yikes

zed?

Downie or somebody?

Or Donald Graham?

no, numero dos…

Certainly won’t be holding my breath for the Meet The Press exploration of this important Beltway issue, will I?

Ya think Mr Potato Head will line up to be his butt boy again? I’ll bet Wolfie won’t.

OK, what the heck, I’ll steal *xyz’s dictum:

Dick Cheney controls Tim Russert!b>

G’morning, everybody!~

Somehow, the last week of June in DC never struck me as down time when only “cats and the homeless” enjoy the paper. When you look at the SCOTUS decisions being handed down, especially those like Hein v FFRF, discussions of executive authority are all the rage right now.

I agree that these pieces may have been planned to go alongside the Iraq funding debate, but I disagree that this is an attempted news dump. If that were the case, they’d have held it for the 4th of July recess and run them next week.

Torturers. Arrest them.

TeddySanFran @ 7

G’morning, everybody!~

morning, you in San Fran or Maui?

raven @ 10

TeddySanFran @ 7

G’morning, everybody!~

morning, you in San Fran or Maui?

On the day after SF Pride, I’d guess that TSF is in heaven.

Tim Russert will clear up the brouhaha on Cheney.

August in DC is the real down time… But around the world, sh*t does happen. Think Yeltsin and Lady Di…

I’m still struggling to understand how any lawyer could be involved in this precious bit of intimidation of a Federal judge:

When a U.S. District Court ruled several months later that Padilla had a right to counsel, Cheney’s office insisted on sending Olson’s deputy, Paul Clement, on what Justice Department lawyers called “a suicide mission”: to tell Judge Michael B. Mukasey that he had erred so grossly that he should retract his decision. Mukasey derided the government’s “pinched legalism” and added acidly that his order was “not a suggestion or request.”

This, to me, encapsulates the contempt Shooter has for the concept of separate and equal branches of government — that he would send a minion to instruct a Federal judge to retract a decision.

Extraordinary.

emptywheel pretty much explodes the notion that Cheney is not the shadow President, in this piece, Cheney’s method.

The question as to whether Bush is really running anything in the White House is fascinating- and would surely get LOTS of press- if anyone really knew the answer- but alas- there’s not much to go on.

He’s obviously weak- and has obviously given Cheney WAY too much power- but does he actually have a mind of his own and is his personal butterfinger print present in the record of the administration?

I think probably “yes”- he’s fucked a lot of this up all by himself.

Most of this is so depressing that I don’t even like to read the news or even the blogs that much right now. It just makes my stomach turn and work is bad enough right now without these bozo’s sucking whatever cheer I have left at the end of the day right out of me. Of course I feel like a coward by not staying on top of all of this. Sigh.

Does anyone think Congress will start calling for those super secret Energy Task Force papers?

Peterr @ 11

raven @ 10

morning, you in San Fran or Maui?

On the day after SF Pride, I’d guess that TSF is in heaven.

The local news coverage of Pride in Atlanta pissed me off. They had quite a bit on the Gay Lutheran pastor who was the grand marshal but then they kept showing these knuckle draggin idiots with their hate signs. Guess after 23 years down here I shouldn’t be surprised.

rwcole @ 16

The question as to whether Bush is really running anything in the White House is fascinating- and would surely get LOTS of press- if anyone really knew the answer- but alas- there’s not much to go on.

He’s obviously weak- and has obviously given Cheney WAY too much power- but does he actually have a mind of his own and is his personal butterfinger print present in the record of the administration?

I think probably “yes”- he’s fucked a lot of this up all by himself.

Someone here (and whoever you are, please stand up; I would like to give you credit) said something very interesting wrt Bush claiming executive privilege re: the USA DOJ/WH emails. The comment was along the lines of – the problem is not executive privilige, but what he/she termed “reverse executive privilige”. It’s not that Bush has so much to hide, but that he’s not involved at all and the emails will prove this. That’s what he’s afraid of.

I read the article, particularly part one, as being more accurately titled: “Scooter Sings”. Too many of the vignettes, particularly where the source is “a person with personal knowledge” or “a participant” or similar, could only have been presented by someone who had access to the events described. In this WH, such access is strictly controlled and limited, and Scooter is the only one who would have had such access and a reason to tell.

Think about it. Why would anyone still in the employ of the Cheney WH come out and give direct “testimony” about what they saw, when what they are saying directly inculpates Cheney and Addington in the course of conduct (I want to say “Seditious conspiracy”) they undertook? Who was the unnamed person in the Situation Room on 9/11 watching Deadeye Dick’s face for reaction to the collapse of Tower Two, and knew his face and reactions well enough to see he had barely any? And having the desire to tell that story?
Who would have known about Deadeye’s double-shuffle of the order directing torture, and that it came across lunch?

I think Scooter and his propaganda people got The Word that there will be no pardon and are getting back. Or, they’re turning up the pressure to show Deadeye and Bushie there are a lot of things which can come out in a most unflattering way, if a pardon is not forthcoming.

This sort of “Scooter fights dirty” behavior also accounts for Armitage running to tell all to Fitz, just as soon as an immunity agreement could be reached. As Wolfowitz’ letter to Walton (begging leniency for Scooter) told us, Scooter represented Armitage in the past (IIRC, at a reduced rate). One wonders what secrets Armitage told Scooter, and feared Scooter would reveal – if Armitage didn’t talk to Fitz first.

What do you think?

The 5-4 decisions are raining down on us like sharp swords.

We must find a way into this evil, narrow SCOTUS majority. Impeachment or court-packing? Which is quicker?

The Constitution creates the VP position, with no duties associated with the position.

In some ways, it is amazing that it took 200 years for a manipulative schemer who had an official title, plenty of time on his hands, and subversive intent to realize the full potential of the office.

Not counting Aaron Burr of course, the last VP to commit treason before Cheney.

LS @ 9

Torturers. Arrest them.

Send them to the Hague!

Biodun @ 13

August in DC is the real down time… But around the world, sh*t does happen. Think Yeltsin and Lady Di…

the coup against gorbachev also ……

Greetings from Seattle!

http://freewayblogger.blogspot…..attle.html

Won’t be doing any bong hits 4 Jesus signs though… that can get you in trouble!

It is just a sign of the times… WaPo sits on a story that could blow the wheels off the most inept administration ever. Why? Probably out of deference to the administration, or someone in it.

The fear factor involved must be huge! The MSM has turned a blind eye to a lot of what has transpired. Our elected representatives (Dems) are afraid to do anything about it, while the Republicans all march in lockstep like good little soldiers (regardless of their individual beliefs).

Dark Dick of Death must have everyone by the cojones… Maybe there was more to those intercepted phone calls than anyone knew.

actually, world war one started in August ……

Via Froomkin in the WaPo:

…

And Maureen Dowd writes in her New York Times opinion column (subscription required): “It’s hard to imagine how Dick Cheney could get more dastardly, unless J. K. Rowling has him knock off Harry Potter next month. . . .

“I’ve always thought Cheney was way out there — the most Voldemort-like official I’ve run across. But even in my harshest musings about the vice president, I never imagined that he would declare himself not only above the law, not only above the president, but actually his own dark planet — a separate entity from the White House.

“I guess a man who can wait 14 hours before he lets it dribble out that he shot his friend in the face has no limit on what he thinks he can keep secret. Still, it’s quite a leap to go from hiding in a secure, undisclosed location in the capital to hiding in a secure, undisclosed location in the Constitution.”

…

Given the methods Cheney uses, we might want to go back and reconsider some moments in history:

1. The Wednesday night mugging in Ashcroft’s hospital room — who called Mrs. Ashcroft? The presumption is Bush; but I’d have to presume now that Cheney/OVP set this up. Bush might not even have known what was going on, even if he made the call.

2. The WaPo article does not identify the person in the National Security Adviser’s office who made sure that Bellinger’s memo to NSA Rice warning her of the legal hazards in the torture memos went first to Cheney. But emptywheel says that person who served as Cheney’s mole was Stephen Hadley. Now ask yourself, why would this Administration decide that Stephen Hadley is no longer to be the “real” NSA wrt to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but instead we’ll have a “czar” to do those things? Is this Rice getting her revenge, and the WH retaking control over the wars, against Cheney’s cabal? Or something else?

It would be interesting to watch this on a PBS series about the 12th Century, but since it’s real and these people run our government, the only safe thing to do with this crowd is to remove them from office and ask questions later.

scribe@21

Armitage didn’t get immunity. He just wasn’t prosecuted. It was Ari Fleischer who got immunity and ran to Fitz.

From the Gellman Live Chat today:

Marshall, Va.: Fantastic series. Thank you for the good work. How long did it take putting this together? When did you finish it? Thank you for your fantastic work.

Barton Gellman: It took about a year for Jo Becker and me to report and write this. Obviously we accumulated a lot more information than fits into (only!) 14 open pages of the newspaper. There’s so much to this package — main stories, sidebars, graphics, interactives — that it won’t be finished until the final tweaks in day 4. There were mature drafts of the stories a few weeks ago, but producing all the add-ons and final refinements took some time. We didn’t want to rush it unless we had to.

Link

Tony Blair is expected to be confirmed as an international envoy for the Middle East this week.

scribe @ 21

I read the article, particularly part one, as being more accurately titled: “Scooter Sings”. Too many of the vignettes, particularly where the source is “a person with personal knowledge” or “a participant” or similar, could only have been presented by someone who had access to the events described. In this WH, such access is strictly controlled and limited, and Scooter is the only one who would have had such access and a reason to tell.

What do you think?

Scribe, based on the idea that the WaPo sat on this story — apparently for some length of time — and if Scooter was one of the main sources, could it be that WaPo decided the story might prejudice the outcome of the trial? That sounds real noble, but it is entirely possible, particularly if their legal team suggested they hold it.

scribe (#21):

yours is a novel slant, for sure. as to it’s likelihood i plead ignorance ……

TeddySanFran @ 14

I’m still struggling to understand how any lawyer could be involved in this precious bit of intimidation of a Federal judge:

When a U.S. District Court ruled several months later that Padilla had a right to counsel, Cheney’s office insisted on sending Olson’s deputy, Paul Clement, on what Justice Department lawyers called “a suicide mission”: to tell Judge Michael B. Mukasey that he had erred so grossly that he should retract his decision. Mukasey derided the government’s “pinched legalism” and added acidly that his order was “not a suggestion or request.”

This, to me, encapsulates the contempt Shooter has for the concept of separate and equal branches of government — that he would send a minion to instruct a Federal judge to retract a decision.

Extraordinary.

well, this is one time I’m glad that federal judges have lifetime tenure — and that it just as hard to impeach one of them as it is for these clowns.

The above kind of reminds me of the scene in “Marathon Man” when the CIA dude (can’t recall the actor’s name) pulls a gun on the group of street thugs Dustin Hoffman sent to break into his apartment — and they all break out their own guns and knives and the ringleader says to the CIA dude, “Blow it out yo a**hole, mothaf*cka.”

I would love to know how the Washington elite wage their internecine battles. At cocktail parties do they hurl weenies at each other?

TeddySanFran @ 22

The 5-4 decisions are raining down on us like sharp swords.

We must find a way into this evil, narrow SCOTUS majority. Impeachment or court-packing? Which is quicker?

Here’s a thought: If, granted a big if, we can get impeachment wheels rolling and we start with the sitting justices who obviously lied in their confirmation hearings, namely Roberts and Alito, who would sit as presiding judge during the impeachment trial of Roberts?

And the man lied big time during his hearings. He has absolutely no respect whatsoever for the doctrine of stare decisis.

Is this Rice getting her revenge, and the WH retaking control over the wars, against Cheney’s cabal? Or something else?

Would make sense if were someone from Rice’s camp. She has had it with this jerk.

Helen @ 31

scribe@21

Armitage didn’t get immunity. He just wasn’t prosecuted. It was Ari Fleischer who got immunity and ran to Fitz.

Ok, my bad. But still, IIRC, Armitage was pretty cooperative with Fitz.

scarecrow @ 30

Given the methods Cheney uses, we might want to go back and reconsider some moments in history:

1. The Wednesday night mugging in Ashcroft’s hospital room — who called Mrs. Ashcroft? The presumption is Bush; but I’d have to presume now that Cheney/OVP set this up. Bush might not even have known what was going on, even if he made the call.

2. The WaPo article does not identify the person in the National Security Adviser’s office who made sure that Bellinger’s memo to NSA Rice warning her of the legal hazards in the torture memos went first to Cheney. But emptywheel says that person who served as Cheney’s mole was Stephen Hadley. Now ask yourself, why would this Administration decide that Stephen Hadley is no longer to be the “real” NSA wrt to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but instead we’ll have a “czar” to do those things? Is this Rice getting her revenge, and the WH retaking control over the wars, against Cheney’s cabal? Or something else?

It would be interesting to watch this on a PBS series about the 12th Century, but since it’s real and these people run our government, the only safe thing to do with this crowd is to remove them from office and ask questions later.

if Shakespeare were alive today …….

AZ Matt — that answer (keeping in mind that Chatzers select their questions) made me realize that the WaPo is deciding now what to publish. I thought that rather a shot across the bow, but of whose bow?

Sojourner @ 34

scribe @ 21

I read the article, particularly part one, as being more accurately titled: “Scooter Sings”. Too many of the vignettes, particularly where the source is “a person with personal knowledge” or “a participant” or similar, could only have been presented by someone who had access to the events described. In this WH, such access is strictly controlled and limited, and Scooter is the only one who would have had such access and a reason to tell.

What do you think?

Scribe, based on the idea that the WaPo sat on this story — apparently for some length of time — and if Scooter was one of the main sources, could it be that WaPo decided the story might prejudice the outcome of the trial? That sounds real noble, but it is entirely possible, particularly if their legal team suggested they hold it.

I don’t think so. If the WaPo lawyers allowed a doctor’d picture of Fitz behind bars, to grace the cover during the trial, my guess is “prejudic[ing] the trial” was not a big concern of theirs.

james @ 38

TeddySanFran @ 22

The 5-4 decisions are raining down on us like sharp swords.

We must find a way into this evil, narrow SCOTUS majority. Impeachment or court-packing? Which is quicker?

Here’s a thought: If, granted a big if, we can get impeachment wheels rolling and we start with the sitting justices who obviously lied in their confirmation hearings, namely Roberts and Alito, who would sit as presiding judge during the impeachment trial of Roberts?

And the man lied big time during his hearings. He has absolutely no respect whatsoever for the doctrine of stare decisis.

It won’t happen but I recall reading somewhere/somewhen that the senior in time on SCOTUS justice is the back-up to the Chief Justice rather like the Senate President Pro-tem is usually the senior senator in time served for the majority party.

Loo Hoo @ 39

Is this Rice getting her revenge, and the WH retaking control over the wars, against Cheney’s cabal? Or something else?

Would make sense if were someone from Rice’s camp. She has had it with this jerk.

She sees this as the time to make her move for the Veep’s job.

As for the President imo, nothing about this Cheney article helps him. After all he was nothing but Cheneys yes man at best, he approved everything and helped Cheney run around the constitution, geneva conventions, while manipulating everyone, including judges, unabated.

I really don’t see how any of this helps Jr.

AZ Matt @ 32

From the Gellman Live Chat today:

Marshall, Va.: Fantastic series. Thank you for the good work. How long did it take putting this together? When did you finish it? Thank you for your fantastic work.

Barton Gellman: It took about a year for Jo Becker and me to report and write this. Obviously we accumulated a lot more information than fits into (only!) 14 open pages of the newspaper. There’s so much to this package — main stories, sidebars, graphics, interactives — that it won’t be finished until the final tweaks in day 4. There were mature drafts of the stories a few weeks ago, but producing all the add-ons and final refinements took some time. We didn’t want to rush it unless we had to.

Link

They are going to be on Tweety today, I wonder if KO has them lined up?

TeddySanFran @ 14

I’m still struggling to understand how any lawyer could be involved in this precious bit of intimidation of a Federal judge:

When a U.S. District Court ruled several months later that Padilla had a right to counsel, Cheney’s office insisted on sending Olson’s deputy, Paul Clement, on what Justice Department lawyers called “a suicide mission”: to tell Judge Michael B. Mukasey that he had erred so grossly that he should retract his decision. Mukasey derided the government’s “pinched legalism” and added acidly that his order was “not a suggestion or request.”

This, to me, encapsulates the contempt Shooter has for the concept of separate and equal branches of government — that he would send a minion to instruct a Federal judge to retract a decision.

Extraordinary.

for another possibility see this discussion laura rozen’s war and piece (i’m reader S).

i submitted a question to gellman’s q&a today asking for clarification, but it wasn’t one of the ones he answered.

oldmommy at #36:

Isn’t it William DeVane playing “Agent Janeway”?

scribe @ 40

Helen @ 31

scribe@21

Armitage didn’t get immunity. He just wasn’t prosecuted. It was Ari Fleischer who got immunity and ran to Fitz.

Ok, my bad. But still, IIRC, Armitage was pretty cooperative with Fitz.

Armitage had already confessed to being at least one of Novakula’s leakers months prior to the Fitz appointment. Which means Ashcroft and Comey saw that something bad was going on even after Novakula’s leaker(s) had been identified.

Thanks, dakine01.

Eureka Springs @ 46

As for the President imo, nothing about this Cheney article helps him. After all he was nothing but Cheneys yes man at best, he approved everything and helped Cheney run around the constitution, geneva conventions, while manipulating everyone, including judges, unabated.

I really don’t see how any of this helps Jr.

He’s made out to be particularly inept and manipulated in these private luncheons where the Veep waves his pocket watch and seemingly hypnotizes the Chimp.

Alternatively, it’s W’s path to “Not my fault!” which has been his career-saving chant in the past…

Good morning Teddy, Christy, everybody! Hey, I’m awake to read a Christy thread while it’s still “active” .

Been a while.

james @ 51

Thanks, dakine01.

Just hope I’m correct as it is always possible that I am an idiot…

So is Maureen Dowd plagiarizing Juan Williams, the other way around, or is the “make up this hour’s undisclosed location” meme fair game for anybody?

Cheney: “Where is Army Group Downie?”

Out of the coverage, Kelly O’Donnell of NBC is beginning to blip on my radar screen. She did a Today show piece this morning that wasn’t half bad – unapologietically questioning Cheney (I know – how many years after the fact). But she also rose to the bait and asked a couple of direct and appropriate questions during a recent WH presser. Maybe she’s the fissure in NBC’s corporate lockstep fawning coverage of Bush/Cheney. The Daily Nightly blog there is very much under-represented with progressive input – mostly it’s fans of Brian Williams telling him how wonderful he looks in NOLA.

But recently, they’ve added a twice weekly blog post by a news writer (called Nuthin’ But ‘Net)that’s all blog reporting – and frequently cites FDL, Digby, Daily Kos, MeDD, Atrios, TPM and Nuckraker, et al.

I wish a few more would take a look and comment – I am sure that the comments are read by the producers and the talking heads. I am occasionally commenting there about principles of journalism and ethics 101. Williams wrote a post in response to a comment that took him to task for masking editorializing trivia as news reporting. I also had called O’Donnell to task for posting about Bush/Cheney lists of gifts instead of the hard news of the day. She didn’t respond to the comment directly, but it was at the next day’s WH presser that she mustered her courage and asked the direct questions. My kudos comment was published quickly.

Just a thought about sending honey to encourage the timid MSM to report courageously….

Eureka Springs @ 46

As for the President imo, nothing about this Cheney article helps him. After all he was nothing but Cheneys yes man at best, he approved everything and helped Cheney run around the constitution, geneva conventions, while manipulating everyone, including judges, unabated.

I really don’t see how any of this helps Jr.

that’s part of the reason i don’t think he had anything to do with this. Fuckwad’s administration can’t be pleased that this is happening. i think it’s the residual DC Oligarchy, the ones that that were more comfortable with Daddy than with Lady Barbara’s accursed spawn.

fahrender @ 28

actually, world war one started in August ……

I have to recommend Barbara Tuchman’s jauntily written “The Guns of August” as beach reading.

So then. Are we now prepared to say this country’s president is a nincompoop? And if so. What does this say about us, and particularly my party? The Democratic Party.

scarecrow @ 30

It would be interesting to watch this on a PBS series about the 12th Century, but since it’s real and these people run our government, the only safe thing to do with this crowd is to remove them from office and ask questions later.

you make a good argument, scarecrow. and i am getting more and more convinced you’re right on this.

so, how can i prole like me help get the ball rolling on impeachment? should i be calling my congress critters? writing an lte? something else?

The history is all there. I mean the president has been barely functional his whole life.

It would have to be a BBC production of 12th C. internecine fighting. PBS is too compromised nowadays. Frank Lutz? You’ve got to be kidding.

brendan @ 58

fahrender @ 28

actually, world war one started in August ……

I have to recommend Barbara Tuchman’s jauntily written “The Guns of August” as beach reading.

yes, me too. i also recommend her “The Proud Tower”. that is one of my favorite historical eras…..

Bush, Darth, and Gonzales have always maintained, “We have done nothing wrong.”
Then why will no one admit to even the ‘rightness’ of what was done at DOJ?

But but but Christy! All journalists are liberals ! Drudge says so! (Never mind that Drudge doesn’t discuss who signs the journalists’ paychecks, but hey.)

I don’t know what part Cheney and Rove play in the scheme of things. But I do Bush’s role. He’s the flunky.

Ed*ard Teller @ 55

Cheney: “Where is Army Group Downie?”

Ed*ard Teller channels Steve Gilliard . . .

Phoenix Woman @ 65

But but but Christy! All journalists are liberals ! Drudge says so! (Never mind that Drudge doesn’t discuss who signs the journalists’ paychecks, but hey.)

I don’t even have Drudge bookmarked on my two newest computers.

raven @ 19

Peterr @ 11

On the day after SF Pride, I’d guess that TSF is in heaven.

The local news coverage of Pride in Atlanta pissed me off. They had quite a bit on the Gay Lutheran pastor who was the grand marshal but then they kept showing these knuckle draggin idiots with their hate signs. Guess after 23 years down here I shouldn’t be surprised.

Brad Schmelling was a great choice for grand marshal, but sorry the news coverage didn’t stick with his story, rather than the knuckle draggers. “Wingnuts foaming at the mouth over gay pride” strikes me as a kind of “dog bites man” story. What’s new about it?

I mean think about it. If Bush were gone tomorrow, it would make no difference.

Good morning Jacqrat.

Bush is once again getting mugged by reality. His massive spin machine has been effective in staving off that judgement, but as PT Barnum once said.

There are plenty more revelations coming. Remember the ‘revolt of the generals’ a few years back–right around the time Murtha bailed on this war…..

Back then the military was saying that they were getting stretched thin…..it has only gotten worse and now Cheney and Bush are flooding more uneducated, unqualified and often criminal elements into the US military.

Not to mention the much maligned CIA folks and the USA’s and the folks in NASA and FEMA and the rest.

Rob Portman said that there were going to be many resignations coming after his.

Bush’s C Team is quickly eroding into a Z Team.

-GSD

-ck- @ 67

Ed*ard Teller @ 55

Cheney: “Where is Army Group Downie?”

Ed*ard Teller channels Steve Gilliard . . .

Hadn’t thought of that. I’m an unworthy vessel for his thoughts, but inspiration from that source I’d be happy to channel.

Mod(s). Clean up my #66 for me would you please. Insert the word ‘know’ between ‘don’t’ and ‘what’. ;0)

The Whitman hearing on CSPAN3 is WILD!!

Thankyou.

OT to Ed Teller — surely within you there is an opera or two in all we’ve seen since 2001, no?

While we are all speculating as to sources…I would wonder about Bush the Daddy’s team. Which would/could point to Condi, as her roots go back to Snowcroft and Bush I.

selise @ 60

scarecrow @ 30

It would be interesting to watch this on a PBS series about the 12th Century, but since it’s real and these people run our government, the only safe thing to do with this crowd is to remove them from office and ask questions later.

you make a good argument, scarecrow. and i am getting more and more convinced you’re right on this.

so, how can i prole like me help get the ball rolling on impeachment? should i be calling my congress critters? writing an lte? something else?

Well, there are two of us now, and we’re both DFHs, which qualifies as a conspiracy. We need one more to qualify as a terrorist group. But first, we have to convince Glenn and Digby, who reminded me of Democrats last night. ;>)

Article Against Cheney: For secretly and surrepticiously usurping the authority of the Presidency, while undercutting the ability of the President to receive advice and counsel from the Attorney General, the National Security Advisor and the Secretary of State, and through intimidatin and deceipt inducing the President to take measures and issue orders that violated the Constitution and the laws of the United States against unlawful surveillance, torture and war crimes, including the Geneva Conventions, etc.

Article Against Bush: For, at best, being such an incompetent dimbuld that he allowed this to happen, or at worst, knowingly sanctioning the same.

In the alternative, committing blow*obs in their hearts.

Froomkin has another great Laura Rosen comment from a different post:

Laura Rozen blogs: “Cheney will go to his grave like others before him thinking he was a great patriot who should not be bound by the laws of this country, or the laws of war. But even with all that secret extra-legal power he yielded and bestowed for all these years, he couldn’t show success on any front when it mattered.”

I think she means “wielded” and not “yielded.”

[Odd note: the Froomkin link goes to Laura’s post on this subject, but this exact quote is not there. Perhaps she edited her post after Froomkin saw it. But then, on the front page of Laura’s blog, I realized that this whole post is missing. Curiouser and curiouser . . .]

Prairie’s Graffiti:

The worst part of the Bong 4 Jesus ruling by SCOTUS is it allows Ken Starr to slither out from under his rock and smarm us again.

retirin’ in five @ 77

OT to Ed Teller — surely within you there is an opera or two in all we’ve seen since 2001, no?

Der Ring des Republikaners

Part 1 – Das Potomakgold
Part 2 – Die Hillary ist Ubermanly
Part 3 – Siegfried und der Pretzel
Part 4 – Busherdammerung

So Tony’s going to rehab.

As the international envoy, he would work to help the Palestinians strengthen their political and economic systems and institutions in preparation for an eventual independent Palestinian state.

An unnamed source aware of the negotiations reportedly told the Financial Times that Mr Blair’s appointment has been “150% approved”.

Well, mods, ya gotta admit it’s funny. ;) You can delete.

Opera?

Cheney stars in Madman Flutterby.

Ed*ard Teller @ 81

retirin’ in five @ 77

OT to Ed Teller — surely within you there is an opera or two in all we’ve seen since 2001, no?

Der Ring des Republikaners

Part 1 – Das Potomakgold
Part 2 – Die Hillary ist Ubermanly
Part 3 – Siegfried und der Pretzel
Part 4 – Busherdammerung

What about Bruncondi?

Perhaps Tim Russert could get Scooter to come on MTP before the cell door clangs shut to explain how Cheney is simply misunderstood.

Ed*ard Teller @ 68

Phoenix Woman @ 65

But but but Christy! All journalists are liberals ! Drudge says so! (Never mind that Drudge doesn’t discuss who signs the journalists’ paychecks, but hey.)

I don’t even have Drudge bookmarked on my two newest computers.

I hope not. You’d need a lot of bleach to clean your computers.

Peterr @ 85

What about Bruncondi?

calling Darkblack…
I’m sure somebody somewhere has already done a Condi in Valkyrie costume pic. Or was that an undoctored picture of Rudi I’m remembering?

Sorry mods. My bad. Just kill it. Fingers were typing without brain being engaged.

Speaking of morons.

Did this racist clown think that he could stay on the lam and undiscovered for more than half a day?

-GSD

If It were a Palestinian would I trust Tony Blair to be fair?

Proof Howie Kurtz and the WaPoO don’t understand the rules for online journalism:

Seattle: I had my first example of interactive news gathering on Saturday night. I got on the computer and read the first installment of the Cheney series, which was great, but it had an error; it said he was a Ph.D. student at Wyoming. So I posted that that was wrong, and when I read the story again the next morning online it now correctly said he’d been at Wisconsin. Does this happen much?

Howard Kurtz: I don’t know. And I don’t know whether someone else caught the error. But one of the great things about online journalism is that you can quickly correct your errors.

This happened to me one time, too — I linked to a WaPoO article that said “Some European leaders applauded Bush’s climate change plan” and criticized the WaPoO for that construction, since no leaders were named. After the deadtree edition was in birdcages, but before my FDL post went up, the article was edited without any indication of a change.

This is Pravda-on-the-Potomac at its best: editing articles post-publication to reflect errors caught by readers, without noting the changes. The Washington Post Online: re-writing the first draft of history to meet your needs!

I think Donald Graham has the same problem with his mother that W has with his father. W ruins Iraq, Donald ruins his mothers beloved newspaper. After Catherine died, Donald had his mother’s, much loved gardens, dug up. What a piece of crap he is.

*

Breaking news. Maureen Dowd has always known that Cheney is evil.

Ms. Dowd, America’s funniest writer, has also discovered the Constitution.

AZ Matt @ 29

And Maureen Dowd writes in her New York Times opinion column (subscription required):

“I’ve always thought Cheney was way out there — the most Voldemort-like official I’ve run across.

Still, it’s quite a leap to go from hiding in a secure, undisclosed location in the capital to hiding in a secure, undisclosed location in the Constitution.”

One by one the gooper presidential candidates are self destructing- leading to a call to the bench— “You- Thompson- suit up- get in there for McCain- he can’t hit a barn door with a tennis racket.”

GSD @ 91

Speaking of morons.

Did this racist clown think that he could stay on the lam and undiscovered for more than half a day?

-GSD

kinda hard to miss, isn’t he?

Can’t wait for the press conference:
“Look (a favorite authority-establishing tool of both Tony Snow and Dana P) the president understands the importance of moving forward and doing the job he was elected to do. Just today he outlined his reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act and blah, blah, blah, blah, and blah.”

So, you’re not concerned with the Post series?

“Look, as I just said, we’re a country at war with a president who understands the priorities of the people, and we’re not going to comment on unsubstantiated sources that provide the basis for a hatch job.”

albert fall @ 23

The Constitution creates the VP position, with no duties associated with the position.

In some ways, it is amazing that it took 200 years for a manipulative schemer who had an official title, plenty of time on his hands, and subversive intent to realize the full potential of the office.

Not counting Aaron Burr of course, the last VP to commit treason before Cheney.

No that’s just the point. Bush has always been a regency and nothing more. The Rethugs needed an attractive — really attractive to some — figurehead to run with and they got him in Bush. But all along, the adults that Chris Matthews always named with such heavy breathing were the ones were going to running things.

Catholic bishop givin Roo-Dee hell for his abortion non-position.

The catholic church will attempt to prevent any catholic from ever bein prez again.

aaron burr

dakine01 @ 54

james @ 51

Thanks, dakine01.

Just hope I’m correct as it is always possible that I am an idiot…

I’ve always found that’s what makes my own life so exciting and unpredictable :)

Bush: The guy you’d like to have a beer with.

Cheney: The guy you’d like to pour a beer on.

When my grandchild grows up, I want him to be exactly not like Dick Cheney.

Cheney presides over the Senate on cspan at this moment…. swearing in a new Republican Senator from Wyoming. John Barrasso.

TeddySanFran @ 104

Bush: The guy you’d like to have a beer with.

Cheney: The guy you’d like to pour a beer on.

Your being kind to Mr. Cheney. My thoughts re: the Dick, could land me in jail. ;0)

Oklahoma kiddo @ 106

TeddySanFran @ 104

Bush: The guy you’d like to have a beer with.

Cheney: The guy you’d like to pour a beer on.

Your being kind to Mr. Cheney. My thoughts re: the Dick, could land me in jail. ;0)

comment deleted by author.

I’ve had it. I have frickin’ HAD IT! If Congress doesn’t actually DO something (impeach) on THIS, then I will not only make the decision to NOT vote for ANY Democrat in 2008 (I will go straight 3rd Party, top to bottom), I will also start giving money to 3rd party candidates and parties. I have had it with the worthless Dems.

NOTHING could possibly make them impeach Gonzales, even pictures of him being at Abu Ghraib laughing in the background of the torture and abuse would move the Dems to fulfill their oaths to the Constitution. NOTHING, not even pictures of Cheney actually CONDUCTING torture personally on prisoners would earn HIM an impeachment. The Dems in congress are proving to be next to worthless.

NOTHING is changing from when the GOP ran the show, except that now we ALL know a lot more about what has been going on…but so what? Nothing happens as a result.

How is ANYTHING that has actually happened different than what it was like under the GOP? Investigations are worthless if they don’t lead to ACTION. ACTION is necessary and I will NOT support any candidate or party that does absolutely NOTHING. Action is all that matters, not words.

Hell, I’ve decided right here that my default is to vote against the Dems, top to bottom, in 2008 UNLESS they prove to me that they deserve my vote and money.

I am so furious and sick right now I can almost not bear it.

IntelVet @ 18

Does anyone think Congress will start calling for those super secret Energy Task Force papers?

Good idea. Makes sense to start at the beginning…a very good place to start…

We’re ready Mr. Music…

TeddySanFran @ 105

Bush: The guy you’d like to have a beer with.

Cheney: The guy you’d like to pour a beer on.

Pour? Nah, just toss it in his face.

Ed*ard Teller @ 81

retirin’ in five @ 77

OT to Ed Teller — surely within you there is an opera or two in all we’ve seen since 2001, no?

Der Ring des Republikaners

Part 1 – Das Potomakgold
Part 2 – Die Hillary ist Ubermanly
Part 3 – Siegfried und der Pretzel
Part 4 – Busherdammerung

Perfect! Just call it “Die Pretzel”, please. A femal case- but dont ask me why. Best R

I’d hate to waste a goo beer on Cheney- I’d pick a USED one.

I sometimes get the feeling we’re living in a country that is based on the parliamentary system of government and the monarch has thrown out the legislature without an opposition in place to provide any continuity.

This must be what Russia was like when the liberals were controlling the Duma andkept bending over backwards to accommodate the tsar as the Bolsheviks tried to get the proletariat and the army together to politicize them.

I mean, did anyone anticipate this congress being so ineffective back in November in the first flush of victory? It’s almost like they’re afraid to piss anyone in the administration off while not caring that the electorate has had it up to here and beyond.

Does anyone know if Dana Perino was asked about her complete fabrications with regard to the executive order relating to oversight of classified materials? You know the one where she quoted sections that expressly exempted the VP, but in reality made no mention of the VP at all.

Ed*ard Teller @ 93

Peterr @ 85

What about Bruncondi?

calling Darkblack…
I’m sure somebody somewhere has already done a Condi in Valkyrie costume pic. Or was that an undoctored picture of Rudi I’m remembering?

Here’s what you want, back from when we still thought the rest of the world wanted to be the masochist in their relations with us: http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..Feb24.html

I’m actually a fan of Robin Givhan, because at least her vapidity isn’t masquerading as something else.

empy @ 115

Does anyone know if Dana Perino was asked about her complete fabrications with regard to the executive order relating to oversight of classified materials? You know the one where she quoted sections that expressly exempted the VP, but in reality made no mention of the VP at all.

KO mentioned this on Friday. I am sure he will follow up tonight.

rwcole @ 114

I’d hate to waste a goo beer on Cheney- I’d pick a USED one.

Or just a bad one! (Bud, Miller, Schlitz, Genesee…)

On another topic, I am watching C-span 3, and what a mess. I am sick of lame-assed talking points. And Conyers needs to get a new eyeglass prescription.

emptywheel just put up a post on sources.

weedy but very interesting…

james @ 115

I sometimes get the feeling we’re living in a country that is based on the parliamentary system of government and the monarch has thrown out the legislature without an opposition in place to provide any continuity.

This must be what Russia was like when the liberals were controlling the Duma andkept bending over backwards to accommodate the tsar as the Bolsheviks tried to get the proletariat and the army together to politicize them.

I mean, did anyone anticipate this congress being so ineffective back in November in the first flush of victory? It’s almost like they’re afraid to piss anyone in the administration off while not caring that the electorate has had it up to here and beyond.

I’m seeing the same thing. Cheney = Stalin.

rwcole @ 112

I’d hate to waste a good beer on Cheney- I’d pick a USED one.

Fitting.

Prairie graffiti: George Bush = Potemkin President

A beer has a certain bouquet the second time around- perfect for Cheney’s personal style.

WH @ 111

Pour? Nah, just toss it in his face.

Before or after opening the container?

Marcy’s most recent TNH post: Sources: Or, Tedious Kremlinology

I’ve talked about Cheney’s and Addington’s Methods. Now I’d like to inventory the sources that Gellman and Becker used for their articles, as a way to understand where the shifting loyalties of the Administration lie. One thing that becomes clear by mapping this out is the centrality of Josh Bolten to many of the more damning accusations against Cheney. Thus, while these articles may reflect the fingerprints of Poppy (likely) or Scooter (implausible, IMO), I think it is primarily an attempt by the COS and possibly Condi to bring Cheney under control, aided by former Administration lawyers they know to have soured on Cheney’s ways.

(snip)

President Gore is waiting. For January 2009.

Praedor Atrebates @ 108

I am so furious and sick right now I can almost not bear it.

me too.

but this is 2007. we don’t vote for over a year. i’d like to think there’s something we can do in the meantime to help save our congress from itself. last year we lobbied for russ feingold’s censure resolution and we supported ned lamont’s primary challenge.

i think that constructive action now, can help channel our frustration in a positive way.

and i do fear that if the next 1.5 years go like the last 6 months… there may very well be a serious third party challenge from the left. combine that with low turnout. voter suppression, and R swiftboating… it could be bad news.

i just don’t know what additional constructive action i should take to hold my congress accountable… and whatever i do, i’d like it to be part of some organized effort (more fun and more effective).

Does the Fourth Branch of government turn over after a Presidential election? I mean, do candidates in 2008 really need a running mate? And where will that running mate, if elected, work and live. Cuz Shooter ain’t going nowhere….

He is, in his view, Chancellor for Life.

By the way, I saw tv footage of Bush drinking a tall Pilsener glass of beer with Angela Merkel a couple of weeks ago. In case the American media’s big lies weren’t already bothering you, there’s the small shit like this.

Any way you look at it elephant party. You’re going to get Al or Hillary come ‘09. Am I laughing or what. Somebody pick me up! ;0)!!!

Arrest them for torture.

Was Emporer Palpatines’ first name Dick?

-GSD

“Woodhall Hollow @ 119

rwcole @ 114

I’d hate to waste a goo beer on Cheney- I’d pick a USED one.

Or just a bad one! (Bud, Miller, Schlitz, Genesee…)

On another topic, I am watching C-span 3, and what a mess. I am sick of lame-assed talking points. And Conyers needs to get a new eyeglass prescription.

I would be happy if Conyers just showed up prepared at his own oversight hearings.

TeddySanFran @ 131

Cuz Shooter ain’t going nowhere….

Don’t forget – his battery is going dead…

at some point, he’s going somewhere…

Oklahoma kiddo @ 127

President Gore is waiting. For January 2009.

Yup!!!!!

As reprehensible as he is, comments that suggest physical violence toward any Dick are not acceptable.

Cheney Author: 9/11 Didn’t Change Cheney, Gave Him Opportunity ‘To Put His Views Into Action’ – LINK

Karl says don’t get mad, get even. Alright, GOP. Hillary or Al for you in ‘08. ;0)

call it paranoia, but there may be a fine line between sardonic humor and something else that might draw the attention of the Secret Service.

RBG @ 136

As reprehensible as he is, comments that suggest physical violence toward any Dick are not acceptable.

Agreed. But the above comment reminds me hearing someone say, “I wouldn’t cross the street to spit on him if he was on fire”.

Helen @ 117

empy @ 115

Does anyone know if Dana Perino was asked about her complete fabrications with regard to the executive order relating to oversight of classified materials? You know the one where she quoted sections that expressly exempted the VP, but in reality made no mention of the VP at all.

KO mentioned this on Friday. I am sure he will follow up tonight.

Dana Perino in re Bush EO: “I know you understand what you think he said but I don’t believe you understand what he meant to say…”

Nothing to see here, move along, move along.

I’m paranoid about the GOP. But that does not negate the fact that they are after me.

I hope no one thinks I was proposing any sort of violence! I was merely commenting on the limits of battery life…

All this attention being paid to Cheney all of a sudden is a good thing.
Maybe he will go to the undisclosed bunker in his mind for a while while the long knives come out.
Looks to me like there is a runaway Greyhound on the loose.

OldCoastie @ 143

I hope no one thinks I was proposing any sort of violence! I was merely commenting on the limits of battery life…

As was said of Hyman Roth: He’s been dying of the same heart attack for twenty years.

Eureka Springs @ 106

Cheney presides over the Senate on cspan at this moment…. swearing in a new Republican Senator from Wyoming. John Barrasso.

Echoing something someone said earlier: Why is Wyoming entitled to three Senators?

One day, Cheney’s tomb will be a popular tourist destination. I only hope that the builders provide sufficient drainage to account for all of the people wanting to urinate on it.

RBG @ 135

As reprehensible as he is, comments that suggest physical violence toward any Dick are not acceptable.

Of course. And any thoughts or statements or acts of violence against someone breaking into your house are not acceptable. Defending yourself with violence, though legal, is actually unacceptable. No thinking about it. No talking about it. Nothing. Nothing but butterflies and flowers is OK.

When the Constitution is being directly assaulted, the ONLY thoughts, the ONLY words acceptable are mealy-mouthed candy words.

In the midst of combat, no angry, violent words or thoughts are acceptable.

Butterflies and flowers, people. Neutered nonsense is acceptable but NOT actual expressions of anger. Never ever ever.

Oh, discussing killing people by electric chair, hanging, lethal injection IS OK (whether you are for it or against it). But ONLY against convicted criminals.

Under NO circumstances, even if there were films of Dick Cheney torturing animals and children, would it be acceptable to wish harm upon him.

Badwater @ 146

One day, Cheney’s tomb will be a popular tourist destination. I only hope that the builders provide sufficient drainage to account for all of the people wanting to urinate on it.

I imagine everyone’s gone from this thread by now, but that does not negate the following, right? Alexander the Great’s epitaph is something like this: “And now a tomb sufficeth him for whom the whole world was not enough.” Hmmmm. Sounds a lot like Dick the Not So Great.

barbara @ 146

Eureka Springs @ 106

Cheney presides over the Senate on cspan at this moment…. swearing in a new Republican Senator from Wyoming. John Barrasso.

Echoing something someone said earlier: Why is Wyoming entitled to three Senators?

Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas died: LINK

selise @ 126 skrev
i think that constructive action now, can help channel our frustration in a positive way.

Yes. Exactly.

July Fourth is coming up. Does your local community know the names and life stories of this year’s Iraq casualties from your state? Can you think of a way to bring this horrendous price home, to make it personal to people who have tuned out?

There’s a Moratorium in the planning stages. I remember the VietNam ones; they worked, eventually. Could you maybe help make this one bigger and more effective? Could I?

Our country needs us to do something more than to rant at the choir of folks who already agree with us here at FDL. We need to take our opposition to this war, this President and his lawless administration, from the internet into real life.

Time to stand up.
Time to be the best and most effective citizens we can be, not the most self-righteous.

Lou Costello @ 149

barbara @ 146

Echoing something someone said earlier: Why is Wyoming entitled to three Senators?

Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas died: LINK

I know. But since Cheney has proclaimed himself part of the Senate . . . .

joel hanes @ 149

Yes. Exactly.

July Fourth is coming up. Does your local community know the names and life stories of this year’s Iraq casualties from your state? Can you think of a way to bring this horrendous price home, to make it personal to people who have tuned out?

There’s a Moratorium in the planning stages. I remember the VietNam ones; they worked, eventually. Could you maybe help make this one bigger and more effective? Could I?

Our country needs us to do something more than to rant at the choir of folks who already agree with us here at FDL. We need to take our opposition to this war, this President and his lawless administration, from the internet into real life.

Time to stand up.
Time to be the best and most effective citizens we can be, not the most self-righteous.

and my opposition to what my congress is doing (and not doing) too.

brendan @ 132

By the way, I saw tv footage of Bush drinking a tall Pilsener glass of beer with Angela Merkel a couple of weeks ago. In case the American media’s big lies weren’t already bothering you, there’s the small shit like this.

Proven to be a near-beer, which contains enough alcohol to trigger a reaction in those on Antabuse. Recall, please, W’s tummy upset the following day.

RBG135:As reprehensible as he is, comments that suggest physical violence toward any Dick are not acceptable.

Winston Smith 147:Of course. And any thoughts or statements or acts of violence against someone breaking into your house are not acceptable. Defending yourself with violence, though legal, is actually unacceptable. No thinking about it. No talking about it. Nothing. Nothing but butterflies and flowers is OK.

When the Constitution is being directly assaulted, the ONLY thoughts, the ONLY words acceptable are mealy-mouthed candy words.

In the midst of combat, no angry, violent words or thoughts are acceptable.

I think RBG might have been making a sex quip, actually.

randi rhodes is on fire about the cheney story.

listen here:
http://cast.voxcdn.net:8000/live

or to avoid the AAR home website (insert your own reason) listen here:

http://sc7.lga.llnw.net:80/stream/wcpt_live

or here at 10PM EST later today

http://stream.airamericaminnesota.com:8000

Relax. The Middle East problems will soon be a thing of the past. Tony Blair is riding into town.

Cheny: The guy you’d like to drink an six-pack and then piss on.

The NJ & NY Dems are kicking Whitman’s ass on c-span 3!

She tries to do the Abu-I-don’t-recall-dance, but they are not letting her get away with it!

Another thing for the new Democratic president to do in ‘09. Get rid of Tony.

I’m reminded of how by accident I read this Jim Hoagland (pseudo-centrist pap) column in March: “What Has Happened to Dick Cheney”, where he suggests mental illness ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..02044.html ). I seem to recall that Hoagland wasn’t alone in that period in making the suggestion, and we’ll probably see more seemingly throwaway lines like the “L.A. Times’, “has he taken leave of his senses?” today.

None of this court intrigue is in the interest of ending the war, of course.

Woodhall Hollow @ 158

The NJ & NY Dems are kicking Whitman’s ass on c-span 3!

She tries to do the Abu-I-don’t-recall-dance, but they are not letting her get away with it!

You took the words right out of my comment!!

The next panel should be really good too.

TeddySanFran @ 153

brendan @ 132

By the way, I saw tv footage of Bush drinking a tall Pilsener glass of beer with Angela Merkel a couple of weeks ago. In case the American media’s big lies weren’t already bothering you, there’s the small shit like this.

Proven to be a near-beer, which contains enough alcohol to trigger a reaction in those on Antabuse. Recall, please, W’s tummy upset the following day.

Really? That’s a wonderful little piece of investigation. I just happened to see the clip in passing while traveling.

Tony to the Middle East. What’s next? Lieberman to the U.N.?

james @114: ” mean, did anyone anticipate this congress being so ineffective back in November in the first flush of victory? It’s almost like they’re afraid to piss anyone in the administration off while not caring that the electorate has had it up to here and beyond.”

uh, nobody could have predicted it

/snark

rwcole @ 102

aaron burr

back early last year when we had the shooter poetry slam, somebody here – it may have even been me – coined Errant Burrrrr…

TeddySanFran @ 153

brendan @ 132

By the way, I saw tv footage of Bush drinking a tall Pilsener glass of beer with Angela Merkel a couple of weeks ago. In case the American media’s big lies weren’t already bothering you, there’s the small shit like this.

Proven to be a near-beer, which contains enough alcohol to trigger a reaction in those on Antabuse. Recall, please, W’s tummy upset the following day.

My thought at the time was that a vengeful Merkel had goaded him into it, suggesting he was a wimp for not being able to drink a beer. Especially when everyone else over there (Sarkozy, Putin) wasn’t afraid of getting smashed.

Eureka Springs @ 106

Cheney presides over the Senate on cspan at this moment…. swearing in a new Republican Senator from Wyoming. John Barrasso.

Howie Klein’s take…

WYOMING SENDS CONGRESS A FOURTH HOMOPHOBIC GAY REPUBLICAN SENATOR– MEET JOHN BARRASSO

http://downwithtyranny.blogspo…..ourth.html

Two things that are not lost on Al Gore. First, if he wants the Democratic nomination, it’s his. Second, if he wants to be elected in ‘08, he will be.

brendan — check out aravosis on the near-beer

Others have made the connection between antabuse and the next day’s tummy upset.

On it goes..

Monday, June 25, 2007

White House Correspondents Association caves again
by John Aravosis (DC) · 6/25/2007 03:27:00 PM ET
Discuss this post here: Comments (31) · digg it · reddit · FARK · · Link

Big brouhaha over at the White House over some reporters who are threatening to run with a story that could rock the Bush administration to its core! The White House is so upset that, as you’ll note from the email exchange below between White House staff and the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA), the White House is threatening to revoke the press pass of any reporter who dares to report on the super double secret story. But fortunately for all of our sakes, and the safety of our troops, the White House Correspondents Association has decided to back the White House in demanding that none of their members report the sordid details of this clearly life-threatening scandal to the unsuspecting public.

Here is the real email exchange that took place last week:……

http://www.americablog.com/

joel hanes @ 150

selise @ 126 skrev
i think that constructive action now, can help channel our frustration in a positive way.

Yes. Exactly.

July Fourth is coming up. Does your local community know the names and life stories of this year’s Iraq casualties from your state? Can you think of a way to bring this horrendous price home, to make it personal to people who have tuned out?

There’s a Moratorium in the planning stages. I remember the VietNam ones; they worked, eventually. Could you maybe help make this one bigger and more effective? Could I?

Our country needs us to do something more than to rant at the choir of folks who already agree with us here at FDL. We need to take our opposition to this war, this President and his lawless administration, from the internet into real life.

Time to stand up.
Time to be the best and most effective citizens we can be, not the most self-righteous.

Here are the two most horrendous things I’ve seen about the fate of Americans in this war:
http://bagnewsnotes.typepad.co…..rites.html

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap…..-Worst.php

TeddySanFran @ 169

brendan — check out aravosis on the near-beer

Others have made the connection between antabuse and the next day’s tummy upset.

You’re either on the bus or off the bus. I’ve liived it for almost 14 years and I don’t think there is a middle ground.

Elizabeth Edwards breaks with, but defends, her husband on gay marriage:

Elizabeth Edwards, starring at the kickoff event of San Francisco’s Gay Pride Parade, came out in support of legalized same-sex marriage Sunday — taking a position that she acknowledged is at odds with her husband, presidential candidate John Edwards.

“I don’t know why somebody else’s marriage has anything to do with me,” she said. “I’m completely comfortable with gay marriage.”

snip

Edwards’ embrace of same-sex marriage puts her in a position that differs markedly from her husband, the former North Carolina senator. Edwards said her husband, though having a “deeply held belief against any form of discrimination,” supports gay civil unions, but does not support gay marriage.

“John has been pretty clear about it, that he is very conflicted,” she said. “That’s up against his being raised in the 1950s in a rural southern town. I think honestly he’s on a road that a lot of people in this country are on. … They’re struggling with this. Most of the gay and lesbian people I know … have seen their friends and family walking down that same road.

“It’s frustrating, I know,” she added, “but it’s a long distance from where we are now to the pews of a Southern Baptist church. So, John’s been as honest as he can about that.”

I’m solid Gore.

raven @ 172

TeddySanFran @ 169

brendan — check out aravosis on the near-beer

Others have made the connection between antabuse and the next day’s tummy upset.

You’re either on the bus or off the bus. I’ve liived it for almost 14 years and I don’t think there is a middle ground.

Recall, though, that W went through God’s own program, not any formal recovery. Perhaps God lets him drink near-beer, even if the antabuse they dope him with disagrees?

Principle trumps ‘ends justify the means’ crap.

Jumping in to point this out:

Counterspin: Lew Koch on Padilla trial

Counterspin (6/15/07-6/21/07)

This week on CounterSpin: perhaps it was because both Democrats and Republicans supported it, perhaps it was just an eagerness to tell some good news, but mainstream media were all together in cheering the Bush White House’s renewed commitment to fighting AIDS. The only trouble was, the key numbers at the center of the conversation turn out to be not as they appear. We’ll talk with David Bryden of the Global AIDS Alliance about that “Bush doubles AIDS funding” storyline.

Also this week: the trial of Jose Padilla is underway, but the not-quite-a-dirty-bomber’s case is hardly getting any press attention. The media might be saying that there’s little to report, but veteran reporter Lew Koch thinks otherwise. He’s been following the case for years and is covering the trial for the website Firedoglake—he’ll join us to explain what the case really tells us about the media and the White House’s war on terror.

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3116
MP3 here:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?…..n061507.rm

TeddySanFran @ 175

raven @ 172

You’re either on the bus or off the bus. I’ve liived it for almost 14 years and I don’t think there is a middle ground.

Recall, though, that W went through God’s own program, not any formal recovery. Perhaps God lets him drink near-beer, even if the antabuse they dope him with disagrees?

I didn’t go through any program either. One “Warf Rats” meeting at dead concert in Charlotte. I personally don’t buy the higher power song and dance or antabuse. Put the shit down.

Tinfoil hat time – and about to be EPU’d but – on the Cheney Washington Post story, I don’t this line. I think what we are seeing is a mini-coup d’etat. The Bush & Republican party group wants Cheney out of there so they can put in a new V.P. before the election (maybe Jeb – despite the dirty laundry). They thought they could push out Cheney with health issues(the summer operation) but he didn’t buy, so they contacted their friends at WaPo. Only by doing something like this would they be able to assuage their base. Note this also comes at a time when things are heating up in congress on Gonzales and oversight, so by drawing this out, they will have alot of political cover in the days ahead.

I have Wolf on.. Did I miss the discussion on the Washington Post articles on Cheney??

Teddy and Raven. Yeah. You do or you don’t. The same personality that said do is the same personality that now says don’t.

It’s amazing how much the American people will tolerate.

So they let the people get poisoned in order to open the stockmarkets and keep them going. Damning testimony.

Praetor Atrebates @ 109

Tis the choir I’d sing from. Further refrain, no candidate for president advocating anything other than complete, absolute withdrawal from Iraq by all US (and remaining allied) forces, and incontrovertably repudiating Bush Doctrine in its entirety, will be elegible to receive my vote. (only Gov. Bill Richardson seems qualified to date).

There was an attorney in my town who was very dumb. His wily old secretary did ALL the work – and did it wrong. No matter, the hapless atty maintained tremendous confidence in her abilities (b/c he had none). The secretary stole a whole pile of money from a fat estate and went to prison. The dopey atty was disbarred. He didn’t know nuthin’! He was a lot like Dubya.

One day, Dubya’s gonna have to admit that he don’t know nuthin’.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 166

Tony to the Middle East. What’s next? Lieberman to the U.N.?

A phenomenally apt analogy!

FYI, new thread

OK, I would be remiss if I didn’t link again.A reply to Big Dick

Afew of you know I’m plowing through Ghost Plane by Stephen Grey. Here’s the money quote (p.235)for me:

Here is what one former CIA official told [Grey]:”Coming out and saying ‘we don’t do torture’ is as bad as President Clinton saying ‘I didn’t have sex with that woman’. It’s in the same league. It’s a bare-faced lie. Of course we do torture. Imagine putting President Bush’s head under water and telling him to raise his hand when he thinks he’s being tortured. Give him the water-board treatment, and he’d be raising his hand straightaway.”

Bush&Cheney nullified all American values when they pursued this “policy” against everyone’s advice. They are drunk on power to our detriment.

New thread upstairs

Arnie @ 184

Praetor Atrebates @ 109

Tis the choir I’d sing from. Further refrain, no candidate for president advocating anything other than complete, absolute withdrawal from Iraq by all US (and remaining allied) forces, and incontrovertably repudiating Bush Doctrine in its entirety, will be elegible to receive my vote. (only Gov. Bill Richardson seems qualified to date).

i decided to vote for richardson months ago

Educated Plaintiff @ 190

I sure liked him as a congresscritter when we both were younger. His UN stint was painful to watch, glad he left that gig as quickly as he did. After that, I lost track until he turned up Da Gov.

selise @ 126

Praedor Atrebates @ 108

I am so furious and sick right now I can almost not bear it.

me too.

but this is 2007. we don’t vote for over a year. i’d like to think there’s something we can do in the meantime to help save our congress from itself. last year we lobbied for russ feingold’s censure resolution and we supported ned lamont’s primary challenge.

i think that constructive action now, can help channel our frustration in a positive way.

and i do fear that if the next 1.5 years go like the last 6 months… there may very well be a serious third party challenge from the left. combine that with low turnout. voter suppression, and R swiftboating… it could be bad news.

i just don’t know what additional constructive action i should take to hold my congress accountable… and whatever i do, i’d like it to be part of some organized effort (more fun and more effective).

I don’t want to sound too pessimistic, but with the directives coming out of DC giving Defense Dept personnel authority to “augment” local authorities in cases of emergency and Bush’s order naming himself as the coordinatorin case of some disaster, I keep seeing a scenario where an emergency is engineered just so the election can be stopped from coming off.

These people aren’t going to go gently into any sweet night. Have people in DC prepared for this? Does anyone even think along those lines or would the mere suggestion of it lable one as a tin foil hat wearer?

I don’t think it’s an outlandish idea, but I also don’t believe that Oswald got off a shot that day in Dallas.

Those fortifications put in place after 911 make awfully nice fields of fire for troops tasked with suppressing an insurrection in addition to providing security for government buildings.

Kind of like dual purpose.

LS @ 75

The Whitman hearing on CSPAN3 is WILD!!

Oh, Christy’s pissed!

Richmond @ 179

Tinfoil hat time – and about to be EPU’d but – on the Cheney Washington Post story, I don’t this line. I think what we are seeing is a mini-coup d’etat. The Bush & Republican party group wants Cheney out of there so they can put in a new V.P. before the election…

I don’t believe this for a moment, but I DO believe that this may be that incompetent moron Condi Rice (and others) getting a little payback against Dickhead.

IF, playing along with the fantasy above (Congress has to APPROVE any replacement), it is an orchestrated move to get Cheney out, it is a miserable failure in a pathetically funny way. This plot would actually require action from the Democrats that goes beyond letter writing and endless investigations with no results to show for them. It requires that the Dems ACTIVELY get Cheney out (impeachment) but the Dems will literally do ANYTHING (or absolutely NOTHING) in order to avoid having to remove Cheney.
The harder the erstwhile plotters in this fantasy try, the more information they get out on what Dickhead has been up to, the deeper the Dems stick their fingers in their ears and the louder the yell, “LA LA LA LA!!!!”

Digby sez: Fascinating stuff. The DC establishment is at war with itself.

the worst, saddest thing of it is, when the DC establishment wars with itself, the DC establishment wins…

Oklahoma kiddo @ 182

It’s amazing how much the American people will tolerate.

“amazing” ain’t the word i’d use…

“horrifying,” or “terrifying,” or “disgusting.”
these are the words i’d use…

TeddySanFran @ 104

Bush: The guy you’d like to have a beer with.

Cheney: The guy you’d like to pour a beer on.

Bush: The guy you’d like to give a pretzel.

Cheney: The guy who’d give it to him.

Where’s Shakespeare when you need him to write all the great stories about this administration and it’s characters?