FItz

So sorry about Jane, and I hope Steve gets better soon.

That said, I can’t wait for Leahy’s subpoena’s. Wonder who will be served first?

Pach!
Jane!

Stay off Colbert’s show?? Am I not remembering that the “better known” reps did pretty well in the ‘06 elections?

Jane, hang in there. Please don’t overtax yourself-chemo can be a bitch.

That Fitz was for all the Canadians who are still tuned in to Lord Black of Crossharbour’s attempt to get acquitted by a jury of someone else’s peers.

LJ/Aquaria @ 1

So sorry about Jane, and I hope Steve gets better soon.

Where do I look for news of Jane? Is she not OK?

OT–but related:

Fitz says he can’t say much to Congress:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who spent years investigating the 2003 leak of a CIA operative’s identity, told lawmakers Wednesday that he could offer little help during congressional hearings on the leak.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., asked Fitzgerald last week to meet with members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which will hold hearings on the Bush administration’s handling of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s classified employment status.

(snip)

In a letter to Waxman, Fitzgerald did not refuse to cooperate with the congressional probe but made it clear he had little to say.

“I do not believe it would be appropriate for me to offer opinions, as your letter suggests the committee may seek, about the ultimate responsibility of senior White House officials for the disclosure of Ms. Wilson’s identity,” Fitzgerald wrote.

(snip)

Be strong Jane! (Alison – she starts chemo today)

I guess the previous commenter was feeling bad about Jane’s chemo, not that there is more news.

I am rooting for all those nasty drugs to do their job well. I’ve mentioned it to God, per the request above.

Alison @ 5

That Fitz was for all the Canadians who are still tuned in to Lord Black of Crossharbour’s attempt to get acquitted by a jury of someone else’s peers.

LJ/Aquaria @ 1

So sorry about Jane, and I hope Steve gets better soon.

Where do I look for news of Jane? Is she not OK?

I’ve only heard about it recently myself (major network/router problems that took forever to fix!). Others probably know more details, so I’ll leave it to them to explain them all.

My mom, who has had cancer three times and has been cancer-free for about fifteen years now, says Jane will be just fine. She adds that prayer helps anyway, though…

{{{Jane}}}

Jane, be careful what you eat or drink after you get the chemo. Conditioned aversions to flavors are common so eat/drink stuff you might not mind never eating/drinking again. Good luck.

Yeah, chemo is terrible. I took care of my brother when he had a very rare form of cancer, and the worst of it to him was the chemo. As he put it, he felt fine until they gave him that. At least he didn’t lose his sense of humor through it all. He went to a Halloween party…as a punk chemo patient, what was left of his hair spiked and spray-painted purple.

Rove….

Now that’s a Big Fish!….

Yeah!….

FDL’s Hugh scoops the NYTimes.

About six weeks ago or so, Hugh in a long post talked about the tendency of BushCo to speak in the passive tense. Well, yesterday, the NYTimes finally plays catch-up, but typically, the GrayLady extends this tendency to other administrations:

WASHINGTON, March 13 — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales fell back on a classic Washington linguistic construct on Tuesday when he acknowledged that “mistakes were made” in the dismissals of eight federal prosecutors last year.

The phrase sounds like a confession of error or even contrition, but in fact, it is not quite either one. The speaker is not accepting personal responsibility or pointing the finger at anyone else. It is a construction that other officials, from Richard M. Nixon’s press secretary to Ronald Reagan to John H. Sununu and Bill Clinton, have used when someone’s hand was caught in the federal cookie jar.

(snip)

She begins post-operative, precautionary chemo today. Surgery was successful, but this is just completing the treatment process.

Thanks so much for this Pach.

[[[[[[[Jane]]]]]]]

Morming all,

Hope Janes feels better soon. Chemo is tough but so is she. Take care of yourself Jane!!!

A little O/T but I have to ask – Does anyone know which CSPAN the Waxman hearings will be on and when?

you (guys and gals) are on fire!

I am not a kook!

Stay positive Jane.
Nothing but good wishes sent your way.

Jane, take good care of yourself. We’ll be here when you get back.

GPB’s Chemotherapy musical suggestion – a heavy dose of Delbert McClinton. Ol’ Delbert can make anybody feel better.

LBrowne @
4

Stay off Colbert’s show?? Am I not remembering that the “better known” reps did pretty well in the ‘06 elections?

Oh, but that article tells us that “Last year, as the House Democrats’ chief election strategist, Emanuel engineered the party’s takeover of the House.” How can they NOT listen to such a miracle worker?

/snark

Another item I noted in this piece was this:

One freshman who has been on the receiving end of Emanuel’s “tough love” is Rep. Steve Kagen (Wis.), who boasted to a group of anti-war activists that he had dressed down President Bush’s top political adviser, Karl Rove, during a White House reception. The administration denied the story.

But Emanuel threw a fit. Kagen’s staff was hauled into the Democratic Caucus’s office for lessons on how to handle the media, Democratic sources said.

Is there any way to haul Emanuel’s staff out for lessons on how to handle the White House?

Biodun at 8:11 am
Great catch, thanks.

OT:

White powder mailed to Edwards’ campaign headquarters, not anthrax.

http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/553709.html

LBrowne @
4

Stay off Colbert’s show?? Am I not remembering that the “better known” reps did pretty well in the ‘06 elections?

It didn’t seem to hurt Democratic Congressman from NY’s 19th, John Hall. Who can forget his harmonizing with Colbert on the national anthem!

Ol’ Delbert can make anybody feel better.

Seconded.

I hear poodles have amazing healing powers.

Thoughts, prayers and all that is good and positive for ya Jane.

Jane is a fighter and she’ll definitely pull through on this one.

Go Jane!

The contrarian M. de Plume says that this USA/ABU Gonzales/Rove thing in Justice is what is going to bring BushCo down, because the few “good” Rethugs will lead the charge, like in Watergate. He likes to poopoo all my blog reports, but he does follow KO. And now his morning newspapers have convinced him.

Ed*ard Teller @ 11

My mom, who has had cancer three times and has been cancer-free for about fifteen years now, says Jane will be just fine. She adds that prayer helps anyway, though…

{{{Jane}}}

Awesome, that is just awesome to hear!

And of course, (((Jane)))

Alison @
6

That Fitz was for all the Canadians who are still tuned in to Lord Black of Crossharbour’s attempt to get acquitted by a jury of someone else’s peers.

LJ/Aquaria @ 1

So sorry about Jane, and I hope Steve gets better soon.

Where do I look for news of Jane? Is she not OK?

In one of the posts yesterday, she said that she has 4 weeks to undergo of chemo therapy followed by additional surgery, so she didn’t know how she’d feel. This was in response to a lot of begging for an FDL gathering similar to yearly Kos.

(((Jane)))

Biodun @ 15

FDL’s Hugh scoops the NYTimes.

About six weeks ago or so, Hugh in a long post talked about the tendency of BushCo to speak in the passive tense. Well, yesterday, the NYTimes finally plays catch-up, but typically, the GrayLady extends this tendency to other administrations [snip]

The Chicago Tribune’s The Swamp blog takes Gonzales’ press conference one step further in their coverage:

Aggressive-passive was Gonzales

Posted by William Neikirk at 9:25 a.m. CDT

Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales speaks the modern vernacular of government and business. “Mistakes were made,” he declared in passive voice while taking responsibility for them.

Interpretation was difficult in the wake of his remarks. An effort has been made in this article to understand and interpret his remarks.

Questions are raised. Doubts have arisen. Key figures responsible have not been your attorney general. A resignation was effected. A deputy has departed. Communication is now being made with Congress. Culpability was not a question. . . .

It’s Yoda meets the Media.

Read the whole thing for a good punchline at the end.

LJ/Aquaria @ 13

Yeah, chemo is terrible. I took care of my brother when he had a very rare form of cancer, and the worst of it to him was the chemo. As he put it, he felt fine until they gave him that. At least he didn’t lose his sense of humor through it all. He went to a Halloween party…as a punk chemo patient, what was left of his hair spiked and spray-painted purple.

Laughter goes a looooong way.

mc @ 21

OT:

White powder mailed to Edwards’ campaign headquarters, not anthrax.

http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/553709.html

Nothing terrifies this postal worker more than having a letter with anthrax jam in a machine. Many of these jammed pieces tear open, and there I am, with this stuff one foot from my face. When I’m pissed off about somebody using an envelope to mail a pen or Hershey’s kisses or bookmarks or necklaces or wrenches or headphones (guess how I know all this), I remind myself not to lose my temper, because it could have been anthrax.

Is Colbert actually a comedy show?

I’m positive BushCo is hoping Khalid Shaikh Mohammed’s “confession” will blow the Gonzales–USAttorney fiasco off MSM.

We just cleaned that floor!!!! Rahm’s an oozing, slippery worm. Somebody step on him before he slimes up the place. And better get some new shoes.

Good wishes to Jane from the great northwest. I bet there’s a good vibe coming from every corner of the country.

I grew up on politics in the Watergate era, watched the proceedings as they unfolded. I don’t remember Karl Rove as a witness. What a delightful surprise.

mc @ 23

OT:

White powder mailed to Edwards’ campaign headquarters, not anthrax.

http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/553709.html

Coulter’s at it again.

I lived in Connecticut for 6 years in the 70’s. I always hated springtime until I moved to Connecticut. It was a time of grey snow, mud and rain in the mountains of Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

But Connecticut was full of crocuses, tulips, narcissus, forsythia, lilacs and wisteria.

I hope that the flowers of Connecticut’s springtime make Jane’s recovery all the quicker and sweeter.

Breaking News:

Khalid Sheik Mohammed has confessed that Al Gore was his control officer.

Alison @ 6-

Friends in Toronto & Montreal noted yesterday that the Black trial is yet to garner much interest here, although avidly being followed up there. We agreed that may change when the juicier testimony begins.

Some CA news sources recommended that we perhaps are not aware of down here:

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/index.html

MacLean’s magazine, which has covered Black extensively in the past- http://www.macleans.ca

For humour, there was a CA made-for-TV movie with Lara Flynn Boyle as Lord Black’s wife, Barbara Amiel. Supposed to be quite a hoot.

Sending a purple cloud of healing for Jane and Steve and Christy. Also copious amounts of virtual green tea to flush thru Jane’s chemo. And warm wishes and prayers for Steve. And a warm snuggly blanket of tender hugs for Christy.

Take care, all our dear ones.

Ann in AZ at 8:17 am
Thanks, I missed that.

Pet Wrecker @ 18

you (guys and gals) are on fire!

I am not a kook!

When is a door not a door?

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 20

Jane, take good care of yourself. We’ll be here when you get back.

GPB’s Chemotherapy musical suggestion – a heavy dose of Delbert McClinton. Ol’ Delbert can make anybody feel better.

I’m thinking puppies, laughter and an impeachment or two might do the trick.

ccmask @ 35

Is Colbert actually a comedy show?

The fact that it’s on Comedy Central channel might give some clue!

Breaking News:

Khalid Sheik Mohammed has confessed to the Lindbergh kidnapping.

Biodun @ 36

I’m positive BushCo is hoping Khalid Shaikh Mohammed’s “confession” will blow the Gonzales–USAttorney fiasco off MSM.

You know it.

Good morning Robin.

God Bless Jane.

OT–will we ever get our little red “new” markers back on comments? Pleeeeeaaaasssseeee.

Mandrake @
46

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 20

Jane, take good care of yourself. We’ll be here when you get back.

GPB’s Chemotherapy musical suggestion – a heavy dose of Delbert McClinton. Ol’ Delbert can make anybody feel better.

I’m thinking puppies, laughter and an impeachment or two might do the trick.

Yeah, but only one of the three might be in the cards for that…and Delbert is a damn good choice if you’re feeling down.

Jane, don’t worry about us. We’ll be o.k.

Jane is the essence of grace. After her surgery she went to DC to cover the Libby trial. There was not a hint of self concern or anxiety in her reporting. This wonderful woman is not only intelligent but focused. I have every confidence that she will do what is necessary to take care of herself and get through the Chemo with the least trauma possible. Jane you know we’ll all be thinking about you – we’re all the worse for it when you are unable to post. Sorry to hear Steve is still so unwell, and am hoping to hear of progress for his return to health.

Biodun @
36

I’m positive BushCo is hoping Khalid Shaikh Mohammed’s “confession” will blow the Gonzales–USAttorney fiasco off MSM.

Yeah, and the good news is that the GWOT is over, because he’s responsible for all of the terrorist acts that ever happened…

Keep the Goodbye Gonzo pressure alive!

Ed*ard Teller @ 41

Breaking News:

Khalid Sheik Mohammed has confessed that Al Gore was his control officer.

That’ll be the next Repuglican meme.

Mandrake @ 29

Ed*ard Teller @ 11

My mom, who has had cancer three times and has been cancer-free for about fifteen years now, says Jane will be just fine. She adds that prayer helps anyway, though…

{{{Jane}}}

Awesome, that is just awesome to hear!

And of course, (((Jane)))

{{{{{ Mandrake }}}}} Sending some healing going your way, too.

OT, but maybe not. In terms of demonstrating our rage, actual pitchforks and torches are out.

However, pictures of pitchforks and torches drawn on signs are not.

Remember, “ceci nes pas une pipe” (title of a picture of a pipe by Magritt)

Hugh, if you’re out there, I have a question for you. If I’m not here when you reply, pls leave a note at me blog (click my name).

Ann in AZ @
24

LBrowne @
4

Stay off Colbert’s show?? Am I not remembering that the “better known” reps did pretty well in the ‘06 elections?

It didn’t seem to hurt Democratic Congressman from NY’s 19th, John Hall. Who can forget his harmonizing with Colbert on the national anthem!

Actually, Ann, Hall was the CHALLENGER for the seat against a Republican incumbent. I’ve seen where he credits his win partly to his appearance on Colbert.

Biodun @
7

OT–but related:

Fitz says he can’t say much to Congress:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who spent years investigating the 2003 leak of a CIA operative’s identity, told lawmakers Wednesday that he could offer little help during congressional hearings on the leak.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., asked Fitzgerald last week to meet with members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which will hold hearings on the Bush administration’s handling of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s classified employment status.

(snip)

In a letter to Waxman, Fitzgerald did not refuse to cooperate with the congressional probe but made it clear he had little to say.

“I do not believe it would be appropriate for me to offer opinions, as your letter suggests the committee may seek, about the ultimate responsibility of senior White House officials for the disclosure of Ms. Wilson’s identity,” Fitzgerald wrote.

(snip)

He can’t discuss material he needs to use in an ongoing case (Libby’s appealing). He did, however, let Waxman know that there is lots and lots of material in the publicly-released information that can and should be discussed in hearings.

John Casper @
48

Breaking News:

Khalid Sheik Mohammed has confessed to the Lindbergh kidnapping.

And to being the Easter Bunny.

The punchline Peterr @ 32 referred to in his link is a beaut:

Clarity has come down upon me. Responsibility has been taken. No one was wrong

Geez, any rep who can’t keep Colbert from laughing at him/her as opposed to with him/her almost doesn’t deserve to be in Congress. I mean, really.

Jane has called me twice from the hospital already. She’s on the bed with the tube in her arm. Talking politics.

Heh.

Give her our love, Pach.

That’s our Jane!

Is she back home in CA or in CT?

Phoenix Woman61 and John Casper 48,

Isn’t torture amaaaazing!

Pachacutec @ 64

Jane has called me twice from the hospital already. She’s on the bed with the tube in her arm. Talking politics.

Heh.

Heh indeed! Wishing her cute interns to look at.

LS @ 66

Phoenix Woman61 and John Casper 48,

Isn’t torture amaaaazing!

Yeah. Jose Padilla was going to confess too, but they did such an effective job over the past five years with him that he’s no longer capable of coherent speech.

She’s in CT, and was lurking in the morning post from her Treo.

Hey Pach…… putsch???
My mom would be impressed.

Pachacutec:

Maybe you can post a little more extensively on Emanuel, his connections and his biography, and shed a little more light on why he might not be the best person to have a say in a party that should be dedicated to ending the war in Iraq.

OT – CNN New sanctions against Iran agreed upon by 6 nations.

John Casper @ 48

Breaking News:

Khalid Sheik Mohammed has confessed to the Lindbergh kidnapping.

I curse the ET. I stopped by the library to do a series of “Breaking” posts about KSM.

He’s confessed to:

*Nicole Simpson’

*Natalie Holloway

*The Great Chicago Fire

*The Black Dahlia

*Planning the hit on Julius Ceasar

-GSD

Phoenix Woman @ 68

LS @ 66

Phoenix Woman61 and John Casper 48,

Isn’t torture amaaaazing!

Yeah. Jose Padilla was going to confess too, but they did such an effective job over the past five years with him that he’s no longer capable of coherent speech.

Someone needs to blog about this aspect of Gonzo’s policies, so that their attempt to “change the subject” actually enlarges the subject. Back at them.

I mean JC.

-GSD

RE: Gonzales–Senator Pryor was on C-SPAN 2 this a. m. and had the smoking guns that he read and discussed on the floor. I hope YouTube gets his statement ASAP.

Alberto Gonzales is a little putschy.

-GSD

If the Democrats hadn’t won the midterm elections last year there is no reason to believe that the plan to use the U.S. attorneys for political prosecutions — as they have been used systematically under Bush — wouldn’t have gone forward completely unimpeded.

I know the plotting goes well before ‘06, but it always seemed to me that Karl/Bush was lashing out at the meddling prosecutors for their role in making corruption one of the reasons the Repubs lost the mid-terms. If the Dems hadn’t won, I wonder if they would have gone to the trouble of the purge.

Ann in AZ @ 47

ccmask @ 35

Is Colbert actually a comedy show?

The fact that it’s on Comedy Central channel might give some clue!

But do Republicans know?

brendan @ 71

Pachacutec:

Maybe you can post a little more extensively on Emanuel, his connections and his biography, and shed a little more light on why he might not be the best person to have a say in a party that should be dedicated to ending the war in Iraq.

Your best bet on that is to go through archives at DownWithTyranny, and also to use the search function on the left side of this page with the word “emanuel.”

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Thanks Pach @ 69– it’s good to know where to send my thoughts. I used to work in a CT hospital and there is very good cancer care available in that state…

Witney– my guess is he’s gonna invite the worm first. Give him the opportunity to refuse the invite, then kerpow!

(ps– Pach it’s subpoena)

uncle toby @
78

If the Democrats hadn’t won the midterm elections last year there is no reason to believe that the plan to use the U.S. attorneys for political prosecutions — as they have been used systematically under Bush — wouldn’t have gone forward completely unimpeded.

I know the plotting goes well before ‘06, but it always seemed to me that Karl/Bush was lashing out at the meddling prosecutors for their role in making corruption one of the reasons the Repubs lost the mid-terms. If the Dems hadn’t won, I wonder if they would have gone to the trouble of the purge.

Um, yes. They always try to destroy their political opponents. Even if they happen to be God-fearing Republicans like Iglesias.

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Link?

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Because the Whitehouse(Rove) are going to offer a sacrifice to the Democrats….Alberto Gonzales on a pike.

The Democrats never want to appear too partisan you know.

They can’t have Gonzales and Rove…..that is too greedy.

-GSD

I hate Rove as much as anyone but, I am getting oh so tired of all these allegations not being followed up with action. It’s hard to continue getting worked up over any of this if representatives in Congress aren’t going to TAKE ACTION. If crimes have been comitted let’s throw the whole lot of them in jail but, let’s stop wasting bytes and ink on outrage without teeth.

Nevermind, here’s a link.

This is actually consistent with the earlier story, which I summarize as Rove being subpoena “bait.”

Also warmest thoughts to Jane and Steve Gilliard.

-GSD

ccmask@79

No, the Repugs don’t know Colbert is a comedy show. They’d have to have a sense of humor to know that.

Question from the WAPO blog…please weigh in wrt John Sununuuuuuu.
snip
So, for today’s Wag the Blog question, we ask Fix readers whether lawmakers like Collins, Coleman and Smith — and perhaps other Republican senators in potential peril in 2008 — will follow Sununu’s lead in calling for Gonzales’s head. And, if they do, will it accomplish the desired result of putting distance between them and their party’s less-than-popular president?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com…..ununu.html

From the cnn.com main page:

“Admitted 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed told a U.S. military tribunal he personally beheaded Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002, the Pentagon revealed today.”

Maybe so, but there’s video, and I don’t remember the ringleader being quite as, um, hefty as Mohammed is.

Prayers and good wishes for healing:

((((((((((JANE))))))))))

Prairie Sunshine @ 43

Sending a purple cloud of healing for Jane and Steve and Christy. Also copious amounts of virtual green tea to flush thru Jane’s chemo. And warm wishes and prayers for Steve. And a warm snuggly blanket of tender hugs for Christy.

Take care, all our dear ones.

That’s a really nice message. the good vibes just increased my serotonin levels! Best wishes to you Jane.

Pachacutec @ 64

Jane has called me twice from the hospital already. She’s on the bed with the tube in her arm. Talking politics.

Heh.

Great attitude! Keep up the good work, Jane. We’ll all be pulling for you.

I updated the Rove/Leahy stuff on the front page anyway. Thanks for the heads up.

I’m not clear on one thing. How did we get the emails? Who released them and why weren’t they scrubbed first? Could there be more email that Rove and others already destroyed or hid?

Finally, is the releasing of the paper trail the mistake that Bush and Abu keep referring to??????

Khalid Sheik Mohammed has positively confessed to being the one who first leaked classified info about Valerie Plame.

Ringleader #3 just captured. Admits acting as body-double for Ringleader #2 on numerous locations. Ringleader #2’s replacement (#2 #2) sought.

Confessions expected shortly.

LJ/Aquaria @
2

So sorry about Jane, and I hope Steve gets better soon.

That said, I can’t wait for Leahy’s subpoena’s. Wonder who will be served first?

I am thinking, “Billions and billions served.” And it makes me happy!

We have always been at war with The Ringleader. We have always hated The Ringleader.

GSD @ 75

I mean JC.

-GSD

I’m glad you clarified that. I went looking to see what Edward Teller did!

Ann in AZ @ 94

Pachacutec @ 64

Jane has called me twice from the hospital already. She’s on the bed with the tube in her arm. Talking politics.

Heh.

Great attitude! Keep up the good work, Jane. We’ll all be pulling for you.

I expect thet she’d be more impressed if you’s said that we’d be “puking for her”! I would if I could Janie!

Frank Probst @ 91

…I don’t remember the ringleader being quite as, um, hefty as Mohammed is.

…Maybe the CIA used the dreaded doughnut-boarding technique to extract all these confessions from him

GSD @ 77

Alberto Gonzales is a little putschy.

-GSD

Alright punaise, er, um, I mean GSD!

Prayers and best wishes for Jane. Hope the hearings will provide adequate surprises and delights to keep you distracted.

It’s scapegoat time! Save the brain and jettison the ass!

Frank Probst @ 91

From the cnn.com main page:

“Admitted 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed told a U.S. military tribunal he personally beheaded Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002, the Pentagon revealed today.”

Maybe so, but there’s video, and I don’t remember the ringleader being quite as, um, hefty as Mohammed is.

KSM is the Haley Barbour of Al Qaeda.

-GSD

LS @ 74

Someone needs to blog about this aspect of Gonzo’s policies, so that their attempt to “change the subject” actually enlarges the subject. Back at them.

Would this blog do? blog an end to america’s use of torture. Amnesty International/stanford

Jane, take care of yourself.

Ann in AZ @ 104

GSD @ 77

Alberto Gonzales is a little putschy.

-GSD

Alright punaise, er, um, I mean GSD!

A quip, wrapped in a pun, surrounded by a double entendre.

-GSD

I think I may comment on Hillary, later. Perhaps not.

As to Rove? Well…

uncle toby @ 78

If the Democrats hadn’t won the midterm elections last year there is no reason to believe that the plan to use the U.S. attorneys for political prosecutions — as they have been used systematically under Bush — wouldn’t have gone forward completely unimpeded.

I know the plotting goes well before ‘06, but it always seemed to me that Karl/Bush was lashing out at the meddling prosecutors for their role in making corruption one of the reasons the Repubs lost the mid-terms. If the Dems hadn’t won, I wonder if they would have gone to the trouble of the purge.

You would think so, but they said this was in the works for two years. I wouldn’t believe them, but their competency level doesn’t seem to indicate they could have pulled this massacre together quite that fast (Nov. 7 to Dec. 7). It would stretch the imagination too far to credit them with that much evil ability, although I wouldn’t want to underestimate their ability to do evil. It seems more likely that they were trying to get the most competent legal eagles out of office in preparation for filling the courts with mediocre yes men.

putsch
–noun–a plotted revolt or attempt to overthrow a government, esp. one that depends upon suddenness and speed.

Apt word. BushCo tries to subvert its own government from within.

egregious @ 92

Prayers and good wishes for healing:

((((((((((JANE))))))))))

a double-firepup Ditto…

Senate Judiciary Committee issues subpoenas over US Attorneys firing scandal
http://americablog.blogspot.co…..ssues.html

Gonzo goes and/or Rove gets subpoened…oh, you say he’s going? Well, we’ll hold off then for awhile just to make sure…

Hmmm, I wonder if Rahm has also warned them not to go on Fox — bet he hasn’t!

a href=”#comment-560412″>GSD @ 77

Alberto Gonzales is a little putschy.
…did you mean “putz?”

Jack Kloonan, a former FBI agent who spent time on a joint-terrorism task force, had this to say this morning:

“What do you make of this confession?

It seems like that Khalid Sheikh [Mohammed] has claimed responsibility for so much. I often wonder, now, if a lot of this isn’t, frankly, exaggerated.

We had him indicted as early as 1996 for his involvement in the plot to try to blow up airlines in Manila … [and] the plot to assassinate former President Clinton and the pope. These things we’re very clear on.

The rest of it … I’m a bit suspect of.

There’s sort of a cloud hanging over the whole Khalid Sheikh Mohammed issue.”

http://www.npr.org/templates/s…..Id=8922950

Hmm, there’s that “cloud” again.

Took a look at (specifically the Data Tables):
“The Political Profiling of Elected Democratic Officials: When Rhetorical Vision Participation Runs Amok”(Donald C. Shields and John F. Cragan)

Was wondering if:

During this study will the names of the prosecutors and any other persons that were directly involved with these investigations and their associations will be revealed

Was there any spike in activity prior to elections regarding this matter?

Now that would be interesting….

Lou Costello @ 115

Senate Judiciary Committee issues subpoenas over US Attorneys firing scandal
http://americablog.blogspot.co…..ssues.html

Republican members of the committee blocked the authorization for subpoenas for White House officials, namely Harriet Miers, Karl Rove, and William Kelly.

Buggers.

HotFlash @ 56

Mandrake @ 29

Ed*ard Teller @ 11

My mom, who has had cancer three times and has been cancer-free for about fifteen years now, says Jane will be just fine. She adds that prayer helps anyway, though…

{{{Jane}}}

Awesome, that is just awesome to hear!

And of course, (((Jane)))

{{{{{ Mandrake }}}}} Sending some healing going your way, too.

Thank you very much! And thank you for remembering. Except for my insurance debacle, everything is going just fine!

$27,000 for radiation treatments. Gaaaahhhh!!!

But I am very, very forunate – a good report and loving parents and siblings make up for all that and much more.

ccmask @ 79

Ann in AZ @ 47

ccmask @ 35

Is Colbert actually a comedy show?

The fact that it’s on Comedy Central channel might give some clue!

But do Republicans know?

Unlikely, but you would think Rahm Emanuel would know.

Murray Waas has a new one:
http://news.nationaljournal.co…..315nj1.htm

Justin on Pelosi’s cave-in earlier in this busy week.

house appropriations committee hearing:

sounds like there’s a key vote coming up… jerry lewis has an amendment up for vote (as soon as they figure out if this is an amendment or an amendment to an admendment) that would (as it sounds to me) strip out all the words to attempt (even with loop holes) to put any constraint on president bush… the murtha contraints…

murtha is arguing for his constraints/benchmarks…

I hope Leahy subpoenas Specter’s Chief of Staff. I think he is the political hack that inserted the provision into the Patriot Act that allows the DOJ to appoint the USAs without ‘advise and consent’ from the Senate. He and some mid-level attorney from the DOJ just didn’t think this up and get it into the Act and passed on their own. It just shows the Senators on both sides and their staffs are skating and not doing their jobs which includes READING proposals BEFORE voting on them. I bet Specter’s staffer is still on the public dole.

Here’s the AP version of the story on subpoenas in the USA investigations: Panel oks subpoenas in attorney probe

Love and best wishes to (((Jane)). A lesson in how to take the chemo, but not the KoolAid.

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

How does an isreali citizen and former member of the IDF become one of the top members of the House of Representatives?

Every time I see that fat fucks face I want to punch my monitor.

LS @ 54

Biodun @ 36

I’m positive BushCo is hoping Khalid Shaikh Mohammed’s “confession” will blow the Gonzales–USAttorney fiasco off MSM.

Yeah, and the good news is that the GWOT is over, because he’s responsible for all of the terrorist acts that ever happened…

Keep the Goodbye Gonzo pressure alive!

As Juan Cole points out, the buried lede in this story is that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (questionably) confessed to the 1993 WTC bombing, undercutting a neocon article of faith that it couldn’t have been done without state support and Iraq must have been involved.

QUOTE You would have to be a clueless Republican not to be worried. UNQUOTE Thanks for explaining why you*re not worried, Mr. Broder.

By ifthethunderdontgetya | Mar 15, 2007 11:53:10 AM | Request Removal

Best wishes to Jane!

Oklahoma kiddo @ 111

I think I may comment on Hillary, later. Perhaps not.

As to Rove? Well…

Well, I know where to put my money on that choice.

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Why, indeed! I agree wholeheartedly. The more I see of some Democrats, the more disgusted I get. What is Waxman becoming, Arlen Spector lite?

Ed*ard Teller @ 125

Justin on Pelosi’s cave-in earlier in this busy week.

Read that one yesterday, ET. It’s a good article, imo.

From ThinkProgress:

Gonzales blocked warrantless spying probe.

Murray Waas reports: “Shortly before Attorney General Alberto Gonzales advised President Bush last year on whether to shut down a Justice Department inquiry regarding the administration’s warrantless domestic eavesdropping program, Gonzales learned that his own conduct would likely be a focus of the investigation, according to government records and interviews.” 12:00 pm

Please click on this link for more information:
http://news.nationaljournal.co…..315nj1.htm

angie @ 134

Ed*ard Teller @ 125

Justin on Pelosi’s cave-in earlier in this busy week.

Read that one yesterday, ET. It’s a good article, imo.

yes. and sad too.

conniptionfit @ 102

Ann in AZ @ 94

Pachacutec @ 64

Jane has called me twice from the hospital already. She’s on the bed with the tube in her arm. Talking politics.

Heh.

Great attitude! Keep up the good work, Jane. We’ll all be pulling for you.

I expect thet she’d be more impressed if you’s said that we’d be “puking for her”! I would if I could Janie!

Bless her little “breaveheart”! I don’t know if it counts, but I puked quite well a couple of weeks ago after my surgery. I guess you could call it a pre-emptive puke?

The usual suspects on the right have put aside their righteous indignation and have begun cheering KSM for his attempts on the lives of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Perhaps Howie Kurtz will be outraged when Cavewoman Malkin immediately highlights this on her blog.

-GSD

house appropriations committee hearing:

todd tiahrt (r-kansas) up now. arguing against murtha’s provisions (which would be taken out by lewis’ amendment) for rest periods between troop deployments. hints that bush may not sign without lewis’ amendment.

GSD @ 85

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Because the Whitehouse(Rove) are going to offer a sacrifice to the Democrats….Alberto Gonzales on a pike.

The Democrats never want to appear too partisan you know.

They can’t have Gonzales and Rove…..that is too greedy.

-GSD

So you agree–Arlen Spector lite! If they can’t subpoena KKKarl, what are the chances they will ever, ever impeach him, or anybody in the administration!

Many well wishes to Jane. It’s good to hear the chemo is just precautionary, and it’s smart of her to have these unpleasant treatments to be careful. Hopefully it’ll kick any possible lingering cancer cells out of her like Jane can kick lying Republican butt. Here’s hoping this is the very last time Jane has to deal with this disease.

My favorite bit from the news on the way to work this morning was Bush talking about how everything with the firings was done appropriately, they just didn’t explain it well. Or, to translate, “After we did absolutely nothing wrong, the coverup was handled badly, that’s all.”

jman_nyc @ 86

I hate Rove as much as anyone but, I am getting oh so tired of all these allegations not being followed up with action. It’s hard to continue getting worked up over any of this if representatives in Congress aren’t going to TAKE ACTION. If crimes have been comitted let’s throw the whole lot of them in jail but, let’s stop wasting bytes and ink on outrage without teeth.

Amen!

(((JANE))))
Keep a positive outlook. It works wonders.

Khalid Sheik Mohammed has confessed to being the second shooter on the grassy knoll.

He also hinted at knowing where Jimmy Hoffa went to.

Mandrake @ 122

HotFlash @ 56

{{{{{ Mandrake }}}}} Sending some healing going your way, too.

Thank you very much! And thank you for remembering. Except for my insurance debacle, everything is going just fine!

$27,000 for radiation treatments. Gaaaahhhh!!!

But I am very, very fortunate – a good report and loving parents and siblings make up for all that and much more.

Youch! I am in Canada and we have no clue what medical procedures cost. But a good report, that’s the main thing. CONGRATULATIONS!!! The Big C is scary but gets its ass kicked pretty regulary these days.

And you can add some firepups to your list of well-wishers.

PS I always explain to my kittycats how much their vet bill works out to per pound. The world’s cutest little kitty, the one who didn’t look both ways back in Jan, is mending well but *ouch*. I tell her she is now worth over $500 per pound and dammit, she’d better purr! Sigh. She knows that as my major investment her job is quite secure.

Mart in Iowa City @ 129

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

And what wouldn’t we give to have Waxman (or anyone) get a hold of transcript/audio for all or any part of Rove’s five GJ appearances…

Mart in Iowa City @ 129

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

Gannon pics?

Ann in AZ @ 134

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Why, indeed! I agree wholeheartedly. The more I see of some Democrats, the more disgusted I get. What is Waxman becoming, Arlen Spector lite?

Leahy didn’t say he’s not subpoenaing Rove, just that he’ll put it off a week until after they’ve heard from the Justice Department witnesses, rather than have a big fight about it with the Republicans right now.

Mandrake @ 148

Mart in Iowa City @ 129

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

Gannon pics?

DNA on a blue jock strap.

Another update up top: Stoller link.

house appropriations committee hearing:

rodney frelinghuysen (r-nj) up now. in support of lewis amendment removing murtha provisions.

steve rothman (d-nj) up now. in support of murtha provisions.

bill young (r-fl) up now. 911 blah, blah. president bush blah, blah. commander in chief. don’t want to turn iraq over to the terrorist. we shouldn’t set a timetable. mistake to micromanage the battlefield.

Tithonia @ 124

Murray Waas has a new one:
http://news.nationaljournal.co…..315nj1.htm

!!!!!

Mart in Iowa City @ 128

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

what worries me is what he may have on democrats.

Marie Roget @ 148

Mart in Iowa City @ 129

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

And what wouldn’t we give to have Waxman (or anyone) get a hold of transcript/audio for all or any part of Rove’s five GJ appearances…

That may yet happen; I refer you to this excellent comment from Rayne yesterday about Rule 6(e).

From AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Suspected 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed to the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl and a central role in 30 other attacks and plots in the U.S. and worldwide that killed thousands of victims, said a revised transcript released Thursday by the U.S. military.

”I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew, Daniel Pearl, in the city of Karachi, Pakistan,” Mohammed is quoted as saying in a transcript of a military hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, released by the Pentagon.

”For those who would like to confirm, there are pictures of me on the Internet holding his head,” he added.

(snip)

Pakistan, BushCo’s trusted ally, is not safe for American civilians. Afghanistan is not safe for American civilians. BushCo has made Iraq not safe for American civilians.

BushCo should be pursuing Al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Instead, it’s hugely distracted by Iraq’s own civil war, in which many thousands of US soldiers have died. And countless Iraqi civilians.

Pachacutec at #80:

Thanks.

I wrote a long but carefully thought-through comment at #220 on your previous Hillary Clinton thread that I was hoping you’d be able to respond to.

Republican members of the committee blocked the authorization for subpoenas for White House officials, namely Harriet Miers, Karl Rove, and William Kelly.

How is this possible? Don’t we have a majority there?

Parliamentary problems? What gives – I truly don’t understand this one.

Is this a reputable site?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/…..Plame.html

If so, it looks like they’re trying to shut down Plame’s testimony. The comments are hysterical. They haven’t updated their talking points in three years.

jayt @ 159

Republican members of the committee blocked the authorization for subpoenas for White House officials, namely Harriet Miers, Karl Rove, and William Kelly.

How is this possible? Don’t we have a majority there?

Parliamentary problems? What gives – I truly don’t understand this one.

Shrug. Just start with the little fish and work your way up.

Senate panel okays subpoenas in US attorney probe; Sen. Leahy says may subpoena Rove
Mike Sheehan
Published: Thursday March 15, 2007

Justice Department officials are due to receive subpoenas to answer questions about the growing US attorney dismissal scandal, however, a Senate committee postponed a vote until next week to decide whether top White House advisers such as Karl Rove will also be compelled to testify on the matter.
snip

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/….._0315.html

Just an un associated note reflective of the Libby Trial coverage. Others have taken note, as evidenced by this Wired article.

http://www.wired.com/news/cult…..970-0.html

HotFlash @ 147

Mandrake @ 122

HotFlash @ 56

{{{{{ Mandrake }}}}} Sending some healing going your way, too.

Thank you very much! And thank you for remembering. Except for my insurance debacle, everything is going just fine!

$27,000 for radiation treatments. Gaaaahhhh!!!

But I am very, very fortunate – a good report and loving parents and siblings make up for all that and much more.

Youch! I am in Canada and we have no clue what medical procedures cost. But a good report, that’s the main thing. CONGRATULATIONS!!! The Big C is scary but gets its ass kicked pretty regulary these days.

And you can add some firepups to your list of well-wishers.

PS I always explain to my kittycats how much their vet bill works out to per pound. The world’s cutest little kitty, the one who didn’t look both ways back in Jan, is mending well but *ouch*. I tell her she is now worth over $500 per pound and dammit, she’d better purr! Sigh. She knows that as my major investment her job is quite secure.

If I had the $ right now, I’d take out pet insurance. Seriously. My 3 furballs are getting on in years so unexpected things are going to come up, even with them being strictly indoors.

I’m glad your kitty has mended and is hopefully purring on demand!

I have a friend here at work who used to live in Canada and were just talking yesterday about the whole insurance thing.

In discussing my insurance issues (I lost my insurance and now, of course, I have a pre-existing condition so the only plan I can get is twice as much as the plan I had before), I just looked at him and smiled and said, sing-song: “And yet we’re the greeeaaatest country in the woooorrrld!!!!”

PS – the funny thing about all this is that when it all came down, I was actually denied on the basis of having a psychiatric diagnosis. I guess they just ticked me off before they even got to the cancer part.

Frank Probst #160:

It’s “reputable” in the sense of being Republican and Democratic insider operatives plus journalists like ex-Post reporter “Pool Boy” Vandehei.

Murray Waas column on Bush-Gonzalez and wiretapping problem linked to by atrios: http://news.nationaljournal.co…..315nj1.htm

Bustednuckles @ 151

Mandrake @ 148

Mart in Iowa City @ 129

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

Gannon pics?

DNA on a blue jock strap.

The mere thought makes tears well up in my eyes.

OT,
I have tried looking this up with no luck.
Can someone tell me what the heck this is?

y!sctp!

Thanks

I spell subpoena wrong myself even though I should have learned it in those three years, much less the 20 afterwards. But maybe you meant to spell it that way. If so, might I suggest two e’s.

An anonymous poster on WayneMadsenReport.com wrote:

“With the recent revelation of CNN and BBC reporting, on Sept. 11, 2001, that World Trade Center 7, also known as the Saloman Brothers Building, had collapsed before it actually fell, suspicions about Giuliani’s advance knowledge of what was obviously a preplanned demolition have again come to the fore. Was it, as seems likely, the mayor’s emergency management office that warned the firefighters and news agencies the building would collapse? On 9/11, WTC7 became the third, after WTC1 and WTC2, steel frame building to ever collapse.

Does anyone know about this “recent revelation” being reported?

[Mod Note; If your comment happens to get trapped by the spam filter, please don’t re-post it. A moderator will release it ASAP. Thank you.]

house appropriations committee hearing:

wow. yelling back and forth.. i can’t keep track of who is recognized. now reading the amendment again.

now voting… too close to call… going to a roll call vote now…

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Think of it like a chess game and Rove is the black queen (no snickering now *g*). Rove has proven he’s a grandmaster. The burden is on Leahy now to prove that he can trap his opponent and take him off the board. Feint, attack, feint, attack. Chess (like politics) is a game of patience and Leahy has been patient.

I’m willing to let these moves play out. So far Leahy is playing this right. He may end up with a bishop (Abu), but there is still a chance he may capture the queen.

Of course, that would put the king in extreme jeopardy.

Oklahoma. Home of the Red man and woman, loves JH.

Solai @ 96

I’m not clear on one thing. How did we get the emails? Who released them and why weren’t they scrubbed first? Could there be more email that Rove and others already destroyed or hid?

Anyone have an answer?

Redshift @ 150

Ann in AZ @ 134

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Why, indeed! I agree wholeheartedly. The more I see of some Democrats, the more disgusted I get. What is Waxman becoming, Arlen Spector lite?

Leahy didn’t say he’s not subpoenaing Rove, just that he’ll put it off a week until after they’ve heard from the Justice Department witnesses, rather than have a big fight about it with the Republicans right now.

Oop, sorry, I should have said Leahy!

best wishes for yor treatment, Jane

and hang in there, Steve G.

It seems that today the gods are eating my posts. I’ve tried twice and it won’t post my question. whazzup?

jayt @ 159

Republican members of the committee blocked the authorization for subpoenas for White House officials, namely Harriet Miers, Karl Rove, and William Kelly.

How is this possible? Don’t we have a majority there?

Parliamentary problems? What gives – I truly don’t understand this one.

All it takes is ONE repug to request to hold off a vote on a subpoena for one week. Then they can revisit it (if no agreement with White House is reached by then)

MarkH @ 176

It seems that today the gods are eating my posts. I’ve tried twice and it won’t post my question. whazzup?

It is up at #169

Mart in Iowa City @ 129

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

He must have lots of dirt on all Republicans. There’s no other explanation as to why they would sit silently or offer even tepid support to this Administration. They are putting their Party before their Country for some reason. By doing so, it seems like they are reserving their own spots in the Bush Wing of Hell.

jayt @ 159

Republican members of the committee blocked the authorization for subpoenas for White House officials, namely Harriet Miers, Karl Rove, and William Kelly.

How is this possible? Don’t we have a majority there?

Parliamentary problems? What gives – I truly don’t understand this one.

Aren’t there many examples of Clinton aides being called up to testify when he was in office?

Prolonged isolation, torture, feelings of grandiosity, nascent mental illness, a mind that buys into the terrorist ethos, perhaps a desire to mislead, mix these together in various ways and you get Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Zacarias Moussaoui, and Abu Zubaidah. Zubaidah by the way is the terrorist profiled by Ron Susskind in the 1% Solution and was described by an FBI interrogator as certifiably insane.

The Top 10 Reasons Gonzales Must Go:
1. Lying Under Oath
2. Purging Prosecutors
3. Misusing the Patriot Act’s National Security Letters
4. Authorizing Illegal NSA Domestic Surveillance
5. Enabling John Yoo and Unchecked Presidential War Powers
6. Rendering the Geneva Conventions “Quaint”
7. Supporting Military Commissions and the End of Habeas Corpus
8. Blessing Unprecedented Expansion of Presidential Signing Statements
9. Facilitating a CIA Leak Cover-Up
10. Gutting Minority Voting Rights

From Pach’s Stoller link in the update above. Stoller’s last paragraph:

(snip)

The Democratic Party is becoming an antiwar party that has been pulled out of the bipartisan imperialist consensus. But it is not there yet. And we will have to work hard, first at understanding just how profoundly our system is broken, and then towards fixing it, to move there completely. Pelosi’s compromise is messy, but there’s no clean solution here. The public is against this war, but it is not for complete withdrawal. Change is still a very scary prospect.

Yep. There’s no “magical” revolutionary moment leading from one set of relations to another. Change will come in modular fashion, piece by piece, block by block. Surely things are progressing. Who woulda thunk the BushCo’s current state of chaos and bombardment was possible in 2004?

Remember when Bush said after that election: “I have political capital and I’m going to spend it”? Well, where the f*ck is that political capital now? It’s probably being spent on sausages and quail wings.

house appropriations committee hearing:

27 ayes
30-something noes.

lewis amendment defeated.

now voting on the murtha amendment.

Tithonia @ 124

Murray Waas has a new one:
http://news.nationaljournal.co…..315nj1.htm

OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE!! Sorry for yelling. How many impeachable offenses do we need to expose?

Badwater @ 179

Mart in Iowa City @ 129

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

He must have lots of dirt on all Republicans. There’s no other explanation as to why they would sit silently or offer even tepid support to this Administration. They are putting their Party before their Country for some reason. By doing so, it seems like they are reserving their own spots in the Bush Wing of Hell.

well, considering they’ve been storing everyone’s communications for years before we knew about it, they’ve got something on just about all of us.

Pakistan is not safe. The guy who owns the little store at the end of the block told me that if I was seen in his town no question I would be killed.

He is not religious and probably sells bacon.

Biodun @ 180

From Pach’s Stoller link in the update above. Stoller’s last paragraph:

(snip)

The Democratic Party is becoming an antiwar party that has been pulled out of the bipartisan imperialist consensus. But it is not there yet. And we will have to work hard, first at understanding just how profoundly our system is broken, and then towards fixing it, to move there completely. Pelosi’s compromise is messy, but there’s no clean solution here. The public is against this war, but it is not for complete withdrawal. Change is still a very scary prospect.

Yep. There’s no “magical” revolutionary moment leading from one set of relations to another. Change will come in modular fashion, piece by piece, block by block. Surely things are progressing. Who woulda thunk the BushCo’s current state of chaos and bombardment was possible in 2004?

Remember when Bush said after that election: “I have political capital and I’m going to spend it”? Well, where the f*ck is that political capital now? It’s probably being spent on sausages and quail wings.

funding the war for 18 months just takes the issue off the table for that time. if the bill was for 3 months, i’d buy matt’s argument – but not for 18 months.

While you’re on the line, add a note for Jane’s continued recovery.

talk about soldiers for justice, this one is a soldier among soldiers

godspeed oh jane from the lake of fire and dogs

mc @ 171

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Think of it like a chess game and Rove is the black queen (no snickering now *g*). Rove has proven he’s a grandmaster. The burden is on Leahy now to prove that he can trap his opponent and take him off the board. Feint, attack, feint, attack. Chess (like politics) is a game of patience and Leahy has been patient.

I’m willing to let these moves play out. So far Leahy is playing this right. He may end up with a bishop (Abu), but there is still a chance he may capture the queen.

Of course, that would put the king in extreme jeopardy.

I, for one, won’t be happy until this entire Administration is checkmated!

nellieh @
127

I hope Leahy subpoenas Specter’s Chief of Staff. I think he is the political hack that inserted the provision into the Patriot Act that allows the DOJ to appoint the USAs without ‘advise and consent’ from the Senate. He and some mid-level attorney from the DOJ just didn’t think this up and get it into the Act and passed on their own. It just shows the Senators on both sides and their staffs are skating and not doing their jobs which includes READING proposals BEFORE voting on them. I bet Specter’s staffer is still on the public dole.

Saw a brief clip of Specter doing his best Miss Manners about how it wouldn’t be polite to subpoena people before “inviting” them. My guess? Rover’s got him by the short hairs…wasn’t there some buzz about Specter’s daughter in a money scandal? A little quid pro quo blackmail pressure being applied?

mc @ 171

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Think of it like a chess game and Rove is the black queen (no snickering now *g*). Rove has proven he’s a grandmaster. The burden is on Leahy now to prove that he can trap his opponent and take him off the board. Feint, attack, feint, attack. Chess (like politics) is a game of patience and Leahy has been patient.

I’m willing to let these moves play out. So far Leahy is playing this right. He may end up with a bishop (Abu), but there is still a chance he may capture the queen.

Of course, that would put the king in extreme jeopardy.

Aha!

house appropriations committee hearing:

murtha’s amendment passed.

Saw a brief clip of Specter doing his best Miss Manners about how it wouldn’t be polite to subpoena people before “inviting” them. My guess? Rover’s got him by the short hairs…wasn’t there some buzz about Specter’s daughter in a money scandal? A little quid pro quo blackmail pressure being applied?

I’m sure that as far as Specter is concerned the bullet from the sixth floor book depository window entered the area under discussion, politely looped around on itself, and exited without any damage being done.

“Queen Karl????”

707

Laura’s jealous again!!!

Re the US attorney firings, the Republican memes are that it was appropriate but mishandled and is a PR problem only.

Against this is the charge that the WH was trying to stack the US attorney offices with partisan gunslingers.

To this the Republicans respond, “Are you going to believe us or your own lying eyes?” While they used this argument successfully for years, it just isn’t flying anymore, but no one ever accused them of being fast learners.

mc @
171

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Think of it like a chess game and Rove is the black queen (no snickering now *g*). Rove has proven he’s a grandmaster. The burden is on Leahy now to prove that he can trap his opponent and take him off the board. Feint, attack, feint, attack. Chess (like politics) is a game of patience and Leahy has been patient.

I’m willing to let these moves play out. So far Leahy is playing this right. He may end up with a bishop (Abu), but there is still a chance he may capture the queen.

Of course, that would put the king in extreme jeopardy.

There seem to be an inordinate number of queens on the Republicans side.

-GSD

Jane, healing thoughts go out to you from the Left Coast. We’re all thinking about you and concentrating on good health.

Christy, I hope you’re feeling better as well.

-S

Ann in AZ @ 189

I, for one, won’t be happy until this entire Administration is checkmated!

I won’t be happy until they’re jailed — and they reimburse the country.

first paragraph from the new york times article referenced in this thread…strike tag would be mine;

WASHINGTON, March 14 — The Bush administration, which one Friedman six months ago issued a series of political goals for the Iraqi government to meet by this month, is now tacitly acknowledging that the goals will take innumerable Friedmans squared significantly longer to achieve.

Quite frankly I’ve found this Dept. of Justice firings business very complicated, and a bit boring. Thankfully, Jon Stewart explains it to me in this video:
http://minor-ripper.blogspot.c…..nt-of.html

Pachacutec, from the other night… Total comments from AIPAC post- 160. Total comments for “The Shift”– 234. That is roughly 50% more comments for a discussion on media than one on the most powerful foreign policy lobby in the country and one of the top 2-3 lobbying organization in general that by all informed accounts distorts our foreign policy in ways that are critical to our national security.
All I said was this is not a blog for foreign policy discussions. It is a great blog for specific issues. I would say it is a must read for some issues. Do you need to take a nap now?

I think I posted once before here, Cheney was absolutely arrogant when he chose himself for VP.

As the unltimate political chessmaster behind all the subterfuge, when he made himself his own Bishop, he must have forgotten that sometimes, Bishops get captured (indicted) for their sins, while the chessmaster tends to stay above the fray.

Hubris, personified.

Cheney the manipulator may be the downfall of the entire Bush administration, and for those who fear a Rove recovery at every juncture, lets not forget the New Hampshire election fraud scandal, it still simmers just beneath the surface.

Just one more card to fall when “the house” goes down…

The chessboard analogy is a very good illustration of this hubris.

mc @ 171

Witney @ 81

Leahy just announced he’d back off the subpoenas of Rove for the time being. WHY? WHY? WHY?

Think of it like a chess game and Rove is the black queen (no snickering now *g*). Rove has proven he’s a grandmaster. The burden is on Leahy now to prove that he can trap his opponent and take him off the board. Feint, attack, feint, attack. Chess (like politics) is a game of patience and Leahy has been patient.

I’m willing to let these moves play out. So far Leahy is playing this right. He may end up with a bishop (Abu), but there is still a chance he may capture the queen.

Of course, that would put the king in extreme jeopardy.

thanks mc. somehow your answer makes me feel better. :)

The Khalid Shekh Mohammed story has lots of growth potential for the Rove spin machine.

First they are basically morphing KSM into Osama. Now we find out that Mohammed is responsible for 9/11…’From A to Z’ so he says.

This plays into the “Where’s Bin Laden” calls on the Democrats side. The new response is “We have the man responsible for 9/11″…..it helps them to downplay OBL’s importance. He’s just some dude in the caves…the real operational guy is in our hands.

Plus the overwhelming number of capers and attacks KSM is copping to. See, says Rove, this IS a dangerous world……plots and plots and plots abound……The terrorist elves are busy while the DEMOCRATS are busy attacking the CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER in the nation. What kind of priorities do these un-American Democrats have?

They can also claim success for their primitive tactics of abuse and torture…If we didn’t put KSM nuts in a vice…he’d be out there bombing planes and killing orphans……so we were right to use the 24 techniques.

Yep, they are riding this one hard.

-GSD

Red (state) Queen to Gryphon Three

Mart in Iowa City @ 129

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

but it would take a waterboarding or a political snub to get it out ofhim, which is why there’s been no snubbing…

The Democrats have been out of power for sometime and Washington is a huge place.

The tectonic plate shift is still occurring…witness the reluctance still of the media…most recently Dean Broderella to acknowledge the Republican Party as a very wounded beast….not on top the world with all the levers of power anymore.

So, the Democrats are still reluctant to charge the citadel with a full-on assault…but they have been sending out scouts……picking off some of the men in the guardtowers and lobbing some rocks into the castle with their catapults.

There is still a full on constitutional crisis waiting in the wings.

-GSD

“There is still a full on constitutional crisis waiting in the wings.”

Next week, maybe?

It is coming soon.

New thread.

http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..y/#respond

Which Democratic politician, and I do mean politician, is as pig headed as our president?

Pach, thanks for the link to the senile Broder. It’s another example of him wandering around without getting to a point and waving his rhetorical cane at all those whippersnappers out there who don’t agree with him. He’s beginning to resemble Homer Simpson’s dad.

Redshift @ 156-

Thanx for the heads up on Rayne’s comment re: Rule 6(e).

Pach, I will pray today for Jane and Steve. My prayer place is a little dusty and overgrown with – what are those things, anyway? – but here goes. Last time I used it was 9/11. And before that? Eons, I think.
Namaste.

And Pach? I am so done with defending Broder. Have at him all you want.

Is the filter set unusually tight today?

1,455 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Pachacutec and the Firepup Patriots:

First of all, everyone must read Murray Waas’sNational Journal article on the state of the Abugate investigation(s). It appears that both the House and Senate Judiciary committees are coordinating appearances and/or subpoenas for administration witnesses. I have been sayin’ for some time now that the momentum for impeachment will pick up speed in quantum jumps…having Conyers and Leahy as conductors on the impeachment train seals the exits for the fascists.

Look for Waxman in the House to request transcripts of Rove’s grand jury testimony as both judiciary committees move forward with Abugate. The judiciary investigations will quickly move beyond the US Attorney firings to the Patriot Act amendment, NSA wire tapping authorizations and ,ultimately, the torture authorization.

The only question is one of timing…that is, when will the Chimpenfeurer choose to invoke executive privilege, will it be now to protect Rove from testifying in Abugate or will it be later when the bills of impeachment or Waxman’s investigation calls for Rove and Addington.

The consolidation of fascist power and the cooptation of the Constitution that has been goin’ on since (at least) 1981 is complete…it is only left to see now whether there is enough healthy tissue left in the body of our constitutional system to fight off metastasis of the cancer. With four Federalist Society pledges on the Supreme Court, the appeal to the court of executive privilege will be interesting and will answer the question as to the future of constitutional governance in our country.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION ‘CUZ IT MAY COME TO THAT!!!

Mommybrain @ 214

And Pach? I am so done with defending Broder. Have at him all you want.

you resigned from the Broder Patrol?

Badwater @
179

Mart in Iowa City @ 129

Boy, Rove must have lots of dirt on the President!

He must have lots of dirt on all Republicans. There’s no other explanation as to why they would sit silently or offer even tepid support to this Administration. They are putting their Party before their Country for some reason. By doing so, it seems like they are reserving their own spots in the Bush Wing of Hell.

And he has dirt on Democrats, too. That is why a Dem majority is only slightly more effective than a Dem minority.

Bustednuckles @
167

OT,
I have tried looking this up with no luck.
Can someone tell me what the heck this is?

y!sctp!

Thanks

‘Yes! Skippy coined that phrase!’ (re blogtopia)

Mandrake @
164

If I had the $ right now, I’d take out pet insurance. Seriously. My 3 furballs are getting on in years so unexpected things are going to come up, even with them being strictly indoors.

I’m glad your kitty has mended and is hopefully purring on demand!

I have a friend here at work who used to live in Canada and were just talking yesterday about the whole insurance thing.

In discussing my insurance issues (I lost my insurance and now, of course, I have a pre-existing condition so the only plan I can get is twice as much as the plan I had before), I just looked at him and smiled and said, sing-song: “And yet we’re the greeeaaatest country in the woooorrrld!!!!”

PS – the funny thing about all this is that when it all came down, I was actually denied on the basis of having a psychiatric diagnosis. I guess they just ticked me off before they even got to the cancer part.

You know, there is absolutely *no* excuse for this! I went over to the WHO and pulled some stats, the US *govt* spent $ 2548 per capita on its citizens’ health care in 2003, add that to user-paid and insurance-paid you have $ 5711 — the absolute highest on earth, btw. For comparison, the Cdn govt spent $ 1866 per capita and insurance and user-pay brought it up to $ 2669. (all US dollar equiv’s, stats from 2003).

Really, folks, the difference between private health care and public health care is *profit*.

Now govrnment-sponsored PetHIP (Pet Health Insurance Plan) is one I’d be delighted to go with. The private plans are fairly expensive and I have 6 of the beasts so by the time I’d paid the premiums I could basically have my own vet on staff.

Slick (like the Clintons) slippery (like Bush — pathological lying) and SLIMY (Like Rove-sputin)are all a little different.

The Repugnicans on the committee are smart. They empower the Slime-ball King – Rove – to SHRED, SHRED, DISSEMBLE and launder his line of Bullshit for another week. Is there any politician in Washington smart enough to get this guy?

I have been told by ex-Senate staffers that most Congress people are dumb as a box of rocks. Their failure to be able to get Rove is proof positive.

From the AP:

The committee’s postponement of consideration of subpoenas for White House officials gives Bush’s presidential lawyer, Fred Fielding, time to consider what, if any, conditions should be imposed if the aides testify voluntarily. Fielding said he would let Schumer and other lawmakers know on Friday whether the administration is still willing to talk about that prospect, or whether Congress would have to compel testimony from Rove, Miers and Kelley.

Sad town, that Washington. The good guys are too dumb or too afraid to alienate the ephemeral “middle” to stop corruption in its tracks. Sad state of affairs.

Rove and DOJ is giving us a gift, but no one is smart enough to take it and run.

“From Nixon to Bush, Rove is the single continuous character involved in the tactics and strategy of political subterfuge.”

Not quite right – Dick Cheney was an intern in the Nixon administration as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney

Hi Puesto,

I have a feeling that the Masters of DC make it their business to get something on everyone who gets elected there, if they can’t find something they’ll engineer it. Too much lockstep to be just people hoping for a turn at the trough.

And stupid? Very likey, they are the best at doing stupid things and getting caught at it. Somebody in DC has a very fine photo collection. (note: this links to an article abt the photographer, not to photos!)

The reason I posted about there being foreknowledge that building 7 of the World Trade Center was going to be blown up was that I was curious if they were using the KSM thing to divert our attention. But, soon after I posted I also realized there was another direct connection: if KSM was the planner (”A-Z”) behind 9/11, then I have to wonder if he also planted the explosives in building 7 to prepare it for it’s owner (Jewish, I believe) to ‘pull’ it after discussing that with the mayor and in public with the press watching?

Seems KSM has some friends in strange places.

Might it be time to revive ‘tar, feathers, and rail’?

Subpoenas? Very exciting…I just wonder, will Karl show up? I mean, the guy has been hiding under a rock for a long time… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDaRFf7Cd6M

Karl, where aaarrreee you? LOL, from Americablog.

Pachacutec @ 64

Jane has called me twice from the hospital already. She’s on the bed with the tube in her arm. Talking politics.

Heh.

parachutec , can you buy the paperback GETTING WELL AGAIN
by Carl Simonton; it is on creative visualization and is very useful
to do every day as a meditation; i did it when i had chemo seventeen yrs ago for stage three breast cancer ( mastectomy); best thoughts for jane, i will put her in my meditation. val in canada.

val in canada @ 228

Pachacutec @ 64

Jane has called me twice from the hospital already. She’s on the bed with the tube in her arm. Talking politics.

Heh.

parachutec , can you buy the paperback GETTING WELL AGAIN
by Carl Simonton; it is on creative visualization and is very useful
to do every day as a meditation; i did it when i had chemo seventeen yrs ago for stage three breast cancer ( mastectomy); best thoughts for jane, i will put her in my meditation. val in canada.

Jane, you’ll be in my thoughts and prayers tonight.

Val – wow, 17 years – hooray! I’m going on 17 years, stage one.