I thought the “Bush surge” in Iraq was supposed to reduce violence:
– NYTimes, Violence Rising In Iraq
– WaPo, Violence Not Quelled By Build-Up
– Juan Cole, Samarra Fall-Out, Surge Not Working
– McClatchey via ChiTrib, US: Iraq Violence Undiminished
And it goes on and on and on. Exactly how long are our nation’s soldiers expected to play this deluded game of whack-a-mole, risking life and limb for George Bush’s ego? Because even allowing for an increase in violence due to the weather heating up and the usual summer uprisings and such, the whole “surge of troops to quell the violence” concept is working bass ackwards.
And it is the troops on the ground, not the strutting folks in Washington, who are paying the ultimate price for this. As well as the Iraqi people, most of whom are trapped in increasingly violent sectarian pockets, or running to other nations as refugees from George Bush’s war. What a mess.
(Photo via McBeth.)
Scheduling Update on Libby Sentencing: Judge Walton has some other odds and ends to deal with this morning. The hearing will begin at 11:30 AM EST. Each side will have 30 minutes. The judge will then break for lunch and come back with his ruling at 1:30. Fitz reportedly does not plan to do a presser afterward and no word on the intentions of the defense, though they bolted afterward last week. That’s the plan as it stands at 10:00 AM, anyway. — Pach
Related posts:
- Torture: Obama Heeded Maliki on Abuse Photos, Says McClatchy; What That Says for Our Occupation
- Gen. Ray Ordierno: We May Never Win in Iraq
- Remember Iraq or Ray Odierno is Still Wrong
- Changing of the Guard: US Troops Withdraw from Iraqi Cities; Maliki Declares “Sovereignty Day”
- Afghanistan: 21,000 Plus 13,000 – or Plus 115,000?
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
uno?
Dos
I thought the “Bush surge” in Iraq was supposed to reduce violence:
I don’t think they ever said that. They want hegemony regardless of how many brown people die.
Troops home now!
I just popped in. I have to go back and read the earlier post. Dakine, we need to talk. I stopped by Gruene Hall yesterday. The brunch is $25! Betsy and I are cooking up a cheap and better alternative. Let me know how to contact you individually.
Of course, in the (has to be) drug induced parallel universe inhabited by The Chimpenfuhrer, Darth, HoJo et al, more violence against the troops means the surge is working. Just as less violence against the troops would mean the surge is working. Whatever HAPPENS means the surge is working. Which is why Gen Betrayus can say in June that he knows he will report in September that progress is being made so we have to stay there so more troops can be killed or injured.
whack-a-mole indeed…We must keep screaming Firepups!
Thanks Christy.
A reduction in violence proves that the surge is working.
An increase in violence proves that the surge is working.
Your point, Christy?
P.S. Is it September yet?
“What a mess” What a tragedy is more like it!
How about crimes against humanity! Yet most Americans are happy not to see blown up and dead, injured and displace Iraqi people. This is a ethno/-centric war taking place. The U.S.’s Sabra and Shatilla. We created an enviroment where a genocide could take place!
yawn is the response!
Gnome de Plume @ 5
Yeah I saw that myself when I checked online. It was a bit of a surprise. Are you on facebook? Ms Betsy is I believe and can get to my e-mail or send a message through that. Otherwise, I guess I can spell it all out phonetically, it would just take some time…
CNN is reporting that the Libby defense will run right over to the DC CoA with a motion for an emergency stay of sentencing if Walton doesn’t allow Libby out on bail pending appeals.
OK, I’m back. From Habeas Corpus to Corpses. Some days I wish I didn’t care and could just merrily go along with everything being fed to me.
dratty@11
Scooting for Scooter?
Thank you Christy
may I add Wolcott’s bleak view
Apocalypse Now in 3-D
there’s a lot more there.
[my bold]
Pach – If you have some time to kill, there’s a solution for your sticky keyboard.
Dakine, I am not in facebook, but Betsy is, and we are in communication, so if you could get your e-mail to her, then you would be in the loop. Also LS is close by. We need to invite her plus a couple folks who are in Austin as well as any Firepups traveling through the area.
FROGMARCH……….
I have a question for the lawyers here. What does it take form someone to be disbarred based on arguments they advocate on behalf of their clients. Can Gonzales be disbarred for ignoring habeas corpus? Can Yoo be disbarred for his advocation of torture? Can private citizens ask the state/federal bars to investigate a lawyer? I’m just curious what the process is.
This is Sen. Mike Gravel’s legislation and legislative strategy to get all of the troops home from Iraq before Christmas.
Sen. Gravel’s plan
Thanks for the scoop about the timing of the Libby/Walton hearing on the issue of whther there are any “close” questions on appeal. I’m looking forward to your coverage and commentary.
I think the President said the goal of the surge was to not lose
while he is still preznetand to teach our news reporters that not every explosion should end up on the nightly news.dratty @ 11
That Libby Defense Fund that those connected at their roots contributed to sure comes in handy when you want to trump the justice system!
Another must read on Christy’s point: William Lind yesterday on the counterproductive indicator of the increase in Air Force bombings:
We can’t leave.
We can’t stay.
We CAN lose our soldiers…
What are we fighting for? Absolutely nothing
(sound like Viet Nam?)
The Bushies are idiots and MUST be impeached
Thank you Thank you FDL team. You are true patriots!
Sorta on Topic. Last night I saw Keith’s standin (don’t know name) interviewing Richard Wolffe on KO and got seriously annoyed. Wolffe always seems to lean in support of “waiting” for the surge to work/or not work. He castigates Reid for introducing measures so early after the other failed. Believes Reid should wait until September. Again Wolffe implies this is all politics on the Dem side, but politics are all he offers in rebuttal. Wolffe always believes anything the Congress does benefits Chimpy and that congressional dems are taking the wrong political direction. He can’t seem to connect politics to body count and troops trapped in Iraq. A poll was brought up that stated that approval of Congress was less than Chimpy’s approval ratings, 23% as opposed to 28% (?) KO’s standin: so is the honeymoon over for Congress. Wolffe: Oh definitely over, nada, nada, nada. Richard Wolffe, Newsweek. He is a smug bastard.
allan_in_upstate @ 15
no more doughnuts for you todaaaaaaaay Paaaaaaaaaaach ;->
dakine01:
I see you’ve been racking up the zeds lately.
Why do I have this sickening thought
that Reggie will release Libby on bail?
Does anybody know WTF Specter is up to with his negotiations with the WH on the subpoenas? Josh is covering it.
Go Pach!!!
Kinda nice weather here in DC — for this time of year, neh?
Maybe you can amble across the street to the National Gallery
Gnome de Plume @ 12
nah gah happen, for u or us.
u know that.
at least we have eachother at the Lake.
hang on! ;->
Today is the day that will close up one loop for me at FDL. FDL’s coverage of Judith Miller/Plamegate brought me here sometime in the spring of 2006. Scooter needs to go to prison today.
I look forward to the live blogging… thanks
Playing whack-a-mole with a 20% larger foam bat IS guaranteed success!
mui @ 25
Me too!! I want to scream every time Richard Wolff comes on (and it’s usually every night). He goes out of his way to say that anything the Dems do is doomed to fail and Bush is always going to get his way.
What a useless tool!!
Ferd @ 34
Bahahaha. A laugh, amid the grisly truth.
dratty @ 11
What’s the emergency? Is the Hudson Institute contriving WMD evidence for a war with Iran?
Robust conventional nuclear ordinance would take out the mole.
Bay State Librul @ 28
I thought it was almost certain that Libby was going to get time to “get his affairs in order” before he had to report?
dratty @ 11
Wow, that’s really just…pathetic. And I wouldn’t be surprised either.
Neil @ 37
Or do they know that it’s a done deal..
Well, since the president is so incredibly stupid, I am not surprised.
It takes some brains to learn the most basic lesson we teachers pound into our students: quality NOT quantity
Sigh. He-will-never-get-it.
Reminds me of a student who tried to tell me that he didn’t understand why he was having problems with grammar in Latin class since he did so well in his English course the previous summer at Oxford (England). . . as it turns out, his English course was on Shakespeare and his plays.
I responded that the grammar and syntax of Shakespeare was not the same as that of modern English or Classical Latin.
I resisted the urge to tell him that my then 2.5 year old daughter knew a lot of impressive words and could use them correctly but that didn’t mean she understood the grammar!
In retrospect, that fact he was trying to bludgeon me with the superiority of his Oxford education should have allowed me to be petty. Having gone to Duke and having taught at Yale I know better than to assume that the quality of the professor/class can be assessed merely by the name of the school.
And that brings us back to GWB…Yale…ring cycle…thinking too much…
Pach, small typo in your last paragraph:
Just so you can get it right before the MSM picks it up.
The war is lost. What happens next do we blow up Iran’s nukes as we leave as a going away present to Israel? How and what will Israel do about the Palestian situation after we leave? Can Israel count on continued American support for their economy and if so how much longer. For the record I support Israel I just want them to treat Palestians fair.
things come undone @ 44
I’ve been waiting for someone to blame the Hamas-Fatah deal in Israel.
allan_in_upstate @ 8
It will be September in March.
name1 @ 19
I saw Mike Gravel at DemFest and it made sense to me. (Being introduced by Granny D was a feather in his cap, I assure you.) As did the Edwards plan . I don’t yet comprehend his plan on replacing the income tax with a national sales tax, however.
Howard Dean won’t be at YK. (Nya Nya.) Make better choices, people.
mui @ 25
Tax the media to pay for the war their lousy reporting helped create.
tommy yum @ 46
Of which year?
yestidie, our normally rather sensible Akron Beacon Journal chose, for gawdonlyknows whut reason, to print an absolutely loony op-ed by Kevin Ferris, of the Philly Inquirer,
title: “Why the U.S. is winning the war”
dang. someone must-a found the leftover kookade!?!
raven @ 39
Raven I think there are two possibilities (now three h/t to Dratty) here. 1. Libby will be remanded pending appeal but he will be given 6ish weeks to get his affairs in order and for the Bureau of Prisons to determine what to do with him. This is the one we want. 2. Walton will allow him to stay out of jail pending all appeals, and 3) The CoA will allow the emergency stay.
You mean the generals were right and the Bushies were wrong??? No way!! Who’da thunk!
The war is entirely lost as stands. We used artillery in Baghdad this past week.
Artillery in the capital city = true believers in the Berlin bunker.
Helen @ 51
That’s what I thought, thanks.
Actually, you’ll remember that increases in violence mean that we are close to winning and these acts are symbols of the “last throes” of the insurgency.
Or something.
dakine01 @ 10
I vote for picnic rather than expensive music. Spent WAY too much money this month. :)
Biodun @ 32
No matter what, he won’t have a door lock behind him today. He will have 45 days or so before having to go inside, if he does not make bond. Fitz does not contend any of that.
Mr.Murder @ 53
Why does using arty matter? We’ve been using air with all kinds of lethal stuff all along.
Polling Report. Congressional Approval ratings
What Wolffe doesn’t seem to point out is that congressional approval ratings might rise if congresscritters found a way to end the war, and that Chimpy’s approval ratings are probably permanently in the toilet, Nixonian level.
Helen @ 51
What is the legal basis for an “emergency stay?”
Kathleen @ 9
fixed
things come undone @ 48
Now there’s an idea. Russert seems to be going blithely on even after the Scooter libby trial revelations. I mean darn it.
They’ve had the same model wack-A-mole amusement in the arcade in Townsend’s Inlet NJ for over five decades or more. You can wack ‘em but they keep comin. I learned you’re better off talking them out at the knees.
slight OT, but still military-related
Federal Grant for a Medical Mission Goes Awry
From the NY Times
By DIANA B. HENRIQUES and ANDREW W. LEHREN
Published: June 13, 2007
In theory, it was simple: Congress gave two decommissioned Coast Guard cutters to a faith-based group in California, directing that the ships be used only to provide medical services to islands in the South Pacific.
Coast Guard records show that the ships have been providing those services in the South Pacific since the medical mission took possession of them in 1999.
In reality, the ships never got any closer to the South Pacific islands than the San Francisco Bay. The mission group quickly sold one to a maritime equipment company, which sold it for substantially more to a pig farmer who uses it as a commercial ferry off Nicaragua. The group sold the other ship to a Bay Area couple who rent it for eco-tours and marine research.
Hank Essay @ 55
All those explosions are adding to the light at the end of the tunnel
Gnome de Plume @ 16
I think there are others in San Antone as well so it may be necessary to put out some calls thrugh the day and evening. I’ve sent Ms Betsy a message through facebook as well as to the e-mail addy she has showing on there…
Neil @ 63
I’ve been in chat rooms where we play whack-a-troll till the mods boot them. :)
Another aspect of the failed surge: Think Progress is reporting that 18,000 members of the Iraqi security forces have been lost to injury or death, and possibly another 13,000 to desertion. There isn’t enough standing up going on in order for us to ever stand down.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/…..18-months/
This is just insane. Bush is completely and openly out of control and on the hunt for new military commanders just as nuts as he. I wonder just how much worse this has to get before republican legislators jump ship with their votes instead of just their words?
Betsy – can you get Dakine’s e-mail via facebook so that we can plan this thing together? Also, when LS shows up bring her into the loop. I will be away from the ‘pewter for most of the day.
Biodun @ 27
Anytime the refresh or post starts doing the Blood sweat and tears song, I hurry upstairs. Dumb luck also plays a role as well.
TexB @ 67
let’s not & say we did.
easier & more effective ;->
Pach “the plan as it stands” thanks
The “surge”(sounds like the name of a soda) is not working, but the “purge” of the Iraqi people is working.
More room and time for the U.S. and Israel to eventually grab the resources by getting rid of the “natives”
Perverted, criminal, outrageous!Arnie @ 61
Thanks
One of the stations floated a report that the “training” of the Iraqi troops is a complete failure, and that it means the troops won’t be leaving anytime in the near future. But we knew that.
Tommu yum @ 60
Dunno. Can any of the lawyers help us out with the possbilities? I suppose we won’t know the reasoning that Libby’s lawyers are giving until and if they file.
BTW Marcy has a post up about Libby’s lawyers. They have hired big guns who specialize in SCOTUS appeals. You can find it here.
If you keep this up, John Boehner’s gonna start bawlin’ agin.
citizen jane @ 42 says:
Unless it’s a philosophy course at which point the quantity also matters…
LS @ 73
Ahhh – there you are. LS, we are planning a central Texas firepup picnic. Can you get one of us – Betsy probably – your e-mail so that we can “rope” you in?
mui @ 62
Is the honeymoon over for David Schuster?
Adie @ 71
Chat room is different from this.
Helen @ 51
What is an “emergency stay?”
To all firepups —
Happy LSD!
(Libby Sentencing Day)
Mandrake @ 75
at least his tear ducts work…
I’d rather reframe the war as a grand travesty that modest citizens (who joined moveon.org waaay back when) objected too but had no power to stop as opposed to “winning” or “losing” (too repug.) It was bound to come undone. I don’t even buy the we “lost the peace” part either. I’d rather state that Chimpy’s War (or Grand Adventure) has come undone.
TexB @ 79
That is why I love this place.
Kathleen @ 80
Martha Stewart had more honor than Scooter.
TexB @ 79
gotcha. thanks for ’splainin. i likes ta keep our mods happy ;->
things come undone @ 48
Remember, if it’s Newsweek talking about the Dems, it’s all just politics.
Bay State Librul @ 78
I don’t know. Has it? I’d sincerely like to know.
allan_in_upstate @ 15
Somewhat OT, but…
When I was in the Navy we tested some submarine functions at sea. The equipment would get installed in the shipyard (inside the sub, not on the outside) and when they were done with the tests, we would remove all the test equipment. This equipment was data gathering and analysis computer modules.
After it was removed we would take it back to a location that we had and basically hose it down with a fire hose and fresh water. Not distilled water, not “special” water, but water that comes out of the tap, like drinking water. When it was all dried out and wiped down (a couple of days) we would hook it all back up, check to make sure everything worked, and ship it out to another shipyard to be installed on another submarine. The only issue might be cables and connectors that di not get completely dry. This equipment was not especially protected or waterproofed.
No big deal. Really.
And counting
http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Where is the outrage?
mui @ 85
Hell, Paris Hilton has more honor than Libby fer Dog’s sake…
OT, but there are people who will want to know: Eastwood lost his development request!
Coastal panel rejects Monterey golf project
By Kenneth R. Weiss, Times Staff Writer
June 14, 2007
They didn’t make his day. Members of the California Coastal Commission on Wednesday denied Clint Eastwood and a cast of celebrity investors in the Pebble Beach Co. permission to cut down more than 15,000 Monterey pine trees to make way for another golf course — the ninth — in the Monterey Peninsula’s Del Monte Forest.
The commission’s 8-4 decision came after years of politicking that pushed through a local ballot measure in favor of the development, sought key supporters in the state capital and worked on lining up a majority of votes on the powerful commission, which was established 30 years ago to protect the coast from excessive development.
Pebble Beach Co.’s owners, including Eastwood, Arnold Palmer and U.S. Olympic Committee board Chairman Peter Ueberroth, had personally lobbied commissioners since they and their investors bought the company from Japanese owners in 1999 for $820 million.
But in the end, commissioners were unsettled by the proposal, which would have removed trees, filled wetlands and altered fragile coastal habitat that is safeguarded by the state’s coastal protection law.
Oops on that linky. Here’s the actual “just politics” page.
[Mod: fixed]
Mandrake @ 87
DC Journo-oligarchy: It’s disembodied politics. It floats. It sinks. It stinks. It has nothing to do with on the ground reality as far as I can tell. It’s just a stinking pool of clubbiness.
The war is lost. The only two questions now are how humiliating defeat will be, and how humiliating it has to be for the American people to learn the lesson that other nations have learned the same way. This didn’t have to be, but since it is, there has to to be closure. That closure is going to require something like War Crimes Trials for the perpetrators. Without a complete investigation of the strategizing that preceded the invasion and the fabrication of evidence and lies that made it possible to sell to the American people, we run the risk of making the same mistake in a not too distant future.
I understand why the Democratic Presidential candidates have to remain silent on all this, because they can hardly admit defeat. But whoever gets elected has got to buck the Washington establishment and set up a commission of investigation, or perhaps more to the point a Special Investigator to get to the bottom of this, and to bring charges where charges are warranted.
We have to have closure. We didn’t get in Vietnam and we have paid for that mistake ever since.
I don’t know about the honeymoon, but Shuster’s not here, at least, not yet.
mui @ 88
The NYT should know…
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05…..mp;ei=5070
Kathleen @ 90
Hi did you read my reply yesterday?
dakine01 @ 91
Oh did she go back to jail? If so, good for her. She/Her lawyers(?) show more respect for the law then Libby, if that’s the case.
Adie @ 82
Don’t . . . take . . . away . . . his . . . waaaaaaaarrrrr!!! Mommiiiieeeee!
Adie @ 82
He’s never been the same since they
stoppedcaught him handing out$5,000 checks from tobacco lobbyists on the House floor.
Insurgents were the only ones who listened to Bush’s call “bring em on”
Baghdad “checkmate”
http://www.informationclearing…..e17871.htmthings come undone @ 98
Bay State Librul @ 97
Sounds stylin!
Things come undone. I left in the afternoon and did not see your response. I will go looking.
allan @101: linkie?
Also, is he really an alkie? Sure looks the part.
100 101
*gsnort* ;->
Meanwhile, W is blaming Syria for the attack on the Gnome de Plume @ 77
Sure. How do I do that without giving out my email to the world?
LS @ 107
Woops!!
raven at 39 — It’s likely that it will be a few weeks before Libby goes to jail, even if Judge Walton orders Libby to jail with a bond revocation rather than a stay for appeal. This is because of prison crowding issues — the folks who do intake have to prioritize their intake caseload, and pull in violent offenders and/or folks who are a flight risk first for public safety reasons. The non-violent, non-flight-risk folks then get logged in as a second tier as space is available, and at this point would likely mean anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks, I am told, in the normal course of things in the DC Circuit. (Note: not practicing there myself, this info comes from a few readers who do…if anyone has more thoughts on this, please share them in the comments.) So a remand to custody today won’t mean instant orange jumpsuit for Libby — just as it wouldn’t mean it for other non-violent, non-flight-risk offenders in the same jurisdiction, as I have been told from folks who deal with this regularly. HTH!
Pach. Apologies.
Go have a doughnut, and then another, on me.
Thankyou for your service!
*hands tub- a babywipes thru the toobz*
things come undone @ 98
Breakdown.. To think the number one cause of death in Iraq during Saddam was heart disease, or some such thing that was the same as a lot of Western nations.
Bush is on TV talking about the importance of benchmarks, not for Iraq but for immigration.
HST talking about watch artillery land on the outskirts of Saigon, erupting the rice paddies…
They’re using artillery in the city proper Baghdad.
That’s a lost occupation.
anne at 40 — That’s pretty standard practice for a high-level defense team. They wouldn’t be earning their millions in legal fees if they weren’t prepared to file for an immediate stay. *g*
LS you can contact me through my gmail acct. My name there is SuperMom and then 413 and then the AT sign.
That light at the end of the tunnel is a proctoscope.
sofistic @ 116
And thank you for that lovely image.
While we’re waiting — there’s an important vote today in Massachusetts:
Tight Vote Seen on Same-Sex Marriages
In 2004, the Massachusetts supreme court held that under the Massachusetts constitution, the state could not ban same-sex marriages — coming to the obvious logical positin that it’s discriminatory and a violation of equal protection. That legalized the right of same-sex couples to marry, and since then about 10,000 couples have gotten legally hitched.
Predictably, the right/religious whackos went nuts, got enough signatures on petitions to amend the constitution, provided a ballot meausure is approved by two sessions of the state legislature and then passed by the electorate. It only takes 50 votes of about 200 legislators to pass each of these hurtles. The first legislative vote got 62 votes, and the second is scheduled for later today in Boston. It’s expected to be close.
If the anti-gay marriage group gets the necessary 50 votes, the measure will go on the ballot. That would be a tragedy.
Massachusetts, which led the nation in legalizing gay marriage and proving that it was just fine and didn’t corrupt the institution or Mitt Romney’s marriage, will then go through the embarrassing spectacle of having all its registered citizens vote on whether to deprive some of its citizens of a right that it’s own supreme court says is guaranteed to them by the their own constitution. It will be a sorry spectacle if that happens.
Knut Wicksell @ 95
That would certainly go a long, long way towards restoring our standing in the world. If that would happen, I think it would be a pivotal moment in American history and it would save us from ourselves. At my age, I will probably be able to outlive the consequences of what’s happening now, but I do believe that what you have said has to happen if today’s children and their children are to have any quality of life whatsoever.
sofistic @ 116
spew warning broken on yer keyboard? egad! *g*
So Bush is now putting the same kind of focus on his immigration bill that he put on his social security bill- means it’s doomed I suppose.
It’d have a better chance if he came out AGAINST it.
“Feel lucky, punk?”
Great to see a rich sociopath fail to bribe his way into destroying more forests.
Oh – “Harry” – I’m accusing you of bribery and conspiracy.
In print.
‘Cause that’s what you and your uber-rich pals did to get Gov Nazimuscles to drop one Calif. Coastal Commissioner for a last-minute replacement intended to vote your criminal project past the Commission.
You bribed – oh – I forget – “contributed”, conspired, and you still lost.
You are a common greedy conman with an entertainment CV.
And that’s the resason people in Carmel spit when you pass by.
You are a common bully who muscled into other folks’ home town.
And this loss will eat you to the point it may well destroy you.
Now I’d buy a ticket for that movie.
Punk.
Mandrake @ 105
For example.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 114
must we feel guilty now for not crying over irving’s poor poor legal fund?
TexB @ 115
Done.
mui @ 99
The judge ordered her back. Her lawyers were going to appeal but over the weekend there was a statement that she had ordered them not to do so. And that the media was stupid for wasting all their time on her and not paying attention to the troops in Iraq/Afghanistan. Most likely written by a publicist but still…
25% of americans favor immediate withdrawal from Iraq- an additional 46% favor withdrawal within the next year- of course they may change their mind when the end of the year approaches. Bottom line is americans hate it but don’t have the faintest idea what to do about it.
I fear Team Libby has a commitment from the DC CoA and the SCOTUS rethugs to let Libby off. They’ll say Fitz was out of control or some such nonsense.
Man, the Founding Fathers couldn’t catch a break from these Bushcrackers.
scarecrow @ 118
That sucks. And it makes me nervous when people talk of changing the constitution. Especially when wingnuts talk about changing the constitution.
EPU’d
realworld @ 124
LS @ 125
And I have emailed all the central texas firepups that I know. Miss anyone?
realworld @ 130
Half of that 28% are the same people that never open a newspaper and think that Paris Hilton is the only one in the news!
another OT –
does anyone know what’s going on with the SJC today? their buisness mtg this morning is supposed to be open, but there’s no webcast at their website and there’s no audio at capitolhearings.org
kinda curious ‘cuz the first item on the agenda is:
mui @ 129
Makes me nervous when wingnuts talk, period. I mean, didja see Lurita Doan yestiddy?
Sometimes I wonder just how much the President cares about winning this war? More troops and higher taxes to support them could have made a difference in the begining but by being so cheap in the begining about war spending he and US are now paying much more. Now trapped in self delusion that He can not make a mistake because he is “born again” and talks to God we will keep on paying. Pride is turning out to be a much more expensive vice than Lust, Gluttony, and Greed combined. Pride seems to be the sin that enabels all the other sins by not letting you accept that you are doing wrong. I wonder if in later years people will call a person to proud to admit there wrong “a Bush”, or maybe their “acting Bushy”. If so, I so want credit for coining this phrase in wikipedia!
Hi everyone! Do any of you know what happened to the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing with Harriet Miers? I thought it was scheduled for today, but I don’t see it on the schedule. Sorry if this has already been talked about; I couldn’t find any mention of it. Thank you!
PunchPrincess @ 128
I’d guess you are right, although I have also had a nagging feeling for some reason that the Admin. would just as well see him locked up and silenced for as long as possible. We shall see.
Re: Fitz. McNulty is going to testify again. Hopefully he’ll cough up something important to put an end to the Gonzo grip on DOJ.
The Mueller stirrings are interesting too, considering he was with Comey that night…and met with W the next day.
I put nothing past these thugs on steroids.
kirk murphy @ 122
kirk murphy, *What* is it with celebrities and golf courses. I once heard that Kevin Costner tried to turn some land the Sioux(?) gave him into a golf course. Could anything be more insulting?
Incidently, someone was telling me how this wealthy guy who owns marshland –endangered in this particular CT town– that their land overlooks keeps trying to turn it into . . . A GOLF COURSE. Every year, every year, the town turns him down. Jeebus!
TexB @ 131
Some are on the FDL map that SOS has. I think there are more.
Yeah, Mueller is getting payback for blocking his men from removing Comey from AG Ashcroft’s hospital room.
LS @ 137
Pfifferling @ 136
i think the subpoena is for july 12?
When someone starts turning all the marshland on the CT coastline (fond childhood memories) into golf courses, I am going to need a frontal lobotomy. It’s bad enough that farmlands (also fond childhood memories) are being sold off, and Insta-Mansions are popping up on them.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 109
Libby qualifies as a “violent” offender. Obstructing justice in the investigation of the outing of an undercover agent. How the outing effected those working for Brewster Jennings and National Security seems rather violent.
Pach @ 96:
Shuster is back from his honeymoon. He was on air yesterday and flashed his wedding band at Alison Stewart, who is sub’ing for Keith.
And, oh, thanks for @ 57!
David Shuster was on KO last evening back from honeymoon. Maybe it is just a late morning………
PunchPrincess @ 128
Federal Judges are also subject to Articles of Impeachment.
The Federalist Society plans and attempts to overthrow our Republic.
The Federalist moles in the Judical Branch will uphold the Rethugs’ coup until they are impeached.
While they continue to go megacorp funded “education” junkets where Federalist “scholars” purport megacorp-friendly
theoriesexcuses.Even a fifth column judge won’t turn down a nice free vacation from their minders.
Corrupt Federalist Judges appointed by the corrupt Rethug regimes.
Impeachment on a plate.
When Shuster says “this is David Shuster for HARDBALL.” I chuckle everytime!
Thank you, Selise! I must have misunderstood.
FYI:
Shuster is as much a regular on Countdown as he is on Hardball.
kathleen at 143 — Not in the parlance of the federal legal system he doesn’t. Violent offenders are the ones that pose a direct, immediate threat to public safety because they have committed a murder, wounded someone, been caught in possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, etc. — immediate and direct danger to the public. Libby’s conduct does not fall within that criteria under the sentencing guidelines for federal sentencing purposes. The Judge has to follow the law — not just go with his gut.
While we wait, this from AP:
Another one of my heroes Norman Finkelstein denied tenure at DePaul. This is one of the things that can happen if you stand up to the Israeli lobby!
At Democracy Now Amy is one of the best gifts to Democracy the U.S. media has seen in a very long time!
http://www.democracynow.org/ar…..14/1412253
DePaul Students, Faculty Respond to Controversial Tenure Denials
In Chicago, students and faculty at DePaul University are taking action over an academic freedom controversy that is drawing increasing national attention. Last week the university announced it would deny tenure to Norman Finkelstein, one of the most prominent critics of the Israeli government in American academia. The political science department and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recommended tenure for Finkelstein, but the college’s dean and the University Board on Promotion and Tenure recommended against it. In another controversial move, DePaul also said it was denying tenure to professor Mehrene Larudee, who was set to become chair of her department. Larudee had the unanimous support of her department, the college personnel committee and the Dean. Critics say she was targeted because she supported Finkelstein’s case. More than fifty people turned out for a demonstration in support of the two professors on Wednesday. Student supporters have held a twenty-four hour sit in at the DePaul president’s office.
New thread up.
Pach has the liveblog thread up and running for everyone.
I think they are saying 50 years or so, so I guess until 2057.
kirk murphy you got me started. CT marshland like this with this as opposed to this really gets my goat. Now on to Libby
EPU, I know.
Kathleen @ 152:
I was Norman Finkelstein’s editor at the University of Minnesota Press in the early 1990s, his book on Israel and Palestine.
Alan Dershowitz did him on at DePaul. Big outside campaign against him.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 150
While Libby did not get caught with a gun or a knife in his hands. The ‘alleged” damage done to Valerie Plame and her job and the damage done to National Security by her outing seems like it would qualify as ” immediate and direct danger to the public”
gbearMN @ 68
Republicans will never jump ship. After Watergate and Iran-Contra they learned that they must always support their own, no matter what. Loyalty to the Party before loyalty to the country. Several Republicans may make noises but when push comes to shove they will always support the Party. In that they have more akin to the NSDAP or the Soviet Communist Party.
LiveBlog, Part 1, upstairs.
Everyone is still downstairs. That’s here right?
Kathleen @ 158
Direct for sure
Neil @ 161
That would be here :)
kathleen at 158 — If he had been charged with outing her, yes — but he was convicted of obstructing, perjury and false statements — which is a whole other level of penalties and considerations. The underlying crime and consequences notwithstanding, Libby’s obstruction kept him out of the violent crime category for sentencing purposes today under the law. Which is likely one of the reasons why Judge Walton gave him an enhancement bump on sentencing for the obstruction charge — that’s where things got added on, but the judge has to sentence in accordance with the conviction, not what also might apply if the evidence were there to prove it otherwise.
From yesterday’s White House press conference…Tony Snow sounding like the administration’s backpedaling on September as the ‘critical moment’ in determining whether the occupation of Iraq is working or not:
That’s a pantload.