Monday’s Mini-Report
Today’s edition of quick hits.
* If the Justice Department is telling the truth, it is still weighing a decision on whether Dick Cheney is part of the executive branch. Today, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) insisted that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should step aside from the Justice Department’s internal debates on the matter. “It’s clear to just about everyone in America that the attorney general has lost the faith and trust of the American people in making impartial decisions when it affects the president and vice president,” Schumer said.
* A few media outlets picked up on Rahm Emanuel’s idea of defunding Dick Cheney’s office as part of the executive-branch appropriations. “The vice president needs to make a decision,” Emanuel said. Lea Anne McBride, a Cheney spokesperson, said Emanuel “can either deal with the serious issues facing our country or create more partisan politics.” Seriously, Cheney’s office is complaining about “partisan politics.” I nearly fell out of my chair.
* Justice David Souter, who read his dissent on the campaign-finance reform case aloud from the bench (for emphasis), seems more than a little frustrated about the direction of the Supreme Court. “The court (and, I think, the country), loses when important precedent is overruled without good reason, and there is no justification for departure from our usual rule of stare decisis here,” he said, referring to the court’s rule of following past judgments.
* Ex-EPA chief Christie Whitman appeared at a House hearing today on air quality at Ground Zero immediately after 9/11. “There are people to blame. They are the terrorists that attacked the United States, not the men and women of all levels of government,” Whitman said. She has insisted for years that her statements that the “air is safe” were aimed at those living and working near ground zero, not those who actually toiled on the toxic pile.
* When the immigration bill started falling apart, Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said, “Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.” Apparently, Senate Republicans have decided to “deal” with it by inviting far-right radio hosts like Hugh Hewitt and Neal Boortz to help shape future amendments to the legislation.
* I don’t want to alarm anyone, but there’s rampant corruption among Iraqi officials. Shocking, I know.
* Roger Cohen caused quite a fuss with a dumb NYT op-ed suggesting that the war in Iraq is a disaster, but it was still worthwhile. There are a variety of responses to choose from, but I’m partial to Digby’s.
* Everything you ever wanted to know about Rupert Murdoch’s media empire but were afraid to ask.
* Whose misogyny is worse, Chris Matthews’ or Victoria Clarke’s?
* AP: “The number of blacks joining the military has plunged by more than one-third since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars began…. According to Pentagon data, there were nearly 51,500 new black recruits for active duty and reserves in 2001. That number fell to less than 32,000 in 2006, a 38 percent decline.”
* Mitt Romney responded to speculation about closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay by saying, “Guantanamo is a symbol of our resolve.” I have no idea what this means, but I thought I’d mention it.
* No one seems to care about the latest books on Hillary Clinton.
* Elizabeth Edwards endorsed gay marriage over the weekend. Good for her.
* Bill O’Reilly gets smacked around by CBS’s Lara Logan.
* Bill O’Reilly gets smacked around by a 16-year-old “pinhead.”
* Will the U.S. run out of troops to maintain the current war effort by April 2008?
* It’s bad enough when Fox News confuses prominent political African-Americans, but now ABC has to get in on the act?
* The NYT ran a sloppy hitjob on John Edwards’ anti-poverty work late last week, prompting Greg Sargent to run a series of items highlighting the Times’ errors.
* Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), a former NFL quarterback, keeps a sign outside his congressional office noting the federal deficit and the average American’s individual share of the debt. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) wanted to use it as a prop, so he took it. Shuler was not amused — he confronted Gohmert on the House floor and was overheard using the words “gutless,” “thief,” and “chickensh*t.” Note to Gohmert: don’t mess with Shuler’s stuff.
Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.
Note to McBride: Slick Dick Cheney is consuming vast quantities of taxpayer dollars from an executive-branch funding program which he openly denies being a part of. That would be called “Theft by deception.” It is a felony, and is referred to under the Constitution by the phrase “high crimes and misdemeanors.” STFU.
And I’ll believe that Gonzo is telling the truth about Cheney when I see the shuttle Atlantis—the real thing, not a toy replica—parked in my freaking driveway.
Did anyone catch Rep. Ellison (D-MN) ripping into Christine Whitman at the House Judiciary today?
His tenacity and clear questioning were refreshing… we need more like him in Congress.
“There are people to blame. They are the terrorists that attacked the United States, not the men and women of all levels of government,”
Holy shit. How long before some other ReThuglican starts to accuse AQ of carrying out chemical warfare?
“The number of blacks joining the military has plunged by more than one-third since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars began….
At the Pentagoon they are wringing their paws over the loss of their traditional cannon-fodder and eyeing immigrants as a replacement.
“There are people to blame. They are the terrorists that attacked the United States, not the men and women of all levels of government,”
Just an absolute disgrace and another black mark on this administration. The complete abdication of accountability and responsibility is shameful and amounts to totalitarianism.
According to Pentagon data, there were nearly 51,500 new black recruits for active duty and reserves in 2001. That number fell to less than 32,000 in 2006,
Dayum… How are we gonna cage their votes then, if they stay home all the time?
Quick Hit: I want a written essay and an oral report from our benevolent Democratic Presidential Candidates why or why not “Dick” Cheney should be impeached.
Congressman Kucinich, please tell the class about your assignment, House Resolution 333.
Very good Lil’ Dennis, you receive an ‘A+’.
“[…] and there is no justification for departure from our usual rule of stare decisis here,” Justice David Souter, who read his dissent on the campaign-finance reform case aloud from the bench (for emphasis), said. Wasn’t that the repeated cornerstone of John Roberts’ disposition during his confirmation hearings? They’re slippery fish every single one of them.
Justice David Souter, who read his dissent on the campaign-finance reform case aloud from the bench (for emphasis), seems more than a little frustrated about the direction of the Supreme Court. “The court (and, I think, the country), loses when important precedent is overruled without good reason, and there is no justification for departure from our usual rule of stare decisis here,” he said, referring to the court’s rule of following past judgments.
Can someone remind me again when Judicial Activism is good and when it bad.
Seem to think it has something to do with whose ox is getting gored, but surely all these strict constructionists would stoop to that level. Would they?
Today, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) insisted that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should step aside from the Justice Department’s internal debates on the matter.
And I would like the government to give me a grant to make a little movie called Time Bandits II – Stealing the Map, Again- but we both know neither of these dreams is gonna happen.
The most patronizing thing I’ve seen Chris Mathews do is a couple of times praise women guests on his show for criticizing Hillary Clinton- but what he says to them is, “Oh, wow, that’s so modern,” trying to make them think he’s an old-school guy thrilled, and pleasantly so, by what he sees as the result of feminism. It’s pushing buttons, in my opinion. I have no doubt right wing guys have been doing it to feminist women since the ’60s. “See, you’re being a feminist if you marginalize yourself and you openly criticize other feminist women. And maybe I can learn to dig your feminism in that context!!”
Sheesh.
Whose misogyny is worse, Chris Matthews’ or Victoria Clarke’s?
tough call, but I think the winner is Victoria in this case.
Steve –
There is something about becoming a Republican that makes one crazy. I know Louie Gohmert. He was a judge in Tyler, Tx. He was a thoughtful, nice guy. Since joining the ranks of the elected he has done some damn crazy stuff. He call out Murtha on the floor of the House. Murtha smacked him down like a dad scolding his kid. He does this thing with Shuler. Hell, Shuler is one of the most right-wing democrats that we have in Congress. Gohmert should love Heath.
Being an elected Republican can make one crazy, I guess.
When they were in the majority conservatives insisted that having an ‘up or down’ vote was a prerequisite for democracy.
Now that they are in the minority a no vote on cloture is a constitutional right, and anyone who even allows an up or down vote on the immigration bill will be targeted in the next election.
check out the corner for examples of this frenzy
“Guantanamo is a symbol of our resolve.” I have no idea what this means…
Like when G. Gordon Liddy held his hand above a flame. Symbol of resolve. Also gross.
“Bong hits for Jesus” is a no-no…
Because:
“The message on Frederick’s banner is cryptic,” Chief Justice John Roberts said. But the school principal who suspended him “thought the banner would be interpreted by those viewing it as promoting illegal drug use, and that interpretation is plainly a reasonable one,” Roberts said in the majority opinion.
So young man… go Pharm… go Pharm:
Legal Valium hits for Jesus!
Legal Ritalin hits for Jesus!
Legal Percodan hits for Jesus!
Legal Ambien hits for Jesus!
In other words young man: Shove the truth up their corporate asses. They like it that way….
Whether the issue is abortion, stem cell research, rights for gay Americans or even his state of residence, Mitt Romney’s rhetorical contortions have become legendary. As the Boston Globe suggested Sunday, Romney’s flip-flopping even extends to his Vietnam draft deferment.
For the details, see:
“Man on a Mission: Romney’s Vietnam Deferment.”
How Web 2.0 really works…
Should read:
How America.2000 really works.
Which affirms the most damning critique of Democracy you will ever hear from me:
There is no accounting for other people’s taste…
They wanted the Chimp.
They got the Chimp.
Torture was just icing….
As a Redskins fan, I vehemently object to your referring to Heath Shuler as an “NFL quarterback”.
As for black army recruitment being down, I ask this:
Have you ever seen a horror movie with a group of black people?
they always know when not to open the door…
…when not to get out of the car…
…and when not to run out into the woods.
They’re too smart.
They’re just gonna let those little redneck boys do all the work in this horror movie (ouch…j/k).
Sorry this is off topic but we have devised a plan to put pressure on the press. They think we are not out here seething. Well, we are. Please check out my homepage to see what we are planning
“I don’t want to alarm anyone, but there’s rampant corruption among Iraqi officials. Shocking, I know.”
See, they *are* adopting American-style democracy, at least as practiced by the Bush administration and its Congressional supporters…..