What’s wrong with this picture? (h/t to Amato at C&L)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House has called an urgent multi-agency meeting for Thursday to discuss a potential new al Qaeda threat on U.S. soil, ABC News reported on Tuesday.
Top intelligence and law enforcement officials have been told to meet in the White House Situation Room to report on steps to minimize or counter the threat and what steps are being taken to tighten security at government buildings, ABC said.
The meeting would be one of a number that have been convened in light of new intelligence and information learned from the recent failed car bomb attempts in London, ABC reported, citing a senior U.S. administration official.
The unnamed official told ABC the level of concern of a new attack in the United States was now higher than it had been in some time.
The White House had no immediate comment on the report.
Here are your choices for what this story means (there may be more than one correct answer):
A. If there is an imminent threat, requiring an emergency security meeting, then (1) why is it publicized but with no useful information given to the public (2) why is the meeting not scheduled until Thursday? “Bin laden planning to attack America, but not until next Friday?” Did Cheney steal the “For the President’s Use Only” insta-selective-declassification wand again?
B. It will take two days to get the lab tests back on Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff’s “gut feeling” that an attack is likely. His abdomen is flashing pink, now, and the Administration has turned intelligence gathering into navel gazing. For more on Chertoff, read Larisa Alexandrovna (h/t Stephen Parrish).
C. The President needs to couple fear of al Qaeda, 9/11, and the war in Iraq as a distraction from the upcoming report that almost none of the milestones set in the Supplemental Iraq Funding bill two months ago have been met.
D. The President needs to rekindle fears to keep a growing number of Republican Senators from cutting and running on his Iraq policies. None of them will figure out what the British know, that killing people in Iraq does nothing to protect us from home grown terror threats, though there probably is a connection.
E. The President and his party are terrified that the American people hate this war; they have no confidence in the President and 70 percent want a withdrawal by next Spring while over 60 percent think it was a mistake to invade Iraq in the first place.
F. The President fears the American people will agree that Senator Webb’s amendment, which requires that the Pentagon give our combat soldiers sufficient time between deployments to recover, reequip and retrain before being sent back to an impossible mission, is the best way to “support our troops,” and that it means the surge can’t extend beyond next Spring.
G. The President and his party have concluded that Senator Lieberman’s argument that we should “give our troops a break” by not giving them sufficient time between deployments has exposed the President’s supporters to the charge they don’t really support the troops.
H. Or they realize that Senator Graham’s arguments (CSPAN-2 last night) that “we have Al Qaeda on the run” and that the Webb amendment is the equivalent of the U.S. Cavalry “coming to the rescue of al Qaeda” makes Republicans look even more ridiculous.
Frankly, I have a hard time picking a favorite, so I’ll stick with “all of the above.”
The American people can figure out that if there really were a genuine, imminent threat of another attack on US soil it would mean (1) the policy of “fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them here” has both failed and even worse, likely provoked another attack here and (2) it’s foolhardy to have our forces, including much of your National Guard, bogged down in Iraq.
This President and his party have lost the war, lost the argument for war, betrayed the public’s trust, lost the confidence of the American people and lost the right to govern. It’s time for them to go.
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Caw Caw
zunoed? Caw-Caw!
Good morning Scarecrow!
These people are -trying- to scare us. It’s the only way they can expand their power: make us afraid, then offer their protection.
So…they’re going to raise the terror threat from “Bert” to “Ernie”? I just pray it doesn’t jump all the way to “Elmo.”
Further observation from last thread re Bush’s “ribbon cutting” moment in the new WH press room.
[Bush took no questions. Coward.]
Truly a towel-snapping in the lockerroom moment. With most of the press corpse suckin’ it up like the good little eighth graders desperate for approval by the “cool guy” that they are.
Breaking News….
Chertoff just announced that his ‘gut feeling’ was actually caused by excessive ingestion of poisonous dingle berries. It is suspected these were ingested while he kissed the hairy behinds of both the president and vice president. The CDC has been called in to examine the dingle berries of both men, cautioning the public that this may be the work of Christian separatists….
What’s wrong with the picture? Apparently there has been some terrible mistake and Chertoff is STILL the head of Homeland Security.
Good Morning Scarecrow. Excellent post. I agree, All of the above. This type of fear mongering plays right into the Democrats hands. “Well, obviously your policies have failed and you have diminished our National Security.
I think C through G are all effective as at least a partial description.
This is a quote from last night’s Countdown that I had posted on the then active thread concerning Chertoff’s “gut feeling.”
I think Keith nailed it quite nicely…
Great post, Scarecrow. I think I just snapped the tip of my #2 pencil off in frustration.
Good morning
crowsfiredogs.Lots happening today. Jane and Marcy will be at the courthouse, there’s an interesting hearing at which Miers and Sarah someone are appearing to not talk about what’s really important wrt the USA firings, Congress is debating how many soldiers we should leave in Iraq to fight al Qaeda, who are the only people left in Iraq, and Michael Moore just made a huge breakthrough at CNN.
These and other stories coming up right after breakfast. You do eat breakfast don’t you?
Perhaps the imminent danger is the FEMA trailers behind Skeletor.
Wouldn’t want to get to close to those.
Mr. S and my immediate reaction to yesterday’s “gut reaction” moment was that there’s probably truth in the scenario that people are already here intent on terror.
And that BushCo knows they can’t stop it. They’ve so totally gutted and politicized and outsourced the functions of good government in favor of profiteering cronies and ideologues that there’s too few competent people left to run the place.
So we’re with you, Scarecrow. ALL of the above. And then some.
Great post!
I think they did it once before and I think they will do it again. His executive privilege increases in a crises on the homeland. It puts him in absolute power.
I think it will happen one more time. A repeat performance. See I told you?? And it wasn’t my fault, it was YOUR fault for not believing in me. Did you learn your lesson yet?? Ready to believe and follow my every word. No?? Not yet.
Seems strikingly similar to torture if you ask me. At the very least it is a fascist use of power and control and it leads to absolute power.
We need to do something…he’s desperate.
Good Morning!
may I add this enlightened view:
Kimberly Kagan
Scare you with their incompentency or stupidy?
Link
Years of arbitrary “Yellow level” and “Orange level” alerts, plus violation of the Constitutional right to have toothpaste on an airplane, have left the Bushies with a “The sky is falling!” reputation.
Good morning all.
I was about to write that there is nothing I could add to that list, but then there’s always something or things to add to the list. How about:
I) The health insurance companies are freaking out over Sicko and we need to divert attention from the Wolf/MM showdown that keeps playing all over the internets.
J) Oh yea, about those subpoenas . . . . look over there instead. Sara who? Harriet who? Scooter? I don’t know anybody who would have such a ridiculous name.
More of the same “false flag” coming??? Learn more here:
http://www.911truth.org/articl…..1155307646
Scarecrow @ 11
And while we are all paying attention to this, another hearing is going on regarding how they are going to shut down our access to those pesky toobz. We didn’t want to share information with one another anyway. Did we?
Dust off the Judy Miller cell.
AZ Matt @ 16
While I am inclined to dismiss everything Jerkoff says, and deplore the way he is abetted by flacks like ABC’s Brian Ross, we should not underestimate the way the American-inspired slaughter in Iraq has unhinged many Muslims.
Chertoff only needs a little pepto to take care of his “gut feeling”.
Geez, he wants to get people worked up based on is gut feeling!? Don’t they have professionals at Homeland Security?
What’s wrong with this picture is that it doesn’t show Chertoff’s gut. We wanna see his gut.
Together with a “gut check” why not also look into Putin’s eyes? It makes about as much sense!
It’s good we don’t have to pick just one answer
She is all but certain to suffer from Administration Induced Amnesia (AIA), a grievous affliction that appears to afflict all of those who come into contact with the executive…
RevDeb @ 20
which hearing? did i miss one?
Good Morning.
So we have a Bush administration official using the word feeling. That’s in and of itself raises suspicion.
Bill in Portland has a good list of benchmarks the Iraqi government might be able to meet. Good for a laugh if it weren’t so tragic.
AZ Matt @ 16
This makes me angry. King George has spoken and I can’t answer your questions. Barf! I hope a Senator points out that refusing to answer would have consequences – Contempt of Congress. What consequences can Bush impose? Other than political.
Prairie Sunshine @ 21
there’s a rumor that there’s a cell in the basement of the Capitol. anyways, does anyone know what the legal basis is for W (WPE) to extend Executive Privilege to someone who doesn’t even work for him anymore? I don’t get that.
Great post Scarecrow!
I have to say that my thinking immediately upon hearing this was the same as Prairie and Mr. S: if there are bad guys, they are already here and this is a CYA operation, otherwise you would not announce a “secret meeting in the very important room.”
I think that factoring into announcing the meetin are all the choices from c. onward.
Somebody said:
“Oh $hite, we need to cover ourselves because there’s nothing we can do–we have to let the public know.”
Everybody looked at each other stunned.
KKKarl responded (in Montgomery Burns’ voice):
“Excelllent, I know how we can use this to our advantage.”
Then he laid out all thre reasons from C onward.
Virgie @ 6
OMG…give a girle some warning…diet coke coming out of the nose is rather unpleasant.
Millineryman @ 29
just because you’re hiding your “f” doesn’t mean we can’t see you…
what i find scary is that the rovians know their one shot to boost support for their policies is a galvanizing event on u.s. soil — you know, in the way that, say, PNAC had mentioned Pearl Harbor. and the truly scary thing with psychopaths is that loss of (somebody else’s) life is something they’re quite prepared to incur to maintain power. indeed, it’s what they know.
this sleepy time of summer would be quite useful in that regard.
what’s the line on terrorists being found with connections to both al qaeda AND iran?
“Don’t sacrifice American soldiers lives for pride or for politics.” John Kerry this morning on MSNBC diversity-correct Not-Imus.
He posits there’s a scheme in the making to get to Sept and make some kind of face-saving we’ll bring some soldiers home.
Kerry gets it. And to his credit, Scarborough’s right on this one.
Okay: a very short post within a thread, just for Jane, who’s busy sharpening her pencil and is in a hurry to finish breakfast, ’cause Marcy’s chomping at the bit to get downtown:
Last night Michael Moore taught CNN a lesson in journalism, responding first with anger and then with facts to counter their superficial and innacurate “fact check” report, which was designed to feed the “Moore’s facts are always wrong, so you don’t have to pay attention to what he’s saying” theme that shields the media and the industries/politicians whose lies he exposes. Film at 11. Or you can watch the whole sequence, starting at C&L, here and here .
Lesson to Democrats: fighting back works.
This is the tragedy of it all: the Bush administration has gone to the well so often on terrorist scares that if a real attack is imminent, no one is going to believe them.
I guess they never read “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
I’ll bet Chertoff just has gas. And when he farts…….it smells like Karl Rove.
We are all AlQuida now.
AZ Matt @ 23
No, Matt, they don’t.
selise @ 28
No. It’s on your list.
Katie Jensen @ 14
He can say it wasn’t his fault. But he is the Preznit/Deciderer/Commander In Chief/Head A**hole What’s In Charge and he is responsible for upholding the laws of the land, faithfully following the Constitution and protecting the citizens of the United States. So it would be the final piece to prove to even the most willfully obtuse of the twenty per centers that he is an incompetent fool.
RevDeb @ 43
oh, i thought that one was going to be on cell phones. oh well, live and learn.
Lou Costello @ 40
As with Virgie @ 6’s post this is ALSO deserving of a “spew warning” before reading. So glad I wasn’t sippin’ the soda…
dreamcatcher @ 39
Exactly, and worse, when it happens, the people he put in charge to be prepared won’t be. We’ve got the head of Homeland Security literally contemplating his navel.
selise @ 45
wireless isn’t just for cell phones any more.
egregious @ 3
G’morning everyone! Coffee in hand, with creme & sugar.
I think eg. is exactly right.
What BushCo would like to do with this, ISTM, is to lay the groundwork for martial law, which would make it a lot easier to avoid being nibbled to death by a resurgent Congress.
Bob in WI (temporarily)
dreamcatcher @ 39
That and/or Chicken Little.
If there were to be another terrorist event on US soil, it will not unite the public like 9/11. Quite the opposite. It will prove that all of the policies and the arrogance of the GOP have failed the American people.IMHO.
I’m going to go with distraction.
“Sure, there’s an F- on the bench marks, but look at Chertoff’s gut! Gut! Terror! Terror! Gut!”
dmg @ 38
That has already happened on 9/11. They don’t get a do-over because they’ve f*ck’d up the first response.
OK. Gotta vacate the house again. Back at 10 for the hearings. See y’all soon.
I pick C.
Chertoff is an incompetent Bush lackie who has nothing true to say.
They’re just trying to stir up whatever fear they can from the failed London bombings.
The question is whether or not the larger part of the public will buy that the administration was prepared and is taking care of everyone if another attack happens here OR if they will heed the warnings that one of the MANY EVIL THINGS we are doing in Iraq is producing more terrorists and it is largely the administration’s fault.
We know what the press will be spewing. If something happens, we need a coordinated response that also respects the people injured. A very tricky tightrope, but one worth walking IMHO.
Scarecrow -
Here are Larisa’s comments about “what’s wrong with this picture?”: The Devil and the Ouija Board
Good thing we have Go Get’em Joe as the head of the Homeland Security Committee in the event any investigations might be warranted. /snark
dakine01 @ 53
how can you say that? they’ve gone to the well repeatedly on the tactics that have worked for them.
on top of everything else they are an unusually uncreative bunch of goons.
RevDeb @ 30
Actually, I’m glad to see more Iraqis willing to tell the Americans that these benchmarks are their business, and not ours. Stop using them as excuses for what we do or don’t do.
Scarecrow @ 11
Yes, in fact I’m off to join my sister and Mother for breakfast now. Will look to FDL first thing when I get back!
Bob in WI (temporarily)
Millineryman @ 58
ARGH!!! Maybe if he gets caught in the rain he’ll melt in a pool of his own snivel like the wicked witch of the west. A girl can hope…
ccmask @ 41
No. THEY are Al Qaida. It should be remembered that Ossama bin Buggin was trained by Poppy Bush’s CIA.
And don’t think for a minute that Cheney wouldn’t lose a major US city if Haliburton could make a buck off it.
Oh, I forgot about NOLA. Sorry.
And don’t think for a minute that Cheney wouldn’t lose ANOTHER major US city if Haliburton could make a buck off it.
If I were Al Qaeda, I don’t think I’d attack us again yet, we’re still crumbling from the last attack, why risk re-uniting us?
The closer the Pres and VP wander to the edge of the abyss, the more likely a false-flag scenario looms. Bush and Cheney are desperate at this point. They will do anything. I would not put it past the likes of Karl and Company to find someway do whatever it takes to “make it happen”.
Scarecrow @ 38
Nice little post, Scarecrow. Works for me.
Marcy is already at Prettyman reading one of Fitz’s filings. I’m meeting her at Rayburn in a couple of hours, just got off the phone with Christy (who is at the doctor’s with Fi) trying to make sure Sara Taylor is covered.
Big day today.
Scarecrow @ 60
agreed. but i think it’s all an attempt at distraction… trying to get us to forget that the whole premise of the “surge” was to provide security so that iraqis would have the political space to work out their own compromises.
can’t have the proles asking where is the security bush said the iraqis need.
((( PEANUT!!! )))
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 57
Thanks Stephen — I’ve added that link to the post.
I don’t know about YOU guys…
But when Nosferatu gets on TV and says the blood-sucking is nigh…
I tend to listen.. !!!
dmg @ 59
They’ve gone to the well repeatedly with the same tactics. And each time they draw less and less water as the bucket is getting more and more holes in it.
“This President and his party have lost the war, lost the argument for war, betrayed the public’s trust, lost the confidence of the American people and lost the right to govern. It’s time for them to go.”
are you suggesting something…….?
like
IMPEACH NOW. it’s the right thing to do.
Creative People Must Be Stopped! or else they might find a way ……
Good morning, everyone:
We know that George and Dick will do anything and stop at nothing, and Chertoff is just the puppet.
Scarecrow, your post is so unfortunately dead-on and it’s very insightful. Sunshine is also right – terrorists will always be a presence.
It’s the madness of method that is so very, very wrong.
completely OT – hugh’s list was used as link by Mark Morford in today’s hilarious column.
Scarecrow @ 69
Ok, so our Secretary of Homeland Security defended alleged terrorist financiers ?!?!?! WTF???
On another sad note: Libya upheld the death sentence for the 5 Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian physician. In other news, Bush is working to re-establish full relations with Libya.
Prairie Sunshine @ 42
Here’s why.
‘Chicago Sun-Times’ Looks to Redefine Itself as ‘Liberal, Working-Class’ Paper
Under marching orders from Publisher John Cruickshank and Editor in Chief Michael Cooke, new Editorial Page Editor Cheryl L. Reed introduced a new Commentary section Tuesday with a promise to turn the tabloid back into the liberal-leaning paper it was for decades before the Reagan administration.
What I find so mystifying is that people aren’t up in arms writing their legislators over these subjects. Living in KY where we are stuck with McConnell, I know they can speak because they bombarded him on immigration.
It’s almost like if it is not in their face every day then it is not important. Rule of law, protecting the environment, FEMA (if you aren’t from a state that needs it) – nothing seems to stir the populace to action unless it is an inconvenience to them.
I’m afraid some of the pundits are correct when they say people are more interested in American Idol than in the future of their country. Hopefully those who are interested can sway the votes to get this country back where it belongs.
OT – very good iran news from the nysun (hope it’s true!):
Excellent post. Do these folks have any idea just how transparent they are?
Duh, stupid question. Apparently not.
Hey.
What?
Am I talking to myself again?
Um, no.
M @ 79
Where there is total and pervasive absence of leadership, the void leaves many lost and silent. Many aren’t even searching for what’s been lost, because they aren’t consciously aware of what it is. Provide a leader in some form, and the people will rally round and become more visible.
Okay, there is so much in this post and thread, my fuzzy morning mind is in neutral with the gas pedal pushed clear to the floor.
Scarecrow — thanks.
Michael Moore — thanks.
First Obstructionist — no, thanks.
Here’s a thought. If there is such great danger in this country (and sooner or later, that’s probably going to be true), then don’t we need our national guard and military troops here to protect us?
About Chicken-s * * t Little stuff, I have always thought the optimum time for an attack in this country would be the first Wednesday of the month at 1:00 when the sirens-formerly-known-as-air-raid-sirens do their monthly wail. Like BushCo warnings, no one pays the slightest attention to that any more.
And finally, it is time for the Dems to connect the dots between ramped-up terrorism and the BushCo war. Such a short line between them, yet apparently invisible to the hook-line-and-sinker crowd.
Oh. Good morning.
The White House response is now posted on ABC Blotter:
Also important to note, there is “increased chatter”, and a grave fear that “a small al Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here.”
I’m sensing some dissonant leaking, here, but just in case, I may have to stay home today and work on my cowering behavior.
SC great post. The only possibility that the Bush administration has to manipulate the American public is to keep the fear factor turned on high!
“The President needs to couple fear of al Qaeda, 9/11, and the war in Iraq as a distraction from the upcoming report that almost none of the milestones set in the Supplemental Iraq Funding bill two months ago have been met.”
ARE WE SAFER YET? TERROISM HAS GROWN AROUND THE WORLD SINCE WE PRE-EMPTIVELY INVADED IRAQ
M @ 79
I’m in Kentucky too…
I have also been very disappointed in the level of outrage here. But we are a conservative Democratic state, if that makes sense..
I’m so afraid that I’m heading right on over to the Empire State Building to keep watch…
-MS
Nequals1 @ 76
Have you read this? Libya HIV death sentences upheld
What’s wrong with this picture…We’re fighting them over there so we won’t have to fight them over here. *Talking point not valid and not to be used when using terra-ist fear monger talking point that’s often in operation during election time and/or during War funding vote times*
Since I don’t believe Jerkoff’s GI tract is a credible source of intelligence, I will consider this Bush Adm. fear mongering 101.
barbara @ 83
Do they still do that?
See, you’re right, I don’t notice anymore.
Nice:
That President Bush is a real cut-up. And the president of the declining public approval ratings acted as if slicing the red-white-and-blue ribbon of the renovated White House press room Wednesday morning was a shear delight.
*Early estimates were around $20 million.
barbara –
Wouldn’t be suprised to see KO update his “what a coincidence” timeline on terror threats tonight.
Nequals1 @ 82
This is exactly what happened in my district when we threw out the Bush Babe Anne Northup and sent to congress a very Liberal John Yarmuth.. So we actually contributed to regaining the House majority for them Dems.. Now if only the rest of the state would follow.. We can oust McConnell too…
Elliott @ 91
Well, they do in MN. See what I mean? Perfecto!
Just to chime in on Gonzo, if it is so clear that he has broken the law and lied to Congress, can’t something simple be done now? Does it have to be impeachment? Wouldn’t a simple criminal charge do?
Mojo @ 94
A nice place to visit:
Ditch Mitch
my too sense @ 89
Yeah! And why is Osama Bin Laden still able to do wake up in the morning?
ccmask @ 92
Man, how bugged is that office!?
masaccio @ 84
Thanks for this update. There should be some pointed questions to TonySnow et al on how these stories got out there and who, besides the navel gazer put them out there.
Scarecrow @ 93
Oh, SC, I hope so. And then we need to figure out more and more ways to get this smack in the faces of the non-believers. I’m thinking we may need our troops here to storm the Bastille. And I’m kinda/sorta not kidding about that. I’m far more afraid of BushCo than of Al Qaeda.
So I guess Chertoff totally bought the whole “fightin’ ‘em there so we don’t have to fight ‘em here” thing and didn’t do anything to harden the borders and stop terrorism on US soil. He seems so surprised!
OT – but MSNBC has an article on the “swift-boating” of Giuliani by the firefighters. One problem – if I’m not mistaken, the term “swift-boating” refers to false attacks (aka lies). The charges referenced in the article are all true.
Giuliani’s swift boaters
Elliott @ 99
All the new chairs have internet connections…must be nice to download all information on reporters laptops…
ccmask @ 104
I don’t think they’re reading the same “Talking Points Memo” we are.
barbara @101
“I’m far more afraid of BushCo than of Al Qaeda”
We should all be… I’ve tried to convince my family of this for almost 7 years..
no luck so far…
JF @ 103
Just so! And, on 9/11, Giuliani did nothing but his job (and poorly) for a change… Arrogant, first amendment-hating SOB. But I fear he may win the GOP nomination. Will we beat him?
-MS
Elliott @ 99
So a $20 million giftie to the MSM?
wrt the Guilliani video, this section is oh, so true. They wanted the firemen gone that morning—but the wives showed up and cut thew yellow tape so that the firemen could continue their searches….
Giuliani drastically scaled back search and recovery efforts at Ground Zero on Nov. 1, 2001 to make way for cleanup crews. The remains of dozens of firefighters killed in the attack had still not been found. The reason for the “scoop and dump” operation, as the firefighters call it? Gold. The same day Giuliani cut back the search teams, he also announced that more than $230 million worth of gold and silver bars had been recovered from vaults under the tower. Firefighters claim the search was always more about gold than it was about bodies.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE GOLD!!
MS in Park Slope aka Michael in Park Slope @ 107
Like a DRUM !!!
How much support do you think all those cowboy red states will give a cross-dressin’ citified.. mamby pamby.. like Rudi ???
g @ 102
Actually, he’s had a skeleton team of hack madrassa-educated political operatives following that phantom yellowcake uranium of Scooter fame around the world, for the last 5 years. ‘Deep throat’ has finally confirmed that the stuff has arrived on these shores, and they need to figure out what to do about it…hence the emergency meeting :)
It’s a good thing they do these interviews with video from the waist up, or else you’d see the giant hard-ons these guys have for another terrorist attack on US soil.
Is it too much to ask that the people we entrust with political and bureaucratic power in this country aren’t the equivalent of suicide bombers against our own citizens, much less the rule of law and democracy itself?
From the NYT link:
How despicable. Wait until September. War sells better then, Condi/Rove/Darth/Chimpy?
selise @ 80
Great News. Seems like the efforts of Flynt Leverett, Scott Ritter, General Wesley Clark, Zbigniew Brezinski, Jimmy Carter and so many more who have been recommending diplomacy and negotiations with Iran may be working.
Let’s keep hoping, praying and keeping our fingers crossed that the “cakewalk in Iraq” zealots are not successful at convincing the madman in the White House to pre-emptively strike Iran.
I just loved seeing Michael Moore put Sanjays panties all in a wad last night. His face was shifting back and forth with a sort of Botox look in his eyes. Kodak moment if you ask me.
JF @ 103
Many a sage has said that if you criticize another person, more often than not, you are identifying a quality within yourself that you don’t like.
Fred Kagan assures us that Bush is not coming to his senses and that all is well in neosurgeland. (h/t Atrios)
I wish they’d depend more on OUR gut feelings…
Mojo @ 111
I know what you mean, but, and especially if HRC wins, those good old boys may just “hold their noses” and…
-MS
barrelhse @ 119
Comment of the morning.
The Progress Report is The End of Bush getting his way on the Iraq Folly – a Pre-emptive War of Aggression that he just had to have.
What a nightmare it’s been!
Any Republican who stands with Bush after this will be committing political sepuku ahead of the elections.
Scarecrow @ 118
full court press from the Kagans today.
Scarecrow @ 118
Another frightening fundamentalist!
MS in Park Slope aka Michael in Park Slope @ 107
We could prolly run Al Sharpton against anything the Gopers throw at us and still win in a landslide.
I don’t get it. Sara Taylor and Harriet Miers are out of the government. Both could write books about “my days in the White House”, just like Paul O’Neill and many others. The White House cannot stop them. Executive privilege belongs to the White House, not to either of them. What is the legal basis for their refusal to testify?
c-span2, senate floor debate…
durbin doing a good job of reaming mcconnell for insisting on filibustering on webb amendment – and not taking a question on it.
i think this is where i left off last night (durbin on the floor explaining why mcconnell is being a jerk).
Scarecrow -
Truthout has posted a brief NYT editorial about two of this week’s Congressional hearings: Overprivileged Executive
How about, we can’t be out done by the Brits when it comes to Homeland threats……
Here’s your homework assignment for today’s hearings, which Marcy/Jane will be covering.
With Bush, the flies settle. It is apalling that this piece of work Chertoff was once a high DOJ official and former appellate judge. But after all who was Bush’s first choice, the guy recommended by Guiliani, I do not remember his name.
EPU’s-ville: TRex, I love you for referencing Dickens & Jane Austen!!!
masaccio @ 126
My guess is that there is none. It’s all about running out the clock. Bush knows he has no case, but wants to play chicken with the Dems, betting they’ll blink first. If not, he just kicks the issue down the road a bit.
Stephen — thanks; Christy’s on top of it.
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 127
I particularly liked this little hole in their legal logic.
masaccio @ 126
It just dawned on me that BushCo is probably trying to build a case for a US style “Official Secrets Act” similar to what the UK has that would bar covered individuals from telling what they know. And it would cover whomever they designate.
I hope Senator Leahy is ready with the handcuffs.
I’m not saying it’s not going to happen or when it’s not going to happen it could happen anytime I warned you about the imminence of this
and yet you dallied
you made love and ate soup and went for a walk in the park
sure you maybe enjoyed a film or shined your shoes or even said hello to your neighbour the one stockpiling anti-tank missiles
but i told you what i told you when i told you
skipping some comments, so sorry if redundant:
If Ms. Taylor refuses to answer Q’s based upon executive privilege, I think it’s important that, upon each question she refuses to answer, the *source* of the privilege be identified.
i.e. Are you claiming privilege because this info is based on a conversation with the president? The vice-president? With Karl Rove? With other officials at the Justice Dept., etc.
I hope to god that they don’t let her get away with just waltzing in, saying, “I’m really, really, sorry, but I can’t answer any questions today – buh-bye.”
Three quick comments:
1. Anytime anyone in the Bush administration or otherwise, uses the talking point “If we don’t fight them over there, we’ll have to fight them here”, please look them in the eye and say “yes, I guess that works well for us, but what’s the effect on innocent Iraqi women and children?” Make them explain to you how Americans innocent lives are more valuable than Iraqi innocent lives. Then tell them you have proof their wrong and that they should go check that Bible, that they believe is literally true, hidden under the porn and sex toys in their nightstand drawer.
2. I few days back I brought up the point that what Vitter did was not just a “sin”, it was a crime. With more revelations coming out (see NOLA.com), I think a good case could be made for bar discipline/suspension. The Louisiana Supreme Crt. web site has a link to where to report ethical violations.
3. I wish the best for Cindy Sheehan in life, but what she is planning to do is a Rove dream come true. Limbaugh will ask all his listeners to contribute to her campaign. It’s a total distraction that will do nothing to end the war sooner.
does it seem like Fred Fielding has come up with a creative way to not plead the fifth? otherwise, that’s what Sara and Harriet would have to do to avoid answering questions short of an immunity grant.
we’re all going to die
unless you’re on the ‘no die’ list
by the look on mr. chertoff’s face
i’d say he is truly ‘beyond the vale’
via the agonist, a list -
conclusion – bullshit.
Scarecrow @ 130
I believe they both said that they would be covering the hearing.
selise @ 143
conclusion – bullshit.
If they are ready to attack us this summer, then George better not go on vacation.
On June 27 Bruce Fein wrote a blistering attack in Slate about Darth Cheney articulating all the reasons why he needs to be impeached. I had missed it but caught up with it today. It is an excellent read.
This part really caught my attention as it speaks to the “plausible deniability” of Cheney’s behind-the-scenes behavior and its blatant unconstitutionality:
Bush has, in fact, ceded (outsourced) vast portions of his constitutional authority to Cheney. One could also argue that Cheney has grabbed presidential power in an unconstitutional manner. Either way, W and Darth have played fast and loose with the Constitution in dozens of ways. This new theory about unconstitutional VP authority merits a look for it’s potential inclusion among articles of impeachment.
boxer @ 139
if the dems don’t get their act together and start giving us something more than kabuki… look for more of this. very sad.
TiredFed @ 137
Senator Leahy looks like the picture of God that I grew up with! I still say that if there is a god it must look like Leahy, Waxman and Helen Thomas.
Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 137
Now don’t exaggerate..
I’m stockpiling anti-tank ROCKETS ….
Elliott @ 145
Why would you want him in charge? We’re in good hands, ’cause Cheney will be in the bunker.
Kevster @ 146
Fein has been speaking out for quite some time, he is really worried about this administration.
If they are ready to attack us this summer, then George better not go on vacation.
indeed/
Little Ricky Would Very Much Like It If You Blew Up And Couldn’t Vote Democrat
Kathleen @ 146
i love it when leahy gets righteously pissed. looking forward to the hearing… 4 minutes and counting…
Christy’s post and new thread should be ready.
Bush may call it “executive privilege”, but it looks and smells like “cover-up” and “obstruction of justice” to me.
From the NYT editorial:
“The Supreme Court made clear in the Watergate tapes case, its major pronouncement on the subject, that the privilege does not apply if a president’s privacy interests are outweighed by the need to investigate possible criminal activity. Congress has already identified many acts relating to the scandal that may have been illegal, including possible obstruction of justice and lying to Congress.”
—
The walls are crumbling around Bush…
Scarecrow @ 150
Now you’re really scaring me
Michael Chertoff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Chertoff
From the Chertoff interview:
“He also rejected criticism that the US presence in Iraq had “radicalized” potential terrorist recruits, insisting extremists would have found other reasons to plot against the United States.
He said a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq would not in any way defuse the threat against the United States.
“They’re just going to continue the fight elsewhere,” Chertoff said.
Wow. How can this man be in charge of our Nations Security?
Kevster @ 146
Impeachment ain’t ever gonna happen. Criminal charges ain’t gonna happen. Class action civil rights lawsuit? A creative alternative from We, the People?
Thank Dog for FDL!
OT, but I have some burning questions this morning…
What is the procedure if Sara Taylor is charged with contempt of Congress? Do they take her away from the courtroom in handcuffs?
Is there any legal reason to let this go to the courts before declaring her in contempt of Congress?
Scarecrow @ 47
Any day now look for W reading “My Pet Wolf” with kids while Dick Vader conducts terrorist drills that send our air defenses to protect Greenland. Chertoff, Santorum and some Arkansas Repub have all tipped their cards. They need/want an attack. The fear card is all they got.
Anyone who wants to understand exactly how it is that the Bush administration intends to continue increasing its power should just search the term “Gladio” in either Google video or on Youtube.
It’s a BBC documentary on Operation Gladio, which was basically a large-scale false flag operation run by right-wing paramilitary groups in Europe. They would detonate bombs in public places and then the complicit media would assign blame to some left-wing political opposition group. Then, citizens demanding security provide their government, which is ostensibly “protecting” them, with additional powers much akin to the Patriot Act powers.
These thugs will stop at nothing to maintain their grip on power, because they know as soon as they lose it, it’s the gallows for them.
I have a feeling in my gut regarding Secretary Chertoff.
masaccio @ 84
Well, can’t say that there is much evidence that they took threats seriously in ‘01. I may be too cynical, but I just watched the first half hour of loose change, without knowing who is behind that movie. The image lodging itself in my mind was the one of our national leader in that classroom, with that look on his face, for how many minutes? Sigh.
“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed — and hence clamorous to be led to safety — by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” — H.L. Mencken
Is his gut feeling his feminine intuition? I have a chipped crystal ball I can send him. I think it will help and add further credibility to his gut.
i just watched the republicans vote no on the jim webb amendment to keep the national guard home longer. i emailed senator m mcconnell asked why if a threat is near would they not want the national guard here to protect the american people. why do they like the iraq people more than the american people?
Lou Costello @ 153
Didn’t we put Santorum on an iceberg last November?
And the US corporate media response to the bushliar-criminal regime’s blatant manipulation of the news via made-up terrorist fearmongering will be:
A) call them on their manipulation of the news
B) go along with the charade, bury important news critical of the bush administration in favor of stenographically, uncritically reporting everything “unnamed” administration sources tell them.
{Hint: in ain’t (A)}
.
I know I’m joining this party while everyone else is elsewhere, but I think they’re looking to use this as a convenient excuse to fortify their lairs for the coming popular uprising when they decide to cancel the 2008 elections.
This isn’t about protecting the government from al-Qaida, it’s about protecting “them” from “us.”
What’s wrong with this picture?
You didn’t show his gut.
Here comes full on Marshall Law. There will be no election in 2008. We the people are to late to change the course of our government and this is not America.
I think what I like best is that our head of Homeland Security carries a dual passport. Israeli/American……which homeland is he protecting?
At last.
The endgame of this egregious passive-aggressive buffoonery
known as “keep moving the goal posts” with regard to:
(a) ‘rules’ & rationales and (b) defense of said ‘rules’ and rationales.
Now that they have repeatedly completed several 360s while simultaneously submerging intent, the earth’s sea floor has responded and cracked.
A ginormous bubble was released and has surfaced, upending the ship of fools, sending them hurtling downward in their own vortex of pretense, obfuscation, and bad faith.
May this spectacular tipping point of awareness, bought and paid for dearly,
be the flashpoint of catalytic energy required to raise the phoenix from the ashes.
I still don’t understand the meaining of the expression “…lost the war in Iraq.”
What exactly will we “lose?”
What do we get if we “win?”
In WW2 we fought Germany and Japan to defeat them and force them to surrender unconditionally. We did. They did. We won. They lost.
In Iraq I still don’t understand what we’re still over there for. There’s no WMDs. Saddam is dead. Their military is no more. Game over.
My girlfriend just took a plane flight and said to me, “the airport loudspeakers kept blaring that the threat level is orange – what the hell does that even mean?”.
After six years of this crap nobody even knows what the hell they are talking about. God bless the CEO President.
Yeah, the one on Net Neutrality. You know, the one where the feds are trying to stifle use of the internet by peopn and bloggers like us.
selise @ 28
An excellent point is made that if we have these threats to the homeland, why has Bush weakened the homeland by sending the National Guard to Iraq?
Bush is a Fuckface lying sack of shit!
They are trying to scare people back into supporting them so they won’t get kicked out of office before they can invade Iran!
When’s the Texas Tea Party start?