Mayer receives ‘radio silence’ from the White House on her new book on torture.
Mayer receives ‘radio silence’ from the White House on her new book on torture.
In an interview yesterday with National Journal On Air, host Tammy Haddad asked investigative journalist Jane Mayer whether the White House has responded to her new book’s revelations on the administration’s secret detention program. Mayer said that the White House has refused to comment, although many of her sources within the administration have praised the work:
No, there has been just plain radio silence. Though, I can say, I’ve actually heard from some of the sources. This book is not just based on talking to critics of the administration. It’s talking to lots of people on the inside: inside the White House, inside the CIA and the FBI and the military. And it’s been really gratifying. I’ve actually gotten some really wonderful phone calls from people who’ve said, “You know, you got it. Thank goodness someone told the story.” So that actually has really made me feel good.
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I’ve actually gotten some really wonderful phone calls from people who’ve said, “You know, you got it. Thank goodness someone told the story.”
Sounds like Bush has plenty to be worried about. There must be lots of stories waiting to be told.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 9th, 2008 at 12:10 pmMayer: “So that actually has really made me feel good.”
I can see Hollywood marketing campaigns now…
The first authoritative book on US torture in the GWOT is now the feel good story of the summer!!
August 9th, 2008 at 12:19 pmWill all these ‘Insiders’ turn on BushCO? If so, this could be an interesting next few years!
August 9th, 2008 at 12:25 pmwhat’s up, TP?
are you gonna run a progressive political blog, or not?
16 hours between threads? the last few being rather fluffy?
just curious…
“Mayer receives ‘radio silence’ from the White House…”
what a surprise…
August 9th, 2008 at 12:31 pmKaty, TP is always pretty dead on weekends. Then again, so are a lot of other blogs. Damn people seem to think they should get a day off once in awhile.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:33 pmDoes it trouble “conservatives” any now that their party is the party that brought America torture?
August 9th, 2008 at 12:38 pmI wonder if her book will by on the shelf at the GDumbya Presi-dunce-ial Library. Anyone taking bets?
August 9th, 2008 at 12:45 pmThat should be: “I wonder if her book will be on the shelf . . . ”
Geesh!
August 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pmNah, because to them, these guys are all terrorists. Seriously, that’s how the average pseudo-conservative out there views this. And if you tell them most likely half of them are innocent. They will just say your a lying liberal and shout you off.
Thank you hate radio for creating a whole population of Nazi sympathizers.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pmThis morning on CNN (the second most-mistrusted brand of “news” next to Faux Noise) they had some “background information” on the US prison camp of Gitmo in eastern Cuba. Not one word about torture, sleep deprivation and other techniques of the Bush crime family. Just upbeat stuff about the prisoner’s great meals, exercise periods and movies. I thought that they were talking about Spa Gitmo…
O/T: why doesn’t the Republican corporate media want to talk about John McCain’s adultery with Cindy while he was still married to his first wife? Hypocrisy, thy name is Republican…
August 9th, 2008 at 12:56 pmOval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:
O/T: why doesn’t the Republican corporate media want to talk about John McCain’s adultery with Cindy while he was still married to his first wife? Hypocrisy, thy name is Republican…
The troll explanation was that McCain’s infidelity (and, presumably, Rudy’s et al) was “old news”. Boy, I sure don’t remember it ever being featured in the media. Or Newt’s. Maybe it’s just that no one expects Republicans to honor their promises to anyone.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:06 pmTry this katy:
John Edwards receives ‘blog silence’ from Think Progress.
¶ AIO
August 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pmBooks are fine, but prosecutions are more appropriate!
August 9th, 2008 at 1:25 pmI don’t think it is just a coincidence that all these books that expose the crimes of the Bush Administration are coming out now, six months before he leaves office. I think these authors are trying to shame Congress into doing something about the crimes before Bush leaves office.
The next waves of books and “tell alls” will be after Bush leaves office. That’s when the people who are scared of what Bush could do to their jobs will come out of the woodwork and tell the truth. These people will be criticized for not coming out sooner, but I really understand why they didn’t. Would you really give up a good job with the prospects of being blackballed for another job, lose your health insurance and maybe even your life, all to expose the crimes of the Bush Administration? I think these people are genuinely afraid of the Bush Crime Family.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:26 pmI would just like to point out that with war raging between Russia and Georgia, not to mention in Afghanistan, President Dinkledork is a spectator at the Olympic sporting events, i.e., a leisure activity. Typical.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:28 pmEdwards. Edwrds. Edwards. I fail to see the fascination with the sexual exploits of a former Senator and former Presidential candidate.
Note to Reichwing: He’s not running for anything or setting policy.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pmKaty,
I think one solution to “dead Weekends” on TP, is to relax the prohibition on “Off Topic” comments. Kind of like an ad hoc open thread.
So ….in that spirit… I was listening to the BBC overnite this morning on the “dreaded” NPR station. They were doing a show on alternative energy, and they had this Israeli Entrepeneur who manufactures Heat Exchangers ( Which convert waste heat into electricity). He made a very interesting comment that I hadn’t realized the significance of until today.
He said that it was the Carter Administration that was responsible for the current Success of the Alternative Energy Business. Carter (through forwards thinking & leadership) got congress to pass a law REQUIRING Electrical companies to PURCHASE all electricity produced by alternative energy
sources. So if a small windfarm produced electricity, their electric meter would run Backwards, and their wind electricity would just flow into the grid.
This is exactly how the windmill Industry in California got started, because they had a guaranteed market for their product. Europeans soon copied the technology developed in California, and so while Reagan was removing the solar panels from the roof of the White House, the Danes and the Germans were developing a world class Windmill Industry.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pmSo we can add this significant achievement to Carter’s Camp David Peace Plan .
alphainfinityomega Says:
Try this katy:
John Edwards receives ‘blog silence’ from Think Progress.
If you want your bash John Edwards kick, there are plenty of places to go for it. Personally I appreciate the fact that TP thinks this is not any of our business and it certainly is not “news”. In case you missed it, John Edwards is a private citizen so his infidelity has no impact on our lives.
I have to love the talking heads, though. They are all talking about how his infidelity shows he would have been unfit to be President. I just don’t know why the same doesn’t apply to John McCain. At least Edwards didn’t leave his wife for a new rich trollop.
And then there are the right wing talking heads who are asking “how will this affect Obama”. Huh…why should Edwards infidelity effect Obama? Oh, yeah, I forgot. If you are a liberal you are responsible for everything the people you know do.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:35 pm#Badger Says:
Katy,
I think one solution to “dead Weekends” on TP, is to relax the prohibition on “Off Topic” comments. Kind of like an ad hoc open thread.
I have sent that suggestion to TP several times. Just put up a daily “open” thread, or at least do it on weekends.
I have also suggested that they post the comments in reverse order. What that does is to keep a post alive after 100+ comments. Many people won’t post on a thread with that many comments because they think their post will get lost in the shuffle. If they post them in reverse order, the thread is always fresh with new stuff. That’s how Huffington Post does it and their threads frequently end up with 500+ comments.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:37 pmThank you (sarcasm) John Edwards for perhaps helping us to lose in November.
You are still lying about your involvement with this woman.
Why were you alone with her just three weeks ago?
Why wasn’t the baby’s ‘real’ father there?
Why are you denying what is probably your own flesh and blood.
You, Sir, are a WORM !!
¶ AIO
P.S. On the bright side: This may actually help Obama stop the Hillary resurgence by making Dems. aware just how sick we are of these sex scandals.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:42 pmkaty,
Do you suppose there is still some hope left by the Hilary contributers?…. a wish the votes at the convention will go her way?
I am seeing no props or stories on Obama here.
During the past week it was reported on progressive radio (reported only on non contributing towards Hilary) Hilary’s and her supporters obnoxious tactics… tactics that may split the party and certainly do not help Obama.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:46 pmBilbo: You are a phony.
If this was a Right-winger you’d be all over it.
It’s soooo nice that you allow TP to let you know what your business is.
It’s no wonder that you are so one-sided.
¶ AIO
August 9th, 2008 at 1:51 pmBilbo, I disagree with the idea to show posts in reverse order. Maybe it’s just because I’m used to it this way, but I prefer to join a thread at the beginning and feel like I’m progressing through a conversation.
When I drop into blogs that have the most recent comment at the top, I usually feel like I have not context, there’s no conversation.
I like the way TP does it.
The open threads idea is a good one, though. Maybe just a generic “ThinkFast” on Saturday and on Sunday?
August 9th, 2008 at 1:54 pmhad enough Says:
During the past week it was reported on progressive radio (reported only on non contributing towards Hilary) Hilary’s and her supporters obnoxious tactics… tactics that may split the party and certainly do not help Obama.
I agree with this; Hillary needs to be stopped.
¶ AIO
August 9th, 2008 at 1:55 pmAIO, what would it matter if Mitt Romney, for instance, were revealed to have had an affair two years ago? He’s not the nominee, he’s not running for anything (except maybe the Veep spot) and he’s not in office.
On the other hand, I know most liberals are angry with John Edwards (me included) for lying to the press and the American people, and for running for President with this threatening to spill out of his closet.
We’re grateful he’s not the nominee. I won’t be able to trust him again. If he lands a spot in an Obama administration, I’ll support him, but I won’t fully trust him.
Now let’s move on.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:58 pmalphainfinityomega – what tangled webs we weave.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:59 pmIt is the loss of Elizabeth Edward’s voice that I see as the Real Tragedy of this scandal.
She was a powerfull, poignant, and persuasive advocate for fixing America’s Broken Health Care System.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:00 pmUntil the convention, and until it is written in stone Obama will be the nominee I believe we will have political silence here.
About John Edwards… his behavior did not
* kill hundreds of thousands
* rob our treasury – transfer of wealth to the wealthy
* destroy the middle class
* add to out nation’s debt, sell off our land/icons
* create a loss of more jobs
* create a declining health care system
As far as I am concerned the above conditions out weigh Edwards personal behavior, a bad behavior that should only be the business of his family.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:13 pmBadger, the only thing I think that could silence Elizabeth Edwards’ voice as a powerful advocate is cancer.
She will ilkely emerge from this with more public credibility and stature.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:15 pmhad enough, that’s all true. But his choices still undermine his authority as a public figure, and he put the Democratic Party and the nation at great risk by running his campaign for President. Best thing he could have done is at the start, admit the affair, let the public shitstorm pass, and then evaluate whether there was still sufficient support for his candidacy. He didn’t do that.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
Badger, the only thing I think that could silence Elizabeth Edwards’ voice as a powerful advocate is cancer.
She will ilkely emerge from this with more public credibility and stature.
I’m not so sure about that. She’s going to have a hard time answering questions about why she supported her husband running for President with this 500 pound gorilla in their closet. Did she (or Edwards) think that no one would ever find out. Did she give any thought to how bad it would be when this came out if Edwards was the Democratic nominee?
Personally I think that both the Edwards allowed their egos to get in the way of common sense and put this country in serious peril. If Edwards was the Democratic candidate today, it would be all over. We would have another 4 years of Republican rule. And all this despite the fact that John McCain is guilty of the same thing, and even worse, he left his wife for a bimbo.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:21 pm#ralph the wonder llama Says:
Best thing he could have done is at the start, admit the affair, let the public shitstorm pass, and then evaluate whether there was still sufficient support for his candidacy. He didn’t do that.
He not only didn’t do that, he also LIED when he was asked about it. That’s what I find unforgivable. That and the fact that they jeopardized the Democratic party by running with that kind of a skeleton in the closet.
I’ll tell you who I feel sorry for. All the people who worked so long and hard for Edwards campaign. He lied to them repeatedly and they believed him. They all feel betrayed and like they are a bunch of fools. But, even then, they still stand up for him by saying that he made a mistake but that doesn’t do away with all the good he has done.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:24 pmlphainfinityomega Says:
Thank you (sarcasm) John Edwards for perhaps helping us to lose in November.
Lose our election because of Edwards’ behavior… to what the behavior of the goppers? Edwards’ behavior does not look good, but still there is no comparison.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pmRALPH :
If John Edwards ‘lands’ a spot in Obama’s administration, then I won’t vote for Obama a second time.
John Edwards can not be trusted in any position. (no pun intended)
And just to keep the record straight: Edwards affair was current as little as three (3) weeks ago.
¶ AIO
August 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pmI wish we stopped making so much ado about Edwards’ private life. His infidelity is between his wife and himself.
Edwards was running for a political position, not for Pope.
Politicians are not moral leaders -as if Bush hasn’t proved this point time and again.
Case in point: The Bush administration has made torture a matter of policy, stopping short of making it openly legal.
I find a little despairing that so much ink can go into “exposing” Edwards infidelity and so comparatively little into the latest revelations of the Bush administration’s many crimes. Maybe the American public wants to be lied to, after all…
August 9th, 2008 at 2:35 pmOthers around the world must be laughing at US as infidelity is not an issue to many other cultures.
And, many marriage counselors will advise a cheating spouse to not disclose his affair. Lying about an affair, an affair that is no one’s business and has only to do with one’s personal self does not rate as a lie, in my mind, compared to the the lies we have seen with this administration that kills and affects lives of others.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:43 pmhad enough is right about “Others around the world”.
As I recall, the Funeral of the French Prime Minister (Mitterand I think) was attended by his wife, his mistress, and his out of wedlock child.
Of course, others around the world have been laughing at us for almost 8 years, for electing Bush in the first place.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:49 pm# 26, EvilPoet:
Thanks for the link; that explains a lot.
¶ AIO
August 9th, 2008 at 2:49 pmI don’t agree that it’s “not a lie”, but I absolutely agree that it’s a private matter. Except that as a candidate, it was an absolute death sentence should it get out.
Edwards had no business running for the nomination and asking for the trust of the nation with that kind of baggage just begging to be uncovered and exploited.
And can you imagine if Edwards had been elected, and the child turned out to be his?
It would have made Clinton’s affairs look like a grade school romance. Democrats would have been stained for a generation. I know, that kind of “scandal” doesn’t mean much to thinking people, aside from trust issues, but it means a HUGE deal to LIVs, especially Christianists.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:52 pmThe late historian Stephen Ambrose once offered;
A man has a Brain and a P*nis, and enough blood to run one at a time.
I agree with Ralph…Edwards , by his infidelity and lack of Candor , ran the risk of derailing the Progressive efforts of millions of Americans.
I’m still mad at Bill Clinton, although I think he was a pretty good president. His “Weakness” gave us Bush, and just about destroyed this country.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pmWhat about the infidelity of McCain?
Why is McCain’s behavior not getting attention?
He cheated and actually left his compromised wife, injured in an auto accident and children for a trophy one of wealth. He has publicly called this one a c*nt and recently offered her for a topless contest… buffalo chip contest.
I will take lying over a personal zipper problem over a foul mouthed jigalo gold digging crude bastard womanizer any day.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:08 pmI don’t believe Christianists vote Democratic anyway. And I believe it’s ironic that they should be less willing to forgive than the cheated wife -Mrs Edwards, in this case.
The news of Edwards cheating on his wife are met with outrage. The news of Bush shredding the Constitution are met with indifference.
I can already see the FauxNews line of attack: “What do we tell our children?” -but the killing and maiming of thousands in Iraq raises no moral questions or soul-searching.
It all seems like such a misplaced set of priorities to me.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:10 pmralph the wonder llama
I agree and it was a very selfish act to run for the presidency and not disclose this issue in the beginning. To too many, this is a huge issue and that said, it would have cost him and the dems the presidency.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pmhad enough Says:
I agree and it was a very selfish act to run for the presidency and not disclose this issue in the beginning. To too many, this is a huge issue and that said, it would have cost him and the dems the presidency.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
It does make one wonder. What would have been the result if the two candidates were both adulterers? It would have been a sh!t fest of biblical proportions!
August 9th, 2008 at 3:31 pmSomeone far brighter than me once said, in order to know where your going, you have to know where you’ve been. Back in 1940, I think the movie that Charlie Chaplin stared in was called the Great Dictator. After watching this segment, you might come away from it thinking that way back then he was warning us of things to come.
Check it out. It’s an eye opener and his dialog is just a precient today as it was back then.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=ith6WydfipE&feature=related
August 9th, 2008 at 3:52 pm#45 Goldstandard
nice find
While on vacation I did the following to see if there is any decency, honesty anywhere left:
To many this is insane, and the waitress probably thought so, but finding honesty somewhere was well worth $20.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:31 pmTP,
Please put the name of the book in the post. It’s called:
The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals
August 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pm