Midday Open Thread

A Leaker-in-Chief edition:

• Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter demands answers from the Leaker-in-Chief.  

• Newsweek wraps up the week's events, including President Bush's defense that he just ordered the hit and didn't pay attention to the details.

• John Dean doesn't think the President or Vice-President are in the clear yet.

• Flashback: Back in 2005, a CBS poll found that the CIA leak investigation ranks right up there with Watergate in terms of importance to the American people.  I can't wait to see the numbers now that the President has been revealed to be such a hypocrite.

• Some great analysis of the WaPo editorial here.

• Watch Joe Wilson's appearance on This Week over at C&L.

• View some great Leaker-in-Chief cartoons here, here and here.

• Fighting Dem Eric Massa has a great diary on his takes on the Scooter affair. (mcjoan)

• Joe Lieberman is Not a Dem:

  Joe Lieberman said in Windsor today that he will not rule out an independent run for the Senate in November. According to a Democratic Town Committee (DTC) member who was present, "It came right out of his mouth. He said,'I'll wait and see how the primary comes out.' But he would not rule out running as an independent. 'I feel I have a lot to offer the state,' he said. And this after talking about what a great Democrat he was. I was shocked."

  I'm not shocked. (Armando)

Drip, drip, drip...so how do you think the leak revelations will affect Mr. 36%?  

•  I give Spector 4 days to cave

  once Congress is back in session.

  Nice try Arlen, thanks for playing.

  by Noodles on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:51:06 AM PDT

  •  That long? n/t

    by dkmich on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:54:53 AM PDT

  •  Exactly.

    Specter, like always, will just give in.

    What a coward.

    by Basil on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:55:01 AM PDT

    •  People like Specter are only useful

      1) if you have a Democratic president
      2) if you have a Democratic senate

      by Moderate Lib on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:01:20 PM PDT

      •  Spetcor Probably Trading for Favors

        I wish I had the time to check recent legislation for Specter earmarks in the wake of his sudden reversal of position on the warrantless wiretaps.

        by GW Chimpzilla on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:08:34 PM PDT

        •  We Need a Graph

          We need a live internet counter of earmarks dollar values as moving averages 30, 60, 90 days out, for each Senator, and to correlate these spikes and valleys with votes that adhere or depart from to the GOP party line.

          by TPaine on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:39:06 PM PDT

        •  Is this doable?

          It would be revealing to see aobut all.

          Wanted to rec your comment but couldn't figure out how it is done.  Signed in.  And there are other recs on comments so it isn't because it is an open thread.  

          Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Time limited for now but will check back later.

          PaintyKat

          by PaintyKat on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 02:35:08 PM PDT

      •  Not a coward; a whore.

        Don't mistake one for the other.  Arlen Spector has always been a mealy-mouthed whore for the right wing of the Republican party.  He always talks like an even-handed statesman, then turns around and stabs all those who are foolish enough to trust him.

        In that respect Spector is like a lot of Republicans, and some Democrats, like Lieberman and Biden.  They are brave enough to put forward a public face of responsibility, but come time to vote, what shows up is always the whore.

        by jimbo92107 on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:34:12 PM PDT

  •  all hat, no cattle

    by Hollywood Liberal on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:55:37 AM PDT

    •  just like chimpman...

      n/t

      by jhwygirl on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:11:44 PM PDT

  •  Thank you.

    I am so fed up with the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee acting as if he's simply a concerned citizen.

    Call a damn hearing Arlen! Find out the truth.

    And don't give me that on-going investigation pap...anyone remember Al's Whitewater hearings?

    Howl to the heavens friends!

    (And if the stars are you thing, you might enjoy: Ptolemy Told Me)

    November can't come soon enough (we might not have a country left by then).

    by The Eyewitness Muse on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:02:42 PM PDT

  •  I think he caved already

    His so-called "demands" were not very demanding at all and his statement about requiring all of the facts to understand what happened means that he is merely waiting for the White House to issue another statement, at which time Bush will tell Arlen to lie down on his doggie bed because there is nothing to get excited about. Good  boy, Arlen. Here's a nice doggie biscuit for you.

    by MagisterLudi on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:16:59 PM PDT

  •  I agree - Specter is putting on a show

    ...AGAIN. Just like he pretended to be outraged over the illegal domestic spying program, and just like how he pretends to be pro-choice. This jerk has fooled the peopled of PA one too many times into thinking that he is an independent centrist.

    by Deano963 on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:00:56 PM PDT

  •  if he makes 24 hours...

    ...I will be surprised.

    by DawnG on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:44:03 PM PDT

  •  Spector is a SOB

    I haven't trusted this sleazebucket since his grilling of Anita Hill. What a dick and he will by far be the one senator responsible for roe v. wade being overturned.

    by fnb on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 05:43:02 PM PDT

•  My Republican father . . .

  . . . in our weekly phone call, just called Bush a "stupid asshole," and had quite an extended rant to go along with it.

  It's a bit late, of course, but I haven't been so happy in ages.

  • A.

  by Agathon on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:51:19 AM PDT

  •  implore him to

    share his feelings with his congresscritters.  demand accountability and keep us the nuclear !@#$%& out of iran.

    by Cedwyn on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:03:45 PM PDT

    •  Unfortunately . . .

      We're from Alaska, and our congresscritters are two unbelievable pricks and Lisa Murkowski, (who I honestly don't know that much about).  

      • A.

      by Agathon on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:12:36 PM PDT

      •  she was on board

        with feingold over the patriot act for a bit.  she's not thoroughly evil.  

        by Cedwyn on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:44:31 PM PDT

      •  I know how you feel

        but please still contact them! One of my Senators is Allard and I do call even when I figure they'll laugh at me.

        Since we don't contact our republican senators, they can truthfully say they are voting the way their constituents tell them. They only hear from one side!

        by OLinda on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:14:23 PM PDT

•  diary rescue redux

  I just finished reading Krusty's Chillaxin' in Iran. Too late to recommend it but well worth the read. Excellent stuff!

  by subtropolis on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:51:39 AM PDT

  •  More Redux - Obit For Teen In California Protests

    Obituary is Here.

    Diaries are Here and Here.

    by Da Buddy on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:27:49 PM PDT

•  Bingo...

  Spector often says one thing on camera - watch him in the Senate committee hearings, and he’s not the same.
  I won’t trust any Republican for a long, long time because of their nasty, partisan and self-serving behaviors disregarding the public, their rights and democratic government.
  They can talk the talk, we’ll see what they do.

  Comment by Marie — April 9, 2006 @ 1:38 pm

  from Think Progess comments.

  by MediaFreeze on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:52:55 AM PDT

•  I think Mr. 36%

  Will be Mr. 30% shortly. I wonder how low he will have to drop before the GOP Congress faces the fact that he is pulling them down and as an effort to save themselves jettisons him. They are a pretty dumb lot so maybe not.

  by cwaltz on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:53:48 AM PDT

  •  Nixon bottomed at 25%,

    so the Bush is close. I doubt that he will beat the Dick.

    by Moderate Lib on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:00:00 PM PDT

  •  Don't think so.

    I don't think he'll drop more than a point or two, as I think anyone in this country with a braincell has already voiced disapproval.  

    How sad is that.

    by Miss Blue on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:19:48 PM PDT

  •  already leaving him

    Bush is already the lamest of ducks, he can only get through stuff his whole party wants anyway.
    Look at how the immigration bill crashed and burned despite Bush endorsing it. The Republicans who have to run again this year especially are avoiding him like the plague. Unfortunately for us, on a lot of issues like destroying consumer protections and labor rights, and giving away the store to fat cats, the Repubs all speak with one voice, so they and Bush end up on the same side anyway.
    That's why even though he continues to fall, they can't cut him loose now to sink for himself. They'll emphasize the space between him and them as much as possible, but they'll never go so far as to sacrifice him, unless he becomes just absolutely radioactively unpopular.

    by fat old man on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:23:03 PM PDT

•  I see headlines

  like this: Lawyer: Bush Left Leak Details to Cheney and wonder how Cheney's "health" is these days...and how soon will 'health reasons' take him away from his duties.

  Cheney has always struck me as a character in a bad 'B' movie saying he'll do whatever he has to do to 'protect the president'.  Don't think it'll be enough though.

  by MLDB on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:54:26 AM PDT

  •  Seizure

    Maybe he'll have a sudden seizure and the "necessary" lobotomy to remove the parts of his brain that control speech.  

    by rlharry on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:45:13 PM PDT

    •  Cheney got shot hunting before !

      Newspaper story

      His brain is damaged, he is not responsible for his illegal behavior. PTSD you know.

      by spoon or no spoon on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:40:59 PM PDT

•  hmm

  The tell-the-truth challenge from the Repub is just to set up the latest lie from Bush.  His ratings will continue to slip until WE BOMB IRAN, and the aftermath of that could leave him as president-for-life...

  by brainhell on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:55:11 AM PDT

•  Now we know why the ship is sinking..

  We found the leakers.

  by wisedup1 on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:57:13 AM PDT

•  a different kind of diary this morning

  entitled Rhythms and cycles of life

  today has been a busy diary day, with many good works.  If you want a reflective piece, take a look.

  by teacherken on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:57:24 AM PDT

  •  Thanks Ken

    Great diary. Our heads, this Sunday morning, are similarly reflective.

    The rhythms and cycles of life continue their patterns along the linear path of my life between birth and death.

    by dannyinla on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:48:14 PM PDT

    •  glad you liked it n/t

      by teacherken on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:58:43 PM PDT

•  Slippery Slope

  Here are some questions:
  Does the President have the right to wiretap Bill Clinton's phone calls? Or John Kerry's?
  Does the President have the right to enter your house against your wishes?
  Does the President have the right to read all of your mail and email?
  Does the President have the right to learn your complete financial history?
  Does the President have the right to shut down newspapers or other media outlets?
  Does the President have the right to declassify a document to make it available to the media without making it available to Congress?
  Does the President have the right to kill anybody he wants to?
  Does the President have the right to torture anybody he wishes?
  Does the President have the right to declassify the status of any CIA agent he wants to?

  by Reino on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:59:21 AM PDT

•  last call for PDXers

  a bunch of us kossacks are heading to the lucky lab book signing - better parking than powell's, earlier, yadda yadda.

  come on out!

  by Cedwyn on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 11:59:50 AM PDT

•  C U in CRAWFORD

  Can't Make It 2 Crawford...

  ... NO MATTER ...

  Take Your BROOM, Wherever - U R - U Go on EASTER
  and... EVERYDAY ... till they R ( ALL ) LONG GONE

  .

  more PROTEST IMAGES 2 PASS ON at

  http://www.RogerART.com

  IT'S TIME 4 ( THEM ) ( ALL ) 2 GO 2 JAIL

  ... NOW

  http://www.CleanSweepCampaign.com
  .

  by TheBuffaloPartycom on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:00:38 PM PDT

•  Pink

  I just bought an iPod Nano (and don't think my graphic designer husband isn't dancing around the house, proclaiming a victory for all things apple right now - but I digress - the mac vs. pc war at our house is ongoing and pervasive) and am playing at iTunes.

  The very first song I downloaded was "Dear Mr. President".

  Holy shit, that's a powerful song. I have tears in my eyes.

  by asimbagirl on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:04:40 PM PDT

•  Washington Post Editorial

  I think the Post's editorial was influenced by at least two factors:  Woodward's influence in the paper's front office, and the grudge that the Post's bosses have developed against progressive bloggers.

  by Stuart Shaffer on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:11:10 PM PDT

•  What's up with Team Libby vs. State?

  Anybody else notice how much Team Libby seems to be focusing on the State Dept? Armitage and Powell? Team Fitz is perplexed as to how that's relevant to the perjury charges and disputes the release of documents related to them, especially since neither will be prosecution witnesses. It's also very matter-of-factly stated that Armitage is assumed to be Novak's source by Team Libby, which I find curious.

  Defendant argues that “[i]f Mr. Armitage or another State Department official was in fact the primary source for Mr. Novak’s article, Mr. Grossman’s testimony may be colored by either by his personal relationship with Mr. Armitage or his concern for the institutional interests of the State Department.

  snip

  Putting aside defendant’s failure to explain how loyalty to Mr. Armitage or to the State Department could rise to the level of causing Mr. Grossman to invent conversations with defendant and testify to them under oath, defendant has provided no connection between the requested materials and Messrs. Grossman, Armitage or Powell, and no basis for concluding that the materials would aid him in preparing to establishing bias on the part of Mr. Grossman

  snip

  ”Defendant fails to establish that any documents other than that sent to Secretary Powell (which has been produced to defendant) would be useful in preparing to examine Secretary Powell, or even that the topics concerning which he plans to question Secretary Powell have any relevance to the issues of this case.  Accordingly, defendant’s desire to question Secretary Powell does not entitle him to additional discovery.  

  by Hollywood Liberal on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:12:43 PM PDT

•  Do you know? Yesterday, I saw 4 people

  registering to vote at a republican table at a local farmer's market.  So, to answer your question, I think it will depend on how long (if ever) it will take hard core Bushies to give up their illusions.  And around here, it's blowing my mind how they continue to cling to them...

  by CalDoc on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:12:55 PM PDT

  •  What if those folks

    are republicans who are feed up? They will have the opportunity to send a message this fall. Republicans are Americans too.

    by Friend of the court on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:34:54 PM PDT

  •  was there also a Dem table?

    or is this more sign of what they're quietly doing that we are not?
    

    by OLinda on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:11:20 PM PDT

    •  Sorry I wasn't clear. We were running the Dem

      table right next door.  And we didn't register anyone, sigh.....

      by CalDoc on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:57:29 PM PDT

•  if god were a dj

  http://www.youtube.com/...

  it's an awesome little video.

  by Cedwyn on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:18:19 PM PDT

•  humble diary pimp

  Hersh Blows Lid Off Bush Plan to Nuke Iran

  Writing a copyrighted story in the issue of the New Yorker that hits the stands Monday but is already online, Seymour M. Hersh shows the inner workings of the Bush/Cheney/Rove Maladministration's ripening scheme to drop nukes on Iran. But his reporting also shows how the Administration's orchestrated drumbeat for a preventive Iranian war has grown so persistent and dissonant that it has scared the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

  Hersh does not explicitly connect the plans to nuke Iran with the desperate Republican political situation in the run-up to the mid-term Congressional elections in November. Republicans clearly need a distraction from news of their policies of lying, spying, torture, corruption and incompetence. But long-time observers of the Rove/Bush campaign style know that perversion of the US's (formerly ironclad) no-first-nuke-use policy for political gain is no wise beneath them.

  ...for more tasty morsels, go here...

  by slangist on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:21:21 PM PDT

  •  Crazy talk

     I saw Hersh with Wolfie this morning on CNN.   He said that some generals might resign if the nuke option isn't taken off the table. Resign? I'm afraid they might start a military coup and off Rumsfeld. That would be a bad thing, not that Rumsfeld would be gone but that Marshall Law would be immediately declared and all would be lost.  As a nation of laws we must use the laws to stop these law breakers.  Bush is quite mad you know? He believes that God talks to him. "When you  talk to God that is called praying, when God talks to you that is called schizophrenia."  I think a mental exam is called for.  Can the Congress demand the President submit?  If his is too sick to do the job, and I believe his is, can he be required to step down?

    by upperleftedge on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:53:03 PM PDT

    •  4

      Gave you a 4 simply because I like your attitude!

      (Guess 4 is not the correct terminology, but it still sounds right to me.)

      by OLinda on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:09:43 PM PDT

•  Leaks

  Leaks are often too common in goverment.The good old boy often have the last say.Rememberwe just pay taxes.What we do and say about our Goverment means little to them.People vote the crooks right back in,because we are democrates,republicians.We should vote for who is right for State Goverment.I do not vote for federal goverment since they will win one way are another.Mostly through lost ballets like the ones in Flordia.Since the Office of the President Is a family owned interprise.I just vote State and local atleast my vote will count,atleast I hope so.

  by DWM on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:25:14 PM PDT

•  So Bushboy Is Hanging Cheney Out To Dry?

  "I didn't do it, he did it! I'm too stupid to know anything going on!" Cheney dumps on Scooter, Scooter fires back. Now, Bush dumps on Cheney. Wonder if Cheney will take it or dump back?

  by Ky DEM on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:33:35 PM PDT

  •  Remember Spiro Agnew

    When he was forced to resign we knew Nixon was toast.  Nobody wanted Agnew as President.  He was Nixon's "impeachment insurance."
    Nobody wants Cheney as President.  Cheney is Bush's "impeachment insurance."

    If Cheney goes then all bets are off to go for Bush.

    I hope they're adjusting Chimpy's meds these days ... choices are getting tuff.

    by Kdoug on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:38:57 PM PDT

    •  But if Dick Cheney is Spiro Agnew..

      Will Dick Cheney end up saying the same things about the blogsphere as Spiro Agnew did when "he [Spiro Agnew] famously called the press bloggers "nattering nabobs of negativism" and referred to war critics as "an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as 'intellectuals.'"

      After Nixon and Agnew were elected to a second term, Agnew became the focus of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office in Maryland for financial irregularities while he held state office. Rather than face trial, Agnew resigned and entered a plea of no contest to charges of evading income tax. He was sentenced to three years probation and fined $10,000"

      That is when Gerald Ford arrived on the scene, having previously been elected only from a Michigan congressional district... "H[h]e had been the first Vice President chosen under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, was succeeding the first President ever to resign."

      by TPaine on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:01:56 PM PDT

  •  See H2O Man's great diary

    Yeah, I'm pimping, but I'm not the author and it's SO relevant, SO readable, SO good, SO worth a click:

    "Dick Cheney's Tribute to Spiro Agnew"
    
    Good, fresh analysis of Scooter's maneuvers.

    by KateCrashes on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:41:13 PM PDT

•  C&L

  Georgia10, thanks so much for posting the Wilson spot at C&L. I always watch This Week and slept through more than the first half this morning. I should not lie on the couch to watch tv at 8AM. I'll watch it tomorrow on the work DSL.

  Changing the subject, after morning tv I went to the gym. Did a mile on the treadmill and some machines and some free weights! Then I swung by the store on the way home and bought veggies to make veggie soup.

  Now I am drinking a beer!!! I just can't get it right!

  by OLinda on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:44:32 PM PDT

  •  That sounds just right to me! :)

    by Ky DEM on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:49:06 PM PDT

•  Affect his 36%?

  He'll be in Nixon territory when the next polls come out. Keep hammering and showing Bush's deceipt.

  People are finally starting to see him for who he is. It's about time this was covered more and more on the weak news outlets who finally are getting the nerve to talk about the shit that's going on.

  by CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:45:34 PM PDT

  •  watch this

    This is video evidence of the President of The United States of America committing a felony, Obstruction of Justice, on two separate occasions.

    http://images1.americanprogress.org/...

    This should be shown over and over to the American people.  
    That will get the Chimp below 30%.

    Not Just Leaker In Chief - Liar In Chief!

    by Kdoug on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:06:45 PM PDT

•  Pennsylvania Debates

  Did anyone see or hear anything about the Democratic Senate Primary debate yesterday in PA? I'm just curious as to how it went, what was said. I'm nervous Casey is too conservative and is gonna turn a lot of people off and we might end up losing this race.

  by Deano963 on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 12:58:34 PM PDT

•  speaking of wiretapping

  and other snooping. I think my mail may be being opened. Don't know how I could find out.

  3 occasions which if spread out a little more may not have been noticed. But, 3 times in about a month I got 2 boxes and 1 letter that had been obviously opened. Who knows about the ones that aren't that obvious.

  One, funny enough, was a gift from Foreign Affairs magazine. It was a travel mug and the box had been opened at one end, then sloppily taped back with a different tape than the other end. I laughed at that one and thought some diligent postal worker saw the word "foreign" in the return address and got paranoid.

  The next was a letter I sent to the IRS! When I mailed it the IRS address showed in the envelope window, and I have a witness to that because I was slightly bothered that the words Internal Revenue Service were cut off by the window and only the P.O. box showed. I showed it to someone and tapped it on the desk to try to get the letter positioned better, and this was after it was sealed and ready to go.

  I got the letter back! It had been opened and refolded incorrectly so that my address showed in the window. Nothing else was in it, no note from the IRS. Just my form and a letter with the form folded incorrectly. It was in the same envelope with my return address sticker, and you coulnd't even tell it had been opened. At least I didn't notice before opening it and realizing what it was.

  The 3rd was a box from LandsEnd. I know that sounds weird, why would they open that. But, I had left instructions for packages to be left at my doorstep, no sig required. When I got home it was propped against my door and one end was completely open! It had been opened and not even sealed back up. And, yes I am sure no neighbor did that. It was just sitting there with the flaps up.

  What do you think?

  by OLinda on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:01:01 PM PDT

  •  tiny correction

    Probably doesn't matter, but as soon as I hit post I realized the opened box was not LandsEnd, it was Wissota Trader - a pair of boots. It may matter though because Wissota Trader would be less recognized maybe and they wouldn't know what it was.

    by OLinda on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:03:42 PM PDT

    •  you could mail something crazy

      like send a letter to a pre informed friend talking about "the voices" or something...then if some govt people show up you'll have your answer

      by my foot itches on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:18:35 PM PDT

•  Kansas to Ban All Sex Education

  I know it's Plameapalooza - and for damn good reasons - but I wanted to give everyone a heads up on the latest from the American Taliban controlling our schools here in Kansas-land.  Cause, like the evolution "debate", it may be coming to your state soon.

  Kansas to Ban All Sex Education

  Vigilence!

  by Avian on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:10:15 PM PDT

  •  Can public stocks and scarlet letter be next?

    by MagisterLudi on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:55:27 PM PDT

•  Somrthing else you won't see in the Post

  While publishing an editorial this critical of Israeli policies is no big deal in Israel, you won't find anything like that in most American papers including the Washington Post.

  "But even if they have bags of flour and rice, the living conditions of the Palestinians are chilling. They live in prison. Their daily routine includes humiliation that is no less terrible than malnutrition. Anyone who has to beg for permission to leave his village, to spend hours crowded in line at a checkpoint just to reach his destination, anyone whose bedroom is brutally invaded in the middle of the night by the occupation army, whose time and life is considered valueless, and whose basic human dignity has been trampled into dust, cannot find any consolation in the fact that flour and rice is available. Those who think that all it takes is providing a quota of flour to be free of any responsibility for the fate of the people they occupy, are suffering from a serious case of moral blindness. Does the fact that a Palestinian youth is not hungry in any way blunt the fact that he cannot dream, cannot aspire to a career, an orderly education, a vacation or simple pleasures of life? Does the fact that his belly is not completely empty cover up for the miserable present and the hopeless future?

  The departure of Israel from Gaza does not remove a speck of the responsibility it has for the fate of Gaza's imprisoned residents. Israel, which forbids Gazans from going to the West Bank - a violation of signed agreements - and prevents the provision of supplies from both Israel and Egypt, has never left Gaza, not even for a moment. The world and people of conscience in Israel do not need to wait for the first Palestinian child to die of hunger to raise the hue and cry. Enough Palestinian children have been killed because of too easy trigger fingers or disgraceful health services. The responsibility is not with the international relief agencies, but on Israel's shoulders. But Israel's conscience in recent years operates only according to one index, the index of protest from Washington. If Washington remains quiet, everything can be covered up."

  by Lefty Coaster on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:21:02 PM PDT

  •  I find it sickening that people who keep

    talking about the Holocaust don't realize that Israel is treating the Palestinians pretty much the way the Germans treated Jews before shipping them to death camps. Fed better maybe, but the same none the less. And we give billions in aid to a country with a human rights record not much better than Nazi Germany's. "Never Again" should mean everyone, not just Jews. And the Israelis should be the ones to realize that first. When they came out with the laws for Palestinians living in Israel a decade or so ago, I read them and realized that they were so similar to the Nuremburg Laws set out by the Nazis that they could almost be interchangeable. Disgusting, just disgusting.  

    by Demfem on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 04:10:58 PM PDT

•  Bush and Cheney are Still Facing Trouble

  It's like a slow motion train wreck at this point.  Lies slamming up against other lies, and themes drawing together; the Bush Administration furor over prosecuting the NSA wiretap leaks draws a fine point compared with the selective leaking from the President and Vice President themselves.

  The hypocrisy [a word I hear more and more as days go by..] may be best for steering to a more sane policy, or picking up a Democratic Congress in '06, but there are still pertinent legal considerations facing Bush and Cheney:

  • Both Bush and Cheney are still subject to the procedures they authorized in executive orders governing the process by which items are classified or declassified.
  • It is still an open question if Bush or Cheney lied to federal investigators about their actions regarding the leaking of Valerie Plame's identity.  Even if they were not under oath, obstruction and lying to investigators are still crimes.
  • Bush and Cheney have committed high crimes even if they did not break the letter of the law.  By their action or inaction Bush and Cheney have participated in a grave breach of trust established by their oaths of office, and in so doing have committed 'high crimes'.
  • And further, regrading a charge of perjury, that "A[a]n official such as the president does not need to take a special oath to become subject to the penalties of perjury. He took an oath, by Art. II Sec. 1 Cl. 8, to "faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States" and to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" to the best of his ability. While he holds that office, he is always under oath, and lying at any time constitutes perjury if it is not justified for national security."

  by TPaine on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:26:12 PM PDT

  •  Obstruction Of Justice

    That is the crime.  
    That is the Felony.  
    The high crime.  
    The impeachable offense.

    Everything else is just a smokescreen.

    by Kdoug on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:41:47 PM PDT

  •  here's a thought

    since none of his loaylty oath signing crony s will prosecute him, and our guys best answer is officially stand up and say "no, no, bad boy, now go to bed with no dessert" how about we rise up as a people, find some candidate who has more to run on than being not bush, and fire all these morons by electing people who are worthy of at least maintenance jobs

    by my foot itches on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:29:11 PM PDT

  •  Do you think anyone

    has explained to Bush that preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution consists of more than keeping the original document in a lock box?

    by Skylor on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 06:57:51 PM PDT

•  I don't care what anybody says.

  I like Joe Biden. He's a good speaker, he's intelligent, honest, and he tries to do right. He's no Feingold, and he's not somebody I would vote for in a primary, but he's still a decent senator.

  by urban illinois on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:48:42 PM PDT

  •  Biden's wife won't let him run

    he had to commute daily for a long time...she just let him get a place in dc a couple years ago. Otherwise that great guy from the credit card/chemical state would be awesome.

    by my foot itches on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:33:39 PM PDT

•  Can anyone offer some graphics help?

  We are walking in the Relay for Life in honor of my sweet goddaughter Lauren who passed away March 5, 2006 from Ewing's Sarcoma (diary I posted about her here).

  We want to have shirts made to wear for the Relay and I'm seriously artistically retarded because I can't for the life of me figure out how to do a graphic for it.  I was going to either get it on Cafe Press or take it to a place near here.

  Would anyone like to offer a bit of their services for this and create a front and back graphic? I have an idea in my head for both but can't make heads nor tails out of PSP.

  I'd be happy to either barter something I can do (I write an awesome "Thank you") or offer some cold hard cash if ya need that more.  I'm quite easy. heh

  Please either respond here or email me at bexley at g mail.com

  Thanks!

  by Bexley Lane on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:11:41 PM PDT

•  The 'Death of a Thousand Cuts'

  couldn't happen to a nicer guy.  The only good thing about George Bush is seeing how this theiving, nation-destroying goon is slowly ground down to nothing by his own corruption and incompetence.

  Pity tho, by the time he's finally done there won't be much left of America.

  by jimbo92107 on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:28:18 PM PDT

•  Reino, to answer your questions (mid post)

  The Majority,including Republicans, of Americans say NO,he does NOT. Even if the law is streached,tweaked,bent,or abused to cover his ass. The MAJORITY wants thoes laws changed.
  Now the problem is 'how' to STOP him,and get him out of office.

  by wisedup1 on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:41:41 PM PDT

•  gday mates

  And I mean good day! Here I am in Australia, cut off from news back home and suffering from kos withdrawl, I just got a chance to see what's going on and WTF! Libby named Bush?? Here so far there has been no mention that I've encountered of it. I'm so excited, and yet so bummed to not be there to hear every little bit. It's early morning here, and I have to go, I'll get a paper and see if they even talk about it at all. This is great news!

  by high uintas on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 02:59:55 PM PDT

•  Medicare D(isaster)

  Nimbers,  Reality, Irony!  (and another bit of trivia re:  Leavitt!)

  by Street Kid on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 03:03:02 PM PDT

•  Highly Recommend Joe Wilson Video

  I know it is mentioned up top, but if you did not see Joe Wilson on This Week, you have got to watch this piece....

  CLICK LINK FOR VIDEO

  by MediaFreeze on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 03:19:45 PM PDT

  •  Also Sy Hersh.....

    Another piece that has to been seen today is Sy Hersh talking about the plans for using nukes on Iran.

    CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

    by MediaFreeze on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 03:24:02 PM PDT

    •  The Critical Point

      ...according to Hersh is that nobody is talking to Iran. There is no attempt at dialog and Congress is not demanding that they have some form of discussion before ratcheting up the saber-rattling.

      Of course, that is because Bush is incapable of talking to anybody. That's what we've got, a little brat that hides behind repeated talking points that make no sense, and picks fights. And, noone calls him on it.

      Actually talking to people would require real work and thinking about the world the way it actually is, not the way his little playground bully world is to him. So it's just nah-nah-nah, and off to war we go.

      This video is really troubling.

      by MediaFreeze on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 03:43:54 PM PDT

•  The many faces of Joementum:

  Before the primary: Joementum (D-CT)
  After the primary: Joementum (I-CT)
  After the election: Joementum (R-CT)

  by dole4pineapple on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 03:33:10 PM PDT

•  This adds a new personal dimension to Plamegate..

  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  by lobezno on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 03:33:57 PM PDT

•  the great unaffected--seen here

  http://www.kcra.com/...

  This page has a poll question (err, middle right hand side of page) that asks when the US should leave Iraq.  The overwhelming choice in Sacrmanto, California?

  "when the President of the US says so"

  Ay chihuahua...

  You know what to do.

  by espresso on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 03:44:45 PM PDT

•  Redstate

  How do you know when you've been banned?  I tried to sign in, but unable to post a comment.  Are they on to me?

  by sharman on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 04:47:30 PM PDT

  •  I got banned almost instantly

    I forget what I was even saying. It was very non-controversial, like that each person's vote should be counted. I was assailed for being a "leftist" and promptly banned. I can't even find out what I wrote any more since it was long ago. Anyhow. In my case I was told directly that I was not worthy.

    by Boss Tweed on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 05:00:38 PM PDT

•  Crazy yelling guy arrested at White House?

  Anyone see that story? Do you know what's up with it? What was he upset about? Details seem sparse.

  by Boss Tweed on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 05:01:32 PM PDT

•  An Idaho Wingnut for Congress

  I know most of you don't pay attention to what's going on out here in the deep royal blue intermountain west, but we have a "true believer", named Bill Sali, in the conservative cause running for the open seat in Idaho's 1st Congressional district. For we Idaho residents, this guy is a long-time right-wing poster boy, but his antics on the Idaho House floor last week may set a new record for scumbaggery. He was advocating some new anti-abortion legislation that would mandate doctors tell patients that abortion increases their chances of breast cancer. Well, another legislator, herself a victim of breast cancer, took offense, and it went downhill from there. Check out the account in The Idaho Statesman here.

  I hope the Republicans nominate this guy in the primary since it will only improve the chances of getting a good Democrat, Larry Grant, into this seat.

  by kmarko on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 05:15:06 PM PDT

•  Anybody want to talk about Leo on West Wing?

  :(  

  I hate that they killed him off on the show.  It was awful in real life and now they're making me think about it again.

  by mariawells on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 05:29:48 PM PDT

  •  Yeah, it's too bad that was the only way to write

    him off. I was looking forward to him as Vice President, if only for a few episodes.

    by dole4pineapple on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 07:02:32 PM PDT