Morning!
Zed?

Good morning, Christy!

Bob in HI
temporarily in Wisconsin

Hi Christy

Rayne, if you’re around, I left you one downstairs. And thanks.

Good morning Christy!

Will we ever crawl out of the hole we fell into? (or to be more accurate, were pushed into.)

Morning all …

g’morning all

here is the thing EVERYONE is missing;

this administration has contempt for our country and they want to change it to their vision…their vision is antithetical Ameriocan’s freedoms and restrictions on the wealty

they want a robber baron society, they want NO social programs, they DON’T want public roads, public water, public beaches, public education

they are there to remake our republic

this isn’t “he was a loyal soldier so he shouldn’t be punished”

this is

“he was following orders”

plain and simple, following orders

further, they know with no doubt skooter will flip, as all of these cowards when faced with adversity

so let me be clear;

there is no justification needed for these people, libby was doing exactly what the script told him to do, they did exactly what the script told them to do when they commuted the sentence

I wrote Senator Leahy that we’ve spent enough time investigating, and now it is time for action. Enough is enough.

Good morning.

I do wish that there was a way to force George into psychotherapy – or to have him officially evaluated and declared incompetent.

Is anyone else sick and tired of being stuck at George Bush’s own version of the mad tea party for the whole nation?

Indeed.

Washington Journal has the right-wing Exec. Dir. from Vets for Freedom on at the moment who just picked up his talking points from the WH before hitting the idjit box. Every one of the same old lies right down the line……..the call-in thugs are lovin’ it, donja know.

I tend to see the White House crowd looking a lot more like the p*ker-playing dogs. Or maybe the cockroaches in that old Raid commercial.

perris is correct in my opinion…

This whole thing has played out exactly as planned and the American public who understands what’s been going on should not be surprised by any of this…

They are following the PNAC playbook.. step by step..

perris @ 7

g’morning all

here is the thing EVERYONE is missing;

this administration has contempt for our country and they want to change it to their likeing

this isn’t “he was a loyal soldier so he shouldn’t be punished”

this is

“he was following orders”

plain and simple, following orders

further, they know with no doubt skooter will flip, as all of these cowards when faced with adversity

so let me be clear;

there is no justification needed for these people, libby was doing exactly what the script told him to do, they did exactly what the script told them to do when they commuted the sentence

I don’t think EVERYONE has been missing that point. Only the media (sans Keith, Schuster, Jon and Stephen, of course.) I think we all figured that out long ago. A whole lot of good that is doing us.

RevDeb @ 5

Will we ever crawl out of the hole we fell into? (or to be more accurate, were pushed into.)

One side of the brain is hopeful. But that may be the side that believes in the tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny.

The reality based side keeps saying I shouldn’t hold my breath…

Morning Christy! We need to find a good progressive candidate to run against Steve King in Iowa. (See Hardball last night) It is a conservative district but not a wingnut district like King. How do you go about finding good progressive candidates?

Remember Ron Suskind’s article back in 2004 about how someone in the White House was going to make their own reality and impose it on the world, and that Democrats would be reduced to studying it and whining about it?

They’re still in that bubble.

Bob in WI

OK,besides impeaching the lot of ‘em,is there enough evidence yet of laws being broken to actually file legal charges against these folks?

To me(in my verrry limited knowledge)it seems like impeachment is a mere slap on the wrists compared to being found guilty of crimes.

Or does this all boil down to who would enforce the law? Do American citizens have the right to file charges of any sort against elected officials and the scoundrels they appoint?

Oh, boy!

Somebody just told the WJ guy he sounds like a paid mouth-piece for the government. Score one for reality!

Waccamaw @ 18

Oh, boy!

Somebody just told the WJ guy he sounds like a paid mouth-piece for the government. Score one for reality!

It’s about time some of these people are getting called out on their BS.

Boy first time I was first :-)
While cognitive dissonance is a really interesting theory that actually explains a lot that is discussed in Aronson’s column Occam’s Razor really needs to be applied to it. Given the assumption he makes that Bush was complicit in the disclosure, fear, not empathy is the most plausible motivation. Fear that Libby will squeal doesn’t require all this other baggage to understand. Introducing the shiny bauble of cognitive dissonance is just another distraction. Is he working for the defense?

OT – For some reason today I have the damn “Cows with Guns” song in my head today. Perhaps the first verse reminds me of the Repubs.

Cows with guns

Fat and docile, big and dumb
They look so stupid, they aren’t much fun
Cows aren’t fun

Go here for the YouTube version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkHCDkYkYnk

Morning all. Coffee is fresh and it’s looking like another scorching yet lovely day outside. How is everyone this morning?

anangryoldbroad @ 16

OK,besides impeaching the lot of ‘em,is there enough evidence yet of laws being broken to actually file legal charges against these folks?

To me(in my verrry limited knowledge)it seems like impeachment is a mere slap on the wrists compared to being found guilty of crimes.

Or does this all boil down to who would enforce the law? Do American citizens have the right to file charges of any sort against elected officials and the scoundrels they appoint?

A few problems with this. (remember, IANL) a) we can only impeach Chimpy until he is out of office. Then we can go after him for crimes. b) Abu still runs the DoJ. Until that changes, no one is likely to be able to bring charges against anyone without him putting a cork in it.

The only remedy to us right now is through the legislature.

Sad isn’t it?

So Bush commutes Libby’s sentence and what do we get from Congress? Another feckless hearing. Conyers, Waxman, Leahy have been less than riveting and most certainly toothless. The kabuki charade of governance continues in the Never Never Land of inside the beltway.

Christy,

LOVE the picture :-)

Good morning, maybe when I get coffee I will have something to say. Or maybe not.

Conyers, Waxman, and Leahy are laying the foundation for what is coming, brick by brick. Don’t lose patience, too much is at stake.

What are we gonna tell the next generation, well, we tried, but gave up at the first set of obstacles?

Bluetoe @ 23

So Bush commutes Libby’s sentence and what do we get from Congress? Another feckless hearing. Conyers, Waxman, Leahy have been less than riveting and most certainly toothless. The kabuki charade of governance continues in the Never Never Land of inside the beltway.

I think LHP would say that they are “priming the pump.”

I hope so.

I believe we need to submit the entire lot to the Hague for evaluation. Their actions should be judged on the world stage and appropriate results should be executed in a very transparent manner. as it were.

A common sentiment around the blogosphere posits that there is nothing we can do about BushCo, and that they are somehow winning.

I get the feeling that they are all some miserycons these days. All the fun they had when they ran everything (poorly) has now turned to resistance at every turn.

Keep the chin up and the good work working. We are making a difference!

Oh, uh, Good Morning Ms. Smith!

Rev Deb @23,
I know Bush can’t be charged until he’s out of office,but what about the rest of the crime family?

Does it all hinge on an AG who isn’t part of the cabal?

I think that’s one of the more frustrating things,these people are doing stuff in DC that if you or I were doing where we are would land us in prison.

egregious @ 27

Conyers, Waxman, and Leahy are laying the foundation for what is coming, brick by brick. Don’t lose patience, too much is at stake.

What are we gonna tell the next generation, well, we tried, but gave up at the first set of obstacles?

I suppose one excuse that might be told the next generation is that the “leaders” in Congress failed the people because of outright timidity and the supposed 4th Estate of an independent press was in fact a 5th column of corporate elitists.

Where Bush demonstrates consistency is in two areas:

Loyalty to him – not to an idea, per se and

Opposition to reason and suggestion; he always has to have the last word, and that word is never in agreement with those who use reason or negotiation. He’s an example of “reverse psychology” – you have to bait him into doing the right thing. Baiting doesn’t play well on the world stage, and except for Darth Cheney, even his father doesn’t seem to have been able to move him toward saving himself by adopting the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, for example.

lisadawn82 @ 21

OT – For some reason today I have the damn “Cows with Guns” song in my head today. Perhaps the first verse reminds me of the Repubs.

Cows with guns

Fat and docile, big and dumb
They look so stupid, they aren’t much fun
Cows aren’t fun

Go here for the YouTube version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkHCDkYkYnk

This has made my day. Thank you!

Nequals1 @ 9

Good morning.

I do wish that there was a way to force George into psychotherapy – or to have him officially evaluated and declared incompetent.

Actually what we need is Cheney on the couch… get Dubya after you remove Cheney…

I only took a bit of Psychology in college. IIRC the article aboves mention of “cognitive dissonance” theory is not really applicable here.. First off you would have to have two incompatible ideas or beliefs in your head simultaneously. I am not sure that Shrub has the capacity for that, but let’s assume so… next what this theory says is that we act to resolve this incompatibility or discrepancy by self-justifying one or the other beliefs or ideas so that they become compatible.

A useful application of said theory would be to ask a small favor of someone that you really need a BIG favor from. They are likely to grant you the small favor because it is after all small, Then when you ask for the BIG favor, they think, well I’ve already done this small thing so it must be the right thing to do..

apologies for the Psych 101 flashback

Bluetoe @ 24

So Bush commutes Libby’s sentence and what do we get from Congress? Another feckless hearing. Conyers, Waxman, Leahy have been less than riveting and most certainly toothless. The kabuki charade of governance continues in the Never Never Land of inside the beltway.

Please remember a few things before going off on Waxman and Leahy et al. They are uncovering six plus years of crimes in just over six months. Most of what they have found to date has covered just the criminal acts occuring since January ‘07, and is barely scraping the surface of the pre-’07 swamp.

They have to take a measured response and move at a reasoned pace in the hearings just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton.

No matter how satisfying it may be to holler “they’re all crooks, off with their heads,” for those of us who have been paying attention for six plus years, we’re out to capture the sixty per-centers who have not really been paying attention, who only get their news in sound bites from the networks and who are just now, slowly awakening to the corruption and idiocies of BushCo.

Excuse my manners. Morning Christy.

Well the coffee ain’t done yet and I’m cranky as a republican who has to be honest, all I got to say is if we give up they win.

RevDeb @ 23

anangryoldbroad @ 16

OK,besides impeaching the lot of ‘em,is there enough evidence yet of laws being broken to actually file legal charges against these folks?

To me(in my verrry limited knowledge)it seems like impeachment is a mere slap on the wrists compared to being found guilty of crimes.

Or does this all boil down to who would enforce the law? Do American citizens have the right to file charges of any sort against elected officials and the scoundrels they appoint?

A few problems with this. (remember, IANL) a) we can only impeach Chimpy until he is out of office. Then we can go after him for crimes. b) Abu still runs the DoJ. Until that changes, no one is likely to be able to bring charges against anyone without him putting a cork in it.

The only remedy to us right now is through the legislature.

Sad isn’t it?

Chimpy has imunity till he’s impeached. Can anyone think of any state laws that shooter of Gonzo could be convicted of. They’re not immune and DOJ can’t quash a state prosecution. Isn’t that how they got Spiro.

dakine01 @ 36

Bluetoe @ 24

So Bush commutes Libby’s sentence and what do we get from Congress? Another feckless hearing. Conyers, Waxman, Leahy have been less than riveting and most certainly toothless. The kabuki charade of governance continues in the Never Never Land of inside the beltway.

Please remember a few things before going off on Waxman and Leahy et al. They are uncovering six plus years of crimes in just over six months. Most of what they have found to date has covered just the criminal acts occuring since January ‘07, and is barely scraping the surface of the pre-’07 swamp.

They have to take a measured response and move at a reasoned pace in the hearings just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton.

No matter how satisfying it may be to holler “they’re all crooks, off with their heads,” for those of us who have been paying attention for six plus years, we’re out to capture the sixty per-centers who have not really been paying attention, who only get their news in sound bites from the networks and who are just now, slowly awakening to the corruption and idiocies of BushCo.

Yes, that’s so true, and as far as I can tell, they have been diligent. Thanks for pointing that out. And it’s not as if people have been eagerly approaching them with evidence to make their jobs easier.

Here’s something I really don’t understand. The WH admitted that they used RNC accounts for WH business and the other way around, in clear violation of the law.

When Al Gore used his home phone, paid for by the WH, to campaign, which was a violation of the same law, the Repugs went apeshit. Bush brought it up in a debate with Gore and said he would do things differently and clean up Government.

I know this was another crime passed off to the DOJ for them to sit on and do nothing, but where is the outrage? This is an admitted crime!

dakine, what was the phrase, something like, “Every tree we’ve barked up has a cat in it.” So many scandals, so little time.

edit:

“We’ve only had subpoena power for six weeks, and so far, every tree we’ve barked up has had a cat in it. Just think where we’ll be in six months!”

dakine01 @ 36

Bluetoe @ 24

So Bush commutes Libby’s sentence and what do we get from Congress? Another feckless hearing. Conyers, Waxman, Leahy have been less than riveting and most certainly toothless. The kabuki charade of governance continues in the Never Never Land of inside the beltway.

Please remember a few things before going off on Waxman and Leahy et al. They are uncovering six plus years of crimes in just over six months. Most of what they have found to date has covered just the criminal acts occuring since January ‘07, and is barely scraping the surface of the pre-’07 swamp.

They have to take a measured response and move at a reasoned pace in the hearings just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton.

No matter how satisfying it may be to holler “they’re all crooks, off with their heads,” for those of us who have been paying attention for six plus years, we’re out to capture the sixty per-centers who have not really been paying attention, who only get their news in sound bites from the networks and who are just now, slowly awakening to the corruption and idiocies of BushCo.

Excellent point by you as usual.

Anyone have a link to the Bush scandal list? It would be interesting to try to work them into Articles of Impeachment.

I’ve been wondering for awhile now if we’re not nearing the point where Bush will snap and have a total meltdown. He just doesn’t seem like the kind to be able to stand much strain, he’s been too protected all his life.

Wonder if he’s started talking to the portraits yet?

dakine01 @ 36

Bluetoe @ 24

So Bush commutes Libby’s sentence and what do we get from Congress? Another feckless hearing. Conyers, Waxman, Leahy have been less than riveting and most certainly toothless. The kabuki charade of governance continues in the Never Never Land of inside the beltway.

Please remember a few things before going off on Waxman and Leahy et al. They are uncovering six plus years of crimes in just over six months. Most of what they have found to date has covered just the criminal acts occuring since January ‘07, and is barely scraping the surface of the pre-’07 swamp.

They have to take a measured response and move at a reasoned pace in the hearings just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton.

No matter how satisfying it may be to holler “they’re all crooks, off with their heads,” for those of us who have been paying attention for six plus years, we’re out to capture the sixty per-centers who have not really been paying attention, who only get their news in sound bites from the networks and who are just now, slowly awakening to the corruption and idiocies of BushCo.

You are absolutely right but for those who have been paying attention the last 7 years (actually it’s been more like 25-30 years watching the rise of the conservative movement) the wait is at times unbearable. It highlights out one salient point on the workings of our government, it moves at less than a glacial pace. I hold out hope that if the criminals that perpetrated this silent coup are not brought to justice in the U.S. they will eventually be brought to justice at the Hague.

Sorry to get back on the Vitter topic, but I wanted everyone to see how it’s being taken in red state La. (outside of New Orleans) The following are comments summited in response to the article in the Monroe NewsStar World, in Monroe, La. Get ready to puke –

I’m not sure resignation is the answer, since it only weakens the voice of conservatives in congress. But I do believe Sen. Vitter needs to come to us personally (as communities in the state) and address this issue head-on. I do accept and agree with forgiveness, but that does not change the expectation and necessity of consequences. The Senator needs to work diligently to regain our trust.

Posted by: jimwilljr on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:40 am
still got my vote to–what’s the big deal Question heck BLANCO has made our state what it is today–along with 4th grader’s having sex in class.

atleast Vitter is a grown man–and was trying to be discreet about it Exclamation Laughing Laughing

Posted by: one man on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:38 am
“I did not have sex with that women”……….famous last words of somebody that seemed to be important.

Vitter, you were wrong and I don’t condone your actions. But, you still have my vote. My glass house has a lot of broken windows

Posted by: armchairqb on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:31 am
What were you thinking???

Thanks for making Louisiana look good again on the national stage.

Now, go ye and sin no more…and don’t take any crap off the dem’s…most of them are likely guilty of much worse.

Posted by: King on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:31 am

dakino01 @ 5:44 -

Good points, all……… except maybe the just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton part. The “average” ‘Mericun wouldn’t recognize the contrast if it hit them up the head with a 2X4.

The progressive community is so far ahead of the curve that I’m pretty sure most of the country is *never* going to catch up.

Hey RevDeb at 23. About Abu still running DOJ? Well, here’s some more evidence of his lies to Congress.

Alberto knew

And the tipping point is where?

realworld @ 44

Anyone have a link to the Bush scandal list? It would be interesting to try to work them into Articles of Impeachment.

here you go: Hugh’s List h/t to selise for hosting it.

realworld @ 44

Anyone have a link to the Bush scandal list? It would be interesting to try to work them into Articles of Impeachment.

Selise is hosting the famous Hugh’s List of scandals at her MA Netroots site, sorry I don’t have the link offhand.

Various people here are pulling together some draft Articles.

RevDeb @ 13

perris @ 7

g’morning all

here is the thing EVERYONE is missing;

this administration has contempt for our country and they want to change it to their likeing

this isn’t “he was a loyal soldier so he shouldn’t be punished”

this is

“he was following orders”

plain and simple, following orders

further, they know with no doubt skooter will flip, as all of these cowards when faced with adversity

so let me be clear;

there is no justification needed for these people, libby was doing exactly what the script told him to do, they did exactly what the script told them to do when they commuted the sentence

I don’t think EVERYONE has been missing that point. Only the media (sans Keith, Schuster, Jon and Stephen, of course.) I think we all figured that out long ago. A whole lot of good that is doing us.

100 percent correct, bad choice of words I used

off to work

Good Morning Christy,
I love that you used that fabulous Alice in Wonderland Tea Party photo.
Perfect!
Now for another cup of coffee.

egregious @ 42

dakine, what was the phrase, something like, “Every tree we’ve barked up has a cat in it.” So many scandals, so little time.

edit:

“We’ve only had subpoena power for six weeks, and so far, every tree we’ve barked up has had a cat in it. Just think where we’ll be in six months!”

Interesting – first time I’ve ever gotten caught up in an edit before it hit the screen…

the Dems have been in control of congress for only six out of the past 146 months, with the senate being functionally very, very weak, at that. It will take years to get to the bottom of the Bushista crimes.

Yeah, I’m up early, in hopes of finishing a new piece of music before the dentist hijacks the rest of my morning.

Morning, gang!

Just dreaming but I don’t think even the President can pardon violations of international law. What if there were extradition demands from the Hague on ‘09?

oh, and good morning Redd (and egregious).

Christy Hardin Smith @ 22

Morning all. Coffee is fresh and it’s looking like another scorching yet lovely day outside. How is everyone this morning?

Coffee is fresh, but I can’t find the creme & sugar. Will someone please pass them along?

Madison weather was pretty much like Hawaii yesterday. Looking forward to my family reunion.

Bob in WI (temporarily)

ET!

Thanks so much for the music link the other day. You wrote that? It was so beautiful.

“Fragile Vessel” is that the earth, a boat, or a person?

Did anyone else see John Abrahms last night?? I emailed his show this morning. Finding an email address was difficult and I ended up using the email for feedback to msnbctv.

Basically his stated opinion on impeachment was that both the clinton impeachment and the Bushco discussion are politically motivated and have no true legal teeth.

I used the opportunity to ask him to educated himself by reading the transcripts of the Libby trial that at the very least create more questions and do little to resolve them. I discussed the nature of the discussion as most significant and the need for answers an important part of an informed democracy. I suggested that Bushco are using executive priviledge and security issues to shield themselves from legal prosecution and that I did not know a better use for the tools of impeachment.

Regardless, the point I stuck to was that any impeachment in this case would not be political. I encouraged him to bring forth the tools that americans should be using in our democracy if in fact Bush/co are blocking the truth by abusing their powers.

Please consider an e-mail to straighten him out on some facts. I have found his facts about Libby to be lacking.

realworld @ 55

Just dreaming but I don’t think even the President can pardon violations of international law. What if there were extradition demands from the Hague on ‘09?

Then it would be time for whoever is indicted by the War Crimes Tribunal at the Hague to be turned over or do Americans think that the War Crimes Tribunal is merely “quaint”?

egregious @ 58

ET!

Thanks so much for the music link the other day. You wrote that? It was so beautiful.

“Fragile Vessel” is that the earth, a boat, or a person?

I did. The piece was inspired by a big, paper sculpture of a shattered globe, made by a paper sculptor, named Karen Stahlecker. We flew it above the stage in a big recital hall, and as the pianist played, it slowly became lit, then the lighting shifted moods throughout the piece.

Bluetoe @ 59

realworld @ 55

Just dreaming but I don’t think even the President can pardon violations of international law. What if there were extradition demands from the Hague on ‘09?

Then it would be time for whoever is indicted by the War Crimes Tribunal at the Hague to be turned over or do Americans think that the War Crimes Tribunal is merely “quaint”?

Never happen.. Cheney would share his bunker will Bush and they would surround themselves with nukes.. :-)

Ed*ard Teller -

Good luck at the dentist!

Looks like some fun stuff happening up your way wrt political take-downs. *g*

realworld @ 44

Anyone have a link to the Bush scandal list? It would be interesting to try to work them into Articles of Impeachment.

Can articles of impeachment include a video? Because I think it would be fascinating to provide clips of the First Obstructionist’s comments and promises over time (a la the Gore debate tongue-lashing).

Remember the steps LHP laid out for us yesterday. It begins with inquiry about feasibility of impeachment (i.e., staring up the hole at the light). If we lose, we lose, but can’t be stupid in the endeavor.

Mornin’ Christy.

Are you suggesting that our President has a form of psychosis????!!!!!

In point of fact, everyone has a psychosis of their own making — we all draw inferences about what constitutes reality, based upon our perceptions — we simply hope the voting public doesn’t see fit to put someone into office who appears to fall so far outside the normal aspects of a common perceived reality.

Yes, the man is a nut, pure and simple. But, there are those of us who believe that and always have; and, there are about 28 people out of every hundred who never will. I suspect those 28 have a psychosis similar to Mr. Bush’s.

The trick is not to allow that 28 percent to affect and determine the reality for the rest of us. I don’t know, but getting the media portrayal out of the exclusive hands of Mr. Murdoch might be a useful part of achieving that goal.

I watched the H2Ogate hearings on network TV back in ‘73 while I was in college. We all thought then, and were subsequently proved correct, taht Nixon was indeed a crook. At the time, although more people were paying attention, most of the national media/talking heads followed the Joe Alsop “third-rate burglary – nothing to see here. Move along” meme.

The break-in occurred in June ‘72, the Senate select committee hearings occurred in Spring ‘73 with the report issued in early ‘74. The HJC Impeachment hearings began in ‘74.

At the time of all this, the Dems had been the majority party in both Houses all along with larger majorities than they hold today. When Nixon resigned, the HJC has voted on three articles of Impeachment prior to the release of the “smoking gun” tape. The HJC composition was 21D-17R and the vote on the first two articles was 27-11 with six Rs joining the unannimous Ds. The third article passed 23-15.

Given where we started from in January, we have come far further and faster than could ever have been anticipated.

Today at 10 (don’t think it’s on C-SPAN) is a hearing by the House Oversight and Governmental Reform Committee with three former US Surgeons General about the importance of the role to the public’s health, the importance of it being independent and discussion of what the needs and qualifications are for the role. Thursday is the confirmation hearing for Holsinger, and the NYT had an editorial this morning explaining why he is most suspect, given his past stance actively against homosexualtiy as well as a dismal record while heading up a VA hospital.

jayt — you there? I left a reply to you, and included an edit after your last comment.

‘Morning, Christy, FirePups.

That’s a spectacular piece of rationalization and a huge chunk of inoculation in that Tavris/Aronson bit, huh?

Or their own justification process on display?

Crikey, why will they not see Bush’s actions as obstruction of justice?

For fans of Paul Wellstone -

His son just up on Wash. Jour. re. health care issues.

Here’s a backgrounder link on the surgeon general role and current nominee.

And the Republican/Conservative pundits and blogs parrot the Administration to create a crazy world. Like when Ann Coulter pretends to not understand why her words might be inflammatory or when the Conservative blogs pretend to believe that if Edwards gets an expensive haircut he couldn’t possibly care about the plight of poor people.

Why do they want to create a crazy world?

Waccamaw @ 63

Ed*ard Teller -

Good luck at the dentist!

Looks like some fun stuff happening up your way wrt political take-downs. *g*

We’ll see. My big disappointment has been that the organizational Dems, both here and nationwide, are pretending that our only progressive challenger to Don Young – Diane Benson is the only candidate who has filed for 2008 yet – doesn’t exist. I was doing some volunteer work last month for the state Democratic Party, until their chairman started trying to raise DCCC money for somebody else, a DINO.

dakine01 @ 65

I watched the H2Ogate hearings on network TV back in ‘73 while I was in college. We all thought then, and were subsequently proved correct, taht Nixon was indeed a crook. At the time, although more people were paying attention, most of the national media/talking heads followed the Joe Alsop “third-rate burglary – nothing to see here. Move along” meme.

The break-in occurred in June ‘72, the Senate select committee hearings occurred in Spring ‘73 with the report issued in early ‘74. The HJC Impeachment hearings began in ‘74.

At the time of all this, the Dems had been the majority party in both Houses all along with larger majorities than they hold today. When Nixon resigned, the HJC has voted on three articles of Impeachment prior to the release of the “smoking gun” tape. The HJC composition was 21D-17R and the vote on the first two articles was 27-11 with six Rs joining the unannimous Ds. The third article passed 23-15.

Given where we started from in January, we have come far further and faster than could ever have been anticipated.

Hey I did the same thing !!! H2O gate was the highlight of my college experience.. and it was free.. well that and my draft number was too high to get pulled out..

Waccamaw @ 48

dakino01 @ 5:44 -

Good points, all……… except maybe the just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton part. The “average” ‘Mericun wouldn’t recognize the contrast if it hit them up the head with a 2X4.

The progressive community is so far ahead of the curve that I’m pretty sure most of the country is *never* going to catch up.

I disagree. When (I think it was Waxman) said that there were over 1000 subpoenas issued to Clinton and not one for Bush, I was amazed. I don’t think that fact is brought up enough in response to that bullshit line by Bush and Fielding that they have been inundated with subpoenas.

ET,

It might help fundraising for Diane if she would register for ActBlue for 2008. The 2006 page closed out after the election.

Early money from progressives would help get the attention of state and national.

Important: is there a Dem primary?

dakine01 @ 66

I watched the H2Ogate hearings on network TV back in ‘73 while I was in college. We all thought then, and were subsequently proved correct, taht Nixon was indeed a crook. At the time, although more people were paying attention, most of the national media/talking heads followed the Joe Alsop “third-rate burglary – nothing to see here. Move along” meme.

The break-in occurred in June ‘72, the Senate select committee hearings occurred in Spring ‘73 with the report issued in early ‘74. The HJC Impeachment hearings began in ‘74.

At the time of all this, the Dems had been the majority party in both Houses all along with larger majorities than they hold today. When Nixon resigned, the HJC has voted on three articles of Impeachment prior to the release of the “smoking gun” tape. The HJC composition was 21D-17R and the vote on the first two articles was 27-11 with six Rs joining the unannimous Ds. The third article passed 23-15.

Given where we started from in January, we have come far further and faster than could ever have been anticipated.

Certainly further and faster than anyone in the Executive Branch could have anticipated.

They don’t seem to be terribly good at that “anticipating” thing. See Iraq, Katrina, US attorneys firings, Klamath River mess, peering into Putin’s soul . . .

Oh bother. See Hugh’s Humongous List.

Ed*ard Teller @ 72

We’ll see. My big disappointment has been that the organizational Dems, both here and nationwide, are pretending that our only progressive challenger to Don Young – Diane Benson is the only candidate who has filed for 2008 yet – doesn’t exist. I was doing some volunteer work last month for the state Democratic Party, until their chairman started trying to raise DCCC money for somebody else, a DINO.

Email Howie Klein, ET, and see if she’s a BlueAmerica candidate.

I’ve been waiting for Stevens’ take down, sure hope it happens in a way to help Diane.

Good morning from L.A. What’s catching my eye this a.m:

On topic- the news we have (sadly) come to expect from our current AG- Gonzales lied to Congress, this time back in 4/05.

Off topic- Jonah Goldberg dumps on Sat.’s Live Earth events while spinning some whoppers of his own

egregious @ 75

ET,

It might help fundraising for Diane if she would register for ActBlue for 2008. The 2006 page closed out after the election.

I know. {{{{egregious}}}}… I’m going to be helping her do that by the end of next week. She’s had a couple of organizational meetings and one fundraiser, which I missed, ’cause we were getting the place here ready to host a Russian wedding. I’ve been trying to get her to call Howie, and to make reservations for YK, which I can’t attend.

Thanks ET.

Is there a Democratic primary and when is it?

Makes a difference for how much individual donors can give.

Thanks for the pressure/comments, egregious and Rayne. Off to the studio. I’ll check back in a while…

And about the loyal soldier thing? Colin Powell sacrificed his integrity and his career (to say nothing of the best interests of his country) buying into that game. Now he has buyer’s remorse, but it’s way too little too late.

And OT, but related, I am amused in a black humor way, by the “voluntary” confession of sinfulness by the legislator (whose name escapes me at the moment) whose number showed up on the D.C. Madame’s list.

Whatever happened to integrity before the fact? Just askin’.

egregious @ 80

Thanks ET.

Is there a Democratic primary and when is it?

Makes a difference for how much individual donors can give.

First Tuesday in August, 2008.

barbara, egregious — maybe we need to poke the candidate and encourage her to sign up with ActBlue.

Once she does that, she’s more likely to get a spot HERE at FDL with Howie, don’t you think?

And she’s more likely to get a chunk of money, especially from me since I’m going to lean towards ActBlue/BlueAmerica candidates.

Here’s her campaign’s contact page. ;-)

GeorgeSimian @ 73

Waccamaw @ 48

dakino01 @ 5:44 -

Good points, all……… except maybe the just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton part. The “average” ‘Mericun wouldn’t recognize the contrast if it hit them up the head with a 2X4.

The progressive community is so far ahead of the curve that I’m pretty sure most of the country is *never* going to catch up.

I disagree. When (I think it was Waxman) said that there were over 1000 subpoenas issued to Clinton and not one for Bush, I was amazed. I don’t think that fact is brought up enough in response to that bullshit line by Bush and Fielding that they have been inundated with subpoenas.

Many progressives *are* aware of the discrepencies (like the thug subpoenas) but there are SO many points like this that how do any of the Dem talking heads/punidiots have time to enumerate them? And that’s assuming they have the quickness of wit to bring them up when given the opportunity.

David Robinson @ 71

And the Republican/Conservative pundits and blogs parrot the Administration to create a crazy world. Like when Ann Coulter pretends to not understand why her words might be inflammatory or when the Conservative blogs pretend to believe that if Edwards gets an expensive haircut he couldn’t possibly care about the plight of poor people.

Why do they want to create a crazy world?

Because it helps them rip off 99% of the populace while convincing them that the other guys would be worse. In a sane world, no one who makes less than half a million a year would vote Republican.

GeorgeSimian @ 74

Waccamaw @ 48

dakino01 @ 5:44 -

Good points, all……… except maybe the just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton part. The “average” ‘Mericun wouldn’t recognize the contrast if it hit them up the head with a 2X4.

The progressive community is so far ahead of the curve that I’m pretty sure most of the country is *never* going to catch up.

I disagree. When (I think it was Waxman) said that there were over 1000 subpoenas issued to Clinton and not one for Bush, I was amazed. I don’t think that fact is brought up enough in response to that bullshit line by Bush and Fielding that they have been inundated with subpoenas.

Waxman has been consistent in pointing these facts out when Dan Burton or Tom Davis or some other Rethug drone starts into the “but but but Clin-TON” BS. Unfortunately, the inforamtion is rarely picked up in the corporate owned media

boxer @ 47

Sorry to get back on the Vitter topic, but I wanted everyone to see how it’s being taken in red state La. (outside of New Orleans) The following are comments summited in response to the article in the Monroe NewsStar World, in Monroe, La. Get ready to puke –

I’m not sure resignation is the answer, since it only weakens the voice of conservatives in congress. But I do believe Sen. Vitter needs to come to us personally (as communities in the state) and address this issue head-on. I do accept and agree with forgiveness, but that does not change the expectation and necessity of consequences. The Senator needs to work diligently to regain our trust.

Posted by: jimwilljr on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:40 am
still got my vote to–what’s the big deal Question heck BLANCO has made our state what it is today–along with 4th grader’s having sex in class.

atleast Vitter is a grown man–and was trying to be discreet about it Exclamation Laughing Laughing

Posted by: one man on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:38 am
“I did not have sex with that women”……….famous last words of somebody that seemed to be important.

Vitter, you were wrong and I don’t condone your actions. But, you still have my vote. My glass house has a lot of broken windows

Posted by: armchairqb on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:31 am
What were you thinking???

Thanks for making Louisiana look good again on the national stage.

Now, go ye and sin no more…and don’t take any crap off the dem’s…most of them are likely guilty of much worse.

Posted by: King on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:31 am

Those responses to Vitter’s DC Folly would frost me more if I hadn’t lived in Baton Rouge & later St. Francisville for several yrs. Crimson red is upstate LA’s favorite color. Vitter was rumored to have a predilection for some place on Canal St. or am I mis-remembering. Doesn’t he have a history of same behavior in NOLA?

I “voted” at the “Super Tuesday” polls on MSNBC…

let’s get some progressive influence on these..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19299733

Redshift @ 86

David Robinson @ 71

And the Republican/Conservative pundits and blogs parrot the Administration to create a crazy world. Like when Ann Coulter pretends to not understand why her words might be inflammatory or when the Conservative blogs pretend to believe that if Edwards gets an expensive haircut he couldn’t possibly care about the plight of poor people.

Why do they want to create a crazy world?

Because it helps them rip off 99% of the populace while convincing them that the other guys would be worse. In a sane world, no one who makes less than half a million a year would vote Republican.

Republics are dedicated to keeping us safe from gay marriage proposals while we wait in lines for soup or unemployment checks.

realworld @ 5:46 am -

…Can anyone think of any state laws that shooter of Gonzo could be convicted of? They’re not immune and DOJ can’t quash a state prosecution. Isn’t that how they got Spiro?

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about events that led to Spiro Agnew’s resignation: Resignation

On October 10, 1973, Spiro Agnew became the second Vice President to resign the office. Unlike John C. Calhoun, who resigned to take a seat in the Senate, Agnew resigned and then pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) to criminal charges of tax evasion and money laundering, part of a negotiated resolution to a scheme wherein he accepted $29,500 in bribes during his tenure as governor of Maryland. The bribes were paid to Agnew by some members of the construction industry to get their projects approved. When Agnew moved from Baltimore to Washington, DC, he continued to demand payments. Angered, the construction men turned government’s witnesses. Agnew was fined $10,000 and put on three years’ probation. The $10,000 fine only covered the taxes and interest due on what was “unreported income” from 1967. The plea bargain was later mocked as the “greatest deal since the Lord spared Isaac on the mountaintop” by former Maryland Attorney General Stephen Sachs. Students of Professor John Banzhaf from The George Washington University Law School, collectively known as Banzhaf’s Bandits, found four residents of the state of Maryland willing to put their names on a case and sought to have Agnew repay the state $268,482 – the amount he was known to have taken in bribes. After two appeals by Agnew, he finally resigned himself to the matter and a check for $268,482 was turned over to the Maryland state Treasurer William James in early 1983. As a result of his nolo contendere plea, Agnew was later disbarred by the State of Maryland. Like most jurisdictions, Maryland lawyers are automatically disbarred after being convicted of a felony, and a nolo contendere plea exposes the defendant to the same penalties as a guilty plea.

(snip)

Waccamaw @ 85

GeorgeSimian @ 73

I disagree. When (I think it was Waxman) said that there were over 1000 subpoenas issued to Clinton and not one for Bush, I was amazed. I don’t think that fact is brought up enough in response to that bullshit line by Bush and Fielding that they have been inundated with subpoenas.

Many progressives *are* aware of the discrepencies (like the thug subpoenas) but there are SO many points like this that how do any of the Dem talking heads/punidiots have time to enumerate them? And that’s assuming they have the quickness of wit to bring them up when given the opportunity.

They shouldn’t be trying to respond to the talking points, they should be making their own points, like “with the copious evidence of wrongdoing that’s already public, do you think the president shouldn’t be investigated? Do you think executive privilege allows the president to hide anything embarrassing he wants to?”

GOP talking points are fundamentally BS. You can’t argue against BS, because they don’t care about it being true or making sense, just that it sounds good at the moment. And since they have no regard for the truth, if you successfully argue against a BS talking point, they’ll just make up another. The only way to win that game is not to play; instead of refuting their point, ignore it or ridicule it and concentrate on pushing the truth.

Helen @ 48

Hey RevDeb at 23. About Abu still running DOJ? Well, here’s some more evidence of his lies to Congress.

Alberto knew

And the tipping point is where?

I wish I knew!

Tipping point for whom? the truth is that Chimpy NEEDS him to stay in that job. He’s the only firewall left preventing a cosmic meltdown. The next question is how long is that firewall rated for? (in the construction world they are tested for how many hours they can resist the fire before giving in to the blaze)

I hope all of the major players on our side have at least one staff member monitoring this site. If they can’t find the questions themselves, this ongoing conversation certainly points the way. I would pray that someone in or near the chambers has the live blogging on their laptops.

You know, I might some long sad story of justification like this if it were not the case that every Republican administration since Eisenhower has circumvented the law. Nixon of course. Ford pardoned Nixon. Iran Contra under Reagan, and then Bush pardoned the perps (who are now in the current Bush admnistration). And now Bush.

From what I have to call the Cheney era–from Reagan until now, every administration has asserted that they did not have to abide by the law, and that if caught, prosecuted and convicted, that those prosecutions are invalid, simply because of the positions the criminals held.

This is not a one off deal. This IS the republican party. Crooks, liars and scoundrels.

Redshift @ 92

GOP talking points are fundamentally BS. You can’t argue against BS, because they don’t care about it being true or making sense, just that it sounds good at the moment. And since they have no regard for the truth, if you successfully argue against a BS talking point, they’ll just make up another.

Ann Coulter’s going to be mad that you published her strategy here.

Helen: “Tipping point”

Cheney in single digits?

What does it take?

Marie Roget @ 88

boxer @ 47

Sorry to get back on the Vitter topic, but I wanted everyone to see how it’s being taken in red state La. (outside of New Orleans) The following are comments summited in response to the article in the Monroe NewsStar World, in Monroe, La. Get ready to puke –

I’m not sure resignation is the answer, since it only weakens the voice of conservatives in congress. But I do believe Sen. Vitter needs to come to us personally (as communities in the state) and address this issue head-on. I do accept and agree with forgiveness, but that does not change the expectation and necessity of consequences. The Senator needs to work diligently to regain our trust.

Posted by: jimwilljr on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:40 am
still got my vote to–what’s the big deal Question heck BLANCO has made our state what it is today–along with 4th grader’s having sex in class.

atleast Vitter is a grown man–and was trying to be discreet about it Exclamation Laughing Laughing

Posted by: one man on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:38 am
“I did not have sex with that women”……….famous last words of somebody that seemed to be important.

Vitter, you were wrong and I don’t condone your actions. But, you still have my vote. My glass house has a lot of broken windows

Posted by: armchairqb on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:31 am
What were you thinking???

Thanks for making Louisiana look good again on the national stage.

Now, go ye and sin no more…and don’t take any crap off the dem’s…most of them are likely guilty of much worse.

Posted by: King on Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:31 am

Those responses to Vitter’s DC Folly would frost me more if I hadn’t lived in Baton Rouge & later St. Francisville for several yrs. Crimson red is upstate LA’s favorite color. Vitter was rumored to have a predilection for some place on Canal St. or am I mis-remembering. Doesn’t he have a history of same behavior in NOLA?

Yes, he was a regular visitor to the Canal Street brothel. There was a list of numbers in that case too but somehow it never came out.

Does the USAG position require licensure in the District of Columbia, I wonder?

Is there any way for an attorney to file a complaint about Gonzales’ licensure because of his gross incompentence?

There’s NO WAY I’m buying that Gonzales didn’t know about the NSL-related civil rights cases. NONE. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt for one microsecond: how competent is a USAG who does not make a point to know everything about any civil rights cases related to National Security Letters?

Jeebus, he is grossly incompetent OR grossly criminal, take your pick, and should not be collecting a paycheck on our dime.

Helen @ 49

Hey RevDeb at 23. About Abu still running DOJ? Well, here’s some more evidence of his lies to Congress.

Alberto knew

And the tipping point is where?

I thought this would be the big topic of today at FDL even if most of the other papers ignored it.

There’s some other issues at the DOJ that demand attention. In particular, the DOJ has not done any appropriate investigations or indictments into the WH or Republicans, and they continue to sit on the ones that they’ve been forced to look at. Letter about Cheney ingoring archiving law? Ignored. Abramoff scandal? Where did that go? You think they might enforce one of these coming contempt violations? Fat chance!

GeorgeSimian @ 74

Waccamaw @ 48

dakino01 @ 5:44 -

Good points, all……… except maybe the just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton part. The “average” ‘Mericun wouldn’t recognize the contrast if it hit them up the head with a 2X4.

The progressive community is so far ahead of the curve that I’m pretty sure most of the country is *never* going to catch up.

I disagree. When (I think it was Waxman) said that there were over 1000 subpoenas issued to Clinton and not one for Bush, I was amazed. I don’t think that fact is brought up enough in response to that bullshit line by Bush and Fielding that they have been inundated with subpoenas.

This is a really key point. When he brought this up he said he was going to introduce the documentation on that into the record. I’ve been looking for it since then because I think it would be excellent fodder for a blog and letters to the editor. I haven’t been able to get my hands on the report. Anyone know where to find it?

RevDeb @ 93

I wish I knew!

Tipping point for whom? the truth is that Chimpy NEEDS him to stay in that job. He’s the only firewall left preventing a cosmic meltdown. The next question is how long is that firewall rated for? (in the construction world they are tested for how many hours they can resist the fire before giving in to the blaze)

They should have started impeachment proceedings against Gonzales immediately after his testimony. Is there anyone who can argue that he’s not either covering up or completely incompetent (or both?)

Republican scare tactics tell us that terrorism is the biggest threat to our country. All of the successful anti-terrorism actions around the world have been primarily law-enforcement, and our chief of law enforcement is unable to do the job. It seems insane not to impeach him.

Rayne @ 99

Does the USAG position require licensure in the District of Columbia, I wonder?

Is there any way for an attorney to file a complaint about Gonzales’ licensure because of his gross incompentence?

There’s NO WAY I’m buying that Gonzales didn’t know about the NSL-related civil rights cases. NONE. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt for one microsecond: how competent is a USAG who does not make a point to know everything about any civil rights cases related to National Security Letters?

Jeebus, he is grossly incompetent OR grossly criminal, take your pick, and should not be collecting a paycheck on our dime.

Rayne – I am pretty sure that he need not be, but he needs to stay licensed in his original state (Texas?). I remember Fitz at the Lynne Stewart trial testifying that he stayed licensed in NY and never got an Illinois license cuz if you’re doing Federal work, it’s not required.

Redshift @ 92

Waccamaw @ 85

Many progressives *are* aware of the discrepencies (like the thug subpoenas) but there are SO many points like this that how do any of the Dem talking heads/punidiots have time to enumerate them? And that’s assuming they have the quickness of wit to bring them up when given the opportunity.

They shouldn’t be trying to respond to the talking points, they should be making their own points, like “with the copious evidence of wrongdoing that’s already public, do you think the president shouldn’t be investigated? Do you think executive privilege allows the president to hide anything embarrassing he wants to?”

GOP talking points are fundamentally BS. You can’t argue against BS, because they don’t care about it being true or making sense, just that it sounds good at the moment. And since they have no regard for the truth, if you successfully argue against a BS talking point, they’ll just make up another. The only way to win that game is not to play; instead of refuting their point, ignore it or ridicule it and concentrate on pushing the truth.

Agree with this but would add that the RW knows their bilge will be repeated by the MSM while anything the left says is lucky to be even mentioned. In effect, this is license to lie, and lies when repeated often enough have the ring of truth to stupid people.

This is what happened with the lie that 9/11 was the work of Saddam. It was repeated so often, 69% of the people eventually believed it, and now it is still 40%!

Of course, it was a self-fulfilling prophesy, and now Iraq is a training ground for terrorists.

GOP talking points are fundamentally BS. You can’t argue against BS, because they don’t care about it being true or making sense, just that it sounds good at the moment. And since they have no regard for the truth, if you successfully argue against a BS talking point, they’ll just make up another.

yesterday echidna of the snakes had four long posts in response to a BS article in Psychology Today by Evolutionary Psychologists. She led off by saying that a lie flies half way around the world before the truth can get its shoes on. Her point was that it takes time and effort to refute a throwaway line of BS–like, say, America has a better health care system because in Canada people have to wait a long time. Michael Moore has to have researchers prepare stuff like this to refute blatantly false and misleading claims in a segment that preceded his (killer) CNN appearance

But it takes work. And then they just shift to a new line of lies. We’ve seen this in Iraq for the last five years. But we nonetheless have to be dogged about it.

RevDeb @ 93

Helen @ 48

Hey RevDeb at 23. About Abu still running DOJ? Well, here’s some more evidence of his lies to Congress.

Alberto knew

And the tipping point is where?

I wish I knew!

Tipping point for whom? the truth is that Chimpy NEEDS him to stay in that job. He’s the only firewall left preventing a cosmic meltdown. The next question is how long is that firewall rated for? (in the construction world they are tested for how many hours they can resist the fire before giving in to the blaze)

Refusing to fire Gonzo should be yet another article of impeachment. (Yes, after the hearing, I know. :-) )

Redshift -

Agreed. All I want is for people who represent the Dems (whoever that may be) to be well-prepared enough to be able to out-think whatever BS the goopers happen to throw out at any given moment.

Which is precisely why it’s unfortunate that fdl front-pagers routinely don’t have the opportunity to do so in an MSM format; they’re the ones with the wisdom and wit to do it like it should be done.

Rayne @ 99

Does the USAG position require licensure in the District of Columbia, I wonder?

Is there any way for an attorney to file a complaint about Gonzales’ licensure because of his gross incompentence?

There’s NO WAY I’m buying that Gonzales didn’t know about the NSL-related civil rights cases. NONE. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt for one microsecond: how competent is a USAG who does not make a point to know everything about any civil rights cases related to National Security Letters?

Jeebus, he is grossly incompetent OR grossly criminal, take your pick, and should not be collecting a paycheck on our dime.

I’m more of a “both/and” kind of guy, myself.

Anyone who would lie repeatedly to the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary certainly belongs of the list of Stupid Criminals, right up there with the idiots who leave their wallets behind at the site of a robbery, then return a couple of hours later to see if it has been found.

jayackroyd @ 95

You know, I might some long sad story of justification like this if it were not the case that every Republican administration since Eisenhower has circumvented the law. Nixon of course. Ford pardoned Nixon. Iran Contra under Reagan, and then Bush pardoned the perps (who are now in the current Bush admnistration). And now Bush.

From what I have to call the Cheney era–from Reagan until now, every administration has asserted that they did not have to abide by the law, and that if caught, prosecuted and convicted, that those prosecutions are invalid, simply because of the positions the criminals held.

This is not a one off deal. This IS the republican party. Crooks, liars and scoundrels.

Yep. As I used to put it (before W), “Did you ever notice how Democratic scandals are about minor financial dealings or personal misconduct, and Republican scandals are about undermining our system of government?“

perris @ 7

g’morning all

here is the thing EVERYONE is missing;

this administration has contempt for our country and they want to change it to their vision…their vision is antithetical Ameriocan’s freedoms and restrictions on the wealty

they want a robber baron society, they want NO social programs, they DON’T want public roads, public water, public beaches, public education

they are there to remake our republic

this isn’t “he was a loyal soldier so he shouldn’t be punished”

this is

“he was following orders”

plain and simple, following orders

further, they know with no doubt skooter will flip, as all of these cowards when faced with adversity

so let me be clear;

there is no justification needed for these people, libby was doing exactly what the script told him to do, they did exactly what the script told them to do when they commuted the sentence

Yes, I think the operative word in the “Human Behavior Blog” being quoted is “human.” And that’s not really what we’re dealing with here, is it?

Don’t believe me? Dick Cheney. I rest my case.

Peterr @ 108

Rayne @ 99

Does the USAG position require licensure in the District of Columbia, I wonder?

Is there any way for an attorney to file a complaint about Gonzales’ licensure because of his gross incompentence?

There’s NO WAY I’m buying that Gonzales didn’t know about the NSL-related civil rights cases. NONE. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt for one microsecond: how competent is a USAG who does not make a point to know everything about any civil rights cases related to National Security Letters?

Jeebus, he is grossly incompetent OR grossly criminal, take your pick, and should not be collecting a paycheck on our dime.

I’m more of a “both/and” kind of guy, myself.

Anyone who would lie repeatedly to the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary certainly belongs of the list of Stupid Criminals, right up there with the idiots who leave their wallets behind at the site of a robbery, then return a couple of hours later to see if it has been found.

Gonzo is a practioner of the “Who ya gonna believe, me or your own lyin’ eyes?” school of testifying.

egregious at 27 — you said that Leahy, Conyers and Waxman are building their case ‘brick by brick’. Could you sell me some of that enthusiasm. I only thing I am excited about is going to Chicago.

OT – I am still having double logging on to the YearlyKos website to double check I am registered. I did pay way back in Jan and completed the registration, but I am a worrier and so I doublecheck these things. Well, I WILL be in chicago.

IrishJim @ 15

Morning Christy! We need to find a good progressive candidate to run against Steve King in Iowa. (See Hardball last night) It is a conservative district but not a wingnut district like King. How do you go about finding good progressive candidates?

Hey, that’s my hometown district! Here’s my $.02: as you’ve noted they’re conservative, but not dyed-in-the-wool wingnuts. If they could find a younger clone of Tom Harkin, he’d make a great challenger to King.

Unfortunately, King’s brand of inflammatory anti-immigration rhetoric works in Iowa. Whoever challenges King will need to figure out how to neutralize immigration as an issue. Western Iowa has a large migrant farm worker population, and VERY freaked-out constituents.

In other news:

The DoD’s discovered that jet fuel rendered from animal fats gives better and more efficient performance with less pollution. They want the Air Force to be 50% converted by 2016 and 100% converted to domestic biofuels or other domestic fuel sources by 2020.

Car and aircraft makers, are you listening?

GrandmaJ,

If it helps, there’s a lot of stuff that can’t be brought out into public yet. Things are happening.

And I can’t sell my enthusiasm, only freely share it :)

Christy, I tried to send this link to your e-mail a couple of hours ago, but it was bounced back.

Front page of WaPoo: Gonzales Was Told of FBI Violations After Bureau Sent Reports, Attorney General Said He Knew of No Wrongdoing

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..id=topnews

Of course Gonzales tries his “I’m not responsible” version of “the dog ate my homework:” Gonzales not sure if he read the reports.

realworld @ 55

Just dreaming but I don’t think even the President can pardon violations of international law. What if there were extradition demands from the Hague on ‘09?

The Hague has no jurisdiction on US soil.

Phoenix Woman @ 114

In other news:

The DoD’s discovered that jet fuel rendered from animal fats gives better and more efficient performance with less pollution. They want the Air Force to be 50% converted by 2016 and 100% converted to domestic biofuels or other domestic fuel sources by 2020.

Car and aircraft makers, are you listening?

animal fats? from corn fed animals?

i’d love to see the energy balance on that one. hard to see how that wouldn’t be a disaster…. for the environment and for feeding people.

So what type of special tea does Gonzales drink before he testifies in front of congressional committees? Does he lie with chai?

The story line will be that whatever mistakes Bush made concerning Iraq pale next to the mistakes made by others in abandoning Iraq.

It is an essential part of the core dishonesty of the Bush/Cheney modus operandi that both will let the suffering continue so that what they both think is the looming greater disaster of leaving Iraq will not occur on their watch. Thereby, they think they will have a legacy exit. At this point it is not foolishness or fact carving. It is dishonesty. All the pundits who call them “neocons” or suggest they act by ideology are wrong. They are corrupt and petty.

Expect Bush and Cheney to push back against every rational exit strategy from Iraq because they think there is none. They are corrupt careerists looking for their own exit which is to force others take the blame for cleaning up their mess.

Expect that in January 09 the Country is already in crisis over a congressional mandated withdrawal or soon to be in a greater crisis over a withdrawal initiated by a new President.

To keep this in persepective the new President will not likely be dealing with 30% unemployment or a civil war (here) but may have a jihadist running Pakistan wanting to fight along side a jihadist in Iraq. The Clintons are not Franklin Roosevelt or Abraham Lincoln. They are part of the problem, not the solution.

What next?

egregious @ 27

Conyers, Waxman, and Leahy are laying the foundation for what is coming, brick by brick. Don’t lose patience, too much is at stake.

What are we gonna tell the next generation, well, we tried, but gave up at the first set of obstacles?

Let me know when we get to the “Throw the damn bricks already” part. Thanks.

new thread…

egregious @ 114

If it helps, there’s a lot of stuff that can’t be brought out into public yet. Things are happening.

If you’ve got the true word on this (and something actually comes to fruition one of these days), I’m gonna come over there and give you a bear hug like you’ve never had in your life! ;-)

New thread from Christy

dakine01 @ 36

Bluetoe @ 24

So Bush commutes Libby’s sentence and what do we get from Congress? Another feckless hearing. Conyers, Waxman, Leahy have been less than riveting and most certainly toothless. The kabuki charade of governance continues in the Never Never Land of inside the beltway.

Please remember a few things before going off on Waxman and Leahy et al. They are uncovering six plus years of crimes in just over six months. Most of what they have found to date has covered just the criminal acts occuring since January ‘07, and is barely scraping the surface of the pre-’07 swamp.

They have to take a measured response and move at a reasoned pace in the hearings just to offer a contrast to the frenzied attack dog mode used by the Rethugs on Clinton.

No matter how satisfying it may be to holler “they’re all crooks, off with their heads,” for those of us who have been paying attention for six plus years, we’re out to capture the sixty per-centers who have not really been paying attention, who only get their news in sound bites from the networks and who are just now, slowly awakening to the corruption and idiocies of BushCo.

Yah, Snow said yesterday, when being pressed on Iraq, that the American people are not looking for a security solution, they want a political solution in Iraq!

Ya’ don’t say!

Most of ‘em are indeed still in wake-up mode. They are most definitely not pondering the nuances of a security vs. a political solution in Iraq! They’re just wondering why things are going so bad when they were promised a quick, “clean,” relatively low cost war.

So we can’t expect them to know and understand in a short while what we’ve understood about this admin. for the last six years, as you said. It’s a lot to absorb, even for those of us who have been paying attention.

Sacanagem @ 113

IrishJim @ 15

Morning Christy! We need to find a good progressive candidate to run against Steve King in Iowa. (See Hardball last night) It is a conservative district but not a wingnut district like King. How do you go about finding good progressive candidates?

Hey, that’s my hometown district! Here’s my $.02: as you’ve noted they’re conservative, but not dyed-in-the-wool wingnuts. If they could find a younger clone of Tom Harkin, he’d make a great challenger to King.

Unfortunately, King’s brand of inflammatory anti-immigration rhetoric works in Iowa. Whoever challenges King will need to figure out how to neutralize immigration as an issue. Western Iowa has a large migrant farm worker population, and VERY freaked-out constituents.

Thanks for the feedback. I was doing a little research and found that Rob Huber is actively running. He has some good credentials but seems a little “over the hill”. Will Shulte be running again? I feel sorry for you. I at least have Boswell as my Rep. I just can’t stand Steve King. He is a complete GOP Hack Wingnut!

David Robinson @ 71

And the Republican/Conservative pundits and blogs parrot the Administration to create a crazy world. Like when Ann Coulter pretends to not understand why her words might be inflammatory or when the Conservative blogs pretend to believe that if Edwards gets an expensive haircut he couldn’t possibly care about the plight of poor people.

Why do they want to create a crazy world?

Because it’s easy to loot and plunder in the midst of chaos.

IrishJim @ 126

Sacanagem @ 113

Thanks for the feedback. I was doing a little research and found that Rob Huber is actively running. He has some good credentials but seems a little “over the hill”. Will Shulte be running again? I feel sorry for you. I at least have Boswell as my Rep. I just can’t stand Steve King. He is a complete GOP Hack Wingnut!

Don’t feel too sorry for me – I haven’t lived there for 25 years. There’s a reason I fled at the age of 22…

I don’t know the local candidates that well, but I just peeked at the 2006 results. Huber seems a bit advanced in years, but his platform is pretty good for that district.

As conservative as the district is, those people hate Bush and they hate Iraq. (and they hate immigrants.) If a Dem candidate can step in and tie Bush around Steve King’s neck, I think they could stand a chance to win in 2008.

Just looked online again, and I see that Steve King is considering running for the Senate against Tom Harkin. Talk about delusional wingnuts…

Libby’s boss in the last refuge of a scoundrel Cheney: The patriotic pumpkin patch.

RevDeb @ 5

Will we ever crawl out of the hole we fell into? (or to be more accurate, were pushed into.)

Sure, but it will take a long time. Maybe France after loisng colonial wars in Vietnam (1954) and Algeria (1961-62) is a good example.

realworld @ 55

Just dreaming but I don’t think even the President can pardon violations of international law. What if there were extradition demands from the Hague on ‘09?

IANAL, but I think the U.S. has opted out, so an extradition demand wouldn’t be actionable. Some sort of extrajudcial extraordinary rendition of Bush and Cheney might be the way to solve the problem.

Libby’s boss in the last refuge of a scoundrel Cheney: The patriotic pumpkin patch.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 22

Morning all. Coffee is fresh and it’s looking like another scorching yet lovely day outside. How is everyone this morning?

Getting really hot (101F today, in Portland OR!)

I copied this from the post::

…It is an exquisite example of self-justification because the good guys are defined as those who are loyal to the cause even if the cause is wrong.”

Change “Cause’ to “Corporation”.

The authors appear to be seriously mis-applying a psychological concept. (I can’t tell how much of that to attribute to the original writers and how much to the WaPo writer). They make the mistake of identifying the Bushies behavior with the unconscious defense mechanisms of normal people.
For starters, the internal tension called cognitive dissonance is only one of the dynamics within a person, and the distortions it leads to can be corrected through awareness and reasoning.
Secondly, Bushies are not normal people.
More importantly, we know that much of the Bushie’s thinking is deliberate, conscious, lying to manipulate the American public. That can not be explained away by the normal internal tensions created by unconscious cognitive dissonance in normal people who are capable of empathy and have a conscience.

It occurred to me after posting that the administration really thinks that they are not a government agency, but a corporation called USA.

What a thought! We are getting an inside view of how corporations really operate!

Vedantam does regular flackery for the Bush Administration under the cover of social science.

Couldn’t just be buying Libby’s silence, after all.

Some are really over analyzing Bush, at this point. He is part of a criminal cartel and is twisting all of our laws and precepts to cover his ass, his cronies asses, and the soft coup they have engineered while they continue their looting and reign of terror upon the world.

Enough already.

Try, convict for treason, hang by the neck until dead. Repeat again for each crony criminal traitor. Jail the ones not found to be traitors, but simple criminals, with jail for life; no pardons, no commutations. Simple, powerful and it will put us back to start regaining our national sanity and reputation!