Bring on the sunshine:
The subpoena threat came after a senior Justice Department official told a House judiciary subcommittee on Thursday that the department would not turn over the documents because of their confidential nature. But the official, Steven G. Bradbury, principal deputy assistant attorney general and head of the Justice Department’s office of legal counsel, did not assert executive privilege during the hearing.The potential confrontation over the documents comes in the wake of gripping Senate testimony last month by a former deputy attorney general, James B. Comey, who described a confrontation in March 2004 between Justice Department and White House officials over the wiretapping program that took place in the hospital room of John Ashcroft, then attorney general. Mr. Comey’s testimony, disclosing the sharp disagreements in the Bush administration over the legality of some N.S.A. activities, has increased Congressional interest in scrutinizing the program.At the same time, the Bush administration is seeking new legislation to expand its wiretapping powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Democratic lawmakers in both the House and the Senate have argued that they do not want to vote on the issue without first seeing the administration’s legal opinions on the wiretapping program.
“How can we begin to consider FISA legislation when we don’t know what they are doing?” asked Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York, who heads the subcommittee.
On May 17, after Mr. Comey’s testimony, Mr. Nadler and Representative John Conyers Jr., Democrat of Michigan, who is the chairman of the full Judiciary Committee, wrote to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales requesting copies of Justice Department legal opinions used to support the N.S.A. wiretapping program, as well as later documents written by top Justice Department officials that raised questions about the program’s legality in 2004. The letter also asked Mr. Gonzales to provide his own description of the 2004 confrontation.
Mr. Conyers said he had not received a response from the Justice Department. “We’re going to give him two more weeks, and then, as somebody said, it’s about time process kicks in somewhere around here,” Mr. Conyers said.
Welcome to oversight. This brings to mind the words that Al Gore spoke back in January of 2006, and I want to reprint a segment of that speech here for everyone:
A president who breaks the law is a threat to the very structure of our government. Our Founding Fathers were adamant that they had established a government of laws and not men. Indeed, they recognized that the structure of government they had enshrined in our Constitution - our system of checks and balances - was designed with a central purpose of ensuring that it would govern through the rule of law. As John Adams said: "The executive shall never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, or either of them, to the end that it may be a government of laws and not of men." An executive who arrogates to himself the power to ignore the legitimate legislative directives of the Congress or to act free of the check of the judiciary becomes the central threat that the Founders sought to nullify in the Constitution - an all-powerful executive too reminiscent of the King from whom they had broken free. In the words of James Madison, "the accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."Thomas Paine, whose pamphlet, "On Common Sense" ignited the American Revolution, succinctly described America's alternative. Here, he said, we intended to make certain that "the law is king."
Vigilant adherence to the rule of law strengthens our democracy and strengthens America. It ensures that those who govern us operate within our constitutional structure, which means that our democratic institutions play their indispensable role in shaping policy and determining the direction of our nation. It means that the people of this nation ultimately determine its course and not executive officials operating in secret without constraint.
The rule of law makes us stronger by ensuring that decisions will be tested, studied, reviewed and examined through the processes of government that are designed to improve policy. And the knowledge that they will be reviewed prevents over-reaching and checks the accretion of power.
I have no idea whether Gore wrote this speech on his own, or whether some speechwriter out there helped him with this -- but I have to say, with all honesty and a tinge of envy at the excellence of this well-crafted speech: more of this please. From every Democrat who will pick up the torch of liberty and pass it forth for generations to come.
We had a fantastic chat yesterday with Caroline Frederickson of the ACLU regarding the issue of habeas rights restoration and the work that all of us can do to help move the legislation forward. If you missed the chat, I suggest taking a little time this morning to go back and read it.
As for the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate, I say only this: kudos on the sunshine. Those of you doing the tough work of both legislation and oversight on the mess that the Bush Administration and the previous Republican-controlled Congress are doing the hard work at the moment. I don't expect instant miracles, but I sure would like a lot more sunshine in the days, weeks and months ahead. Especially when it comes to restoring the constritutional principles and civil liberties fought so hard for by the nation's founders -- and by every generation since.
I choose liberty. What say you?
(Gorgeous shot of the American flag via jcolman.)
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Mornin’ Redd.
Morning Busted! How’s tricks with you this morning?
Morning, Christy.
President Gore.
Being spared the last seven years is the kind of idea that can drive you crazy.
Yes, keep pouring on the sunshine. I’d like some teeth to go with it - I still think the administration’s attitude is a giant FUCK YOU, what you gonna do about it? But this is a start.
Funny how they screamed ‘Rule of Law’ at the top of their lungs when hounding Clinton, but nary a peep out of the feckless bastards when it’s one of their own.
Hypocritical scumbags.
Draft Gore!
Dodd for Sec of State. Edwards for VP. And let the rest of them go back to their day jobs.
I choose liberty (except for Scooter).
Other than being rather annoyed at a bunch of Republicans, I’m good Christy.
;)
IIRC, Gore writes his own books–and most of his own speeches. He supposedly has speech writers, but he edits them constantly, leaving them frustrated. Campaigning for 2000, he once at the last minute junked a speech written for him and decided to ad lib from the podium.
more great stuff, Christy. i tried to submit a comment at the end of the last post but that little wheel just woulen’t stop turning ……..
I choose Irony…
OT….
Today’s GOPig mailbag
…
addressed to the old man (former boss) who has since retired
On the front of the envelope:
From Mary Matalin, Assistant to the President, Counselor to the Vice President, 2001-2003
“No one was more intent on stopping the next attack, and if you knew what a difference he made, you’d be just as grateful as I am…” Please help me clear his name today.
I won’t open his mail, but I can only imagine how much crap is inside, but I can see through the thin envelope
There is more Bushco in action disaster planning in evidence. Michael Levitt commissioned a five week blog - the Pandemic Flu Leadership Blog - to bring governmental and public stakeholders together to ostensibly carry on a planning “conversation.” While the bloggers have tried repeatedly to engage the HHS, the HHS has stubbornly and with contempt, posted canned tripe and then remained silent. The experts and the commenters are noisily organizing another Boston Tea party. It’s worth your while to visit the blog, don your patriot garb and jump into the fray. Watch the Admiral walking the plank.
It’s very telling - when a pandemic hits, you will have Katrina on such an enormous scale, that very possibly, the republic will die along with flu victims.
Biodun @ 10
Gore is better off without his speech writers. Since he has not been running for president, I have been really impressed at his clarity and eloquence when he speaks. He sounds real and he makes sense. He has also improved in his ability to speak about complex topics without sounding too wonky. Bill Clinton is good at that as well. Hil–not so much. She sounds canned.
What was it Patrick Henry said? “Give me Liberty, or give me Darth?”
I’ll take Liberty, thank you very much.
Let’s give Darth to the US Bureau of Prisons for obstruction of justice.
Why the two-week delay? Why aren’t the Democrats issuing subpoenas immediately?
On a related note, I’d like to see hearings into press concentration and bias, with subpoenas heavily used to force testimony. Maybe that would result in more publicity for the few angry speeches we get from Congresional Dems.
Peterr @ 14
Or to the Hague for War Crimes.
Or better yet, both!
Off to meet S.O.S. for lunch. Should be fun.
Does anyone else get the sense that the Dems are slowly (like molasses) drawing the loop tighter around Cheney’s Chew-toy Junya, and his criminal crew?
I must be in my “glass half-full” mode to react so positively to Conyer’s minute minuet regarding some kinda “process” finally kicking in.
I’ve watched paint dry, grass grow, and now the Dems “Investigate” and I’m not sure which was slower.
To continue in the positive mode, the Dems must be planning to save the real fireworks for the Democratic Convention in 2008 and the final fall campaign push.
Now back to watching the snails marathon.
We must keep poring sunshine on all these people. I’m still reading Assalt on Reason and cant say often enough how amazing Gore’s take on the constitution and this administration is.
I watched Al Gore give a speech in Florida, I believe.
He was on fire that day.
I always was kind of Ho Hum about him, you know, the wooden personality thing.
But that speech opened my eyes wide.
The dude has some serious speechifyin’ skills!
He was passionate and forceful even.
I guess he decided the hell with it and just let it all hang out.
Permanently changed my opinion of the man.
I would LOVE to see him throw his hat in the ring.
leinie @ 5
I guess I agree. But I don’t know where any of this is going to lead if they can’t get impeachment of at least Gonzo going. As far as I can tell, Bush can just keep daring Congress to do something and as long as Gonzo controls the enforcement, they have absolute power.
btw, gang, Howie has a great candidate on deck for tomorrow’s Blue America chat. We’re going to have Tom Allen — who will be running against Susan Collins in Maine. Hope everyone can join us for the chat at 11 am PT/2 pm ET tomorrow!
Thanks for this post, Christy, and for the last one. I started reading FDL with the Libby trials. The upshot for me was utter disgust with the New York Times. I realize there are some decent journalists (I like to read Krugman, too), but after their front page apology for Jayson Blair’s lies–I would have hoped for some kind of explanation for Judith Miller. Now, when I do read the Times (I do that a lot less frequently), I’m sooo suspicious of what’s being left out, annoyed with the lack of coverage of important issues. It seems such a thin paper to me now.
On the up side, I have Lewis Libby to thank for sending me your way.
here’s the thing: disregard for law — based on either a belief that it doesn’t apply to you or that you’re beyond it, you don’t pay attention to any rules — may well be an attribute of the life of privilege bush and so many of his crime confederates have enjoyed. but it is also the defining characteristic of the sociopath.
the bushites have been mocked and derided for a long time now — remember the 2004 suskind magazine piece that quotes an unnamed official (and i’ll bet the rent it was rove) dismissing the reality-based community? but guess what: they kept behaving just that way and will continue to do so unless and until they are called on it. libby, i thought was a start; no, it appears, not so much.
sunshine is great; oversight is necessary. but until some more folks start getting arrested and doing time, there is no chance that they will change their behavior.
why would they? they are sociopaths.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 22
Certainly this is OK to spread via the blogosphere, yes?!
I know folks in Maine who would love to participate.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 22
Certainly this is OK to spread via the blogosphere, yes?!
I know folks in Maine who would love to participate.
Uh, oh . . . wordsmith’s got the hiccups again.
I thought we cured them during Late Nite last night.
Wordsmith at 24 — Absolutely! :)
DavidD @ 15
I think Conyers et al are trying to repair the Congress. By returning to a tone of civility and good faith.
By extending another 2 weeks, they can’t be accused of hypocrisy. They will issue the subpoenas, anyway, because I think the admin wants this to end up in the courts where they can argue the Cheney/Addington doctrine of the Unitary Executive wherein the President and the Vice President can do whatever the fuck they want because
of the war on terrorthey feel like it.dmg @ 23
I agree. They have nothing to lose if they keep up their behavior. Until someone takes away ther power, they will keep using it.
Poor Republicans, having to chose between failure and the rule of law: LINK
Most seem to want failure.
I would add that the spin that the Administration continues to spin still seems to work. After Iraq turned into a mess, they said, it didn’t matter if you agreed with the invasion, it’s what we do now that we’re there. Now they have managed to make the waiting out of Bush’s presidency a fait accompli, and they have us concentrating on the 2008 election. This is no accident.
Dang, maybe it’s the browser. I’m in IE now. I was in Firefox - which I updated the other day.
OK….while I’m waiting for the sheriff’s car to arrive at Paris Hilton’s house to pick her up, I’ll saunter over to a few places and let them know.
I’d love to see
CollinsLieberman-lite gone and gone for good. The great state of Maine deserves better.And I am loving these chats–even when I can’t follow them in real time, it is so interesting to go back later and read the threads.
And the other day when Dodd took my question (and said it was a really good one!) was a real thrill!
The Bush-GOP Scandal Documents Center has been expanded to include the latest news, key reports, document releases and other essential materials surrounding Bush administration and GOP wrong-doing. From the U.S. attorneys purge, Plamegate, and illegal NSA domestic surveillance to Iraq intelligence manipulation, torture scandals and the ongoing Jack Abramoff fall-out, it’s all there:
“The Bush-GOP Scandal Documents Center.”
here’s the link (mp3) to the complete audio of gore’s jan, 2006 speech: “Restoring the Rule of Law”, and here’s a page with links to lots more of his speeches. enjoy!
I watched part of the Bradbury-Nadler exchange (which was hard to do, Bradbury is sooo arrogant), and I do not understand why Bush and friends are so adamant that this is not about executive privilege. Is that because of trying to push their Unitary Exec. idea???
tommy yum @ 4
Exactly Tommy. Sometimes crazy with anger, and sometimes crazy with sorrow and pity for the victims of these criminals.
GeorgeSimian @ 32
really well said. i’m absolutely sure that was part of the discussion on iraq. and same on 2008 — they are getting a pass even from democrats because everyone has atrocity fatigue and simply cannot wait to be rid of the lot.
the big mistake is thinking that right after jan. 20 ‘09 that somehow the constitution will be magically restored and we can restore all the lost good will…
and i’m still waiting to hear about the massive catastrophe — a terrorist attack in the heartland, say — that will require bush to remain in office past his due date. and his backers will bleat, yeah, that’s ok — nothing anticonstitutional to see here. after all, he didn’t win that first election anyway.
Parsleysage @ 35
Eggzactly! The myth of UEP was the literal elephant in the room.
Thanks for featuring that particular Gore speech, Christy. It was a barn burner, a speech worth needlepointing, the kind that my kids could be quoting 20 years from now. I cried through half of that speech when watching it live; at the time this speech was given, we were desperately trying to prevent the confirmation of Sam Alito to SCOTUS, making this speech all the more poignant.
What should also have gotten more attention is the group that sponsored it — the Liberty Coalition, a transpartisan organization that focuses on civil and human rights. Even in late 2005 and early 2006 there were conservatives that were very concerned about Bush’s unitary executive. We need to continue to court these folks as they also believe firmly in the law as king.
OT–
Meanwhile, the bedlam in Iraq continues unabated:
I have to admit, lately I’ve been driven to absolute incoherency by the news.
I just don’t even know how to have discussions with people who agree with the adminstration anymore. They seem so divorced from reality to me that I just can’t connect.
G’morning, all — Christy, that speech of Al Gore’s will never get old. As the days get brighter, it’s great to reflect on one simple truth: 11/7 changed everything!
Looking forward to “meeting” Tom Allen tomorrow. A run at Susan Collins, with her support from RGJoe, is like another bite at the Ned apple. I can’t wait for Maine to turn blue.
BREAKING NEWS!! THIS JUST IN! STORY STILL DEVELOPING!!!
“…squadrons of helicopters hovered above the tense, heavily guarded compound, while throngs of press and anxious civilians roamed the adjacent streets. Angry legislators, prison officials, spokespeople for assorted tribal advocacy groups hurled vicious invective at each other, while a judge threatened contempt charges. International press coverage was riveted upon the city as passions rose widly…”
Baghdad this morning?
No, Los Angeles, amid the ongoing Paris Hilton saga.
parsleysage @ 37 says:
Sounds like it’s a disease. You should have seen the NASA IG (Robert Cobb) yesterday with his case of it. The total arrogance that “I’m right and everyone else is an idiot.” Senator Nelson (FL) and Rep Miller (NC) were not at all appreciative of his stupidity in challenging them.
yes — “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
Greetings from a Winter Soldier.
Woodhall Hollow @ 29
On the inevitable test of the Addington doctrine before the Supremes. It won’t come up until next year, by which time it will be abundantly clear to Judges Thomas, Scalia Roberts and Alito, that the next President will be a Democrat, with the odds that said Democrat will be Hillary Clinton. I can’t imagine that this gang of Rethug rascals will for a minute support giving her dictatorial powers, even in principle. These guys project. And what they will be projecting is Payback Time.
Horrible commentary on our Supreme Judiciary. I can’t imagine writing this. But 12/6/2000 changed everything, as they say.
OT–
And Condi–via Bush–continues to revive the cold war with
theSoviets–Russia. After all, she’s a putative Russia “expert.” And here she’s added geometry and geography to her area of expertise.the only java working on my machinne this morning is refresh, so by hand;
finally some consequences
the president is comfortable with his “so what are you gonna do about it?
it’s crazy this guy has the nerve to say “abu torture hasn’t done anything wrong”…”why, he has my complete confidence”
time for the consequences and conyers needs to be more clear exactly what he is talking about
BobbyG @ 45
Good one, BobbyG. Funny, but very sad, all the “bread and circus” crowd gone berserk.
dakine01 @ 46
Sounds like it’s a disease. You should have seen the NASA IG (Robert Cobb) yesterday with his case of it. The total arrogance that “I’m right and everyone else is an idiot.” Senator Nelson (FL) and Rep Miller (NC) were not at all appreciative of his stupidity in challenging them.
They must be pod people or something. It’s amazing to me how many of that ilk BushCo managed to find to insert into
ourhis government.DreamingCrow @ 42
The key is to look at the MSM as your chance to do your own episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000. The mistake is to look at them as news. They’re not.
The natives are getting restless.
snip
http://www.dailykos.com/
OT: MSNBC Breaking News Headline: SecDef Gates to Replace Pace…
Christy,
Right on!!!!
I am SO glad you cited Gore’s January 2006 speech– it is a real gem, one that deserves listening to again and again! I listened to it live, and have often referred to it.
Towards the end of the speech, Gore said something to the effect that Bush seems to be daring us to impeach him. And he closed with a number of strong recommendations that make even more sense now than they did then.
It is one of Gore’s best speeches, ever.
Bob in HI
DreamingCrow @ 43
I know. Don’t waste valuable air and energy. If they still support him at this point, the man could bust into their home, shoot their grandma and they’d holler, “Hey, grandpa’s in the room next door, in case you’re interested!”
dakine01 @ 55
Maybe Libby can write him a letter of recommendation
raven at 46 — I knew you’d get the reference. ;-)
I really count on this site. I knew there were others out there and it only felt like I was soloing. I appreciate light shed on the legal aspects from people who are knowledgeable in this area. I can’t get enough.
dakine01 @ 54
Whoa!
GatesPappy Bush is starting to exert a little control.Re Libby,
Scooter’s defense fund site still has no reaction to his sentencing. There are some links to half a dozen wingnut editorials calling for his pardon: WSJ, Victoria Toensing, etc. But the last frontpage note from Mel Sembler is dated June 1.
http://www.scooterlibby.com/
File under You-Can’t-Make-This-Up!
Via Raw Story:
EPU’D
christy-thanks again.
you have my admiration, and most of all my respect.
dakine–happy double-nickel……would post sarah mclachlan’s version of ‘ol fifty-five for you if i wasn’t on dial-up…have a happy ‘king for a day”!
Woodhall Hollow @ 62
Get ready to hear what a great fucking job he has done.
QuakerGirl @ 61
are quaker girls allowed to use teh internet tubeules?
Knut Wicksell @ 49
I think Woodhall Hollow is right, and also think that the two week delay helps to keep this whole drip, drip, drip perking right along, especially as DC moves into its summer season. Today it’s Conyers, tomorrow it’s Waxman, Leahy the next day, . . .
Fred Fielding has got to have one helluva headache from this DC Water Torture. Maybe that’s why he’s calling in reinforcements from his old law firm to join the WH Counsel’s staff. (h/t Josh Marshall and his TPM readers)
Mandrake @ 57
Exactly. Bah.
Sadly, I actually do know a fair number of people like this.
Hugh @ 54
Oh! Oh!! I want to be Tom Servo!! Please??
dakine01 @ 56
How did this get past the Paris Hilton circus?
dakine01 @ 45
Sounds like it’s a disease. You should have seen the NASA IG (Robert Cobb) yesterday with his case of it. The total arrogance that “I’m right and everyone else is an idiot.” Senator Nelson (FL) and Rep Miller (NC) were not at all appreciative of his stupidity in challenging them.
Luckily I missed that.
Woodhall Hollow: thanks for the response.
Woodhall Hollow @ 14
I’m convinced that Gore would have done much better in the 2000 election if he hadn’t been so rehearsed and overhandled. It’s when his natural spontaneity isn’t stifled that he’s at his best.
And, oh, surprise, surprise (any FDL lawyers looking for work? *g*):
I am so tired of this line from Democrats. How many times are they going to write an angry letter before sending subpoenas? Two weeks? Every day kids are dying while shrub, shooter, and speedy are lying and taking America for a joy ride. If there is one big lesson here, it is never, ever count on anyone but yourself. That means getting out in the street if that’s what it takes. These guys no longer get the benefit of the doubt with me. There is only one way that anyone in congress (except for Kucinich of course, who has done the right thing), to get any respect from me (and for that matter everyone in my family, and almost everyone I know), and that is to start impeaching all of these lying sacks. Never will a Dem get a vote from me again. I have registered Green the last 3 elections, but I actually voted for some Dems in ‘06 just because I felt it was the only way to help save our country. I was wrong. All of us that fell for that were wrong. I don’t trust anyone.
On that note, that includes Al Gore. I have been a huge supporter, but he took a huge step back for me a couple of weeks ago when he came out against impeachment. I just don’t get it. How can smart people look at this situation and not see that there is only one way to remedy our problems? Not only do we need to impeach to keep this power grab from becoming precedent, but impeachment is a constitutional mechanism. If wrongdoing is suspected (and in this case it is suspected in more places that you can even imagine) then an inquiry is in order. When people like Al Gore, or Nancy Pelosi push the tool of impeachment aside like that I have only one reaction; suspicion. There is no valid reason that impeachment should not be front and center. The reason it is not is all due to political consideration. It sickens me. It ought to sicken everyone.
We are around 18 months of inaction away from becoming a 3rd world country. As it stands now, we don’t have a democracy. Unless and until habeas corpus is restored, the Constitution means nothing. Maybe that just doesn’t sink in with most people. We are a truly ignorant country. Willingly ignorant of our heritage, and those that had the vision to set this system of government up, and ignorant of the document(s) that used to spell out our freedoms, and what we stood for and against.
Take a random sample of kids old enough to have been though US history class, and I bet that 9 out of 10 of them know more about american idol than they do about the Constitution, or the men who designed the government that we used to love.
One last thought (sorry for the rant), people complain about the Iraq war, a looming war with Iran, the destruction of civil liberties, the environment, the complain about war profiteering, war crimes, gas price gouging, natural disaster response, and on and on, but many of those same people don’t support impeachment. It’s insane. You can fix it all with impeachment. Stop the war in Iraq, prevent one with Iran, restore democracy and support the troops by impeaching bush and cheney now.
I loved Gore’s “How dare they” speech.
I’ve felt that Gore’s loss in 2000 was God, the Universe, or Karma sparing us and him having 9/11 happen on his watch.
Republicans would have blamed it all on the Democrats. We might have been in for an even longer reign of Republican terror when Gore was voted out in 2004. Gore would have taken personal responsiblity for this, and may have destroyed him.
So as bad as this 7 years has been, I think it’s not as bad as the wingnuts would have made it if Gore was running the country. At least now I have hope.
FISA amendments? Why won’t the Democratic leadership just say “NO” for the duration of this administration?
Any investigation into this administration’s current domestic spying will likely be stillborn because of administrative stoning. Congress should still rigorously investigate, however, as a prelude to fuller investigations later, as a signal of support to whistelblowers who may contemplate blowing, and to Mr. Cheney’s flying monkeys, to stoke their fear that their master might be less and less able to protect them and hide their wrongdoing.
This administration’s public record already makes abundantly clear that the USG has not responsibly used the power it has. If your teenage driver has a brace of DUI’s while driving the Prius, why give them the keys to the Ferrari?
spurious @ 73
I saw his speech entitled something like “constitutional crisis”
well, that was scripted but man it was the most moving speach I’ve seen since watching tapes of jfk
dakine01 @ 55
It may have been his talk about preserving his precious bodily fluids that crossed the line, or the Scooter letter, or any of the other times he did his loose cannon act.
Hugh @ 54
That’s an excellent idea! There is nothing funnier than just running those ridiculous clips together, back to back, of things Bush has said, and his Republicwhore supporters have said over the last few years. Just pick a subject to for each feature. You could start with Iraq and put in John Boehner bawling on the house floor, right after he says Iraq’s WMD’s were moved before we invaded.
Can I play Tom Servo?!
Biodun @ 74
I think it’s the work of the FDL lawyers that caused Fielding to expand his staff.
Breaking: Joint Chiefs Chairman Pace replaced.
Peterr at 82 — Gosh, I hope so. *g*
Peterr @ 68
Hugh @ 80
Or maybe not knowing that we passed the 3,000 mark of troop fatalities quite some time ago?
dmac @ 65
And thank you for the kind wishes and your polite smack-down of nameless persons last night…
CHS #83
FDL: Turning Neo-Cons into plain old Cons.
Or maybe not knowing that we passed the 3,000 mark of troop fatalities quite some time ago?
Nope, it’s about a retirement trigger!
At first I thought Gates himself was replacing Pace: taking his place. If that had been the case, it certainly wouldn’t have surprised me, given the labyrinth of morass this administration is tangled in.
TJ @ 75
You know, I have had exactly the same thought many times. Gore would’ve had a much more measured response, and the right-wing Politicians and media would’ve been braying “chicken,” “weak, “cowardly,” and “unpatriotic” (which they did anyway–but at least the dems can’t be held entirely responsible).
I do regret Nov 2 2004. That was a very very dark day.
Regarding Peter Pace, someone quoted the line about ‘rearranging chairs on the Titanic.’
perris @ 67
We’re the worldly ones. Oops! My bonnet slipped over my eyes!
dakine01 @ 45
Sounds like it’s a disease. You should have seen the NASA IG (Robert Cobb) yesterday with his case of it. The total arrogance that “I’m right and everyone else is an idiot.” Senator Nelson (FL) and Rep Miller (NC) were not at all appreciative of his stupidity in challenging them.
I would have loved to have caught the Cobb episode. There have been a lot of fun and games at NASA over the years. From my scandals list:
BTW I noticed that O’Keefe wrote a pro-Scooter letter.
Biodun @ 90
I think you actually have to be IN the military to be Chair of the JCS.
Wordsmith @ 71
Because Pace couldn’t count?