"There is "close to a zero-percent chance," he [Gore] insists, that he would ever run for office again."So much for 2008. But then again, the blogosphere boosted Paul Hackett. Maybe we can convince Gore to run in 2008. . . Tags: Al Gore, 2008, Democrats|W|P|112286923698362823|W|P|Current TV and Al Gore|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Bob's pulled out the siren for something big at noon, CST today. Make sure you stick around the Swing State Project or here to find out what the big news is. Tags: Paul Hackett|W|P|112282623429066090|W|P|OH-02: ALERT!|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
"The previously undisclosed fact gathering began in the first week of June 2003 at the CIA, when its public-affairs office received an inquiry about Wilson's trip to Africa from veteran Washington Post reporter Walter Pincus. That office then contacted Plame's unit, which had sent Wilson to Niger, but stopped short of drafting an internal report. The same week, Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman asked for and received a memo on the Wilson trip from Carl Ford, head of the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. Sources familiar with the memo, which disclosed Plame's relationship to Wilson, say Secretary of State Colin Powell read it in mid-June. Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage may have received a copy then too. When Pincus' article ran on June 12, the circle of senior officials who knew about the identity of Wilson's wife expanded. "After Pincus," a former intelligence officer says, "there was general discussion with the National Security Council and the White House and State Department and others" about Wilson's trip and its origins. A source familiar with the memo says neither Powell nor Armitage spoke to the White House about it until after July 6. John McLaughlin, then deputy head of the CIA, confirms that the White House asked about the Wilson trip, but can't remember exactly when. One thing he's sure of, says McLaughlin, who has been interviewed by prosecutors, is that "we looked into it and found the facts of it, and passed it on.""A couple of things. First, it confirms the speculation that Marc Grossman was a critical figure in this leak and smear campaign, as was Carl Ford. Secondly, it seems to certainly add to the fact that Rove and others in the White House learned about the marriage not from media sources, as they have claimed, but that it was common knowledge being passed around the west wing. Finally, the information from McLaughlin is a bit sketchy, but that fact that he looked into and "passed...on" the facts seems to convey the message that the State Department memo really was drafted from fact at the CIA. My speculation is that Grossman reproduced the State Department memo, as the Undersecretary of State would be able to do. The new information is definitely not good news for Karl Rove and others, like Scooter Libby. It contradicts many of the reports they've given and could be the prelude to some indictments and some cuffs. I'm sure Patrick Fitzgerald would love to disrupt an August DC vacation by dropping the announcement of indictments on the quiet Eastern town when they're least expecting it. I'm not so sure that would happen, but it'd be fun to see. Anyway, see Editor and Publisher for more. Tags: Karl Rove, PlameGate|W|P|112282797131394148|W|P|Rove story gets boost from Time|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
FOX NEWS SUNDAY, 9 a.m.: Shuttle Discovery commander Eileen Collins, pilot James Kelly and mission specialist Charles Camarda, and Sens. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). THIS WEEK (ABC), 9 a.m.: Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.); former astronauts Buzz Aldrin and John Glenn; former Chrysler chief executive Lee Iacocca; and Collins , Kelly and Camarda. FACE THE NATION (CBS), 10:30 a.m.: Sens. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.); space shuttle deputy program manager Wayne Hale; C ollins, Kelly and Camarda. MEET THE PRESS (NBC), 10:30 a.m.: NASA Administrator Michael D. Griffin; Collins, Kelly and Camarda; and Washington Post columnists David S. Broder and Eugene Robinson. LATE EDITION (CNN), noon: Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.); Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif; Iraqi national security adviser Mowaffak Rubaie; former acting CIA director John E. McLaughlin; former Department of Homeland Security inspector general Clark Kent Ervin; and John Miller, Los Angeles Police Department counterterrorism chief.Tags: bobbleheads|W|P|112278711250820011|W|P|Bobbleheads and site news|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
David Schantz|W|P|My prayers will continue for the crew of the Discovery. I had lost interest in the Space Program until so many lives were lost. I'm once again watching and praying for a safe return. My Question Of The Week has been posted, I hope you will stop by to answer it.God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
|W|P|It's too bad the Cincinnati Enquirer endorses Paul's opponent. This area doesn't need more of the "same old, same old." The lack of endorsement won't dishearten Hackket backers, who I know will rally the troops and GOTV.Work to win on Election Day, August 2nd!
"[A] Google search on the above spelling shows that the AP's story has run in a number of papers. The basic point, though, is still right: this story has gotten amazingly little interest or coverage, with the exception of a few outlets like the Sun."Only, John isn't being honest. If you perform a Google News search of "Vladimir Arutyunian + AP" you get 102reports. If you leave off the "+ AP" you get 628 reports. I admit that the interest might be low like John says, but that's probably from the fact that Bush wasn't killed--hell, he wasn't even injured. But a combined 730 Google News hits seems like a decent amount of coverage to me. Not to mention that the search with the AP added onto yielded results from 17 states, and major cities like Fresno, Sacramento, Chicago, New York City, and Boston. Hell, even their favorite network Fox News ran the story on their webiste--which means its almost a given that it appeared on their actual television broadcast. I'm sure it also reached an even bigger audience in the local media and print papers, which is still where a majority of Americans get their news. Lament all you want, the story was covered, John. Sometimes you even have to deal with "your media" slipping up sometimes. Tags: Bush, assasination attempt|W|P|112277992614109628|W|P|Assasination attempt coverage|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Jack|W|P|This is a great site! Nice to see an Iowa blog up, I'm extremely interested in Democratic politics from conservative states. I added you to our link list, I'd appreciate a link so I can get some more midwesterners to the Jersey Perspective.The rumors about Gov. Warner are that he is going to try and challenge Allen in the 06 senate race. He is a popular governor and Allen seems to have little appeal to moderates, unlike the senior senator of the state, John Warner. If Sen. Warner retires, it's only good news for Dems if they can take the seat, as Warner has proved to be one of the only moderate voices in the increasingly radical GOP caucus. For instance, he was recently voting with Democrats on gun control during the Lawful Commerce Act.
-Jersey Perspective
"It has become all too clear, however, that this is a war the Bush administration is spectacularly ill-equipped to fight, handicapped as it is by a worldview that revolves around our enemies' intentions rather than their capabilities. Democratization is a strategy to change the behavior of our enemies by draining them of hatred. But we cannot fully erase hatred, and Bush's "hope and compassion" are thin defenses against a nuclear weapon. A better tack would be to strip our enemies of the ability to acquire nuclear weapons in the first place--a difficult goal, but an achievable one, given that there is a finite amount of the fissile material needed to make nuclear weapons and that, by themselves, terrorists can't produce more. Alas, the very ideology that has led Bush to embrace democratization has also mired him in a nonproliferation strategy that emphasizes regime change while eschewing diplomacy. The administration is consumed by the idea that the character of states is of primary importance to U.S. security. This ideology, this conservative fixation, explains why, for much of Bush's presidency, his administration focused on Iraq to the exclusion of North Korea and Iran. It explains why Bush stood by while Pyongyang moved to produce enough plutonium for half a dozen nuclear weapons. It even explains why he has acted so slowly in securing the hundreds of tons of vulnerable nuclear material in Russia. Indeed, an examination of the Bush administration's ideology shows that, not only has it made some bad decisions for U.S. security, but that it is constitutionally incapable of making the right ones."The threat is real and Scoblic's piece makes sure to mention the hypocrisy of the United States continually pushing for conflict in Iraq on the suspicion of globally dangerous weapons while North Korea was publicly stating and showing evidence of a booming nuclear program--with much thanks to Pakistan, our ally in the GWOT (Global War on Terror; now known as GSAVE-Global Struggle against Violent Extremism, which is still a bad title). Matt Yglesias talks more about it here as well, in a post that actually would be right to call this a boondoggle. And just for any commenters out there, I don't believe that Scoblic is equating conservatism in the broadest of senses as being the harbinger of nuclear terrorism upon the United States. Quite to the contrary, he is equating President Bush's social conservatism and neoconservative economic and security policies to the lack of ability to effectively stifle nuclear terrorism. Tags: terrorism, nukes, North Korea|W|P|112276196724088380|W|P|Conservatism and nuclear terrorism|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
|W|P|It is clear - North Korea is delusional. Apparently, it has dreams of taking the place of the Soviet Union simply by opposing the West. The delusion is manifest in their imagination of themselves to be of any significant importance in the world (economically, politically or culturally), as the Soviet Union certainly was.Attempting to deal with North Korea is like attempting to perform a root canal on yourself (the latter may actually be more pleasant). By comparison, the Soviet Union then, and Russia now, is a refreshing bastion of reason and humility.
"These guys are obviously cranks. The by-products of ethanol production are going to be produced anyway, so it certainly makes sense to credit them somewhat for the overall energy they are saving for the United States. When we get to the point of producing more than the market wants through ethanol, the argument against such credit becomes valid. I know you can talk up and down about subsidies, but even with zero we'd be nowhere close to market saturation from ethanol."What's more, if you look at the comments section, you'll realize a friend of his from Iowa State has been trying to do his own research and found out how much of a joke the study from the Slate article is. Hopefully this will teach Matt and others from making blanket judgments on issues before they understand the issue fully. Tags: Ethanol|W|P|112275204002647632|W|P|Ethanol|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Chris|W|P|Southern Illinois boy here. I'm all for ethanol. We are finally getting some E85 fuel stations here. I'm probably all for anything that relieves our reliance on oil, and terrorist supporting states. As well as big oil companies that are the largest contributors to George Bush and other neocons. Chris Woods|W|P|MJ's got the right mentality. Chris Woods|W|P|I'm not entirely positive...but I think in Iowa it is a state law to have at least one pump that is E85."It was just before midnight on Wednesday when Representative Robin Hayes capitulated. Mr. Hayes, a Republican whose district in North Carolina has lost thousands of textile jobs in the last four years, had defied President Bush and House Republican leaders by voting against the Central American Free Trade Agreement, or Cafta. But the House speaker, J. Dennis Hastert, told him they needed his vote anyway. If he switched from "nay" to "aye," Mr. Hayes recounted, Mr. Hastert promised to push for whatever steps he felt were necessary to restrict imports of Chinese clothing, which has been flooding into the United States in recent months. As it turned out, the switch by Mr. Hayes was decisive. Within a few minutes, the House approved the trade pact by the paper-thin margin of two votes, 217 to 215."So, if Hayes had kept his vote the way it was, and if Chuck Taylor's vote had actually registered (which, supposedly, it didn't), CAFTA would've been defeated. This is the kind of bullshit Americans face in the leadership party in the House of Representatives. Hayes said for months that he would not support CAFTA no matter what the White House or Washington Republican leadership would offer him. Finally, he decided to capitulate and probably cost his district thousands of jobs in the long-run, but was able to protect enough in the short-run most likely by getting the White House's judgment on Chinese textiles (which'll probably be declared illegal within a year or two anyway by the WTO--just like our steel tariffs--on will effectively negate the purpose of Haye's vote and result in net job-loss for his district). What's even more fishy about the deal is the strong-arming that had to take place to get this win in the Washington Republicans' column. Unprecedented lobbying by Bush and Cheney, as well as other big business interest group lobbying definitely contributed to the passage of the bill. But today's approval of a $284 billion transportation bill, and the subsequent addition of billions of pork, undoubtedly swayed 10-15 Republicans who had been against CAFTA to vote for it. Original estimates had placed the Republican defection at 30-45 members. It ended up being only 27. So you know that the pork meant something to the Washington Republicans who voted for CAFTA. Today, many of them hailed the transportation bill as a job creator and as bringing needed funding back to constituents (two big names stating this were Tom DeLay and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert). The fact is, it will probably end up as a job balancer in many of the districts where textile jobs and some agricultural jobs will quickly flock south, where the Central American countries will quickly dissolve and barely stringent labor laws they had prior to passage. Meanwhile, those that lost jobs will watch contractors and construction workers in the area get lots of jobs paying for the new highway that the Congressman will have his name on. The tactics might not be as DeLay trying to buy a vote by promising an endorsement like he did on the Medicare bill two years ago, but the tactics are still as shady and shoddy. But then again, what else should one expect from the likes of the Washington Republicans. At least Pelosi stepped up and reprimanded Dems. Tags: CAFTA, Washington Republicans|W|P|112269597600964938|W|P|I thought I smelled something fishy|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Jack|W|P|Taylor's vote went down as not voting. Not voting and voting nay is the same thing. The GOP needed 216 votes. They got them through questionable arm twisting."I'm wondering what the argument is, precisely, for the White House having access to any more information in the process of nominating Roberts than the Senate should have in confirming him."I think that seems like a pretty good standard, don't you? Finally, John Edwards gave a speech today to the American Constitution Society. In part of the speech, he talked about the Roberts nomination. I think it is a worthwhile read that you can check out here. Now I'm off to enjoy the rest of Sci-Fi Friday. Tags: John Roberts, Supreme Court|W|P|112269031764098676|W|P|Roberts and the documents|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Sar|W|P|Sci-Fi Friday huh? So you do have a life outside of politics! ;) Chris Woods|W|P|Yeah, just barely. My frat counts too, even though we talk politics a lot inside the house while engaging in other recreational activities."Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, responds, "If Senator Frist moves forward and votes to expand funding for embryonic stem cell research he is betraying his core belief that life begins at conception. For it is impossible to affirm the dignity of life, and then turn around and vote for funding that will destroy that innocent life. Senator Frist cannot have it both ways. He cannot be pro-life and pro-embryonic stem cell funding. Nor, can he turn around and expect widespread endorsement from the pro-life community if he should decide to run for President in 2008. It is also disappointing to see Senator Frist embrace funding for research that not only destroys innocent life but has not proven nearly as successful as adult stem cell research.""Why do the Christian groups hate American lives? But remember, until the Senate actually approves HR 810 -- without amendment -- this stage in the battle is not over. So... KEEP UP THE PRESSURE! Keep sending letters to Frist at StemPAC. And keep making calls to Frist and to your Senators, at: 202-224-3121. That's the switchboard. This is important stuff folks, let's get the job done and force Bush into a corner. Tags: stem cell research|W|P|112264307339511590|W|P|Christian groups target Frist|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Sar|W|P|Nor, can he turn around and expect widespread endorsement from the pro-life community if he should decide to run for President in 2008.Wow, way to show your true colors CDC!
And you're right (er, correct), CW, you'd think pro-lifers would be just that, but they're too busy cutting of their nose to spite their face.
Robert Schumacher|W|P|Been there, done that.BALLHAIR!
SCROTUMLICKER!!
(That's a huge bitch!)
Sar|W|P|CW - Thanks for the props and your contributions! ;)"In a break with President Bush, the Senate Republican leader, Bill Frist, has decided to support a bill to expand federal financing for embryonic stem cell research, a move that could push it closer to passage and force a confrontation with the White House, which is threatening to veto the measure. Mr. Frist, a heart-lung transplant surgeon who said last month that he did not back expanding financing "at this juncture," is expected to announce his decision Friday morning in a lengthy Senate speech. In it, he says that while he has reservations about altering Mr. Bush's four-year-old policy, which placed strict limits on taxpayer financing for the work, he supports the bill nonetheless. "While human embryonic stem cell research is still at a very early stage, the limitations put in place in 2001 will, over time, slow our ability to bring potential new treatments for certain diseases," Mr. Frist says, according to a text of the speech provided by his office Thursday evening. "Therefore, I believe the president's policy should be modified." Mr. Frist's move will undoubtedly change the political landscape in the debate over embryonic stem cell research, one of the thorniest moral issues to come before Congress. The stem cell bill has passed the House but is stalled in the Senate, where competing measures are also under consideration. Because Mr. Frist's colleagues look to him for advice on medical matters, his support for the bill could break the Senate logjam. It could also give undecided Republicans political license to back the legislation, which is already close to having the votes it needs to pass the Senate."This is amazing news, folks. Thanks to the hard work of millions of Americans, the Senate will almost assuredly pass this bill forcing the White House and President Bush into a deep corner. Bush has consistently said he would vote against any such bill that comes to his desk. I honestly don't think there is anyway he can touch this bill now. It would be another example of the Washington Republican life crisis--protect unborn fetuses and clusters of cells, while letting actual, living, breathing, walking, talking, ailing human beings die from diseases and illnesses that could be cured by stem cell research. I think he'll let this one pass--and then let his leaders in the Senate know he's pissed. More evidence of the crumbling Republican unity. Tags: stem cell research|W|P|112260902747516100|W|P|Frist flip-flops on stem cell research!|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
|W|P|Don't get too excited until there's actually a vote, and remember, this could be a feint, but... it could also be a big step forward for all of us who've been fighting on the stem cell front. But remember, until the Senate actually approves HR 810 -- without amendment -- this stage in the battle is not over. So...
KEEP UP THE PRESSURE! Keep sending letters to Frist at http://www.stempac.com. And keep making calls to Frist and to your Senators, at: 202-224-3121.
Keep up the fight!
John Hlinko
www.stempac.com
Chris Woods|W|P|John, thanks SO much for the comment, I really appreciate it. My first message tomorrow morning will be a post reminding all my readers to contact their senators immediately. I know that Senator Harkin is already a confirmed yes vote, but I've gotta keep working on Senator Grassley. Thousands of Iowans could benefit from the advances that stem cell research could provide.And I'll make sure I post a link to StemPac.com so folks can sign letters.
"John Bolton, President Bush's nominee for U.N. ambassador, mistakenly told Congress he had not been interviewed or testified in any investigation over the past five years, the State Department said Thursday. Bolton was interviewed by the State Department inspector general in 2003 as part of a joint investigation with the Central Intelligence Agency into prewar Iraqi attempts to buy nuclear materials from Niger, State Department spokesman Noel Clay said. The admission came hours after another State Department official said Bolton had correctly answered a Senate questionnaire when he wrote that he has not testified to a grand jury or been interviewed by investigators in any inquiry over the past five years."Mistake my ass.
Think Progress has the breaking details. Evidently, there was another investigation where Bolton testified but did not disclose it to the Sneate foreign relations committee. This guarantees that he won't be approved by the Senate, if it ever comes to another vote. My guess is that a recess appointment is to be announced sometime this weekend. Tags: John Bolton|W|P|112258845616524130|W|P|CONFIRMED: Bolton the liar|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
"I really long for the day when we were the good guys. Now we are nothing more than a bunch of arm-twisting thugs, big mouth bully boys, and we simply bend the rules to suit our needs. We look less like a national governing party than a bunch of union thugs. CAFTA may or may not be a good bill, but it wasn’t worth selling our soul to pass. These sorts of shenanigans have got to stop, and we have got to stop acting like a bunch of arrogant goons who think they have a divine right to rule. I am sick of it."He also makes sure to include an important history lesson for all of his commenters who seem to think that this was an OK thing to do. Tags: CAFTA|W|P|112260096621435154|W|P|A Conservative's reaction to the CAFTA vote|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
While it'll probably get nowhere, I think this is the kind of stuff that Democrats should be hammering on during their races next year, especially those challenging incumbent Republicans:
"The House of Representatives' top Democrat accused Republicans on Thursday of possibly illegal action to encourage some Democrats to vote for a free-trade pact with Central America. The House voted 217-215 in favor of the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, early on Thursday morning, with 15 Democrats joining 202 Republicans in support. At a briefing hours later, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, complained that deals offered by House Republicans to win CAFTA made the House seem like the "set of 'Let's Make a Deal,"' referring to a TV game show."Typical Washington Republican tactics--twisting arms and blackmailing you into voting for a bill that you and your constituents probably despise. And remember, this isn't the first time the Majority party's done this. Tom DeLay was rebuked by the House Ethics Committee for trying to bribe a congressman by promising to endorse his son in 2004 if he voted for the Medicare bill. Remember--bribery and blackmail are the characteristics of Washington Republicans. Tags: CAFTA, Democrats|W|P|112259619603745019|W|P|Questioning CAFTA|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
|W|P|Ah yes, General Clark. Helped in the murder of almost 100 American citizens in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.
Click here.
Jack Klett|W|P|Al Gore would be an excellent candidate and make for a truly fascinating primary season. Clinton/Gore take II? Sar|W|P|Gore, maybe. He's got the know-how, so long as he didn't act like a robotic wienner. Clark? Hmm. I'd actually prefer to see him as National Security Advisor. John Edwards - NFW! Puleeze don't make me look at that helmut headed, false smiling, small town story telling schmo again!My pick is Barrack Obama; but is our small-minded country ready for a black president? I've also heard rumblings about Joe Biden. Thoughts?
Oh, and I saw an article yesterday on BBC about Petaki announcing he'll not seek another term which puts him as a potential GOP candidate.
Chris Woods|W|P|The only thing is, if the tanks were used under the command of the Texas National Guard, then they did not violate posse comitatus because the National guard has the ability to use tanks and other equipment w/o violating that act. Sure, its a sneaky way to do it, but its legal. Chris Woods|W|P|Sar--Barack Obama doesn't have enough experience yet and hasn't taken a significant leadership role in the Senate--just because its his first term. Expect 2012 to be a banner year for him. Joe Biden's definitely running, but he won't get the nomination. I think he'd best be fit as Secretary of Defense or Secretary of State. The man's a genius on foreign policy and defense.Plausible Pundit--I think a Clinton/Gore II ticket could be mighty interesing AND just what the Democratic party needs.
Chris Woods|W|P|I think Gore's chances within the Democratic party are good--especially were he to tack on someone like Wes Clark, Hillary Clinton, or say, Evan Bayh on to his ticket as a VP candidate. But then again, this is also speculation in 2005. I'm sure I'll change my mind a few times in-between now and January 2008. And Jason's right, Gore'd have to clean up...but I think he could do that just fine. Chris Woods|W|P|Jason, I agree with you. I'm sure he didn't come up with the promo--but I think its an example of just bad questioning on the part of the person writing the promo. Chris Matthews is a good guy, for the most part. He's said some dumb things before, but haven't all of us? I was unable to watch the show tonight, I was feeling a bit under the weather and watched Dodgeball instead. I'm sure C&L will have some video if he tried to question him on that and was intentionally or unintentionally smearing him, but I doubt it happened.Overall, your defense is on the point. Especially the part about Bill O'Reilly.
"The House narrowly approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement this morning, delivering a hard-fought victory to President Bush while underscoring the nation's deep divisions over trade. The 217 to 215 vote came just after midnight, in a dramatic finish that highlighted the intensity brought by both sides to the battle. When the usual 15-minute voting period expired at 11:17 p.m., the no votes outnumbered the yes votes by 180 to 175, with dozens of members undeclared. House Republican leaders kept the voting open for another 47 minutes, furiously rounding up holdouts in their own party until they had secured just enough to ensure approval."So, the hold outs helped the Washington Republicans come back and win this. The fact is, when the vote was over, the opposers of CAFTA had the quorum and enough votes to win. The two best summary articles come from Ezra Klein and David Sirota. Undoubtedly, the Democrats who voted for this bill will have a significant challenge in 2006, especially with this hanging around their necks. I would hope local labor groups will find and run better, progressive candidates then the fools that voted last night. Tags: CAFTA|W|P|112255512681470431|W|P|Getting shafted by the vote on CAFTA|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
"Mr. Pincus did not write about the exchange with the administration official until October 2003, and The Washington Post itself has since reported little about it. The newspaper's most recent story was a 737-word account last Sept. 16, in which the newspaper reported that Mr. Pincus had testified the previous day about the matter, but only after his confidential source had first "revealed his or her identity" to Mr. Fitzgerald, the special counsel conducting the C.I.A. leak inquiry. Mr. Pincus has not identified his source to the public. But a review of Mr. Pincus's own accounts and those of other people with detailed knowledge of the case strongly suggest that his source was neither Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's top political adviser, nor I. Lewis Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, and was in fact a third administration official whose identity has not yet been publicly disclosed. Mr. Pincus's most recent account, in the current issue of Nieman Reports, a journal of the Nieman Foundation, makes clear that his source had volunteered the information to him, something that people close to both Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby have said they did not do in their conversations with reporters. Mr. Pincus has said he will not identify his source until the source does so. But his account and those provided by other reporters sought out by Mr. Fitzgerald in connection with the case provide a fresh window into the cast of individuals other than Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby who discussed Ms. Wilson with reporters. . . .Mr. Pincus first disclosed the July 12, 2003, conversation with an administration official in an Oct. 12, 2003, article in The Washington Post, but did not mention in that article that he himself had been the recipient of the information. He wrote in Nieman Reports that he did not believe the person who spoke to him was committing a criminal act, but only practicing damage control by trying to get him to write about Mr. Wilson."Now, we still know that Karl Rove was Matt Cooper's source. Scooter Libby was also an important source to Cooper as well, and undoubtedly had other roles in the leak. Now this article about Pincus (and even his own account in Nieman Reports) confirms that the White House was indeed using the leak purely for partisan political gain. I think it also confirms the widespread nature of Plame's cover status inside the White House, specifically the West Wing. Pincus' account, coupled with the statement of Robert Novak that his other source was "no partisan gunslinger" seems to make the possibility that Ari Fleischer was Pincus' source a bit more reliable. Another critical figure that could also be Pincus' source is current National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, formerly under now Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. We know that Hadley is an ideological gunslinger of the neocon variety. He also seems to fit the profile of someone in NSA trying to play the blame game or smear game to keep the reporters off the 16-word lie and instead on criticizing Joe Wilson. More definitive information is needed to add more substance to my speculation, but I would assume that Mr. Pincus had at least a decent relationship with Mr. Fleischer when it came to discussion of intelligence and national security related matters, especially the rumors at the time that the yellowcake claims were false. This, of course, doesn't clear Rove or anyone else from any guilt towards certain crimes. That will be left up to Fitzgerald to decide. But the names of those involved continues to grow. It seems quite likely that indictments could come down on a multitude of people. Tags: PlameGate, Karl Rove, Bush Administration|W|P|112252744880374297|W|P|Times article sheds more light on leakers|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Chris|W|P|I agree with Thomas. I'm not sure Rove should be fired. Unless of course he is indicted, and right now it appears that he won't be. Chris Woods|W|P|Rove should at least lose his security clearance for violating a non-disclosure form that he had to sign to work at the White House.Rove should simply be fired because Bush said he would fire anyone involved--until he changed his mind a little over a week ago.
Sar|W|P|Yes, CW, Bush's word semantics are much like his fuzzy math.UPDATE 8: Two non voters have voted, both for CAFTA. One was Marty Mehan (MA-05) who will undoubtedly pay for this in his race next fall. The vote now stands at 216-211.
UPDATE 7: Here are the Republicans who haven't voted: Steve LaTourette (OH-14), Bobby Jindal (LA-01), Charles Taylor (NC-11), JoAnn Davis (VA-01), Charles Boustany (LA-07), Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08), and Rob Simmons (CT-02). The lone Democrat is Marty Mehan (MA-05).
UPDATE 6: The vote is currently 214 for and 210 against with 1 Democrat left to vote and 9 Republicans. This is gonna be a close one, folks.
UPDATE 5: Eight minutes after the vote was supposed to end, the vote is now 209 to 209.
UPDATE 4: The tables have turned! The vote is now 184 for, 192 against with time expired. Let's see how long this vote will last now.
UPDATE 3: It looks like 11 Dems. and 12 Republicans have crossed the party lines. Those 11 Dems. are gonna be in deep shit come election time next year.
UPDATE 2: With 4 minutes left, the votes is 144 for and 125 opposed.
UPDATE: It looks like one Democrat has already been converted from yes to no. According to a Congressional Quarterly reporter live at the Capitol, Vice President Cheney is on the floor arm-twisting for votes already.
At 10:03 PM (CST) the vote on DR-CAFTA has begun. And let me just say that Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA-22), the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is just a giant asshole. The vote is supposed to be 15-mins. Does anyone think its gonna last any longer than that? I do. Tags: CAFTA|W|P|112251986173888029|W|P|CAFTA vote|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
- Jim Moran (D-VA-06): (202) 225-4376
- Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28): (202) 225-1640
1. CAFTA benefits pharmaceutical companies, not laborers. 2. CAFTA is shaped after NAFTA, and we know that hasn't come out well. 3. CAFTA harms laborers rights in Central America and the Dominican Republic.For more in-depth analysis please read this essay of mine from Thought Mechanics. Tags: CAFTA|W|P|112251230817805828|W|P|CAFTA debate gets roaring|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Robert Schumacher|W|P|*SIGH*OK...you were right, to a degree (damn crow tastes stale...)
Actually, it doesn't surprise me. Seeing that debris and knowing what happened to Colombia, well, it makes sense. And, as I heard the NASA chief point out today on NPR, this was a test flight, not a normal mission.
The fuel sensor issue...I stick by my points on that one.
This doesn't mean they are sacking the program, just doing some retooling. Something (concerning the debris issue) they should have done long ago.
Yes, it's pricey...but I've always believed space exploration is worth it. We have the potential to discover some amazing things out there, which could potentially be of great benefit to our world. Many of the innovations we take for granted today were the result of the space program (things as simple as Velcro, or as complex as advanced computers).
"The message I would hope to convey in today's sentencing is two-fold: First, that we have the resolve in this country to deal with the subject of terrorism and people who engage in it should be prepared to sacrifice a major portion of their life in confinement. Secondly, though, I would like to convey the message that our system works. We did not need to use a secret military tribunal, or detain the defendant indefinitely as an enemy combatant, or deny him the right to counsel, or invoke any proceedings beyond those guaranteed by or contrary to the United States Constitution. I would suggest that the message to the world from today's sentencing is that our courts have not abandoned our commitment to the ideals that set our nation apart. We can deal with the threats to our national security without denying the accused fundamental constitutional protections."This is indeed the approach our entire judiciary should take when approaching cases like this. I'm sure the wingnuts will say this is an example of an activist judge and criticize him for being a liberal or something like that. But the truth of the matter is this: these rulings are the type of rulings we, as Americans, should look for from our judiciary. It's statements like this that make me proud. Tags: terrorism|W|P|112250430932811270|W|P|Federal judge slams detainees military tribunals|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
James Shott|W|P|The judge was firm in his resovle against scum like this guy, and did a good thing by imprisoning him.He is confused, though, on what constitutes criminal behavior and what qualifies someone as an enemy combatant that is outside the judicial system.
Chris Woods|W|P|So wait...are you some kind of lawyer or legal expert to define what constitutes who should or shouldn't be tried in our judicial system?And don't we want to be the nation promoting democracy and rights--shouldn't we extend them to anyone who commits a crime against our rights here in this country? And prove to the rest of the world that we're civilized?
James Shott|W|P|And to complete the thought chase nordengren started, those captured outside the U.S. in action against the U.S. military, such as the detainees at Guantanamo, are not subject to the U.S. justice system, as anyone who studies this issue ought to know, lawyer or not. This is what the judge is confused about.You may have noticed that the terrorists are not civilized. Further, they are not a party to the Geneva Conventions, do not follow the guidelines of the Geneva Conventions, do not meet the standards for treatment under the Geneva Conventions, and therefore do not deserve to be treated as well as we are treating them.
You may also have noticed that the terrorists routinely kill their captives, sometimes by beheading them. Nothing we've done to any of them rises to that level of barbarity or mis-treatment (but if we mistreat a barbarian or two, I really don't care). Our captive enemy combatants get good food, religious freedom, good living conditions, all of which is more than they deserve. It is most common for such captives to be held until the end of the conflict before being disposed of through some action such as a trial or military tribunal.
This is really not complicated, and you seem smart enough to be able to grasp this distinction. I can only conclude that either some folks are incapable of understanding this simple concept, or choose intellectual dishonesty over the truth to score cheap political points.
I think it is sad that some Americans are more concerned with the treatment of people who are trying to kill us than they are about what these low-lifes have done and want to do.
Sar|W|P|May I ask why you keep #2 on the blogroll if it's an offensive would-be troll that doesn't allow comments? |W|P|Although this case has been bullied onto the national news to prove a point about race and media by political opportunists like Richard Cranium, it never was a case about a missing woman and is not national news. There is nothing particularly unusual about this case. She is an inner-city African-American/Latino woman, living a more than unconventional lifestyle in a high crime area, and now she's missing--big surprise. Furthermore, this story is hurtful to minorities because it has done nothing other than to reinfornce negative stereotypes: (1) LaToyia's father and other relatives are barely literate; (2) LaToyia's best friend said: "She coulda been snatched up by anybody, or one of her baby's fathas, or some guy she's messin wit" (rolling eyes); and (3) rather than save up more money, LaToyia and Baby Fatha No. 2 took their money and bought fried seafood rather than pay the $35 co-pay for prenatal care. The Natalee Holloway case is national news. She is a beautiful young woman, with a full scholarship to the University of Alabama, who disappears on what would otherwise be a dream vacation to an island resort with the lowest crime rate in the world. Big, big difference, in every respect. I hope LaToyia returns home safely, although I doubt it. In the end, however, we should not have to have our national news littered with this story. I assure you the end result will only cause more embarassment and humiliation, and it's clear that national news anchors are annoyed by having to cover this story because they too, of course, realize it's not national news. Wise up Cranium, this isn't about you and your outdated political agenda. |W|P|Finally, the news coverage is slowing down--thank God."Democrats are not co-equal partners in running the government, and they have no obligation to try to reach compromises or accommodations with the people who, at the moment, have all the power and, therefore, all the responsibility. Instead, their duty is simply to make it clear where they stand -- say what kind of justice they would like to see, explain why Roberts is not that justice, vote "no," and hope to gain some measure of political power before too many more bad things happen."Democrats won't win anything by voting no, but they won't lose anything either. I've heard plenty of Dems around the blogosphere stating that things could be worse, Bush could've nominated someone utterly horrible. And that is true. But John Roberts isn't some kind of godsend. He deserves an up or down vote because there is no principled or fundamental reason to oppose his nomination. But just because we can't filibuster doesn't mean we can't vote no. That said, I'd vote no based on his rulings expanding the power of the executive, unless he could convince me in Senate testimony that that isn't or won't be his goal as a Supreme Court justice. Tags: John Roberts, Supreme Court|W|P|112249966489013850|W|P|Voting no on John Roberts|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Sar|W|P|Excellent find! Keep us posted.Approve 41 (44) Disapprove 53 (50)The 30s are on their way--Bush will then enter into his own Great Depression. The question then becomes: Will another war bail him out? Tags: polls, Bush|W|P|112249088889759692|W|P|Bush's great depression|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Sar|W|P|Given the entire scope of events and current standings, I simply cannot understand how anyone in their right mind can offer their approval. Sar|W|P|Since Ass, Incompetent, and Liar were already taken, I'll go with:Corrupt.
|W|P|What's interesting about this is, 'Wasn't Walter Pinus a supposed 'CIA asset' back in the 80's/90's?"If only Michael Jackson's trial had been held in Darfur. Last month, CNN, Fox News, NBC, MSNBC, ABC and CBS collectively ran 55 times as many stories about Michael Jackson as they ran about genocide in Darfur. The BBC has shown that outstanding television coverage of Darfur is possible. And, incredibly, mtvU (the MTV channel aimed at universities) has covered Darfur more seriously than any network or cable station. When MTV dispatches a crew to cover genocide and NBC doesn't, then we in journalism need to hang our heads."For shame, for shame. Please, be a witness. Tags: Darfur, genocide, be a witness|W|P|112243581673780074|W|P|Tom Cruise or genocide?|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
The huge split in organized labor has been fueled by stagnant living standards for many workers, by the ascendancy of the service sector and by labor's lack of success in politics and unionizing workers. But as much as anything, the schism reflects the conflicting ambitions of two titans of labor, John J. Sweeney, the president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., and his onetime protégé, Andrew L. Stern, the president of the Service Employees International Union, until now the largest union in the labor federation.Or do personalities just exaggerate an existing conflict?|W|P|112243457738341942|W|P|A Clash of Personalities?|W|P|
Chris Woods|W|P|You're right, Jason, and thanks for the positive comments. I've realized that the DLC does have its usefulness. I hope that, like the New Democrat Network, they can become the kind of accepted, postive, centrist organizations that I believe their founders want it to be.As for the labor split, see below, because I have issued some comments on it.
|W|P|It's about time Congress acted to prevent frivilous lawsuits designed to put manufacters of a legal, necessary product out of business."While someone from the daily kosy (misspelling intended) confines of Beserkely might utter ominous McCarthyite warnings about the "enemy within", here in Columbus constructive committed crusaders for progressivism are discussing ways to win back the hearts of the heartland. This is a time for Democrats to be ecumenical rather than suggesting a pious inquisition."Ed Kilgore makes some snide comments as well about purges. Listen up folks in the DLC, whether you like it or not, there are millions of Democrats out there who are further left than you. Its an ideological fact, just like there are millions of Republicans further right than Arlen Specter. They're smart enough not to bash the guys who get them elected. As Democrats, we don't have the ability to necessarily ignore parts of party. We've got to take them at face-value and move forward on the issues where we do agree. And overall, that's our common bond--agreement. But snide fucking attacks against entire cities and the "netroots" is abso-fucking-lutely ridiculous. I won't stand for it. And you shouldn't be proud of it either. By the way, Markos talks some more about it here as well. Tags: DLC, Daily Kos, Democrats|W|P|112240109336746111|W|P|Over the line|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Sar|W|P|Way to take a stand, Chris!
Last night on Aaron Brown, Rick Santorum that that Griswold v. Connecticut was decided wrong. This is the same decision that essentially made contraceptives legal across the United States.
Crooks and Liars has the video. And Jesus's General has a new campaign which I'm on board with.
Anyway, Santorum's comments are absolute idiocy. That case has 40 years of other precedents built on top of it. Overturning that legislation (and for what cause?!?!) would strike a terrible blow to men and women across the country. It's just another one of his examples to attempt to legislate morally. Instead, he thinks it should be done through what he envisions is a church-like judiciary.
Tags: Santorum, wingnuttery, wtf|W|P|112238380207132552|W|P|WTF Moment of the Day|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com Chris Woods|W|P|Bingo!In honor of the first blogiversary, Chris and I have decided to put down the effort to make a CafePress store to sell ourselves some PFC t-shirts. We want to do a quote t-shirt for Chris and for myself, designed thusly. We would, however, like some input on entries. The following quotes are all being considered, so if those interested could comment to make their vote for one quote for Chris and one for Chase, it'd be cool. This post will be on top of the blog all day Monday to make your choice. Any other ideas for apparel are still being accepted as well. The quotes are: Chris
- It might be time for some euthanasia in the Pentagon
- He's a conservative fascist, I'm a liberal commie. We know the drill.
- Lying is not cool.
- All I have to say is "Go Sharpton!"
- It's a sick, sad world when conservatives begin losing any type of ethical or moral worth. Wait a minute...is there proof (in my lifetime) that they ever had any?
- Sen. Byrd was right--this is lame.
- Novak is an ass-clown. The man knows nothing and is now stuck in a wheelchair because he couldn't walk and fell and broke his hip.
- I know 54.836 million of us voted for John Kerry and John Edwards, but what did the rest of you do? Why did you do it?
- Enjoy the reading, but don't read them all at once. You'll go blind or something.
- Aw, crap. They think we're hicks.
- Whatever you say, make it polite, please.
- These have been your media bias examples for the day. We now take you back to regularly scheduled programming.
- Campus Republicans like cheap beer
- That was amusing.
- Go read it and your secret crush will say they like you.
- America Collectively Looks Down at Its Shoes
- No, you didn't miss it, the Republican National Convention is still in the future.
- Okay, so obviously this is a move to once again place POTUS as the "man of the people" who fishes just like we do.
- Forget the moral majority, Christian conservatives, national defense, Iraq, security moms, NASCAR dads, incumbency or a failed Kerry campaign. The real reason Kerry lost was a jinx.
- James Dobson is trying to take Jerry Faldwell's job the same way Al Sharpton tried to take Jesse Jackson's.
- He wore a blue tie. Thank merciful God. This President functions far better in a blue tie.
- Just the basics. No bad pictures.
- Gov. Rick Perry's a Gansta
- I thought my personal realization of the issue was significant enough to merit the post. You can call it ego, I call it another hard day's work
Robert Schumacher|W|P|"He's a conservative fascist, I'm a liberal commie. We know the drill." for Chris. (Would have been a great Bush-Kerry shirt, a la JibJab...maybe now just a pic of Bush as the con facist, and the rest a caption)."That was amusing." for Chase (include on Tshirt a comic pic of Bush and Gonzales saying this while pointing to Geneva Convention)
Oh...suggestion for the blog...turn on whatever setting in Blogger comments that allows one to see the post whilst commenting. Yeah, yeah, I know my own Haloscan doesn't allow this, but WHATEVER!! :) I'd just like to get Firefox to be consistent in handling Haloscan windows (sometimes it opens 'em seperate, sometimes as a tab...go figger...)
Chris Woods|W|P|I'll see what I can do with the settings, Rob. Thanks for the suggestions! Robert Schumacher|W|P|:) I know the Blogger settings will be...well, you know...soon. As to design, channel Betty Bowers, man...her "Thou Makest Jesus Vomit" design is my favorite (it really pisses off folks when I wear it to morning PT, too...)
Drake Dems|W|P|Campus Republicans like cheap beerv Chris Woods|W|P|'yeti, I like your Chimpy and Prince Bandar idea. Robert Schumacher|W|P|I'm tempted to do a slogan/tshirt, too (OK, OK, I'm jealous). But all my favorites are already taken by Betty Bowers. David Schantz|W|P|For Chris, "Lying is not cool" I think we should all have a shirt with that on it. We could all wear them whem we go to hear our elected officials speak.For Chase, "I thought my personal realization of the issue was significant enough to merit the post. You can call it ego. I call it another hard day's work" Just because I like it.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
|W|P|Use this one:I do not consent to being searched.
|W|P|Chris: Campus Republicans Love Cheap Beer.Chris: James Dobson is trying to take Jerry Faldwell's job the same way Al Sharpton tried to take Jesse Jackson's.
Love,
The Justan
Sar|W|P|Guys - Great idea here. I'd suggest sticking with the shorter quotes (unless you're a giant with oodles of room for text). Makes for a swift read with immediate impact. That said here's my picks:Chris
Lying is not cool.
Chase
America collectively looks down at its shoes.
Chris Woods|W|P|Lol, Sar hasn't seen me, so she doesn't know that I really am a giant! :-D Sar|W|P|Hmm, well in that case just use a giant font! ;) Chris Woods|W|P|Probably a good plan! |W|P|Just a short tip - instead of cafepress I would recommend spreadshirt.com - it will be much easier to design any of those over there ... have fun"Insurgents and other criminals have infiltrated Iraqi police ranks due to poor screening procedures by U.S. forces, according to a joint report released Monday by the U.S. Defense Department and State Department."And these guys are in their last throes? That's a hell of an effort. Seriously, things are going to hell in a handbasket quick there, let's get the fuck out. Tags: Iraq, last throes|W|P|112234703985722975|W|P|Outsmarted by the enemy|W|P|christopherdwoods@gmail.com
Robert Schumacher|W|P|Gotta disagree a bit. Here’s why:1. Launch windows…these come around on very (relatively) rare occasions, and the factors that go into ‘em are, well, staggering. Takes a rocket scientist and all that. Launch windows with good weather are even more rare.
2. Redundancy. This sensor problem…well, that sensor is backed up to the nines. If this were the only one, that’d be one thing, but everything on the shuttle is backed up and over-engineered (it takes a lot of that philosophy from nuclear power).
3. It’s a high-risk evolution. Not to say unnecessary risk, but the crowning acheivement of our space program (the moon) had many incidents (and some deaths), because like any cutting edge endeavour you have to crack some eggs to make an omlette. We tend, these days, to err so far on the side of caution that we are afraid to blaze trails.
We learn a process in the Navy called Operational Risk Management. It’s basically a way to assess and analyze risk, then provide the proper controls to minimize it. When I’m on sea duty, a good 2/3 to 3/4 of my job entails calculated risk (I operate a nuclear reactor, and aside from the remote chance of nuclear issues there’s high pressures, ultra-high temperatures…and over 500 feet of water above me). We recognize (like the astronauts) that our job inherently brings some pretty serious risk to the table…crush depth implosion, steam ruptures, collisions, flooding, fires, high pressure fluid ruptures, explosive accidents, the like. We take steps to minimize the risk…but don’t ever believe that there is ever a time when 100% of the gear on a nuclear sub works. There is always something down…what you operate with offline and what you don’t is part of the management. For example, all of the safety systems for the reactor are required to be in operation to start up and go to sea…but once you are at sea, 500+ feet down, if one channel craps out you don’t turn around and head home. You operate without it until you can repair it (there are three other redundant backups).
Now, if it was a situation where we had to get to sea, there is provision to even start up with some equipment offline in that area, too. It’s all been analyzed and accounted for (and it’s very, very safe).
I fully believe that NASA would scrub the launch if they felt this problem was more than a malfunction in a redundant sensor system. But the nature of a fault like this (inconsistent, intermittent) means you could literally be chasing it for months, or have to rebuild that system from ground zero, and that could scrub a narrow launch window for nearly a year.
This is a risk I’d take.
Chris Woods|W|P|You make good points, Rob. But it still seems to me, again I express the fact that I know nothing about situations like this, that after the last situation with the space shuttle, this is a time where they'd want to err on the side of caution just to save face in general. Robert Schumacher|W|P|Maybe...I speak from how I'd handle the situation, given my technical background, and how I'd want to do it if I were the astronaut. It's my personal opinion that we don't take enough risks in pursuit of science these days. That being said, the O-ring issue with Challenger and the tile problem with Colombia were risks that were improperly managed. Challenger was poor QA (and our QA program in the Navy and government/industry wide reflect lessons learned there). And Colombia suffered from a failure to have a plan/system in place to fix the problem they had once in space...a problem that proved fatal on reentry. For both, there was (and frankly could be) no backup. Thus those risks were unwarranted. The QA on the tank O-ring was inexcusable...it should have been found/fixed. The tile problem resulted from a failure to anticipate a problem (that wasn't new, by the way), something they could have corrected long before.The fuel sensor issue...from what I've read and to my understanding it's a risk that is already managed/controlled. They know about it, thus will be more attuned to other indications...it has backups...and even a total failure of the other backups would not cause a major catastrophe (though having no gas guage on the space shuttle would be a big deal...).
Me, I'd go for it. I think NASA has learned from Challenger/Colombia to fully analyze/overanalyze any situation now, and given their new and hefty focus on safety I'd feel OK in going up if they said it was OK after a full analysis. Then again, it could be my job coloring my risk willingness :)
Chris Woods|W|P|Nah, I trust your judgment Rob. I think this is probably the cynic in me coming out thinking Bush is applying the pressure to get a man back to the moon to save his plummeting approval ratings. Robert Schumacher|W|P|That may be (he'd be *GASP* mimicing a famous Dem, JFK, in doing so...though for JFK it wasn't for poll numbers). But I know tech heads well enough...and we do learn from our mistakes :) Robert Schumacher|W|P|Looks like it made it up...some debris, but with over 100 cameras and outstanding images they should be able to spot any problems and propose fixes before any real serious problems (a la Colombia) crop up... Chris Woods|W|P|Indeed, my mea culpa is a few posts up, in case you missed it. ;-) Robert Schumacher|W|P|There was some debris, and I know NASA's concerned. I just hope my optimism is well founded...even a perfect launch and mission is fraught with risk, and though I understand that (and in my job accept it for the good of the mission), another shuttle disaster and NASA's done for. And I have seen enough astronauts die, accepting of risk or not...I remember Challenger when I was in high school in Florida, biggest shock I'd had in my life until 9/11. I sure hope NASA's plans for in-orbit repairs don't need to be used, and if they are I hope they are successful.