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December 31, 2005
2006 Prediction Thread
Line 'em up so we can all praise or laugh at eachother this time next year.
Posted by at 3:07 PM | Comments (360)
New Years Eve Resolution Thread
First of two open threads for the day. I also want to wish everyone a safe and happy New Years Eve. Whether your festivities include a quiet evening with yourself, family, or a loud one with friends--have a good time and be careful.
That said, what's your resolution for 2006? Do you even make one? I'm going with the same one I break out every year, to try and "do the right thing" in individual situations as they present themselves to me in life.
Posted by at 3:03 PM | Comments (31)
December 30, 2005
Weekend Open Thread
Get your 2006 predictions ready for tomorrow, but keep 'em to yourself for tonight. We'll re-visit them shortly before the elections in November.
Posted by at 9:12 PM | Comments (269)
Do Re Mi
Someone is about to sing.
Much like the Republican Party has been able to confuse Americans into believing that Saddam Hussein and Iraq had something to do with 9/11, watch them attempt to paint a picture of a completely corrupt congress, regardless of political party affiliation. But Jack Abramoff is the poster boy, he is the guy at the front of the parade with the baton, directing traffic. And guess what, he never contributed a single dime to a Democratic candidate.
Sometimes a few (or in this case up to 20) bad apples can ruin it for everyone. Unfortunately, this rampant corruption feeds an innate skepticism Americans have of government. That's cool with the Republican Party, because they want to shrink government down to a size that they can "drown it in a bathtub," but it hurts the majority who recognize government can be a tool used for good -- those of us who believe in health care for all Americans, affordable education, and keeping the promises made to our veterans.
In Ohio it's the convicted criminal Republican Governor Bob Taft. In Kentucky it's Republican Governor Fletcher. And the band marches on. Individual elected officials, regardless of political affiliation, will answer to their own constituencies and media outlets in 2006 (Bob Ney being the exception, because Ohio papers have inexplicably remained relatively silent on the matter), but the national story has a headline and a photo to go along with it.
Federal prosecutors and lawyers for Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff consulted briefly Friday with a federal judge in Miami as they put the finishing touches on a plea deal that could be announced as early as Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.The plea agreement would secure the lobbyist's testimony against several members of Congress who received favors from him or his clients. [...]
Abramoff's cooperation would be a boon to an ongoing Justice Department investigation of congressional corruption, possibly helping prosecutors build criminal cases against up to 20 lawmakers and their staff members.
The sources, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks, said the lawyers spoke by phone with U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck, giving him an update on the plea negotiations. Huck scheduled another status conference for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The deal could be completed before then, the sources said. Abramoff could sign the plea agreement and exchange it with prosecutors via fax over the weekend, they said.
I can't wait until Tuesday.
Posted by at 8:48 PM | Comments (6)
Isn't This Appropriate
Where have I seen this movie before? Republicans spend recklessly and a Democratic leader comes in to save the day:
For one night, House Minority Leader Chris Redfern got to treat his Republican colleagues to a good time.Two weeks ago, the House held its Christmas party at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. But when it came time to pay, the House Republican caucus found itself a little red faced: its credit card was rejected.
But no worries. Redfern, the new state Democratic Party chairman, agreed to pick up the entire tab, including the $3,900 owed by Republican members.
Karen Tabor, spokeswoman for the GOP caucus, said the evening exceeded the Republican card’s per-transaction limit. Redfern is amused that his political adversaries had to write him a check.
Republican Speaker Jon A. Husted joked about it to members during the last session of the year: "Despite (Redfern’s) commitment to his political acumen, I was able to stick him with the bill."
The good news for Redern is that when his tenure as Democratic Party Chairman ends, that kind of financial assistance to Ohio Republicans normally lands you some kind of cushy job with little oversight.
Posted by at 12:49 PM | Comments (10)
Friday Friday Friday Open Thread
Still getting some rest before the New Year. Got any big plans this weekend? As far as the HTML in the comments, Like I said, I put in a call to the tech team last week, but we might have to wait until next year for the fix. Lo Siento! Good think next year is only a few days away (always the corniest joke). Anyway, what's going on in your communities?
Posted by at 11:49 AM | Comments (103)
December 29, 2005
Leave No Child Behind
Harris Poll. 12/18/05 to 12/14/05. 1,961 adults. MoE +/- 2% - Feb 2005 Reults in parentheses.
"Do you believe that the following statements are true or not true?"
Saddam Hussein had strong links with Al Qaeda
True: 41% (64)
False: 33%
Not Sure: 24%
Declined to Answer: 2%
Iraq had weapons of mass destruction when the U.S. invaded
True: 26% (36)
False: 50%
Not Sure: 22%
Declined to Answer: 2%
Several of the hijackers who attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11 were Iraqis
True:24% (44)
False: 42%
Not Sure: 31%
Declined to Answer: 3%
Saddam Hussein helped plan and support the hijackers who attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001
True: 22% (47)
False: 46%
Not Sure: 30%
Declined to Answer: 2%
It's getting better, but the fact that a clear majority of Americans cannot accurately answer any single one of the questions above is pretty disheartening.
Posted by at 2:50 PM | Comments (32)
Thursday Morning Open Thread
Fresh.
Posted by at 10:30 AM | Comments (202)
December 28, 2005
Minnesota Special: Dems Go Two for Two
We got a late stocking stuffer yesterday evening in Minnesota. Despite the fact that Republican Governor Tim Palwenty scheduled the two special election contests just days after Christmas, Dems went 2 for 2 last night, retaining one State House seat and winning a State Senate seat in a traditionally "red" district. It started with Paul Hackett in August of 2005, and last night's election is further proof that Democrats can win in the "reddest of red" and the "bluest of blue" districts across the country. From Minnesota National Public Radio:
The other contest in the special election was to the fill the Senate seat vacated by Republican Dave Kleis. Kleis resigned his spot after being elected mayor of St. Cloud in November. Democrat Tarryl Clark defeated Dan Ochsner, a Republican and St. Cloud radio host, by about 2,000 votes. Independence Party candidate Dan Becker came in a distant third. With two Democrats winning in typically conservative central Minnesota, Clark sees continued momentum for the DFL going into the fall elections."My precinct is one of two that neither President Clinton nor Senator Wellstone ever won in St. Cloud and we won. So maybe there is a change," Clark said.
Democrats control the State Senate in Minnesota, but the second victory allowed us to inch ever closer to taking back the State House in 2006. The House victory was shrouded in controversy when it became clear that the Republican candidate did not meet ballot requirements; she was tossed from the ticket a week before the election by the state Supreme Court.
Just a week before the election, the state Supreme Court agreed with a lower court ruling that Ek hadn't lived in St. Cloud long enough to be a candidate. Ek was dropped from the ballot. The next day her mother, Kay Ek, announced her candidacy, but the attorney general's office said it was too late to put her on the ballot. So Kay Ek ran a brief and unsuccessful write-in campaign. She was defeated by a wide margin by DFLer and Stearns County Commissioner Larry Haws.Haws said it was unfortunate the residency question over-shadowed other campaign issues.
"I was not involved in the residency issue. I tried to stay focused issues like health care, education, transportation, better government," Haws said.
One hold and one capture. We enter the new year with a ton of momentum locally and nationally, but there is still a lot of work to do before the second Tuesday of November.
Posted by at 12:50 PM | Comments (19)
December 26, 2005
Fresh Open Thread
Hopefully our minds are rested and bellies expanded after the extended weekend. I'll be flying back from Chicago to D.C. tomorrow afternoon, so come Wednesday morning, expect the heavy posting to resume. Can't enjoy too much time off ... we have a country to take back.
Posted by at 7:09 PM | Comments (333)
December 24, 2005
Christmas Eve Open Thread
Can you hear the sleigh bells yet?
Even at the age of 29, I still made out a Christmas list and sent a letter to Santa Claus. I know its a busy time for jolly ol' St. Nick, Mrs. Claus and their elves, so I kept the list light, only one wish; hopefully it comes true. Here's hoping all of your dreams and wishes come true this holiday season as well!
Posted by at 3:43 PM | Comments (196)
Christmas in a War Zone
(I just received this in my email box from Bob Mulholland, a DNC member out in California; it's quite a story -- Tim)
This Christmas I (and I hope many Americans) will be thinking of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan who are facing not only the ongoing war but also the emotional strain of being away from their families at such a time.
I was in Phuoc Vinh, Vietnam with the 101st Airborne for Christmas of 1967.
We were young paratroopers, most of whom were single (unlike today’s military where many are married and have kids) and my unit, along with 10,000 other paratroopers, had flown over in C-140 cargo planes during a 30-day period. Most who served in Vietnam flew over and then got assigned to a unit which was rotating people in and out, but we were like a family that had gone on a trip together.
I had scrounged up a scruffy tree, some paper decorations were added and a couple of guys sang Christmas songs. In one way we were lucky – at least my unit was on base that day to “enjoy” Christmas, while many other guys were out in the field.
I don’t recall if we got attacked that particular day, "incoming" being such a common occurrence, meaning rockets and mortars were coming in. There are no day-offs in war zones – it is constant work. You may be on guard or on patrol all day followed by a night on the perimeter with one other guy in a bunker taking one or two hour shifts. Your body is demanding sleep, but your brain is telling you no sleeping on your watch, otherwise it could be your final sleep.
The irony of my Christmas in Vietnam was that it was hot, but thirty-three years before on Christmas in 1944, my dad was in General Patton’s army in the Battle of the Bulge in the coldest, snowiest weather in memory in Europe. It was the largest land battle of WWII with over one million men total on both sides.
The other irony was that my outfit -- the 101st Airborne -- was also there in 1944 and ended up being surrounded by the Germans in the city of Bastogne. When the paratroopers were told to surrender, the American general replied, "Aw nuts," which confused the Germans.
The allies won the Battle of the Bulge and five months later ultimately defeated the Nazis and saved the world. But the deal created the Cold War between the Soviet Union and China versus the United States, which led to the Korean War, lasting three years and the Vietnam War which went on for over a decade.
As we celebrated Christmas in Vietnam we had no idea what was ahead of us and what was happening back home with our families - remember there were no phone calls home and email had not been invented yet. Just five weeks later, on January 30, 1968, the Tet Offensive opened up and in one month 2,000 Americans were dead and more than 10,000 wounded.
After that, President Johnson announced he would not run for re-election; Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated; Robert Kennedy won the California primary and then was immediately assassinated; there was turmoil at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago; and finally Richard Nixon was elected as President.
Some of the guys gathered around that makeshift tree in 1967 were celebrating their last Christmas, as they would be dead in a few months. Others, like myself, would be wounded.
During this holiday season, let’s think of our troops, and also contribute to the USO’s "Operation Phone Home" fund so some of the troops can call home over the holidays. To make a donation, go to www.uso.org or call 1-800-876.7469.
In some tragic cases it will be the last contact these brave service members will have with their family, but it will be remembered by their families for a lifetime. Oh yes, we will see this weekend video of troops in the war zones "celebrating" with turkey dinners and a Christmas tree, but they will be the exception – most of the troops will not have such a day.
Posted by at 3:38 PM | Comments (8)
December 23, 2005
Friday Morning Open Thread
If you had any idea what it took to get this thread up here this afternoon... The good news is, I can now post from anywhere in the world, so open threads a plenty over the holiday period!
Posted by at 11:45 AM | Comments (204)
December 22, 2005
Thursday Evening Open Thread
Getting closer and closer to the holiday break! In case you missed em:
Good Causes
AK-Sen: Special Election Law
That's What We Want To Know As Well...
Hagel: VP Cheney's Actions Beneath Dignity of This Country
OH-Gov: Republican Party Pay to Play
PA-Sen: Santorum Distances Himself...From Himself
Credibility Problems
MI-Gov & Sen: Dems Hold Big Leads
Thursday Morning Open Thread
Posted by at 5:41 PM | Comments (209)
Good Causes
(Governor Dean just sent out an email this afternoon urging Democrats to support two good causes this holiday season, among many others, Fisher House and Habitat for Humanity -- Tim)
Over the next few days we will gather together with our families and loved ones to celebrate the holiday season. As we take the time to remember the ones we love and welcome the New Year, it is important not to forget those who have suffered and sacrificed so much in the past year.
In particular this holiday season the families of our wounded, brave service men and women and the families displaced and devastated by the Gulf Coast Hurricanes deserve our special attention.
This time of year can be especially hard for families with a service member who has been wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan. At the time when a family most wants to be together, the unfortunate reality is that many wounded service members must receive specialized medical care great distances from their families.
A foundation called Fisher House creates comfort homes, built on the grounds of major military and Veterans Administration medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to loved ones during their hospitalization. Every year Fisher House serves more than 8,500 military families.
As we send our thoughts and prayers to all our troops and their families, and express thanks for the sacrifices they make on our behalf every day, I ask that you consider supporting the Fisher House Foundation by visiting:
http://www.fisherhouse.org/contribute/onlineGiving.shtml
As the headlines disappear for those affected by the hurricanes and their aftermath, the suffering continues. Tens of thousands are still scattered across the country in temporary housing.
We need to rebuild. We must provide homes for those affected and rebuild the communities that have been torn apart. Habitat for Humanity has been instrumental in building new homes for those who lost everything this past fall.
Habitat for Humanity is the American community at its best -- people coming together to achieve a common goal for the common good. Please consider helping them continue their vital work by volunteering with your local chapter or making a contribution:
https://www.habitat.org/giving/donate.aspx?link=1
All of us at the Democratic Party wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season.
Thank you.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Posted by at 5:10 PM | Comments (8)
AK-Sen: Special Election Law
Republican Senator Ted Stevens yesterday evening:
"I say goodbye to the Senate tonight."
Senator Stevens Today:
Not only does Sen. Stevens' office refuse to parse the sentence, but an ABC News producer who ran into Stevens last night said the Senator said he didn't know if he would be coming back.So could Stevens actually retire? Who knows?
Is Stevens going to retire? Probably not. His temper tantrum yesterday is just the latest in a long line of tirades that amount to little more than the grown-up version of "I'm taking my ball and going home." Although in this instance, someone took his ball, and he is once again threatening to go home. He's pulled this stunt enough times now that he can no longer be taken seriously. But just in case... here is Alaska's election law should Senator Stevens decide to remain true to his word. Ironically, Alaskans just voted on a ballot initiative to change existing law should a U.S. Senate seat become vacant:
This measure would repeal state law by which the Governor makes a temporary appointment of a person to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy until a special or regular election can be held. Under existing law the seat remains vacant until an appointment is made. Under the initiative the seat would remain vacant until the eletion is certified and the senate meets. Existing law provides that a special election will be held within 60 to 90 days to fill a vacancy unless the vacancy occurs within 60 days of the primary election for that seat. This initiative does not change that provision. Should this initiative become law?
The people voted YES.
YES - 165017 - 55.59%
NO - 131821 - 44.41%
The old law would have allowed Republican Governor Murkowski to appoint a new Senator until the next election in Alaska, which would have to be held within 60 to 90 days of the vacancy. Because of the new law, the seat will remain vacant, leaving us with 99 United States Senators until the special election is held. There would then be another election for that seat in 2008, when Senator Stevens would have been up for re-election if he decided to keep his seat.
Posted by at 4:01 PM | Comments (9)
That's What We Want To Know As Well...
The presiding judge of a secret court that oversees government surveillance in espionage and terrorism cases is arranging a classified briefing for her fellow judges to address their concerns about the legality of President Bush's domestic spying program, according to several intelligence and government sources.Several members of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court said in interviews that they want to know why the administration believed secretly listening in on telephone calls and reading e-mails of U.S. citizens without court authorization was legal. Some of the judges said they are particularly concerned that information gleaned from the president's eavesdropping program may have been improperly used to gain authorized wiretaps from their court.
Sign the Freedom of Information Act request.
Posted by at 2:00 PM | Comments (26)
Hagel: VP Cheney's Actions Beneath Dignity of This Country
"Cheney's poll numbers are very, very low," Hagel said. "This should be about elevating the debate and enhancing America and finding the solutions that we need to move forward. It doesn't help when you characterize people who disagree with you or threaten them or characterize them as unpatriotic or not caring about our people or our security. The American people see through that and it is beneath the dignity of this country."
I trust this will be replayed ad nauseum on every newscast tonight and through the weekend, especially after they ask everyone with an (R) after their name if they believe the vice president is acting in a manner that "is beneath the dignity of this country."
Posted by at 12:56 PM | Comments (6)
OH-Gov: Republican Party Pay to Play
Since he took office in 2003, Petro says, he has helped agencies recover $270 million a year in debts, up from $125 million under predecessor Betty D. Montgomery, now the state auditor.But his reliance on outside lawyers to go after bad debts also has benefited someone else: Petro himself.
A Dispatch computer analysis of the 88 debt-collection attorneys paid by Petro’s office this year shows that 73 have donated to Petro’s campaigns. Collectively, the lawyers have given Petro’s campaigns $101,099 since 2000, with thousands more contributed by their spouses and law partners.
Told that 73 of the 88 lawyers who have received assignments to collect debts since July 1 are Petro contributors, Petro spokesman Mark Anthony said the number proves nothing.
"I’m not being flip when I say, 'So what?' " Anthony said.
Yeah, that's bad--even in a state where rare coin dealers make national news for bilking workers out of millions and Republican Governor Bob Taft pleads guilty to criminal charges, but it gets worse.
Petro flatly denies the allegation. But a chance encounter between his campaign fundraiser and a lawyer in a Columbus bar last summer has given fresh impetus to "pay to play" allegations that have dogged Petro and his predecessors.In an affidavit filed earlier this week, Columbus lawyer Kevin O’Brien wrote that Petro’s campaign fundraiser, Amy Gravengaard, told him that Petro’s office would consider hiring him as a debt-collection attorney if he raised $25,000 for Petro’s campaign for governor.
It just gets worse and worse in the Buckeye State.
Posted by at 12:07 PM | Comments (3)
PA-Sen: Santorum Distances Himself...From Himself
The 2006 U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania currently serves as one of the best barometers for national sentiment of President Bush and a Republican dominated Congress. You have one of the ultimate "swing states," an incumbent Senator who until recently, consistently sides with the president, even going as far as to take the lead on corporatizing Social Security, and a Democratic opponent on the stump talking about affordable medicine, job creation, and keeping promises made to our veterans.
Strategic Vision. 1200 Likely Voters. December 16-18, 2005. MoE +/- 3%
Do you approve or disapprove of United States Senator Rick Santorum's job performance?
Approve: 40%
Disapprove: 47%
Undecided: 13%
If the election for United States Senate were held today, and the choice was between Robert Casey, Jr., the Democrat and Rick Santorum, the Republican, whom would you vote for?
Robert Casey (D): 50%
Rick Santorum (R): 39%
Other: 1%
Undecided: 10%
As a result of consistently anemic poll numbers, Rick Santorum has searched his soul to find himself on both sides of all kinds of issues: from the death penalty, to increasing the minimum wage, to Iraq, and his latest evolution of thought comes in the landmark Dover School District case. The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Early this year, Sen. Rick Santorum commended the Dover Area School District for "attempting to teach the controversy of evolution." But one day after a federal judge ruled that the district's policy on intelligent design was unconstitutional, Santorum said he was troubled by court testimony that showed some board members were motivated by religion in adopting the policy.And, he said in an interview, he disagreed with the board for mandating the teaching of intelligent design, rather than just the controversy surrounding evolution.
Santorum - who sits on the advisory board of the Thomas More Law Center, which defended the school board in court - said the case offered "a bad set of facts" to test the concept that theories other than evolution should be taught in science classrooms.
"I thought the Thomas More Law Center made a huge mistake in taking this case and in pushing this case to the extent they did," Santorum said. He said he intends to withdraw his affiliation with the Michigan-based public-interest law firm that promotes Christian values. [...]
In a 2002 Washington Times op-ed, Santorum wrote: "Therefore, intelligent design is a legitimate scientific theory that should be taught in science classes."
But in recent interviews, including one in August on National Public Radio, Santorum said: "I'm not comfortable with intelligent design being taught in the science classroom."
If Santorum keeps it up, he might be able to primary himself this May.
Posted by at 11:21 AM | Comments (4)
Credibility Problems
From the President's press conference earlier this week:
Let me give you an example about my concerns about letting the enemy know what may or may not be happening. In the late 1990s, our government was following Osama bin Laden because he was using a certain type of telephone. And then the fact that we were following Osama bin Laden because he was using a certain type of telephone made it into the press as the result of a leak. And guess what happened? Saddam -- Osama bin Laden changed his behavior. He began to change how he communicated.
From today's Washington Post:
President Bush asserted this week that the news media published a U.S. government leak in 1998 about Osama bin Laden's use of a satellite phone, alerting the al Qaeda leader to government monitoring and prompting him to abandon the device. The story of the vicious leak that destroyed a valuable intelligence operation was first reported by a best-selling book, validated by the Sept. 11 commission and then repeated by the president.But it appears to be an urban myth.
The al Qaeda leader's communication to aides via satellite phone had already been reported in 1996 -- and the source of the information was another government, the Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan at the time. The second time a news organization reported on the satellite phone, the source was bin Laden himself.
Causal effects are hard to prove, but other factors could have persuaded bin Laden to turn off his satellite phone in August 1998. A day earlier, the United States had fired dozens of cruise missiles at his training camps, missing him by hours.
Posted by at 9:56 AM | Comments (7)
MI-Gov & Sen: Dems Hold Big Leads
Strategic Vision. 1200 Likely Voters. December 16-18, 2005. MoE. +/- 3%
Governors Race
Jennifer Granholm (D): 46%
Dick DeVos (R): 35%
Undecided: 19%
Senate Race
Debbie Stabenow (D): 47%
Mike Bouchard (R): 35%
Undecided: 18%
Debbie Stabenow (D): 48%
Keith Butler (R): 26%
Undecided: 26%
Debbie Stabenow (D): 48%
Jerry Zandstra (R): 24%
Undecided: 28%
Posted by at 9:24 AM | Comments (3)
Thursday Morning Open Thread
Have at it!
Posted by at 9:14 AM | Comments (127)
December 21, 2005
Wednesday Night Open Thread
In case you missed 'em:
Andrea Mitchell Smackdown of Bogus RNC Press Release
Red Flag?
The Wives' Club
The "Next Attack" and Wiretapping
Gov. Dean on the "Moral Disaster of Monumental Proportion Reconciliation Act"
FISA Flashback
NY-Sen: Pirro to Drop Out Against Clinton
Senate Passes "Moral Disaster of Monumental Proportion Reconciliation Act"
Let's Make a Deal
Morning Open Thread
Have a great night!
Posted by at 7:28 PM | Comments (247)
Andrea Mitchell Smackdown of Bogus RNC Press Release
If you are a member of the news media, visit the Drudge Report, or troll around the right-wing blogs, you may have seen it... The RNC's shameless defense of unchecked executive power and domestic spying by the Bush Adminstration included a press release that accused Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter of authorizing searches and surveillance of Americans without a court order. Of course, not true, and entirely out of context. Strangely, it was Andrea Mitchell applying the complete smackdown of the release:
The RNC sent out this press release saying, quote, "Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter both authorized search surveillance without court orders." The RNC press release goes on to cite an executive order from President Clinton from February 9, 1995 that says, "the Attorney General is authorized to approve physical searches without a court order." But that actually leaves out a crucial part of the sentence; so let's clean that up.The actual executive order from President Clinton reads, "the Attorney General is authorized to approve physical searches without a court order, if the Attorney General makes the certifications required by that section." And that section refers to a requirement that the Attorney General certify that the search will not involve, quote, "the premises, information, material, or property of a United States person." In other words, US citizens or anyone inside the United States.
It's the same story about how the RNC is framing former President Jimmy Carter's executive order, which is taking it out of context.
Can o' Fun has the video. Further evidence that the GOP knows they are on the brink of a world of hurt for spying on Americans without authorization from a court that approves such surveillance 99.97% of the time.
Posted by at 7:02 PM | Comments (9)
Red Flag?
A federal judge has resigned from the court that oversees government surveillance in intelligence cases in protest of President Bush's secret authorization of a domestic spying program, according to two sources.U.S. District Judge James Robertson, one of 11 members of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, sent a letter to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. late Monday notifying him of his resignation without providing an explanation.
Two associates familiar with his decision said yesterday that Robertson privately expressed deep concern that the warrantless surveillance program authorized by the president in 2001 was legally questionable and may have tainted the FISA court's work.
It will be interesting to see if Judge Robertson has anything to say in the coming weeks about his resignation, his feelings about the domestic spy case, and if President Bush has jeopordized national security by undermining the FISA court's work.
Posted by at 6:12 PM | Comments (11)
The Wives' Club
Keeping it in the Doolittle fam'
Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under criminal investigation, has been discussing with prosecutors a deal that would grant him a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against former political and business associates, people with detailed knowledge of the case say. [...]Prosecutors are also looking at how some former Congressional staff members landed their lucrative lobbying positions and at the role the wives of several lobbyists and lawmakers may have had in any influence scheme, a piece of the puzzle that investigators have begun referring to privately as the "wives' club."
Well, prosecutors need'nt start anywhere other than the Doolittle family. Congressman Doolittle's wife, Julia, whose records were recently subpoenaed by the Justice Department, was hired by Abramoff to raise money for his foundation and by his consulting firm. She was paid through Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions, a company that she ran out of her home.
"A small business owned by the wife of Rep. John Doolittle is receiving 10 percent commissions for arranging fund-raisers for the Roseville Republican's political action committee, federal records show. The company, Sierra Dominion Financial Services, stages fund-raising events for the congressman's political action committee, the Superior California Federal Leadership PAC. During the current election cycle, the congressman's PAC has paid Sierra Dominion about $28,000 in commissions. That amounts to more than 10 percent of total PAC receipts through the end of June, according to Federal Election Commission reports." [Sacramento Bee, 8/15/04]
And...
Julia Doolittle Retained By Abramoff/Greenburg Traurig For Event Planning Services. Julia Doolittle's attorney, William L. Stauffer Jr., said Sierra Dominion Financial was hired by Greenberg Traurig to provide "event planning, marketing and related services, as requested by Mr. Abramoff" for Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation and his Signatures restaurant. Sierra Dominion received a monthly retainer from Greenberg Traurig from January 2003 until February 2004. Sierra Dominion primarily performed public relations and other event planning services which included, "identifying (and contacting) possible attendees for the event, and assisting in fund raising strategy and letters" said Stauffer. [WaPo Link, LA Times, 11/26/05]
Apparently, she isn't particularly good at her job either:
Julia Doolittle was hired by Greenberg Traurig, to put on a fundraiser for Abramoff's Capitol Athletic Foundation at the International Spy Museum. The Washington Post questioned the effectiveness of the fundraiser, "a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser in March 2003 at the International Spy Museum chaired by Washington Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder and Fox News commentator Tony Snow. Its aim, according to invitations, was to honor James V. Kimsey, the co-founder and former chairman of America Online. ... Kimsey's chief of staff, Peter Kirsch, said that to his knowledge the dinner was rescheduled several times and then canceled; Redskins publicist Karl Swanson said that Snyder "lent" his name to the function at Kimsey's request but never attended. A planner for the event said it was finally held in December. Nothing in the foundation's books indicates that the dinner raised more than a few thousand dollars." [Washington Post, 9/28/04; 11/26/05, Los Angeles Times, 11/26/05]
Posted by at 5:56 PM | Comments (4)
The "Next Attack" and Wiretapping
You've probably seen a number of domestic spy defenders running around talking about laying the blame for the "next attack" at the feet of those opposed to unchecked executive power. After hearing it about half a dozen times on cable news and CSPAN today, I thought it would be a good time to remind everyone (again) of the final 9/11 Commission Report released several weeks ago:
Final Report on 9/11 Commission Recommendations (.pdf):
# of A Grades: 1
# of B Grades: 12
# of C Grades: 9
# of D Grades: 12
# of F Grades: 5
# of Incompletes: 2
Grade Point Average: 1.53
Sadly, it's about priorities. And truth be told... homeland security has never really been a top priority of the Republican Congress or the Bush Adminstration when faced with a choice between keeping us safe vs. tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% of Americans. Of course, it's the Senator John "None of your civil liberties matter much after you're dead" Cornyn's of the world attempting to push that line of attack forward. And to think he was rumored to be among those in the running for Justice O'Connor's spot on the Supreme Court. Gives some good insight into who makes a good candidate for the nation's highest court in the Bush Adminstration.
Posted by at 3:49 PM | Comments (14)
Gov. Dean on the "Moral Disaster of Monumental Proportion Reconciliation Act"
A release that just went out:
The Vice President’s itinerary says a lot about this Administration’s misplaced priorities. Vice President Cheney cut short his overseas trip to cast the tie-breaking vote on a bill that cut funding for student loans and Medicaid. In addition, the bill gives more tax cuts to millionaires, while increasing the enormous Bush budget deficit and heaping more debt onto our children.This immoral Republican budget ignores the growing challenges of millions of hard-working Americans who are struggling with increased burdens like rising education costs, health care and energy costs. Americans deserve better. Democrats will continue to fight for common-sense proposals that reduce the deficit and improve the lives of all Americans.
Posted by at 2:25 PM | Comments (12)
FISA Flashback
This could certainly shed some light on why the Bush Adminstration skipped the court that had previously approved 99.97% of wiretap requests over the past 27 years. From a 2002 Washington Post article:
The secretive federal court that approves spying on terror suspects in the United States has refused to give the Justice Department broad new powers, saying the government had misused the law and misled the court dozens of times, according to an extraordinary legal ruling released yesterday.A May 17 opinion by the court that oversees the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) alleges that Justice Department and FBI officials supplied erroneous information to the court in more than 75 applications for search warrants and wiretaps, including one signed by then-FBI Director Louis J. Freeh. [...]
In one case, the FISA judges were so angered by inaccuracies in affidavits submitted by FBI agent Michael Resnick that they barred him from ever appearing before the court, according to the ruling and government sources.
Referring to "the troubling number of inaccurate FBI affidavits in so many FISA applications," the court said in its opinion: "In virtually every instance, the government's misstatements and omissions in FISA applications and violations of the Court's orders involved information sharing and unauthorized disseminations to criminal investigators and prosecutors."
The judges were also clearly perturbed at a lack of answers about the problems from the Justice Department, which is still conducting an internal investigation into the lapses.
"How these misrepresentations occurred remains unexplained to the court," the opinion said.
Posted by at 1:44 PM | Comments (5)
NY-Sen: Pirro to Drop Out Against Clinton
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Does anyone have page 10 of my notes on this race?
Posted by at 12:20 PM | Comments (9)
Senate Passes "Moral Disaster of Monumental Proportion Reconciliation Act"
The Republican-controlled Senate passed legislation to cut federal deficits by $39.7 billion on Wednesday by the narrowest of margins, 51-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the deciding vote.The measure, the product of a year's labors by the White House and the GOP in Congress, imposes the first restraints in nearly a decade in federal benefit programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and student loans.
Senator Reid had this to say about the bill:
Rather than share the sacrifices needed to get this nation's fiscal house in order, this Republican budget and this legislation target ordinary Americans by cutting programs like student aid, Medicare, and Medicaid, all to partially pay for another round of budget busting tax breaks for special interests and multi-millionaires. It's an attack on the middle class and those in greatest need, on behalf of lobbyists for the powerful."This budget is un-American. In fact, it's worse than that. It's immoral.
Posted by at 12:07 PM | Comments (7)
Let's Make a Deal
A very nervous Christmas for some. From the Washington Post:
Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, facing trial on fraud charges Jan. 9 in Florida, is negotiating a possible deal with the Justice Department, in which he would agree to plead guilty and cooperate in the wide-ranging political corruption investigation focused on his dealings with members of Congress and executive branch officials, people familiar with the talks said last night.Abramoff would provide testimony about numerous members of Congress and their staffs if he and the Justice Department reach an agreement, the sources said. Negotiations have been ongoing for several months, people knowledgeable about the discussions said, but pressure is mounting because of the pending trial.
And what of Representative #1?
Prosecutors have told one lawmaker, Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), that they are preparing a possible bribery indictment against him over official acts that benefited clients of Abramoff. Ney inserted comments in the Congressional Record at Scanlon's request praising Kidan and castigating the reputation of SunCruz's then-owner, Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, during contentious purchase negotiations.In October, prosecutors got agreements from Abramoff, Kidan, Ney and former Ney aide Neil Volz to suspend the five-year statute of limitations while the investigation continues. Ney has said he was misled by Abramoff and Scanlon.
In Scanlon's plea agreement, he agreed to testify against Ney. Kidan's attorney has said he is prepared to testify against Ney as well.
Republicans can try to muddy the waters all they like on the corruption issue, but the fact is, Abramoff never contributed a single dime to a Democratic candidate, ever.
Posted by at 9:30 AM | Comments (6)
Wednesday Morning Open Thread
Happy Wednesday! Eight-five thousand of you have added your name to Governor Dean's on the FOIA request. If you haven't, will you do the same? And if you have, how about forwarding it on to your friends, writing about it on your/some blogs, or posting a link on your website for the next two days? Here's the link.
I also wanted to let everyone know we are working on the bold/italics/hyperlink in the comments situation. Thanks for your patience.
Posted by at 9:21 AM | Comments (189)
December 20, 2005
Open Thread
To discuss the breaking scandal and anything else ...
Posted by Joe Rospars at 6:12 PM | Comments (274)
Governor Dean Speaks on Domestic Spying (Audio)
Democrats are serious about fighting terrorists, and the American people deserve a President and Vice President who understand that we can protect our liberty and our freedom AND keep America safe. President Bush’s secret program to spy on the American people reminds Americans of the abuse of power during the dark days of President Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew.Why is it that President Bush went in front of the American people and said that a wiretap requires a court order, after having approved a wiretap program without a court order two years earlier.
From paying journalists to write positive stories, to allowing lobbyists like Jack Abramoff to peddle influence, to leaking the identity of a covert CIA operative in a time of war, the Republican Party's culture of corruption has to end now. The President claims Congress had the same intelligence in the run up to the Iraq War, but that turned out not to be true. The President claims that leaders in Congress were briefed about the program to spy on the American people, but that turned out not to be true either.
Its time for the President to be truthful with the American people. And while the President yesterday called the leak of his secret program to spy on the American people shameful he hasn’t applied the same standards to denounce the leaking of a CIA Agent's identity in a time of war. How can President Bush call the spy program leak shameful, while Karl Rove is still on the White House payroll, and still has his top secret security clearance. Whats really shameful is the double standard. This is an abuse of power.
It's un-American, and it's unacceptable. Americans need a President who will keep them safe and enforce the law, we don't need a big brother. Americans know we don’t have to sacrifice our basic liberties in order to fight the terrorists. Together, America can do better.
Video coming soon as well...
Posted by at 2:52 PM | Comments (19)
My How Far We've Come
"None of your civil liberties matter much after you're dead." -- Sen. John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, December 20, 2005
"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -- Patrick Henry, patriot of Virginia, March 23, 1775
UPDATE: LW in the comments another quote for the mix:
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, patriot of Pennsylvania, November 11, 1755
Posted by Joe Rospars at 1:00 PM | Comments (16)
Did George Bush Break the Law?
This is not an easy letter to write, and I'm afraid it may be a hard one to believe.
By now you have probably heard the news that George Bush is using the National Security Agency to conduct surveillance on American citizens without the consent of any court. After initially refusing to confirm the story, the President has admitted to personally overseeing this domestic spying program for years and he says he intends to continue the program.
These actions explicitly violate a law designed to protect US citizens. But the administration says that other laws somehow allow for this unprecedented use of a foreign intelligence agency to spy on Americans right here in the United States. According to reports, political appointees in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel wrote still-classified legal opinions laying out the supposed justification for this program.
I have asked our General Counsel to draft a Freedom of Information Act request for the relevant legal opinions and memos written by that office. Since the program's existence is no longer a secret, these memos should be released -- Americans deserve to know exactly what authority this administration believes it has.
You can help pressure the administration to release these documents by signing on to our Freedom of Information Act request in the next 48 hours:
This extra-legal activity is even more disturbing because it is unnecessary -- the administration already has access to a secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. That court was created precisely to provide speedy, secure judicial review to the actions of our intelligence agencies.
To allow authorities act as quickly as possible, officials can even apply for a retroactive warrant days after the surveillance has already begun. Secret warrants have been approved over 19,000 times -- only five applications were rejected in nearly thirty years. The court, which regularly acts within hours, is hardly a roadblock, but it prevents abuse by providing the oversight required by our system of checks and balances.
This administration must demonstrate clearly what legal authority allows it to disregard criminal prohibitions on unilateral domestic spying. Sign on to the request now -- it will be delivered on Thursday:
In an interview on Monday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez admitted that the administration asked certain Members of Congress about getting a new law to allow spying on Americans without a warrant. Realizing that even a Republican-controlled Congress wouldn't authorize such a measure, they decided to manipulate current law and proceed with the program anyway.
Manipulation of a law like this is dangerous. The same Office of Legal Counsel used vague assertions of sweeping authority in the infamous torture memos. The victim of this reasoning is the rule of law itself -- when this administration asserts sweeping authority to step over any line of legality, it asserts that there are no lines at all.
Does this administration believe there are any lines it can't cross? Americans deserve to know. Join our Freedom of Information Act request now:
Some Republicans will try to pretend that this is just another political fight. But Americans of every political viewpoint are rightfully disturbed by this extra-legal activity. The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Arlen Specter, shocked by the report of this activity, promised to convene hearings in January.
Even Bob Barr, who was one of the most conservative members of Congress and the first member to file articles of impeachment against President Clinton, said:
"What's wrong with it is several-fold. One, it's bad policy for our government to be spying on American citizens through the National Security Agency. Secondly, it's bad to be spying on Americans without court oversight. And thirdly, it's bad to be spying on Americans apparently in violation of federal laws against doing it without court order."
We need to know whether George Bush went beyond the limits of the law -- and whether he and his administration believe that there are any limits at all. Please join this important request:
Even after the press found out about these actions, the administration tried to cover up its existence. According to Newsweek, George Bush summoned the publisher and executive editor of the New York Times to the Oval Office to try to stop them from running the story of these illegal activities.
We have seen this kind of arrogance of power before.
Richard Nixon once said in an interview that, "if the president does it, it can't be illegal."
He found out that wasn't true. This administration may need a reminder.
Thank you.
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Posted by at 12:17 PM | Comments (76)
In His Own Words
A speech delivered by President Bush on April 20, 2004 -- Buffalo, New York:
Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so. It's important for our fellow citizens to understand, when you think Patriot Act, constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because we value the Constitution.
Posted by at 12:08 PM | Comments (7)
Well... Now We Know
The New York Times first debated publishing a story about secret eavesdropping on Americans as early as last fall, before the 2004 presidential election. [...]But two journalists, who declined to be identified, said that editors at the paper were actively considering running the story about the wiretaps before Bush's November showdown with Democratic Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts.
Top editors at the paper eventually decided to hold the story.
Hat-tip to the always under-read Will Bunch over at Attytood.
Posted by at 11:32 AM | Comments (3)
Ohio Democrats Select Chris Redfern as New Chair
The painful process that began with the resignation of former chair Denny White ended last night with the selection of Ohio House Minority leader Chris Redfern to lead Ohio Democrats into 2006.
House minority leader Chris Redfern easily won election Monday night as the state's Democratic Party chairman, defeating Dayton-area county chairman Dennis Lieberman.Redfern will finish the term of Denny White, who had resigned Nov. 23 after four years, and will run for re-election in June to a two-year term.
The vote was delayed for more than an hour as a somewhat testy discussion developed in the party's executive committee over how the vote would proceed. But once the vote was counted, Redfern had 88 votes to Lieberman's 31.
Redfern sought to soothe the differences in his first speech as chairman, inviting Lieberman up on stage.
"We have one common objective and one common goal and now we begin," Redfern said. "The work begins tonight."
Chairman Redfern will step aside as Minority Leader in the Ohio House of Reprensentatives, but not resign from the body entirely. Many Ohio bloggers attended the event and wrote up eloquent descriptions, play-by-play, and process stories; one blogger even promises to have the audio on his website by the end of the day.
Posted by at 9:55 AM | Comments (4)
Alaska: More Diebold Questions
The official vote results from the 2004 general election are riddled with mistakes and discrepancies, are impossible for the public to make sense of, and should be corrected as soon as possible, the Alaska Democratic Party says.To most Alaskans, the election may seem like a long-done deal, something that concerns only political junkies, candidates and analysts. But questions have been swirling ever since the polls closed about how the results were tabulated and the reliability of the electronic voting machines, said Kay Brown, spokeswoman for the Democratic Party.
For instance, when district-by-district vote counts are totaled, President Bush received 292,267 votes, according to an analysis by the Democrats. But his official total was 190,889, a difference of more than 100,000 votes, according to the state Web site.
Everyone agrees you cannot figure out how many votes a statewide candidate got in a particular district with the present system.
"The numbers just do not add up, and we'd like to get to the bottom of why," Brown said.
The story goes on to note how in some districts, more than 200% of registered voters cast ballots. This comes on the heels of news from Florida that an elections chief, Ion Sancho, was able to hack into Diebold-made electronic voting machines and alter vote totals.
The Democrats are not asserting that anyone hacked into the computers or that anyone who lost a race really should have won, Brown said."We are trying to determine how many votes each candidate got in each district, and we can't tell that from the public data," she said.
As in Florida, this isn't about trying to overturn elections--this is about having an electoral process where everyone can be confident that every ballot cast will be counted and that there is no foul play. It's regrettable that even the appearance of impropriety hangs above one of the most basic tenets of our democracy...the right vote.
Posted by at 9:12 AM | Comments (4)
Tuesday Morning Open Thread
You have the right to remain silent... or fill up this thread. Either way.
Posted by at 9:04 AM | Comments (192)
December 19, 2005
Open Thread
An open thread for the night.
And don't miss the portentous letter to Dick Cheney from Sen. Rockefeller on the domestic spying program that Tim linked to earlier.
Posted by Joe Rospars at 7:35 PM | Comments (377)
It's a Pattern
November 14, 2005 - President Bush on Iraq:
Leaders in my administration and members of the United States Congress from both political parties looked at the same intelligence on Iraq, and reached the same conclusion
December 19, 2005 - President Bush on Domestic Spying:
There is the check of people being sworn to uphold the law, for starters.There is oversight. We're talking to Congress all the time.
And on this program, to suggest there's unchecked power is not listening to what I'm telling you. I'm telling you, we have briefed the United States Congress on this program a dozen times.
Posted by at 6:23 PM | Comments (34)
Senator Rockefeller's 2003 Letter on Domestic Spying
Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence:
The record needs to be set clear that the Administration never afforded members briefed on the program an opportunity to either approve or disapprove the NSA program. The limited members who were told of the program were prohibited by the Administration from sharing any information about it with our colleagues, including other members of the Intelligence Committees.At the time, I expressed my concerns to Vice President Cheney that the limited information provided to Congress was so overly restricted that it prevented members of Congress from conducting meaningful oversight of the legal and operational aspects of the program.
These concerns were never addressed, and I was prohibited from sharing my views with my colleagues.
Senator Rockefeller, much like Congresswoman Pelosi, expressed serious concerns about the domestic spy program; he even did so in a hand-written letter to the Vice President the very day he learned of it.
Senator Rockefeller's Hand-Written Letter to Vice President Cheney (.pdf)
July 17, 2003
Dear Mr. Vice President,I am writing to reiterate my concern regarding the sensitive intelligence issues we discussed today with the DCI, DIRNSA, and Chairman Roberts and our House Intelligence Committee counterparts.
Clearly the activities we discussed raise profound oversight issues. As you know, I am neither a technician or an attorney. Given the security restrictions associated with this information, and my inability to consult staff or counsel on my own, I feel unable to fully evaluate, much less endorse these activities.
As I reflected on the meeting today, and the future we face, John Poindexter's TIA project sprung to mind, exacerbating my concern regarding the direction the Administration is moving with regard to security, technology, and surveiliance.
Without more information and the ability to draw on any independent legal or techical expertise, I simply cannot satisfy lingering concerns raised by the briefing we received.
I am retaining a copy of this letter in a sealed envelope in the secure spaces of the Senate Intelligence Committee to ensure that I have a record of this communication.
I appreciate your consideration of my views.
Most respectfully,
Jay Rockefeller
Posted by at 5:37 PM | Comments (54)
Democratic Leaders on President's Domestic Spy Briefings
Reminiscent of his claim that members of congress received the same intelligence he had prior to the invasion of Iraq, the president continued his attempt to "share blame" with Democrats whenever his own poor decisions and/or leadership land him in hot water. Fact is, even Democratic leaders in the House and Senate weren't aware of the president's domestic spy operation until well after it was fully operational; the vast majority of members read about it with everyone else on the front pages of the New York Times and Washington Post last week. Further, because of restrictions on handling or disseminating classified information, the few members who were aware couldn't say a single word about the abuse of power and complete circumvention of constitutional rights that was already well underway.
From Senator Reid:
The President asserted in his December 17th radio address that leaders in Congress have been briefed more than a dozen times on this authorization and the activities conducted under it. This statement gives the American public a very misleading impression that the President fully consulted with Congress.First, it is quite likely that 96 Senators of 100 Senators, including 13 of 15 on the Senate Intelligence Committee first learned about this program in the New York Times, not from any Administration briefing.
I personally received a single very short briefing on this program earlier this year prior to its public disclosure. That briefing occurred more than three years after the President said this program began.
The Administration briefers did not seek my advice or consent about the program, and based on what I have heard publicly since, key details about the program apparently were not provided to me.
Under current Administration briefing guidelines, members of Congress are informed after decisions are made, have virtually no ability to either approve or reject a program, and are prohibited from discussing these types of programs with nearly all of their fellow members and all of their staff.
We need to investigate this program and the President’s legal authority to carry it out. We also need to review this flawed congressional consultation system. I will be asking the President to cooperate in both reviews.
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi:
When I was advised of President Bush’s decision to authorize these activities, I expressed my strong concerns verbally and in a classified letter to the Administration. The Bush Administration, however, made clear that it did not believe that Congressional notification was required and it also did not believe that Congressional approval was required to conduct these activities. I have attached a copy of my statement on the President’s disclosure.Yesterday, several of my colleagues and I sent a letter to Speaker Hastert requesting that he immediately take steps to conduct hearings on the scope of Presidential power in the area of electronic surveillance, and that the Speaker and I jointly appoint a panel of outside legal experts to assist the committees involved in those hearings. I have attached this letter for your information.
Posted by at 4:46 PM | Comments (57)
Billboard Update
When the billboard arrived in Cinncinati, there was a media event involving a number of Democratic activists and individuals from the state Democratic party. The first image is from the press conference highlighted by Ohio State Representative and Iraq veteran John Boccieri. The second is simply a stand-alone of the mobile billboard itself. Click on the photo for a larger image:
Posted by at 4:09 PM | Comments (6)
Jeff Gannon v.2.0
From today's press conference:
QUESTION: Mr. President, you said last night that there are only two options in Iraq, withdrawal or victory. And you asked Americans, especially opponents of the war, to reject partisan politics.Do you really expect congressional Democrats to end partisan warfare and embrace your war strategy? And what can you do about that, to make that happen?
January 25, 2005 - Jeff Gannon:
Senate Democratic leaders have painted a very bleak picture of the U.S. economy. [Senate Minority Leader] Harry Reid [D-NV] was talking about soup lines. And [Senator] Hillary Clinton [D-NY] was talking about the economy being on the verge of collapse. Yet in the same breath they say that Social Security is rock solid and there's no crisis there. How are you going to work -- you've said you are going to reach out to these people -- how are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?
Posted by at 3:53 PM | Comments (6)
A Shameful Act
From the president's press conference:
QUESTION: Thank you, sir. Are you going to order a leaks investigation into the disclosure of the NSA surveillance program? And why did you skip the basic safeguard of asking courts for permission for these intercepts?BUSH:...My personal opinion is it was a shameful act, for someone to disclose this very important program in time of war. [...]
But it is a shameful act by somebody who has got secrets of the United States government and feels like they need to disclose them publicly.
President Bush on the Resignation of Scooter Libby:
Today I accepted the resignation of Scooter Libby. Scooter has worked tirelessly on behalf of the American people and sacrificed much in the service to this country. He served the Vice President and me through extraordinary times in our nation's history.Special Counsel Fitzgerald's investigation and ongoing legal proceedings are serious, and now the proceedings -- the process moves into a new phase. In our system, each individual is presumed innocent and entitled to due process and a fair trial.
From the Scooter Libby Indictment:
16. On or about July 7, 2003, LIBBY had lunch with the then White House Press Secretary and advised the Press Secretary that Wilson's wife worked at the CIA and noted that such information was not widely known.17. On or about the morning of July 8, 2003, LIBBY met with New York Times reporter Judith Miller. When the conversation turned to the subject of Joseph Wilson, LIBBY asked that the information LIBBY provided on the topic of Wilson be attr