Monday, April 30, 2007
No wonder the Dixie Chicks don't like this guy.
Toby Keith, what a misogynistic creep. How would you define a terrorist? Here is one answer.
Update: playing politics with our system of justice
From TPM:
Here's how the hiring process went last year, according to a group of anonymous Justice Department employees who've complained to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees: all candidates selected for an interview had to be cleared by the deputy attorney general's office. The employees were shocked when they sent up a list of 600 names and got back a list of 400. They demanded a meeting with the deputy attorney general's chief of staff, Michael Elston, who coolly informed them that "inappropriate information about them on the Internet" had disqualified a number of applicants. So after the meeting, the employees searched online and found out what had been so inappropriate. Most of the disqualified applicants were Democrats.
When that story broke last week, the Justice Department had the same non-denial denial: ""the department does not solicit any information about applicants' political affiliations or orientation."
But that wasn't the allegation. As the higher-ups at the department know full well, it would be totally inappropriate for the Justice Department to ask an applicant for his/her political affiliation. So they didn't. Instead, a small group of people in the deputy attorney general's office googled every applicant to find the information they'd been unable to solicit.
"The Justice Department does not, nor has it ever, solicited any informationThe key to that denial, you might have guessed, lies in that word, "solicit."
from applicants . . . about their political affiliation or orientation."
Here's how the hiring process went last year, according to a group of anonymous Justice Department employees who've complained to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees: all candidates selected for an interview had to be cleared by the deputy attorney general's office. The employees were shocked when they sent up a list of 600 names and got back a list of 400. They demanded a meeting with the deputy attorney general's chief of staff, Michael Elston, who coolly informed them that "inappropriate information about them on the Internet" had disqualified a number of applicants. So after the meeting, the employees searched online and found out what had been so inappropriate. Most of the disqualified applicants were Democrats.
When that story broke last week, the Justice Department had the same non-denial denial: ""the department does not solicit any information about applicants' political affiliations or orientation."
But that wasn't the allegation. As the higher-ups at the department know full well, it would be totally inappropriate for the Justice Department to ask an applicant for his/her political affiliation. So they didn't. Instead, a small group of people in the deputy attorney general's office googled every applicant to find the information they'd been unable to solicit.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Bush/Gonzales in charge of Justice should scare the s**t out of you.
From McClatchy:
WASHINGTON - A senior Justice Department official has resigned after coming under scrutiny in the Department’s expanding investigation of convicted super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to a Justice Department official with knowledge of the case.
Making the situation more awkward for the embattled Department, the official, Robert E. Coughlin II, was deputy chief of staff for the criminal division, which is overseeing the Department’s probe of Abramoff.
WASHINGTON - A senior Justice Department official has resigned after coming under scrutiny in the Department’s expanding investigation of convicted super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to a Justice Department official with knowledge of the case.
Making the situation more awkward for the embattled Department, the official, Robert E. Coughlin II, was deputy chief of staff for the criminal division, which is overseeing the Department’s probe of Abramoff.
The "family values" crowd takes another big hit.
The person in the White House, Randall Tobias, in charge of prostitution enforcement gets tagged for hiring prostitutes. Nothing surprises me about this crowd anymore.
Here is the story from ABC
By the way. this is the same Tobias that was the Abstinence only world AIDS czar. Watch what they do not what they say.
Here is the story from ABC
By the way. this is the same Tobias that was the Abstinence only world AIDS czar. Watch what they do not what they say.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Hypocracy pointed out by Digby
You Can't Win
by digby
This is just ridiculous.
From Cliff Schecter:
Here's what Simon wrote;
by digby
This is just ridiculous.
From Cliff Schecter:
In a column that can only be described as hysterical (in every sense of the
word), Roger Simon over at Drudge Jr. (that's The Politico) criticizes John
Edwards for mentioning Christ in his prayer. Yeah, we all know how
the Democrats are constantly using Christ in th
eir politics, using the Bible as a reason to push forward certain political
causes.
Here's what Simon wrote;
Does John Edwards include Jews in his prayers? Or Muslims? Or Hindus? Or anySo after years and years of being told that they must appeal to the vast numbers of Christians who would vote for Democrats if only they weren't so hostile to their faith, the new rule is that the godless Democrats must not emphasize their own Christian faith or risk being called intolerant. Meanwhile, if they include other religions in their speeches, holiday greetings and prayers, they are said to be waging a war on Christians. Why, if I didn't know better, I'd think that Democrats just can't win with these people. Once again, this proves that Democrats are completely wasting their time ever responding to beltway insider CW. Their game is rigged and the only way to make people trust government is to stop. listening. to. the. pundits.
other non-Christians?He didn’t the other day. The other day, in order to
commemorate those killed at Virginia Tech, Edwards led a prayer “in Christ’s
name” at Ryman Auditorium, which bills itself as “Nashville’s Premier
Performance Hall.”Edwards has a perfect right to pray publicly or privately any
way he wants to. But people who are not Christians often feel left out of
prayers like his.
Clinton on FDL
From Greenwald:
The Dan Gerstein sham
On Tuesday of this week, Hillary Clinton wrote for a post for FireDogLake regarding a bill she has sponsored in Congress, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is designed to "toughen the penalties for violating the Equal Pay Act." Clinton then participated in the comment section of the post, responding to questions and comments from FDL's bloggers and readers.
The following day, The Washington Post's Mary Ann Akers, wrote a piece claiming that Clinton's posting at FDL "is raising a few eyebrows in Democratic political circles." This is so, she asserts, because "in Democratic political circles [Jane] Hamsher is better known as the author of a racially offensive attack against Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.)." Akers then "reports" this:
The Dan Gerstein sham
On Tuesday of this week, Hillary Clinton wrote for a post for FireDogLake regarding a bill she has sponsored in Congress, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is designed to "toughen the penalties for violating the Equal Pay Act." Clinton then participated in the comment section of the post, responding to questions and comments from FDL's bloggers and readers.
The following day, The Washington Post's Mary Ann Akers, wrote a piece claiming that Clinton's posting at FDL "is raising a few eyebrows in Democratic political circles." This is so, she asserts, because "in Democratic political circles [Jane] Hamsher is better known as the author of a racially offensive attack against Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.)." Akers then "reports" this:
gossip columnists and right-wing hacks. Now, suddenly, according this lowly chatter, Hillary is in trouble because she involved herself with FDL.A day after Clinton's post appeared on firedoglake.com, Democratic activists in various corners privately questioned the wisdom of the Clinton campaign in choosing to write for a blog associated with Hamsher.
Who are the "Democratic activists in various corners" complaining? She cites a grand total of two people -- one who is a "Hillary backer" who cowardly agreed to express these views only anonymously. Why grant anonymity to someone like this to do nothing more than express some sort of run-of-the-mill political criticism? Why deprive readers of knowing who that person is, to assess their importance, influence and credibility? Granting anonymity to people to spout little more than garden-variety political gossip is the sign of a reporter desperate to manufacture controversy in order to have something to write.The only other source for Akers' sweeping claims is Joe Lieberman's personal consultant, Dan Gerstein, who receives attention only when he attacks liberal blogs, and therefore does it endlessly. Gerstein's candidate -- against whom FDL campaigned tirelessly, which just might explain his anti-FDL remarks -- is so unrepresentative of "Democrats" that his candidate was booted out of the party by his own state despite being a three-term incumbant Senator.
Predictably, the "controversy" manufactured by Akers has begun to spread. It is being touted by various
Why, oh why, does anyone listen to Rush?
Are you a racist?
Here is a simple test:
1. Do you listen to Rush?
Answer: No, OK you are at least not a complete racist idiot so far as we can tell.
Answer: Yes, Then you have your answer. It is "yes" you are a racist.
Check out this racist smear against Obama:
Here is a simple test:
1. Do you listen to Rush?
Answer: No, OK you are at least not a complete racist idiot so far as we can tell.
Answer: Yes, Then you have your answer. It is "yes" you are a racist.
Check out this racist smear against Obama:
No surprise that the MSM does not want you to see this.
Everyone needs to carve out some time in thier day to watch this.
Bill Moyers
Every patriotic American, who charishes our democracy, must watch this. Something needs to change, and fast. Lucy has some 'splaining to do.
Bill Moyers
Every patriotic American, who charishes our democracy, must watch this. Something needs to change, and fast. Lucy has some 'splaining to do.
Fasten your seat belts, here we go.
When the White House can't rebut the facts they smear the person. Next up, Geroge Tenent.
He has a book out that is not flattering to the White House.
From TPM
He has a book out that is not flattering to the White House.
From TPM
Comment from the troops
A failure in generalship
By Lt. Col. Paul Yingling
"For the second time in a generation, the United States faces the prospect of defeat at the hands of an insurgency. In April 1975, the U.S. fled the Republic of Vietnam, abandoning our allies to their fate at the hands of North Vietnamese communists. In 2007, Iraq's grave and deteriorating condition offers diminishing hope for an American victory and portends risk of an even wider and more destructive regional war.
These debacles are not attributable to individual failures, but rather to a crisis in an entire institution: America's general officer corps. America's generals have failed to prepare our armed forces for war and advise civilian authorities on the application of force to achieve the aims of policy. The argument that follows consists of three elements. First, generals have a responsibility to society to provide policymakers with a correct estimate of strategic probabilities. Second, America's generals in Vietnam and Iraq failed to perform this responsibility. Third, remedying the crisis in American generalship requires the intervention of Congress."
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Giuliani full of poo poo.
Olberman gets it right again, in spades:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/Media/Play/16640/1/Countdown-SC-Giuliani.wmv/
http://www.crooksandliars.com/Media/Play/16640/1/Countdown-SC-Giuliani.wmv/
Hometown Bagdad
Ok, you are an American soldier in Iraq. You get a tip that there is an insurgent house in on the next street. What do you do?
Perhaps the tip was actually from an insurgent. Perhaps it was meant to put pressure on the Westernized citizens of Iraq. How do you know?
What a mess.
Perhaps the tip was actually from an insurgent. Perhaps it was meant to put pressure on the Westernized citizens of Iraq. How do you know?
What a mess.
White House Press Briefing, oh yeah!
From Think Progress:
Perino Blindly Defends White House’s Political Briefings Without Knowing Any Facts
"White House officials have admitted that they “conducted 20 private briefings on Republican electoral prospects in the last midterm election for senior officials in at least 15 government agencies covered by federal restrictions on partisan political activity.” Today, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino tried to defend these briefings, stating, “There’s nothing in the law that says you can’t do that. It’s not unethical.”
But the Hatch Act prohibits partisan campaign activities on federal property. CNN’s Ed Henry pointed out that six witnesses remember that at one of the briefings, Lurita Doan, the head of GSA, asked Karl Rove-deputy Scott Jennings, “What then, after getting this briefing, can we do to go help Republican candidates? And he said, Let’s talk off-line about that.”
Perino responded that she didn’t know what Jennings meant, adding, “I haven’t spoke to Scott Jennings about this. I don’t think that I will.” Henry asked Perino how she could “make a blanket statement saying no laws were broken” without knowing any details."
I find Dana's briefings go much better when I turn down the sound, but then, I am a pig.
Perino Blindly Defends White House’s Political Briefings Without Knowing Any Facts
"White House officials have admitted that they “conducted 20 private briefings on Republican electoral prospects in the last midterm election for senior officials in at least 15 government agencies covered by federal restrictions on partisan political activity.” Today, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino tried to defend these briefings, stating, “There’s nothing in the law that says you can’t do that. It’s not unethical.”
But the Hatch Act prohibits partisan campaign activities on federal property. CNN’s Ed Henry pointed out that six witnesses remember that at one of the briefings, Lurita Doan, the head of GSA, asked Karl Rove-deputy Scott Jennings, “What then, after getting this briefing, can we do to go help Republican candidates? And he said, Let’s talk off-line about that.”
Perino responded that she didn’t know what Jennings meant, adding, “I haven’t spoke to Scott Jennings about this. I don’t think that I will.” Henry asked Perino how she could “make a blanket statement saying no laws were broken” without knowing any details."
I find Dana's briefings go much better when I turn down the sound, but then, I am a pig.
McCain
I am not sure why I waste my time on this but it is almost funny, if it weren't so serious
Here is John then:
And
So why the change??
I guess when you want to run for President you are willing to do anything...
Tenant-what did you expect?
CBS) Ex-CIA Director George Tenet says the way the Bush administration has used his now famous "slam dunk" comment — which he admits saying in reference to making the public case for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq — is both disingenuous and dishonorable.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Hot Dish
1. Goodling granted Immunity in Attorney Probe. Is that sweat I see on Gonzales' brow?
2. Rice will get an invitation (subpoena) to attend the Senatorial Ball.
2'. Rumor has it that the firing of US Attorney Charlton had a lot to do with his investigation of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ).
3. Campaign Disclosure Parity Act, S.223 has had a secret hold put on it by a Republican. Now why wouldn't this bipartisan bill get an "up or down vote?" Funny how up or down votes are so important when Republicans have the votes, and not so important when they don't. I wouldn't make such a deal of this if Republicans had not made such a big deal last year with the confirmation of Judge Roberts. I can't even see through the hypocrisy here.
4. Yet another Republican House member Tom Feeney (R-FL) does not know Jack Abramoff. If you say so. By the way, whatever happened to the investigation into Tom Delay?
2. Rice will get an invitation (subpoena) to attend the Senatorial Ball.
2'. Rumor has it that the firing of US Attorney Charlton had a lot to do with his investigation of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ).
3. Campaign Disclosure Parity Act, S.223 has had a secret hold put on it by a Republican. Now why wouldn't this bipartisan bill get an "up or down vote?" Funny how up or down votes are so important when Republicans have the votes, and not so important when they don't. I wouldn't make such a deal of this if Republicans had not made such a big deal last year with the confirmation of Judge Roberts. I can't even see through the hypocrisy here.
4. Yet another Republican House member Tom Feeney (R-FL) does not know Jack Abramoff. If you say so. By the way, whatever happened to the investigation into Tom Delay?
Rank Incompetence
From WaPo:
I spoke with a half-dozen prominent GOP operatives this past week, most of them high-level officials in the Reagan and Bush I and Bush II administrations, and I heard the same devastating critique: This White House is isolated and ineffective; the country has stopped listening to President Bush, just as it once tuned out the hapless Jimmy Carter; the president's misplaced sense of personal loyalty is hurting his party and the nation.
"This is the most incompetent White House I've seen since I came to Washington," said one GOP senator. "The White House legislative liaison team is incompetent, pitiful, embarrassing. My colleagues can't even tell you who the White House Senate liaison is. There is rank incompetence throughout the government. It's the weakest Cabinet I've seen." And remember, this is a Republican talking.
I spoke with a half-dozen prominent GOP operatives this past week, most of them high-level officials in the Reagan and Bush I and Bush II administrations, and I heard the same devastating critique: This White House is isolated and ineffective; the country has stopped listening to President Bush, just as it once tuned out the hapless Jimmy Carter; the president's misplaced sense of personal loyalty is hurting his party and the nation.
"This is the most incompetent White House I've seen since I came to Washington," said one GOP senator. "The White House legislative liaison team is incompetent, pitiful, embarrassing. My colleagues can't even tell you who the White House Senate liaison is. There is rank incompetence throughout the government. It's the weakest Cabinet I've seen." And remember, this is a Republican talking.
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