The Zeitgeist Report

I am hearing a lot of all of that.

The funny thing is Ithink bush did unite us in ways he never meant too.

I noticed something surprising about my mom the other day. She sounded just like yall, just like me.

My mom has always been an indy with strong conservative leans, but now she sounds just like us.

"Get out of Iraq. Taxes are not working. Vitter is a Dog. I hate geogie and the son of a bitch should be impeached. Clean up New Orleans. Find Bin Laden'.

It is not just her, it is 9 out of every 10 I speak too.

My mom has always been politically aware, but never active. She SOUNDS active now. She is not marching with her feet but she is watching every move the parade makes.

GOP Sen. Gordon Smith calls war in Iraq 'insane'

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/GOP_Senator_Gordon_Smith_calls_Iraq_0710.html

World refugee numbers rise, bolstered by Iraqis
Report: Number grew by nearly 2 million and is at highest level since 2001

WASHINGTON - The number of refugees worldwide increased by nearly 2 million last year, driving the total to nearly 14 million, the highest level since 2001, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants reported Wednesday.

The rise was due in part to a continued exodus from Iraq, where 790,000 people left last year. Syria took in 449,000 and Jordan 250,000, the private refugees committee said.

Some 80,000 went to Egypt, while the United States accepted 202 Iraqi refugees for resettlement.

Almost 1.7 million Iraqis
At the end of 2006, there were 1,687,800 Iraqi refugees. Helping to boost the overall refugee total was that registration in Pakistan revealed an addition of nearly 1 million Afghans, to an overall total of 2,161,500.

At the same time, the number of refugees around the world who are being “warehoused” —denied a right to work and confined to camps — for 10 years or more grew to 8.8 million.

more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19708787/

By the way.... Just in case any of you are nervous, you can look up the phone number list here and make sure you ain't on it.

And if you ARE on it, well just disclose it, and beg for mercy. Between that and knowing you had to pay hookers for sex is enough to propel it from scandal to the mildly retarded.

No one really minds hookers, it the hypocrisy you see.

http://deborahjeanepalfrey.com/Jeane10c.html

Posted by: Christy at July 11, 2007 10:25 AM

No worries here, my wife listens to me, and vice versa.

Plus, she's Sicilian.

I was just sitting here thinking about what we are hearing around us, and it made me think of Woz reminding us the other day the polls can not be trusted.

They did it all during the election, what they could not ignore they worded all messed up to skew results, They flat out lowballed anything antibush. It was not just our votes that were rigged, they had to rig 'polls' as well to make it look legitamate. We all say them doing it.

The one word I hear most often now is 'impeachment'. Black White young old, women and men and even little kids. Politically it has already eclipsed all other discussions.

Off the table my arse, the entire nation is sitting at their own tables talking about it.

I would bet you that if an HONEST poll were taken, or if you impeached, you would find NO LESS THAN 75% for it.

I actually am lowballing it. It may be significantly higher. I still say his true base is only 10%.

Once the car starts up and starts rolling off, everyone will quit arguing about wether it is a Ford or a Chevy.

Well someone at work (where there usually is zero political talk) said, "I thought of you this morning" and I asked "Why?" and she said, "because I heard Bush giving a speech somewhere and at the end he said 'Well, I've got to hop' and I thought that was really wierd."

He can hop when he is frog-marched out.

Christy
10%? That's not a base. That's a cult following!

Exactly.

10%? That's not a base. That's a cult following!
Posted by: not my president at July 11, 2007 10:54 AM

Didn't someone in politics use very nearly a term similar to that a few days ago? "Bush personality cult" or words to that effect to describe loyal Bushies...?

That is what's been going on for many years, and it's been popularized by Lamestream Media.

Bloggers, the people whose perceptions are grounded in reality, not spin, are the only ones who have seen things clearly for many years now, and bloggers are the ones ignored by Lamestream Media - and politicians, of course.

It's inordinately frustrating.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/07/11/notes071107.DTL&nl=fix
Mark Morford
Bush Pardons Entire GOP
Prez "pre-emptively" saves all Repubs from becoming "prison bitches." Dems: "Can he do that?"

{{{It's become insanely easy to lampoon Bu$hCo. Dang near like shooting fish in a barrel, and unless one remembers the pure evil these cretins ooze from their pores like rancid sweat, one could almost feel sorry for them. Still, Morford's so spot on it's pathetic and sad to the point of hysterically crying through the laughter.... And I hope one or more of Pelosi's constituents sends this to her, and one of her staff members forces her to read it.... Personally, I've gotten to the point that I'd like to bitch slap her with a hunk of wet lutefisk....}}}

We have all seen the 'Bushevik' at work.

Those 10% that know damn good and well it is not Clintons fault, but they will lie, perjure, plagiarize and distort everything, EVERY THING, on purpose, to keep any blame at all from ever touching their delicious delicious georgie. Or Karl. Or Dick.

Yes, some 25% illiteracy rates will be a factor, but not even the illiterate will protect a war criminal in the end.

I tend to believe of that 10% only 5% are actually TRUE BELIEVERS.

We often refer to those as 'the koolaid drinkers'. The other 5 have to pretend they are true believers because they are sooooo mplicated they have no other choice but to see it through.

Here is the funny thing. I do not think his TRUE base ever went above 20%.

The Cult Of The Bushevik is dedicated to appearing larger than they actually are.

All bullies rely on that misperception. And the busheviks are NOTHING if not the most cowardly group of bullies I have ever seen.

Thank God.

Sen. Snowe to co-sponsor Iraq withdrawal bill. According to CNN, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has officially signed on as a co-sponsor to legislation withdrawing troops from Iraq by April 30, 2008. CNN’s Dana Bash reports:

Now this is significant because it makes it now just Olympia Snowe, but Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon, two Republicans who are now going to vote with the Democrats on this. It is significant in terms of the symbolism of it, in terms of the fact it is indicative of what we have been seeing, the growing opposition to the President and to his war strategy. Prior there have been many, many votes on Iraq, many votes on the Democrats’ plans to bring troops home, but Republicans simply haven’t voted that way. … Olympia Snowe is saying she will.

http://thinkprogress.org/

I am sitting in Union Station, on my way to NYC, wearing my "WE WILL NOT BE SILENT" t-shirt. No one is looking away anymore. There is grimness in this town.

One. Final. Insult.

On Wednesday, President Bush appeared at the dedication of the renovated press briefing room at White House. As the reporters strained to get a few questions through his flow of jovial one-liners, Bush said, "Let's do this. Let me cut the ribbon ... and then why don't you all yell simultaneously. Like, really loudly. And that way, you might get noticed. I'll, like, listen, internalize, play like I'm gonna answer the question, and then smile at you and just say 'got it. Thanks. Thanks for such a solid, sound question.'"

Bush then cut the ribbon, waved, and immediately left.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bush_shows_press_corps_how_to_0711.html

Wonder if the press corp wrote it all down like the good little stenographers they are?

HAHAHAHA!

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Loyal even after leaving the White House, President Bush's former political director Sara M. Taylor obeyed his instructions and declined to answer Congress' questions Wednesday about her role in the firings of federal prosecutors.

But Democrats insisted that the decision to cooperate with their subpoena -- or not -- is hers.

"It is apparent that this White House is contemptuous of the Congress and feels that it does not have to explain itself to anybody," Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, said as he opened the hearing. "I urge Ms. Taylor not to follow that contemptuous position and not to follow the White House down this path."

-snip-

Democrats made clear they did not understand or agree, noting that she is a private citizen compelled to testify with the subpoena under threat of being held in contempt of Congress.

Leahy asked Taylor repeatedly whether she had met with or talked to Bush about the replacement of U.S. attorneys. Taylor repeatedly refused to answer, citing Bush's instructions.

She got some backup from a GOP senator. "I think your declining to answer the last series of questions by the chairman was correct under the direction from White House counsel," the committee's ranking Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, said.

"Whether White House counsel is correct on the assertion of executive privilege is a matter which will be decided by the courts," Specter added. But, in the senator's view, "congressional oversight has the better of the argument."

moron...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/11/prosecutors.taylor.ap/index.html

Posted by: Christy at July 11, 2007 11:35 AM

Irritating rhetorical question:

Will the Press Corpse come to life after that kind of dissing....?

Or will they still need electroshock therapy to get them to twitch?

Posted by: monkey at July 11, 2007 11:41 AM

I wonder if some time in jail would prompt Taylor to change her mind....?

She's obviously a member of the Bu$hCo Cult, too willing to follow her master's commands... "good girl", as one might say to a good dog...!

Claims for executive privilege are based upon the separation of powers set forth in the Constitution. As a separate but equal branch of government, it is argued, the executive can resist efforts by the legislative and judicial branches to encroach on its authority. Presidents have argued against releasing some documents to Congress and against forcing administration officials to testify about private discussions, contending that such disclosures could damage the executive branch's ability to function independently.

President also say they won't be able to get unvarnished advice from advisers who worry that their words will be made public later.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/11/prosecutors.taylor.ap/index.html

Call me effing crazy, but if the "advice" given to the president doesn't involve ILLEGAL actions, why the hell would they be so worried about their words being made public?

DOUCHEBAGS!

Posted by: monkey at July 11, 2007 11:46 AM

And, of course, it begs the question:

What have they got to hide?

If they're doing nothing illegal, then it logically follows that all persons connected with the administration 'should' answer all questions truthfully and give full accounts of their activities....

Throw her ass in jail.

If any of us defied a subpoena and a warrant would have already been issued for contempt.

ARREST HER.

From the previous thread - boy, it exploded!

As for the Europeans, in my experience, they are at least as racist as Americans, usually more.
Chuck in Houston

Posted by: Chuck at July 11, 2007 12:51 AM

When I travel to Europe, I just can't picture myself being seen as a local. EVER.

This is despite high levels of locally based Asian population in major European cities.

I'm always assumed to be from some major Chinese city. When I tell them I'm from Los Angeles, they are kind of taken off-guard.

As for overt racism, I've taken PLENTY of it - ironically, from the Surinamese immigrants in the Netherlands. As I've stated before, if the vaunted Dutch tolerance includes tolerance for ethnic racism and homophobia (which you find in spades in the Surinamese community of the Netherlands), then no thanks.

Casey:

People are fed up. So fed up in fact, that November 2008 can't come fast enough.

Personally, I have a sense of outrage fatifue. Not that I won't fight anymore, but unless there is a "nuclear strike" against these bullies in the White House, how many more of these small skirmishes can we take?

Or are we to proceed at taking on the Bush Administration with a "death by a thousand cuts" methodology?

Another from the previous thread:

As far as I'm concerned, I hope the immigration issue fragments the conservatives. My brother is foreman landscaper with Mexican immigrant crews (& some of questionable legality). He tells me that all the big operations are Republican-headed and they depend heavily on immigrants and then speak out both sides of their mouth and deny it.

Posted by: not my president at July 11, 2007 01:38 AM

I quite agree that Republicans are the biggest beneficiaries, both on the economic and on the social conservative level, of immigration as we know it.

That's why I call anti-immigration Republicans idiots. They are digging their own graves.

I am so through with the 'compelling them' to do anything. They don't CARE to be compelled.

Start arresting people. Starting with her.

And if Miers commits contempt in the pursuit of obstructing justice, arrest her too.

Yet another from the previous thread:

So, under Eisenhower, we supported the French attempt to retain Indochina as a colony (cf: Algeria), and armed them in this endeavour, and in the process became entangled, as Washington and Jefferson would have it, it a foreign adventure.

Chuck in Houston

Posted by: Chuck at July 11, 2007 01:51 AM

This makes Republicans less than the best friends of the Vietnamese community, contrary to popular beliefs. That is, if my assumption about the Vietnamese wanting freedom from both the French and the Communists is correct.

On the other hand, if the South Vietnamese elite were just as content to be French puppets as the South Korean elite are to be part of the great American empire... then the Republicans' aid to the French colonizers does make them friends.

It is not just her, it is 9 out of every 10 I speak too.

Posted by: Christy at July 11, 2007 09:49 AM

Still plenty of W '04 ovals where I am. Both my home neighborhood (where the Dems are utterly nonexistent) and my work neighborhood (gerrymandered into a Dem district, but there are very few residents, and most businesses are Republican).

What's wrong with SoCal?

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) -- Doug Marlette, the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who recently turned his incisive wit toward a budding career as a novelist, died Tuesday in a one-vehicle accident in Mississippi. He was 57.

Marlette, who split his time between Hillsborough, North Carolina, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, was visiting Mississippi to help a group of high school students with the musical version of his syndicated comic strip, "Kudzu."

"You know, there's a couple of family members I'd rather have lost instead of Doug," said author Pat Conroy. "And he would have laughed at that. This has been a shock of all shocks."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/11/marlette.obit.ap/index.html

McCain loses 2008 campaign aides

Two top aides on the 2008 White House campaign team of Republican Arizona Senator John McCain have quit.

Their departure, coming a week after a shake-up of his campaign following disappointing fundraising results, is likely to be a blow for Mr McCain.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6290170.stm

Posted by: Fe at July 11, 2007 11:56 AM

As I see it, the "small skirmishes" Bu$hCo expects us to endure would have made Lamestream Media headlines repeatedly, daily, for years on end if the Democrats had any true power in DC (like the Clinton "scandal" - I refuse to write that female's name if I can avoid it; I heard it too often daily, multiple times per day, for years, and if I never hear that name again, it will be too soon).

But now that the "moral majority" 'PubliCONS are in power, the DC Press Corpse refuses to air anything that might potentially hint and a possible scandal about any of their precocious and precious potentates.

We, as bloggers, may experience scandal fatigue, but if these things are being talked about in Lamestream Media TeeVee snooze, it's certainly not being broadcast as "teasers" for the evening snooze nowadays. The teaser for the morning network shows involved some guy in his lawn chair being in the air with helium balloons. Of Vitter's sex/prostitute "scandal" - nothing. Networks usually lead with sex scandals - unless it's a 'PubliCON.

I just had to wonder if anyone in their right mind would tune in to see video about some guy in his lawn chair floating with helium balloons as the "big" news event of the day... vs yet another juicy sex scandal involving anyone of any political persuasion....

If the Vitter thing was talked about after the guy floating in his lawn chair by helium balloons, I missed it. I figured there was nothing worth watching if that's all they could come up with for a "news teaser" for the morning snooze.

Posted by: Christy at July 11, 2007 12:00 PM

Condisleazy has ignored her subpoena from a month or more ago. Now Taylor, and Miers was supposed to testify tomorrow, but as a loyal Bushie I suspect she's also going to refuse to testify.

Where is the outrage? If the Democrats had done the same, the top news stories would have featured multiple sound bytes regarding illegal activities, network programming would have been cancelled, and there would be endless blather about ethics and morals and details about laws broken and precedents for arresting them....

Sigh.....

In DC, I would say there has been a sea change from the msm. Dana Milbank is positively gleeful over the Bush scandals -- being a little twit himself, he doesn't care which side is screwing up, he loves to be clever.

(Have I mentioned that, despite his snarkiness about Dennis Kucinich's height, that Dana himself appears to be shorter than me??? I just want you all to remember that, especially next time he makes fun of short Dems.)

The press corpses seem to have blinked and become aware that disasters abound to the right, the left, behind, and before us. It is a little like zombies returning to their human forms, but it's happening.

NonnyO, I am sure that where you are, you are not seeing it yet. And it doesn't mean there will be a shred of difference in the power structures. But the scandals are only beginning; the shock and awe will be on the part of those who joined the msm in zombie-hood, and we shall see if it makes a shred of difference to peace, justice, and a return to the true American way.

Posted by: Ally McRepuke at July 11, 2007 12:28 PM

This whole McCain thing has made me secretly smile.

The 'PubliCON governor of my state has been (allegedly on "his own time" - whatever that means) campaigning for McCain for months. I think Pawlenty is in charge of something, but I don't know what. In-state snooze has been "comfortably silent" about whatever the governor is doing with/for McCain after the first day they announced the connection, and much ado was made in local media speculating about the governor maybe being tapped to run for VP, especially since the RNC will be in the Cities in '08.

Heh.

Loyalty to a person you admire (somehow), over loyalty your country... now THAT'S patriotic, eh?

It's not enough of a Mad, Mad, Mad world.

The press corpses seem to have blinked and become aware that disasters abound to the right, the left, behind, and before us. It is a little like zombies returning to their human forms, but it's happening.
Posted by: karen at July 11, 2007 12:45 PM

From reading news stories on the internet, I've sensed the barely-awake blinking mode, the "Wha... huh, what's happening?" from the press corpse zombies.

While I confess I don't actually watch much TeeVee, when I do turn to it for in-state weather reports I still haven't noticed any "news teasers" that make it apparent the press corpse zombies have awakened enough to advertise that they even know some kind of scandals and political disasters have been going on while they've been asleep in their secure cuccoons since December 2000.

We're all too aware of the fact that if it doesn't happen on the TeeVee screens, the sheeple stay ignorant and don't pay any attention to reality, munching only the grass they can see in front of their noses.... If it doesn't happen on the TeeVee screens, it's not real (especially to those who are not on the internet)....

If any of these looming disasters and scandals are going to become real to the kool-aid drinking sheeple, it has to be talked about on TeeVee, and it has to be mentioned as news teasers for the evening snooze. It can't happen soon enough for me....

Ally, me too, I am surrounded on all sides by republicans, but, they are no longer talking like busheviks.

IN FACT, democrat and republican are mattering less every day. This is not an issue of right vs left it is about right and wrong.

My brother is a solid conservative. But not even he can ignore the CRIMES of the bush admin.

In the end, I love my brother, because he is a good and brave man regardless of political affiliation. He has served this nation in uniform and he knows something is terribly WRONG about what he is seeing.

The republicans that are implicated (the ruling elite) want the democrats to look like they are in complete disarray and are depending on enough elite dems being implicated with them to shut down talk of impeachment all together.

They can not stop what is actually already playing out in our homes and on our streets.

The dems need to make a concensus on impeachment and soon. If you are not for it by now I am afraid nothing will make you commit and we are wasting time and lives trying to convince you.

If democrats can reach that concensus you will see republicans jump ship in DROVES just to embrace a SOLUTION.

If you are weary of fighting, indeed, do rest. We all get tired of it. But do know that rest can not be for long.

Our nation is being destroyed right in front of us. We can not let georgie and his cronies DESTROY our nation.

Get in the impeachment line and FORM the line. Not as a democrat or liberal or conservative republican, but as decent human beings who will not take it anymore.

Regardless of the fate of the nation, we are literally fighting evil for our very souls. I will not be dragged down a path to hell lined with torture and war without fighting it.

It is a fight none of us, even republicans are willing to lose.

No matter how tired we get we can not stop fighting.

Im just reading the HuffPo piece on the former Surgeon General saying he was muzzled for politcal reasons. This administration just continues to disgust me at every turn.

snip-

The administration, Dr. Carmona said, would not allow him to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. Top officials delayed for years and tried to “water down” a landmark report on secondhand smoke, he said. Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm.

Dr. Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches. He also said he was asked to make speeches to support Republican political candidates and to attend political briefings.

And administration officials even discouraged him from attending the Special Olympics because, he said, of that charitable organization’s longtime ties to a “prominent family” that he refused to name.

“I was specifically told by a senior person, ‘Why would you want to help those people?’ ” Dr. Carmona said.

The Special Olympics is one of the nation’s premier charitable organizations to benefit disabled people, and the Kennedys have long been deeply involved in it.

When asked after the hearing if that “prominent family” was the Kennedys, Dr. Carmona responded, “You said it. I didn’t.”

-for the complete article: http://tinyurl.com/2bd46m

Pretty horrifying, Carol, except, ummm....

Are we at all surprised?

I am on the train and just finished talking to a lovely woman from NoCal. Here is what we talked about:

Hillary (she would support her)
JK and THK ( I told her they are lovely people)
The DNC (I told her Terry McA was a disaster and Dean is doing a fairly good job, IMO.)
Keith Olbermann's call for resignation (I played her the video)
The DCP (She loved this thread header)

Sorry MarjorieG, we did not get to voting reform! She got off in Philly...

So from where I sit, it seems to me that folks are getting it, even as there are many flavors of getting it.

OK, impeachment fans, here's you chance...

Speaker Pelosi's office is accepting calls to take the "impeachment poll" TODAY -- right now!

CAll 202-225-0100.

Spread the word.

URGENT TO DO: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office is taking calls (202-225-0100) voting for Impeachment of Bush/Cheney. (Say yes or no to the daily poll. It will be forwarded to the Speaker.) PLEASE CALL TODAY. At the toll free capitol switchboard 202-224-3121, you can also call your district's congressional representative to insist he or she support impeachment (e.g., H Res 333, please say :

"In addition to supporting Kucinich's bill H Res 333 to impeach VP Cheney, I'd also support a similar Impeachment Resolution against Bush, especially after the disgraceful Scooter Libby sentence "commuting" and the following issues: wiretapping, torture, the continued occupation of Iraq, gross negligence during Hurricane Katrina, the Valerie Plame CIA leak,

Fax Pelosi # 202 225-8259 Americanvoices@mail.house.gov

(And don't forget to ask for your free set of ginsu knives...)

Is Chertoff wasting taxpayer terrorism preparedness money grooving to Disney this summer?
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2007/07/chertoff_is_groovin.html?nav=rss_blog

The Lamestream Media is once again doing its job to support the oil industry and kill off environmentalism - by killing off a fuel-efficient car before it's even launched.

It's the 40+ MPG Smart car from Europe.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19699245/

The Canadians have had this car, without the safety problems the article claims, for years.

Travel guru Rick Steves was right - he said, "oil-friendly American politicians laugh at them."

Senators prevent vote on U.S. troop rotation changes

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senators lacked the four votes needed Wednesday to bring to the floor a Democrat-sponsored amendment that would have set restrictions on U.S. troop rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan, to give troops more time at home.

The tally for the procedural motion was 56 to 41. Sixty votes were required to cut off debate on the amendment so a vote could be held.

Under the proposal by Jim Webb, D-Virginia, military personnel who return from deployments would have had to remain stateside for at least as long as they spent overseas, before they could be sent back.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/11/senators-prevent-vote-on-us-troop-rotation-changes/

Remind me who supports the troops again?

Remind me who supports the troops again?

Posted by: monkey at July 11, 2007 02:38 PM

We do, we do.

And they--the Repubs-- are traitors.

I called and my support for impeachment has been noted.

Feds take over control of Nixon library
New caretakers promise to allow access to ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’

YORBA LINDA, Calif. - The privately operated Richard M. Nixon Library and Birthplace is now under federal control and researchers can pore over documents and tapes detailing “the good, the bad and the ugly.”

After a simple opening ceremony Wednesday, library officials and docents shared champagne and cake before moving to the research room to view 78,000 newly released Nixon papers and 11½ hours of audio tape.

“This is a great day for history. The hallmark of this new institution will be true acceptance and love for history — the good, the bad and the ugly,” said Timothy Naftali, the museum’s new federal director. “We are moving past the tribal squabble.”

Revisionist history?
For nearly 20 years, library visitors were told the Watergate scandal was really a “coup” by Nixon’s rivals and the investigative reporting team of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein offered bribes for their nation-shaking scoops.

-snip-

With the stamp of the federal system for library comes a major makeover for certain less-than-accurate exhibits — a relief to Nixon scholars who were frustrated by the way the private institution had portrayed the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s foreign policy.

Niftali recently oversaw the demolition of the revisionist Watergate gallery, including a section that said the scandal was a coup plotted by Democrats. The museum also told visitors that the infamous 18½ minute gap in one important White House tape — a conversation three days after the break-in — was because of a mechanical malfunction.

“No serious historian believes in that,” said David Greenberg, a Nixon scholar and professor at Rutgers University. “It’s not only not true, it’s the opposite of truth. There was a lot along those lines in the library, which was not a matter of interpretation, but was flat wrong, a lie.”

In its place, Niftali promises an updated display featuring oral accounts from key players in the Watergate saga, a selection of White House tapes, clips from broadcast news and footage of the Watergate hearings.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19713517/from/RS.5/

Just called Pelosi's office, was told it is NOT true that there is a poll taking place, but that my opinion will be passed along to the speaker.

I said, "ok, here's my opinion, IMPEACH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!".

Thank you sir, we'll pass it along to the speaker, have a great day.

OK, everyone who wants impeachment on the table, please call. I got through way too easily.

TY TY MD.

Made my call and am passing on the number to everyone.

IMPEACH THE BASTARDS!!!!!!

Zogby asked me if I attend NASCAR, shop at Walmart, watched Live Earth or have a tattoo. I suppose he's looking for patterns.

{{{What is it about Bu$hCo staffers...? Do they take a secret oath that no one knows about to be loyal to the Bush-Cheney crime family above their oath to uphold the Constitution...?}}}

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070711/ap_on_go_co/fired_prosecutors

Bush orders Miers not to testify

Excerpt:

Loyal to Bush even outside the White House, Taylor said she was trying not to answer questions that might violate the president's claim of executive privilege. At one point she reminded the committee that as a commissioned officer, "I took an oath and I take that oath to the president very seriously."

Seeing a chance to weaken Taylor's observance of Bush's executive privilege claim, Leahy corrected her: She took an oath to uphold the Constitution, he said.

"Your oath is not to uphold the president," Leahy lectured her.

Taylor began by telling the committee she would observe Bush's directive to defy the subpoena and refuse to answer questions covered by executive privilege, unless a court ordered her to do so.

Democrats insisted that the decision to cooperate — or not — with the subpoena was hers.

"It is apparent that this White House is contemptuous of the Congress and feels that it does not have to explain itself to anybody," Leahy, D-Vt., said as he opened the hearing. "I urge Ms. Taylor not to follow that contemptuous position and not to follow the White House down this path."

With that, Democrats began to try to unravel Taylor's adherence to Bush's directions and prod her into answering their questions about who ordered the firings and why.

Democrats noted that Taylor, 32, is a private citizen compelled by subpoena to testify, under threat of being held in contempt of Congress. During a first round of questioning, Leahy asked Taylor repeatedly whether she had met with or talked to Bush about the replacement of U.S. attorneys. Taylor repeatedly refused to answer, citing Bush's instructions.

She got some backup — at first — from Specter.

"I think your declining to answer the last series of questions by the chairman was correct under the direction from White House counsel," Specter said.

"Whether White House counsel is correct on the assertion of executive privilege is a matter which will be decided by the courts," Specter added. But, in the senator's view, "congressional oversight has the better of the argument."

Some lawmakers said Taylor's decision to answer some questions weakened Bush's executive privilege claim.

"I think sometimes you've stepped on one side of the line and then not wanted to step on the other," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "This broad claim of privilege doesn't stand up."

Apart from her comments about Bush, Taylor revealed a few other details: She said she did not recall ordering the addition or deletion of names to the list of prosecutors to be fired. Taylor said she had no knowledge that Bush was involved in the planning of whom to fire, an assertion that echoed previous statements by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, his former chief of staff Kyle Sampson and Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty.

Taylor disputed Sampson's account that she wanted to avoid submitting a new prosecutor, Tim Griffin, through Senate confirmation.

"I expected him to go through Senate confirmation," Taylor said under questioning by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Taylor also issued a stiff defense of her colleagues in the Bush administration.

"I don't believe there was any wrongdoing by anybody," she said.

Democrats said the same standard applied to a second former Bush aide, one-time White House counsel Harriet Miers. Miers, subpoenaed to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, said through her lawyer that she "cannot provide the documents and testimony that the committee seeks."

Heard from rightwinger (R Novak) that Al Franken raised more than Norm Coleman in MN last quarter. Can tell from what they write that they are also worried about 1) McCain, 2) defecting Senators re Iraq, 3) the Clintons.

I saw that YearlyKos registration ends Saturday and that they're also having a virtual convention.

Saw the photo of that other female aide person just now, refusing to testify much because Bush told her not to. She looks extremely stressed, only 32 years old. Take a walk on the dark side, and see what happens?

We were talking about hope yesterday. I always have hope, because I believe in karma (though not instant karma), like I believe in gravity. Things have a tendency to return to equilibrium.

REGARDING THE FRENCH AND OTHER EUROPEANS:

As I recall, in the last French election, something like 80% of French voters turned out to select a new government. In great contrast, America is lucky to get a 60% voter-turnout.

The other problem with Americans is that they don't read (I would say they are semi-illiterate). They don't read newspapers and they don't read books. They do watch Television and they do listen to radio apparently - which is where they get most of their information (or mis-information as the case may be).

Americans' understanding and knowledge of history and their government is pathetically lacking. I would bet that most Americans cannot name their three Congressmembers.

Compare this with other European countries. Most Europeans are literate in two languages (not just one) as a matter of tradition and necessity.

Their healthcare systems are better. Their taxation systems are better and fairer. Their education systems are better. Their mass transit systems are better. Protection of workers and worker rights are better.. etc...

Things have a tendency to return to equilibrium.

Posted by: not my president at July 11, 2007 04:05 PM

Not if you've had your friggin brains blown out, which metaphorically speaking, is what the Bush/Cheney administration has done to this country.

Gassy Knoll

Posted by: Ralpheh at July 11, 2007 04:22 PM

But remember that the Europeans don't have some of the rights you and I take for granted.

There is no such thing as freedom of speech. In the US, you have the right to be a total jerk, and even support revisionist history regarding the Holocaust. In Europe, it is a crime.

There is no such thing as freedom of religion. There is usually a state church supported by taxpayers, and all major religions are entitled to government funding (who defines major religions, btw?).

The thing though is, it's the separation of church and state that made American religious traditions stronger than their state-funded European counterparts. Just like anti-immigration Republicans, Dominionists who want to take over the government are doing it at their own peril.

Part of letter from Congressman McDermott (D/WA):

For many months, I viewed impeachment as a drastic course of action that would distract Congress from the considerable work requiring its attention. Over these same months, however, the Vice President insistently has pursued provocative actions that have threatened civil liberty, undermined the rule of law, and jeopardized our international standing. Impeachment of our highest elected officials should be considered only when those individuals commit intolerable acts. Sadly, the Vice President egregiously has violated the public trust, placing himself above the law and beyond its constraints. It is appropriate that the Congress now exercise its authority and obligation to remove him from office.

Ally
Freedom of speech is a crime in Europe? Well if so, there are alot of criminals! The strangest graffiti I saw said "Paris is my Bagdad." Check out comments on blogs and so on - I didn't see alot of censorship.

I would relish having the limits on campaign activity that make the playing field more fair. Sure there are jerky situations like where Sarkozy had major friends in the media or Berlusconi OWNED alot of the media but you would not have billion dollar elections or Swift Boats. That would be libel, as it should be.

There are countries that are nominally of a state religion (eg. Catholicism and France) but church attendance is low and separation of church and state is much more rigorously adhered to than in US. Church is private and state is public. Simple.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/24557
Barbara Boxer: "Impeachment should be on the table" - Ed Schultz Show 7/11/07

http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=571
Miers’ Attorney Says She Will Not Attend Hearing
{{{Her attorney's memo and an extended memo including Conyers' response are on this page.}}}

Dick Cheney's Psychology | Part 1: Almost Pleasantly Adrift
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/071107B.shtml
Psychotherapist John P. Briggs, and Western Connecticut State University Professor JP Briggs II begin a two-part series for Truthout on the psychology of Dick Cheney. They write: "The name Dick Cheney conjures images of Svengali or Rasputin. Even Republican White House staffers have called him 'Edgar,' referring to the vaudeville ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy, whom they see as Bush."

Maureen Dowd | History as an Alibi
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/071107E.shtml
Maureen Dowd writes in The New York Times: "The homeland security chief, Michael Chertoff, has a gut feeling that a Qaeda cell might be coming or already be here. 'Summertime seems to be appealing to them,' he said, sounding more like a meteorologist than the man charged with keeping us safe."

Nonny:

Way to go, Barbara Boxer! There's my Senator!

NMP:

Of course, I was taking a literal interpretation of the legal systems re: Holocaust denial ban and state funding of religions. The actual reality has turned out the opposite - as we both agree, state-funded European churches are much weaker than American religious organizations.

Berlusconi's ownership of most of the Italian media... now that's disgusting. I've known of it too. The average Italians I've come across have been very vocal about their dislike for Berlusconi.

I've just sent Boxer an email of appreciation.

But remember that the Europeans don't have some of the rights you and I take for granted.

There is no such thing as freedom of speech. In the US, you have the right to be a total jerk, and even support revisionist history regarding the Holocaust. In Europe, it is a crime.

There is no such thing as freedom of religion. There is usually a state church supported by taxpayers, and all major religions are entitled to government funding (who defines major religions, btw?).

@@@@@

We no longer have these rights that are in the constitution. The Bush administration does not uphold these rights and neither does the rightwing judiciary.

The Bushies and the rightwingers couldn't care less about constitutional rights...

God I love that woman.

Boxer Rocks!

Flynt: Hustler involved in more than 20 sex scandal investigations

Hustler publisher Larry Flynt said Wednesday that investigators working for the magazine are involved in more than 20 investigations relating to his recent call for information on Washington sex scandals.

The investigations include "high ranking Republican and Democrat members of the Senate and the House," Flynt said at a press conference in Los Angeles, in which RAW STORY participated via conference call.

"We've got some really good information here," he said.

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., revealed Monday night that he had been a client of alleged "DC Madam" Deborah Jean Palfrey after reporters working for Hustler called him about the allegations.

"If somebody's living a lie ... they become fair game," Flynt said, referring to Vitter's "family values" stances and opposition to same-sex marriage.

Flynt said his investigations were not meant to be witch-hunts against frisky members of Congress -- "I don't care what their sex life involves," he said -- rather the goal is exposing hypocrisy.

"Unfortunately we have too many of these guys in Congress, and I'm going to do my part to get them out," Flynt told reporters, adding that he doesn't mind spending his own money to do so.

An ad that ran in the Washington Post last month offered $1 million from Flynt for information about people who had an illicit affair with elected officials. Flynt said Wednesday he paid $150,000 to run the full-page advertisement.

The exposure of Vitter came from Flynt's cooperation with Palfrey in securing a complete list of her phone records, not in response to the Post ad, Flynt said.

Referring to his past court battles over indecency charges, the hardcore magazine publisher said the government "did everything it could for 15 years" to put him behind bars.

"This is payback time," he said. "And payback's a bitch."

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Flynt_Hustler_sex_scandal_investigations_involve_0711.html

HAHAHA!!!

Hey! Who's turn is it to bring the popcorn...?

HAHAHA!!

Ally
The Italians were disgusted enough with Berlusconi to get rid of him, despite his power.

Now let's see us do something like that.

I would rather we do what they did to get rid of Mussolini.

Now THAT is an effective way to deal with a war criminal.

Or maybe Romanian style, 5 minute trial only to pronounce them guilty and drag them out the backdoor and shoot them. Day 1: Rendered Day 2 moot.

I am beginning to understand these historical acts more and more every day.

I no longer wonder how such a moment could manifest.

State House Rep. Arrested

Officers say they noticed Allen acting suspicious as he went in and out of the men's restroom 3 times. Minutes later, he solicited an undercover male officer inside the restroom, offering to perform oral sex for $20. Officers realized he was a public figure after the arrest.

Allen, a Republican, represents District 32 of the State House of Representatives. The district spans parts of Brevard and Orange counties. Allen was first elected to the office in 2000.

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3745189&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

What do you wanna bet Mr. Getmywienersuckedfor20$ is suppossedly a Family Values republican...?

I'll bet ya $20 he was right until the handcuffs snapped shut.

He's married, so I guess he just got outed AND busted.

"Bob, his wife and family live in Brevard County."

HAHAHA! He was MCCAINS GUY...!!!

"He also had been named a co-chairman last spring of Arizona Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign team in Florida."

HAHAHA!!

These guys are soooo...sad really.

We were talking about hope yesterday. I always have hope, because I believe in karma (though not instant karma), like I believe in gravity. Things have a tendency to return to equilibrium.

Posted by: not my president at July 11, 2007 04:05 PM

Thanks nmp. This is exactly what I tried to get out yesterday. I'm not so placid and lacking in passion that I don't swear at the ugly sniggering faces of murder and mayhem on tv.

Survival makes most of us hopeful. Hearing a political journalist and author speaking about the US recently, gave me hope. As he said, "We've been here before. More than once. We'll restore our integrity. We always do."

Posted by: Christy at July 11, 2007 07:34 PM

I'll buy a week's worth of popcorn - but only if it's the old-fashioned kind (the microwave stuff has smelly chemicals that give me an instant headache; gawd, that stuff stinks almost as bad as rancid skunk odors!). Oh, and on top of the real popcorn, real butter on the popcorn, too, not margarine, with a sprinkling of salt with the melted butter. I can even still remember how to shake the pan over a stove burner 'just right' until it's all popped, and I have a nice large bowl into which I can put the popcorn....

Yeah, I know. There's bound to be 'one/some of ours' caught in this illicit and/or illegal sex scandal stuff, but I'll bet the majority are 'PubliCONS, and they're the hypocritical reich-wing "family values" types who go to church on Sundays just for show, and their hypocrisy needs to be exposed, regardless of which political party they belong to. I'm just freakin' sick and tired of the hypocritical crap that's been shoved down our throats since 2000, so every one of 'em needs to be revealed for the two-faced scumbags they really are....

Christy,

I'm of the opinion that every closet gay Republican must be outed, and be treated according to the party platform's statement on sodomites.

That Romanian treatment you mentioned sounds pretty fair to me. It is sweet payback for all the pain and damage they've inflicted on ordinary honest LGBTs.

Christy
You and I interpreted Mr. Weiner's sexual predilection in the opposite ways. The sentence has unclear syntax. I say he was going to be the sucker, not the suckee, not that it matters.

Iraqi Bank Robberty

Source: IHT

BAGHDAD: In an astonishing heist, guards at a bank here made off with more than a quarter-billion dollars on Wednesday, according to an official at the Interior Ministry.

The robbery, of $282 million from the Dar Es Salaam bank, a private financial institution, raised more questions than it answered, and officials were tight-lipped about the crime. The local police said two guards engineered the robbery, but an official at the Interior Ministry said three guards were involved.

Both confirmed that the stolen money was in American dollars, not Iraqi dinars. It was unclear why the bank had that much money on hand in dollars, or how the robbers managed to move such a large amount without being detected.

Several officials speculated that the robbers had connections to the militias, because it would be difficult for them to move without being searched through many checkpoints in Baghdad.

Otherwise on Wednesday, there was only scattered violence in the city, although 18 bodies were found by the police in different neighborhoods, signaling that sectarian killing had not ebbed.

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/12/africa/12iraq.ph...

I say he was going to be the sucker, not the suckee, not that it matters.

Posted by: not my president

You are absolutely right, I shall now correct myself...

"What do you wanna bet Mr. CanIsuckyourwienerfor20$ is suppossedly a Family Values republican...?"

Funny thing is, my quicky search of him reveals absolutely NONE of his political stances other than some assumed love for insurance companies.

Can't say he is a political hypocrit yet, but I doubt any of his voters knew what they could get paid by him to do.

I find it odd I can not find any personal info on him at sll other than a very very short bio.

Kinda freaky but not as freaky as paying a stranger 20$ to sit back while you polish his willy.

God I had forgotten how much fun sex scandals are.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070712/ap_on_re_us/obit_johnson

Lady Bird Johnson dies at 94

For anyone who hasn't seen this yet....

Posted by: not my president at July 11, 2007 10:24 PM

What about all those billions of dollars in cash that disappeared a few years ago that were never accounted for....? Some was, but a LOT of it simply 'disappeared' and was never seen again.

Things that make me go Hmmmmmmmm..........

CAN YOU SMELL THE FEAR?!?!?!?!? :-) LOL!!!

Congressional probes, sex scandals, a couple of Congress Critters actually said the "I word" out loud, and the first time was last Sunday on a political bobblehead show (I saw that sound byte on C&L... Stephanopolous blinked!)....

So, WHAT is the absolutely MOST PREDICTABLE maneuver the mis-administration can do to keep the sheeple's mind off of all the illegal, unethical, immoral, and dishonorable things they've been doing since 2000, the one Pavlovian conditoning response that's been brainwashed into Lamestream Media and sheeple since '01...????

I'LL GIVE YOU THREE GUESSES, AND THE FIRST TWO DON'T COUNT...:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070712/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_terror_threat
U.S. intel warns al-Qaida has rebuilt

Ready to impeach now?

Snip..

Carmona said he was ordered to mention President George W. Bush three times on every page of his speeches. He also said he was asked to make speeches to support Republican political candidates and to attend political briefings.

Administration officials even discouraged him from attending the Special Olympics because, he said, of that charitable organization's longtime ties to a "prominent family" that he declined to name. "I was specifically told by a senior person, 'Why would you want to help those people?' " Carmona said.

The Special Olympics is one of the nation's premier charitable organizations to benefit disabled people, and the Kennedy family has long been deeply involved in it. When asked after the hearing whether that "prominent family" was the Kennedys, Carmona responded, "You said it. I didn't."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/11/news/health.php

Nonny, hold the popcorn, I think I may be ill.

He had a DIAPER FETISH!!!

EWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

http://wonkette.com/politics/dept%27-of-feces-fetishists/diaperman-david-vitter-likes-his-diapers-277270.php

Posted by: Christy at July 11, 2007 11:14 PM

To repeat what you said:

EWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

I have to go wash out my eyeballs after reading that link....

EWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

No appetite for anything now....

Okay. Something more appealing to read:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/7/11/202837/564

Is inherent contempt pardonable?

Lieberman: US will back Israeli strike on Iran

Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman said on Tuesday that he received the tacit blessing of Europe and the United States for an Israeli military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.

“If we start military operations against Iran alone, then Europe and the US will support us,” Lieberman told Army Radio following a meeting earlier in the week with NATO and European Union officials.

Lieberman said the Western powers acknowledged the severity of the Iranian nuclear threat to the Jewish state, but said that ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are “going to prevent the leaders of countries in Europe and America from deciding on the use of force to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities,” even if diplomacy ultimately fails.

The message Lieberman said the NATO and EU officials conveyed to him is that Israel should “prevent the threat herself.”

http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=13407

Sen. Vitter obeys the mitzvah of Gen. 1:28 ...

"Be fruitful and multiply."

Snip....

It isn't yet public, though apparently it's widely known in Louisiana political circles, that Vitter's commercial romance was blessed with issue. Reportedly his natural child now lives with her mother in Alexandria, VA. That they are receiving financial support from the Senator has not been shown.

http://www.samefacts.com/archives/watching_conservatives_/2007/07/sen_vitter_obeys_the_mitzvah_of_gen_128_.php

Wonkette is also saying Vitter had a baby with a hooker.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Christy
His only hobby is listed as "water sports" (the Florida dude)

Lieberman

The Likud party needs you.

I feel solidarity with all the peace activists of Israel.

By the way, Rachel Corrie's family is still suing Catepillar.

WHAT I'M HEARING:
IMPEACH,IMPEACH,IMPEACH !! "Never,ever has it been this bad;who would have thought; why are "WE" allowing this to happen and then let "THEM" get away with it."
Todat at lunch, the dissing was about Chertof's "gut feeling" and the fffffing fear factor and that Rudy will "optimize" on it. I was stunned that more weren't aware/informed of the Carmona incident.
For your personal comfort (who knows what that is anymore),we're ALL calling,doing,planning and PROTESTING anywhere we can...just... BE THERE!!

FYI: for anyone that missed "tweety" tonight watch,listen to how he cut off the NYC fire chief(Harold,last name fleeting now) at the knees when he dissed Rudy.

MY IRAQ plan: OUT now,troops home so they can protect the homeland .Troops need to be at airports,railways,busses,rebuild our own neglected infra-structure,protect our own borders...jobs and money and healthcare just around the corner,for all ! Don't ya think??
Work hard and let's just rid ourselves of this nightmare. After 04' we know WE MUST BE MORE WATCHFUL.

Water sports.

Holy gagg-olla. Wrong, strange and nasty.

On that note I am going to try to sleep without projectile vomiting.

Christy, NonnyO
Since they, not we, have descended into the depths of depravity, here is the cartoon I made a few months ago about the diaper fetish. I guess someone else in politics gave me the impression that he could be into something like this.
http://silencedmajority.blogs.com/silenced_majority_portal/2007/04/dont_touch_me_s.html#comments

Patti F for Surgeon General!!!!!

Posted by: Christy at July 11, 2007 11:44 PM

Wait a minute - that isn't Joe Lieberman - it appears to be the Israeli Lieberman - not that our Joe wouldn't go along with it.

Joe Lieberman IS itching to go after Iran though
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/07/iran_amendment_passes_970.asp

Back in the '80s I helped some with a documentary about a madame who tried to improve working conditions for exotic dancers. That may seem wierd but that's what it was. Anyway, she said that business boomed during times of Republican administrations.

I also read an article before the RNC convention (Village Voice) and they said that hookers and escorts etc. were coming from all over the country for to NYC to service the dignitaries. It said that by contrast, the DNC convention did not get very many.

What does this tell us? Everybody does it but one group specializes in unhealthy repression. According to Freud, the "return of the repressed" is usually twisted.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/11/221459/144
The Republicans vs Larry Flynt
{{{ Do the Hustle.... da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, like Snoopy in Charlie Brown....! :-) Bwahahahahahaaaa!}}}

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/12/11253/8949
NOLA: Vitter Ordered Hookers As Soon As He Got to Washington

No good has ever come from prissy, hidden behaviours and sexual repression. We can go back for ever and ever to find the seedy acts against children of priests sworn to abstinence. One in denial will inevitably participate in something that is far more abhorrent than that which they are denying.

What is particularly perverse is that those caught doing what they refuse to accept of others, shows that they are liars and should not be working in government.

I don't know if this is one of the moments that's shown repeatedly on tv over there, but it is here. It's a moment where Bush is telling the press that we need to wait until September when General Petreus (sp?) gives his report. That's what the American people expect us to do. So that's what we have to do.

Morning and note Casey's update in the thread header re. Harriet Miers.

Sexual repression aside, this administration needs serious JAIL TIME.

I think GITMO is already set up nicely.

I don;t want any of them living in MY neighborhood when they get out...

Here's what six years of stupidity have gotten us...

The Return of Al Qaeda
A new National Intelligence Estimate raises concerns that the terrorist group is growing stronger.

By Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball
Newsweek
Updated: 6:10 p.m. ET July 11, 2007
July 11, 2007 - A new National Intelligence Estimate presents a sobering analysis of terrorism threats to the United States, concluding that Al Qaeda has reconstituted its core structure along the Pakistani border and may now be a stronger and more resilient organization today than it appeared a year ago, according to three U.S. intelligence officials familiar with the draft document.

more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19717961/site/newsweek/

CIA said Iraq instability seemed ‘irreversible’
Hayden painted bleaker picture than Bush to Iraq Study Group

By Bob Woodward
Updated: 12:59 a.m. ET July 12, 2007

Early on the morning of Nov. 13, 2006, members of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group gathered around a dark wooden conference table in the windowless Roosevelt Room of the White House.

For more than an hour, they listened to President Bush give what one panel member called a "Churchillian" vision of "victory" in Iraq and defend the country's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. "A constitutional order is emerging," he said.

Later that morning, around the same conference table, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden painted a starkly different picture for members of the study group. Hayden said "the inability of the government to govern seems irreversible," adding that he could not "point to any milestone or checkpoint where we can turn this thing around," according to written records of his briefing and the recollections of six participants.

more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19719435/

Impeach NOW or forever lose your peace...

President Bush to hold press conference at 10:30 a.m. ET

Dyin Thesaurus Wrecks

Posted by: monkey at July 12, 2007 08:34 AM

Why is he holding another propaganda show?

Hope the media shows up this time.

sparrow, I think it's to point out once again, that this is what the American people expect him to do. In order to keep Americans safe. To stay in Iraq as now, until the experts report about the progress.

Maybe he's going to step down LOL

What is particularly perverse is that those caught doing what they refuse to accept of others, shows that they are liars and should not be working in government.

Posted by: woz at July 12, 2007 04:47 AM

Thanks! That is my whole point in ever caring about or talking about such things.

Re Harriet Miers
Yes jail but she and her boss are protecting each other. The government has been hijacked by a Mafia. By the way, I was looking at Vitter's website and there he is with Harriet Miers (in the photos).

"I wouldn't ask a mother or a dad -- I wouldn't put their son in harm's way if I didn't believe this was necessary for the security of the United States and the peace of the world. I strongly believe it, and I strongly believe we'll prevail. And I strongly believe that democracy will trump totalitarianism every time. That's what I believe. And those are the belief systems on which I'm making decisions that I believe will yield the peace."
-- George W. Bush, Cleveland, July 10, 2007

Who gives a flying fig for what you believe, Mr. President? You believed trading Sammy Sosa to the White Sox was a good move. You believed Saddam was making nukes from Nigerien yellowcake. You believed Senators of both parties would acclaim Harriet Miers as a "superb choice" for the Supreme Court," an American of "unwavering devotion to the Constitution and laws of our country." You said you had faith in General Casey (until you fired him). You keep telling us you have faith in Alberto Gonzales. We know you believe in a Higher Power, Mr. Bush -- hey, if AA works for you, you go, guy -- but why should any American mother or dad let you put their son in harm's way just because you "strongly believe" that his being wasted by a roadside IED in an Islamic civil war makes the world more peaceful and the United States more secure?

More, by Marty Kaplan at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marty-kaplan/i-believe-for-every-drop-_b_55753.html

What the h-e-double-toothpicks has all the death and destruction been for????

US INTEL: AL QAEDA AT PRE-9/11 STRENGTH

WASHINGTON (AP) - A new threat assessment from U.S. counterterrorism analysts says that al-Qaida has used its safe haven along the Afghan-Pakistan border to restore its operating capabilities to a level unseen since the months before Sept. 11, 2001.

-snip-

Al-Qaida is "considerably operationally stronger than a year ago" and has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," the counterterrorism official said, paraphrasing the report's conclusions. "They are showing greater and greater ability to plan attacks in Europe and the United States."
The group also has created "the most robust training program since 2001, with an interest in using European operatives," the official quoted the report as saying.

complete article here (hat tip to Rawstory):
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070712/D8QB06GG0.html

Can you imagine how the families of the dead soldiers feel?

Posted by: not my president at July 12, 2007 12:55 AM

NMP, I really really wonder if Isreals Lieberman and our own holy joe are related...?

They DEFINATELY are reading from the same page.

And both of them needs to be shut the hell up.

Iraq bank heist nets thieves nearly $300 million
Employees arrive to find doors open, cash gone; guards are suspected

BAGHDAD - Thieves have stolen nearly $300 million from a bank in Baghdad, police and a bank official said on Thursday, in what is probably one of the biggest thefts in Iraq since the 2003 war to topple Saddam Hussein.

Police said the thieves were three guards who worked at the private Dar Es Salaam bank in Baghdad’s Karrada district.

They said that when bank employees arrived for work on Wednesday they found the front door open and the money gone. The guards, who normally slept at the bank, had also disappeared, they said.

more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19725342/

I wonder how much of that money is ours?

F GWB

An official at the bank said about $300 million in U.S. dollars had been stolen, as well as 220 million Iraqi dinars ($176,000). He declined to give further details.

And where is the over TWO TRILLION rummy announced was missing on Sept 10th, 2001, some 14 hours before we were attacked?

2.3 TRILLION.

Posted by: Christy at July 12, 2007 10:00 AM

Ya think Halliburton would actually rob taxpayer money under the watchful mercenary eyes of Blackwater???

Hmmm, create instabilty... check.
Pump tons of taxpayer money into country... check.
Send in contractors out the ying-yang to "secure" the area.... eh, check.
Use said contractors to rob and plunder banks and natural resources under the guise of chaos...

Priceless.

Contact Conyers office and tell him to arrest Miers and Taylor for contempt of congress.

2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126
(202) 225-0072 Fax

669 Federal Building
231 W. Lafayette
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 961-5670
(313) 226-2085 Fax

Would like to see a tribute to LBJ and Lady Bird here.
Locally Hutchinson and Cornyn are expressing with crocodile tears what her loss means to this state. These are the same folks who went ballistic and blocked the naming of the the D.C. Dept of Education Bldg after LBJ saying ugly things about LBJ which I will never forgive. At least LBJ had the decency to refuse to run for re-election when he recognized how badly his war was going.
Lady Bird is reaveared down hear in Austin for her charm and decency and will be remembered here in Texas along with Ann Richards as a beacon of Texas values.

New thread

Myths of the War on Terrorism
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/07/myths_of_the_war_on_terrorism.html