zed

Sweet Jane!!

Emptywheel !!

MARCY! Great article this morning at your blog. Now to read this one.

I’m just glad they’re all going under oath, unlike the last six years when it appeared NO one was under oath.

There’s always more DC Madam.

Oversight is addictive!

I’m particularly looking forward to May 3.

OT - Any California folks here going to be at the Dem state convention tomorrow?

I received a ticket to hear Edwards’ speech.

Whoa, I didn’t know the bankruptcy bill was going to be in the daylight. I have great credit, but used one of the credit card checks. I was floored when I got the first statement and saw the interest rate was 35%. Fortunately, I was able to pay it in full, but crimany, many people can’t. I cannot believe that is legal.

“Mr Comey, here’s a list of all of the senior people you knew who still have their jobs at the Department of Justice. We’d like you to put a check mark next to all of the ones that you believe have an ounce of integrity in their bodies. Would you like to borrow my pen?”

Comey: “No, thanks. I can do it without one.”

Meanwhile Alberto Gonzales still defies the odds of the bookies on whether and when he’ll be forced out.

And this Nick Anderson cartoon explains how and why Gonzo defies the bookies’ odds…

Marcy: great summary!

Yesterday, you had an item concerning the FBI agent forced (?) to resign after making comments supporting Carol Lam in San Diego.

Q. What are the legalities here? Can an FBI be forced out for speaking to the press?

I have a question that I posted a couple threads down.

I remember during the Iran-Contra and Watergate hearings that the committees hired attorneys to do some of the questioning. Why hasn’t this happened in any of the DOJ testimony?

Marcy,
on April 30th, you might have meant “dreadful” but deadful works too.

Loo Hoo @
10

Whoa, I didn’t know the bankruptcy bill was going to be in the daylight. I have great credit, but used one of the credit card checks. I was floored when I got the first statement and saw the interest rate was 35%. Fortunately, I was able to pay it in full, but crimany, many people can’t. I cannot believe that is legal.

The first thing I did this year after cashing in the final retirement pieces to live was pay off ALL the plastic. I’ve had great credit all along but then got my next statement from one of the cards and was charged interest for the period from the previous statement date until date of pay-off. Since I had more than one account with that particular institution, I told them they had a choice: erase the interest charged after pay-off or lose ALL business with me. It took a couple of days and half a dozen phone calls, but it got cleared. I keep asking them to stop the cc checks they send but it doesn’t seem to penetrate so I just shred ‘em all.

Meanwhile Alberto Gonzales still defies the odds of the bookies on whether and when he’ll be forced out.

thanks for reminding me… i owe the kitty for being wrong on my prediction of abu gone by tuesday. will pay up as soon as i get my ibook up and running again (hard drive crash).

Woodhall Hollow @ 14

I have a question that I posted a couple threads down.

I remember during the Iran-Contra and Watergate hearings that the committees hired attorneys to do some of the questioning. Why hasn’t this happened in any of the DOJ testimony?

Yeah, that’s how Fred Thompson got his start. Richard Ben-Veniste was the Demo side.

Marcy, what do you know about Judge John Bates?

I am really looking forward to the Condi and Karl show. Meanwhile:

“To put this in a simple army metaphor, the Commander-in-Chief seems to have gone AWOL, that is ‘absent without leave.’ He neither acts nor talks as though he is in charge. Rather, he engages in tit-for-tat games.”

From Lt.General William Odom (Ret.) today.

It certainly helped me plan my “calling in to work well” days

It saves so much time if you know in advance when you will not have been feeling well. And that this coincides with interesting political events? Utter coincidence.

selise @ 17

Meanwhile Alberto Gonzales still defies the odds of the bookies on whether and when he’ll be forced out.

thanks for reminding me… i owe the kitty for being wrong on my prediction of abu gone by tuesday. will pay up as soon as i get my ibook up and running again (hard drive crash).

I paid my $20.00, selise.

I think this is a fairly interesting scandal that just materialized. Wonder how many billions were given away so this guy could get laid.

Randall L. Tobias, the deputy secretary of state responsible for U.S. foreign aid, abruptly resigned yesterday after he was asked about an upscale escort service allegedly involved in prostitution, U.S. government sources said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....id=topnews

Zee @
9

OT - Any California folks here going to be at the Dem state convention tomorrow?

I received a ticket to hear Edwards’ speech.

I won’t be there (was there last year) but I know a bunch of people who are delegates, including Firepups (mostly lurker) Donna Marie and, I don’t know if Mommybrain (from Monrovia) is a delegate again - if you run into either one, say Hi for me.

Hope you have a good time

What are the odds that Andy Card will be asked about Jeff Gannon’s extended stays at the WH while Card was CoS?

Was Andrew Card the same guy in the classroom with Bush on 9-11?

egregious @
21

It certainly helped me plan my “calling in to work well” days

It saves so much time if you know in advance when you will not have been feeling well. And that this coincides with interesting political events? Utter coincidence.

I consider it managed gestation periods.

Charlie Savage’s article about the September 2003 memo about how to appoint a US Attorney without Senate confirmation was excellent.

The topic seems odd for anyone expecting to seek Senate confirmation in the first place. The timing seems odd. But not if the DOJ were already dreaming up ways to put “reliable” USA’s in place in time for the 2004 election. Perhaps we need to look at that one again.

Georgesimian @ 23

I think this is a fairly interesting scandal that just materialized. Wonder how many billions were given away so this guy could get laid.

Randall L. Tobias, the deputy secretary of state responsible for U.S. foreign aid, abruptly resigned yesterday after he was asked about an upscale escort service allegedly involved in prostitution, U.S. government sources said.

washingtonpost.com

So you don’t believe him when he said no sex was involved? He claims to have just had “massages”. No reason to doubt him, right?

Fred Thompson’s opposite in Watergate was Sam Dash. Ben-Veniste may have been second chair for the majority. I think that was what got him the Iran-Contra gig.

Zee @ 29

Georgesimian @ 23

I think this is a fairly interesting scandal that just materialized. Wonder how many billions were given away so this guy could get laid.

washingtonpost.com

So you don’t believe him when he said no sex was involved? He claims to have just had “massages”. No reason to doubt him, right?

Thought it was pretty interesting that he waited until late Friday afternoon to resign (for personal reasons of course).

and when will we get odds on Cheney or Rove’s respective ousters? Never? Do we have to wait until Bush starts his “he’s doing a great job” BS?

Zee @ 29

Georgesimian @ 23

I think this is a fairly interesting scandal that just materialized. Wonder how many billions were given away so this guy could get laid.

washingtonpost.com

So you don’t believe him when he said no sex was involved? He claims to have just had “massages”. No reason to doubt him, right?

Why would he resign if it was just massages? That just doesn’t make sense.

dipper @
15

Marcy,
on April 30th, you might have meant “dreadful” but deadful works too.

Ah, so I did. Now I wonder why the spell check specifically said that sentence was perfect teh way it was?

ccmask @ 26

Was Andrew Card the same guy in the classroom with Bush on 9-11?

Same guy: http://www.firedoglake.com/200.....ent-655359

Loo Hoo @
19

Marcy, what do you know about Judge John Bates?

Not much. But I can tell you that–regardless of which judge it was–it’d be a very long shot for the suit not to get thrown out. So I wouldn’t put too much hope in the Wilson’s getting to subpoena Turdblossom, sorry.

tbsa @ 31

Zee @ 29

Georgesimian @ 23

So you don’t believe him when he said no sex was involved? He claims to have just had “massages”. No reason to doubt him, right?

Thought it was pretty interesting that he waited until late Friday afternoon to resign (for personal reasons of course).

ABC knew Thursday. Per NPR he gave ABC some kind of an interview.

poor tobias - if he only had”massages” why is he leaving? hmmm………….. its to laugh

Ed*ard Teller @
25

What are the odds that Andy Card will be asked about Jeff Gannon’s extended stays at the WH while Card was CoS?

Not high, I think. I’ll be pleased if he even gets asked about the 11 hour gap.

And frankly, JimmyJeff GannonGuckert really is only one of many pressing security issues.

ot for l.a. fire pups: got a postcard today from writers bloc alerting me to al gore in conversation w/harry shearer, 5/22 7:30pm @ wilshire theatre. tix $20 still available at ticketweb.com.

WRT the AlQuida guy they sent to Gitmo this weekend. You would think that would have been Monday morning news instead of a Friday dump also.

Blank Kludge @ 30

Fred Thompson’s opposite in Watergate was Sam Dash. Ben-Veniste may have been second chair for the majority. I think that was what got him the Iran-Contra gig.

I actually remember watching the “What did the president know and when did he know it?” moment between Thompson and Butterfield. I would like to see some similar fireworks with this issue–rather than the Dems just shaking their heads as nobody remembers anything.

Speaking of which, I think Jon Stewart has offered the most plausible deconstructed why Bush was so pleased with Gonzo’s performance. They shouldn’t be a allowed to plead stupid so easily.

Georgesimian @
33

Zee @ 29

Georgesimian @ 23

So you don’t believe him when he said no sex was involved? He claims to have just had “massages”. No reason to doubt him, right?

Why would he resign if it was just massages? That just doesn’t make sense.

Do you really think he only got massages?

Finally got around to watching the Bill Moyer special off of VHS.
Some random thoughts:

1. Peter Beinart can be taken as a working definition of “callow youth”.

2. Bill Kristol, Fred Barnes and Bill O’Reilly can be taken as a working definition of “axis of evil”.

3. Given what have turned out to be Chalabi’s close ties to the Shiite mullahs and Iran, I think a full-blown Congessional search for Iranian agents-of-influence in the Administration and media is called for.
Think of it as a kinder, gentler verion of McCarthyism.
If the Dems don’t do something like this,
the Republicans will run in ‘08 accusing the Dems of having lost Iraq.

juslin @ 38

poor tobias - if he only had”massages” why is he leaving? hmmm………….. its to laugh

It wasn’t his back they massaged?

juslin @ 38

poor tobias - if he only had”massages” why is he leaving? hmmm………….. its to laugh

And he admits to having just recently contacted and other “agency” to get massages from central american, um… specialists.

Lordy, I’ve lost count of the hypocrites in this administration.

Why do you think the Wilson’s suit will be thrown out? Because of what has been done to the justice system or because it lacks merit or why, Marcy?

“I just had a massage - every week,” is what you tell your wife or your boss when the credit card slip floats by. It’s not what you tell the FBI under oath. Given how few other people have jumped ship, and how many hang on long after death, Tobias’ claims are highly suspicious. Nice distraction from more important news though, eh.

Why would he resign if it was just massages? That just doesn’t make sense.

The humiliation factor. Can you imagine facing Condi every morning after such a revelation? The other reason would be to get out of town ASAP and into a rehab clinic to escape the wrath of the wife.

I think a lot about Iraq, Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian situation. If the Democrats want to win big in 2008, my party needs to start talking about the widening and deepening gulf between the haves and the have nots of this nation. The Dems need to propose something solid on the economic front, AND the war front. Unless I missed something, there wasn’t one word uttered about the poverty of the middle class or working poor of this country in that so called debate the other night. The working men and women of America are hurting. While the rich Republicans get wealthier.

Joe Klein’s conscience @ 43
Ummm. No.

Dash’s obit;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....May29.html

Mr. Dash’s 53-year legal career touched some of the most important moments in American, and sometimes world, politics. He dramatically resigned in 1998 after four years as the ethics counselor to independent prosecutor Kenneth W. Starr, charging that Starr became an “aggressive advocate” of impeaching President Clinton. He said Starr exceeded the independent counsel’s mandate, which was part of a statute that he helped draft.

snip

It was a point of pride for Mr. Dash that, as a result of Watergate, all accredited law schools require a course in professional responsibility.

In the 1970s, he helped Chief Justice Warren E. Burger devise the American Bar Association’s ethical standards for prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers.

While on the Starr commission, he helped persuade White House intern Monica Lewinsky to testify. But his relationship with Starr was thorny; Mr. Dash’s liberal supporters had been shocked when he agreed to take on the job, and he threatened to quit five times before he finally did on Nov. 20, 1998.

It was his timing and style as much as the fact of his resignation that was dramatic; it came the day after Starr testified for 12 hours before the House Judiciary Committee, and it came in a stinging two-page letter that charged Starr with “abuse of your office” for exceeding his mandate to report to Congress any impeachable offenses he had discovered.

Mr. Dash cultivated a reputation for independence and was an advocate for legal ethics throughout his career. In 1951, while a teaching fellow at Northwestern University near Chicago, he conducted an undercover investigation into corruption at the Municipal Court of Chicago that resulted in a seminal report on legal corruption.

For the International League for Human Rights, he investigated the killings of Northern Ireland Catholic youths by British paratroopers in 1972, during what became known as “Bloody Sunday,” and published a report that helped influence the British parliament to award compensation to the families of the dead and wounded. Twenty-five years later, the report helped influence the British prime minister’s decision to reopen the inquiry.

Tobias at C&L: http://www.crooksandliars.com/.....t-service/

Blank Kludge @
30

Fred Thompson’s opposite in Watergate was Sam Dash. Ben-Veniste may have been second chair for the majority. I think that was what got him the Iran-Contra gig.

Thanks for the correction. I know Ben-Veniste was in there somewhere.

4. And, of course, Ted Kenedy was right in Septemember, 2002, when he said that a war with Iraq would increse terrorism:

Annual terrorism report will show 29% rise in attacks

By Warren P. Strobel and Jonathan S. Landay
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON - A State Department report on terrorism due out next week will show a nearly 30 percent increase in terrorist attacks worldwide in 2006 to more than 14,000, almost all of the boost due to growing violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Friday.

Notice the byline. At least they still have jobs.

Loo Hoo @ 47

Why do you think the Wilson’s suit will be thrown out? Because of what has been done to the justice system or because it lacks merit or why, Marcy?

Because it is very very very very difficult to get standing to sue the government–or government employees.

emptywheel @ 56

Loo Hoo @ 47

Why do you think the Wilson’s suit will be thrown out? Because of what has been done to the justice system or because it lacks merit or why, Marcy?

Because it is very very very very difficult to get standing to sue the government–or government employees.

Even with the spotlight on this case?

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denied Saturday telling a German magazine earlier in the day that Iran’s nuclear program could be severely harmed by an attack of 1,000 cruise missiles fired over 10 days.

In the meantime:

Israeli soldiers have shot dead three Palestinian activists and critically wounded another near the border, east of Gaza city.

In a separate incident in southern Gaza, a Palestinian civilian was killed on Friday night by what local medics and residents said was an Israeli tank shell. The Israeli army said it was not involved.

Woodhall Hollow @ 49

Why would he resign if it was just massages? That just doesn’t make sense.

The humiliation factor. Can you imagine facing Condi every morning after such a revelation? The other reason would be to get out of town ASAP and into a rehab clinic to escape the wrath of the wife.

I think, rather, it’s because of the hypocrite factor. As AIDS czar, he fought making AIDS treatment available to prostitutes on mock-moral grounds. Can’t very well claim to be opposed to prostitutes if he’s working the gals himself.

ABC knew Thursday. Per NPR he gave ABC some kind of an interview.

On the way out the door, Tobias must have grabbed the ABC folks and asked for 24 hours so he could tell his wife and resign before the feces hit the fan publicly. That’s my guess, anyway.

y’know fellow pups - the unmitigated GALL of the bushco crowd is astounding!! i mean i know we can be simple-minded at times but goddamn - how STUPID do they think we are? not that fucking stupid believe me!! its difficult to maintain composure with these bastards

Zee @ 57

Even with the spotlight on this case?

Yes, even with the spotlight on the case.

ccmask @ 26

Was Andrew Card the same guy in the classroom with Bush on 9-11?

Yes

emptywheel @ 62

Zee @ 57

Even with the spotlight on this case?

Yes, even with the spotlight on the case.

As much as we would like it to, the public spotlight doesn’t change the law or precedents.

Imagine that. Bush appointees are even outsourcing their prostitution services.

-GSD

Woodhall Hollow @ 49

Why would he resign if it was just massages? That just doesn’t make sense.

The humiliation factor. Can you imagine facing Condi every morning after such a revelation? The other reason would be to get out of town ASAP and into a rehab clinic to escape the wrath of the wife.

Condi must be used to being surrounded by hypocritical perverts. She probably gets “massages” too.

The real crime here is that the massages were contracted out.

Blank Kludge @ 52
Dash’s obit;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....May29.html

[snip]

It was a point of pride for Mr. Dash that, as a result of Watergate, all accredited law schools require a course in professional responsibility.

[snip]

Inquring minds would like to know:
What does the syllabus of the “professional responsibility” course at Regent look like?

Even if he only got massages because of a certain kind of… dysfunction, he was still committing a sort of adultery, at the very least. Dollars to donuts he believes gays in love, and not HE, is what is hurting love and commitment.

ccmask @
45

juslin @ 38

poor tobias - if he only had”massages” why is he leaving? hmmm………….. its to laugh

It wasn’t his back they massaged?

professional masseuses call the kind of massages he was getting “locals”…. and isn’t all this a simple misunderstanding? Tobias went there for what he thought was a “message service,” right?

allan_in_upstate @ 44 says:

1. Peter Beinart can be taken as a working definition of “callow youth”.

Young SnarKassandra is half his age and twice as intelligent and credible.

Remember when Bush said he was going to bring morals back to the white house in the year 2000? Then, they went inside to their new offices and stole the w’s off the keyboards.

Come on, guys. He didn’t just get massages from an escort service! That’s not where you go to massages.

ccmask @ 26

Was Andrew Card the same guy in the classroom with Bush on 9-11?

Here’s the infamous video of Bush responding to 9/11. Card appears about one minute into the video.

Bush’s Presidential Response to 9/11

RE the Tobias resignation, it is absurd that he expects people will believe he uses an escort service to get a massage (as opposed to as licensed masseur/masseuse). When he claims to have had no sex he may be using the Clintononian definition of “sex” as penetrative intercourse. The more likely answer is that this guy is into some kinky stuff that transcends your usual definition of “sex” if you get my drift.

I understand the madam has 46 pounds of phone records. There has to be more than Tobias in there….

Georgesimian @ 72

Come on, guys. He didn’t just get massages from an escort service! That’s not where you go to massages.

I think you’re missing the snark and sarcasm.

Thanks for the Andy Card answer all.

If the Dems don’t do something like this,
the Republicans will run in ‘08 accusing the Dems of having lost Iraq.

I agree the republic party is going to blame the Dems for losing Iraq, however, I also think that bush’s stubborn refusal to change course in Iraq has done more to bring about the change of heart with the American people than anything. I am really hoping bush digs in his heels on the appropriations bill because Americans are getting more disgusted by the minute. Maybe it will put Impeachment back on the frikin table where it belongs.

TheOtherWA @ 64

emptywheel @ 62

Zee @ 57

Yes, even with the spotlight on the case.

As much as we would like it to, the public spotlight doesn’t change the law or precedents.

I guess that’s actually a good thing.

It would be a great time to get all those quotes from when Bill did wrong, huh?

dreamcatcher @ 72

ccmask @ 26

Was Andrew Card the same guy in the classroom with Bush on 9-11?

Here’s the infamous video of Bush responding to 9/11. Card appears about one minute into the video.

Bush’s Presidential Response to 9/11

RE the Tobias resignation, it is absurd that he expects people will believe he uses an escort service to get a massage (as opposed to as licensed masseur/masseuse). When he claims to have had no sex he may be using the Clintononian definition of “sex” as penetrative intercourse. The more likely answer is that this guy is into some kinky stuff that transcends your usual definition of “sex” if you get my drift.

Interesting thought. Mebbe he had some fun drugs too, like the earnest preacher man.

Georgesimian @ 72

Come on, guys. He didn’t just get massages from an escort service! That’s not where you go to massages.

Wha’? That’s what my husband tells me! I’ll be right back.

TheOtherWA @ 64

emptywheel @ 62

Zee @ 57

Yes, even with the spotlight on the case.

As much as we would like it to, the public spotlight doesn’t change the law or precedents.

Fuck precedents, the Supreme Clown Court has already demonstrated their ability to consider precedents.

Woodhall Hollow @
14

I have a question that I posted a couple threads down.

I remember during the Iran-Contra and Watergate hearings that the committees hired attorneys to do some of the questioning. Why hasn’t this happened in any of the DOJ testimony?

Back in the day, when I was in High School during Iran-Contra, and a Reagan koolaid drinker, I thought William Kunstler was some kind of devil worshipper for questioning Ollie North and not kissing Ronnie Raygun’s ring

Of course I’ve long since come to my senses

EW — are you referring to sovereign immunity? Because I don’t think there’s any question Valerie Plame has standing wrt having suffered an injury.

Meanwhile in Iraq the US announces another 9 US troop deaths. Add that in with an attack near a shrine in Najaf and it is looking like a surge of deaths and destruction.

-GSD

Congratulations, John!

Card did as Rove told him to. The difference in the two men’s job titles means nothing.

emptywheel @ 56

Loo Hoo @ 47

Why do you think the Wilson’s suit will be thrown out? Because of what has been done to the justice system or because it lacks merit or why, Marcy?

Because it is very very very very difficult to get standing to sue the government–or government employees.

So–could they not argue that it Rove is an RNC employee, at least in part? If any of his dirty work wsa conducted off-the-clock, using RNC emails, for example…that would be actionable, no?

He had both a fed job and a non-fed job. The fed job doesn’t immunize the non-fed job from wrongdoing, does it?

Georgesimian @ 72

Come on, guys. He didn’t just get massages from an escort service! That’s not where you go to massages.

‘Massage’ is the GoTo story with the Repig/fundies: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2627142

I really really really want Congress to ask Rove to come in and tell them how great the Katrina cleanup has gone. He was, after all, the Katrina czar.

I hope someone will be asking Condi about her views on abstinence and condoms now that we know her Deputy has been frequenting “Central American” escorts.

Come to think of it, I’m not sure if Condi is on the record about her own personal sense of abstinence.

Hope they are guilty of obtruction. IANAL but after googling “Arthur Andersen & Supreme Court” and “Frank Quattrone” I have my doubts. If someone with law degree would like to discuss the impact of those cases it might be helpful.

john in sacramento @
83

Woodhall Hollow @
14

I have a question that I posted a couple threads down.

I remember during the Iran-Contra and Watergate hearings that the committees hired attorneys to do some of the questioning. Why hasn’t this happened in any of the DOJ testimony?

Back in the day, when I was in High School during Iran-Contra, and a Reagan koolaid drinker, I thought William Kunstler was some kind of devil worshipper for questioning Ollie North and not kissing Ronnie Raygun’s ring

Of course I’ve long since come to my senses

i saw Kuntsler speak twice in 1970, once immediately after the end of the Chicago 7 trial and again about six months later. The second time was at Western Kentucky Univ. As everyone else was walking out exclaiming what a radical he was, I was saying, “Wow! He’s mellowed!” Time and perspective are everything.

dreamcatcher @ 73

The more likely answer is that this guy is into some kinky stuff that transcends your usual definition of “sex” if you get my drift.

I think you’re onto something here. Kinky Republicans!

Sad comment that when an aide to Tony Blair suggested post-9/11 would be a good time to slip controversial legislation in under the radar, she was humiliated and forced to resign. Mr. Bush has built his entire administration on that philosophy.

Slothrop @ 91

I hope someone will be asking Condi about her views on abstinence and condoms now that we know her Deputy has been frequenting “Central American” escorts.

Come to think of it, I’m not sure if Condi is on the record about her own personal sense of abstinence.

I don’t know about the abstinence, but there are rumors that Condi, uh, doesn’t need condoms. So to speak.

Slothrop @ 91

I hope someone will be asking Condi about her views on abstinence and condoms now that we know her Deputy has been frequenting “Central American” escorts.

Come to think of it, I’m not sure if Condi is on the record about her own personal sense of abstinence.

naw, she’s clean…..a one-bush kinda gal.

john in sacramento @ 83

Woodhall Hollow @
14

I have a question that I posted a couple threads down.

I remember during the Iran-Contra and Watergate hearings that the committees hired attorneys to do some of the questioning. Why hasn’t this happened in any of the DOJ testimony?

Back in the day, when I was in High School during Iran-Contra, and a Reagan koolaid drinker, I thought William Kunstler was some kind of devil worshipper for questioning Ollie North and not kissing Ronnie Raygun’s ring

Of course I’ve long since come to my senses

I expect Kunstler would have been their man on Iran/Contra. I spoke w/o googling…and have since googled - to no avial on Ben-Veniste. Although, he did have a hand in the 9.11 Commmision.

oddmommy @ 84

EW — are you referring to sovereign immunity? Because I don’t think there’s any question Valerie Plame has standing wrt having suffered an injury.

I agree with you–but I’m just repeating what I’ve heard from some close to the case. In spite of all the good reason to think Valerie should have a right to half Cheney’s fortune, it’s only going to happen if the Wilson’s get very very luck, over and over, all the way to SCOTUS.

Blank Kludge @ 98:

Per wiki:

He served as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1968 to 1973, including the turbulent period of the Watergate scandal. Mr. Ben-Veniste was a leading figure in the prosecution of this scandal. He served as chief of the Watergate Task Force of the Watergate Special Prosecutor’s Office.

So he would have been in the news all the time prosecuting the slugs.

emptywheel @ 99

oddmommy @ 84

EW — are you referring to sovereign immunity? Because I don’t think there’s any question Valerie Plame has standing wrt having suffered an injury.

I agree with you–but I’m just repeating what I’ve heard from some close to the case. In spite of all the good reason to think Valerie should have a right to half Cheney’s fortune, it’s only going to happen if the Wilson’s get very very luck, over and over, all the way to SCOTUS.

And we all know where SCOTUS will take them.

god i’d hate to see rove et al get away with plamegate….want to see that smirk wiped off his face when he’s hauled before the hearings to come ;o}

“April 30: World Bank hearing at which Paul Wolfowitz begs to keep his job”

They’re actually letting him speak on his own behalf now? last week they were so *ffed off at him, they told him they were just going to investigate and decide his fate without talking about with him.

In addition to the forgoing (and the student loan scandal looks HUGE now) I submit that we need to expand the scope of inquiries to the HHS. Not only have infant mortality rates gone up and medically insured Americans gone down, but now this remarkable statement from Secretary Leavitt today, denouncing NY State for daring the expand the number of poor children covered by the state’s public insurance programs:

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said if other states followed New York’s proposal, it would mean that 71 percent of the nation’s children would be on “public assistance.”

‘Cause uninsured kids are clearly the better alternative..

Blub @ 103

“April 30: World Bank hearing at which Paul Wolfowitz begs to keep his job”

They’re actually letting him speak on his own behalf now? last week they were so *ffed off at him, they told him they were just going to investigate and decide his fate without talking about with him.

In addition to the forgoing (and the student loan scandal looks HUGE now) I submit that we need to expand the scope of inquiries to the HHS. Not only have infant mortality rates gone up and medically insured Americans gone down, but now this remarkable statement from Secretary Leavitt today, denouncing NY State for daring the expand the number of poor children covered by the state’s public insurance programs:

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said if other states followed New York’s proposal, it would mean that 71 percent of the nation’s children would be on “public assistance.”

‘Cause uninsured kids are clearly the better alternative..

But I think the US has less say than they used to have in whether he keeps his job.

Someone from the GOP needs to take a walk to the WH and tell that jerk the AG has got to go. Of course they may not take that walk knowing full well the prez will just smirk and dismiss the demand out of hand.

ccmask @
41

WRT the AlQuida guy they sent to Gitmo this weekend. You would think that would have been Monday morning news instead of a Friday dump also.

Thought. Our media, well Guardian, reported Petreus’s comments about the immense complexity of the Iraq situation were bad for Bush. What better than a related bright shiny object immediately after?

Oklahoma kiddo @ 105

Someone from the GOP needs to take a walk to the WH and tell that jerk the AG has got to go. Of course they may not take that walk knowing full well the prez will just smirk and dismiss the demand out of hand.

They’ve been saying that, although maybe not officially to the preznit’s face.

Oklahoma kiddo @
105

Someone from the GOP needs to take a walk to the WH and tell that jerk the AG has got to go. Of course they may not take that walk knowing full well the prez will just smirk and dismiss the demand out of hand.

Don’t forget, it took explicit knowledge that Nixon had been involved in the H2Ogate cover-up before Hugh Scott and Barry AUH2O made their walk to tell him he head to go.