Mark Your Calendars 'Cause The Waxman Cometh!

From FDL:

April 5 [House Oversight] Deadline for Fred Fielding to turn over information on the gwb43 and other non-governmental email practices (with interviews to occur the week of April 2)

April 5 [House Oversight] Susan Ralston scheduled to give deposition on the White House role in the Jack Abramoff scandal; this will include questions on the gwb43 email server

April 6 [House Oversight] Deadline for Josh Bolten to turn over all paperwork on MZM's contract to install furniture/ sanitize the mail in OVP

April 7 [House Oversight] Deadline for information related to DOJ interference in tobacco settlement

April 10 [Closed SSCI hearing] CIA detention

April 12 [Closed SSCI hearing] National Security Letters

April 13 [House Oversight] Deadline for Karl Rove to answer questions regarding the PowerPoint targeting Democrats and potential Hatch Act violations

April 17 Soon to be former AG Alberto Gonzales testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee

April 17 [Closed SSCI hearing] Telecom liability act

April 18 [House Oversight] Condi visits (ha!) Waxman's committee to answer questions on the Niger intelligence and all the other things Condi ignored from 16 letters Waxman wrote her before he got his gavel

April 19 [Closed SSCI hearing] FISA Modernization Legislation

May 17 hearing on the Wilson's lawsuit

June 5 Libby's sentencing hearing

The dates and events in bold type are the ones I'm particularly interested in.

Give 'em hell, Henry!


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Two Big Money Reasons Why Fred Thompson Will Not Be President

I'll bet these... um, puppies... cost more than your car.




Yikes! But I'm sure it's true love, aren't you?


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

The Cat & The Canary

Which one's the cat?





Which one's the canary?





Oh, to be a fly in Bush's soup!


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Monica's Perjury Problem? Her Attorney Is A Bigger Problem!

I was going to detail this morning why Monica Goodling's 5th amendment dodge simply reeks of "I'm not talking because BushCo's Justice Dept is teeming with criminals;" howewer, Dan Froomkin has already done it:

Juries in criminal cases are sternly lectured not to assume guilt when a defendant takes the Fifth. It is, after all, a Constitutional right.

But when a fairly minor player in what had heretofore not been considered a criminal investigation suddenly admits that she faces legal jeopardy if she tells the truth to a Congressional panel? Well, in that case, wild speculation is an inevitable and appropriate reaction.

For one, it's not at all clear what she's trying to say. Undeniably, if she chose to lie to the panel, she could face perjury charges. Her recourse, therefore, would appear to be to tell the truth.

So is she saying that if she told the truth, she would have to admit a crime? What crime?

Or is she saying something else: That she'd have to admit someone else's criminal behavior? Well, that's not something you can take the Fifth to avoid. Sorry.

Or is she just afraid of being grilled by an antagonistic bunch of congressmen? Well, that's not something you can take the Fifth to avoid either.

Thanks, Monica! Without you and your Keating Five lawyer, we might never have found the smoking gun... and whoever suggested she hire attorney John Dowd (aka "Protector of the realm") really knew Monica was a neophyte of the first degree.

Okay, let's talk about John M. Dowd for a gosh-darn minute.

He's a partner at what is arguably Washington's most politically influential law firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. No commas, no conscience (at least where Dowd and Fife Symington are concerned). Dowd has peppered New Times with e-mails and demand letters over the years. His specialty is representing government officials in big-time legal trouble. Here's a snippet from Dowd's résumé on the Akin Gump Web site: "Mr. Dowd is noted for his representation of a U.S. district judge, a former U.S. attorney and two U.S. senators. . . . Mr. Dowd has represented a U.S. senator before the Department of Justice and the Senate Ethics Committee [this is John McCain, who was dragged before Ethics as one of the infamous "Keating Five" senators]." A couple of legally troubled governors are also thrown into the mix on his curriculum vitae.

Pass the popcorn.

And thank Monica for the fireworks!

Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Alberto Blinks

US Attorney Freakin' General, Alberto Gonzales, now admits that he "had something to do with" the firing of the "not loyal enough Bushies."

Of course, Alberto (aka Fredo) wants to "clear the air." However, that's going to be problematic... what with Monica Goodling taking the fifth and all when she "testifies."

John Dowd, a Washington lawyer representing Goodling, said Monday that she would not appear because the committee seemed to be prejudiced against her and the department. Dowd cited comments by several Democrats on the panel, including Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who have characterized the earlier testimony as false and misleading.

“The hostile and questionable environment that has been created by the members of the Judiciary Committee in the present proceedings ... is at best ambiguous,” Dowd said. “More accurately, the environment can be described as legally perilous for Ms. Goodling.”

Democrats questioned the decision, which some legal experts viewed as the opening of negotiations by Dowd to obtain immunity for Goodling in exchange for her testimony.

Goodling, who is still employed by the Justice Department, is on leave.

It also doesn't help Fredo that Tom DeLay (R, Felon) is bragging that he's been completely exonerated of all charges... along with other Alberto scandals detailed at that link. Nor does it help that Alberto and his pals have been caught using a private email server to send their emails (against the law, y'all).

Oh, and there's the fact that Alberto's former pal, Kyle Sampson, plans to spill the beans when he "corrects the record" this week.

Hey, Fredo! Stop lying. Especially to congress. Of course, you're a scapegoat. Did you really think the Bushies hired you to be anything else?


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Katie Couric On Toast: It's What's For Breakfast!

2 minutes and 23 seconds.

That's not a question; that's a shot through the heart.

Here's a simple question for you, Simple Katie. Why didn't you quit your job when your husband was dying, instead of treating us to a camera shot of your asshole?

60 Minutes with Kaite Couric: Not on my TV.




Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Shocker: TXU Screwed Customers

Report says TXU manipulated Texas power market

Associated Press

ARLINGTON — TXU Corp. manipulated the Texas electric market in 2005, costing consumers $70 million and giving the utility $20 million in extra profits, according to an outside expert whose report was released by state regulators today.

TXU, the largest power generator in Texas, sold power to the market at inflated prices and caused electricity prices to rise 15.5 percent during a four-month summer stretch, the market expert said.

"Since TXU, in fact, raised prices in the market and profited from its activities, the (monitor) concluded that TXU's behavior constitutes market power abuse," said staff of the state Public Utility Commission.

Someone needs to go to prison for a very long time.

I'm not holding my breath waiting, though. Are you?

Hm. TXU's stock value has increased 32% since April.

Like I said: Shocker.

As in "I'm shocked that The Houston Chronicle actually printed this AP story."


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Rove & Miers & Gonzales, Oh My! And Don't Forget Bush!

They were all in on it.

But you already knew that.

WASHINGTON, March 12 — The White House was deeply involved in the decision late last year to dismiss federal prosecutors, including some who had been criticized by Republican lawmakers, administration officials said Monday.

Last October, President Bush spoke with Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales to pass along concerns by Republicans that some prosecutors were not aggressively addressing voter fraud, the White House said Monday. Senator Pete V. Domenici, Republican of New Mexico, was among the politicians who complained directly to the president, according to an administration official.

The president did not call for the removal of any specific United States Attorneys, said Dana Perino, a White House spokeswoman. She said she had “no indication” that the president was aware that a process was already under way to identify prosecutors who would be fired. But a few weeks later, the Justice Department forced out seven prosecutors.

White House officials consulted with the Justice Department in preparing the list of United States attorneys who would be removed, Ms Perino disclosed.

The idea of dismissing federal prosecutors originated in the White House more than a year earlier, White House and Justice officials said Monday....

Never forget that Republicans always scream "Voter Fraud!" to cover up their election stealing. Every single time.


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Republican Actor Fred Thompson: Running For Prez As The "Give War A Chance" Candidate?

Another mediocre Republican actor.

Just what we need. Not.

Thompson, the minority counsel in the Watergate investigation, was elected to the Senate in 1994 to fill the unexpired term of Vice President Al Gore. He was chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and left the Senate in 2003 to resume his acting career.

Thompson claims he's not considering a run because of a lack of "star power" in the current GOP lineup. Sure, Fred. Right.

Republican Lindsey Graham says: "I think he makes a great president in the movies and he might make a great one in real life."

Thompson played an arms dealer in White Sands, Graham.

As for Thompson's Aw, shucks attitude in just considering a run...

Here's a blast from Fred's past (1997):

Fred Thompson: The chair of the committee, an attorney who worked as a lobbyist for years and who has been a popular character actor, is already being talked about as a potential GOP nominee for president should his hearings prove popular with Beltway pundits and television audiences. Among more than a dozen silver-screen appearances, his most famous roles include Die Hard 2 and In the Line of Fire. A Republican from Tennessee, Thompson won his seat in a special election in 1994 to fill the office vacated by Al Gore when Gore became vice president. Regarded as a serious challenger but an underdog, he defeated the incumbent Democrat with a folksy style that included barnstorming around the state in a red pick-up truck he bought to enhance his down-home image.

In contrast to talk of his potential run for the White House, Thompson argued during his campaign that legislators should be part-time and spend at least half the year in the state they represent.

Thompson made headlines on the opening day of the hearings by announcing in his opening statement that he had hard evidence of a Chinese-government plot to influence the American elections. He has since qualified his statement.

Just another lying- out- of- his- ass Republican.

Run, Fred! Run!

Pass the popcorn and get ready to watch Fred turn on his actors' union... and never get SAG work again. Could be fun to watch.


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

"Firefighters For Rudy" Is A Scam

Ahem.

The executive director of "Firefighters for Rudy" appears to be an aide to Giuliani. And the phone number for "Firefighters for Rudy" is the same number as the press office of Rudy's campaign.

A quick recap: As reported earlier, the Giuliani campaign sent out a release in response to stories this morning in which the firefighters union faulted his performance on 9/11. The release offered the following as a contact:

Contact: Tim Brown, 646-943-7890
Executive Director of Firefighters for Rudy

Yesterday morning, CNN devoted an entire 8 minute segment to Tim Brown and his bogus "Firefighters For Rudy."

Swiftboating, plain and simple.

And the media whores salivate, as usual.

Pathetic.

As usual.



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Republican Dan Burton Too Busy For Walter Reed Hearings

Poor Dan.

He has a new wife. He also admitted (while impeaching Clinton for lying about sex) to fathering a son in 1983 with an unnamed former state employee. Remember him now?

Well, now mean old Nancy Pelosi is forcing him to work 5 days a week! He can't be expected to attend those Walter Reed hearings. He's too busy!

By the way, Burton is the second-ranking Republican on the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs.

"Even if I didn't have any appointments, I would've had to come back Sunday night or catch a plane at 7 in the morning or 6 in the morning," Burton said, adding that the congressional schedule makes it difficult for him to spend time with his wife, whom he married in the fall. "I've got this new lady I want to have some life with, and I can't even see her."

Quick! Call the waaambulance!


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

In Memoriam

Comedy actor John Inman dies at 71

John Inman, star of TV sitcom Are You Being Served?, died in hospital early on Thursday.

The actor, 71, died in St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, at 4am after being ill for some time, his manager Phil Dale said.

Mr Dale said: "John, through his character Mr Humphries of Are You Being Served? was known and loved throughout the world.

"He was one of the best and finest pantomime dames working to capacity audiences throughout Britain.

"John was known for his comedy plays and farces, which were enjoyed from London's West End throughout the country and as far as Australia, Canada and the USA."

Inman's long-term partner, Ron Lynch, is said to be "devastated" at his death.

We're all devastated.

Rest in peace, Mr. Humphries.

Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Cheney Said To Be "Disappointed"

CNN, of course, makes the Libby guilty verdicts all about the Dems begging Bush not to pardon the convicted felon...

Democrats to Bush: Don't pardon Libby
POSTED: 4:10 a.m. EST, March 7, 2007

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democratic leaders urged President Bush not to pardon former vice presidential chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who was convicted on federal charges Tuesday.

Libby's attorneys, meanwhile, vowed to seek a new trial, or, failing that, to appeal the jury's verdict.

Libby was convicted of lying and obstructing an investigation into the Bush administration's actions leading into the Iraq war. (Watch Democrats use verdict to pressure president Video )

He resigned after being indicted in October 2005.

Vice President Dick Cheney, in a written statement, said he was "disappointed with the verdict."

"I am saddened for Scooter and his family," Cheney said. "As I have said before, Scooter has served our nation tirelessly and with great distinction through many years of public service."

Hm. Dick is saddened.

I'll bet he's still wondering why Scooter kept his (Cheney's) handwritten notes about how to attack Joe Wilson, too.

Watch out, Scooter! This is far from over for you.


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Breaking News: Cheney Has Blood!

At least, enough to clot.

Don't you wish you had Cheney's health care plan, team of attending physicians, specialists, nurses, heart monitoring equipment and 24/7 ambulance service?


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

FOX News: Walter Reed Makes The President "Look Bad"

‘It Looks Terrible’ For The Bush Administration, ‘Which Is The Problem.’
Brit Hume (discussing Walter Reed)

Transcript

HUME: I think it tells you a lot about the effect of the last election and the political atmosphere in Washington. This is an administration which is known or had been known for sticking by people even when they were embattled. The idea that conditions at Walter Reed hospital, a hospital that is on its way out of business, had deteriorated, that’s probably one of the reasons they wanted to put it out of business. This is unfortunate. It looks terrible, which is the problem. The problem is that it looks as if this administration, which has sent troops into harm’s way, is now neglecting them when they’re injured and need care and help. But make no mistake about it, this was a — there was a potential political firestorm on Capitol Hill began to brew about this. The administration did what it did to try to get it over with, and it may well have succeeded.

Watch the video.


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Sermon On The Blog: Blind Faith

I don't recall Jesus ever saying, "Suffer the pig-ignorant adults to come unto me," do you?

So why are Americans so fact-impaired when it comes to religion? Here are some startling facts, revelations if you will, from Stephen Prothero's new book, Religious Literacy:

Fewer than half of us can identify Genesis as the first book of the Bible

One third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans endorse the simultaneous teaching of creationism and evolution in public schools.

75 percent of adults mistakenly believe the Bible teaches that "God helps those who help themselves."

More than 10 percent think that Noah's wife was Joan of Arc.

Only half can name even one of the four Gospels.

Thus Endeth Today's Sermon.

Go forth today and reread Shirley Jackson's short story, The Lottery if you want to understand blind faith and pig ignorance. This story wasn't banned by fascist fundie school boards for nothing. Thank goodness, it's online now.

While you're reading it, consider Prothero's thesis: Those who ignore the "chain of memory" do so at their own peril.Tthe "chain of memory" is crucial for informed discourse on any subject, religious or secular.

Read the story and think about it.

I mean it, damn it!


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Why Is A Halliburton Guy Running Walter Reed?

And the answer is...

DUH.

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has subpoenaed Maj. Gen. George Weightman, who was fired as head of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, after Army officials refused to allow him to testify before the committee Monday.

Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and subcommittee Chairman John Tierney asked Weightman to testify about an internal memo that showed privatization of services at Walter Reed could put “patient care services… at risk of mission failure.”

But Army officials refused to allow Weightman to appear before the committee after he was relieved of command.

“The Army was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the decision to prevent General Weightman from testifying,” committee members said in a statement today.

The committee wants to learn more about a letter written in September by Garrison Commander Peter Garibaldi to Weightman.

The memorandum “describes how the Army’s decision to privatize support services at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was causing an exodus of ‘highly skilled and experienced personnel,’” the committee’s letter states. “According to multiple sources, the decision to privatize support services at Walter Reed led to a precipitous drop in support personnel at Walter Reed.”

The letter said Walter Reed also awarded a five-year, $120-million contract to IAP Worldwide Services, which is run by Al Neffgen, a former senior Halliburton official.

They also found that more than 300 federal employees providing facilities management services at Walter Reed had drooped to fewer than 60 by Feb. 3, 2007, the day before IAP took over facilities management. IAP replaced the remaining 60 employees with only 50 private workers.

Explains it all, doesn't it?


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

President 29% W. Bush Loses Even More Republican Party Support

With a +/- 3% margin of error, Bush Could actually be at 24%... Nixonland.

In the months since the Congressional elections, President Bush has lost substantial support among members of his own party, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.

Mr. Bush’s approval rating dropped 13 percentage points since last fall among Republicans, 65 percent of whom now say they approve of the way he is handling his job as president, compared with 78 percent last October.

Over all, Mr. Bush’s job approval remains at one of its lowest points, with 29 percent of all Americans saying they approve of the way he is doing his job, compared with 34 percent at the end of October. Sixty-one percent disapproved, compared with 58 percent in October, within the margin of sampling error.

Twenty-three percent of those polled approved of the way Mr. Bush is dealing with the situation in Iraq. Twenty-five percent approved of his handling of foreign policy.

Even the president’s campaign against terrorism, long his signature issue, is seen positively by only 40 percent of those polled, while 53 percent disapprove.

Three-quarters of those polled say things are going badly for the United States in Iraq, and only 23 percent say the efforts to bring stability and order to Iraq are going well.

Seventy percent, including 52 percent of Republicans, say there is not much the United States military can do to reduce the sectarian fighting in Iraq.

Over all, 23 percent of the public say the country is going in the right direction and 68 percent consider it as having “gotten off on the wrong track.”

Congratulations, Mr. "I'm The Decider!"

You've finally decided yourself into official failure.

Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

And So It Begins: The "I complained about Walter Reed, but..." Excuses

The Washington Post's Dana Priest and Ann Hull have done it again:

Hospital Officials Knew of Neglect
Complaints About Walter Reed Were Voiced for Years

By Anne Hull and Dana Priest
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, March 1, 2007; Page A01

Top officials at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, including the Army's surgeon general, have heard complaints about outpatient neglect from family members, veterans groups and members of Congress for more than three years.

A procession of Pentagon and Walter Reed officials expressed surprise last week about the living conditions and bureaucratic nightmares faced by wounded soldiers staying at the D.C. medical facility. But as far back as 2003, the commander of Walter Reed, Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley, who is now the Army's top medical officer, was told that soldiers who were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan were languishing and lost on the grounds, according to interviews.

It's CYA time, everyone.

In 2004, Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and his wife stopped visiting the wounded at Walter Reed out of frustration. Young said he voiced concerns to commanders over troubling incidents he witnessed but was rebuffed or ignored. "When Bev or I would bring problems to the attention of authorities of Walter Reed, we were made to feel very uncomfortable," said Young, who began visiting the wounded recuperating at other facilities.

Ahem.

A veteran of the Army National Guard, Young is nationally known for his expertise on defense and security issues. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, a post he previously held from 1995-1998, and is a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs.

Expect more "I tried" Republicans to crawl out of their holes to voice their sudden concern about the conditions at Walter Reed.

Truly heavy sigh.


Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.