ThinkFast: July 20, 2007
ThinkFast: July 20, 2007
Bush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of executive authority yesterday, claiming that the Justice Department “will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House officials once the president has invoked executive privilege.” Mark Rozell, an expert on executive privilege said, “What this statement is saying is the president’s claim of executive privilege trumps all.”
A House Judiciary subcommittee rejected Bush’s contention that “his claim of executive privilege shields the top aide, Joshua Bolten, from having to turn over subpoenaed documents.” The vote subjected Bolten to possible contempt charges.
“The top commanders in Iraq and the American ambassador to Baghdad appealed for more time beyond their mid-September assessment…but their appeals, in three videoconferences on Capitol Hill and at the Pentagon, were met by stern rebukes from lawmakers of both parties.”
70: Number of House members who wrote a letter to Bush stating that they “will only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq before you leave office.”
Congressional watchdog groups argued that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) broke the ethics rules when she bought property from a friend and political supporter. Ken Boehm, who heads the National Legal and Policy Center, said, “You have two grown-ups who know what this piece of property is worth, and they picked a sales price that’s not what it’s worth.”
“An appeals court chastised the Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday and ordered the agency to pay retroactive benefits to Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and contracted a form of leukemia.”
In a 78-18 vote, the Senate voted to “cut federal subsidies to college student loan firms, such as Sallie Mae, by $18.3 billion, redirect savings to student grants and ease some student loan repayment terms.” The annual maximum level for Pell grants would go up from $4,310 to more than $5,000.
“U.S. troops in Iraq should receive 2,500 to 3,000 special armored vehicles by year’s end if Congress approves $1.2 billion in 2007 defense spending, a top Pentagon official said on Thursday, down from 3,400 vehicles announced just a day earlier.”
And finally: Yesterday, in a “rare public appearance,” U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald “submitted himself to questions as a guest on Chicago Public Radio’s comedic quiz show, ‘Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me.’” Although “Fitzgerald flunked the quiz, a (scripted) appeal overturned the answer of the final question, commuting it to a win. When asked by host Peter Sagal why such a tight-lipped public official would come on the show, Fitzgerald said, “Literally, I was trying to get tickets to the show.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Bush-Cheney Block All Contempt of Congress Proceedings, Leaving Inherent Contempt or Impeachment Only Options
The Washington Post today reports:
Bush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of executive authority yesterday in the dispute over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, saying that the Justice Department will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House officials once the president has invoked executive privilege.
**My TP Friends, this is 5 Alarm Serious. The White House has just upped the stakes. What they’re asserting is that they cannot be investigated. Please call the Democratic members of the Justice Committee below and DEMAND Harriet Miers be charged with INHERENT CONTEMPT immediately. Please take a few minutes out of your day to call. This may be the last weapon we have left. This cannot be delayed any longer.
John Conyers (D) Michigan 1-202-225-5126
July 20th, 2007 at 9:09 amHoward L. Berman (D) California 1-202-225-3196
Rick Boucher (D) Virginia 1-202-225-3861
Jerrold Nadler (D) New York 1-202-225-5635
Robert C. Scott (D) Virginia 1-202-225-8351
Melvin Watt (D) North Carolina 1-202-225-1510
Zoe Lofgren (D) California 1-202-225-3072
Sheila Jackson Lee (D) Texas 1-202-225-3816
Maxine Waters (D) California 1-202-225-2201
Martin Meehan (D) Massachusetts 1-202-225-3411
Bill Delahunt (D) Massachusetts 1-202-225-3111
Robert Wexler (D) Florida 1-202-225-3001
Loretta Sánchez, (D) California 1-202-225-6676
Steve Cohen (D) Tennessee 1-202-225-3265
Hank Johnson (D) Georgia 1-202-225-1605
Luis Gutierrez (D) Illinois 1-202-225-8203
Brad Sherman (D) California 1-202-225-5911
Anthony Weiner (D) New York 1-202-225-6616
Adam Schiff (D) California 1-202-225-4176
Artur Davis (D) Alabama 1-202-225-2665
Debby Wasserman Schultz (D) Florida 1-202-225-7931
Keith Ellison (D) Minnesota 1-202-225-4755
Tammy Baldwin (D) Wisconsin 1-202-225-2906
“Bush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of executive authority yesterday.”
Awesome! This means Hillary will have dictatorial powers.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:10 amAlong the same line, Larry from C,
Reagan-era Republican Warns of Police State
Serious scary, people.
PLEASE CALL all of your representatives, today.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:11 amRepublicans are definitely up to no good, but democrats are invested in defeat.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:12 amThey’re going to try to grab as much power as they can…until they are stopped. It’s time to stop them, Speaker Pelosi.
Impeach!!!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:13 amLarry, did you notice Kucinich isn’t one of the 70 congressmen who signed the letter?
July 20th, 2007 at 9:16 amWHAT!!!!! Another Repug from Alaska is on the take?????? Say it isn’t so. Alaska must be sooooooo proud of these assclowns!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:18 amComment by Larry from C — July 20, 2007 @ 9:09 am
Great catch, Larry…thanks. This is something everyone needs to be aware of.
This criminal cabal that has hijacked our country are methodically stripping away all avenues of legal recourse the American public possesses. When we no longer have legal methods to redress the grievances of the citizenry, only illegal methods will remain.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:18 amPrepare yourselves for a ‘Reichstag’ event that will ‘force’ Bush to put into effect executive order 51. These guys will not relinquish power and everything they are doing is leading to that.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:19 am#3 True Blue, I read that yesterday then heard Mr. Roberts being interviewed on Thom Hartmann yesterday.
Mr. Roberts’ best line in the interview: He said (paraphrase)…You don’t think the Republicans would be falling in line behind an unpopular President and imploding their party if they weren’t assured something SOMETHING was coming down the pike to save them.
#6 Wilco I believe that’s because there’s a deadline in there pushed all the way back to early 2009, some language about redeployment and perhaps allowances of additonal funding. But I’ll wait for Kucinich to respond first.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:22 am“veritas” sez:
*NAMEJACKING ALERT*
July 20th, 2007 at 9:22 amWrite Nancy Pelosi NOW and tell her to put impeachment back on the table. As long as she keeps it off the table Bush will thumb his nose in the face of Congress, the American people and the Constitution.
http://speaker.gov/contact/
This madman needs to be stopped. It doesn’t matter if there are 67 votes in the Senate to convict. Just bringing Articles of Impeachment against him will do away with Executive Privilege and open the door to the crimes he and his minions have committed. Also, any Republic who votes against impeaching these criminals can pretty much guarantee that they won’t be re-elected the next time they run for office.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:22 am#1 I made my five phone calls yesterday and three this morning. Only takes a few minutes and costs a few cents. If we all do the same it’ll have a big impact. We must let the congress know we’re watching them very closely.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:25 amChuck Schumer is doing a good job at stirring the pot. “I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” must be his modus operandi. Keeping Chimpy and his administration on the ropes from now until the ‘08 elections will ensure Democrats the Presidency and both Houses. Securing “defeat” in Iraq would just be the icing on the cake, but not necessary.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:25 amHistorically Presidents haven’t won the executive privelage debate. I doubt Bush will win this one in the end.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:25 amThere are simply no words left. Every day’s news brings in something new that’s impeachment-worthy. Ho hum. Let’s name another post office! It’s the people’s business.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:27 amBush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of executive authority yesterday . . .
The “culture of accountability” sure does everything they possibly can to keep from being held accountable.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:28 amRefusing to submit to the checks and balances embedded in our Constitution fairly constitutes an a high crime and misdemeanor; enabling a campaign of activity to operate under this illegal protection fairly constitutes treason.
Impeachment needs to happen, and happen right now. Screw the legal positioning cr*p, I don’t care if he weasels out on a technicality ~ he needs to be removed from power immediately.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:29 amKucinich is in the hospital due to food poisoning. I imagine that is why his signature didn’t get there.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:29 amLarry C: Why are you spamming every thread with that crap? Everybody knows that we should call our reps.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:30 amSo Bush has the right to declare you an enemy combatant, and lock you up indefinitely.
You have no recourse to the courts, ‘cos we did away with habeas corpus last year; if Congress summons someone to explain the executive position and they refuse to testify, Chimpy then asserts executive privilege to prevent a contempt of Congress charge.
If you don’t hate the Bushies now, you never will.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:31 amWhen this Band of Merry Pranksters leaves office, they will have covered all their tracks and taken their huge profits, the US Constitution, the Rule of Law and left behind thousands of dead and ruined lives and a debt so taggering it will never be paid off.
And we will have the lasting vision of Darth, PudgeBoy Rover and Dubya giving us the cheney 1-fingered salute as they head off to Dubai and Paraguay, (neither of which has extradition).
July 20th, 2007 at 9:33 amJack, he’s out of the hospital and back in DC. He got back a day or two ago.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:34 amBut yes, that might be why he didn’t sign on, depending when they collected the signatures.
It’s really up to the Republicans at this point. Do they REALLY want the Office of the President invested with unlimited power?
I don’t think that W and Dick intend to stay beyond their terms, however. I think they’re just wringing every last cent out of the country before slipping off to enjoy their wealth. And there’s no one stopping them.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:34 am“U.S. troops in Iraq should receive 2,500 to 3,000 special armored vehicles by year’s end if Congress approves $1.2 billion in 2007 defense spending
Hooray. Getting the troops what they need.
, a top Pentagon official said on Thursday, down from 3,400 vehicles announced just a day earlier.â€
Oh, wait, never mind, strike above comment.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:35 amBush has obviously declared himself a “dictator” and not a “president” under this Constitution and now needs to be deposed. Keith Olberman called for his resignation and/or impeachment last night – it’s time – actually it’s way “beyond time” now. He’s a national disgrace.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:36 am#25 Menhume - The Repugs have sat on their hands through this all and will leave it to the next Dem President and COngress to try to clean this shit streak out of the toilet and then blame the Dems for the nasty mess!!!
And those Repugs will be so proud of all they have accomplished!!! Only bright spot is I can go to bed at night knowing I am not one of them!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:37 amLarry C: Why are you spamming every thread with that crap? Everybody knows that we should call our reps.
Comment by Vinnie — July 20, 2007 @ 9:30 am
This is the real Vinnie. I did NOT say that. Seems the trolls have no sense of honesty and integrity and can only post comments under other people’s names. What sad, little people.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:37 amComment by ace — July 20, 2007 @ 9:27 am
As always, stellar work, ace. Thanks for the info & links.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:37 amAnd, if he is not deposed/impeached, then the next Democratic President will use his same MO and indict him. I think he needs to carefully consider his options at this point. Either leave with his tail (he does have one) between his legs now, be pitched out of office by Congress, or spend the rest of his life in jail later.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:37 amThis is another example of one hand not knowing what the other has had slapped out of it. This all goes back to Rove’s plan to have a permanent republican majority. That idea was quashed by the electorate in ‘06. It makes no sense for these power-hungry GOPeople to create all this precedence when non-republicans have a fair shot at the white house.
http://www.freesqueeze.com/nctt.htm
July 20th, 2007 at 9:37 amHi Trip/Ace: I echo Trip’s sentiments. Great info, Ace. It’s all there for anyone with a brain to connect the dots. As usual, I’ve sent it to everyone I know.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:38 am#
Comment by ace — July 20, 2007 @ 9:27 am
As always, stellar work, ace. Thanks for the info & links.
Comment by TripMaster Monkey — July 20, 2007 @ 9:37 am
#
Recommend you copy all and save to a word doc for future reference and posting. Consider it to be your own, and feel free to post any of it as your own.
We’ve got a country to save.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:39 amMaybe out next President will dispatch some Special Forces into Dubai and Paraguay to conduct a very extraordinary “rendition”. It’s all legal, you know.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:40 amOk, that’s it, I’m throwing in the towel. After reading the 19% thread I realize that the Trolls and those who feed the trolls are now in control of this site.
Congratulations trolls, you win.
Good bye, it’s been nice knowing some of you.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:41 am#21…My post today (#1) presents new information posted for the first time. I will be posting it several times today because the issue is so very important. Please put me on ignore if it offends you. But before you do, please take time to call the representatives listed.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:41 am#35 Maybe out next President will dispatch some Special Forces into Dubai and Paraguay to conduct a very extraordinary “renditionâ€. It’s all legal, you know.
Comment by Menehune
And bring along their waterboards. Now that would truly be a “wet dream” come true!!!!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:41 am#
Bush has obviously declared himself a “dictator†and not a “president†under this Constitution and now needs to be deposed. Keith Olberman called for his resignation and/or impeachment last night – it’s time – actually it’s way “beyond time†now. He’s a national disgrace.
Comment by veritas — July 20, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Olbermann’s special comment is prominanty featured as the top story on Google News.
Apparently the Google regulars have their government minder tied up in th broom closet.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:42 amOh, for the days of an Oswald or a Booth….
July 20th, 2007 at 9:42 amYeah, great work ace, JG and Larry C. Thanks for spamming these threads so that real discussion is impossible. Stop blaming the trolls and look into the mirror. Nobody’s interested in your delusions.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:42 amGood Morning all,…Thank’s, Larry from C and Ace for your post’s, links and info…Making the call’s….Blessings
July 20th, 2007 at 9:42 am#
Good bye, it’s been nice knowing some of you.
Comment by katie — July 20, 2007 @ 9:41 am
#
Is that any way to save your country? Get back in the fight and drown them out with facts and links.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:43 amOur executive branch is either desperate, delusional, drunk on power, or all of the above.
I can understand why they are fighting so hard to keep Miers from testifying — they are guilty of using U.S. Attorneys for corrupting elections, and they know that if Harriet talks, they’re toast.
But they are delusional if they think this latest move will help. Invoking “executive privilege” didn’t help Nixon, and it didn’t help Clinton. Maybe they think their move will be held up by the SCOTUS.
It’s also possible they are trying to force impeachment by removing all other options, knowing they have enough votes in the Senate to acquit. And once acquitted, they will be able to declare victory and resume SOP for the balance of the term.
I think the Republicans in the House and the Senate are idiots if they go along with this, though. This move will broaden the power of the president to dictator status. And if the polls are any indication, all that dictator power will belong to a Democrat on January 20, 2009 if they don’t pull the reins in now.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:44 amIt’s all there for anyone with a brain to connect the dots.
Yeah. For anyone who’s paranoid enough to see patterns where there are none.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:44 amSen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) broke the ethics rules when she bought property from a friend
—— I don’t see an Ethics violaton here. Somewhat shady? Sure, buying on the 29th of Dec before the reassessed value is known is a little sketchy, but perfectly legal. And I’d bet that a lot of other ‘friends’ have bought and sold property the same way. Heck, I’d even venture to say that the same thing has been done numerous times by both parties.
2,500 to 3,000 special armored vehicles by year’s end if –down from 3,400 vehicles announced just a day earlier.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:44 am—— Do I hear 2000? Going once…….twice…….2000!
#
Yeah, great work ace, JG and Larry C. Thanks for spamming these threads so that real discussion is impossible. Stop blaming the trolls and look into the mirror. Nobody’s interested in your delusions.
Comment by Boudin Bob — July 20, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Real discussion…with you?
What’s that?
At the time I posted the abundant, well sourced FACTS on the prior thread, there had been no posts for 45 minutes. What conversation do you propose I was disrupting when I posted the evidence required for Impeachment and war crimes trials, in CONTEXT?
July 20th, 2007 at 9:45 ams that any way to save your country? Get back in the fight and drown them out with facts and links.
Bwahahaha! One of your narcissistic delusions again: saving the country by posting screeds on the net. You fancy yourself to be a real hero, don’t you.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:45 amAce: You are posting such long posts that nobody sane has time or will to read through them and they drown the other, more interesting posts that get sandwiched between your screeds.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:46 am#46 2,500 to 3,000 special armored vehicles by year’s end if –down from 3,400 vehicles announced just a day earlier.
—— Do I hear 2000? Going once…….twice…….2000!
Comment by SGT Higgins
Sarge,
would you bet that Blackwater already has more of these babies coming than will EVER show up with the troops?
July 20th, 2007 at 9:47 amI find the desperation of the trolls is invigorating. I think even THEY know that empty disruption is all they have left. They have to earn their paychecks somehow.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:47 amThanks, Larry fromC! Let’s start calling all of them. The Chimp is leaving them with no alternative. Maybe he feels a need to hide out in Paraguay even before 08? Or it’s his predelection for self-destruction rearing it’s ugly head in his life again? Either way, you’d have to say “he’s asking to be impeached” now.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:49 am#51 Comment by Menehune
I agree! And there are fewer of them and thy make even less sense then they did earlier. Maybe we can finally say “We are in the last throes of troll insurgency now”!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:50 amWell, at least this will wake up the 26%. The bald-faced statement of , “Its my justice department, so there!” will open the eyes of at least some of them. Hopefully this will wake Ms. Pelosi up and she’ll put impeachment on the table. Here’s a quotation thats frighteningly appropriate:
July 20th, 2007 at 9:50 am“An evil exists that threatens every man, woman, and child of this great
nation. We must take steps to ensure our domestic security and protect
our homeland. (Adolph Hitler, proposing the creation of the Gestapo) ”
Impeach Bush and Cheny and SAVE THE CONSTITUTION!
YES, THAT POST WAS NOT MINE. EVIDENTLY, MR. PEE IS UP TO HIS USUAL TRICKS AGAIN. I’m gone for the day so if this moronic troll posts as me, it’s not me. Everyone of my friends here can see that for themselves. Blessings & Peace, All!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:50 amTrip: Thanks for outing the a$$hole. I decided to scan the threads before heading out. You’re the greatest!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:51 amwould you bet that Blackwater already has more of these babies coming than will EVER show up with the troops?
Comment by upside00
Well sure. They’ve got the types of no-bid contracts to pay for ‘em. Betcha dollars to doughnuts that in the end, Blackwater will take a back seat, turn their MRAP’s over to the Military, and then voila! The Army will be able to say they have even MORE MRAP’s than they thought they would. With the 900 or so they’ll likely get from BW, on top of the 2500 that can be produced, outfitted and shipped to Iraq, they’ll be back up to 3400.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:52 amSee America? We underestimated our own optimism….ain’t ya proud?
Actually, truth be known, I’d decided to “smoke out Mr. Pee” this morning by not posting until later to see if I could draw him out. It worked, didn’t it? He’s such a predictable moron, isn’t he?
July 20th, 2007 at 9:52 amVeritas, I am thinking that Dubya doen’t know what is happening or what to do; he is being set up to take the “Big One” while Rover, Darth and th NeoCon Boyz slither out the back door.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:52 amTo all the TPers calling for Impeachment. There’s no question Impeachment is absolutely necessary. Its been necessary since the first Downing Street Memo was leaked. But the Dems will not initiate Impeachment until/unless someone in the administration is tried and convicted of an actual crime (tied to Bush/Cheney/Rove) that the public understands.
This is why its so very important to call your representatives as I outline in my post #1. If the Congress charges Harriet Miers with Inherent Contempt she’ll be dragged to the House of Representatives immediately and put on trial. Bush cannot stop this from proceeding. She’ll either talk and crimes will be revealed or she’ll be sent to prison where she’ll have some time to think. This is the first step to impeachment. No other course that I know of will lead us there.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:52 amBoudoir Bob is Mr. Pee too! That’s now a given. Ta-ta, TP buddies!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:53 amAce: That Olberman piece will go down in history! We’ll be viewing that as will our children and their children. Great piece! It will be associated with W’s impeachment and will become part of his legacy.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:54 amHmmm, who is still taking this loon for his word? Just cuz Bush says he’s above the law doesn’t make it so, you know. Just because Bush says Iraq is a threat doesn’t make it so. Just cuz Fox says Bush won the election doesn’t make it so. You people really need to start thinking for yourself, make a little sacrifice, and put some effin’ effort in it!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:54 amLater/Gators!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:54 ammonkeyboy sez:
First of all, I’d still like to think that we have some alternatives, other than assassination.
Second, this corruption isn’t limited to Chimpy by any means. Chimpy’s death would just make him a convenient martyr…a Christ-figure that the rest of this criminal cabal could use to justify the revocation of whatever rights as a free people we still possess.
Third, do you really believe Oswald assassinated Kennedy with his crappy Mannlicher-Carcano bolt-action rifle, somehow managing to get off three shots in six seconds, with two of them hits, and one a head shot?
July 20th, 2007 at 9:56 amLater Veritas! Don’t forget to take your anti-troll meds before you leave; you have been exposed here to mr p and we all know what kind of bacteria she/he/it carries!!!
July 20th, 2007 at 9:56 amPlease read your very way of life in hanging by a thread…
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Oldline_Republican_warns_somethings_in_works_0719.html
Than search for the Executive order signed by bush on the 7/17/07
This is no joke people something needs to happen NOW t ostop these people.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:57 amCan anyone answer this for me? Has it been determined in a court of law what was the status of Valerie Plame at the time her name was released?
If records show she was not covert and that is proven in our courts then there is no further action to take place.
If records show she was covert then an act of treason has been committed and it’s our duty to demand justice prevail.
Americans deserve an answer on this and we haven’t been given the truth.
I’ve been adding this question to the other calls and emails I am sending to my congressmen.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:58 amace: great information on that previous thread. Looks like I need to do some reading on Norm Mineta’s testimony and many other facts that have been swept away.
I derided you earlier this week for posting giant, off-topic threads. While I still think short items with links to the full story work better, I apologize for the criticism. You’ve got interesting things to add to the greater discussion.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:58 amNo time?
You disgust me.
Comment by ace
All righty then.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:59 amAce,
How’s about just providing a link back to your previous posts. That way, the other posters can CHOOSE whether to read them rather than just scrolling past them. *hint—- this one’s free, next one’s a buck*
Posters are MORE LIKELY to click a link than they are to devote the necessary attention to read ALL of your LONG posts.
forgive the grammer and spelling…
July 20th, 2007 at 10:00 amhellinabucket sez:
Valerie Plame was covert at the time of the leak, according to this court’s opinion, and also according to the Director of the CIA.
Yes, this was an act of treason.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:02 amkatie
Good bye, it’s been nice knowing some of you.
Bye Katie, we’ll miss you, and in the words of U2
July 20th, 2007 at 10:03 am“Don’t let the bastards get you down”
Yes, this was an act of treason.
Like your support of Al-Qaeda and The Iranian regime!
July 20th, 2007 at 10:03 amSGT Higgins sez:
That’s exactly what he did today, with his first post at 9:27 am (which has mysteriously been “disappeared”, BTW).
July 20th, 2007 at 10:05 amNobody’s interested in your delusions.
Still think ww3 was started by a bunch of goat herders with box cutters?
July 20th, 2007 at 10:06 amace
but instead make argumentative posts in an attempt to discredit another person, concentrating almost exclusively on facts irrelevant to the point of the conversation, with the intent of provoking a reaction from others. The key element under attack by a troll is known only to the troll.
Dude, your giving us way to much credit, we’re just hear to have fun.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:07 amTactically, it serves Rove and the Co-conspirators to limit the length of messages on threads like these.
Judging by how many people express annoyance at long posts, I would think that tactically, short ones with links work better, long ones make people go on auto-ignore and that way they don’t learn anything.
The war over Iraq is really to control an ancient space port built in ancient times.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:10 amThe Realian fleet will soon land and we will be taken over.
Karl Rive will be revealed to be their leader and will be the Global Governor of Sol 3.
Sol 3 is the Realian name for Earth!
That’s exactly what he did today, with his first post at 9:27 am (which has mysteriously been “disappearedâ€, BTW).
Comment by TripMaster Monkey
Mysteriously? You mean as in ‘conspiracy’?
July 20th, 2007 at 10:11 amDude, for real, what are you gonna do? It’s over, they’re onto you.
Just a few minutes ago I pointed out that ace’s post that referred interested users to a series of posts on yesterday’s “19 percent” thread had been “disappeared”.
Just now, I went to check on that series of posts in the “19 percent” thread, and found that every one of them had been “disappeared” as well.
Censorship is alive and well at Think Progress, but never fear…I had the foresight to save the entire series of posts, complete with the attached links. Let me know if you’re interested, and I can either email them to you, or repost them on a less hostile environment like AmericaBlog.
ace, keep up the good work.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:11 amSGT Higgins sez:
Are you disputing the fact that ace’s post at 9:27 am disappeared?
July 20th, 2007 at 10:12 amTripMaster Monkey,
July 20th, 2007 at 10:12 amDo what links to the Realian’s involvemnet in 9/11?
Just a couple notes as I’ve been busy phoning down the list:
Howard L. Berman (D) California 1-202-225-3196 — sounded like a fax number when I dialed.
Meehan of Mass. no longer with the Justice Committee.
It feels great trying to do something — I hope these calls make a difference. Thanks for the list and numbers.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:12 amTripMaster Monkey,
July 20th, 2007 at 10:13 amThis website is run by the Raelians!
Caption Contest:
July 20th, 2007 at 10:14 am“And then I’ll huff and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your civil liberties down”
#80 Jackilope…Here’s where I got the list of names for the House Judiciary:
http://judiciary.house.gov/CommitteeMembership.aspx
Then I looked up each number independently.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:15 amAre you disputing the fact that ace’s post at 9:27 am disappeared?
Comment by TripMaster Monkey
disputing? no. Now you’re calling it ‘censorship’. Maybe they have other reasons for having deleted the post. Don’t ask ME why, I don’t make the ToU. I didn’t read the posts you’re referring to. Don’t like the way this site is managed? Go to AmericaBlog, like you suggest.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:17 amBriseadh na Faire
Hey, random off topic question, how different is Latin American Spanish from Spain Spanish?
July 20th, 2007 at 10:18 amTripMaster Monkey,
July 20th, 2007 at 10:19 amWould you, Ace and Kay like to join the Anti-REalian resistance?
We must stop the Alien takeover of America!
Briseadh na Faire sez:
Actually, BnF, the post I referenced was a pointer to a whole series of posts on an earlier thread, all of which have been similarly expunged.
I’d be happy to mail you the series at the address you cited.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:20 amIt’s too bad ThinkProgress is really The Chinese Internet.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:20 amThe Doctrine of Executive Privilege, as per the article:
In other words, once the President invokes Executive Privilege, his power is absolute over the other two branches of government. By expanding the prohibition against prosecution to the legislative and judicial branches, this pronouncement rules out special prosecutors.
The Unitary Executive is above the law, or, perhaps better phrased: The Unitary Executive IS the law.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:24 am“Hey, random off topic question, how different is Latin American Spanish from Spain Spanish?”
It all depends on the country.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:24 amCarribean Hispanics like Cubans, Dominicans and Puerto-Ricans speak very similiar.
Central Americans have a heavy Indian influence in their Spanish and in fact they are hard to understand especially those from the lower classes.
Colombians speak the best Spanish in Latin America. The pronounce the S as Th like Castillians do.
Argentinians, Chileans and Uruguayan have a heavy Italian influence on their Spanish. They also have some German influence dur to Immigration.
As for Spain there are 3 main languages there, Castillian which is what is called Spanish, Catalan which is close to Provencal and Gallego which is where Portuguese comes from.
The weird theing about Portuguese is that they understand Spanish and can speak it. We can understand them too but it’s a little harder.
Briseadh na Faire:
Mail sent.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:25 amMy beach reading post was deleted :
Comment by Kay
No it wasn’t. It’s right there at #82
July 20th, 2007 at 10:25 am#84 and #1
Larry from C, here’s the number for Berman that works:
(202) 225-4695
I appreciate your hard work and looking up the numbers and passing along the list. I’ve called down the line. :-)
July 20th, 2007 at 10:26 amIf it is indeed been proven in a court of law that Valerie Plame was a covert agent at the time her name was released then it’s the duty of this congress and this administration to bring to justice the traitors to this country.
Problem with that is the traitor is one of 4 people (or any combination of them). Libby, Cheney, Rove and/or Bush. None of them will want justice to prevail so it’s up to congress and the american people to demand it.
I’m calling for a definitive answer in a court of law on Valerie Plame’s covert/noncovert status.
Who’s afraid of finding this out?
July 20th, 2007 at 10:27 amHey, random off topic question, how different is Latin American Spanish from Spain Spanish?
Comment by squegeeboo — July 20, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Yo no se. Yo comprendo poquito Espanol. Sabe la pronunciacion de “ll” es mas diferente.
So, Juan, forgive me if I butchered the syntax.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:29 amSGT Higgins sez:
If the shoe fits, SH. How else would you characterize the mas deletion of 11 posts on another thread?
So, you’re speculating wildly without any information. How helpful.
Don’t like me pointing out TP hypocrisy? Scroll past my posts.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:31 amhellinabucket sez:
hellinabucket, I believe I addressed this in my earlier post.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:33 amBriseadh na Faire
Really? Aren’t you in/around Catalonia?
July 20th, 2007 at 10:37 amThanks, Trip!
Thanks Kay. Good article. In a few months, Reich wingers will cheer as tens of thousands of anti-war protesters are rounded up and imprisoned without charges, and stripped of their houses, bank accounts, and all other worldly possessions. All in the name of “protecting the Homeland.”
We are already dead.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:37 amTrip, you did but the serious question of treason has not been addressed in a court of law. Only the obstruction of justice has. I believe the push for this to be decided in a court of law is needed. The recent civil case that was thrown out partially due to this question not being resolved.
There are so many different aspects to try and look into regarding Iraq and our civil libertys and I want to focus on this one until a legal decision has been made.
It’s quite simple. If an act of Treason has been committed, then it’s our duty to bring the traitor(s) to justice. Nobody can stand above the law.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:38 amComment by squegeeboo — July 20, 2007 @ 10:37 am
California
July 20th, 2007 at 10:39 amI think Mr. P hijacked my name earlier this morning, saw my response, and figured he’d stay away to make it look good.
How do I know this? Mr. P is the only one on this board who is interested in playing childish games like this.
I challenge you Mr. P to refer to a single post that you made in the last few days that contains a mature argument regarding some political comment. (No, simply complaining that your name was hijacked doesn’t count.)
July 20th, 2007 at 10:39 am#95…Jackilope Thanks. Imagine if each Representative received 1,000 calls today demanding Harriet Miers be charged with INHERENT CONTEMPT.
I get the sense Conyers is going to take the politcally easy way out and charge Miers with Criminal Contempt (or worse reach a “compromise” with the White House the details of which will be murky). Then the case will be handed over to the US Attorney from DC who is an interim appointment and Bush lackey. This is the path Cheney hopes Conyers takes because its a dead-end. The US Attorney (most likely with instructions from Cheney) will decide not to pursue the case citing Executive Privilege.
By bombarding Conyers etc. with phone calls we let him know we’re watching his every move. And this is how it should be. The Politicians should fear us, not the other way around.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:42 amShockwave,
July 20th, 2007 at 10:43 amIt’s possible that the Raelians did it.
Are they Jews?
If so I can believe it!
The Jews are behind everything.
Muslims never do anything wrong as Islam is a peaceful religion.
Briseadh na Faire
California
So I was close at least…
Vinnie
July 20th, 2007 at 10:44 amMr. P is the only one on this board who is interested in playing childish games like this.
Not true. I am a fan of games, childish or not.
Refusing to prosecute Congressional Contempt charges.
Ironically, John Dean wrote about this exact scenario just one week ago.
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20070713.html
July 20th, 2007 at 10:44 amA judge threw out the lawsuit of secret agent media whore Valerie Plame. What was the judge’s other ruling?
That anyone who believed the stories of Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson is legally retarded.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:46 amI would agree with the responder. You actually did make a logical point which is astounding. Normally, you just make numerous childish comments.
Of course, it was a complete distortion. There are many quotes that show the administration implied very strongly that there was a link between Iraq and Al-Qaeda.
Bush and Snow keep saying we need to fight the terrorists in Iraq as opposed to fighting them here. So, which is it, did we go into Iraq because Al-Qaeda was there beforehand? Or did Al-Qaeda establish a presence in Iraq AS A RESULT of our invasion?
July 20th, 2007 at 10:53 amQuestion to all:
Can Bush immediately pardon anyone “convicted” of Inherent Contempt? If so, then there is absolutely no alternative to impeachment.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:56 amScrewBush
I believe he can pardon anyone guilty of any federal crime.
July 20th, 2007 at 10:57 amI believe he can pardon anyone guilty of any federal crime.
Comment by squegeeboo
Yeah, I agree. I’m pretty sure, but not absolutely certain, that the Pres. can pardon anyone, period.
It’s such a powerful privilege, it’s not even reserved solely for humans!
July 20th, 2007 at 11:02 amCase in point: What about those infamous ‘November Pardons’, I think you know the ones I mean.
Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR) a member of the Homeland Security committee, has been denied access to documents outlining government plans for continuity after a terrorist attack.
http://tinyurl.com/2dg9jv
July 20th, 2007 at 11:03 am
#116 #117… But he cannot stop the House (or Senate) from putting Harriet Miers or Josh Bolton on trial. If found guilty he can of course pardon her. But her conviction will lead to further investigation and further convictions. Eventually crimes directly linked to Bush/Cheney will be revealed and Impeachment will become unstoppable. Its like a stone rolling down a hill that gathers momentum.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:03 amDear yuk yuk — I assume this was posted for humor; a justification for men to enjoy a cookout with naked women as entertainment. I will probably get this in my e-mailbox a few times.
I’d just like to point out a couple of flaws with the plan — just in case anybody takes this seriously enough to try this. First, Muslim males are not required to commit suicide if they see a woman (not their wife) naked. Second, not all terrorists are Muslim (have we forgotten about Timothy McVeigh already?).
July 20th, 2007 at 11:06 amIf Law means nothing to the executive it means nothing to the people as well. Is the anarchy at our doorstep? Is revolution inevitable?
July 20th, 2007 at 11:08 amOr will our Military side with “We The People” and cart Bush and Cheney to Guanatamo in colorful garb?
We’ll seeee!
Caption Contest:
July 20th, 2007 at 11:14 amDuring a speech someone in the front row with a banana distracted the President. There were no injuries but the man with the banana will held in the local hospital for observation after the traumatizing attack.
Alert the media. Bush has just exerted executive privlege on the contents of his lunch. We’re in for a bumpy ride. Speaker Pelosi has been emailed to put Impeachment back on the table. It’s the CURE for a Constitutional Crisis, not the CAUSE. Whatever uppers the Bush team is swallowing, they’re in for a Legislative crash. Republicans should be Americans upholding the Constitution, not enablers for a run away sociopath duo. They should be ashamed that things have gone so bad so fast.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:14 amCaptain Bru$ch on the bridge…
“Hmmm… is that an iceberg over there? Naah, this ship is unsinkable! Full steam ahead, Alberto!”
“Aye-aye, sir!”
“And while you’re at it, have the cabinboy, what’s his name?”
“Mr. P, sir”
“Well have ‘Mr P’, if that’s his real name, lay out my wardrobe for tonight’s event. Tell him I would like to wear my “Commander-In-Chief” codpiece tonight… you know, the REALLY BIG one!”
July 20th, 2007 at 11:15 amPhoyo caption contest:
“Jesus, Jeff, your hand is cold. What makes you think I’ve got your wristwtch?”
July 20th, 2007 at 11:16 amCaption:
July 20th, 2007 at 11:16 amCaption:
OOOOOOaaaaahhhaaaaaOOOoooohhhaaaaahhaaaaaaaaaa….
July 20th, 2007 at 11:17 amIf the Congress doesn’t use its inherent contempt powers to restore checks and balances, they might as well all resign and go home.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:19 amAnyway, Saddam was a loose cannon with a grudge. Parts of al-Kaida may very well have been in Iraq before 9/11, sympathizers certainly. Plus bin Laden has said that all Muslims must fight the US, no matter which Middle Eastern country (except Israel) is in question. Osama saw Saddam’s defeat as an affront to all of Islam.
Comment by Mr. President © — July 20, 2007 @ 11:02 am
I see a lot of speculation in your comment. Certainly, you wouldn’t suggest waging a war that costs half a trillion dollars and has cost nearly 4,000 American lives because Al Qaeda “may very well have been” in Iraq? And this is EXACTLY the kind of speculation that Bush and Cheney engage in to get people to believe this war was about stopping Al Qaeda. You’re trying to convince me that Al Qaeda was in Iraq and you just said that Bush and Cheney never implied this. This line of crap is all over the rationale for this war.
So, since Bin Laden has said that all Muslims must fight the US, that means that we should fight all Muslims? Where is it written that Bin Laden speaks for all Muslims? Is this misconception why you show such a hatred for EVERYONE who practices one of the largest religions on our planet. Funny how you let Bin Laden control your thinking.
“Osama saw Saddam’s defeat as an affront to all of Islam.”
This is your weirdest quote of all. Who cares what Osama would think of us invading Iraq? Are you trying to imply that taking over and occupying Iraq was a good thing because it ticked off Bin Laden? Is that a rationale for taking our country to a lengthy and costly war?!
July 20th, 2007 at 11:20 amThanks Frank J. for your expected sophmoric non answer to if a court of law has decided the status of Valerie Plame. You know less than the average troll here. But I won’t be wasting my time with your shit.
The President swore to uphold the Constitution. He is not above the Constitution. It’s our duty to hold him to it and one way is through the court of law.
We need to have a legal decision on Valerie Plame’s status as a CIA agent. Was she covert or not. We’ve heard both sides claim yes and no. We need a definitive answer and that will only happen in a court of law.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:21 amNobody’s interested in your delusions.
Comment by Boudin Bob
Boudin Bob has a prediliction for referring to himself in the 2nd person. Odd.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:23 amThere are significant differences between Mexico Spanish and Spain Spanish. For example, in Mexico the proper greeting is, “Chinge Bush en el culo”, but in Spain the greeting is, “Juede Bush en el culo”.
“Chinge Bush” is easier to say and it fits on a bumper sticker.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:37 amOsama saw Saddam’s defeat as an affront to all of Islam.
Comment by Mr. President ©
Considering the fundamentalist Shia and the secular Sunni have so much in common…
July 20th, 2007 at 11:39 amOsama saw Saddam’s defeat as an affront to all of Islam.
Comment by Mr. President ©
Ye gods, you’re an overflowing crock. The Baathist Party was strictly sectarian. OBL had nothing to do w/ Iraq.
Somebody hand Mr P some grease and a tire iron. He went and got his head stuck up his butt again. Must have been looking for J Gannon’s wristwatch.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:40 amWho cares what Osama would think of us invading Iraq? Are you trying to imply that taking over and occupying Iraq was a good thing because it ticked off Bin Laden? Is that a rationale for taking our country to a lengthy and costly war?!
Comment by Vinnie
It has been suggested by experts on the Middle East that OBL was actaully happy that Bush toppled Saddam. W/ the Baathist Party in place, Saddam had total control ovr Iraq. Moslems could never drive him out. Bush could. W/ Saddam gone, Bush can never control iraq, but now Moslems can take over.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:42 amActually, I didn’t have class today so I slept in.
Comment by Mr. President ©
His hand is cramped up he can barely…
July 20th, 2007 at 11:45 amOh, for the days of an Oswald or a Booth….
Comment by monkeyboy
Sorry, whilst i understand your frustration, this ain’t cool.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:45 amNo. Considering Osama explicitly stated so.
Comment by Mr. President © — July 20, 2007 @ 11:41 am
Obviously you fully believe and trust in Osama.
We have taken a SECULAR nation and turned it into one of Al Qaeda’s best strongholds. Of course, Osama is happy with our actions. And your suggestion is that we keep this strategy going.
I think that you are crazy enough to want a full-fledged world war between Christians and Muslims to satisfy your holy deity.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:46 amThe power to pardon is only limited by the inability to pardon in cases of impeachment. I believe President Ford pardoned Nixon and others even before criminal investigations were started. Thus Bush can pardon members of his administration for any crimes related to refusing to testify, even before they go to testify. And he can pardon people for lying to Congress after they testify.
In this sense, his claim that Executive Privilege is absolute is true, because he can, and will, insulate his staff through the use of presidential pardons. Libby is a prime example.
The only legal check on such power is that which is off the table.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:46 am#141 – I don’t understand your reason for posting this link. We know that our actions our pissing off many in the Muslim world. Your attitude is that these people will automatically hate us and that we must fight militarily against them for that reason. I think that is what is at the base of your mentality and it really shows your shallowness. With guys like you in charge, we would always be at war with Eastasia.
July 20th, 2007 at 11:51 amIt’s funny how you Leftists blame Bush for not being prepared for, or stopping, 9 1 1, but now when he is doing something about the terrorist threats, you think it is speculation!!!
Comment by Mr. President © — July 20, 2007 @ 11:50 am
The intelligent reports concluded there was NO significant Al-Qaeda presence in Iraq prior to our attacking! What part of that don’t you get? Attacking Iraq has done NOTHING to reduce the threat of terrorism. In fact, as the intelligent reports shows, it has only ticked off a lot more people in the world and provided a breeding ground for ADDITIONAL terrorists.
YOU are the one who has bought the lie that this war was about terrorism!! It is not!!
July 20th, 2007 at 11:54 amMr. P,
It’s this simple – You have said that Bush and Cheney have not implied a link between 9/11 and Iraq. Then tell me, why did we invade Iraq? If the first sentence is true, then there must be some other reason we attacked Iraq.
If, as Bush has said, there was no link between Iraq and 9/11, then we were NOT going after the 9/11 terrorists when we invaded Iraq. Right? Please explain what I’m missing here.
July 20th, 2007 at 12:00 pmBTW, remember that Saddam, for all his craziness, did NOT like radical Muslim organizations and did his best to keep them OUT of his country. So all of your talk about Muslim extremism should NOT apply to Iraq before the invasion. Even a rabid hatred of Islam was no valid reason to attack Iraq.
July 20th, 2007 at 12:02 pmThe resident Mr. President offers no facts, only opinions. And opinions are like asshole$, everybody has one.
Thanks for your push of the facts Vinnie.
July 20th, 2007 at 12:06 pmVinnie,
We know that Bush’s War had nothing to do with terrorism, will we ever find out the real reason behind his diversion into Iraq?
Was it Jebus whispering sweet nothings in his ear?
Did he want to show the world that he really did have the balls to do it?
Did he want to make Daddy love him more than Jeb?
Or did he just want to be remembered as a War President?
He definitely will be remembered for his War. That will be the defining issue of his pitiful life. That is unless he decides to take the easy way out, the Adolph’s Answer, and ruin that pretty rug in the Oval Office. Then he will be remembered 200 years from now as the first President (well, ostensibly) to spoil the pelt.
July 20th, 2007 at 12:06 pmSaddam was being a crazy despot.
Comment by Mr. President © — July 20, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Yes, but he was no threat to us. With the sanctions and inspections he had no WMD with which to attack us. That has been proven. THERE WAS NO CREDIBLE THREAT TO THE US FROM SADDAM!!
Now, after a half a trillion dollars, thousands of American soldiers lives, and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilian lives, and countless destruction of Iraqi infrastructure, Iraq stands as a fertile breeding ground for Al Qaeda.
We have gone from no credible threat to a full-fledged Al-Qaeda operation, let alone a civil war that shows no signs of abating. Are you going to sit there and say that the Iraq war was a good idea?
July 20th, 2007 at 12:17 pmAnd it’s been a long standing policy of the Republican party to be the world’s police and weed out any of those crazy despots. Look at how firmly the republicans stood up in support of our involvement in Kosovo, in Darfur, in North Korea, in Pakistan.
Yes, the Republican party has a long history of standing up for the average person in the world.
July 20th, 2007 at 12:19 pmSaddam was being a crazy despot.
Comment by Mr. President © — July 20, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
Unlike all those other crazy despots we have supported through the years?
July 20th, 2007 at 12:30 pmUnlike all those other crazy despots we have supported through the years?
Comment by dbadass — July 20, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
Like, … uh … Saddam Hussein when he was fighting the Iran-Iraq war. Can someone find that picture or Rumsfeld shaking hands with Mr. P’s favorite Stalinist?
July 20th, 2007 at 12:43 pm>but now when he is doing something about the terrorist threats, you >think it is speculation!!!
your right, starting wars in remote parts of the world that kill hundreds of thousands based on speculation is certainly the right way to prevent another 9-11.
its certainly not possible that massive amounts of people will be enraged by images of massive civilian casualities and take up arms against us, that otherwise woudlnt? right? let me guess..we can fight the whole world and win, right?
I mean, if we had bombed saudi arabi, where 15 of the 19 hijackers came from, before 9-11, we could have saved ourselves alot of grief, right?
> back to reality.
reality is something you’ll never grasp, just like your heroes
July 20th, 2007 at 12:44 pmhttp://www.globalpolicy.org/images/pictures/security/iraq/rumsfeld.gif
July 20th, 2007 at 12:46 pmThat’s right. After Saddam’s regime was taken out. They decided to show up, probably with the intentions of turning Iraq into another extremist breeding ground.
Comment by Mr. President © — July 20, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
So, it would seem that the Al Qaeda had an EASIER time establishing themselves in Iraq AFTER we invaded. Are you saying that our invasion actually led to an INCREASE in Al Qaeda in Iraq? If so, doesn’t that completely contradict the president who says that our presence there is to REDUCE the threat of terrorism?
July 20th, 2007 at 12:47 pmChocolate,
THANKS for the pic!!
July 20th, 2007 at 12:49 pmFor the record – I DID NOT BLUSH when asked about making People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” list.
http://patrickjfitzgerald.blogspot.com
July 20th, 2007 at 1:00 pmThe one good thing I’ll say about Bush:
At least he is giving us all an abject lesson in why we need the Constitution. I am very, very grateful to our founding mothers and fathers right now. Let’s just hope our Senators and Congressmen from both parties see this power monger’s challenge and take him down.
Bush is literally slapping the glove across the face of Congress. This has become a bipartisan Congressional threat.
If the Democrats, at least, do not rise to the challenge on this one… I thinking New Zealand.
July 20th, 2007 at 1:15 pm“I don’t see an Ethics violaton here. Somewhat shady? Sure, buying on the 29th of Dec before the reassessed value is known is a little sketchy, but perfectly legal.”
Legal is not the same thing as ethical. Moreover, the “assessed” value of a house is rarely the same as it’s actual selling value. In my own case, for example, if I were to put my house on the market today, it would be for more than $100,000 more than the assessed value on my property tax report.
July 20th, 2007 at 1:16 pmSome animals are more equal than others. The revolution (American) has been betrayed from within by the rich and powerful. And why not? What interests do the elite have in *true* democracy? America has been seduced by its own aristocracy.
July 20th, 2007 at 1:19 pmresident Mr. President, you are missinformed . I suggest some reading. Go find Cobra II and educate yourself (in between your classes of course). You’ll find that Saddam was more scared of a civil war than the US and was playing a shell game concerning WMD’s and failed.
You let your fear make your decisions instead of logic. Not a quality that will get you to far in life but one that is highly desired to be a follower.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:17 pmAs recent evidence shows, our efforts in Iraq encourage (emboldens) the insurgency, and thus the formation of an Iraqi version of Al Qaeda.
Here it is, if you can believe the source, from the mouth of a captured insurgent
Abu Sarhan, as the 37-year-old insurgent wished to be known, said Iraq’s Sunnis are deep into an entrenched and irresolvable civil war against Iranian-backed Shiites. He said the premise of the U.S. military’s counterinsurgency strategy — deploying thousands of soldiers in small outposts in violent neighborhoods — only inflames the insurgency and prompts attacks against the Americans.
If U.S. forces release Sunni detainees, remove the concrete blast barriers that now cordon off several neighborhoods and improve services in areas neglected by the Shiite-led government, “the attacks will be reduced 95 percent within days,” he said. He added that the Americans’ insistence on striking Sunni areas “is generating an increasing resistance.”
Our policies have the opposite effect of their intent:by definition that is bad policy. Unless the end result is exactly what you intend.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:34 pmIt’s official.
Bush is now the Psycopath-in-Chief.
And tomorrow, while Bush is undergoing a rectal examination, Dick Cheney will take over the reins of the executive branch and become the Acting Psychopath-in-Chief.
Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:32 pm