IntoxiNation

Bush's Surprise Visit

2006-03-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

So this morning I wake up to the news that Bush has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan. This is the first time he has been there since we invaded in 2001. Does anyone else feel this is convenient timing with the Dubai deal? Is he trying to now show that the Middle East is a safe place.

Just A Quick Note

2006-02-28T22:40:00.000-05:00

Posting will be limited this week as I am doing the final touches on the move to the new server. Hopefully everything will be set to move this weekend. I got over 1,000 posts since I started this blog and now have the headache of going through and manually updating links and that. It shouldn't be too bad though and the new server and software has a lot in store for new features. I will still be doing some posting though so be sure to check back.

Troop Support For The War Plummets

2006-02-28T11:53:00.000-05:00

Don't you ever get tired of hearing Bush say "we question the mission we undermine the morale of our troops"? (If you don't know what I mean then you can read Bush's words here via Think Progress).

Well there is a new Zogby poll out that says 72% of the troops want us out of Iraq this year. Further more the poll also says:

Le Moyne College/Zogby Poll shows just one in five troops want to heed Bush call to stay “as long as they are needed”

While 58% say mission is clear, 42% say U.S. role is hazy

Plurality believes Iraqi insurgents are mostly homegrown

Almost 90% think war is retaliation for Saddam’s role in 9/11, most don’t blame Iraqi public for insurgent attacks

Majority of troops oppose use of harsh prisoner interrogation

Plurality of troops pleased with their armor and equipment

Seems like more and more people are wanting us out of Iraq. Just Bush and his followers feel we should stay there.

More About Dubai

2006-02-28T11:31:00.000-05:00

What is truly amazing on this entire Dubai ports deal is the fact that some of the people defending the deal are the same people who have painted the entire Arab/Muslim world as being terrorists. If we are talking about torture, wire tapping or racial profiling then it is fine to question all of them. When we are talking about our vital ports then we should trust them.

For those who don't believe Dubai is port of the more hardline Arab world, Think Progress has a little more proof to show that they are:

The parent company of a Dubai-based firm at the center of a political storm in the US over the purchase of American ports participates in the Arab boycott against Israel, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

Read the entire post here.

True there is also the fact that Dubai is trying to quiet or media from talking about this issue. For those unfamiliar with what I am talking about, well it seems Dubai is trying to get CNN's Lou Dobbs to totally drop the subject. You can view a video clip of that over at Crooks and Liars.

As for the people trying to defend the deal by saying "they won't be in charge of security", I have something else for you to consider. No they won't be in charge of security or unload/loading ships. What they will be privy too is weaknesses in our ports (and there are a lot). It just takes one "company man" to report back to their superiors about a security risk. They could do it just trying to highlight a problem that needs fixed. Now if the person who hears the complaint has ties to al Qaeda then we have a problem.

Yeah you might say it sounds like something out of the movies or 24 but aren't all the analogies that Cheney and Bush use the same? I keep thinking about "We find out there's a nuclear bomb in the country ready to detonate in 24 hours. We have a suspect in custody. Of course we should do anything necessary to find out information". That was the basic argument they used on torture. Again, very Hollywood sounding.

Republican Adoption Ban

2006-02-28T00:03:00.000-05:00

This is a great play by a Democrat here in the Buckeye State. Via 19-WXIX:

Ban Republican adoptions, not gay adoptions, lawmaker says

COLUMBUS, Ohio State Senator Robert Hagan says he has a better idea than barring gay couples from adopting children.

The Democrat from Youngstown says he'd ban Republican adoptions.

In a tongue-in-cheek memo to his colleagues, Hagan spoofs a bill from House conservatives that would keep gays from becoming adoptive or foster parents in Ohio.

He counters that adopted children raised in Republican households have told him it's just plain boring most of the time. Hagan also writes that the kids are more at risk for developing -- as he puts it -- "an alarming lack of tolerance."

An aide says there's no comment from Republican Representative Ron Hood of Ashville, the sponsor of the gay-adoption ban.

I must say I love this idea. The pure logic (or lack their off) these Republicans use for their gay adoption and marriage bans are intolerable. The logic Sen. Hagan is using is far more convincing than that of and Republicans.

1300 Killed In One Week

2006-02-27T22:40:00.000-05:00

There are still a few on the right (mainly in the administration) who would want to make you think that Iraq has calmed down and is going well again. Well this sure doesn't have that same song and dance:

Grisly attacks and other sectarian violence unleashed by last week's bombing of a Shiite shrine have killed more than 1,300 Iraqis, making the past few days the deadliest of the war outside of major U.S. offensives, according to Baghdad's main morgue. The toll was more than three times higher than the figure previously reported by the U.S. military and the news media.

Hundreds of unclaimed dead lay at the morgue at midday Monday -- blood-caked men who had been shot, knifed, garroted or apparently suffocated by the plastic bags still over their heads. Many of the bodies were sprawled with their hands still bound -- and many of them had wound up at the morgue after what their families said was their abduction by the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Article continues here.

I don't know how Bush defines civil war but with that many dead within a single country it certainly appears to fall closer into the standard definition.

34% Approval Rating

2006-02-27T19:28:00.000-05:00

According to a new CBS poll, Bush has hit an all time low. Cheney is at 18% approval rating and Bush's handling of Iraq is at a mere 30%.

Some other interesting numbers:

70% oppose the port deal.
62% think things are going badly in Iraq
43% approve Bush's handling of terrorism. Down 9 points since last month
53% have an unfavorable view of Bush as compared to 29% who view him as favorable
43% think the President has the authority to authorize wiretaps to fight terrorism without a warrant
64% are very or somewhat concerned about losing civil liberties because of Bush's anti-terrorism measures
28% approval for Congress.

The CBS page also has a link to another interesting poll on Katrina. The numbers in that poll don't paint a pretty picture for the administration either.

Looking at these numbers, Congress could easily get their approval up. How is that? Start holding this administration accountable and do more of their oversight. Their rubberstamp attitude is killing them.

Magazine Claim: Cheney To Resign After Elections

2006-02-27T18:03:00.000-05:00

Insight Magazine has this new piece of information up.

Vice President Dick Cheney is expected to retire within a year. Senior GOP sources envision the retirement of Mr. Cheney in 2007, months after the congressional elections. The sources said Mr. Cheney would be persuaded to step down as he becomes an increasing political liability to President Bush. The sources reported a growing rift between the president and vice president as well as their staffs.

View complete article here.

Raw Story has more on this. If it is true then we would most likely see vice-President Condi next year.

Petition To Fox News

2006-02-27T16:44:00.000-05:00

To Replace O'Reilly with Phil Donahue Petition. Lets see how many signatures this can genereate.

A Clock Work Orange Comes To Life

2006-02-27T16:33:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON - Military interrogators posing as FBI agents at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, wrapped terrorism suspects in an Israeli flag and forced them to watch homosexual pornography under strobe lights during interrogation sessions that lasted as long as 18 hours, according to one of a batch of FBI memos released Thursday.

FBI agents working at the prison complained about the military interrogators' techniques in e-mails to their superiors from 2002 to 2004, 54 e-mails released by the American Civil Liberties Union showed. The agents tried to get the military interrogators to follow a less coercive approach and warned that the harsh methods could hinder future criminal prosecutions of terrorists because information gained illegally is inadmissible in court.

Article continues here.

With news like that it is no wonder why they hate us.

More Bad Economy News Coming Out

2006-02-27T15:53:00.000-05:00

Seems like that great housing bubble is even closer to its inevitable pop:

Sales of new U.S. homes fell 5 percent in January to their slowest pace in a year while the number of homes on the market hit a record high, according to a government report on Monday that signaled further cooling in the housing market.

Sales of new single-family homes declined to a 1.233 million unit annual pace from an upwardly revised 1.298 million unit rate in December, the Commerce Department said.

January's sales pace was slower than expected. Economists had forecast new homes sales would ease to a 1.260 million unit rate from the originally reported 1.269 million unit pace in December.

Article continues here.

What makes this really bad news is the fact that construction season is closing in on us. There will be less new homes for the workers to build if there are less people out trying to purchase them.

Halliburton Gets $250 Million Disputed Costs Paid

2006-02-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

I guess the best client a business could have is the United States government:

The Army has decided to reimburse a Halliburton subsidiary for nearly all of its disputed costs on a $2.41 billion no-bid contract to deliver fuel and repair oil equipment in Iraq, even though the Pentagon's own auditors had identified more than $250 million in charges as potentially excessive or unjustified.

The Army said in response to questions on Friday that questionable business practices by the subsidiary, Kellogg Brown & Root, had in some cases driven up the company's costs. But in the haste and peril of war, it had largely done as well as could be expected, the Army said, and aside from a few penalties, the government was compelled to reimburse the company for its costs.

Under the type of contract awarded to the company, "the contractor is not required to perform perfectly to be entitled to reimbursement," said Rhonda James, a spokeswoman for the southwestern division of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, based in Dallas, where the contract is administered.

The contract has been the subject of intense scrutiny after disclosures in 2003 that it had been awarded without competitive bidding. That produced criticism from Congressional Democrats and others that the company had benefited from its connection with Dick Cheney, who was Halliburton's chief executive before becoming vice president.

Article continues here.

This is absurd. What will it take to get a Truman style committee to investigate war profiteering? I know the answer - Democrats to be in charge. Can't expect ethics with the most corrupt party at the helm.

Bush Uniting The Country

2006-02-27T10:21:00.000-05:00

After Bush won the 2004 election he vowed to unite our divided country. Well in a way he has:

Governors of both parties said Sunday that Bush administration policies were stripping the National Guard of equipment and personnel needed to respond to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, forest fires and other emergencies.

Tens of thousands of National Guard members have been sent to Iraq, along with much of the equipment needed to deal with natural disasters and terrorist threats in the United States, the governors said here at the winter meeting of the National Governors Association.

The National Guard, which traces its roots to the colonial militia, has a dual federal-state role. Governors normally command the Guard in their states, but Guard members deployed overseas in support of a federal mission are under the control of the president.

The governors said they would present their concerns to President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Monday. In a preview of their message, all 50 governors signed a letter to the president opposing any cuts in the size of the National Guard.

Article continues here.

With hurricane season rapidly approaching and predictions of it being another bad one, this should really be a major concern. Bush vowed to fix problems exposed on the federal level after the Katrina report came out last week. One of the major problems was a lack of National Guard troops available to respond. Sadly we all know he won't listen to the warnings and try to get our National Guard home were they belong.

What Happened To Lobbying Reform?

2006-02-26T20:16:00.000-05:00

Republicans may change the rules allowing former senators to attend weekly GOP luncheon meetings after retired Sen. Lauch Faircloth attended a session while lobbying a bill pending on the floor.

He attended Tuesday‘s luncheon, just hours before a crucial vote on the bill, which would end decades of lawsuits against manufacturers and their insurers, potentially saving them great sums of money.

The episode came as lawmakers on both sides of Capitol Hill — the House and Senate — are examining ways to reform lobbying rules in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. Just two weeks ago, the House voted to take away access to the floor and the House gym from former members who are now registered lobbyists.

Article continues here

All the commotion about lobbying reform following the conviction of Abramoff died down real quick. Of course this is because the party running our government is the most corrupt party in our nation. Real change won't be possible until there is a change in control.

OH NO! More 'Traitor' Speak

2006-02-26T18:06:00.000-05:00

Remember when Howard Dean made his statement on a radio station about how we are losing the war in Iraq? The right was up in arms calling him a traitor. Pundits came out from everywhere on the right to try and discredit him.

Well here is something new for them to get up in arms over:

"I can tell you the main reason behind all our woes — it is America." The New York Times reporter is quoting the complaint of a clothing merchant in a Sunni stronghold in Iraq. "Everything that is going on between Sunni and Shiites, the troublemaker in the middle is America."

One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed. The same edition of the paper quotes a fellow of the American Enterprise Institute. Mr. Reuel Marc Gerecht backed the American intervention. He now speaks of the bombing of the especially sacred Shiite mosque in Samara and what that has precipitated in the way of revenge. He concludes that “The bombing has completely demolished” what was being attempted — to bring Sunnis into the defense and interior ministries.

Our mission has failed because Iraqi animosities have proved uncontainable by an invading army of 130,000 Americans. The great human reserves that call for civil life haven't proved strong enough. No doubt they are latently there, but they have not been able to contend against the ice men who move about in the shadows with bombs and grenades and pistols.

The Iraqis we hear about are first indignant, and then infuriated, that Americans aren't on the scene to protect them and to punish the aggressors. And so they join the clothing merchant who says that everything is the fault of the Americans.

Article continues here.

If you read that you would think it came from someone like Howard Dean or anyone on the left. Well if you do guess that then you are wrong. That article appears in the latest National Review and was authored by William Buckley Jr. himself.

Now that we have an ultra-conservative like Buckley saying Iraq is a failure are the Coulter's and O'Reilly's going to get up in arms and go after him? Most likely not. They will say his opinion is wrong but that is the great thing about America, we can air our opinions. It is these types of double standards that the right leads by which is an insult to not only our country but democracy as a whole.

Just look at last week when O'Reilly said said we have to hand everything over now and get out of Iraq. He made the same comment that he has attacked guests on his show for making since this war started.

I am going to wait for the right to go after Buckley on this. I want to see the name calling start. They need to call him a "traitor" and "unpatriotic", the same things they called Dean. Of course I won't be holding my breath waiting on them to do it. They are nothing but two-faced loud mouths who redefine double standards and hypocrisy.

Details Released On Bush's Biking Accident

2006-02-26T14:35:00.000-05:00

Remember when Bush had his little biking accident last year? Well more details have been released about the incident:

HE MAY be the most powerful man in the world, but proof has emerged that President George Bush cannot ride a bike, wave and speak at the same time.

Scotland on Sunday has obtained remarkable details of one of the most memorably bizarre episodes of the Bush presidency: the day he crashed into a Scottish police constable while cycling in the grounds of Gleneagles Hotel.

The incident, which will do little to improve Bush's accident-prone reputation, began when he took to two wheels for a spot of early-evening exercise during last year's G8 summit at the Perthshire resort.

Article continues here.

What is interesting is after this accident the right-wing "Bush apologist" crowd worked hard to try and make this accident the fault of the police officer Bush hit. True to this crowd, Bush could walk into a school and shoot all the students for no reason and they would say it was those children's fault for going to school that day. Responsibility is something Bush and his cult do not understand.

Sunday Morning Lineup

2006-02-25T22:13:00.000-05:00

Compliments of the Washington Post

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (WTTG), 9 a.m.: White House homeland security adviser Francis Fragos Townsend , Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs .

THIS WEEK (ABC, WJLA), 9 a.m.: Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.) and actor Richard Gere .

FACE THE NATION (CBS, WUSA), 10:30 a.m.: National security adviser Stephen J. Hadley and Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.).

MEET THE PRESS (NBC, WRC), 11 a.m.: Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.) and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R).

LATE EDITION (CNN), 11 a.m.: Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), Iraqi national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie , Arab American Institute President James Zogby and Hadley .

Well out of all of those I must say that Meet The Press is definitely doing a right wing Sunday,

We HAD 1 Batallion In Iraq Ready To Go

2006-02-25T14:21:00.000-05:00

When Rumsfeld addresses Iraq he talks about their military 'standing up'. The opposite appears to be more true according to CNN:

The only Iraqi battalion capable of fighting without U.S. support has been downgraded to a level requiring them to fight with American troops backing them up, the Pentagon said Friday.

The battalion, made up of 700 to 800 Iraqi Army soldiers, has repeatedly been offered by the U.S. as an example of the growing independence of the Iraqi military.

The competence of the Iraqi military has been cited as a key factor in when U.S. troops will be able to return home.

Article continues here.

So here we are just weeks away from entering out 3rd year in this war and what progress we were told was being made has now been taken away. The current leadership if guiding an utter failure and they are in a bad case of deniability because of this. The only way to get us back on the right track is for the administration to realize their mistakes and come up with a new plan. You can't help but feel sorry for our troops. They are trying everything to get the mission done right but when the plan their leaders have given them is on a direct course for failure it makes their jobs that much harder.

Site Maintenance Note

2006-02-24T15:19:00.000-05:00

The site will be down from about 12:00 midnight est to 1:00am est tonight. I will be using that time to move all the entries from here to the new system which requires a temporary template rewrite.

Randy Cunningham Back In The News

2006-02-24T15:16:00.000-05:00

A little bit from the "Duke" files:

A defense contractor admitted Friday that he paid a California congressman more than $1 million in bribes in exchange for millions more in government contracts.

Mitchell Wade pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiring with former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham to bribe the lawmaker with cash, cars and antiques, and to help him evade millions of dollars in tax liability.

Article continues here.

John has pointed out the Cunningham isn't the only pockets greased my Mr. Wade. Check out who else he has paid in the past.

A More Hopeful Outlook For Democrats

2006-02-24T15:00:00.000-05:00

It looks like Bush's Dubai deal is starting to pay off - for the Democrats:

Just 17% of Americans believe Dubai Ports World should be allowed to purchase operating rights to several U.S. ports. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that 64% disagree and believe the sale should not be allowed (see crosstabs).

Just 39% of Americans know that the operating rights are currently owned by a foreign firm. Fifteen percent (15%) believe the operating rights are U.S. owned while 46% are not sure.

From a political perspective, President Bush's national security credentials have clearly been tarnished due to the outcry over this issue. For the first time ever, Americans have a slight preference for Democrats in Congress over the President on national security issues. Forty-three percent (43%) say they trust the Democrats more on this issue today while 41% prefer the President.

Article continues here.

What is of real interest here is the fact this poll was conducted by Rasmussen who typically slants to the right pretty heavy. It will be interesting to see what other polls have to say about the same subject in the coming days. This is taking a big bite out of the Republicans strong hold amongst voters.

Matt also has his February Senate Forecast up and it looks like the Democrats are gaining grounds on more than just the National Security issue.

Churches Being Investigated By The IRS

2006-02-24T13:58:00.000-05:00

IRS exams found nearly three out of four churches, charities and other civic groups suspected of having violated restraints on political activity in the 2004 election actually did so, the agency said Friday.

Most of the examinations that have concluded found only a single, isolated incidence of prohibited campaign activity.

In three cases, however, the IRS uncovered violations egregious enough to recommend revoking the groups' tax-exempt status.

The vast majority of charities and churches followed the law, but the examinations found a "disturbing" amount of political intervention in the 2004 elections, IRS Commissioner Mark Everson said.

Article continues here.

Ok now - just brainstorming here. Since so many religious organizations are now being investigated for this and the fact that their tax exempt status is dependent upon them following the rules then perhaps we should look at our current tax codes. I have never been a fan of churches being tax exempt because so many of them find ways to abuse that privilege. Easy solution - get rid of the code that creates the problem. That should make some real sound changes in churches and in politics.

More Authorized White House Leaks

2006-02-24T12:46:00.000-05:00

Think Progress has all the details. With Dubai and this there is no doubt our White House does not give a damn about national security.

Everyone Is In Denial

2006-02-24T12:40:00.000-05:00

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was not aware a Dubai-owned company was seeking to operate terminals in six U.S. ports and that his agency was leading the review until after the deal's approval, an administration official said yesterday.

Mr. Chertoff's spokesman, Russ Knocke, told The Washington Times the issue rose no higher than the department's assistant secretary for policy, Stewart Baker.

"[Chertoff] was not briefed up to this until after this story started appearing in the newspapers," Mr. Knocke said.

Mr. Chertoff is the third Cabinet official to acknowledge he did not know his agency had signed off on the plan as a member of the interagency

Article continues here.

Now lets get this all straight. In a post 9-11 America where we have to worry about terrorists trying to come in our borders and cause their destruction there is a deal that has given control of 6 major ports to the Dubai, a country known to harbor terrorists and had connections with those who attacked us on 9/11. This deal was not known about by our secretary of defense, the joint chiefs of staff, our President and the head of our homeland security. I am not a conspiracy theory nut but I can see how this would make those "9/11 was an inside job" people go crazy. This is just proving their point even more. Our administration is out of touch with what is happening to our security and they don't even take it seriously.

With issues like this it is a gift to the Democrats that Bush wants to make terrorism the number one issue this election.

Testify Brother John

2006-02-23T20:34:00.000-05:00

Talk about summing it all up in one excellent post. Aravosis just hit the grand slam on how America is feeling about this crap move by Bush to sell out our ports.

More About Iraq's Destabilization

2006-02-23T17:10:00.000-05:00

Well considering the this mornings news of the US denying reports of Iraq nearing civil war, here is something else to offer a little contradicition:

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said insurgents are trying ``everything'' to foment civil war as reprisal attacks followed yesterday's bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, sacred to Shiite Muslims.

``Anti-democratic forces have tried everything to push the country into a civil war and sectarian violence,'' Zebari said today in a phone interview from Baghdad, blaming the attack on extremists and supporters of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein. ``This is the biggest challenge we as Iraqis face, and efforts are under way to prevent it.''

After the Samarra blast destroyed the shrine's golden dome, about 30 Sunni Muslim mosques were attacked, and at least three Mullahs, or religious leaders, were killed, Zebari said. Eighty bullet-ridden corpses have been taken to a Baghdad morgue since yesterday afternoon, Agence France-Presse reported.

Article continues here

Yup. It might not be exactly there yet but damn, it sure is getting close. The worst part is once it happens, our troops are stuck right in the middle and will most likely fall victim to even more attacks. Murtha's plan sounds a lot better now - doesn't it?

Self Criticism From The White House

2006-02-23T15:16:00.000-05:00

WOW!

The White House cited failures by the Homeland Security Department and other agencies in planning, communications and leadership in a report on Hurricane Katrina Thursday and proposed a broad reworking of how the government would respond to the next catastrophe.

The 228-page report by White House homeland security adviser Frances Fragos Townsend urges changes in 11 key areas — mainly in better disaster relief coordination among federal agencies — before the next hurricane season begins June 1. The White House study took a softer approach than a scathing House report issued last week, focusing on proposals to fix problems without singling out any individuals for blame.

"We will learn from the lessons of the past to better protect the American people," President Bush said Thursday at the end of a Cabinet meeting where the report was released.

"I wasn't satisfied with the federal response," Bush said.

Article continues here

What is funny is how the White House had to wait until two other reports had the same findings and Michael Brown decided to tell all to Congress. I still wonder how much worse things would of been for the White House if they didn't claim executive privilege on so many documents.

Spinning Iraq

2006-02-23T12:48:00.000-05:00

Well not shocking is the fact that the administration is downplaying what is happening in Iraq and denying they are on the brink of civil war:

The US military rejected the idea that a civil war is brewing in Iraq, saying it had confirmed only seven major attacks on mosques across the country.

Major General Rick Lynch, spokesman for the coalition forces in Iraq, said the military had recorded attacks on seven Sunni mosques since the bombing of the revered Shiite shrine in Samarra on Wednesday.

Article continues here

True if you read what has happened since the devastating attacks on Tuesday it tells a different story. 11 people are dead from "revenge attacks" and seven US soldiers were killed today in two separate roadside bombings.

Flip Flop O'Reilly

2006-02-23T01:17:00.000-05:00

From Media Matters :

Bill O'Reilly suggested that the United States "hand over everything to the Iraqis as fast as humanly possible" because "[t]here are so many nuts in the country -- so many crazies -- that we can't control them." O'Reilly has previously called those advocating immediate withdrawal from Iraq "pinheads" and compared them to Hitler appeasers.

Check out the clip and read the rest of their report here.

One thing does come to mind on this. Remember back a few months ago when that heated exchange happened between O'Reilly and Phil Donahue? (If not you can see it here). O'Reilly got very defensive and told Donahue he needed to watch his mouth because his nephew was going to Iraq to fight. I wonder if O'Reilly's sudden change of heart has something to do with having family over there now.

Delay -VS- Bush

2006-02-23T00:08:00.000-05:00

Atrios found this to be very true

Infrared Ports On Diebolds Touchscreen Machines

2006-02-22T22:16:00.000-05:00

The Brad Blog had all the details about this latest discovery. These aren't stock systems - they are custom built. That means the IrDA ports had to be included in the specifications for the machines. These just allow another form of illegal entry into our voting machines and jeopardizes our democracy even more.

Iraq Even Closer To Civil War

2006-02-22T20:38:00.000-05:00

The well informed Juan Cole takes a look at the events of the past couple days and the outcome does not look good.

Tuesday was an apocalyptic day in Iraq. I am not normally exactly sanguine about the situation there. But the atmospherics are very, very bad, in a way that most Western observers will miss.

Read the rest of his excellent yet scarey post here.

Ohio's Republican Governor's Primary Turns Nasty

2006-02-22T16:10:00.000-05:00

OHIO. Eleventh Commandment ... What Eleventh Commandment? The GOP primary for Governor took a sudden nasty turn in new TV and radio spots. The ads also blast retiring Governor Bob Taft (R). Secretary of State Ken Blackwell went on this air this week with commercials attacking GOP primary rival Jim Petro for lacking integrity. Here's the full script: continued here.

How About That Ethics Reform Rick?

2006-02-22T16:01:00.000-05:00

Poor Ricky Santorum. The guy can't stay out of trouble:

Progressive ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee alleging that Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) violated the Senate Gift Rule by accepting a mortgage from The Philadelphia Trust Company, a bank that serves affluent clients, RAW STORY has learned.

The filing comes in response to an article in the American Prospect by Philadephia Daily News reporter Will Bunch.

The following is a release from CREW, who filed the complaint. Such a complaint is not a formal complaint, as only senators or congressmembers can file ethics complaints against other members.

View complete article here.

You know it is something when the guy the GOP turns to for ethics reform is also deep into ethics problems of his own. Get ready for the spin from his office now.

Who Is In Charge?

2006-02-22T11:54:00.000-05:00

Now Bush didn't know about the port deal?

President Bush was unaware of the pending sale of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates until the deal already had been approved by his administration, the White House said Wednesday.

Defending the deal anew, the administration also said that it should have briefed Congress sooner about the transaction, which has triggered a major political backlash among both Republicans and Democrats.

Bush on Tuesday brushed aside objections by leaders in the Senate and House that the $6.8 billion sale could raise risks of terrorism at American ports. In a forceful defense of his administration's earlier approval of the deal, he pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement involving the sale of a British company to the Arab firm.

Article continues here.

Ok Congress didn't know, Bush didn't know, the Joint Chiefs didn't know, Rumsfeld didn't know. Who the hell is running our government? This is a total lack of oversight or a major lie. The GOP congressional hearings on this subject should get really interesting.

More Reasons Why I Google Instead Of Yahoo

2006-02-21T21:45:00.000-05:00

Yahoo has banned the name Allah from appearhing in any of the usernames on its servers. Funny that Allah is banned yet God and Jesus are allowed. Here is a nice list of words that are allowed and banned from Yahoo. Pretty shameful coming from a company who for years turned their backs to child pornography going on in their chat rooms.

Bush's Dubai Plan Was A Secret

2006-02-21T18:54:00.000-05:00

Handing over the ports to Dubai would have an impact on the military. What is interesting is the fact that Rumsfeld and Pace were not consulted on this decision. Check out Think Progress for the details

More On That Dubai Deal

2006-02-21T17:24:00.000-05:00

This Dubai deal is really escalating fast. Now Bush has vowed to veto any attempt to block it. That is going against what Frist and Hassert are saying. You know it is getting bad when the Republicans are now referring to the Democrats as their "colleagues" and "friends". The real interesting thing will be if Bush does veto a block considering he has never vetoed anything since being in office.

Jean 'Full Of Schmidt' Back In The News

2006-02-21T14:01:00.000-05:00

Evil Jean is at it again. This woman can not get enough of the spotlight for being a raving lunatic. Via WCPO news.

Schmidt Demands Apology For Cake Incident

Congresswoman Jean Schmidt is upset with some of her political opponents for slicing up a cake made to look like her.

State Representative Tom Brinkman cut the head off the Schmidt-cake at a meeting of COAST, an anti-tax group he founded.

Bob McEwen, Schmidt's opponent in the Second District Republican congressional primary was also in attendance.

I didn't see a segment on this last night on WCPO's news but if they run one I will get a clip up of it.

What I find peculiar on this is the fact that the GOP just held their big convention last week and the opening of it featured a movie where the Democrats were the evil empire and the Republicans were the Jedi trying to save the universe. John also has some interesting points on this.

Really - If Jean can not handle politics then she needs to just give up. I have never heard someone with such a short time in office cry as much as she has.

States Need More Attention Than Washington

2006-02-21T11:53:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting report released by the Progressive Legislative Action Network (PLAN).

HELENA, MT – The Progressive Legislative Action Network (PLAN) today issued a report that exposes many of the conservative movement's methods of operation in state government and how progressives can deliver results. The organization also rolled out its website that will serve as the "virtual" war room in the fight for the states.

"For the past thirty years, conservatives of different stripes have had their efforts clearly coordinated with a long-term strategy in mind," says Nathan Newman, PLAN's Policy Director and Author of the Report. "The resulting policies in the states -- whether handouts to corporations, wedge issues to pit progressives against eachother, or structural plans to weaken progressive institutions -- are not an accident, but the result of years of engineering by powerful interests."

The report's findings, featured in a cover story in the current issue of In These Times, outlines the fundamental importance of state policy and the many ways that conservative organizations have succeeded in advancing their policy goals at the state level, such as aiding Exxon in fighting global warming legislation and working for pharmaceutical companies to block the reimportation of cheaper drugs from Canada.

Article continues here.

I know here in Ohio, this is very obvious. The state is trying to conform more for corporations than businesses. This is also a result of the vast number of jobs our state has lost over the past 5 years. Out sourcing has taken its toll in Ohio and here in the Cincinnati area, it is starting to be felt more with the recent announcement of the Ford Batavia plant closing. Take a look at their full report and you might notice some findings that also reflect upon your own state.

That Republican Post 9/11 World

2006-02-21T11:47:00.000-05:00

Remember, Republicans say they live in a post 9/11 world while Democrats live in a pre-9/11 world.

WASHINGTON - The Dubai firm that won Bush administration backing to run six U.S. ports has at least two ties to the White House.

One is Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose department heads the federal panel that signed off on the $6.8 billion sale of an English company to government-owned Dubai Ports World - giving it control of Manhattan's cruise ship terminal and Newark's container port.

Snow was chairman of the CSX rail firm that sold its own international port operations to DP World for $1.15 billion in 2004, the year after Snow left for President Bush's cabinet.

The other connection is David Sanborn, who runs DP World's European and Latin American operations and who was tapped by Bush last month to head the U.S. Maritime Administration.

The ties raised more concerns about the decision to give port control to a company owned by a nation linked to the Sept. 11 hijackers.

Article continues here.

So in the post 9/11 world handing over control of our vital sea ports to a nation tied to the attacks is fine and dandy? This seems par for the course. Remember Katrina and how we see the post 9/11 world FEMA as a totally disorganized agency that can not handle a natural disaster that had days of warning. The more actions this administration takes the more you can see that they feel terrorism is nothing but a political tool. They don't take the war seriously. If they did we would then wouldn't they have made sure they got Osama?

Oh Ricky!!!

2006-02-20T22:07:00.000-05:00

How can Mr. Santorum try and deny this association

More Chatter On A Cheney Resignation

2006-02-20T16:17:00.000-05:00

Fox news columnist Marin Frost has an interesting article up weighing in on the possibility of Cheney resigning:

With Republicans as well as Democrats criticizing and questioning the vice president’s actions, I think the question of whether Mr. Cheney will complete his full term in office is an appropriate and legitimate line of inquiry. Certainly, people are starting to whisper; television pundits and newspaper columnists have raised the issue. It is not unreasonable to consider the political consequences of a Cheney resignation.

There are at least three reasons why Cheney might step down before the end of his term in January of 2009:

Read the complete article here. It is well worth it.

Republicans Hate America

2006-02-20T15:11:00.000-05:00

John has all the juicy details.

More Katrina E-Mails

2006-02-20T10:56:00.000-05:00

Newsweek has obtained new e-mails that Michael Brown turned over to Congress regarding Katrina. These emails show a White House in "Chaos" following the storm:

Brown, now trying to restore his image, gave Congress a set of e-mails sent as the catastrophe unfolded. The e-mails, obtained by NEWSWEEK, provide the latest—though still incomplete—picture of senior officials' chatter amid the chaos.

Four days after Katrina hit, on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 1, it was finally clear to everyone that things had gone horribly wrong. But Brown and other officials seemed mired in office politics. Brooks Altshuler, Brown's policy director, worried that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was growing unhappy with Brown's performance. "Please talk up the Secretary during your press avails I.e. 'Solid team with solid support from the secretary etc.'" Altshuler wrote his boss. "Unconfirmed, but people are noticing and they are reading into friction ... " Brown angrily responded that he had told the Homeland secretary that his numerous phone calls were "killing me ... He assures me he is not trying to interfere, but they are literally driving me crazy ... "

View complete article here.

It is no wonder the White House kept these emails from Congress. After a disaster the people always turn to their leaders. That is more evident in a post 9/11 America. With actions like this coming from or leaders how in the hell can Bush say "Democrats live in a pre 9/11 world while Republicans live in a post 9/11 world". If Katrina was any indicator of that line of thought then I would gladly have a pre 9/11 world back - you know one where our country is able to respond to disasters.

A U.S. Secrets Act?

2006-02-20T10:45:00.000-05:00

Accordint to The Raw Story some lawmakers want to impose legislation similar to that of the U.K. Sounds like an attempt to put a lid on leaks and allow even more illegal activity to go undiscovered.

Sorry For The Lack Of Posts Today

2006-02-19T23:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't been neglecting the blog, actually I have been working on it nonstop. I am planning on moving over to a new server within the very near future (hopefully in the next month). The migration is taking a lot of work however I am switching to a wordpress system and have all kinds of new bells and whistles added in to make the second year of IntoxiNation bigger and better than it's first. I will have more information on the new features in the near future as I get all the bugs hammered out. One big new feature will be including audio and video clips from things I feel are worth it (no I am not trying to compete with Crooks and Liars, just help out the blogosphere a little more). Stay tuned because big things are coming.

Sunday Talk Show Line Up

2006-02-19T00:34:00.000-05:00

Damage control Sunday is on its way: (via the Washington Post)

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (WTTG), 9 a.m.: Sens. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.); Ford's Theatre director Paul Tetreault and former senator Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.).

THIS WEEK (ABC, WJLA), 9 a.m.: Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff , Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.), Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) and Miami Heat player Shaquille O'Neal .

MEET THE PRESS (NBC, WRC), 9 a.m. : Chertoff .

FACE THE NATION (CBS, WUSA), 10:30 a.m.: Sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

LATE EDITION (CNN), 11 a.m.: Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), British Ambassador David Manning , German Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger , French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte , retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton , who was commander of Iraqi troop training, and Chertoff .

Looks like Chertoff is out to try and explain his failures with as much spin as possible. No doubt he will have it easy considering the path the Sunday talk shows are taking anymore.

25% Approval Rating For Congress

2006-02-18T12:08:00.000-05:00

That is the latest from a new Harris interactive poll. Guess people will be looking for a big change in Novemeber.

Who Is Winning In Iraq?

2006-02-18T11:01:00.000-05:00

The LA Times has a very interesting article today that takes an in depth look at the Middle East and who is really becoming victorious with the Iraq War:

The Islamic government in neighboring Iran watched with trepidation in March 2003 when U.S.-led troops stormed Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime and start remaking the political map of the Mideast.

In retrospect, the Islamic Republic could have celebrated: The war has left America's longtime nemesis with profound influence in the new Iraq and pushed it to the apex of power in the region.

Emboldened by its new status and shielded by deep oil reserves, Tehran is pressing ahead with its nuclear program, daring the international community to impose sanctions. Iran is a Shiite Muslim nation with an ethnic Persian majority, and the blossoming of its influence has fueled the ambitions of long-repressed Shiites throughout the Arab world.

At the same time, Tehran has tightened alliances with groups such as Hamas, which recently won Palestinian elections, and with governments in Damascus and Beijing

Article continues here

Bush says that "democracy is a gift from God". Unfortunately he only thinks of one God and there is a massive difference between his God and the God of the Middle East. We are not going to change the way the Middle East operates and attempting to do so by force is a big mistake. Instead we need to work with them and come to an agreement where we can all share this planet together.

What this article really makes me think is that by Bush removing on of his "axis of evils", he has left the other two even stronger. That is not a great approach to dealing with a so called problem. Iran is getting stronger and we are getting weaker. When Bush says that a military strike against Iran is on the table one can't help but laugh. The only way that could be on the table is if we decide to reinstate the draft and build our forces up. That will lead to a lot of problems here at home.

More Hurdles For Warrantless Taps

2006-02-18T10:49:00.000-05:00

It looks like Pat Roberts has made somewhat a change in how he feels the wiretapping program should operate:

The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Friday that he wanted the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping program brought under the authority of a special intelligence court, a move President Bush has argued is not necessary.

The chairman, Senator Pat Roberts, Republican of Kansas, said he had some concerns that the court could not issue warrants quickly enough to keep up with the needs of the eavesdropping program. But he said he would like to see those details worked out.

Mr. Roberts also said he did not believe that exempting the program from the purview of the court created by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act "would be met with much support" on Capitol Hill. Yet that is exactly the approach the Bush administration is pursuing.

Article continues here.

I guess Bush was praising a deal with Senate a little too early. Roberts is right though, a court must oversee the decisions to wiretap. I thought we had a court that did this though - the FISA court. I guess in the mind of "small government" conservatives, another court won't hurt anything.

One thing that has bothered me about this entire argument is Bush saying the constitution gives him the right to conduct these taps, there by ignoring the fourth amendment. If each branch of government assumed this same level of power, that their powers in the constitution allowed them to circumvent other parts of it, then we would be headed towards a governmental anarchy. For example, the constitution. states that Congress will make the rules and laws for the Military. Well that means they should now have the power to tell the military to double our troops in Iraq. They just need to make it a rule or law.

China And Iran Nearing An Oil Deal

2006-02-18T10:40:00.000-05:00

Well I have been wondering where China would fit into the entire Iran debacle and now we might know:

China is hastening to complete a deal worth as much as $100 billion that would allow a Chinese state-owned energy firm to take a leading role in developing a vast oil field in Iran, complicating the Bush administration's efforts to isolate the Middle Eastern nation and roll back its nuclear development plans, according to published reports.

View complete article here

China is quickly on its way to becoming a new super power in the world. When it comes to Iran, this could spark a larger battle with us going against China now. Also we must consider if China goes against us, Russia will do the same. Considering how much we are in debt to China, are we really in a position for this to happen?

The Latest Cheney Song

2006-02-17T21:39:00.000-05:00

Have your volume up and the kids not around.

Dick Cheney - Armed And Hammered

2006-02-17T21:37:00.000-05:00

Get your T-Shirt at Firedoglake.

Republican Sues Bush

2006-02-17T21:20:00.001-05:00

Wow this is something:

Scott Tooley, a Republican, and former Congressional aide and law school graduate, educated at renowned Christian universities, has filed suit against the President, Vice President and relevant federal agencies for their illegal surveillance programs.

According to the complaint, the Bush-Cheney Administration initiated numerous illegal and perpetual surveillance methods on Mr. Tooley and his family after he was incorrectly placed on the TSA's "selectee" or watch list.

Mr. Tooley's case is unique because the suit alleges the Bush Administration has used additional illegal surveillance methods on him in addition to the illegal wiretapping. Mr. Tooley is also the first Republican to file suit with regard to the Bush Administration's surveillance programs.

Article continues here.

I wonder how many more will follow suit (no pun intended - ok maybe it is). Considering the mountains of information that has come out lately regarding peace groups and others being spied on by the government, we may see many more of these from all sides of the political spectrum.

Republican Sues Bush

2006-02-17T21:20:00.000-05:00

Wow this is something:

Scott Tooley, a Republican, and former Congressional aide and law school graduate, educated at renowned Christian universities, has filed suit against the President, Vice President and relevant federal agencies for their illegal surveillance programs.

According to the complaint, the Bush-Cheney Administration initiated numerous illegal and perpetual surveillance methods on Mr. Tooley and his family after he was incorrectly placed on the TSA's "selectee" or watch list.

Mr. Tooley's case is unique because the suit alleges the Bush Administration has used additional illegal surveillance methods on him in addition to the illegal wiretapping. Mr. Tooley is also the first Republican to file suit with regard to the Bush Administration's surveillance programs.

Article continues here.

Friday Morning Scare

2006-02-17T01:14:00.000-05:00

For my early bird readers or those who subscribe to the Washington Post, here is a scary read:

Greenland's glaciers are melting into the sea twice as fast as previously believed, the result of a warming trend that renders obsolete predictions of how quickly Earth's oceans will rise over the next century, scientists said yesterday.

The new data come from satellite imagery and give fresh urgency to worries about the role of human activity in global warming. The Greenland data are mirrored by findings from Bolivia to the Himalayas, scientists said, noting that rising sea levels threaten widespread flooding and severe storm damage in low-lying areas worldwide.

The scientists said they do not yet understand the precise mechanism causing glaciers to flow and melt more rapidly, but they said the changes in Greenland were unambiguous -- and accelerating: In 1996, the amount of water produced by melting ice in Greenland was about 90 times the amount consumed by Los Angeles in a year. Last year, the melted ice amounted to 225 times the volume of water that city uses annually.

"We are witnessing enormous changes, and it will take some time before we understand how it happened, although it is clearly a result of warming around the glaciers," said Eric Rignot, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Article continues here.

So I was sitting here reading this while we were having thunderstorms, high winds and temperatures in the min 60's. The bad part is that is here in southwest Ohio where we should be looking at snow. The climate is royally screwed up. Reading this article gave me that eerie sense of dejavu as I thought back to the movie Day After Tomorrow. Ignorance is not going to save our planet and that is all our leaders have right now. We got to do something to help mother nature repair herself.

Evangelical -VS. Christian Right

2006-02-16T14:42:00.000-05:00

I am not a religious person but I do feel sorry for some of them out there. I have felt that this entire "Christian right" agenda does not properly reflect them or their beliefs. Now there is an evangelical speaking out about the same thing:

One of the most influential religious figures in the US has called on progressive Christians to seize the religious agenda from the right. Jim Wallis - who has been consulted by US presidents as well as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - yesterday urged liberal Christians to move the agenda from the right's focus of sexual morality to a less partisan approach.

The 57-year-old, of Washington DC, is a long-term campaigner for social justice and fighting poverty.

"We need a moral discourse in public life, and it is wrong for the left to leave it to the political right to define the issues," he said. "The left lacks respect and is too often disdainful and condescending in listening to people of faith. "Religion does not have a monopoly of morality - the issue is not whether a person has a personal faith but whether they have a moral compass."

Mr Wallis is in London to promote his latest book, God's Politics: Why the American Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It.

Article continues here.

Personally, I feel religion should be totally left out of debate for public office. We are too diverse to allow this argument to enter the public arena. I think that is somewhat the approach the left is taking but they are doing it silently. They need to make it known that we hold religion as something sacred in our family, not in our public lives. Hopefully they will get the message and start doing that.

Another Blow To Diebold

2006-02-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

THE BRAD BLOG has all the details.

More Tests For Warrantless Taps

2006-02-16T13:42:00.000-05:00

Well here is one of the "checks and balances" that Bush must really hate:

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the U.S. Justice Department to respond within 20 days to requests by a civil liberties group for documents about President George W. Bush's domestic eavesdropping program.

The ruling was a victory for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, which sued the department under the Freedom of Information Act in seeking the release of the documents.

U.S. District Judge Henry Kennedy ruled that the department must finish processing the group's requests and produce or identify all records within 20 days.

"Given the great public and media attention that the government's warrantless surveillance program has garnered and the recent hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the public interest is particularly well served by the timely release of the requested documents," he said.

Article continues here.

More and more judges are making similar orders. That makes it apparent our judicial branch of government also has a problem with the warrantless taps. These are the ones who can really make or break the program. If judges don't credit the taps as evidence then any current and future terror suspects could get off scott free because of the President's ignorance towards our laws.

Tucker Hits A Home Run

2006-02-16T13:27:00.000-05:00

OK I really have a problem admitting this but Tucker Carlson hit a home run on MSNBC last night when talking about Cheney and his drinking before hunting. “I’ve been on dozens of hunts, there’s no beer served as lunch. You can’t drink a beer if you shoot, period. Doesn’t matter if you’re shooting five hours after, you’re not allowed to do it". I must agree 100% with this. Tucker had some more great points and they can be read and the clip can also be viewed over at Think Progress.

Cheney's Motiviation To Talk

2006-02-16T11:26:00.000-05:00

Ah now we know why Cheney decided to do his interview yesterday with Brit Hume:

President Bush's top political aide, Karl Rove, pushed Vice President Dick Cheney to speak publicly about shooting a fellow hunter, sources tell CBS News.

Rove worried the vice president's silence on the issue was becoming a political problem, CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod reports.

Cheney is in a "state of meltdown" over shooting his friend and the political fallout it has caused, a source close to the Cheney has told CBS News. On Wednesday, he accepted full blame for the incident and defended the decision to not publicly disclose the accident until the following day.

Article continues here.

Well even old Dick can't function without Karl "The Brain" Rove calling the shots. This really isn't that shocking though.

More Ohio News - We Are Dead Last Still

2006-02-16T01:08:00.000-05:00

Since I have been busy working that has left little time for my hobby of politics. Tonight I finally had some time to hit all my sites and I got to go to SurveyUSA and check out their latest 50 state tracking poll. My state's governor, Bob Taft, has repeatedly been the lowest approved governor on the list. He has been stuck at around 19% approval rating. Well his slump is now over. His numbers have finally moved, but not in the direction Taft or the state Republicans would want. Bob Taft is now at a 14% approval rating for Ohio. This is absolutely astonishing. Also worth noting is the fact that 5 out of the bottom 6 lowest rated are Republicans.

Boehner Gets Some Competition.

2006-02-16T00:56:00.000-05:00

Mort Meier, 73, a retired bond underwriter from Hamilton, announced Monday he will challenge new House Majority Leader John Boehner of West Chester for the Ohio 8th District Congressional seat this fall. In a statement released by Dan Gattermeyer, chairman of the Butler County Democratic Party, Meier said was motivated to come out of retirement "to help increase the strength and restore the reputation of America." Meier, who did not return a call for comment, attacked Boehner's ties with lobbyists and pledged not to accept any contribution of more than $5 from any individual, group or corporation. He ran unsuccessfully against Boehner in the GOP primary 15 years ago, and switched to the Democratic Party in 2000.

This is really good news. I got the privilege of signing the petition for his candidacy tonight. I don't know that much on Mr.Meier yet but intend to find out so I can report back. Boehner is not a popular person here in OH-8 so this should be a good race and hopefully come out with a win for the Democrats.

More Blasting Of The White House On Katrina

2006-02-15T14:14:00.000-05:00

Well we get another report blasting the White House on Katrina:

A chastised Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff sparred with senators of both parties on Wednesday as he acknowledged "many lapses" in his agency's response to Hurricane Katrina.

Chertoff told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs that he would do things differently if he had the chance. One thing he would not do: give overall responsibility for the relief effort to Michael Brown, who was director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the time.

Brown, who resigned under pressure shortly after the Aug. 29 storm devastated New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast, has accused Chertoff and White House officials of ignoring his warnings on the day of the storm.

"It is completely correct to say that our logistics capability in Katrina was woefully inadequate. I was astonished to see we didn't have the capability most 21st century corporations have to track the flow of goods and services," Chertoff said, promising remedies by the start of the 2006 hurricane season in June.

Article continues here.

But remember - the President isn't worried about yesterday, he is focused on today and tomorrow.

New Abu Gharib Photos

2006-02-15T13:37:00.000-05:00

Raw Story has newly emerged pictures of Abu Gharib available. Check them out if you wish and have a strong constitution. It is time for total justice to be served in this case.

Coulter The Criminal? One Can Hope!

2006-02-15T13:35:00.000-05:00

Oh this story is so sweet to hear:

She may be smart enough to earn millions from her acidic political barbs, but when it comes to something as simple as voting in her tiny hometown, hard-core conservative pundit Ann Coulter is a tad confused.

Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections records show Coulter voted last week in Palm Beach's council election. Problem is: She cast her ballot in a precinct 4 miles north of the precinct where she owns a home — and that could be a big no-no.

Coulter, who owns a $1.8 million crib on Seabreeze Avenue, should have voted in Precinct 1198. It covers most homes on her street. Instead, records show, she voted in Precinct 1196, at the northern tip of the island.

A fave on the college speaking circuit and the occasional target of cream-pies-to-the-face, Coulter registered as a Republican (no kidding!) with the supervisor's office June 24. That's three months after she bought the home and moved to Palm Beach from Manhattan.

Article continues here.

Imagine if Ann Coulter ends up getting charged with a felony over this. Even better, imagine her being convicted. That would be sweet justice. I could see her having to spend any time at all in prison. Now I got something new to hope for.

Is There Another Wiretap Program?

2006-02-15T10:25:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A former NSA employee said Tuesday there is another ongoing top-secret surveillance program that might have violated millions of Americans' Constitutional rights.

Russell D. Tice told the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations he has concerns about a "special access" electronic surveillance program that he characterized as far more wide-ranging than the warrentless wiretapping recently exposed by the New York Times but he is forbidden from discussing the program with Congress.

Tice said he believes it violates the Constitution's protection against unlawful search and seizures but has no way of sharing the information without breaking classification laws. He is not even allowed to tell the congressional intelligence committees - members or their staff - because they lack high enough clearance.

Neither could he brief the inspector general of the NSA because that office is not cleared to hear the information, he said.

Article continues here.

I read this article this morning and had a sudden flash back to last week. During the Senate Judiciary committee's hearings into the NSA spying, Alberto Gonzalez was always careful to respond along the lines of addressing the warrantless taps as "this program I am addressing today". When I heard that I instantly thought to myself "well what other program is there". Perhaps Mr. Tice's testimony has opened up another can of worms for the administration.

Thinking more about this, it does sound very Rovesque. Instantly try to change the subject to another program that is comparable but may have some legal authority or at the very least, a debatable authority. That would prevent attention from going towards actually finding out the existence of the program and reporters digging deep enough to uncover an actual program that intercepts completely domestic calls.

This just brings us to the point that we need a full congressional inquiry and start bringing people from the NSA in to testify. I bet there would be more employees than Mr. Tice willing to talk if they were asked by Congress to do so.

Hey Dick - How About Saying 'I Quit'

2006-02-15T10:14:00.000-05:00

With someone like Dick Cheney, a person who is on his third term as vice-President and has served for numerous other administrations, you would think he knew how Washington should work. Then again, you can't teach an old dog new (or old) tricks:

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- A source described as close to the Bush administration said people inside the White House are "livid" about the way Vice President Dick Cheney's office has handled the hunting accident he was involved in over the weekend, CBS News reported Tuesday.

According to CBS News, the source said the issue was no longer Cheney's view of press management but rather about Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and a range of other issues that play into the public's view of the administration's arrogance.

CBS News reported that private signals were being sent that the matter has been handled badly and Cheney needs to come out and say something.

Article continues here.

Now the White House was reportedly "livid" over the Valerie Plame case. Now they are "livid" over this. Yeah, Cheney needs to come and and say something - how about "I quit".

The thing that really bothers me though is that the White House has tried to down play it. An incident like this should require public outrage from the White House. It seems like since Mr. Whittington had his heart attack yesterday now the White House is acting upset over the events following the accident. Remember, we are stuck with a Karl Rove White House and he is the master at leaks. Now that the tables have turned on this accident the White House's reaction also had to make a pivotal change. After all, if Mr. Whittington happens to pass away because of this injury, or the related heart attack, then a grand jury would most likely step in and could recommend charges against the Vice President.

Another interesting part of this story has to do with MSNBC. Raw Story has learned that an article published on their website had a reference to beer being served at the picnic. That reference was later removed.

Hackett Out In Ohio

2006-02-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

Paul Hackett has announced he will not be running for Senate here in Ohio. He did so after party leaders asked him not too.

Sadly Hackett also said he is hanging up his political hat and spending more time with his family. There were hopes that he would run against Jean Schmidt in OH-2, who he narrowly lost too last August. Honestly, I can't blame him for his decision. He was begged by some Democrat leaders to run for Senate then once Sherrod Brown announced he was running Hackett lost that support.

Sherrod Brown is a good man and will make a great Senator. Currently he looks to be in a very good position to defeat Mike DeWine and will be a welcomed change. I stand behind Sherrod Brown 100% and will work to help with his campaign. I must say the primary campaign Brown and Hackett were running was one of the most civilized campaigns I have ever witnessed in my almost 20 years of politics.

As for Paul, I wish you lived a couple counties over and were here in OH-8 so we could get you to take out Boehner. It would be an almost guaranteed win as Boehner is losing support left and right here in Butler county and the rest of his district. Sadly, we do not have anyone to run against him yet. Hopefully that will change in the near future but the filing deadline is coming up fast.

Thanks for a great ride Paul. It was great watching you take this area by storm. Your straight talking, tell it like it is attitude will be deeply missed.

UPDATE: More Questions Involving That Shooting

2006-02-13T14:40:00.000-05:00

Well the story of Cheney's shooting incident this past weekend is really growing. The downplaying of the incident to be minor injuries now appears to also be fabricated per the Associated Press:

Cheney apparently did not see Whittington, and the vice president accidentally hit him in the face, neck and chest with bird shot.

So we know that Cheney damn near killed this poor guy. What really troubles me is how the White House seems to continue to downplay the actual accident. It is not the place of the White House to decide if Cheney was at fault or not and the severity of the injuries. Those decisions are left to law enforcement, prosecutors and also the medical staff.

From this same article we also learn that Bush was notified on Saturday night about the accident:

White House chief of staff Andy Card told Bush Saturday night about Cheney's involvement in the shotgun accident.

McClellan was informed Saturday night that someone in the Cheney hunting party was involved, but he didn't know that Cheney was the shooter until the next morning, the spokesman said.

McClellan said when he learned, around 6 a.m. Sunday, he urged the vice president's office to get the information out "as quickly as possible."

Of course McClellan is now saying that "I think you can always look back at these issues and look at how to do a better job," when asked about the series of events.

One big question still remains out there though. This question involves the notification of law enforcement. Any shooting incident is required to be reported to local authorities. If the parties involved don't notify them then the hospital will.

In an online chat at the Washington Post site, the paper's White House reporter Peter Baker said reporters in D.C. are "flabbergasted" by the shooting. He indicated that the Post was looking deeply into how it was reported to the local sheriff and the exact condition of the victim.

See full article here.

If Cheney did not immediately report the incident then criminal charges should be sought after. This is a serious question and it doesn't matter how much Bush tries to claim "if the President does it then it isn't illegal", well if there is a crime the vice-President or President must stand trial. Hopefully this incident will be examined from all angles. Now wouldn't it be something if this ranch is sitting in Ronnie Earle's district?

UPDATE

Think Progress is reporting that local sheriffs were barred from interviewing Cheney about the shooting.

Plame Was Working On Iran

2006-02-13T12:12:00.000-05:00

With all the talk recently about Cheney ordering Libby to disclose the identity of Valerie Plame, the timing of this story is very relevant.

The unmasking of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson by White House officials in 2003 caused significant damage to U.S. national security and its ability to counter nuclear proliferation abroad, RAW STORY has learned.

According to current and former intelligence officials, Plame Wilson, who worked on the clandestine side of the CIA in the Directorate of Operations as a non-official cover (NOC) officer, was part of an operation tracking distribution and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction technology to and from Iran.

Speaking under strict confidentiality, intelligence officials revealed heretofore unreported elements of Plame's work. Their accounts suggest that Plame's outing was more serious than has previously been reported and carries grave implications for U.S. national security and its ability to monitor Iran's burgeoning nuclear program.

Article continues here.

So in a time as delicate as this, the Vice President of the United States felt it more important to try and protect their lies for a war with Iraq instead of protecting an intelligence asset working on a real threat? How much more can the White House do before it is considered treason?

BREAKING: Tom Noe Indicted On 53 Counts

2006-02-13T10:21:00.000-05:00

This just in from the AP

Charges filed against Ohio coin dealer

Associated Press

TOLEDO, Ohio - Prosecutors charged a prominent GOP fundraiser Monday with theft and money laundering in an investigation of a controversial state investment in rare coins that has embroiled Republicans in scandal during an election year.

The charges against coin dealer Tom Noe conclude a 10-month investigation by state and federal prosecutors into the $50 million rare coin investment Noe managed for the state insurance fund for injured workers.

Noe's attorney has acknowledged a shortfall of up to $13 million of the money Noe invested for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. The state attorney general has accused Noe of stealing up to $6 million.

In total, the indictment has 53 counts. I just wonder if Noe will start cooperating with prosecutors and turn on Taft and other predominant Republican lawmakers here in the Buckeye State.

Warrantless Taps Losing Support

2006-02-13T09:08:00.000-05:00

I didn't know the American Bar Association was into polling but I find the results very interesting and possibly the most accurate to date:

According to a poll commissioned by the American Bar Association and released today, 52 percent of respondents said that in the fight against terrorism, the President of the United States alone cannot suspend constitutional freedoms, with an additional 25 percent saying he must obtain authorization by a court of law or Congress. Thus 77 percent of Americans express deep reservations about the president’s secret surveillance program.

The telephone poll conducted by Harris Interactive® over the past weekend found that only 18 percent of respondents believe the president can suspend constitutional freedoms "anytime the President thinks it is necessary to protect the country."

"While everyone agrees on the need for aggressive deterrence of terrorism, the disclosure of unchecked domestic spying by the president is deeply troubling to many Americans," said ABA President Michael S. Greco, who released the poll results today in a news conference during the ABA’s 2006 Midyear Meeting in Chicago.

"Our Founders gave us a government that can act swiftly in times of danger, but also protect our basic freedoms. It’s very encouraging that Americans understand and insist on preserving that balance," he said.

Clearly, Greco said, the poll results demonstrate that Americans are deeply interested in and alarmed by issues raised by secret spying on citizens’ communications by the National Security Agency. "It is a time when we should be having conversations about our constitutional freedoms as well as our security," he said. He invited members of the public to download their own free copy of the Constitution and learn more about the Constitution and presidential war powers at http://abaconstitution.org, and to express their own views on domestic surveillance in a separate poll available there.

Article continues here.

Now that our national legal association is coming out and saying there is mass problems with the President's assumption of authority, will he seek to change it. He thinks he has a winning program here, yet every time he talks about the program he seems to get himself into more trouble.

Newsweek is reporting that the Senate Intelligence Committee is set to vote this week on rather or not to hold hearings and it looks like that vote will pass.

This coming week is not going to be any better. The Senate intelligence committee is likely to vote to open an investigation into the NSA's wiretapping program, according to senior congressional aides who declined to be identified discussing sensitive matters. The chairman of the committee, Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, will probably follow the White House line and try to keep a lid on the hearings. But three Republicans—Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Mike DeWine of Ohio—are expected to join with the Democrats on the committee to vote to demand more information about the secret eavesdropping program from the White House and intelligence agencies.

View full article here (via John)

What it all boils down to is that this debate is here to stay and will not go away until changes are made or the President pulls a "convincing" rabbit out of the hat. It is going to be interesting to see where this story goes in the coming weeks.

Warrantless Taps Losing Support

2006-02-13T09:07:00.000-05:00

I didn't know the American Bar Association was into polling but I find the results very interesting and possibly the most accurate to date:

According to a poll commissioned by the American Bar Association and released today, 52 percent of respondents said that in the fight against terrorism, the President of the United States alone cannot suspend constitutional freedoms, with an additional 25 percent saying he must obtain authorization by a court of law or Congress. Thus 77 percent of Americans express deep reservations about the president’s secret surveillance program.

The telephone poll conducted by Harris Interactive® over the past weekend found that only 18 percent of respondents believe the president can suspend constitutional freedoms "anytime the President thinks it is necessary to protect the country."

"While everyone agrees on the need for aggressive deterrence of terrorism, the disclosure of unchecked domestic spying by the president is deeply troubling to many Americans," said ABA President Michael S. Greco, who released the poll results today in a news conference during the ABA’s 2006 Midyear Meeting in Chicago.

"Our Founders gave us a government that can act swiftly in times of danger, but also protect our basic freedoms. It’s very encouraging that Americans understand and insist on preserving that balance," he said.

Clearly, Greco said, the poll results demonstrate that Americans are deeply interested in and alarmed by issues raised by secret spying on citizens’ communications by the National Security Agency. "It is a time when we should be having conversations about our constitutional freedoms as well as our security," he said. He invited members of the public to download their own free copy of the Constitution and learn more about the Constitution and presidential war powers at http://abaconstitution.org, and to express their own views on domestic surveillance in a separate poll available there.

Article continues here.

Newsweek is reporting that the Senate Intelligence Committee is set to vote this week on rather or not to hold hearings and it looks like that vote will pass.

This coming week is not going to be any better. The Senate intelligence committee is likely to vote to open an investigation into the NSA's wiretapping program, according to senior congressional aides who declined to be identified discussing sensitive matters. The chairman of the committee, Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, will probably follow the White House line and try to keep a lid on the hearings. But three Republicans—Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Mike DeWine of Ohio—are expected to join with the Democrats on the committee to vote to demand more information about the secret eavesdropping program from the White House and intelligence agencies.

View full article here (via John)

Trying To Get Gitmo Closed

2006-02-13T08:58:00.000-05:00

It will be interesting to see how the administration tries to downplay this report:

United Nations inquiry has called for the immediate closure of America's Guantanamo Bay detention centre and the prosecution of officers and politicians "up to the highest level" who are accused of torturing detainees.

The UN Human Rights Commission report, due to be published this week, concludes that Washington should put the 520 detainees on trial or release them.

The report wants the Bush administration to ensure that all allegations of torture are investigated by US criminal courts, and that "all perpetrators up to the highest level of military and political command are brought to justice".

It does not specify who it means by "political command" but logically this would include President George W Bush.

Article continues here

The timing of this report is really the interesting part here. Now that we are facing problems with Iran and even referring them to the security council, we have to make a choice of how to view the UN. If we are willing to tell Iran that they must conform to the power of the Security Council then the United States must also be willing to conform to the power of the U.N. and take this report seriously. That of course will most likely not be the case. Instead, the US will go by its usual "practice what I preach, not what I do" mentality and prove to the world we don't answer to no one. I am just wondering how long before we start getting sanctions against us.

A Legal Test For Warrantless Taps

2006-02-13T08:52:00.000-05:00

It looks like the warrentless taps are starting to get their real test. That test is being conducted where they belong - in our court system:

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A federal judge gave the government two months to respond to an Ohio trucker's request that his terrorism conviction be thrown out on grounds that the government illegally spied on him.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema cited "the potentially weighty issues raised in the defendant's motion" in an order Wednesday that set a 60-day timetable for the government to respond to Iyman Faris' arguments.

Faris' challenge is among the first to seek evidence of warrantless electronic eavesdropping by the National Security Agency, a practice that began after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Government officials have reportedly credited eavesdropping with uncovering terrorist plots, including one by Faris to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge. Critics say President Bush didn't have authority to order the wiretaps, but he has staunchly defended the practice.

Article continues here

Faris is of course one of the men convicted for his part in a plan to "blow up" the Brooklyn Bridge. Of course the real plan was dismantling the bridge with blow torches. This will really turn into something if the judge decides to let him go free because evidence was obtained illegally. It will also be a massive blow to the administration and their claims of authority to wiretap without warrant.

Keeping Plame Alive

2006-02-12T17:26:00.000-05:00

Looks like old Dick my be getting into some hot water and his shooting a hunter isn't the cause of it:

Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald should investigate Vice President Dick Cheney and others in the CIA leak probe if they authorized an aide to give secret information to reporters, Democratic and Republican senators said Sunday.

Sen. Jack Reed (news, bio, voting record), D-R.I., called the leak of intelligence information "inappropriate" if it is true that unnamed "superiors" instructed Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, to divulge the material on Iraq.

Sen. George Allen (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., said a full investigation is necessary.

"I don't think anybody should be releasing classified information, period, whether in the Congress, executive branch or some underling in some bureaucracy," said Allen, who appeared with Reed on "Fox News Sunday."

According to court documents disclosed last week, Libby told a federal grand jury that he disclosed in July 2003 the contents of a classified National Intelligence Estimate as part of the Bush administration's defense of intelligence used to justify invading Iraq.

Article continues here.

Well I am glad to see someone on the other side of the aisle take this issue as seriously as the Democrats have. Just remember when the Republicans say they are the party of national security that that claim stops on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Another Report On Katrina Faulting The White House

2006-02-12T09:06:00.001-05:00

Looks like things could get even more heated between the White House and Capital Hill this week:

Hurricane Katrina exposed the U.S. government's failure to learn the lessons of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as leaders from President Bush down disregarded ample warnings of the threat to New Orleans and did not execute emergency plans or share information that would have saved lives, according to a blistering report by House investigators.

A draft of the report, to be released publicly Wednesday, includes 90 findings of failures at all levels of government, according to a senior investigation staffer who requested anonymity because the document is not final. Titled "A Failure of Initiative," it is one of three separate reviews by the House, Senate and White House that will in coming weeks dissect the response to the nation's costliest natural disaster.

The 600-plus-page report lays primary fault with the passive reaction and misjudgments of top Bush aides, singling out Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security Operations Center and the White House Homeland Security Council, according to a 60-page summary of the document obtained by The Washington Post. Regarding Bush, the report found that "earlier presidential involvement could have speeded the response" because he alone could have cut through all bureaucratic resistance.

Article continues here.

Of course the White House is in defense mode and Trent Duffy is quoted later in the article:

White House spokesman Trent Duffy said Bush had full confidence in his homeland security team, both appointed and career. "The president was involved from beginning to end," implementing emergency powers before the storm and taking responsibility afterward, Duffy said.

Duffy objected to a leaked draft of an unpublished report, and said the White House is completing its own study. "The president is less interested in yesterday, and more interested with today and tomorrow," he said, "so that we can be better prepared for next time."

Less interested in yesterday? Well tomorrow can bring more Katrinas so he should be interested in yesterday. I guess learning from mistakes is not a policy this administration likes to take. As far as Bush being involved from the very beginning, if he was so involved then why did he even lie about the knowledge of the levees breaking?

I would imagine the White House will try a "they don't have all the facts" defense. Of course Congress doesn't have all the facts because so many of them were held by the White House on the all to usual claim of executive privilege. I doubt those facts would help the White House's position any as I am sure they data mined out all the good information and kept all the bad.

I also find this part of the article very interesting:

The report said the single biggest federal failure was not anticipating the consequences of the storm. Disaster planners had rated the flooding of New Orleans as the nation's most feared scenario, testing it under a catastrophic disaster preparedness program in 2004.

About 56 hours before Katrina made landfall, the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center cited an "extremely high probability" that New Orleans would be flooded and tens of thousands of residents killed.

Given those warnings, the report notes Bush's televised statement on Sept. 1 that "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees," and concludes: "Comments such as those . . . do not appear to be consistent with the advice and counsel one would expect to have been provided by a senior disaster professional."

One of the biggest wingnut defenses of the administration I have heard was saying the state and local officials did not prepare or get the people out of harms way. I have argued with numerous right wingers over this and tried to outline the problems of an evacuation of that scale. This is the harshest criticism I have heard of the administrations lack of planning prior to the storm hitting land though. When those warnings came out that Katrina was going to hit land and knowing the geographical problems that lie within NOLA, the White House should of shifted all its focuses to the storm starting the weekend before landfall. They didn't do that before the storm or right after the storm. Instead they followed business as usual.

With everything we have learned since those horrible days in September, I think it should be time to look at criminal neglect charges. I got a feeling the other congressional report will reaffirm this belief in me and the White House report will be as big of a waste as Bush is.

Another Report On Katrina Faulting The White House

2006-02-12T09:06:00.000-05:00

Looks like things could get even more heated between the White House and Capital Hill this week:

Hurricane Katrina exposed the U.S. government's failure to learn the lessons of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as leaders from President Bush down disregarded ample warnings of the threat to New Orleans and did not execute emergency plans or share information that would have saved lives, according to a blistering report by House investigators.

A draft of the report, to be released publicly Wednesday, includes 90 findings of failures at all levels of government, according to a senior investigation staffer who requested anonymity because the document is not final. Titled "A Failure of Initiative," it is one of three separate reviews by the House, Senate and White House that will in coming weeks dissect the response to the nation's costliest natural disaster.

The 600-plus-page report lays primary fault with the passive reaction and misjudgments of top Bush aides, singling out Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security Operations Center and the White House Homeland Security Council, according to a 60-page summary of the document obtained by The Washington Post. Regarding Bush, the report found that "earlier presidential involvement could have speeded the response" because he alone could have cut through all bureaucratic resistance.

Article continues here.

Of course the White House is in defense mode and Trent Duffy is quoted later in the article:

White House spokesman Trent Duffy said Bush had full confidence in his homeland security team, both appointed and career. "The president was involved from beginning to end," implementing emergency powers before the storm and taking responsibility afterward, Duffy said.

Duffy objected to a leaked draft of an unpublished report, and said the White House is completing its own study. "The president is less interested in yesterday, and more interested with today and tomorrow," he said, "so that we can be better prepared for next time."

I also find this part of the article very interesting:

The report said the single biggest federal failure was not anticipating the consequences of the storm. Disaster planners had rated the flooding of New Orleans as the nation's most feared scenario, testing it under a catastrophic disaster preparedness program in 2004.

About 56 hours before Katrina made landfall, the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center cited an "extremely high probability" that New Orleans would be flooded and tens of thousands of residents killed.

Given those warnings, the report notes Bush's televised statement on Sept. 1 that "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees," and concludes: "Comments such as those . . . do not appear to be consistent with the advice and counsel one would expect to have been provided by a senior disaster professional."

Bush Gets Owned By NYT

2006-02-11T20:22:00.000-05:00

OOPS. The New York Times has the first picture of Bush and Abramoff and you can view it on their site.

Abarmoff's Abuse Of Charities

2006-02-11T10:07:00.000-05:00

Today, the L.A. Times takes us through a part of Abramoff that we haven't heard much about, his abuse of charities.

WASHINGTON — In his own way, disgraced super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff engaged in many charitable endeavors over the course of his decade-long career as a Washington insider.

There was the time he laundered money through a religious group's accounts to try to bribe a congressional aide. He diverted funds from a youth athletic foundation to bankroll a golf junket for a congressman and to bolster the bank account of his Washington restaurant. He used two other nonprofits to line his own pockets with millions of dollars defrauded from clients.

Charities are supposed to advance the public interest, which is why they aren't taxed. But Abramoff, by his own admission, used them to evade taxes, enrich himself and bribe public officials, according to a plea agreement he signed with federal prosecutors in January.

"One of the most disturbing elements of this whole sordid story is the blatant misuse of charities in a scheme to peddle political influence," said Mark Everson, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.

Abramoff's use and misuse of nonprofits played a key role in each of the three counts of his indictment: conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion. He admitted evading $1.7 million in income taxes over three years, in part by using nonprofits to conceal personal income from the IRS.

The fast-growing ranks of tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations are tailor-made for operators like Abramoff.

Article continues here.

It is a rather long but very informative article so I encourage you to read it in full.

This article has left me wondering how much influence Abramoff has had on Bush when it comes to push pandering for more charities to replace government services. Perhaps this is the prelude to the Abramoff/Bush relationship that we haven't heard about and that the White House has been working non stop to try and cover up.

Oswald, Hinckley, Coulter

2006-02-10T19:40:00.000-05:00

What a better way to promote hate than at some neo-con shindig. Of course the queen of hate speech, Ann Coulter, made a nice little presentation. Max Blumenthal has highlighted some of her comments at Raw Story but here is one that is really interesting:

Coulter on killing Bill Clinton:

(Responding to a question from a Catholic University student about her biggest moral or ethical dilemma) "There was one time I had a shot at Clinton. I thought 'Ann, that's not going to help your career.'"

Now why is this one interesting? Well, anytime a pundit talks about assassinating a President it should be make heads turn, especially those in the Secret Service. You would expect them to keep the President, Vice President or anyone else they protect away from such a person - right?

Well, if Bill Bennett didn't cause a few more riots in the Muslim world, I suppose we can always count on Dick Cheney. Last night Cheney spoke at the annual CPAC convention, a big big big Republican affair here in DC. Now what kind of people was Cheney there giving his good name to? People who rise up in boisterous applause when keynote speakers call Arabs and Muslims "ragheads." For any of our foreign readers, that's an American racial slur.

Well it seems like John at AMERIABlog has proven me wrong. Cheney had no problem speaking at the same engagement that Coulter was talking about her thoughts of assassinating Bill Clinton.

Don't forget, this is the same Ann Coulter that said liberal blogs have threatened to rape her. I still haven't seen any of these comments but according to Ann they are out there.

Can We Hijack Senate Again?

2006-02-10T16:36:00.000-05:00

Harry Reid is still on top of the effort by Republicans to prevent the next phase of the pre-war intelligence report to be completed. Today he released a statement about the situation:

Washington, DC – On the eve of the two-year anniversary of the start of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s investigation into prewar intelligence, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid released the following statement:

“It was reported today that our government’s former top intelligence officer for Middle East issues has described the troubling misuse of intelligence on Iraq by the Bush Administration to take the country to war. On the same day, we learn that Scooter Libby was directed by the Vice President and others to leak sensitive national security secrets to publicly sell the Administration’s case. Evidence that the Bush White House manipulated and selectively declassified intelligence to wage a public relations campaign before, during, and after the invasion of Iraq grows every day.

“Now more than ever, it is critical that Congress completes a full and thorough investigation into whether this Administration did mislead the American people into a long and costly war in Iraq. This Sunday marks the two-year anniversary of the launch of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee’s investigation into prewar intelligence. That investigation is still not complete. Our troops and the American people expect and deserve that this investigation be thorough and be completed so that the lessons can finally be learned and these mistakes can never happen again.”

The story he is talking about is this:

A former CIA official who coordinated U.S. intelligence on the Middle East during the Iraq invasion accused the White House of misusing prewar intelligence to justify its case for war.

Paul Pillar, who was national intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia from 2000 to 2005, also said the Senate intelligence committee and a presidential commission overlooked evidence that the Bush administration politicized the intelligence process to support White House policymakers.

"Official intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs was flawed but even with its flaws, it was not what led to the war," Pillar said in an article written for the March/April issue of Foreign Affairs and posted on the magazine's Web site on Friday.

"If the entire body of official intelligence analysis on Iraq had a policy implication, it was to avoid war -- or, if war was going to be launched, to prepare for a messy aftermath," he said.

Article continues here.

What it comes down to is the fact that Republicans know what happened in the White House and are scared to death to release this report because of the damage it might do to their party and Bush. I have a funny feeling Roberts will continue to stonewall on the report until we get close to election time then he will say that he won't release it because of the ramifications it may have on the elections. Remember - he also did this in 2004.

Sounds like Harry needs to "hijack" Senate some more and keep doing it until the Republicans learn to accept responsibility and complete what has been promised for well over a year now.

We Got Another Leak

2006-02-10T15:41:00.000-05:00

This is too funny to pass up:

Latest Bush administration leak comes from ... Bush

CAMBRIDGE, Md. The source of the latest leak from the Bush administration is: President Bush himself.

Thanks to an error by a White House technician, the sound of what were supposed to be private remarks to G-O-P House members was relayed to the White House press corps.

Bush made a brief public speech to lawmakers at their retreat on Maryland's Eastern Shore. He then shooed out reporters and photographers, saying, "I support the free press, let's just get 'em out of the room."

Once they were gone, Bush -- not realizing he was still audible -- said, "I expect this conversation we're about to have to stay in the room." He added, "I know that's impossible in Washington."

Bush then spoke for roughly two minutes on the war on terror and his warrantless eavesdropping program before the outside feed was switched off. On the surveillance, he repeated earlier assertions he'd cleared the program with top government lawyers.

Via kaji8.

I wonder if someone will be losing their job over this one.

Some Katrina Updates

2006-02-10T13:34:00.000-05:00

Brown now thinks the DHS is full of "baloney". Check out the video at Crooks and Liars. Also check out Josh's take on how Brown liad the smack down to Coleman.

All The Great Economy News

2006-02-10T10:42:00.000-05:00

Yet our trade deficit hit an all time high in 2005. Time to brush up on your Chinese

About Those Emails George

2006-02-10T10:41:00.000-05:00

Think Progress blew the story wide open on the emails between Abramoff and Bush. Of course the mainstream media seems to be ignoring the fact that it was a blogger who cracked the lid on this huge story but the fact remains none the less that it was a blog. They have numerous stories from yesterday as the story evolved so I encourage you to check it out. It is further proof of the lies the White House will tell.

UPDATE: Bush's Lies About Katrina

2006-02-10T10:23:00.000-05:00

On the morning that Michael Brown has threatened to tell all to Senate regarding the Katrina failures, the New York Times publishes a story that shows Bush's first reactions to the storm were based upon lies:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 — In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Bush administration officials said they had been caught by surprise when they were told on Tuesday, Aug. 30, that a levee had broken, allowing floodwaters to engulf New Orleans.

But Congressional investigators have now learned that an eyewitness account of the flooding from a federal emergency official reached the Homeland Security Department's headquarters starting at 9:27 p.m. the day before, and the White House itself at midnight.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency official, Marty Bahamonde, first heard of a major levee breach Monday morning. By late Monday afternoon, Mr. Bahamonde had hitched a ride on a Coast Guard helicopter over the breach at the 17th Street Canal to confirm the extensive flooding. He then telephoned his report to FEMA headquarters in Washington, which notified the Homeland Security Department.

"FYI from FEMA," said an e-mail message from the agency's public affairs staff describing the helicopter flight, sent Monday night at 9:27 to the chief of staff of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and recently unearthed by investigators. Conditions, the message said, "are far more serious than media reports are currently reflecting. Finding extensive flooding and more stranded people than they had thought — also a number of fires."

Michael D. Brown, who was the director of FEMA until he resigned under pressure on Sept. 12, said in a telephone interview Thursday that he personally notified the White House of this news that night, though he declined to identify the official he spoke to.

Article continues here.

Remember on Tuesday, when this lie came out, what Bush was doing?

Yup! He was accepting that guitar from country singer Mark Wills. To Bush going out and playing politics and getting his photo ops are more of a priority than the lives of Americans.

UPDATE:

Michael Brown has just told Senate that decisions and policies of Homeland Security put FEMA "on a path to failure"

Be Afraid!

2006-02-09T16:09:00.000-05:00

So Bush is back on the lead by fear campaign. This should come as no shock to anyone but the details seem to have come to a shock for L.A.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday he was blindsided by President Bush's announcement of new details on a purported 2002 hijacking plot aimed at a downtown skyscraper, and described communication with the White House as "nonexistent."

"I'm amazed that the president would make this (announcement) on national TV and not inform us of these details through the appropriate channels," the mayor said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I don't expect a call from the president — but somebody."

The mayor also suggested that some funding from the Iraq war could be redirected to homeland security, including the protection of high-risk targets in Los Angeles. He did not advocate an immediate withdrawal of troops.

"I go to work every day knowing that we are a target," the mayor said.

Full article available here.

So we don't tell cities if there is an attack possibly aimed at them? Much like every other "threat" Bush says they have foiled, I suspect this is just the same - a bunch more Bushit!

Traitor's In The White House

2006-02-09T13:32:00.000-05:00

So now the Vice-President has the authority to just leak out classified information at a time of war?

Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby, testified to a federal grand jury that he had been "authorized" by Cheney and other White House "superiors" in the summer of 2003 to disclose classified information to journalists to defend the Bush administration's use of prewar intelligence in making the case to go to war with Iraq, according to attorneys familiar with the matter, and to court records.

Libby specifically claimed that in one instance he had been authorized to divulge portions of a then-still highly classified National Intelligence Estimate regarding Saddam Hussein's purported efforts to develop nuclear weapons, according to correspondence recently filed in federal court by special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald.

Article continues here.

This is really ridiculous and also treasonous. Congress must act on this and hold hearings to clarify all the issues and if it is proven true, Cheney and the others involved should be tried for their crimes and removed from office.

Sneaking In Legislation Is Becoming Common Practice For GOP

2006-02-09T13:26:00.000-05:00

Well this is really fishy. It looks like Hassert and Frist slipped some legislation into the Defense Appropriations Bill AFTER the bill was alread voted on. Aravosis has all the details.

More Good News For Dems

2006-02-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

Charlie Cook is highly regarded political analysts in Washington. Yesterday he put out an article that really gives Democrats some hope:

A year ago, with Republican victories in the 2004 elections still fresh and with President Bush's job-approval ratings still above 50 percent, Democrats' chances of capturing the House looked fairly slim. Today, however, with Bush's approval ratings hovering around 42 percent, the possibility of a Democratic takeover -- although less than 50-50 -- is very real.

Article continues here.

This is good news and needs to be shared with all Democrats out there. It doesn't say the Democrats are definitive winners but it does give the Democrats a load of motivation to go out and fight harder.

Another Fighting Dem

2006-02-09T10:05:00.000-05:00

Looks like the Democrats have recruited another veteran to serve in Congress:

PENNSYLVANIA. Dems have recruited another top notch candidate to place another Congressional seat in play. Navy Admiral Joe Sestak -- who retired last months after 31 years in the military -- has announced his candidacy against ten-term Congressman Curt Weldon (R) in the CD-7 race. Sestak, who has a master's degree in public administration from Harvard, is the former Deputy Chief of Naval Operations and a former high-ranking National Security Council staff member

View full article here.

For the military supporting Bush and the Republicans so much, how come the Democrats have so many more veterans running than the Republicans do? Perhaps this is the fallout from swift boating.

Abusing FISA

2006-02-09T09:52:00.001-05:00

Turns out Gonzalez can authorize a wiretap for up to a year under FISA as Georgia10 points out:

First, let me point out that under Section 1802, the government can wiretap a foreign power for up to one year without a warrant. Not 72 hours. An entire year. This provision is applicable when the Attorney General can "certify" that the information is used only for foreign intelligence purpose. It requires certainty, but that provision is available to the administration.

Check out her entry at Daily Kos, it is filled with some fun facts including how much Bush has actually used FISA. I remember one of the Senators making a statement during Monday's hearings that they extended the time a tap could be conducted without a warrant after 9/11. I wasn't sure how long they extended or what the grounds were but apparently this is what they were talking about.

Abusing FISA

2006-02-09T09:52:00.000-05:00

Turns out Gonzalez can authorize a wiretap for up to a year under FISA as Georgia10 points out:

First, let me point out that under Section 1802, the government can wiretap a foreign power for up to one year without a warrant. Not 72 hours. An entire year. This provision is applicable when the Attorney General can "certify" that the information is used only for foreign intelligence purpose. It requires certainty, but that provision is available to the administration.

Will Brown Talk?

2006-02-09T09:44:00.000-05:00

Tornado season is just around the corner and then we get back into hurricane season. During the off season, Washington had a great time frame to right some wrongs that were exposed during Katrina. Instead they have chosen to not cooperate with Capital Hill in investigating the failures. Now we might here even more details as Michael Brown seems to be ready to break his silence:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former disaster agency chief Michael Brown is indicating he is ready to reveal his correspondence with President Bush and other officials during Hurricane Katrina unless the White House forbids it and offers legal support.

Brown's stance, in a letter obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, follows senators' complaints that the White House is refusing to answer questions or release documents about advice given to Bush concerning the August 29 storm.

Brown quit as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency days after Katrina struck. He left the federal payroll November 2.

In a February 6 letter to White House counsel Harriet Miers, Brown's lawyer wrote that Brown continues to respect Bush and his "presidential prerogative" to get candid and confidential advice from top aides.

The letter from Andrew W. Lester also says Brown no longer can rely on being included in that protection because he is a private citizen.

"Unless there is specific direction otherwise from the president, including an assurance the president will provide a legal defense to Mr. Brown if he refuses to testify as to these matters, Mr. Brown will testify if asked about particular communications," the lawyer wrote.

Brown's desire "is that all facts be made public."

Article continues here.

The article goes on to say that a 5 pm deadline passed last night for the White House to respond to Brown and they never did. Brown is slated to answer questions this Friday before a Senate inquiry.

As I sat here reading this article, I got thinking about the days and weeks following Katrina. There is one thing that did come back to me and I wonder what has happened to it. George Bush, sitting with his cabinet members, told reporters that he would be leading an investigation into what went wrong. What even happened to that? He never came out and said he would let Congress or someone else handle it. Instead it was something that just faded off into the sunset.

Now we will have to sit here and wonder if the White House will try to silence Brown before tomorrow's hearings. It would be no shock if they did try it or even if they didn't try it but then go after him if he said something he shouldn't have during the hearings. Considering the White House has flat out refused to turn over documents to Senate regarding Katrina, claiming their usual "executive privilege", there is something they are truly hiding in there. I have heard some say that it is evidence local officials screwed up in Louisiana and he is waiting for the mid-terms to get closer. That would be a suicidal stunt because the last thing anyone wants to see is people playing even more politics with Katrina.

Sneaky Bastard

2006-02-09T00:14:00.000-05:00

From Newsweek:

If you read enough numbers, you never know what you'll find. Take President Bush and private Social Security accounts.

Last year, even though Bush talked endlessly about the supposed joys of private accounts, he never proposed a specific plan to Congress and never put privatization costs in the budget. But this year, with no fanfare whatsoever, Bush stuck a big Social Security privatization plan in the federal budget proposal, which he sent to Congress on Monday.

His plan would let people set up private accounts starting in 2010 and would divert more than $700 billion of Social Security tax revenues to pay for them over the first seven years.

If this comes as a surprise to you, have no fear. You're not alone. Bush didn't pitch private Social Security accounts in his State of the Union Message last week.

John has more on this. Just remember - last year when he was campaigning for this, support was at only 30%.

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