zed?

Yes indeed. About time…*g*

“wait, wait… was she a big fat person?”

Hi Christy!

Generation Chickenhawk: the Unauthorized College Republican Convention Tour

Max Blumenthal

Love the show “Wait Wait” and listen in most
Saturday’s.
Does this mean Fitzy has changed from “no
comment” to “tell all”
I hope so

Didn’t Condi once say that she would like to be NFL commissioner? I also remember that she preferred to be Secretary of Defense rather than of State at the beginning of BushCo’s second term.

Ornicus, mentioned in the last thread.

It scares the crap out of me.

Lou Costello @ 5

Generation Chickenhawk: the Unauthorized College Republican Convention Tour

Max Blumenthal

I love the last scene, backing up

What’s catching my eye is the photo of Fitz. At risk of sounding like Bush doing a Putin, there is something in Fitz’s eyes (okay, and in every single thing he’s undertaken) that inspires trust and hope. FDLers got to see this up close and personal. Am I on target?

Oh what the heck; I’ll jump in early.

Wait Wait taping is tonight at Millenium Park in Chicago
6:30-8:30 PM
I will be there
Any firepups want to meet up before?

This Corn piece stinks. People need to stop pretending people like Kristol are naifs or stumblebums when they’re actually ruthless, indefatigable and thus far successful, at least as far as occupying Iraq goes. It demonstrates the tired mistake of taking neoconservative rhetoric at face value.

A friend of mine made a good observation.
I guess Condi was talking the other day and
said “When we assumed power in 2001″
Shorter Rice: No democracy here, only a regime wielding might?
Alas, we have fallen so fast…

It pleases me to no end that Fitz is a fan of the show.

What’s catching our eyes in the news? Somehow, one simply has to laugh at this one. Sometimes, you just have bow to the absurd:

Sure, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi may be the leader of an Iraqi insurgent group affiliated with al-Qaida, but you’ve got to feel sorry for the poor guy anyway: In March he was reported captured, in May he was reported killed and now it turns out he doesn’t exist. If he weren’t already dead and/or nonexistent, he’d probably have one hell of a headache by now.

Army Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner, the new spokesman for coalition forces in Iraq (his last posting was as a special assistant to the president), told reporters that this latest bit of al-Baghdadi news comes from Abu Shahid. Allegedly the highest-ranking Iraqi within al-Qaida in Iraq, Shahid was reportedly captured Wednesday, two weeks after it happened. Bergner says that Shahid — whose real name is Khalid Abdul Fatah Daud Mahmoud Mashadani — participated in the creation of al-Baghdadi, played by an actor, and the group for which he supposedly speaks, the Islamic State of Iraq, as a front for al-Qaida in Iraq. This was aimed, Bergner said, at convincing Iraqis that the group is really Iraqi in nature.

The question of whether al-Baghdadi exists and where he is doesn’t seem to be settled, though; the Los Angeles Times reports that Mohammed Askari, a spokesman for the Iraqi Defense Ministry, says that U.S. officials have been fooled by Shahid.

i found that wapo item on the bush veto of the children’s health plan to be pretty eye- popping as the 80 billion Iraq-Halliburton supplemental is coming up for consideration, too.

Support for troops but not for poor children? Hell, they ARE the future troops, aren’t they?

NinjaGoat @ 8

Ornicus, mentioned in the last thread.

It scares the crap out of me.

I agree that the act Neiwert is calling attention to is part of the spadework of establishing a dictatorship, but he flatly misreads it. The “B” clause is predicated on “acts of violence” or the substantial likelihood of such acts in the furtherance of the goals described.

This is but one of the things that catch my eye:

Victory in Iraq is vital
President has weakened al-Qaeda, made USA safer from attack.
By Tony Snow

http://www.usatoday.com/printe…..19.art.htm

Becca @ 17

i found that wapo item on the bush veto of the children’s health plan to be pretty eye- popping as the 80 billion Iraq-Halliburton supplemental is coming up for consideration, too.

Support for troops but not for poor children? Hell, they ARE the future troops, aren’t they?

He’s not being at all inconsistent. He doesn’t support health care for the troops either.

NinjaGoat @ 8

Ornicus, mentioned in the last thread.

It scares the crap out of me.

I’d been assuming that it was another way of putting pressure on Iran, that is, setting up to freeze their accounts, etc. edit: requirement that the support involve (likelihood of) violence noted (brendan @ 18), but then, see the Padilla case for what “likelihood of violence” charges can look like.

However, there’s that other little detail about talk of restricting use of the Internet in event of a pandemic, kicking off the kids playing video games. (Yeah, like that eats up the bandwidth compared to banking transactions and regular businesses.) For “kids with vids” substitute “political activists sharing views”.

But put the two together, and you have an excellent way to wipe out that pesky left-blogosphere. Did I see, too, that the Exec Order also lets the Gov take the assets of anybody who expresses support of someone whose assets have been seized? Looks like the victims of the initial takedown won’t have any of the MSM racing to their defense.

You’re right: if it is an intentional combination, it is very bad. If it is an unintentional confluence, it is an excellent example of why dictatorial powers (and what else would you call Exec Orders?) get themselves and everybody else into trouble.

David Ignatius had a good piece this morning on the ridiculousness of a tax code wherein the billionare pays less in taxes than the janitor does. He lays the issue out fairly well.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01967.html

From the link in Christy’s post above:

CR: I don’t know what I’ll do long-term. I’m a terrible long-term planner.

CR stands for Condi Rice. This from a woman who also craved to be Secretary of Defense.

The belief is that George Bush does not like children. If this were not the case, the prez wouldn’t make so many of them orphans.

brendan @ 18

NinjaGoat @ 8

Ornicus, mentioned in the last thread.

It scares the crap out of me.

I agree that the act Neiwert is calling attention to is part of the spadework of establishing a dictatorship, but he flatly misreads it. The “B” clause is predicated on “acts of violence” or the substantial likelihood of such acts in the furtherance of the goals described.

The EO uses the phrase “to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence”; which can mean, in the right, amoral hands, an anti-war protest in which one of the protesters looked like he was about to give someone a shove.

Also, does the thing actually have to say “We’re gonna take all your stuff if you in any way disagree with us” before it becomes an absolute abomination of a law? The entire Ornicus post is about how these things are ignored because they don’t mean much when compared to the humongous pile of malfeascence that came before it.

This caught my eye. There is hope with children like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clonpop/59178757/

Oh goodie! Thanks for this, Christy.

They subsist on cheetoes, eh? That explains a lot, then. Wuz that one of em day before yestidie that we all tried to help out, in a way, as it were? Member, the poor chap who claimed to have [blundered into] TRex at full stride?

Repeatedly assured all he had the very best of intentions, bravely trekking forth into the -um- dawgs’ den to “study our culture” or sum dam thang. Emerged so so very disappointed that FDL neverever deals with serious topics.

shame on you TRex. bad bad dino. upsetting the poor fella like that.

I fear I allowed a bit of snark to creep into my “help”, but Selise exhibited a sterling level of self control. Yes. Quite commendable indeed. *g*

Well, it seems that health -or the lack thereof -is the Bush focus this week: he’s threatening (the media uses the term promising, but a threat is a threat) to veto the funding renewal and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The funding would be assured with an increase in the cigarette tax -so it’s a bipartisan approved two pronged approach to providing ESSENTIAL health coverage to about six million children and simultaneously providing an incentive to reduce tobacco use. His toxic water carrier, HHS Sec Leavitt is doing contortions to back his boss (probably with the mandated three mentions per page per Carmona’s testimony) stating that the numbers for those covered are wrong and that the FDA should not regulate nicotine as a drug, per the Imperial pronouncement of Bush.

Not only that, but HHS and Chertoff are patting themselves on the back in poor simulations of Heimlich maneuvers over the national pandemic flu planning progress report. In essence, there is no vaccine stockpile, tamiflu may or may not be effective, absolutely no preparation has been done for mandating sheltering in place. No individual or community stockpiling has even been started for assuring essential food, potable water, medicine and hygiene supplies, there is muttering that the internet access and use might be “limited”, the president has given himself dictatorial power to call a national catastrophe, dictate martial law, and then to suspend the function of Congress. Oh – and there are no hospital beds, equipment, providers or services not already at full capacity to take care of flu victims.

Other than that, not much….

Bush has “philosophical” differences with children . He is taking a “principled” stand against them, the little freeloaders.

off topic sorry,
The story of the Jenna Six received some attention at The Daily Kos (‘Nooses, attacks and jail for black students in Jena Louisiana’ – by blueintheface )

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/28/144445/384

And except for Rick Perlstein

http://commonsense.ourfuture.o…..d_lynching

not much anywhere else.

ColorOfChange.org is organizing a petition to Gov. Blanco to intercede and prevent the sentencing of Mychal Bell. Take a minute and sign on.

http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/?id=2131-109826

Thanks

Biodun #16:

Emptywheel posts on this today. [Link added by mod]

Good morning Christy, I hope you got a good nights sleep.
Sure looks like you have been busy this morning with all of the links.
I can’t wait for the “professional” trolls to show up, this is going to be smackdown heaven.
They don’t seem to understand just who they are messing with, do they?

Wait…wait…Mr. Gonzales…Leahy sets up for impeachment? LINK

Biodun @ 7

Didn’t Condi once say that she would like to be NFL commissioner? I also remember that she preferred to be Secretary of Defense rather than of State at the beginning of BushCo’s second term.

Great. Let her deal with Michael Vick.

Trolls, operatives and other silly geese – Quakers have been dealing with them for years. They think they are so clever when they sneak into a Quaker Meeting and try to pass themselves off as an “Attender” or “casual visitor”. You can spot them across the room.
So, we have a way of dealing with them.

We invite them in, have them state their name and welcome them. We’re wide open with nothing to hide! We are courteous and engage them in conversation and ask them if they have any questions about Quakers.

At one meeting during the first Gulf War, sure enough, there was the CIA undercover “casual visitor” at meeting for worship (which is silent and meditative). He was sitting in front of me. We’ve dealt with so many that when I come across one I see the flashing neon sign on their forehead – CIA. I couldn’t resist so I approached the stranger, of which he was one of many, and personally welcomed him and invited him to attend our business meeting immediately following. He was so uncomfortable with being treated warmly, openly, and willing to answer any questions that he hurriedly left.

Frankly, I thought he missed an opportunity by not attending business meeting where we discussed support for AFSC, fighting sanctions in Iraq, political activity, demonstrations and witnessing in front of the Federal Meeting.

I often wonder what he wrote in his report. There are thousands and thousands of documents on Quaker by the FBI, CIA, NSA and I’m sure all the new secret government agencies. If this is how they get their information, ohmagod, this is what the rest of intelligence is like, also.

Something to remember, trolls, operatives and all the other sneaky freakies see through their own prism and are incapable of observation. It’s like having Tucker Carlson interpret reinterpret every thing you just said.

QuakerGirl @ 35

Trolls, operatives and other silly geese – Quakers have been dealing with them for years. They think they are so clever when they sneak into a Quaker Meeting and try to pass themselves off as an “Attender” or “casual visitor”. You can spot them across the room.
So, we have a way of dealing with them.

We invite them in, have them state their name and welcome them. We’re wide open with nothing to hide! We are courteous and engage them in conversation and ask them if they have any questions about Quakers. [Mod:snip]

How can one “sneak” into a Quaker meeting? *g*

brendan @ 31

Biodun #16:

Emptywheel posts on this today. [Link added by mod]

I just read that. Thanks. Postmodern hall of mirrors indeed.

Christy and Jane, there is a new issue requiring your attention.

brendan @ 18

NinjaGoat @ 8

Ornicus, mentioned in the last thread.

It scares the crap out of me.

I agree that the act Neiwert is calling attention to is part of the spadework of establishing a dictatorship, but he flatly misreads it. The “B” clause is predicated on “acts of violence” or the substantial likelihood of such acts in the furtherance of the goals described.

You mean this part B.

(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;

(ii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or

(iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.

(b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section include, but are not limited to, (i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The new rules to steal people’s property also includes undermining the Bush Crime Family. Any criticism of Cheney stealing Iraqi Oil violates this “EO”. If we act on behalf of the Iraqi people by tryng to stop the neo-con genocide, we are violating the EO. Note (iii) says any “indirect” help to anyone accused by this fascist law, also gets punished.

This Executive Order itself clearly violates about half the first Ten Amendments. It makes the US Government, a dictatorship. This mandate ignores Congress, takes away all individual rights, and is quite impeachable. Nuff said.

From DKos: Student Loan Relief.

Senate is debating S. 1762 which would provide some relief to borrowers. Kennedy supports it. FDL’ers should call their Senators and tell them to get on board, but to oppose Nelson/Burr amendment to the bill(welfare for student loan industry).

Tucker gets slammed:

http://dangerblond.org/blog/?p=801

Nequals1 @ 36

QuakerGirl @ 35

Trolls, operatives and other silly geese – Quakers have been dealing with them for years. They think they are so clever when they sneak into a Quaker Meeting and try to pass themselves off as an “Attender” or “casual visitor”. You can spot them across the room.
So, we have a way of dealing with them.

We invite them in, have them state their name and welcome them. We’re wide open with nothing to hide! We are courteous and engage them in conversation and ask them if they have any questions about Quakers. [Mod:snip]

How can one “sneak” into a Quaker meeting? *g*

No kidding! He thought he was being clever. Quakers are open to anyone attending but he was in his “undercover” mode.

Christy-
IANAL, and thinking of recent presidential orders, actions and many decisions by the Decider:
For the heck of it I looked again at Article 5- Changing the constitution- at any time- no mention of war time:

Has Bush changed anything already established in the constitution w/o first getting 2/3 of both houses to propose it, and 3/4 of the states (or is it congress?) ratifying it?

This caught my eye on the blogs today; from Michael Moore’s “sicko” site, read it and note the bold (my bold) statement at the end of this paragraph, it is a BIG keeper in terms of saying a lot in very few words…
“The people who annoy me are those who haven’t even seen the movie and who recoil when asked if they have. Some are religious zealots who think Michael Moore is a communist, America-hating fellow. I don’t know where they get that sort of thinking, but most of what they say sounds sort of pre-programmed or scripted. It scares me a little. Brainwashed people are not free people.”

Here’s a factor that I have actualloyseen transfor in people lately. The less-brainwashed, more intelligent among those who proudly call themselves “right wing” are all finding ways to accept that Bush and Cheney and Gonzo, etc. have been devious, and they are no longer defending them along with their pown ideology.

But the concept that ANYONE who lets themselves be lulled into a brainwashed condition, whether by the Cult of Scientology, the Moonies, or the Cult of College Republicans, is not FREE, puts an interesting aspect on the very meaning of “freedom.”

What good is our statutory freedom or our legal rights if we aren’t willing to use that freddom to think for ourselves? All the US Constitution can do is give us the opoportunity to be free, but if you willingly choose to become a lemming, led by the least qualified and least-compassionate among us, headlong towards the raging sea, then maybe you just aren’t worthy of that constitution and its ideals.

So to those who refuse to remove the scales from their eyes, don’t be too surprised when that constitution no longer matters to our leaders (just a GD piece of paper?).

NinjaGoat @ 8

Ornicus, mentioned in the last thread.

It scares the crap out of me.

Touched on this a little bit last thread. Does this EO kiss the 5th Amendment goodbye?

I know the intention is to highlight the good people-friendly actions of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, but that still doesn’t quite justify the rhetoric in this msnbc.com title:

Charity begins at War

Ninjagoat, behindthefall at #21 and #25:

“Fascist” is the wrong word for these people; the neiwert piece overstates the danger dramatically. We’re a seedy old empire, not some new ideological entity. We don’t have a mobilized nation-state like the Germans did. In some ways, no matter how exasperating I find my compatriots, there’s something mild and isolationist about us, notwithstanding the militaristic schemes our plutocratic masters are always hatching.

I’ve found a historical parallel for Bush that works perfectly for me: Napoleon III, a flamboyantly corrupt rightist who got to power on his name, ruled through dictatorial powers, and maintained that power through partly rigged plebiscites in which rural yokels provided disproportionate support. He, too, started a war of prestige in which he was defeated.

Biodun @ 44

NinjaGoat @ 8

Ornicus, mentioned in the last thread.

It scares the crap out of me.

Touched on this a little bit last thread. Does this EO kiss the 5th Amendment goodbye?

My reading of this (IANAL) says that any action by the government is predicated on an act of, or significant risk of, violence. The “significant risk” part is slightly worrisome in the hands of Bush, but to me, this is no real cause for alarm.

Why did Gonzo get the cold shoulder? Did he do something wrong?

Re: The latest Gore smear

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/…..-backfire/

Biodun @ 44

NinjaGoat @ 8

Ornicus, mentioned in the last thread.

It scares the crap out of me.

Touched on this a little bit last thread. Does this EO kiss the 5th Amendment goodbye?

Amendments 1, 4, 6, 8 and number 5 also. I do not know about 9 and 10.

Frank33 at #38:

You left out the “i” immediately before A and B:

(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:

(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or

(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;

Oklahoma kiddo @ 19

This is but one of the things that catch my eye:

Victory in Iraq is vital
President has weakened al-Qaeda, made USA safer from attack.
By Tony Snow

http://www.usatoday.com/printe…..19.art.htm

Snow’s most astonishing statement to date(?):

“We never argued that he (Saddam) played a role (sic) 9/11.”

*scooping jaw off floor*

brendan @ 51

Frank33 at #38:

You left out the “i” immediately before A and B:

(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:

(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or

(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;

Right, brendan. I think we do a great disservice by selectively citing parts of laws, articles, executive orders, etc., trying to show how bad Bush is. Nothing needs to be selectively cited to do that.

You just have to laugh at this one, Part II:

NEW YORK Judith Miller, the former New York Times reporter who is something of an expert on leaks, was asked today on the Fox News show “Fox and Friends” about the burning issue of the day: Who leaked the pages from the new Harry Potter book and does she defend the leaker?

Miller said she didn’t think the leaker giving away the ending of the book was the right thing to do but added, chuckling, “I would defend to the death his right to do it.”

“So what does happen in this Harry Potter book?” she was asked. “I don’t know,” Miller said, laughing, fairly certain she would avoid jail in this case.

“I know you can keep a secret,” one host noted.

brendan @ 51

Frank33 at #38:

You left out the “i” immediately before A and B:

(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:

(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or

(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;

The line is dependent on the definitions of “acts of violence” and “significant risk.”

I don’t think they’ll always be favourable.

House Judiciary hearing starting in 3 minutes:

Thursday 07/19/2007 – 1:00 PM
2141 Rayburn House Office
live webcast link

Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law

Meeting to consider the Executive Privilege claims asserted by White House Counsel in response to the subpoena for the production of documents issued to Joshua Bolten, White House Chief of Staff, or appropriate custodian of records.

Meeting to: to consider the Executive Privilege claims asserted by White House Counsel in response to the subpoena for the production of documents issued to Joshua Bolten, White House Chief of Staff, or appropriate custodian of records.

Mornin’ guys. Totally OT: Does anyone know what time the CNN/youtube Dem debate is supposed to start? The dopes put the date, but not the time on the cnn site! I’m trying to organize a debate party at a local sports bar (BIG screen TVs!) and I have to have a time frame. I’m on Denver time.

Regarding the subject of DOJ, there is this from TPMuck about Mr. von Sparky guy.

Now…

Biodun @ 44

NinjaGoat @ 8

Ornicus, mentioned in the last thread.

It scares the crap out of me.

Touched on this a little bit last thread. Does this EO kiss the 5th Amendment goodbye?

Is this EO is for real?

This can’t be done can it? What is going on in this country?

Glenn Greenwald has a takedown of General Petraeus.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/g…..index.html

I have been saying for a while now that this needs to be done before the September report.

Petraeus is not the Great General that Bush and the Republicans are portraying him to be. As I said in a comment last night, Bush picked him to prosecute Bush’s policy because he knew Petraeus was a Bush man. The idea that Petraeus is going to tell Bush come September that Bush’s policy, the policy that Petraeus put his reputation on the line to carry out, is a failure is zero.

Petraeus made a name for himself in training Iraqi troops but where are all these troops that he supposedly trained now?

He has failed to create a strategy that addresses Iraq’s civil war. This is why even a few tactical successes on the ground are meaningless. The political settlement is not happening. And a major reason why it isn’t is because Petraeus refuses to accept that the country is at civil war. The government which he is propping up is not the principal actor here or even the arbiter between groups. It is a shell used by various groups representing various sides. Petraeus has no understanding of the political aspects of the conflict and it is ludicrous to think that he will be able to solve them.

Petraeus also goes against the manual on counterinsurgency which he wrote. In it, he noted that 20 troops per 1,000 civilians are necessary to establish security. To hold a city of 6 million like Baghdad, you would need 120,000 troops. Troops doesn’t mean anybody. It means real troops, trained troops, i.e. American troops. It is unlikely that he has even half that number. So what does he do, he counts Iraqi troops whose effectiveness is slight and Iraqi security forces who are drawn from the militias Petraeus is supposedly fighting.

Petraeus cites open markets and kids playing soccer to underscore how much progress is being made, but more Americans are dying and there is no indication that his efforts (as opposed to forces outside his control) are what determine how many Iraqi are killed in any given month.

There is Petraeus’ appeal to fear, that something really bad will happen if we leave. Well, many bad things are happening in Iraq right now and there is again no indication that if we leave now or in a year, those bad things won’t happen.

Finally, as I have said several times previously, you can write the report yourself of what Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are going to say:

The situation is difficult/complicated. Forget the benchmarks. We are making progress. We need more time. Bad things will happen if we leave.

re: “idiocy of this”

Actually I see an opportunity for fun and profit…

Would be fun to infiltrate these lucrative job situations and play with our own creative spin…

punaise @ 45

I know the intention is to highlight the good people-friendly actions of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, but that still doesn’t quite justify the rhetoric in this msnbc.com title:

Charity begins at War

The article isn’t what I expected. Here is the end of it:

He would walk again months later, but some of his injuries were permanent. The bullet caused nerve damage that will impair his bowel and bladder functions for the rest of his life. He must wear a colostomy bag. Chronic pain may dog him always.

For the friends who remained behind in his civil affairs company, Deierlein’s shooting left a deep well of anger and frustration.

“He gets shot watching garbage contractors,” said Maj. Phil McIntire, Deierlein’s commander. “After that, I got in trouble for turning down missions. I’d say, ‘No, I don’t see a military need for that. We don’t need to be watching garbage.’ It probably wasn’t good for my career, but that’s OK. People’s lives meant more to me than that.”

Corbin in particular felt horrible about the circumstances surrounding the attack by the sniper, who escaped in the chaos after the shooting.

“Sewage and shit,” Corbin said, enunciating the “t.” “Oh my God, no life is worth that. It made me so angry when he got shot. … We spend money to pick up trash and the trash never goes away. It’s never-ending. It’s just pointless to risk someone’s life for that.”

Hi y’all!

My latest post is a list of all the reasons we shouldn’t impeach. It’s from Mad Magazine.

From today’s Hartford Courant “Cheap Trick, But Useful”

I especially like this piece from the lede and second para:

If the all-night Senate debate on the Iraq war that ended Wednesday morning really was a cheap political trick, as Republicans claim, we wish more such tricks are played.

Americans who bothered to stay up late and watch senators speak their minds probably learned something. Connecticut viewers, for example, would have seen that Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, in insisting that we’ve got the enemy on the run, lives in an entirely different reality than most senators, and that he is even more of a true believer in this misbegotten war than they may have thought. Mr. Lieberman’s warmongering was truly jarring.

It appears the Courant gets it.

brendan @ 51

Frank33 at #38:

You left out the “i” immediately before A and B:

(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:

(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or

(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;

I haven’t read all of the aforementioned executive order/directive. Might it possibly apply to contractors in Iraq?

egregious @ 56

House Judiciary hearing starting in 3 minutes:

Thursday 07/19/2007 – 1:00 PM
2141 Rayburn House Office
live webcast link

Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law

Meeting to consider the Executive Privilege claims asserted by White House Counsel in response to the subpoena for the production of documents issued to Joshua Bolten, White House Chief of Staff, or appropriate custodian of records.

Meeting to: to consider the Executive Privilege claims asserted by White House Counsel in response to the subpoena for the production of documents issued to Joshua Bolten, White House Chief of Staff, or appropriate custodian of records.

OK. I turned it on. Can a meeting force people? IS it like in a court? Or just a meeting to talk about it?

Nequals1 @ 36

QuakerGirl @ 35

Trolls, operatives and other silly geese – Quakers have been dealing with them for years. They think they are so clever when they sneak into a Quaker Meeting and try to pass themselves off as an “Attender” or “casual visitor”. You can spot them across the room.
So, we have a way of dealing with them.

We invite them in, have them state their name and welcome them. We’re wide open with nothing to hide! We are courteous and engage them in conversation and ask them if they have any questions about Quakers. [Mod:snip]

How can one “sneak” into a Quaker meeting? *g*

heh. one of those “eye-of-the-beholder” thingies.

SnarKassandra @ 62

Hi y’all!

My latest post is a list of all the reasons we shouldn’t impeach. It’s from Mad Magazine.

Seems appropriate that the Usual Gang of Idiots is slamming the usual gang of idiots.

egregious who is the lady talking now? is she the chair? the screen is like an inch long.

SnarKassandra @ 68

egregious who is the lady talking now? is she the chair? the screen is like an inch long.

hi Cassie – that’s Linda Sanchez. She is the chair of the sub-committee

Cannon is saying that the majority does not have the evidence. Um, that’s cuz the WH didn’t give them evidence

SnarKassandra @ 68

egregious who is the lady talking now? is she the chair? the screen is like an inch long.

You can make the screen full size by clicking on the little box..

Marcy’s most recent TNH post: Senate Dems Corner Bush and Gonzales on Their Attempt to Game Appointments

Another DOJ dickhead who has trouble telling the true the first time: Don’t Blame Me, I Work for Gonzo!!

Former DoJ Official Changes Testimony on Voter ID Law
By Paul Kiel – July 19, 2007, 12:27 PM

In April of 2005, Hans von Spakovsky, then a senior lawyer in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, almost singlehandedly disenfranchised thousands of voters. Without consulting career voting rights attorneys, Spakovsky wrote a letter that incorrectly advised Arizona’s secretary of state that the state should prevent voters from receiving a provisional ballot if they did not have proper ID.

When von Spakovsky — whose nomination as commissioner on the Federal Elections Commission is still pending — testified before the Senate Rules Committee last month, he claimed that he’d consulted with lawyers in the voting rights section before drafting the letter. “This was not me acting by myself, “he testified. “You know, I would have been consulting with the other attorneys there [in the voting section] to do it.”

But that wasn’t true, as Joe Rich, the chief of the voting section at the time, told TPMmuckraker. Rich is one among six veterans of the section who wrote the committee to object to von Spakvosky’s nomination, calling him “the point person for undermining the Civil Rights Division’s mandate to protect voting rights” when he worked at the Justice Department. Calling von Spakovsky’s testimony “a flat out misrepresentation,” Rich said that none of the career attorneys in the section had been aware of the letter — even then-Assistant Attorney General Alex Acosta, who oversaw the Civil Rights Division, had not known about it. The letter went out under the signature of Sheldon Bradshaw, a senior political appointee in the division, on his last day.

So, is Cannon defending the fact that she didn’t show up for the subpoena, because there is no evidence of wrongdoing, so she doesn’t have to show up? Is that in anyway legal?

Sanchez: “evidence that we have uncovered”

Helen @ 70

Cannon is saying that the majority does not have the evidence. Um, that’s cuz the WH didn’t give them evidence

That’s what the R’s have been doing throughout the USAtt scandal. They claim you have to have absolute proof of wrongdoing to even investigate whether there was wrongdoing.

sandflea @ 52

Oklahoma kiddo @ 19

Victory in Iraq is vital
President has weakened al-Qaeda, made USA safer from attack.
By Tony Snow

http://www.usatoday.com/printe…..19.art.htm

Snow’s most astonishing statement to date(?):

“We never argued that he (Saddam) played a role (sic) 9/11.”

*scooping jaw off floor*

and he continues:

“political opponents manufactured the claim to question the president’s integrity.”

it *must* be a joke.

Helen @ 70

Cannon is saying that the majority does not have the evidence. Um, that’s cuz the WH didn’t give them evidence

Standard Republican operating procedure.

They obstruct everything in the Congress and then blame Democrats for not getting anything done.

They let Americans soldiers die in a quagmire. They do not give them the proper equipment or a mission. They extend their tours there and make them serve multiple tours and then the Republicans say anybody who doesn’t agree with this isn’t supporting the troops.

Like I said, SOP.

Helen @ 70

Cannon is saying that the majority does not have the evidence. Um, that’s cuz the WH didn’t give them evidence

Cannon is ALWAYS saying that the majority does not have the evidence. Even when the majority has the evidence. It’s like a mantra for him and he obviously hopes that if he says it often and loud enough, folks will believe him.

Christy, tomorrow’s the day we come to WV. I sent you an e-mail; if it doesn’t come through, you can contact me via e-mail [above name] at AOL.com

Hope we can “meet up.”

Are meetings always like this? They’re polite with gentle lady and all that but they’re not talking about anything/

SnarKassandra @ 68

egregious who is the lady talking now? is she the chair? the screen is like an inch long.

you might be able to enlarge the screen. move your cursor to straddle an edge of the small window. At the point that a 2-headed arrow appears, click and drag outwards to make it as big as you want. This won’t improve the resolution, but it does help the viewing quality a bit.

Here’s a very recent ThinkProgress post about some news that may have been mentioned in today’s previous threads: Murdoch Was ‘The 24th Member Of The Blair Cabinet’

New documents show that media magnate Rupert Murdoch had a direct line to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street. The British government, which had blocked the release of the documents for years, “backed down in a surprise change of heart the day after Mr Blair resigned last month.”

(snip)

These revelations are especially troubling coupled with the news that Murdoch, who currently ranks first in the UK press and publishing world, may acquire the Wall Street Journal. He has consistently slanted coverage in his publications to benefit his political and business interests. For example, in 1997, he endorsed Tony Blair as prime minister and “gave him favorable coverage.” As the New York Times reported, this move ensured “that the new government would allow him to keep intact his British holdings.”

Murdoch infamously owns Fox News, but he also controls other right-wing publications such as the Weekly Standard and the New York Post. Wall Street Journal reporters are already saying that they find the thought of Murdoch’s takeover “devastating.”

You guys missed this part of the EO:
C.
i. All cookies shall be chocolate chip and the milk shall be precisely 96 degrees.

ii. Any stories read to me shall be about “Army Men” doing stuff.

iii. Gonzales must laugh anytime I call him “Alburrrrrito”.

iv. Karl Rove shall no longer stay in the shower for forty-five minutes, and shall answer me when I ask him what he’s doing in there.

v. Any time-outs, or, settle-times, issued to me by Dick Cheney, shall last no longer than twenty minutes, and shall be in the corner of my pleasing.

boxer @ 84

C.
i. All cookies shall be chocolate chip and the milk shall be precisely 96 degrees.
ii. Any stories read to me shall be about “Army Men” doing stuff.
iii. Gonzales must laugh anytime I call him “Alburrrrrito”.
iv. Karl Rove shall no longer stay in the shower for forty-five minutes, and shall answer me when I ask him what he’s doing in there.
v. Any time-outs, or, settle-times, issued to me by Dick Cheney, shall last no longer than twenty minutes, and shall be in the corner of my pleasing.

LOL!

Lou Costello @ 5

Generation Chickenhawk: the Unauthorized College Republican Convention Tour

Max Blumenthal

This is a GREAT video!!! I urge everyone to watch it. [However, have the Pepto Bismol handy.]

http://www.vanityfair.com/poli…..stam200708

Some might be interested in this, the late David Halbertsam’s final words on the Administration, called “The History Boys”.

Wish you hadn’t told me about this hearing, I need to go to the dump, but now I have to watch.

Elizabeth Edwards takes on Slate’s doughboy John Dickerson in Slate today.

SnarKassandra @ 81

Are meetings always like this? They’re polite with gentle lady and all that but they’re not talking about anything/

That’s “parliamentary-speak” to keep things clean & semi cool. Right now, they’re jostling for position on the playing field. Repubs will probably try mightily to de-rail the investigation engine. So they (pubs) are often deliberately blowing smoke to confuse & disrupt &/or taint & defuse any evidence they turn up.

Sanchez quite obviously is now trying to state as clearly as possible exactly what they have done with their investigation, why it’s important & worth doing, & why the white house should comply with the Committee’s requests for records & info.

ianal, so if i got anything wrong above, please amend & correct at will, dawgs. thanks. ;->

New Froomkin

who was the objector, I can’t read my screen?

I don’t understand this hearing at all.

OT but does anyone know if the HJC is going to issue contempt charges on Harriet Meirs or will they merely roll over to “make nice?” I can’t believe that Congress would let this stand. It sets a terrible precedent that further weakens Congress and usurps more power to the Executive.

SnarKassandra @ 92

I don’t understand this hearing at all.

They are voting about whether they will accept the RNC’s claim that Executive Privilege is warranted for the e-mails. They just voted no. Next step will include whether to hold the RNC in contempt.

they all left? it is over?

Very very systematic….

I like the way the gentle lady handled herself and kept the whole proceeding focused on the matter at hand….

Excellent….

zennurse @ 87

http://www.vanityfair.com/poli…..stam200708

Some might be interested in this, the late David Halbertsam’s final words on the Administration, called “The History Boys”.

Wish you hadn’t told me about this hearing, I need to go to the dump, but now I have to watch.

O.K. NOW! Run quick! Hey, look-it all the ladies in pink stuff packing up & walking out 1st.

So it looks like they just voted that the assertion of Exec Priv was inappropriate. This seems like positioning for an end game in which they hold someone in contempt.

zennurse @ 91

who was the objector, I can’t read my screen?

Repub. Cannon, I believe.

Bluetoe @ 93

OT but does anyone know if the HJC is going to issue contempt charges on Harriet Meirs or will they merely roll over to “make nice?” I can’t believe that Congress would let this stand. It sets a terrible precedent that further weakens Congress and usurps more power to the Executive.

That’s the question of the day. You know, if Bush thinks people are not paying attention he is sadly mistaken. One of my employees who does not follow politics at all asked me yesterday what’s going with Harriet.

mauimom @ 86

Lou Costello @ 5

Generation Chickenhawk: the Unauthorized College Republican Convention Tour

Max Blumenthal

This is a GREAT video!!! I urge everyone to watch it. [However, have the Pepto Bismol handy.]

I just watched it a few minutes ago! Puhleezz, make sure you catch the Tom Delay clip. I won’t give it away, but watch it. For the second time today, I had to retrieve my jaw from the staple-infested office carpet.

The breeding ground for tomorrow’s Republican leaders. “College Republicans”. They love the Iraq war. But they do not serve.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..56676.html

BTW John Kerry will be here in an hour to talk about blogosphere day.

mauimom @ 86

Lou Costello @ 5

Generation Chickenhawk: the Unauthorized College Republican Convention Tour

Max Blumenthal

This is a GREAT video!!! I urge everyone to watch it. [However, have the Pepto Bismol handy.]

Ditto that!

Gotta love that zygotes vs immigration thingie, too!

I just got a zed
on the new thread.

Bluetoe @ 93

OT but does anyone know if the HJC is going to issue contempt charges on Harriet Meirs or will they merely roll over to “make nice?” I can’t believe that Congress would let this stand. It sets a terrible precedent that further weakens Congress and usurps more power to the Executive.

I think it’s pretty clear they’re going to charge her. I would bet, however, that they use the route which goes through the courts, as opposed to an inherent contempt proceedings, which are, I believe, held within The House and would thus not have to rely on the Justice Department or the D.C. Circuit Courts.

punaise @ 45

I know the intention is to highlight the good people-friendly actions of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, but that still doesn’t quite justify the rhetoric in this msnbc.com title:

Charity begins at War

I see what you mean. That sucks *ss.
Pure Bombastic Buffoonery.

Spreading Freedom and Democracy with the most Awesome military the world has ever seen.

Shock And Awe.

Bye. see y’all tonight.

SnarKassandra @ 95

they all left? it is over?

Suggest you read # 94 for some details, & keep a lookout for others who also will help.
My guess is Christy et al will help us out so we understand all the details eventually.

I myself am confused why they left cameras on & people are still hanging around. Maybe it’s to be a short recess to prep. for more???

Jane Hamsher @ 103

BTW John Kerry will be here in an hour to talk about blogosphere day.

Will there be a new thread for Kerry?

Adie @ 97

zennurse @ 87

http://www.vanityfair.com/poli…..stam200708

Some might be interested in this, the late David Halbertsam’s final words on the Administration, called “The History Boys”.

Wish you hadn’t told me about this hearing, I need to go to the dump, but now I have to watch.

O.K. NOW! Run quick! Hey, look-it all the ladies in pink stuff packing up & walking out 1st.

maybe they “heard” you, and that’s why they’re in recess. *g*

jayt @ 106

Bluetoe @ 93

OT but does anyone know if the HJC is going to issue contempt charges on Harriet Meirs or will they merely roll over to “make nice?” I can’t believe that Congress would let this stand. It sets a terrible precedent that further weakens Congress and usurps more power to the Executive.

I think it’s pretty clear they’re going to charge her. I would bet, however, that they use the route which goes through the courts, as opposed to an inherent contempt proceedings, which are, I believe, held within The House and would thus not have to rely on the Justice Department or the D.C. Circuit Courts.

Inherent contempt is the only way to go because there is every indication that a politicized DOJ will not honor the contempt charges. The Courts are equally problematic because the SCOTUS has been packed with Federalist Society members that believe in a unitary executive i.e. the President can do anything he/she wants. Are members on the HJC so clueless? Who do they actually represent?

Adie @ 109

SnarKassandra @ 95

they all left? it is over?

Suggest you read # 94 for some details, & keep a lookout for others who also will help.
My guess is Christy et al will help us out so we understand all the details eventually.

I myself am confused why they left cameras on & people are still hanging around. Maybe it’s to be a short recess to prep. for more???

Thanks for the shout out, Adie. There is another hearing about credit cards fees at 2. Probably in the same room.

Does anyone have the sense that the U.S. is in a pre-revolutionary period that is lacking merely that one spark that finally propels the people into the streets to reclaim their government?

Thanks Helen. Guess I better give up here and mosey on upstairs…

Hey Zennurse! You need an ipod or somethin’.

We’re all upstairs. Take yer time…. ;->

This White House Exec Order.

Talked about by Thom Hartmann yesterday. Written about here, here, and here (referencing USA Today).

Very Scary Stuff!

Write your congress person to demand clarification.

And beat the impeachment drum. Paul Craig Roberts on Thom Hartmann today, a conservative economist from the Reagan administration, says he worries about the possibility that BushCo will allow or stage an incident to save the republican party. Pat Buchanan has said the carrier groups in the Gulf make a Tonkin incident ripe for the picking. To those who oppose it, including Speaker Pelosi, know that impeachment or its threat may be the only remedy for the dangerous cartel that is this administration.

calguy at #116:

There has to be a national march for Impeachment. That would be unprecedented.

calguy @ 116

This White House Exec Order.

Talked about by Thom Hartmann yesterday. Written about here, here, and here (referencing USA Today).

Very Scary Stuff!

Write your congress person to demand clarification.

And beat the impeachment drum. Paul Craig Roberts on THom Hartmann today, a conservative economist from the REagan administration, says he worries about the possibility that BushCo will allow or stage an incident to save the republican party. Pat Buchanan has said the carrier groups in the Gulf make a Tonkin incident ripe for the picking. To those who oppose it, including Speaker Pelosi, know that impeachment or its threat may be the only remedy for the dangerous cartel that is this administration.

Blackwater, the private army created by a right wing ideologue, could well have a role to play in creating an “incident” either in the Middle East or in the U.S. itself. That’s the thing about mercenaries, they are willing to do anything they are paid for.

brendan @ 117

calguy at #116:

There has to be a national march for Impeachment. That would be unprecedented.

Apparently their is a march planned for Sept. 15th. There should be more promotion of this on progressive radio and blogs. We need a minimum of 2 million people in Washington!

Bluetoe @ 119

brendan @ 117

calguy at #116:

There has to be a national march for Impeachment. That would be unprecedented.

Apparently their is a march planned for Sept. 15th. There should be more promotion of this on progressive radio and blogs. We need a minimum of 2 million people in Washington!

It’s another anti-war march sponsored by Answer.org. The thing about an “Impeachment” march is that there has never been any such thing: it would be a novelty that, unlike another anti-war rally, would genuinely startle people turning on the tv’s to see it on the news.

hackworth at #107:

See my #61.

Lou Costello @ 5

Generation Chickenhawk: the Unauthorized College Republican Convention Tour

Max Blumenthal

Thank you for posting this link. Truly a great video. Parts of the video had me angry but not surprised and other parts had me laughing out loud.

Bluetoe @ 114

Does anyone have the sense that the U.S. is in a pre-revolutionary period that is lacking merely that one spark that finally propels the people into the streets to reclaim their government?

No.

Here’s what in the news here in NC:

http://wral.com/news/state/story/1611560/

A former state legislator — who is also a former Baptist minister, current president of the Christian Action League, Republican — has been charged with 6 counts of aiding and abetting prostitution.

You know, it just keeps getting better, this chickens-coming-home-to-roost thing.

Nooooooooooooooo…snerk…good lord, what’s next, cocktail party commandos?

This terrifies me. I keep picturing a bunch of the guys launching attacks, moving from hit to hit at each party like Bluto from Animal House.

I don’t think bush is getting ready to take over our country… think he is setting Iran up for invasion and so he can do so without going thru Congress.

thinkprogress has a post up – breaking news:
A federal judge has dismissed Valerie Plame’s lawsuit! WTF

This week’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” is being taped tonight at Millenium Park.
It’s free.
I don’t know if this was posted earlier as I’ve been seeing clients all day until just now. (and I have a meeting in 5 minutes, so I haven’t been able to read the comments.)