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August 31, 2005

Open Thread

Donate if you haven't already...

Local Emergency Information for Affected States

Josh has put together some basic information for those affected by the storm or anyone who might be in contact with someone in the areas worst hit:

Louisiana -- Emergency Numbers and Other Important Information

Mississippi -- State Emergency Managment Agency Resources

Alabama -- Utility and Safety Contact Information

Folks in other areas can contact their local Red Cross chapter or donate through the national Red Cross web site.

Dean's Letter: 'Do Something Now'

Governor Dean sent this email to millions of Democrats across the country yesterday evening. Please do what you can to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina - they need everything they can get.

This week millions of Americans fled Hurricane Katrina. Across the South families abandoned their homes and businesses, not knowing what would be there when they returned.

Many stayed behind and suffered devastating loss and injuries -- nearly a hundred have died that we know of, and hundreds of thousands need our help.

America is at its best when we realize that we are one community -- that we're all in this together. That means that each one of us has the responsibility to do what we can to help the relief effort.

The Red Cross is a great place to start:

http://www.redcross.org

They are already moving people and resources into the region to help. Donations will provide clean water, food, and shelter for disaster victims. The Red Cross web site also has important information for victims and their relatives across the country.

Many local Red Cross chapters are organizing volunteers to travel to affected areas -- doctors and nurses to provide medical care, workers to build shelters, first responders to assist in rescue operations.

You can find your local chapter here to learn what you can do:

http://www.redcross.org/where/chapts.asp

We are still learning the full story of the devastation, but there is no time to wait. Please do something now.

Thank you.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

Keep reading "Dean's Letter: 'Do Something Now'"

August 30, 2005

Hurricane Relief: How You Can Help

Even after being hit by Katrina, the situation in the Gulf states continues to worsen...

• In Mississippi, hundreds are feared dead.

  Helicopters plucked frantic survivors from rooftops of inundated homes on Tuesday and officials said hundreds of people may have died in Hurricane Katrina's attack on the U.S. Gulf Coast, which sent a wall of water into Mississippi and flooded New Orleans.

  The economic cost of the hurricane's rampage could be the highest in U.S. history, according to damage estimates.

  "The devastation is greater than our worst fears," Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco told a news conference. "It's totally overwhelming."




• New Orleans is filling with water. The mayor is saying 80% of the city is underwater.
  

  The historic city of New Orleans was steadily filling with water from nearby Lake Ponchartrain on Tuesday after its defenses were breached by the ferocity of hurricane Katrina.

  With the floodwaters rising in many areas, threatening the French Quarter, residents were plucked from the roofs of their homes, bodies were seen floating in the streets and rescuers searched the city in boats and helicopters.

  "We probably have 80 percent of our city under water; with some sections of our city the water is as deep as 20 feet. Both airports are underwater," Mayor Ray Nagin told a radio interviewer.

• Troops in Iraq are worried about what's happened to their homes and families...

  "It's a significant emotional event. Their families are on the forefront of the disaster," said Lt. Col. Jordan Jones of the 141st Field Artillery of the Louisiana National Guard.

  "They're all watching TV and some have seen their neighborhoods completely submerged in water."

  Jones, from Luling on the west bank of Lake Pontchartrain, said he hasn't been in touch with his own family for three days because of clogged phone lines, but that his neighbors had helped board up their home.

  "It's hard, a lot of soldiers are watching this play-by-play, they're having a hard time," said Lt. Taysha Deaton, a spokeswoman for the unit.

Take time now to visit the American Red Cross website and donate to the relief efforts. This is bigger than politics - so many have already lost so much, we as a country need to band together to help.

Keep reading "Hurricane Relief: How You Can Help"

Open Thread

For the afternoon...

Poverty Rate Rises

The Census Bureau reported today that the poverty rate has risen to 12.7% - 1.1 million more than in 2003. Jesse pointed to Paul Krugman before, who notes that the numbers on the economy may look one way, but reality is something totally different...

American families don't care about G.D.P. They care about whether jobs are available, how much those jobs pay and how that pay compares with the cost of living. And recent G.D.P. growth has failed to produce exceptional gains in employment, while wages for most workers haven't kept up with inflation.

It's also true that the unemployment rate looks fairly low by historical standards. But other measures of the job situation, like the average of weekly hours worked (which remains low), and the average duration of unemployment (which remains high), suggest that the demand for labor is still weak compared with the supply.

...

Employers certainly aren't having trouble finding workers. When Wal-Mart announced that it was hiring at a new store in Northern California, where the unemployment rate is close to the national average, about 11,000 people showed up to apply for 400 jobs.

The rate increase is a perfect example of this in action. People are taking lower-paying jobs (at Wal-Mart and other places), which is driving the unemployment rate down. Good jobs, however, which keep people above the poverty rate, are becoming increasingly hard to find.

And, though it doesn't do much to help those under the poverty line now, the last decline was in 2000 - the last year of the Clinton presidency.

A Day in the Life of the Democracy Bonds Community

I talk to folks in the Democracy Bonds community all the time about the future of our party, growing the community of ordinary people committed to building a truly national organization, and the 50-state ground operation that the program is funding.

One of the most amazing things about the community taking shape is the diversity of folks making the commitment. One of the legal requirements of the contribution process is providing information about your occupation, which winds up in the FEC report of any campaign of party organization to which you donate.

The occupations offer a snapshot of a Democracy Bonds community that looks a lot like America. Here are just a few of the folks who have joined only in the last 24 hours:

a nurse

a valet/bellman

a student

a retired person

an IT professional

a music teacher

an engineer

If you haven't joined the Democracy Bonds community yet, you can do it here. Once you do, you'll be able to grow the community on your own -- inviting your friends and tracking your results.

Over a third of the growth since the program launched has come from ordinary people taking responsibility for growing the community on their own. It's an amazing thing to be a part of -- and I say that as a bondholder myself!

August 29, 2005

Katrina Relief

I returned late last night from a trip to the Florida Keys, where we got the first hit from Katrina -- rough stuff. As you've been seeing on the news (if you're somewhere that still has power), she's hitting land again today.

You can get the latest on the storm here, and read about the relief effort here.

Disasters like this remind us of something people too often forget -- that we're all in this together, and it's up to each of us to do our part to ease suffering and support other members of our American community however and whenever we can. That's what volunteers from as far away as Seattle are doing right now.

You can get the latest from the Red Cross and help support the relief effort at their web site.

Open Thread

It's Monday...

August 28, 2005

Open Thread

Let's shoot for 2000 comments on this one.

Just kidding...

August 26, 2005

Celebrating Women's Equality Day

Today, the DNC and all Americans celebrate Women's Equality Day, which marks the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, giving women the right to vote. In 1971, Congress designated August 26 Women's Equality Day under the leadership of Democratic Congresswoman Bella Abzug (NY). A culmination of a 70-year struggle for women suffragists, this day of recognition serves as a reminder to all Americans of women's continued struggle to gain full equality in the United States.

So how do Democrats keep encouraging women to exercise their vote? In Virginia, the Leslie Byrne for Lt. Governor campaign kicked off a Take Five in 05 women voter contact program today. There are 740,284 Virginia women who voted in 2004 but not in 2001, which was the last statewide election. Take Five in 05 will empower volunteer community leaders to reach out to five specific women in their community for person-to-person contact about the Democratic ticket and what's at stake in this election. Virginia will elect a Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and members of the Virginia House of Delegates this November 8.

In addition to being a barrier breaker as the first woman elected to Congress from Virginia, Byrne has a personal connection to Women's Equality Day. As President of the Fairfax League of Women Voters, Byrne was a leader in getting a historical marker put up in Lorton, Virginia to honor the suffragists who were imprisoned in the workhouse there in 1917.

Want to learn more about Leslie Byrne for Lt. Governor or the Take Five in '05 campaign? Visit www.lesliebyrne.org or email takefivein05@earthlink.net.

GOP Wonders Why Americans Aren't Celebrating

Don't miss Paul Krugman's column in the New York Times today. He explains why Americans continue to be dissatisfied President Bush's handling of the economy despite the administration touting what positive news it can find.

American families don't care about G.D.P. They care about whether jobs are available, how much those jobs pay and how that pay compares with the cost of living. And recent G.D.P. growth has failed to produce exceptional gains in employment, while wages for most workers haven't kept up with inflation.

About employment: it's true that the economy finally started adding jobs two years ago. But although many people say "four million jobs in the last two years" reverently, as if it were an amazing achievement, it's actually a rise of about 3 percent, not much faster than the growth of the working-age population over the same period. And recent job growth would have been considered subpar in the past: employment grew more slowly during the best two years of the Bush administration than in any two years during the Clinton administration.

It's also true that the unemployment rate looks fairly low by historical standards. But other measures of the job situation, like the average of weekly hours worked (which remains low), and the average duration of unemployment (which remains high), suggest that the demand for labor is still weak compared with the supply.

Employers certainly aren't having trouble finding workers. When Wal-Mart announced that it was hiring at a new store in Northern California, where the unemployment rate is close to the national average, about 11,000 people showed up to apply for 400 jobs.

As Krugman says, growing corporate profits, bigger executive compensation, and rising health care costs are responsible for the GDP growth. Does any of that sound like good news for average American families?

John Bolton: As Bad as We Thought

After being snuck in around the U.S. Senate, John Bolton's hard at work at the U.N. editing documents. His edits to one on U.N. reform document are particuarly interesting. He apparently doesn't like, among other things, "respect for nature," "corporate responsibility and accountability," transparency in the U.N. Security Council, or the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (no surprise there from this administration).

The Huffington Post has more...

Open Thread

It's Friday...

August 25, 2005

Who Wants Friends Like These?

Today the conservative organization named Project 21 announced its support for Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts.

Project 21's members have a penchant for colorful language. Project 21 member Kevin Martin once compared the NAACP to the Klu Klux Klan in defense of Bush's decision to not speak to their National Convention.

[I]t would be like asking a Jewish rabbi to go down to a Ku Klux Klan skinhead convention.

Not to be outdone by his colleague, Mychal Massie, a member of Project 21's National Advisory council, called Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid a racist inbred.

Sen. Harry Reid's, D-Nev., arrogantly racist condemnation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is but the latest racial [sic] tinged hate speech directed at conservative blacks by liberal Democrats. His Uncle Bull Connors [sic] and his Uncle Orval Faubus must be proud of him.

Reid's comments should surprise no one -- repulse, sicken and anger, yes, but surprise, no. He is simply being true to his inbred familial heritage.

Read Some more of Massie's columns for some more interesting pieces of wisdom.

And since any story about a Republican group would not be complete without it, Project 21 has a connection to indicted super lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Project 21 is actually a creation of the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), a group that once counted Abramoff amongst its board members and has found itself involved in his money laundering schemes.

Is it really helpful to the White House to have associattes of Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff leading the charge to support John Roberts, whose civil rights record is troubling enough as it is?

Open Thread

For this afternoon...

August 24, 2005

Bush's Poll Numbers at All-Time Low

We've probably written that headline before, but it continues to drop...

The Harris Poll is out today, showing President Bush's approval rating down sharply over the past two months to 40 percent. Just two days ago, the American Research Group also found it down sharply, to 36 percent.

George W. Bush: An unpopular President.

Open Thread

For the day...

August 23, 2005

It's Important to Bring Protection

So make sure to follow this guy's example. (Via Eschaton.)

UPDATE BY JOSH: There are printable versions that you can cut out and wear to Presidential speeches near you available here. They even have a PG version for the kids! (Via Boing Boing.)

80,000 FOIA Requests Go to Justice Dept.

More than 80,000 concerned Americans signed on to our Freedom of Information Act request demanding the details of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts's work on 16 crucial cases during his tenure in the first President Bush's office of Solicitor General.

Those 16 cases deal with the most important issues facing the Supreme Court, including civil rights, equal opportunity for all, women's rights, our right to privacy, and access to justice. It's crucial that the Senators approving Roberts's nomination have access to this information to help them determine whether Roberts will protect our basic rights or let partisan ideology guide his decisions.

The response was tremendous. We've printed and boxed up the thousands of pages of signatures and sent them via courier to the Justice Department. The administration has just 20 days to respond to our request, and we'll keep you updated.

Keep reading "80,000 FOIA Requests Go to Justice Dept."

Open Thread

For the day

August 22, 2005

Clear Channel's At It Again...

A Clear Channel station in Utah is refusing to air an anti-war ad featuring Cindy Sheehan that all the other broadcast stations began airing on Sunday. The station claims that it is an "inappropriate commercial advertisement for Salt Lake City." Bush is speaking in Salt Lake City today to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention.

But this is not the first time that Clear Channel has decided that its listeners and viewers should only hear from the Bush Administration and the right wing while censoring opposition. Clear Channel sponsored pro-war "Rally for Peace" protests while refusing to play Dixie Chicks' songs after they said they were ashamed to be from the same state as Bush. Clear Channel also refused to post an antiwar billboard during the RNC 2004 convention, prompting the organization Project Billboard to sue Clear Channel for breaching their contract.

Clear Channel has close ties to the Bush administration and its PAC and execs having given thousands to Bush campaigns. Lowry Mays, Clear Channel co-founder and Chairman, benefited from Bush's friendship with appointments back in his days as Governor. The Hicks brothers (Clear Channel chairmen) have been involved in business deals with Bush back in his days as Governor.

This media conglomerate, which owns over 1200 radio stations, is continuing to show its political affiliations on air, predetermining what the public sees and hears.

Think

I was forwarded an interesting document (PDF) from the Research Department here at the DNC this afternoon. If you've ever watched a Republican avoid questions and say nothing meaningful in an interview, this is why: they're told to "never think on the air" and to "restate the problem without offering an opinion." You know, because opinions on problems are bad. They're also told that "some questions shouldn't be answered" because they're "beyond your scope" - meaning that you probably won't answer the way the RNC wants, so don't you dare try.

MEDIA TRAINING was provided for members and staff by appointment. Participants were questioned on camera following a briefing on media techniques and then critiqued by their peers. Some message tips include: Never think on the air; define the points you want to make in advance; lead with the positive; define what you're for, not what you're against; control the tempo; restate the problem without offering an opinion; some questions shouldn't be answered; they are hypothetical or beyond your scope. For more information on media training contact Brian Jones at 202-863-8614.

And if you were wondering, this message was not approved by the Republican Politburo (or even a Democratic one). We as Democrats work together on what we say, but we all still think for ourselves.

Sign the FOIA Request Today

This afternoon, we'll be sending the Freedom of Information Act request to the Justice Department to request information about John Roberts's work on 16 key cases during his tenure in the first President Bush's Solicitor General's office.

Please make sure you sign your name to the FOIA request before it goes out today. We'll be working all day on the massive print job that we're sending over to Justice.

http://www.democrats.org/foia

Open Thread

Start your week off right.

August 21, 2005

Open Thread

Here you go.

August 19, 2005

Sen. Kennedy on the 16 Cases

Add your name to our Freedom of Information Act request to get the facts about John Roberts' record: http://www.democrats.org/foia

Sen. Ted Kennedy has a must-read op-ed in today's Washington Post about why it's so important to make sure that the Senate receives information about the 16 cases we're requesting in our Freedom of Information Act request.

The records of these 16 cases have become all the more important because of publicly released information about Roberts's policy views during an earlier time. As a young but high-ranking political appointee in the Reagan administration, Roberts was involved in, among other things, setting policy on issues of civil rights -- including those as fundamental as the right to vote and to be free from discrimination based on race, gender, national origin and disability. If Roberts continues to hold the views he appears to have expressed in the early 1980s, then his views on civil rights are out of the mainstream, and the people have the right to know that.

And Kennedy makes an especially important point about the Roberts nomination at the end of his piece:

No one has an automatic right to a lifetime position on the Supreme Court. A nominee to the high court must first demonstrate that he has a core commitment to constitutional rights and liberties. He must show that he is in the mainstream of modern judicial thought and that he would not use an ideologically motivated interpretation of our Constitution or laws to reverse the hard-fought gains we have made to make this nation more just.

That's why it's so vital that we know the details about John Roberts's views on our basic liberties. There's still time for you to sign our Freedom of Information Act request. Add your name today.

http://www.democrats.org/foia

Dead Wrong

CNN is planning to air a show called "Dead Wrong -- Inside an Intelligence Meltdown." In an article appearing on CNN.com, they detail the intelligence breakdown surrounding then-Secretary of State Colin Powell's speech to the United Nations that supposedly laid out the case for war. Powell's former chief of staff was handed what he called a "Chinese menu" of notes from the White House, which he and Powell then tried to verify after spending "days and nights" at the CIA.

A former top aide to Colin Powell says his involvement in the former secretary of state's presentation to the United Nations on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was "the lowest point" in his life.

...

Powell's speech, delivered on February 14, 2003, made the case for the war by presenting U.S. intelligence that purported to prove that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Wilkerson says the information in Powell's presentation initially came from a document he described as "sort of a Chinese menu" that was provided by the White House.

"(Powell) came through the door ... and he had in his hands a sheaf of papers, and he said, 'This is what I've got to present at the United Nations according to the White House, and you need to look at it,'" Wilkerson says in the program. "It was anything but an intelligence document. It was, as some people characterized it later, sort of a Chinese menu from which you could pick and choose."

Wilkerson and Powell spent four days and nights in a CIA conference room with then-Director George Tenet and other top officials trying to ensure the accuracy of the presentation, Wilkerson says.

"There was no way the Secretary of State was going to read off a script about serious matters of intelligence that could lead to war when the script was basically un-sourced," Wilkerson says.

In one dramatic accusation in his speech, Powell showed slides alleging that Saddam had bioweapons labs mounted on trucks that would be almost impossible to find.

"In fact, Secretary Powell was not told that one of the sources he was given as a source of this information had indeed been flagged by the Defense Intelligence Agency as a liar, a fabricator," says David Kay, who served as the CIA's chief weapons inspector in Iraq after the fall of Saddam. That source, an Iraqi defector had never been debriefed by the CIA, was known within the intelligence community as "Curveball."

After searching Iraq for several months across the summer of 2003, Kay began e-mailing Tenet to tell him the WMD evidence was falling apart. At one point, Wilkerson says, Tenet called Powell to tell him the claims about mobile bioweapons labs were apparently not true.

CNN plans to air the show at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Open Thread

For the day...

August 18, 2005

When Bad Governing Catches Up to You

From the New York Times...

A stream of bad news out of Iraq, echoed at home by polls that show growing impatience with the war and rising disapproval of President Bush's Iraq policies, is stirring political concern in Republican circles, party officials said Wednesday.

Some said that the perception that the war was faltering was providing a rallying point for dispirited Democrats and could pose problems for Republicans in the Congressional elections next year.

Republicans said a convergence of events - including the protests inspired by the mother of a slain American soldier outside Mr. Bush's ranch in Texas, the missed deadline to draft an Iraqi Constitution and the spike in casualties among reservists - was creating what they said could be a significant and lasting shift in public attitude against the war.

The Republicans described that shift as particularly worrisome, occurring 14 months before the midterm elections. As further evidence, they pointed to a special election in Ohio two weeks ago, where a Democratic marine veteran from Iraq who criticized the invasion decision came close to winning in a district that should have easily produced a Republican victory.

"There is just no enthusiasm for this war," said Representative John J. Duncan Jr., a Tennessee Republican who opposes the war. "Nobody is happy about it. It certainly is not going to help Republican candidates, I can tell you that much."

Can't wait for 2006.

Open Thread

For the night

30K So Far: Add Your Name

We just passed 30,000 names being added to our Freedom of Information Act request. Is yours on it yet?

http://www.democrats.org/foia

Reform?

Fox News shows you what the Republican plan for Social Security is...

Join Our Freedom of Information Act Request

DNC General Counsel Joseph Sandler just sent this letter to Democratic supporters.

Add your name to our Freedom of Information Act request to get the facts about John Roberts' record: http://www.democrats.org/foia

I'm the General Counsel for the Democratic National Committee, and I'm writing to you about a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that the DNC will be submitting to the Justice Department on Monday.

John Roberts, the nominee to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court, worked in the Solicitor General's office in the early 1990s under the first President Bush. During that time he worked on nearly 80 cases that were eventually argued before the Supreme Court.

His work on these cases offers the American people a realistic snapshot of his approach to the law and his regard for our fundamental rights and freedoms. (So far, the information that has come out has given us reason to question whether he will be a justice for everyone or advance the activist, partisan agenda of a few.)

Senators who will vote on his lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court have requested documents pertaining to 16 of those cases. These were cases Roberts worked on as a senior political appointee in the first Bush administration. The cases (which are listed in the FOIA request linked below) deal with important legal issues like civil rights, equal opportunity for all, women's rights, our right to privacy, and access to justice.

The Senators' request for these documents has gone unanswered, despite the fact that the Justice Department has previously released similar records on other nominees.

So on Monday we will submit a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act from Governor Howard Dean and anyone else who wishes to be a part of it. You can read the formal request and add your name to it here:

http://www.democrats.org/foia

Keep reading "Join Our Freedom of Information Act Request"

August 17, 2005

Open Thread

For the night

How's That Mandate Treatin' Ya?

Fresh off his resounding failure on Social Security and in the thick of the mess he's failed to deal with in Iraq, new numbers from Survey USA show that the least popular lame-duck president in modern history can still find ways to get even less popular.

In 19 of the 31 states Bush carried in 2004, more people disapprove than approve of the job he's doing. Particularly worth noting: the key states of Ohio (37% approve, 60% disapprove) and Missouri (38% approve, 58% disapprove).

Add this to the Hackett thunderclap in the most Republican region of Ohio, and you can see the start of something big.

Ohio's Governor Charged in Corruption Probe

Ohio's Republican Governor Bob Taft has been charged for failing to disclose gifts and other favors...

Gov. Bob Taft has been charged in Franklin County Municipal Court with four criminal misdemeanors for failing to disclose golf outings and possibly other favors.

The charges were outlined at a press conference this afternoon with Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien and Columbus City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr.

If convicted on the first-degree misdemeanor charges, Taft faces a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to six months in jail on each count.

Taft, 63, the great-grandson of William Howard Taft, the only American to serve as president and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, made history on his own: He is the first Ohio governor to face criminal charges while in office.

The charges were the outgrowth of a two-month investigation by a task force consisting of the Inspector General Thomas P. Charles, the Ohio Ethics Commission and the State Highway Patrol.

The commission last week referred the matter to prosecutors who discussed it this morning.

As the article points out, he is the first Governor in Ohio to be charged while in office.

What's Next?

Paul Krugman analyzes the GOP playbook for pushing its unpopular, extremist agenda on the American people:

[P]rivatization seems to be dead for the time being. The Democratic leadership in Congress defied the punditocracy -- which was very much in favor of privatization -- by refusing to cave in, and the American people made it clear that they like Social Security the way it is.

But the campaign for privatization provided an object lesson in how the administration sells its policies: by misrepresenting its goals, lying about the facts and abusing its control of government agencies. These were the same tactics used to sell both tax cuts and the Iraq war. [...]

Despite the tough talk about Iran, I don't think he can propose another war -- there aren't enough troops to fight the wars we already have. But there's still room for another big domestic initiative, probably tax reform.

Forewarned is forearmed: the real goals of reform won't be as advertised, the administration will say things about the current system that aren't true, and the Treasury Department will function in a purely partisan capacity.

Dishonesty and abuse of power have become the hallmarks of an administration that has to try harder and harder to dress up its extremist agenda.

We can do better than that.

August 16, 2005

Who's Dopey: George Bush and the Seven Crooked Donors

Much news was made during the last two elections about the Bush campaign's fundraising strategy. In 2000 and 2004 the Bush campaign set up elite classes of campaign fundraisers, with the Pioneers (individuals raising $100,000 for Bush) and the Rangers (individuals raising $200,000 for Bush), these fundraiser’s efforts have bought them unprecedented access to the highest levels of the Republican Party and the Bush Administration.

There are now SEVEN Bush Rangers or Pioneers from his two presidential campaigns under federal investigations or federal indictments. Guess that what you get when you hold fundraisers at Ken Lay's house.
Below are the seven ethics dwarves of the Bush campaign.

Keep reading "Who's Dopey: George Bush and the Seven Crooked Donors"

Bob Dole...Pereplexed

In today’s New York Times, former Senator Bob Dole said he was "perplexed" by the probe around the leaking of the identity of a CIA operative by a White House staff person. He went on to wildly misrepresent the evidence in the public domain and make assumptions about the case that are simple wrong.

Dole Wrote

With the facts known publicly today regarding the Plame case, it is difficult to see how a violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act could have occurred. For example, one of the requirements is that the federal government must be taking "affirmative measures" to conceal the agent's intelligence relationship with the United States. Yet we now know that Ms. Wilson held a desk job at C.I.A. headquarters and could be seen traveling to and from work. The journalist Robert D. Novak, whose July 14, 2003, column mentioned Ms. Wilson, using her maiden name, and set off the investigation, has written that C.I.A. officials confirmed to him over the telephone that she was an employee before he wrote his column.

But the Intelligence Identities Protection Act doesn’t require the CIA to be successful in concealing the identity of an agent. Thanks to the White House, they were not successful at that. The Act actually says:

Whoever, as a result of having authorized access to classified information, learns the identify of a covert agent and intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent's intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Two pieces of information show that the CIA was clearly taking affirmative measures to conceal Valerie Wilson’s status:

First, as the Washington Post, among others have noted a classified State Department memo "contained information about CIA officer Valerie Plame in a paragraph marked "(S)" for secret, a clear indication that any Bush administration official who read it should have been aware the information was classified. … The CIA classifies as "secret" the names of officers whose identities are covert"

Second, the CIA tried to conceal her identity as late as September 2003. The Washington Post also reported that CIA spokesman Bill Harlow told the grand jury that "he warned Novak, in the strongest terms he was permitted to use without revealing classified information, that Wilson's wife had not authorized the mission and that if he did write about it, her name should not be revealed. Harlow said that after Novak's call, he checked Plame's status and confirmed that she was an undercover operative. He said he called Novak back to repeat that the story Novak had related to him was wrong and that Plame's name should not be used."

Finally, nobody watching the case closely assumes that Fitzgerald is limiting his probe to charges under that law. In fact, based on facts we know today, there are several people who have changed the story they told the grand jury and may face perjury charges. And the L.A. Times reported yesterday that Fitzgerald in particular is known as a prosecutor who makes aggressive use of perjury charges.

Bob Dole got the words right, but the timing wrong when he said: "No administration has been more self-righteous. But few administrations have been more self-serving. No administration has shown more arrogance. But few have displayed more ethical failures. Among members of this administration there is a growing gap in integrity, a gap between the low standards they have adopted and the high honor that they hold." The only thing perplexing is his double standard.

Open Thread

For the night

A Sheehan Update

Just a couple of notes on Cindy Sheehan...

Last night, a man in a pick-up truck with a chain and pipe attached to the back of it mowed over a memorial to those who have died in Iraq. The memorial, made of white crosses, American flags and flowers, was erected by Cindy Sheehan and her supporters as they continue to wait for a meeting with the President outside his ranch in Texas. Fortunately, the man was caught, and police found pieces of the crosses in the undercarriage of his truck. (Crooks and Liars has a short video from this morning's Today show, and there are photos from the scene on this Kos diary.)

On a much lighter note, the Daily Show spent time on Sheehan last night, making light of the President's decision to "go on with his life" and take a nap instead of meeting with the grieving mother. They also go after those on the right trying to smear her, joking that, given the arguments from the right, Cindy Sheehan now wants to kill Kevin Bacon. (And on that note, Atrios points to a great debate that one conservative is having with herself that.) Again, Crooks and Liars has the video.

UPDATE: The Smoking Gun has a mugshot of Larry Northern, the man responsible for the destruction of the crosses.

August 15, 2005

Open Thread

For the night

Bush Retreats on Iraq Promises

Unrealistic goals, bad policies, and incompetent political leadership have forced the Bush administration to lower expectations about accomplishments in Iraq, according to an article in Sunday's Washington Post.

The Bush administration is significantly lowering expectations of what can be achieved in Iraq, recognizing that the United States will have to settle for far less progress than originally envisioned during the transition due to end in four months, according to U.S. officials in Washington and Baghdad.

The United States no longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting oil industry or a society in which the majority of people are free from serious security or economic challenges, U.S. officials say.

"What we expected to achieve was never realistic given the timetable or what unfolded on the ground," said a senior official involved in policy since the 2003 invasion. "We are in a process of absorbing the factors of the situation we're in and shedding the unreality that dominated at the beginning."

The failed political leadership that pulled out all the stops to start this war is finding that it's a lot harder to distort reality once boots hit the ground.

They said we had to go to war because Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction were a threat to us. There were no WMDs. They said we had to go to war because of September 11, but there was no connection between Iraq and those horrific attacks. They said we had to go to war to free the Iraqi people, but they've turned the country into the world's most dangerous terrorist training ground and a cradle of civil strife.

The rosy predictions of war at virtually no cost and almost without bloodshed have turned out to be as unreliable as the reasons for starting it.

Ashcroft Appointed Prosecutor Because FBI Questioned Rove Connections

Journalist Murray Waas has been doing a fantastic job at getting into the corners of the whole Rove/Libby/White House leak scandal. In an article that ran in the Village Voice on Saturday, he points out that Ashcroft and his staff were forced to remove themselves from the CIA leak investigation because Rove's story was so clearly questionable.

Justice Department officials made the crucial decision in late 2003 to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the leak of the identity of undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame in large part because investigators had begun to specifically question the veracity of accounts provided to them by White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove, according to senior law enforcement officials.

Several of the federal investigators were also deeply concerned that then attorney general John Ashcroft was personally briefed regarding the details of at least one FBI interview with Rove, despite Ashcroft's own longstanding personal and political ties to Rove, the Voice has also learned. The same sources said Ashcroft was also told that investigators firmly believed that Rove had withheld important information from them during that FBI interview.

...

During his initial interview with the FBI, in the fall of 2003, Rove did not disclose that he had ever discussed Plame with Time magazine correspondent Matthew Cooper, according to two legal sources with firsthand knowledge of the matter. Federal investigators were also skeptical of claims by Rove that he had only first learned of Plame's employment with the CIA from a journalist, even though he also claimed he could not specifically recall the name of the journalist.

As the truthfulness of Rove's accounts became more of a focus of investigators, career Justice Department employees and senior FBI officials became even more concerned about the continuing role in the investigation of Ashcroft, because of his close relationship with Rove. Rove had earlier served as an adviser to Ashcroft during the course of three political campaigns. And Rove’s onetime political consulting firm had been paid more than $746,000 for those services.

Tip to AMERICAblog.

August 14, 2005

Open Thread

Governor Dean's on Face the Nation this morning...

August 12, 2005

White House Withholding Roberts Files

Ignoring the Constitution and abusing a power that President Bush gave himself back in 2001, the White House is holding back important information about John Roberts' record.

The administration is frantically searching through papers from Roberts' tenure as an official in Reagan's Justice Department for "surprises" that might endanger the smooth rubber-stamp approval process they've been planning.

There's nothing more important than making sure the Senate has all the information it needs to make a full evaluation of John Roberts. It's time for the administration to release all available records.

Keep reading "White House Withholding Roberts Files"

Governor Dean on 'Face the Nation'

Governor Dean will be on Face the Nation this Sunday. Enter your zip code here to find out when it will air in your area.

Open Thread

For the evening...

August 11, 2005

A 50-State Strategy: Your N.C., S.C., & Mississippi Organizers

Today at Democratic Headquarters we had some new staff -- but they don't work here.

They work on the ground in their states, as part of the 50-state strategy that you mandated.

Your organizers in N.C., S.C., and Mississippi visiting Democratic Headquarters in Washington today.

The group, consisting of new organizers hired in North Carolina, South Carolina and Mississippi, were here all day yesterday and today -- meeting staff from the various departments, getting information about what their jobs will be, and interacting with each other about the huge and exciting task in front of them.

Jesse Berney, Josh McConaha and I (the Internet team) spent a little time with them today talking about how important it is to use the Internet to communicate with everyone and engage in conversation about what they're doing, and to reach out to communities of folks online in the regions of their states.

Several of them decided to get started right away -- they came over and borrowed our computers to write up some blog posts introducing themselves, talking about their sessions here, and about the program that you created.

So here's the scoop on this 50-state strategy you keep hearing about, straight from your organizers in:

North Carolina

South Carolina

Mississippi

This is an amazing group of people -- be sure to read their entries linked above, and take a look at their bios which are linked from those pages.

Open Thread

For the night...

Mr. Abramoff, Meet Joe Friday

There is a warrant out for Jack Abramoff's arrest, and FBI agents are planning to take him into custody in the Baltimore area. Abramoff is wanted for his part in a bank fraud scheme in Miami, FL that cost investors millions and one man his life. The Associated Press wrote today.

FBI agents were seeking to arrest a once-powerful Washington, D.C., lobbyist on Thursday after a Fort Lauderdale federal grand jury charged him and a New York businessman with scheming to defraud two lenders in a $147.5 million purchase of SunCruz Casinos.

Agents were to take Republican insider Jack Abramoff into custody on Thursday afternoon in the Baltimore area. His partner in the controversial 2000 SunCruz acquisition, Adam Kidan, was expected to surrender to authorities, according to sources familiar with the probe.

The South Florida indictment charging the duo with defrauding $60 million from two lenders that financed the sale instantly rocked the nation's corridors of power. Indeed, rumors of their imminent arrests circulated during the past week.

Just so there is no confusion, the AP also pointed out the difference between this indictment and the possible trouble Abramoff , Tom DeLay, and other Congressional Republicans face from a Washington, DC-based grand jury.

Abramoff has been a target of a separate Washington federal probe into millions of dollars in fees that he and a lobbyist partner raked in from Indian tribes that own casinos.

The embattled lobbyist-lawyer has also come under intense scrutiny for his fundraising and other political activities on behalf of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, of Texas, who himself is under attack by Democrats for alleged unethical conduct.

According to federal court records, Abramoff, 40, is accused of using some of SunCruz's income to subsidize his fundraising endeavors, including paying for private boxes at FedEx Field, MCI Center and Oriole Park at Camden Yards to entertain major GOP donors and politicians.

In a particularly disturbing twist Abramoff has also been questioned about the murder of the man who they bought the cruise line from.

Police have also been questioning them about the gangland-style hit on Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, the rag-to-riches Greek immigrant who sold his fleet of casino ships to the Kidan-led group in September 2000.

Boulis, 51, was gunned down in Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 6, 2001. Police have not charged anybody in the homicide investigation.

Also, this news makes a previously unusual statement by Representative Bob Ney (R-OH) take on a deeper meaning. On March 30, 2000 Ney entered a statement into the congressional record critical of the Mr. Boulis, and in support of Jack Abrmamoff. Why would Ney do such a thing? Could it be the perhaps the thousands in campaign contributions from Abramoffs investment group? The Washington Post reported in December:

Abramoff's fundraising log shows an event for Ney at MCI Center on March 15, 2001. FEC records show that Abramoff and three men associated with him in a Florida-based casino cruise line called Suncruz each donated $1,000 to Ney that day. Ney had been helpful to them the year before, when Abramoff and a partner, Adam Kidan, were embroiled in acrimonious efforts to buy Suncruz. In an unusual step, Ney criticized the cruise line's owner, Gus Boulis, in statements placed in the March 30, 2000, Congressional Record, putting pressure on Boulis to sell; he then praised Kidan as Suncruz's new owner when the sale went through.

Oops ... Roberts Keen Mind Slips Again

Tuesday night, NBC Nightly News ran footage from yet another Roberts interview that the White House didn't disclose. And today the Associated Press wrote, "Midway between his nomination and his confirmation hearing, a big issue is whether more surprises await officials fighting over access to documents in his career."

With the White House's record so far, maybe so.

Also, right-wing websites are abuzz today with the news that Judge Roberts worked for Playboy. According to the exceptionally dubious source Human Events:

Roberts played the role of a Supreme Court justice in a moot court setting, preparing Playboy's lead counsel, Robert Corn-Revere, who worked in Hogan & Hartson's communications department, for his oral argument before the Supreme Court.

Even hard-core Republican supporters like Zell Miller have raised questions about items in Roberts background with Miller saying, "That Federalists Society really worries me."

This could all be over if the White House simply came clean and released a full and honest compilation of Roberts record, instead of providing the a laughably incomplete one, stonewalling on important records and dragging their feet on releasing the portion they already have promised.

Here's a clue to the people who brought us Bernie Kerik as to how it works: You may have set out to pick a nominee without a public record, but once you’ve picked the guy, you can't get rid of his record.

RNC Pays to Protect Vote Suppression Operative

While talking out of one side of their mouth about courting the African-American vote and protecting voting rights (they like to cite reports from lobbyists associated with dictatorships in Congo who try to eliminate all but their own political party), the RNC is paying legal bills for those charged with voter suppression.

Despite a zero-tolerance policy on tampering with voters, the Republican Party quietly has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide private defense lawyers for a former Bush campaign official charged with conspiring to keep Democrats from voting in New Hampshire.

James Tobin, the president's 2004 campaign chairman for New England, is charged in New Hampshire federal court with four felonies accusing him of conspiring with a state GOP official and a GOP consultant in Virginia to jam Democratic and labor union get-out-the-vote phone banks in November 2002.

A telephone firm was paid to make repeated hang-up phone calls to overwhelm the phone banks in New Hampshire and prevent them from getting Democratic voters to the polls on Election Day 2002, prosecutors allege. Republican John Sununu won a close race that day to be New Hampshire's newest senator.

At the time, Tobin, of Bangor, Maine, was the RNC's New England regional director, before moving to President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign.

A top New Hampshire Party official and a GOP consultant already have pleaded guilty and cooperated with prosecutors. Tobin's indictment accuses him of specifically calling the GOP consultant to get a telephone firm to help in the scheme.

"Zero tolerance," huh? I guess that means for anyone but themselves. A tip for Ken Mehlman: You're not credible if you're paying the legal bills for those who suppress the vote. Don't you believe they should be punished? Apparently not, or you wouldn't be paying "hundreds of thousands of dollars" for their lawyers.

Every legal voter should be allowed to cast a ballot, this guy tried to stand in the way (and probably did with some success), and they pay for his defense? They say they support voting rights - but it's only because it's good politics (it's one of the most basic American principles there is). They're obviously willing to say one thing and protect those criminally accused of doing just the opposite.

Patriotism In Action

As most of you know, Cindy Sheehan, mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, has been camped outside the President's ranch in Texas hoping to meet with him face-to-face. "War President" Bush plans to be on vacation for the month while others in Iraq continue to die, and has thus far flat-out refused to meet with Sheehan, instead sending aides in hopes of diffusing the situation.

But even if the President won't meet with her, she still has the support of the American people, right? Mostly, but not from all. While she does have overwhelming support from many people across the country, conservative partisans are attempting to smear Sheehan, knowing the public-relations problem her quest creates for the vacationing Bush. One conservative commentator claims that Casey Sheehan, her son, wouldn't have wanted his mother to wait for the president - absurdly professing to have better insight into what he would've wanted than what his mother does. Conservative websites have taken past quotes of Sheehan grossly out of context (simply ignoring quotes that contradict their claims), and tried to paint her as someone who has changed her story - even though she has not done any such thing. Conservative TV hosts have mocked her and tried to belittle other mothers who defend her.

Cindy Sheehan's personal pain is unimaginable. The courage it takes to camp out on the side of a dusty Texas road in honor of her son is only matched by that of those who serve in Iraq. Those questioning her should be ashamed of themselves and should stop putting grossly partisan politics ahead of common decency. Instead of supporting a grieving mother, they want to publicly trash her because the loss of her son and her personal pain reflect poorly on the President.

The President should meet with Cindy Sheehan - he owes it to her, the troops in Iraq, their families at home, and the American people.

Open Thread

We'll automate this eventually...

August 10, 2005

Who is The American Center for Voting Rights?

Yesterday the RNC lavished praise on the partisan American Center for Voting Rights report excusing all allegations of voter suppression, long lines and other problems in the 2004 election.

The ACVR is chaired by Brian Lunde, a former Democrat who became a Bush operative in 2000. Turns out, Lunde's commitment to voting rights is as thin as his loyalty to his former party.

According to Senate lobbying registrations, in 2001 Lunde registered to lobby for George Birnbaum, an associate of Republican consultant and mudthrower Arthur Finkelstein. According to his disclosure filed with the Secretary of the Senate, Lunde worked to "set up meetings for President Kabila of Congo."

According to the CIA factbook on the Congo, at the time, President Joseph Kabila had just assumed power from his father, Laurent Kabila. The older Kabila was a committed Marxist who had ruled Congo since he took forcefully took power in 1997 in a rebellion backed by Uganda and Rwanda. As President, Laurent Kabila banned all political parties except his and failed to hold long-promised elections. He also blocked an investigation into the massacre of tens of thousands of Rwandan refugees that occurred during his takeover. Today, Joseph Kabila still rules as a dictator and no elections have been held in Congo since 1984.

In addition, by claiming he worked for Birnbaum and not Kabila directly, Lunde skirted disclosure laws that would have required him to register as a foreign agent with the Department of Justice.

So excuse us if we don't pay much attention to lectures about voting rights from a lobbyist for dictators who have never held elections.

The Rumsfeld Runaround

In a press briefing yesterday, Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld hid behind circular logic and vague rhetoric failing to answer the important questions and refusing to answer even the most basic question about the course of the war in Iraq: how is the Bush administration defining victory? So far, the administration has refused to provide the public with a strategy for success and is instead sending mixed messages on the challenges that face our soldiers on the ground in Iraq.

The Administration has been backtracking from statements made about troop withdrawal from Iraq over the last couple of weeks. At the same time, violence in Iraq has been particularly high this month with 19 Ohio marines killed in one week and new more sophisticated bombs coming in from Iran increasing insurgent's capabilities.

The marine unit that took such heavy casualties last week repeatedly asked for a thousand more troops. When asked for an explanation as to why they weren't needed, Rumsfeld passed the buck claiming that it was Gen. Casey and Gen. Vine's responsibility.

Gen. Myers chimed in to say we did need more troops, but that they should be Iraqi troops. Once again, Rumsfeld gave us the runaround. Rumsfeld brushed off a question about how many Iraqi troops can function independently, saying "We have got all of those numbers, we've presented them to the Congress. I don't happen to have it off the top of my head." He then refused to even admit that the number of forces is relevant! Saying that "There's a pattern where people try to diminish the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces by trying to pluck out a deeper number and they say only this many thousand, are able to operate completely independently."

He must not have read his own report, because the Pentagon report presented to Congress said that only a small number of Iraqi security forces are capable of fighting the insurgency without American assistance. Pentagon officials clarified that number later saying that only three of the approximately 100 Iraqi army battalions are taking on the insurgents by themselves. It also said that half of the police are unable to conduct operations and that the police are infiltrated by insurgents. If we know that the Iraqi troops are not ready to take responsibility for their own security, why don't we need more troops in Iraq?

Rumsfeld also failed to define what a victory in Iraq would be, flat out refusing to answer the questions:

QUESTION: If you pull U.S. troops home, won't you need the Iraqis to operate completely independently? How are you defining victory in Iraq today?

RUMSFELD: Those are two different questions.

QUESTION: You said before that you tie being able to turn over cities and security control to Iraqi forces.

RUMSFELD: And that's happening, as he said.

QUESTION: Won't they have to operate...

MYERS: Just a couple of areas. There are more than that. And we'll try to get that to you as well.
[Pentagon Press Briefing, 8/9/05]

Rumsfeld said that "nothing has changed." Plans for withdrawal are still "condition-based." Then why are reports continuing to say that withdrawal plans are under way?

When Rumsfeld meets with Bush and Rice in Texas later this week, he owes the American people clear answers to the questions he avoided yesterday.

20,000 Bond Holders and Growing

Our Finance Director, Lindsay Lewis, sent this message to Democrats across the country today. While it's based on Jesse's post from the other day, we can't stress enough just how fantastic the response to Democracy Bonds has been. Even better is that you're using the tools to get others involved. The number of Bond holders grows daily, and it's because of people asking their friends and neighbors. It's person-to-person, and the program's success is because of the work Bond holders have done to help grow it. If you have a Bond, you can login and tell your friends here.

Six weeks after the launch of Democracy Bonds, the response has surpassed all expectations. More than 20,000 Democrats -- from bankers to waitresses -- have made a monthly commitment to fund our party for the long-term.

The Democracy Bonds community can tell you a lot better than I can why this commitment is so important. I've included some comments from a recent online discussion about Democracy Bonds below this note.

Building a community of small donors giving monthly is the key to funding the 50-state strategy that you mandated -- a sound, sustainable financial base is the only way we can build a truly national party and fight every race at every level.

Tonight, Governor Dean and Democracy Bond holders in Boston will be building that community even more at the first-ever Democracy Bonds rally.

The buzz is real, the potential for this program is real, and the impact of your small monthly donation will be real. Join the community now or, if you're already a Bond holder, pass this link to a friend:

http://www.democrats.org/democracybonds

Thank you for everything.

The comments that were in the email are below...

Keep reading "20,000 Bond Holders and Growing"

Open Thread

It's Wednesday...

August 9, 2005

Tom DeLay Associates Still Face Indictments, DeLay's to Follow?

Tom DeLay had hoped that a court would dismiss corruption-related indictments his spokesperson had called politically motivated. But today according to the Associated Press, a Texas judge refused, holding that criminal charges could continue against two DeLay employees who allegedly acccepted illegal corporate contributions and laundered money through the RNC.

The charges stem from the 2002 Texas legislative elections. The money laundering charges are based on $190,000 in corporate money that was sent to the Republican National State Elections Committee. That committee then gave the same amount of money in donations to seven Texas House candidates.

Colyandro and Ellis each were indicted on one count of money laundering, and Colyandro faces 13 counts of unlawful acceptance of a corporate political contribution.

While DeLay has not been indicted yet, there is evidence that he was deeply involved with the day to day operations of his PACs, which could spell trouble for the already scandal-plagued Majority Leader. On March 17, 2005 the Associated Press reported:

DeLay was a founder of TRMPAC, serves on its advisory board and has helped with its fund raising. Three of DeLay's political associates have been indicted in the criminal investigation and a civil trial related to the fund raising is under way in Austin. ... In the past, DeLay said he had little to do with TRMPAC's day-to-day activities. Some documents in the civil case suggested he may have been actively involved in gathering corporate donations.

Now that the judge has said that these charges are not just political DeLay's fundraising practices will be on display in open court.

Open Thread

For the day...

August 8, 2005

They Could Have Gotten Him

The administration has long denied that we knew for sure that Osama bin Laden was holed up at Tora Bora during our military operation there in December 2001. But a forthcoming book from the CIA's commander on the field says the administration is lying: Osama was at Tora Bora, and we let him go.

The administration's failure to make capturing Osama bin Laden a priority then has continued, and nearly four years after September 11, he's free to send messages to terrorists and plan new attacks.

It's time for this White House to shift priorities. President Bush needs to admit his mistakes -- including the failure to capture bin Laden at Tora Bora -- and refocus on capturing the man responsible for the deaths of nearly 3,000 Americans.

The White House's "How To" On Shutting Down An Investigation

Today, the Los Angeles Times reported that the White House had demoted Fredrick Black, a US Attorney that was investigating Bush pioneer Jack Abramoff's relationship with the Guam Superior Court, where he earned over $300,000 as a lobbyist.

While he was employed by the Guam Superior Court, Abramoff was also arranging extravagant junkets for Congressional Republicans (including House Majority Leader Tom DeLay) to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marinas Islands in order to kill legislation that would have ended sweat shop conditions in the garment factories there.

In 2002, Abramoff was retained by the Superior Court in what was an unusual arrangement for a public agency. The Times reported in May that Abramoff was paid with a series of $9,000 checks funneled through a Laguna Beach lawyer to disguise the lobbyist's role working for the Guam court. No separate contract was authorized for Abramoff's work.

...

The transactions were the target of a grand jury subpoena issued Nov. 18, 2002, according to a copy obtained by The Times. The subpoena demanded that Anthony Sanchez, administrative director of the Guam Superior Court, release records involving the lobbying contract, including bills and payments.

What was the White House's response to this attorney attempting to root out corruption? Demote him, of course.

A day later, the chief prosecutor, U.S. Atty. Frederick A. Black, who had launched the investigation, was demoted. A White House news release announced that Bush was replacing Black.The timing caught some by surprise. Despite his officially temporary status, Black had held the acting U.S. attorney assignment for more than a decade.

Black had been targeted by Abramoff even before the investigation, when he had the nerve to attempt to point out the security risks represented by the loose immigration policies in the United States Territories.

Black also arranged for a security review in the aftermath of Sept. 11 that was seen as a potential threat to loose immigration rules favored by local business leaders. In fact, the study ordered by Black eventually cited substantial security risks in Guam and the Northern Marianas.Abramoff, who then represented the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, alerted his clients in a memo about the expected report and warned: "It will require some major action from the Hill and a press attack to get this back in the bottle." The lobbyist also wrote that he and his aides expected to meet in the near future with Justice Department officials, according to Abramoff billing documents released this year by the Marianas government

Read on to learn who Black's replacement was and how this will affect the Plame leak investigation.

Keep reading "The White House's "How To" On Shutting Down An Investigation"

It's Vital to Ask Roberts Questions

Republicans are working their hardest to convince the media -- with some success -- that when it comes to Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, questions about his past record are irrelevant. They're trying especially hard to spread the idea that Supreme Court nominees often change their positions on key issues once they spend time on the nation's highest court.

But as law professor David Strauss writes in the Chicago Tribune, it's a myth that justices' ideologies change on the bench.

Today, though, the perception that justices have "evolved" or "moderated" has, mostly, a different cause. In the last generation, the Supreme Court--dominated by appointees of Republican presidents--has made a distinct turn to the right. Justices who were once comfortably on the conservative side have found themselves labeled moderate, even liberal, even though they did not change their views.

On the current court, for example, Justice Anthony Kennedy and retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor are often described as having moved to the moderate center, or perhaps even further to the left, while Justices John Paul Stevens and Souter--Republican appointees, like O'Connor and Kennedy--are said to have become aggressive liberals. But judged by the standards of the last half-century, all four justices are just what one would have expected when they were appointed: Kennedy and O'Connor are solidly conservative, and Stevens and Souter are moderate conservatives.

The piece goes into greater detail on specific issues, debunking the myth that justices often become different people once they reach the Court.

Republicans would like you to believe that any questions we can ask of Roberts are irrelevant. They'd like us to just let him through without a serious examination of his record. But Strauss points out that -- despite conventional wisdom -- you can get a very good idea of what kind of justice a nominee will make. That means it's vital to learn as much about Roberts as we can, no matter what Republicans claim is relevant.

As Strauss's analysis shows, the court is already teetering on the edge of the far right wing. Can we afford to push the most important guardian of our fundamental liberties further out of the mainstream?

Keep reading "It's Vital to Ask Roberts Questions"

Here's Something Else Roberts "Forgot"

Kudos to the folks at ABC who found footage of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts answering questions on a wide range of constitutional issues. Since the White House and Roberts failed to disclose it on the questionnaire they submitted to the Senate, they clearly found it themselves.

The questionnaire, agreed to by Democrats and Republicans, clearly asks nomiees to provide "all interviews you have given newspapers, magazines or other publications, or radio or television stations." Missing from the list was the 2000 interview of Roberts on a Dallas TV station.

Click for the full questionnaire. The key question is #14.

This isn't the first time Roberts "forgot."

This is quickly becoming the most poorly handled Bush administration appointment since Bernie Kerik.

Open Thread

For the day...

August 6, 2005

Hispanic Summit Webcast

The folks down in San Antonio have put together an impressive webcast of the event. If you want to watch all of the action, simply click here. We'll also have updates from Jerome Wiley, a blogger we've sent to cover the event, here.

Use this as an open thread for the day.

August 5, 2005

On The 60th Anniversary of Hiroshima Al Qaeda Is Desparately Seeking Nuclear Weapons

On August 6, 1945 our world changed forever when the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the people of Hiroshima, three days later the act was repeated on Nagasaki. As the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "history was pulverized. Time stopped." Sixty years later, the greatest threat facing this nation is still nuclear weapons. This new era of nuclear threats is more disturbing and unstable than the mutually assured destruction of the Cold War. But instead of working to make us safer, Bush wants to start building a new generation of nuclear weapons. et, as we near the 60th anniversary of our most tragic reminder

According to the 9/11 Commission's report Al Qaeda has been seeking nuclear weapons for at least ten years and 9/11 Commission member Thomas Kean said on Meet the Press that Bin Laden has studied Hiroshima.

Al Qaeda's intentions are particularly worrisome seeing as we can't seem to keep tabs on nuclear materials. Porter Goss told the Senate that it was "only a matter of time" before Al Qaeda tries to use chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons and that Russian nuclear material that went missing was "sufficient" to construct a nuclear weapon. A chemical lab in the U.S. even lost enriched uranium in April.

And as if Al Qaeda weren't enough, there are many nations out there still interested in developing nukes. Talks with North Korea continue "at a stalemate" (according to the North Korean Vice Foreign Minister). Iran has declared that it’s "determined to resume nuclear activities" and proliferation experts say that there could be a "cascade of proliferation" if both go nuclear.

And What Does Bush Do? He Builds More Bombs.

The Associated Press reported on July 1st that the Bush Administration is pushing a new generation of nuclear weapons that can penetrate deeply buried bunkers (hence their name – "bunker busters"). Bush wants the country to spend $4 million to develop these weapons which experts say will only encourage more states to develop their own weapons.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said somewhere around 40 countries have developed the basic capability to enrich uranium or reprocess plutonium, the key to producing warheads. The last thing we need is to encourage them to move forward with their nuclear programs. The countries we know have developed or are developing nuclear capabilities have been plagued by illegal sales of nuclear technology, increasing the likelihood that weapons will fall into the hands of groups like Al Qaeda.

Guest Post: 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

As our final guest blogger this week commemerating the tomorrow's anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, we have Congressman Charles A. Gonzalez from Texas.

Tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Initially adopted by Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 to guarantee that no person would be denied the right to vote because of race or color, the Voting Rights Act is considered by many the most successful piece of civil rights legislation ever adopted by the United States Congress.

As part of the 1975 reauthorization of the law, the Voting Rights Act was expanded to include Hispanics through a new requirement that all ballots be language appropriate, thus enfranchising millions of Spanish speaking voters. At that time, about two and a half million Latinos were registered to vote. Today there are 9.3 million Latinos registered to vote, with over 7.5 million Latinos casting a ballot in the 2004 presidential election.

The number of people relying on the protections offered by the Voting Rights Act is growing. That is why I believe we need a 25 year extension of the Voting Rights Act, and why we should take this opportunity to improve language provisions in the law.

Currently, Section 203 of the VRA requires certain jurisdictions to provide bilingual assistance to language minority citizens at all stages of the voting process and in all elections to guarantee that limited English proficient voters can participate in the political process.

I intend to work with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to improve this section by allowing the use of the Census Bureau's American Community Service data at five year intervals between each decennial census for determining whether a jurisdiction meets the threshold for being subject to Section 203.

In addition, we should expand coverage of language minority provisions by changing the formula used to determine which jurisdictions are required to provide language assistance, so that jurisdictions with at least 7,500 voting age citizens who speak a particular language recognized by the Voting Rights Act will able to receive ballots and other election materials in their language. Currently a jurisdiction needs 10,000 such citizens to trigger the provisions of Section 203.

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act requires certain jurisdictions to submit changes in their electoral practices to the Department of Justice for "preclearance." This requirement has prevented jurisdictions from changing district lines or election procedures in a manner that discriminates against minority voters. We need to maintain the protections offered through Section 5, and we should expand its reach by allowing for objections to a change in district boundaries in cases where there is an intention to discriminate against minority voters.

Even though the right to vote is the story of our nation, today we often take for granted the Voting Rights Act and how it radically changed the administration and conduct of elections in this country. We no longer have poll taxes or literacy tests, yet with every election we are reminded of why we still need the protections offered by the Voting Rights Act.

--Congressman Charles A. Gonzalez

The Chairman Went Down to Georgia

Another message from the road from Gov. Dean's trip director, Fred Baldassaro.

Continuing on our swing of the South, the Gov and I went to Atlanta yesterday and spent some quality time with the Georgia state party.

Those guys are doing good work down there and are very focused on winning some seats and the Governor's office in 2006.

Even better, the staff knew where to get the best sweet potato pie... mmmm, good! I asked Bobby Kahn, Chairman of the Georgia Democratic Party, to tell you what it was like to have us there.

Governor Dean spent several hours at the Democratic Party of Georgia headquarters yesterday. He held a well-attended meeting of the state party's executive committee and conducted several local media interviews. Everyone was excited and encouraged by what he had to say.

Members of the Executive Committee, including many current and former elected officials, were impressed with his insights and vision for the Democratic Party.

We appreciate his emphasis on and his plan to develop a national Democratic message that can be used on candidates in all 50 states. We are also excited by his plans to invest money in every state, including Georgia. The DNC investment in Georgia should really help us win the Governor's office back next year. Georgia is looking forward to working with Governor Dean and our grassroots organizations to return Georgia to the Democratic column.

The President's PDB

Saturday marks the fourth anniversary of Bush receiving his Presidential Daily Brief titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the United States." The situation today is strikingly similar to the situation in August of 2001. Bush is vacationing at his ranch in Crawford, TX while officials sound the alarm on our continued vulnerability to attack.

We have our own, updated PDB that we wish President Bush would take some time out to read.

Click here to download it in PDF format or read it below.

Keep reading "The President's PDB"

August 4, 2005

Open Thread

Late night thread...

It's Time for Bush to Answer Questions on CIA Leak

For weeks, the White House has hidden behind excuses of "not commenting on an ongoing investigation" to avoid answering questions about the CIA leak scandal. But President Bush abandoned that strategy when he recently told Texas newspapers that Karl Rove has his full support.

"Karl's got my complete confidence. He's a valuable member of my team," Bush said in his strongest defense yet of Rove, the architect of his presidential campaigns.

Now that Bush is answering questions about the leak, maybe it's time he answer the most important one.

When the leak first became news, President Bush insisted that it was a serious matter and pledged to fire anyone who was involved in leaking an undercover CIA agent's identity.

But Bush could have taken care of the entire matter in a single day, simply by calling in senior administration officials and asking them whether they were involved. But he deliberately chose not to, even before a special prosecutor began the investigation.

So President Bush, since you've decided to comment on the leak case while the investigation is still proceeding, it's time for you to answer this question: Why did you do absolutely nothing when officials in your administration leaked the identity of an undercover CIA agent?

Keep reading "It's Time for Bush to Answer Questions on CIA Leak"

Stewardship and Investment

Governor Dean sent a nationwide message to Democrats yesterday about Paul Hackett that talked about the importance of our 50 State Strategy and the need to support the party with Democracy Bonds.

Governor Dean's message kicked off this discussion on DailyKos, and I wanted to share one comment from DavidW in SF in particular:

Stewardship -- Committing to things I care about

I worked hard to get Dean elected to head up the Democratic Party, and now that he's in, it's incumbent on me to help the party in any way that I can to be most effective. And that means investing in something I deeply care about.

Although it's more than I can probably afford, I'm putting in $30.00 per month now. If finances get any better, I'll probably raise my monthly donation.

Having served on the Board of Trustees on my church for three years, I know the importance of having predictable and committed financial resources. It's the responsible way to run an institution.

It's known as "stewardship" and "investment". It is incumbent on all of us to contribute on an on-going committed basis to the mission of the Democratic Party, if we care about its continued existence, and if we wish to see it run in a responsible manner. From the many comments here over the years, it seems like the vast majority of us want to get the party out of the hands of the corporations. Here's our chance to do so.

Invest in "Democracy Bonds" now to the best of your ability. If after a year or so it doesn't look like the Democratic Party is making the key changes we want to see, then it's time for another revolution. In the meantime, do the best you can to help the institution succeed through your investment.

We couldn't have put it any better. Get your Democracy Bond today.

Aren't Elephants Supposed to Never Forget?

Apparently John Roberts "forgot" ...

He is a member of the Federalist Society

"Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. has repeatedly said that he has no memory of belonging to the Federalist Society, but his name appears in the influential, conservative legal organization's 1997-1998 leadership directory."

He was a corporate lobbyist

"Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts failed to include his lobbying of Bush administration officials on behalf of the cosmetics industry in 2001 in his Senate questionnaire released yesterday. The omission is notable because the Senate asked for a list of all of his lobbying, and his work for the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrance Association resulted in the controversial suspension of stricter rules for labeling sunscreen products.

He volunteered for gay rights in Colorado

"Roberts did not mention his work on the case in his 67-page response to a Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire, released Tuesday. The committee asked for "specific instances" in which he had performed pro bono work, how he had fulfilled those responsibilities, and the amount of time he had devoted to them. Smith said the omission was probably just an oversight because Roberts was not the chief litigator in Romer vs. Evans, which struck down a voter-approved 1992 Colorado initiative that would have allowed employers and landlords to exclude gays from jobs and housing. "John probably didn't recall [the case] because he didn't play as large a role in it as he did in others," Smith said Wednesday. "I'm sure John has a record somewhere of every case he ever argued, and Romer he did not argue. So he probably would have remembered it less."

He worked to stop counting votes in Bush v. Gore [Pg. 10-43]

Roberts failed to disclose that to the Senate when he was nominated for a Circuit Court position in 2003 - either as pro bono work or a significant case he was involved in.

Did he forget, or is this the most poorly handled Bush administration appointment sice Bernie Kerik?

August 3, 2005

Open Thread

Here's a fresh one.

Roberts "Forgets" His Past as a Lobbyist for Corporate Special Interests

According to a Newsday article, in Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' 83-page Senate questionnaire he failed to disclose his past as a lobbyist for the Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Fragrance Association. The Senate had asked for all of Roberts' lobbying clients as part of the questionnaire.

Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts failed to include his lobbying of Bush administration officials on behalf of the cosmetics industry in 2001 in his Senate questionnaire released yesterday.

The omission is notable because the Senate asked for a list of all of his lobbying, and his work for the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrance Association resulted in the controversial suspension of stricter rules for labeling sunscreen products.

The White House did not have an immediate comment.

Roberts listed two 1998 lobbying registrations for peanut grower associations. In another section, he lists an address he delivered to the cosmetics association in April 2000, but does not note the lobbying.

Senate records show Roberts was registered to lobby for the cosmetics association in March 2001 when he was a partner at Hogan & Hartson. The registration form was signed by Robert P. Brady, another partner at the firm.

It said Roberts would lobby on the "impact of Food and Drug Administration regulations" on labeling and advertising and "protection of commercial speech under the First Amendment."

An August 2001 lobbyist filing shows the association paid less than $10,000 to Roberts and Brady. No other listing appears in Senate online records.

The FDA's public calendar shows that on Oct. 29, 2001, Roberts and two officers of the group, Edward Kavanaugh and Thomas Donegan, met with FDA chief counsel Daniel Troy and others on "sunscreen labeling issues."

Kavanaugh last night confirmed that Roberts served as outside counsel.

An FDA rule to go into effect in 2002 would have banned sun-protection factors higher than 30, because little protection is added after that.

It also would have cracked down on labels with "unsupported, absolute, and/or misleading and confusing terms such as 'sunblock,' 'waterproof,' 'all-day protection' and 'visible and/or infrared light protection.'"

Two months after the meeting, Troy put an indefinite stay on the rule. Consumer groups criticized Troy for the action.

"They've done what we asked," Donegan said last year.

This the second association that could affect Roberts' judgments that he has "forgotten," -- Roberts would most likely have to recuse himself from any cases involving the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrance Association. This is why it is so important for the Senate to be provided with all of the documents they are asking for -- the American people deserve to know about this possible Justice, especially his lobbying and business ties, before he is seated on the court, not after.

Mike Honda: How the Voting Rights Act Helped Me

Today's guest post commemerating the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act comes from Rep. Mike Honda.

"In 1964 only 300 black elected officials had been elected nationwide; today there are over 9,100 in state and local jurisdictions around the country, including seventy-one members of Congress of African American, Latino, Native American, or Asian descent. We have indeed come a long way, but we have a great distance to travel before this nation achieves the full measure of equality that democracy requires." Rep. John Lewis (GA-5th)

The cornerstone of our democracy is based on the right to vote. So many of us, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, have in the past been denied this fundamental right to vote. As we commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, let us join together in solidarity and renew this Act. As Americans, we all have the right to vote; the Voting Rights Act is critical to ensuring that we are able to exercise that right.

--Rep. Mike Honda

Sweet Home Alabama

Another update from the road from Gov. Dean's trip director, Fred Baldassaro.

The Governor and I are in Atlanta today hanging out at the state party HQ, but I wanted to take a second to talk about the great time we had in Alabama yesterday.

We started the day at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference where the Governor told the crowd of about 700 pastors and clergy that the Democratic Party is the party that truly believes in moral values.

After a few meetings with the SCLC leadership and the Young Democrats blues and a few rock songs with the Elan family, who hosted the fundraiser, on their front porch. Governor Clapton, er, Dean played a few Bob Dylan songs and wowed the young and old alike with his guitar playing. It was almost midnight by the time we left the house, and everyone had a great time.

Tomorrow the Governor speaks to the National Association of Black Journalists and then we go to San Antonio for the DNC's Hispanic Summit. See you soon.

It Must Be Tough Being a CIA Agent These Days

The polarization of intelligence gathering and analysis is perhaps the most troubling development of the past five years. In the middle of the daily updates on the ongoing investigation involving the White Houses leaking of a CIA agent's name, another story of armchair quarterbacking of intelligence by the Administration pokes through. Yesterday's Washington Post ran this article detailing a lawsuit filed by a counter proliferation operative who was fired for not distorting intelligence.

A fired CIA agent, who the New York Times reported had told superiors in 2001 that Iraq had abandoned part of its nuclear program, asked the FBI to investigate allegations that the spy agency dismissed him for refusing to falsify intelligence.

...

Identified as "Doe," the former agent, who worked as a Near Eastern specialist on counter proliferation issues, accuses the CIA of improper action on two separate pieces of intelligence. One was the weapons intelligence the former agent says he was asked to change in 2000. The other was intelligence uncovered in 2001 that the Times described yesterday as dealing with Iraq's nuclear program. The newspaper, citing people it said had knowledge of the case, said the second piece of intelligence came from a credible source and said that Baghdad had dropped a major segment of its nuclear program years before 2001. But CIA officials refused to distribute the finding to other intelligence agencies, the Times said.

The case could shed new light on Bush administration thinking ahead of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, which the White House largely justified by charging that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and was actively pursuing nuclear arms. No such weapons have been found in Iraq, and U.S. arms investigators have concluded that Baghdad abandoned its nuclear development program soon after the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Besides the obvious questions this article already raises about the unprecedented pressure being exerted on our intelligence agencies, another more immediate issue is raised.

With the news that Valerie Plame had to go on leave from the CIA after her identity was revealed by Bob Novak with confirmation from White House officials -- this marks the second known CIA agent who worked on WMD and counter proliferation who had their work disrupted due to administration policy. For an administration that has so often highlighted the threat of weapons of mass destruction this seems counterproductive

In July 2004, Bush spoke at the Oak Ridge national laboratory and touted the work of these very intelligence officers.

Breaking this proliferation network was possible because of the outstanding work done by the CIA. Dedicated intelligence officers were tireless in obtaining vital information; sometimes at great personal risk. Our intelligence services do an essential job for America. I thank them for their dedication and hard work.

It is time for Bush to stop using the intelligence services and their accomplishments as political props and instead get out of their way and allow them to do their job of keeping America safe.

Morning in Ohio

The Cincinnati Post reports on last night's election in Ohio...

Schmidt's 51.7 percent to 48.3 percent victory was much tighter than had been expected in a district that the GOP has dominated for three decades and in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by a more than 3-to-1 margin.

While that owes much to Hackett's political appeal as a recently returned Iraq war veteran, the race's closeness also has already drawn some early interpretations as a referendum on Bush's policies and Republican scandals in Columbus.

"Paul was very critical of this president in a district that Bush carried easily last November, yet she barely hung on to win," said Hamilton County Democratic Party chairman Tim Burke. "There's a clear signal in that."

...

Although Tuesday's election inevitably produced a winner and loser, both candidates will be heading to Washington later this week: Schmidt to prepare to be sworn in, and Hackett for a weekend's duty with his U.S. Marines reserve unit.

"I always said that, one way or another, I'd get to Washington," Hackett quipped in an upbeat concession speech before about 200 boisterous supporters at the Aronoff Center for the Arts in downtown Cincinnati.

...

Some state and national Republicans, however, went after Hackett, particularly in regard to his acerbic attacks on Bush over Iraq. In one forum, Hackett described Bush as the biggest threat facing the nation, and even some of his advisers worried that he perhaps went too far when he described Bush in a newspaper interview as "that SOB in the White House."

Hackett, however, said he does not believe his sharp criticism of Bush hurt him at the polls.

"Meant it, said it, stand by it," Hackett, a 43-year-old Indian Hill lawyer, said Tuesday night. "I'd say it again. For every vote I may have lost because of it, I probably picked up one or two."

And let's not forget what the analysts said (for whatever that's worth): "A Schmidt win of less than five points should be a very serious warning sign for Ohio Republicans that something is very, very wrong..."

August 2, 2005

The First Wind in a Hurricane

After a hard-fought race, Democrat and former Marine Paul Hackett came within a handful of votes or winning in one of the most Republican areas of the country. This was a win for Democrats everywhere, and Paul Hackett has made Democrats nationwide proud. Paul was a phenomenal candidate - one that put his life on the line in Iraq and was ready to serve again in Washington. Republican Jean Schmidt is the poster child for Ohio corruption - and she'll fit right in with the Republican caucus.

Paul's fight and his commitment to his beliefs helped turn a deeply red district a little more blue. His campaign was proof that by fighting in all 50 states - in every race at every level - the Democratic Party will be able to win anywhere. After rallying continually for weeks around Paul's campaign, it's nice to see it end with such a stunning win - even if it didn't result in a new Democratic member of Congress.

A short round-up...

Hunter says: "Biggest winners here are the grassroots, and Dean's 50 state strategy. A 70% Republican district was turned into an edge-of-your-seat race -- I'd have liked to win the thing outright too, but realistically, these results are fantastic."

John Aravosis says: "If the GOP can't win by a romp in Ohio's Second District, they are in big trouble. And four points in this district is big trouble. ... Great job by Paul Hackett...he has started the campaign for 2006 and has given us all great hope."

Armando says: "New Ohio Democratic superstar Paul Hackett went into the lion's den of pure Red Southern Ohio and scared the pants off of the GOP losing by less than 4 points in the face of a NRCC promise to 'bury him.'"

Tim Tagaris says it was "a win for the 50 state strategy, the netroots, and the future of the country--the grassroots of the Democratic Party."

DavidNYC says: "Tonight's results exceeded my wildest expectations. Don't get me wrong - I would have been overjoyed had Hackett won. But I am still thrilled, and his tremendous showing in an incredibly red district should buoy the hopes of Democrats everywhere."

Atrios reminds us of what Cook said, and adds: "Something is very, very wrong for the Ohio GOP."

Chris Bowers at MyDD says: "It's tidal, if you ask me."

Keep reading "The First Wind in a Hurricane"

Open Thread

It's tight in Ohio. Go Hackett...

Ohio Results

Available here this evening.

...and here.

...Annatopia also has a list.

The Logical Next Step

The Onion predicts the White House's next move in its defense of Karl Rove in the CIA leak scandal.

The White House denied rumors of wrongdoing by anyone named Karl Rove Monday, saying the alleged deputy chief of staff does not exist.

"To my knowledge, no one by the name of Karl Rove works for this president, his staff, or for that matter, anyone on earth, since he is not a real person," White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters Monday.

Really, where else can the White House go from here?

Veterans for Hackett Getting Out the Vote

Editor's Note: If you're in Ohio's 2nd district, go here for your voting information and get to the polls!

We were standing with Paul Hackett, former Marine Major and Democratic candidate for Congress, while he was waiting to do a TV interview for the local station.

All of a sudden there was a loud car horn blaring outside -- everyone looked out the window, and Hackett said, "Oh, that's Butch in the jeep."

That's Master Sergeant Butch Davis, of Brown County in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District. He's been driving since before 7 AM today, getting out the vote among veterans and other voters here in Southern Ohio.

Butch is a 30-year veteran of the Marines, the Army and the Air Force. He didn't know Paul Hackett before this race, but when he saw a Marine running he decided to do something.

There won't be any exit polls in this race today, but I asked Butch what he thought -- he said he called 300 veterans he knows in the district over the last 48 hours. He managed to get in contact with 100 of them. According to Butch, only three of that 100 were voting for Hackett's opponent.

Butch is exactly the kind of Democrat we're looking to energize. When I asked him what he thought of the campaign and what was happening here he said, "This is the best organization I've seen down here."

Butch told me that, "We sure need a different direction in this country." Well, a whole lot of other Democrats in Southern Ohio agree.

And thanks to a national party committed to a 50-state strategy, even in this most Republican bastion in the state, Democrats have the resources and energy to wage a fight that will lay the groundwork for the future.

Republicans Already Lost in Ohio's 2nd

John Aravosis over at AMERICABlog points out that NBC's First Read thinks that even if Jean Schmidt wins in Ohio, Republicans lost.

Political analysts doubt that Hackett can pull off the upset in this district in a special election, when only diehard voters tend to participate. Nevertheless, Stuart Rothenberg of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report argues that this race is a no-win situation for the Republicans -- if Schmidt wins, then she was always supposed to win, but if Hackett comes close, or even wins, then it becomes a significant victory for the Democrats. "Republicans really get nothing out of it," he says.

Amy Walter, who monitors House races for the Cook Political Report, says that if Hackett comes close, that will be another sign that the Ohio GOP is in disarray. "The real story is the collateral damage that Taft and 'Coingate' may have on the party in the state." Indeed, Walter says it's no coincidence that the ad being run by the Democratic House campaign committee tries to link Schmidt to GOP Gov. Bob Taft.

Never stop fighting for every vote in every district and even if you lose the race, you've still won respect. Republicans dropped close to $500,000 in the district - and it's a "safe" Republican seat. Today is a good day to be a Democrat - and we still have yet to see if their "doubt" reflects reality...

Karl and The Gang

Bush's expression of confidence in Karl Rove follows an unfortunate, but all-too-familiar pattern of unconditional defenses for top Administration officials, no matter what they've done. Whenever a member of the Bush Team gets in hot water, Bush calls the play "defend the offender."

"Karl's got my complete confidence. He's a valuable member of my team."

This marks Rove's initiation into an elite club of Republicans caught falling down on the job and subsequently defended by Bush.

President Bush has a long history of failing to hold members of his Administration accountable for wrongdoing, and instead, doling out praise of people he should be investigating. He's less concerned with the truth than he is with defending his political allies. And once again, President Bush is willing to sacrifice the security of the American people in order to provide cover for his friends.

In April 2005 on CNN, President Bush defended Tom DeLay even as he was charged with improper dealings with a Washington lobbyist.

"He's been a very effective leader. We've gotten a lot done in the legislature. And I'm convinced we'll get more done in the legislature. And I'm looking forward to working with him."

In May 2004 on the Seattle Times, President Bush defended Rumsfeld in the heat of the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.

"Secretary Rumsfeld is a really good Secretary of Defense. Secretary Rumsfeld has served our nation well. Secretary Rumsfeld has been the Secretary during two wars. And he is an important part of my Cabinet, and he'll stay in my Cabinet."

In July 2003 on the Dallas Morning News, Bush defended George Tenet even after he admitted to mishandling intelligence about Iraqs nuclear purchases from Africa.

"Absolutely, I've got confidence in George Tenet. I've got confidence in the men and women who work at the CIA. And I continue to look forward to working with them as we win this war on terror."

In an April 2003 address, Bush praised General Jay Garner as head of the coalition provisional authority even though Garner would later admit to having mismanaged the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq.

"I have directed Jay Garner and his team to help Iraq achieve specific long-term goals, and they're doing a superb job."

In August 2005, President Bush appointed John Bolton as Ambassador to the United Nations despite sharp criticism that Bolton bullied intelligence analysts into submission.

"I'm sending Ambassador Bolton to New York with my complete confidence. Ambassador Bolton believes passionately in the goals of the United Nations Charter, to advance peace and liberty and human rights."

Welcome to the club, Karl! We hear membership comes with matching medals of freedom and get out of jail free cards.

How the Voting Rights Act Helped Me

For the 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, Carol Juneau, Mandan and Hidatsa Representative HD 16, Montana, provides some insight on what the VRA means to Native Americans. We'll be posting notes like these for the remainder of the week leading up to the anniversary...

"In 1964 only 300 black elected only 300 black elected officials had been elected nationwide; today there are over 9,100 in state and local jurisdictions around the country, including seventy-one members of Congress of African American, Latino, Native American, or Asian decent. We have indeed come a long way, but we have a great distance to travel before this nation achieves the full measure of equality that democracy requires.” Rep. John Lewis (GA-5th)

We must be an active part of the political power system if we are to make the changes we want as Indian people. Thanks to the Voting Rights Act for helping the Indian Voice be heard. But, it has not been without commitment of many people who were not afraid to confront the barriers, challenge the system, and make the changes needed to gain access. Montana’s now leads the United States in the number of Indian people serving in the Montana Legislature with eight (8) and soon to be nine (9) in 2007 and all are Democrats!

A Lesson in Journalistic Activism

Oh Bob Novak, how are we supposed to believe what you say? First, you said to Newsday in July 2003 that Valerie Plame's name was given to you by someone in the Bush Administration.

Novak, in an interview, said his sources had come to him with the information. "I didn't dig it out, it was given to me," he said. "They thought it was significant, they gave me the name and I used it."

Then, you said yesterday that you got it from the book "Who's Who in America."

Once it was determined that Wilson's wife suggested the mission, she could be identified as "Valerie Plame" by reading her husband's entry in 'Who's Who in America.

Which one is it, Mr. Novak? Did you read it in a book? Or did you hear it from the Administration? And please don't cite your lawyer's advice about not commenting -- we already know you will talk about it with strangers on the street and when you are defending your "journalistic reputation."

Wilson said in an interview Saturday he had known that Novak was interested in him a week or so before the column appeared. He said a friend who saw Novak on the street reported that Novak told him, "Wilson is an asshole and his wife works for the CIA."

Come on, Mr. Novak -- do we have to run up to you on the street to get the truth from you?

A 50-state Strategy in Practice

Editor's Note: DNC Internet Director Joe Rospars is on the ground in Ohio right now. He'll be posting all day (we hope...)

Hundreds of volunteers are swarming Southern Ohio today for a Democrat.

I got here last night, and the one comment I have heard over and over is "we've never seen an operation like this down here".

Last November, the Democrat here got 28% of the vote. Republicans out-number Democrats two to one. But people on the ground here -- Democrats, Independents and Republicans -- have taken to Paul Hackett's fresh energy and no-nonsense approach.

This used to be the kind of race where people would throw up their hands and give up. But Governor Dean was elected to do things differently -- to support good candidates and work hard everywhere, to start building the networks and home-grown talent to reshape the political landscape.

No matter what happens today, this race has been a victory already -- because down here in the single most Republican part of the state, the Democratic Party is energized and building for the future.

Open Thread

Election Day in Ohio...

August 1, 2005

Sending a Marine to Congress

It's shaping up to be a surprisingly tight race in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District - one of the most Republican in the country. Democrat and Marine Paul Hackett has impressed voters with his blunt, honest stance on the issues, while Republican Jean Schmidt remains wrapped in the culture of corruption that has eaten the state whole. Voters are gearing up to head to the polls in what's turned out to be one of the most interesting races in some time - a testament to fighting for Democratic beliefs everywhere.

As for the press around the race, The Washington Post ran a quick profile of Paul Hackett and the special election in Ohio yesterday.

Local media are covering the race heavily, with one local TV station highlighting the attention the race is getting...

On Sunday night the nation got a glimpse into the campaign that's dominated our airwaves in recent weeks.

Someone will take Ohio's 2nd congressional seat in two days.

The question asked, will it be yet another Republican who supports the war on Iraq or a Democrat who'd be the first congressman to have served there?

ABC World News tonight described Democrat Paul Hackett as the candidate Democrats and Republicans are watching -- convinced by his appeal they need to recruit more Iraqi veterans to run in '06.

"What I'd like to say is that I won't have to go on any fact-finding missions to know what's going on," said Hackett, "you know what I'm saying?"

Hackett has had a unique approach.

"There is no higher calling than to service in our armed forces. I agreed with that and that's what led me to serve," Hackett says in one of his campaign ads.

He's been using the president in his ad, while speaking candidly against his policies.

"I would hate to see us continue down this trail for two more years only to discover and look and review in two more years, 'Jeez, it's still not working. what do we do now?'," said Hackett.

So do you support the guy who's been to war -- or or the woman who all out supports it?

If you're in the area, you should volunteer. Call the campaign at 1-800-381-9183 and they can give you the details, or you can just take part in one of the opportunities below.

Keep reading "Sending a Marine to Congress"

Open Thread

Sorry for the delay.

Juiced

From DNC Research:

Today, it was announced that Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro was being suspended for ten days due to violations of Major League Baseball's new anti-doping regulations. Bush was owner of the Texas Rangers when Palmeiro and Jose Canseco played there, and both have been accused of or admitted to taking steroids during that time.

Bush's reaction — as it is whenever one of his buddies gets in trouble, (whether its Rove DeLay or now Palmeiro) — was to completely deny the allegations. Today, the AP reported that Bush sent McClellan out to defend his buddy Palmeiro.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush considers Palmeiro "a friend and he believes him" when he says he never intentionally took steroids.

This is the second time Bush has defended players accused of taking steroids. Before throwing out the opening pitch for the Washington Nationals first home game, Bush was interviewed by USA Today , and when asked about his knowledge of steroid use while he was owner of the Texas Rangers he was quoted as saying:

Of course not," said Bush, who added he spent much of his time away from the Rangers in 1994 while running for governor of Texas. "I don't remember any discussion with owners, general managers or managers saying so and so was using steroids. The Canseco allegation about Palmeiro, Rodriguez and Gonzalez was immediately rejected by those guys."

Bush added: "I do know hurling accusations is not good for the game. It's really important for baseball to deal with the subject and it has. During the last two years there has been an honest appraisal. And a public outcry and a lot of exposure. The sport is now beginning to address the issue seriously."

Now Palmeiro joins the ranks of Karl Rove and Tom DeLay, two people who Bush is running interference for — and not exactly a club Palmeiro wants to be in.

The Voting Rights Act's 40th Anniversary

Editor's Note: This Saturday is the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. All week we'll be commemorating the importance of this piece of legislation with a wide array of material here on Democrats.org - including guest posts from people who have been directly affected by the Act. Today we kick it all off with Rev. Jesse Jackson, who is hosting a commemorative march in Atlanta this Saturday. For more information on the march, please click here. We'll also have an easily accessible resource center available this week at http://www.democrats.org/VRA40th so you can keep up with the week's activities.

Also, be sure to keep the DNC's Voting Rights Institute's report on the 2004 election in Ohio in mind as you read the posts all week.

Forty years ago, after the bloody march in Selma, Congress passed and President Johnson signed the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act striking down centuries of voter discrimination against Blacks and people of color. But today, along with attacks on civil rights, labor, and religion for the poor comes a devious attempt to undermine or eliminate the Voting Rights Act.

It's time to go back to the streets – to organize "bottom-up" to protect and defend hard won victories of the last 40, even 80 years. So we will are organizing a national March and Rally August 6, 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia. A rally to fight for the Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. A rally to fight for worker's right to organize. A rally to stop the war in Iraq. A new coalition of conscience ready to fight back for peace, justice and equality, building a New Democracy Movement in America this summer. At the heart of the agenda is the right to vote, which precedes, preserves and protects all other rights. We on August 6 we fight to preserve, protect and if necessary expand the provisions of the Voting Rights Act, set to expire in 2007 unless reauthorized by the Congress.

In the 40 years since the Voting Rights Act was passed, African Americans in public office have soared from three members of Congress to 43 today. There are 21 members of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus. Asian Americans and Native Americans historically shut out of the political process have also moved toward full political participation and empowerment. All of this is threatened unless the Voting Rights Act is reauthorized, with its enforcement provisions.

Keep reading "The Voting Rights Act's 40th Anniversary"

Roberts Took Aim at Civil Rights at DOJ

During his tenure at the Justice Department in the Reagan administration, Supreme Court nominee John Roberts was a key part of the conservative movement working to weaken enforcement of civil rights laws, according to a story in today's Washington Post.

This story highlights the importance of the upcoming Senate hearings on his nomination. No nominee to the Supreme Court -- a lifetime appointment that affects every aspect of our laws and liberties -- should skip the careful scrutiny that Senate Democrats have pledged to bring to Roberts' record.

Republicans have made it their chief talking point on the nomination that it would be inappropriate for Democrats to ask Roberts about anything of importance -- his record, his beliefs, or the way he would decide significant cases. It's absurd. There is nothing more vital in this process than a thorough and public questioning of the nominee, and Democrats are committed to asking the important questions.

Bush Circumvents Senate to Install Bolton at UN

Make no mistake. It was President Bush who has been holding up the vote on John Bolton by refusing Senate Democrats' request for more information about the nominee's record.

Now President Bush has decided to sidestep the approval process altogether -- rather than revealing Bolton's full record -- and install him with a recess appointment that will put Bolton at the United Nations until January of 2007.

We know John Bolton is unfit for the job, with a record of harassment and retribution in his tenure at the State Department. We know he lied to Congress on a questionnaire, saying he hadn't been questioned in any investigations in the last five years when in fact he's been questioned in the CIA leak scandal.

With a public record like that, we can only imagine what the White House is hiding by refusing to disclose his full record.