"Libby's Lawyers: "Just Joking!"
by emptywheel
It may be that the people paying Libby's defense team are a little uncomfortable with the recent turn of events. Because William Jeffress (the Nixon lawyer on Libby's team, not the Iran-Contra lawyer) has released the following statement: http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com...omment-
13835950
John Casper |
02.10.06 - 11:27 am | #
Murray Waas got interviewed at Democracy now! about Cheney being behind scooters leak. Good stuff.
Bustednuckles |
02.10.06 - 11:28 am | #
Pillar's article contains an interesting aside -- "It is fair to ask how much other counterterrorism work was left undone as a result" of Administration pressure to focus all resources on possible Iraq-al-Qaeda connections. "Fair to ask?" Pillar is one of the few people in a position to say! Translated from cautious bureaucrat-speak, he's saying, "We fell off the CT job during the run-up to the invasion. Somebody want to start pounding the pavement and see how much so?"
WatchfulBabbler |
02.10.06 - 11:28 am | #
(Reposting because ya new threaded me, AND seems appropriate)
Jane, where are ya?
news.google had Froomkin as a topic heading out og 300+ articles (yeah!).
So I clicked to see the other articles (I'd already read Froomkin of course), and looked at the titles...
"Prosecutor: Libby says leak was authorized"
"Libby Says `Superiors' Authorized Leaks"
"Libby testifies that bosses OK'd CIA leak, papers say"
"Ex-Cheney Aide Testified Leak Was Ordered, Prosecutor Says"
"Cheney authorized aid to leak in CIA case - report"
My favorite is this one:
"NBC: Libby defense will allege Cheney role"
What other documents / testimony is gonna come out of the Libby case?
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 11:28 am | #
The chimps pants on fire. Love it.
california_reality_check |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:28 am | #
sorry to spoil it for you Redd:
Brownie just took the gold medal in de-luge.
He's definitely not skating on this one.
punaise |
02.10.06 - 11:32 am | #
John Cline, now one of Libby's defense team -- who everyone likes to say was involved in the Oliver North defense, was also Wen Ho Lee's attorney.
He does not take orders, I suspect, on defense strategy. I worked with him some in New Mexico a few years back. he is a totally honorable and excellent defense attorney (former federal prosecutor ).
This press release is simply not his style -- SO, there nmight be a little turf battle going on right now regarding the direction this defense shoul;d take.
Good news for Fitz, bad for Libby 'cause when lawyers bicker, information increases.
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 11:34 am | #
punaise | 02.10.06 - 11:32 am | If that's not one of your ten best punaise, ...that works on a lot of levels.
John Casper |
02.10.06 - 11:35 am | #
time to trot out my favirite bumper-stickers:
BushCo: The Stench of Hypocrisy and Corruption
Still Outraged, Still Paying Attention
(and of course)
George Bush is a Lying Sack of Shit
punaise |
02.10.06 - 11:35 am | #
in the Democracy Now interview with Murray Waas, he says, "the Vice President apparently can, or the President can declassify on their whim. It’s perfectly legal. "
is that true? VP can declassify as he sees fit?
james |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:36 am | #
By the way, the Olympics might distract from real depth on these issues, but the drip drip of bad news has now become a gushing permanent water feature in everyone's information backyard.
When the skiing is on, so will brief updates about Katrina and spying and corruption and lying.
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 11:37 am | #
John Casper | 02.10.06 - 11:35 am | #
Well, someone's gotta do the heavy lifting around here, no?
It's all about meme. :-)
punaise |
02.10.06 - 11:37 am | #
Punaise--Obviously, you have the wrong job. Go into punditry full time!
karen allen |
02.10.06 - 11:39 am | #
immanentize | 02.10.06 - 11:34 am |
Are you familiar with emptywheel's work over at tnh? Her point is that a lot of Libby's team (with Libby's knowledge)is just using his trial as a reverse fishing expedition to plumb what Fitz knows about everyone else in the WH. Althought emptywheel is a frequent and welcome visitor at FDL, she might enjoy your comments over at tnh.
John Casper |
02.10.06 - 11:40 am | #
James -- I'm not certain. I've been trying to do a bit of research on the subject, but as you might imagine, researching how classified information is handled is...erm...a little difficult. If I can find some definitive answers, I'll post on it -- but everything I'm finding on the subject is a little conflicted.
ReddHedd |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:41 am | #
Can the Dems get some political capital from all these shenanigans?
Noooo, they are too busy trying to traingulate and looking strong on terror by falling for the Patriot Act "compromise".
Oh! What will it take to get some political opposition with spine.
Max |
02.10.06 - 11:42 am | #
Read empty wheel's post.
Yeah, look at the google news link above - you don't need to read the article, just scan the headines. Headline after headline after headline basically saying "Cheney leak" "Cheney Leak".
Rinse, repeat.
Not exactly the headlines you want to kickoff the "2006 National Security election".
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 11:42 am | #
James -- I also meant to say that whether or not disclosures of classified information were done through proper authorization or not -- that does not in any way excuse any of Libby's charges. Committing perjury, making false statements to an investigator or attempting to obstruct an investigation are all separate and apart from any question of classified disclosures. Libby is not off the hook, even if Cheney and Bush gave him written permission -- you can't permit someone to lie to a grand jury. Period.
ReddHedd |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:43 am | #
unluckily for Bush, the Winter Olympics usually dont get the mass public visceral political response that the real Olympics can do. despite the Olympics being an exercise in alleged internationalism, nothing gets the American public going faster than the prospect of gold medals by the USA Team...
Wilson46201 |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:44 am | #
I may have EPU'd all over myself ... so I'm bring these thoughts of mine back into the now ...
fIREDOGLAKE ... MIND MELD
I believe the community of FDl'ers is reaching , in the words of the mystic scholar, teacher, Oscar Ichazo ... an MMP .. or Matierial Manifestation Point.
The collective consciousness pooled here daily/hourly/moment by moment ... is now spilling over the edge.
As a cell reaches the maximum growth juncture for its health then begins to think about the process of dividing inorder to continue the journey towards the inherent manifestation of enlightenment.
Our collective imagination is making love , so to speak ... and babies are wanting to be born. We can all feel the energy building here.
Is this an evoultion of a new form of democracy... ? Just sayin'.
abarefootboy |
02.10.06 - 11:46 am | #
John thanks -- I will try to get over there, although I must say I am sorry not to be able to spend more time and energies here....
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 11:47 am | #
Redd, I've learned to lower my expectations, but I am hopeful that some of this week's bad news for them will stick, Olympics or no.
I would be interested to know if anyone is following up on the Jason Leopold piece in Truthout. I know he doesn't have Waas's track record, but so many puzzle pieces fall into place if he is right. Explosive stuff. Do we know who if anyone is chasing this down? http://www.truthout.org/docs_200...6/
020906J.shtml
Finally, since EPU'd:
OT--
Too funny. On C-SPAN--wish I were home to watch this more often for comic relief--Brian ("Due Diligence") Lamb interviewing lefty blogger Barbara O'Brien (Mahablog).
Brian: "And what is this one on your web site? It's a link to something called "Sweet Jesus, I Hate Bill O'Reilly." Now, who writes that?
Barbara: Well, I'm not sure but I echo the sentiment.
Just got a google alert --Juan Cole is reporting that Cheney wrote the National Intelligence Evaluation that was used -re: the Niger YellowCake after Wilson and others began to question the forged documents.
Maeme |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:48 am | #
In the Democracy Now interview with Murray Waas, he says, "the Vice President apparently can, or the President can declassify on their whim. It’s perfectly legal. "
is that true? VP can declassify as he sees fit?
james | Homepage | 02.10.06 - 11:36 am | #
I think it's a bit of hyperbole from Waas. Apparently Bush issued an executive order delegating his declassifying authority to Cheney, yes. But that doesn't mean that Cheney can declassify stuff on a whim, or with no procedure. It doesn't mean that if Cheney can declassify a document by telling Libby "go ahead and leak this."
There's a lot of stuff that's been leaked, from the NIE to Plame's identity and more, and I doubt you'll find Cheney's signature on a declassification order for any of it. They're trying to muddy the waters by saying that he had the power to declassify and pretending that means he could "authorize" people to release classified information, but without having his fingerprints on any of it.
Redshift |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:48 am | #
ReddHedd, emptywheel is giving you major props over at tnh in the comments.
John Casper |
02.10.06 - 11:49 am | #
Go into punditry full time!
karen allen | 02.10.06 - 11:39 am | #
yeah, time to go for the big bucks....
punaise |
02.10.06 - 11:49 am | #
You need to ask the question...
Did Cheney declassify the information, or instruct Libby to LEAK classified information.
The declassified NIE contained disclaimers that undermined the Administration.
"With no weapons of mass destruction having been found in Iraq and new questions being raised about the case for war, Libby assured Miller that day that the still-classified document, a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), contained even stronger evidence that would support the White House’s conclusions about Iraq’s weapons programs, according to Miller’s account. "
Deepest thanks for your ongoing efforts. FDL has taken over one of the top stops on my daily blog review, not only for the topics you choose but your, and Jane's, writing skills are such a breath of fresh air. Gracias.
On Topic: I believe this Admin is taking note and making plans to counter Brownie as I write this. The end-of-week timing is not a consideration for those cretins. When have they ever, ever left an attack open? We may not see a quick response, but I'd bet my morning coffee that Rover is plotting now. The attack will come - timed to coordinate with yet another wave of "possible terrorist threats", maybe even up the warning color to orange (oh, be still my heart).
Semi-On Topic:
I'll be glued to the figure skating as well, rooting for Belbin and Agosto (now that was one bill in support of a very narrow constituency that I supported). I see the Russkies taking the gold in pairs unless the Chinese pull off a miracle trick and Plushy taking gold unless he craters again (speaking of stilling my heart - Lambiel!). As for the gals, who knows? Could one of the Japanese girls slip in front of Slutskaya? (Yeah, "slip" was intentional).
I was considering posting some suggestions for viewing figure skating for those who are not fans. But where to start?
Alas, I can offer this much now: When watching the ice dance competition, keep in mind the costumes were all designed to follow this historically dictated phrase: Lawnmower, meet nightgown. Nightgown, meet lawnmower.
Hilde |
02.10.06 - 11:51 am | #
Redshift
That's an approach I'd actually like to pursue. Demand that all these things they said were declassified (the NIE hasn't even been released inits entirety) be handed over to bloggers for breakfast.
Seems to me, something is either declassified or classified. There's not a category called, "declassified for Judy's eyes only."
emptywheel |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:51 am | #
The Winter Olympics are generally a mediocre affair. I could care less about most of the events, like luge, bobsled, that one where they cross country ski then shoot a target, although cross country skiing by itself isn't too bad. The downhill skiing isn't too bad, but the way the slam into each flag is kind of distracting. I can't stand figure skating, and the judging is so crooked that I wouldn't watch it even if I otherwise liked it. They do these whole routines and all that really matters is if they slip when doing their triple axle, or whatever. Athleticism has taken over from artistry. Watch Sonia Henning from 50 years ago and you can see a nicer performance. Don't get me started on ice dancing as an olympic sport, though. Then there's that silly ice version of roller derby that they've invented. Ski jumping looks the same over and over again, then they crown the winner. Really, other than ice hockey, they should just scrap the whole thing and start over. Would you really be upset if I told you who won the ski jumping before you got a chance to watch it?
steve expat |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:51 am | #
Brownie just took the gold medal in de-luge.
He's definitely not skating on this one.
Rove tried to skate, but he fell while attempting a triple Luskin.
Swopa |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:51 am | #
Ignore/Forget that --the alert was via FDL - trying to do my work for school -- and saw that alert pop-up frm Cole.
Maeme |
02.10.06 - 11:52 am | #
I may have EPU'd all over myself ...
abarefootboy | 02.10.06 - 11:46 am | #
dammit - didn't have my clear plastic keyboard slipcover positioned in time for that one. ROFL!
punaise |
02.10.06 - 11:55 am | #
immanentize
Can you elaborate on Cline? (Btw, he was also GOP operative and Chinese spy Katrina Leung's lawyer.)
The denial comes from Jeffress and it's pretty transparent bullshit (and nutty clarice at Tom Maguire's blog revealed it actually came from big operative Barbara Comstock). But it pays to remember that Jeffress is ALSO James Baker III's law partner.
Something funky is definitely going on.
emptywheel |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 11:55 am | #
Rove tried to skate, but he fell while attempting a triple Luskin.
Swopa | Homepage | 02.10.06 - 11:51 am | #
or a triple (Frank) Lutz...too much spin, I guess
punaise |
02.10.06 - 11:57 am | #
Forget the Olympics. Fox is showing the last four episodes of "Arrested Development" tonight.
Now that's must-see TV.
lisa |
02.10.06 - 11:57 am | #
And other lies - to quote some of what Jason Leopold wrote -
Vice President Dick Cheney and then-Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley led a campaign beginning in March 2003 to discredit former Ambassador Joseph Wilson for publicly criticizing the Bush administration's intelligence on Iraq, according to current and former administration officials.
"The way I remember it," the CIA official said about that first meeting he attended in Cheney's office, "is that the vice president was obsessed with Wilson. He called him an 'asshole,' a son-of-a-bitch. He took his comments very personally. He wanted us to do everything in our power to destroy his reputation and he wanted to be kept up to date about the progress."
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who has been investigating the Plame Wilson leak for more than two years, questioned Cheney about his role in the leak in 2004. Cheney did not testify under oath, and it's unknown what he told the special prosecutor.
On September 14, 2003, during an interview with Tim Russert of NBC's "Meet the Press," Cheney maintained that he didn't know Wilson or have any knowledge about his Niger trip or who was responsible for leaking his wife's name to the media.
"I don't know Joe Wilson," Cheney said, in response to Russert,
***
Fitz being very careful narrowed his indictment - I haven't been able to follow every comment the last 2 days so this may have been answered - Redd, any speculation on who "Redacted" is? Fitz's deep throat?
der |
02.10.06 - 11:58 am | #
RH,
If any O'Glakes know Olympic commentators, maybe we can e-mail 'em to insert metaphors like "skating on thin ice," "he mangled that slalom gate like Bush mangles the English language," "she looks more beat up from that fall than the president after eating two bags of preetzels," and so on.
My Lieberman nickname - Snowall Sleezerman.
Outta here to work.
Edward Teller |
02.10.06 - 11:59 am | #
OT
David Broder's wiring seems to have suffered a short circuit during Wapo online q & a this afternoon.
Cincinnati, Ohio: Evidence continues to mount that Vice President Cheney was directly involved in the outing of Valerie Plame. Given new revelations about his possibly authorizing leaks of classified material, could you see impeachment proceedings coming to bear against Cheney?
David S. Broder: Tp ,u lmpw;edge. tjere os mp testo,pmu pr c;ao, sp far that Vice President Cheney offered Valerie Plame's name to any person outside the government. If he is implicated in Scooter Libby's alleged leak, I expect that testimony to develop during Libby's trial. But talk of impeachment strikes me as unjustified at this point.
_______________________
ceci |
02.10.06 - 11:59 am | #
Bush's Job Approval Stuck Near Bottom
WASHINGTON - President Bush's marks on overall job approval and for handling the economy are mired near their lowest levels despite a spike in consumer confidence over the past month, an AP-Ipsos poll found.
Bush's job approval is now at 40 percent and his approval on handling the economy at 39 percent. Those numbers haven't budged over the last month even with the public's confidence in the economy growing and the president delivering an upbeat State of the Union address.
and the page for the next issue is mostly blank.
Cujo359 |
02.10.06 - 12:00 pm | #
ew, very good points.
Furthermore, the reason administration personnel will never be able to declassify on a whim (and I'm sure they'd love to) is that the paperwork is how the FBI and others know it's declassified. If the FBI gets a tip-off that someone is handing out classified documents, they can't take "check with my boss" for an answer, not least because that's exactly the sort of thing someone spying for a foreign country would say to try to convince people what they're doing is okay.
Redshift |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 12:01 pm | #
OT, but I'm concerned about the White House "deal" on the Patriot Act.
Feinstein has signed on, possibly also Durbin? Also the Republicans who had objections, such as Hagel. Reid is saying nice things about it.
Feingold says the changes to the Act in the "deal" are mostly cosmetic, and he'll continue to resist. Still a year before anyone can fget judicial review of a gag order, for example. I'm with Feingold, but I'm worried. This is starting to look like the Republicrat sellout we've seen before.
Why are we making "deals" with folks that have not been trustworthy in the past?
I would add that the NEED for the infringements on civil liberties to fight terror is not obvious to me. This administration is so pervasively incompetent, it is hard to believe that any additional tools would help them do a better job of intercepting possible terror attacks.
By the way, news stories are emerging that intell sources say Bush's claim to have prevented an attack on the "Liberty" Building (actually, the Library Building) in LA is probably inflated.
John K |
02.10.06 - 12:03 pm | #
the entire Pillar article is available at foreignaffairs.org
2strange |
02.10.06 - 12:05 pm | #
From Keith's clip, the President's first words: "We now know......"
Now - ?????
Keith's first big sports gig was in L.A. at CBS local news.
Tweety |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 12:05 pm | #
Tp ,u lmpw;edge. tjere os mp testo,pmu pr c;ao, sp far that
Ah, someone missed their right home key... 'To my knowledge there is no testimony or claim so far that ...'
P J Evans |
02.10.06 - 12:06 pm | #
"Rove tried to skate, but he fell while attempting a triple Luskin."
Swopa | Homepage | 02.10.06 - 11:51 am
"or a triple (Frank) Lutz...too much spin, I guess"
punaise | 02.10.06 - 11:57 am
Swopa, punaise -
I heard that Libby's attempting a triple Flip, possibly because he's been out of the super secret double Loop. Then again, he mastered the Spread Eagle years ago...
(spread eagle's a gimme but I had to use it)
Hilde |
02.10.06 - 12:08 pm | #
ReddHedd et all on last nights thread Mary put this info out. Said that the WH changed the LAW to out Plame. March 2003.
It is encouraging to see all of the disclosures coming -- so many, so fast, and the more the better. But I think that is only half of the battle for the headlines and lead stories on CNN. The other half is the emotional and subliminal link that forms the basis for Rove's 2006 strategy. That link is what the WH seems to be following.
Consider:
1. Bush reveals details of a plot to fly planes into the "Liberty" building in LA. (the mistaken name was repeated today -- so it's likely intentional). The point to note about this is the link to Muslim groups in the Far East, not just the Middle East -- Message: the threat is global -- anywhere there are Muslims.
2. The way in which Bush and Condi responded to the "cartoon" demonstrations throughout the Muslim world -- Message: those Muslims and their leaders need to behave themselves.
3. Cheney's restatements lately that the "foreign surveillance" issue should be a campaign issue.
4. Porter Gross' editorial today in the NYT using a byline from WW I and II -- "loose lips sink ships" -- becomes "loose lips sink spies." Message: talking about our spying is putting the country at risk. Let us do our jobs. And anyone who leaks is a traitor. It's a threat to all whistleblowers.
I think what's going on here is a WH attempt not just to create distracting fear about another 9/11 but to expand and demonize the image of who the bad guys are and where the threat comes from. They're those fanatical Muslims, and they're everywhere, all over the world, and maybe in your local library, and we need to be doing everything we can to spy on them, where ever they are. And anyone who questions what we're doing is putting the nation at risk.
This is exactly what happenen in the McCarthy era, where there were communists and commie sympathizers everywhere, and government couldn't do enough to ferret out the traitors in our midst.
Bush and Rove can't control Katrina, or Iraq, or Fitz, or Abramoff, but they can control their own message and be relentless about staying on message. It's up to the press to change the story -- and this week, that's what they've been trying to do -- may the gods and blogs help 'em.
The fear everyone story is the one that the Administration is trying to have in the news. Part of it is transparent, part is implicit and subliminal. But Rove is apparently betting that that's a winning combination, no matter how incompetent or dishonest the real events show Bush and his band to be.
scarecrow |
02.10.06 - 12:08 pm | #
2strange -- thank you! We're expecting a n'oreaster this weekend and I was wondering if I'd be able to get a copy. Now I can read at my leisure. :) You rock!
ReddHedd |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 12:09 pm | #
From Sweden with love !!
There is a saying: Don't beat around the bush.
As I understand it – one should then beat directly on Bush – so here we go.
Yesterday I summoned the gang (5 lads) at the local inn on the island.
Purpose: To have a two hour "Bush-meeting".
The rule for the meeting was: You are not allowed to speak a true word for two
hours - just lying.
Have you tried that – it's awfully hard, but we managed.
Mind you, we got one problem – that ended the séance.
Whenever the waitress came with our drinks – we told her that, "that was not what we
had ordered". We had to give her a lot of tip at the end of the meeting, and we were told that
if we were having such a meeting again – the inn would not be the proper place.
Since the inn is the only one on the island – there will be no more Bush-meetings.
It must be hard to be a Bush!!
Something tells me Cheney's gonna be back in the bunker for awhile.
The news isn't that Cheney declassified things. The news is that Cheney authorized Libby to leak classified things. That fact is news on it's own and it's out in the mainstream far and wide - whether tied to Libby's defense or not.
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 12:10 pm | #
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...
freefall |
02.10.06 - 12:16 pm | #
Libby is not off the hook, even if Cheney and Bush gave him written permission -- you can't permit someone to lie to a grand jury. Period.
ReddHedd
absolutely. just trying to cut through the b.s.
james |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 12:17 pm | #
Hilde | 02.10.06 - 12:08 pm | #
keep it rolling, folks. Add your own faux BushCo 5-ring circus Olympic results!
punaise |
02.10.06 - 12:19 pm | #
Administration Biathalon:
Skate around the issue then shoot the messenger
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 12:21 pm | #
Breaking News for ReddHedd
The USA! USA! USA! just won the Slippery Character Luge Event in Torino!
A two-person sled consisting of G.W. Bush and R.L. Cheney sped past the finish line for the gold, easily breaking the 43-year old Olympic record held by the team R. Nixon and S. Agnew .
Prof |
02.10.06 - 12:22 pm | #
Sorry, I wasn't supposed to post Olympic results before they are broadcast. I really apologize, Redd.
Prof |
02.10.06 - 12:23 pm | #
[delurk]
Didja see what Holden at first-draft.com dug up from the AP wires today?
President Bush defended his warrantless eavesdropping program Friday, saying during what he thought were private remarks that he concluded that spying on Americans was necessary to fill a gap in the United States' security.
Another lucky break our way--aren't we due some?--is that the AP smear of Reid (alleged links to Abramoff associates, no showing of illegal activity) doesn't seem to be having too many legs, even though it's been picked up by some print outlets.
I guess only one big Abramoff story a day for our intrepid cable newsies, and the sexier one for them--judging from the Candy Crowley piece that just aired on CNN--seems to be Abramoff's e-mails to a magazine writer recounting his links to Dubya.
The news isn't that Cheney declassified things. The news is that Cheney authorized Libby to leak classified things. That fact is news on it's own and it's out in the mainstream far and wide - whether tied to Libby's defense or not.
anotherpawn | 02.10.06 - 12:10 pm |
I'd ad that the "news" is also that Cheney was directing Libby to selectively leak classified information for the purpose of defending the justifications for war and denigrating anyone who challenge them.
scarecrow |
02.10.06 - 12:24 pm | #
Scarecrow at 12:08 pm-- that is an excellent synthesis. You mind if I expand on that over the weekend -- need to sleep on it, but I think you have something valuable there.
ReddHedd |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 12:25 pm | #
ReddHedd,
Don't know if any has posted this yet, but the Foriegn Affairs article is available on line-
"Secrets, Evasions and Classified Reports
The CIA leak case isn’t just about whether top officials will be indicted. A larger issue is what Judith Miller’s evidence says about White House manipulation of the media."
It delves into this also.
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 12:29 pm | #
immanentize | 02.10.06 - 12:21 pm
I don't know if you saw emptywheel's question to you at 11:55 here on this thread about Cline?
John Casper |
02.10.06 - 12:30 pm | #
Prof -- poor Redd, she's gonna be deluged with faux Olympic results all week. Punaise should manage the contest for the most clever announcement -- but we may need to have a rule that such entires may only be submitted as EPUs.
scarecrow |
02.10.06 - 12:31 pm | #
Today's jawdropping detail of rank incompentence and utter lack of concern for any kind of effective policy making:
(T)he first request [Pillar] received from a Bush policymaker for an assessment of post-invasion Iraq was "not until a year into the war."
Jay |
02.10.06 - 12:33 pm | #
preiview of article now available at Foreign Affairs internet site
My inst. has full text access, so not sure if everyone can read it, but for those with subscription or want to pop or the fee, it is there now.
anon_1 |
02.10.06 - 12:33 pm | #
Sorry - my article link is in reference to a different scarecrow post.
2006 - competence, trust - who deserves it?
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 12:33 pm | #
I just gave to Ciro and it feels good.
melior in France |
02.10.06 - 12:35 pm | #
Just off work calls - phew!
on the $5 project - I emailed Jane and Redd last night with a synthesis of what we had discussed yesterday. Here's the text I sent along to them - I'd preface with two additions - Punaise I believe suggested a change to Five Dollar Lake which is a great idea given the earlier suggestions - and Colorado Bob has created a blog site. My one worry is that we not make this complicated with a separate blog, etc which also drains traffic - I think we can do the following with a total of 2 or 3 monthly posts here at FDL (one for nominees, one for discussion and votes and maybe one for feedback) and stick with a site like ActBlue which already handles FEC issues. Is this then a new PAC or such - my FEC knowledge is way outdated but I think if we just recommend donations and link to somewhere like ActBLue rather than collecting here, we should be ok - but we have tons of good legal minds so could someone (not busy Redd) do the research?
I also will add that the thing I like perhaps the most is the idea of FDL folks discussing and deciding together who to support rather than having the selections made for us - maybe someone knows of a great local candidate who really deserves a little FDL love, maybe an issue comes up in other FDL discussion that suggests a person to help, etc,
anyhow, here's what I sent to Jane and Redd:
This afternoon, Colorado Bob suggested getting everyone to give $5 to the Band of Brothers and pointed out the large number of readers at FDL. Clearly the Ciro project showed we can generate money and CoBob is thinking of doing more. I then suggested having a weekly candidate for support, tied to the issues we are discussing at FDL and Bob did the numbers on 38 weeks left until election, etc.
We've already seen a number of folks, esp. regulars, chime in and support the idea.
Here's the outline so far, with some options - and a caveat that our idea is to set this up in a way that minimizes work for you two and maximizes visibility for FDL involvement.
Once a month, post a topic requesting nominees for donations - to be sent to an offsite email address (gmail, hotmail, whatever). Zennurse will collate the list and send it to you for posting and then the attached comments could be for discussion of why given candidates merit a donation. Also provide an offsite email address in this post where FDLers can send their votes for who to support that month. I volunteered to count those votes and report back to the group and you could post the month's list with a link to the donation site.
The 4 candidates selected for a given month would be added to a website (see below) for donations - and would be invited to send us a post to link to with info on their campaign, etc. for the donation site. There was a suggestion of an interview by you two to post but I worry this adds to your work and to the campaign's work as well? We would also tell them that the FDL contributions are coming and that we do not want individual thank you's etc but will circulate one post from them, etc - this to minimize their costs per small donations and also save our mailboxes from a ton of campaign stuff.
Each week, we would each send $5 to the candidate of the week
Website for donations - Colorado Bob suggested using an unused site put up by Cyberruffian and apparently has permission to do so. I suggested simply managing all this via ActBlue since it's already there and handles all the regulation stuff and also does not take a cut of the donation. LJT suggested the new DNC tool for fundraising but CoBob felt it was too complex - and I'm not sure we want to get sidetracked by all the DNC bonds and stuff. (I have not heard back from Bob on this so I'm just passing along the options)
Colorado Bob also suggested publicizing this to all the other big blogs so they could vote and participate. My suggestion would be to let them know what we are doing but encourage them to participate via FDL - or to set up their own sep. programs rather than getting them to discuss on their sites then vote in our tally. I know several already have programs and would not want to compete/distract but would also like to avoid sending people away from FDL (being a good marketeer!) or flooding our votes with comments, stuff from nonFDL sources.
Several names are floating about - punaise suggested Five Dollars for Liberty (FDL) and CoBob is very into including a Lake reference which would highlight how lots of small raindrops make a big lake (I'm not doing this justice coz I'm tired) so perhaps FDLL - Five Dollars for Liberty Lake covers both.
I am sure we could get several other volunteers to help manage this and I'd be happy to manage the ActBlue stuff if we needed that done as well.
One more - I suggested doing 3 candidates and 1 organization per month so we can also support folks like the youth organizers at League of Indy Voters (Pissed Off Voters) and I'd recommend we focus on under-reported candidates and causes rather than DNC, DLC, D.... so our money would have the most impact.
I think that covers it - what say the ladies of the Lake?
siun |
02.10.06 - 12:39 pm | #
Administration Biathalon:
Skate around the issue then shoot the messenger
immanentize | 02.10.06 - 12:21 pm
ROFL So that would be the Bush Biathalon.
Shez |
02.10.06 - 12:40 pm | #
CAMBRIDGE, Md. The source of the latest leak from the Bush administration is: President Bush himself.
Thanks to an error by a White House technician, the sound of what were supposed to be private remarks to G-O-P House members was relayed to the White House press corps.
Bush made a brief public speech to lawmakers at their retreat on Maryland's Eastern Shore. He then shooed out reporters and photographers, saying, "I support the free press, let's just get 'em out of the room."
Once they were gone, Bush -- not realizing he was still audible -- said, "I expect this conversation we're about to have to stay in the room." He added, "I know that's impossible in Washington."
Bush then spoke for roughly two minutes on the war on terror and his warrantless eavesdropping program before the outside feed was switched off. On the surveillance, he repeated earlier assertions he'd cleared the program with top government lawyers.
Quite a chuckle, now what did he say?
snowbird42 |
02.10.06 - 12:41 pm | #
Re: declassification of NIE
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/1...r=1&
oref=slogin
"I. Lewis Libby Jr., the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, told a grand jury that he was authorized by his "superiors" to disclose classified information to reporters about Iraq's weapons capability in June and July 2003, according to a document filed by a federal prosecutor."
...
"But amid doubts about the rationale for the invasion of Iraq some of which were attributable to Mr. Wilson's Op-Ed article, the administration declassified the report on July 18."
You got that? Libby was authorized to disclose in June. Report declassified in July. Also, Plame's identity was not declassified.
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 12:43 pm | #
Olympic preview:
I think that for our country it will all be downhill.
Bush will skip the Olympics due to "doping" concerns.
Gonzales should do particularly well on the slippery slope.
As has been noted, Rove is good with his spins and he appears to getting used to skating on thin ice.
Ex-FEMA director Michael Brown wanted to try out for the US hockey team but regretfully withdrew when he was told it was not horse hockey.
Hugh |
02.10.06 - 12:46 pm | #
Sorry, I've been in meetings and out -- i will catch up abouty John Cline a little later? What specifically do you need to know?
He is a very hard working attorney who works wiith one of the nation's great criminal defense attorneys, Nancy Holland. He is tireless in his pursuit of paper and broke the Wen Ho Lee case on the government's own record (as is often the case in these matters) More high profile and lazier attorneys would have let Wen Ho Lee take a serious rap. His experience as a US Attorney certainly taught him a tremendous amount about the pressures, real and imagined that defendants face. He is honest, like Fitz is honest which always makes for the best prosecutions.
What I see in this exchange is a little litigation strategy power struggle. Will it be full-bore grey mail -- which would mean that Libby would have to, in th eend, be willing to implicate his "bosses" in many ways (Rove Cheney, Hadley?). What I mean by that is that grey mail forces the inspection, if not the production, of documents and leads which the prosecutor might not yet have. In the end, the prosecution might not be able to use the stuff in court, but the point of grey mail is generally to turn attention to other/bigger fish. Think the Noriega trial an dthe attempts to drag the CIA and former Reagan officials into the defense in Florida.
The other defense strategy seems to be a "protect everyone" strategy -- sort of a stalling tactic that does not focus on saving Libby's ass as much as it is to delay until a pardon is politically possible (December 2008) without any information being developed beyond Libby. This is a risky defense strategy for Libby because it is not really a pro-Libby /proactive defense. It is a wink and a nod action.
So, I see grey mail theory in the aggressive John Cline addition to the team and I see Reddhedd's firewall in the previous tactics and the current "oops, look over there" Libby defense fund letter.
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 12:47 pm | #
Thanks, Shez, I needed the props today!
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 12:48 pm | #
More from that NYTIMES link above:
"Mr. Fitzgerald said in his letter that Mr. Libby discussed the contents of the classified report in a July 8 meeting — 10 days before it was declassified — with Judith Miller, then a reporter at The Times. Ms. Miller, who spent 85 days in jail before agreeing to testify in the leak case, has told the grand jury that Mr. Libby told her about Ms. Wilson at the same meeting."
Yuppers, Sunday morning should be fun. "10 days before it was declassified"
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 12:49 pm | #
Juan Cole's piece on Plamegate is a wonderful primer, a sort of "Plamegate for Dummies." Me should email it to all of his press contacts. . .
lemond54 |
02.10.06 - 12:52 pm | #
immanentize | 02.10.06 - 12:47 pm |
thank you imm that was very helpful. Chris (Tweety) Matthews had Turley on last night and Turley opined that grey mail worked well for North, because Ollie portrayed himself as a "lowly" Colonel. Turley thought it was a stretch that someone as high up on the food chain, an Ass't to both the Veep and POTUS, could pull that same trick off. Any thoughts?
John Casper |
02.10.06 - 12:53 pm | #
just read the FA article. thought-provoking. i am going to have to ruminate on it... (not Rummy-nate)
Wilson46201 |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 12:54 pm | #
siun,
That's a very interesting idea. I'm not caught up on all the comments this week yet (impossible anymore here..lol)
I'm wondering, do Jane and Redd have this blog FTP'd to a webhost since they seem to have a domain? Can a couple pages be created for this project to link in along with a special email address added? Please fill me in on what's been discussed?
Shez |
02.10.06 - 12:54 pm | #
anotherpawn - The Executive Order was dated March 2003.
california_reality_check |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 12:56 pm | #
Here's a question, can you be "authorized" to leak classified information? I'd think it's still illegal - in fact - wasn't that an admission of a crime?
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 12:56 pm | #
wow, i've been check'n this blog for sometime.
first time i've bothered with the comments.
thanx to empty wheel. that added quite a bit of context.
if they haven't locked anyone up yet, or even seriously held one to account i don't see much hope in it. but if it helps decide the 06 election that could change real fast. here's hoping.
charley |
02.10.06 - 1:00 pm | #
"Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. **But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy.** The NSC had no patience with the UN route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime's record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action." (Downing st. Memos) SOUNDS LIKE:
"The Bush administration "used intelligence not to inform decision-making, but to justify a decision already made," Pillar wrote.
dolly lanna |
02.10.06 - 1:02 pm | #
The point of grey mail is that it is never intended to lead to a defense in court, the idea is that if you say, "my superior -- which is the government -- which is you the prosecutor -- has information/documents that will prove I am innocent because I was authorized to do what I did. Please turn over those documents so that I can prove my innocence. Government says, "turning over those documents would be detrimental to national security, no can-do." Then the defendant asks the court to dismiss.
During this process, the government generally has to produce the documents in question for in camera review by the judge, or agree that the information would help the defendant, but still refuse to disclose it.
That is where other leads and angles of prosecution present themselves. With Noriega, he was really the only true target and he was trying to muddy the waters, Here, we already know there are other targets....
But as RH said, that doesn't help Libby with the lying to he grandjury or FBI. But it does stave off a superceding indictment for much more serious offences.
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 1:06 pm | #
ex-CIA spook Pillar who wrote that FA article is to be interviewed by Wolfie this hour on CNN. Wolfie also is going to deal with Libby saying Cheney authorized the leaking of classified material...
Wilson46201 |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:07 pm | #
anotherpawn | 02.10.06 - 12:49 pm
...10 days before it was declassifed...
And Novak's article was published when?
Rayne |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:08 pm | #
Lovely graphics lately, ladies. Kudos.
This one has "Lil Lord FountOfLie" all over it.
I liked the pinball 'tilt' metaphor the other day, too.
The NBC headline seemed the strongest. Wonder what that means with lots of eyes 2night and 2weeks.
I'll be on the lookiout for 'curling' events, myself.
ps-->> Broder's erroneous keystrokes were nothing compared to using the word 'unjustified' in relation to impeachment discussion.
Jackintosh |
02.10.06 - 1:09 pm | #
immanentize | 02.10.06 - 1:06 pm thanks very much.
John Casper |
02.10.06 - 1:10 pm | #
new entry: Karl Rove in the (Double) Cross (your) Country event
punaise |
02.10.06 - 1:13 pm | #
Novaks article hit the public in print Monday, July 14 but the text moved on wires Friday, July 11th...
Wilson46201 |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:14 pm | #
California - the executive order for what? Declassification of the NIE?
Not according to this: http://www.fas.org/irp/cia/produ...t/iraq-
wmd.html
"FAS Note: The following excerpts from an October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate were declassified on July 18, 2003 and presented at a White House background briefing on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 1:14 pm | #
12 July was Novak's article.
california_reality_check |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:15 pm | #
siun - thanks for spear-heading this - Five Dollar (Liberty) Lake - This may be old news, but Bob has already got the site up and running
punaise |
02.10.06 - 1:16 pm | #
All things Considered is leading with Bush's off the record comments, and the Libby defense and Cheney declassification. Next comes the prewar intel issue and the Pillar article. Pillar is being interviewed.
This is possibly beyond Rove's control, in terms of facts coming out. It may be beyond damage control, but not swift-boating.
zennurse |
02.10.06 - 1:16 pm | #
John Casper | 02.10.06 - 12:53 pm
What's crossed my mind -- being a tin-foil hat wearer -- is that greymail isn't being exercised only in the legal proceedings.
I've wondered whether outside forces have been manipulating discovery, too. Like Dickerson within the week, out of the blue; is Fitz' staff now scrambling on research related to the change in the timeline because of Dickerson's Slate articles? Did Dickerson get a nudge from someone on timing?
Snaps to Immanetize, too, for the overview on Cline and the two strategies; straightforward enough for non-lawyer/non-prosecutors to grasp.
Rayne |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:17 pm | #
anotherpawn - No EO 12958 and 13292 that changed the rules. Here.
california_reality_check -- thanks, I already knew the date of Novak's, was my point that the declassification could have been in response to the recognition that there had been an outing.
Rayne |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:20 pm | #
I have to confess ... while Redd is watching the elegant winter olympics ... I'll be cheering the opening of SpeedWeek - in fact the first cars are heading onto the track at this very moment - all leading up to Daytona next Sunday. This is my secret obsession and truly sinful but ... ummmm....it gives me great insight (yeah, that's it) into the prize Nascar Dad demographic. And I was happy to see today's Nascar ad was a celebration of Black History Month giving props to Bill Lester, the first black Nascar race winner.
Still, I will grab views of bobsled and luge (several race drivers are involved in developing the best sleds) and I do love the women's skating ... casting a nostalgia vote for Kwan.
siun |
02.10.06 - 1:22 pm | #
grey mail---
It's a shame so called "grey mail" tactics don't seem to resemble an effort to get at the truth and achieve justice. This type of maneuver smacks of false delay and has the same smell as the "justice" we, the citizens, received in the Ollie North case. Our legal system is broken. We should perhaps pull a page from the English system of pooling information among judges and attorneys to get at the truth. This adversary system, with grey mail, etc. we have is not the best system available and is just a game front-loaded for the likes of Libby. And it's for the birds. Excuse me birds.
Oklahoma kiddo |
02.10.06 - 1:23 pm | #
is Fitz' staff now scrambling on research related to the change in the timeline because of Dickerson's Slate articles? Did Dickerson get a nudge from someone on timing?
Good for our team, Fitz' staff doesn't have to scramble, they can just issue grandjury subpoenas....
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 1:23 pm | #
Cheney, the Vice President has no power to declassify anything. He's in a toss-out position with no authority. He is certainly not able to out a NOC.
Myself and another military member were going on about what a shit Cheney is, etc, when a third guy said that we had to show respect for Cheney...a Commander, etc. We disabused him of that notion. Cheney has NO authority, no place, in the Chain of Command. He has no position wrt the military. He has no place to be outing secrets either.
Praedor Atrebates |
02.10.06 - 1:24 pm | #
"I've wondered whether outside forces have been manipulating discovery, too."
I agree. I feel as though I am inside an avalanche. There are so many things breaking, all at the same time. It's much harder to figure out what is the result of Rover's spin machine and what is just the newscycle. Whatever it is, I think it's safe to say that Rove has lost a lot of his ability to control the front page. He's still a very formidable threat, and he can regain control of it, but I am enjoying this.
John Casper |
02.10.06 - 1:28 pm | #
Did anyone see the entire Pillar interview? From what I saw he seemed to be equivocating a lot--did he say anything that really hurts the White House?
neurophius |
02.10.06 - 1:31 pm | #
punaise - not spearheader here, just doing what I do at work - trying to capture the comments and organize so we can do it and make it easy for our hostesses.
Bob emailed me about the site last night but I can't email him back so comms broke down a bit - I thought we had agreed to discuss here over the weekend and then set up whatever we wanted for Monday. Glad Bob was proactive but
1 - I do not want to do anything before we have discussed it with Jane and Redd and checking legal as Redd suggested and
2- would prefer having candidate selections done as a group vote rather than by one or two people. I know Bob is very interested in supporting the candidate on his blog but I also know there are some concerns about her and a progressive opponent and more importantly, I think we need a group consensus to make this really FDL in flavor and strength.
I love the FDL name (Five Dollar Lake) - hope I was right to attribute that to you since I was juggling a work issue while typing.
siun |
02.10.06 - 1:31 pm | #
Um, Bush wore a Freudian slip at that little Republican retreat today. I know it's not a wiretapping thread, but it's funny what presidents say when they don't know the mics are still on.
watertiger |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:32 pm | #
breaking the embargo on olympic news: our local newspaper described the opening ceremonies as a combination of Fellini and Dante. Awfully poetic for a humdrum, pedestrian metropolitan newspaper...
Wilson46201 |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:32 pm | #
... Plame's ID was NOT declassified. If Plame's ID was declassified, the investigation would be over.
The NIE was NOT declassified until July 18.
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 1:34 pm | #
Rove has lost a lot of his ability to control the front page.
Nicely put.
As long as most of the stuff was kept secret, or just whispered about with no serious investigation by th emedia or Congress, the occassional truth-teller could be dealt with by applying Rove's trademark smearing. Often, people even participated in their own smearing to make themselves fit into the Rove narrative -- Scott Ritter, Clarke, Wilson himself (preener that he is) and especially Kerry. They were all willing to prove that the smear was credible, if not accurate.
But now, the attack machine cannot fulfill its function because order is no longer being maintained. Secrecy is giving way to open gossip and then true investigation. Wistleblowers are emboldened. Lies pile upon lies and now we think of Jow Wilson as a real victim of Rove when they all almost got away with painting him as a partisan self-agrandizer.
The narrative has shifted.
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 1:34 pm | #
Shez - glad to see you! catching up is soooo hard!
the $5 scheme hatched yesterday afternoon with a great idea from Colorado Bob and then evolving amongst a gang of us
IMO - creating new pages is interesting but my concern is that we make the whole thing as easy as possible - I think we could do the project via just two monthly posts, use of an offsite email for nominees and one for votes, and a link to an ActBlue page - my hope is that this adds zero work for Jane and Redd and avoids FEC reg. issues
It seems like lots of folks are into the idea - let's collect all our thoughts over the weekend in comments and give our Ladies of the Lake time to consider.
Carville mouthing off on Brownie on CNN along with his wifey ... ugh to both!
siun |
02.10.06 - 1:38 pm | #
New poll out from Gallup- Clusterfuck down a point from previous poll- dead cat SOTY bounce apparently..
Goopers have a big problem. Their president is a fuck up- and when he fucks up- he tries to cover up- and then things get sticky and smelly- and it happens over and over and over again.
Three more years of this bullshit- goopers already wish that the great leader would choke on a pretzel and put everyone out of their misery..
It's all about HIM- 24/7 his fuckups- his denials- his stupid daily speeches to military groups who are bored out of their gourds.
No one's listening to him anymore. It's all the same stupid lyin self servin bullshit- he hasn't said a word in years to actually COMMUNICATE to the american people- just more self serving pablum- we're all sick of it- we're sick of him and his fuckups- we're way past ready to celebrate his permanent retirement.
rwcole |
02.10.06 - 1:39 pm | #
sorry - not Matalin but Bay Bucanan (should have put on my glasses)
When will Rove's "to smear/threaten" list get too long?
-Fitz
-Murtha
-Specter
-Wilkerson
-Band-of-Brothers congressional candidates (40) (put on hold for now)
-Brown (new item)
-Pillar (new item)
-Comey (new item)
immanentize, John Casper -- "Rove is losing control" and "the narrative has shifted." Yeah.
There's just one more piece that needs to shift into place: there needs to be a direct assault on the Administration's claim that "we're safer" with Bush. That's where Murtha fits in. If the Dems would just take his message and translate the parts that say, "not only is Bush incompetent and dishonest, he's making us less safe and actually creating the very chaos and hatred that is putting us and the world at risk." That theme kills the Rove strategy, and with no offensive strategy, the whole facade crumbles.
Oh, and contingency planning for worst case scenarios in Iraq?
I have been reading in John Lewis Gaddis "The Cold War" about the American Army's debacle at the Yalu River in Korea. We could be seeing the biggest humiliation of American arms since then.
bob h |
02.10.06 - 1:42 pm | #
Did everyine see David Ensor (CNN) dismiss WH for any attempts to smear Pillar ?
emptywheel mentioned Chinese Spy Katrina Leung upthread -
everyone knows it was Russell Tice who first had suspicions about her, right ?
cbl |
02.10.06 - 1:43 pm | #
When I saw the picture of George peering at his own bust I know that the glass-half-empty crowd noted the lack of an end date for his presidency (2001- _____) and worried about Bust tryiong to maintain a permanent position at the top.
Half-full folks like me saw it as an implicit assumption he will not make it as President until 2008.
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 1:43 pm | #
anotherpawn - Well, the NIE wa sdone on that date, yes. That was well after the fact and could have been done to cover the initial leak that Libby said was authorized earlier. The documents in March suggest that the rules were changed to allow libby to leak certain things prior to NIE. I'm in the process of trying to find out the changes in the EOs that would allow cheney to declassify a portion of it earlier.
california_reality_check |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:44 pm | #
Thanks to california_reality_check and Mary for coming up with the classification EO. As I read them, the VP was given the power to classify information, but not to de-classify it, unless he was the one who had originally classified it. Of course, IANAL.
According to NBC Nightly News last night (the first time I watched in many years--it was my test, and surprisingly they passed), only DCI would have the power to authorize release of either an NIE or a NOC identity. Sorry I didn't get the name of who said that. Seems to square with above reading.
Although there is an "automatic declassification" clause which perhaps a VP in trouble might invoke...
Professor Foland |
02.10.06 - 1:44 pm | #
Hello Dems?
scarecrow
Hello??
HELLO!!!!
ANYBODY? ANY DEMS OUT THERE??!
immanentize |
02.10.06 - 1:45 pm | #
"When will Rove's "to smear/threaten" list get too long?"
I was wondering whether today's Brownie's Expose hearing will put committee chair Sen. Susan Collins on Rove's Black List?
neurophius |
02.10.06 - 1:46 pm | #
OK folks, it has been a really great afternoon with y'all.
Gotta catch a train to home and pick up the nubber from pre-K.
George Bush is a Lying Sack of Shit
punaise | 02.10.06 - 11:35 am | #
actually saw this going down the road in conservative Williamson County , TX-
George Bush is a Punk Ass, Lying Monkey Boy!
cbl |
02.10.06 - 1:47 pm | #
Or to put it in 2006 terms, if you can seriously undermine the image of Bush as the "protector," then the Dems can turn toward the Republican party corruption and hammer them on both corruption and making the country worse off -- in every way including security -- national security, economic security, health security -- and they can roll up the House and Senate.
scarecrow |
02.10.06 - 1:48 pm | #
Wolfie calls NSAGate "domestic spying program" rather than "terrorist surveillance program"...good for him.
neurophius |
02.10.06 - 1:49 pm | #
Thanks prof -Here are the troubling sections.
(c) Delegation of original classification authority.
(1) Delegations of original classification authority shall be limited to the
minimum required to administer this order. Agency heads are responsible for
ensuring that designated subordinate officials have a demonstrable and
continuing need to exercise this authority.
(2) “Top Secret” original classification authority may be delegated only by
the President; in the performance of executive duties, the Vice President;
or an agency head or official designated pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of
this section.
(3) “Secret” or “Confidential” original classification authority may be
delegated only by the President; in the performance of executive duties, the
Vice President; or an agency head or official designated pursuant to
paragraph (a)(2) of this section; or the senior agency official described in
section 5.4(d) of this order, provided that official has been delegated “Top
Secret” original classification authority by the agency head.
(4) Each delegation of original classification authority shall be in writing
and the authority shall not be redelegated except as provided in this order.
Each delegation shall identify the official by name or position title.
california_reality_check |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:51 pm | #
Olympics Spoiler Alert: Don't Read if you don't want to know the results.
The USA won the opening ceremonies. We got the gold, because we are the bestest. And for those of you who don't think the opening ceremonies are a medal event, well you're wrong.
Sorry, couldn't help myself, and maybe we will get a new post.
Evil Parallel Universe |
02.10.06 - 1:53 pm | #
CNN just did a piece on Ciro. You could see firedoglake on the screen but they didn't mention it bu name ; )
Cozumel |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 1:54 pm | #
Oh, and the Italians are pissed. They are saying it was rigged and blaming the Iraqi judge, some guy named Chalabi.
Evil Parallel Universe |
02.10.06 - 1:55 pm | #
siun,
spearhead, rally the troops, whatever we call it your efforts are appreciated.
Good points re not getting too far out front on this.
Cheney can come out with a declassification defense. That simply launches a new series of questions selective declassification.
anotherpawn |
02.10.06 - 2:00 pm | #
Five Dollar Lake works for me.
Thanks to all who put this together.
scarecrow |
02.10.06 - 2:00 pm | #
Skate around the issue then shoot the messenger
immanentize | 02.10.06 - 12:21 pm | #
brilliant!
Kathryn in MA |
02.10.06 - 2:09 pm | #
Thanks siun!
Indeed it would be best to have any donations taken care of via ActBlue. I guess I was angling for a 'permanent page' link for the FDL sidebar for explaining the basic project then list the project contact email etc., and Bob's blog on that page too (besides adding his blog to the regular Blogroll?).
The only other way I know of is for the Ladies to make a special post about it once the details are worked out and link in that post PermaLink. Or make a small graphic about it to add in the sidebar. I'm trying to see how the info will be available everyday for instant access to everyone. An email mailing list will do most of that work, but what about any new people coming to FDL?
Shez |
02.10.06 - 2:12 pm | #
"Cheney, the Vice President has no power to declassify anything. He's in a toss-out position with no authority. He is certainly not able to out a NOC. "
Praedor Atrebates | 02.10.06 - 1:24 pm
au contraire ??? Sometime in the last 10 months, Bush formally acted, or codified realignments which gave Rumsfeld more power and legal cover - was disgusted to learn as reported in Rumsfeld story that this was something Bush had done for Cheney in the 18 months prior. am sure one of the kids here will come up with a link -
cbl |
02.10.06 - 2:15 pm | #
The administration has to be psyched about the olympics- and not in a good way. Diversion, distraction, diversion, distraction.
It's been another crappy week for them- lots of inconvenient revelations that had they happened under Clinton's watch, the media would be having fits and running old-style 78point font banner headlines like "President caught in web of lies" or some such nonsense.
But with the Bush administration? They get off pretty easy over all- Katrina, plamegate, Abramoff, pre-war intelligence etc. - nah, no pattern here.
And I am sorry but the reaction of the MSM to the blogosphere is getting annoying because the lefty blogosphere is basically doing their job for them, albeit with more [well deserved] snark.
Remember the Downing Street Memos? I don't remember the mainstream media going, "gee, we blew that off totally but hey, those lefty bloggers turned out to be right!"
Same thing with Abramoff and his LACK of connection to the dems. And plamegate. Time after time we hit the nail on the head and they sit there with their thumbs up their asses bitching about how crude we are.
If anything, they owe us a debt of gratitude and possibly an apology.
Which of the following will Fox News imply in its prime time news cast tonight:
A. Pillar, a disgruntled former CIA analyst, is simply too gutless to admit that his own mistakes resulted in the faulty intelligence upon which the administration relied in its decision to go to war;
B. Pillar is another example of Washington’s ruling class of bureaucrat elites, all hell-bent on undermining the administration, as described in Fred Barnes’ brilliant book, Rebel In Chief;
C. Pillar might be a pedophile;
D. All of the above.
Chris |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 2:45 pm | #
The Jamaicans won the 4-man bobsled.
peurile |
02.10.06 - 2:46 pm | #
A. Pillar, a disgruntled former CIA analyst, is simply too gutless to admit that his own mistakes resulted in the faulty intelligence upon which the administration relied in its decision to go to war;
This was thespin on HardBall.
"Somebody we never even heard from before"
Kathi |
02.10.06 - 2:52 pm | #
EPU was epu'ed.
Kathryn in MA |
02.10.06 - 3:04 pm | #
Punaise
Did Brownie "Slolomy" swear to tellvthe truth before he won that GoldMedal;O
Kathi |
02.10.06 - 3:30 pm | #
I particluarly liked this part of the WA Post article:
".....Pillar wrote that the first request he received from a Bush policymaker for an assessment of post-invasion Iraq was "not until a year into the war.""
good god! that is beyond totally irresponsible.
"That assessment, completed in August 2004, warned that the insurgency in Iraq could evolve into a guerrilla war or civil war. It was leaked to the media in September in the midst of the presidential campaign, and Bush, who had told voters that the mission in Iraq was going well, described the assessment to reporters as "just guessing."
Wrong wrong wrong again. every time wrong. the fate of two nations was in the realm of 'just guessing'. completely wrong.
george you're fired!
michael72 |
02.10.06 - 3:31 pm | #
after reading both the WA Post and CNN articles about Pillar, my question is: what are the intelligence agencies telling the White house and Defense about Iran and the run up to war there? that's the real question now.
and no more "just guessing"and waiting a f...ing year to find out what MIGHT happen if the US or Israel try to bomb the iranian nuclear program.
this is going to be a much bigger disaster than occupation of Iraq let me tell ya.
michael72 |
02.10.06 - 3:37 pm | #
Redd
I know it may be redundant but I want to say what an outstanding job you and Jane are doing...I'm deeply grateful. There are other progressive blogs I visit on a daily basis but this is where I come to be informed...and motivated! What you girls (not meant to be sexist) offer is far superior to anything I can find on the op-ed pages of the NYT or the Washington Post. (And I am a fan of Mo Dowd!).
Again, a huge THANK YOU for all that both of you are doing to interject some sanity into the American body politic.
Ed Deevy |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 3:52 pm | #
It should come as no surprise that whoever is currently on TV has never heard of Pillar, they have been too busy worrying about missing women in Aruba to think about who might be in charge of intelligence in wartime, just sayin'.
zennurse |
02.10.06 - 4:11 pm | #
funny, zennurse. and too true. missing people are always more 'interesting' than missing intelligence, or missing brains in charge of the great homeland.
and no mention of Pillar over at Fox or CBS. at least on-line. abc has picked it up from reuters. google news shows some 419 news articles out there. so it's getting around, in print.
michael72 |
02.10.06 - 4:40 pm | #
a friend tells me that Pillar was on CBS tonight, "along with a report about $8.8 billion of reconstruction $ missing in Iraq---full report on this coming on 60 Minutes on Sunday...definitely not a good week for the war criminals!"
$8.8 billion of reconstruction $ missing!
who would've thought!!?? and that's one hell of a lot of real estate somewhere.
I guess that everyone is off watching the olympics
michael72 |
02.10.06 - 4:52 pm | #
I love the character at the top of this aritcle. Any chance of a T-shirt being done with it? I mean it says everything
aquarius2 |
Homepage |
02.10.06 - 8:06 pm | #
Everybody mentions Cheney's potential culpabiliity in PlameGate, but I never see anything about the fact that Dubya retained counsel regarding the Plame investigation:
In light of the revelations coming to bear re, the array of lies and coverups in this massive crime spree, I hope the blogs also spend less time in self congratulations for their incredible work, and remember that this administration/junta has said that it creates reality every day and leaves us to respond.
It's quite obvious that the Zionist Christian corporatists will do anything to advance their pre determined agenda and create necessary smokescreens to obscure and overwhelm investigation. The Orwellian bent of this crew in its willingness and devotion to deceive and manipulate cannot be underestimated.
The people, the you and I people, of Iran are about to meet the US/Israeli Death Star, with much cavalier talk of using nukes, and we must stay focused on their next crime, for somehow, someway they must be stopped. The corpses of the innocent continue to mountain up and the first pile was in NY on 9-11, 2001. I feel certain that the litany of crimes in itself serves their brazeness for its continuation. 9-11, certainly the US' biggest mass murder and coverup, fades into history, the Narrative, corrupt and incorrect, cementing itself in place with each passing day and each new crime to absorb our attention. Someone, Rove?, is brilliant in their strategizing. Keep us in confusion and reaction as their Master Plan continues to roll along. All hail the Lord of the Flies.
(Recently, in a paperwork clean up, I found the Sept. 12, 2001 front page from the Seattle PI which i had saved. In large, bold print the critical elements of "the Narrative", now "confirmed", scream out at the reader, conveying and imprinting the story as desired just a few short hours after the event. Even the timeline on the delivery of the "story" doesn't work out very well. These are very dangerous people)
UnMask911 |
02.11.06 - 5:11 am | #
A followup to my last post: a quote from Cheney from a speech delivered Thurs. to the Conservative Political Action Committee.
"If Ronald Reagan were with us now, he would be proud of this country, and I believe he'd also be proud of the man who lives in the White House. (Applause.) With George Bush as our leader, the United States is moving forward with confidence and with hope. We have no fear of the future, because we intend to shape it."
I don't think we have any idea about how bad this all is and will continue to get. Or, as said four years ago in the run up to the Iraq slaughter; It will get worse before it gets worse. Too late for the crimes already committed. Little time left to help the people of Iran.
UnMask911 |
02.11.06 - 5:22 am | #
Pat Lang has links to Pillar's article, and also to an earlier one of his own. Both are long and well worth the time to read. Colonel Lang's detailed history of how the Iraq war was planned and implemented should be read with current administration activities toward Iran in mind.
does being horny make you pace?
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:40 pm | #
blindfold me and tie me up
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:41 pm | #
carry me to your apartment in the elevator naked in a blanket
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:41 pm | #
blindfold me
tie me up
eat me
let a man i trust have his way with me
when it's you caress me with a feather
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:42 pm | #
if im not comfortable i'll say mickey mouse
then back away
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:43 pm | #
I want a bed or rose petals and american money
pink red and yellow rose petals but not too many
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:43 pm | #
I want an expensive organ up there with petals and a beatles songbook and a simon and garfunkle songbook
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:44 pm | #
you have to be my boss and sign my check cause i want to be a secretary whore like in the movie secretary oh yeah have that playing in the background of the bedroom
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:45 pm | #
the first three way no pigs insert sarcasm here
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:46 pm | #
eating curry chips
have gateway to india banquet on hand to feed me
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:47 pm | #
our songs:
shins caring is creepy
the perfect drug nine inch nails
garden state kissing song
touch me dunkan sheik
and that sadness thing
i want to watch you fuck mm doggy style and then you can jizz on our face and hair
yep |
Homepage |
02.11.07 - 11:50 pm | #
