Jane Hamsher!

Jim Webb!

SOTU seems to be a bust- no one even discussing it much- perhaps clusterfuck has moved to the great Lame Duck land in the sky!!

Thanks for the C&L link, Pach – lol!

In other exciting news, I’m about to take a walk.

There’s non-Libby news?

TPM has the transcript of Wolfie and Dick. Dick keeps walking over the questions, and also going throught the usual line of bull about the terrorists.

I’ll have to have a look at the Latina Lista link, once I get a bit of work done. I remember nearly snarfing when W talked about respect for the law, until I realized he was talking about immigrants, not his own administration.

Just like Republicans believe in “personal responsibility” only for poor people, they believe in the importance of following the law only for immigrants, not for themselves.

1) This is truly awesome, folks. Many blessings and thanks.
2) Sooooo fast. Can only catch bits. But no complaints. At all.
3) The Plame House is THE hotspot methinks. Jealous.
4) Best to Jane.
5) Unclaimed Territory is so correct. Fiyou on the Bayou, if you will. (Joe’s non-subpoenas on Katrina, ya know? But Glenn’s points are Iraq, etc. centered.)
—
FITZ!
-
..feels good.

I am reading about claims that British troops are dying in Afghanistan because the government’s aid department is failing to get food to the poor in the southern provinces and starving Afghans are turning to the Taliban for support (predictably, again).

http://news.scotsman.com/index…..rmat=print

See you tomorrow!

Blitzer asking Cheney about Libby trial on CNN

For those of us without scorecards, is it possible to identify lawyers with (F) for Fitzgerald team and (L) for Libby’s team.

God Bless John Kerry for recognizing his limitations. He is a valuable Senator and a distraction as Presidential Fodderr (See 2004)

Thank you! It is great to be part of this!

What about Cheney’s Hogwash comment?? Jesus, this man. I got 2 word for this idiot.
SPIRO AGNEW.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITI…..index.html

EX Beck @ 10

For those of us without scorecards, is it possible to identify lawyers with (F) for Fitzgerald team and (L) for Libby’s team.

Something along this line would definately be helpful.

EX Beck @ 10

For those of us without scorecards, is it possible to identify lawyers with (F) for Fitzgerald team and (L) for Libby’s team.

Well, here’s Team Fitz, you can put them on yuor scorecard.

Patrick Fitzgerald
Peter Zeidenberg
Kathleen Kedian
Debra Bonamici
Debbie Bond
Gerard Francisco
Jared Richards
Katie Hance
Bonnie Hansen
Harry Brady

CNN talking ’bout bloggers at libby trial…

FDL on cnn

What did CNN say?

Aha! This is from the patrickfitzgerald blog, list of witnesses etc there too, and not such overwhelming volume. I’m sure everything’s all here or at TNH somewhere, but it’s hard to find it.

Would I be extrapolating too much (from today’s LiveBlog) to guess that given Libby’s weak defense of the charges, that he is likely to be toast? Assuming a rational and normally intelligent jury, that is? And if Libby’s toast, what are the implications for Cheney? Or am I jumping the gun here?

Any more news (other than what’s been on MSM) about the rethug derailing of minimum wages in the Senate? I still cannot believe these ethically-impaired slimeballs.

As we all come up for air please join with me in sending whatever money love you can via the FDL donor link. If you prefer donating USPS mail the address is there too. Hoping with the traffic surge of recent days old and new friends of FDL will give what they can as often as they can.

For newbies the link is just below the ad at upper right.

Didn’t mention FDL particularly. Mostly talk about the 15 bloggers rotating into the 2 passes Media SomethingorOther has obtained, and how AP is promoting links to Libby trial blog material.

But did show a nice shot of the FDL logo.

Was the CNN bit notable? I could get someone to rip it..

rwcole @ 2

SOTU seems to be a bust- no one even discussing it much- perhaps clusterfuck has moved to the great Lame Duck land in the sky!!

I think Bush’s approval rating mirrors his credibility rating. Who can believe anything he says?

CatelynK @ 23

Didn’t mention FDL particularly. Mostly talk about the 15 bloggers rotating into the 2 passes Media SomethingorOther has obtained, and how AP is promoting links to Libby trial blog material.

But did show a nice shot of the FDL logo.

Ah; thanks.

Pachacutec @ 24

Was the CNN bit notable? I could get someone to rip it..

My impression, AP and MSM noticed they’ve been left in the dust by FDL and are trying to play catchup via links on newspaper websites around the country.

That blackhawk shootdown earlier this week looks to have taken a very heavy toll on high ranking officers.

Not that their lives are more vital than any other soldier, but it seems to be a sign that the toll is getting heavier and heavier on the military:

1st Sgt. William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Ark.

Maj. Michael V. Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Ark.

Capt. Sean E. Lyerly, 31, of Pflugerville, Texas.

Cpl. Victor M. Langarica, 29, of Decatur, Ga.

Staff Sgt. Floyd E. Lake, 43, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Col. Paul M. Kelly, 45, of Stafford, Va.

Command Sgt. Maj. Roger W. Haller, 49, of Davidsonville, Md.

Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, Iowa.

Lt. Col. David C. Canegata, 50, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sgt. 1st Class John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Ark.

Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker, 37, of Midlothian, Va.

Col. Brian D. Allgood, 46, of Oklahoma.

-GSD

CNN bit was (IMO) a hat tip to the new importance of the blogging community, now being cited and promoted by AP and other MSM. Not specific to FDL, except for the screen shot.

Pachacutec @ 18

What did CNN say?

it was just a quick little blurb about how the AP has something online to assist in seeing how the blogs are reporting the libby trial. It was so short, I missed about half of it typing my previous comment. :) They did show the FDL home page.

EX Beck @
10

For those of us without scorecards, is it possible to identify lawyers with (F) for Fitzgerald team and (L) for Libby’s team.

Thought I saw downstairs that Rayne may work something up. Did I see that?

Thanks for the list. Are these ages representative of our soldiers in Iraq? The median for that group seems to be about 45 (guestimating).

GSD @ 28

ReneND @ 31

EX Beck @
10

For those of us without scorecards, is it possible to identify lawyers with (F) for Fitzgerald team and (L) for Libby’s team.

Thought I saw downstairs that Rayne may work something up. Did I see that?

ccmask was working on something also.

GSD @ 28

That blackhawk shootdown earlier this week looks to have taken a very heavy toll on high ranking officers.

-GSD

How about what the locals just did to those Blackwater USA dudes after shooting down their “surveillance” helo? Despised mercenaries got their asses summarily executed.

I think the cost of contract killers just went up.
_

News from fantasyland… wtf?

“In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, conducted a day after Bush delivered his State of the Union address, Cheney was asked to respond to some Republicans in Congress who “are now seriously questioning your credibility, because of the blunders and the failures.”

To that, Cheney answered, “Wolf, Wolf, I simply don’t accept the premise of your question. I just think it’s hogwash.”"

Blub,

If you look at the ranks I would think that ages are probably more of an indication of their tenure.

-GSD

GSD,

you are right to point out the ages/experience of the soldiers killed – they represent the institutional intelligence/wisdom of the armed forces and are virtually irreplaceable – believe Gillard said minimum of 7 years – could be wrong there

this incident in Karbala last Saturday surely included higher ranking officers – as they were discussing security arrangements w/ their Iraqi counterparts

BobbyG and others – I strongly recommend everyone read about the Helo executions and especially the comments over at Gillard’s
tragic, just beyond tragic for these families and all of us

Blub @ 35

News from fantasyland… wtf?

“In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, conducted a day after Bush delivered his State of the Union address, Cheney was asked to respond to some Republicans in Congress who “are now seriously questioning your credibility, because of the blunders and the failures.”

To that, Cheney answered, “Wolf, Wolf, I simply don’t accept the premise of your question. I just think it’s hogwash.”"

What premise is that, Dick? That your time in office has been a string of blunders and failures? We’re not even talking about shooting some old fart in the face with birdshot or telling Leahy to go fuck himself, Dick. We’re talking about policies.

Dru @ 8

I am reading about claims that British troops are dying in Afghanistan because the government’s aid department is failing to get food to the poor in the southern provinces and starving Afghans are turning to the Taliban for support (predictably, again).

http://news.scotsman.com/index…..rmat=print

See you tomorrow!

Wow. I just read this diary on dKos (which links to an official military report) about how US Marines in Afghanistan are malnourished. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/24/14611/8217

EvilDrPuma @ 38
What premise is that, Dick? That your time in office has been a string of blunders and failures? We’re not even talking about shooting some old fart in the face with birdshot or telling Leahy to go fuck himself, Dick. We’re talking about policies.

He appears here to be denying even the self-apparent truth that people are questioning the VPs credibility. He rejects as “hogwash” even the idea that members of congress might conceivably think that the administration has blundered and failed in Iraq. So not only are we supposed to accept that everything is A-OK in Iraq but we are also being called upon to accept that NOBODY is, in fact, questioning the admin’s policies there. The psychosis evidenced by his comment is monumental.

Blub @ 21

Any more news (other than what’s been on MSM) about the rethug derailing of minimum wages in the Senate? I still cannot believe these ethically-impaired slimeballs.

Well, one thing I’m curious about here is the numbers. According to the AP story, all Democrats present plus five Republicans voted to end debate. The vote was 54-43. It works out that 49 Democrats and 48 Republicans voted. In other words, three senators were absent. We know Tim Johnson couldn’t be there, but either Lieberman or one Dem seems to have thought there was something better to do. Who was it, and why?

Bill Moyers is back, and the Weekly Standard is peeved::

….PBS omnipresence Bill Moyers announced last week his return to public broadcasting. He attacked the mainstream media as slaves on a plantation, captive of the “neoconservatives” and the “war party.” He seems actually to believe this. Moyers announced a new documentary called “Buying the War,” but made no mention of the vast wealth he has made over a lifetime sucking from the public television teat. Speaking to an audience of the fringe left, ever humble, he cast his return to television as a solemn duty [prepare to gag]:

I ‘m coming back, because it’s what I do best. Because I believe television can still signify, and I don’t want you to feel so alone. I’ll keep an eye on your work. You are to America what the abolition movement was, and the suffragette movement, and the civil rights movement. You touch the soul of democracy. It’s not assured you will succeed in this fight. The armies of the Lord are up against mighty hosts. But as the spiritual sojourner Thomas Merton wrote to an activist grown weary and discouraged protesting the Vietnam war, “Do not depend on the hope of results. Concentrate on the value and the truth of the work itself.”

twolf1 @ 30

Pachacutec @ 18

What did CNN say?

it was just a quick little blurb about how the AP has something online to assist in seeing how the blogs are reporting the libby trial. It was so short, I missed about half of it typing my previous comment. :) They did show the FDL home page.

It seems the MSM generally prefers to feature screen shots and generalizations when it comes to reporting on the blogosphere.

God forbid they give a specific blog name and web address – viewers might go online and read a blog on their own!

There’s this…

2 election workers convicted of rigging ‘04 presidential recount

Two election workers in the state’s most populous county were convicted Wednesday of illegally rigging the 2004 presidential election recount so they could avoid a more thorough review of the votes.

The state being Ohio.

Well, and this from the NYT (via truthout). Good news, federal jury in Denver agrees with whistle-blowing auditor Bobby Maxwell that Kerr-McGee indeed cheated the Interior Dept of millions in oil royalties.

Sparkles the Iguana quotes the Weekly Standard @ 41

[Moyers] attacked the mainstream media as slaves on a plantation, captive of the “neoconservatives” and the “war party.” He seems actually to believe this. Moyers announced a new documentary called “Buying the War,” but made no mention of the vast wealth he has made over a lifetime sucking from the public television teat.

Yeah, whatever you say, dickwads.

I think the Cheney/Blitzboy interview was pretty interesting.

On one hand he’s definitely telling us all to “eff off” but on the other hand he seems increasingly defensive to any pushback and this is visibly palpable.

This coupled with the “fast out of the gate” tenor of the Libby trial could make things real interesting no ?

Oh and just a huge thanks for the coverage to all at Plame house and beyond. I mean it’s killer !

CNN on Libby blogging 1

CNN on Libby blogging 2
(neither video from today)

This is what CNN was just talking about: Associated Press To Carry Bloggers’ Coverage of Libby Trial

Got all this info here:
http://www.mediabloggers.org/

EvilDrPuma @
46

Sparkles the Iguana quotes the Weekly Standard @ 41

[Moyers] attacked the mainstream media as slaves on a plantation, captive of the “neoconservatives” and the “war party.” He seems actually to believe this. Moyers announced a new documentary called “Buying the War,” but made no mention of the vast wealth he has made over a lifetime sucking from the public television teat.

Yeah, whatever you say, dickwads.

See, typical Republican/right wing attack 101. Do they address the thrust of Moyers allegations? Nope, they just smear him and his past, therefore, in their minds negating the question.

Weak minded knaves.

-GSD

GSD @
28

That blackhawk shootdown earlier this week looks to have taken a very heavy toll on high ranking officers.

Not that their lives are more vital than any other soldier, but it seems to be a sign that the toll is getting heavier and heavier on the military:

1st Sgt. William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Ark.

Maj. Michael V. Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Ark.

Capt. Sean E. Lyerly, 31, of Pflugerville, Texas.

Cpl. Victor M. Langarica, 29, of Decatur, Ga.

Staff Sgt. Floyd E. Lake, 43, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Col. Paul M. Kelly, 45, of Stafford, Va.

Command Sgt. Maj. Roger W. Haller, 49, of Davidsonville, Md.

Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, Iowa.

Lt. Col. David C. Canegata, 50, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sgt. 1st Class John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Ark.

Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker, 37, of Midlothian, Va.

Col. Brian D. Allgood, 46, of Oklahoma.

-GSD

Thanks for putting up these names, GSD. Honor Roll…

Ok, wtf was with that Baby Einstein moment in the SOTU? Not that I don’t respect entrepreneurs (although studies have shown that trying to teach infants advanced concepts doesn’t really work), but did Mrs. Baby Einstein also save someone’s life, or take shrapnel for her country? Or did she just donate to the Bush presidential library? Come to think of it, maybe Bush could use some Baby Einstein tapes.

Bush and Cheney would gladly have every death unnoted and covered under a veil of anonymity.

They are our fathers, mothers, sons and daughters.

I also think of the many Iraqis who have suffered under this dreaded war too.

-GSD

Sparkles the Iguana @ 50

Ok, wtf was with that Baby Einstein moment in the SOTU? Not that I don’t respect entrepreneurs (although studies have shown that trying to teach infants advanced concepts doesn’t really work), but did Mrs. Baby Einstein also save someone’s life, or take shrapnel for her country? Or did she just donate to the Bush presidential library? Come to think of it, maybe Bush could use some Baby Einstein tapes.

Too late now. Bush is a Sixty-Year-Old Imbecile, and there’s nothing to be done about it.

GSD @ 48

See, typical Republican/right wing attack 101. Do they address the thrust of Moyers allegations? Nope, they just smear him and his past, therefore, in their minds negating the question.

Weak minded knaves.

“Non sequitur. Their facts are uncoordinated.”
–What Nomad would have said

CNN.com’s latest poll:
Do you believe that perceived blunders have hurt the Bush administration’s credibility on Iraq?

Yes 90% 1205 votes
No 10% 134 votes
Total: 1339 votes

Well, Dick, it looks like you have a credibility problem here … about the size of the Grand Canyon.

P J Evans @ 54

CNN.com’s latest poll:
Do you believe that perceived blunders have hurt the Bush administration’s credibility on Iraq?

Yes 90% 1205 votes
No 10% 134 votes
Total: 1339 votes

Well, Dick, it looks like you have a credibility problem here … about the size of the Grand Canyon.

Perceived blunders? How about objectively real fuckups on a megalithic scale?

“They are our fathers, mothers, sons and daughters.”
-GSD
That’s why I couldn’t even begin to watch the SOTU. Bush & Cheney’s suits drenched in blood of so many on all sides, can’t stomach to look @ them.

Evil Doc,

(D) Carper from Maryland didn’t vote.

Also not voting was Sam Brownback(R)-Jesus Camp.

-GSD

Dick and Lynne and Liz and Mary can sit around eating duck and creating their own perverted reality till the ice caps melt.

-GSD

GSD @ 57

(D) Carper from Maryland didn’t vote.

Also not voting was Sam Brownback(R)-Jesus Camp.

Brownback, of course, was probably busy trying to convince somebody that he could survive the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries. I’ll be interested to hear if Carper has an excuse.

GSD @ 58

Dick and Lynne and Liz and Mary can sit around eating duck and creating their own perverted reality till the ice caps melt.

Only as long as that…?

You want a link Pach? I’ve got a link for you

The Bush Administration and all their enablers (Lierman I’m looking at you) are to the right of the John Birch Society (yea, that John Birch Society) on Iraq

http://www.thenewamerican.com/…..4417.shtml

webb live on cnn

john in sacramento @ 61

You want a link Pach? I’ve got a link for you

The Bush Administration and all their enablers (Lierman I’m looking at you) are to the right of the John Birch Society (yea, that John Birch Society) on Iraq

http://www.thenewamerican.com/…..4417.shtml

Jeebus. I would have guessed that anybody to the right of the Birchers would have created a rift in the space-time continuum. Then again, that might help explain why Holy Joe is still working.

Twolf: the first video was a hoot.

Reporter/Stenographer Jackie Schechner is full of garbage.

She is basically telling her viewers that you can’t believe bloggers because bloggers don’t have big corporations behind them.

She acts like we should kiss her mainstream ring, yet she leaves out the part that she gets her news from the government. She says it will be interesting to see how many of those bloggers make it to the end of the trial.

She says we have to read those blogs as a blogger opinion and not as someone with journalistic integrity.

Everyone make sure you watch twolfs first video to see Jackie spoon fed questions by her mainstream mate. What a loser she is.

ccmask @ 64

Reporter/Stenographer Jackie Schechner is full of garbage.

She is basically telling her viewers that you can’t believe bloggers because bloggers don’t have big corporations behind them.

And I don’t believe journalostenographers because they do have big corporations behind them. So I guess that only leaves one source of information I can depend on.

Solipsism, here I come!

via DKos:

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) asked Army Lt. Gen. David H . Petraeus during his confirmation hearing yesterday if Senate resolutions condemning White House Iraq policy “would give the enemy some comfort.”

Petraeus agreed they would, saying, “That’s correct, sir.”

I’m sure Chuck Hagel is glad to know he’s giving the enemy comfort. Or, as Glenn Greenwald notes, committing treason in Lieberman’s fevered imagination. Lieberman’s accusation, and Petraeus’s agreement to it so alarmed Senator Warner that he jumped in with [a] warning…

my contempt for Joe Lieberman will never ever subside, even when he’s retired, gracing a rocking chair on Trent Lott’s porch.

Gah! Mn. Michelle Bachmann- publicity hound. http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/GOP….._0124.html

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) asked Army Lt. Gen. David H . Petraeus during his confirmation hearing yesterday if Senate resolutions condemning White House Iraq policy “would give the enemy some comfort.”

“When will you be dying, you twisted old ferret?”
–Tom Servo

Evil: I watched it three times and I can’t believe that she thinks we think she goes into the street and looks for news. If she is teling me that that is news when it is in effect, her opinion. This trial is so important in that it will show how the mainscream media gets their news/opinions.

ReneND @ 67

Gah! Mn. Michelle Bachmann- publicity hound. http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/GOP….._0124.html

Wow. That’s…disturbing on many levels.

Yep. I call him ‘Traitor Joe.’

just for you, punaise.

It refers to his ‘at our peril’ accusations of treason and simultaneously fits his own MO in aiding and abetting the dismantling of rights, etc this bunch is behind. IOW – ‘Treason’ by the good Sen himself.

cheers!

Bush and his Presidency have sustained a set of massive blows.

First, there were the November 7 elections, which was a rejection of the Republican culture of corruption, cronyism, and failure.

Second, the Iraq Study Group came out with its report on December 6. It didn’t go far enough (no mention of civil war) but even so it was a damning indictment of conditions in Iraq. It legitimized broader discussion of Iraq in the media and put withdrawal squarely on the table.

Third, on December 31, the 3,000th American soldier died in Iraq underlining the costs of the war and the lack of progress there.

Fourth, Bush announced his brave new plan for Iraq on January 10. Most of its details had been leaked and the plan fell flat. How could it be otherwise with only 12% of Americans favoring escalation?

Fifth, the State of the Union on January 23 was a disjointed mess. The nation is obsessed about how to get out of Iraq. Bush’s response was

a call for bipartisanship from the unilateral executive himself;

a nutty healthcare plan that tanked faster than a Harriet Miers’ nomination;

more talk about alternative fuels from a man who has shown what his priorities by spending $400 billion to invade an oil rich country;

and immigration reform which lacked as all these fake attempts do any penalties on employers.

Then and only then did he pass on to Iraq rehashing the same old, confused arguments for war, repeating the same unattained and unattainable goals, begging to give his last gasp “surge” time (you know like he hasn’t already had 4 years), and still implying that those who didn’t agree with him weren’t supporting the troops.

With job approval ratings moving into Nixonian regions, this Presidency can not end soon enough but, of course, it will drag on. My only hope is that it takes the Republican Party with it.

ccmask @ 69

Evil: I watched it three times and I can’t believe that she thinks we think she goes into the street and looks for news. If she is teling me that that is news when it is in effect, her opinion. This trial is so important in that it will show how the mainscream media gets their news/opinions.

Which is why corporate shills like Schechner are on the attack.

Renee in Ohio, you asked last night if I was the same GrandmaJ that posted on the DFA blog. I answered that I was, but not sure you saw it.

Those were exciting days. I read every post of yours and followed your post ‘04 diaries avidly. Great work on a very disturbing topic. Ohio was stolen and I said I thought so at the time.

Great Hugh. I also believe that the Iraq Study group must have skipped study hall because they got the number of blackwater/civilians wrong by a bunch didn’t they?

EvilDrPuma @ 66

ccmask @ 64

Solipsism, here I come!

So why are you telling me?

ccmask – but yet they manage to report what the blogs are doing and saying on a daily basis and don’t think twice about using the information.

Hugh @ 76

EvilDrPuma @ 66

Solipsism, here I come

So why are you telling me?

What’s a “you?”

EvilDrPuma @ 66

So let me try that again.

Solipsism, here I come!

So why are you telling me?

punaise @ 67

via DKos:

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) asked Army Lt. Gen. David H . Petraeus during his confirmation hearing yesterday if Senate resolutions condemning White House Iraq policy “would give the enemy some comfort.”

Petraeus agreed they would, saying, “That’s correct, sir.”

I’m sure Chuck Hagel is glad to know he’s giving the enemy comfort. Or, as Glenn Greenwald notes, committing treason in Lieberman’s fevered imagination. Lieberman’s accusation, and Petraeus’s agreement to it so alarmed Senator Warner that he jumped in with [a] warning…

my contempt for Joe Lieberman will never ever subside, even when he’s retired, gracing a rocking chair on Trent Lott’s porch.

i think lieberman said “encouragement” not “comfort”.

you can listen for yourself… c-span has the video in their archives (check at about 1hr 4min).

my contempt for lieberman is not lessened.

Blank Kludge @ 72

Yep. I call him ‘Traitor Joe.’

just for you, punaise.

It refers to his ‘at our peril’ accusations of treason and simultaneously fits his own MO in aiding and abetting the dismantling of rights, etc this bunch is behind. IOW – ‘Treason’ by the good Sen himself.

cheers!

entirely apt, as long as Hagel is not Two-Buck Chuck.

That’s right. Do you notice that they don’t actually show their corporate viewers how to get to the site? And I don’t think Iheard them say that you could follow the trial because it is live blogging.

I’d love to see a post about that Jackie Schechner. Ms. Hamsher is the girl for the job I believe.

I don’t think Iraq is about right or left anymore. Brownback is far right. This is now about one man’s hubris and cult of personality, the cabinet enablers who need this war to pillage the treasury and who have an iron hold over a diabolical party apparatus, and the legislators of his party who are so fearful of that party apparatus that they cannot conceive of anything other than blind loyalty.

I have no clue where the gentleman from connecticut fits in all of this, but c’est la vie.

EvilDrPuma @ 64

Jeebus. I would have guessed that anybody to the right of the Birchers would have created a rift in the space-time continuum. Then again, that might help explain why Holy Joe is still working.

Just heard the doctor consultant on ABC Nightly News saying the Bush healthcare plan is a farce [my word]…tax tweaking, not healthcare reform. Real reform would address the waste, fraud and excessive costs on healthcare insurance administration. Overhead = 25-40% of costs.

That’s where the reform should be.

Prairie Sunshine @ 84

Just heard the doctor consultant on ABC Nightly News saying the Bush healthcare plan is a farce [my word]…tax tweaking, not healthcare reform. Real reform would address the waste, fraud and excessive costs on healthcare insurance administration. Overhead = 25-40% of costs.

That’s where the reform should be.

Watch the spinning coin…single payer…single payer…

Want to know who the ’sleeping giants’ are? China and Russia come to mind. The storm clouds are gathering me thinks. And it won’t be long before these countries are out of patience with United States belligerency and gunboat diplomacy.

Links. . .

Pach, is that a picture of the lifeline the White House threw to Libby?

I visited the Memorial for the Dead in Iraq at the University of Oregon campus, I need to share these pictures:

The Dead in Iraq – May They Rest in Peace

It rips me apart.

punaise -

Hagel can be something like Sen. Charles (3DaysOfTheCondor)Hagel. Heroic war vet stands up and is counted.

If he really wants.

cheerio.

One last thing on the subject.

While Pach and Marcy were live blogging the trial, NOT ONCE did it pop into my head that they were giving their opinion or that they were being spoon fed their information.

Unlike CNN, WAPO, or the NYT. It’s like they don’t even sell advertising anymore–they just get their info from their conservative base, who get their advertising as a kickback.

ccmask @ 83

That’s right. Do you notice that they don’t actually show their corporate viewers how to get to the site? And I don’t think Iheard them say that you could follow the trial because it is live blogging.

I’d love to see a post about that Jackie Schechner. Ms. Hamsher is the girl for the job I believe.

Actually, Pach’s post on open-source journalism already won the 1st round.

Prairie Sunshine @ 85

Just heard the doctor consultant on ABC Nightly News saying the Bush healthcare plan is a farce [my word]…tax tweaking, not healthcare reform. Real reform would address the waste, fraud and excessive costs on healthcare insurance administration. Overhead = 25-40% of costs.

That’s where the reform should be.

We spend 50% — 150% more per capita than other comparable industrial nations, and rank near the bottom of the major clinical outcomes categories. Just about all of that owes to our byzantine non-system “system” of the way we administer “health care.”

Many interests are perfectly happy with that arrangement. Nothin’ personal, just bidness.

Bush’s tax incentive proposal will do ZERO to effectively address the problem.
_

punaise @ 88

Links. . .

Pach, is that a picture of the lifeline the White House threw to Libby?

I believe it is although the anchor and concrete overshoes aren’t shown.

the Robot Vegetable @ 89

I visited the Memorial for the Dead in Iraq at the University of Oregon campus, I need to share these pictures:

The Dead in Iraq – May They Rest in Peace

It rips me apart.

OMG – what a horrific visual. So very sad.

Robot: wow.

American healthcare is broken at all levels. What Bush proposed wasn’t even a Bandaid. It was more like spitting in the general direction of the wound.

ccmask @ 96

Robot: wow.

double wow

Here’s a story by the Wapo, spoon fed by the military’s opinion.

WASHINGTON — The United States launched an airstrike in Somalia against suspected terrorist targets _ the second such attack this month, defense officials said Wednesday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the action was carried out in secret, provided few details about the strike by an Air Force AC-130 gunship earlier this week and were uncertain whether the intended target was killed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..00681.html

It’s difficult to decide which of the Republicans running for Iraq cover is the worst. My fave along these lines would have to be John Warner I suppose. Did any GOP type vote against the Iraq horror?

ccmask @ 91

One last thing on the subject.

While Pach and Marcy were live blogging the trial, NOT ONCE did it pop into my head that they were giving their opinion or that they were being spoon fed their information.

Unlike CNN, WAPO, or the NYT. It’s like they don’t even sell advertising anymore–they just get their info from their conservative base, who get their advertising as a kickback.

Even before the liveblogging, emptywheel and Christy and Jane knew every *document* inside out and backwards. Theirs conclusions may have been ‘opinion’ but informed opinion based on source documents, which are cited, and rigorous scholarship. And subjected to vigorous peer review. That would be, ahem, us.

Ms TeeVeeLady’s opinion was based on what, exactly?

Also, what is with the sloppy thinking? Blog is a medium, as is a newspaper or a TV news shop, and can have just about any sort of content. Also, we don’t put main stream media in quotes. We abbreviate it. Stupid git.

Anyone heard of The Real News .com? Seems like it might be a friendly site. We could keep them in ‘news” I’d think. http://www.iwtnews.com/

Oklahoma kiddo @ 100

Did any GOP type vote against the Iraq horror?

A few libertarians in the House.. Ron Paul being a case in point.

Thanks for the photos Robot.

I was just watching Hardball but I had to turn it off because Tony Snow was on for several minutes giving his opinion about the president.

And as we all know, Jackie Schechner says that we shouldn’t listen to other’s opinions, especially if they are not backed up with journo integrity.

Is she kidding me or what? B*tches.

Tony Snow talking on “Hardball” about how we can’t let Iraqi oil get away from us.

And don’t forget, Truthprobe gives a blow by blow account of the SOTU.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 106

Tony Snow talking on “Hardball” about how we can’t let Iraqi oil get away from us.

I guess they DO tell the truth once in a rare while

Oklahoma kiddo @ 106

Tony Snow talking on “Hardball” about how we can’t let Iraqi oil get away from us.

Is that his opinion?

Oklahoma kiddo @ 100

It’s difficult to decide which of the Republicans running for Iraq cover is the worst. My fave along these lines would have to be John Warner I suppose. Did any GOP type vote against the Iraq horror?

If you are talking about the AUMF against Iraq of October 11, 2002, only Lincoln Chafee voted against it and he is no longer in the Senate.

My limited understanding of Libertarians is that they usually don’t support unprovoked foreign adventures. Perhaps I am wrong on this.

I just listened to Tony Snow on Hardball.
Will someone tell him to shut the fuck-up,
he was spinning like a top…
They have already noticed a difference in Iraq..
What fucking lies!

Jack

Sorry guys. Stick a fork in me, I’m done. I just can’t get my news anywhere but here anymore. I’m ruined, in a good way.

ccmask @ 109

Oklahoma kiddo @ 106

Tony Snow talking on “Hardball” about how we can’t let Iraqi oil get away from us.

Is that his opinion?

I have not ascertained yet whether Snow owns any opinions. ;)

The ‘difference in Iraq’ is there’s more blood. There will be more tomorrow.
…and so on.

ccmask @ 112

Sorry guys. Stick a fork in me, I’m done. I just can’t get my news anywhere but here anymore. I’m ruined, in a good way.

I prefer to use blogs as a clearing-house for information. It’s not like the good ones aren’t linking their sources, fer cryin’ out loud.

GSD @ #28,

The combination of ranks of the hyelicopter casualties speaks of the command structure of a brigade-sized unit, minus the commander himself. I haven’t seen any MSM story about this which tries to analyze wtf.

Meanwhile, it has been by far the hardest month for fallen soldiers from Alaska – eleven, 8 on January 20!

2007-01-20: Spc. Jeffrey D. Bisson

2007-01-20: Spc. Toby Olsen

2007-01-20: 1st Lt. Jacob Fritz

2007-01-20: Pvt. Shawn Patrick Falter

2007-01-20: Sgt. Phillip McNeill

2007-01-20: Pvt. Jonathan Millican

2007-01-20: Sgt. Sean Patrick Fennerty

2007-01-20: Bryan Chism

2007-01-15: Spc. Jason J. Corbett

2007-01-05: Spc. Jeremiah J. Johnson

2007-01-04: Staff Sgt. Charles D. Allen

please, G*d, help us bring them all home soon…….

ccmask @ 113

Sorry guys. Stick a fork in me, I’m done. I just can’t get my news anywhere but here anymore. I’m ruined, in a good way.

My name is HotFlash and I’m a Firedog.

Mike Barnicle showed such restraint…. he should have grabbed Snow Job by his neck and wrestled him to the ground…
Send him back to Fox News…
Has anybody asked Scottie about his Libby/Rove lies and deception…

My name is ccmask and I’m a firedog.

Wasn’t someone asking about the average age of service persons in Iraq? I couldn’t find anything on non-reservists but this is from Stars and Stripes

“The average age of reservists in all services is 33, according to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. A quarter of all reservists are over age 40.”
“Part-time soldiers now make up about 40 percent of the 150,000 troops in Iraq”

Oklahoma kiddo @ 100

It’s difficult to decide which of the Republicans running for Iraq cover is the worst.

I think that if Nancy and whoever is our (Democratic) president in 2008 could, if they are able to continue to maintain party discipline as well as they did last night, could, in my dreams, leverage the rethug Iraq divisions and forthcoming Clusterfuckisms into the actual destruction of their party. I could picture a country with a united Democratic party and a rethug party carved-up into a new Christian Dominion Party, led by Brownback et al, with its own moderate and Christianist wings, a bunch of floating libertarians and a small Fiscalist party of the surviving thieves and pillagers & Liarman, who would carry the swing votes from now on.. OK, it’s a daydream, but you must admit that it would be a lot more honest than what they have today… a party united by power and fear alone.

Swopa’s upstairs with a new thread.

Bush was talking about some kind of new national guard last night too. I think he said corps. The irony…

My non-Libby news is something that slipped by me last week… Laura Rozen reporting on the ISOG, which is the Bush administration’s Iran-Syria version of the Iraq Group (that has been so terrific for us all).

I think that most people read Liz Cheney’s op-ed and came away thinking that she’s a cheap knock-off of her dad. I think people need to pay a little attention to what Liz has been doing as a part of this administration — and more importantly, who else has been working in her group. The ISOG hasn’t gotten much media attention and it’s a very big deal.

Rozen’s report is very interesting, but the thing that is missing is how quickly the ISOG has expanded its role from what was initially (and reluctantly) revealed last year. (b/w link.)

FYI:

In the House 6 Republicans voted against the AUMF against Iraq:
Duncan
Hostettler
Houghton
Leach
Morella
Paul

http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin…..number=455

Your Links photo reminds me of pretzels.

oregondave @
127

Your Links photo reminds me of pretzels.

oh tee hee! My 1st thot was sausage, then pretzels, then chains. Links = better, okay, I guess… & yet, y’know…. ;->

EvilDrPuma @ 53

Sparkles the Iguana @ 50

Ok, wtf was with that Baby Einstein moment in the SOTU? Not that I don’t respect entrepreneurs (although studies have shown that trying to teach infants advanced concepts doesn’t really work), but did Mrs. Baby Einstein also save someone’s life, or take shrapnel for her country? Or did she just donate to the Bush presidential library? Come to think of it, maybe Bush could use some Baby Einstein tapes.

Too late now. Bush is a Sixty-Year-Old Imbecile, and there’s nothing to be done about it.

The Baby Einstein founder is partnering with John Walsh on a series of videos to “keep kids safe.” I think they could have found a better “social entrepreneur” to honor but, then, I don’t think like a Republican.

HotFlash @ 45

Well, and this from the NYT (via truthout). Good news, federal jury in Denver agrees with whistle-blowing auditor Bobby Maxwell that Kerr-McGee indeed cheated the Interior Dept of millions in oil royalties.

I hope this is good news. However, the Tenth Circuit is famous for dragging out appeals on False Claims Act cases. One rather famous case — against Rockwell which used to (mis)manage a plutonium trigger plant outside Denver — has been tied up in court for 15 years. The whistleblower, who is a great man, in the ensuing years, has developed Alzheimer’s – and – his wife is now in a nursing home. It’s a shame … they sacrificed so much yet they may never see any resolution (or cash). Justice delayed is truly justice denied.