“Justice Department officials attended at least a dozen political briefings at the White House since 2001, including some meetings led by Karl Rove, President Bush’s chief political adviser, and others that were focused on election trends prior to the 2006 midterm contest, according to documents released yesterday.” In June, the Office of Special Counsel found that political briefings held at the General Services Administration violated the law. “Inappropriate” political briefings were even given to diplomats. See more on Karl Rove’s politicization of the federal government HERE.
And? Another Congressional investigation with stonewalled subpoenas and executive privilege? The Dems—in the Senate, at least—have tonight demonstrated that they will talk a good game, and then roll over on the very ideals and liberties that undergird this nation. May Caesar not now act as he pleases?
August 4th, 2007 at 1:36 amI thought that US v. Nixon ruled that a president’s claim of executive privilege is not absolute, and that it does not cover those involved inthe commission of a crime. Rove was involved in a crime, so how can they keep denying the Congress access?
August 4th, 2007 at 1:42 amJustice Department officials attended at least a dozen political briefings at the White House […] that were focused on election trends prior to the 2006 midterm contest
Was it during these briefings that what Rove called The Math was hatched? Is it during sessions like these that the White House decides that 2 + 2 = 5?
If so, not only are these briefings illegal and unethical, they’re also deadly: I suspect Rove & Co. used The Math to figure out their chances to be “greeted as liberators” in Iraq, and to estimate the chances of success for their “surge”.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:49 amComment by Theophrastos — August 4, 2007 @ 1:36 am
MUST you?
August 4th, 2007 at 1:49 amIt is natural and right and just that the Republican Party control all levels of government, from the Highest Offices of the land to the lowest public servants. All must swear fealty to the President, not the Constitution, for the President is the Constitution, and the Nation.
Only by controlling the election process, from voter registrations to vote counting, can Republicans maintain the control they so righteously deserve.
Only by maintainting control over the Most Powerful Country On Earth can Republicans usher in Armegeddon.
Only through an Appocolyptical War can Earth be divested of man-unkind and begin to heal from the past century of the raping of her natural resources, the polluting of her land, her seas and her skys.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:49 am“…maintainting control…”
What an appropriate typo, Bris!
August 4th, 2007 at 1:54 amYes, but Reid and Pelosi will do nothing and say nothing about this.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:57 amComment by Briseadh na Faire — August 4, 2007 @ 1:49 am
Please tell me that’s the plot of a sci-fi novel you’re reading.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:59 amImpeachment is off the table. Which means, so too is the Constitution.
It is no longer about right and wrong. It is about Power. Getting Power, Keeping Power, Using Power. It’s about Power to Build Fortunes. It is about Power to Destroy all who would resist.
We must learn how to not resist.
That which resists, supports.
The earth resists, and supports the fortress.
The sea does not resist, but flows around the fortress, and in doing so, brings the fortress down upon its foundations.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:00 amInteresting how dirty bills are passed late at night in the Congress. The Senators know they did a dirty thing tonight and they did it as most Americans slumbered in bed. Shame on all of them who helped Bush to spy on entire American citizenry.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:03 am“Rumors speak of War
August 4th, 2007 at 2:03 amAll the Nations
Turmoil in the Streets
Tribulations.”
…..
……………………………………Robbie Steinhardt
“That’s the plot of a sci-fi novel you’re reading.”
It’s also the goal of the Evangelicals.
“…maintainting control…†= Freudian slip…. :-}
August 4th, 2007 at 2:05 amAnd Fridays are used to bury dirty deeds over the weekend. Most Americans will not learn of the betrayal of the Senate till Monday and the Senators will have departed DC for their month long vacations.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:08 amIMPEACH
August 4th, 2007 at 2:27 amNOW.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:28 am“And Fridays are used to bury dirty deeds over the weekend. Most Americans will not learn of the betrayal of the Senate till Monday and the Senators will have departed DC for their month long vacations.
Comment by Jay Randal — August 4, 2007 @ 2:08 am”
And since most Americans support the Terrorist Surveillance Program once they actually understand it without all of the wild-eyed liberal hyperbole and spin, we simply will not care. We will go on with our lives, unfeterred and undeterred.
We’ve been hearing how the sky is falling for over 50 years. And after all that, the sky is still up there every day and every night.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:28 am… the sky is still up there every day and every night.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
The sky is not the problem.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:42 amThe apathy of the electorate is the opportunity of the political scoundrel.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:09 amSee Bigfoot believes that Bush is wonderful and would never tap his phone.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:35 am>We’ve been hearing how the sky is falling for over 50 years.
Never before has a president claimed he can do absolutely anything he wants, as long as we are at war with some phantom concept like “terror”… when somebody provides me with a cognizable way we can determine when we’ve “won” this “war” on “terror”, then i’ll stop being alarmist. but i suspect that the definition of “victory” against “terror” will shift in the wind, much like the justification for invading iraq did…
imagine, someday, we have a president with less honesty and integrity that george bush…he might do wacky things like overexagerate or even fabricate the nature of the threats against us just to maintain his “wartime” powers and fill the pockets of his bloodmerchant buddies with american treasure…
do any of you flaghumping genuises worry that someday a democratic president will invoke this war on terror under false pretenses? if he decides to lie and fabricate new threats, whats to stop him?
you can insist george bush is an honest guy all you want.. remember, the rules (or lack thereof) that apply to him, also apply to all future american presidents…. are you people willing to put that much power in the hands of one person, just because he (allegedly) won a popularity contest?
August 4th, 2007 at 3:43 amIt may be a good idea to start calling all these “meetings” criminal and stop calling them political.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:47 amWe know already that these are criminals with very consistent criminal behavior.
To label their actions as political just mixes it in with all the other toxic talk.
Criminal activities are done by criminals.
The Democratic Senators gave away your right to privacy last night, so they could meet an important deadline: the start of their August recess. I can’t stand the sight of them. There is no longer any reason to support them, anymore. Won’t a few good people take to the podiums and run against any incumbent next year?
August 4th, 2007 at 7:35 amI’m moving out of this f*cking country as soon as I can.
August 4th, 2007 at 7:39 amThis is not America!
August 4th, 2007 at 8:39 amComment by O. Bigfoot — August 4, 2007 @ 2:28 am
Hyperbole? Are you referring to statements like this;†We fight them there so we don’t have to fight them here� Or, “They will follow us home�
August 4th, 2007 at 9:27 amThat Hyperbole? Got it.
Bigfoot is a lazy moron, and proves it with every post. We are losing America, and Americans like bigfoot don’t care. Patriotism is only for the Left now.
August 4th, 2007 at 9:30 amWhy no defense of Obama on ThinkProgress ?
Google news shows around 1000 stories about Obama being attacked for this policy on fighting al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. A policy this website has been been promoting (or at least pretending to) for months.
It is is the first news about a US Presidential candidate’s policy that I have seen featured in my (international) news.
But not a mention here ?
Not even to come to the defense of an Democrat candidate promoting the same policies this website does in regard to this election’s most important issue ?
August 4th, 2007 at 9:38 amWTF is up with that TP ?
Ronjazz,
August 4th, 2007 at 9:41 amYou got right. These people would rather cower in there homes, frightened of the terrorist hiding in their bushes than to stand up for themselves. They need the government give them the illusion of safety. They are not patriotic, they are nationalistic sheep.
Obama has the right idea, it’s just that the rightard media plays up all the fears and lies of their owners. obama’s foreign policy is light-years ahead of Bushco’s, and, as a result, will be denigrated because it makes sense, not money. republicans have always valued profits over people, and they now own all the media, so don’t expect much in the way of truth from them.
August 4th, 2007 at 9:46 amIt must be quite a sight to see PudgeBoy rover with his smarmy smirk, hiding behind Dubya and Gonzo, doing whatever he wants and knowing he is immune.
Maybe when he is living in Daddy Bush’s basement in Paraguay, hiding from extradition, he will have time to reflect on his sorry, pitiful life…………Naw, probably not.
August 4th, 2007 at 9:56 amI find the hypocrisy and naivete of those who defend this program breathtaking. Were this a Democratic president, the right would be absolutely shrieking about the outrageous, extralegal character of this lunatic power grab. Conservatives seem to believe that as long as someone else’s rights are violated, there isn’t a problem. We have, however, already seen Bush and his cronies lie about the existence of multiple surveillance programs, lie about the use of data-mining techniques, lie about the frequency of mishandled domestic intercepts, and lie about the extent to which Congress was supplied with comprehensive knowledge of any of this. Why in the hell should anybody believe that they now pursue this power out of noblesse oblige? That’s laughable at this point!
What’s more, given the fact that they care for nothing beyond political gain, why should any thoughtful American believe that these techniques would be used to identify and detain terrorists, when they could just as easily be used to identify political dissidents and opponents?
Make no mistake, cons—you’re in the same sinking boat with us. The difference is: we’re preparing to bail water or swim; you’re admiring the filigree on the deck trim. Good luck with that.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:08 am… the sky is still up there every day and every night.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
The sky is not the problem.
Comment by troll alert
Brilliant….
August 4th, 2007 at 10:10 amAnybody notice a similarity here with Communism; where it is all about the party first, and loyalty to party trumps loyalty to country (or constitution)?
August 4th, 2007 at 10:14 amCome on trolss, why aren’t you ripping in to those communist bastards Rove, Bush, Cheney, et. al.?
who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?
August 4th, 2007 at 10:17 amTest
(This damn web site is acting up again. Just tried to submit a post and it does not show up. On top of that, the name/e-mail/URI info just went to “null”).
Damn it.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:21 amComment by funky p — August 4, 2007 @ 10:14 am
That’s why they’re red. :P
August 4th, 2007 at 10:22 amThe nulling of name and email is, I think a cookie expiration issue.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:27 amSometimes I think these guys are just flat out amateurish at site building and maintenance. They are in need of some technical assistance.
Oh, and government service is supposed to be for the public weal, not the party line.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:28 amAfter knuckling under to Bush on spying last evening in order to get to their vacation destinations on time, both the House and the Senate (particularly the Senate) have shown their true colors. Personal pleasure trumps their oath of office. I find their capricious behavior appalling - both sides of the aisle. I find their complicity in the degradation of our constitution now obvious and a clear derelection of the duty to which they were elected.
Is there anyone out there who can now honestly say that the Democrats have the best interest of the people who elected them in 08 as a priority? A democrat all of my life who switched to Independent (unaffiliated) due to the frustration of the continued corruption in our government……it upsets me greatly to have reached this conclusion.
Clearly, the time has come for a clean sweep in both the House and Senate of representatives of BOTH PARTIES. A third party (The People’s Party) has now been shown to not only be essential to the continuation of our democracy but the “only option” now available to each of us since these sycophants and pleasure seekers have now shown their cards - and have opted in favor of trampling our constitution rather than upholding the rule of law, the rights of the people, and the constitution they are sworn to defend by their oath of office.
They’ve surrendered like spineless sycophantic fools this time. Some people overlooked their first major blunder (not standing up to el jefe on the war funding) but they will no longer either trust the Democrats in Congress nor will they continue to support them.
People like Bloomberg will come to the fore now since it’s clear that this Congress no longer represents the will of the people and they will not be re-elected following this second major blunder (even if it is only for 6 months). What they’ve done is wrong - they’ve temporarily condoned the violation of our wiretapping laws and made Gonzo, our liar in chief, head of the new game. This is an abomination following the ridiculous lies and false statements this official has given (perjury anyone?) before Congress. This is patently and infinitely wrong.
The people will not forgive the Democrats on this blunder. I foresee a massive movement toward the Independent Party (and unaffiliated) as well as new candidates joining Bloomberg to bring this country back into equilibrium (if this is even a remotely possible concept following 8 years of critical damage which has been and continues to be done by this fascist regime).
It’s clear that our two party system is no longer working by the hijinks and charades in Congress with nothing being accomplished for the people. It’s clear by this knuckling under by the Democrats on spying that even the Dems are complicit in this Regime.
It’s time for a Third!! The time has now come and anyone out there still not realizing this would have to be hit by a bolt of lightning to get it then. As they say: We get what we deserve! We deserve better than this, much better - but not unless or until we, the people, speak up and make our voices heard.
Where’s Al Gore when you need him??
I believe Gore’s time has come and he may, indeed, be the sole individual capable of saving this country from the obvious self-destructive path we find ourselves on today.
“The truth comes out in the wash” - and now I think we are obtaining a glimpse of precisely why Pelosi is refusing to put impeachment on the table….it’s not a pretty word but looking quite apropos right now and that word is: “complicit”.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:31 amP.S. Doesn’t anyone think it strange that no presidential candidate on the left is coming out against unchecked executive power? The answer is that they support it because they lust for the same degree of power if/when they are elected.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:37 amwell stated, veritas.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:40 amThey’ve forfeited our trust.
They’ve forfeited our trust.
Comment by RUCerious — August 4, 2007 @ 10:40 am
No sh*t…
August 4th, 2007 at 10:45 amComment by veritas — August 4, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Comment by veritas — August 4, 2007 @ 10:37 am
I am with you on just about every point. I am so frustrated by the idiots in Washington D.C.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:47 amI must have been crazy to ever think that the Dems would do something noble and honorable. I long ago gave up on the Repukes, but I hoped that the Dems would make things better. Instead, even with the majority, they knuckle under.
How did we end up with such a bunch of sac-less losers?
One Nation
One God
One Party
One President-for-Life
August 4th, 2007 at 10:49 amThe nulling of name and email is, I think a cookie expiration issue. Sometimes I think these guys are just flat out amateurish at site building and maintenance. They are in need of some technical assistance.
Comment by RUCerious — August 4, 2007 @ 10:27 am
I’m impressed by the new posting format at Crooksandliars.com. Have you seen it or posted there? They recently switched to WordPress, and it is great. Posts appear instantly and they actually have administrators who monitor regularly for any bad behavior. Would be a good move for this site (hint, hint).
August 4th, 2007 at 10:55 amNope. The name, etc., is going to “null” and the post does not show up when I try to submit a particluar post. Going to try one more thing…
August 4th, 2007 at 11:01 amI have been visiting townhall.com, a righty site, and posting there too. I guess that would make me a troll, right?
August 4th, 2007 at 11:05 amI also registered on free republic.
Those people are seriously twisted.
Huffington post has gotten better. Crooks and liars is a good informative site, but I have yet to register there.
Sometimes when I post here, I have to refresh several times to get it on. I think this occurs when several posters are trying to post at the same time. And sometimes my posts appear, then later are gone, with, I believe, nothing offensive or profane to warrant their removal. It’s strange!
What is going on with TP. I just wrote a lengthly post about how an article said what they were doing was not illegal because they held the briefings at the White House. This post went poof. Yesterday I wrote a post twice and both went poof. If TP is censoring, I can’t figure out what it is that they are censoring. This is getting very frustrating. You put a lot of thought into a post and then it goes off into the ether.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:15 amHi Mr. Pee, I take it this is the personality who will be dominant today. We really should start calling him Sybil. He has more personalities than I can count.
Comment by bilbobaggins — August 4, 2007 @ 11:12 am
———————————————————————–
That was last night.
Today… who knows…
August 4th, 2007 at 11:15 amI wonder how the Republicans are going to feel when the Democrats take over in 2008 and the Democratic President makes the government an arm of the DLC?
August 4th, 2007 at 11:15 amfunky p:
I don’t think you have to register at Crooks and Liars…just enter your Name and E-mail like it is here, and you are good to go.
This site and its posting issues is getting on my nerves. I think my particular problem may be due to an issue with Windows Vista and/or IE 7 interacting with this site. I can’t even highlight text and use the HTML buttons at the top of the comment section; IE shows an Error on the task bar when I try. I looked up the error code on the Web and it has to do with an issue with the coding on the affected site. I may try loading Firefox and see if that helps (I’ve delayed loading any new programs on Vista as most of the ones I’ve looked at are not supported by Vista, even after this new OS was officially released.)
August 4th, 2007 at 11:15 amRight on, Veritas, right on! I too am totally fed up with the Democratic party, completely disgusted with their spinelessness, their lack of vision, their short-sighted political shenanigans. The people must rise up against them as well as the money-grubbing, lawless Republicans. It’s time out for political games! We need statesmen, people who care for our formerly great country, men and women who are principled and stand by their convictions.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:17 amThis is getting very frustrating. You put a lot of thought into a post and then it goes off into the ether.
Comment by bilbobaggins — August 4, 2007 @ 11:15 am
“I feel your pain.” - Slick Willy
August 4th, 2007 at 11:17 amDoes anyone know where we can to go find out what Spineless Democrats voted to allow King George unlimited access to spying on us? I really would like to know because I will spend the day sending them e-mails telling them what I think about their actions.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:19 amComment by bilbobaggins — August 4, 2007 @ 11:15 am
————-
I’d like to know the same thing, but doubt I’ll get an answer.
I too am trying to post a lengthy note and it doesn’t even show up. I can post any other note and the name, e-mail, etc. retains my info. But if I try to post the lengthy note, it all changes to “null.”
Maybe if we all just leave and go to another site (say, Crooksandliars)…we could post there on their open threads and reference the “headlines” here.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:19 amI don’t think you have to register at Crooks and Liars…just enter your Name and E-mail like it is here, and you are good to go.
You don’t have to register. But C&L really sucks. Go there, you’ll see… it’s too slow, and the commentors are all ditto heads.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:20 am58 continued.
Except for me, of course.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:21 amThis is getting very frustrating. You put a lot of thought into a post and then it goes off into the ether.
Comment by bilbobaggins — August 4, 2007 @ 11:15 am
——————
Try copy and pasting any lengthy notes to Notepad. Much less frustrating when a note here does not show up and it’s lost forever.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:21 amYou don’t have to register. But C&L really sucks. Go there, you’ll see… it’s too slow, and the commentors are all ditto heads.
Comment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 11:20 am
———————-
I disagree. Never had a problem with slowness.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:23 amOk…have it your way, TP. I’m breaking my post up into sections…
August 4th, 2007 at 11:24 amWe’ve been hearing how the sky is falling for over 50 years. And after all that, the sky is still up there every day and every night.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 4, 2007 @ 2:28 am
What an idiot. The sky has already fallen. We have an administration who has decided it must answer to no one. At the very minimum, all you have to do is look at Bush’s claim of Executive Priviledge in the Pat Tillman investigation; like the other ignorant
fools who continue to support this administration here on ThinkProgress, I doubt that even you can defend this latest EP BS.
My God, we are talking about the death of a human being, one that Mr. Bush sent to “war” to “defend” our country. This country, not
to mention his own family, deserves an answer in this tragedy.
And you can say “Bush doesn’t kill other soldiers who speak out against the war” all you want to. Tillman was not your everyday
soldier. More attention was hoisted upon him because of not only who he was, but the sacrifice he made for his country. I don’t
think I need to explain this any further because you know exactly what I am talking about.
(continued below)…
August 4th, 2007 at 11:25 amWrite Harry Reid today and tell him what you think about his spineless actions. Use the zip code 89502 and the City of Reno. Make up a street address. This will get you past his filter of only accepting comments from people who live in Nevada. Here’s the URL:
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/
August 4th, 2007 at 11:25 amI disagree. Never had a problem with slowness.
Comment by WC — August 4, 2007 @ 11:23 am
———————————————————–
I meant that the converstations seem to be slower than the are here for some reason.
It’s kind of like playing a game of correspondence chess, for me. Although, I guess it depends just as much on the other commentors.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:26 amI wonder how the Republicans are going to react when the Democratic President declares himself King like Bush has. I wonder how they will react when the Democratic President obstructs oversight by claiming executive privilege.
I wonder if the Republicans have even given a moments thought to what they are doing by supporting the madman in the White House. Do they really think they can maintain control of our government forever? Because if they don’t, they have just given the Democrats all the power they have taken for themselves. Unfortunately I think that the Democrats want that power and will abuse it in the same way that the Republicans have.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:28 amTesting…..
Good Morning all, great post’s Veritas, bilbobaggins and RUCerious…
A nightmare to post here, after yesterday I am pretty much giving it up…..Having massive problem’s with this site only, just as before….
If this post make’s it through the F*****g filter’s I am sending Blessings to you all and going to check out other site’s…
August 4th, 2007 at 11:29 amHe has more personalities than I can count.
Comment by bilbobaggins — August 4, 2007 @ 11:12 am
I strongly suspect most of the trolling is done by him, in his many sock puppet personalities. He has at least a dozen screen names.
He really wants to fool himself into thinking Pres Bush has lots of supporters, and desperately wants others to think so too.
So sad.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:30 am“Try copy and pasting any lengthy notes to Notepad. Much less frustrating when a note here does not show up and it’s lost forever.”
I started doing this when TP started dumping our cookies and the Name and E-mail entries disappear. But the problem is that the posts never appear. I posted one of the two times and neither of them ever showed up.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:30 amI meant that the converstations seem to be slower than the are here for some reason.
It’s kind of like playing a game of correspondence chess, for me. Although, I guess it depends just as much on the other commentors.
Comment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 11:26 am
————-
Oh…I see. And do agree.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:32 amComment by Sharon — August 4, 2007 @ 11:29 am
————-
Good to see you this morning, Sharon. Yep…the posting problems continue and I doubt the admins give a damn. I’ve tried contacting them many times in the past about these issues and they’ve ignored me.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:34 amI wonder if the Republicans have even given a moments thought to what they are doing by supporting the madman in the White House.
Comment by bilbobaggins — August 4, 2007 @ 11:28 am
I don’t think so.
If I recall correctly, part of the Rove “vision” for the US was to maintain a Republican majority in Congress, and to make the Supreme Court a Republican-friendly one, both of which would help keep a Republican in the White House. It would be accomplished by making the US a “ownership society” and by pouncing -by all means possible- on traditionally Democratic strongholds.
This explains the tort reform initiative, the abandon of New Orleans to its fate, and the imaginative mortgages we’ve seen during Bush’s presidency. See how well all that is working for the average American.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:38 amBut the problem is that the posts never appear. I posted one of the two times and neither of them ever showed up.
Comment by bilbobaggins — August 4, 2007 @ 11:30 am
———————-
Copy and paste before submitting (if this is what you are doing, sorry if I misunderstood).
I wonder if the posts are even reaching the site at all. Usually if I try to submit the same post twice, when it does not show up the first time, I get the screen that says “You’ve already said that.” Not getting it today.
I tried breaking my post up into smaller sections; the first section posted fine, the second one did not. I broke the second one into an even smaller post, still no go. Name, etc. went to “null.”
Getting pissed off.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:40 amYup! WC, They alway’s ignored me to except when I mentioned 9/11 or Lebanon..Then I was banned…LOL….Blessings…..Good day all
August 4th, 2007 at 11:42 amComment by WC — August 4, 2007 @ 11:15 am
August 4th, 2007 at 11:44 amI feel your pain. I am using xp pro, and firefox. I have sometimes had problems posting here; it may pay for you to copy a long post before submitting. Then, if it does not show, you can paste it in and try again. It sure is frustrating to write down what you feel, only to have it disappear into the ether.
Comment by Gregor Samsa — August 4, 2007 @ 11:38 am
———–
You are correct, sir. This was also the goal of Bush when he whipped out his Social Security privitization plan, as reported by USA Today way back when. The public was supposed to be so impressed by the plan and the Republicans who supported it, which would paint the Repubs as the party with the new, forward-thinking ideas, and the Dems, who wanted to continue with the “same old program,” would thus enjoy less trust from the public and thus be tossed aside and thrown into the minority for generations to come.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:49 amComment by funky p — August 4, 2007 @ 11:44 am
————–
Yep, I long ago learned to copy the longer posts. I was on some blog about a month ago that had a posting format similar to TP’s, and at the bottom of the comment section they had a note that actually suggested copying the post before submitting in case there were problems.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:52 am“you can insist george bush is an honest guy all you want.. remember, the rules (or lack thereof) that apply to him, also apply to all future american presidents…. are you people willing to put that much power in the hands of one person, just because he (allegedly) won a popularity contest?
Comment by Jesus swallows the 2nd coming — August 4, 2007 @ 3:43 am”
You people need to read some history.
Presidents have ALWAYS used this type of power, ligitimately or not. FDR intecepted private cablegrams, mail, etc. prior to, and during, WW2. Truman continuted the practice. For all of my disagreement with FDR’s socialist programs, I believe he was an honest and honorable man who wanted the United States to win and be prosperous again.
The Kennedy’s are known to have kept tabs on people with whom they disagreed with through wiretapping.
Nixon used the power of his office, including wiretapping and the interception of other private communication, for his personal advantage, and it ended his presidency.
Any of you ever heard of J Edgar Hoover? He was director of the FBI for nearly 50 years, from 1935 until his death in 1972. His reign lasted through 8 presidential administrations.
He spied on everyone, friend or foe, and ordered wiretapping at his leisure. Some say Hoover, at times, had more power than the President. It has been said that with the skillful manipulation of Hoover’s knowledge, Presidents and other politicians could be made, or broken, at Hoover’s sole will. Indeed, it is historical record that John and Robert Kennedy feared Hoover to some extent, and considered Hoover a “problem”. However, Hoover knew things about the Kennedy’s personal lives, and thus a “stalemate” ensued.
Accepting the realities of today’s penchant for civil litigation, and the fact that news outlets do not follow the unwritten code concerning national security that has historically exsisted since the founding of this country, the fact that President Bush (and apparently congress), wishes to establish guidelines and legal definition of what has been happening off-the-record for decades, should be lauded, not condemned.
Next point:
“See Bigfoot believes that Bush is wonderful and would never tap his phone.
Comment by Jay Randal — August 4, 2007 @ 3:35 am”
Fact is, telephone communication has never been completely private. From the days of the party line, where several rural families would essentially share the same phone line, right up through to cordless phones and cell phones, electronic communication has been subject to eavesdropping, legal or not. Anyone who thinks otherwise IS truly naive.
From the kid down the street who modifies his police scanner to pick up cordless and cell phone frequencies, to the true proffessionals with a van full of gear, it’s going to happen.
Since I realize and accept that, I am completely at ease with the idea that our government, and possibly the governments of other nations (whom are not bound by U.S. law anyways), ARE going to be tapping telephones, whether they have the authority to or not.
It’s been happening all along, folks. The United States is still here. I have nothing to fear. Don’t YOU be scared.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:55 amLet’s see if this last little ditty make’s it to the site….
For the Dem’s to think they have the 2008 election locked up is insane……The public I talk to every day is beginning to think as I do that we need to boot all of them out….The Rep’s…. are lier’s thieves and warmonger’s…The Dem’s are appearing to be in bed with them or at the very least enabeler’s that put their personal power above our constitution and the people….My vote is no longer going to any in office at the present time…Blessings all…Over and out..
August 4th, 2007 at 11:59 amBlah, blah, blah, Administration officials violated the law for the 10 millionth time. Oh my! We better tell our Dem Senator or House Rep he or she probably doesn’t know…
Call or email your local Dem official he or she will get right on it. LOL.
Sincerely,
August 4th, 2007 at 11:59 amI heart Gonzo.
I heart George.
Remember thanks to Dems, they’re listening!
I learned that copy/paste method the hard way, after losing several brilliant posts (ahem).
August 4th, 2007 at 12:00 pmComment by Gregor Samsa — August 4, 2007 @ 11:38 am
The entire goal and purpose for being of the modern conservative movement is the complete destruction of every social program created under FDR. Rove is using that conservative movement as a means of gaining the power of which he spoke. Rove is the kind of person that parents fear their kids will grow up to be like. He is anti-human and ill-fit for public service, since he doesn’t give a damn abut the public. I’m curious, was Rove’s job one of the ones for which the constitution requires they take an oath to support and defend it? Or is this unconstitutional megalomaniac getting a free ride on the public’s dime (with FDR on it) to do what he wants?
August 4th, 2007 at 12:09 pmOk, I got it from Daily KOS. Here’s a list of the Democrats who rolled over for Bush and sold the United States down the river:
Dianne Feinstein (California);
Barbara Mikulski (Maryland);
Daniel Inouye (Hawai‘i);
Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota);
Claire McCaskill (Missouri);
Bob Casey (Pennsylvania);
Jim Webb (Virginia).
Evan Bayh (Indiana);
Tom Carper (Delaware);
Spend some time today writing or calling them to tell them what you think about what they did.
Amy Klobuchar doesn’t have a contact page on her website, but she does list a toll free phone number for her Campaign. Call that number and tell her what you think. I just did. I’m about half way through the list.
Here’s the number: 1 888 714 2006
August 4th, 2007 at 12:29 pmI know how you all feel. Some of my wonderful prose and undeniably astute political commentaty is dissapearing as well. Some of it has even apparently made it to the board, only to dissapear a few minutes later….
August 4th, 2007 at 12:30 pmI know how you all feel. Some of my wonderful prose and undeniably astute political commentary is dissapearing as well. Some of it has even apparently made it to the board, only to dissapear a few minutes later….
August 4th, 2007 at 12:30 pmAnd then magically re-appear!!!
August 4th, 2007 at 12:31 pmComment by O. Bigfoot — August 4, 2007 @ 11:55 am
———-
And because “Billy’s mom lets him stay up late” then it’s ok for all children to stay up late. Thus says O.B.
Fact is, telephone communication has never been completely private. From the days of the party line, where several rural families would essentially share the same phone line…
Oh, but there is a difference. Folks on the party line KNEW they were on a party line and knew in advance that their conversations might be monitored by Homer who lived down the road. Big, big, difference. And I doubt that a conversation about Homer’s Aunt Fanny hanging her undies on the clothes line for all the world to see would somehow be used against him (or Aunt Fanny). Or that the fact that Homer voted for FDR all 4 times would be used to smear his good name around town.
Which brings up this point: the NSA has no need to collect trillions of phone calls by tens of millions of Americans, the majority of whom are not, nor ever will be, terrorists. Remember, the wiretapping program is targeted; they are looking for suspected or known terrorists. If they want to look at my phone records, fine. Get a damn warrant.
What is sad is that you so easily dismiss any illegal monitoring that has happened in the past, is happening now, or will happen, with a simple “It’s been happening forever. Live with it.”
Bet you’d sh*t a brick if that black, windowless van parked down the street was monitoring your Internet communications, saw that you were a Repub, and then took steps to suppress your vote, likely without you even having a clue.
Hey…happens all the time. Live with it.
August 4th, 2007 at 12:53 pmDoes anyone know for a fact if this means that the powers of FISA will shift to Gonzo and the independent judges will no longer have a say? Is that included in the bill the Dems caved on? I can’t seem to find a source that answers that question for a fact.
Anyone know of a source that shows they agreed to the power shift to Gonzo?
August 4th, 2007 at 1:08 pmIraqi Oil Law Stalls Over the Summer
At last some good news from Baghdad. The Iraqi parliament has gone into summer recess without passing Iraq’s controversial and flawed oil law.
Bush must be irritated, since passage of the law was billed as a “benchmark†in its battle to get Congress not to set a timetable for US troop withdrawals.
The Guardian reports that the “real reason why the Bush administration wanted the oil law rushed through was that it feared public discussion, and was worried that the more people understood what the law entails, the greater the chances of its defeat. Key parties in the Iraqi parliament oppose it, including the main Sunni party - which this week withdrew from government - as well as the Shia Sadrists and Fadhila.â€
Washington has promoted the law as a “reconciliation†issue, claiming its early passage would show that Iraq’s ethnic and sectarian communities could share revenues on a fair basis. But this is a trick. Only one of the law’s 43 articles mentions revenue-sharing, and then just to say that a separate “federal revenue law†will decide its distribution. The first draft of this other law only appeared in June, and it is clearly unreasonable to expect the Iraqi parliament to pass it in less than two months.
As we have repeatedly warned the oil law would set the arrangements for foreign companies to operate in Iraq’s oil sector. The Guardian quotes Greg Muttitt, from UK -based Platform, warning that the Iraq oil and gas law could “sign away Iraq’s futureâ€. Greg says: “The law is permissive. All of Iraq’s unexploited and as yet unknown reserves, which could amount to between 100bn and 200bn barrels, would go to foreign companies.â€
No wonder Bush’s key benchmark has stalled, possibly for good. Something else for the President to worry about on his holiday.
http://www.priceofoil.org/
August 4th, 2007 at 1:12 pmI took a break from this site because of the troll blather and childish name hijacking and bigotry; I see that TP has not improved one iota in their technical presentation of a website. My last post disappeared into thin air and I’d spent an inordinate amount of time gathering some thoughts….this is precisely why everyone needs to move to Crooks & Liars, Kos, Huffpo, Americablog, etc.
I’ve lost my desire to recapitulate all of my previous thoughts with this technical debacle here but did want to list the gang of imposters who voted “yea” to enable illegal spying activity on american citizens:
Bayh, Carper, Casey, Conrad, Feinstein, Inouje, Klabuchar, Landreau, Lincoln, McCaskell, Mikulski, Nelson, Pryor, Salazar, and Webb.
Most of all Feinstein and Webb are the most shocking Bush supporters. They really should have thought twice before allowing a month’s time to elapse before they can explain their way out of their traitorious move which will afford the people enough time to begin to mount opposition via candidates to give them a run for their money when the come up for re-election.
Vacation time can work both ways and at least for the people above, they’d better realize that the grassroots movements to unseat them begins today!
August 4th, 2007 at 1:19 pmMy posting privilege at free republic was revoked. I guess the free part is a misprint
August 4th, 2007 at 1:20 pmJustice, I wondered the same thing, and I found this:
Under the Senate bill’s central provision, if the government could show that surveillance targets were “reasonably believed” to be overseas, prior court approval would not be required.
The measure would give new authority to the attorney general and the director of national intelligence to make that determination.
Democrats had fought this language, largely because of their expressed distrust of Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales, who has recently been accused of misleading Congress in testimony about U.S. wiretapping operations.
But Democrats ultimately relented after the White House made concessions.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:25 pmThat makes two posts which disappeared, TP. This is definitely NOT FUNNY any longer. Shape up or get out of the business.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:25 pmI know how you all feel. Some of my wonderful prose and undeniably astute political commentary is dissapearing as well. Some of it has even apparently made it to the board, only to dissapear a few minutes later….
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 4, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
“I feel your pain.†- Slick Willy
August 4th, 2007 at 1:39 pmGood news from Baghdad at last: the oil law has stalled
Friday August 3, 2007
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ Columnists/ Column/ 0,,2140859,00.html
August 4th, 2007 at 1:41 pmKarl Rove turned the entire apparatus of the federal government to his political ends, and STILL couldn’t steal Congress in 2006. Just wait until 2008 when the playing field will be a bit more level.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:51 pmWhy aren’t TP admins posting more stories today?
August 4th, 2007 at 2:01 pmOT:
ABC News’ Joe Kildea Reports: Newt Gingrich, former Republican House Speaker, called the war on terror “phony” in a speech to a group of young conservatives in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/ politicalradar/ 2007/ 08/ gingrich-calls-.html
Hahahahahahahaaaaa
August 4th, 2007 at 2:01 pmNewt Gingrich is a dinosaur. He’ve never made the transition to the post-9/11 reality.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:03 pmJust cruisin’…
August 4th, 2007 at 2:04 pmGood news from Baghdad at last: the oil law has stalled
Good news? You like high gas prices?
August 4th, 2007 at 2:06 pmGood news? You like high gas prices?
Comment by Mr. Rove — August 4, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
August 4th, 2007 at 2:11 pm————-
No he just wants to see America fail.
Good news? You like high gas prices?
Comment by Mr. Rove — August 4, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
Good news for the Iraqis, because it’s their oil.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:13 pmNo he just wants to see America fail.
Comment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
There’s the problem! When the Iraqi’s reject an oil plan that would give Foreign Oil Companies a sweetheart deal that NO Other middle Eastern country would stand for….some see it as an American Failure.What would an American success be??? an oil grab by big oil?
August 4th, 2007 at 2:17 pmWhat’s with you people?
Ever hear of “Muslim Man’s Burden”?
August 4th, 2007 at 2:20 pmI find it interesting that no one has called Trent Lott what he is. A coward.
He is a great big pussy, who was peeing his pants, and talking about needing to run away from DC, before the big bad terrists get him.
Big Pussy Trent Lott, just like all the other urine soaked cowards, including Feinstein.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:23 pmGood news? You like high gas prices?
Comment by Mr. Rove — August 4, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
————-
No he just wants to see America fail.
Comment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
Fact: Oil (gas) prices have tripled since Bush took office.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:24 pmOil company profits, meanwhile, have skyrocketed. Much more than tripled.
Record profits, now that is bad for business, isn’t it?
If this is success, I can’t see how it is helping America. It is clear to see who it does help.
The point is, the DOJ has broken the law repeatedly, so what does congress do? Give more power to spy to Alberto and Bush.
Ever hear of “Muslim Man’s Burden�
Comment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
No I haven’t. I have heard of “White Man’s Burden”, which was a racist concept to screw non-white people out of their natural resources and destroy their culture.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:25 pm“No I haven’t”
—————-
That’s because you liberal masters don’t want to offend their Muslim masters!!!
Ha!
You are nothing but a pawn in a game of Islamic chess!
August 4th, 2007 at 2:30 pmComment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
What’s your point? What do YOU mean by “Muslim Man’s Burden”?
August 4th, 2007 at 2:32 pmGood news from Baghdad at last: the oil law has stalled
All of you are wrong - thats the heading on the article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ Columnists/ Column/ 0,,2140859,00.html
read it theres some great comments there
i.e - I understand that the United States RUSHED the poorly planned war - and mortgaged its future for the benefit of the oil companies who want Iraq’s oil (the true reason for the invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq); but other states may wish to be more pragmatic.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:33 pmI thought that Bush’s strategy of being in Iraq pre-empted terrorists from attacking in America. Now we find out from Trent Lott that there are imminent terrorist attacks IN America.
So much for that talking point.
-GSD
August 4th, 2007 at 2:33 pm“Bet you’d sh*t a brick if that black, windowless van parked down the street was monitoring your Internet communications, saw that you were a Repub, and then took steps to suppress your vote, likely without you even having a clue.
Hey…happens all the time. Live with it.
Comment by WC — August 4, 2007 @ 12:53 pm”
The internet is essentially a public forum. I expect other people to see what I am saying. I have nothing to fear from it.
Same with the telephone. If I had something I wanted to communicate that I didn’t want anyone else to hear, I darn sure wouldn’t be blurting it out over the phone, wired, wireless, or not.
And as for all this baloney about suppressing votes: Did the Democrats suppress Republican votes so they could get elected? The Republicans sure didn’t successfully suppress votes, or THEY would have been re-elected.
Furthermore, this supposed “illegal” wiretapping is going to be completely legal if the House approves it. Bush will sign it into law. But even if it doesn’t pass, please, let me know YOUR plan to end wiretapping. It’s been going on continuously since before most of us were born, and will continue to go on. Corporations and governments wouldn’t spend millions on encryption if all was just “peachy keen”.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:34 pmThe signs are that, on both fronts, the administration will carry on playing for time. Bush and his officials are already suggesting they will maintain the surge for another year, and that Petraeus’s report will merely be an interim score card. It will not use the fateful Vietnam-era language of light at the end of the tunnel, but it will say progress is under way and therefore more congressional patience is needed.
Similarly Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador in Baghdad, is playing down the urgency of the benchmarks. ,/B>He has reminded the US media that Congress can take years to make reforms on complex issues such as immigration and healthcare. He argues it is unfair to expect the Iraqi parliament to do everything as fast as outsiders might wish.
That said, the administration - particularly the vice-president, Dick Cheney - and the oil lobby are enraged that the oil law is stalled. The main reason is not that the Iraqi government and parliament are a lazy bunch of Islamist incompetents or narrow-minded sectarians, as is often implied. MPs are studying the law more carefully, and have begun to see it as a major threat to Iraq’s national interest regardless of people’s religion or sect.
RIGHT WING ARSEHOLES NOW SEE THE DANGERS OF BLOGGING …ha ha ha ha
August 4th, 2007 at 2:36 pmWhat’s your point? What do YOU mean by “Muslim Man’s Burden�
Comment by Badger — August 4, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
It’s a racist concept to screw non-muslim people out of their natural resources and destroy their culture. It started in the 7th century when Muslims began killing off all non-muslims!!!
August 4th, 2007 at 2:38 pmGood news from Baghdad at last: the oil law has stalled
All of you are wrong - thats the heading on the article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ Columnists/ Column/ 0,,2140859,00.html
read it theres some great comments there
August 4th, 2007 at 2:38 pmGonzales pleads guilty to violating the Hatch Act.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:39 pmhttp://www.osc.gov/hatchact.htm
I doubt he will prosecute himself.
It’s been going on continuously since before most of us were born, and will continue to go on. Corporations and governments wouldn’t spend millions on encryption if all was just “peachy keenâ€.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 4, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Every time you post, you prove just what a clueless horse’s a** you are. Go back to puffing on your cigar. Ya know, that long, hard, stiff black object you brag about sucking on.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:41 pmBAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will visit Iran and Turkey next week to discuss security issues and the need for cooperation amid tensions with Turkey.
Maliki is still dangling the Oil carrot in Bush and Cheneys nose, meanwhile Bush has Turned the water taps off in Baghdad, elctric supplies , medical and food shortages everyehere ………….. BUSH is breaking international law in order to starve the Iraqi parliment into signing Oil laws
THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND GONE ON HOLIDAY
August 4th, 2007 at 2:42 pmThe internet is essentially a public forum. I expect other people to see what I am saying. I have nothing to fear from it.
Same with the telephone. If I had something I wanted to communicate that I didn’t want anyone else to hear, I darn sure wouldn’t be blurting it out over the phone, wired, wireless, or not.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 4, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
So what’s the point of the bill? I think that the terrorists know that too.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:53 pmAnd as for all this baloney about suppressing votes: Did the Democrats suppress Republican votes so they could get elected? The Republicans sure didn’t successfully suppress votes, or THEY would have been re-elected.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 4, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
This statement not supported by facts. Voter suppression is a fact. The facts say, the slaughter (democrat victories) would have been worse had it not been for the vote fraud. Facts; look them up on Brad blog.
They thought they only had to steal 5-6%; turned out the margins of victory were much greater. Greg Palast also has the data.
Furthermore, this supposed “illegal†wiretapping is going to be completely legal if the House approves it. Bush will sign it into law. But even if it doesn’t pass, please, let me know YOUR plan to end wiretapping. It’s been going on continuously since before most of us were born, and will continue to go on. Corporations and governments wouldn’t spend millions on encryption if all was just “peachy keenâ€.
It’s not supposed illegal wiretapping, it’s illegal wiretapping. Making it retroactively legal has no bearing on past illegal acts. If they make murder legal (outside of Iraq/Afghanistan) do we empty out death row?
August 4th, 2007 at 2:54 pmSo what’s the point of the bill? I think that the terrorists know that too.
Comment by The Pet Goat — August 4, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Exactly. They have been spying illegally all along, so why the rush for this bill; to the extent that Bush demanded they stay until they get it done his way.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:57 pmSomething is wrong here. They have something planned for the recess; I would like to see the text of the bill. I looked this morning on THOMAS but it was not yet even listed. I’m going to see if I can find it now…or did all the government posters go on vacation too?
http://thomas.loc.gov/ cgi-bin/ query/ D?c110:2:./ temp/ ~c110BWWlGF::
Well, here’s the link. I’m reading it now.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:59 pmComment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Sorry…Muslims may be religiously intolerant…but they are definitely NOT Racist. There are Black Muslims in Africa (and America), Asian Muslims in Indonesia and India, White Muslims in the West.
All Abrahamic religions are intolerant. One of the 10 commandments says :’You shall have no other gods before Me.’
During the “Dark Ages”, Jews and other non muslims fled to Muslim countries to escape Christian persecution.
August 4th, 2007 at 2:59 pmAnd as far as screwing the world out of it’s resources…The West is unrivaled in a class by itself. Belgian Congo…French Indochina…Dutch West Indies…Spanish Conquistadors..British Petroleum….
Muslim Man’s Burden is about more than intolerance, it is about murder!!!
August 4th, 2007 at 3:04 pmMuslim Man’s Burden is about more than intolerance, it is about murder!!!
Comment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
News Flash….The overwhelming majority of Muslims, as well as Christians, Jews, Buddists, Hindus, Athiests, and others ARE NOT MURDERERS.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:09 pmAnd as far as screwing the world out of it’s resources…The West is unrivaled in a class by itself. Belgian Congo…French Indochina…Dutch West Indies…Spanish Conquistadors..British Petroleum….
Comment by Badger — August 4, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
Didn’t jack Straw admit a few years ago that alot of the trouble in the 3rd world was the result of the British Empire? It goes on and on, doesn’t it?
August 4th, 2007 at 3:15 pmRoS…Absolutely. The Reason our CIA overthrew the legitimately elected Govt. in Iran, in 1953, was because Mossadegh wanted to Nationalize the oil wells and kick out British Petroleum…and look what that led to. Americans don’t know much about History….but the screwed -over people in the rest of the world have Good Memories.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:24 pmWhy anyone is trying to bring sense into a discussion with Mr P?
He declared that he is only here in order to mess the threads up. Come on.
He is a non-issue.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
August 4th, 2007 at 3:29 pmJust 24% give the president favorable ratings of his performance in handling the war in Iraq, but confidence in Congress is significantly worse – only 3% give Congress positive marks for how it has handled the war.
but the screwed -over people in the rest of the world have Good Memories.
Comment by Badger — August 4, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
That’s a huge part of the problem right now. Americans have become incredibly lazy, uneducated people. No one reads history books, they just want to slurp down fast food while watching “American Idol”.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:32 pmonly 3% give Congress positive marks for how it has handled the war.
Comment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
So what. 97% think congress handled the Iraq war incompetently. 27% think congress is stopping Bush from Achieving Victory. 70 % think congress has been derelict in its oversight role.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:44 pmwell, even if true (very unlikely), the 3% approval number on Congress and the “war” is indicative of 97% of the American people wanting the war ended, now. Today. so much for a democracy; the repigs have destroyed it, and are happy about it. Traitors all.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:46 pmonly 3% give Congress positive marks for how it has handled the war.
Comment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
That percentage includes the rubberneck, complicit reichwingers who still march in lock step to provide der fuhrer with what he needs in his war for the profits of the military industrial complex and oil companies. The 3% is due to the inability of the democratic party to stop the thugs of the reichwing crime family. They have been unable to stop the ball that began rolling with the reichwingers controlling every branch of government and most state houses and governorships for the past several years.
Use your brain.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:50 pmThe U.S. Congress and Iraqi Parliament are on vacation, Why aren’t you? It’s the weekend. Time for a video recap of the weekly news…Why read…it’s the weekend. Relax, kickback, and enjoy. A little political humor never hurts.
U.S. soldiers ask “Should We Stay or Should we Go.
August 4th, 2007 at 3:50 pmonly 3% give Congress positive marks for how it has handled the war.
Comment by Philolaos — August 4, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
August 03, 2007
Democratic Seats Secure, Republicans at Risk
The latest strategy memo from James Carville and Stan Greenberg touts a recent poll in the 70 most competitive Congressional districts which shows the Democrats “in a strong position to hold their gains from 2006 and move far into Republican territory in 2008.”
“Indeed, Democrats hold an 18-point electoral advantage in their own districts while Republicans are losing their districts by 5 points overall — 7 points in their most vulnerable districts, 51 to 44 percent.”
Key finding: “Republican incumbents are paying a big price for the deep discontent in the country and for aligning with the President who is no more popular in the Republican districts than in the Democratic ones. ”
Fight fire w/ fire, kascina…
August 4th, 2007 at 3:54 pmComment by O. Bigfoot — August 4, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
———
The internet is essentially a public forum. I expect other people to see what I am saying. I have nothing to fear from it.
Ummm….there’s more to Internet communications than posting publicly on a blog. Ever heard of e-mail, which is supposed to be
private?
Let’s see your e-mail logon info posted here, and then we’ll see how much you trust strangers.
(more to follow, if TP will post it…)
August 4th, 2007 at 4:15 pmSame with the telephone. If I had something I wanted to communicate that I didn’t want anyone else to hear, I darn sure wouldn’t be blurting it out over the phone, wired, wireless, or not.
But..but…in your post at 11:55am today (I would quote from it but it has disappeared), I seem to recall you not being bothered about someone listening in on your calls.
(more…)
August 4th, 2007 at 4:16 pmFurthermore, this supposed “illegal†wiretapping is going to be completely legal if the House approves it. Bush will sign it into
law. But even if it doesn’t pass, please, let me know YOUR plan to end wiretapping.
I never said I wanted wiretapping to end. The Bush administration had the chance to amend the law before the warrantless wiretapping program was officially revealed, and they turned it down because there would be questions about its consitutionality. They knew the law as written wouldn’t support them. So what did they do? They ended up ignoring the law anyway.
August 4th, 2007 at 4:19 pmThe Republicans sure didn’t successfully suppress votes, or THEY would have been re-elected.
Yes they did successfully suppress votes, in 2002. Four Republican operatives were indicted for jamming phone lines of a Democratic get-out-the-vote effort. Google it.
August 4th, 2007 at 4:22 pmGoogle “Shaun Hansen”, Mr. Bigfoot, and you can read all about it. The interesting tidbit I really like is his claim that the Bush administration gave its blessing to his efforts.
August 4th, 2007 at 4:24 pmWhile you are at it, Mr. Bigfoot, I’d like your take on Bush’s claim of Executive Priviledge in matters pertaining to the death of Pat Tillman. What do you think he’s hiding?
August 4th, 2007 at 4:26 pmThe Republicans sure didn’t successfully suppress votes, or THEY would have been re-elected.
Voter Suppression only works in CLOSE elections. Thankfully, much of the 2006 election wasn’t even close.
August 4th, 2007 at 4:29 pmOne more thing, Mr. Bigfoot, if TP will post it…
Bush says he authorized warrantless wiretapping, thus breaking the law, because there is not enough time to get a warrant and a
terrorist might get away. Yet he has no problem going to the FISA court for a warrant for a domestic-domestic call; apparently he
has all the time in the world. And to this day neither he, nor anyone else in his administration, has been able to clarify this
discrepancy.
Like I’ve said before, you want to wiretap my calls, get a damned warrant. The NSA, as I’m sure you recall, went to Qwest to get
phone records. When Qwest asked to see a warrant, the NSA just walked away. In other words, they were more interested in getting
the records without having a warrant than they were with tracking down terrorists. But people like you don’t seem to have a problem.
Either you don’t give damn, or you are so ignorant that you don’t recognize a situation in which something doesn’t seem quite right.
August 4th, 2007 at 4:31 pm>No he just wants to see America fail. - Philodildoas
Ah so you admit that americans cannot succeed in iraq unless the iraqis essentially sign away the majority of thier rights to thier own resources?
or do you beleive you actually know enough about the oil law to claim this isnt the case?
August 4th, 2007 at 5:48 pm