Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Friday rejected referring the House’s contempt citations against two of President Bush’s top aides to a federal grand jury. Mukasey says they committed no crime.
Mukasey said White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former presidential counsel Harriet Miers were right in refusing to provide Congress White House documents or testify about the firings of federal prosecutors.
"The department will not bring the congressional contempt citations before a grand jury or take any other action to prosecute Mr. Bolten or Ms. Miers," Mukasey wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Fortunately, Speaker Pelosi is not willing to let it go:
By ordering the U.S. Attorney to take no action in response to congressional subpoenas, the Bush Administration is continuing to politicize law enforcement, which undermines public confidence in our criminal justice system.
Anticipating this response from the Administration, the House has already provided authority for the Judiciary Committee to file a civil enforcement action in federal district court and the House shall do so promptly. The American people demand that we uphold the law. As public officials, we take an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect our system of checks and balances and our civil lawsuit seeks to do just that.
I also liked this bit from her original letter to Mukasey, which really drives the issue home:
There is no authority by which persons may wholly ignore a subpoena and fail to appear as directed because a President unilaterally instructs them to do so. Even if a subpoenaed witness intends to assert a privilege in response to questions, the witness is not at liberty to disregard the subpoena and fail to appear at the required time and place. Surely, your Department would not tolerate that type of action if the witness were subpoenaed to a federal grand jury. Short of a formal assertion of executive privilege, which cannot be made in this case, there is no authority that permits a President to advise anyone to ignore a duly issued congressional subpoena for documents.
The Bush administration simply has no compunction about breaking the law, or misusing it to attack their enemies, because they own the sheriff. It’s like we’re living in a Dukesofhazzardocracy.
So kudos to Pelosi for going around the corrupt sheriff – but I’d be a hell of a lot more impressed if she hadn’t taken impeachment "off the table."
UPDATE: LS and Ann in Az both ask, "What about inherent contempt?" That’s a very, very good question, and one that I do not have a satisfactory answer to. And probably never will…
Related posts:
- Restoring the Rule of Law: Absence of Action is a Policy Choice, Too
- CIA Torture Report Remains Under Wraps; Has Rule of Law Resurfaced?
- Jawad, Ghailani Cases Challenge US Torture Under Rule of Law
- McCain, Lieberman Schooled on Rule of Law by Kris, Johnson
- Why is Obama Debating Cheney About the Rule of Law?
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((( Eli )))
Eli!
Zed!
Hi, Petro! Hi, Buidun!
Nice try, Lou…
Somebody had to say it!
Hiya Eli!
Dood! oops, ELI!
Um, Biodun, rather. I think my fingers were a little off-track…
Hiya, LL!
Good post, Eli. Kudos to Nancy indeed; maybe she’s starting to wake up a bit?
LL! Aloha!
Nyuk nyuk nyuk … beat ya Lou …
Aloha CT!
Can the legal eagles here describe what happens next and about on what time scale? Days? Weeks?
“Rule of LAW.”
How quaint!
This is the kind of story that should be breaking news on all channels..
Thanks, LL. I sure hope so.
I was just coming to FDL to see whether Christy or any of you know what leverage there is in this lawsuit … will sit back and read …
“Mukasey says they committed no crime.” Ummmmm. Oh.
Cool…new law…subpoenas don’t matter. Congress doesn’t matter.
Mucus Mukasey is a fool to end his long career in such an embarrassing manner.
Go Pelosi! Hang Tough!
Hey Buddy, how’s life in Paradise ?
Is it safe yet to call Mr. Mukasey a political hack?
‘ but I’d be a hell of a lot more impressed if she hadn’t taken impeachment “off the table.” ‘
But she hasn’t really taken impeachment off the tabe, in reality. She just said a foolish thing for poltical reasons. She can change her mind, and should, if circumstances warrent it. She will, if she is an honest and courageous leader who obeys her oath to support the constitution. I hope her oath is more important than some loser, poltical consulant tested, counterproductivd PR boilerplate she recited early in her term as Speaker.
Mukasey should be impeached for this.
I’m proud of Nancy for this. It may be a master plan for Americans to DEMAND impeachment.
I wish I knew. I think a criminal prosecution by a USA (or better yet, impeachment proceedings) would be preferable, but obviously that’s not going to happen.
Hello? You have to show up… Wake up, Mukasey!
BTW … thank you very much, Chuck F*cking Schumer, for Mukasey !
It’s been safe ever since he refused to say waterboarding was torture and should be illegal.
What qualities would President John McCain search for in an AG?
Gorgeous day! The trade winds have dispersed the Vog we’ve been beset with…!
When no-one in the Bush administration or the GOP raised any objection to him, that was a pretty good indication that the fix was in.
B- bu- but .. they didn’t break any laws … this is just political gamesmanship by the Dems … feel free to add your wingnut excuses …
Obedience.
Yo Eli!
I keep telling myself impeachment could be put back on the table any day now, it kinda works, sorta maybe.
Deputy Dawg
http://digg.com/political_opin….._To_Life_2
Oh, I know that BushCo wanted Mukasey … I’d like to ask Chuck and the Boys what the F*ck they were thinking …
Yo Elliott! I’m just not sure there’s enough time now.
The Attorney General cannot be the Sheriff in a lawless Administration. The law depends on the threat of removal from office, which only the congress can enforce. Taking impeachment off the table means there is no mechanism to enforce the law against a lawless executive. Everything else is delusion.
taking impeachment off the table is the most lawless action Congress could take.
And as EW explained next door earlier today, Pelosi has handed the ball off to Conyers, who has followed through by filing a civil lawsuit.
Bob in HI
i’m confused by this. so, does the house or the judiciary committee file with the court?
Excellent !!! BTW, we got 4 inches of snow in 3 hours … and I don’t mean ‘The Fun Stuff’ … *g*
Maybe Chuck owed Mukasey a Really Big Favor. Or else he’s just an enormous sucker and/or tool.
I wrote DiFi immediately after the Telecom vote in the Senate and reminded her of the warnings on Mukasy. She wrote back explaining the wonderful work she did on the telecom sitiation, and completely ignored my question about whether she was proud of her defense of Mukasy. (I do know that she never saw the letter, btw. Just her lackeys ignoring my question.)
“taking impeachment off the table is the most lawless action Congress could take.”
I agree. Replace Pelosi as Speaker!!!
Bob in HI
Thanks Bob, I’ll take a look over at EW’s site …
Someone who would continue to spit on the Constitution.
The House. Look next door at EW’s place. Letter from Conyers, initiating the civil lawsuit.
Bob in HI
Not surprised but a bit surprised the the dem spine is still holding. Wow, I’m a downer *looking for wine glass*
((((( Loo Hoo )))))
I felt sick watching his nomination hearing … as though they were all under the control of One Evil Overlord …
Not to worry–I forgive you…*g* Hello from Paris…
Just like Roberts. And Alito.
My observation is that President McCain would hold out for a strict constuctionist type for AG. Strict construction, as they interpret strict construction.
They make “Raw” wine ?!! *g*
Yup !
I *knew* it!!!
But sometimes I think that they’ve taken impeachment off the table because they don’t want Bush to pardon anyone. That maybe, just maybe, they want these people to stand trial for their crimes.
Pollyannasville???
“taking impeachment off the table is the most lawless action Congress could take.”
Ding!
right. so why this bit in speaker pelosi’s letter?
is there something left for the house to do, or is it all in the control of the HJC?
sadly, yes
As it pertains to the Constitution, I would desire to be thought of as a fluid constructionist.
They kept saying they wouldn’t get the votes to remove Bush form office, but how could they know that without the investigation ?
OMG…this is so funny…Mr. LS is going to play guitar with Mike Huckabee tomorrow in Austin at an appearance he’s making! That should be interesting.
take your video camera, this I gotta see
Yep. Does it require a vote to start the investigation?
It’s time for new Democratic leadership.
Ask The AG to testify before Congress on why he won’t enforce the law. Then declare his answers crap and hold him in Contempt of Congress in the DC County jail no special jail for him!
After all Congress decides what is Contempt of Congress right?
Please tell him to remind Mike that McCain lurves Hagee …
All we need are some Congresspeople with Stones
That’s what it’s like. Who could possibly have imagined that America would be flushed? Thank all stars that Obama has come along now. I know, I’ve supported Hillary. But Obama is a superstar. The Africans love him because he’s black, the Muslims love him because of his name, and the Americans-and importantly the youth- love him because he just calmly speaks the truth. I’m a convert!!! YES WE CAN!
Someone on EW’s blog mentioned this … I’m sure Christy is hard at work on this …
I can’t go…but it is going to be filmed…tee hee.
Listen live to BBC World Service News here…
That and a reminder to the AG that other courts like the Hauge will be interested in people who cover up war crimes. It always helps to make things personal is my belief.
Hehehe lucky for me, wine is a raw food. It is not cooked (temp not over 115) so I’m in the clear!!!!
I’m gonna tell him to tell Mike not to rapture the world if he gets into office!!
OMG! You better have pictures and audio to share, LS. We want all of the inside skinny.
Is it too late to slap a “this machine kills fascists” sticker on the guitar?
Interesting.
Care to expand?
(Really.)
.
Great Minds think alike:)
Sounds logical. So disregard it. Republican traitors still have too much power.
My lady tells me moments ago, that we need to do three things after next November. Move President Obama into the White House, and get rid Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. Gawd, I love this woman.
Thanks again for the squash soup recipe. We’re having that as a starter until the pizza is ready. Yes, it’s a raw version (homemade onion cracker made in the dehydrator)
I agree. I am no lawyer, but that is why I question the wisdom of going through courts in any way. I think that if Congress wants to continue functioning as an equal branch, it must start reasserting its own autnomous powers.
This is essentially about very basic and deep interpretation of meaning of constitutional provisions, and how officials in different branches must function in order to uphold both letter and spirit of consitution.
At some point Congress will have to assert its own authority, especially given that it is very likely there are officials in both executive and judiciary who are now operating in bad faith constituionally (though they may be acting in very good faith from a narrow partisan political point of view).
So, impeachment is one of the tools of the legislative branch, and should be used now.
Some people here have shrunk from this concept, but Alexander Hamilton said that one of the functions of impeachment was as a sanction against political crimes against the constitution. I think that AH was right. If that scares people, I think it is only because it highlights that one side is playing for the ultimate stakes -permanent extra constitutional domination of the government of the US. Just sitting there doing nothing, or hoping that we can just wait it out, or that the next election will save us may feel like that safe policy. But in the meantime the other side is taking measures to corrupt elections, manipulate the popular opinion and information, and not least, is setting extremely dangerous precedents.
So the head in the sand approach feels safe, but it is really very risky and dangerous.
wobbly – NOW i understand what you wrote earlier today about making crackers and the dehydrator.
yum.
Mr. LS is gonna ask the Huckster if he knows Highway to Hell by ACDC…
The current situation is akin to a DA refusing to prosecute a case because he’s afraid it’ll make him unpopular and hurt his political career.
It’s simply not the right criterion to base a legal decision on.
So the head in the sand approach feels safe, but it is really very risky and dangerous.
That’s the thing. Allowing the current condition to remain enables a future president to declare “precedent”.
I, too, am no lawyer but it’s my understanding that a president can be impeached *after* leaving office. something to due with pension.
But I could be wrong.
.
And all the while I’ve been drinking Pomegranate juice, like a sucker … *g*
They need to remove him from office. Isn’t that obstruction of justice or does obstructing justice as far as Congress is concerned not matter?
I would love to know how to do this..especially onion crackers.
Once he’s gone, I think it’s going to be, “Thank God our long national nightmare is over – now let the healing begin!”
It’s 3:29 AM Saturday in Paris right now–54 F but wind is rattling my friend’s windows…got that kinda wind-rattling stuff in Minneapolis too…but outside was much colder. It’s actually more or less spring in Paris–at least for this weekend. Then Tuesday it’s back to the tundra in MN…
They’re not obstructing justice. They’re simply declining to enforce it.
Guthrie Rocks I have an idea of him doing the narration and sound track for a movie about the Spanish Civil war.
After all the first American General to lead Lefty Americans into battle was an African American and not Colin Powell so we get an Afircan American lock audience.
Hemmingway and Dorthy Parker as side characters Bush’s grand parents trading Nazi stocks while they sterlized undesirables even whites that should hurt the GOP in the South.
Plus nobody has done this film before now all we need is a good script.
And no I’m not that good a writer or well versed enough in the time period to pull it off.
Sides I am a blog commentor Baby not a hollywood person!
Mmmm … yummy … even my “Pizza & Beer” friends love that Butternut Squash Soup …
Well good folks… Lahoma has suggested I might want weigh the advantages and vote on going upstairs for a movie, hot chocolate and another pummeling by her at chess. And as usual we are going to be quite Democratic. We’re going upstairs.
Goodnight.
Lahoma and okk. ;0)
LOL i forget sometimes how strange that must appear to see someone writing about firing up the old dehydrator. sorry *g*
The crackers are a fantastic base to the pizza i do with hummus, green olives, tomatoes and zaa’tar. I also made choco cereal for mr
Impeach the Supremes for Bush vs Gore would be next!
The House and the Senate have held:
Bolten and Miers in Contempt House Judiciary since June
Bolten and Rove in Contempt Senate Judiciary
since December
It has been clear to both the House and Senate that Mukasey isn’t lifting a finger to do anything other than cover for his Unitary Exec.
They are both suffering from a chronic case of drag ass.
It has taken nearly a year for the House to bring the vote to the floor. The Senate has yet to bring the vote to the floor.
Both of them don’t need Mukasey to go forward.
Nothing is stopping them from exercising several other options they have had except their own bump on a log inertia.
Anderson v. Dunn 19 U.S. 204 (1821) upholds their contempt authority.
Either House or Senate can have the St.-at-Arms arrest them and then bring them to the floor of the chamber and vote on their prison term. That’s a criminal procedure. They have not.
They can file a civil action and hope the judge would hold them in contempt. Let’s go a step further here.
This would be appealed from District Court to the D.C. Circuit. In the D.C. Circuit of the 19 possible judges for panels, 16 are usually Bush rubber stamps and several have strong political ties to Republicans, and Brett Cavanaugh worked directly for Bush first as coordinator of Bush documents (a quintissential oxymoron) and then as Associate White House counsel.
So let me rephrase the civil contempt action Pelosi took. It’s symbolic but a complete dead end.
OT–
BBC–
Serb police officers arrested in Kosovo because they refuse to take orders from ethnic Albanian authorities….
Now it begins. But will go nowhere. The Serbs are simply bullheaded–and they lose!
I see what you’re saying.
Goddess, I’m so sick of these people…no conscious at all…just bend over for the Neocons.
Sake is a good raw food substitute for rum (not the same taste) but I have made some wonderful caipisakes (caipirinhas), mojitos and various other cocktails using sake as the liquor :)
“Thank God our long national nightmare is over – now let the healing begin!”
When Gerry Ford died a coupla years back all I could think was, “He SO fucked this nation.
To hell with “healing.”
.
My fav places in France are Provence, Nice and a small town named Monaco … *g*
I will post the recipe later for you :)
Oh my Lord … all that Pizza needs is a gentle drizzle of Greek Olive Oil …
Mukasey was put in place to protect the concept of unitary executive and will never take any action adverse to the Bush administration. He is Bush’s Sylvio Dante and you can think of him as a 50 foot firewall in front of them.
There will never be an SC (Special Counsel) from Mukasey and there will never be any significant investigation of this administration.
Siegelman’s attorneys request for an SC was laughable as are those from Congress.
Crap. I was afraid of that.
I wonder if the dead end is exactly the outcome she wants.
just bend over for the Neocons.
I don’t care for Larry Craig.
Whaaat?
.
Is that still possible ?
What about inherent contempt?
*tear in my eye* … I love you so much for telling me this … *g*
Two things. First, does anybody have any idea why they’re not pursuing the inherent contempt? Second, what’s to prevent them from impeaching Mukasey (or is this also a matter of they don’t have the votes?) And a third thing: what if they bleed the money dry–no money for DOJ? No money for the WH? Provide money to Soc. Sec. Admin. and some other things, but basically, no, I’ll say it again, NO MONEY FOR THE GWB ADMINISTRATION! They have to, they can’t get their rightful power back unless they close the purse strings!
Good question.
Zounds … dinner calls … hugs to you all …
Bon appetit, wobblybits !
Thank you.. I will be here throughout the evening.
And listen live to the the latest news bulletin here at BBC World Service Radio
(They’re talking about NASA now–did something happen yesterday? Today?)
I was just listening to Mike Malloy’s take on this issue; he was implying exactly that.
What would it take to make inherent contempt a reality? And is that as much of a “stretch” for Pelosi as impeachment? More? Less?
We LOVE that in this house! LOL
completely agree. better kabuki, not better oversight.
I’m there :)
Better that then get all tangled up in court for..ev..er…I would think. The stupid thing is, they should have just come to Congress and said, I don’t recall or something….they are cruising for a unitary executive ruling…Grrrrrrr.
It is often very hard to escape the impression that the Democrats in both houses are actively playing to lose.
Whatever happened to inherent contempt, anyway? Ya know, the contempt enforced by the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, where the miscreants are stashed in a lonely cell under the rotunda until they decide to talk?
That’s where I want to see Josh and Harriet. Yesterday would be fine.
yep–those are my favorites too. Nice, as they say, is nice (English meaning)…
And a little cute village called Ville-Neuf-les-Averyron, near Brive-La-Gaillard, north of Toulouse…
did you see my response last thread about number of continents?
We can argue that its an ongoing crime and that Bush getting elected stopped the clock for the statue of limitations. Since we can’t find the WH emails the Supremes can’t prove they were not coluding with Bush.
Or do you have another objection in mind besides Nancy and Harry lack the Stones?
Welcome and enjoy dinner
Yeah, I updated the post to add that question. It had been buzzing around my subconscious that there was some other alternate approach, but I couldn’t pull it out.
Sorry OT: can someone here interpret the EADS/Northrop Tanker award, over Boeing?
Would they really award an assembly job of a French built plane to Alabama, because Boeing is in a largely DEM state, and AL is REP?
BO and Hillary may want to get out ahead of this one…
What other kind of snow is there?
(disclaimer: skied again today with my kid)
Or playing to just barely hang on/hold out till the next election/next cycle, which is a variation of the craven, lawless paradigm the repubs operate under.
Come on Man I want then in County in General Population with people who know solders in Iraq? Your wrecking my evil plan:)
impeach!
I’m wondering what some of you have mentioned. Has anything really changed? I’d love to believe in Nancy but I’ve been disappointed before.
Over and over.
I didn’t even really believe that impeachment was truly off the table. So much for my instincts.
how about impeaching mukasey?
Plus I wanted to send them the OZ DVD.
It is good to hear Pelosi talking a gg anyways.
need to crank it up!
Agreed. Sorry TSF – my prior post was meant as a response to Eli @124.
It would be nice… Easy enough to do, and a committee vote is sufficient to force the Sgt at Arms to act!
I feel the same way you do we have to replace Nancy unless she gets on the stick now!
Suits me, if they can pull it off. But if they didn’t impeach AG2, and they waved Mukasey right through even though it was obvious he was going to be a good company man, it looks a bit strange.
why does mukasey smell like a dem caucus to hedge the elections.
I still don’t understand what playing to lose buys them. I mean, what’s the payoff? Unless there’s an actual, literal payoff.
Biodun, been in Paris once, as a teenager. One of my favorite memories was discovering this little cafe that served sandwiches. Thick slices of ham with the most delicious butter on crusty french bread. OMG, they were delicious. I’ve tried to duplicate them. But never got it as good as that cafe.
Certainly sounds like Abuse of Power, Obstruction of Justice and Contempt of Congress to me!
Can someone tell me why the f*ck the Beeb has been talking about NASA as breaking news for the past half-hour? Did something happen in the last 24 hours in the US (I’ve been in transit and out of it…)
(Meanwhile, I can’t seem to be able to login into my BBC admin coz my “assignment” doesn’t really begin until 7 AM GMT Saturday morning–very strict about that sorta thing this side of the pond…)
Yes, impeach Mukasey. That won’t happen.
We can only hope that the next congress reissues the subpoenas. I assume this one lapses with this congress. Pelosi and the leadership should put on the record that they will re subpoena. We can assume Rove et. al. are thinking this will all be over come next January, Instead let them spend the next 10 months paying lawyers and worrying.
idk, never listen, reminds me too much of nrp.
focusing on the international space station…loss of the shuttle ah ah
Isn’t he subject to impeachment too? This is inane. So they break the law with impunity and leave us no choice and we just take it and let them run out the clock.
Anger is all I can muster. At least testify and take the fifth amendment. I mean really…this sets up the very worst example for future public servants.
My sister went there she says that instead of Hostess they have fresh pastry and some places even have Choclate moose sorry no dictionary in Californa
it seems NASA has announced that the shuttle program will be shut down…
possible loss of international space station…???
Where did the GOP find an African American SELLOUT to appear on CNN?
With no word of a replacement vehicle? Seriously, WTF?
Anyone want to wager (payable to Blue America) whether or not Air Force One lands in Paraguay a day before 1-20-09?
Ben Stein on CNN supports 100yrs of war McCain that means more taxes on business since the middle class is tapped. The business channel is so bought off.
NASA confirms next shuttle launch March 11
Plenty of them, as well as Latino
can u cash paintings?
Ask Redstaters and Michelle Malkin you need suckers for that bet.
as I said, possible loss of shuttle program–
Is this one of those instances where US MSM is keeping quiet about it? Whereas BBC Newsistalking about it?
Breaking News at FDL Friday evening??? at 9:02 PM?
Cubans ?
Neil Bush Visits Paraguay- As Guest of the Moonies!
What! Is Neil Bush a Moonie convert? Is this why Bush has been so cosey with Sun Myung Moon and his gang? And is this why Bush bought land in Paraguay?
This should be very interesting to the evangelicals who consider the Moonies a bizarre mind-control cult! Me too!
Jeremy Paxman [?] interviewing Nobel laureate Sieglitz re America’s 3 trillion dollar war in Iraq now on BBC America Newsnight.
Bon soir, Biodun!
Sorry if I have no warm feelings for Pelosi. Bushco knows they can do whatever they want, break every law, bankrupt the treasury, steal our national treasure for himself and his cronies, direct his army to kill millions and Pelosi will not impeach. This is preposterous considering they impeached a president over a blow job. When I think about this shit it makes my head want to explode.
Good catch I want Jeb out of the country too:)
Thanks–
but see my 16. Can you dig up some more on this? I’ll set to work on things from this side of the pond…see what I can dig up. I’ll send links…
Yeah. I can understand wanting to retire the shuttles, but at least when the shuttles were brought out it was while the other flight options were still running!
And of course, the US MSM is mum about it, this is their billion dollar baby even if the Shrub thumbs his nose at science in general. He gives enough to NASA to keep it running and not much more.
I will never forgive her for that. And if *this* move turns out to be nothing more than designed-to-fail kabuki, then she is officially dead to me.
Not sure how to enter that result into a Blue America entry..)
I think Patagonia is close enough too, but you don’t count Australia? They taught us in school that Australia is a continent; do you consider it like Pluto (some consider Pluto too small to be a planet), too small to be a continent? Anyway, have you been there?
Prince Harry puts the Bush twins to shame!
bonne soiree…*g* bon soir means good night…*g*
lol, yeah, kinda a square peg to a round whole :)
I do not consider Australia a planet.
IMHO, the dems are running out the clock while pretending to do something now in order to placate us. After November, they will all say in unison that it’s best to put this acrimony behind us, or some such nonsense.
From 2/27/08:
NASA Planning Moon Collision
“I do not consider Australia a planet.”
That is what I like about FDL -they take fearless stands and never retreat, come what may!
OT … but it’s nice to read one thread that does not contain a criticism of a Dem nominee … come on people, we’re in this together …
((( RBG )))
Very funny, and Hi, Eli. Great post! I’m psyched! I get so POed about the balance of power in our own government and the fact that our elected officials are not doing the jobs we’re paying them for, I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore. But we were talking about whether there are five or seven continents.
i meant my 164…
Boring. If they had any guts, they’d file impeachment charges against both the AG and the US Attorney. And if they don’t have any guts, it’s hard for me to fault Mukasey for not taking them seriously.
lmao, idk, i’m down with Australia as a planet.
Your candidate sucks. :-)
LOL!
I firmly believe that once the Bushies are gone, all investigations will immediately cease.
All your candidate are belong to suck.
Thanks…maybe I should tell BBC News to hire you as a freelancer…but I’m still chasing my own stuff about NASA shutting shuttle program…
I’ll second that emotion and will savor the moment.
BTW i like how my Mac says that ;)
The Google is our friend.
NASA daily status report for the International Space Station.
LOL … how’s it goin’, eh ?
I don’t know what you mean, but then, I’ve never understood Mac users. :-)
Anyone see this yet?
Banks cut your lines of credit
We are anonymous.
All your candidate are belong to suck.
to suck, to suck
He’d pay attention fast enough if nobody in his department got a paycheck! There are so many ways to cut off the funding, I doubt that the Repugs could block it from happening! When are they gonna learn? They can’t be this stupid! They’ve given up a lot already and gotten nothing for their trouble. They all seem to be absolutely terrible negotiators. Stop giving them money! Period!
Don’t have a Cow, man ! *g*
according to the NYTimes categories, Australia is not a continent by itself but part of Asia. That’s why Australia is confused about its own identity as a “Western” country and/or is it part of Asia? Australian govt. policies bear all this out. You can do the research. i have too much on my own plate right now…*g*
well other than the fancy gui, they are mostly just unix n00bs now ;)
Doin’ OK. Are you from Canada?
not just cubans, there are repugs in every group
lol, o no u didnit say cow!!!111
Yes, they can. The only prominent Democrat who seems willing to “punch back” is Barack Obama, which is one of the reasons people like him so much.
I’d rather see your paintings ;)
((RBG)) Hey, Spring Training’s afoot! ;-)
As you may be aware I’m an advocate of “post-term impeachment” when it comes to people like Mukasey interfering with the Constitutional Powers of Congress to perform its mandatory oversight role.
Congress has the power to impeach after an office-holder has left office, either through resignation, dismissal or the term closing out. Congress can undertake any action, short of imprisonment or fines, and that includes precluding the person convicted of impeachment receiving “any position of profit, honor, or trust” under the United States ever again.
No future appointments, no contracts, no pension, no perpetual healthcare or security, no ability to use their title as one of honor, no use of office space or staff…and no ability to withhold from the public official documents (Bush’s self-granted Executive Power given to Presidential and Vice-Presidential Records]. In fact, such an individual could not give speeches to fundraise for government supported buildings (such as the GWB “Impeached and Convicted Presidential” Library), nor could items acquired while President be placed there.
Not only is post-appointment impeachment clearly allowed in the Constitution, there is Congressional precedent. Grant’s Secretary of War William W. Belknap was impeached (by a unanimous vote of the House) after he resigned following accusations that he offered positions for cash. Although the Senate failed to convict Belknap most agreed that the impeachment itself was legal, and his narrow avoidance of conviction was because he had already resigned and faced possible criminal charges outside.
Thanks–I’m sure we can work as a team and come up with something…
Look, I know BBC. The will never devote a whole hour in breaking news time to something that is not breaking news…
Yep !
I knew you’d get my subtle hint … *g*
I see that! Good luck! I don’t think I wanna know!
Yep … Toronto …
yep–see my 202
Am catching up on this thread—doing lotsa other things at the moment…*g*
We are more vindictive to our own. I don’t think that I will have to raise a hand…Yet
Can, should, won’t. Alas.
ah, non.
Bon nuit, good night.
Bon soir, good evening.
Well, that’s certainly different from the news channels here.
Exactly. The Rats would be afraid Tweety will say they’re angry Bush-haters.
We need Nancy and Harry to see the light or this will happen after the election. Provided we replace them.
Hey, guys (meaning everyone) .
I just got back from dinner out and I ran into my friend, Cuba.
We were each there with our respective sons. Met. Cool.
I sent him a piece of boysenberry pie with vanilla ice cream.
He said, Deb, you know my heart.
Not Paris, but not bad for a Friday night in Sylmar, CA.
… floats like a Butterfly and stings like a Bee …
Biodun,
unfortunately the shuttle program has been on a death watch since the Challenger disaster in 1986.
who was commander in chief then?
the final nail in the coffin was the Columbia disaster in 2003.
who was commander in chief then?
in all this time (22 years) no replacement vehicle. no progress in our space program, under several different admins.
22 years.
Less time than it took to put a man on the moon with relatively primitive technology.
There is no plan for moving forward, in space, or on our planet.
Didja tell him about the name change ? *g*
hmmmmm…
y, thank you, _my_friend_, for the segue.
I’ll use TMNT next time (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) *g*
Don’t you have to show up for inherent contempt?
Big P
I did not.
Jest Friday nite, talkin’ at a neibahhh stuff
Short and sweet. Kiss, kiss, my son, his son, so nice to meet cha stuff.
I’ll save that for the next time I see him at the pool parlor.
talking about usage in France, not in the US…
just wishful thinking on my part. not reality based.
everything that’s happened this past year is consistent with a house democratic leadership that wants us to think they are opposing bush, when they are doing no such thing.
beware the kabuki – they have been putting a lot of effort into it (and their propoganda efforts) as we’ve started seeing through their bs.
Heros on a Half Shell.
ah demi, demi, demi…*g*
I fear you’re right. At least they’ve been putting on a show – the Senate Dems haven’t even bothered to do that.
because he is.
I got them carpal tunnel blues and all the things I’ve been doing really suck bad. So I’m giving it up and taking a tax preparation course.
(Not!)
Heh, by not showing up they epitomize contempt of congress, in any and all the varied ways… Inherent or other means…!
dodd et al did for a little bit.
Hey lookie what I just dug up!
http://www.undispatch.com/arch…..gs_kos.php
Ah, the good old days…
and…
From a CNN transcript, Aired August 23, 2000 – 12:30 p.m. ET
Did any pundit EVER say things like that about Gonzales? No. How about Mukasey? It’s long past time for demands that the Attorney General prove his indepndence from the President.
:D
As liberal as San Francisco is, I don’t think they are down for replacing Pelosi. Don’t ask me why but she is wildly popular there. These so called leaders have to go. I would give anything for Sheehan to hand Pelosi her hat when she’s up next.
This is gonna go down well … “So anyways, a few people on a blog, includin’ a Yogi in Toronto were asking about my nails … one thing led to another and the next thing I know, they all think I’m Demi Moore …” *g*
Baby, you know I yam who I yam.
One of my favorite songs….Judy Collins…
My father always promised us
That we would live in France.
We’d go boating on the Seine
And, I would learn to dance.
Still a little weepy about my dear old Daddy.
7 months it’s been.
Show up, where? My understanding is that the basis for inherent contempt is that you don’t show up, so the Congress sends their Sergeant-in-Arms out after you. I guess I’m thinking of it as some sort of a bench warrant. But the Sergeant-in-Arms actually arrests you and puts you into a jail for Contempt of Congress (as opposed to Contempt of Court). No? Where are you legal eagles when we need you. C’mon you guys! Enlighten us!
True, true. Dodd, at least, I think was for real. Reid, not so much.
UN Dispatch!
I think maybe people just love the idea that *their* Rep or Senator is a big important hotshot, even if they’re a complete tool.
Drat … Hitchens will be on Bill Maher tonight … looks like I’m missing RealTime 2 weeks in a row …
(Me, if I were in Nevada, I would probably vote for a Republican over Reid just to get rid of his sorry ass)
You! :)
(sounds a bit like a pitch for a show or sumptin.)
Ah, mon ami, but I am not in France. I shall visualize with great envy you sitting outside a cafe with not a drop of snow in sight.
Am liking a lot BBC America Newsnight. BBCAN is to American networks’ nightly news as gold is to dross.
So far they’ve interviewed the Nobel laureate economist, Ralph Nader, Bellinger [?] State Dept Legal Advisor
Not a whiff of infotainment or TTW [Tweety, Timmeh, Wolfie] or Faux News.
Bliss.
look dodd was the only presidential candidate i gave money to (twice), and i don’t regret it. but dodd promised to filibuster the bill, and he didn’t.
You can download Maher’s show from iTunes. The audio is posted in a day or two, and later the video. And it’s free. At least it still was last week.
* pounces on selise in a tigger like fashion *
“Being Demi Moore” … I’m sure that’s an original idea … *g*
Dahlins, All,
It’s almost pumpkin time for me, so, may I say
Bon Soir, Mes amis…I hope that’s right.
You boys know you you are….
Yes indeedy.
In my opinion she and those like her are far more than complete tools. They are complicit in the crimes of Bushco. Not to mention they have all failed to support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. These assholes go through the motions meanwhile the constitution becomes useless because no one is willing to enforce it.
and if the house leadership were serious about fisa – why are the going to write another bill next week? what’s wrong with the bill they already passed? other than jello jay the republicans don’t like it?
I have Dish … what I meant was that I wouldn’t waste an hour watching Hitchens, Kingston, Frum, etc. …
True. The first time around, Reid folded before Dodd had to filibuster. The second time around, he made some kind of ill-advised deal. I think he promised to filibuster the final House-Senate bill if it comes out of committee with immunity still in it. So I guess we’ll see…
I think he might have been the only presidential I gave money to as well (also twice, at least). I might have given Edwards a little after Dodd dropped out, but I’m not positive.
The above quote is from Wikipedia. Unfortunately, I could not find the citation for their number 5, but I can see now that I will have to look to find out more about when and how Australia was not considered a continent since I was in school. For now, though, I really want to know more about Inherent Contempt!
When the Republicans all walked out of the conference committee, I figured the Democrats should have just gone forward with who was left. Pretty sure there was a majority against immunity there.
{{{demi}}}
I do not consider Inherent Contempt to be a planet either.
you are ever so sharp. Not in a cynical cutting way but rather in very illustrative way of cutting thought the chase.
Sweet dreams … mmmm … Boysenberry Pie …
History is going to lay a lot of blame at their feet. And there will be much debate on *why* they folded for such an unpopular president.
“Why”, in my mind that truly is the million dollar question.
They make it *look* like fear and/or cluelessness, but I have a hard time believing that that’s the real reason. My worry is that it’s because they simply have the same ownership.
re: dodd
dodd did more than i expected (even if not as much as he promised) and he really helped the cause in a very big way. i just don’t want to be dishonest about what he did and didn’t do.
i don’t think that was an official conference committee. iirc, reid tried to recommend the bill go to conference, but mcconnell blocked him.
Have a great weekend, everybody !
thanks, but i think i bounce back and forth between cynicism and gullibility in my quest to be both honest and hopeful.
Not bad, indeed! (((Hugs, Demi!)))
From the UN Dispatch:
FDL: popular mainstream blog. I like that. A LOT.
I seem to recall the Republicans shutting the Democrats out of conference committees completely so they could make the joint bills even *worse*.
But of course, the Democrats are such believers in comity and fair play, and as much as it pains me, I don’t want to see them emulate the Republicans’ dirty tricks.
Too bad “History” is written by the
criminalswinners…so the best we can hope for is a few witty bumperstickers if were lucky. *wAnd therein lies the problem. Unfortunately, you still need so many members of the person’s own party to find him guilty, and so many of these particular Senators are disgracefully partisan in favor of GWB’s maladministration that it’s doubtful that they could actually get a conviction, although I agree that one is warranted. I’d certainly be for trying, though. As the saying goes, you can’t win if you don’t play.
In the meanwhile, do you know anything about Inherent Contempt?
I’m pretty sure the historians aren’t working for Halliburton. I think there really will be a lot of examination of this strange up-is-down era. I *hope* it’s just a phase we’re going through, and that the pendulum snaps back hard.
same, and irt 270 :D
Laura Bush must be looking forward to whatever happens to George in November.
How could any sane person spend one meal with this sociopath, much less a lifetime? Either she is totally twisted, or she’s looking forward to his “absence.”
You mean we’re not a foul-mouthed feminist blog any more? Not a bunch of rabid lambs?
What good news — and thanks to you for making it happen!
i’m with you – no dirty tricks.
but i don’t like the lack of oversight either.
The analogy I always make is that it’s as if you were on trial, and the jury was made up entirely of your friends and your enemies. Regardless of the actual evidence and testimony presented, the outcome depends entirely on whether your friends make up more than a third of the jury.
(Pretend for the moment that it takes a two-thirds majority to convict…)
Heck yeah, I vote they get put in a cage. What I meant was, for inherent contempt (not like I have a clue), aren’t they taken into custody by the sergeant at arms?
Does he have the power to actually go out and get them, or just take them into custody when they are present in the house? That is what I meant by “don’t they have to show up”.
Or she’s medicated beyond the reach of reality…
Inherent contempt is out for the same reason impeachment is “off the table” (forever and ever amen): Pelosi and her minions do not intend to do anything REAL. This is theater.
It is just another move to “run out the clock” while LOOKING like they are trying to “do something” to bring back the Constitution, checks and balances, and the rule of law, but none of those things can come back in passive mode (the Pelosi/Democrat way) – they have to be FOUGHT for actively. Pelosi isn’t up to that.
Impeachment, the ONLY ultimate tool that keeps Congress truly relevant, is gone for good.
Heard a rumor about that today. My boss was talking to a friend at the State Department who said that the rumor was that she’s made an agreement to stay with W for 6 months after they’re out of the White House and then she’s splitting. Pure rumor, but seeing as I’ve also heard that she maintains a hotel suite it wouldn’t surprise me.
The real winner is Jenna Bush. She gets to change her name!
Wow, earlier today we were a “left-wing fever swamp of loony liberal activists.”
We’ve come a long way in a few hours.
I’m sure she could have faked her own death and escaped to Sweden if she really wanted to.
Bonus points if she gets Barney in the divorce.
But, but…are we still “dirty fucking hippies” then? Can we be?
Hahaha, that makes more sense. Unless you were looking for video of Hitch making a fool of himself. Again.
As Emily Litella would say, “Never mind!”
Once a DFH, always a DFH! (And I used to be one, so I speak with authority on this matter.)
This isn’t my own creation so you have to try it out and play with it a few times before it is just right for your tastes.
Onion Bread
Ingredients
* 3 yellow onions, large
* 1 cup flax seeds (golden, brown or a combo), ground
* 1 cup raw sunflower seeds, ground in a food processor
* 1⁄4 cup Nama Shoyu + 1/4 cup water (mix together)
* 1⁄4 cup cold pressed olive oil
Preparation
1. Peel and half the onions. Slice in a food processor (with slicing disc).
2. Place onions in large bowl and mix with rest of ingredients until thoroughly combined.
3. Spread mix over a Teflex sheet and repeat until all of mixture is used (I usually end up using 2 sheets).
4. Dehydrate at 100°F for 24 hours. Flip and return to dehydrator for 12 hours.
5. Cut into 9 equal pieces (2 cuts horizontally, 2 cuts vertically). Usually makes 18 pieces.
*Add some caraway seeds for onion rye, or some rosemary and garlic mixed in before dehydrating.
can republicans ever be expected or trusted to do the right thing again?
Inherent Contempt would be the next best thing, after Impeachment.
In any case, the Dems need to, above all, keep this at the forefront of the Corporate Media, because it will do everything in its power to bury it.