Good God, when it comes to finding inventive excuses for backing Bush’s war and occupation of Iraq, the Republicans rubber-stamping their approval of his every act contort themselves so much you’d think they were in Cirque du Soleil.
Now that Harry Reid has cut off their favored escape routes on Iraq by pulling the Defense Appropriations Bill (and thereby preventing Republicans from adding toothless and fake “withdrawal” legislation like Warner-Lugar and the Salazar Distraction to it to give them something to vote for to look “pro-withdrawal” without actually withdrawing), they are beyond being drowning persons grasping at real straws: They’ve invented imaginary ones and pretending they can ride them safely to shore.
Here’s what I’m talking about:
More in GOP want Iraq military limits
By ANNE FLAHERTY and KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writers 1 hour, 45 minutes ago
WASHINGTON – Republicans increasingly are backing a new approach in the Iraq war that could become the party’s mantra come September. It would mean narrowly limited missions for U.S. troops in Iraq but let President Bush decide when troops should leave.
So far, the idea has not attracted the attention of Democratic leaders. They are under substantial pressure by anti-war groups to consider only legislation that orders troops from Iraq.
But the GOP approach quickly is becoming the attractive alternative for Republican lawmakers who want to challenge Bush on the unpopular war without backtracking from their past assertions that it would be disastrous to set deadlines for troop withdrawals.
“This is a necessary adjustment in the national debate to reintroduce bipartisanship, to stop the `gotcha’ politics that are going on that seem to be driven by fringes on both sides and change the terms of the discussion,” said Rep. Phil English, R-Pa.
English is among the more than 40 Republicans in the House and Senate who are sponsoring legislation intended to shift the mission of U.S. troops. Several other GOP lawmakers, facing tight elections next year and a strong anti-war sentiment in their districts, say they are considering this approach.
In the immortal words of the Alan Rickman iteration of Professor Severus Snape: “I. May. Vomit.”
Could Flaherty and Hefling have crammed in any more RNC talking points framing? This thing spins so hard the centifugal force will cause it to crack the earth’s crust before long.
Let’s take it from the top, shall we?
#1: “Narrowly limited missions” is frickin’ meaningless in the context of Iraq. The “mission” is already narrowly limited, as our military is at full stretch in Iraq right now. We can’t anything more than what we’re already doing now, which is to hold on by our bloody fingernails. Does it force Bush to redeploy the troops out of Iraq? No. So this proposed bogus “bipartisan” legislation essentially would allow Bush to do exactly what he’s doing right now: Allow our men and women to be sitting ducks for Saudi-financed Sunni insurgents while he and his fellow PNAC Platoon clowns proclaim that it’s the majority Shiites and their Iranian co-religionists that are the problem.
#2: ‘Bipartisanship’ means ‘Do it the GOP’s way’, which means caving to Bush. You can see that the GOP/Media and DC/K Street elites all got the memo from RNC Central Sunday morning. With Anne Marie Slaughter’s bit of idiocy serving as their banner, it was “bipartisanship” this and “end the politics of personal destruction” that, yadda yadda yadda. The goal, of course, is to try and cow the Democratic politicians away from doing the right thing and listening, not just to their base, but to the 70-plus-percent of the country that is far more left-wing than the national media lets on.
Our goal, of course, is to remind our Congresscritters just how much the Wise Old Men (and Women) of Washington got and get wrong. You know what to do.
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zed?
zed 2
Duncan Hunter is making me sick on Harball. Keeps calling them democrat leaders. EWWW.
Afternoon, PW.
Did I just hear Spector calling for Abu’s resignation?
Thanks for watching LooHoo (so I don’t have to)
The next talking point will be “responsible withdrawal” as opposed to the Defeatocrat “precipitous withdrawal.”
Typical Republican misbehavior, subterfuge and misrepresentation of the facts. Life goes on. But not for many in Iraq.
R sen ted Steven Home Raided by I.R.S
Allow our men and women to be sitting ducks for Saudi-financed Sunni insurgents while he and his fellow PNAC Platoon clowns proclaim that it’s the majority Shiites and their Iranian co-religionists that are the problem.
Yes, yes, yes. The democrats have to pounce on this. With the new documentary coming out, the democrats have to link the Saudi’s role to prolonging this war, and continue educating the public on the House of Saud and the House of Bushies lovefest.
Dang, the Repugs are facing serious constituency issues, eh???
Also, there is no such goddamned thing as a “benign seizure.”
cleter @ 10
Possibly an oxy moron, another one that comes to mind: compassionate conservative
Loo Hoo. @ 3
That’s nice. Let’s see Spector actually back perjury charges against him.
One cannot compromise with the GOP. They look at this as weakness. No compromise and no bipartisanship, Democrats.
cleter @ 10
are you sure about that?
i’m not sure you’re right. care to provide some evidence?
Joe Sestak up next to refute Hunter gibberish on Hardball (Mike Barnicle hosting).
Roberts did have a seizure. Benign and idiopathic. (no known cause)
Via Reddit, this is from “Democracy Now” last March. Wes Clark discovered that immediately after 9-11-2001, there were plans to attack 7 nations, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran. Of course there have been three wars, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan-each has been a disaster and failure.
This does suggest more secrets for Total Information Awareness to conceal. But this is crunchy war crimes evidence for the Hague, when the neo-cons are put on trial.
===================
So I came back to see him a few weeks later, and by that time we were bombing in Afghanistan. I said, “Are we still going to war with Iraq?” And he said, “Oh, it’s worse than that.” He reached over on his desk. He picked up a piece of paper. And he said, “I just got this down from upstairs” — meaning the Secretary of Defense’s office — “today.” And he said, “This is a memo that describes how we’re going to take out seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and, finishing off, Iran.” I said, “Is it classified?” He said, “Yes, sir.” I said, “Well, don’t show it to me.”
cleter @ 10
All it seems to mean is that they have not identified an underlying condition. Something caused it. He suffered the seizure first and then fell.
MSM he’s fully recovered….move along…
Liberalism… the ideology that truly couldn’t give a damn about the suffering of the masses.
Starting after WWII with the left’s acceptance of Stalin, through the exodus from Viet Nam and the mass murders perpetrated on the South Vietnamese and the Cambodians, now through to Iraq where you want to shit-can an entire country.
Liberalism left me, I didn’t leave it. How in the word did we come to a point where the attempted liberation of 25 million people from a brutal dictator becomes an illegal immoral war?
Liberalism truly is evil in it’s unintended consequences. I’ll stick with the Neo-Cons thank you. Thank God the adults are in charge.
Roberts suffered a seizure.
Doctors described it as a “benign medical event”.
per the report I heard, FWIW.
Narrowly limited missions like doing some special forces runs in Kurdistan and Iran? Unbelievable.
ON R Sen. Stevens the air waves are reorting ,BUT still not tell its veiwers thats he’s a republican
Get Tough @ 11
Ain’t that the Truth! As I mentioned in EPU land; “…if it drops ya in your tracks, something’s not Kosher!!!” ;-)
And what the heck is up with Mike Barnicle (sp)? He just sat there and let that repuke spew for almost 10 minutes without so much as clearing his throat – every single talking point, every single slur against democrats, every single straw man – they all just sailed uninterrupted and unchallenged into America’s living rooms. EWWW is right!
Never thought I’d EVER say this but BRING BACK TWEETY! Scratch that – put in David Shuster!
When asked about the AG seeming to be working for the president instead of the American people, Duncan Hunter answered that the AG works for the president and for “justice”.
Ahem.
cleter @ 10
Yes there is. I have benign electrical activity in my brain most of the time, but rarely suffer from seizures. And when I do, they are always partial seizures. No permanent damage.
Let’s please not stigmatize people with epilepsy or other seizure disorders.
some medications can significantly lower a person’s seizure threshold.
i think it is possible there is no underlying neurological pathology.
not saying that’s the case today with roberts… just saying i don’t think we know anything for sure yet.
Loo Hoo. @ 3
I couldn’t bear to listen…muted him. I have a problem even looking at the toad.
Benign? They must have some fast MRI’s for justices.
Duncan Hunter=Darrell Issa=Brian Bilbray
LS @ 24
If you’d listened closely, it was ‘Just-Us’!!! ;-)
TexB @ 26
well said.
TexB @ 25
At least they identified, in your case, that there is some electrical activity in your brain.
It’s difficult now for Republics because they spent so many years in plunder-gather mode (thus pleasing their owners, the Bush family). Now that they are exposed and out of power, Republics just don’t know how to behave. I predict that “saving the nation from the evis of pornography” will be a future campaign issue for them
OK, I don’t get it…how can Congress “have the time” to impeach Abu and not the VP or Prez? I thought they told us they were all too busy
passing gassaving the world to impeach.And why does it take more investigating? At best, Abu is a total loser and has wrecked the entire DOJ with his incompetence. When I see that video with him sitting next to Fitz, the contrast is so glaring I have to adjust my TV.
Just asking.
ccmask @ 29
CT scan for that. Done at the ER. Takes under an hour.
Spector would encourage Abu to resign knowing he’s a criminal and could be looking at ten years, I suppose.
selise @ 14
A neurologist told me that. I have family experience with seizure disorders.
LS @ 18
Many things can cause a seizure. Adult onset epilepsy, aneurism, brain neoplasm, metastatic disease.
TexB @ 26
No offense intended, Tex. I have an aunt who has mild seizures–just snarking on the MSM.
I don’t believe in Spector. I’ve been let down too many times.
Bluetoe @ 39
Add medication interactions.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 13
Besides they’ve gone so far ultra right that a compromise would mean very right.
do-si-do @ 35
Well, it took only 5 months or so to tee up Abu. The dems have 1 1/2 years left. It’s a start.
selise @ 33
We’re not stigmatizing, we’re merely cynical about Robert’s true condition, and the MSM’s dubious reporting, Ma’ams’!!! *g*
Just heard about Senator Ted on Air America. Its been an interresting news day. A seizure, A FBI raid, and the start of Abu’s impeachment. I wonder how much will show up on the media news?
My son’s neurologist actually once used the phrase “there’s no such thing as a benign seizure.” The rapid media characterization of it as “benign” seems suspicious, is all. My criticism is aimed at the MSM as well.
TexB @ 42
I have a friend who had a lot of seizures for awhile due to medication interactions.
What they are saying in Roberts case is that right now, and apparently in 1993, they could find no obvious underlying cause. They don’t seem to be very concerned at this point, and I think that is a good thing. I wish the best for him.
cleter @ 47
Benign means the CT showed no damage. Doesn’t mean he does not have a seizure disorder, or perhaps this is his first.
do-si-do, don’t forget Abu is protecting Bush/Cheney. A serious investigation of his works would set the table-HA- for further investigations up the food chain.
I wonder if the dems are going to get the special council to investigate him, and if not, will they do it themselves?
BigKen @ 19
Just a quick question. Who are “the adults in charge”?
Did any of you just see the Hardball Campaign add challenge. Apparently, anyone can produce one. One just went up from Iowa. I wonder if they’ll air any produced for the Dem side.
Ha Ha!
Maybe Ted will have to quit the senate without a little tantrum about his bridge.
TexB @ 49
He had one in ‘93, Ma’am!
Loo Hoo. @ 50
I may be mistaken, but doesn’t the DOJ appoint the special counsel? Ugh.
LS @ 18
Right! Salute you, sir! Ahhhs always obeys ma superiors. Ahhs, knows ma place!
I am sorry but it is too early to say that Roberts had a benign event of any kind. How many hours ago was the seizure and how soon did they come out with a diagnosis of “No Problem”?
“‘Bipartisanship’ means ‘Do it the GOP’s way’, which means caving to Bush.”
Boy, those Repugs sure are fond of putting lipstick on pigs.
Are they thinking that this makes it attractive to Dems?
I hate to be the one to tell the Repugs, but the Dems aren’t into kissing pigs. Seems to only be a Repug fetish.
I guess everyone saw this already from the ArmyTimes last Thursday, but just in case:
1,106 soldiers ordered back to recruiting duty
By Jim Tice
The Army is immediately ordering 1,106 former recruiters back to that duty. The soldiers are being pulled from their current assignments and sent to recruiting stations across the nation as the army struggles to meet its mission in signing up 80,000 new soldiers this year.
I think you can have benign partial seizures, though.
kym @ 52
Purportedly, they accept them all, yet, will they air them all???
Ed Weston @ 47
It shows up. Just plays down.
He may BE fine. It takes less than an hour to do the whole assessment. Even for a non-SC-justice.
OT but has anyone heard anything about Pat Robertson going to Afghanistan to negotiate with the Taliban on the release of the Korean missionaries?
Thank God the adults are in charge.
Yea, the ones who sat the Nam out. Eat shit. I know, don’t feed the trolls, save the key strokes.
I saw McCain’s campaign ad on Hardball labeling Romney as a flipflopper. John, otoh, is straight forward, no flipflopper he! LOL
raven @ 65
I got your back, raven.
Good post PW!!!
I would like to add that I thought the GOP were opposed to “micromanaging” the war. So what’s with the “narrowly limited missions” phraseology? It doesn’t sound any more micro than that.
ITA agree. bipartisanship means doing it the GOP way…
smapdi @ 54
NO!
Mad Dogs @ 58
Pigs with diapers.
smapdi @ 53
Well he’s certainly had plenty of time to remove any incriminating evidence.
Hospital spokesman doesn’t know what a benign idiopathic seizure is. Jeez.
BigKen @ 19
Name one adult NeoCon. I’d like to know who it is. Honest!
Another Tony?
AP – President Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown forged a unified stand on Iraq Monday, aiming to head off talk of a splintering partnership in the face of an unpopular war.
Brown told Bush that he shares the U.S. view of gradually turning over security of Iraq to its own people, based on signs of clear progress and advice from military leaders.
“We have duties to discharge and responsibilities to keep in support of the democratically elected government,” Brown said of Britain’s commitment to Iraq.
Get Tough @ 55
Aah, how soon we forget, Snarlin Arlen, specifically asked Abu whom would appoint, the Solicitor General Clement shall!!! (Who also should recuse himself!) 8-)
Oklahoma kiddo @ 52
He won’t answer that, OK Kiddo. He’s just a typical cowardly little chickenhawk who doesn’t have the guts to enlist.
Benign is a relative medical term.
When congress breaks for their holiday, Gonzales will resign and Bush will arrange for a special appointment for Attorney General, I reckon.
a bit off subject, but skippy took a look at the youtube videos that have been submitted for the repubbb upcoming postponed cnn youtube debate, and found most of them to be thoughtful, weighty and pertinent, making the gop’s penchant for avoiding such questions from citizenry seem even wimpier.
why are the repubbbs afraid of cats on pianos??
marymccurnin @ 71
Pig with diapers? That would be David Vitter, Republican LA
BigKen @ 19
Can this please win for Dangerous & Obtuse Hubris of the day? (D’OH OTD)
ccmask @ 60
How much to they pay? What’s the price these days for a human sacrifice?
Someone at dailykos said it was Grand Mal seizure. No link.
Bluetoe @ 80
Weeeeeeeee weeeeee wwwweeeeeeee! Ya’ll.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 74
What I like about Brown is that he is meeting with the Democratic leadership all day tomorrow, than the UN before heading home. It is a slap in the face to the Bushies. Browns treatment of the Glasgow bombings was trully statesperson like. It was sober, balanced, and really put the country at ease. He was commended from both sides of the Commons.
Duncan Hunter is riding the wave of popularity after Ann Coulter endorsed him.
I believe that bumped him from 1% to a little lower than that.
Dinkan Hunter.
-GSD
skippy @ 79
Dang, Skippy, you’re such a blog-whore!!! ;-)
it’s a little early for Valentine’s wishes – you know: the candy hearts that are marked “benign”
The Chief Justice is at Penopscot Regional Hospital. Will he be treated by Dr. Charles Emerson Winchester III?
The spokesman for the hospital was asked what “ideopathic” means, and he said, “I don’t know.” Which is exactly what it means.
skippy @ 80
I don’t know why Mitt is afraid of talking snowmen…it seems like politics as usual esp. from a guy who says he doesn’t read the signs his supporters hand him to wave.
I’ve seen enough snow-jobbing from Mitt to know what a twit he is. Save yer money for makeup Mitt!
BigMitch @ 89
Idiot.
marymccurnin @ 71
Ok… fess up !!!
How did you get a copy of Karl Rove’s home movies ????
bigken @ 19
i’m sorry, but if stalin is still a sticking point for you, i’d suggest you are far too old to be of any consequence in this debate. not that old people are necessarily inconsequential, but they do tend to wander afield from the point at hand. witness your railing against something that happened before most of our fathers were born, thus having absolutely nothing to do with us. we didn’t embrace stalin.
personally, i’ll see your cambodia and raise a new orleans.
TribeScribe @ 82
When did the US government decide to play “Trading Spaces” or “Try My Life” with Iraq, agreeing that it would be swell to export democracy and import fascism?
cleter @ 38
well, i’ve been told the opposite.
here’s a bit from the merck:
my bold
Mojo @ 93
Oooooh…data mining?
QuakerGirl @ 82
The army if offering $20,000 for quick deployment (within one month). This, together with other incentives could mean $40,000 for some soldiers.
Big Ken appears to be pushing the newly minted GOP/neo-con theme.
Liberals are supporters of genocide.
Of course Ken forgets that Richard M. Nixon was president when the US left Vietnam and Ronald Reagan and Poppy Bush oversaw the lions share of Saddams mass killings.
Let’s not forget John McCain leading the stampede of US troops from Somalia and let’s not forget that right now Darfur continues unabated, with nary a finger lifted by Bush.
Funny stuff Ken.
-GSD
Loo Hoo. @ 97
Which they don’t pay until the end of the deployment or possibly the end of the complete commitment of 4 years.
do-si-do @ 91
i don’t know why any repubbb has a problem with snowmen…they’ve got on as white house press secretary!
Get Tough @ 45
Gonzales is the Presidential Firewall. It makes sense to take him down first. But they should have started that months ago.
marymccurnin @ 91
He looked like a young staffer, who had no clue how to respond to the media crush!!!
Loo Hoo. @ 98
that’s grisly, and sad.
Anchorage Daily News
(Published: July 30, 2007)
Federal law enforcement agents are currently searching the Girdwood home of Alaska U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.
“All I can say is that agents from the FBI and IRS are currently conducting a search at that residence,” said Dave Heller, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Anchorage office. The search began earlier this afternoon, he said. It’s the only such search warrant currently being served, he said.
Shortly before 3 p.m., a number of federal agents could be seen outside the house, along with a half-dozen government SUVs. Others were inside. It couldn’t immediately be determined what, if anything, was being taken from the house. Agents at the house wouldn’t answer questions.
Heller, the FBI spokesman in Anchorage, directed other questions to the U.S. Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section in Washington. A spokesman there had no comment.
In Washington, FBI spokesman Richard Kolko confirmed to the Associated Press that FBI and IRS agents “are conducting a court authorized search warrant in Girdwood, Alaska.”
Federal investigators and a grand jury looking into public corruption in Alaska have been asking questions about a 2000 remodeling project that more than doubled the size of Stevens’ home — particularly the involvment of the oil field services firm Veco. Three contractors who worked on the project told the Daily News that their records had been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury, and others connected with the work and with Stevens had been interviewed.
One of the contractors who worked on the job said he was hired by Veco CEO Bill Allen for the job, and while his bills were paid by Stevens and his wife, Catherine, invoices were reviewed first by Veco.
Allen and a Veco vice president pleaded guilty in May to bribery, extortion and other charges connected with paying off state legislators.
Two weeks ago, Stevens told reporters that money for the remodeling came out of his own pocket.
“As a practical matter, I will tell you. We paid every bill that was given to us,” Stevens told reporters. “Every bill that was sent to us has been paid, personally, with our own money, and that’s all there is to it. It’s our own money.”
Beyond that, Stevens has issued a written statement repeatedly in recent months saying he would have no comment on the ongoing corruption probe.
A total of four former state lawmakers have been charged with bribery, along with a prison-industry lobbyist. One, former Anchorage Rep. Tom Anderson was convicted earlier this summer of bribery and other crimes for taking money from the lobbyist for a private prison company.
Last August, federal agents served more than 20 search warrants across the state, including at the offices of six state legislators, including Ted Stevens’ son, Ben Stevens, who at the time was the president of the state Senate.
Ted Stevens, 83, is the longest-serving Republican senator.
Remember-
America’s Favorite and Safest Drug (R), Alcohol can cause withdrawal seizures. Where’s the $.45 per beer bottle tax for SCHIP?
I wish I was a fetus so my president would protect me.
The new Bleeding Heart Republicans are really a sight to behold.
-GSD
CTuttle @ 102
All of the good repug staffers have rotated into the private sector by now. Slim pickens for the Bushies
I want the politics of personal destruction. Those fuckers deserve destroying.
BigMitch @ 105
And it’s about damn time for him to go
Big Mitch, is there anyone from the Dems. set to take on Tubes Boy?
-GSD
marymccurnin @ 85
cleter @ 39
There is a certain illegal plant out there that reduces the strength of a seizure. Chief Justice should try it. It is quite effective in reducing seizures. Ask UC Medical Center for further information on this subject.
The local talk show host is on the scene in girdwood. It is a rainy day here, but all the G-men “are wearing sunglasses like the guys in the matrix” They are removing boxes of documents.
Get Tough @ 86
It will be interesting to see how well Blair (the quartet’s man) and Brown’s appointee to be envoy (or whatever) to the Middle East get on. ;0)
TexB @ 100
Then they give you a 5-13 discharge and you have to pay it back.
BigMitch @ 114
Bet the good stuff has already been shredded because he had a lot of notice about this.
completely OT.
here’s this week’s list of congressional hearings. please let me know if i’ve missed any or if you want me to record the audio of one for podcasting.
i was late this morning (i usually post the info in scarecrow’s first thread monday mornings). my apologies.
Loo Hoo. @ 98
And what does the recruiter receive for delivering the human goods?
CTuttle @ 103
Oh, let’s cut the guy a break. At least he came out to get the questions and didn’t try to tap dance through. He’s going to get valid answers and come back. Inexperienced, is all.
Let’s give Dr Miriam (sp?) TrollyMcWhatshisname’s email address.
do-si-do @ 119
Ok. I am sorry. I will be good.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 114
It will be interesting. I think it all depends on if Blair is ready to take a back seat, or still wants to be the main cat.
I’m sure you know, but Brown and Blair have been friends for decades, but a riff developed when Blair’s star rose and took the PM when Labor was setting up Brown for it. Blair is a rock star, Brown is like a liberal arts college professor. I have a buddy that works for a PM at the Commons and Brown is well-liked on all accounts.
BigMitch @ 90
That’s “Penobscot”, Big Mitch. I live on the other side of Penobscot Bay from Roberts’ summer home. I’m a “downeaster”; even if Roberts took up year round residence, he wouldn’t be. Hell, even if he lived here, he wouldn’t be.
BigMitch @ 90
lol
do-si-do @ 119
Thanks for saying that.
GSD @ 112
There are some good Dems around. Two good ones with higher ambitions left the legislature to run for Governor, but then dropped out of the race when former governor Tony Knowles stepped in. (He lost.)
solai @ 124
hehe, reminds me of Mike Myers’ line in Wayne’s World when he says, indecipherable, “asssphinctorsayswhat” and Rob Lowe says, “What?”
GSD @ 87
I thought Ann was a Mitt fan?
selise @ 118
you’re an angel
the hearing herald angel
GordonM @ 124
To someone in the South, anyone from North of the Mason-Dixon line is a Yankee.
To someone from the North, anyone from New England is a Yankee.
To someone from New England, anyone from Vermont is a Yankee.
To someone from Vermont, anyone with an outhouse is a Yankee.
Or so I have heard.
How in the word did we come to a point where the attempted liberation of 25 million people from a brutal dictator becomes an illegal immoral war?
Let these words echo for those who would support Hillary.
She DOES NOT accept that invading Iraq was wrong, period.
She WOULD KEEP troops in Iraq.
PAT TILLMAN: 3 shots in the forehead.
There is something I don’t understand about Stevens’ house being searched. If he is such a good republic why is the idiot son of an a**hole not protecting him. Or has Stevens annoyed everyone including George?
TeddySanFran @ 129
Ann is for Duncan. He is at 1% and the margin of error is 3%, so he can be as low as -2%
Jonathan @ 131
Hillary Clinton is a good Senator for New York. I think she should stay there and be a national voice for the Democratic party. She does not have the political acumen and patience to govern.
marymccurnin @ 133
The Bush Cone Of Protection is only for close Bush insiders. They can’t go using it all up on the expendables.
-GSD
marymccurnin @ 133
Perhaps they have run out of fingers to put in the dike?
KennyBoy, The only thing you neo-cons, have liberated in Iraq, is what you have stolen from those people. Liberals do believe in the Constitution, which you are trying to destroy.
marymccurnin @ 133
That’s a mystery, but what I suspect happened is that the evidence was too much to ignore. And it came to them because they were investigating local crooks. Therefore, there was no way to keep it under wraps.
Ted had been told to keep his records. So it is rather remarkable that they used a search warrant instead of a subpoena. It tells me that their attitude is real serious.
GSD @ 135
That’s right, GSD. And the only reason Abu still has a job is because you don’t want your hatchet men to have any reason to be dis-loyal to you. The Bushies take care of their own. Period.
BigMitch @ 113
Those are the x-ray glasses you saw in the back of comic books when you were a kid.
Frank33 @ 138
Please don’t forget the hundreds of Billions of dollars they have liberated from the US Treasury..
BigMitch @ 131
A friend and I used to distinguish our backgrounds by saying “Salt marsh Yankee” (me) versus “Rocky woods and Red Maple swamp Yankee” (him). It actually explained a lot …
Get Tough @ 139
I knew that they would eat their own if hungry. I guess this is a variation on a theme.
Does Alaska have a D or R governor? (thinking ahead, and yes I could look it up….)
TribeScribe @ 82
Tis a hard nugget of right wing turdism to which all twenty-five percenters ascribe.
It demonstrates a tremendous lack of historical knowledge, it is chock full of rhetorical devices – straw man, bandwagon, appeal to higher authority, moralism, false dichotomy – either we attempt to liberate or we tolerate a brutal dictator (the US tolerates – and conduct business with! – many brutal dictators).
The first reason Dubya said that the US needed to attack Iraq is b/c Saddam posed an immediate threat to the US. That was proven false. Saddam couldn’t fire a scud more than a few miles. Other excuses for war followed. Now the US is in Iraq to free the Iraqis and help them establish a democracy by killing them.
This guy should enlist and encourage his friend and family to do likewise. We have enough right wing pundits, but not enough true believers.
The radio is about to have a live update from on the scene. The “reporter” is a young woman who does a talk show.
Time for KO.
Big Mitch, Thanks for the updates. It’s like having our own reporter on hand. On Roberts, how do we know that he’s had only one other seizure. Medical records for supremes are private.
Teddy,
Palin(R).
-GSD
GSD @ 150
:>(
TeddySanFran @ 145
R. First term, Sarah Palin, ran against 2 time governor Tony Knowles,
selise @ 14
There are such things as benign seizures. I had a cousin with petit mal, and as long as he took his meds, he was fine. If he broke the rules on his meds, he would have seizures, but with proper medical attention these were remediated with no lasting after-effects that were medically significant.
Like someone else said, there is quite a large range of seizure types. I think narcolepsy is another example somewhere on the mild end– except if you happen to be driving at the time. Then it can have significant consequences.
I will say, however, that from the sound of the first reports, there may well be significant implications associated with the Roberts seizure.
Bob
A new candidate has declared to run against Don Young.
selise @ 14
There are such things as benign seizures. I had a cousin with petit mal, and as long as he took his meds, he was fine. If he broke the rules on his meds, he would have seizures, but with proper medical attention these were remediated with no lasting after-effects that were medically significant.
Like someone else said, there is quite a large range of seizure types. I think narcolepsy is another example somewhere on the mild end– except if you happen to be driving at the time. Then it can have significant consequences.
I will say, however, that from the sound of the first reports, there may well be significant implications associated with the Roberts seizure.
Bob
Keith up.
Teddy, are you going to be able to help out with the loveblogging?
selise @ 14
There are such things as benign seizures. I had a cousin with petit mal, and as long as he took his meds, he was fine. If he broke the rules on his meds, he would have seizures, but with proper medical attention these were remediated with no lasting after-effects that were medically significant.
Like someone else said, there is quite a large range of seizure types. I think narcolepsy is another example somewhere on the mild end– except if you happen to be driving at the time. Then it can have significant consequences.
I will say, however, that from the sound of the first reports, there may well be significant implications associated with the Roberts seizure.
Bob
“I may vomit” does not belong to Rickman, Severus Snape, or Rowley. It’s the marvellous entrance line for Sheridan Whiteside in Kaufman & Hart’s great comedy, “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” This isn’t pedantic snark on my part. It’s merely giving credit where credit is due.
I sincerely hope that none of you expect KKKRove to make his appearance for 10 AM in front of Leahy, Do ya??? I’m fifty-fifty on Jennings, Tho!!! ;-)
BigMitch -
So it is rather remarkable that they used a search warrant instead of a subpoena. It tells me that their attitude is real serious.
Please explain; never had any experience with either. ;-)
ccmask @ 107
Dubya is good for six month’s of fetus protection from abortion only. Now if you’re a fetus and your mother is sick or starving or can’t pay the light bill, you’d be in trouble – Dubya will f**k you then.
Here’s something fun:
After watching the video on thinkprogress of Ohio Republican Rep. Mike Turner trying to diss the expert testifying on the war (”You don’t have a PhD, do you? Oh, you do?” — and so on), I called his office this morning, even though I live several states away, and expressed my disgust at his ignorant pettiness and grandstanding.
“Thank you for your call,” the woman who answered the phone said.
After asking her several times how many complaints they had received, she finally said, “Because of the outcry, we’ve discussed the situation.”
So happy to hear the word “outcry.”
Anyone here from the Dayton area? It needs a new representative.
IMO, FDL should welcome BIGKEN back.
We can write him off. But it’s better to address what he says.
Teddy, were you able to get a laptop so that you can help with the loveblogging?
Jonathan @ 163
I agree.
Loo Hoo. @ 158
When do ya fly? KO starting off with the Impeachment of Abu!!!
A subpoena would be a court order that said, in effect, “appear at such and such place and bring these documents.”
A search warrant is a court order telling the police (FBI, T-men, whatever,) to go to a place and search it. Much more intrusive.
Apparently, not giving him any “professional courtesy.”
Apropos of the thread, consider seeing No End In Sight as it opens more widely in the coming weeks. Although there is reasonable concern about the frame of the movie (it emphasizes the extraordinary and unfathomable incompetence in the months following “the end of major combat operations”) it is a movie that is likely in my opinion to help push us towards the veto proof majority we need to close down this ghastly war.
It is doing terrific box office so far-on two screens in NYC and DC it is second in per screen take to the Simpsons ($15770 vs. $18880 for The Simpsons). That won’t likely scale as did, say Fahrenheit 911, but it is remarkable for a straight up exercise in cinematic journalism that is quite unrelenting tough and bleak.
The most eloquent description I found here:
For those of us who protested from the get go, this movie will not change your mind but will deeply and powerfully confirm the malicious incompetence of BushCo. However, for that relative or friend or rep or senator who will never be able to face the truth that Fahrenheit 9/11 exposed about how we were lied into war, this movie will give them the push the need to argue for ending this mess.
Jack Goldsmith (Harvard) has been invited to testify. Apparently he can help implicate Abu.
If Justice Roberts has had a seizure in the past, which I think they said he did in 1993, then this isn’t an isolated event. It could be that he has a history of seizures and the two the MSM knows about are the only ones he has ever had in public. If that is the case, and the physicians know his history, then it makes sense that they have ruled out other, more serious causes with just a few tests. If he skipped a dose of medication or is prone to episodes when under certain stresses, this makes sense. Idiopathic means they don’t know what is causing it, but that doesn’t mean that they haven’t ruled out a lot of probable causes like cerebral bleeding or a tumor. My best guess is that this incident, while a bit embarrassing comes as less of a surprise to Roberts, his family and his doctors than to us. My bet is he has had a long history of these episodes, most of them kept out of the view of the public eye. I hope for his sake and the sake of his family it is just as simple as a missed dose of medication.
Loo Hoo. @ 169
Abu’s toast.
48 hours will tell on Gonzo
BigMitch @ 167
Heh, I’m sure Teddy’s Toobz will be very informative!!! ;-)
BigMitch @ 131
That’s about right. Was in Boston in the winter, visiting a client. It was around 20F. After lunch we stood outside while the smokers did their thing. They were complaining bitterly about the cold. I kept trying to figure out if they were joking or not. They weren’t.
CTuttle @ 166
Never mind the impeachment – I want to know more about this “loveblogging”
Get Tough @ 171
True Texas Toast!!! 8-)
Local poll on radio sez:
I am talking to Live on the Radio — that’s R-A-I-D-I-O.
Neighbors are having a bbq and watching everything from the deck, singing happy birthday et. al.
The radio may send a helicopter. The radio is having fun with this.
I gotta run. See ya all!
BigMitch @ 167
Perfectly clear explanation and thank you. I have my own thoughts as to where the feds should insert their “professional courtesy”. *g*
Twain @ 175
I agree!
GordonM @ 174
In Maine the janitor wouldn’t let us into the school building before the morning bell even though to me, a recent arrival, the chill would have seemed to warrant it: -14F.
KO covering Stevens probliomo.
I have my laptop if anyone wants to live blog. I don’t have a product key for Microsoft word yet, however…..
CTuttle @ 176
Yup. I like how the Grownups are sticking to the witnesses than can testify to Abu’s inconsistencies. Comey and Mueller are about as good a set of witnesses, based on credibility, the grownups have. And like courtroom television/lawyer dramas, witnesses appeal to the public.
Bob Schacht @ 157
agreed. my only point was that, imo, we need more info before drawing conclusions.
Why is it that Dems can only respond to the “leftist”, “anti-war”, “zealots” in their party? Why should they accept that framing?
Whatever happened to policies that legislators and lots of other people want because it’s right, it’s smart, it helps avoid pitfalls and establish connections we’ll need to do other things. Why isn’t it what we should do because it’s what we deem important, it’s what we can afford, or because it does the most good and the least harm?
Wake the puck up.
TexB and I are going to loveblog the Jane, Christy, Marcy panel Thursday morning in Chicago. We want Teddy to help if he got his hands on a laptop. He was going to check today.
selise @ 184
If he KNOWINGLY lied about his health history on his SCOTUS application, is that impeachable?
Loo Hoo. @ 186
Teddy can use mine during the panel, if he wants, that is.
ccmask @ 183
Great! No need for word, we’ll just do it on the threads here, assuming there is no objection from any of the ladies of the lake. And it’s loveblogging. ;-)
Loo Hoo. @ 164
I wanna know what loveblogging is.
Bob in HI
You got it. Does it start at 9:45 AM?
So maybe CJ Roberts has seizures regularly? Carries a piece of wood ta shove inta his mouth ta keep from havin his teeth knock each other out?
That’d make quite a scene in the supreme court.
If he’s epilectic and “forgot” to tell congress when asked- that won’t go down well.
Any chance Ted Stevens is gonna get himself Cunninghamed?
Save me a seat.
Ed Weston @ 47
The start of Abu’s impeachment!!! Looks like I missed a thing or two today. (Stoopit work.)
Bob Schacht @ 190
We’ll be doing it in pairs. And with loving words interspersed all over.
GordonM @ 174
20F would be cold for Boston due to the proximity to the water. Often in winter it rains in Boston and the rain/snow line is north and west of the city, generally between 128 and 495.
Why would it be congress’s business if Roberts has a seizure disorder? Why is it anyone’s?
Loo Hoo. @ 186
From Mama TeddySanFran’s diary: “Teddy, are you loveblogging again? I told you to keep your hands off your laptop. You’re gonna go blind if you don’t!”
Get Tough @ 187
I think it’s in the hands of medical experts in this situation..
I wouldn’t think omitting a seizure that happened over a decade ago would be reasonable grounds for any sort of action against our Chief Justice.
Bob Schacht @ 191
It’s liveblogging, without the expertise, but done in love for the gals on the panel and the pups not in Chicago. Make sense?
Get Tough @ 183
With Jane and Jay in reserve as former Gang of 8 members!!!
TexB @ 198
Because they are asked to submit a health report. His first seizure was in 1993. Would I be surprised if he lied?
ccmask @ 192
We should get a full schedule when we arrive. I think Christy said 9:30 Thursday morning, but I don’t know whether it’s in the hotel or in the convention center.
If you’re gonna loveblog, I’ll bring my toeball mouse so your hands can be free.
TexB @ 195
Pairs – that makes sense :)
ccmask @ 205
There is such a critter???
Iglesias to testify before the House Ethics Committee about Congresswoman Heather Wilson’s phone calls to him
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/073007R.shtml
calguy @ 168
I was thinking about veto proof majorities today and doing some of the math. I think it is pretty clear we are not going to get that though I’m not sure it matters since we are all but certain to have a Dem in the WH. Here is what I see looking at this site (great for election and polling analysis).
In the House we will pick up between 10 and 15 seats tops. That means that if there wre a reThug in the WH they could sustain a veto.
The good news is that we will may pick up the 11 seats we need in the Senate to put an end to the filibusters. That is probably much more important that overcoming veto’s. In fact, depending on who is in the WH it may be that congress is going to be the biggest obstacle to a progressive agenda.
170
Marretta says
My best guess is that this incident, while a bit embarrassing comes as less of a surprise to Roberts, his family and his doctors than to us. My bet is he has had a long history of these episodes, most of them kept out of the view of the public eye. I hope for his sake and the sake of his family it is just as simple as a missed dose of medication.
Kept out of view of the public eye – a true Bushco man.
Yeah, I invented it.
HA! ccmask!
smapdi @ 106
Even if the seizures are well controlled by medication, alcohol can offset the effect of the medication. Thus drinking alcohol is similar to skipping your medication.
Even if a patient is properly using medication(s) to control i.e. limit seizures, there are many things that can trigger a seizure. Here are just a few things that can trigger a seizure: alcohol; sleep deprivation; caffeine; odors; flickering lights; etc; and etc. Flickering lights being the trigger can be very scary, since it could be a traffic light.
On Olbermann: Theft and fraud are out of control in Iraq. Hmmm. Sounds not vaguely like Bush’s America.
On KO Richard Wolfe: “$20 bilion dollars spent in Iraq for reconstruction. Eight million people lack basic needs. We are looking at the destruction of Iraq.”
In other words, the surge is a success!
ccmask @ 210
Creative, eh? ;-)
Are the Iraqi’s almost finished with our freedoms now so we can have ‘em backw3hile they’re on vaca?
Loo Hoo. @ 164
I was offered a loaner, but carrying someone else’s laptop would make me anxious (spills, loss, theft, eeek!) and I haven’t bought one yet. The basic Apple seems to be $1,099.
So, probably not.
CTuttle @ 215
I haven’t perfected it yet. The tech guys in the shop are working on it.
A few weeks ago these toads were whining about how the ugly Democrats were “micro-managing” the war. So, naturally, their solution to the problem is, you guessed it: microrepublicanmanagement.
11 seat pickup in the senate? Not possible.
There will be 32 or so races and nearly half of em are already dem seats.. NO WAY..3 seat gain would be a very good performance.
CTuttle @ 158
I love those “empty chair” hearings. Silence speaks volumes.
ccmask @ 218
Have you submitted it for a Patent, yet? ;-)
I like the name Roadblock Republicans. Gives a whole new meaning to Road Rage.
TexB @ 198
Depending on the underlying cause- and possibly, his medications – his emotional and intellectual capacities could be impaired to some degree. I think full disclosure would be the optimum approach. It would be my preference not to have some unpredictably moody right-winger making the kinds of decisions his job demands.
TexB @ 198
I don’t think having a seizure disorder disqualifies him from being on the court. And I feel for his family. Seizures are scary.
Although, I would be interested to know if he lied about some sort of condition.
CTuttle @ 222
No, so don’t tell anyone :))
I think they should go ahead and hold the actual hearing, and ask all the questions as if they were sitting there…wait for an answer and say, Mr. Rove, you are being “unresponsive”…what a hoot!
On Olbermann: the movers and shakers behind the new PM in Britain are actually angling for Mr. Brown to have a good working relationship with President Hillary Clinton. Hadn’t thought of that.
CTuttle @ 176
Do you know what he’s going to testify about? Did I miss something?
rwcole @ 220
Negatory! 22 of them are Repug Senate seats! Virtually 2/3rds of them are Repug seats, 11 would be a low ball estimate for Dem pickups!!!
I believe that there are 21 or 22 Republican Senate seats up in 2008. Making a big pickup possible.
rwcole @ 221
Actually, the Rs are defending 22 seats in ‘08 with many surprises among the vulnerable.
Will wonders never cease?
A Mr. Joe Kelin does some fact checking the Polack OHanlan Iraq column and reaches same conclusion of informed others in reality based community: a no pass.
I will suspend judgment on on Mr. JK until I see what he does the next time the GOPers try to destroy social security -or maybe I’ll see if JK writes about the SCHIP issue.
I also noticed that the reporter Jim Van der (den? de?) Hei (who I read has DeLay shrines in his home) actually was reasonable on national pundit teevee yesterday re Hillary/Obama thug visitation rights spat -at least he was reasonable compared to most others I read or heard. I think if people keep challenging these media stars when they go factles, we can have some impact. Not on everyone, of course, but enough to them to do some homework and call things in a more thoughtful and even handed way.
July 30, 2007 7:53
What’s Missing in this Column?
Posted by Joe Klein
I agree with many, but not all, of the conclusions … but you really can’t write a piece about the wa[r] in Iraq and devote only two sentences to the political situation, which is disastrous and, as Petraeus has said, will determine the success or failure of the overall effort.
http://time-blog.com/swampland…..olumn.html
rwcole @ 221
Well, there’s always the possibility, however remote, that the rethugs will just implode altogether…. if the RNC is somehow implicated in criminal activity, the party may find fundraising to be next to impossible (reports are that it’s already proving to be VERY difficult for some state committees to stay solvent). In that case, anything can happen, I think. Who knows, maybe the Hunters and Tancredos of the world will start the American Xenocide Party or something.
cleter @ 226
Would not disqualify him, but if he knowingly omitted that on his health report, that may be grounds for something. I don’t think it will, it truly is appalling to see how quickly Roberts has swung the Court. It is alarming. Wishful thinking, that’s all.
If Roberts has a history of seizures besides the ones the press knows about it isn’t all that surprising that he made the choice to keep it private. At one time in our not so distant past epilepsy or any type of seizure activity was considered something shameful or something to hide. Like menal illness, it was often misunderstood by laymen. If he has been diagnosed and is getting the proper treatment which usually means the episodes are rare, there is no big deal. It would be like being diabetic and occasionally having episodes of hypoglycemia. Let’s not assume this poor man has done something illegal or dishonest until there is some proof, folks.
There is only one acceptable answer from the Dems to the attempts by the GOPers to save their asses: “no”.
Now back to business. Reid needs to find a few volunteers to stick around in DC (since he is too wimpy to do it right and outright cancel the August recess…sheesh, they have recess more than I got to when I was in kindergarten) so that he can declare that the senate will not be in recess afterall. Cut off any and all trickery/fuckery by Bush. No replacements for Gonzo. No replacements for Roberts (if things turn out for the worse for him but for the better for the country).
You cannot trust Bush for one second to go on yet another recess.
If Cheney can be VP with his pig-valve baboon robot heart, I imagine the health bar for other high ranking officials is pretty low. I’m surprised death itself was enough to get Rehnquist off the court.
We think Gonzales should go. What is worrisome for us is his possible replacement.
Sorry, forgot to do the quotes:
July 30, 2007 7:53
What’s Missing in this Column?
Posted by Joe Klein
JK sez:
“I agree with many, but not all, of the conclusions … but you really can’t write a piece about the wa[r] in Iraq and devote only two sentences to the political situation, which is disastrous and, as Petraeus has said, will determine the success or failure of the overall effort.”
http://time-blog.com/swampland…..olumn.html
TexB @ 198
Supremes have complete privacy with regard to their medical conditions and, as was pointed out today, Rehnquist was an addict before being elevated to Chief. So, there’s understandable curiousity about Roberts’ health. It’s not the seizure disorder per se, but there are legitimate (I think) questions about medications he might take to control them and what effect those meds might have on his mental acuity.
Unfortunately, we’ll only know what they want us to know. Which is nothing.
The Dems must not recess. Give up one damn summer vacation for heaven’s sake. Americans that will die while they are on recess are sacrificing summers for eternity.
smapdi @ 106
Oh, don’t say anything negative about booze.
I’d venture to say that this is true today as well. People on this thread and the previous one were quite willing to judge him somehow for having had a seizure.
rwcole @ 192
The stick in the mouth is an old wife’s tale. If someone was having a general tonic clonic seizure, you wouldn’t have time in advance to insert a stick. During the seizure, the rigidity of the mouth would prevent such an insertion. Finally just trying to would likely cause more injury than leaving them alone. More useful activities would be to call 911, monitor the person having the seizure and making sure that they didn’t fall off something or kick into something during the seizure.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 238
You’re looking at the glass half empty, I’m sure Leahy and Scottish Haggis is not gonna allow a political hack to pass through their committee!!! 8-)
behindthefall @ 143
In Georgia anyone living north of Marietta is a Yankee.
ccmask @ 203
A single isolated seizure doesn’t mean much of anything.
pLS @ 243
The Dems must not recess. Give up one damn summer vacation for heaven’s sake. Americans that will die while they are on recess are sacrificing summers for eternity.
I talked to Reid’s office today. There is no plan to keep the Senate open nor to in any other way block recess appointments, according to his staff.
raven @ 243
I read that withdrawal from Val*um addiction can be worse than withdrawal from heroin, and that stopping X*na* too fast if one is taking large doses can kill you.
Edited *** and released by MOD
rwcole @ 220
I believe 22 of the 32 are GOP. And at least six of those are endangered now.
raven @ 246
South Cacalacky might have something to say about that!!! ;-)
Dems need to practice pithy lines. Like:
“We want to negotiate, talk about overall strategy and goals and how to achieve them. All Bush has to do come to us and say ‘let’s talk’ and mean it. But he almost brags about his failure and asks for another blank check to continue his failure. That contradicts the Constitution, the peoples’ wisdom on this, and basic common sense. We are not being partisaon or stubborn or confrontational.”
jayt @ 250
An ambassadorship or two for Wolfy? Scooter for Attorney General?
cleter @ 226
I just read somewhere that it was discussed when he was appointed to a lower court but not brought up during Supreme Court hearings.
Accidentally turned to BillO. He is flaming that hate speech site Daily Kos.
TexB, we mean no disrespect. We’re just hoping we’ve (the whole dam country, not just us) caught a break for once, is all. We wish Justice Roberts a whole lot more good will than he would spare for any of us, IMHO.
TexB @ 244
I don’t get that impression. There have been some “insensitive” posts because of his positions on issues, but it certainly is not his fault for having seizures. I certainly hope no one thinks that.
TexB at 244
Then the same people should be worried about everyone in our government who has a condition that requires medication. Jeeze, I thought this was the 21st century! Maybe someone should call in a minister and have an exorcism while they are at it. George Bush hears voices in his head, that scares me a heck of a lot more than a Supreme with epilepsy.
Frank33 @ 256
And BillO should know hate speech since the Secret Service is supposed to be investigating comments on his site.
Dems definitely not recess. Make a point of showing they have the dedication to work through summer to work on big problems. Don’t need to bother to pooint out contrast with dub’s vacation, or Iraqi puppet leg’s taking summer off.
jayt @ 249
I talked to Reid’s office today. There is no plan to keep the Senate open nor to in any other way block recess appointments, according to his staff.
That makes me sick.
CTuttle @ 246
True, but if it’s a recess appointment, who would it be? Addington?
why you Yankee my Cheney?
Also, as I was talking to Reid’s staff person, I got the distinct impression that he figured that the guy he was talking to basically nuts (umm, that would be me, I guess).
I hope that those at YKos can make clear to Reid (he *is* going to be there, no?) that it is not nuts to do something to avoid an onslaught of recess appointments.
I asked the staffer to write down two names – Attorney General John Yoo and Attorney General David Addington.
Oh my gosh, Michelle Malkin is calling Daily Kos, a “sewer”. I wonder how I can get flamed?
behindthefall @ 180
Windchill?? Do you know how utterly bogus that is?
Ahem. That hair / peachfuzz on your body traps a layer of air of about 1/8″ in still air. Windchill measures how fast that layer gets stripped off. As if you were standing naked outside when it’s cold out. Only people who do that have hearts pumping antifreeze. Or trying to get on TV. More likely, both.
dakine01 @ 260
Do you s’pose he knows about FOX ATTACK?
If the Dems get us in even deeper doo doo because they won’t give up their vacations at this crucial time in history, I am definitely going to vote independent. Screw them. I’ve had enough.
jayt @ 249
I was just forgiving Reid for his bumbling management of everything senatorial.
FutureReid: “who could have foreseen recess appointments?”
Grrrr.
Sorry to be the voice from the past to differ with the “Wives Tale” of sticks in the mouth, but years ago a padded toungue depressor was always taped to the bed of everyone in the hospital with a history of seizures. It is true that more recently the theory is that it does more harm than good. Just to show how long ago it was that I took nurses training.
GSD @ 99
Actually, Jerry Ford, with Don Rumsfeld as SecDef and Cheney as CoS, oversaw the debacle that was the rout of Saigon.
LS @ 269
We get off on trashing Bush. The enemy is congress.
he. What happened to Reid’s cancelling recess plan?
http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007…..t_buy.html
Yes Goopers are defending 22 seats.
One race is rated “toss up” Allard Co.
Two races LEAN gooper Collins Me, Coleman MN,
Five more are LIKELY gooper
Stevens, Sunnunu, Dole, Dominici, Smith
The rest are rated solid gooper..
Dems are likely to win the Allard seat.
Could win one of the “lean” gooper seats
Gettin two of the likely gooper seats would be a major win.
Four looks like a very good night to me.
Would this man be a good replacement for Gonzales?
The beleaguered ranks of career prosecutors got a boost Wednesday (July 18) — the nomination of one of their own as Deputy Attorney General. He is 48-year-old Craig Morford, a low-profile and well-respected prosecutor who is currently the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
In a statement, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales praised Morford for his “proven leadership skills … exemplary character and integrity in this critical position at this time.”
Despite Morford’s reputation, he could face some heat on Capitol Hill. His name appears on a “talking points” memo written by Gonzales’ former counsel, Monica Goodling. The memo lists prosecutors placed into vacant U.S. Attorney positions, which prompted Democrats to claim that it was done to dodge Senate confirmation. But there has never been any allegation that Morford himself was involved in the controversy.
Michelle Malkin is a sewer.
Marretta @ 271
I believe you just made my point. It is not current medical practice. The reason it isn’t is because it fundamentally misunderstands what a seizure is and what you can do about it. I suppose I should add that in the post-ictal phase you might want to use a tongue depressor to assess damage done in the mouth during the seizure.
Bill O was supposed to expose and destroy DKos today. How’d he do?
rwcole @ 274
I’ll settle for anything that takes the power out of Holy Joe’s hands.
Loo Hoo. @ 201
Yeah! Especially if it means Firepups can listen in without getting all embarrassed and everything.
Bob in HI
Hugh @ 248
And Roberts clearly thinks so, as he characterized his health as Excellent when filling out the form required by the Senate for his Court of Appeals confirmation.
It is somewhat disquieting when one considers that that Congress persons make about $160,000 a year (not counting perks) for a three to four day work week. And then take a whole month off.
Frank33 @ 255
He promised his viewers “big news” about DK today.
Shh,don’t tell bill,but DKos is still there…
What a buffoon. A spectacle. A one man bloviating orchestra.
FOX: “The You Kids Get Off My Lawn!” Network.
rwcole @ 275
Yeah, all those solid Grand Obstructionist Party seats are as strong as Allen was in VA.
Toothless Mitch has a JAR only 1 or 2 points higher than his disapproval.
Box Turtle is in the same position.
There are a LOT of supposed safe seats that aren’t so safe.
LS @ 268
Any recess appointments this August are entirely Harry Reid’s fault. Entirely. And I intend to raise this issue at the Leadership Forum on Saturday morning in Chicago.
Just to be clear, medical practice from 20 years ago isn’t an old wives tale, it is what you said in 277, not current medical practice. As a medical professional I get a bit snotty when something I did years ago and considered appropriate medical care at the time is dismissed as a wives tale, witchcraft, or superstition. Shades of Leonard McCoy dissing 20th century medicine from his vantage point of the future. Just for the record, I think some standard medical practice today skates a bit close to those descriptions, but the poor souls who are stuck with it are doing the best they can with the knowledge they have and the standards set by their profession.
g’evening all – what’s up? orally on a rant again with his stump mistress? DKOS still in his line of sight …. of course there’s NO other news….
TeddySanFran @ 288
Thank you!!
TeddySanFran says
July 30th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Any recess appointments this August are entirely Harry Reid’s fault. Entirely. And I intend to raise this issue at the Leadership Forum on Saturday morning in Chicago.
Thanks, TSF. Tell Harry I said hello.
Or something.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 284
And, in RGJoe’s case, have a net worth of about ten million dollars after spending his entire life in public service.
TeddySanFran @ 242
The questions that you suggest are inappropriate, since the effect may not be detectable/noticeable. Seizures and any long lasting “illness” can be treated (controlled) by several different medications. If there are adverse effects on “mental acuity” or any other adverse effects these can be reduced or even eliminated. First approach is to adjust the dosage. Next, utilize a different medication. Ultimately, for all practical purposes the adverse effects may be eliminated. However, there may be “adverse” effects that are not listed by the pharmacist or noted by any internet search. For example,the patient’s memory may be effected such that there may be a delay in recall or limited in certain topics. This is also common in almost anyone – not immediately remembering names of people that you have known a long time but have not seen for several years. Here is another adverse effect that can not be determined by the neurologist and is not listed by the pharmicist – irritability. The irritabilty may be a result of inadequate sleep caused by use of the medication rather than the medication per se.
Bottom Line – Roberts has to live with it, and so do we.
FYI, new post upstairs
dakine01 @ 284
Oh they will be very safe if the crooked Republican voting machines are used.
=======================
Bishop’s team was able to forge voter cards and manipulate counts from voting terminals and even the reports from servers which aggregate results. They found terminals and servers where they could overwrite firmware, run malicious code and even undo screws on protective locks to gain access to the innards of voting machines.
“Many of the components tested appear to have been hardened by taking their basic design and adding security features,” Bishop reported. “As a result, the testers were able to exploit inconsistencies between the protective mechanisms and that which they were intended to protect.”
The systems tested were supplied by Sequoia, Diebold and Hart InterCivic.
Fresh thready goodness!
Marretta @ 289
Well, it isn’t current medical practice but there isn’t any physiologic or medical justification for it, and that for me qualifies as an old wives tale.
marymccurnin @ 133
Mary, My alcoa bonnet is suggesting they are going to cut bait pronto on those who cannot be saved – or those not worth major expenditure of political capital. All in the interests of having a clean slate to bring corruption charges against Dems come election season (as permitted by the *new* DOJ rules}.
Who could fairly criticize them for that, if they had already demonstrated their integrity by prosecuting their own malefactors?
My bonnet does not necessarily speak for me.
Hugh at 298,
Hey, good luck with using that term for outmoded medical practice in a roomful of old doctors or nurses, babe. Hope it works out for you. And to define old, I’m 49.
Stone knives and bearskins, indeed. *grin*
I would pit our enormous anti-war fringe against their miniscule chickenhawk fringe any day of the week!
Phoenix Women & Oklahoma dude…
Nice comeback with the chickenhawk label… Typical liberal blather. I’m 45 and probably too old to enlist, but unlike you, I’m extremely proud of our military and I don’t spend my day dragging down their morale like the folks at this site. I honor them and I’d be honored if my son chooses to go into the military.
My reference to neocons was simply a metaphor for some of the strong conservative military leaders who I choose to believe over the childish, nagging liberals who don’t have any answers to this problem.
I’m sure I’ll be blocked shortly but I’d debate you any day of the week pal. I don’t liberals want a debate though, (see support of fairness doctrine)
Also glad to see a post so soon pounding on Justice Roberts… Oh I forgot, liberals are the compassionate ones.
Phoenix Woman @ 77
GSD @ 99
GSD you are a typical product of our worthless liberal education system, learn your history. Yes, Nixon was president but then impeached before we completely cut off aid. Ford was president. Because of being impowered by the watergate scandal, the LIBERAL/DEMOCRAT controlled congress completely cut of ALL aid to Viet Nam, leaving them to fend for themselves from those nice, friendly Communists so admired at the time by John Kerry, Jane Fonda et all.
Regarding Darfur and Somalia, I’m open to debate about that.. I don’t have any problem helping them out but not with worthless U.N. peacekeepers, we would need our stellar miltiary for the job. I never said we can solve all problems. We should mainly be in strategic areas that are more critical to our national interest… like say the middle east???
When Liberals refer to NeoCon,,, they really mean “Jew lovers”.
Bring your A-Game next time
Good job, Phoenix! I’ve become partial to the old comic book character, “Plastic Man”, myself, when it comes to talking about repub shape-shifting. :o)
Big Ken,
Ford, a Republican, signed the Foreign Assistance Act of 1974, and it had bipartisan support, since Vietnam was politically toxic to election chances of both parties. Ford didn’t veto it, he signed it. I think the act continued aid for one yar, so the South Vietnamese were still receiving military aid, and there will still thousands of US military advisors on the ground. I think it was a big immeidate cut in economic aid (not elmination). Military personnel and aid were still going, and would continue until sometime in 1976, but the ARVN collapsed during spring 1975. Nothing I’ve read indicates that lack of money or supplies lead that collapse. They bungled what was supposed to be tactical retreat and fell apart.
So, you need to back up your version, cause it is not the one I have read in any reputable source.
BigKen, I bet you don’t get blocked. This aint Late German Fucktards.
“…I honor them…”
Then why are you supporting george bush using them to referee the bloody civil war he’s created, and using them to try to cover his and the GOP’s asses until he can get out of town and dump the flaming bag of shit in someone else’s lap?
Big Ken: The Act had bipartisan support because the Vietnamese war was political poison for either party to support. Ford, a Republican, signed it. If he thought it was so bad he should have vetoed it. The South Vietnamse army had thousands of US military advisors still on the ground, and still were receiving both economic and military aid when they collapsed, since the aid via previoius fudning mechanism was not going to be cut off unitl sometime in 1976. The Act did not prohibit all and any military aid to South Vietnam. The South Vietnamese army collapsed on their own two months after the Act was signed.
If you know a different secret history, you should cite your sources.
Not that anybody is going to read this far — the parent article makes something clear that had baffled me.
When Reid first said that they were putting the defense appropriations bill aside until September, we witnessed the danger of talking-pointus-interruptus. Many pundits had said, without a shred of evidence, that the GOP were just about to ask for the troops to come home, but the Majority Leader made that impossible.
So — it is clear that all of these pundits had a copy of the game plan, and had their articles praising these brave Republicans all ready to go — and Reid cut ‘em off at the pass. And so we were left with some extremely odd articles from the right wing nuts.
I have to say, my respect for Mr Reid has gone up quite a bit. Nice move.
dakine01 @ 233
Which are vulnerable? I’d guess McCain and Deconcini are now among them. Vitter could be. Heh. But, I’m not sure which are up for re-election. Anybody have a list or link for them?
Folks, Personal attacks or violent overtones will cause you to lose commenting privileges.
Thanks
MODzilla
Which senators may be vulnerable will depend a lot upon the Dem facing them. I hope we’ve got plenty of Progressive Dems out there.
BTW, anybody know about the Dem running against Shelley Moore Capito in the WV 2nd Cong. Dist. I saw him on a talk show yesterday night. He’s named John Unger (I think). Is he somebody we should support?
MarkH @ 309
Alaska Ted Stevens
Alabama Jeff Sessions
Colorado OPEN (Wayne Allard retiring)
Maine Susan Collins
Minnesota Norm Coleman
New Hampshire John Sununu
Oregon Gordon Smith
Georgia Saxby Chambliss
Idaho Larry Craig
Kansas Pat Roberts
Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Mississippi Thad Cochran
Nebraska Chuck Hagel
New Mexico Pete Domenici
North Carolina Elizabeth Dole
Oklahoma Jim Inhofe
South Carolina Lindsey Graham
Tennessee Lamar Alexander
Texas John Cornyn
Virginia John Warner
Wyoming John Barrasso (special election)
Wyoming Michael Enzi
Arkansas Mark Pryor
Delaware Joe Biden
Iowa Tom Harkin
Illinois Dick Durbin
Louisiana Mary Landrieu
Massachusetts John Kerry
Michigan Carl Levin
Montana Max Baucus
New Jersey Frank Lautenberg
Rhode Island Jack Reed
West Virginia Jay Rockefeller
South Dakota Tim Johnson
dakine01 @ 312
Meant Domenici instead of Deconcini. How did I get that name twisting?
Looks vulnerable…especially as of last night.
Obviously a seat to contest.
hard to read this seat — depends on opponent
Very likely a Dem could win there.
Not positive, but if absence of electronic voting machines happens, then there’s a chance.
Is his fate sealed because of USA Iglesias?
If Edwards is the nominee, there might be a chance.
Isn’t he retiring?
With Cheney’s endorsement both seats could go Dem.
First race after Katrina will be uncertain.
Last NJ race was tight, so this could be too.
Can Johnson even run a race?
Total: 8 R seats in danger, 3 D seats
Unpredictable factor: Big Dem sweep for president would affect Congressional races too.
MarkH,
Sununu is way behind in the polls right now, especially if paired against Jeanne Shaheen whom he beat (with some corruption help) last time.
McConnell is extremely vulnerable and likely to have a reverse Dacshle pulled against him. smith and Craig are also vulnerable for different reasons as is Cornyn.
sounds like Republicans are embracing that evil “micro-managing” thingy they hate so much to me. Unless the mission is “limited” to getting the hell out , it’s a waste of time.