Speaking of a lack of ethics, disrespect for the rule of law and the itch for an imperial presidency:
Vice President Cheney told Justice Department officials that he disagreed with their objections to a secret surveillance program during a high-level White House meeting in March 2004, a former senior Justice official told senators yesterday.The meeting came one day before White House officials tried to get approval for the same program from then-Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, who lay recovering from surgery in a hospital, according to former deputy attorney general James B. Comey.
The episode prompted sharp criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who questioned whether Gonzales and Card were attempting to take advantage of a sick man to get around legal objections from government lawyers. It is unclear who directed the two Bush aides to make the visit.
According to Comey, the hospital visit was preceded by a March 9, 2004, meeting at the White House on the Justice Department objections. It was attended by Cheney; Gonzales; Card; Cheney’s counsel then, David S. Addington; and others, Comey said.
Comey also named eight Justice Department officials who were prepared to quit if the White House had not backed down, including FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, current U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg of Alexandria and Jack Goldsmith, who headed the Office of Legal Counsel and led an internal legal review of the surveillance program.
This would be the very same internal review of the NSA surveillance program that was stopped in its tracks by the President’s refusal to grant the DOJ attorneys conducting it proper clearance to review the particulars of the program. Talk about yer self-dealing CYA.
If you think that Dick Cheney and George Bush, David Addington, Scooter Libby and the whole mess of deluded imperial presidency advocates who work for them aren’t trying to consolidate Presidential fiat power under the guise of national security necessity, think again. They will use fear for whatever means is necessary.
For more on this, take a peek at Steve Benen, and Digby and Anonymous Liberal (writing at Glenn’s old digs), and Marty Lederman.
Just a quick reminder, as well, we’ll be having a chat with Caroline Frederickson, the Legislative Director at the ACLU, regarding the work on reversing the MCA’s gutting of habeas rights, among other legal issues that the ACLU is currently working on for this session of Congress. The chat is scheduled for 3:00 pm ET/12:00 pm PT today — as in this afternoon — and I hope you can all be here to talk with Caroline about her work and what we can all do to restore habeas. Thanks all!
(Photo by Ron Edmunds/AP via MSNBC/Newsweek.)
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My clock must be off.
And no zed either. Comment #1 it is.
OH! new software!
Morning, Christy,
dmoore and I meet with Phil Polly, Issa’s District Director tomorrow afternoon. rwcole, let me know if you want to go! dmoore will speak with Greg Palast about what to expect. I wish I could remember the name of a bill Issa voted in favor of limiting the dollar amount on class action suits. Basically, it would have prevented suits against big pharma.
Democratic Senators should speechify on Cheney’s over-the-top influence on policy and on the likelihood of a Libby pardon. And on…you name it.
New software indeed. Almost as fast as the speed of light.
Morning, Christy.
You must warn us when change happens. We may be progressive, but our eyes and minds freak out when the same old beloved page does not appear the same. I thought the world was broken! (It is, but not at FDL . . .)
Thanks Christy, I love your meaty posts!…..
I still wonder now if it was Cheney who called Mrs. Ashcroft at the hospital
See if Issa can give you any leads on stolen cars while you are at it.
-GSD
Gnome at 7 — We had a “maintenance this morning” note up while it was ongoing this morning.
GSD @ 9
HA!
Later in the same WaPo article linked by Christy:
I think that one will have some legs today. It feeds the whole theme that the WH and now OVP were interfering with DoJ hiring/firing/promotions, even to the point of intimidating those trying to defend the Constitution, and that a compliant Gonzales just let it happen.
Loo Hoo @ 4
Loo Hoo, here’s a place to start looking Issa
From Sid’s piece in Salon:
According to Stephen Hawking (of the A Brief History of Time fame), we will be living on Mars soon. And I believe him.
GSD @ 9
Step away from the car
Makes me wonder if they haven’t thought very far ahead.
This monarchy they are trying to invent can’t last forever, yet they act like it is. Eventually there is going to be a big D in the Whitehouse and the shoe is going to be on the other foot.
Hopefully whoever does take over will have the sense to dismantle the bizzaro web of deceit that they have spun and not start using the powers they have amassed. Imagine a Dem doing what these criminals are doing for a minute without shuddering.
Scarecrow @ 12
see, this is why I wonder if it was Cheney who called Mrs. Ashcroft,
and now I will be silent on that particular matter, having moaned about it 3x all ready.
and I agree this may have legs
Where are my manners?
Good morning Christy!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 10
I know, but still, maintenance doesn’t imply change that jars ones coffee onto the keyboard. *g*
Went to bed. Got up. Visited Christy’s previous thread. I missed the entire post-zigurrat world at firedoglake! I feel a little like Rip van Winkle. At least I was dreaming of Dick Cheney behind bars.
When do the tags start working again?
so let’s be straight with this;
the very people that told the vp what he was doing was against the law he “dissagreed”
how depraved is this?
this is like me telling the judge;
“I dissagree with you, taking that money is not stealing”
and then my word is the final word in the matter
look, the important thing here is for the democrats to frame this correctly
they have do say things like;
“what kind of politician thinks it’s just fine for the vice president to steal our information, steal our bussiness secrets and contacts, steal our private inforamtion looking up the dress of our wives and our kids”
that’s it, put it in the ocntext of stealing and we’re there, we get EVERYONE on our side INCLUDING the wing nuts
get these maggots on the defensive trying to CLAIM they are not stealing
Re S. 185 (the restoration of habeas corpus): I telephoned the offices of my Senators (Cardin & Mikulski) and the lines were busy for some period of time.
So I visited each of their sites & e-mailed a missive from all four voters at this address, requesting each’s co-sponsorship and, in Cardin’s case, a yes vote in today’s committee.
Later I hit redial & got through to Cardin’s office and repeated the message and the number four voters. Guess [hope] they’re getting an earful.
Bustednuckles @ 16
I have pointed this out to people for years – when term limits were considered, I said that would come back and bite the R’s, when Bugman tried to gerrymander a permanent majority, same thing. And then some of the Senate rules – the main one being the nuclear option. The other side will benefit from the same rules some day. These idiots don’t read or “believe” history. They don’t know that it is a spiral of change. It hurts not to also understand at least the bare bones of evolution.
Deadeye’s self-worshiping meglomania is right off the charts. He’s the worst leader of this country, EVER! Junya only comes in second.
OT. More Abramoff fallout.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06…..ref=slogin
Thanks, Elliot! I’ll check that out later.
Another significant piece in the Comey statement today, at the very end of the LAT piece headlined “Cheney is said to have halted promotion,” is that “Comey revealed in the written remarks that the classified program continued without legal certification from the Justice Department for ‘approximately several weeks.’”
Sounds like the questioning of Goodling all over again: “so it wasn’t legal, so you were breaking the law… if it wasn’t legal, it was against the law” “I may have crossed the line” “And the line is the law, so you broke the law” “Well if I did I didn’t mean to…”
Not sure I see Addington using the cookie jar is empty and I guess I ate them but “I didn’t mean to” defense.
I suppose Scooter has been “mugged by reality.”
EPU’ed so reposted here with apologies:
It has probably been remarked on by others but a great many of the letters in support of Libby come from lawyers, especially from the the Dechert law firm, and praise Libby’s legal skills and thoroughness. A great many others are from people in the defense and national security sections of our government.
So how is it that such a consumate lawyer so well versed on security issues would “forget” or “overlook” the implications of outing a CIA agent? How could such a person inadvertently relate a story to the FBI and the Grand Jury which is contradicted not only by numerous government officials and media figures but supported by no one else?
And as I wrote yesterday isn’t the real “inconsistency” (a word used suspiciously often in the letters) that anyone could be so high in this most corrupt and lawless of Administrations and not have broken the law or held that law in contempt?
My thoughts on the “re-do” re the site — comments in particular: I’ve got several problems with it. I’ve had problems posting — wouldn’t allow my set-off quotes. In the “preview” box, it doesn’t show paragraph breaks. When attempting to edit, apparently you can’t insert tags. [Just tried to bold “four voters” in editing my last post, and it wouldn’t let me.]
Offered as helpful suggestions.
OT, but shouldn’t this revelation from the BBC about Prince Bandar making millions on British arms sales get some attention in the US where Prince Bandar has been such a close friend of the Bushes?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6728773.stm
So the message that went out to the Justice Department was that if you don’t “legalize” what Cheney wants to do, your career is over; if you don’t “politicize” as Rove wants you to do, your career is over. And if you try to find out what’s happening, you can’t get the clearances and if you persist, your career is over.
Blatant intimidation of the Department of Justice became the standard MO for the Bush WH and Cheney OVP to undermine the rule of law — and that falls squarely within the defintion of impeachable offense.
Betty @ 31
OMG! THAT Prince Bandar??? Wow.
Loo Hoo @ 26
at least it’ll help you get a date to start searching with.
I’m excited you’re doing this!
Morning Christy and all,
Heard above story on NPR this am.
Loo Hoo – didn’t get your emails. I may have misstyped mine. We’ll talk tonight. I’ll spend the day researching. But, you said 1:00 tomorrow?
Scarecrow @ 32
I was wondering where the refused clearances shutting down the investigation went. Oh and it was Gonzo that formally refused the clearances as I recall.
“Intimidation” is the right name for this: it all falls into place.
Have we reached the tipping point YET??? Please???
I feel an attack on Comey coming. Just a matter of time til Dick pushes back, wonder if there is a copy of the WaPo on his desk right now with his scribbled instructions on retaliation.
I’m liking the recent strategy of the Senate Judiciary Committee of bringing in contrasting witnesses to Bush cronies: Gonzo vs. Comey, Schlozman vs. Graves. I think it might be effective in shifting public and R sentiment from “protecting our own” to “who are these guys and what have they done with my government?” Remember, we need 16 or 17 R Senators for impeachment.
Gnome de Plume @ 19
Some features appear to be broken from the perspective of my firefox browser: (1) the quote button doesn’t do anything. (2) return doesn’t cause a line break.
(3) The close tags button has no effect.
perris @ 21
let me take this further because framing this issue is very important
we have to put this in the context of stealing, and when ANYONE says “he’s not stealing” we say;;
“OF COURSE he’s stealing, for NO reason he REMOVED the people that are there to PREVENT him from stealing and he REFUSES to have someone to keep him from doing it”
when someone asks how we can doubt this maggot we become INDIGNANT;
“what are you TALKING about, this man has lied us into war, lied about stealing our information, HE JUST LIED TO HIGH STUDENTSn about his make believe stories of Alqaeda and Saddam…my GOD, this man does NOTHING but lie, how on EARTH do YOU believe ANYHTING he says”
a democrat does that and watch his reatings soar
Bustednuckles @ 16
That’s the whole point. They have no intention of relinquishing the WH.
OT but good stuff, Cspan3 has Lute “war czar” confirmation hearing on (at recess right now). TPM has a few choice items up, especially the significant news on how NSA chief Hadley will have no responsbilities on Iraq and Afghanistan (Iran?), and the senator (Ryan?), shocked, says “well he should be fired then… if the head of the National Security Agency is incompetent to deal with the country’s most significant security issue.”
I think everybody, starting with senators, assumed that Lute would reporting to Hadley in some manner. Oops–some splaining to do.
Wow, I just got back from watching Josh’s interview with Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) over at TPM. Talk about sunshine and rays of hope! He refers to what the WH and DOJ have done as criminal conspiracies. I love it!
Here’s something that I’ve been wondering about. As I recall, the possible charge for impeaching Nixon that had the support of even Republicans like Barry Goldwater was obstruction of justice, ie Nixon’s use of the CIA to halt the FBI’s investigation of the watergate break-in. How is this any different from Bush using a “national security” clearance denial to block investigation of the NSA and illegal surveillance? Shouldn’t that be an open/shut case for impeachment?
popomo @ 44
those were real republicans, we don’t have those anymore, we have fascists that WANT these people to steal from us
Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.
This, I think, is why it’s taking so long to unweave the fabric of their lies so we can see the truth. Also why we must be patient, which does not preclude keeping their feet to the fire. Isn’t this the first time we have proof of Cheney’s physical involvment. Details are coming out. Drip, drip, drip.
popomo @ 44
Not for the loyal toadies that the rethug party has put in place since then. They will not defy their king at any price.
Diane @ 37
For some reason, I don’t think they DARE to attack Comey. He knows way too much. He has also shown that unless the precisely correct questions are asked, he will not volunteer anything. That might change if they go after him.
I am thinking of Todd Graves testimony the other day. That guy is a died in the wool republican. He was willing to go away nicely. (as was Comey) But they attacked his honor–and in that case–all bets were off.
Speaking of Comey–there were some interesting snippets in his answers to Sanchez yesterday. One was wrt whether or not everyone in Ashscroft’s hospital room had a security clearance as they discussed a classified program (Mrs Ashcroft did not) and whether the room was secured as a site at which classified info could be discussed (it wasn’t–anyone could’ve-theoretically-walked in while they talked).
The other concerned the efforts by Kyle Sampson to collapse the AG and DAG staffs into one office, ostensibly it would seem, to better enable the WH to micromanage the Doj.
OT – Ted Stevens Admits Involvement In FBI Probe
“Comey revealed in the written remarks that the classified program continued without legal certification from the Justice Department for ‘approximately several weeks.’”
Last paragraph from the LAT article on Cheney and Philbin. Felt like it might have been slightly buried in my previous post, just like it was in the article. We knew this from Comey’s testimony, but it seems like he was a little more specific and the term of completely illegal spying was longer than previously suggested.
dmoore @ 46
but, but, but President Bush says it’s slow ’cause it’s political theee-ate-er. What to believe, what to believe!
perris @ 21
I agree. This is something the dems have not been very good at; when something is obvious to them, they still need to frame it in language that speaks to the bottom feeders too.
Bustednuckles @ 16
These guys don’t do forward thinking. They don’t think about consequences. If they had we wouldn’t be in Iraq and Scooter would have nothing to be convicted on. It’s why we have Guantanamo. There were internationally accepted ways and means for us to try and convict terrorists, but were they used? NO, because this Administration couldn’t be bothered. Act on global warming, the single greatest threat we face? Bush would much rather cozy up to energy companies, and all of those non-plan plans he’s been talking about recently he wants on his desk about 50 seconds before he leaves office.
You can go down the list. It’s always the same. There’s a mess, a disaster, or a crime. And why? It’s because these people don’t think. They flat out don’t think. And why should they? They may be crooks and stupid but they have gotten their way for more than 6 years. Scooter is a symbol for them all. He lied, he got tried, convicted even, but he still isn’t in jail, and there is some question that he ever will. So why should these guys change? Nothing and nobody has stopped them so far, and, as I said, they don’t think about the future or who is going to have to pick up the pieces or clean up the mess.
OT but if anyone is curious, the DoJ released a very small dump of some extremely interesting Monica Goodling et al emails yesterday (2nd set).
And! There is a draft and revision of a letter written to Issa on “alien smuggling” by the DoJ (1st set).
Avail at TPM.
perris and Gnome de Plume: I agree that today’s rethuglicans will hardly follow in Goldwater’s footsteps when it comes to impeachment, what I’m wondering about is why when I hear reasons for impeaching Bush, lying about WMD’s, etc., that this case of obvious obstruction of justice isn’t among the first items on everyone’s list.
Mad Dogs @ 24
Shades of Dr Strangelove. IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST!!
Diane says: @37
I feel an attack on Comey coming. Just a matter of time til Dick pushes back, wonder if there is a copy of the WaPo on his desk right now with his scribbled instructions on retaliation.
Now that is unimpeachably funny. In a dark side
way.
This heart-felt statement from the VP, posted on the White Hose web site, in regards to the death of Craig Thomas:
And you’re right, in Washington it is very hard to maintain that kind of respect and affection from your colleagues. It’s unfortunately oftentimes very partisan here.
Really? Thanks for doin’ your part.
Other Pat @ 51
That’s their *best* PR trick. It’s slow because as Schumer says, they are stonewalling every last atom but Bush turns it around and makes the slowness a “feature” created by those horrible, partisan Dems! Heads explode and everything is confused to hell. And the truth is buried even deeper.
eGAD.
dmoore @ 35
Correctomundo, girlscout!
Scarecrow @ 32
Amen.
spurious @ 56
Right! Per Section 1 of the 25th Amendment: “In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.” And that is not an outcome to be desired with the current VP in office.
Hugh @ 53
Hugh, is it that they don’t think, or is it that they don’t care?
It seems to me that they simply believe that all of that stuff is for mere mortals. They’ve thought about it and dismissed it as irrelevant.
popomo @ 55
Just think how long it took for the WMD lies to become accepted. This obstruction business is just now getting traction.
wigwam @ 62
do Cheney, then you do Bush, then it’s PELOSI 2007!
Gnome de Plume @ 23
I wouldn’t put it past them to invent some national emergency and suspend the Constitution with all of us under military siege and the NeoCons remain in power. I don’t think they are going to let go of the power they amassed for a minute.
wigwam @ 62
BushCo does have a way of picking VPs that offer great protection. First there was Danny-boy then Darth. Wonder who Jebbie would pick for his office protection?
Betty @ 31
From the story:
The investigation found that up to £120m a year was sent by BAE Systems from the UK into two Saudi embassy accounts in Washington.
Sure would be interesting to know where the money went to from there.
[Mods: Why does “quote” no longer work?]
Elliott @ 65
and that’s why the Republicans won’t go along with it. Nancy Pelosi as President is too horrible for them to even contemplate.
I love that Comey told about Cheney blocking Philbin’s promotion!!! This is great news for those of us that want the truth to come out. But I’m sure dead-eye Dick will be retaliating against Comey soon.
fahrender @ 69
that’s one of the reasons that make this all so right!
fahrender @ 69
Sorry, after the performance of the Democrats so far, especially her choice of Emanuel and Hoyer, it is too horrible for me to even contemplate also.
fahrender @ 69
I’m not sure if there are any “ethical and honest” redubyacans around anymore. But after Spiro resigned in the middle of the H2Ogate investigations, the Trickster chose Ford as VP nominee specifically as he could be confirmed. If Darth were impeached and removed from office, the Chimpenfuhrer could not select any of the current candidates. Nor could he select Jebbie and get him confirmed. He could MAYBE pick HoJo but that may be about the only choice and even then confirmation would be suspect.
Ding!
fahrender @ 69
discussed a long time ago, there would be dual impeachment
simple
fahrender @ 63
They don’t get to the level of thinking because they feel they don’t have to. They are, at least in their own eyes, right by definition so why waste thought on what they are doing?
What makes Cheney so dangerous is that he is the perfect fusion of arrogance and paranoia. His delusions more than Bush’s stupidity are what gives the sinister cast to the world we, unfortunately, share with him.
Senate is killing the immigration bill as we speak.
As far as the lies this Administration has told, some still believe them. My son and I had an argument (viseral and loud) about WMD being found in Iraq. He still believes they were moved. No wonder he is having trouble in life — he, too, has been living in a non-reality state for a while. Thus his current problems.
And he said that we must finish the job in Iraq or terrorists will come here. I was dumbstruck that a son of mine still believes this stuff. I fear my three children have totally joined the ‘dark side.’
Woodhall Hollow @ 54
Thanks, WH.
james @ 72
I know that Hoyer was the selection of the Dem caucus, not Pelosi (she wanted Murtha) and I imagine that Wrong-Way Rahm was also a caucus choice as well. Point: Please don’t blame her for the actions of the entire caucus of House Dems.
Woodhollow @ 48 – curious, where are you reading the answers Comey provided Sanchez?
tbsa @ 77
good.
i’ll believe they’re serious about doing the right thing on immigration when our messed up trade policies are addressed.
GrandmaJ @ 78
tell him it’s not possible, we have satalites that can count the hair on his arm, the administration was monotoring every movement
if the wmd’s were moved we knew it
not possible they were moved, couldn’t happen, period
LooHoo – How’d you know I was a Girl Scout?
Running out (back to the dentist) and then back here to Get Prepared.
‘Til tonight, then.
Ta
Interesting stuff from Comey today isn’t it.
Via Raw Story: LINK
selise @ 82
the solution to the “immigration problem” is simple and even the wingnuts would climb on board;
jail the employers
bing, no immigration problem, done
Diane @ 81
links to all of them are here.
The one mitigating factor on the coup – Bushco has f****d up the military so bad that I do not believe they would follow his directives on that. Notice how the retired guys are talking such trash about them? The currently serving folks can’t do that but they most likely feel the same way.
Monty Broder and the Holy Moral Equivalence
Episode 73:
In which our hero equates cutting off funding for the war and nuking Iran.
[Another comment to mods: the new software makes it hard (impossible?) to format my brilliant comments attractively.]
Gnome de Plume @ 88
That’s where Blackwater comes in; a xtianist private army of true believers that HAS NOT sworn an oath to protect and defend the constitution.
tbsa @ 77
No surprise there. The 7th year of a discredited President, a divided Congress, a complicated bill, a controversial subject, it is a recipe for inaction.
GrandmaJ? the GrandmaJ? long time no see!
perris @ 87
not my solution – it leaves millions of people unable to feed their children.
but, i don’t worry about it happening… as the people who fund both parties won’t go for it.
Diane @ 81
Diane — LINK!
Selise, thanks for the link.
Thanks to Woodhollow.
My Big Time Question: why does Chee-knee fellow traveler and facilitator of treason Bob Novak still have a column appearing in the WaPoo?
dmoore @ 84
I asked Dick Cheney.
Oh yeah, dakine. I forgot about that. Gulp.
Scarecrow @ 32
YES! Doesn’t this have to be where Schumer is headed? I mean, when he finally succeeds in turning over the rock and all the disgusting creepies crawl out, won’t they have to impeach? Otherwise, why pursue it? So you can fold at the end and really piss off the country?
So, will Scooter pull a Paris?
Elliott @ 65
From your lips to God’s ear.
Gnome de Plume @ 99
The best thing we can do is keep shining the light on Blackwater activities. Knowing about the “problem” helps to mitigate it and keep it from growing.
And on the positive side, even though we’re unorganized, I do believe there are a whole world of veterans like myself who may not go quietly into that dark night if you will. :})
selise @ 93
good point, we would have to come up with some accomodation for those already employed
for instance;
the corporation that employed them would have to sponsor their citisenship
cute
I agree with selise. It is inhumane. Besides which, immigration is like 100th on the list of things we need to deal with stat. Like hey, we won’t have to worry about illegals when the oceans turn completely putrid and all the fish die and when our air becomes so toxic we’ll all be wearing gas masks to breathe. Everyone looks the same in a gas mask!
The immigration debate at this point in time just burns me. Let’s deal with the unacceptability of torture, how to heal the environment, healthcare, education, civil rights, the f**king occupation of Iraq, let’s get the idiot-in-chief and all his followers behind bars and then we’ll talk about the hapless immigrants selling oranges by the bag at fourth and main.
now how can we get the democrats to start calling the wirtaps “stealing our information”, “stealing our bussiness secrets and contacts”, “looking up our chilrens’s dress”
that’s the way they need to frame this discussion and we have to get them with the program
Prairie Sunshine @ 97
I don’t understand the question. This is the subservient, sycophantic, water carrying, Bush fellating WaPo we are talking about, right? Or is it that you are thinking Novak would feel even more at home at the Times?
dakine01 @ 67
Alvin?
dakine01 @ 103
Gnome de Plume @ 99
Come on guys, you think that an outfit with the record these guys have in “occupying” Iraq could seriously occupy the US? There are not just we regular vets but all these posse comatitus type groups that are armed to the teeth!
Is there a GOP old folks home we can round this bunch up and ship to?
Where is nurse Ratchet when you need her?
Sorry if this was talked about in the comments, but just reading the previous post I see Bruce Fein called Pat Fitz “…a highly regarded Republican United States attorney…” Um, was this common knowledge already?
Jenny from the blog @ 105 says:
But the 99 issues above immigration don’t offer the same divisive wedge potential doncha know. And wedgie potential is really all the chimpenfuhrer, Darth, and KKKarl can operate from.
QuakerGirl @ 8:50 am -
But if they can’t even subdue Iraq, how will they be able to control an even larger country? I do not believe that even Chief Justice John Roberts and/or Justice Scalia would go along with any blatant attempt to completely abrogate the Constitution.
Are you a Quaker by birthright?
New thread…
OT: Lieberdeath on CNN — says more death is worth more death.
He is more optimistic about the “surge” than Gen Lute is.
Hugh @ 76
Amen.
Has Luskin answered Pat? What the fuck is taking so long to hand over the e-mails?
More obstruction
bonkers @ 111
Erm
Conservative might be accurate, but I believe Fitz’ political affiliation is ‘none’
…
Hey – Edit this comment works again in IE7
w00w00
Sorry all you Firefox folks, but it crashes and loops on my computers
Immigration – it is another Laissez Faire Capitalistic ploy for cheap/slave labor. As a Consultant on hiring in corporations I worked in partnership with HR to verify every employees ID in the tech industry. It was no big deal. If something didn’t check out (like my Admin. didn’t check out once she finished college) the person was let go by HR. Companies were strict. If a company can’t verify its employees they need to shut their doors because they can’t operate any other part of their business either.
Hmmm…just curious why Bruce Fein would call Fitz a Republican with such certainty in an Op-Ed no less. Not that it matters…
LA Times Editorial: LINK
Hugh @ 76
Hugh – how might postperfusion syndrome affect his behavior? Kirk Murphy – are you here?
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 113
In response: Convinced since the 1960s era. My children are birthright.
dakine01 @ 90
How many are employed by Blackwater?
Lieberman ‘Really Upset’ At Troops Who Didn’t ‘Speak To Me From Their Heart’
QuakerGirl @ 123
Thanks for your reply – I have about ten generations of Quaker ancestors on my father’s side of my family.
perris @ 86
If that doesn’t work, jail the employer and the employer’s spouse and kids in a privatized hell misnamed a detention facility.
Gnome de Plume @ 88
Sure hope you’re right. It has been comforting to hear repubs begin to openly criticize chimpy. But these cons fight dirty, and will seemingly stop at nothing. If a skyscraper is blown up before the end of the current term, my first thought will not be of foreign terrorists. And that that idea could even occur to a (normally nonparanoid) US citizen is a very sad commentary on this administration.
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 126
That is also the same for my children. Their father comes from several generations of Quakers. You probably all crossed paths at some point in time. Nice to meet you.
Perris @87…There was a chart up on the senate floor via cspan showing several million in penalties to employers in the late 90’s for hiring ellegals…latest penalties were in the neighborhood of 100,000. Agree with you on trade policies needing to be addressed. Bernie Sanders did that yesterday in the senate.Noted thousands applying for 300 jobs at various walmarts being opened. Dell and Motorola laying off workers for some time. But they are also applying for visas for immigrants. Bernie feels strongly about this massive sell out to US workers.
molly @ 130
our trade policies are a massive sell out to workers every where. this shouldn’t pit workers in the us vs. workers in mexico, china or anywhere else…. unless corporations in favor of cheap labor are able to distract us by scapegoating non-us workers
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 122
The short answer is that I don’t know.
Post cardiac surgery personality changes would be a simple to explain Cheney but what studies have been done on this indicate that such changes are usually transient.
OTOH people who knew him earlier in life have often remarked on how changed he is. But let’s face it many of those who wrote letters in support of Scooter Libby coudn’t reconcile their memories of him with the crimes for which he was convicted, and he did not have any cardiac history that I know of.
There is certainly a pathological tinge to Cheney and his actions but a lot of what we see now has been in process for decades, since his time in the Nixon and Ford Administrations.
Sometimes malicious people fester unless and until circumstances give scope to their malice and paranoia. This is as good an explanation as any to Dick Cheney as far as I can see.
Zhiv @42:
I believe that was Harry Reid calling out Hadley in the confirmation.
And the DemocRATS will willingly cooperate with
the criminals in The White House.
Meanwhile, the Senate hearings on the DOJ are just a circus for the proletariat.
When will someone prosecute The White House AND
CONGRESS on RICO for the Wars on Everything for
private personal AND corporate profit?
No one has mentioned, or I haven’t read, the conclusion of what all this warantless spying means: BLACKMAIL. I am sure Cheyney & Co are engaged in quite a bit of it.
Hugh @ 132
It is my understanding that some of the medications used in treating such heart conditions as Cheney’s can help trigger depression. There is also great fear in someone like Cheney that the next twinge in the chest will be the last one. I do not know what the man was like in previous years, but I suspect he lives with LOTS of anxiety both about his job and his health. Enough of that can push someone over the edge. I have seen it with my own father, who is otherwise healthy.
Elliott @ 65
Perhaps a better scenario is for great pressure to be lined up and made obvious to Cheney and then to offer him a chance to resign for ‘health’ reasons. That way his rep wouldn’t be destroyed and he could do the right thing for the nation and a much better person (not a candidate for prez though) could be placed in the WH just in case.
Of course, who his replacement would be would have to be worked out and agreed upon before anything is sealed.
WaPo: “Cheney and his aides were more personally involved than previously known.” Aw, come on, this vice-president has ben micro-managing his war on terror since the beginning and the propoganda campaign that goes along with it. After six years they, the media, are just now realizing this? I just hope the powers that be continue pursuing Cheney and Rove long after the administration is over for their deeds. They should not be allowed to get away with it.