.
TeddySanFran @ 15
So basically, if the choice is elderly crank J. Sidney McCain III or any random government official who is NOT Panamanian-born Bush-enabler J Sidney McCain III, random person wins?
Man, the gas boiled out of the McCain zeppelin in a hurry, didn’t it?
Wapo:
NET LEANED VOTE:
1/19/07 12/11/06
Hillary Clinton 41 39
Barack Obama 17 17
John Edwards 11 12
Al Gore 10 10
John Kerry 8 7
Joe Biden 3 2
Wesley Clark 1 1
Bill Richardson 1 2
Dennis Kucinich 1 NA
Chris Dodd * *
Mike Gravel * NA
Tom Vilsack * 1
Other (vol.) 1 *
None of these (vol.) 2 2
Would not vote (vol.) * 1
Evan Bayh NA 1
No opinion 3 4
This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone January 16-19, 2007, among a random national sample of 1,000 adults. Overall the results have a three-point error margin; the results for this question have a 4-point error margin. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, PA.
twolf1 @ 18
If second declension, prii.
If fourth, prius.
I read Bremer’s book over the holidays. It’s an interesting book, and I am really looking forward to reading “Imperial Life in the Emerald City” as a counterpoint.
Bremer clearly worked hard, and had a very difficult job to do with no precedent (well, no precedent for success, anyway.) His book, though, seems to be devoted in large part to settling scores. People who refused to give him adequate resources, people who refused to go after Muqtada while he was still go-after-able, and so on.
He spends a long time in the book defending his most indefensible policies. In particular, he talks at great length about how important de-Baathification was, and how it was definitely the right thing to do, and how everybody supported him. Of course, that meant that almost every capable professional person in the country was out of work.
He has the knives out for the expat community — Chalabi, in particular, and he’s probably right in that. Chalabi felt that they should just hand over Iraq to him, and worked every possible angle to make that happen (well, short of mounting a campaign in the Iraqi election.) Bremer basically says that Chalabi tricked the US to go into the war. Hmmm.
Anyway — if you can get through the self-serving malingering and the effusive praise for Bush, it’s an interesting read. It is hard for me to believe that anybody who has been through what Bremer went through can have any respect for Bush or his team. It’s conceivable that Bremer’s comments, like “Bush didn’t comment on any of the details, but he inspired us at the end by saying ‘We are definitely going to win’” is actually a indictment of W, but — I doubt it.
Thad Beier
In this house Hillary continues to unplease.
Sobody said all great fortunes begin as a crime.
Gahhhh, we have to keep at em.
According to Rajiv, this is a total ass lie. The plan came from Feith and Chalabi. Everyone in Iraq with half a clue argued that it was folly, but Jerry wanted something bold, and the plan struck him as such.
If walking off a cliff blindfolded can be called bold…
Man, the gas boiled out of the McCain zeppelin in a hurry, didn’t it?
I tend to think that the leak has only just begun, and that he won’t even be a serious player by November 2008.
At this point, only serious political junkies are paying much attention. When it becomes more public knowledge that McCain is more pro-war even than GWB – his battleship is sunk.
just my opinion.
Bremer clearly worked hard, and had a very difficult job to do with no precedent
Bullshit. There was no Republican precedent, but there are two Democratic precedents for successful postwar reconstruction: Germany and Japan. There is no more stinging repudiation of the New Deal vs Neocon style of governance than to compare Germany and Iraq. Iraq is every nutjob Neocon ideal in it’s horrible, horrible implementation.
btw, where is the commerce committee is all this? are they holding hearings? I think we need to investigate Halliburton, the merc providers, etc directly.
cleter @ 25
Indeed – kinda gives new meaning to the old saw “In a New York minute!” my son is so fond of saying.
Hard to believe it’s “National Sanctity of Life Day” again already. Wonder how many lives he’s “sanctified” since this time last year. Or would that be “souls liberated”?
I saw poll the other day that said a majority of Democrats want Senator Clinton for prez. Well. If true that puts me at odds with a majority of Democrats on this issue. That’s okay. Most Demos didn’t want Jimmy Carter for re-election. But I voted for him anyway. And most Democrats didn’t want McCarthy and McGovern. That too was alright. I voted for them too.
cdc @
30
that was honore de balzac (1799-1850):
“behind every great fortune is a crime.”
$8.8 Billion. How much did 140,000 Kevlar vests cost?
oddball @ 22
As far as failing to subpoena, I think this is just the first round. I recall reading that Waxman was going to ask nicely first, then subpoena only if need be. IIRC, he said words to that effect himself.
I hate to say it, but I do think somebody needs to come out and raise a serious proposal for partition in Iraq. We have to leave, but we also can’t very well ethically leave without a diplomatic solution, which means the country falls into certain genocide. We have to seriously look at the possibility for longterm Iranian, Saudi/Jordanian, Syrian and Kurd spheres of influence or protectorates. We’re in serious 1914 territory here, and shrub’s Frederick Wilhelm.
Also, remember when Bush had children sending dollar bills to the White House (a la Soupy Sales)to help out the children in Iraq? And what about all those 911 donations/red cross?
I have this odd feeling Mr. Prez that the Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, and for all we know Iraqi Christians, don’t want their country occupied.
Thad Beier @ 28
This strikes me as an echo of Bush’s oft repeated line: “It’s hard.”
BTW Frontline had an excellent documentary on Bremer and the CPA.
Bremer had no qualifications for this job, except a connection to Kissinger. Is it really a surprise that he hired people who were as clueless as he was. His first two orders destroyed the army, the civil service, and the country. After that, not much was left except mayor of the Green Zone and he wasn’t even good at that.
Somehow working hard does not excuse for me decisions of breathtaking stupidity.
Yes, it was, thank you. After ten hours building a computer chip plant I have to read all the post here so I feel like the life’s still in me. Thanks All.
Blub @ 41
The Kurds would be happy with all that oil, but wait wouldn’t Turkey be threatened and then what part would be Sunni, and shite. I just don’t see it working. Some things are so broken that they can’t be fixed and at this point just containing the violence in Iraq sounds good to me.
I am listening to the 1994 album “Grace” by the late Jeff Buckley for the first time. it’s something of a revelation.
Shorter Waxman to Bremer:
“Wheres my 8 billion, bee-yotch?”
gotta run–caio!
JPL @ 46
I don’t disagree about Turkey, but again I don’t think that containment is a possibility and therefore an option. Leaving without a diplomatic framework or promise of a framework means millions will die.. and the blame for that comes back to the US… the ISG recognized this, and hence their view that diplomatic initiatives were the first step. Somehow Congress will have to force shrub to enter into talks with the Iranians, Syrians etc and I have no idea how we can do this (and make shrub take the talks seriously). Urghhh. this is so frustrating.
From Brownback:
I have decided, after much prayerful consideration, to consider a bid for the Republican nomination for the presidency.
I am running to spread hope and ideas. We are a blessed nation at an important crossroads. War, corruption, disintegrating families, and for some, hopelessness, tear at the American Dream. We need hope and ideas.
I am running for America…to be of service in a crucial time of trial.
“Trial” is right.
http://www.t-worx.com/Default……/brownback
And while Henry Waxman is at it…he should ask about Scott Carpenter, who was Bremer’s ASSistant in Iraq. Scott is a relative of my husband’s and I’m curious to know what kind of home he is building in Maine, and where he got the money to do so. I’d love to see his bank account. My guess is pilfered money from the Iraq debacle. Too many questions of so many crooks need to be answered. Our collective pockets have been picked by these criminals.
Blub, “Somehow Congress will have to force shrub to enter into talks with the Iranians, Syrians etc and I have no idea how we can do this (and make shrub take the talks seriously). Urghhh. this is so frustrating.” Congress has very few options. At this point it would be easier to put together smashed crystal than convince Bush of anything. For those NYTIMES subscribers, Frank Rich is great. ………..”Mr. Webb, a Reagan administration Navy secretary and the father of a son serving in Iraq, has already provoked a testy exchange about the war with the president at a White House reception for freshmen in Congress. He’s the kind of guy likely to keep a scorecard of the lies on Tuesday night. But whether he does or not, it’s incumbent on all those talking heads who fell for “shock and awe” and “Mission Accomplished” in 2003 to not let history repeat itself in 2007. Facing the truth is the only way forward in Iraq.”
bookwoman, you’re absolutely correct. The current crop of crooks makes the old Robber Barons look like suckling babes.
For illustrative background, in case anyone’s not read it, let us not forget some reporting that got it utterly right a long time ago:
Baghdad Year Zero
It was all gonna be so easy.
_
JPL @ 53
Therein lies the problem. Without a diplomatic solution no withdrawal is possible. With shrub in power, no diplomatic solution is possible. In which case, one can only conclude that shrub needs to go… as a first step. Perhaps we’re all wasting our time ruminating on Iraq now, when we should be dedicating our energy to impeachment. And, unfortunately, I don’t think the words “I resign” are going to open the SOTU.
Oklahoma kiddo @
37
That smells “off” to me. I have yet to hear anyone actually say they were for her… Not here, not on any of the other blogs I drop in on. There’s always the “well, but…” factor. Whose poll was this, do you know? Smells like something her team commissioned and then floated out there to see who’d roll over and bark.
All this theft in Iraq. Recall how the GOP got all fluffed up over “white water”?
The Republicans want Hillary to run for President. The media wants Hillary to run for President. I don’t think they have much company in the real world.
Hugh @
44
Do being rather photogenic and thinking you look kickin’ in khaki count???
Marion in Savannah @ 57
I think this was on “Hardball” a couple of days ago. Something like 53% of Dems favored the Hill. Could be wrong on this though, of course. Perhaps the poll was taken in NY. ;)
Marion, don’t you have an open link to the NY Times? Rich is up as well as Brooks. Shorter Brooks would be okay the dems did fair so far but could do better. I can copy and paste but because it’s behind the wall I’m not sure how to share the whole columns.
I think I’m in the real world and I’m glad Hillary is running. The polls mostly tell me I have more company than is indicated by some here.
JPL, I’ll check the NYT and see if they’ve got tomorrow’s columnists up yet. Or was this an earlier Frank Rich? He is great… BRB…
OT, but I thought I’d make one more pitch for http://www.protectsmu.org/ .. the petition to stop SMU from accepting the shrub library (a $500 million library, a center for faith-based civic life, and Hoover Institution-type endowed thinktank to promote the development of shrub philosophy forever). Shrub is reportedly spending a lot of his on planning for the library (probably more than he’s spending on Iraq…)
Taylor Marsh suggested a Clinton/Webb ticket…
it might be interesting and more compelling…
I think that Taylor also made the point that Hillary knows what she’s up against and is choosing to go ahead anyway and that takes a surefire amount of courage… stick Webb on there to emphasize the point?
I think it does get very interesting…
Blub @ 56
I think we can skip past impeachment, unless there’s an expedited process. My concern is that BushCo(Cheney) will sink us into a nastier regional conflict and then it will be nearly unconstitutional to remove them from office. They won’t acknowledge impeachment, I would bet.
BushCo has trained the wingnuts to see the so called global war on terror as equal to WW2 as far as executive power goes. The Democrats have enabled that.
Shrub’s think tank. Oh, yeah!
Blub @ 17
One of the problems with triangulation is that you tend to end up leading from the rear. Hillary’s views on Iraq feel warmed over because they are. It’s taken her longer to change her mind about the war than it has many neocons. Is this leadership? Bill was something of a DINO but he had excellent political instincts. Hillary is a DINO without the instincts.
only half joking, I asked on a John Dean day here how would we get them out of office if they refused to leave…
I’m still not sure what the answer is…
Oklahoma kiddo @ 58
How many Whitewaters would it take to equal 8 billion?
If I have no choice in the ‘general’ but to vote for Senator Clinton, I will. But I am goddamned sure as hell I won’t like it.
Those who think Hillary has no political instincts may not be paying enough attention.
FRENCH ELECTIONS
When young Le Pen collaborated with some nazi organization during ww2. Meanwhile many things watered. Le Pen is becoming popualar thru his age. His ideas dont appear so anti-eloquent
Le Pen and his Dobermen
The chairman of “Front Nationale” renewly candidates at the presidential vote in France
The way of Jean-Marie Le Pen leads thru an imposing wrought-iron gate with light-barrier and secret-code. It seperates the exterior world from the noble estate on the hills westward of Paris. Here, in Parc Montretout with its millionaires mansions and their guaranteed free view on the Eiffel tower, Le Pen occupied his HQ thirty years ago.
Two mistrustingly grunting dobermen are company en route to the well-built (impressive) mansion, that is told to be 900 square meters large. Like a civic manifestation is the (interior) furniture: An oil-paint-portrait of the young sergeant Le Pen in bright parade-uniform, on a sideboard is the bible. Though Le Pen is divorced he keeps up family values. Daughter Marine, Le Pens possible successor at the top of the party, lives in the administrators house on daddys ground.
Hes a reasonable Patriarch, le monsieur Le Pen, is the msg of the salon for visittors. The chairman of front nationale welcomes his guests timely and affable, excuses for fear of the dog, hed likeem, his dobermen. For months ahead of the presidential vote Le Pen prescribed an election campaign of respectability to himself, with what he tries to dissolve the anyway vanishing demonization of his party as “brown danger” for the French democracy. “Since fifty years I have regarded all democratic rules, I never trespassed” he says. His ideas have meanwhile been copied. Especially minister of the interior Sarkozy, who has recently been throwned as candidate for conservative UMP, has poached in his program. Le Pen gives himself credit for that “the original is better than the copy.” He believes in his chances to repeat the success of 2002 and get into the second round of the presidential vote. Recent polls prove that every fourth French shares the views of Le Pen, only to every third his views remain inacceptable. Ten years ago more than half of all French rejected his philosophy strictly.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 14-1-7
I think we are going to see Hillary elbow her way to the front of the parade pretty soon here…
Sally @ 68
Shrub’s library will contain few books, mostly dvd’s and video-cassettes. An anticipated fave is the custom-made Katrina devastation dvd a staffer made for him. Dubya expects this one to be checked out often.
When Bremmer finally cottoned to Al-Sistani’s influence in Iraq, he sent an envoy who had as his main claim to fame a patent on a penile implant.
The Iraqis seemed to feel that he lacked gravitas.
seems to me that “blatantly obvious calculation” is somehow the opposite of “good political instinct”
Those who think Hillary has no political instincts may not be paying enough attention.
I think she has nothing but political instincts.
TeddySanFran @
15
I’m not a statistician, but those number seem kind of odd to me. First, only 19% of the Independents in the general survey say they will vote for a Republican vs 42% who say they will vote for a Democrat. Yet, with the exception of Edwards/McCain, they favor the actual Republican candidate in every race. Also, in the generic scenario, Democrats and Republicans are equally likely to cross party lines, yet in the actual candidate scenarios, Democrats are roughly twice as likely as Republicans to cross lines. It would seem that the sample would have to have been skewed toward Democrats if the theoretical Dem v Rep race really polled at 49-28.
This makes me uneasy as it would not accurately predict the outcome and it under-represents the true strength of the Republican candidates.
If good political instincts tell you to ignore everything your consituents support, then yeah. Oh, and protecting the flag from flames and innocent eyes from video games. Uh huh.
OldCoastie @ 70
The wingnut pundits have been on tour in the media making the point of powers of the Commander in Chief during a major world war as we’re in now.
…a few heartbeats from martial law.
I just think that it’s strangely poignant that the worst president of recent memory is planning on having the grandest-ever presidential library. I wonder if he’s planning on hanging out there..
hackworth @ 76
BobbyG @
55
I’d forgotten about Naomi Klein’s great Harper’s article! And I’m almost done with _Emerald City_. My question for Bremer would be “How sir can you sleep at night, even for one second?”
Sorry for the delay in response.
Family business needed me.
Renee in Ohio @ 79
The problem that I have with Hillary is that she seems to be the LET’S MAKE A DEAL candidate. Several years ago that seemed to work, but since Bush and the partisianship and the damage that has been done, I don’t see that approach working. Nancy Pelosi pushed through six bills that will benefit the country and I don’t see Hillary with that type of gumption.
Dear Mr Bremer,
You are cordially invited to give us back our eight goddamned billion dollars.
Sincerely,
America
OldCoastie @ 66
Can I jump on the bandwagon?
Policing experts, after an assessment of Iraqi needs in that area, recommended 6600 advisors be sent.
They got one, Bernie Kerik.
OldCoastie @ 70
cleter @ 71
If the Clintons had made $30, 000, it would take 37,500 Whitewaters to equal one Bremer. But the Clintons LOST $30,000, so an infinite number of Whitewaters gets you further and further from one Bremer.
Sally @ 73
Well, that’s cryptic. And if the eagle flies high in the west, a great kingdom will fall.
I guess I missed the part where she stood up courageously, oh say anytime in the last 4 years, and condemned the Iraq war for the folly it was or apologized for her support for it.
I seem to have missed too all the parts where she invigorated the Democratic Party and turned it into a true opposition party defending us from Bush’s extra-Constitutional invasions of our rights and liberties.
You’re right. I must not have been paying attention, or maybe, just maybe there was nothing to see.
Renee in Ohio @ 79
She applies her instincts toward blatantly obvious calculation, triangulation and obfuscation. She’s so busy trying not to offend, not to stick her neck out, she pleases very few individuals. I can’t find anyone who says they really like her except Bartcop and Sally*.
*based on unscientific, anecdotal evidence.
Blub @ 90
OldCoastie @ 75
just not on the issues.
ET @ 91 – I’m getting such a kick outta all these new ways of measuring things!
OldCoastie @ 94
I just do not see Hill getting out in front of the issues. What about Iraq? About Iran? About the Palestinian-Israeli ’situation’? And I detest her close connections to the DLC and the so called “third way”.
can’t you just see shrub grabbing the door frames and bracing his feet, screaming, “NO! NO!!! I’M THE DECIDER!! Ah ain’t decided to leave yet!”
Oklahoma kiddo @ 98
I’m see Hillary as calculating and careful – at some point that is going to demand she jump to the front of the parade… question is, When will that be?
Re Bremer’s testimony before Waxman: he’s going to be able to dodge all comprehensive questions about the money because he was the Viceroy and not the bean counter. Yes, it happened on his watch, but I’d bet he’s going to slip the noose for responsibility.
Re Hillary: I can’t see her coming through as anything but a technocrat in the primary debate process. She comes across terribly on television, and she’s not going to be able to fudge her vote on Iraq in that forum.
Don’t worry O.K., she’s not getting the nomination.
hackworth @93
That’s exactly right…and made me think of people who DO stick their necks out here
Something is definately not authentic now about HRC.
OldCoastie @ 96
It’s costing us nearly a Bremer a month in Iraq.
hackworth @ 76
I think the bush library should be housed in a FEMA trailer. That should be his legacy.
cleter @ 97
My point is, if we really think he’d go that far to keep power (and, by the way, I don’t think he would.. he’d just give up), it’s all the more reason for us to bring it into the open. It’ll be better for the country to know that we have a traitor in power than for us to avoid taking what action we need to correct for his crimes. It’s clear neither Iraq nor anything else is getting fixed on his watch, no matter how determined Congress is. So why should we wait around while he kills more people?
Blub @ 83
The man can barely read and he plans the grandest LIEBERRY because he CAN. Guess which one of us was the C student? That’s right, ME and I’m the president! Now watch this drive!
I voted for partisanship last Nov. Not accommodation.
JPL @ 62
Here are all 3 columnists from the NYT, which will appear in tomorrow morning’s edition:
http://mgpaquin.blogspot.com/
Sorry for the David Brooks…
Hugh @ 103
Is this the new new math?
frankly, I haven’t caught on to the original new math…
gbear @ 104
It should be housed in the prison library of whatever prison he ends up in.
In early 2003 about half the American people and most of the rest of the world said no war in Iraq. The only thing Hillary has changed since then is her hair style.
OldCoastie @ 100
I see Hillary as calculating and careful – at some point that is going to demand she jump to the front of the parade… question is, When will that be?
If her movement on Iraq is any clue, a long time after it is too late.
lina @ 101
;)
I think what Hillary needs to do is hire a personal trainer, start working out with weights and running two hours a day, watch “GI Jane” over and over, get a couple of big tattoos, cut her hair even shorter, and get Ahnold to start writing her speeches.
Short of all that, she’s toast.
gbear @ 104
Ha! great idea.
I forgot the lip ring…….
triangular lip ring.
That should be “thinkerin’ tank”, shouldn’t it?
Hugh @ 103
So what’s the entire monetary value of all the Bremers in one Friedman Unit? I’ve never been good at math…
Sally @ 63
Yes, see:
MSNBC/Newsweek Presidential polling, with cross-party matchups:
Clinton vs OldMcCain: 48/47
Obama vs. OldMcCain: 46/44
Edwards vs. OldMcCain: 48/44
Only Edwards beats Rudy in the matchups.
And, also see this:
1/19/07 12/11/06
Hillary Clinton 41 39
Barack Obama 17 17
John Edwards 11 12
Al Gore 10 10
John Kerry 8 7
Joe Biden 3 2
Wesley Clark 1 1
Bill Richardson 1 2
Dennis Kucinich 1 NA
Is politefully a word?
ET
but see, I’d get such a kick outta that… that would be such a big F U to the repug Hillary haters, I’m sure I would laugh my ass off…
I’d have to like her then!
Marion in Savannah @ 118
one Freidman equals 6.2 Bremers equals about $49.6 billion.
Waxman’s letter is a doozey.
High crimes indeed.
Marion in Savannah @ 118
A Bremer is monetary. A Friedman is time. Thus: It costs 48 Bremers every Friedman we stay in Iraq.
You know, what we don’t have is a spatial unit. Do we?
Hugh @ 92
Or when Hillary (and co-ticketer Eliot Hero Spitzer) made an impact on down-ticket races and increased the Democratic House majority in 2006.
AP – At least 20 American service members were killed in military operations Saturday in the deadliest day for U.S. forces in two years, including 13 who died in a helicopter crash and five slain in an attack by militia fighters in the holy city of Karbala, military officials said.
Newsweek:
the urge to splurge should be purged.
lina @ 101
Lina, I think you are correct on both counts.
Besides, the CPA has gone out of business – no accountability and old news. They tried like hell NOT to go after Custer-Battles and said they couldn’t get em cuz the store (CPA) had gone out of bidness. I’d heard somebody forced the issue and they eventually did go after Custer-Battles, but nothing further. You can’t get blood from a Swiss bank account.
Blub @
56
I think Waxman’s investigations can lead nowhere else. Also, I’m so happy to know that he will investigate Katrina. Liebermann can cover, but Waxman will rule!
Ed*ard Teller @ 114
Hillary takes the progressive side of the party for granted. I think her thought process is that she doesn’t have to pay attention to us because we will have no place else to go in a general election. This only works if she can get the nomination. It gives us every reason to make sure she doesn’t get the nomination.
OldCoastie @ 121
but see, I’d get such a kick outta that… that would be such a big F U to the repug Hillary haters, I’m sure I would laugh my ass off…
I’d have to like her then!
That would be…interesting. Perhaps Bill could start wearing nothing but leather ass-less chaps at all her campaign appearances.
doh! I gotta go grocery shopping and get some dinner… catch you all later…
anecdotal evidence from today – even my crazy, winger, Rush Limbaugh lovin’ uncle is thinking we should get out of Iraq…
hmm…
neokneme @ 123
Oh. My. Just oh, my! YOWZAH!!! Gentlemen, start your engines…
neokneme @ 88
How’s about Clinton/Clinton? It would save a lot of secret service money!
Hugh @ 130
And I resent it.
Marion in Savannah @
133
hope Bremer’s got change for the copier at Kinko’s — Henry’s making him send 100 copies of his testimony!
Terry Olson @ 134
Is that a stable combination?
:~}
Marion in Savannah @ 133
My little engine has been started for the last six years. And I’m red-lining now. ;)
Bush’s “Library” will have Fox News on banks of television sets.
Keep the Hillary comments coming!
TeddySanFran @ 136
Me, I hope that at least one of those copies finds its way to the toobz to be picked over by someone with a real eye for detail, with Rajiv (forgive me, but I won’t even attempt to spell his last name)’s book in the other hand.
A Friedman is 6 months.
A Bremer is $8 billion.
So that would be 6 Bremers per Friedman or 1 Wolfowitz/Friedman.
Wasn’t it Wolfowitz who said the war would cost about $50 billion?
JFK contemporary George Smathers dies at 93
The Democrat, who served two terms in the U.S. House and three in the Senate, suffered a stroke Monday, said his son, Bruce. He lived in Indian Creek Village, an exclusive island community outside Miami.
A Limbaugh?
One Limbaugh = 18700 sq mi (48442 sq km) = Dominican Republic’s surface area
(even if accepted, we would still require units for linear space and spatial volume…)
OldCoastie @ 66
There was a time I would have worked heart and soul for a White House bid by Hillary until I came back to earth and reality following her Senate vote in favor of Bush’s was in Iraq. It is unlikely I will ever forgive her much less forget.
I’m with punaise and am holding out for Al Gore.
If Mr. Gore declines to jump in and/or refuses a grass/netroots draft I’ll give up the dream and consider alternative candidates. But not a nano second earlier.
We can interrogate Hillary while she interrogates Abu G.
Deep Breaths, OK, we certainly don’t need anybody blowin a gasket tonight. Always loved that passion though.
New Thread — Gilliard
Apropos of not anything particularly specific, but I just looked up at the TV screen and saw a pan shot across a picture by Heironimous Bosch (spelling???). What this world really needs is a painter like him or like Picasso to do the Iraqi “Guernica.” I’d suggest we look for an Iraqi artist, but it’s hard to paint when the lights are out…
I almost forgot. We currently have about 1/2 Shinseki of troops in Iraq. While the 21,500 troops Bush is using for his “surge” is less than a drop in the bucket.
12 drops in the bucket equal one Shinseki which equals 300,000 troops for those interested in the politics of math or the math of politics. I always get those two confused.
newspaperbrat @ 144
I know what you mean. I’ve been waiting for Clark. I never thought Gore would run, but I was holding out hope for Clark. Now, I don’t think Clark will run either.
I have a feeling the one who is going to come out on top in the early primaries is Obama (unless he turns out to have a glass jaw – which he might).
Any thoughts on this for the unruly mobs with torches and pitchforks?
newspaperbrat @ 144
“accept no substitutes”
Don’t count John Edwards out just yet…
twolf1 @
142
The University of Florida library is named after him. It’s spiffy and new and looks like a set from Gattaca inside.
newspaperbrat @
144
Don’t give up the dream. Just be willing to wait until 2012. Perspective takes awhile to propagate…
Hillary is a smart cookie. She wants her round in the big office and believes ignoring the left is among the best methods for achieving that goal. So far she is correct.
At best she is taking us for granted. worst case scenario, she really is a Goldwater Republican at heart and we are going to remain at war until we are bankrupt or ill and dying without healthcare.
I have a difficult time thinking Webb would jump on the Hillary bandwagon right now. He’s a Clark guy, imh guess.
Another question we need to ask all candidates is how willing will they be as president to sign legislation that greatly reduces the power grab of the Bush years and how willing will they be to restore our civil liberties.
Eureka Springs, AR @
156
I’d be cool with Clark/Webb.
Hugh @
149
Is the math of politics counted in Gucci units?
Marion in Savannah @ 148
Marion, meet George Gittoes
http://www.gittoes.com/
First off, responding to previous comments posted, I would like to add that starting a conflict, and ending up with a partitioned Iraq, was Precisely the plan the Sharon laid out in Tel Aviv in the mid-80’s.
Precisely. Go figure.
Now, I know that Waxman (go daddy go!) isn’t at all looking at it this way, nor is anyone else in Congress that I know of, but I am happy to see, in anyway, shape or form, the far-flung perps of 9/11/01 be rounded up and brought to justice.
Hear that, Mr. “World Bank President” ?
kirk murphy @ 143
A Limbaugh?
One Limbaugh = 18700 sq mi (48442 sq km) = Dominican Republic’s surface area
(even if accepted, we would still require units for linear space and spatial volume…)
Linear could be a Limbaugh Root (equal to 136.75 miles, the square root of 18700) This will be way funnier to my Aussie friends who think root means what Limbaugh does in DR.
petedownunder @
161
Linear could be a Limbaugh Root (equal to 136.75 miles, the square root of 18700) This will be way funnier to my Aussie friends who think root means what Limbaugh does in DR.
Linear root is good by me.
Er – uh – you know what I mean…
petedownunder @ 161
Linear could be a Limbaugh Root (equal to 136.75 miles, the square root of 18700) This will be way funnier to my Aussie friends who think root means what Limbaugh does in DR.
A quibling for you Pete, your Aussie friends KNOW what root means, and don’t give a root that it doesn’t have the same meaning elsewhere in the world.
Blub @ 83
Lessee, if I gold-plate a turd and call it the Taj Mahal, what is it, still? :)
Stupid people build monuments to their own stupidity.
hee, hee – laughing out loud.
And Persiflage – I completely and unreservedly apologize for my snippy reply to you earlier on the Lake. I was out of line, and I apologize.
Kirk Murphy, absolutely no apology necessary but thank you for clearing the air. I’ve always enjoyed your take on issues and I was sad that you thought me vacuous. I’m so relieved! I admire your passionate defence of the scientific method and I agree with you wholeheartedly. Now, just don’t get me started on the politics of research funding!
Persiflage @
166
Wow – I again apologize – I’ve found you to be lucid and “fact-filled” (is that a word? Quite the opposite of vacuous, in any event)
When or if you do get started on the politics of research (or research funding), please give me a holler – I’ll happily join you!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 37
I see you and raise you one. Most Democrats didn’t want Adlai Stevenson in 1960. I worked for him.
Awww, that so nice Kirk. If we keep up this mutual admiration fest someone’s going to suggest that we get a room soon.
Blub @
14
Any ties to Duke Cunningham or this little success story?
San Diego … such a booming little town.
With kind regards,
Dog, etc.
searching for home
ccmask @ 39
At approx. $7000 ea… 980 mil!
TeddySanFran @ 10
I’d pay about a gazillion dollars to see Mr. Ole Sixty Grit have to answer questions from Sen. Webb. That would be an E ticket attraction.
Measures ad nauseum
The US green zone embassy is planned at 104 acres.
So I propose an area unit of an EE = Emerald Embassy = 104 acres.
For linear measure the root of an EE is about 650 metres.
So an EE root (or E) = 650m
An embassy 104 acres in area — that alone probably accounts for a good fraction of a Bremmer.
Once you have ability to issue a subpoena you are less likely to need to exercise it.
Subpoena or not, I don’ care; as long as Waxman puts Bremer under oath. If or when Bremer perjures himself, I’d love to see how that Medal of Freedom does as keeping him out of the clink.
… and would W pardon him? Hardly likely, given the firestorm that’d cause. Or might.
=====
ps, ((((Jane))))
Ghost of Joe Liebling’s Dog @ 170
North Star accounting (as I seem to recall in the depths of my mind) has some links not only to Cunningham but his BFF Duncan Hunter. A year or so ago, Hunter was being looked at for having the same “ethical challenges” as the Dukester, especially with defense contractors here in SoCal. Could this have anything to do with Carol Lam, the US Attorney who nailed Cunningham, recently getting fired? Cunningham was supposedly co-operating with authorities in exchange for a more lenient sentance.