A good reason to join the ACLU. I’m a card-carrying member now.

excellent news!

Yeppers. Couldn’t agree more. I love that the judge is requiring them to put a list in writing — which leaves them hanging for later problems if they submit a false list that later proves to be lacking.

That sound you hear is the scurry of little feet outside David Addington’s office.

Heh.

Ya think!?!?!?

I’ve said this before but reading Jane Mayer’s book, while it doesn’t contain much we didn’t know already, has me beating on my head page after page wondering why the whole cast of criminals is not behind bars.

The wheels grind slowly, but at least they are still grinding.

On Fox that will be reported as “an activist federal judge”.

Digg this post

hey revdeb – i’m counting on all you folks reading mayer to ask some great questions saturday while i lurk.

That sound you hear is the scurry of little feet outside David Addington’s office

More likely it’s the sound of him gritting his teeth.

Hard to know what to ask—she seems to have it covered from top to bottom. Don’t know if I’ll have it finished—I’m back at work tomorrow but have already started putting lots of work stuff together. Will probably have to get as far as I can and then skip to the Afterward. It takes time to read and mark up at the same time. The book is well marked up so far, not so much with questions as with punctuation marks.

wishing it was the sound of feds—don’t know who has jurisdiction—outside of his office preparing to arrest him.

Alright – everybody in the CIA report to jail tomorrow

As many times as these people have demonstrated their willingness to break any and all laws, it is a little surprising that the CIA didn’t just crank out some phony interrogation tapes showing detainees being served milk and cookies and ending with a song and dance number demonstrating that while they might be enemy combatants, they’re pretty darn good dancers too.

Now about those deleted White House e-mails…

Sad, but likely true.

I wonder how many documents or memoranda they’ll come up with that are on creamy WH stationary…

And Bushes pardon list just keeps on growing

Your link to the ACLU Contempt Motion shows an error ”404 Page not found”

OT: There is a rumor that Obama VP will be Sebelius…:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…../88/570459

Time ta renew the membership in that commie outfit, the ACLU!

That meant something completely different in the Clinton administration.

Here’s the link again — and FWIW, it just worked fine for me.

so what happens if the president steps in and says he directed them to destroy this evidence, siting “national security”?

I’m curious about the role of Ashcroft. Mayer portrays him as being sidelined in a lot of the decision making process, but he seems to have signed off on pretty much everything that came his way. And despite his supposed dislike for Yoo, he praised him when he testified before Congress a month or two back.

I’m also interested in why it took so long to identify Addington as a major player in all this. For a long time, the MSM seemed to portray him as just another midlevel advisor. I wish too I knew more about the dynamic between Addington, Libby, and Cheney.

Bush comes across as a stooge, at least for me, and I wonder if that is what Mayer thought or intended.

Finally, is there any path back from the dark side without holding to account those who took us there?

I think I will make a copy of this just in case I’m around for the salon.

i’m just trying to catch up on the news now…. have you all already discussed the events in afghanistan?

via moon of alabama:

Ten French soldiers were killed in fighting with insurgents on the outskirts of Kabul on Tuesday, in the single most deadly attacks on NATO forces since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

The incident comes at a time of growing crisis in Kabul as insecurity creeps closer to the Afghan capital, in an apparent repeat of the encirclement strategy used against the country’s embattled communist government in the early 1990s

Areas directly to the south, east and west of Kabul have all seen a sharp deterioration in security in recent months, with the road to the border city of Jalalabad – one of the country’s most important highways – declared off limits to aid workers and foreigners.

Twenty-one French soldiers were also wounded in Tuesday’s fighting on the eastern side of Kabul province, which was triggered after insurgents attacked a NATO patrol on Monday night.

It was the greatest loss of French life in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.

Addington’s out is right here;

The judge says he will order production of a list of witnesses and documents unless the Central Intelligence Agency can convince him it will interfere with a criminal probe. He gave the agency 10 days to do so.

http://www.newsday.com/news/lo…..7531.story

Christy, what will happen next if the CIA doesn’t hand over the list? Can the WH appeal this ruling? thanks

excellent questions…. i’m looking forward to the salon even though i haven’t read the book.

I hope no copies (most likely digital copies, which might be renamed anything) don’t through not being mentioned or through parsing of the order’s language escape the judge’s categories of items to be catalogued.

adding on—what makes any of us think that anyone in this administration gives a damn about being held in contempt? What makes us think anything whatsoever will happen as a result of this ruling?

And how tragic/pathetic is it that we have to even ask this question?

and i expect that mukasey will oblige with some fake investigation.

damn busted. first you go on vacation. then when you come back, do you bring funny stories of cat fur? no, you are all serious doom and gloom. and now this too?

what happened to your funny bone while you were gone? an injury of some kind?

I just love it when the FireDogs catch the scent.
And thank God for the ACLU!

Thanks for bearing this good news.

Bob in HI

Also OT: I was just scanning the Wikipedia bio of Sibelius to reacquaint myself with her issue positions when I noticed the following. Wikipedia doesn’t tell the time or location of the statement.

Wesley Clark, also considered a potential running mate, has publicly endorsed Sebelius, referring to her as “the next vice-president of the United States.”

1,737 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen Hardin Smith and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:

Anyone know anythin’ about this judge?

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION…BUT HOLD YER FIRE UNTIL THEY COME OUTTA THE SHITHOUSE!

That’s true – nothing may happen. I thought at my age that nothing could surprise me but this bunch of thugs surprise me every day. I have never seen such arrogance in my life and it stuns me. I hope something will happen though.

I’ll believe it when and if it happens. Not before. The rumor mills are in overdrive knowing that time is almost up. Not that I wouldn’t be happy with that pick, but I’d be surprised at this point if he does anything to make me or the rest of us DFH’s “happy.” It does not seem to be in is current mindset.

Please prove me wrong.

OT
Per Mosaic tv – Iran today launched its first satelite into orbit on a new multi stage rocket

May I come sit beside you? Faith in justice has become just another name for disappointment.

imo it’s not about thinking, it’s about hoping.

jeeze, did i just say that to a rev?

1,737 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen Bustedknuckles:

Now Brother ‘knuckles, you don’t think that a federal judge would set up an escape for the roaches in the hotel do ya? That’s why I wanna know sumpthin’ about this judge…she could shut that door and keep her backside covered for appeal unless she’s in the bag.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, BUT DON’T SHOOT ‘CUZ THEY AIN’T OUT IN THE OPEN YET!

Re Mayer, I am also reminded of this question from Bill Moyer’s interview with Andrew Bacevich:

BILL MOYERS: Do you expect either John McCain or Barack Obama to rein in the “imperial presidency?”

ANDREW BACEVICH: No. I mean, people run for the presidency in order to become imperial presidents. The people who are advising these candidates, the people who aspire to be the next national security advisor, the next secretary of defense, these are people who yearn to exercise those kind of great powers.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/jour…..ript1.html

Hi Christy, did you see this? came across it this morning. Looks like a little unravel going on.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/…..12DEQU.DTL

Critics of the government’s secret no-fly list scored a potentially important victory Monday when a federal appeals court ruled that would-be passengers can ask a judge and jury to decide whether their inclusion on the list violates their rights.

In a 2-1 ruling, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco reinstated a suit by a former Stanford University student who was detained and handcuffed in 2005 as she was about to board a plane to her native Malaysia.

Who in particular will be held in contempt? How will the judge find out who ordered the material to be destroyed, and who followed the illegal order? Just wondering what her powers of discovery are. Will we be facing another subpoena wall?

the FISA fiasco pummeled the hope right out of me. Haven’t yet been able to regain it, but I guess I’d better. I start back to work tomorrow post vacation.

I’d be hard pressed to describe what I think Obama’s mindset is. It seems like the only indicators we have are based on speculation by people outside the campaign.

Of all the candidates we were discussing in the thread to Jane’s post earlier, Sibelius might bring the least baggage to the ticket. She also has a fairly lengthy resume OUTSIDE of Washington, which might help. Just out of curiosity, do you think she might pull any more votes than other candidates in Ohio, since that is where she grew up?

from the motion:

(1) Holding Defendant CIA in contempt of court;
(2) Requiring Defendant CIA to file publicly with the Court a list that identifies with specificity all responsive records that have been destroyed or removed, the date they were destroyed or removed, and the official on whose authority they were destroyed or removed, along with sworn declarations from individuals with firsthand knowledge describing how the list was compiled;
(3) Requiring Defendant CIA to file under seal with the Court a written document
(“Written Reconstruction”) that describes in as much detail as possible each of the records that has been destroyed or removed, and to file publicly with the Court sworn declarations from individuals with firsthand knowledge attesting that the Written Reconstruction is accurate and as detailed as possible;
(4) Allowing Plaintiffs limited discovery regarding (2) and (3) above;
(5) Requiring Defendant CIA immediately to provide plaintiffs with the Written
Reconstruction or with a Vaughn declaration explaining why the Written Reconstruction should be withheld;
(6) Prohibiting Defendant CIA from destroying, removing or tampering with all
remaining records currently in its possession or control that may be responsive to Plaintiffs’ FOIA requests;
(7) Ordering Defendant CIA to pay all attorneys’ fees and costs associated with
Plaintiffs’ efforts to obtain responsive records from the CIA in this litigation, including efforts made in connection with this Motion;
(8) For such other relief as may be just and proper.

sure. come on over. As long as you’re asking, I Haven’t posted the invite in a while:

BBQ chez RevDeb Sat. Aug. 30 Philly area in the burbs. Come celebrate McThuselah’s B’day a day late and a dollar short. Those sans cars who want to take trains to Wilmington or the burbs can be fetched from stations. Millinaryman, Elliot, Scarecrow and others are coming. BYOB. Only about a 2 hour drive from the deecee area too!

Just let me know and I’ll send details—my screen name at mac dot com. We eat well around here so come on over.

Not-so breaking news….nothing will ever be done by anyone to rectify any laws broken by this administration. That was settled last week by the fascist DOJ. Sorry to have to remind everyone.

The people who are advising these candidates, the people who aspire to be the next national security advisor, the next secretary of defense, these are people who yearn to exercise those kind of great powers.

damn.

see mort halperin (from greenwald):

What possibly could have motivated Halperin to change his position so radically — from vocal opposition to the FISA bill on June 9 to vocal support on July 8? That is a question that has been asked in many circles, and it is that question I explore with Halperin.

Manifestly, there was only one meaningful change that occurred between Halperin’s June 9 opposition and his July 8 support: namely, it was in that interim — on June 20 — that Barack Obama announced that he would support the FISA bill, and many have speculated (and it is just speculation) that Halperin, who has served in numerous administrations over the past four decades (beginning with the Nixon administration) and is eager for a high-level appointment in the Obama administration, offered to give Obama cover by coming out and supporting the FISA bill even though, only weeks earlier, he had vigorously opposed it. Lending even stronger support to that hypothesis is a document I obtained that Halperin wrote and which Obama’s office circulated to numerous Democratic Senators, dated June 22 (only two days after Obama announced his support for the bill), in which Halperin heaped praise on the FISA bill and urged Democratic Senators to support it (Halperin’s June 22 memo to Senators is here).

That Halperin, after signing the June 9 letter opposing the bill, then circulated to key Senators a June 22 letter supporting the bill means that Halperin fundamentally changed his position on this bill within a matter of days once it became clear Obama would support the bill. Indeed, Halperin confirmed — in response to my asking him — that he was in regular communication with Obama’s office during this time, and was even passing back and forth with Obama’s office various drafts of that Memo before Obama announced his support for the bill and before Obama’s office then sent it to other Democratic Senators.

Halperin clearly decided to repudiate his own opposition to this bill in order to offer himself up to Obama as the public shill supporting the bill, so that Obama defenders could gain cover for themselves by saying things like “even life-long civil libertarian Mort Halperin says this is a good bill.”

Her dad was the Gov. of Ohio and I would imagine would do well there. Lots of plusses for her. My only question is how good an “attack dog” she can be. We can’t afford to have both halves of the ticket to be “above” partisanship. We just can’t.

i know. me too.

don’t know how or why hope ebbs and flows, doesn’t seem to be very rational. but if you ever figure out how to get it on demand, please let me in on your secret.

(7) Ordering Defendant CIA to pay all attorneys’ fees and costs associated with
Plaintiffs’ efforts to obtain responsive records from the CIA in this litigation, including efforts
made in connection with this Motion;

I like that one especially.

got some stuff to take care of… catch you pups later….

Breaks my heart—DiFi isn’t going to the Denver party.

Citizen RevDeb:

“We can’t afford to have both halves of the ticket to be ‘above’ partisanship. We just can’t.”

Ahmen ta that, Sister Rev…and that’s why Howrd Dean er Al Gore are still the only two I see out there to fill the bill and also cover Obama’s posterior politically while the Secret Service covers it physically.

Were I not several states away, I’d take ya up on that offer in a heart beat…… it would be glorious to meet the pups mentioned in the real. Y’all have extra fun (and food) for me. :-)

Gore’s out. He’s been given a speaking slot on Thurs. night. Unless that’s a head fake. But why would he want to go there again?

Not that it wouldn’t make me happy.

I don’t think it’s going to be possible to find a candidate with the perfect balance of experience and readiness to be confrontational when necessary.

Shout out ta Firepup legal Beagles…anyone know anythin about Judge Alvin Hellerstein?

New BT

what time you say?

Democratic Underground had the story this morning, had it been discussed somewhere else?

link

or isn’t it important enough?

I have to admit, I’ve never believed he’d do it for all the reasons we’ve beat to death forever. But in the last couple of days, I’ve really, really wished he would. Wouldn’t that just upend the apple cart of expectations? The guy who really won in 2000 is back? And relaxed, and ready to say what he really wants to say…sigh. (I know, not gonna happen.)

I don’t know if a fracture in a lower extremity increases the likelihood of DVT, the doctor might just think it’s a good idea to rest and keep it elevated.

No direct correlation but I’ve wondered if Geraldine Ferraro will attend? I can’t recall if she is a superdelegate.

Your link is busted/not working.

But for what it’s worth, I tend to trust that Christy and Jane and Dave and Blue Texan and all the other front pagers post on important topics.

Of course, if you don’t think their posts are that important or that your topic is more important, I understand there’s all sorts of free blogging start-up software available.

couple this with last week’s Sua Sponte/En Banc announcement – what’s a barnacle to do ?!?!?

Citizen ratfood:

Physicians order elevation for the extremity to reduce (marginally) the blood flow ta the area to reduce swellin’ AND reduce the possibility of DVT especially in older folks like us.

Of course, if you don’t think their posts are that important or that your topic is more important, I understand there’s all sorts of free blogging start-up software available.

The DU link did not work earlier this morning, that is why #43. The only purpose was to inform, share information, nothing else. guess it isn’t important enough. Good luck.

I jsut went over to DU and looked and I guess you’re trying to link to the “Vietnam Vets Against McCain” garbage.

FYI, those are the same folks heavily involved in swift boating John Kerry. They are against McCain because he stood up to them when they tried to copyright and claim they were a charity and selling Vietnam Memorial souveniers. I forget the names but if I read a comment SouthernDragon made to you earlier today on this, it is John Kiley and Ted Sempley/Sampley who are involved.

They are not particularly credible individuals so use their perspective with caution.

Feinstein broke her left ankle. So it is probably just to keep weight off her foot to allow healing. She should still be able to move around a bit.

Lower extremity fractures increase the likelihood of a DVT principally due to lack of movement associated with prolonged bedrest.

personally, i find the info brought here by commenters at least as interesting as the front page posts (which are what brought me here in the first place).

i also checked t-bear’s link and was disappointed not to get something that t-bear though important enough to share.

Please go to my # 43 above, it is the SFGate that the DU was citing. Re: The 9th Circuit of Appeals has allowed people on the no fly list to question the government as to why and also to get a jury to remove them from the list. Pay no attention to dakine01’s assumptions, they are not worth the agro.

Citizen selise:

Bless yer heart…I too like ta follow up on other citizens’ info…sometimes this place gets a bit “clubby”, it’s understandable but we need ta watch out for it.

My apologies the link at #43

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/…..12DEQU.DTL

Thanx Norske ;-)

Please accept my apologies for my erroneous assumptions.

I made those assumptions as some folks earlier today DID attempt to link to the DU articles on Vietnam Vets Against McCain.

May I make the suggestion that when you are trying to link something, put a little bit of a description on what the topic is into your comment so that folks can know what they are looking for when there are link problems.

Might have saved us both some “agro”

At 75, she’s probably somewhat prone to edema anyway. Also, with the combined factors of age, injury, and the fact that she spends most of her time at lower elevations, being in Denver could prove a bit of a trial.

got it. thanks, that’s good news. can always use some of that.

( dakine01 )

and howdy to citizen norske.

now back to chores for me! gotta come back here and check the goings on every little while though *g*

I will try to do better with that. I do agree with your stance earlier. Here is my reply FWIW as well

http://firedoglake.com/2008/08…..nt-1587229

It is just my opinion, but there are soooo many lies, flip/flops, delusions with which to cast light on a sad, delusional, wrinkled old has been, not even that, a never was, it is counter-productive to even go there. Leave alone the only thing the man ever did on his own, it is the only thing he has to show for his life, everything else has been handed him. His is not even a full life, his riches belong to another, his position bought for through fraudulent supporters. When he does have to account for his life, he will have precious little in the balance. He hasn’t a shadow to cast of his own.