Saturday, March 31, 2007
Money Makes The World Go Round
Circuit City's variation on this is to fire its more highly-paid and more experienced workers and then to let them apply for the same jobs at lower wages:
Neat, isn't it? Of course Circuit City could have made similar savings by first firing its CEO, Philip J. Schooner, who earned around 2.17 million dollars last year and then letting him reapply at the "market" rate for CEOs.
Now why would a firm openly admit to doing something like this? Could it be a way around possible age discrimination suits? Many better paid workers are not only more experienced but also older.
The electronics retailer, facing larger competitors and falling sales, said Wednesday that it would lay off about 3,400 store workers. The laid-off workers, about 8 percent of the company's total work force, would get a severance package and a chance to reapply for their former jobs, at lower pay, after a 10-week delay, the company said.
Neat, isn't it? Of course Circuit City could have made similar savings by first firing its CEO, Philip J. Schooner, who earned around 2.17 million dollars last year and then letting him reapply at the "market" rate for CEOs.
Now why would a firm openly admit to doing something like this? Could it be a way around possible age discrimination suits? Many better paid workers are not only more experienced but also older.
Right Track/Wrong Track
People are really not happy with the direction the country is going in. I'd actually like to know why. While, if polled, I'd probably answer the question based on my thoughts on national political issues, but I'm not sure most people are like that (although as the question is asked in the middle of a poll about national stuff they might). Is it Iraq? Economic insecurity? They hate George Bush?
Sunday Bobbleheads
A little preview, since I'm on the road and might not manage tomorrow:
ABC's "This Week"—Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; presidential counselor Dan Bartlett; former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson; Cal Ripken Jr., former Baltimore Orioles shortstop.
———
CBS' "Face the Nation"—Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa.; Bartlett.
———
NBC's "Meet the Press"—Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
———
CNN's "Late Edition"—Sens. Kit Bond, R-Mo., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; the Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights activist; Richard Haass, Council on Foreign Relations president.
———
"Fox News Sunday"—Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Joe Biden, D-Del.; Kevin Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
Your Liberal Media
Via Jonathan Schwartz. John Hockenberry recalls in a talk at MIT what it was like at NBC in the dark days of the selling of the Iraq War. As Aaron Swartz has it:
You may or may not be aware that there was a real strong full-court press to sell the media -- and I'm not pro- or against it at this particular point, but there was a process in place where individuals in the media got access to the individuals involved in the planning of the war. There were generals who came in, there were former secretaries of defense, Schwarzkopf spent a whole lot of time giving sort of off-the-record, quiet briefings. And the generals would sort of bring in a certain group of editors and reporters and I went to all of these briefings.
Swartz then paraphrases:
I'm going to have a drink now.At one of [these briefings] , Hockenberry explains, a well-known pollster told about a briefing he gave to all the senior officials at the White House about how the polling data from the Arab world showed that America's negatives were simply off-the-charts. Everyone was quiet. Condi asked a few technical questions and then finally Karl Rove spoke up. "Well, that's just until we start throwing our weight around over there," he said.
Hockenberry was stunned and thought they should do a piece on what this revealed into the mentality of the war's planners. But NBC News didn't think this was a very good idea. America wanted the war to happen; their job was just to wait and see how it turned out. "We're not particularly interested in the story," Hockenberry explains. "We're a process that's trying to maintain people in front of the set, so in a certain sense media at that point was doing its own kind of shock-and-awe that went right along with the war's shock-and-awe [because] the business is just to grab eyeballs."
Thanks for Everything, Matthew
Appreciate all you've done.
Looking back, Mr. Dowd now says his faith in Mr. Bush was misplaced.
In a wide-ranging interview here, Mr. Dowd called for a withdrawal from Iraq and expressed his disappointment in Mr. Bush’s leadership.
He criticized the president as failing to call the nation to a shared sense of sacrifice at a time of war, failing to reach across the political divide to build consensus and ignoring the will of the people on Iraq. He said he believed the president had not moved aggressively enough to hold anyone accountable for the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, and that Mr. Bush still approached governing with a “my way or the highway” mentality reinforced by a shrinking circle of trusted aides.
“I really like him, which is probably why I’m so disappointed in things,” he said. He added, “I think he’s become more, in my view, secluded and bubbled in.”
In speaking out, Mr. Dowd became the first member of Mr. Bush’s inner circle to break so publicly with him.
He said his decision to step forward had not come easily. But, he said, his disappointment in Mr. Bush’s presidency is so great that he feels a sense of duty to go public given his role in helping Mr. Bush gain and keep power.
Putz Is in the House!
Glenn Reynolds attempts comedy stylings. Noting that the House has pulled back on a vote granting Washington DC residents voting rights because the GOP inserted gun stuff into the bill, Glenn dusts off his rapier wit and makes this thrust:
(Rolls eyes)
Yes, Glenn. I too wonder how Senator Webb would have voted on this House bill.
That's some damn fine lawyerly speculatin', right there... gah.
I wonder how Jim Webb would have voted? Would he vote differently today than last week?Ho ho ho hehindeed ha splutter bleah.
(Rolls eyes)
Yes, Glenn. I too wonder how Senator Webb would have voted on this House bill.
That's some damn fine lawyerly speculatin', right there... gah.
What does it all mean?
I’ve been trying to get the final four of evilness rankings arranged properly (or as John Boehner would say "a-ranged"):
Somehow that doesn’t quite seem right. I have a hard time undervaluing NTodd’s malevolence.
In addition, this also is confusing, though it may be important in obtaining Rove's emails. But it’s all binary code to me. Maybe you can tell us?
Saddam <-- NTodd <-- Tom Coughlin <-- Hitler
Somehow that doesn’t quite seem right. I have a hard time undervaluing NTodd’s malevolence.
In addition, this also is confusing, though it may be important in obtaining Rove's emails. But it’s all binary code to me. Maybe you can tell us?
Cancelled
At this point I say Alberto decides Easter weekend is when he needs to spend more time with his peeps.
9 Months
I haven't really been following the case of David Hicks, but isn't there something a little off about a guy who spent 5 years in a holiday camp for the Scariest Terraists Evah ultimately getting just a 9 month sentence?
Friday, March 30, 2007
Fresh Thread
enjoy.
...for your Friday night soundtrack, August tells us that NPR is giving you a free Ted Leo concert.
...for your Friday night soundtrack, August tells us that NPR is giving you a free Ted Leo concert.
In Which I Reveal I'm a Clinton Adviser
Well, no, not really, but I admit a couple of times (and not recently) I've chatted with Peter Daou about how Clinton could appeal to the "netroots" (whatever that means anymore). I'd hand out the same advice to anyone, not that they'd necessarily listen or that they should. If I had an opportunity to tell Mitt Romney how to appeal to people like me I would.
So I can appreciate that Carville, to some extent, sees his role that way. His friends call him, and he gives advice. But the real issue is that he's a Clinton *supporter.* He wants her to win. And he has a prominent media role which allows him to boost her and diminish others. I don't think CNN has to yank him, really, though I think they should make sure there's at least a little diversity among their pack of Democratic strategists, but he should just be more up front about what he thinks. Take off the fake "impartial observer" hat and put on the "Hillary supporter" hat. That's fine.
...adding, if I ever found myself rooting for someone in a sustained and committed fashion, that I'd crossed over from "guy with opinions" to "supporter of candidate X," I'd feel obligated to say so. Obviously it isn't always quite clear where that line is, but Carville's already admitted to crossing it.
So I can appreciate that Carville, to some extent, sees his role that way. His friends call him, and he gives advice. But the real issue is that he's a Clinton *supporter.* He wants her to win. And he has a prominent media role which allows him to boost her and diminish others. I don't think CNN has to yank him, really, though I think they should make sure there's at least a little diversity among their pack of Democratic strategists, but he should just be more up front about what he thinks. Take off the fake "impartial observer" hat and put on the "Hillary supporter" hat. That's fine.
...adding, if I ever found myself rooting for someone in a sustained and committed fashion, that I'd crossed over from "guy with opinions" to "supporter of candidate X," I'd feel obligated to say so. Obviously it isn't always quite clear where that line is, but Carville's already admitted to crossing it.
The Big Money
Was listening to a bit on NPR about on the relatively huge amounts of money being hauled in by presidential candidates already. I've broached this subject before, but never really quite figured it out. A lot of the early money is presumably coming from big donors who are maxing out their allowable contributions. Presumably there is not a limitless supply of such people, and once you run through existing donor networks it becomes difficult to find more of them.
I'm really curious about the extent to which what I'm suggesting is true, and its potential consequence for later fundraising. If the easy $2000 checks are all scooped up now, will candidates be forced to rely on smaller donors later?
I'm really curious about the extent to which what I'm suggesting is true, and its potential consequence for later fundraising. If the easy $2000 checks are all scooped up now, will candidates be forced to rely on smaller donors later?
That Was God Speaking
Michael Savage:
SAVAGE: It's becoming increasingly clear to me that God wants radical Islam on this planet at this time -- that it's not actually the scourge you think it is. What it is -- it's a counterpoint to the Romanization of the United States of America and the West. The collapse -- the spiritual collapse of the West, the death of the West in that regard, is being countered by the birth of fanatic religion, which is fundamentally a fanatic love of God, when you think about it.
[...]
SAVAGE: And God, who is the center of this monotheistic religion, has said, "Oh, you don't worship me anymore? Oh, you don't like me anymore? Oh, I don't exist anymore? Really? All right, I'm going to show you boys in Hollywood and you girls in New York City that I do exist. But since you're very hard-headed, stiff-necked people, and you don't really believe that I exist because you've gotten away with everything you've done all your life without any repercussions, I'm going to show you I exist in a way that you can't believe." Down came the World Trade Center towers. That was God speaking.
Sammy's Hill
Good for her. I actually thought Sammy's Hill was pretty good, and I can imagine how David O. Russell could make something interesting out of it.
And, hey, apparently there's a sequel coming.
Russell adapting Kristen Gore's novel for Columbia
David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees, Three Kings) will adapt and direct Washington D.C.-based comedy Sammy's Hill, based on a novel by Kristen Gore (Al's daughter), for Columbia Pictures and Red Wagon. The story is about a young congressional aide on Capitol Hill in search of Mr. Right.
And, hey, apparently there's a sequel coming.
Good for Jesse
And shame on the CBC:
Rev. Jesse Jackson today denounced the Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s planned presidential debate partnership with FOX. He called for yesterday’s decision to be reversed and for presidential candidates not to attend a FOX debate.
Jackson said, “I am disappointed by the Congressional Black Caucus Institute's partnership with FOX, and strongly encourage them to reverse that decision. Why would presidential candidates, or an organization that is supposed to advocate for Black Americans, ever give a stamp of legitimacy to a network that continually marginalizes Black leaders and the Black community? FOX moderating a presidential debate on issues of importance to Black Americans is literally letting the Fox guard the henhouse – FOX should be rejected.”
But What About Margaret Carlson's Sex Life?
I think that, too, is a fun question. I'm just an ethically challenged blogger, but if I had been romantically linked with prominent figures I was commenting on I'd consider disclosing it.
From that same show, Carlson on Fred Thompson:
Flashback.
And:
From that same show, Carlson on Fred Thompson:
CARLSON: He does look like the dad. He has everything that Pat says. He`s handsome, he`s charming, he sounds like a president, he looks like a president, but Pat says he might not have the fire in the belly. That could help him, not having the hunger, not being willing to do anything could help him.
(CROSS TALK)
CARLSON: It could help him. And, you know, he`s smart. He`s articulate. He knows his lines. He can hit his mark. Few people could start --
MATTHEWS: Let me ask you. We`re having debates. MSNBC is going to have debates coming up within a month or so. They`re going to have debates around the country. Is the season still open for him to get in, right now?
BUCHANAN: It is open right now. But I think these guys that are saying they are going to wait until September and October may be waiting to long. That`s taking a big risk.
MATTHEWS: You think his door is open now?
BUCHANAN: I think his door is open now, yes.
CARLSON: The theme song of Republicans should be "Some Day My Prince Will Come," and they`re waiting and they`re hoping. And so Fred Thompson is not late at all. His moment is here.
MATTHEWS: Some day he will come along. Do you think he`s coming now?
CARLSON: I think he`s coming soon.
MATTHEWS: I notice it used to be you had to look like an anchorman to get the presidency. You needed to have a big thick head of hair. And he and Giuliani and McCain -
BUCHANAN: He looks like a big truck driver.
MATTHEWS: With a semi behind him.
BUCHANAN: Looks like a teamster, sure, a southern guy, a teamster. He`s in from Tennessee. He`s perfectly positioned, I think, but the question is, does he get in and is he really ready to do battle? Iowa, those things are very hard to do, Chris.
MATTHEWS: OK, you put him up against Hillary in the general election, who wins?
BUCHANAN: He wins.
CARLSON: Agreed.
MATTHEWS: Margaret Carlson? This is treason! Margaret, the sisterhood`s at stake here. You said it so quick.
BUCHANAN: Al was on the phone.
CARLSON: I don`t see anyone in the field now who can --
MATTHEWS: Billie Jean is on the phone. Billie Jean endorsed the other day.
CARLSON: Oh, now that you have the tennis queen on, I`m sure she`ll win. No, but the red pickup truck, the aura. He`s smart. He has experience. He did --
MATTHEWS: You know what I like about him? I interviewed him when he was running for the Senate. He was the underdog out in Tennessee, in Nashville. I said what hotel are you staying at. He said what hotel are you staying at. We were both at three-star hotels. He comes over, meets me for breakfast, no entourage, not another single person with him. This is when you fall in love with politicians. Maybe it`s rehearsed, but --
And I said -- well, I`m doing a column in those days. I said what about your divorce? You want me to write about that? He said, I prefer you wouldn`t. I mean, I just like the fact that he has a little unhappiness in his past, maybe some misbehavior problems, but he just says, you know, I`d rather you didn`t.
CARLSON: For the press, he would be the new McCain, because he does seem honest and open.
Flashback.
On the Republican side, Sen. Fred Thompson is said to have hurt his vice-presidential chances when his name was linked romantically to that of Margaret Carlson. The Time columnist and "Capital Gang" regular is reportedly too liberal for George W. Bush. Thompson's standing was not enhanced when gossips said he was simultaneously involved with another woman.
And:
The New York Post, of all venues, reported recently that the Tennessee senator had of late become something of a sex object for "Capitol Hill hotties," one of whom complained about "all these other women" who wouldn't leave the senator alone. "I can't get up to get a cocktail at a party without coming back and finding some girl sitting at my chair," the woman was quoted as saying.
Margaret Carlson, the writer for Time and host for CNN, is described this way: "She calls his apartment all the time. It's the joke all over Washington that Margaret has this huge crush on him. And Fred is clearly not interested." (To which the gallant Thompson responded: "I generally don't comment on these matters, but as it relates to the statements made about my friend Margaret Carlson, I should be so lucky.")
Mob Hits
Rudy Rudy Rudy
Rudolph W. Giuliani told a grand jury that his former chief investigator remembered having briefed him on some aspects of Bernard B. Kerik’s relationship with a company suspected of ties to organized crime before Mr. Kerik’s appointment as New York City police commissioner, according to court records.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Broder's boy is still bouncing.
President Bush’s job approval rating dips a point this week to 33 percent, matching a previous low in approval almost a year ago (33 percent, April 18-19, 2006). Disapproval of the president’s performance has increased to 61 percent — the highest disapproval rating of his presidency.
Polls Versus the Pundits
Unsurprising:
- The Democrats' stepped-up pace of investigations has not drawn much in the way of negative reaction. Just 31% believe Congress is spending too much time investigating possible government wrongdoing, while slightly more (35%) say they are spending too little time on this, and a quarter believe that the time spent on investigations has been appropriate.
Republicans are more likely than Democrats or independents to say that Congress is spending too much time on investigating possible wrongdoing. Still, only about half of Republicans (48%) express this view, while nearly as many say Congress is spending too little time (24%), or the right amount of time (20%), on investigations.
In addition, more independents say Congress is spending too little time on investigations than too much (by 39%-29%). Roughly the same number of Democrats as independents say Congress is devoting too little time to investigations.
The Original Sweaty Lunk
I like Al Gore and I'd be quite happy for him to run for president, but I think speculating about the possibility is somewhat counterproductive. The fact is that there are plenty of good candidates running and no need for someone on a white horse to come in and save the day.
...adding, that probably wasn't clear. I mean that the perpetual speculation makes it sound as if things suck unless he runs, that we need a savior candidate. I have nothing against him choosing to run now or 6 months from now or whenever.
...adding, that probably wasn't clear. I mean that the perpetual speculation makes it sound as if things suck unless he runs, that we need a savior candidate. I have nothing against him choosing to run now or 6 months from now or whenever.
Meanwhile
Still surging:
(ht dave™©)
At least 60 people were killed and 41 others were wounded today in a suicide bombing at a marketplace in Baghdad, police said.
(ht dave™©)
Time Passes
These days I collect various "Friedman Unit" type predictions and put them in my calendar, and it's getting rather full of them. It seems that every major politician and pundit has suggested that by July or the end of summer... well, something. We know how this game as played. The Friedman Unit Generating Device is apparently a perpetual motion machine with limitless energy to crank out new F.U.s to the American public.
Fear
If parents want to be paranoid and not let their kids walk/bike to school, that's their choice. The problem really develops when those personal choices become cultural norms and parents are scared to let their kids walk/bike to school because if they do they'll be seen as bad parents.
More Lying Abu G
From E&P:
Specter asked about Attorney General Gonzales' "candor" in saying earlier this month that he was not a part of any discussions on the firings. He asked about the November 27, 2006 meeting "where there were discussions" and Gonzales allegedly attended. Was Gonzales' statement about taking part in no discussions accurate?
"I don't think it's accurate," Sampson said. "He recently clarified it. But he was present at the November 27 meeting."
"So he was involved in discussions in contrast to his statement" this month? Specter asked.
"Yes." Sampson replied.
Sen. Charles Schumer then asked about Gonzales also claiming that he saw no documents on this matter.
Sampson replied: "I don't think it's entirely accurate."
Schumer: "There was repeated discussions??
Sampson: "Yes...at least five."
Schumer then asked if Gonzales was truthful in saying Sampson's information on the firings was not shared within the depaartment.
Sampson: "I shared information with whoever asked."
Schumer: "So the Attorney General's statement is false?"
Sampson: "I don't think it is accurate."
Lying Abu G
Oh my:
Moving on to e-mails and question of AG's veracity. E-mails show that Gonzales was involved in a meeting that took up the issue of USA firings. Was your e-mail correct. Sampson says that the AG's statement that he wasn't involved in discussions was not accurate. Sampson recalls talking to him about this issue. Specter asks: So Gonzales was not correct in his statement during his news conference? Sampson: Yes sir.
Just At The Moment
Lieberman says things are looking up now in Iraq, finally.
Of course things were looking up in November of 2005.
A year from now, I'm sure things will just be starting to look up as well.
Of course things were looking up in November of 2005.
A year from now, I'm sure things will just be starting to look up as well.
Preventing Unrest
Awesome:
MOSUL, Iraq, March 29 (Reuters) - Policemen who took part in the reprisal shootings of scores of men in northwest Iraq this week were arrested but then freed again to prevent unrest, the provincial governor said on Thursday.
Hours after truck bombs killed 85 people on Tuesday in a Shi'ite area of Tal Afar, up to 70 Sunni Arab men were shot dead in a town which only a year ago was held up by U.S. President George W. Bush as an example of progress towards peace.
Game Weird
It's late so I don't have it in me to support this thesis, but it really seems that we're getting to a level of corruption and coverup that wouldn't even be close to being possible without sycophants in the media who enable it. And, yes, to some extent this is just a description of the past few years, but we've had a president essentially in the 30s in the polls (yes, some 40+ numbers appear occasionally) for over a year.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Oh My
Sounds like Sampson should take a peek at this law.
Under the federal False Statements statute, 18 USC 1001, it is a felony to cause another person to make a false statement to Congress. Since McNulty has allegedly told Senator Schumer that he made a false statement to Congress based on information provided to him by Monica Goodling, Goodling could very well be prosecuted for a Section 1001 violation.
Chris Dodd Is All Powerful
Email I received:
The next email came from reader p:
Dear Duncan,
Later today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to vote on whether or not to approve the nomination of Sam Fox as America's Ambassador to Belgium.
Normally, these confirmations are quite routine.
Not this one ...
Sam Fox helped bankroll the reprehensible activities of "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," by contributing $50,000 to the group infamous for its ads attacking Senator John Kerry's service during the Vietnam War.
Senator Dodd will oppose that nomination, and said the following yesterday:
"U.S. ambassadors need to be both responsible and credible, and Mr. Fox's support for an organization known to have spread falsehoods illustrates neither. The fact that Mr. Fox refused to apologize for his behavior during his nomination hearing reinforces my belief that he would not be an acceptable representative for the position of U.S. ambassador."
Sam Fox is not fit to serve as an ambassador of the United States.
Please sign the petition urging the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to vote "NO" on Sam Fox later today, then ask your family, friends, and personal networks to do the same.
http://www.chrisdodd.com/opposefox
Let's stop this nomination today!
Tim Tagaris
Chris Dodd for President
The next email came from reader p:
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush has withdrawn the ambassadorial nomination of a businessman who donated money to a group that undermined Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign.
Too Clever By Half
This may be their undoing. JMM:
If the president's aides were using RNC emails or emails from other Republican political committees, they can't have even the vaguest claim to shielding those communications behind executive privilege.
Compromise
Why is that pundits are forever throwing out "compromise" positions, suggesting intransigence of both sides, which are pretty much the Democratic position.
Blogs, Inside Jokes, and Jargon
It's true that the insidery lingo of blogging is a barrier to outsiders, but it's also one of those things which keeps it interesting. I've long considered the basic model for this blog to be the Howard Stern Show, though with not quite as many lesbian strippers. Basically, there's a revolving cast of wacky characters (right wing bloggers, batshit crazy Republicans, and trolls form our own "wack pack"), including heroes and villians, recurring themes, inside jokes, and nicknames. There's a central evolving story being told over a long period of time, punctuated with various diversions. The insideryness is exclusionary at first, but people enjoy the process of learning what it's all about and becoming one of those "in the know."
Zombie Terrorists
The very serious Senator McCain:
(Ht Ghost of Richard Milhaus Nixon)
The consequences of failure are catastrophic because if we come home, bin Laden and Zarqawi, they are going to follow us.
(Ht Ghost of Richard Milhaus Nixon)
Meanwhile
Meet the new boss:
I appreciate that CNN has been using Michael Ware to beat up on John McCain for his batshit Pony Talk on Iraq, but senators and other regular CNN guess have been saying batshit Pony Talk for *years* on Iraq. Maybe they could start be looking at the statements of one Senator Lieberman (CFL-CT).
...Memories:
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Off-duty Shiite policemen enraged by massive bombings in the northern town of Tal Afar went on a revenge spree against Sunni residents there on Wednesday, killing at least 45 men, police and hospital officials said.
The policemen began roaming the town’s Sunni neighborhoods on foot early in the morning, shooting at Sunni residents and homes.
A senior hospital official in Tal Afar said at least 45 men ages 15 to 60 were killed and four others were wounded.
I appreciate that CNN has been using Michael Ware to beat up on John McCain for his batshit Pony Talk on Iraq, but senators and other regular CNN guess have been saying batshit Pony Talk for *years* on Iraq. Maybe they could start be looking at the statements of one Senator Lieberman (CFL-CT).
...Memories:
March 20, 2006:
Fact Sheet: Strategy for Victory: Clear, Hold, and Build
RSS Feed White House News
Today's Presidential Action
Today, President Bush Discussed The Strategy For Victory In Iraq And Profiled The Northern Iraqi Town Of Tal Afar. Once a key base of operations for Al-Qaida, Tal Afar is a concrete example of progress in Iraq.
Tal Afar Shows How The Three Elements Of The Strategy For Victory In Iraq - Political, Security, And Economic - Depend On And Reinforce One Another. By working with local leaders to address community grievances, Iraqi and Coalition forces helped build the political support needed to make the military operation to drive terrorists out of that city successful. The military success against the terrorists gave the citizens of Tal Afar security, and this allowed them to vote and rebuild their city. The economic rebuilding taking place is giving Tal Afar's residents a real stake in the success of a free Iraq - and further marginalizing the terrorists...
The Coalition Adopted A New Approach - Clear, Hold, And Build. The ability of al-Qaida and its associates to retake Tal Afar was a problem seen elsewhere in Iraq, and the Iraqi government and Coalition adopted a new approach. Instead of coming in, removing the terrorists, and then moving on, Iraqi and Coalition forces pursued a strategy of clearing a city of terrorists, leaving well-trained Iraqi units behind to hold the city, and working with local leaders to build economic and political infrastructure.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
McNulty/Goodling
On Hardball Shuster is basically confirming this, that McNulty told Schumer he messed up because Gooding fed him some horseshit.
Booby Fear
Alterman:
A few months ago, Bob Wright asked me to do a BHTV with Ms. Althouse. I knew nothing about her at all, except that she accused a female liberal blogger who met with Bill Clinton of having breasts ... or something. I never could figure out what it was really. I said "OK," with the caveat that I wanted her to talk about why she, as a woman, thought it appropriate to call attention to the fact that another woman standing near Clinton happen to have breasts. I mean, my daughter will have breasts one day, and I want to be able to prepare her in case she needs to apologize for them. When Althouse emailed me to discuss potential topics, I said what I said to Bob, which was that we could talk about anything, as long as it included that topic. She got all huffy and pulled out of the discussion. Then she attacked me on her blog and again on the op-ed page of The New York Times. Here, she flips out -- is there any other word? -- with Garance when the latter merely refers to it. Garance is duly surprised by the hysteria -- as will you be if you watch it, I imagine -- but the fact is, she is getting crazy about the fact that she says Garance did not prepare the topic in advance. I tried to do that, and she flipped out as well.
And by the way, when she accidentally says, "You're really just undermining my point," she's right on. And by the way, calling the people at Tapped "vicious, ugly people" is not really a good argument for the civility of your side, ma'am.
Campaign Journalism
Adding to the post below about reporting/talking, campaign journalism is an area which is just filled with hackery. There's really no way to do interesting "straight reporting" about campaigns, aside from polls and hirings/firings. It's almost intrinsically "talking about the news" instead of reporting on it. So campaign journalism is part highly subjective narrative, part gossip, part anonymous backbiting, part reporter projection, part quoting sources with major conflicts of interest, part unrepresentative "man on the street interviews," etc. If I ran a newspaper, campaign reporting is the area where I'd begin chucking out the entire model of "balanced journalism" and recognize it for what it ineivtably is, a highly subjective description of what's going on. Reporters hide behind all the various devices given to them to try to take themselves out of the narrative, but ultimately they really are just creating the very subjective narrative they wish to create. So, drop the pretense and bring the reporter's voice forward.
Surging Romney
CNN just showed a Gallup poll for the Republican nominee. Fred Thompson got 12%, and Multiple Choice Mitt surged all the way to 3%.
Grand Old Police Blotter
PA edition:
Criminal charges were filed today against state Sen. Robert Regola in connection with the death of a teenage neighbor who was shot with the senator's gun.
The Westmoreland County coroner ruled that Louis Farrell, 14, committed suicide in July. He was found behind his home in Hempfield; a gun belonging to the senator was near the body.
After a lengthy inquest before attorney Thomas Farrell, who presided, Mr. Farrell suggested the senator wasn't being totally forthcoming about the presence of the gun in his home. Mr. Farrell is not related to the victim.
Today, state police filed charges that support that conclusion. Mr. Regola is accused of three counts of perjury, allowing possession of a firearm by a minor, recklessly endangering another person and false swearing.
Meanwhile
Still surging:
BAGHDAD - Two truck bombs struck markets in Tal Afar and a suicide car bomber exploded his payload near Ramadi on Tuesday — the latest attacks in a surge of violence outside the Iraqi capital. The three bombings killed at least 58 people, including 48 in Tal Afar.
FURROW IT!
The Editors:
The difference between then and now is that then, Bush was strong and he had a loyal Republican Congress, and now he’s not and he doesn’t, and these two things are not unrelated. Fifteen months ago that nauseating little bitch Lindsey Graham was primarily concerned with making sure that Leader had the right to revoke habeus corpus whenever he felt like it; now, he’s troubled that the President didn’t follow the usual protocol in replacing some civil servants. Furrow your brow, Lindsey! Furrow it with sincere concern for everyone to see! Because you can read the polls as well as anyone, and you know that anyone who sticks by Bush these days is fucked.
The News and Talking About the News
I understand that media people who like to think of themselves as good responsible journalists get peeved at what they perceive to be the monolithic caricature that us dirty bloggers sometime make of them. There is good journalism out there, and dirty bloggers generally would have little to talk about if there wasn't. Well, except for all the wankery.
Still, there's a difference between those who report the news and those who talk about it. The former generally takes of the form of quality print journalism, which is then given wings on the various cable news channels, political/news talk radio, by the Sunday Bobbleheads, in unctuous Fred Hiatt Op-Eds, etc. It is in these forums that news is turned into narratives, where certain facts and spin are privileged or diminished, where The Story becomes A Story, where conventional wisdom is created and disseminated both to political insiders and to the rest of us. It's where supposedly knowledgeable people make sense of all of the news for the rest of us, by telling us what is important (or at least relevant and interesting) and why it is important.
In many of these forums the True Elites of Elite journalism put on their peacock feathers and strut around, proudly sporting their faux-cynicism and horrifying vacuity.
So, yes, there are plenty of good journalists out there doing important work. They need to understand that they're being publicly represented by a cast of fools. And, no, we're not just talking about the various flunkies and hacks that fill time during the day on MSNBC. We're talking about people with very prestigious titles and roles, such as editors of major newsweekly magazines and hosts of Well Respected Sunday Talk Shows.
Still, there's a difference between those who report the news and those who talk about it. The former generally takes of the form of quality print journalism, which is then given wings on the various cable news channels, political/news talk radio, by the Sunday Bobbleheads, in unctuous Fred Hiatt Op-Eds, etc. It is in these forums that news is turned into narratives, where certain facts and spin are privileged or diminished, where The Story becomes A Story, where conventional wisdom is created and disseminated both to political insiders and to the rest of us. It's where supposedly knowledgeable people make sense of all of the news for the rest of us, by telling us what is important (or at least relevant and interesting) and why it is important.
In many of these forums the True Elites of Elite journalism put on their peacock feathers and strut around, proudly sporting their faux-cynicism and horrifying vacuity.
So, yes, there are plenty of good journalists out there doing important work. They need to understand that they're being publicly represented by a cast of fools. And, no, we're not just talking about the various flunkies and hacks that fill time during the day on MSNBC. We're talking about people with very prestigious titles and roles, such as editors of major newsweekly magazines and hosts of Well Respected Sunday Talk Shows.
Because I Suppose I Have No Choice
But to at least make some mention of this.
One personal rule in life which I've been trying to follow is "have as little involvement with insane narcissists as possible." It seems to be a pretty good one.
One personal rule in life which I've been trying to follow is "have as little involvement with insane narcissists as possible." It seems to be a pretty good one.
25 Percenters
It's possible that the parallel universe created by the Right has gotten so complex that it's become exclusionary. I've tried to get a handle on this before, though I don't think I've quite managed to pin it down yet. I've mentioned before that it seems that members of the movement Right demand that their candidates buy into the Entire Package of Wingnuttia. This isn't simply political purism, it's about validating a worldview. There are all these articles of faith in wingnuttia which have been given to them by the wingnut noise machine, and failure to embrace them all is a signal that you aren't really part of the club.
But this wingnut worldview has gotten complex and sprawling. Its cast of characters, bizarre understanding of history, and policy positions have grown and expanded so that only obsessed true believers can really feel a part of it. They've established an entire mythology, and its adherents have become cultlike.
The noise machine still has a great impact on our mainstream discourse, but only the real hardcore wingnuts can really identify with the full wingnut package anymore. The beast has grown too large.
But this wingnut worldview has gotten complex and sprawling. Its cast of characters, bizarre understanding of history, and policy positions have grown and expanded so that only obsessed true believers can really feel a part of it. They've established an entire mythology, and its adherents have become cultlike.
The noise machine still has a great impact on our mainstream discourse, but only the real hardcore wingnuts can really identify with the full wingnut package anymore. The beast has grown too large.
5th
Christy takes a look at legal issues surrounding taking the 5th.
Short version: you can't take the 5th because you're worried people might be mean to you.
Short version: you can't take the 5th because you're worried people might be mean to you.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Some Facts
Yes, facts are like kryptonite to the kool kids:
And then we have this USA Today poll, taken over the weekend (exactly when Stengel and his colleagues were warning Democrats that Americans would be angry if they pursued Karl Rove):
14. Do you think Congress should -- or should not -- investigate the involvement of White House officials in this matter?
Just compare those facts to the wild assertions made by Stengel and friends on MSNBC:Yes, should - 72%; No, should not - 21%
15. If Congress investigates these dismissals, in your view, should President Bush and his aides -- [ROTATED: invoke "executive privilege" to protect the White House decision making process (or should they) drop the claim of executive privilege and answer all questions being investigated]?
Invoke executive privilege - 26%; Answer all questions - 68%
16. In this matter, do you think Congress should or should not issue subpoenas to force White House officials to testify under oath about this matter?
Yes, should - 68%; No, should not - 24%
Mr. STENGEL: I am so uninterested in the Democrats wanting Karl Rove, because it is so bad for them. Because it shows business as usual, tit for tat, vengeance. That's not what voters want to see.
Ms. BORGER: Mm-hmm.
MATTHEWS: So instead of like an issue like the war where you can say it's bigger than all of us, its more important than politics, this is politics.
Mr. STENGEL: Yes, and it's much less. It's small bore politics.
O'DONNELL: The Democrats have to be very careful that they look like they're not the party of investigation rather than legislation in trying to change things.
uhhh... Scar?
Tonight's Joey Scar Panel is Mike Barnicle (fake liberal), Joan Walsh (moderate liberal), and John Nichols (actual liberal).
Must be some weird planetary alignment going on.
Must be some weird planetary alignment going on.
When Hacks Stop Hacking
Wingnut Terry Jeffrey just now on CNN:
It's not good, apparently her lawyer is trying to suggest they're building a perjury trap for people in the Justice Department. But the truth is, Wolf, Congress - its Judiciary Committees - they have oversight over the Justice Department. It is inexcusable for people in the Justice Department to take the 5th amendment to avoid testifying in Congress. People there must go testify. There's no question about it.
Clamming Up
Another great Politico headline: "Sampson Testimony May Be Key To Case"
I swear JMM originally wrote Sampson in that post. Either way, steve simels regrets the error. It's Goodling, apparently.
Emails
Keep pulling this thread...
White House staff are using non-governmental e-mail addresses to avoid leaving a paper trail of their communications, a senior congressman charged Monday.
In a pair of letters Monday, House Oversight and Investigations Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman, D.-Calif., asked the Republican National Committee and the Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign to preserve e-mails sent and received by White House officials using domains controlled by the two groups.
Waxman also asked the two to meet with his staff to explain how they handle e-mail accounts for government officials.
"Such e-mails written in the conduct of White House business would appear to be govemmental records subject to preservation and eventual public disclosure," Waxman wrote.
The Rules
Move On is a left wing extremist organization because it once held an open contest in which someone submitted an ad which compared Bush to Hitler which they promptly removed after it came to their attention.
And Tom DeLay is a respected former Congresman.
And Tom DeLay is a respected former Congresman.
GAY VOODOO LIMBO TANGO AND WANGO DANCE
While I actually think "GAY VOODOO LIMBO TANGO AND WANGO DANCE" is perhaps the Best Name For A Dance Evah, this is pretty fucking disturbing.
Sinking Ships
The new Johnny Marr enhanced Modest Mouse album is actually pretty good. Not sure it stands out quite as much as some of their previous stuff, but it's more than a little enjoyable.
Ouch
Big drop in new home sales this month, even with last month's being revised downwards.
...bit more from Bondad.
...bit more from Bondad.
Control
Bob Bauer writes about what really motivates the mainstream media when they fret about the internets.
Still, they happily handed control over to America's Assignment Editor, Matt Drudge, years ago. One should consider why they were comfortable with that.
Still, they happily handed control over to America's Assignment Editor, Matt Drudge, years ago. One should consider why they were comfortable with that.
Going Right
One of the never-discussed dirty little secrets of the newspaper industry is that many editorial pages in newspapers in major cities lean heavily right, especially relative to their potential local audience, and not just because of their heavy reliance on syndicated wingnuttery. With all the fretting about the death of the newspaper, perhaps it should occur to people that maybe people are tired of reading right wing horseshit.
Oh My
Oh My:
Witnesses have told congressional investigators that the chief of the General Services Administration and a deputy in Karl Rove's political affairs office at the White House joined in a videoconference earlier this year with top GSA political appointees, who discussed ways to help Republican candidates.
With GSA Administrator Lurita Alexis Doan and up to 40 regional administrators on hand, J. Scott Jennings, the White House's deputy director of political affairs, gave a PowerPoint presentation on Jan. 26 of polling data about the 2006 elections.
When Jennings concluded his presentation to the GSA political appointees, Doan allegedly asked them how they could "help 'our candidates' in the next elections," according to a March 6 letter to Doan from Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Waxman said in the letter that one method suggested was using "targeted public events, such as the opening of federal facilities around the country."
On Wednesday, Doan is scheduled to appear before Waxman's committee to answer questions about the videoconference and other issues. The committee is investigating whether remarks made during the videoconference violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that restricts executive-branch employees from using their positions for political purposes. Those found in violation of the act do not face criminal penalties but can be removed from their jobs.
heh-indeedy
JMM:
None of this is about Alberto Gonzales. This is about the president and the White House, which is where this entire plan was hatched. Gonzales was just following orders, executing the president's plans. This is about this president and this White House, which ... let's be honest, everyone on both sides of the aisle already knows.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Mainstream Move On
I'm not sure I agree with everything in this Stoller post, but I think it's important to understand that it seems that many on "the left" have internalized the right wing talking point about Move On being a bunch of "left wing extremists" in some sense, and therefore expect them to be the standard bearer for the "far left." These terms are unhelpful and I don't mean any of them in a pejorative sense, but I've long been fascinated by how easy it was to try to portray the very mainstream generally and very "sensible" Move On as a bunch of insane Stalinists (okay, insane Stalinists is probably pejorative).
Whether you think it's a good or a bad thing, or whether you agree or disagree with them on issues and strategies, the fact is that Move On has never been particularly "left."
Whether you think it's a good or a bad thing, or whether you agree or disagree with them on issues and strategies, the fact is that Move On has never been particularly "left."
Divided Lives
Athenae:
It's something I find quite odd, and after living in Europe for awhile I realized it was an especially American thing to divide up your life into distinct bits.
And that's the assumption that it's either work or family, that there's two boxes, and you either pick one or the other. I see this a lot in discussions online and with friends, this idea about your life being divided, this part and that part and it's your job to parcel out time to each thing like a mother bird dividing up food into hungry squawking mouths.
It's something I find quite odd, and after living in Europe for awhile I realized it was an especially American thing to divide up your life into distinct bits.
Meanwhile
Over there:
BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Two roadside bomb attacks killed five U.S. soldiers in Iraq Sunday, according to the U.S. military. Four Task Force Lightning Soldiers were killed and two others were wounded when a bomb exploded near their patrol in Diyala Province, the military said.
Another U.S. soldier was killed and two others were wounded when by a roadside bomb blast in northwest Baghdad, the military said. The soldier was involved in a route-clearance mission, the military said. The names of the dead have not been released.
Memories of George Will
From Alterman's Sound and Fury:
Rumors of a relationship between the self-declared 'thoroughly married' George Will and Lally Weymouth, globetrotting reporter, daughter of Post owner Katherine Graham,and former main squeeze of Left executioner Alexander Cockburn, were initially dismissed by Washington wags as too good to be true. When the rumors panned out and Will left his wife and children to buy a $990,000 house a few blocks away from his family in Chevy Chase only to see, according to the Washingtonian, his office furniture left on his front lawn with a note reading "Take it somewhere else, Buster," the cocktail party circuit exploded. Will and Weymouth both denied that the relationship had been romantic and threatened to sue the Washingtonian. The magazine offered to write a correction if it would be allowed to investigate the matter and interview Will's friends. The matter was dropped there....
Since breaking off with Weymouth, Will apparently found love again with former Reagan White House communications worker Mari Maseng, thirteen years his junior. The couple was married in Will's home on October 12, 1991.
Go Go Gonzo Go
NYT:
Bush taped his "I Heart Abu G" radio address before the latest stuff came out.
WASHINGTON, March 24 — An accumulating body of evidence is at odds with the statements of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales that he played little role in the deliberations over the dismissal of eight United States attorneys.
Mr. Gonzales has said he did not take part in any discussions of the dismissal effort, and left the planning and execution of the removals up to D. Kyle Sampson, his former chief of staff.
But e-mail messages and other documents released by the Justice Department in recent days suggest that Mr. Gonzales was told of the dismissal plan on at least two occasions, in 2005 when the plan was devised and again in late 2006 shortly before the firings were carried out.
Bush taped his "I Heart Abu G" radio address before the latest stuff came out.
Sunday Bobbleheads
Document the atrocities.
BC's "This Week" — Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.; breast cancer specialist Dr. Eric Winer; breast-cancer survivors.
CBS' "Face the Nation" — Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; former U.S. Attorney H.E. "Bud" Cummins.
NBC's "Meet the Press" — Former U.S. attorneys David Inglesias and John McKay; Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa.
CNN's "Late Edition" — Samir Sumaidaie, Iraqi ambassador to U.S.; John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.; Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Lanny Davis, former Clinton special counsel; Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist; Ed Gilles-pie, former RNC chairman.
"Fox News Sunday" — Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Trent Lott, R-Miss.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Trust Us
Awesome:
Forget the civil liberties issues, this is such an absurd waste of resources.
For at least a year before the 2004 Republican National Convention, teams of undercover New York City police officers traveled to cities across the country, Canada and Europe to conduct covert observations of people who planned to protest at the convention, according to police records and interviews.
From Albuquerque to Montreal, San Francisco to Miami, undercover New York police officers attended meetings of political groups, posing as sympathizers or fellow activists, the records show.
They made friends, shared meals, swapped e-mail messages and then filed daily reports with the department’s Intelligence Division. Other investigators mined Internet sites and chat rooms.
From these operations, run by the department’s “R.N.C. Intelligence Squad,” the police identified a handful of groups and individuals who expressed interest in creating havoc during the convention, as well as some who used Web sites to urge or predict violence.
But potential troublemakers were hardly the only ones to end up in the files. In hundreds of reports stamped “N.Y.P.D. Secret,” the Intelligence Division chronicled the views and plans of people who had no apparent intention of breaking the law, the records show.
Forget the civil liberties issues, this is such an absurd waste of resources.
Minority
It's obvious that Republicans in general and the presidential candidate especially will have to run against George Bush in '08 if they want to have any chance of actually winning control.
It's also obvious that fealty to dear leader is still an extraordinarily important thing to the 30 percenters.
It's also probable that our blessed media, who spent '00 demanding that Al Gore run away from Bill Clinton due to his hideous 65% approval ratings, will be unlikely to do that to the Republican candidate in '08.
Just thinking out loud here.
It's also obvious that fealty to dear leader is still an extraordinarily important thing to the 30 percenters.
It's also probable that our blessed media, who spent '00 demanding that Al Gore run away from Bill Clinton due to his hideous 65% approval ratings, will be unlikely to do that to the Republican candidate in '08.
Just thinking out loud here.
WHEEEEEEEE
Broder's boy is sure bouncing.
It all makes for a continued hard slog for the president: Just 36 percent approve of his job performance overall, very near his career low of 33 percent last month. Bush hasn't seen majority approval in more than two years — the longest run without majority support for any president since Harry Truman from 1950-53.
...
Bush is paying the continued price of an unpopular war. Sixty-four percent now say the war in Iraq was not worth fighting, up six points from last month to a new numerical high. (It was 63 percent in October.) A majority hasn't said the war was worth fighting since April 2004, and it's been even longer since a majority has approved of how Bush is handling it. Sixty-seven percent now disapprove; 55 percent disapprove strongly.
In a fundamental change, 56 percent now say U.S. forces should be withdrawn at some point even if civil order has not been restored in Iraq. That represents a continued, gradual departure from the "you break it, you've bought it" sentiment that until now has mitigated in favor of continued U.S. involvement until some stability is attained.
Another part of this change has been a shift in views on setting a withdrawal date. Given pro and con positions (avoiding casualties vs. encouraging insurgents), support for a deadline has risen from 39 percent in late 2005 to 47 percent last summer and 53 percent now. That's a majority, but not a large one; 46 percent still oppose a deadline, underscoring the difficulty of finding consensus on how to get out of Iraq.
Freak
I think one of the worst habits we have is telling other people not just how they're supposed to live their lives, but what the appropriate emotional responses to life events - births, deaths, triumphs, tragedies - are supposed to be. While we're not all twisted freaks like Rush Limbaugh, I think the impulse is a fairly universal one.
People who get a serious illness, or become disabled, lose both their agency and their humanity in the eyes of many. They become freaks who have to prove they are human in every interaction, and have to reassert their own agency at every moment.
For some reason the most natural and seemingly healthy impulse - to go on with your life as you had intended to the best of your ability - seems to be the most alien to those not experiencing a tragic illness.
People who get a serious illness, or become disabled, lose both their agency and their humanity in the eyes of many. They become freaks who have to prove they are human in every interaction, and have to reassert their own agency at every moment.
For some reason the most natural and seemingly healthy impulse - to go on with your life as you had intended to the best of your ability - seems to be the most alien to those not experiencing a tragic illness.
Fumigation
David Kurtz has the exact right take. When a Republican operative talks about depoliticizing something, what they mean is there are too many Democrats.
Grip
As has been the case since I've been obsessing about this crap, journalists obsess about mostly trivial ethical issues, pat themselves on the back for doing so, and proceed to ignore more serious issues.
Why was Jayson Blair a bigger scandal than Judith Miller?
Some questions answer themselves...
Why was Jayson Blair a bigger scandal than Judith Miller?
Some questions answer themselves...
Friday, March 23, 2007
Not the Most Important Thing in the World
But, nonetheless, Gail Shister is probably the best unique product the Inqy has. They should be promoting her far and wide for what she does best instead of forcing her to do stupid things.
Oh My
Can't find online yet, but a little birdy sends me:
...here we go:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Newly released documents show Attorney General
Alberto Gonzales approved plans to fire several U.S. attorneys in a
November meeting, contrary to claims he was not closely involved in
the dismissals.
...here we go:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales approved plans to fire several U.S. attorneys in a November meeting, according to documents released Friday that contradict earlier claims that he was not closely involved in the dismissals. The Nov. 27 meeting, in which the attorney general and at least five top Justice Department officials participated, focused on a five-step plan for carrying out the firings of the prosecutors, Justice Department officials said late Friday.
There, Gonzales signed off on the plan, which was crafted by his chief of staff, Kyle Sampson. Sampson resigned last week amid a political firestorm surrounding the firings.
The five-step plan involved notifying Republican home-state senators of the impending dismissals, preparing for potential political upheaval and naming replacements and submitting them to the Senate for confirmation.
Tweety Speaks Truth!
The Washington Post is not the liberal newspaper it was, Congressman, let me tell you - I've been reading it for years and it's a neo-con newspaper now.
Murphy-Americans All The Same
The NRCC sent out a press release blasting Tim Murphy for voting to provide funding for the military in Iraq.
Tim Murphy is a Republican.
A little while later they retracted it.
A little while later they sent out a press release blasting Iraq war Vet Patrick Murphy for voting to fund the troops in Iraq.
(ht reader m)
Tim Murphy is a Republican.
A little while later they retracted it.
A little while later they sent out a press release blasting Iraq war Vet Patrick Murphy for voting to fund the troops in Iraq.
(ht reader m)
The Education of Peter Beinart
Well, it took him a few years but maybe now he's getting it.
In 1973 the Senate voted to suspend funding for American military operations in Vietnam; the next year, Congress voted to cut off aid to the embattled government in Saigon. Some of today's commentators argue that those votes devastated the Democratic Party in the mid-1970s. But if so, the Democrats had a strange way of showing it. They won the 1974 midterm elections in a landslide. Two years later, Jimmy Carter grabbed the White House. To be sure, Watergate played a major role in those victories. But if the party's efforts to end the war weren't the primary reason for its success, they certainly didn't hurt.
...
The real danger for Democrats in the Iraq debate isn't that they'll oppose the war too aggressively; it's that they won't oppose it aggressively enough. In 1972, Nixon attacked McGovern as a liberal extremist, which wasn't exactly wrong. But the Democratic Party has become more moderate since the Clinton years, and in the past two presidential elections the G.O.P. has attacked Al Gore and John Kerry less as ideological radicals than as soulless opportunists, weather vanes willing to say whatever it took to win. As pollster Ruy Teixeira has noted, surveys in recent years show Democrats trailing the G.O.P. by more than 20 points when it comes to "know[ing] what they stand for."
If the public doesn't like what you stand for, then you should probably adjust your views. But if the public doesn't believe you stand for anything, then you had better show them that you do. That's the problem the Democratic Party faces today. And the solution is to end the war in Iraq.
I Am Pure You Are Corrupt
As Chris wrote yesterday, we're having another round of "my opinions are pure yours are somehow corrupted" in the blogosphere. I don't claim to be right about everything, but the fact that I disagree with you doesn't necessarily involve some grand conspiracy.
More than that, the "you're corrupt!" crowd tends to mesh fairly well with the "why don't you link to me?" crowd. Some questions answer themselves.
...and this, very silly. My principles are not anything you happen to make up for me, and my role in this universe is not anything you happen to imagine it to be. I've never claimed to be an "independent journalist" and never suggested that politicians can't have conversations without them being broadcast to the world. My goal is to influence, not report, and I've never pretended otherwise.
More than that, the "you're corrupt!" crowd tends to mesh fairly well with the "why don't you link to me?" crowd. Some questions answer themselves.
...and this, very silly. My principles are not anything you happen to make up for me, and my role in this universe is not anything you happen to imagine it to be. I've never claimed to be an "independent journalist" and never suggested that politicians can't have conversations without them being broadcast to the world. My goal is to influence, not report, and I've never pretended otherwise.
You Go To Vote With The Democrats You Have
And, let's face it, some of them suck. As I've written a couple of times, things are a bit different now that the message isn't everything. There are the contours of what is realistically possible, and people who to try to navigate within them. There are also people who try to change those contours. I applaud both. But wishing for a magic pony plan to withdraw from Iraq is no different than the hundredth article from TNR or WaPo wishing for a magic pony plan to "win" in Iraq. Our side has the Congress we have, and their side has George Bush running the war. Neither is perfect.
Grand Old Police Blotter
And another one:
WASHINGTON -- Former Deputy Interior Secretary Steven Griles will plead guilty to one count of obstruction of justice in the Jack Abramoff corruption investigation, The Associated Press has learned.
Griles, an oil and gas lobbyist who became an architect of President Bush's energy policies while at the Interior Department between July 2001 and July 2005, is the highest ranking Bush administration official implicated in the Washington lobbying scandal.
The former No. 2 official at the Interior Department has agreed to a felony plea admitting that he lied five times to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and its investigators about his relationship with Abramoff, people involved in the case told the AP.
Bubble
Unsurprisingly, we know who is to blame:
Sadly, the free market fairies failed us once again.
The underlying belief, shared by the Bush Administration, is that too much regulation would stifle credit for low-income families, and that capital markets and well-educated consumers are the best way to curb unscrupulous lending.
Sadly, the free market fairies failed us once again.
Meanwhile
CNN/Reuters: "Sunni Deputy PM Not Stable After Suicide Bombing."
...oh, and I sold out again. Weird how selling out involves no money.
...oh, and I sold out again. Weird how selling out involves no money.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Could He Possibly Be That Stupid?
My theory is that Swampland's business model is to get writers to write stuff so stupid that liberal bloggers like me will be baited into linking to it.
But, seriously, Kinsley's obviously been stealing Carol Darr's mercury chips.
But, seriously, Kinsley's obviously been stealing Carol Darr's mercury chips.
Votes
Democrats being in the majority makes life a bit more difficult for people like me. When they're in the minority, message is everything and the rules of the game are simpler. In the majority, message is still important but there are a lot more moving parts, many of which are not easily visible.
I really haven't written about the House Iraq Bill for this reason. It isn't perfect, but the choice isn't between nothing and a pony, it's between nothing and this. From what I understand Pelosi has called in every chip she has (and thrown some elbows) for the Bill. Whatever its imperfections, it's better than the realistic alternative. Let's hope it passes.
I really haven't written about the House Iraq Bill for this reason. It isn't perfect, but the choice isn't between nothing and a pony, it's between nothing and this. From what I understand Pelosi has called in every chip she has (and thrown some elbows) for the Bill. Whatever its imperfections, it's better than the realistic alternative. Let's hope it passes.
Elizabeth Edwards
Well, obviously everyone has already heard the truly horrible news. Really don't know what to say.
Just Another Day in Baghdad
Splendid!
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was unharmed as he ducked behind a podium after a rocket or mortar round landed near the prime minister’s office Thursday
The never-ending "Onward until non-defined Victory" tour continues its steady trend:
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was unharmed as he ducked behind a podium after a rocket or mortar round landed near the prime minister’s office Thursday
For [Maliki] obviously, this is just another day in Baghdad, something that happens in Iraq every day. You feel and the mortar attacks, they happen all around this country. But obviously, in this situation, it startled the new Secretary- General, his first trip to Iraq, quite a reality check for him.
The never-ending "Onward until non-defined Victory" tour continues its steady trend:
Daily Show on the Reasonable Proposal
John Oliver:
It's a major concession from the president's initial offer to Congress, which was that they go fuck themselves.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Hope Elizabeth is Okay
Not sure whether this is medical (Elizabeth Edwards apparently had some appointments this week), political, or a combination, but in any case...
...adding, I'm not gossiping here, news reports had Edwards canceling a campaign event to be with Elizabeth for a medical appointment.
SEN. JOHN EDWARDS AND HIS WIFE, ELIZABETH, TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE THURSDAY AT NOON ET -- DEVELOPING
...adding, I'm not gossiping here, news reports had Edwards canceling a campaign event to be with Elizabeth for a medical appointment.
Matt Drudge Rules His World
Ed Henry Finds a Nut
CNN:
I think also, another thing to look at, I followed up a question about executive privilege. You heard Tony Snow at the end there saying the president has no recollection of being involved in this decision to fire the US attorneys. So we asked the question then, well why are you citing executive privilege - or at least suggesting you will, and yesterday the president said the principle at stake here is candid advice from his advisers to the president - if the president was not involved in the decision, then how can you cite executive privilege on something he was really not involved in? And Tony Snow basically said, it's a good question and I don't know the answer.
Tony Snow on The 18 Day Gap
Tells the reporter to ask Justice, and only provides:
He looked really really uncomfortable.
I've been led to believe that there's a good response for it, and I'm going to let you ask them because they're going to have an answer.
He looked really really uncomfortable.
Snow Job
Hey, someone in the WHPC is on the job.
...CD interviews Knox.
What kinds of conversations does executive privilege protect?…What are the limits on privilege?'' a newspaper columnist wrote in the spring of 1998 on a subject strangely familiar today.
"Evidently, Mr. Clinton wants to shield virtually any communications that take place within the White House compound on the theory that all such talk contributes in some way, shape or form to the continuing success and harmony of an administration,'' the columnist wrote. "Taken to its logical extreme, that position would make it impossible for citizens to hold a chief executive accountable for anything.''
"Sounds like you're reading an old column of mine,'' Tony Snow, the Bush administration's press secretary, said today, readily recognizing his nine-year-old words read back to him today at a press gaggle in which Snow was arguing for Bush's right to protect the internal deliberations of his White House staff.
In March 1998, Snow wrote for the Detroit News, in which this column appeared. Today, he is press secretary for another president confronting an aggressive Congress. It's a different situation, Snow insisted.
With credit to Olivier Knox of Agence France-Presse for a deft piece of document research, here is a copy of the column that Snow published in the Detroit News on March 29, 1998:
...CD interviews Knox.
Giving It All Away
Following up on the post below, I'm not advocating that artists and record companies give all their product away for free. I recognize that there are legitimate IP/copyright concerns. The point is simply that the industry has spent the last decade or so focused on trying to maintain their old marketing/distribution models instead of recognizing the new reality and figuring out how to exploit it. That may, in fact, involve giving away lots of content for free. Or maybe not. But radio stations have been giving away content for free for decades, sometimes after large checks were written to them by record companies.
The point is that the internet and .mp3s are here, they aren't going away, and instead of fighting it record companies need to figure out how to creatively exploit that to, yes, hopefully make lots of money.
The point is that the internet and .mp3s are here, they aren't going away, and instead of fighting it record companies need to figure out how to creatively exploit that to, yes, hopefully make lots of money.
Barr
Bob Barr is on CNN sounding extraordinarily sensible. I would have never guessed that out of all of the impeachment cast of characters, his post-Clinton existence would involve an incredible diminishing of his level of hacktitude.
Cable News Ratings
I continue to be amazed at the apparent inability of cable news programmers to see the obvious patterns in the ratings. On CNN and MSNBC, the most Republican-friendly shows (zahn and tucker respectively) are low-rated. The only "liberal on TV," Keith Olbermann, beats them all. No one is actually watching golden boy Glenn Beck's show, despite his massive promotion all over the place. His show probably costs about 5 cents to produce, but still.
Any sensible person would see that Olbermann's audience generally drops off a lot when Joe Scar comes on the air, and think about how to retain that audience.
Any sensible person would see that Olbermann's audience generally drops off a lot when Joe Scar comes on the air, and think about how to retain that audience.
Broken Promotion Machine
My guess is that the music industry's biggest problem is their failure to adapt to the need for new marketing. Listening to music radio on my recent car trip (I rarely listen to music radio otherwise) I basically heard no "new" music except for a bit of dance and hip-hop music. MTV doesn't play videos anymore. Instead of exploiting the desire of people on the internet to promote their stuff for free, they're obsessed with royalties and DRM. It's bizarre to me that an industry notorious for its payola scandals - paying radio stations to pay their crap so that people can hear it for free - simultaneously obsesses about the possibility that people might actually throw up a song on the internet so that people can hear it for free. It's called promotion.
There's a lot more decent music floating around than when I was a teenager, and you can find it if you spend some time looking for it, but there seems to be absolutely no mainstream media marketing or play of most of it.
There's a lot more decent music floating around than when I was a teenager, and you can find it if you spend some time looking for it, but there seems to be absolutely no mainstream media marketing or play of most of it.
The Decider
Tbogg:
One thing that is fascinating about George Bush is how little he has grown in office. No, that's not right. It's not that he hasn't grown, he has gotten smaller; less Presidential, more sad little man watching his paper boat circle the drain. After six years of playing The Decider he should at least have a thin candy shell of gravitas as opposed to coming across like one of those guys on Peoples Court who not only has an unshakable belief that people won't see through his bullshit, but that no one will notice his artful comb-over either.
As bad a president as George W. Bush has been (and lets face it, not only is he the worst ever, he's actively lobbying to be considered worse than at least the next five, possibly six presidents, and that includes President Patrick McHenry [warning: video] who will come to power following the Great Munchkin Uprising of 2021. You don't want to know...) he is a worse person and it shows whenever he is under pressure; he melts down into a greasy little puddle of glares and smirks and incipient panic. But tonight was special. Tonights performance lays to rest any notion other than the fact that he's not a very bright man who has nothing but contempt for a world that refuses to dumb down for him.
Ballot Challenge
Philadelphia elections always involve the ritual "trying to throw your opponent off the ballot" dance. Though Mayoral candidate Congressman Bob Brady's (D) problem here isn't necessarily the technical disclosure issue which might get him thrown off, but the ethics of getting compensation for a "no-show" job.
On the stand, Brady said he did not work 140 hours a month at the carpenters' union - though documents subpoenaed from the union show it contributes to his pension as though he did.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Brady shot back after Rosen asked a series of questions about his carpenters' pension. "I don't know what you mean by vesting," Brady said at one point. "I just don't understand what you're saying."
Throughout his testimony, Brady maintained he was not actually drawing income from the union pension yet - echoing his legal team's argument that he was not obligated to disclose it on the form. Rosen, for his part, was looking to establish that the payments to the pension fund were made in Brady's name and thus were compensation of sorts.
Impeaching Abu G
If the White House stalls the investigation, then impeaching Abu G should pretty much be a no brainer.
The Nixon Articles of impeachment, which passed the House Judiciary Committee:
The "unitary executive" gang has long said impeachment is Congress's primary check on the executive. Time to call their bluff.
The Nixon Articles of impeachment, which passed the House Judiciary Committee:
Article 1
RESOLVED, That Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanours, and that the following articles of impeachment to be exhibited to the Senate:
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT EXHIBITED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE NAME OF ITSELF AND OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AGAINST RICHARD M. NIXON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF ITS IMPEACHMENT AGAINST HIM FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOURS.
ARTICLE 1
In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his consitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, in that:
On June 17, 1972, and prior thereto, agents of the Committee for the Re-election of the President committed unlawful entry of the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, District of Columbia, for the purpose of securing political intelligence. Subsequent thereto, Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, engaged personally and through his close subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or plan designed to delay, impede, and obstruct the investigation of such illegal entry; to cover up, conceal and protect those responsible; and to conceal the existence and scope of other unlawful covert activities.
The means used to implement this course of conduct or plan included one or more of the following:
1. making false or misleading statements to lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States;
2. withholding relevant and material evidence or information from lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States;
3. approving, condoning, acquiescing in, and counselling witnesses with respect to the giving of false or misleading statements to lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States and false or misleading testimony in duly instituted judicial and congressional proceedings;
4. interfering or endeavouring to interfere with the conduct of investigations by the Department of Justice of the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, and Congressional Committees;
5. approving, condoning, and acquiescing in, the surreptitious payment of substantial sums of money for the purpose of obtaining the silence or influencing the testimony of witnesses, potential witnesses or individuals who participated in such unlawful entry and other illegal activities;
6. endeavouring to misuse the Central Intelligence Agency, an agency of the United States;
7. disseminating information received from officers of the Department of Justice of the United States to subjects of investigations conducted by lawfully authorized investigative officers and employees of the United States, for the purpose of aiding and assisting such subjects in their attempts to avoid criminal liability;
8. making or causing to be made false or misleading public statements for the purpose of deceiving the people of the United States into believing that a thorough and complete investigation had been conducted with respect to allegations of misconduct on the part of personnel of the executive branch of the United States and personnel of the Committee for the Re-election of the President, and that there was no involvement of such personnel in such misconduct: or
9. endeavouring to cause prospective defendants, and individuals duly tried and convicted, to expect favoured treatment and consideration in return for their silence or false testimony, or rewarding individuals for their silence or false testimony.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.
Adopted 27-11 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, at 7.07pm on Saturday, 27th July, 1974, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn Office Building, Washington D.C.
* Listen to the roll call of the Judiciary Committee on the First Article of Impeachment
* Listen to the Announcement of the Vote
Article 2
Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposed of these agencies.
This conduct has included one or more of the following:
1. He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavoured to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposed not authorized by law, and to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be intitiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.
2. He misused the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service, and other executive personnel, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, by directing or authorizing such agencies or personnel to conduct or continue electronic surveillance or other investigations for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; he did direct, authorize, or permit the use of information obtained thereby for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; and he did direct the concealment of certain records made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of electronic surveillance.
3. He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, authorized and permitted to be maintained a secret investigative unit within the office of the President, financed in part with money derived from campaign contributions, which unlawfully utilized the resources of the Central Intelligence Agency, engaged in covert and unlawful activities, and attempted to prejudice the constitutional right of an accused to a fair trial.
4. He has failed to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by failing to act when he knew or had reason to know that his close subordinates endeavoured to impede and frustrate lawful inquiries by duly constituted executive, judicial and legislative entities concerning the unlawful entry into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, and the cover-up thereof, and concerning other unlawful activities including those relating to the confirmation of Richard Kleindienst as Attorney General of the United States, the electronic surveillance of private citizens, the break-in into the offices of Dr. Lewis Fielding, and the campaign financing practices of the Committee to Re-elect the President.
5. In disregard of the rule of law, he knowingly misused the executive power by interfering with agencies of the executive branch, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Division, and the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, of the Department of Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency, in violation of his duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.
Adopted 28-10 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
Article 3
In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, contrary to his oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has failed without lawful cause or excuse to produce papers and things as directed by duly authorized subpoenas issued by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on April 11, 1974, May 15, 1974, May 30, 1974, and June 24, 1974, and willfully disobeyed such subpoenas. The subpoenaed papers and things were deemed necessary by the Committee in order to resolve by direct evidence fundamental, factual questions relating to Presidential direction, knowledge or approval of actions demonstrated by other evidence to be substantial grounds for impeachment of the President. In refusing to produce these papers and things Richard M. Nixon, substituting his judgment as to what materials were necessary for the inquiry, interposed the powers of the Presidency against the the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, thereby assuming to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives.
In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore, Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.
Adopted 21-17 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
The "unitary executive" gang has long said impeachment is Congress's primary check on the executive. Time to call their bluff.