Waxman!

(Well, why not?)

put him in handcuffs and take him to The Hague.

I said it once and I’ll say it again: Look out, Christy’s on da Lake on her jet skis!

Re: weakening of US troops:

EPU’d from last thread but relevant here:

Biodun @ 130
And also meanwhile, US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan drift into alcohol and crime:

Alcohol, strictly forbidden by the American military in Iraq and Afghanistan, is involved in a growing number of crimes committed by troops deployed to those countries. Alcohol- and drug-related charges were involved in more than a third of all Army criminal prosecutions of soldiers in the two war zones — 240 of the 665 cases resulting in convictions, according to records obtained by The New York Times through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Seventy-three of those 240 cases involve some of the most serious crimes committed, including murder, rape, armed robbery and assault. Sex crimes accounted for 12 of the convictions.

I watched that speech yesterday.

veep’s in neverneverland, truly.

but the folk in the bubble w/ him were giving standing o’s to that garbage! unbelievagable!

And as I said in a thread yesterday, Darth simply seized power from a dunce.

Christy, you’re on fire today!

His Excellency the Vice-Emperor Darth Cheney Vice-President Cheney disturbed my day twice yesterday — first on his way to the A*P*C meeting, and then on his way home from something else. As his influence wanes, his motorcade get larger still.

My belief is that unless the principals and their deputies get the full Congressional investigation and impeachment process, we’ll see more Cheneys and Libbys and Feiths. The tide of people that the Bush-Cheney Administration swept into Washington was young, amoral (in spite of professed religiousity), and impressionable. I’m terrified to think of what happens when they come back to Washington in either elected or more senior positions, if their bosses aren’t prosecuted to the full extent of the Constitution (and applicable criminal law).

Adie at 5 — The freaky thing is that he has given an almost identical speech to this particular one to several different groups over the last couple of weeks. You’d think, eventually, they would run out of sympathetic audiences — or, perhaps, this is just the same group of people shuffled around all over the country and willing to continue to clap endlessly for Cheney’s delusions.

The group he was speaking to yesterday was A*P*C…..

lina @
2

put him in handcuffs and take him to The Hague.

& leg-irons…

Congress needs to face its demons and cut the funding. When the dust settles, they will gain respect for doing the right thing.

The good old definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. Yeah, pretty much.

I think Shooter is overdoing the “stay on message” thing. That’s fine if the message is true and valid. When it’s crap, sooner or later, Americans will sniff it out. (I know — way crude, but it is what it is.)

Meanwhile, all roads are now dead-ending at the core of our problems: The White House. Circle the wagons, guys. The siege is on!! Don’t give an inch.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 7

Adie at 5 — The freaky thing is that he has given an almost identical speech to this particular one to several different groups over the last couple of weeks. You’d think, eventually, they would run out of sympathetic audiences — or, perhaps, this is just the same group of people shuffled around all over the country and willing to continue to clap endlessly for Cheney’s delusions.

Christy. It seemed copied right out of what he was saying in 2002. Am I delusional?!

I hear Dubai is pleasant this time of year–any time of year–as long as you have money and air conditioning.

The man who is attacking efforts to save our troops and end this war is the same man who thought this war was a keen idea and that our troops should be wagered for the profit of himself and his associates. As long as our troops continue to occupy Iraq, Halliburton and its mestastasizing affiliates continue to make mountains of money for Cheney and his criminal associates.

Because he has usurped power, what Cheney says matters. But what he says makes no sense.

Cheney has been drawing pay from Halliburton throughout his tenure as vice president. Who runs America, for whose benefit? Who is paying the price?

And the NYTimes reminds us of a younger Dick Cheney, who obviously has only gotten worse:

RETURNING to the White House after the Memorial Day weekend in 1975, the young aide Dick Cheney found himself handling a First Amendment showdown. The New York Times had published an article by Seymour M. Hersh about an espionage program, and the White House chief of staff, Donald H. Rumsfeld, was demanding action.

Out came the yellow legal pad, and in his distinctively neat, deliberate hand, Mr. Cheney laid out the ”problem,” ”goals” while addressing it, and ”options.” These last included ”Start FBI investigation — with or w/o public announcement. As targets include NYT, Sy Hersh, potential gov’t sources.”

(NYTimes link behind the TimesSelect firewall.)

Good morning. An excellent post to start the a.m. with, CHS.

Here’s one more huge price to be paid for Cheney’s delusions:
http://www.newstatesman.com/200703120024

Lead paragraph-
“America won’t simply be paying with its dead. The Pentagon is trying to silence economists who predict that several decades of care for the wounded will amount to an unbelievable $2.5 trillion.”

LOVE the title…..

angie @ 8

The group he was speaking to yesterday was A*P*C…..

and nancy pelosi will be (if we heard correctly yesterday) speaking there today.

i am hopeful and worried at the same time. mostly worried.

With teen-age sons, I’ve worried about the ongoing war and the likelihood of a draft. As of yesterday, I’m a little less stressed. If we tell the draft board that each of our sons is openly, amazingly, eye-poppingly gay, maybe they can avoid the government’s “support” — both on the battlefied and back at home, should they be so lucky.

Boy,
Christy has had her Weaties today!

selise @ 18

angie @ 8

The group he was speaking to yesterday was A*P*C…..

and nancy pelosi will be (if we heard correctly yesterday) speaking there today.

i am hopeful and worried at the same time. mostly worried.

been looking at several other important liberal blogs. the difference between progressive blogs’ coverage of the conservative convention held ten days ago with the conference currently being held is nothing less than a major indictment against progressive pretentions – especially in the credible, high-volume blogosphere – that we’re actively engaged in solving the major problems confronting our seriously flawed, highly dangerous foreign policy.

So what’s the latest on the Cheney/Rove relationship?

Rove knows EVERYTHING that Cheney “did” from the Energy Industry Task Force to the yellowcake forgeries. Rove’s mental library of potentially deadly secrets is growing every day.

And Rove’s obviously smoozing W, their little quail-for-dinner-date was timely, to say the least.

Just what’s Darth got in store for “the Turd?”

Considering what Rove knows about Cheney, he probably is constantly looking over his shoulder these days. I mean, think about. Nobody knows better how ruthless Cheney and his no-bid bubbas have become.

If I was Karl, I would not feel safe. And you can bet, no matter how much he likes those quail, Rove’s not going to take any invitations from Deadeye to go out a nd shoot a few.

Cuz’ you never know, Dick’s getting so out of touch, he might inadvertantly chamber a load of buckshot, instead of birdshot.

Accidents DO happen!

Usually when one of these wags speaks, I have to hit the mute button to save my sanity. Since I’m not listening, I have time to notice the BACKDROP he’s standing in front of. Backdrops are either a nice lesson in who’s funding the guy, or a nice lesson in Orwellian double speak. Darth was in front of an AIPAC backdrop yesterday. I don’t know much about AIPAC, but I’ve seen a lot of Cato/AEI backdrops. Bush likes to stand in front of backdrops that say stuff like “Jobs for America” or “Secure energy for our children.” ha ha

It seems everyone needs a handy-dandy backdrop these days. It’s a good time to be in the backdrop-printing business.

And this one from MoDo (whom I agree with in this case):

Delusional is far too mild a word to describe Dick Cheney. Delusional doesn’t begin to capture the profound, transcendental one-flew-over daftness of the man.

Has anyone in the history of the United States ever been so singularly wrong and misguided about such phenomenally important events and continued to insist he’s right in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary?

It requires an exquisite kind of lunacy to spend hundreds of billions destroying America’s reputation in the world, exhausting the U.S. military, failing to catch Osama, enhancing Iran’s power in the Middle East and sending American kids to train and arm Iraqi forces so they can work against American interests.

(NYTimes link behind the TimesSelect firewall.)

p.s., redd – apologies for inappropriate comment previous thread, which has since been edited. got back to it just in time, after having an OMG-moment upon reading someone else’s screed, heh.

oops! never too old to learn new, um, language.

You oughta keep a tighter leash on us frisky golden-agers, ahem. let us run loose, & there’s no tellin’ what we’ll find to roll in, sigh.
*g*

I agree it’s “stay on message” and trust the media to report what’s said, not the reality completely countering it. The message will get through to the Base, at least, and the echo chamber will repeat all week.

EPU’ed and somewhat on topic:
Phoenix Woman @ 101

Oh, there is outrage — the two-thirds of Americans in the “don’t pardon Scooter” category show that — but the GOP/Media Complex won’t report it. At least, not where most Americans are likely to hear about it.

I’ve been puzzling on this for awhile. Obviously there’s the ratings factor—producers don’t want anything on that’s challenging to the audience, like they have to think about anything—producers are of the opinion that the viewer will click to a dumber—less challenging—less ‘hard news’—program. If the celeb news draws viewers and the hard political details drop viewers, Britney and Anna-Nicole win, almost every time.

But I think there’s a dance here between the business needs (pressure to keep it neutral for advertisers to feel good about where their spots land), corporate pressure (calls from the CEO’s office about going after our friends in the GOP that grease the skids for media mergers and ownership and such), and ratings. It would leave the “news” game lost, “neutral”, and stale.

An exception I’ve seen lately is the increased coverage of the Iraq war. Someone’s made a decision, at least on CNN, to cover this more, which is interesting. As well the intense coverage of the Libby verdict. They could have covered that in a three minute summary and cut back to Britney’s new hair. Interesting…

Marie Roget @ 16

Good morning. An excellent post to start the a.m. with, CHS.

Here’s one more huge price to be paid for Cheney’s delusions:
http://www.newstatesman.com/200703120024

Lead paragraph-
“America won’t simply be paying with its dead. The Pentagon is trying to silence economists who predict that several decades of care for the wounded will amount to an unbelievable $2.5 trillion.”

Cheneyco has worked tirelessly to insure that body armor and armored vehicles are denied our troups. Why is that?

American now are wising up to the power behind the throne in this country – Cheney.

He alone is the one responsible for most of the corrupt practices of the administration.

He wants the oil and tyhe fact that control of oil means ultimate power (and wealth) in the world today.

He went for the middle east and where most of the reserves of oil and gas are.

That’s what it was all about. Energy makes all economies work and this applies to small and large businesses… super tankers and motor scooters. Without energy (fossil fuel) everything collapses.

Controlling the energy means lots and lots… especially cash.

War is only a business to these people. Everything used in war is froma corporation… except human life and that is expendable and disposable like toilet tissue.

Cheney was the creep who was going to make america work and make sure that the slant eyes and darkies didn’t get in on the fun.

Of course he couldn’t lay it out so it was all couched in layers of lies and assisted by scores of liars. Keep the people happy and no one will complain. And when they complain have a plan to lock em away (they have one!).

The truth has short legs and it’f getting harder and harder to cover it up because it is squeezing out everywhere. And Cheney’s finger prints are on everything. Rove was more the operations expert… Cheney the strategic planner behind it all… and Bush was the dummy who told you it was alright because you like having a beer with him.

These people are so corrupt, so greedy, so self serving, so unethical… calling them simple liars is like a compliment!

Don’t we have a great press?

selise– nancy is speaking this morning.

read Dana Milbank’s sketch today — it dashed my hopes

As yesterday’s session showed, the scandal isn’t keeping the powerful from lining up to woo A*P*C. The morning brought Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the evening brought congressional leaders, and at a luncheon “debate” in between, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and informal administration foreign policy adviser Richard N. Perle tried to one-up each other in pro-Israel views.

Perle drew cheers for denouncing Palestinian anti-S*m*tism and the French. Harman mentioned that an aide once worked for A*P*C, called her audience “very sophisticated” and celebrated Yasser Arafat’s death as “a blessing.” Debating a hard-liner in front of a pro-administration crowd, Harman heaped praise on President Bush, calling the Iraqi elections “sensationally impressive” and moving to “applaud” or “commend” Perle and the administration a dozen times. “Richard is right, and so is President Bush,” she said at one point.

But after half an hour of this, Harman could not keep up. Perle provoked cheers from the crowd when he favored a military raid on Iran, saying that “if Iran is on the verge of a nuclear weapon, I think we will have no choice but to take decisive action.” When Harman said the “best short-term option” is the U.N. Security Council, the crowd reacted with boos.

(spam edit mine)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01565.html

It is worth mentioning that, if Steve Clemons’ information is correct, and SecDef Gates is shutting down the Feith-dom at the DoD, putting the “Cheney intel chop shop” back under the control of the Director of Intel, there may be some move afoot in some factions of the Bush Administration to cut the sclerotic legs out from under the Veep entirely.

Yeah I went to bed wondering at the ‘compromise’-like situation regarding the Iran wording in the appropriations vote, how Dem leadership say they are focusing on Iraq. I woke up wondering if Gates has made it known he ain’t going to Iran this month. Seems like maybe a deal went down.

LHP at 19 — Actually, I think it is a combination of being genuinely ticked off and having caught The Peanut’s nasty ick (to the point that I had to go and get some antibiotics yesterday). Being peeved at the Bushies on top of not feeling well is, apparently, a snarky combo for me.

My sweetie likes to prowl around with google earth. One day, he strayed over to Doobye, & was stunned at the brand-new, glossy, glitzy building-boom they’ve apparently been enjoying the last few yrs. hmmmm…

Not only are physically unfit troops being called back into combat, but soldiers with psychological problems are being dosed with psychotropic meds [and inadequate medical supervision for those meds] and being sent back into combat. Yesterday on the NPR program Fresh Air, Terry Gross had a great interview with two reporters from The Hartford Courant who won the George Polk Prize for their series about those troops. Check it out here.

The alarm can’t be sounded loud enough. From the NYTimes last January:

We often wonder whether there is a limit to the Bush administration’s obsession with secrecy, its assault on the rule of law, its disdain for the powers of Congress, its willingness to con the public and its refusal to heed expert advice or recognize facts on the ground. Events of the past week suggest the answer is no.

In his State of the Union speech, Mr. Bush stuck to his ill-conceived plans for Iraq, but at least admitted the situation was dire. He said he wanted to work with Congress and announced a bipartisan council on national security.

That lasted a day. By Wednesday evening, Vice President Dick Cheney was on CNN contradicting most of what Mr. Bush had said. We were left asking, once again, Who exactly is running this White House?

(NYTimes link behind TimesSelect firewall.)

Antiwar Radio: Charles Goyette Interviews Lou DuBose

From antiwar.com:

Lou Dubose, author of Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency, discusses what a hypocritical coward Dick Cheney is, his long march to power through the Nixon and Ford years, how his crew out-smarted and out-maneuvered Bush’s crew to take control over the White House, the reasons why he and Powell didn’t want to go “all the way to Baghdad,” fun speculation about what craziness may be going on inside his head, what involvement the OVP had in lying us into war, his corrupt no-bid contracts, how the Cheney Cabal killed Iran’s attempt to give up everything in April 2003.

(snip)

You see, in Dick Cheney’s narrow mind, the only course of action that is ever correct is the one that he supports.

my favorite is turning the words these morons use back at them

I would like to make sure the first thing that comes back is telling HIM he doesn’t support the troops and THEN going into why

none of this defensive garbage the democrats are getting away with, when these morons attack us, we have to attack THEM with MORE venon

I would say

“cheney has a lot of nerve telling us he takes our support for the troops at face value, HE REFUSES to support the troops” through his own actions”

… and then suffer his challeneged little mind with the FACTS.

we have got to get off that their higher ground whenever they try to claim it

attack when attacked…that should be our new moto

I can’t shake the sense that Cheney is acting on behalf of other interests??? I am just always realizing that one topic is mostly absent from any discussion of Iraq war – although maybe it has been talked about here at FDL before I started visiting:
the Iraq Oil.
Here is a link, and at the end of the two articles, the author also notes that MSM do not talk about this. http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/43045/

Ed*ard Teller @ 20

been looking at several other important liberal blogs. the difference between progressive blogs’ coverage of the conservative convention held ten days ago with the conference currently being held is nothing less than a major indictment against progressive pretentions – especially in the credible, high-volume blogosphere – that we’re actively engaged in solving the major problems confronting our seriously flawed, highly dangerous foreign policy.

it could also be that we don’t know how to address this issue without it spinning out of control. if you have any ideas… please, please share/suggest/brainstorm.

feelings are so raw, and people feel so threatened…. it is a really hard subject to approach w/o doing serious harm.

i agree that we’re not there – yet… but, i have been VERY encouraged by the conversation we’ve been having here in the comments threads…. and am glad that you seem willing to help us go to the next level of honest and caring discourse. please don’t give up on us!

hackworth @ 26

Marie Roget @ 16

Good morning. An excellent post to start the a.m. with, CHS.

Here’s one more huge price to be paid for Cheney’s delusions:
http://www.newstatesman.com/200703120024

Lead paragraph-
“America won’t simply be paying with its dead. The Pentagon is trying to silence economists who predict that several decades of care for the wounded will amount to an unbelievable $2.5 trillion.”

Cheneyco has worked tirelessly to insure that body armor and armored vehicles are denied our troups. Why is that?

Are you suggesting the folks at Halliburton are looking forward to many more years of no-bid contracts, providing profitable resources for patching up the wounded and keeping them alive?

If you are correct, Machiaveli would be proud.

But by moving to Dubai, “the Big H” might not be eligible for those contracts…

Surely they will find a subsidiary to take on the job. Or maybe they can just hire “contractors.”

I wonder if the Bush and the Cheney families bought up a sandy beachfront “palm frond” in Dubai?

How appropriate, the oil guys are all retiring or moving to that new manmade Dubai seaside, as global warming floods thier multi-million dollar estates…

*grumble, grumble* I hate getting tax receipts together every year. No matter how I try to be organized, it is never easy, is it? *grumble*

Google Earth Baghdad some time, focus on the intense density of the multistory buildings that sit on square mile after mile of the city. Small roads and alleys run through these huge developments. Imagine being told you have to patrol (hunt down and kill insurgent targets) in these warrens, that you have to take your tanks and fighting vehicles into these narrow roads with ambush locations on all sides. That’s what our troops are asked to do every day. It’s overwhelming.

One other thing. Why is it that when Cheney started this ignorant tantrum, insisting on endless war, the A*P*C audience didn’t protest or depart? The flames that Cheney wants to fan are on Israel’s doorstep. Is there no appreciation for how dangerous Cheney’s “strategy” is for Israel?

Christy Hardin Smith @ 30

LHP at 19 — Actually, I think it is a combination of being genuinely ticked off and having caught The Peanut’s nasty ick (to the point that I had to go and get some antibiotics yesterday). Being peeved at the Bushies on top of not feeling well is, apparently, a snarky combo for me.

I’m so sorry to hear you guys have to cope with being sick so much. Here’s to more healthy, comfy times, real soon!

If it helps any, I feel fine, and your snark & growl sounds just perfectly in tune to these ears. We in this household turned the corner to permanent, seething anger long ago. Pound away. We’ll never think it’s too much. ;->

scooter lies–it’s not a crime.
abu gonzales lies–it’s not a crime.
shooter lies–it’s not a crime
mcnulty lies–it’s ditto.
moschella lies–it’s ditto.

anyone see a pattern here. these folks don’t believe they owe anyone–not the judiciary, not congress, not the people–the truth. even under oath.

angie @ 26

nancy is speaking this morning.

i hope it will be on c-span. accountability goes for both parties. :(

our foreign policy is so very seriously screwed up. in both parties.

The little oil sheikdoms like Dubai are going to need some protection… after all they, like Saudi Arabia are enormous concentrations of wealth.. These states are the equivalent to our robber barrons from the 19th century. They have all the cash and they are spending it on baubles and also need to protect themselves from the commoners.

It’s fun to pit one tribe of islam against another… but in the end it is rich and poor and they have plenty of poor with religious fervor.

Halliburton and other corporations are going to where the money is… American is heading for economic collapse. They are sucking up to and getting in bed with the new golden teats…. looks like the party is coming to an end over here.

This is unconscionable! What planet are these folks from?

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic leaders are stripping from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq a requirement that President Bush gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other leaders agreed to remove the requirement concerning Iran after conservative Democrats as well as other lawmakers worried about its possible impact on Israel, officials said Monday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…..03,00.html

Please read Cenk’s comments on HuffPo:

Who Killed the Iran Provision?

angie @ 29

selise– nancy is speaking this morning.

read Dana Milbank’s sketch today — it dashed my hopes

As yesterday’s session showed, the scandal isn’t keeping the powerful from lining up to woo A*P*C. The morning brought Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the evening brought congressional leaders, and at a luncheon “debate” in between, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and informal administration foreign policy adviser Richard N. Perle tried to one-up each other in pro-Israel views.

Perle drew cheers for denouncing Palestinian anti-S*m*tism and the French. Harman mentioned that an aide once worked for A*P*C, called her audience “very sophisticated” and celebrated Yasser Arafat’s death as “a blessing.” Debating a hard-liner in front of a pro-administration crowd, Harman heaped praise on President Bush, calling the Iraqi elections “sensationally impressive” and moving to “applaud” or “commend” Perle and the administration a dozen times. “Richard is right, and so is President Bush,” she said at one point.

But after half an hour of this, Harman could not keep up. Perle provoked cheers from the crowd when he favored a military raid on Iran, saying that “if Iran is on the verge of a nuclear weapon, I think we will have no choice but to take decisive action.” When Harman said the “best short-term option” is the U.N. Security Council, the crowd reacted with boos.

(spam edit mine)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01565.html

Why are democrats pandering to neocons? Are the neocons going to take over the democratic party too?

perris @ 36

You see, in Dick Cheney’s narrow mind, the only course of action that is ever correct is the one that he supports.

my favorite is turning the words these morons use back at them

I would like to make sure the first thing that comes back is telling HIM he doesn’t support the troops and THEN going into why

none of this defensive garbage the democrats are getting away with, when these morons attack us, we have to attack THEM with MORE venon

I would say

“cheney has a lot of nerve telling us he takes our support for the troops at face value, HE REFUSES to support the troops” through his own actions”

… and then suffer his challeneged little mind with the FACTS.

we have got to get off that their higher ground whenever they try to claim it

attack when attacked…that should be our new moto

Right on bro! Cheney supports private contractors like Blackwater – not the troups. Cheney supports Halliburton – not the troups. Cheney supportsd Dyncorp – not the troups.

The US gov. trains soldiers as mechanics, many quit the military and go to work for private contractors for higher pay. Our military educates Halliburton’s and Dyncorp’s workers for them at no cost to them. Why are private contractors and asassins for hire competing with the American military?

How about this gem from the horse’s mouth:

”I suppose, sometimes, people look at my demeanor and say, well, he’s the Darth Vader of the administration,” Mr. Cheney told CNN in June. ”I’m not running for anything. My career will end, politically, with this administration. I have the freedom and the luxury, as does the president, of doing what we think is right for the country.”

Does anyone still doubt that he has indeed seized power? That he really doesn’t care what people think of him?

(NYTimes link behind the TimesSelect firewall.)

Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 46

Please read Cenk’s comments on HuffPo:

Who Killed the Iran Provision?

I did, thanks for posting that.

On the heels of the latest nevermind (Iran provision) from our trembling Chihuahuas in Congress, what do they intend on threatening this time before retreating?

I know I’m not the first to suggest this, but since very few people save for committed wingers take the Veep seriously, wouldn’t it make more sense to treat him like the crazy Aunt in the attic? Like, “Oh, that’s just Dick. He hasn’t been the same since his pacemaker shorted out in ‘98.”

Arguing to strenuously with a lunatic just gives the lunatic’s arguments more oxygen, seems to me. Treating him like the national joke* he is would be far more effective political ju-jitsu.

* Go to page 10 to see how people react to the Cheney as President.

Christy – All I can say is you sure brought out your pitch-fork this morning and I am loving it!

I disagree with the notion that Cheney is the mastermind, and Bush is clueless.

Cheney is executing a plan he believes in, as does his regent, King George.

Cheney does the dirty work: royalty (and that is how Bush views himself, including the divine right to rule) does not dirty their hands. They are of one mind, however.

I think Bush is smart enough to play dumb – look how successfully he has lowered expectations.

He did graduate with an MBA which takes a modicum of intelligence (although I wonder who he paid to write his research papers?).

angie @ 47

This is unconscionable! What planet are these folks from?

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic leaders are stripping from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq a requirement that President Bush gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other leaders agreed to remove the requirement concerning Iran after conservative Democrats as well as other lawmakers worried about its possible impact on Israel, officials said Monday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…..03,00.html

that’s pretty disgusting

we need to get palosi to reconsider…she can’t possibly be drinking kool aid so soon

Biodun @ 51

How about this gem from the horse’s mouth:

”I suppose, sometimes, people look at my demeanor and say, well, he’s the Darth Vader of the administration,” Mr. Cheney told CNN in June. ”I’m not running for anything. My career will end, politically, with this administration. I have the freedom and the luxury, as does the president, of doing what we think is right for the country.”

Does anyone still doubt that he has indeed seized power? That he really doesn’t care what people think of him?

(NYTimes link behind the TimesSelect firewall.)

what he meant to say is “I have the freedom and luxery to steal whatever I can and there’s really nothing you are going to do about it”

Good Morning Christy & Firedogs -

Marksb -

that you have to take your tanks and fighting vehicles into these narrow roads with ambush locations on all sides

it’s actually worse than that -

if you’ve seen any recent coverage implying ‘there are signs the surge may be working’ -

they’re actually out doing this in groups of no more than 10, in the backs of Iraq Security Forces vehicles (read: non armored pick up trucks) traversing well documented routes on a counta Gen Petraeus bein’ so smart an all -

Operation Fish In A Barrel – It’s Working !

FYI, today is Pluto Planet Day.

Tomorrow is Pi Day. (That article is reassuring in that it lets me know that there are *plenty* of people out there who are bigger geeks than I am!)

eggshaped @ 39

One other thing. Why is it that when Cheney started this ignorant tantrum, insisting on endless war, the A*P*C audience didn’t protest or depart? The flames that Cheney wants to fan are on Israel’s doorstep. Is there no appreciation for how dangerous Cheney’s “strategy” is for Israel?

i think this is a CRITICAL point to focus on.

just as we condemn the actions of the bush administration because we think that their policies (for torture to warmongering) are both immoral AND make the world a more dangerous place for us – many of the policies advocated by a*p*c are both immoral AND dangerous for israelis.

Another great post, Christy. I hope the coming of Spring helps you feel better.
But you won’t feeling any better while you’re working on taxes!

And, like the dunce he seized power from, Darth also seeks history’s vindication:

And at 65, he seems willing to wait for his vindication. As Mr. Cheney recently told NBC, ”History will decide how I did.”

(NYTimes link behind TimesSelect firewall.)

One of the many reasons alot of us vets (particularly those of us who were in the military during the Late SE Asia Unpleasantness)were against the war from the get – go was because what it was going to do to the military, particularly the two branches that always do the heavy lifting in these situations — the Army and the Marine Corps.
Our worst fears are coming truer and truer on a daily basis. It’s worse than expected because the suits in charge, besides having no idea how easy it is to break a military because they never served, are soulless imitations of human beings.
The inevitable result is upon us: the military in general and the Army and the USMC in particular are once again going to be left holding the bag.
There are special places in the Robert Strange McNamara Wing of Hell reserved for these creatures.

and this is part of what these wars bring home:

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) — Nearly a third of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who received care from Veterans Affairs between 2001 and 2005 were diagnosed with mental health or psychosocial ills, a study published Monday has concluded.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/…..topstories

angie @ 47

This is unconscionable! What planet are these folks from?

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic leaders are stripping from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq a requirement that President Bush gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other leaders agreed to remove the requirement concerning Iran after conservative Democrats as well as other lawmakers worried about its possible impact on Israel, officials said Monday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…..03,00.html

What “impact on Israel?” Should we give up the Constitution’s provision for checks and balances because they impact Israel? What country do the democrats think elected them?

paraphrased from post 28; my bold…

“if Iran is on the verge of a nuclear weapon, I think we will have no choice but to take decisive action.”

What he really means is “if we can convince the public that Iran is on the verge of a nuclear weapon, they will believe we have no choice but to take decisive action.”

JEP @ 39

I wonder if the Bush and the Cheney families bought up a sandy beachfront “palm frond” in Dubai?

How appropriate, the oil guys are all retiring or moving to that new manmade Dubai seaside, as global warming floods thier multi-million dollar estates…

One oil tanker disaster nearby will end that dream.

Peterboy @ 44

scooter lies–it’s not a crime.
abu gonzales lies–it’s not a crime.
shooter lies–it’s not a crime
mcnulty lies–it’s ditto.
moschella lies–it’s ditto.

But if Bill Clinton lies about consensual sex, it’s an impeachable offense. Truly, my fellow Americans, we have entered The Twilight Zone.

You won’t hear this from me all that frequently, but Andrew Sullivan is correct.

Gotta admit, I had to read that one twice before I was sure I wasn’t running too low on caffeine….

I LOVE the fact that we are starting to refer to cheney in the proper terms

he is a moron, he has no clue, his “military knowledge” is idiotic

I’m glad we have stopped deferring to what he says and from now on I want EVERYTHING he says challenged since everything he has said has proven moronic and depraved

In terms of Cheney “seizing” power, look at the last section of the Sy Hersh article on the new policy approach and attacking Iran, Bandar’s strategy, using al-Qaeda-linked groups to fight Hezbollah in Lebanon: after the Iran-Contra hiccup and trying to figure out how to run a covert foreign policy, the Vulcans (with Elliot Abrams, Scooter, and others) knew that they had to keep the CIA as far away as possible. The solution was to run the operation throught the OVP. It probably started with the energy task force. It wasn’t about “seizing power”: it was all part of the original plan. Even all of the scary unitary executive stuff is something of a distraction from the fact that the OVP has virtually no accountability and can leave very few fingerprints. The fact that Cheney can go on Russert and lie and lie again and again also tells you something. And it all makes the fact that Libby was actually convicted fairly astonishing.

listening to Pat Buchcanan on Hardball, and as the hour went on he sounded more and more shrill, until I wondered if he was going to blow a brain vein. they are all sounding shrill lately, obviously a sign of desperation and frustration that they have no real way to defend all this.

Christy -

[snip] And yet, what he expects is for everyone to keep following along in his wake [snip]

Is that “wake” as in boat or “wake” as in funeral? *g*

AP is having a little fun with our preznit, looks like:
http://americablog.blogspot.co…..osely.html (via Americablog)

Pelosi…the same Pelosi who just carried Bush/Cheney’s water to A*P*C? She can’t seem to figure out who she supports.

Supporting the troops?

While giving out 11 billion in cash with no accountability to un-named civilians in lieu of proving adequate armour?

While giving out “no-bid”, no accountability contracts to your own subsidiarys, in lieu of providing basic care to our own troops?

You (Cheney) sir, are a liar. and not a very good one at that…..

perris @ 36

You see, in Dick Cheney’s narrow mind, the only course of action that is ever correct is the one that he supports.

my favorite is turning the words these morons use back at them

I would like to make sure the first thing that comes back is telling HIM he doesn’t support the troops and THEN going into why

none of this defensive garbage the democrats are getting away with, when these morons attack us, we have to attack THEM with MORE venon

I would say

“cheney has a lot of nerve telling us he takes our support for the troops at face value, HE REFUSES to support the troops” through his own actions”

… and then suffer his challeneged little mind with the FACTS.

we have got to get off that their higher ground whenever they try to claim it

attack when attacked…that should be our new moto

*sigh* So often I wonder why the Dems refuse to do this also. Like perhaps every day. It CAN be done in a calm, assertive manner and it has been proven to work with these types of individuals.

Hit ‘em with the facts every time. Why is that so hard for them?

(BTW, my sincere apologies to the canine community, but couldn’t resist)

Sky-Ho @ 76

You (Cheney) sir, are a liar. and not a very good one at that…..

why would anyone call this depraved criminal “sir”

enough of that, he has earned disregard and we need to give it to him

laurie9 @ 75

I saw that last night. My husband just commented that Bush hugs on people too much–”He treats everyone like a dog he’s patting on the head.”

angie @ 65

and this is part of what these wars bring home:

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) — Nearly a third of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who received care from Veterans Affairs between 2001 and 2005 were diagnosed with mental health or psychosocial ills, a study published Monday has concluded.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/…..topstories

That heartbreak affects the whole family and everyone around the soldier; but since almost all of the architects of this crime don’t have any near-and-dear ones fighting over there, they won’t have to bother their beautiful minds about little things like these mangled lives.

fired USA’s story on CNN…

70 Senators voted to cluster bomb innocent civilians in Lebanon last September. Note nay votes mean yes to cluster bombing innocents. I find this vote particulary outrageous and telling as to which Democrats are compromised beyond repair or any hint of human deceny.

laurie9 @ 75

AP is having a little fun with our preznit, looks like:
http://americablog.blogspot.co…..osely.html (via Americablog)

Priceless. And a little more representative of the object’s size, I imagine, than that of the stuffed codpiece.

Elliott @ 79– good point.

ESAR @ 81– me too, it is beyond belief.

I’m having trouble connecting the dots on the US atty purge and the voter fraud connection.

One thing that might make sense is that Rove wanted to cover himself with Bush, saying “we lost by 500 votes here or 2000 votes there, and we’re going to get voter fraud investigations going–something’s fishy. We should have won.” So when a US Atty decided to abandon the investigation (due to lack of evidence), he goes on the list.

But how does manipulating US Atty’s go back to Fla2000 and Oh04? That’s the part I don’t understand.

And the Rove covering himself theory doesn’t work when we now know that Miers wanted to get rid of everybody and bring in a new crop, even before the 06 election.

Cheney picked himself fir Veep and grabbed all the power with as zhiv points out little if any accountability.

Bush IS too dumb to care for anything but havign everyone such up to him because of his title. He doesn’t have to do anything as long as they call him Mr Pres… he’s happy as a bug in a rug. Policy doesn’t interest him. He read speeches others write… literally putting words in his mouth. But it’s all stuff he is OK with… More power to those who deserve it… the already powerful of course.

Bush was always an empty suit who never did a thing in his life but party and indulge himself. Even being president is hard work for him as HE does it… which is signing the occassional bill and reading a speech or two.

He’s dumb.

Cheney’s a clever nasty guy and likes cash and power.

Christy, thanks for the link to The Gavel. I hadn’t seen that before.

Christy @ 40

This year I get to deal with ‘interest income’ for the first time. I think I need Schedule D as well as B… (It isn’t the arithmetic, it’s the forms.)

zhiv @ 86

The guy who was replacing the fired USA in Nevada was the guy running the voter purge in Florida.

Morning everyone! Thanks for a great post this morning. I didn’t see the Gavel either, very interesting.

Just wanted to remind everyone also that we still gabbly if they are interested.
http://www.gabbly.com/firedoglake.com

See you all around the boards!

Have a great day!

Sha @ 76

Pelosi…the same Pelosi who just carried Bush/Cheney’s water to A*P*C? She can’t seem to figure out who she supports.

We have the best congress money can buy.

Eureka Springs, AR @ 83

70 Senators voted to cluster bomb innocent civilians in Lebanon last September. Note nay votes mean yes to cluster bombing innocents. I find this vote particulary outrageous and telling as to which Democrats are compromised beyond repair or any hint of human deceny.

How quickly we forget.

Wigwam @ 92

Sha @ 76

Pelosi…the same Pelosi who just carried Bush/Cheney’s water to A*P*C? She can’t seem to figure out who she supports.

We have the best congress money can buy.

sad but true

on the backing off of Iran -

so far it has been the House – I want to see what happens with Senator Webb and his proposed No Auth. for Iran bill once A*P*C unleashes it’s 5000 Dogs of War on thursday -

Renee in Ohio @ 80

laurie9 @ 75

I saw that last night. My husband just commented that Bush hugs on people too much–”He treats everyone like a dog he’s patting on the head.”

Bush has a habit and history of demeaning people and placing them in a submissive position way a dog mounts another dog to show its dominance – either by sophmoric verbal jabs at reporters, farting in front of new aides, or groping the Chancellor of Germany. It’s part of his persona and a reflection of his mean-spirited, insecure character in general.

1,453 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Hardin Smith and the Firepup Patriots:

Just back from 8 incredible dayz on the beach in Negril and the experience of getting there and getting back has convinced both Mr. and Mrs. Norske that our entire system, political and economic, is on the verge of collapse and there is a solidarity of experience among the common citizens of all countries. We are rapidly approaching a major crisis (a revolutionary moment maybe?) and, thanks to the lessons learned and shared by our Jamaican friends, there are at least 2 Americans who understand and are no longer afraid to start callin a spade a shovel.

The nightmare of the last 26 years of fascist political consolidation is about to break into the general consciousness…there is no alternative to impeachment and criminal trials and trials in the international court. If we don’t purge the fascists, root and branch, from our political culture we won’t have another chance.

KEEP THE FAITH AND DON’T TAKE ANY SHIT FROM ANYBODY!!

from Discourse.net, some excellant redu;

As Senators start to pile on our lamentable Attorney General for presiding over Karl Rove’s politicization of the US Attorneys Office — an offense known as ‘obstruction of justice’ — I would like to direct your attention to a similar but somehow forgotten scandal.

Everyone seems to have forgotten that then-White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales also presided over one of the more sordid aspects of the Plame scandal. When Gonzales first learned that the Justice Department had started an official investigation into the Plame leak, Gonzales waited twelve hours before putting the White House staff on notice that they had to preserve documents and electronic files. Which seemed than — and seems now — like an open invitation to “shredding and deleting,” not to mention getting your story straight. In short, obstruction of justice.

must be brought up again in hearings of course

cbl, the 5000 were scheduled to begin their lobbying appts on Capitol Hill at 11 am today.

ooh Negril– beautiful, Norske! I am glad that you had a nice vacation and the people I have met in Jamaica are pretty darn wonderful in general.

Lastly (3 posts in 10 minutes: what’s happening to me?), the one thing that is still missing from the increasing Walter Reed and injured vets coverage is the numbers. For some reason you just don’t see it.

Even this astonishing 2.5 trillion for coverage over the next 75 years or whatever it is, doesn’t come with anything that would help you do the math.

Is the number of US wounded 200,000, as we briefly discussed a week ago?

And remember, the “killed” number of 3000 , which we’re all very well aware of, is extremely low compared to previous conflicts because of improved triage. We can get them out of there and keep them alive. Then we start to run into trouble.

Kind of like invading Iraq and defeating Saddam’s army, but having some trouble with that pesky occupation.

So how many of “them” are there?

Two pet suggestions: keep calling it an occupation, early and often. Occupation, occupation, occupation.

And count the wounded. Look for the number, keep looking for it, keep asking for it.

Christy Hardin Smith @
40

*grumble, grumble* I hate getting tax receipts together every year. No matter how I try to be organized, it is never easy, is it? *grumble*

Got audited over charitable contributions a few years ago. They asked for all my charitable receipts. I ended up owing them another $5 or so.

Anywho, ever since then – we keep a folder in our files for taxes and every donation – we mark the receipt, photocopy the check, or write a note indicating what we donated and place it in the folder. It’s worked great for us ever since.

Wigwam @
92

Sha @ 76

Pelosi…the same Pelosi who just carried Bush/Cheney’s water to A*P*C? She can’t seem to figure out who she supports.

We have the best congress money can buy.

That’s what I’m afraid of!!!!

We have the best government – top to bottom – that money can buy. Unfortunately, the good people are poor and, it seems, can’t afford to buy a thing!

btw, gang — I have another post coming up in a few minutes. Before you click it open, put down all liquids. Spew alert. You have been warned.

P J Evans @
89

Christy @ 40

This year I get to deal with ‘interest income’ for the first time. I think I need Schedule D as well as B… (It isn’t the arithmetic, it’s the forms.)

Schedule B – interest and dividends
Schedule D – capital gains and losses

Should you have any qualifying dividends (taxed at capital gains rates) and are preparing your return manually, please remember to use Schedule D’s tax computation worksheet (or better still, use your favorite tax software and let it take care of requisite calculations).

After yesterday’s incident with Goerge Bush Sr, I started wondering how that would change things for George Jr.
Would he be strengthened, freed from the influence of his father’s and his father’s friends?
Or
Would he be considerably weakened?

I tend to think the latter, knowing he’s been helped along his whole life.

The Democratic party has been captive to neocon priorities wrt the Middle East for the last two decades. It’s a little tiresome to see progressives act shocked, shocked!, at moments when this becomes too obvious to ignore.

Please do a speck of research on who Bill Clinton, ostensible “honest broker,” put in charge of Israel/Palestine mediation. Martin Indyk and Dennis Ross had deep A*P*C roots.

I’ve put it this way before: with the Democrats you get Likud Lite and with the Republicans Likud Dark. And that’s been bad not just for US foreign relations but I*rael’s security as well.

Why can’t I type AIPAC without getting A*P*C? (See my post at 76)?

I’m worried that the system is against me!!

[Sha: As I explained over the weekend, we have had to deal with some neo-nazi, racist troll types in the past who used rolling IPs and tried to use the cover of various Jewish-American group names to spout a lot of racist blather. We have had to get creative in keeping the filth oout of the comments. We release the non-racist discussion comments as quickly as we can, but in order to keep our comments section free of nasty stuff, this is how things are going to have to be until we can come up with something better. Sorry, but little patience with our volunteer moderators — who do try to keep up with this as quickly as they possibly can — will go a long way from everyone. The “system” has nothing to do with it — but a decision on Jane’s and my part to keep the comments as free from nasty, factless, disgusting sentiments does. If you have further questions, feel free to e-mail me. Best, Christy]

Ooh, my first “your comment is awaiting moderation.” What took me so long?

diogenes @ 56

I disagree with the notion that Cheney is the mastermind, and Bush is clueless.

Cheney is executing a plan he believes in, as does his regent, King George.

Cheney does the dirty work: royalty (and that is how Bush views himself, including the divine right to rule) does not dirty their hands. They are of one mind, however.

I think Bush is smart enough to play dumb – look how successfully he has lowered expectations.

He did graduate with an MBA which takes a modicum of intelligence (although I wonder who he paid to write his research papers?).

I agree. I think we let Georgie off way too easy by dismissing him as too stupid to resist. Everything that Cheney does, W is responsible for. Period.

What really worries me is that we always seem to underestimate the numbers on the right. Nearly half the country is still very conservative in one way or the other. Also, the fact that they seem to so much better at strategy than our guys. Why, oh, why, is it that when they had almost the same balance in congressional majority/minority status in their favor, were they so seemingly successful at pushing their agenda. How did they get to be a rubber stamp congress, with our side pleading for sympathy as the impotent underdog. As the majority, it often seems that “we” are still impotent. As the minority, it often seems they are better equipped to block our moves. What’s wrong with this picture?

1,453 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Hardin Smith and the Firepup Patriots:

And while I’m gettin’ my land legs under me here…what the hell is this usin’ symbols like A*P*C for AIPAC??!! Somethin is seriously amiss here!

KEEP THE FAITH, INTIMIDATION ONLY WORKS IF YOU LET IT!!

P J Evans @ 90

zhiv @ 86

The guy who was replacing the fired USA in Nevada was the guy running the voter purge in Florida.

A nice connection, but I still don’t get the larger picture. I’m assuming this guy wasn’t a US atty in Florida, just an operative. So they want to set him up in the home state of the Senate majority leader. That all makes sense.

But emptywheel suggested, I think, that it can be traced back at least to Ohio, and that’s the part I don’t understand.

Elliott @ 105

After yesterday’s incident with Goerge Bush Sr, I started wondering how that would change things for George Jr.
Would he be strengthened, freed from the influence of his father’s and his father’s friends?
Or
Would he be considerably weakened?

I tend to think the latter, knowing he’s been helped along his whole life.

I was thinking something else. Both George’s are just plain stupid. I mean by the time you’re 82, don’t you know better than to go golfing in 94 degree heat? Duh!!!

cleland is GREAT when addressing cheney and his moronic rhetoric;

“Where the hell were you in the Vietnam War? If you had gone to Vietnam like the rest of us, maybe you would have learned something about war. You can’t keep troops on the ground forever. You gotta have a mission. You gotta have a purpose.”

You can’t keep sending ‘em back and back and back with no mission and no purpose. As a matter of fact, the real enemy is Al Qaeda, it’s Al Qaeda stupid, it’s not in Iraq

ralphbon @ 107

Ooh, my first “your comment is awaiting moderation.” What took me so long?

And you moderation proofed your spelling of “The Lobby.”

the difference between progressive blogs’ coverage of the conservative convention held ten days ago and coverage of the conference currently being held is nothing less than a major indictment against progressive pretentions – especially in the credible, high-volume blogosphere – that we’re actively engaged in solving the major problems confronting our seriously flawed, highly dangerous foreign policy.

I’ve been asked yesterday and today to help provide info or additional comments re the ongoing conference referenced above. I’ve done that in comments here over the past year or so. And in e-mails to the fdl proprietors.

To see Nancy Pelosi highlighted so positively here the day after she explicitely announced total support of military action against Iran by the unitary executive, and implicitely set the stage for a longer standing ovation today at that conference than Darth got yesterday saddens me profoundly. Willful and continuing ignorance on this important subject is a large part of what is going to get us involved in using nuclear weapons, once again, against civilian targets. Those here and elsewhere in the left blogosphere who express surprise, disdain and horror when that happens, and who skirted the subject beforehand, will have to live with that for the rest of their lives.

outta here for now…

ralphbon @ 106– I hear what you’re saying and agree, but don’t you think that with this cabal in charge and the wars that they have brought to the region and the accompanying lies, lies, lies, that perhaps some politicians should have woken up???

I am dismayed and disgusted and not too terribly suprised.

laurie9: AP is having a little fun with our preznit, looks like:
http://americablog.blogspot.co…..osely.html (via Americablog)

* * *
Look at the worker’s eyes, third from left.

Spike @
73

listening to Pat Buchcanan on Hardball …

I’m sorry for the pain and anguish this must have caused you.

Driving by: Boston Globe is now linking the DoJ removal of Attorneys with Abramoff.

Bush Removal ended Guam investigation

WASHINGTON — A US grand jury in Guam opened an investigation of controversial lobbyist Jack Abramoff more than two years ago, but President Bush removed the supervising federal prosecutor, and the probe ended soon after.

The previously undisclosed Guam inquiry is separate from a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia that is investigating allegations that Abramoff bilked Indian tribes out of millions of dollars.

Sha @
110

Elliott @ 105

After yesterday’s incident with Goerge Bush Sr, I started wondering how that would change things for George Jr.
Would he be strengthened, freed from the influence of his father’s and his father’s friends?
Or
Would he be considerably weakened?

I tend to think the latter, knowing he’s been helped along his whole life.

I was thinking something else. Both George’s are just plain stupid. I mean by the time you’re 82, don’t you know better than to go golfing in 94 degree heat? Duh!!!

He lost a lot of fluid on that big crying jag a few weeks ago over Jeb’s shattered political hopes.

Boo-hoo Poppy.

-GSD

Anyone have a link to Gonzo’s testimony to Congress?

Ed*ard Teller @ 109

please don’t give up on us, ET! we need you… you ARE helping to change the conversation.

edit – have you seen my (and others) responses to you comments?

Random thoughts:
- Do you get the feeling that the shit is really hitting the fan this week and are, at long last, seeing the fall?
- While we are all consumed with the battle of Baghdad, who has been keeping an eye on the oil fields? I’m a little bit surprised that we never hear much about how secure/insecure the oil fields are. I picture heavily fortified areas complete with contractors and the very latest secret defensive weapons technology. It wouldn’t surprise me if our own military is excluded from the administration and defense. Wouldn’t it be a curious thing if we ended up fighting the contractors for oil? Is anyone looking into this and questioning whether the civil war is a clever distraction?

perris @ 111

cleland is GREAT when addressing cheney and his moronic rhetoric;

“Where the hell were you in the Vietnam War? If you had gone to Vietnam like the rest of us, maybe you would have learned something about war. You can’t keep troops on the ground forever. You gotta have a mission. You gotta have a purpose.”

You can’t keep sending ‘em back and back and back with no mission and no purpose. As a matter of fact, the real enemy is Al Qaeda, it’s Al Qaeda stupid, it’s not in Iraq

Oh yes, indeed. Max Cleland gets the job done on Cheney AND Bush in the C&L video.
Sometimes wish that the camera would show a full shot of Cleland so all can be reminded of just how much he has sacrificed in the service of our country…

Norske at 109 — I’ve explained this about a billion times, but here goes again: we have had some disgusting neo-nazi (the real kind) trolls who have tried to post anti-sememtic filth under the cover of using Jewish-American groups as fronts for the discussion. Because they have used rolling IPs, dealing with the posts got incredibly tiresome and tedious for all of us. Thus, we started pulling phrases out that were commonly used and put them into the mod queue. We free up legitimate comments as quickly as we can, but we are not changing this poslicy until we come up with something that works more effectively — we do try our best to keep conversations flowing with a minumum of filth. If you have further questions, do feel free to e-mail me.

P J Evans @ 89

Christy @ 40

This year I get to deal with ‘interest income’ for the first time. I think I need Schedule D as well as B… (It isn’t the arithmetic, it’s the forms.)

Gotta recommend Turbotax. Worth the $40 or so…

Sha @ 107

Why can’t I type AIPAC without getting A*P*C? (See my post at 76)?

I’m worried that the system is against me!!

[Sha: As I explained over the weekend, we have had to deal with some neo-nazi, racist troll types in the past who used rolling IPs and tried to use the cover of various Jewish-American group names to spout a lot of racist blather. We have had to get creative in keeping the filth oout of the comments. We release the non-racist discussion comments as quickly as we can, but in order to keep our comments section free of nasty stuff, this is how things are going to have to be until we can come up with something better. Sorry, but little patience with our volunteer moderators — who do try to keep up with this as quickly as they possibly can — will go a long way from everyone. The “system” has nothing to do with it — but a decision on Jane’s and my part to keep the comments as free from nasty, factless, disgusting sentiments does. If you have further questions, feel free to e-mail me. Best, Christy]

Thanks for the explanation CHS, I had been wondering the same thing.

Just in case anyone is interested in the “voter fraud” element of Repug furor that “did not get investigated” by fired USAs. The Repugs were not worried about the thousands/millions of voters purged or the thousands/millions of missing and/or over-votes. Oh no.

They were upset because one or two people reported that someone else voted in their name. Of course there was no proof. It is all about the giant scandal of this non-starter and their demand for voter ID. THAT is the scandal about the voter “fraud” that they are complaining about.

Just sayin’.

Fresh thread, complete with spew warning.

scarecrow @
119

Driving by: Boston Globe is now linking the DoJ removal of Attorneys with Abramoff.

Bush Removal ended Guam investigation

WASHINGTON — A US grand jury in Guam opened an investigation of controversial lobbyist Jack Abramoff more than two years ago, but President Bush removed the supervising federal prosecutor, and the probe ended soon after.

The previously undisclosed Guam inquiry is separate from a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia that is investigating allegations that Abramoff bilked Indian tribes out of millions of dollars.

So, where’s the crime in this? There has to be a law that the highest law enforcement officer of the land can be impeached for protecting his contributors from prosecution. Doesn’t there?

No problem – I am computer challenged so I thought it was something I was doing!

Thanks for the info.

Sha @
107

Why can’t I type AIPAC without getting A*P*C? (See my post at 76)?

I’m worried that the system is against me!!

[Sha: As I explained over the weekend, we have had to deal with some neo-nazi, racist troll types in the past who used rolling IPs and tried to use the cover of various Jewish-American group names to spout a lot of racist blather. We have had to get creative in keeping the filth oout of the comments. We release the non-racist discussion comments as quickly as we can, but in order to keep our comments section free of nasty stuff, this is how things are going to have to be until we can come up with something better. Sorry, but little patience with our volunteer moderators — who do try to keep up with this as quickly as they possibly can — will go a long way from everyone. The “system” has nothing to do with it — but a decision on Jane’s and my part to keep the comments as free from nasty, factless, disgusting sentiments does. If you have further questions, feel free to e-mail me. Best, Christy]

Christy Hardin Smith @ 129

Fresh thread, complete with spew warning.

AND, AS PROMISED…UNBELIEVABLE!!!

1,453 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Ed*ard Teller and the Firepup Patriots:

Don’t go just yet Ed, please bring me up to speed on what has been happenin’ with the two national conferences on fascist consolidation…I been gone for 10 dayz, haven’t the “liberals” awakened yet?

KEEP THE FAITH AND REMEMBER THAT THE WORK YOU DO DOESN’T KILL ANYONE!!!

Mutant Poodle @
126

P J Evans @ 89

Christy @ 40

This year I get to deal with ‘interest income’ for the first time. I think I need Schedule D as well as B… (It isn’t the arithmetic, it’s the forms.)

Gotta recommend Turbotax. Worth the $40 or so…

You need the extra-special version of TurboTax this year. I think it is the Premium version rather than the deluxe version. The Premium version has forms and stuff for investments, dividends, etc. It’s something like $77.00. I had one dividend check last year and if it had been anymore complicated that reporting just one little number, Deluxe TurboTax wouldn’t have been enough. In fact, the interview portion advised me as much.
So, spring for the next level up if you have a lot of this stuff.

LOL.

GSD @
120

Sha @
110

Elliott @ 105

After yesterday’s incident with Goerge Bush Sr, I started wondering how that would change things for George Jr.
Would he be strengthened, freed from the influence of his father’s and his father’s friends?
Or
Would he be considerably weakened?

I tend to think the latter, knowing he’s been helped along his whole life.

I was thinking something else. Both George’s are just plain stupid. I mean by the time you’re 82, don’t you know better than to go golfing in 94 degree heat? Duh!!!

He lost a lot of fluid on that big crying jag a few weeks ago over Jeb’s shattered political hopes.

Boo-hoo Poppy.

-GSD

It’s astonishing how rapidly new revelations connected to the prosecutor purges are appearing today. I don’t think the wh has a big enough staff to handle their response spin on this & so many other highly smelly actions. But then much of it seems to be connected. What a tangle web.

Paul Krugman’s latest column was in the Raleigh News & Observer–behind firewall so I can’t link. He said, “You also have to wonder whether new signs that Gonzales and other administration officials are willing to cooperate with Congress reflect the verdict in b>the Libby trial. It probably comes as a shock to realize that even Republicans can face jail time for lying under oath.”

Ahh! the beauty of unintended consequences!

SPCPA @ 104

This time around, I think a tax preparer is a good idea. That way I’ll know what I need for next time (which may be worse). What got me was working my way through the ‘you need to use schedule D if’ list and finding out that I have something like 6 dollars in a box that makes it a schedule-D item.

It reminds me of the year my parents lost $20 in an REIT and had to do 8 pages of reporting for it. The system is screwy. Or screwed.

Zhiv 100,

It has also occurred to me that the official “death” counts of Katrina and Iraq have been purposely kept in the ballpark of the death toll of 9/11 and “framed” according to policy – 3,000 killed on 9/11 (unacceptable and reason to kill anyone the Decider deems as an enemy combatant) yet 3,000 killed in Iraq (acceptable and low figure for war so keep on fighting)- Katrina (no one really knows how many were actually killed – but that is somehow no big deal so ignore it). The 655,000 count of dead Iraqi citizens (debunk the findings of Lancet). Reminds me of the news everyday during Vietnam – 2,000 insurgents killed and 5 troops….I heard the news today oh boy…400 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire…

portia.vz @ 123

Random thoughts:

- While we are all consumed with the battle of Baghdad, who has been keeping an eye on the oil fields? I’m a little bit surprised that we never hear much about how secure/insecure the oil fields are.

As mentioned above, am also noting this ’something’ which is not talked about. The following article is from 2004, but note the title, and I think this ties in with Cheney/Bush/Rice.

Oil Wars
Transforming the American Military into a Global Oil-Protection Service
By Michael T. Klare

Indeed, Iraq has developed into a two-front war: the battles for control over Iraq’s cities and the constant struggle to protect its far-flung petroleum infrastructure against sabotage and attack. The first contest has been widely reported in the American press; the second has received far less attention. Yet the fate of Iraq’s oil infrastructure could prove no less significant than that of its embattled cities. ….. So long as American forces remain in Iraq, a significant number of them will undoubtedly spend their time guarding highly vulnerable pipelines, refineries, loading facilities, and other petroleum installations. With thousands of miles of pipeline and hundreds of major facilities at risk, this task will prove endlessly demanding – and unrelievedly hazardous. …

It has been argued that our oil-protection role is a peculiar feature of the war in Iraq…

“Militarizing energy policy”

American leaders have responded to this systemic challenge to stability in oil-producing areas in a consistent fashion: by employing military means to guarantee the unhindered flow of petroleum. This approach was first adopted by the Truman and Eisenhower administrations after World War II, when Soviet adventurism in Iran and pan-Arab upheavals in the Middle East seemed to threaten the safety of Persian Gulf oil deliveries. It was given formal expression by President Carter in January 1980, when, in response to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the Islamic revolution in Iran, he announced that the secure flow of Persian Gulf oil was in “the vital interests of the United States of America,” and that in protecting this interest we would use “any means necessary, including military force.” Carter’s principle of using force to protect the flow of oil was later cited by President Bush the elder to justify American intervention in the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91, and it provided the underlying strategic rationale for our recent invasion of Iraq.

Typically, such moves are justified as being crucial to the “war on terror.” A close reading of Pentagon and State Department documents shows, however, that anti-terrorism and the protection of oil supplies are closely related in administration thinking.
….
This, then, is the future of U.S. military involvement abroad. While anti-terrorism and traditional national security rhetoric will be employed to explain risky deployments abroad, a growing number of American soldiers and sailors will be committed to the protection of overseas oil fields, pipeline, refineries, and tanker routes. Inevitably, we will pay a higher price in blood for every additional gallon of oil we obtain from abroad.

Michael T. Klare is a professor of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College. This article is based on his new book, Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America’s Growing Petroleum Dependency (Metropolitan / Henry Holt

I LOVE the fact that we are starting to refer to cheney in the proper terms

he is a moron, he has no clue, his “military knowledge” is idiotic

Rachel Maddow started riffing on Elmer Fudd for Vice about a year ago .

What I remember of the non violent protest of Indian liberation was the assault by authorities on the willing parade of Indians . The beating continued until like an opponent of Marciano’s “Their arms fell off” . The point was that they won Liberation . Not that it was painless , although I am a strict pain-lesser (pals place that closer to the exit that the entrance) . Those beatings in the Freedom Marches permanently changed the damaged people , like torn flowers . If I understood , the wish to keep an intelligent exchange of views excludes talking to a fool that means today that only the fool speaks . So speaking to a fool with a fool and over a fool until the fools nap-time appears to be the digital electronic logic . Always argue with a fool , people will be able to separate you by the sleeping dogs .

angie @ 116

When one looks at the Democrats’ pile-on over Jimmy Carter’s book, the participation of John Edwards in the Herzliya bomb-Iran slobberfest, etc., etc., one must conclude that any waking up is proceeding at an imperceptibly glacial pace.

mulligatawny @
140

portia.vz @ 123

Random thoughts:

- While we are all consumed with the battle of Baghdad, who has been keeping an eye on the oil fields? I’m a little bit surprised that we never hear much about how secure/insecure the oil fields are.

As mentioned above, am also noting this ’something’ which is not talked about. The following article is from 2004, but note the title, and I think this ties in with Cheney/Bush/Rice.

Oil Wars
Transforming the American Military into a Global Oil-Protection Service
By Michael T. Klare

Indeed, Iraq has developed into a two-front war: the battles for control over Iraq’s cities and the constant struggle to protect its far-flung petroleum infrastructure against sabotage and attack. The first contest has been widely reported in the American press; the second has received far less attention. Yet the fate of Iraq’s oil infrastructure could prove no less significant than that of its embattled cities. ….. So long as American forces remain in Iraq, a significant number of them will undoubtedly spend their time guarding highly vulnerable pipelines, refineries, loading facilities, and other petroleum installations. With thousands of miles of pipeline and hundreds of major facilities at risk, this task will prove endlessly demanding – and unrelievedly hazardous. …

It has been argued that our oil-protection role is a peculiar feature of the war in Iraq…

“Militarizing energy policy”

American leaders have responded to this systemic challenge to stability in oil-producing areas in a consistent fashion: by employing military means to guarantee the unhindered flow of petroleum. This approach was first adopted by the Truman and Eisenhower administrations after World War II, when Soviet adventurism in Iran and pan-Arab upheavals in the Middle East seemed to threaten the safety of Persian Gulf oil deliveries. It was given formal expression by President Carter in January 1980, when, in response to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the Islamic revolution in Iran, he announced that the secure flow of Persian Gulf oil was in “the vital interests of the United States of America,” and that in protecting this interest we would use “any means necessary, including military force.” Carter’s principle of using force to protect the flow of oil was later cited by President Bush the elder to justify American intervention in the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91, and it provided the underlying strategic rationale for our recent invasion of Iraq.

Typically, such moves are justified as being crucial to the “war on terror.” A close reading of Pentagon and State Department documents shows, however, that anti-terrorism and the protection of oil supplies are closely related in administration thinking.
….
This, then, is the future of U.S. military involvement abroad. While anti-terrorism and traditional national security rhetoric will be employed to explain risky deployments abroad, a growing number of American soldiers and sailors will be committed to the protection of overseas oil fields, pipeline, refineries, and tanker routes. Inevitably, we will pay a higher price in blood for every additional gallon of oil we obtain from abroad.

Michael T. Klare is a professor of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College. This article is based on his new book, Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America’s Growing Petroleum Dependency (Metropolitan / Henry Holt

Yeah, but are the oil barons really that stupid that they would leave the protection of the oil fields in the hands of the US government? I mean, despite the fact that we have some tryly cowardly blue dog Democrats running the show on the Iraq War resolutions, there is the very real possibility that the GOP could be the party out of power in the next election and the new president will shut the war down. When the troops are pulled out, that would leave the fields vulnerable. What businessman is going to want to take that kind of risk? How do we know that these stateless entities haven’t created their own private army with funds and materials they got from the US taxpayer? They might have the means now to do it themselves and the US Army could become the enemy in the future.

Depraved Indifference versus ‘Support the Troops’
It is well documented that the State Department prepared a post Iraq invasion plan that pointed out the likelihood of Sunni on Shia civil strife/slaughter.
This document was shelved and ignored.
The Military general staff was forbidden on pain of being fired from preparing a full G-4 or post-invasion plan which would with 100% certainty have warned of this civil slaughter danger.
There is a crime in this duplicitous action to send human targets into battle but hide known consequences that were politically inexpedient. This action ended up causing thousands of deaths and injuries to purposefully unprepared U.S. troops. This crime is called ‘Depraved Indifference.’
All mankind now knows that Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld organized a propaganda network which cherry picked intelligence to deliberately deceive the American public. (That somebody from this large organized propaganda cabal, in this case Cheney’s Chief of Staff, was eventually convicted of felonious behavior should not be surprising. But those who support a Scooter pardon should be made to publicly declare that they are in essence declaring that they support, then and now, the propaganda program that lied American and Iraqi citizens into this spiraling deathtrap called Iraq. But I digress.)
Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al not only cherry picked false fear-based intelligence that led to this conflagration they also deliberately buried the the dangers that our troops would face.
They put the troops in harms way. Plenty of documentation exists that the neocon cabal did not ‘Support our Troops’ by providing the normal and required prewar planning.
Had the political agenda of the neocon cabal been made subservient to proper war planning, thousands of our troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis would not now be dead or maimed.
This depraved indifference should have its day in court.
cognitorex blogspot

Labels: criminal negligence, Libby, neocon cabal, propaganda, support the troops

Why does anyone treat what this man says about the war with anything but contempt? He has been wrong on every single statement made about all aspects of the running of the war and the results that would be achieved. His opinions about what the actions of the Congress will do or cause should be dismissed out of hand as yet another surmise of a man unable even to emulate that blind dog that found a bone now and again.

Just for kicks, is Speaker Pelosi’s response binding or non binding? When are we going to start seeing something of substance from this Democratic controlled congress?