Here’s my question on Gonzales op-ed:

I have nevertheless asked the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility to further investigate this matter. Working with the department’s Office of Inspector General, these nonpartisan professionals will complete their own independent investigation

My bold. Have those offices already been infiltrated by loyal Bushies?

According to Jessalyn Raddack, yes

just a drive-by, but i want to link to an excellent piece (with many links),”The Misplaced Focus on Gonzales“, by marty lederman at balkinization on abu’s wapo op-ed this morning:

the real action on the “merits” was not at DOJ, but in the White House, where the process was initiated by Karl Rove and where the final decision was made by the President. Thus, the current focus on the Attorney General is something of a distraction, at least insofar as Congress’s objective is to determine whether anything unlawful or unconstitutional was involved in the U.S. Attorney dismissals. Congress cannot determine whether the removals were made for improper reasons unless it discovers what Rove and Miers advised the President, and why they did so.

Maybe AG is a distraction from a strictly constitutional law point of view, but from a political point of view, placing focus on him seems like an excellent idea, if only because a resignation would force the WH to go through confirmation hearings for a successor at a time when their credibility is seriously weakened, and they might have to cut a deal that involved a promise of serious independent investigation with not just sub poena power, but easily enforceable sub poena power…and who knows where that might lead.

my too sense @ 139

mui, Yeah, he’s so matter of fact about the shopping story, and he’s proven pathological liar (we know that he has in fact reconstituted his nuclear weapons), I wonder if that story is true? Wonder if he thinks sitting in his bunker with Liz or Mary on a computer ordering his grandaughter’s b-day present on line is his idea of “out shopping with his daughter”?

Oh shoot, my answer to the “civilty” part is in moderation.

[Modnote: refresh, and all will be well]

Ah, ’tis magickal computer wizardry at work!

mui, Yeah, he’s so matter of fact about the shopping story, and he’s proven pathological liar (we know that he has in fact reconstituted his nuclear weapons), I wonder if that story is true? Wonder if he thinks sitting in his bunker with Liz or Mary on a computer ordering his grandaughter’s b-day present on line is his idea of “out shopping with his daughter”?

Oh shoot, my answer to the “civilty” part is in moderation.

[Modnote: refresh, and all will be well]

mui @ 126

David Brooks and John Harwood on MtP. Ughh. Brooks looks like a jittery toad. Somehow, because this is Timmy’s show, “fair and balanced” means listing a lot of Dems who were on Imus’ show and then listing an even shorter list of Republiakns that were on Imus’ show. Then of course, someone brings up “hate” in rap, because this is HoJoe type discussion of the degradation of “civility” in our culture, and not about racism. Then it’s asked why Jackson and Sharpton consider themselves “self-appointed ambassadors.” Gwen’s retort: because most prominent persons never step up to the plate on these issues ever (she also lists a number of persons who do and never get credit for it.)

Holy Joe and “civility” in our culture code words for racism! What about Johnny Cash Delia’s gone “I tied her to a chair” “one more round Delia’s gone” nope only black rap music. What about the “killing liberals ” statments made by Ann Coulter and the rest of her jackal friends Imus’s statment was a statment made by the host of talk show/political/news program not a rapper! Why is everyone suddenly talking about rappers and trying to excuse Imus 2 wrongs don’t make a right. Lets talk about Ann and Rush and the entire Fox Network when we do something about people who praise the guys who bomb abortion clinics then we can move on to music but not just the blacks Rap no more code words! By the way I am against censorship but I am also against hurting real people, these creeps have gotten away with crazy talk about killing people too long! I think its time to draw a line! Talking even joking about killing real people should be banned! Same for talking about killing groups of people. Murder ballads in songs can stay! I’m open to suggestions/criticism on this.

I gotta agree with you that rap is not the problem. It shouldn’t even be part of the equation. It’s just a convenient debating point for Brooks and Timmy and HoJoe. Rappers sell their music and do not write legislation and heavily influence this country’s public policy
Racism however is a problem. Imus and others like to conveniently forget that the kinds of derogatory words they use so blithely once translated as “uppity” this or that, which in a not so distant history was used as justification for Jim Crow-ists to lynch and practice other kinds of violent oppression.

Darth continuing…9/11, don’t forget 9/11.

Now question is Bush isolated? again barely continaing laughter Darth says it’s ridiculous and he actually gets out and goes shopping for b-day presents with his daughter for his grandaughter. Gawd that proves it then, he goes shopping so he’s not isolated…talk about a literal intepretation of the word, quit taking us for the fools you think we are veep.

Oh that’s good. The Dark Master inserts that family stuff in. *He* goes shopping. I doubt it? I betchya $20 a toady does it for him.

David Brooks and John Harwood on MtP. Ughh. Brooks looks like a jittery toad. Somehow, because this is Timmy’s show, “fair and balanced” means listing a lot of Dems who were on Imus’ show and then listing an even shorter list of Republiakns that were on Imus’ show. Then of course, someone brings up “hate” in rap, because this is HoJoe type discussion of the degradation of “civility” in our culture, and not about racism. Then it’s asked why Jackson and Sharpton consider themselves “self-appointed ambassadors.” Gwen’s retort: because most prominent persons never step up to the plate on these issues ever (she also lists a number of persons who do and never get credit for it.)

Holy Joe and “civility” in our culture code words for racism! What about Johnny Cash Delia’s gone “I tied her to a chair” “one more round Delia’s gone” nope only black rap music. What about the “killing liberals ” statments made by Ann Coulter and the rest of her jackal friends Imus’s statment was a statment made by the host of talk show/political/news program not a rapper! Why is everyone suddenly talking about rappers and trying to excuse Imus 2 wrongs don’t make a right. Lets talk about Ann and Rush and the entire Fox Network when we do something about people who praise the guys who bomb abortion clinics then we can move on to music but not just the blacks Rap no more code words! By the way I am against censorship but I am also against hurting real people, these creeps have gotten away with crazy talk about killing people too long! I think its time to draw a line! Talking even joking about killing real people should be banned! Same for talking about killing groups of people. Murder ballads in songs can stay! I’m open to suggestions/criticism on this.

DArth, says, Musharaf and Karzaid have signed up to fight an evil ideology….who knew? Notice when the veep speaks, he rarely gives direct eye contact to Bob….and I even caught him smirking (almost laughing) when he was asked why people should believe him now, when he has been wrong with so many statements in the past. Of course Darth rambled on about how he made those statements in the context of the time and based on what he knew to be true at the time….what a weasel..

Now onto AG, AG…credibility problem question? Does the Administration have a credibility problem? Again Cheney barely containing a laugh says of course not, we have problems but that ain’t one of them. And of course AG will be able to testify to congress we have confidence in him and he will answer questions.

Now onto Scooter Libby, cloud over vp? Vp has not talked to LIbby since trial….says the whole thing is a deep tragedy and has no occasion to talk to Libby. Not gonna get into the case and …Darth laughing when Bob ask if Scooter the fall guy for Cheney.

Hahahaha, says Dr. Evil. I think I missed the program, but I can picture the sulphurous fumes that are rising in the room. An evil cloud enveloping the studio. Someone shall have to fumigate after the Dark Master takes his leave.