The accusation that Gonzales has been deceptive in his public remarks has erupted this summer into a full-blown political crisis for the Bush administration, as the beleaguered attorney general struggles repeatedly to explain to Congress the removal of a batch of U.S. attorneys, the wiretapping program and other actions. . . .
Yet controversy over Gonzales’s candor about George W. Bush’s conduct or policies has actually dogged him for more than a decade, since he worked for Bush in Texas….
Over the past 2 1/2 years, lawmakers have accused Gonzales of dissembling on many topics, including civil liberties abuses under the USA Patriot Act and his role in reviewing aggressive interrogation tactics. . . .
“He’s a slippery fellow, and I think so intentionally,” said Richard L. Schott, a professor at the University of Texas’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. “He’s trying to keep the president’s secrets and to be a team player, even if it means prevaricating or forgetting convenient things.”
“This almost subconscious bond of loyalty’ between the attorney general and the president ‘may be driving a lot of this,” said Schott, who has studied relations between the executive and legislative branches of government and the role of psychology in political behavior. “It’s obvious that Gonzales owes Bush his career. Part of his behavior comes from this gratitude and extreme loyalty to Bush.” (emphasis mine)
Is it me or wouldn’t it have been great for all these Republican folks with “insider” knowledge to step forward, say, back in 1999 to say these two were big, fat liars who were willing to do whatever it took to cover each others’ asses, including drag the nation through one big, freaking scandal after another while utterly disrespecting the rule of law and the Constitution? You know, saved the rest of the nation the irritation and all by actually exhibiting some personal character and honesty.
Or hey, what if journalists had also dug into this information and really reported it. I mean REALLY reported it, digging out every little nasty bit and piece for the public’s interest and aired it all out fully instead of talking, ad nauseum about why Al Gore chose an earth toned suit on Tuesday last.
Um…yeah. Guess it was too much to ask.
(Photo by Jason Reed/Reuters via Newsweek/MSNBC.)
Related posts:
- Fredo Talks! Gonzales Advocates for an Independent AG
- Early Morning Swim: Rachel Breaks Story about Obama Extending Benefits to Same Sex Partners
- Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Brags That Bush DOJ Wasn’t Corrupt Enough For Him
- Fredo Redo: AGAG Doesn’t Recall What He Said Monday
- Gonzales and Bush Haven’t Spoken
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Almost first.
Good morning Christy!
Birthday Greetings to Egregious (EPU from below)
IMHO, Gonzales will resign and a replacement will be appointed during the recess, i.e., during August. But, Gonzales and his minions still have this to look forward to.
g’mornin christy!
a comment and then off to work for me;
huh?
subconcious?
errr…no, he knows what he’s doing, he’s dleliberately covering up for the president with brazen disregard for our law
this is nothing close to sub concious
Morning all. Thank goodness for coffee this morning. I need to get my rear end in gear to finish packing today, or I am in big trouble.
I was thinking about this guy. In a way it’s sad. Pathetic even. They wouldn’t have let me within miles of Harvard Law and yet this guy’s a graduate and is content to settle into a career as (one of) Bush’s stooges. He could have been much more. But I can’t see any alternative to beginning impeachment proceedings against him.
Off topic…. Anybody read the Michael O’Hanlon Kenneth Pollack piece in the NYT? Thoughts? That, yes mistakes were made, but troop morale is through the roof now (I thought we lefties were damaging it by calling for a withdrawl. Never mind) and things are going well enough that we have to stay there through 2008. Anyone know these fellows are other than Brookings fellows?
egregious @ 2
Happy Birthday Happy Birthday
Happy Happy Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday Happy Birthday
Happy Happy Happy Birthday
HAAA-ppy Birthday
HAAA-ppy Birthday
HAAA-ppy Birthday
To You!
ditto here. Remember to pack a power strip – a bathroom outlet doesn’t do much to recharge a computer, phone, camera, AND get your hair dry.
It’s O’Hanlon not O’Nanlon and any other typos I just don’t care about. Please don’t make fun of my typos or I’ll go to Malkin’s site to feel at home.
wigwam @ 4
in my opinion the only chance abu torture resigns is if the president can guarantee one of his minions as a replacement
if leahey makes sure there is no official recess in congress then abu stays
if leahey allows a recess then abu goes with recess appointment immediately
unless of course they think liarman will take the position because it is likely he will sail through the confirmation
now, what about rudy?
will a fill in post as ag help his campaign or will it hinder his election trail?
if it will help his campaing expect him nominated for ag as well
that will be good for quite a few votes if he can make it work with his schedule
Christy Hardin Smith @ 6
Hope you get to see Millennium Park.
by the way, I dropped my laptop and didn’t back up my favorites
there was a news feed called “memorandum” or something like that, I can’t find it
does someone have the link?
Why would our Congress allow recess appointments when they know what damage they will do? It’s just stupid and will reflect on Congress’ poll numbers. Bush will seem far more clever.
Beerfart — Glenn did a fantastic dissection of that article and the background of its authors yesterday. It’s a great read and gives you a lot of background.
The rise of corporate influenced mass media and the reduction of union strength have led to an upsurge of press release journalism and the decline of investigative reporting. In other words reporters are scared about losing their jobs in a declining job market.
Enter the internet where investigative reporting can be done without fear of retribution (as of yet).
beerfart liberal @ 7
I’ve read that O’Hanlon is a good friend of David Petraeus. In any case, yesterday, Glenn Greenwald kicked O’Hanlon’s ass til his nose bled: http://www.salon.com/src/pass/…..index.html
And here’s what the Wikipedia has to say (among other things) of coauthor, Kenneth Pollack:
Christy Hardin Smith @ 6
hope you have a great trip, christy…. and all the firepups who are going.
I think the MSM is too busy convincing itself that, “prevaricating,” is a better word for Gonzales than, “Lies like a rug!”
But your point is the point; the media had a responsibility and shrugged it in favor of reporting on ex-mousketteer fashion. It is deplorable, but somehow it came into being. I would like to blame it all on Reagan’s deregulation and/or Rupert Murdoch, but there’s probably something deeper there. I wonder what it is because it would be nice to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
perris @ 11
I doubt Leahy will cancel recess, and I think that the replacement will be either Ted Olsen or Fred Fielding.
The media was too focussed on how “Gore lied” by saying he “invented the internet” when all he really did was recognize the beyond military potential of the arpanet and lead the charge for it’s funding.
No time left to look into the criminal and sociopathic tendencies of his opponent.
Looks to be a hot and humid weekend in Chi
snowbird42 @ 14
I will view a recess as blatant disregard of the crisis we are in by all of Congress. All of them!
mack @ 21
The media have lots of reporters with way too much time on their hands reporting about Oscar, the death cat, and such. It was not a lack of time that prevented investigative coverage of Bush’s background. No way in hell.
Is it me or wouldn’t it have been great for all these Republican folks with “insider” knowledge to step forward, say, back in 1999 to say these two were big, fat liars who were willing to do whatever it took to cover each others’ asses, including drag the nation through one big, freaking scandal after another while utterly disrespecting the rule of law and the Constitution?
Or hey, what if journalists had also dug into this information and really reported it…
Ooooh, the Double Reverse Rhetorical with a Twist!!
Remember, don’t try this at home – Christy is a trained professional.
jayt @ 25
Spew!!!
Recess replacement of Abu is no cure-all for Bush.
He looks like he is trying to hide something now, and ducking confirmation hearings for an AG would reinforce that impression.
He’ll do a cost-benefit analysis–putting in a new firewall at the political cost of confirming that he has something to hide v. keeping Abu in place and watching that situation melt down over time.
Plus, he is going to be losing GOP senate support in Iraq in September. Whatever Petraeus says, the public is done with Iraq.
JohnSwifty at 19 — Yeah, I debate the cause and effect on that a lot as I read through various pieces. For some, I think laziness may be the explanation. But that doesn’t work as an excuse for a lot of the folks who know better…so I am left still trying to figure it out. There is a malicious delight sort of quality — the “Heathers” attitude that Digby points to for some folks — that is appalling from people who are styling themselves as professionals. But that doesn’t cover the whole of it either. Dan Froomkin and Jay Rosen have done some great media critique at Neiman and PressThink (respectively) but they, too, struggle with some of the causation analysis pretty frequently.
It is certainly worth asking the questions. I just wish more media types were asking them instead of those of us on the outside.
Good Morning.
Happy Birthday to egregious.
Impeach the bastards.
Anyone know if CSpan will be covering Yearly Kos this year? Christy, hope you have a great time. Sitting at work jonesing for a cup of coffee, alas no beans left to brew this morning
The vast majority of the MSM will never do serious investigative reporting on the collusion and crimes of the Bush entourage. They have to much to lose by rocking the boat. They are perfectly content to maintain the status quo.
If Gonzo does resign while Congress is in recess it gives Bush the perfect opportunity to appoint Ted Olson as AG as a recess appointment. If that happens we have no one to blame but Reid and Pelosi.
Today’s headlines from my local news affiliate:
The sun will be hot today. There was a house fire yesterday. A couple of black men tried to rob a convenience store last night. There was a car chase in Texas yesterday and our kids are getting fatter. Stay tuned for more, after these commercial messages.
If you haven’t seen it, ‘Dangers of a
Cornered George Bush’ by Coleen Rowley on
Huffington Post is worth the read.
Christy! delicious.
Happy Birthday Egregious!
Good Morning firepups!
and albert fall, I don’t think a BushCo cost-benefit analysis would have any meaning we human types could appreciate.
Diane at 30 — Oh good heavens, that sounds like torture. No coffee? Aiiiyeeee! Hope we have a good time, too — am sure we will. I’ll try to have a little fun on your behalf. :)
Christy Hardin Smith @ 27
Yes, a hearty wish. I do see the recent stonewalling of Murdoch’s attempts at the WSJ to be promising in a weird way. Weird that it would take a bastion of market driven conservatism to say, “Stop, here and no further .” Potentially promising, anyway; but, much damage has been done. If the recent backlash against Faux News gains momentum such that the MSM is forced to make acknowledgment of that organization as nothing more than an opinion network; well then I’d be optimistic that some worm, somewhere, was in the midst of turning.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 28
I don’t buy the Heathers theory. These folks are professional wordsmiths. They don’t have to dislike their victims. Tell them whom to bury and they’ll assassinate them and collect their fee in whatever coin, be it cocktail weenies, access, promotions, or a slap on the back from the right people.
Probably Ruth Marcus has a point,but I hate that Gonzo stays because of his sliminess.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..inionsbox1
David W. Bartoo @ 33
His mind is gone. He has nothing left to lose. That is scary.
beerfart liberal @ 10
I hang out there two for the same reeson.
egregious has a birthday? Again? She had one last year!
Scarecrow @ 39
I hang out their to for the same REASON. GEt it wright!
Scarecrow @ 41
Happy birthday to you today too, Scarecrow :) More cake?
wigwam at 37 — I wasn’t a big Heathers fan either until I spent a week inside the media establishment as an observer during the Libby trial. It doesn’t apply to them all — not by a long shot — but there are some for whom junior high clique behavior has never, truly, absented itself. SIGH
Molly Ivins did. Texans knew these two, what kind of men they were. Newspapers ran the story of the great gobs of campaign money. Go back and look at Molly’s books and columns. Gonzales was the one who briefed Bush on applications for clemency just before an execution. It was Bush’s habit to keep the condemned waiting up to the last hour before he announced his usual refusal. I believed then that they both enjoyed the process so I’m not surprised now to learn that Gonzales pressured the USA’s to bring federal death penalty charges even when the evidence wasn’t there. The two of them are like spree killers.
What options are the Democrats willing to do if they can’t get the votes to impeach Gonzo?
Christy Hardin Smith @ 43
The conspiratorial aspects of my nature lead me to fear the Fraternity clique behavior — particularly of the Skull and Bones variety. I was thinking after yesterday morning’s discussion of Mr. Edwards, that I don’t really care who the Democratic ticket is, as long as there isn’t any ties to a Yale fraternity. Just to be on the safe side, you know?
I was under the impression Senator Reid was going to keep “someone” at the Senate to prevent recess appointments. Anyone else remember this plan from several months ago?
raven @ 12
Have a great trip, CHS. So looking forward to all the reports from Chicago coming our way. If you have time, the wonderful walking tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes & studio in Oak Park & elsewhere are close to downtown & well worth the effort:
Frank Lloyd Wright Tours
Republic insiders are stepping forward now only because their plunder gathering has nearly ended since they lost control of Congress. Bush, the useful idiot, is a lot less useful these days.
In George’s world the rest of us exist for him to toy with. Those who have enabled his behavior are simply pathetic little people.
I hope the Dems will rise to the occassion but
suspect that, in truth the two parties are joined at the hip AND at the lip.
egregious @ 43
Scarecrows do not have birthdays; but every year they get restuffed.
mrobinsong @ 45
Yes,and Jim Hightower was all over this mess too. But they were,to the media establishment,outsiders and riff raff. Like the rest of us.
Morning Christy – so with you all in Chicago on Thursday morning at the Libby forum, are there any plans to live blog the Rove hearing? You know, the one where he’s gonna show up and tell the unvarnished, absolute truth?
Scarecrow @ 52
Well, stuff your self with chocolate cake today!
early and often.
Scarecrow @ 51
is today your restuffing day?!
I had the same thought as mrrobinsong. More people should have read “Shrub” & articles by Molly & other Texans like Lou Dubose & Jim Hightower who observed bush & his mob up close long ago.
Happy Restuffing there Scarecrow.
selise — my head is about as stuffed with straw as it gets anymore.
snowbird42 @ 38
I strongly agree with Ruth Marcus:
I’ve long been convinced that there was another much more sinister-communications surveillance program involved. People start to get at it when they talk about “datamining.” The question to ask is: “Mining exactly what data?” And, the answer is: “Every call in North American and possibly the world.”
That’s right. I believe that every call that anyone makes is being recorded and archived in perpetuity for subsequent datamining and possible further investigation. Why do I believe that? Because that’s what I would do if data surveillance was my job, and I could compartmentalize my civil-liberties paranoia (which I can’t).
Helen @ 54
Rove may actually show up just because he knows with Christy in Chicago on a panel, he’s safe.
Clearly, Scarecrow, it is the right stuff!
Thank you all for some chuckles and the times I’ve beeen on the floor laughing my ass off!
From The Hill via HuffPo: Specter: Administration has 18 hours to clarify Gonzales testimony on wiretapping
Addendum: Marcy has something to say about the above in her most recent TNH post: http://thenexthurrah.typepad.c…..aggis.html
A very happy birthday to you, egregious. and a happy restuffing day to you Scarecrow.
Does everyone know that Conyers gave a very nice tip of the fedora to Marcy in last week’s report on the Meirs/Bolten contempt citations?
He has some really great staffers. Nice work!
it also would have been nice had those in the justice department witnessing the perversion of the department spoken out, resigned, informed congress of the grave threat posed by the administration to its mission as it was happening. instead of waiting years that allowed the corruption to embed itself into the department.
ho hum.
TiredFed @ 63
no…. please tell more!
Way to hang in there Scarecrow! Scarecrow
Scarecrow @ 61
We are the A team of multitaskers. Beware.
Happy B-days to Scarecrow and E.Greg.Ious!
Christy asked “Or hey, what if journalists had also dug into this information and really reported it. I mean REALLY reported it, digging out every little nasty bit and piece for the public’s interest and aired it all out fully instead of talking, ad nauseum about why Al Gore chose an earth toned suit on Tuesday last.”
If I meet a ‘journalist’ in Chicago, I might just ask that very question. But my guess is they won’t have a good answer, but the real answer it that question does not fit with their corporate master’s agenda.
Harummph!!!!!
Alberto Gonzales and Bush partners in crime for a very long time.
CHS “Or hey, what if journalists had also dug into this information and realy reported it. I mean REALLY reported it, digging out every little nasty bit and piece for the public’s interest and aired it all out fully instead of talking, ad nauseum about why Al Gore chose an earth toned suit on Tuesday last.”
Until the MSM gets it that a majority of the American public are sick and tired of their focus on the color of peoples clothes, ANSmith, PHilton and Lohan stories. Until they start asking the tough questions about the unsubstantiated claims about Iran that have been repeated the last four years, until they challenge the status quo, hundreds of thousands…millions of people will find their way to FIREDOGLAKE, TPMUCKRAKER, DAILYKOS, and other blogs and internet sites that are willing to touch on critical issues.
You go Christy and Firedoglake gals and guys. We are hungry for real news and real dialogue.
“It’s obvious that Gonzales owes Bush his career. Part of his behavior comes from this gratitude and extreme loyalty to Bush.” On the other hand, it’s clear to me Jorge owes his career (sic) to Gonzales. Birds of a feather….
I wonder, in all seriousness, why Bush didn’t scream Executive Privilege and keep Al from testifying? It wouldn’t have been on any thinner ice than what he claimed for Harriett, would it?
The entire government is a corrupt bloat bureaucracy. The laws are so byzantine and protect these thugs in there who are stealing.
It’s nothing but a greed machine on steroids.
We spend billions on a military and not on the people right here.
We have lost our right of free speech, NYC wants people to get a permit to use a tripod if taking photos.
The system probably can’t fix itself… despite the best efforts of some in congress.. the corrupted have too much power.
America despite some wonderful people is a really a sorry collection of greedy idiots.
It’s getting worse not better.
Christy said:
It is certainly worth asking the questions. I just wish more media types were asking them instead of those of us on the outside.
Were it not for you “outsiders” I’d still be nearly as stooooopid as those who get their opinions from faux noise AND the so-called “liberal” MSM. All I can say is, “Thank Dog for progressive blogs!”
ironranger @ 56
James Moore is another excellent read on the Texas “formative years”
OT – Mike Viqueira on MSNBC reporting that the Gonzo impeachment investigation request in the House is “not being rejected out-of hand by the Speaker’s Office”…
That’s so – well, inspirational is not exactly the word I’m looking for here…
Doesn’t suck?
Forgot to say “The Next Hurrah”. Still asking Diane Rehm to have Marcy on her program to discuss her book “Anatomy of Deceit”. Have also asked her to have the Firedoglake team on her show.
Anyone else want to ask? They will bring her on if enough people ask. It is so easy and worth the group effort
http://wamu.org/programs/dr/contact_us.php
Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 63
Oooohhh! Nice catch Stephen! I can hardy wait now for lunchtime.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/120906.html
When Americans ask me what happened to the vaunted U.S. press corps over the past three decades – in the decline from its heyday of the Watergate scandal and the Pentagon Papers to its failure to challenge the Iraq WMD lies or to hold George W. Bush accountable – I often recall for them the story of Gary Webb
egregious @ 68
What time is this panel and where?
Jim Clausen @ 76
BTW Moore was on CountDown last night.
CNN reporting Northwest Airlines cancelling 500-700 flights. If you are taking NW to kos, need to check on your flight plans asap.
We must flood Leahy’s [Mod: Reid’s] office with calls, faxes and e-mails that Congress must not officially
recess for August, because of the impending recess appointment of Fielding or Olsen, when Gonzo saves Bush’s a** by resigning. Without pressure on Leahy, I feel that he will be happy to let Gonzo go,so that he and Congress don’t have to face an impeachment. As much as I like Leahy, I think he would be happy to just let all of this fizzle out, instead of facing Bush in a head-on collission.
selise @ 66
Conyers cited Marcy and The Next Hurrah as a source in one of the footnotes. My dogeared copy is at home and I’m trying to find a link online but not having much success. And of course, it is one of the best summaries of the U.S. Attorney scandal to date. I believe Linda Sanchez had it produced as a background report for the purpose of informing the committee members in preparation for the contempt votes last week.
Found it
Schedule for Yearly Kos
http://www.yearlykosconvention.org/schedule
carol lam @ 80
Greetings Carol. Are you THE Carol Lam of Duke Cunningham fame?
We can see the MSM at work obsessing over Senator Clinton’s cleavage and mostly ignoring Mrs. Fred Thompson’s almost nude boobs in a widely publicized photo. And HuffPost has a picture of Rudy’s princess on her wedding day with more than a little cleavage on view. Madness.
Sorry, I meant Reid’s office.
Where are the Democratic think tankers screaming for Gonzo’s impeachment? Before Libby’s commutation, there was oped after oped screaming for a pardon by obscure Repug Neocon crazies. Why can’t the Dems saturate the media in the same way? Why aren’t more people calling him a “liar” instead of a “mispeaker”?
I’m sick of the focus being on this single incident of him lying when he’s clearly lied many times in his testimony under oath. AND, there are other crimes he has committed, for example, disobeying Supreme Court directives about Guantanamo and torture. AND he’s not complying with subpoenas. Come on! This guy is a criminal!
Robert Fisher @ 84
It’s not Leahy, it’s Reid. Leahy is chair of Senate Judiciary Committee; Harry Reid is Senate Majority Leader.
Robert Fisher @ 84
We must flood Leahy’s office with calls, faxes and e-mails that Congress must not officially
recess for August, because of the impending recess appointment of Fielding or Olsen, when Gonzo saves Bush’s a** by resigning. Without pressure on Leahy, I feel that he will be happy to let Gonzo go,so that he and Congress don’t have to face an impeachment. As much as I like Leahy, I think he would be happy to just let all of this fizzle out, instead of facing Bush in a head-on collission.
Might I suggest that the flooding of calls be directed to Harry Reid’s office?
This is a good time to remind folks that you are not allowed to use someone else’s name as your nickname in the comments. Funny nicknames? Sure. Impersonating a real person? Not so much. You get one name here — no sockpuppeting, no impersonations. Capice?
Robert Fisher @ 84 – I believe it would be Senator Reid who should be contacted. As I mentioned earlier, I recall Senator Reid promising to keep the Senate in session to prevent recess appointments.
Chairman Leahy needs to tell ex-Chairman Specter to chill out.
GeorgeSimian @ 90
IMHO, we should drop the focus on perjury and go after conspiracy to violate constitutional rights: http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..62234/0510
Dianne @ 94
I recall hearing that as well. Memory,
in this country, is a funny thing though . . .
Joint Chief of Staff Nominees
Senator Levin up
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs…..p;Code=CS3
The press corps slept in 1999 and 2000. But that excerpt includes no examples of Gonzales lying or dissembling before 1999.
Indeed, despite the highlighted paragraph, there doesn’t seem to be any example of that in the whole Post article. No, not even at the end. More bad work by the Post.
Kathleen @ 98
thanks for the heads up
bob at 99 — Gee, and you sound so surprised and all that they didn’t bother to include examples. *G*
wigwam @ 20
Hey the Iraqi folks in a war are going on vacation…those who started the war feel they deserve the same. Those suffering the consequences of this fucking unnecessary war, the tens of thousands leaving, injured and the million dead just do not count. Collateral damage….
egregious @ 43
Happy birthday, Scarecrow and egregious. Mine was yesterday.
bob somerby @ 99
The press corp did anything but sleep during 1999 and 2000. They were very busy assassinating Al Gore. If you doubt that, check out Bob Somerby’s incomparable archives at the DailyHowler.com. ;-)
The media cleavage obsession is beyond pathetic. Harwood says Hilary’s v-neck was “calculated”. How old are these people, twelve? I’m sure bush’s flight suit ‘package’ & the way he walks isn’t one bit calculated. Actually, I think he looks like he is walking around with a loaded diaper.
bob somerby @ 99
My gosh, the Howler is here.
Hey Bob, any truth to the rumor the WAPO is going to open a news bureau in D.C.?
TiredFed @ 85
ha. found it! over at Marcy’s place, of course. TNH link to HJC Report
Christy Hardin Smith @ 93
This is a good time to remind folks that you are not allowed to use someone else’s name as your nickname in the comments. Funny nicknames? Sure. Impersonating a real person? Not so much. You get one name here — no sockpuppeting, no impersonations. Capice?
Darn. And here I was thinking of starting an Oscar The Death Kitty fan club.
Hope he doesn’t take this too badly.
The confidence in congress is at 23%. If the Republicans, Democrats and Independents do not get it…that the majority of the American public are tired of this tapdancing, this watching your own back, this relentless push by the neo-cons for more war, war, war the and the acceptance of this by congress.
If we do not see a push for Pelosi in 2007
…the Cindy Sheehans in the U.S. might turn over their apple cart.
For those of a mind to delve into the “legal” underpinnings (and meanderings) of Recess Appointments (did you know that a recess appointment could occur during the weekend just because the Senate ain’t in session?), check this PDF out:
Recess Appointments: A Legal Overview
wigwam @ 96
Why pick one? He should be impeached for all of his crimes.
If you’re worried about the public not understanding all of it, the message should be simple: The Attorney General committed multiple crimes and needs to be impeached.
Don’t go into the details. Nobody wants to know anyway. Anyone watching him testify can see he’s a liar.
Lindy @ 103
Happy Birthday to all of you
Christy Hardin Smith @ 93
You mean that wasn’t the real Patrick J. Fitzgerald
TiredFed @ 106 – thank you!
Kathleen @ 102
Gosh Golly, Gee Whiz. Just when I thought the Iraqi ‘Congress’ was beginning to emulate our American DEMOCRACY, you say something like that. Ah, shucks ., . .
I’ve seen the question asked here but not answered:
Does anyone know if C-Span is going to tape and show any of the Kos activities?
Happy Birthday to all the Birthday People this fine day. Travel safely you all! I am shipping a bale of fine Austin, Texas hay to Scarecrow as a token of my esteem for the fine posts of late, not to short any other front pager, you all rock!
I think we are all eagerly awaiting the “loveblogging” to commence in Chicago. Be safe & have fun. Oh, be sure to do something that will drive the hatemongers on the Right (even more) insane. Actually, any gathering of three or more “Liberals” is probably more than sufficient to achieve that end.
Does anyone have the sense that Specter has worked out a deal with the WH to make the DOJ scandal go away? Last week it was pointed out that Specter broached political etiquette on Air Force 1 by criticizing Gonzo. IMO this could have been to provide political cover for a deal that was being worked out with the WH and Specter.
selise @ 114
any time, hon. many prominent blogs are cited in the House committee report, right alongside citations of law, DOJ docs, etc. Marcy is on page 33, #223 (and it’s a doozy, too). y’all have probably picked over this stuff. I was away visiting sick relatives for a few days. The report is truly a great summary of the scandal, backed by DOJ docs, testimony, Marcy, etc. Worth a read (with a highlighter).
btw, happy belated birthday Lindy.
Hi Everybody,
I nearly signed up for the virtual YKOS and chickened out. I have no experience with the virtual world and couldn’t wrap my mind around it.
Any advice?
Kathleen @ 109
Yes, the applecart.
nonplussed
Our devious plan is to stun them with our beauty and charm.
Mack at 113 — Nope — which is why that nickname on this blog was changed. :)
snowbird42 @ 14
Oh, they WILL allow them to continue. You will see this in the fact that they WILL still go on their little Aug recess without a care in the world. If Bushie pulls a fast one and very quickly recess-appoints another cronie to the AG spot, then you will see our Dems gasp and blow about how very unfriendly the Bush Admin is and how they just didn’t foresee this nonsense. Of course, this in spite of the fact that a bunch of us have been warning them about this sort of thing and begging, pleading, demanding that they prevent it by NOT officially going into recess…or even better, since the troops in Iraq are the ONLY people not getting to go on a nice little vacation in August having Reid and Pelosi simply CANCEL their August recess to do the “people’s work”.
They wont listen, just as they ignored us wrt Roberts and Alito…and then have the gall recently to sputter about how they were fooled by those clowns.
These bozos in DC were ‘fooled’ by Roberts, Alito, Bush (vis a vis WMD, etc, in Iraq), and will be ‘fooled’ again by BushCo with more recess appointments, more blowing off of subpoenas, etc, etc.
The only people not fooled at all appears to be We the People.
jayt @ 108
Darn. And here I was thinking of starting an Oscar The Death Kitty fan club.
Hope he doesn’t take this too badly.
Waccamaw @ 116
You mean tape the “radical left”. C-span barely covered the “radical left” (those 80 and 90 year old WWII Vets, (thousands of other Vets) and those 9/11 families against the invasion, or those old folks in wheelchairs, teachers, teamsters etc) before the invasion across the nation.
The MSM has been busy stereotyping those that will be attending the Yearly Kos conference. I wonder if they will be there covering it or just spend their time spinning it without being there?
Bluetoe @ 118
That’s his usual MO. Yesterday morning RevDeb helped me come up w/a new moniker for “I talk out of both sides of my mouth” Specter:
Janus
Gonzo’s big fan:
Boston1775 @ 120
Just do it. I signed up for YKos via SecondLife last week myself…finally a useful aspect to that silly (poorly rendered) graphical chat room.
You could call and ask C-span
http://www.c-span.org/about/contact.asp?code=About
kathleen at 125 — Actually, C-Span had fantastic coverage of YKos last year, including our Plame panel. I have a note in to a contact there to see what coverage they will or will not be doing for Chicago — they are required by law to do Congressional coverage, so I’ll let folks know what the plans are once I find something out.
So Specter says it’s ‘high noon’ for Gonzales today?
Specter as Gary Cooper?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
From Al G. to George.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
carol lam @ 80
This sort of thing is what makes it so scary. Right now I think the Internet has changed the balance to some degree, which is why MSM pounds the blogs so much. Still, only about 10% depend on blogs for information and some of that 10% are wingNuts.
When (and if) we ever get a progressive majority in Congress turning around the MSM has got to be one of the highest priorities. A free press was one of the highest priorities in the countries founding and we must restore it.
O/T Apparently they don’t have a clue what caused Roberts’ siezure yesterday, just as they don’t have a clue what caused him to overturn years of Supreme Court precedent when he said he wouldn’t.
Please, if I may? A SLIGHT correction: “‘I talk out of both sides of my ass‘ Spector” is much more appropriate and accurate.
“Or hey, what if journalists had also dug into this information and really reported it. I mean REALLY reported it, digging out every little nasty bit and piece for the public’s interest and aired it all out fully instead of talking, ad nauseum about why Al Gore chose an earth toned suit on Tuesday last.”
Are you asking that journalists actually DO their jobs? How extreme.
In the Coleen Rowley piece at Huffpo, Dangers of a Cornered George Bush, a psychoanalyst writes this:
The Assessment of Dr. Frank:
If a patient came into my consulting room missing an arm, the first question I would ask is, “What happened to your arm?” The same would be true for a patient who has no guilt, no conscience. I would want to know what happened to it.
No Conscience
George W. Bush is without conscience, and it would require a lengthy series of clinical sessions to find out what happened to it. By identifying himself as all good and on the side of right, he has been able to vanquish any guilt, any sense of doing wrong.
———————
I think Partners in Slime is an excellent description of these two and I look forward to Dr. Frank’s assessment of Gonzales.
GeorgeSimian @ 133
Hence the term “idiopathic”. That is a catchall that indicates no idea what caused ‘x’. My wife, a veterinarian, remembers the meaning of this term via the memory jogger: ‘idiot pathology’.
Praedor Atrebates @ 134
Works for me. Now to find a graphic for that ;-)
Praedor Atrebates @ 134
Why not just shorten it to Anus?
I agree. Specter is all about ‘telling them what they want to hear’, then doing just the opposite. Talk about lack of credibility.
Go to Kos & check out what Mike Stark was up to this morning, he paid a little visit to Bill O’s home. Personally, I would prefer to ignore O’Reilly, not antagonize him.
Last year the posts from YKos felt like postcards from friends or relatives that I used to get in the mail. I look forward to reading them this year. Hopefully next year, I’ll be there.
Have a safe trip everyone.
Praedor Atrebates @ 128
I might be interested in this. Link?
is anyone else listening to senate armed services committee hearing on c-span3 now?
carl levin is doing the blame the iraqis game. i really, really HATE that.
i hate it when the war mongers here blame their failure on the antiwar folks. and i hate it when my own party blames the people of the country we have destroyed.
Via @ 139:
707!!
solai, I’ll go get it. It might take a few minutes.
fresh thread catapulting!
deandra @ 135
Yes! The UNMITIGATED gall of expecting the ‘press’ to take its job in a democracy seriously. How quaint.
Kathleen @ 129
Christy Hardin Smith @ 130
I followed Kathleen’s advice and called them but the answer was about as helpful as spit.
Supposedly they don’t know until late in the day what they will be showing the following day. Well, duh………so they don’t plan ahead as to any taping?
CHS -
Not that you don’t have more than enough on your plate, but is there any way to post this somewhere so it doesn’t get buried in the comments? Thanks……….have a wonderful trip!
selise @ 143
It’s despicable. It’s another thing we have to speak up about.
Don’t you *love* it when George Bush talks about winning? WIN WHAT???
Solai @ 142
Here you go: http://www.yearlykosconvention.org/yksl
They will be streaming some video and there is an ‘amphitheater’ setup for attending and listening/watching. I asked about the Prez candidates and the operators of YKos in SL indicated that they can probably only handle the top 3 (bandwidth issues) but…I am hoping to get a few questions directed to ALL of them via SL if my YKos questions aren’t selected from the YKos website.
OT:
Look how the GOP is trying to game the system in California: Link
GOP pushing for electoral votes to be awarded by the congressional district winner. Giving the GOP an additional 20 electoral votes based on historical voting.
Typical GOP mantra, if you can’t win by playing by the rules, change the rules.
IrishJim @ 151
Their motto is Rules are for Losers.
Boston1775 @ 149
the risk game he and dick are playing?
Waccamaw @ 148
I love C-span do not get me wrong. The best thing going in the MSM. Glad to hear that they covered Yearly kos so well. They did not cover the anti-invasion marches very well.
Actually solai, here’s another way to get wall to wall coverege. It’s calledUstream dot TV. I just stumbled over it.
I will try to find the other link as well so we can compare.
Good morning All! This is going to be another 100 plus degrees day. I must get out and garden before the sun turns my patio into 115 degrees. Hope some of you are in a cooler climate. Thanks Christy for telling it like it is. I know the L word isn’t allowed to be used by Congress (but the F word is in the Senate with no censure or apology). Is there really such a word as misspoke or miss spoke or just what is the correct spelling and who decided what is correct?
Observation – Once AG made a deal with the devil there was no turning back. AG knows he will find himself hanging on a meathook in some alleyway if he doesn’t cover BushBoy’s ass. That’s what he was hired to do. What a trade-off for a few extra material things that ultimately breaks down and disintergrates!
selise @ 153
Is it just me? I hope never to hear the words “win” or “victory” from this administration or their supporters again. Their fixation with winning at any cost is terrifying.
selise @ 153
No conscience. No guilt. Sociopaths.
Boston1775 @ 149
Exactly! We need to reframe things away from sports and toward gambling and business metaphors.
– What’s the payoff?
– What’s in the pot for the winner?
– What’s are Return On Investment (ROI) for the money and blood we’ve put up?
– What’s in it for America?
I’m not a big fan of greed, but damn Republicans can do a lot of damage when they become do-gooders. Try to follow the logic:
– We can’t leave because the on-going civil war would become too deadly, i.e., “lethal.”
– So we train and equip both the Sunni and the Shiite fighters to enhance their “combat effectiveness,” i.e., to make them more “lethal.”
Boston1775 @ 158
The Bush version of the country and western song. No Conscience, No Guilt, No Problems
“Is it me or wouldn’t it have been great for all these Republican folks with “insider” knowledge “
I don’t disagree with the sentiment. However, since the only source for attribution in the article is Dick Schott, the LBJ School professor, there seems to be an implied association. Having taken his course at LBJ back in the late 1970s, I find it pretty difficult to reconcile the notion of him EVER being an insider. I remember him as a somewhat hip (in an academic sense) observer of the political scene. A Bush insider? Not likely.
Also, elected state government in Tx, is a bit of a minimalist affair. I am not sure how much one would have gleaned from watching the W as Governor; especially outside the deep inner circle.
TiredFed @ 119
Thank you! That report was a wonderful birthday present to add to my archives.
This link to Ustream
gives information about the virtual website and something about CSPAN coverage as well.
IrishJim @ 151
Wow! That’s very serious.
Pardon me, but if there is anyone who thinks Abu will resign and a new AG will be appointed during the congressional recess in August (which will take place, by the way), then they are dreaming.
George and AGAG are joined at the groin (or parts nearby). There is no way Abu will resign. And why should he? So far, all that has happened to him for his egregious sins up to this point has been much “innuendo” and silent fist clenching. The Dems, at this point, can’t even make up their minds as to how to deal with the blatant disregard of the congressional subpoena by Harriet Miers.
All George and Abu need to do is run out the clock, and they seem to be doing admirably well at that. Quit hell – they’ve just started.
raven @ 12
Millennium Park Restaurant is a good place for lunch, it’s just below the bean:)
And for dinner Rapsody’s a great place at Adams & Wabash with a beautiful outdoor setting. Food, wine, and service excellent. It’s close to the park and Chicago Art Institute.
http://www.rhapsodychicago.com/
More on Ustream…
I went to the link and clicked through on the information about YKOS. It looks to me like there is going to be a site we can go to – much like CSPAN-3 – where we can watch the broadcast.
They have three cameras and say they are covering the whole thing.
I even think we have a choice whether or not we want to embed their software into our computers. If I read it correctly, we can go to the site and play without embedding.
This might be fun.
Thanks to all.
wigwam @ 164
All the more reason to electorally euthanize the Republican Party. One bad apple spoils the barrel and the apple is the Republican Party. They have to be marginalized and be seen in the eyes of the American public as contrary to their best interests.
beerfart liberal @ 7
things come undone @ 46
Are you kidding? With this administration there stuff all over the place that Congress can jump on. And, since it’s their duty to provide oversight the public will become better informed about how the Republicans in Congress protect the Bush administration.
Let’s see, if you’re a souless corrupt crook, would you tell the truth if you knew that:
A. Congress is inept. More interested in symbolic votes and statements than in actually lowering the hammer on a crook.
B. Your boss can commute or pardon any punishment handed out to you.
Regarding the media’s failure to turn over the slime covered stones – Molly Ivins & Jim Hightower did – repeatedly. For all the good it did.
IrishJim @ 151
This is absolutely absurd…and specifically UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
One doesn’t vote for electors that represent the Congressman…it’s an elector to vote for PRESIDENT. States can only allocate these electors proportionally to the Statewide vote for President or to the Presidential candidate that has won the majority.
That’s it…
Electoral College representation has NOTHING to do with Congressional Representatives.