I am desperately trying to hold my snark about Miss America contestants, because Ms. Benitez has been involved with NV politics for a long time, and seems to have a good record as a progressive. But it is very hard when I receive letters that do such a bad job of defending the indefensible.

Lieberman calls jumping to the Republican side, and tilting the Senate, “a remote possibility,” which means there’s at least a chance of that. Time seems to push Lieberman in this direction, as the article concludes: “Lieberman’s GOP flirtation has its risks–and a time limit….The longer he waits to capitalize on his moment, the greater the danger that he’ll be tagged as one of those politicians for whom having power is more important than using it.”

Crikey. Lieberman would be a frickin’ idiot to jump to the Republic side of the aisle at this point, and I wish someone would call him on it — something like:

“Hey, Joe, go ahead, jump. And when the Democrats increase their margin in the Senate by 5-10 seats in the next election, we’ll just smile while you wander in woods, hangdog Diggity Dog, who can’t get anyone’s attention anymore. Or any legislation passed or considered.”

Fuckwit.

That said, I wonder how much it would hurt if Joe really did switch sides. I don’t think it would much matter.

It would split power in the Senate, yes. Dems and Republicers would have to either have equal representation in the committees, or split the committees they control, or some combination thereof. Which would make some things more difficult.

But they’re already difficult, as shown by the Republic Party’s succesful block of debate on Iraq. Joe’s obviously not helping there, and he doesn’t really help on any of the other issues to concern of Democrats. And where he is useful, he’s not that likely to switch positions just because he switched party.

Frankly, he might be of more use to us as moderate Republicer than a neocon Dem: it would force the Pugs to move centerward a little bit, on some issues, if they want to retain his seat — and let’s face it, the Republicers are not going to be in any position to risk seats for at least the next two elections.

I say we should let him go, and punish him after the next elections. ‘Cause he really ain’t helping us now anyway.

Addendum: Notta Flatlander noted in an earlier thread that, in fact, the committee seatings and power balance wouldn’t change even if Lieberman switched, because the organizing resolutions have already passed, and would require a 60 vote majority to overturn at this point. Which only makes my point stronger.

She thinks Bill has given her some problems, she hasn’t seen anything until she gets in bed with Murdock.

Thanks for the explanation. Common sense stuff that just isn’t as common as it ought to be these days. Good reason for “retreats” & such.

Lots of good stuff to chew on here today. ;->

So, re-install Java? I don’t have a clue what “Codec” is. ;)

No, no, no. No! Do not re-install java.

Video Codec, as noted above, is Video Coder/Decoder.

As I’m a PC, not MAC, expert, I can’t direct you to the proper Codec to reinstall for your system.

Sorry, guys. I tried to help, in lieu of a MAC expert jumping in, but if you don’t know what codec you’re using then you’re gonna need that MAC expert to help you.

Alternately, you might look for the codec in the MAC Control Panel (or whatever it’s called these days). If you can identify it in there, then you might be able to figure out where on the internet to get a new copy for re-installing.

Would Novak be held as culpable in a treason conspiracy as Cheney and Rove and Libby, if it is proven that they ALL knowingly revealed the identity of a classified agent?

And if it can be proven (still a mystery, I know that), but if it CAN be proven they were all aware of her covert status, doesn’t that also constitute a conspiracy to commit treason, with Novak as the ultimate outlet?

Treason, as a legal charge rather than its colloquial usage, pretty much requires motive and intenet to help the enemy. Stupidity, arrogance, and self-interest are not enough.

I know it’s easy to forget that with all the Republicer trash talk, but no one is going to be charged with treason in these circumstances. Whether or not they should be is a different matter (probably not, though I agree they *deserve* it).

That said, there was definitely a conspiracy, in the colloquial sense – to out Valerie Plame, by Rove, Libby, Cheney, maybe Fleischer, maybe Armitage.

However, I think only Cheney and Libby knew she was covert. Possibly Rove, but if he got the info from Libby, as seems likely, there wouldn’t have been any reason for Libby to also pass on Plame’s covert status. A lot of reason not to, actually, since that might complicate the use Rove would make of it.

I can’t remember if conspiracy, legally, requires two or three actors. If two (which I think is correct), then Cheney and Libby could probably be indicted on conspiracy to violate IIPA or, more likely given the discovery problems inherent in an IIPA charge, to disseminate classified information.

I’m not sure you could get Rove, Fleischer, or Armitage even indicted, much less convicted, on such a charge since there seems to be little evidence they knew Plame’s status was classsified – though, arguably Rove and Armitage *should* have known, or at least suspected it was a possibility and kept quiet.

Novak, definitely not. Even though he was warned by Harlow not to publish Plame’s CIA employment, he signed no classification agreements, appears to have broken no law (just common sense morality), and has a First Amendment reporters privilege to back him up.

Commenter above thot this was Yogi Berra, wiki thinks originally from scientist Jan L. A. van de Snepscheut.

Obligatory extra words to see if I closed my tags.