Each day WTOP Radio here in Washington interviews a different person for their perspective on the news.  Normally I skip listening on Thursdays because that is Brit Hume's day to enlighten us.  But today I thought: "I'm going to listen just to see what pro-McCain crap he'll be throwing at us."  I was pleasantly surprised to hear this exchange:

Announcer:  "We heard rumors that McCain was going to steal Obama's thunder by announcing his choice for VP candidate this week.  What have you heard?"

Answer below the fold....

They have done it again:

The US military has awarded an $80 million contract to a prominent Saudi financier who has been indicted by the US Justice Department.

Need more facts to get sick?  How about, this guy, Gaith Pharaon, was an investor in Bush's first company.

Need more?  He is wanted in several countries, and has ties to terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda.  

More below the fold:

I had a most serendipitous meeting yesterday with Congressman Frank Wolf, Republican of Virginia's 10th congressional district. I recently switched dentists for some major crown and bridge work, and upon arriving at the office near my home in Oak Hill, VA, imagine my surprise to see the "Office of Congressman Frank Wolf" right across the hall from my dentist. So, when I finished my dental work, I stopped in the office to see if I could get clarification on his position on a very important issue: retroactive immunity for the telecoms.

More below the fold...

In response to this message that I sent three weeks ago, Senator Webb sent me a relatively detailed response, which attempts to justify his position on FISA in general and retroactive immunity in particular.  I find his rationalization for supporting immunity to be particularly reprehensible.  If they acted in "good faith" then it's perfectly fine with him.

More below the fold:

I recently joined the National Affairs Committee of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Democratic Party, and I penned an article for the April issue of "The Democrat," a newsletter which goes to all its members.  I wanted to bring the netroots mantra of holding elected Democrats accountable into the psyche of FCDC Democrats.  I was greatly restricted, as the limit was 300 words, so I could not get all my thoughts across, which took on first draft more than 500 words, and I had to tone things down a bit, but I think the message got across.  I was harsher on Webb in the original, and I had used the defeat of an incumbent Blue Dog in MD by Donna Edwards as an example of what we should be doing.

I received permission to paste my entire article from myself and from the Editor.... after the fold...

Just wanted to give a heads up to those in the NYC area who might be interested in this panel discussion on How the Netroots are Changing Progressive Politics  It's on Wednesday, March 5, 6:30 to 8:00
CUNY Graduate Center, Proshansky Auditorium, 365 Fifth Avenue, it's free with limited seating.

Don't see Markos on the list of participants....wha happened?

Details below:

"Once you give immunity, you can't take it away," said a senior law enforcement official familiar with the investigation.

I am in a lousy mood today.  The coffee is harsh.  The guy I need to attend a meeting "is too busy with other things on my plate."  And people are getting away with murder.  So I feel the urge right now to go out to Caribou, get me a real strong large cup of the brew, hop on the Metro and head downtown, and pay a visit to some of our esteemed federal agencies, if not the Castle itself.  But I'm not responsible for what I may do today.  And I DO want you to follow the rules...

Here are the rules:

Last night about 20 participants gathered at the Reston, VA Town Center in a candlelight "Vigil to Save Children's Health Care," re: SCHIP, organized by MoveOn.org.  

This, however, was a little too much first amendment for security in Reston Town Center....and the police moved in to break us up....more below the fold. UPDATE UPDATE:  Scroll to bottom for U-Tube!

Late last week we responded to a call from MoveOn and met at a busy street corner in Herndon, VA.  This whole thing was organized on less than 4 hours notice.  About 25 people showed up, including medical students:

Stroll down for more.....

So goes the title to an editorial in today's New York Times.  Of course this is "old hat" for us Kosmopolitans, but it's good to see this topic given the editorial exposure it deserves.

It begins by lamenting, the way we have for so long now, that

The Democratic Congress has yet to muster the votes or courage to repeal a series of noxious measures...that pushed presidential power to dangererous extremes in the name of fighting terrorism.

What are these measures?  Some are familiar, others may be a surprise.  
More below the fold...

This news was mentioned briefly as part of a news summary digest last Saturday.  But on Democracy Now this morning, Amy Goodman emphasized that this is the very first time that a former Head of State has been successfully extradited from one country to the country where charges where being filed against him.  There were instances where heads of state where extradited to the World Court, but this is different.  We can hope that is a precedent of which we will see more in the future - hopefully, not long after the criminals in the White House leave office.  

More below the fold..

I'm here in the Catskills (upstate New York, for the uninitiated), at my "ski condo" in Windham.  The weather is fantastic...must be iin the 80s, nary a cloud in the ski.  The thing is, I have no cable connected up here, no wireline phone, and the cell phone service is almost non existent, and what was supposed to be WiFi service for the condo owners does not seem to work in my unit....in fact, I have finally discovered, the only place where I can get decent reception and be comfortable is right here...at the pool.

some more below....

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been agonizing, annoyed, distressed, depressed, disappointed, revolted, pre-suicidal, and post-pissed off about whom we thought were "our" people in Congress, the ones we worked so hard for, raised money for, knocked on doors for, blogged for.  But mostly, we have felt helpless, at least I have, to do much about it.  Correspondence to my (previously favorite) Senator resulted in no response, and an inquiring phone call merely revealed that due to the incredible quantity of similar contacts, I should not expect one anytime soon.

So what to do?  May I suggest a Netroots Nation delegation to visit these creatures and let them know, up front and personal, how we feel, and to demand an explanation and a plan from them to repent?  

Many have lamented the fact that, although Bush lives in the city with the most magnificent museums in the world, he has never had the curiosity to enter one, other than on official business.  The same can be said for his disinterest in books, current events, geography, economics, diplomacy, newspapers, and physics.  But, finally, a surprising discovery in a closely related, yet much more attractive species, may explain the problem.

under here....

On the one hand, we have

This legislation will close a critical gap in our intelligence collection...The director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell has assured me this bill gives him what he needs to continue to protect the country.

 and then we have:

...three things are necessary:

1. Absolutely aturhoritative leadership in internal affairs, in order to create confidence in the stability of conditions

2. The securing of peace by the great nations for a long time to come, with a view to restoring the confidence of the nations in each other

3.  The final victory of the principles of common sense in the organization and conduct of business....

Yesterday I saw an incredible film at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) on "The Trail of Tears: Cherokee Legacy"  which depicts in a stunningly beautiful and realistic way, the forced uprooting of the entire Cherokee Nation in 1838 by President Andrew Jackson from their land in and around Georgia, on a forced march to newly assigned territory less than 1% of the size, in Oklahoma. It was accomplished by virtue of the infamous "Indian Removal Act" of 1830 which was negotiated with representatives of the Cherokees who did not truly represent the will of the people.  Thousands died on the march.  It is forcefully narrated by James Earl Jones and produced by a native American owned film company, Rich Heape Films.  The film itself is startling, unnerving, and moving.  

Below the fold, I will explain the "connection" to Halliburton:

Funny, I didn't see this mentioned as part of the "surge" plan.  Yesterday's email to all employees of the agency where I work describes Bush's great new idea for reconstruction:

President Bush’s new strategy for Iraq includes the expansion of our civilian presence throughout the country by doubling the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT).  Ten new PRTs, supported by U.S. military units, will bring together outstanding civilian experts to complement our military presence, with dynamic programs that promote business development, assist local governments, and help accelerate the transition to Iraqi self-reliance.

More below the fold:

Sorry for the late posting.  I will attempt to avoid duplicating TimRoff's  and Rena's photos and comments.  And at the end, I will tell you a horrible, if not surprising story of a woman who is a veteran of the Afghanistan war who I met after the march that evening at a company function.
For me personally, it was really a great honor to meet for the first time so many of our famous and infamous diarists and commenters, seeing the real faces behind the screen names, and confirming my suspicion that they are one helluva fantastic group.
More, below: