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Matthew Yglesias points to the Gallup Poll which indicates people actually do care about what happened in the Scooter Libby matter and wonders if there isn’t a campaign issue in the offing.
For that to be the case, Democrats with presidential aspirations could not embrace the divided loyalties they do currently. As much as they would all like to appear to be populists, the 08s must also self-identify as part of the beltway elites, which transcends party affiliation. And the bobblehead class has made it clear — Libby is one of their own, and coming out strong against Scooter is tantamount to a war on them.
Edwards already suffers from marginalization because of his perceived class betrayal — it fueled the scoffing over a rich man with the audacity to care about poverty and the obsession with his $400 haircut. So anxious was Obama to escape this fate I believe it motivated his general counsel’s call for Scooter to be pardoned — in retrospect it looks to me like nothing so much as end-of-the-quarter dog whistle that told the Washington Brahmins that they shouldn’t worry about him being owned by his quarter-million plebe donors, he still knows how to observe the edicts of the ruling class.
And so, nobody will care. Well, not exactly. Loads of people will care, but nobody will pick that ball up and run with it because it could prove way, way too hot. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think I am. The optics of establishment obeisance are much more important to staying in the game than, say, a willingness to support labor or even treat your own employees with respect.
Who’s your daddy, right?
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Buck Fush.
Hagel or Gore will pick it up!
(((((((Jane!)))))))
The interesting dynamic of the election this far out certainly points out a couple of things that are unique: the dissatisfaction with Preznit Horse Fluffer and the role of the internet.
Oh, and if Tweety still wants to know why St McCain crashing faster than a Bonanza full of Lawyers it’s because independants who pay attention remember that he supported a bill that legalized the very torture he experienced in Hanoi as well as handing over things like Habeas to Abu Gonzales.
If he had been more about oversight and less about kissing Dear Leader’s ass he might not be finding himself where he is today. Too bad. Let’s all say good-bye to the Senator: “Goodbye Asshole”.
Inside the Beltway, people get their polling data directly from Andrea Mitchell. Didn’t you know that?
They don’t want Dean Broder looking down his nose at them and declaring how awful they are and how they’ll “trash the place.”
By way of the attacks on Edwards, he’s now my fave.
OT ~ Would it be racist to refer to this as a ‘HUNG’ jury?
Biden and some of the other Democrats have been saying LABOR LABOR Unions loud and clear
They are too busy,you know, busy busy busy.
Why can’t someone else do the heavy lifting?
Don’t we have hired help for these things?
Mercy! I feel a faint coming on.
This is why Gore could come along and be the peoples’ candidate. He’s already been in bed with, and moved beyond, the corporate masters that run DC.
I personally feel Gore is now bigger than US presidential politics, a player on the world stage like Nelson Mandela. I’m not sure getting involved in running our (soon-to-be) backwater country is worth the loss in stature to Gore at this point. We need him to save the world, not just America.
So only 6% thought Libby should have gotten a full pardon. And “for the 394 Republicans surveyed, the margin of sampling error was plus or minus five percentage points” (AP). Does that mean that potentially only 1% of people think Libby should have gotten a full pardon? (The entire poll was 1,014 people.)
Jeez, the Republican base is shrinking.
Gore is getting in it. If anyone saw his interview with Ann Curry during the concerts over the weekend, she put him to task on the question, and asked him several times for a straight answer, and Gore side-stepped it repeatedly. His usual answer of, “I am not thinking about right now” rang hollow. He is getting in. I think he is biding his time until the numbers dwindle down to Obama, Edwards and Clinton.
Hagel would be interesting, too. Thompson is going to plummit soon, McCain is done, and Guilani cannot help himself from f****ing up.
Gore/Clark–that would be an excellent ticket.
Hagal/?
Jo Fish @ 4
roger that.
But what’s a Bonanza full of Lawyers? Sounds interesting.
Gee, only 19 percent are
lunaticswingnuts on this poll. I’m a bit surprised. Does that mean there’s still hope for a third of the 30 percenters?Hagel is a right-wing kook-ball, skepticism on Iraq notwithstanding. He is not remotely progressive.
Well, we’ll see. While I’m disappointed they haven’t made more of it, conventional wisdom inside the Beltway was that Bush’s commutation meant this was “over.” I can’t remember which commentator I heard falling for the administration line that this was going to cause outrage for a day or two, and then it would die down. If you’re in that bubble, then there’s no big campaign advantage to coming out strong about it. And while we’d like them to be about doing the right thing, campaigns are about winning, and doing the right thing about something no one cares about is a waste of resources.
But I don’t think the CW is right. As I put it a couple of days ago, Bush’s commutation didn’t end it, it crystallized it. People may not understand the court case, but everyone understands getting off the hook because you have friends in high places. I think it’s just possible that if it doesn’t go die down, the candidates will realize it’s the easiest way to talk about Republican lawlessness, and that it’s a winner.
But I’ve always been an optimist.
I want David Shuster to get a crack at each and everyone of the Libby apologists. That means Tucker too.
If Edwards makes it an issue – and hey, the elites already hate him, so what’s he got to lose? – then Clinton and Obama may try to jump in front of the parade later if it generates enough grassroots support.
That’s what they do. But they’ll continue their well placed smoke signals to the People Who Really Matter.
Get Tough @ 13
Two times on the Matthews Fineman and one of the other quest have said that close sources to the Gore campaign have said it is going to happen in November.
Gore has repeatedly said that he thinks the time that the MSM is spending covering the campaign 500 and some days before the election is a waste of time and focus.
Sure agree with that comment!
P J Evans @ 13
I wonder how many of the 13% who think the commutation was right used to think a full pardon was right, but can’t do anything but line up like good little authoritarians behind Dear Leader once he’s decided.
Conventional wisdom inside the Beltway was that Watergate was a bizarre little story that would soon go away. Democrat’s efforts to make something of it were somewhere between foolish and pathetic.
Conventional wisdom inside the Beltway was that Bush 1.0 was a lock on re-election in 1992, so major players like Gore, Gephart, Cuomo, and Bill Bradley were wise to wait until 96 to run against Vice President Gore.
From what I’ve observed is that people don’t get worked up until they personally start feeling the pain. As long as beltway media crowd have sweet paychecks & live in the social bubble, it’s hard to imagine they will have any reality checks any time soon. Depressing.
Chris Matthews just said on MSNBC that the Senate is cutting off funding for the Vice President’s Office!
I’m voting for Senator Clinton if she’s the nominee, but damn. Why do they have to make it such a chore.
OT: Rude Pundit on Vitters is reminding me of Gilliard a bit here. Very nice feeling.
pwrlght @ 23
Are they doing it or are they “trying” to do it. They love the purgatory state of trying.
On Tweety: Pete Williams says that Chertoff has a “gut feeling’ that we’re gonna get attacked this summer. No specific intelligence. He just feels it.
puppethead @ 11
As the brilliant and insightful George Carlin has said ” humans may be going somewhere but the earth is not going anywhere”.
http://www.perspectives.com/fo…..forum_id=5
“We’re going away. Pack your s***, folks. We’re going away. And we won’t leave much of a trace, either. Thank God for that. Maybe a little styrofoam. Maybe. A little styrofoam. The planet’ll be here and we’ll be long gone. Just another failed mutation. Just another closed-end biological mistake. An evolutionary cul-de-sac. The planet’ll shake us off like a bad case of fleas. A surface nuisance.”
Get Tough @ 12
The only thing Hagel has going for him is his current opposition to the war and it took him long enough to get there. In all other ways, he is a 100% Bushite clone. As an example, he was one of the Senators who voted to do away with the Federal Minimum Wage Law that Cornyn proposed a few months ago.
pwrlght @ 24
Gabbly down for you too?
QuakerGirl @ 26
Not sure, he was slightly incoherent (not unusual for him) but I always keep in mind that Matthews is wrong a lot.
QuakerGirl @ 26
Am I dreaming? I sure hope not… more constitutional oversight…holy mackeral
Helen @ 26
I have no doubt. He just came from a secret meeting with Uncle Dick.
Cycloptichorn @ 29
Yes. :(
Is something up with Josh Marshall’s site TPM? Last nite it was new scenery and today all I’m getting is one measly story (from the 10th) with the same ole’, same ole’.
Helen @ 27
Chertoff is a tool. “Gut” feeling, huh? If it happens, it will be on his head. He’s head of Homeland Security after all. He is another disgusting person.
pwrlght @ 29
Oh! He’s trying again to get people to turn to his station so he gets better ratings.
dakine01 @ 28
Hagel is one of the only Senators to challenge the A_lobby. I have seen him challenge Liebermann several times on the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict on Meet the Press. He is also a Vietnam Vet. I still think he will declare.
ironranger >
Yes
“…Bring it on !”
Real change only comes from shared deep pain
“…Ambition must be made to counteract ambition…” – Federalist No. 51
Get Tough @ 12
Am more taken with the possibility of a Gore/Edwards ticket – poetic and frontier justice. General Clark would make a fine Secretary of State – or Defense. We’ve gotta lot of rat nests to clean out throughout the federal govt.
pwrlght @ 24
Is this for real?!
Link
How about a Labor Day rally/demonstration in DC??
The theme could be, “Turn out if you’ve had enough!” Or, maybe just, “ENOUGH!!!” Well, work on that one, but what I’m saying is it is time to hit the streets and the theme should be a “big tent” covering the waterfront of total contempt for what these people are doing in the name of governing the greatest nation in the world.
Enough talk! Enough blogs! Did you learn anything from Sicko and your forebearers??!! You have to demonstrate strength! You have to get the police out! You got to make news!
I had to laugh about Mike’s take on the French and how they get action… in France people actually cringe when they hear the “riot word”… SCANDAL!!! (Yah, the French have a riot word.)
God knows that we have had nearly one SCANDAL a day and nobody acts. Today’s Gonzo take on not misleading Congress is just one in a very long…well, six years long, in fact!…line of SCANDAL!!! ENOUGH!!!
@ 35
Something is up with your browser maybe. It works fine now. It was down for like 10 minutes this morning.
pwrlght @ 29
A senate panel had voted on the cutting off of Deadeye’s allowance, since he’s not part of either branch!!! Mere rhetoric, yet a wake up call for the Shooter!!!
AZ Matt @ 39
Yes!!!
FYI for anyone who cares – in 2004 there were allegations that David Vitter had an ongoing affair with a New Orleans prostitute – which he denied.
http://www.louisianaweekly.com…..?20040329m
I wonder if he was lying. hmmmm
hychka @ 43
I know it is crazy to say, but maybe some riots here in the US are what is needed for DC to get with the program. At the very least, some very large marches.
Mod note: I hope riot means large marches, and not destructive nasty crap
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 45
I agree……and I gotta DRIVE in this town!
Tucker Carlson is going for “Alltime Biggest Asshole of All Time in the Asshole Division” award. He is talking about Vitter’s phone number showing up in a DC Madam’s phone records.
Describes Larry Flynt at “Democratic financier.”
Rants about how it is nobody’s business.
Calls on Obama to denounce Larry Flynnt.
What an asshole.
Perhaps my prejudice is showing.
@ 33
No, I see the beautiful new front page. And the fact that Harriet will give Conyers the silent treatment.
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003644.php
Jo Fish @ 4
Watching Tweety before made we wanna throw my TV in the shower to clean it off. I think Tweety is in love with “Walnuts” McCain and Rudy. And Mrs. Greenspan was going right along with it. What they don’t get is that McCain was a MSM creation. Why don’t they get that the Republican base hates McCain? That’s why he’ll never win the nomination. The Repub base hates McCain almost as much as they hate Hillary.
I think all Vitters matters should be forwarded to the chief porno researcher, Ken Starr.
Is he at Pepperdine?
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 44 Something is up with your browser maybe. It works fine now. It was down for like 10 minutes this morning.
Maybe… I’m at work.
Clarence Page has a nice op-ed in the Chicago Tribune, taking on the Libby apologists.
From Froomkin:
Page also writes: “Fitzgerald’s critics wish he had ended his investigation immediately after learning that Armitage was the source of one leak, Novak’s. To me, that’s like telling police who have busted a teenager for marijuana that they need not bother to find out who the kid’s suppliers are.”
As always, Dan’s on the case.
And Clarence, ever gracious and respectful, gives Media Matters a big hat tip as well.
Big Mitch @ 46
He also called Gov Blanco a drooling idiot if I heard him correctly.
Helen @ 27
He told this to the Chicago Tribune editorial board, and they immediately put up one of their “breaking news” banner headlines. Thanks, Chicago Tribune.
QuakerGirl @ 35
I can not stand Matthews focus on the Clintons personal life or his comments about Gore’s weight…who give a flying f—. But if you have been watching his program (and I have for years) he is one of the only MSMers who has consistently asked hard and driving questions of the radical “cakewalk in Iraq” zealots once he was convinced that they had lied lied lied. He realizes that he was duped before the invasion.
He learned his lesson and has asked those same radicals who have been pushing hard for a pre-emptive strike on Iran ever since they lied our nation into a war in Iraq the questions that need to be asked. Certainly far more than Wolf Blitzer, Tim Russert and the other MSMers with the exception of Keith Olbermann.
Let’s give the guy some credit for learning a very important lesson.
Slothrop @ 53
He was last heard from destroying student’s free speech rights in Juneau Alaska.
BONG HiTS 4 JESUS
i find the 08’s as jane calls them just blahhh – i dont know who’ll get the nom but i cannot work up any enthusiasm for the lot….
Big Mitch @ 49
Tucker is a douchebag. So Larry Flynt and George Soros bankroll the whole Democratic Party? He, like the Republican Party, has no conscience. They can’t be shamed at all. Someone needs to yank on his necktie. Use it like a leash.
You know who I’d like to see either Gore or Edwards choose as a running mate? Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.
http://www.house.gov/schultz/
Reuters:
Slothrop @ 52
Starr is the Dean of the law school at Pepperdine. I just checked their website.
Big Mitch @ 50
No Mitch – Tucker is an asshole and a dumbf*ck. I love how he didn’t understand why this was news – hmmmm maybe Tucker because Vitter made it a point to involve himself in other people’s personal choices about who they love.
oddmommy @ 47
o you guys think it is crazy to stand up for youself?! You think you’ll be inconvenienced when you drive downtown?!
F****** TOOOO BADDDD!!!
AZ Matt @39
Since they are a panel, does it need to go through all the other government channels or can they do this. I don’t think so but educate me. I’d like to know where does action replace rhetoric with a panel. I don’t think Dick and GW heed any legal warnings. They are loving jerking the people and congress around – giggling the way he does when he readied himself for an execution and Shooter patting GW on the back.
Peterr @ 54
As always, Dan’s on the case.
And Clarence, ever gracious and respectful, gives Media Matters a big hat tip as well.
Did you hear? The Sun-Times is going all liberal on us:
http://www.editorandpublisher……1003609413
sen vitter’s a rank hypocrite – why am i NOT surprised? wasn’t he the same who proclaimed the sanctity of marital fidelity?? or did he mean it for lesser mortals?
hychka @ 43
Americans fear their government while in France the government fears the people. It’s time for Americans to put real fear in the hearts of the politicians in D.C.. A Labor Day rally in D.C. needs to draw 2 million plus! On the Mall and surrounding every broadcast network office in D.C.. The last time there was a rally there were 500,000 and the MSM didn’t bother to cover it. It’s time to start organizing now!.
if Vitter proclaimes the sanctity of marital fidelity, his hypocracy should have been on view when he because a chairman of the Giuliani campaign in Louisiana.
@ 41
It apparently is, with one modification (via ThinkProgress): Senate panel cuts off funds for Cheney’s office
hychka @ 42
I’m with you, but I’d say in every major city, not just DC. Like the immigration rally only much, much, bigger!
Loo Hoo. @ 62
Not!
juslin @ 68
What are you talking about Juslin – God forgave him. Didn’t you get God’s memo. It’s okay for Vitter to be a righteous pig because he prayed on it.
Now you and me on the other hand – Vitter still reserves the right to judge us. Oh and pass laws that effect our freedom – like what my doctor can tell me about my reproductive rights and who is allowed to marry or not marry.
Mebbe Deadeye can cash in some Halliburton stock and still tell everyone to Cheney themselves.
hychka: Please reread #48, I think you read it wrong.
HMMM , cool, I like the new edit feature.
I think the rally should be in one east coast city and one west coast city. So they are big enough to shut the city down and make people a little nervous.
If you remember the ’60s, you didn’t experience them, or so they say. Well, I remember the moritoria and excuse me for saying so, they ended the war.
We face multiple challenges today. Not just an illegal, immoral war, but an illegal immoral government. Let the remedy be suited to the disease.
hychka @ 62
Uh, are you actually paying attention to what was typed?
I believe oddmommy was saying to bring the protests on, no matter that it would screw up traffic. I.E., she’s in favor of having the inconvenience if it would get the attention of the idiot in charge.
Bustednuckles @ 74
hahahahaha – I don’t doubt he would but I bet he is a cheap bastard and won’t spend his own money. Tax payers he doesn’t have a problem spending that – as long as it pumps up the profits of companies where he owns stock.
2 million in Washington and 500,000 each in Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Seattle, Phoenix, Austin, oh yeah! Duff beer!
A billion man march. LIVE EARTH 2-THE SEQUEL
QuakerGirl @ 63
The House holds the purse strings and if their bill contains the funding then it goes to a joint House/Senate conference that the Dems control. The 2 must reconcile and produce a final bill. It is 50-50 that Cheney gets his money. I don’t Durbin is about to look the other way if someone tries to stick it back into the Senate version. Cheney could be screwed.
Bustednuckles @ 77
Just curious, Is Moma nuckles lurking these days?
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 64
hmmm lets see now….. ghouliani has a coke fiend as his SC chmn…. sen vitter in La…. and HE”S the man to run america – its to laugh
Evening news shows all highlighting total rejection of the war, big poll showing 70% ready to get out, all the Dem Candidates getting large crowds and ovations in Iowa when they promise to end the war, Hillary Clinton speech on ending the war — see Peter D at dKos — so you’d think that a smart Dem Candidate could say — this was a huge mistake, we were misled into this, and the people who did the most to mislead us are 12% Cheney and his guy Libby, and when Libby lied (and was convicted) in a scheme to smear the truth tellers, they let him get out free — and that’s unfair to everyone, undermines the system and just covers up the lies that got us into this war — why can’t a Dem make that argument?
Hillary can’t because she doesn’t want to face questions about Bill’s pardon of Rich et al.
But what about . . .
Edwards?
Obama?
etc?
They’re leaving this argument on the table
Elliott @ 85
Jane the folks who are paying attention to what is taking place in our country are deeply concerned about the Libby commutation. When an individual commits perjury, and obstructs justice in the investigation of a CIA covert agent who was following the path of WMD’s and then the President of the United States trumps the Federal Judiciary process things are getting serious…very very serious.
I just keep wondering what I should say to my youngest daughter who followed the trial towards the end. Do we just tell our children that our justice system is not just!
Eureka Springs @ 80
I dunno, now that you mention it.
I was at their house when she popped in.
She did say she was going to bookmark it.
MOM?
What job will Rudy give little boots?
AZ Matt @ 82
Many thanks AZ Matt. 50-50 are still the odds. Hopefully the Dems can muster up the courage to hold together.
juslin @ 85
I seem to recall that he had a problem with a former Police Commish, too. Fella they called “Bernie Kerrick.” Not so big on the family values thing. But that was least of his problemos.
hychka @ 64
uh…..it was a joke. And I said I AGREED.
What are you, an
Ahem. Self-moderated.
Watching the social networking sites grow into political communities, I see the ownership of mass media becoming less important as we prepare for 2008. As these sites become more reflective of the general population it will be harder for Progressive ideas to be squelched.
Speaking of which, how does one go about getting the Facebook tag next to our userid?
Hillary Goldwater isn’t exactly a peace candidate. Obama seems like some sort of ‘Dr. Phil moderate Republican’ and Edwards doesn’t know whether he wants a haircut or sackcloth and ashes for the ruling class.
Of the 3 I prefer Edwards. but I prefer Feingold the mostest mostest of all. So that leaves me with Dennis.
And that bus isn’t going downtown.
HA! What jerks!
Republican circle jerk
AZ Matt @ 79
This was just the committee in the Senate, hence the 5-4 vote. It still has to go through the entire Senate and if it is still not funded after that, then through the conference.
ccmask@82
i can get with that idea – live earth in DC – and take back america…
ccmask @ 86
Whatever it is, it won’t have anything to do with the UN…
“I’m a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary. If he does something like that, I’m walking away with one thing, and it’s not alimony, trust me.” – Vitter’s wife w.r.t. Clenus’s antics –
At Vitter’s next presser I wanna here one thing,
“Drop trow’, bro, drop trow’ !”
BTW, Kucinich isn’t calling for any pardons or ‘inside the beltway’ deals for these criminals. He is not a hater (like me), he just wants justice, the rule of Law. Al wants to save the world, great, let Kucinich save this country.
((((((dakine)))))))
(((((((cc mask)))))
Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 96
I asked Feingold to run. I even told him I’d contribute the maximum allowed by law(even though I’d go into debt to do it). But alas, it was not to be. :-(
oddmommy @ 92
Maybe hthe dear soul has my shingles. Boy, am I in one mean mood. Zero sense of humor. Put up your ducks. Put um up. Come on. Come on. Gimmi what you got! Snarrrrrl!
Get Tough @ 13
I agree I think the Gore/Wesley Clark ticket would be a winner. Although Clark has pissed off the Israeli lobby
http://www.richardsilverstein……ith-aipac/
oddmommy @ 101
Got you covered oddmommy.
Big Mitch @ 93
As someone else pointed out, Rudy wanted to have a convicted felon run his PA campaign. Oops!!
if only dennis really had a chance…. same with ron paul at least both men are consistent in their views… so natch they dont stand a chance
ccmask @ 73
Both comments just struck me wrong.
The notion is logical, not crazy. The desire to not be inconvenienced is why no one actually acts out on these outrages.
Look, I know folks here basically agree that GWB and his buddies are the worst thing that ever hit American politics. I know you basically agree with me. I’m just sick of no action, no demonstrations of total outrage, no expressions of grave concern for the dead, dieing, injured, no “in your f**** face!! when our officials lie to us, no “in your f****** face when they claim 50 to 75 times that they can’t recall, no “in your f******* face for covering up their own crimes….again, and again, and again, and again,….and again!!
pwrlght @ 75
Where is Samuel L. Jackson’s character in “Pulp Fiction” when we need him?
Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 96
Aside from Feingold… Kucinich and Elizabeth Edwards make up my left dream ticket this week.
hychka @ 107
Gofeed the birds in your yard for a little while. That’s what I do. And spread the word!
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 34
In today’s Froomkin column, he mentions that Rove is stepping up the Fear Plan. So, I would expect to see this kind of BS from Skeletor and others non-stop.
ccmask @ 100
Seconded!
senator vitter committed a ’serious’ sin but inquiring minds want, no, need to know; how many times? with who? was it a serial sin?
its hard for me to fathom why ghouliani even has the audacity to run…i’m no new yorker but i live next door and i know the shit he pulled in the city….
hychka @ 103
Attacking the folks who are actually agreeing with you is not how to get supporters for your viewpoints.
I started commenting on this thread at #50 where I said, “Tucker Carlson is going for “Alltime Biggest Asshole of All Time in the Asshole Division” award.”
Since then, he has outdone himself. Calling Robert Kennedy, Jr. a fascist.
I apologize to anyone who is a genuine asshole, for putting you in the same dispicable class as Tucker “El Douchay” Carlson.
juslin @ 108
Before you talk up Ron Paul you should read some of this:
http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/search?q=ron paul
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 36
Was it Cheney or Chertoff who said if a Democrat gets elected to be president there “WILL BE” a terrorist attack? I only allow myself to be truly tin every few months. This might make the cut.
Well we saw Howard Dean almost make it to the finish line. I’m counting on a similiar miracle. I think of Obama as Lieberman’s Junior.
when i hear a politician telling me what a moral person they are and how they know what lives we must live – automaticaly i tune said pol out ASAP!
Chertoff feels an attack is coming? I wonder if he already knows who will be guilty? I’m sure with such foreknowledge he could have the media absolutely screaming his message.
What marvelous intuition. I sensed a bus was coming once and Iran to catch it.
Tucker’s shitty show has shitty ratings.
It’s gotta hurt. He wears a bow tie everyday and nobody watches. He’s feeling it.
QuakerGirl,
I hope your shingles clear up quickly. I hear they are no fun at all.
{{{{{QuakerGirl}}}}}
what if they gave a bowtie and nobody came?
egregious @ 115
I’m pretty sure it was Cheney.
Big Mitch @ 120
A simple case of projection. Tucker tugs at his little bow tie when the f-word is directed at him, but he’s totally willing to call someone else names. Actually I think of Tucker and fellow Republikan creatures as good Stalinists. They’re like a chorus, shouting Mark Rich all in unison.
When Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana confessed to a “very serious sin” on Monday night, Debra Jean Palfrey was not about to forgive him. Sin is one thing; but Palfrey believes Vitter — a proponent of the “sanctity of marriage” — should fess up if that sin was a crime as well. After all, she notes, prostitution is a legal offense for both purveyor and consumer. And as the so-called “D.C. Madam” whose escort service Vitter says he used, Palfrey says the agency she ran was merely one-half of the alleged equation. “Why am I the only person being prosecuted?” she told TIME over the phone. “Sen. Vitter should be prosecuted [if he broke the law]” Palfrey has been battling prostitution-related charges in federal court in Washington, and became a celebrity of sorts in May when ABC’s 20/20 ran a story on her service “Pamela Martin & Associates.” So far, one State Department official has resigned in connection with the scandal.
juslin @ 115
because he has an ego the size of Texas – speaking of another egomaniac.
dakine01 @ 113
And with this very appropriate statement you can all safely go back to doing NOTHING!!
Yes, I’m tired of NOTHING!!!
So, for at least ten days I won’t say a word. A vow of silence in hopes that some of you will join me in less talk and more action.
Steve
steve-AR@120
i went and read – i must follow ron a bit more closely – he does have libertarian views tho…..
snowyegret @ 126
Thank you for your kind words. I just gobbled more dark chocolate. Hope it hits my brain soon.
What commandment does massages come under, one wonders?
.
ok, f**k self-moderating. I explained that I was JOKING about the inconvenience.
Go grow yourself some ears and some brain cells before you start organizing any revolutions……we’ve got enough bleating sheep around already.
juslin @ 110
Ego combined with hubris and cowardice both. Rudy thinks he knows better than anyone else on anything, is arrogant enough that he refuses to listen to anyone else, yet continually makes stupid decisions and compounds them by a refusal to admit his errors.
Made his driver the Police Commissioner.
Enabled the environment that led to Abner Louima, Amadou Diallo, and Patrick Dorismond.
Let his wife find out he was divorcing her through a press conference.
Tried to move his mistress into the mayor’s mansion while his wife and children still lived there forcing her to get a restraining order and get HIM kicked out.
Tried to postpone the elections after 9/11 so he could stay as Mayor.
Used his cancer as an excuse to drop out of the Y2K senate race when it became obvious that Hillary was going to kick his a**.
Replaced his accused cocaine smuggler South Carolina campaign chief with the accused’s racist father.
Kept his friend who was an accused pedophile priest on the payroll of his consulting firm.
Represented both sides of a bankruptcy case without disclosing it to the two sides.
And I’m sure I can add a few other things if I think on it for a bit.
Big Mitch @ 118
Mitch – How have you hung in there? I had to turn Tucker off – he forced me to watch Lou Dobbs. Lou Dobbs!!!!! That’s what he has driven me too.
Please Tucker go on vacation or get sick then Shuster can fill in again. Better yet, Dan Abrams fire Tucker’s ass and replace him with Shuster!
kathleen at 38
did you see the mod comment at 150 in the last thread? and then read the comments listed before the link linked on the thread?
Promise?
Lol.
juslin @ 128
yes, except for being anti-choice.
(Though, to be fair, I have heard arguments about why those two beliefs are not conceptually inconsistent.)
as for fucker carlson – how come no libs on his show has never called him out on his dad’s far-rightwing views and that his dad is the man who ran convicted felon’s fund-raising campaign?? they let him say all manner of things and do not ask him to support whatever it is he says.. is it cuz they want to return? sheesh!
ccmask @ 131
Thou shalt not rub me the wrong way. It’s #13
Wasn’t Rudy running away when he was videotaped on 911? I think all the good Rudy stories are going to come out if Rudy gets any further in his campaign. Always good to keep those stories under wraps until needed. The FDNY have got some balls, after all.
Helen @ 27
Please, no laughing. We should all take the intestinal perceptions of Skeletor’s Mini-Me very, very seriously.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
New Republican Social Conservative playbook:
If Larry Flynt discovers you’ve been paying for hookers, call the AP immediately.
Wonder if that came from Dick Morris or Unka Karl.
pwright @ 138
There is an entire time slot 6-7 where I can’t watch cable news. I can tolerate 7-8 a little better because Tweety can be amusing for about 5 minutes. 8-9 is Keith relief of course, provided Richard Wolffe &ilk isn’t one of the commentators. Heck I even put up with commercials for Keith.
dmac @ 134
rather shocking, that.
juslin @ 141
because then they won’t get asked back – and BTW they get paid to appear.
Scarecrow @ 143
:-)
Tucker & other wingnut mouthpieces grow shriller & more incoherent as their spin is refuted by more & more pesky facts every day.
pwright @ 131
I sent Abrams an e-mail a couple of weeks ago asking him what type of blackmail photos Tuckery has on him given that he has about the worst ratings of all (it is a toss-up with him and Beck).
I think it is kind of strange that some other Republican called for Vitter to step down or join the Dems. It makes me think that they know a Dem is also on the list.
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 61
Speaking of assholes and leashes… A plea from Tucker’s dog: LINK
Lindsey pleads for more war on cspan 2.
Lindsey Graham speaking about the Webb Amendment right now is saying “we should say no to extremism” – why does he insist on denying himself?
juslin @ 133
If Dave Neiwert and Howie Klein say he is bad news, I have to go with their judgment.
oddmommy @ 149
gritting teeth as always. *cough*
Leahy Reaction To Springfield, Vt.,
Being Chosen For Premier Of The Simpsons Movie
“After 18 years, it’s good to finally welcome the Simpsons home. Vermonters love The Simpsons.
“We’re glad for the honor, and today we’re all from Springfield. As much as we Vermonters prize our privacy, we also welcome this attention to our beautiful state. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie will look great on that yellow carpet with the Green Mountains as a backdrop.”
# # # # #
Link
oddmommy-yeah
Eureka Springs @ 156
Always call for others to go to the forefront of the battle. Just so it’s not my blood, I’m good. (Just don’t know how to put my tongue in my cheek in blog language.)
snowyegret @ 126
QG: If you haven’t tried it yet, Lysine cream is very useful in relieving shingles. Try your local vitamin shop. You still need the antiviral medicine, but Lysine really helps. You can also take it in amino acid form as L-lysine, but the cream is topical and works. I know. The average cure time for shingles is about 10 days, depending on how soon you received treatment. The sooner the better.
Also, for the time being avoid nuts and chocolate (foods high in arginine). (Sorry!)
Shingles is no fun at all.
ccmask @ 152
I am sure there are DEMS on the list and if they are DEMS who are pontificating on who can or can’t marry – I say hippocrate but if they were someone (DEM or REP) who felt that people’s personal lives are their business – I could care less if they went to a prostitute.
ccmask @ 154
Why would you think that?
-GSD
pwrlght @ 164
egregious at 121 says-”Was it Cheney or Chertoff who said if a Democrat gets elected to be president there “WILL BE” a terrorist attack? I only allow myself to be truly tin every few months. This might make the cut.”
most definitely CHENEY……..repeaaaatedly……..
dreamcatcher @ 163
Thank you, Dreamcatcher. I’ll get the cream. Just completed the medication. Chocolate and nuts are a real blow. I’ll gladly go for discipline to east the pain.
oddmommy @ 149
I did go back and added a couple of comments to Jane’s warning. I am truely sorry if I personally offended anyone just asking questions that so many people quietly ask and yet people seem intimidated to question out loud. I talked to Juan Williams about this issue when he came to Ohio University to speak. I asked him about the claims of “pervasive cronyism” he confirmed.
There is an “alleged” report about this issue that has never been released.
on situation room wolfie let joemoe rattle on and on about attacking iran.. you talk about disgusting…. my god
GSD @ 165
QuakerGirl @ 134
See my 163: chocolate is a no-no for shingles patients because it is high in arginine, which promotes the shingles virus.
Shingles
I sure hope “cutting off funding” to OVP includes cutting off the air conditioning too. All the bastards should be sweating.
dmac @ 167
I assume that he’ll be funding it.
Michael Moore, part II, coming up next on Wolfie.
puppethead @ 11
Gore is still a spoiled rich kid whose parents forced him into politics, potentially just as bad a President as Bush. Same as, same as.
dreamcatcher @ 169
Okay that is just fucking unfair! First – life sucks because you have shingles and then you can’t have chocolate.
watching hardball now as i missed the 5pm time…and joemoe and lindsay want to counter sen webb’s move on iraq – joemoe please just goooooooo and join your real party and be done with it….
juslin @ 169
I think HoJoe wants Tony Snow’s job. It’s good he’s looking at other career options. I figure by the time we in CT get a real US attorney who looks into fraudulent activity and vote-buying, he’ll have to resign.
A girl can dream.
dmac @ 163
Yes, but Chertoff felt it in his gut.
wrong thread, but what the heck:
“McCain, insane, swirls slowly ’round the drain”
mui @ 159
Example of how the debate is shut down
pwrlght @ 164
I disagree to this extent, if there had been a prominent Dem on the lists, the folks at the Mouse would have not hesitated to trumpet the names. But since they first acted like their were a lot of prominent political names but then backed off of that when their “exclusive” was aired, my guess is that there are a lot of prominent Rethugs but not so many prominent Dems.
And it is usually the Rs who are trying to rule folks private lives and condemn their morals.
Did Harry Reid just say “Make them filibuster”?
leftdcin72 @ 175
hey that’s so cruel to say about mr. gore. after all he and bill clinton only killed 350,000 iraqui children enforcing the (us forced) u.n. sanctions of medicine, etc….source: unesco
Or “When McCain comes, they run and side with Fred.”
CCmask,
He just wanted to try and reinforce the notion that Democrats are the real perverts. I mean that is what the “Massachusetts/San Francisco liberal” mantras hearken to.
Most of these clowns haven’t a clue. Which is why they get caught.
-GSD
Didn’t most of the major candidates blast Bush for the “almost a pardon” of scoots? Seems like they did.
I think you could be right about that, dakine. After all, ABC/Disney are the folks that brought us that wonderful revisionist 9/11 tv-movie.
From the Gavel:
You know how you hear that the cockroaches will be here after us? Driving my fossil-powered car across a bubbling-hot parking lot, thinking about the near-extinction of many, many species of insects, it seemed that we actually are more dangerous than anyone had suspected: we very well may drive cockroaches to extinction when we take down the rest of the ecosystem.
Anybody see a politician out there who can turn this train around?
Revisionist 101:
Bill Clinton was responsible for 9/11.
The anti-war folks are responsible for the clusterfuck that is the Iraq war.
-GSD
Tucker tries daily to find a formula that will work for him and hold an audience- nothin seems to work- whether he goes to the right or the left- he’s still a boring blob of bullshit…
Tell me again the libertarian gospel Tucks!
juslin @ 169
Yes, a journalist might ask how he would manage the aftermath of an attack on Iran. Does Lieberman think that Iran would not react to an attack? Is Lieberman willing to drag us into another and wider war? You might ask him about what such an attack would do to the price of oil and the American economy, but then you wouldn’t be Wolf Blitzer.
kathleen-
did you read my 139?
Noonan @ 96
Noonan, you need to register here on the right hand side of the page, next to comment 15 on my browser. Then it will send you an email with your password. But important! THen you have to go to Facebook and choose a “network” to be in or it won’t show up. Some kind soul told me that yesterday.
pwrlght @ 176
The chocolate embargo is only until the shingles are gone. I had shingles two years ago, and today I eat chocolote or cocoa just about every day. Good for the heart, not to mention the feelgood centers in the brain (theobromide in cocoa is a mood enhancer). By the way “theobromide,” one of the nicknames for chocolate, means “food for the gods.”
One final word: possibly the biggest single trigger for an outbreak of shingles is STRESS. So shingles sufferers need to find ways to attenuate stress in their life. Easier said than done, I know.
Have been listening to Amy Goodman at Democracy Now for the last hour she is always looking for truth. Amy is not afraid to address ANY ISSUE as honestly and accurately as she can!
http://www.democracynow.org/ar…..10/1413203
At Democracy Now
IAEA: Iran “Slowing Down” Nuclear Activities
Meanwhile the IAEA has also announced its sending a team to continue talks with Iran. IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei said Iran is showing signs of “slowing down” nuclear efforts but cautioned more monitoring is needed.
IAEA Director Mohamed El Baradei: “We will continue to report on this. This is obviously a decision Iran has to make – they can accelerate the process, they can slow down the process. My hope, my trust, is that at this stage, at this delicate stage ideally they will even freeze what they have at the present stage.
Here is what A*P*C has at their site today about Iran
Satellites Reveal Construction at Iranian Nuclear Site
Satellite images taken last month reveal that Iran has begun construction of an extensive network of tunnels in a mountain near its Natanz nuclear facility, The Washington Post reported. There were no signs of construction in similar photos taken of the area six months ago. “The tunnel complex certainly appears to be related to Natanz,” said David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector and president of the Institute for Science and International Security. “We think it is probably for storage of nuclear items.” Iran has rebuffed multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding an end to its illicit nuclear work and in April withdrew from an international treaty that would have required it to publicly disclose any new nuclear-related construction.
dreamcatcher @ 172
Kathleen @ 180
In this thread, I’ll back Kathleen. There is far less debate about these issues in this country than you’ll find in Haaretz.
On the other thread, I’ll back Jane, for much the same reason.
China executes a top-ranking corrupt official – CNN.
This is one of those times where I need to self-moderate, right?
New diary, Larry Johnson…
In light of today’s barrage in the Green Zone, Joe might want to rethink that walk about. Joe has bought into the Bush Administration’s newest propaganda effort, and is helping beat the drum to convince Americans that we are fighting Iran and Al Qaeda together.
There is a big problem with Lieberman’s understanding of the situation–Al Qaeda and Iran are not working in tandem against us. In fact, they are natural enemies. A little more than one year ago the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, preached the importance of killing Shia. In fact, he considered this a higher priority than killing “crusaders”.
Pachacutec @ 19
Enough of those “wait and see” tactics and eventually the public will realize they’re not leaders, only followers and triangulators.
There are really a LOT of issues involved in this campaign. It’s enough to give a campaign coordinator a headache. I bugs me that Edwards only talks about his “Two Americas” and “Poverty” and hasn’t yet tied those concepts into a set of policies like Health Care Reform and World Trade Reform and the like. I think once you can draw a picture of how the policies fit together, then the public will ‘get the picture’ better.
No presidential candidate can get by talking about one narrow topic. It just doesn’t work.
BTW, what exactly are Hilary and Barack focusing on recently? Have they said ANYTHING which is new or surprising or even slightly interesting?
GordonM @ 146
I think it’s because they’re scrambling to find a Plan B for Iraq.
From Froomkin:
“The Republican defections are seen as ‘a crack in the dike,’ according to the senior White House official, and National Security Adviser Steven Hadley is most concerned.”
Thomas M. DeFrank and Richard Sisk write in the New York Daily News: “‘I don’t know what they’re up to,’ said a top Bush adviser, ‘but they’re up to something. They’re cooking something new up.’”
Terror scare, just the ticket.
mui@179
i bet conn voters wont be fooled by joemoe as a dem again ;o}
Margot @ 196
Not all of us are in Facebook networks. That seemed to be a random problem for that particualr person.
oddmommy @ 149
mui @ 159
rather shocking, that.
oddmommy @ 149
gritting teeth as always. *cough*
kathleen at 182
Example of how the debate is shut down
what you call debate, i call being a “blowhard”gimme a break………
would there be any reason to start a ’send joe to the green zone’ fund?
mui @ 178
Have you heard the recent Talk of the Nation program where Neil Conan allows John Bolton to go on and on about how we should pre-emptively attacking Iran. It is worth the listen.
http://www.npr.org/templates/s…..Id=9942906
Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 207
I am in for $50 – where do I send the check?
snowyegret @ 114
I have, sadly, a certain gut feeling also, since a couple of weeks, and see the piece by the NYT editor from the weekend, where he says there is a new level of Al Quaeda propaganda coming from WH (leaving out all other groups who contribute to Iraq insurgency) related to this.
pwrlght @ 207
Send it to Jane.
Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 207
And the Bush girls with him for a shopping spree.
dmac,
Did you do some art yet?
and another thing… why doesn’t reid give joemoe a thrashing? reid is not a good chairman he needs a spine stiffening transfusion and soon…
ccmask @ 210
will do
dmac @ 205
Similar to the treatment received by the employees at NPR when they asked the questions about “pervasive cronyism”.
Margot @ 203
I think this is based on a false premise to wit that they ever had a Plan A.
new thread
Loo Hoo. @ 62
She’s great, but maybe not quite right for a national race. However, I can easily imagine a “Senator Wasserman-Schultz”. Can’t you?
Say, who are the senators for Florida now? There’s Nelson and who else?
America years to learn what’s in the President’s gut about terrorist attacks- YEARNS I TELL YOU.
Terror scare- Somethin new eh? Just kiddin.
Jane upstairs
FYI, new thread
Hugh @ 217
Very true.
Clusterfuckers aren’t even bothered by the fact that no one listens to em anymore- they just PRETEND that they are listened to and go on blithely about their business.
MarkH @ 219
Mel Martinez, also figurehead leader of the RNC iirc.
margot!!!!!!!!!
thank you………no, but i have gone to some art exhibits when my best friend visited……she’s an art teacher, so we way talked about art……….so it’s on the horizon………thanks…………and someone called today asking about pottery lessons, she bought some of my pottery before……..she wants to do pottery, so may teach her for the fun of it, someone i like……….she took flying lessons just for the fun of it………
Kathleen @ 209
That’s been Bolton’s pet subject lately. Are any of the Republiscum candidates gonna hold gatherings that are open to the public anytime soon?
dmac @ 207
imo, the comment that was referred to in Jane’s statement on the last thread was not about “debate” or policy. It was classic — and intolerable –anti-Semitism: Jews control the media.
dakine01 @ 226
Wasserman schultz was part of the team that bumped Murtha and brought us Steny Hoyer
oddmommy @ 229
hogwash!
Margot @ 223
Ding!
oddmommy @ 228
Yes, that is exactly what it was. Debate? Policy? Give me a break.
mui @ 122
I can’t help but think Clinton is paying Obama to run with her just as Bush is paying Giuliani and Thompson to hold onto New York (against Clinton) and Tennessee (against Gore). I have no evidence of this of course and Obama is raising tons of money on his own, so it’s a bizarre theory. But, can anyone really imagine Obama holding up to taunts of “Lieberman Lite” or “Smoker” or whatever? Winning a primary among ‘friends’ is one thing, but facing Republican slime (even truth) isn’t so easy.
BTW, when Hilary gives her ‘out of Iraq’ speech, does she mention she really wants to keep about 20K troops there indefinitely?
I’m sure this has been thoroughly hashed over upthread, but I read only Jane’s blurb to learn that Obama’s guy thinks Scooter should get off, and I regret the $20 I gave to the Illinois weathervane.
I won’t make that mistake again. Al Gore or Bust.
snowyegret @ 233
Example of how legitimate questions are shut down
MarkH @ 234
Obama is really Lieberman-lite and Hilary is still a hawk.
I hope I hope for Edwards, Gore . . .
kathleen at 231 says “hogwash!”
hoooey
kathleen at 236 says “Example of how legitimate questions are shut down”
bias, not dialogue……..not legitimate.
How bout, someone, ANYONE, this blog for instance, just starts NUKIN the beltway elites and making them irrelavent and NOT part of our concerns . . .
How about that . . . .
Harumph.
funny how some people drop bombs and then duck the fight..repeatedly….just sayin………………
dmac @ 239
*Just my humble Opinion*
I have a problem with too much focus on A*P*C and the religion of various individuals. There are too many other things to talk about that are more pressing. I’ve said it before and will say it again I don’t like it when A*P*C talk spins out into something that sounds like International Jewish Conspiracy. I don’t like it when talk of China approaches a kind of hysteria that sounds like yellow peril. Let’s deconstruct. No more blanket assertions.
mui @ 242
So how does one explain the inability or refusal of the MSM to report about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in fair and accurate way? There is no way around this one if you are honest.
And how do you explain that the MSM has barely covered the investigation of the A*P*C Rosen espionage trial and ithe trial delays?
If this trial had to do with any other group of individuals it would be covered more fairlydmac @ 239
Is it a bias to ask about an “alleged” investigation and a report about that investigation of charges of “pervasive cronysim” at NPR?
And I don’t believe my other question was biased. But I respect Jane and some of the other people who comment here at FDL, so I have sent the comments in question and the link to the site to several media watch groups for their insight and opinions about my comments.
I meant no offense to anyone and I feel it was a legitimate question. And am willing to have it scrutinized and explained to me if I am in the wrong.
Kathleen @ 182
The debate is not shut down. We have a standard at FDL as to where we draw the line with regard to appropriate discourse, as does most every site. We don’t allow people to run around screaming “raghead” or using the “n” word. Criticizing a country (Israel) is appropriate. Criticizing a party (Likud) or a lobby (AIPAC) is appropriate. Drawing generalizations based on people’s enthnicity, especially when combining them with conspiracy theories, is not something we feel comfortable hosting on this site, and that is the univeral opinion of everyone who manages and moderates FDL.
people actually do care about what happened in the Scooter Libby matter and wonders if there isn’t a campaign issue in the offing.
STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP…SSSTTTOOOPPPP!!!!! Stop being a republican and making everything a political calculation. bush’s commutation of libby is obstruction of justice; it is ILLEGAL; it is an impeachable offense. Congress should be undertaking impeachment inquiries in numerous areas. END OF STORY.
“Conspiracy theories”
http://www.current.org/rad/rad702r.html
“Because of Khalid’s complaints about his treatment by news middle managers, NPR last year brought in a team of lawyers to investigate its newsroom. Scott says the NPR general counsel’s office did bring in a team of consultants, but she wouldn’t share their findings or recommendations. According to one source, NPR wanted the consultants to be aggressive about finding problems. Management wanted to learn “what do we need to know about our newsroom?,” the staff member says.”
Kathleen @ 246
It seems worth noting that “last year” referenced in your quote must have been 1996 since your link is to an article originally published in 1997.
RBG @ 247
I linked this article in my original comment. Could you point out where I said “last year”? I could not find that.
I respect Jane and other folks who comment here at FDL so I have sent my comments to several media watch groups and am completely open to their professional opinions and scrutiny. I will continue to reflect on my comment and question.
RBG can not find the “last week” that you say I referenced in my quote.
Kathleen @ 249
“NPR last year brought in a team” is included in the blockquote in your comment. I did not use the term “last week”.
RBG @ 250
Just can not find that.
Kathleen @ 251
Well, it’s your quote, so I would think you would know what it said, but let’s try it one more time:
Not sure how much more specific I can be. And, FWIW, what difference does it make? Your link is still to an article originally published in 1997.
RBG @ 252
RBG Note; Yes, it is a direct quote from the article, which you put it in blockquotes in your comments, hence my use of the term “your quote”.
None of which changes the fact it’s still a ten year old article.
Kathleen, then why did you post the article’s link if you did not want people to associate it with you? What was the point of the link?
pwrlght @ 24
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomb…..8wnBvMWM0F
And the reason is quite interesting!
Apparently the whole rationale for Cheney to assert that the OVP isn’t part of the Executive Branch is to avoid compliance with the record-keeping provisions for CLASSIFICATION by the National Archives.
That is…he refuses to supply the Archive with the dates and contents of material he is classifying…and denies those that are involved in the production of the material the opportunity to challenge the Classification. This allows him to cover-up activities without anyone knowing…or having any preserved record.
It also means that he refuses to comply with the DECLASSIFICATION standards. Remember the whole issue of “Insta-Declassification” of selective parts of the National Intelligence Estimate that occurred without properly obtaining permission from the CIA and other Intelligence Agencies over the propriety of doing that. And the possibility that Bush and Cheney may have declassified the docs that revealed Plame’s identity…without telling anyone.
BTW THIS would explain why Fitz could not prosecute anyone under either the Intelligence Agents Identity Protection Act or the Espionage Act. Quite simply, Bush or Cheney may have declassified Plame’s identity even though she was covert…and despite the fact that the CIA would have opposed such an action. Fitz may have learned this during his interviews with either Cheney or Bush….which are under seal. Thus Fitz could not charge anyone with the “underlying crime” but only with lying to him and “obstructing justice”.
But it may be that the declassification occurred AFTER some of the leaks…which would be one reason that Libby was so intent to conceal the earlier leaks to the media…but less concerned with those that happened later.
But if the DECLASSIFICATION document is being embargoed by Cheney’s office, rather than being available in the National Archives, then no one can check up on the dates OR WHAT WAS DECLASSIFIED.
You see, you can’t declassify something and then make the date and the contents SECRET…particularly from Congress and a Special Prosecutor!
CTuttle @ 45
It’s not “mere rhetoric”…Cheney’s office has refused to comply with the Archiving requirements for Classification and Declassification. He is concealing documents on the Iraq War, WMD’s, and Wilson/Valerie Plame scandal. Just as every official email from the WHand DOJ was supposed to be preserved the OVP is supposed to send all documents that are Classified or Declassified to the National Archives so that the process of challenge, retrieval, and preservation for future administrations can occur.
Apparently the OVP just puts everything into Cheney’s special safe because he is a “Fourth Branch” and immune from the law!
Big Mitch @ 71
Not just Louisiana! He was the Chair of the whole Southern States Campaign! He was the first Senator to actually endorse Giuliani!
Clearly this guy was shooting for either a Cabinet level or VP position.
It’s almost sad that his whoring was revealed TOO SOON!
QuakerGirl @ 93
All Cheney has to do is turn over the documents that he Classified and Insta-Declassified to the National Archives…along with the dates they were classified/declassified.
That would mean that he no longer considers himself a “Fourth Branch”…at least in this case.
Boy…I wonder what’s in those documents that he doesn’t want the House and Senate Intelligence Committees to see? Or even the heads of the Intelligence Agencies!
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 108
And a whoremongering hypocrite run his “Southern Stratergy”
http://wizbangblog.com/content…..uliani.php