Christy!

ccmask !!!

A couple of snippettes on this story:
Libby’s dilemma: testify or not?

Some experts said they doubted Libby would choose not to testify, and they viewed the filing as a legal ploy to draw a ruling from Walton that could be used as a basis to overturn any verdict against their client on appeal. They could argue that Libby was, in effect, coerced to testify in violation of his constitutional rights.

“The jury thinks it has a sense of who Libby is based on his grand jury testimony,” said Dan Richman, a professor at Fordham Law School in New York and a former federal prosecutor. “Whether that could be changed is an open issue. [But] that testimony does put some pressure on Libby to testify.” Richman said that although jurors are not supposed to draw conclusions about a defendant’s decision not to testify, it is inevitable that some will.

“Pat Fitzgerald has a black binder 4 inches thick,” said Joshua Berman, a Washington lawyer and former federal prosecutor who once worked with Fitzgerald on a terrorism case. “He is going to take big chunks out of Libby’s credibility.”

Fitz! cbl!

Good morning, Christy and everyone.

I hate to say it, but I kind of *would* like to hear what Feith has to say on Fox News Sunday.

Not that I expect him to face harsh questioning, of course.

Hi Lindy. I have to go look for my homeless cat that I took in. Haven’t seen her in two days. Boo-hoo. I took her in during the last hurricane and she’s been so happy here…later

We lost one of ours too. She was a foundling and bottle fed.

ccmask @ 3

A couple of snippettes on this story:
Libby’s dilemma: testify or not?

Some experts said they doubted Libby would choose not to testify, and they viewed the filing as a legal ploy to draw a ruling from Walton that could be used as a basis to overturn any verdict against their client on appeal. They could argue that Libby was, in effect, coerced to testify in violation of his constitutional rights.

“The jury thinks it has a sense of who Libby is based on his grand jury testimony,” said Dan Richman, a professor at Fordham Law School in New York and a former federal prosecutor. “Whether that could be changed is an open issue. [But] that testimony does put some pressure on Libby to testify.” Richman said that although jurors are not supposed to draw conclusions about a defendant’s decision not to testify, it is inevitable that some will.

“Pat Fitzgerald has a black binder 4 inches thick,” said Joshua Berman, a Washington lawyer and former federal prosecutor who once worked with Fitzgerald on a terrorism case. “He is going to take big chunks out of Libby’s credibility.”

are there any big chunks left?

SteveNS @ 6

I hate to say it, but I kind of *would* like to hear what Feith has to say on Fox News Sunday.

Not that I expect him to face harsh questioning, of course.

feith going on fox is like cheney going on press the meat …..

Morning all. Fresh coffee and some Little Einsteins on the telly this morning with The Peanut. :)

Mornin’ ladies,

now see, all you hippies were wrong about Timmeh – he’s giving you Kurtz, Ifill, and Broderella very important, balanced and wise™ journamalists who will set y’all straight on when to apply rumakiconfidentiality and when to employ cocktail weenieson the record

Ugh. That’s a lineup not worth changing from Jimmy Neutron on Nickelodeon, or whatever follows Neutron.

I’m thinking about style this morning. Nixon style vs Cheney style.
Nixon was a “cash in paper bags” style man, possibly typical of his generation, but most probably his personal proclivities. Cheney is a money mover of a different kind of the next generation. I don’t quite know what I’m getting at, but I feel that in this kind company I can throw this idea out for the fine minds here to chew on. Reagan was a successful mover of great amounts of money/power through channels more similar to Cheney. Can we possibly gain any insight from looking at these personal styles?

thanks for the cartoon link, Christy, and good morning to you.

with so many on the tube this morning, i guess dodos aren’t extinct after all….

and, mandrake, if you’re still about, i appologize ….

fahrender at 15 — Seemed like I needed to add something of substance to this morning’s line-up listings. The cartoons were wonderful yesterday and I hadn’thad a chance to link them up as yet. Was a good fit for this morning for everyone. :)

If it’s Sunday. . .

This may be the dumbest question, but might the defense bring in a “memory expert” to discuss brain intricacies — numbing the jury’s gray matter while explaining Libby’s I-didn’t-know-I-had-known-it-to-forget-it GJ testimony?

Take a second to mark the passing of a fine woman who won’t get featured on CNN….

http://www.nola.com/obituaries…..amp;coll=1

Pat @ 18

This may be the dumbest question, but might the defense bring in a “memory expert” to discuss brain intricacies — numbing the jury’s gray matter while explaining Libby’s I-didn’t-know-I-had-known-it-to-forget-it GJ testimony?

Pat, I believe Judge Walton ruled that the defense could not bring in a memory expert.

cbl @
12

Mornin’ ladies,

now see, all you hippies were wrong about Timmeh – he’s giving you Kurtz, Ifill, and Broderella very important, balanced and wise™ journamalists who will set y’all straight on when to apply rumakiconfidentiality and when to employ cocktail weenieson the record

Yeah, that was my first reaction: boy, Timmeh’s got some folks on who are really going to grill him. Bahahaha

And Christy, isn’t “Baby Einstein” that Evil Company cited by Dear Leader in his SOTU? How could you???? JK

Russert “off the record” Potatohead, earns $5 Millions a year.

If it’s Sunday, it’s get your talkng points out without challenge from Potatohead.

GE brings good things to life, and buries so many others.

Pat at 18 — The defense had to give notice of any expert testimony prior to trial. They attempted to get a memory expert in, and after hearing arguments on it, Judge Walton ruled that the expert was not allowed to testify. See this article for more on that decision at the time it was made. Hopethat helps!

Mauimom at 21 — I try to ignore anything that President Bush says about childrearing, to be honest. It’s a good show, with some introduction to composers and musical instruments and artwork, as well as interactive problem solving. And as long as I’m watching it with her, and we talk about the show as it goes along, I think it’s a good cartoon for her to watch. A helluva lot better than, say, Barney (which I loathe!). But as far as what President Bush does or does not think is good for kids? Don’t really care. *g*

ccmask @
3

A couple of snippettes on this story:
Libby’s dilemma: testify or not?

Some experts said they doubted Libby would choose not to testify, and they viewed the filing as a legal ploy to draw a ruling from Walton that could be used as a basis to overturn any verdict against their client on appeal. They could argue that Libby was, in effect, coerced to testify in violation of his constitutional rights.

“The jury thinks it has a sense of who Libby is based on his grand jury testimony,” said Dan Richman, a professor at Fordham Law School in New York and a former federal prosecutor. “Whether that could be changed is an open issue. [But] that testimony does put some pressure on Libby to testify.” Richman said that although jurors are not supposed to draw conclusions about a defendant’s decision not to testify, it is inevitable that some will.

“Pat Fitzgerald has a black binder 4 inches thick,” said Joshua Berman, a Washington lawyer and former federal prosecutor who once worked with Fitzgerald on a terrorism case. “He is going to take big chunks out of Libby’s credibility.”

Do you have a link for the story from which you quoted, please?

lb0313 at 6:01 am
Thanks very much for the link.

I give the nola credit for running the obit, unfortuntely imho, their characterization
“Integration activist Peg Murison Wright” shows how far we have to go.

This woman was engaged in a non-violent struggle against legalized white supremacy in the US. Prior to the Civil Rights Legislation of the 60’s there was no legal problem telling someone you wouldn’t hire them, or they couldn’t vote, or you wouldn’t extend them credit, because of their ethnicity, Irish, Semitic, Native American, Italian, Asian, African American … (and gender). A state or locality could craft the so called “Jim Crow” legislation anyway they wanted and it was legal. Perhaps the most damaging of these were the limitations they put on access to education. We’re paying a huge price today for centuries of legalized white supremacy.

Just a quick note…the C-Span lineup you posted is for tomorrow morning. This morning they had Charlie Cook, and he is followed by Rupert Cornwell of the Independent talking about Tony Blair. The last guest is from the Palestinian Authority to talk about Fatah-Hamas.

kansi at 27 — Hmmm…will check that. Maybe there was a website glitch when I pulled this earlier. Appreciate the heads up…

Lindy and CHS — You guys are awesome! Thanks for the link to the Oct. ruling. I can rest a little easier.

A helluva lot better than, say, Barney (which I loathe!)

I felt SO lucky because by the time Barney came along, my kids were too old for him. But I know the general feeling: trying to find something to entertain the wee one(s) that doesn’t make you puke.

While I’m telling people what to do – go read one of our local talking heads who made it in to the post today….

Our typical response to this is – yeah, you rite..

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01916.html

Where’s Johnny McCain – if this is sunday john mccain’s monatone must be blaring somewhere if not on his regular MTP gig?

OfT, I’m listening to Scooter’s GJ testimony from the audio links on CSPAN. Just prior to the 1:20:26 mark, Fitz absolutely hammers Scooter about whether he ever told WaPo’s Walter Pincus about Plame’s identity. It sounds to me as though Scooter can’t bring himself to absolutely rule it out, because he’s afraid Fitz has Pincus testimony that Scooter did tell him about Plame. Interested on others take on this, because from what we now know, it appears that Pincus didn’t tell Fitz that. Fitz was just trying to throw Scooter and DeadEye off, because Scooter is so confused, he really can’t remember, for sure, whether he told Pincus or not.

I’m up now. Had to scrape myself off the floor from laughing.

Rep Boner on Press the Meat said, “I have no problem facing reality” or something like that. To which I thought, “Yeah, the reality you a-holes concoct.” No wonder they don’t pronounce his name correctly on the boobtube. And is there a Puke who’s Mama raised him to not interrupt others? Didn’t think so.

is it just me or does Douglas Feith (sounds like I’m lisping) want to grow up to be John Bolton i.e. all bombast and bad hair? (how to go from a mid-level neocon nut to a senior level neocon nut)

Sorry, OT. Sharon @ 34…..Shez tells me you’re in MI. She’s thinking about a meeting of MI firepups. Your thoughts?

OT but funny:

Bush: ‘Every fallen soldier’s family will get a new SUV’

President Bush called on critics to tone down opposition to the Iraq conflict on Wednesday, as he announced his latest initiative to honor the troops who have fallen in Iraq by giving their families a brand new sport utility vehicle (SUV).

“In my new plan, every fallen soldier’s family will get a new SUV. I intend to give every military family who has sacrificed a loved one for freedom a brand new 2006 or 2007 SUV, paid for by the government,” the President announced while visiting a factory that produces Humvees for the war effort in Eurasia. “Some have said that this war isn’t worth fighting. They think the terrorists should win. My plan will show that America values those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Bush continued.

off topic but on topic for tomorrows fun and games with fitz

it is abundantly clear, if libby testifies cheney is toast

toast, no butter…burnt toast…wonder bread toast

toast toast toast

my prediciton as follows;

no libby testimony by special request directly from the ovp

or the vice president is toast

Christy,
and any other Plameologists (Rayne) who wish to weigh in -

now I understand the concept of instilling reasonable doubt in a single juror (Gerry Spence, Roy Black, and the late Johnny Cochran all made their bones (and tankers of cash) employing it

but there have been moments in this trial that Mr. Wells frankly, has been sloppy, floundering, and nakedly desperate in employing it’s application – and in no way the extremely smooth Big Swingin’ Legal dick he’s been in the past

from the outset, in the face of no legal experience and being at best, a casual Plameologist, have commented in the threads that a rather loud alarm went off inside the gut everytime I saw Wells and his famous client – that something was different about this case and that Mr. Wells ‘was in for it’ this pic perfectly illustrates that feeling

would love to hear from those who have been mulling this over – what is going on ?!? why this case ?!?!

cbl @ 39

…Mr. Wells ‘was in for it’

would love to hear from those who have been mulling this over – what is going on ?!? why this case ?!?!

could you elaborate please?

in for it?

fahrender @
15

… (snip)

and, mandrake, if you’re still about, i appologize ….

I’m glad that you apologized, I hope she sees your apology. I think people are entitled to feel unhappy on about Valentine’s Day, I know I have for many of them, and to say so among friends.

Also, you’d said last night “sorry, for those bitter words and whatever lead to them ….. ” after a nested comment, so don’t know if these were the ‘bitter words’ you meant, but this is the origin of fish and bicycles according to everything2.com:

This phrase is widely attributed to Gloria Steinem, the implication being that many women may well have no need for or even use for men. The humor derives from the fact that sexual and lingustic stereotypes make the brain expect to hear ‘water’ as the last word.

A web site called The Phrase Finder at http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/index.html quotes from a letter sent by Gloria Steinem’s letter to Time Magazine in autumn 2000. Part of her letter is quoted below.

“you credit me with the witticism ‘A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.’ In fact, Irina Dunn, a distinguished Australian educator, journalist and politician, coined the phrase back in 1970 when she was a student at the University of Sydney.”

I’m thinking about style this morning. Nixon style vs Cheney style.
Nixon was a “cash in paper bags” style man, possibly typical of his generation, but most probably his personal proclivities. Cheney is a money mover of a different kind of the next generation. I don’t quite know what I’m getting at, but I feel that in this kind company I can throw this idea out for the fine minds here to chew on. Reagan was a successful mover of great amounts of money/power through channels more similar to Cheney. Can we possibly gain any insight from looking at these personal styles?

I find a comparison between Simon bar Sinister and Cheney to be more helpful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Bar_Sinister

Is Timmeh trying a stab at rehabilitating his image?
Not doing a good job with Broder, Gwen(Condi’s best girlfriend) Ifil and Howie(my wife is a Goper) Kurtz

Sharon! Hi hon! Yes I sent a Valentines shoutout to you in Late Nite thread.

Was checking email, a reminder notice came from the host of the brand new Drinking Liberally Lansing chapter for their very first meeting next Thursday on 15th at the NutHouse Sports Grill. Hope both you and retirin’ in five can make it, and other MI’ers close by. Anyone can attend but here’s a direct link to the new chapter to sign up for updates:

http://drinkingliberally.org/l…..ml#lansing

Wow, what a an ancient group of has beens on the Sunday lineup. Yikes.

Timmer’s on now here in the heartland – yes, A BIG RUSS reference!!!!!!!!!!!

Is the Pentagon Office of Special Plans related to the Able Danger activities?

perris,

that’s my problem, it is intuitive and in no way qualified – just everytime I saw them together, something in the gut said things weren’t going to go the usual smooth, well paved way for Mr. Wells, that in fact, this particular case could do damage to his reputation – in no way rational – sorry

OT but a lot of fun.

You can design your own M&M

http://www.becomeanmm.com

retirin’ in five @ 36

Sorry, OT. Sharon @ 34…..Shez tells me you’re in MI. She’s thinking about a meeting of MI firepups. Your thoughts?

…and Shez too (I missed late night, will look),

Thursday I’ll have just taken a stats test so I’ll be ready to hoist…a cup o’ Joe to celebrate at the NutHouse with you.

OT for Sharon and Shez,

Enjoy but you have to count me out. Weeknights won’t work THE COMMUTE that starts early the next morning. But throw a few back with my blessings and we’ll get together some other time and place.

On MTP, Roger Simon insists that Libby’s is a “show trial” without any underlying crime. Tries to compare Fitz to Starr the bonerhead. He also insists that nobody cares about the trial except the participants and the hallowed peeps of the press, such as his flatulent self.

I prefer to see this as the beginning of the disassembly of the Criminal Conspiracy that has been running Washington DC and the MSM for the last few years. The report on Feith’s activities shows wrongdoing also, no matter how much ReThugs want to deny the fact. I may have to start shooting people [CHS notes: no threats of violence. Period.] who say the CIA got it wrong, all our allies got it wrong – at somepoint people have to stand up and call BS.

OT for Hugh, if you’re here, I finally found the link about the Office of Special Plans:

stingray- thanks for the heads up on the Office of Iranian affairs. Thanks to that, I found a page about it at SourceWatch, here

from SourceWatch:
The Office of Iranian Affairs (OIA) is the reincarnation of the Office of Special Plans, “apparently housed in the same Pentagon offices inhabited by its predecessor and involving some of the same slimy personnel,” Gary Leupp wrote May 29, 2006, in Dissident Voice. [] more at link

perris @
38

off topic but on topic for tomorrows fun and games with fitz

it is abundantly clear, if libby testifies cheney is toast

toast, no butter…burnt toast…wonder bread toast

toast toast toast

my prediciton as follows;

no libby testimony by special request directly from the ovp

or the vice president is toast

I think I could learn to like the smell of burnt toast ;->

Morning Everyone. dodo – time indeed, but you insult the bird, my dear…

I gotta tune in timmeh just a bit, to see if he talks about his, ahem, week that was… I can see him now: wide eyes, half smile, gollllleee!
5 million you say? humpht.

Wanna see spin, put it on pox news right now

Mike Huckabee would be well advised to limiting himself to playing the Spanish Speaking Bee Man Guy in an off broadway live actor version of the Simpsons. He is mentally incompetent for much more.

Re the Link to the source watch on OSP: It didn’t carry over in my cut and paste, sorry. but it is here

Did anyone see the look Feith gave Wallace at the end of the interview script.

I think they have a thing for each other.

This Sunday line-up has finally prodded me to do something better with my Sunday mornings. These narrow-minded bloviating gasbags still draw ratings??

Why not at least mix it up and let some sparks really fly? Why not put on Mitch McConnell versus John Tester – or Jim Webb versus Steven Hadley? Why not broaden the debate and wake people up right on the sabbath? What progressive would care a whit about what John Kerry has to say any more. He had his chance. Beentherdonethat. How about Bernie Sanders versus Guiliani?

The sponsors might be pleased because people would actually tune in.

Second cup of coffee, dogs on the bed with us.

Heavy rain last night, goooooood sleeping weather, clear cool this morning.

The TEVEEE will not come on today.

E’m thinkin’ ’bout nuttin tuhday

watched poxnews talking bobbleheads for a bit.

Juan tried to hold forth. And the others actually let him rant on…

BillyK. just sat there staring him with a smirk on his stoopid face that tried to say, “You’re so-o-o lame & pathetic.” It wasn’t working for BillyK. The eyes looked tired; they said blergh!
It’s not as much fun for BillyK any more…

oddball @ 54

Wanna see spin, put it on pox news right now

Yep. Feith makes the argument that by presenting an interpretation of intelligence that was not supported by the professional intelligence community, he was serving “good government,” since alternative views are always helpful. I thought Chris Wallace grilling of Feith, who is very slippery in evading questions, was pretty good, but Feith isn’t backing off one iota.

Wallace follows with Mitch McConnel, who says we need to get off this history and look forward, and Wallace basically says, “okay.”

I gotta tune in timmeh just a bit, to see if he talks about his, ahem, week that was… I can see him now: wide eyes, half smile, gollllleee!

I saw Timmeh talking to Tweety(?) the night after his testimony ended.

He looked like a man badly in need of a stiff drink.

both Hoyer and Boner say that “the public doesn’t support public financing of elections.”

I don’t recall having been asked….

In my dream NBC kicks Russert to the proverbial curb and gives MTP to Keith Olbermann.. guaranteed ratings boost. Are you listening, Jeff Zucker?

Interesting reading on the release of the OSP report @ Pat Lang’s blog this morning. Lang points out that:
“A damaging document like the Department of Defense Inspector General report on the misdeeds of the Office of Special Plans could not have been released without the express and personal permission of the Secretary of Defense.”

Lang was one of the intelligence experts quoted in the Kristof op-ed that got Cheney/Libby so exercised at the beginning of whole sordid Plame outing mess…
Here’s link to his blog:

http://turcopolier.typepad.com….._tyrannis/

Lessee, KO takes over MTP. I like the thought.

The only guests the show would have would be:

Conyers
Edwards
Waxman
Feingold and
Gore

Yeah, you’re right. It would be a much better show!

Arianna Huffington on Reliable Sources on CNN after the break…

Fahrender: Here’s a link to my #3.

Sorry about that, chief.–Maxwell Smart

http://www.latimes.com/news/na…..nes-nation

Meet the Press (NBC): Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), David Broder, Gwen Ifill, Howard Kurtz, and Roger Simon.

This Week (ABC): Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), former Arkansa Gov. Mike Huckabee, and Sean Penn.

Face the Nation (CBS): Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), and John Harris.

Please, God, make it stop.

scarecrow @ 61

oddball @ 54

Wanna see spin, put it on pox news right now

Yep. Feith makes the argument that by presenting an interpretation of intelligence that was not supported by the professional intelligence community, he was serving “good government,” since alternative views are always helpful. I thought Chris Wallace grilling of Feith, who is very slippery in evading questions, was pretty good, but Feith isn’t backing off one iota.

Wallace follows with Mitch McConnel, who says we need to get off this history and look forward, and Wallace basically says, “okay.”

according to the senate armed forces committee hearing friday, it sounded like the problem wasn’t that feith’s office presented an alternative interpretation – it was that they presented their interpretation w/o mentioning that the concensus intelligence community’s interpretation was completely different – contrary to how intelligence analysis is supposed to be reported…. and even (i think) w/o telling tenet et al. that they were doing it.

oddball @ 66

Lessee, KO takes over MTP. I like the thought.

The only guests the show would have would be:

Conyers
Edwards
Waxman
Feingold and
Gore

Yeah, you’re right. It would be a much better show!

That would be fun but more fun would be KO taking on the usual repug dominated guest list.. Cheney, Feith, and Wolfowitz would be good for starters.

There is a really strong Opinion piece in WaPo today by William Odom. Not that many I know need convincing, but in case you need a reference to support why the only option that makes sense in Iraq is to leave…and don’t miss the annotated version of the NIE Key Findings in the sidebar.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01917.html

Arianna Huffington on CNN now

twolf1 – always worth tuning in just to hear her call him Howie

Lindy,

from SourceWatch:
The Office of Iranian Affairs (OIA) is the reincarnation of the Office of Special Plans,

and let’s not forget that proving reptiles can learn, Big Time installed “his people” at State
this time -

Cheney daughter’s jihad on mullahs

btw, never see Feith without seeing Hoover from Animal House in my head

selise @ 70

scarecrow @ 61

oddball @ 54

Wanna see spin, put it on pox news right now

Yep. Feith makes the argument that by presenting an interpretation of intelligence that was not supported by the professional intelligence community, he was serving “good government,” since alternative views are always helpful. I thought Chris Wallace grilling of Feith, who is very slippery in evading questions, was pretty good, but Feith isn’t backing off one iota.

Wallace follows with Mitch McConnel, who says we need to get off this history and look forward, and Wallace basically says, “okay.”

according to the senate armed forces committee hearing friday, it sounded like the problem wasn’t that feith’s office presented an alternative interpretation – it was that they presented their interpretation w/o mentioning that the concensus intelligence community’s interpretation was completely different – contrary to how intelligence analysis is supposed to be reported…. and even (i think) w/o telling tenet et al. that they were doing it.

Feith said that Tenet’s deputy was present at the briefing his team did for Stephen Hadley. And there were at least two versions of the presentation, one with a page warning that the intelligence community did not agree, and another without that page. Hadley saw the one with the warning. That “fact” may protect Feith, but it doesn’t protect Hadley, then the deputy to Rice as NSA. So the National Security Advisor was clearly warned that the principal “evidence” linking Iraq to al-Qaeda via the “Prague meeting” with Atta was not believed by the intelligence community. So if your job is the national security advisor (or her deputy) what is your responsibility?

Blogger Buzz written on the screen under Arianna.

Legitimate question here: been thinking about Cathie Martin comment regarding “MTP was their best venue for controlling the message.” If that is true, then why are they always on FOX? Is it because the WH sees FOX as a non-credible network, they can say anything there becasue they know that the smarter American wouldbn’t be watching Fox anyway? What is the distinguishable differerence hre between FOX and MTP?

Yeeuchk! What a lineup of lineups. Like licking an ashtray.

Feith said that Tenet’s deputy was present at the briefing his team did for Stephen Hadley.

both Cofer Black and John MacLaughlin (Tenet deputies) have both contradicted this claim on the record ad nauseum – I’m sure Wallace mentioned it;)

With the usurpation of democracy, alienation of former allies, liquidation of the treasury and orchestration and exploitation of 9/11 by the Bush Administration, the opposition party has pledged to work with the president on non-binding resolutions.

cbl @ 79

Feith said that Tenet’s deputy was present at the briefing his team did for Stephen Hadley.

both Cofer Black and John MacLaughlin (Tenet deputies) have both contradicted this claim on the record ad nauseum – I’m sure Wallace mentioned it;)

Wallace did not follow up, and I didn’t know that either. I should caveat that the term” “present” is mine; Feith was weasiling here, and he might have said “either present or informed of” or something to that effect. He then argued that if Tenet did not know of the presentation, it was the fault of his deputies for not informing him.

CSPAN is playing the tapes of Libby’s Grand Jury testimony.

Wow, rxbus@72, that WaPo annotated NIE is an eye-opener. For me the money lines are “it’s worse than civil war, it’s close to anarchy” and “if the US withdraws quickly, things are likely to get much worse much faster.”

Call me cynical, but I’d guess BushCo is about ready to declare ‘mission accomplished’ in Iraq and move on to Iran. Who’s next? Syria? Jordan? I look forward to reading the next plaque on Douglas Feith’s door.

scarecrow @ 82

CSPAN is playing the tapes of Libby’s Grand Jury testimony.

Thanks for the heads-up

What is the distinguishable differerence hre between FOX and MTP?

oooh, pick me ! pick me !

Fox launches a meme, MTP finishes it with the veneer of CW

So funny from the LATimes article:

“He is in a tough position,” said Carolyn Koch, a Fairfax, Va., jury consultant. “As a defendant, you don’t want to help the government prove the case against you. [But] it seems impossible for him not to testify. How can you have a memory defense and not testify about your own memory?”

Umm, he forgot?

(rest of article here.)

The absurdity/irresponsibility of Feith’s statements on Fox News comes from his unwillingness to admit that he gave exactly the wrong information to decision makers and that information was used to justify starting a war that we didn’t need to. He knew the stakes, and so if “good government” was the objective, then he owed a huge duty of care to get the intelligence right and to track down and resolve every dissenting view. But instead, he pitched the wrong message, repeatedly, sometimes not acknowledging, and never rebutting, the critiques coming from the intelligence community. Given the stakes, what he did is the opposite of “good government.”

Either he did this on his own, or he did this because he was told to do this. Neither answer is consistent with good government. No amount of spin can get him (and those he reported to) out of this.

What is the distinguishable differerence hre between FOX and MTP?

IMO, Pox news’ audience is/was much more synonymous with GOP base. MTP would draw many viewers who regarded Pox News as a slick imposter of solid journalism. This is why Bush DeadEye were so intent on getting their spin published in the New York Times and the WaPo. Everyone else in the MSM sets up “to the right” of the NYT’s and the WaPo. The more they could move the NYT’s and the WaPo to the right, the better for the WH.

John Casper @ 88

What is the distinguishable differerence hre between FOX and MTP?

IMO, Pox news’ audience is/was much more synonymous with GOP base. MTP would draw many viewers who regarded Pox News as a slick imposter of solid journalism. This is why Bush DeadEye were so intent on getting their spin published in the New York Times and the WaPo. Everyone else in the MSM sets up “to the right” of the NYT’s and the WaPo. The more they could move the NYT’s and the WaPo to the right, the better for the WH.

Very astute obsservation, John.

scarecrow,

my own caveat; they’re pretty much all weasels in this grotesque – Cofer Black after all -

And then, perhaps the most frightening employee of Blackwater is Cofer Black. This is the man who was head of the CIA’s counterterrorism center at the time of 9/11, the man who promised President Bush that he was going to bring bin Laden’s head back in a box on dry ice and talked about having his men chop bin Laden’s head off with a machete, told the Russians that he was going to bring the heads of the Mujahideen back on sticks, said there were going to be flies crawling across their eyeballs. Cofer Black is a 30-year veteran of the CIA, the man who many credit with really spearheading the extraordinary rendition program after 9/11, the man who told Congress that there was a “before 9/11” and an “after 9/11,” and that after 9/11, the gloves come off. He is now a senior executive at Blackwater and perhaps their most powerful behind-the-scenes operative.

Democracy Now

company town indeed

This grand jury testimony is great. Someone go get me a bucket of popcorn.

Free SUV for a dead soldier? Was that a spoof?

Another meet the press meme by Broder and the gang (in apparent solidarity with Timmeh): “This will (the Libby Trial) definately affect the way we do our jobs.”

Perhaps it will affect them in such a way that they will fact check and investigate and root out the truth of the dreck they are fed by governmental stooges…perhaps that is a change they will contemplate. Because, out here in the heartland, we don’t care about the methods of note taking they’ve been using up to this point, to deliver the substandard work they’ve been giving.

CSPAN: Libby transcript: There were a couple of meetings in which Rove discussed the need to respond to Wilson at the WH senior staff meeting; Libby was present. Fitz is walking through the VP’s talking points.

What is the distinguishable differerence hre between FOX and MTP?

They are evil fraternal twins, not much difference at all, they just look slightly different but have the same blood type and same dead beat bad daddy.

[snark on] Don’t know why everone is not giving the press the benefit of the doubt. They are learning, and will do a bang up job of investigation of every little thing — once we have a democratic president. [snark off]

Oh, they will be ready to prove their worth, all right. And a dem prez had been be ready to take them on full bore, because they will be out a take scalps.

ccmask @ 92

Free SUV for a dead soldier? Was that a spoof?

I believe it is. But I had to check, it sounded so very like our George.

I think what gets lost a lot is that Libby was also assistant to Bush from 2001 to 2005.

When exactly was the OSP opened?
FROM WIKI:
The Office of Special Plans, which existed from September, 2002, to June, 2003, was a Pentagon unit created by Donald Rumsfeld and led by Douglas Feith, dealing with intelligence on Iraq. An allegedly similar unit, called the Iranian Directorate, was created in 2006 to deal with intelligence on Iran.[1]

How do we know it wasn’t opened earlier? Like before 911?

lb0313 @ 19

Take a second to mark the passing of a fine woman who won’t get featured on CNN….

http://www.nola.com/obituaries…..amp;coll=1

Thanks for the link. What a fascinating life she had, and what an amazing list of accomplishments.

I’m watching MTP, and I swear, I would be more tough on the Republicans than Hoyer or many of the Democrats out there. If I were there sitting next to Boehner, and after I stated the Democratic party opposition to escalation, he said, “The Democrats don’t have a plan, I would say something like this:

We have a plan – we want to protect our American soldiers. The Administration and the Republicans have continually blocked that plan, and we’re not going to sit back and let you do it anymore. Our very first step of our plan is to stop this adminstration and the Republicans from sending over 21,000 more men and women into door-to-door city combat – something they are not trained for – in the city of Baghdad. Most of the “coalition of the willing” troops are leaving Iraq because they see the situation as dangerous and impossible to stabilize. The British are leaving Iraq. That means that the President and the Republicans are advocating escalating OUR involvement and leaving OUR men and women more vulnerable to attack.

The Democrats plan is to prevent more needless deaths of American soldiers in Iraq.

The Democrats plan is to put the Iraqis in charge of managing their civil war. The Democrats plan is to redeploy troops to neighboring countries, taking them out of the role of direct combat, getting them away from the IEDs and the rocket launchers.

The Democrats plan is to ensure the troops in the region are well armed and well equipped.

The Democrats plan is to make sure that the billions of dollars that are spent on Iraq are properly managed and tracked.

The Democrats plan is to to protect America and protect Americans. That is our first responsibility.

Throwing more troops into a poorly planned, poorly executed, and, as many retired Generals have said (name how many signed that letter, drop a few names, too), a situation that will only lead to more carnage and will not solve the issues facing Iraq, is irresponsible and unconscionable. The Democrats stand for blocking the President’s reckless plan, and instead offer solutions that will keep our troops safe.

Is that so freaking hard to do? If it is as easy as it seems, why the hell don’t Democrats have a stock answer like this (ok, maybe a shorter) everytime a Republican does the “You don’t have a plan” meme whenever they’re plan is soundly criticized?

Oh, and I guess my shorter follow-up answer to, “you don’t have a plan” would be “yes, we do. It’s much better to have a plan that will work rather than a faulty plan driven by PR reasons. Your plan of putting more Americans into this carnage is reckless.”

ccmask @ 98

I think what gets lost a lot is that Libby was also assistant to Bush from 2001 to 2005.

When exactly was the OSP opened?
FROM WIKI:
The Office of Special Plans, which existed from September, 2002, to June, 2003, was a Pentagon unit created by Donald Rumsfeld and led by Douglas Feith, dealing with intelligence on Iraq. An allegedly similar unit, called the Iranian Directorate, was created in 2006 to deal with intelligence on Iran.[1]

How do we know it wasn’t opened earlier? Like before 911?

A very readable history of the OSP and its predecessor, created soon after Bush took office, is in the Mother Jones article I linked to on Friday’s post. My post is here. See Update 3-4 at the bottom.

Ok, now that I’ve ranted, I have something fun to share: a great movie to rent. It’s called “Idiocracy”. It was a funny little movie that I think most FDLers would find quite hillarious. We laughed a lot, but one scene in particular made me & the Mr. burst out loud in roaring laughter.

Here’s a link to the metacritic.com summary. I think that an awful lot of reviewers did exactly as the Onion predicted – they misunderestimated the satire in this movie. The FilmThreat review stated that Fox “torpedoed” the movie, not giving it any press, and after viewing it, you know why they did.

I highly recommend it.

Wolfie is grilling rather abruptly Feith right now.

Fine rant LandOfTheFree. I would add:

[..]”sending over 21,000 more men and women”… which turns out to be another big fat lie, it’s really 48,000 more.

Shez @
95

What is the distinguishable differerence hre between FOX and MTP?

Two steps in the process of news laundering…Fox reports a crazy accusation or statement from some wingnut like Insight Magazine, or LGF or Drudge. Rush and the screaming MeMe’s pick it up-sometimes it is the other way around. Now that it is “out there” Press the Meat and the NYT pick it up, and voila, clean as a whistle!

scarecrow @ 75

Feith said that Tenet’s deputy was present at the briefing his team did for Stephen Hadley. And there were at least two versions of the presentation, one with a page warning that the intelligence community did not agree, and another without that page. Hadley saw the one with the warning. That “fact” may protect Feith, but it doesn’t protect Hadley, then the deputy to Rice as NSA. So the National Security Advisor was clearly warned that the principal “evidence” linking Iraq to al-Qaeda via the “Prague meeting” with Atta was not believed by the intelligence community. So if your job is the national security advisor (or her deputy) what is your responsibility?

hmmm… guess that would depend on whether i thought my job was to protect my boss or to protect my country….

cbl @ 79

Feith said that Tenet’s deputy was present at the briefing his team did for Stephen Hadley.

both Cofer Black and John MacLaughlin (Tenet deputies) have both contradicted this claim on the record ad nauseum – I’m sure Wallace mentioned it;)

linky, please?

here’s the ones i know about:
DoD IG report summary (pdf)
some of the presentation slides used by feith’s group
osp rebuttal (pdf)

Feith is freaking out on CNN about potentially having run an intel analysis shop without notifying the Congress as required by law. Hmmmm…this could be some interesting Congressional testimony, methinks.

CNN with Feith: Feith is claiming his office was not doing “intelligence,” his was a “policy office” that was doing “critique” of intelligence, which is perfectly legitimate, comparing himself to Levin critizing CIA.

Except that his office gave intelligence briefings to senior government officials. Kinda misses the point that he was trying to influence policy decision makers by presenting as “intellience” what had not been parsed by the intelligence community. He had an obligation to get the information right, given his access to the highest policy decision makers. And he got it all wrong. He has not taken responsibilitiy for that, because no one is asking the question that simply.

Shez @ 103

Fine rant LandOfTheFree. I would add:

[..]”sending over 21,000 more men and women”… which turns out to be another big fat lie, it’s really 48,000 more.

Thanks – and I hope that Levin et al will be pushing for clear answers from the admin of exactly how many people they are going to add to the region, as the “fuzzy math” is quite disconcerting. They need to shout from the rooftops that the British and other coalition soldiers are leaving, and it means we’re just going to be all alone, exposed and under-equipped, doing missions that our troops are not trained to do.

Republicans support the troops – my ass. They support using the troops for PR. As the child of a WW2 vet, the closest word I can find to describe this activity is “repulsive”, but that still isn’t strong enough.

Noticed how Feith kept blaming the CIA? I can’t wait for the day that a newscaster actually gets up and slugs someone like Feith or anyone else from that administration.

Ooooohhhhh, my useless Senator, John Cornyn is on CNN right now.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 106

Feith is freaking out on CNN about potentially having run an intel analysis shop without notifying the Congress as required by law. Hmmmm…this could be some interesting Congressional testimony, methinks.

I was sitting in an airport in Newark, watching that on Friday afternoon. There was a full audience in front of the airport TV (several in fact). This was a “Friday Dump” moment, but a large part of America was there to take notice. I do think people are noticing, and I think it’s big trouble for the administration.

Thanks Scarecrow. Here’s the paragraph I was looking for

In the very first meeting of the Bush national-security team, one day after President Bush took the oath of office in January 2001, the issue of invading Iraq was raised, according to one of the participants in the meeting‚ — and officials all the way down the line started to get the message, long before 9/11. Indeed, the Bush team at the Pentagon hadn’t even been formally installed before Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy secretary of Defense, and Douglas J. Feith, undersecretary of Defense for policy, began putting together what would become the vanguard for regime change in Iraq.
http://www.motherjones.com/new…..2_405.html

Wyden says administration was cherry picking, but John Cornyn says that’s false because the SSCI found there was no manipulation (that’s a lie, because the SSCI put off answering that question.) These guys just can’t stop lying.

I see that Robert J. Caldwell is at it again..Every failed president should have such a blind follower in the press! When the President says “We are winning in Iraq”, Robert J. Caldwell agrees heartily and sneers at the “liberals” who point out the contradictions. On the other hand, when the President turns on a dime and says that things are not going so well after all, Robert J. Caldwell reverses field like an all star running back to lead the blocking on the Presiden’t NEW brainless charge to no where.

Robert J. Caldwell’s columns normally focus on “liberals” and “critics”. He never bothers to name them or to address their actual arguments- he much prefers to make up silly positions that he then destroys in his mental sandbox with toy hand grenades that he fashions in his own feeble imagination.

Robert J. Caldwell is an embarassment to this newspaper. Surely it is time to find another voice for your editiorial page.

(My latest letter to the editor- you will be surprised to hear that they never get published).

scarecrow @ 112

These guys just can’t stop lying.

You have to admit, it’s worked rather well for them to this point.

The TRULY great movie about the press and how it operates isn’t Network but Sweet Smell of Success.

It’s why I say to Timmeh “You’re dead, son — go get yourself buried.”

Cornyn is asked whether the Bushies have a credibility problem wrt to Iran, given their lies about Iraq. Cornyn answers by noting all the Senators running for President. Wolf doesn’t follow up on this non sequitur.

Yesterday I was shopping at my local HEB Central Market here in The Woodlands, TX and who do I see? Why Kevin Brady from Congress. Guess that 5 day work week makes him have to put his grocery shopping off until Saturdays like the rest of us. Part of me wanted to go up and say something to him, but I didn’t. By the way, he eats sliced American cheese and drinks mineral water. LOL LOL

Cornyn is asked whether the Bushies have a credibility problem wrt to Iran, given their lies about Iraq. Cornyn answers by noting all the Senators running for President. Wolf doesn’t follow up on this non sequitur.

That’s our Leslie. He knows his place.

Next, Cornyn dodges the question whether Bush would need a new AUMF to attack Iran. Again, no follow up. I don’t think Wolf listens to the answers; he just walks through his pre-written questions. CNN simply must find someone who’s smarter and quicker on his/her feet to perform this role.

Wolf Blitzer- and Sr. Political Reporter Candy Crowley are two of the main reasons that CNN is a failing institution.

And in the commercial break, I just got a new suit.

“Quicker on his feet”

Wolfie has tiny little feet- that’s what enables the big boys to tump him right over on his scrawny ass anytime it suits em.

FWIW
In addition to what CSPAN is broadcasting, CSPAN has an audio link to the Libby transcripts which anyone can access via Ted Stevens’ tubz anytime you want. You can also move within the testimony to listen to the portion you want.

Twisted Martini @ 104

Shez @
95

What is the distinguishable differerence hre between FOX and MTP?

Two steps in the process of news laundering…Fox reports a crazy accusation or statement from some wingnut like Insight Magazine, or LGF or Drudge. Rush and the screaming MeMe’s pick it up-sometimes it is the other way around. Now that it is “out there” Press the Meat and the NYT pick it up, and voila, clean as a whistle!

News laundering! Click! Never thought of it that way, but of course! And there’s lots of other things that can get laundered using this sort of mechanism. I was just reading this interesting article about “Freedom House” and it is the case history of opinion-laundering — a liberal organization with a fine track record is hijacked and used as a propaganda tool.

So, the top targets would be the groups & institutions that liberals have come to depend on for news and analysis. Like, for instance, Chris Matthews, Tim Russert who were originally ‘liberal’, NPR, NARAL and the Democratic Party. Amnesty International, according to some rumours. AirAmerica, I am guessing, either wouldn’t turn or is being turned. Expect *huge* attacks on lefty blogs. Looks like they may have gotten Wonkette, and I’d bet that the BigDog meeting was a feeler. FDL must be a huge thorn in their side, thank goddess for our fierce Ladies, who can smell bullshit @ 1 part per billion!

Exactly, cmask. The OSP (Office of Swinging P*nises? wasn’t a monster created by Bush — it created him. Bush was installed in the Oval Office with truckloads of unreported cash from the oil companies, Halliburton, Scaife, etc. to do exactly what he’s done. It began long before 2000 with the Clinton impeachment, specifically designed to disgust the country with Democrats so that a Republican (any Republican) would be elected. The bad guys had a master plan to take over the executive branch of our government (and the legislative) and guess what? It worked!

Fresh thread, up and ready for the reading for everyone. :)

scarecrow @ 115

Cornyn is asked whether the Bushies have a credibility problem wrt to Iran, given their lies about Iraq. Cornyn answers by noting all the Senators running for President. Wolf doesn’t follow up on this non sequitur.

Caught that! Blitzer’s a shill in wolf’s clothing.

i think i posted this yesterday, but just in case there is any interest here… the senate armed services committee hearing on friday (wrt the DoD IG report on feith’s OSP) wasn’t (i don’t think) carried on c-span. i recorded the audio direct from the room feed as an mp3. if anyone wants to listen to it i put it up as a link on this page.

it is a big file (about 50MB), but downloads quickly if you have broadband – i don’t think i’d try it if you are on dial up.

it’s both interesting (when levin is questioning) and frustrating (when some R is lying)… levin says he is going to try to get both feith and hadley to testify for the committee. i’m looking forward to that.

Witney @ 109

Noticed how Feith kept blaming the CIA? I can’t wait for the day that a newscaster actually gets up and slugs someone like Feith or anyone else from that administration.

Ooooohhhhh, my useless Senator, John Cornyn is on CNN right now.

SOOOO easy to blame the CIA and other folks who can’t talk, like Russell Tice and Sybil Edmonds and Valerie. It’s like punching someone in the stomach who is tied up. Vermin!

Watched “Meet The Liars” this morning. Could someone please contact Roger Simon and tell him that the curtain has been pulled back, and the “show trial” as he called it, has confirmed not only the cozy butt kissing that he and his “round table” pawns are still engaging in, but it has shown that Mr. Simon and his elk have no regrets about the lies that have helped cover up, the blood that has been spilled, the lives lost, and the corrupt leaders they have installed. Yes Mr. Simon! The “American” public is awake, aware and engaged! You, Russert, Broder, Kurtz and yes Ms. “eye-fill” are the court jesters in the Whitehouse of “blood soaked” clowns! And by the way Timmeh…the crutches are a metaphor for your relationship to Cheney and company!

scarecrow @ 119

Next, Cornyn dodges the question whether Bush would need a new AUMF to attack Iran. Again, no follow up. I don’t think Wolf listens to the answers; he just walks through his pre-written questions. CNN simply must find someone who’s smarter and quicker on his/her feet to perform this role.

Marcy?

HotFlash @ 127

Witney @ 109

Noticed how Feith kept blaming the CIA? I can’t wait for the day that a newscaster actually gets up and slugs someone like Feith or anyone else from that administration.

Ooooohhhhh, my useless Senator, John Cornyn is on CNN right now.

SOOOO easy to blame the CIA and other folks who can’t talk, like Russell Tice and Sybil Edmonds and Valerie. It’s like punching someone in the stomach who is tied up. Vermin!

Well put.

Notice Feith’s use of the word “we” at the beginning and end of his interview on Faux News Sunday.

At the beginning, “we” meant his group in the Pentagon. To paraphrase Feith’s claim, “We” questioned CIA conclusions, including the conclusion that there was no meeting between al-Queda and Saddam.

What Feith did not make clear was that his group championed the contrary finding (which the CIA did not support) and that the President used it as a fact to support his case for war.

What did not come up in the interview were the other claims his group made about aluminum tubes and Niger uranium that also found their way in Bush’s case for war.

Feith claims his group in Defense was performing a public service by challenging CIA’s intelligence conclusions in order to create a better intelligence product. Prima facia, his group did not create a better intelligence product. If it were so, how is it that so many of his groups contrary conclusions ended up in the President’s case for war and turned out to be wrong?

Oddly, Feith claims his group did no intelligence analysis. How the facts support his claims in beyond reason.

At the end of the interview, “We” meant the defense department. Feith claimed “We” (Rumsfeld) reported to the administration the potential negative consequences of attacking Iraq, which was not at all responsive to Chris Wallace’s question if Feith’s group considered that the CIA’s conslusions were right.

Don’t accept the claim that none of this is important. When Americans and Iraqs die as a result of a war in Iraq, the justifications that enabled the war case, whether they were proffered four days or four years prior, are exactly what is important becuase the truth must come out. To enable lies (especially ones with extreme consequences) is to accept them as truth.

Mr. Sherri Annis says that people who “haven’t been following things closely” mistrust the press and think it’s too close to the politicians.

Roger Simon says a guy named Scooter wouldn’t last 48 hours in prison.

From his lips…

Gwen says reporters are having “a collective nervous breakdown.”

GO FITZ!!!

Douglas and the neo-cons probably have special plans for Iran.

Gwen says Tim Rutten of the LATimes says he’s destroying his notes.

No guts, Tim — I’m ashamed of you.

Timmeh didn’t say WORD ONE about being on the stand for the Libby trial.

Of course maybe he can’t cause he’ll be called back.

David Ehrenstein @ 134

Mr. Sherri Annis says that people who “haven’t been following things closely” mistrust the press and think it’s too close to the politicians.

Roger Simon says a guy named Scooter wouldn’t last 48 hours in prison.

From his lips…

David Ehrenstein @ 138

Timmeh didn’t say WORD ONE about being on the stand for the Libby trial.

Of course maybe he can’t cause he’ll be called back.

Timmeh did talk about being on the stand. Unfortunately, it was just the same story he was peddaling the other day: “its hard to limit your anwers to yes and no, and not be able to explain your thinking.”

The TRULY great movie about the press and how it operates isn’t Network but Sweet Smell of Success.

That movie was about the night club gossip scene and the Walter Winchell crowd in NYC in the 50s, not the press….

….but gosh, resetting it among the Washington DC press corpse during the Bush years (read: Sally Quinn parties instead of nightclubs) would be a masterstroke for a remake!

If any scriptwriters are reading, there is a great script idea here trying to get out…..

Witney @ 139

David Ehrenstein @ 134

Mr. Sherri Annis says that people who “haven’t been following things closely” mistrust the press and think it’s too close to the politicians.

Roger Simon says a guy named Scooter wouldn’t last 48 hours in prison.

From his lips…

strange – I posted a comment in response @134 but it didn’t take.

What I said was if I hear one more journalist say that “no one outside the beltway is listening to this story,” is just crap. This trial is so much more than just what Scooter Libby and Cheney did. There is another part of this that we have never heard and don’t know if we ever will, but I am convinced that the thing that started it all, is still classified. IMO only.

They’re doing their best to ignore us, Witney.

Notice not one word on Firedoglake which is the PRIMARY NEWS SOURCE FOR COVERAGE OF THE LIBBY TRIAL!

The nightclub scene in the 50’s and the Beltway today are virtually identical.

“I’d hate to take a bite out of you. You’re a cookie full of arsenic.”

(said Scooter to Timmeh)

Monsieur le Prof @ 37

OT but funny:

Bush: ‘Every fallen soldier’s family will get a new SUV’

President Bush called on critics to tone down opposition to the Iraq conflict on Wednesday, as he announced his latest initiative to honor the troops who have fallen in Iraq by giving their families a brand new sport utility vehicle (SUV).

“In my new plan, every fallen soldier’s family will get a new SUV. I intend to give every military family who has sacrificed a loved one for freedom a brand new 2006 or 2007 SUV, paid for by the government,” the President announced while visiting a factory that produces Humvees for the war effort in Eurasia. “Some have said that this war isn’t worth fighting. They think the terrorists should win. My plan will show that America values those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Bush continued.

As far as I can tell, this isn’t meant to be a joke. If I were a close relative of a soldier killed in Iraq, however, I might take it as an insult. Aw, hell, I take it as an insult anyway. Bush should be put in stocks in the town square for a cynical stunt like this.

Got to love MTP, at the very end. A lot of head-wagging about the terrible things the Scooter trial is doing to Journamelism (kaff, our jobs) — and guess what, the worthies are all of one accord: the public has a low opinion of us (but not as low an opinion as we have of the public), and then that little twisted s__t Roger Simon gets up and speaks the Washington Consensus: the Libby trial is “bizarre,” and it’s being brought by a prosecutor who “couldn’t get a conviction on the real crimes,” and no one’s going to send a guy named “Scooter” to jail, because he wouldn’t last a week!

Oh, and FDL, the people don’t care about this little trial. It’s ALL Washington insider stuff, especially the part about the press being ignoble whores. That’s why Anna Nicole has gotten the coverage and you haven’t. Pass the canapes.

You know, I don’t think I ever heard that argument about “not going after the real prosecution” when it was true about Clinton’s bj.

I say we fire them all for being the story.

EvilDrPuma @ 145

As far as I can tell, this isn’t meant to be a joke. If I were a close relative of a soldier killed in Iraq, however, I might take it as an insult. Aw, hell, I take it as an insult anyway. Bush should be put in stocks in the town square for a cynical stunt like this.

I take it back–as I read further down, it becomes more clear that this is somebody’s idea of a joke. I don’t find it very goddamned funny, though.

David Ehrenstein @ 143

They’re doing their best to ignore us, Witney.

Notice not one word on Firedoglake which is the PRIMARY NEWS SOURCE FOR COVERAGE OF THE LIBBY TRIAL!

I just clicked over to your website – COOL! I bookmarked it so I can go back for a further look. I think everyone went on break and I must go walk my dog – later….

Mauimom @ 30

A helluva lot better than, say, Barney (which I loathe!)

I felt SO lucky because by the time Barney came along, my kids were too old for him. But I know the general feeling: trying to find something to entertain the wee one(s) that doesn’t make you puke.

There’s always the Teletubbies. I find that show downright sinister–periscopes coming out of the ground, the child’s face in the sun watching….It’s like they’re selling Big Brother to toddlers. Creepy, creepy, creepy.

David Ehrenstein @
138

Timmeh didn’t say WORD ONE about being on the stand for the Libby trial.

Of course maybe he can’t cause he’ll be called back.

He didn’t have to, he had kurtz do the whoring for him.

Funny how howie didn’t mention mike allen’s Obama takedown yet suggested the games are just getting started.

Also, gwen’s slap about being the public caring so much about politics is pure bushian up is downism syndrome.

The MSM is sick, terminally.

OT: From the “no shit, Dick Tracy” department…

Gates: Prisoner abuse scandals hurt U.S.

Excerpt: Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday that prisoner abuse scandals in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay and other mistakes have damaged America’s reputation, and work must be done to prove the U.S. is still a force for good in the world.

While he did not mention the war in Iraq, he told a conference of top security officials from around the world that the U.S. has to do a better job of explaining its policies and actions.

Yeah, that’s what we need to do. Find a better way to explain how ignoring the Geneva Conventions makes the U.S. a force for good. Hey, Bob? Fuck you.

EvilDrPuma @ 149

Mauimom @ 30

A helluva lot better than, say, Barney (which I loathe!)

I felt SO lucky because by the time Barney came along, my kids were too old for him. But I know the general feeling: trying to find something to entertain the wee one(s) that doesn’t make you puke.

There’s always the Teletubbies. I find that show downright sinister–periscopes coming out of the ground, the child’s face in the sun watching….It’s like they’re selling Big Brother to toddlers. Creepy, creepy, creepy.

This is a bit older, but my kids and I have enjoyed Avatar: The Last Airbender. Many is the time the clarion call has rung out in our house, “Dad, Avatar is on!”

Only to have me lumber scamper to find my place in front of the tube. I like it because it showcases the kung fu of a particular hero of mine, Gin Foon Mark, master of the Southern Praying Mantis style. You’ll notice the little girl, Toff, is a good cartoon representation of these classic Eastern ideas…staying centered…finding a solid horse (stance)…focusing chi to a direct purpose.

I can’t claim any special allegiance to Master Mark’s teachings, but an old room mate of mine studied with him and introduced me. I was so impressed that I have my kids take classes in a watered down, Western style of Shoalin Kung Fu…and I watch the cartoon with great interest.

I read the article at the following link and am quite puzzled by it: http://www.americanthinker.com…..ction.html

I’ve been following the liveblog pretty closely and I can’t figure out what this guy is talking about. Namely, why would he say that Russert gave a false affidavit? I mean I understand the ethical issues and lack of forthrightness of talking to the FBI and then claiming confidentiality in retrospect through the NBC legal actions. (I just cracked that up to Russert’s not being too bright until the lawyers and real journalists smacked him up side the head.)

And then they go on to impugn the FBI agent for various reasons (including for retiring), say that the FBI report says that Russert DID tell Libby about Plame, and conclude that the evidence from the FBI and Russert are not credible.

Can someone fill me in on what I may have missed?

OT: I just want to say that John Howard is an utterly evil asshole who shouldn’t be allowed out in public without a muzzle and a leash. Thanks for listening.

Australian leader: Al-Qaida wants Obama

Excerpt: Australia – Australia’s conservative prime minister slammed Barack Obama on Sunday over his opposition to the Iraq war, a day after the first-term U.S. senator announced his intention to run for the White House in 2008….

…”I think that [Obama’s stated priority of getting out of Iraq] will just encourage those who want to completely destabilize and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and a victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory,” Howard said on Nine Network television.

“If I were running al-Qaida in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory, not only for Obama but also for the Democrats.”

Hey, Johnny? Shut up.

John Roberts on CNN just called it like it is: This Feith story just goes to the point that we Americans “were sold a bill of goods on this war.” Barbara Starr actually agreed!!!

John Roberts is one of the very few openly gay reporters on the tube.

He has been praticularly critical of the Catholic church.

I had to dig into the site and cofirm it’s all satire. Nothing is too absurd for our politicians anymore.

Monsieur le Prof @
37

OT but funny:

Bush: ‘Every fallen soldier’s family will get a new SUV’

President Bush called on critics to tone down opposition to the Iraq conflict on Wednesday, as he announced his latest initiative to honor the troops who have fallen in Iraq by giving their families a brand new sport utility vehicle (SUV).

“In my new plan, every fallen soldier’s family will get a new SUV. I intend to give every military family who has sacrificed a loved one for freedom a brand new 2006 or 2007 SUV, paid for by the government,” the President announced while visiting a factory that produces Humvees for the war effort in Eurasia. “Some have said that this war isn’t worth fighting. They think the terrorists should win. My plan will show that America values those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Bush continued.

HotFlash @
124

Twisted Martini @ 104

Shez @
95

What is the distinguishable differerence hre between FOX and MTP?

Two steps in the process of news laundering…Fox reports a crazy accusation or statement from some wingnut like Insight Magazine, or LGF or Drudge. Rush and the screaming MeMe’s pick it up-sometimes it is the other way around. Now that it is “out there” Press the Meat and the NYT pick it up, and voila, clean as a whistle!

News laundering! Click! Never thought of it that way, but of course! And there’s lots of other things that can get laundered using this sort of mechanism…

I’ve been unsuccesfully trying to find a link to a great piece I read last Fall about this subject. What I recall is that the message/news/facts/propaganda (call it what you will) is developed and focus tested in the hallowed halls of the Heritage Foundation. It then goes out on radio (Limbaugh, Hannity, Ingraham, etc). Afterward polling takes place to determine the effectiveness of the message. A succesful polling may result in some message refinement before going on to Fox, etc.

I relate this from memory, which I doubt is as good as Scooties.

And while I have the soap box-

DING to Rep. Weiner: “The Republic Party”

John Casper @ 33

OfT, I’m listening to Scooter’s GJ testimony from the audio links on CSPAN. Just prior to the 1:20:26 mark, Fitz absolutely hammers Scooter about whether he ever told WaPo’s Walter Pincus about Plame’s identity. It sounds to me as though Scooter can’t bring himself to absolutely rule it out, because he’s afraid Fitz has Pincus testimony that Scooter did tell him about Plame. Interested on others take on this, because from what we now know, it appears that Pincus didn’t tell Fitz that. Fitz was just trying to throw Scooter and DeadEye off, because Scooter is so confused, he really can’t remember, for sure, whether he told Pincus or not.

I noted that Fitz actually raises this with Libby, not only about Pincus, but several other reporters on a variety of topics.

He gets Libby to deny that he spoke with David Sanger about the NIE on July 2nd (in the presence of James Risen).

He also gets Libby to admit that he told Cooper and Kessler (before Novak’s expose but after the so-called Russert “release”).

Fitz also got Libby to finally concede that though he claimed that he didn’t talk to the WSJ about the NIE that he and Cheney told Wolfowitz to do so.

So it may be that Fitz has evidence about these cases that would build his case, but that he has decided to not use them because

a) they contain information about future cases that he wants to keep under wraps. He doesn’t want the witnesses to have to testify and reveal their testimony too early.

b) he’s retaining several other counts so that if there is a mistrial he can use this increased body of evidence to really nail the coffin shut.

c) he believes that he has more than sufficient testimony to make his case and simply doesn’t want to complicate the trial too much for the jurors. Seeing Wells on cross-examination this might not have been a bad strategy.

Or some combination of the above.

I don’t think it’s allowable to suggest to a witness that someone else has testified to contrary facts in order to get a GJ witness to agree to an erroneous fact or suggestion. But I’ll defer to the lawyers in this area.

Monsieur le Prof @ 37

OT but funny:

Bush: ‘Every fallen soldier’s family will get a new SUV’

President Bush called on critics to tone down opposition to the Iraq conflict on Wednesday, as he announced his latest initiative to honor the troops who have fallen in Iraq by giving their families a brand new sport utility vehicle (SUV).

“In my new plan, every fallen soldier’s family will get a new SUV. I intend to give every military family who has sacrificed a loved one for freedom a brand new 2006 or 2007 SUV, paid for by the government,” the President announced while visiting a factory that produces Humvees for the war effort in Eurasia. “Some have said that this war isn’t worth fighting. They think the terrorists should win. My plan will show that America values those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Bush continued.

Agghhhhhh! Shut up and we’ll give you an SUV, says the “America is addicted to Foreign Oil” President!

This has to be from the ONION!

scarecrow @ 61

oddball @ 54

Wanna see spin, put it on pox news right now

Wallace follows with Mitch McConnel, who says we need to get off this history and look forward, and Wallace basically says, “okay.”

Hey that approach would be an easy way to get ready of those “burdensome” History classes out of the school curriculum and replace them with “Prophesy 1A”.

HotFlash @ 83

Wow, rxbus@72, that WaPo annotated NIE is an eye-opener. For me the money lines are “it’s worse than civil war, it’s close to anarchy” and “if the US withdraws quickly, things are likely to get much worse much faster.”

Call me cynical, but I’d guess BushCo is about ready to declare ‘mission accomplished’ in Iraq and move on to Iran. Who’s next? Syria? Jordan? I look forward to reading the next plaque on Douglas Feith’s door.

Bush would need Iraq as a base to act against Iran. But to do so would be suicidal for our troops in Iraq. Does he really believe that the Iranians would simply not respond to a direct attack by not EXPANDING their influence in Iraq.

It’s actually the SCIRI Badr Brigades that is most heavily influenced by Iran, not Moqtada’s Badr Brigades…and certainly not the Sunni/Baathist militias (who are now being supported by Saudi Arabia).

It’s the latter that are behind most of the attacks on the Shiite population and US forces.

But if Bush attempts to “retaliate” aginst the US the Badr Brigades and their supporters will be out in force.
Yes, they have Iranian weapons…after all they were trained and supplied in exile…WITH OUR TACIT SUPPORT…to fight Saddam. When we invaded these exiles poured across the border WITH THEIR WEAPONS. The “Coalition” worked with them to secure the South and East and provide a semblance of order. They were recruited into the IN and police. Moqtada al Sadr cringed at the presence of these “Iranian manipulated exiles” taking control and tried to place his “indigenous” populist non-exile group into position in Basra, Samarrah, and in the holy city of Najaf. The US and Brits came in on the side of the SCIRI militias.

Ahem!!!! Iranian WEAPONS? It’s not as if we didn’t know this for the past four years!

BTW Sadr’s Mahdi Army is primarily using arms taken from the caches of military weapons that were unprotected by US forces when they advanced on Baghdad. Those, and a lot of US weapons that have been given to them by the 30-50% of the ING/Police that are Sadr sympathisers and actual “police by day – Sadrist by night” infiltrators!

HotFlash @ 97

ccmask @ 92

Free SUV for a dead soldier? Was that a spoof?

I believe it is. But I had to check, it sounded so very like our George.

“Representative Amanda Tori Sentenz (R-FL)” …c’mon!