With regard to the Abu-Gonzales-like behavior of Rumsfeld, Abizaid, Myers, Brown, and the rest at the House hearing yesterday on Pat Tillman’s death, and the Calvinball-like executive privilege claim of Bushie Scott Jennings under oath at the Senate hearings on the US Attorney mass purge today, I figured such monumental evasiveness deserved a musical tribute, courtesy of Peter Gabriel. Click on the pic to start the YouTube.
I don’t remember, I don’t recall/I got no mem’ry of anything at all….
[Update from Scarecrow: Despite the YKos programs, there is no Firedoglake caucus, this afternoon or evening. But there is an FDL breakfast tomorrow morning, Friday, see below for details.]
Related posts:
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- Alan Grayson Speaks the Language of Morality, Causes Mass Panic
- Health Care Reform: That Strange Biofuels Rider in the House Manager’s Amendment
- Blue Dog Letter to Waxman Wants PhRMA Deal to Replace Chairman’s Language in Health Bill
- How the Senate Abortion Language Differs from Stupak





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zeddie freddie??
I would thank you for this.
Hi PW! Having fun at YKos?
Hey Phoenix Woman!
Hey PW – are your Twin Cities friends ok?
(I used to live at 10th & University SE – so very close to the bridge itself.)
I am declaring myself an executive citizen!
Hi PW!
Eureka Springs @ 6
was that an executive decision?
PW — Scarecrow here, using Kathryn’s computer: Could you please add an announcement at the top of the page for anyone at YKos who may be checking in here.
Despite the YKos programs, there is no Firedoglake caucus, this afternoon or evening.
Also, check the Wordpress Q, for a post on YKos.
Thanks.
Scarecrow
Elliott @ 8
borne of executive privilege…
I didn’t see the whole Scott Jennings testimony, just a couple of clips. I DID see the one where Leahy is asking Jennigs what his job description is and Jennings cites Exec. Priv. and refuses to answer.
Here is a cute thing, if you say you don’t recall under circumstances where it can be proven that you do–it’s perjury
If you take the 5th and it turns out there was no way you could honestly have believed the answer would incriminate YOU (as opposed to, let’s say, your boss), you have obstruction and may have perjury.
That’s why Neil Eggelston did so well for Sara Taylor (Neil is her lawyer), he had her invoke the privledge very surgically and much more narrowly.
Jennings went WAAAY overboard (at least in the clips I saw–I will have a more definate opinion when I get chance to watch the whole hearing)
Leahy was entitiled to know what Jenning’s job description is and what role that job has in the US Attorney firings in order to determine if the SJC has grounds to challenge the Exec. Priv. invocation in court.
This is a simple “standing” question.
LoudounLib @ 10
You may all join me, but you can’t talk about it.
scarecrow honey,
I checked the queu and your Ykos post is slotted in at 4pm FDL time.
Fear not, you seem to be all set.
So relax and enjoy
looseheadprop @ 11
well this is nice to hear, thank you lhp
and thanks for your earlier ’splaining post, too.
Eureka Springs @ 12
is that an executive order?
looseheadprop @ 11
LHP – Thanks for your insight. I’ve only seen that clip, too — found it amazing. Not too long ago I would have said “jaw-dropping amazing,” but I’ve come to expect it from these bozos.
this is very interesting….assume there are cases on it…..how is it proved?
I was actually thinking they should subpoena that “memory expert” from the Libby trial, and ask him how likely it is that the whole freaking’ gov’t is being run by people who can’t remember where they left their own asses.
LHP
So what if Jennings went overboard? What are the consequences?
Kathryn in MA @ 9
There is, however,
FDL breakfast~~tomorrow
Friday August 3
7-9am
Hyatt McCormick
right next door to convention center
second floor
Please wear your badges, thanks!
Elliott @ 14
I am dying to see the replay of the testimony.
The couple of clips, really had Jennings looking just truculent, like
“la la la, I can’t here you… I have a letter from Fred Fielding, so can’t make me”
He looked like he wasn’t even listening to the questions, he had just come to repeat the phrase over and over simply to avoid being a Harriet Meiers no show.
lhp
Jennings was warned by Leahy that he was going out on a very small limb.
The best question (near the end): about Catch-22. I don’t think it was intended as a joke, more as a coded warning of sorts.
lhp, If what you say is true and I believe you.. Why the heck wasn’t he frog-marched on the spot?!
Barney Frank on Hardball… oh, how I wish he’d run for President!
Frank makes a lot of sense…
I’m waiting for Leahy, Conyers, or Waxman blow a fuse with the next witless rove minion claiming executive privilege. And take action and cart Meiers scrawny behind and Rove’s hairy ass off to the slammer and call that CONGRESSIONAL PRIVILEGE. They are, after all, co-equal branches of government.
Is it “five oclock somewhere” Margaritaville time?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ib8…..mp;search=
I think we’re all agreed that not all (any?) of these Executive Privilege claims can hold water. The big question is what is Congress going to do about it?
Why was there not one mention of putting Karl Rove in contempt?
It just seems like every wall that these committees hit gets us all outraged, but doesn’t get us any closer to getting documents or testimony. Is there anything being done to get the documents that the RNC handed to Fred Fielding when Congress subpeonaed them – and by anything, I mean on the level of contempt charges against Miers.
And have the contempt charges gone through yet? Isn’t Congress closed now for August?
oddmommy @ 17
eCAHNomics @ 18
Another question. What could the chimp do if Jennings HAD ignored his diktat and answered the question. Does the chimp have any power to punish (other than the small airplane thing)
Where, oh where is there an actual patriot in the Bush Administration!
I can hardly stand watching the hearings. More of same, I don’t recall.
All the Constitution needs is ONE human being from that administration to STAND UP and defend what they have sworn to protect. They swore to the creator they would defend it.
How can so many people be such lost souls?
Didn’t Jennings basically admit he violated the Hatch Act? I guess it doesn’t matter, because they won’t do anything about it anyway.
lhp – what do you suppose is going to happen to the General (Kensington? maybe?) who ducked the subpoena yesterday? Will they just keep trying to serve it or what?
More on Deepmodem:
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2…../#comments
looseheadprop @ 20
You will not believe how snarky Leahy is from the outset. some priceless gems.
I’m gobstruck smacked & slapped by the contempt from every single witness from this Administration
Digby
GeorgeSimian @ 25
i called speaker pelosi’s office a day or two ago and was told that she isn’t going to bring them to the house floor until after the august recess… ‘cuz they are too busy to deal with them now. i said that was fine, so long as they were too busy to cave to bush’s demands to further weaken fisa.
i did not get a happy response.
Elliott @ 32
It would be really funny if they just slapped inherent contempt on all of them at the same time and cuffed and stuffed them.
LS @ 29
can I offer you a Lorna Doone?
OldCoastie @ 30
Yeah. Kensinger. How long can hehide out? Can his lawyer be compelled to tell where he is? This guy is a coward-very nonmilitary behavior, let along Special Forces. Makes me think the whole military is rotted to the core. Wouldn’t bea bit surprised since the guys at the top today served duringVN & seem to have learned all the wrong lessons.
eCAHNomics @ 18
Well first you have to get the answer from some other source, so you can prove that he had no standing to invoke it for that purpose.
Let’s just hypothetically say Jenning s had NO, zero, zilch nada role in the USA firings–in fact he was hospitalized in coma during the whole process.
Now clearly there is no executive privlege to the answer to the question what was/is your role in the USA firings, b/c he had no role that could trigger the privlege.
Capice?
Leahy’s question didn’t go to privleged information,it went to the basis for having standing to invoke the privlege.
If you are a train conductor instead of a doctor,you cannot refuse to answer a question on the basis of doctor patient privilege. There has to be some basis for why this privlege applies both to you and to the particular information being sought. You need a nexus.
This is the foreign policy “debate” in our country:
http://electioncentral.tpmcafe…..ign_policy
Is there a clinical term for infantilism combined with psychotic aggressiveness?
Elliott @ 36
Only if it comes with some Kool Aid
Millineryman @ 40
you can bet on it.
LHP-
I get the bit about proving the case. Assuming it is proved, what happens to Jennings?
highly recommend this article, “The Threat of U.S. Fascism: An Historical Precedent” by Alan Nasser
I submitted “YearlyKos” questions about the first use of nuclear weapons against Iran in a series of scenarios. Someone try to get a straight answer out of these conscienceless, pandering sickos.
http://electioncentral.tpmcafe…..ign_policy
I’m getting very tired of our Democratic Congress. Big deal if they keep getting the Bush criminals to continue to perjure themselves, nothing ever comes of it. The Democrats are pretending the government is operating normally, going through the motions as if they mean something. Either take immediate actions to stop these criminals or just stop pretending. And rushing to change FISA for Bush is beyond unbelievable.
Eureka Springs @ 22
Why isn’t Harriet Meiers in leg irons in the basement of the Capitol? Gutless wonders in our national legislature.
Not Leahy, I love watching Leahy lose his temper. He so perfectly captures my frustration.
Anyway to more seriously answer your question, there is a HUGE difference between what you believe in your heart to be true (that Jennings had no basis for invokeing Exec. P.) and what you can prove.
I think the Senate has grounds to hold him in contempt –based on my very partial review of tiny clips, I reserve my right to completely reverse myself when I have veiwed the complete testimony–but,they(both houses of congress) have even better grounds to hold others in contempt and it hasn’t happened yet. So….
looseheadprop @ 11
I didn’t have the capability of actually seeing the Jennings testimony, but from what I could get from those posting (thank you very much), Jennings was consulting with not only his lawyers, but whitehouse lawyers as well, unless I am mistaken.
All I could say was WTF! That, in my mind, told me that he was obeying two masters, right then and there. It was bizarre.
looseheadprop @ 26
brendan @ 39
i don’t know the term… but clinton just convinced me that she does not have the good judgement to be president.
question: should a first use nuke strike against locations where our intelligence says there are suspected terrorists be on the table or off?
Jennings has EITHER violated the Hatch Act OR the Presidential Records act or both at the same time I just realized! lol.
And the same is probably true of the whole bunch of them.
Jennings put everything on his RNC account because he had 24/7 access and was refused a 24/7 blackberry for WH account access.
So:
1) the DoJ stuff was on the RNC account meaning it was political business about the DOJ and that would be a Hatch Act violation; or
2) the DoJ stuff was on the RNC account and it was legitimate WH non-Hatch business meaning it would be a violation of the Presidential Records Act (not to mention the WH security protocols … but it was political so it didn’t need to be secure … lol).
There is no 3rd, non-Hatch, non-Presidential-Records way!
GeorgeSimian @ 25
Moreover where the F*** does the RNC get off handing documents subpoenaed by Congress, to the WH? Ah, wrong branch of government there Sparky
oddmommy @ 48
shoulda had Post Brazen Ban for breakfast.
President Bush has an Executive Odor
puppethead @ 45
please read article linked to in my 43
nomolos @ 27
AS long as the info wasn’t classifed– I think that all Shrub could do is fire the guy. maybe try to get some kind of court order to prohibit the information from being used at a trial, but would that apply to a trial in the Senate? I do’t think there has been a case where this has come up.
OK, I’m being obnoxios and EPU’ing mul;tiple times:
Here are the list of co-sponsors for H Res 589 (The impeach Gonzo resolution)
Here is the list of Act Blue folks we support who are actually in the House (some one correct me if I have anyone wrong here.)
Now does it bother anyone else that none of the Act Blue folks are co-sponsors?
Should we be communicating that to them?
Oh, and what about your own rep?
Mine, (Markey) is not on board yet. Anyone else in his district. Help me out with him.)
Just asking…
itwasntme @ 28
Well, Comey certainly did. And Mueller, much to my surprise
I’m not a big fan of Obama’s callous remark about invading Pakistan to get to Al-Qaeda.
This sort of sabre-rattling gets to the people of Pakistan, and they start freaking the fuck out thinking that America is gonna turn them into another Iraq. They start pressuring Musharref more, and the die hards will either start pulling more bombings in Pakistan, or Pakistan gov’t will have to start cracking down on the die hards and resistance more. Either way, Pakistan’s got enough problems without threats of U.S. invasion.
OldCoastie @ 30
I thought that was just freakish. A general!
I was wondering if that was something that could be asubject of military discipline? This is way out of my personal experience
realworld @ 56 –
i called my rep (jim mcgovern)’s office today. no answer yet. will call again tomorrow.
looseheadprop @ 59
eh, I think the guy retired… they’ve already censured him and took a star…
big, brave military man! (ha!)
cancer_cures @ 58
agreed.
can we stop and think before attacking a country with nukes? might an attack make things worse?
can we please stop with the stupid and immoral?
eCAHNomics @ 37
I’m wondering, if he is in hiding instead of at his post, isn’t he AWOL?
Wouldn’t being AWOL in atime of war be a really really bad military crime?
punaise! en france?
Mutant Poodle @ 5
All of my co-workers are OK, and as far as I know most of my friends and relations are as well. Thanks for asking!
LHP-
Think Kensinger’s retired.
Mommybrain @ 64
presque! je pars a l’aube.
eCAHNomics @ 42
I suppose you normal basic obstruction sentence, but it’s all irrelevant b/c who is going t investigate and prove this? The USA in DC?
Yep, just as soon as I coax those flying pigs back into their pen.
eCAHNomics @ 66
would love some youtube video of him running away from a marshall trying to serve him papers.
looseheadprop @ 68
Exactly my point.
looseheadprop @ 68
so do i understand the answer is “nothing”, unless inherent contempt is used?
fdl reader @ 50
I think that is true of all these RNC account folks. They are guilty of A or they are guilty of B.
It’s called a “Morton’s Fork”, it’s a corallary to a Hobson’s Choice
selise @ 69
Or we could craft a “Where’s Philip?” series of cartoons.
Kathryn in MA @ 9
Thank you! (I was in transit.)
via tpm:
looseheadprop @ 13
Thanks, LHP! Whew!
punaise @ 52
Punaise mon ami, we ar almost never on the same thread together anymore. I miss the puns!
selise @ 75
I dread this recess, just dread it.
realworld @ 56
I don’t think you are being obnoxious. I think you are spot on. Why the hell did we support them , if not to have them support the things we elected them to do?
looseheadprop @ 77
lhp – backatcha!
eCAHNomics @ 66
Bummer. There goes another great theory–died aborning.
looseheadprop @ 72:
Yup ~ the WHOLE lot of ‘em are doing this without even understanding what it means!
You WILL enjoy the Jennings hearing because it was just so bizarre!!!! At one point Whitehouse tried to get Jennings to say HE was asserting EP. lol.
Thanks!
Klobuchar just on Hardball finishes off by saying that in America bridges don’t just fall into rivers. What a moronic comment to make the day after she learned that’s exactly the America we now live in.
Elliott @ 78
Despite the threat, the recess is pretty fucking stupid with this much work on the plate. Congress needs to get their ass in gear. I cancelled -MY- vacation this summer because of all the fucking work that came up. Why can’t they cancel their vacation while criminals occupy the white house?
And they are close, so close, to bringing the white house crime racket down.
I’m without words…
snip
White House Agrees to Aides Testifing_Tillman
Elliott @ 78
So now we know what Bush is using to change the FISA laws.. Fear…Fear…Fear
selise @ 75
Okay, who here thinks it’s a brilliant idea to tip the terrorists off that we know what they’re planning? Or is this all about banging the fear bucket?
Has there been ONE single terror alert or rumour from this administration that has been shown to be true?
No.
It’s all fear-mongering. For political gain.
The real threats they seem to ignore …
selise @ 71
I swear to heaven, I feel like we a living in a parallel universe (where is EPU when we need him?) where everything I learned as a prosecutor has just been chucked out the window.
When I was a prosecutor, during your first year, there these onthly continuing legal ed brown bag lunches where you learne dboth the law and DOJ policy with repsect to things like GJ practice, search warrant appliaction standards and practices, etc.
It wasn’t just law, it wasn’t just DOJ or SDNY policy–they were also teaching you tradition and about the sacred trust that you were being given.
I remeber the USAO’’s the way Jim Comey remebers them. When he says he loves the Dept., he is talking about the Dept. that I loved too. I’m afraid THAT DOJ exists only in memory now. That makes me very sad.
I don’t know if we will see it fully repaired in my lifetime.
You know the famous line from Shkepear that is always quoted out of contect ?
“First, kill all the lawyers”
In context, it was part of a discussion about how to overthrough a government. First, you gut the legal system and there is no one left to enforce the rule of law.
We cannot eb a nation of laws, if our pre- emminent legal agency wll not obey or enforce the laws. We just can’t.
fdl reader @ 88
Lew Koch promises to reveal in his Friday post just why W hasn’t caught any real terrorists.
Phoenix Woman @ 87
part of the program to get their new fisa law passed?
selise @ 75
Trying to scare them into voting to gut FISA, eh?
This increased possiblity=Chertoff’s digestive system?
Reserving an exemption for those on this site.
And yet, the danger of a real attack is, well, real.
And those rats in DC know it, it’s cruel what they do to us.
Phoenix Woman @ 87
Ooh, Bright shiny object, pretty…!!! Why the F*ck would the Terrorists attack an empty chamber?!!! Doh!!!
looseheadprop @ 89
yes. and we need just laws too. :(
eCAHNomics @ 90
Uh … hmmm … er … because there are none?
fdl reader @ 97
well, the planners of 911 and the person(s) responsible for the anthrax attacks are still at large.
realworld @ 56–
Please note that Steve Cohen is a co-sponsor. He had a diary up on dKos yesterday about this. IMO, he has done a great job on the HJC, and it’s important to have a judiciary committee member as a co-sponsor.
oh, and i forgot.
there’s the terrorists who are allies of the usa gov. we’re not gonna catch those either.
We ALL know that we have precious few additional defenses and that our system failed miserably on 9/11 … so … if this were such a grave danger, why haven’t we been hit again?
I’m not meaning to be scary, not at all, I just have to say …
fdl reader @97
Interesting thought. Rising in probability with every passing day with no attacks. I’ve been assuming there are a few around, as some terrorist somewhere must be planning on doing something in the U.S., and would have some people scouting things out.
selise @ 91
selise @ 91
DING DING DING!
We have a winner!
Talk about rule of law, my whole county is under its annual couple of week long helicopter surveillance. As I type my entire house is literally shaking from surveillance.
petwrecker @ 33
HuffPo has this front page, too.
Sad to say, it will take something like this
to help folks connect the dots.
It is not common knowledge how badly our
infrastructure is crumbling. The only
silver lining (while they are still looking
for people) is that it will be raised on the radar.
Our tax dollars are oversea. Another
example of Maladaministration.
The deaths resulting from this tragedy
should be pinned on BushCo.
selise @ 98
Yup: I am very angry about the anthrax thing and the 9/11 loose ends.
But the anthrax stuff stopped. I don’t know what that means. And if Congress was anthraxed this summer, do you think ANYthing would be done? No.
See, it’s just political games. What needs to be done, NEVER gets done.
Eureka Springs @ 104
Please explain.
selise @ 98
Hmmm… Osama bin Forgotten!!! I’m intrigued by RJ’s assertion that OBL is under wraps in a Black Site! I wonder why they wouldn’t have trumpeted that by now!!!
selise @ 98
You know, John Kerry got SLAMMED for saying that he would be hapy when terrorism went back to being a law enforcement problem.
I would like to remind eveyone that when terrorism WAS a law enforcement problem, being handle by Dave Kelley and PtFitz out of USAO SDNY, the Day of Terror plot anf the MIllenium Bomb plot were both stoppped BEFORE the attacks happend.
Further, the bad guys went to jail. AND remain there where they cannot do us any more harm. AND they had normal due process rights.
What a concept,have competent prosecuors do real investigations and prosecute real case, so bad uys can go to real jails. Genius!
selise @ 98
The people responsible for the anthrax attacks are still in office…
eCAHNomics @ 102
That’s the problem … we’ve been propogandized that THEY are out there, AMONG us, scouting US … we have *NO* evidence. We only have what LIARS are telling us.
Eureka Springs @ 104
Do you live in one of the rural counties that had to make up stuff to use up all their Homeland Secuity grants while NYC went naked?
I hope that if you haven’t already seen “The Lives of Others” you will rent it when it comes out August 21st. It is happening here.
eCAHNomics @ 37
I think he’s flippin’ everyone off, refusing to be made the fall guy. A guy like that could cut a deal & really shed some light on things.
fdl reader @ 101
according to robert pape, analyzing AQ strategy doc recovered by norwegian intelligence (among other things)… AQ previously did not think that their strategy would be advanced by another attack here. first goal was to peal off allies by attacking madrid and london (yep, both were predicted – and even the date for madrid).
that may now have changed. in fact, i would expect another attack attempt if usa gov. seriously started an iraq withdrawal.
goal is to bleed us dry. then kick us out of the ME.
more here.
selise @ 75
Those with tinfoil hats in their pockets may want to don them now: who else can we think of who might like to discombobulate Congress? Anth**x, anyone? False flag, possibly?
WASHINGTON — The White House has agreed to let congressional investigators interview three former officials in an inquiry into what the administration knew about the friendly-fire death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman.
The aides are Dan Bartlett, former White House counselor; Scott McClellan, former press secretary, and Michael Gerson, former speechwriter. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee agreed to White House demands that initial interviews be conducted without a transcript and with White House attorneys present.
If investigators determine the aides have relevant information, they will be asked to return for transcribed interviews. The White House has reserved the right to oppose that by claiming executive privilege, according to a letter Thursday from the committee’s chairman and top Republican to White House counsel Fred Fielding.
oops…editting error at #114, no link intended.
sorry
fdl reader @ 111
I’m not personally propogandized. I just realize there’s a non-zero probability of a terrorist attack (and I do live within spitting distances from a few terrorist targets). After all, I’m the one who wrote:
Gunga Djinn @ 114,
The threat of losing his pension may make him think twice about being the fall-guy. It all depends on if the military actually carries out their punishment on him, or it depends if Cheney’s friends can get him a nice thinktank job to stay quiet.
eCAHNomics @ 107
The state and the feds join forces every year and scour the state, county by county, in search of marijuana plants..
They almost never find enough to justify an hours worth of fuel expenditures (much less all other costs or freedoms).. Most of us think the local boys plant a random corner of a cow pasture each year to justify their fun and fascist frolic.
I stopped waving at them over fifteen years ago, but it still bothers me in an Orwelian way.
selise @ 115
Thanks, I will look at that.
It’s such a house of scary mirrors and lies. And all the while nothing is actually happening (or very little is happening) we are being manipulated because of what might happen.
And our system of government is being ruined.
Totally OT – and very sorry, I’m just checking in here….
DiFi makes it possible for Southwick to go to the full Senate.
WTF?????
selise @ 91
Big question.
Does the new FISA law forgive the Bush administration of its past tresgressions, aka as disobeying the law, retroactive? They have tried, sorry if I don’t remember if they were successfull or not, to do this in the past.
Don’t know about the rest of you, but something smells like rotted fish to me.
looseheadprop @ 109
treating terrorism as a law enforcement problem would, i think, tend to re-enforce the “rule of law” mind set.
treating terrorism as problem for the military would, i think, tend to re-enforce the idea that our world is lawless and laws must be broken to protect us.
there was no way these jokers were going to treat terrorism as a problem for law enforcement.
eCAHNomics @ 93
That is rather violent, I thought such violent statements were not allowed here at FDL.
There are a lot of great lawyers out there and like in any profession, there are some bad apples.
Eureka Springs @ 121
A NYS police helicopter flies over my country house once or twice/day. I’ve been told it is patrolling the NYC aquaduct system which runs right near my house. Speak of a waste of time, money, etc. Whatever nefarious activities might be going on could easily be hidden well in advance of the overflight, as helicopters are not exactly quiet as they approach. Also, no self-respecting terrorist would attack a public water system, as the dilution factor makes the probability of “success” quite low.
Why do they hate us…start with John Bolten
Still, one must positively wonder at the tone, content, and not least the intent of Bolton’s utterly offensive bloviation. Is he trying to provoke Brown into proving his independence from Washington? Is he trying to drive the new prime minister closer to his former UN nemesis, Mark Malloch Brown, as part of some bizarre masochistic compulsion? Is he trying to create even more anti-American feeling in Britain and “Eurabia,” as some of his Anglo-chauvinist friends refer to Western Europe these days? Is he trying to split the West? Does he actually work for bin Laden? (Is AEI an al-Qaeda sleeper cell?) And does Bolton still speak for Cheney?
http://www.antiwar.com/blog/20…..hn-bolton/
Kathleen, read post 89 for more context.
Kathleen @ 126
It’s a Shakespeare quote. Lighten up & educate yourself.
Sixty Something @ 124
I’m more interested in ex post facto legislation clearing ATT, Sprint, Verizon, etal… of their roles!!!
Sixty Something @ 124
Something definitely smells rotten with the Bushies insistance on passing the new FISA law before Congress’ recess. Conyers and Co. and/or their staffers better read the Bill this time.
Kathleen @ 126
Dang, let’s not feed Billo’s troll patrol!!! *g*
eCAHNomics @ 127
I used to have a job involvin NYC DEP (the folks that bring NYC it’s water supply)
There have been attacks on the NYC water supply forever–long before Osama.
This is a good use of a helicopter. NYC also has a it’s own seperate police force upstate guarding the resevoirs.
This has long been a problem
Funny, while you cats have had helicopters flying over, I’ve been having F/A-18 Hornets fly over my head all day.
selise @ 125
If anything in the WOT had been treated as a law enforcement problem, the crime scene at the WTC would have remained intact while the survivors were searched for. At least the steel would have been maintained so that it could be examined for traces of cordite or other signatures of explosives to put to rest the theories of pre-planted explosives.
Too much has been put in place by this administration in the way of EOs that extend executive power at the expense of liberties to think that there isn’t something else going on here.
And the fields of fire which have been established with the use of barriers in the streets of Washington DC are very suspicious to this old Marine.
Ctuttle @ 133
It would be great publicity if we could tag Billo for criticizing the site for quoting Shakespeare!
Get Tough @ 132
BushCo probably promised no recess appointments if Congress did them just this one little favor…
and we know how much we can trust the President and his Crew.
CTuttle @ 131
You are on my wavelink
Re: my 134
Sorry, that should have read ATTEMPTED attacks on the NYC water supply.
The DEP police really do an amazing job.
eCAHNomics @ 127
Ashokan?? Beautiful drive from 28 over to 199 through Olive Branch.
james @ 136
James, what do you mean by “fields of fire” in DC?
eCAHNomics @ 137
LOL! I doubt they would even realize it, before it was too late!!! Doh! ;-)
looseheadprop @ 134
Exactly: and, traditionally, this kind of thing is kept *very* quiet, so people are NOT afraid.
Defense contracts, record breaking oil profits, no bid contracts on the “war of choice” in Iraq .
Turning “human misery into gold” is a profession for the fat cats.
OT_This is an interview that Falafel did with Chris Dodd about YKos. Falalef keys in the art work work that was posted on DKos showing HoJo in a position to give a HoJob to Bush. O”Reily rushes to defend HoJo and asks Chirs Dodd to apologize. Chris Dodd does a great job here. It’s suppose to air tonight.
Chris Dodd Smacks O’Reily Down
fdl reader @ 144
but these guys are snakes.
LS @ 35
I hope it’s just a matter of having read too many Tom Clancy and Dale Brown books over the years, but I can’t shake the mental image of Cheney sending the FBI Hostage Rescue Team over to the Capitol (or the DC Jail, or wherever) to break out the contemnors, and the whole thing turning into a bloodbath.
James at 136
Could you elaborate or give som eexamples of how the fields of fire have been laid out by the barriers?
I ask, because some of the barriers they put up in lower Manhattan seemed to me to be in illogical places.
I have always writtent that off as maybe related to some subsurface conditions. That part of the city has lots of old conduit, pipes etc. And a manhole copany called Empire City Subway owns all kinds of underground rights of way.
But maybe there is another reason?
I would like tohear more
LHP @ 134
What kind of attacks have been attempted on the NYC water system? Are the alleged perps in their right minds? What did they think they were going to accomplish? After 9/11 they had cops parked around the Ashokan. Rode my bicycle there (52 miles round trip!). I could have just put it in the bushes by the side of the road, not near where cops were parked, and done my nefarious deed. Cops parked on road by reservoir are useless, as is the overhead helicopter. Anyone up to no good can easily avoid them.
LHP got it, Thanks
Spector and Leahy are saying that they don’t have any evidence for impeachment based on the letter they received re: the TSA/No TSA meeting with Ashcroft. Without reading the letter, they have two witnesses that refute his testimony. Plus, they have already forgotten about Kyle Sampson, who testified at length about other inconsistencies with Abu’s testimony that had nothing to do with the hospital visit, but his role in the firings….which the hearings were about in the first place.
LHP Comey’s testimony was an inspiration, almost made me a believer again. “Almost”
Barney Frank,
You rocked on Hardball – explaining what working together with our money might accomplish: infrastructure, clean air…
You are co-sponsoring H Res 589: Let’s impeach Gonzales.
I am so proud of you. I love that you represent my district.
Do. not. stop. Continue to help us get our country back.
From a tiny farm: We love you, Barney:)
Kathleen @ 145
Fully subsidized by the bottom 99% of the American People!!! ;-)
“THESE ARE THE TIMES that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine
patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he
that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation
with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What
we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives
every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods;
and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM would
not be highly rated.”
— Thomas Paine, “The Crisis”, No. 1
… if you needed your spirit stirred, not shaken.
Boston1775 @ 154
you were great this morning!
fdl reader @ 144
I think the helocopter is looking for folks trying to rig explosives, not poision the water. DEP tests the water at intevals along the aquaduct so if there was a poisoning, they can shut off that flow.
There is a deliberate redundancy in the sytem so that if one pipeline goes down,they city will still have water.
It’’s not a secret, there are all kinds of article and photoographs of the 3rd water tunnel.
I have been down to the valve room 10 (I thinK, maybe more?) stories underground. It looked like something out of “Dune”
Very impressive, I will never forget it
Eureka Springs @ 121
here’s a song for ya……unfortunately, couldn’t find a youtube
http://www.superseventies.com/sl_wildwoodweed.html
LHP @ 149
Are you familiar with a book called The Works: Anatomy of a City by Kate Ascher? It lays out in beautiful diagrams and explanations, all the NYC infrastructure. I call it the terrorist’s planning book. And it was published after 9/11!
Kathleen @ 153
in case anyone didn’t get it at the time… here’s the mp3 audio i ripped of comey’s testimony before the SJC. it’s the only complete recording i’m aware of (recorded from the committee webcast). there have been hundreds of downloads.
eCAHNomics @ 130
Sorry to question here at FDL. Some of us have not been as priviliged as others to access the full spectrum of our education system…sorry I was not aware that this was from Shakespeare.
I’ve heard it said ‘we get the government we deserve’.
Elliott @ 157
Elliott, thank you. I had to leave because my beloved stepmother is gravely ill. Thank you so much for the pat on the back. I seem to be able to type fast. Who knew?
kathleen @ 162
I should follow my own advice & lighten up. Sorry I snapped at you.
I actually dated a Yale graduate who was completely unfamiliar with the Romeo & Juliette story. Going back to an earlier thread today, Horowitz would love to get his hands on that anecdote.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 163
This is the government my Dark Side son deserves, not me.
eCAHNomics @ 165
Thanks, apology accepted. Blue collar, union roots, did not read a great deal of Shakespeare.
NEW ORLEANS – Hurricane Katrina victims whose homes and businesses were destroyed when floodwaters breached levees in the 2005 storm cannot recover money from their insurance companies for the damages, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.
Boston1775 @ 164
I’m sorry about your stepmother.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 163
T. Paine was of the opinion that we DID get the government we — and all peoples — deserved. But there was the caveat: “… if you can keep it.” Awful close to the edge, aren’t we?
Get Tough @ 142
In combat fields of fire are established so that in case of attacks (by pissed off citizens) the people defending their positions have preset areas to fire into.
Washington DC has had barriers set up supposedly to prevent terrorist attacks against major monuments since shortly before the 2002 elections. I’ve been down there; I was there for antiwar demos in September 2005 and what I saw concerned me….the barriers are not just serving as protection, they are clearly designed to prevent people from converging on the WH.
I have been concerned for quite awhile that there is a mentality within the WH that we, the people should be considered a threat to be dealt with appropriately by the PTB.
eCAHNomics @ 93
Wasn’t it Henry VIII? I’m semi-literate!!! *g*
Oklahoma kiddo @ 168
We NEED democrats. Real democrats. We’ve lost our way.
Kathleen @ 145
And this will continue as it has for centuries. The rich and powerful continue to use those with less as disposable items (never humanize the people) to keep their profits up. If you are not part of the elite, you are human fodder. The people have no chance if they count on those in the position of wealth and power to be fair and kind to them. Won’t ever happen! The way the people save themselves is to rise up against the rich and powerful. If there were good rich and powerful folks out there, they long ago would have stricken down their own class. They didn’t and they don’t. The zero sum capitalistic game is greatly flawed.
What is the premise of capitalism?
Kathleen @ 162
In context it says that the best way to take control of a government is to kill all the lawyers first, not the usual take people have of just a lawyerly massacre.
(Although during my divorce, I must say……)
james @ 175
Or if you were ever married to one…..temptation!
Kathleen @ 145
When they are fat enough we get to eat them. Eat the Rich.
For all the terrific thinking and analysis here at FDL, Karl Rove is always several steps ahead. We need to become like Wayne Gretsky — skate to where the puck is going to be.
CTuttle @ 172
Henry VI, according to google.
behindthefall @ 156
Many thanks – Paine is soul stirring and timeless. Columbia University history professor Eric Foner penned what I believe to be the best biography of Thomas Paine. Wish I could afford to send his book to every member of the House and Senate for their recess reading/education.
eCAHNomics @ 150
I remeber one guy in the 1980’s was mad athis wife, she live in NYC, so he thought he was going to poison her by throwing paint? paint thinner? into one of the resevoirs. He has a whole truck full of the stuff. and had dumped a fair amount when the DEP police caugt him. So, a valve downstream was closed until the water tested clean. I do’t recall whether they burned the slick off or let it evaporate.
Everything was fine a couple days and even if he had not been caught, it would have been so diluted, it wa slaughable.
No, he wasn’t in his right mind.
Every so often, someone gets caught planning to blow up an aquaduct.
In the mid 1980’s AL Sharpton’s Act Up groupd had a little job action that turned into a riot at a job sight in Brooklyn sinking a shaft for the planned supply lines from te new 3rd water tunnel.
A bunch of sand hogs got trapped underground and could have died.
I was one pissed off Prop when I got to that job sight. Said amny many prayers until they brought the bucket up with the miners half frozen, but alive.
Gee, there was time I’d be watching the Newshour right now.
but no more.
james @ 175
How about narrowing it by executive fiat to all Federalist Society members!!! It would be the ‘right’ way!!! ;-)
eCAHNomics @ 166
You know “we get the government we deserve”. This is what ultimately really frightens me. While we know that the majority of Americans do not support the occupation and war in Iraq now that they have had access to the truth and not lies and spin. It is the lack of caring about the Iraqi people and what our invasion has done to their country and to their lives which really concerns me.
The Bush administrations invasion (ours) we created an enviroment for religious hatred and violence to be unleashed. I really look at Iraq as the U.S.’s Sabra and Shatilla, where we purposely (I believe this) created the enviroment for outrageous violence, death and destruction to take place. I am convinced that this is just what the neo, theo, oil and defense cons wanted.
“THESE ARE THE Soles that Times men try”
(shoe store near the Grey Lady.)
behindthefall @ 156
After the 1st American Revolution the Tories (supporters of the status quo) either left the country of their own accord or were forced to leave. The question that needs to be answered now is what to do with the Republicans.
eCAHNomics @ 179
Dang, see even my math was fuzzy! :~)
eCAHNomics @ 160
I’ve heard of it. Meant to buy it, never got around to it. ut tahnks for reminding me b/c my law partner’s birthday is next week and I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to get him. He would love that.
james @ 171
That’s very informative. Being a civilian all my life, I don’t see the angles like you would, that’s for sure. I also find it disheartening that they shut down Pennsylvania Avenue, too. It used to be you could drive right up to the front door of the WH, or at least in front of it. Next, they are going to prevent foot traffic on Penn, too.
looseheadprop @ 149
lhp:
If you think about the streets in lower Manhattan and how narrow they are, they are perfect for people to conduct guerilla acts against the government, kind of like in Paris.Chinatown and Little italy would be perfect for urban actions and they are situated perfectly near Baxter Street and the court houses.
26 Fed is also surrounded by narrow streets. Fields of fire would allow forces to defend buildings against a sustained attack by troops/crowds.
One of the reasons Hausmann created the Grand Boulevards and wide streets in Paris was to prevent further actions like those during the Commune. You can see in parts of Montmartre and other areas how easy it would be to defend a neighborhood, by residents, against govt troops.
my email is clichyatmacdotcom.
Right now out to dinner with my daughter for her BD.
behindthefall @ 156
Thomas Paine is alive and vibrant in America, 2007. His words quiver with life.
Bluetoe @ 186
Send them to New Nova Scotia, somewhere in the Arctic. They can defend the North Pole from the Russians.
Elliott @ 182
Good for you. The News Hour is a waste of time. One sided and extremely favorable to the Republicans. Of course Jim Leher never met a Republican he didn’t like. The man has little depth and either does his “show.”
eCAHNomics @ 165
Well all righty – can’t speak for kathleen but I’m cheered you’ve lived up to my sense that you are a gentleman scholar. ;~)
since everyone seems to need a little humor this evening, I recount to you a true Yale story:
A famous art history professor named Vince Scully (still alive? no clue) once taught a famous class in Art History that was taken by about 60% of the Yale freshman class. A certain freshman attended this class, a wrestler-type jock. There came a time when a paper was due. Mr. Wrestler Freshman, poring over his textbook in search of a topic, came upon the artist………Circa. The next day he handed in his paper, telling all about the great, prolific, multi-talented, long lived Circa.
His grade was recorded as: “F — Are you a moron?”
A true story.
Now you can see why george bush graduated from that venerated institution.
Elliott @ 192
Was thinking of something a little warmer. Say Devils Island. Maybe the French would lease it to us. Wouldn’t that be rich? Republicans sweating out their pennance on a French owned island.
Bluetoe @ 193
PBS, NPR, the big three, CNN, MSNBC. The Bushies learned from Nixon’s mistakes in the 70s. Don’t fight the media, join them. The blogosphere must be protected due to the media’s capitulation to the Bushies and their agenda.
LHP @ 181
Loved your first story. It’s the kind of thing I had imagined might be the case.
From what I’ve observed the aquaducts where they’re on the surface, they’re covered by quite a bit of dirt & grass (hmmmm, wonder when they mow it-I’ve never actually seen that happening though they always look pretty well trimmed), so that it would take quite a bit of explosive to punch a meaningful hole.
I’m especially proud of my guy, Mike Arcuri for being a co-sponsor. He’s a baby – a first timer in the House. I was proud to support him with money through Maurice Hinchey(who said Mike could use it more), and I am glad to see that my unending emails to him and calls to his office have perhaps helped to influence him a tad. Go Mike and Maurice!!!!
punaise @ 185
*groan* Heh.
punaise @ 185
This is why I love you
Elliott @ 182
Feb. ‘06, I finally had enough of the News Hour. I was so suspicious of what was happening, I just turned it off and went to the net looking for real news, which I had never done before. Within hours i discovered blogs and the third blog FDL.. And the rest is….
Boston 1775 Sorry about your “beloved” stepmother.
Elliott @ 182
I’ve always had the impression that they all talk … at … half … speed … to … make … sure … we … understand.
Get Tough @ 189
it is not only disheartening, it is a HUGE pain in the ass for people who have to drive in this city. Everytime I am stuck in a jam that would be vastly relieved by having that road open……and I think about WHO is being “protected” by those concrete posts……I get……well, um, quite angry.
James @136 and @190
Yours are the most striking, resonating comments I’ve read, ever.
Toby Wollin @ 199
Why is Hinchey not supporting it? I called his office a week ago to encourage him to do so, but no soap.
Elliott @ 192
Ironically, half my family fled from NH and Upstate NY during it and settled within Norththumberland, NS and I’m a consequence from twixt a reunion of the two!!!
Elliott @ 192
I was actually thinking of somewhere a little warmer. Say Devils Island. Maybe the French would lease it to the U.S.. Poetic justice would be Republicans doing their pennance on an island owned by the French which is getting hotter and hotter because of global climate change.
oddmommy @ 195
That was priceless!
Listening to NPR. Interviewee is describing how the tribal lords in Afghanistan can’t be controlled. He is just stating a fact. What’s wrong with these nomadic peoples? They won’t let us help “modernize them”. They could have tin roof huts like the nomadic bands in New Guinea so generously constructed for them by Western oil and mineral companies – replacing their airy huts with tin oven habitats.
eCAHNomics @ 198
I will not get int a discussion on the internet of how to blow them up. For obvious reasons.
I love NYC tap water
yearly kos on the AP wire
Blogs Make Their Political Mark
August 02, 2007 5:19 PM EDT
CHICAGO – Liberal bloggers can count the ways they are making their presence felt in the presidential race.
More than 1,500 bloggers are expected this weekend at the second YearlyKos Convention, which has about 70 sponsors, including unions and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Credentials to cover the event total about 250.
The most telling number, however, is seven – as in seven of the eight Democratic candidates were scheduled to address the convention on Saturday, including top-tier candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.
Sen. Joe Biden will be in his home state promoting his recently published autobiography. “Love ya, Kos, but you ain’t Delaware,” he said Wednesday.
The response reflects the power of the party’s liberal voters who hold sway in the primaries and the emergence of the Internet blogs in daily political discourse. A meeting of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council earlier this week failed to attract any of the White House hopefuls.
DailyKos founder Markos Moulitsas Zuniga said there’s clear appeal for the candidates to attend the bloggers’ convention.
“We provide bodies, we provide troops on the ground,” he said. “It’s a more activist audience.”
Blogger Rebekah Martin said bloggers have a responsibility that extends beyond their computer keyboards.
“You’ve got to push back from the keyboard, get out and do something for your candidate,” said Martin, a software analyst from Austin, Texas.
Harvard University’s Elaine Kamarck said the candidates are drawn to the bloggers because getting high marks on the Web can translate to donations and support without a campaign ever spending money.
“What they’re doing is creating buzz and harvesting opinions and that turns into dollars,” said Kamarck, a public policy lecturer at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government who once worked in the Clinton administration.
(snip)
“You’re talking about hundreds of thousands if not millions dedicated progressive activists, people who want to make a difference and change this country for the better,” said Peter Daou, Internet director for the Clinton campaign.
Blogs like DailyKos also get attention in the mainstream press, which helps to elevate the importance of bloggers, said Jeffrey Cole, director of the Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication.
Recently, DailyKos has been part of a campaign by liberal activists to pressure advertisers to abandon the Fox News Channel. Among the grievances is Fox’s Bill O’Reilly, who has been critical of left-wing bloggers.
(snip)
For New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson it’s a priority to court bloggers by meeting with them on the campaign trail because they can spread the campaign’s message around the country, said his spokeswoman Katie Roberts.
“It’s a very integral part of the campaign,” she said.
oddmommy @ 195
Priceless – if you have any other true stories of the Cod Piece in Chief’s under reported failures do share. First time I’ve laughed out loud all day.
Oh…you mean Summer CAMP?
FunnyDiva
Eureka Springs @ 121
looseheadprop @ 210
And now for the rest of the story.
That student today is a political appointee in the Justice Department!
oddmommy @ 195
brilliant – and Scully’s a brilliant art historian (and lecturer). He was onto Haussman’s Paris boulevards also.
Eureka Springs @ 202
Eurekan History!
I found fdl just before the site moved to here, and the rest is…
well, they’re gonna find me cobwebbed to the keyboard one day.
oddmommy @ 205
That, too.
Scarecrow Upstairs
eCAHNomics @ 204
and it fills out the hour
HP @ 212
Gotcha. I actually shortened my comment for that reason & had second thoughts about what I did say.
Second your thought on NYC tap water. I fill up bottles & put it in the fridge. The chlorine evaporates quickly & then is much better than any other water I’ve ever had.
CTuttle @ 208
you, Tory you!
there’s a Tory in my past as well, and to Nova Scotia they went, too.
New thread.
Bluetoe @ 216
Vincent Scully
http://www.yale.edu/arthistory…..ypage.html
eCahnomics – Hinchey is doing his own thing.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list…..tions.html
He’s going the censure route and going after Bush, Cheney, et al. Sounds like Maurice doesn’t think inpeachment has a shot.
Oddmommy at 195
“His grade was recorded as: “F — Are you a moron?””
That’s a good question! I don’t recall…
fdl reader @ 101
I don’t know…
What I guess is that bin Laden wanted to wreak havoc on us and Bush was the perfect fool to react as he did.
If you look at a fuse, it just requires a match lit at one end. You don’t have to stand there with a blowtorch. Just get out of the way.
looseheadprop @ 212
i live near the ashokan – walk there all the time. i can attest to them having very VERY serious security measures in effect there since sept 11th
eCAHNomics @ 222
hinchey your rep? mine too ;)
Toby Wollin @ 226
locals are calling for a meeting w/ maurice on this subject. i will report back here after it happens. i met him in the garden shop 2 months ago – asked if he would be interested in doing a session here – (he said yes) – i need to follow up on this.
LS @ 31
…and make sure you read through the comments, as well.
Thanks,
Bob in HI
Bob, did you see the comments by 4real? That ‘presentation’ struck me as a little… um, what’s the word… nuts.
No. paranoid.
LATE NITE!!
looseheadprop @ 55
My understanding is that, even if Executive Privilege does apply, it is not embedded in the law. It’s somewhat like how a witness that testifies to a Grand Jury can discuss their testimony publically if they wish.
Folks have spoken about their conversations with the President for decades. They have never, ever been prosecuted for any information that was not justifiably classified for National Security issues.
And no one befor Bush has ever argued that Executive Privilege is extensible beyond Private COnversations with the President, himself. Conversations between Executive Office staffers or issues that related to ACTIONS and not ADVICE have never ben considered protected.
These guys are not simply clamming up about their ADVICE to the President…but what they did, others told them, the orders they received, failing to explain or discuss emails, etc. Many of these actions may have been criminal, as they violated the Hatch Act…others may have violated Federal Electoral Laws. Thus they are, even if themselves not guilty of the violations, but aware of them…involved in a type of Obstruction of Justice called Misprision of Felony. Executive Privilege can never, ever trump the investigation of criminal acts.
oddmommy @ 195
Recall that Bush was a Yale History Major…and during one debate asserted that the Supreme Court in the Dred Scot decision OVERTURNED the Constitution (His point being that the Court in Roe v. Wade did the same)….
Except that it took the 14th and 15th Amendments to actually de-institutionalize slavery…and that the Court at the time they made the Dred Scot decision was (terribly true) justified in making the decision with a Constitution that asserted that human beings were property.
How could Bush, a Yale History major, think that rights conferred by the 14th and 15th Amendment existed in the 1840’s?
I guess this is the same President who thinks that HE CREATES LAW, and that he can suspend Habeas Corpus at will, and that “it’s the Democrats that are not getting things done” when he declares “Executive Privilege” and denys them documents essential to do their work, vetos half the bills they pass, and encourages his own Party to filibuster.
The Democrats should call him on this. If he wants “business done” in August…have him insist that the Republican Party provide HALF their membership (matching the Democrats) in the Senate so that a quorum can exist. And tell them to stop filibustering bills, and allow them to come to the floor for votes.