Daily Kos

Sunday Talk, Polls, and Weekly Roundup [UPDATED]

by Al Rodgers

Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 08:57:14 PM PDT

Update [2005-7-31 0:24:59 by Armando]: From the diaries by Armando.



The McLaughlin Group: Issue #1)Labor Unions #2)Iraq is Falling Apart #3)Roberts #4)Singles Clubs

Face the Nation: Spector argues that the Earth is round vs Brownback who will insist that the Earth is flat (Stem Cells)

This Week: Astronauts, live from the Space Station; John Glenn and Buzz Aldrin; Lee Iacocca; then women hater, Sen Man on Dog rails against Galileo, Copernicus, and Buffy.

60 Minutes: Putin; Fonda

AAR's Politically Direct: David Crosby and Graham Nash

Bill Maher's HBO Special: "I'm Swiss," premiers Saturday the 30th

Wolf Edition: Joementum and Jon Kyl; Egyptian PM Nazif; Iraqi NSA Al-Rubaie; and a panel of security experts

Meet the Usual Suspects: Astronauts, then Broder, Harwood, O'Beirne (Fingers in her ears - "Karl is innocent, la, la, la, la.."),  and Eugene Robinson

FoxxSucks: Astronauts, plus Sen Bill Nelson; then Dodd body slams McConnell on Bolton and Shrub's woeful year (maybe they'll even mention TraitorGATE)

Much More below the Fold

Update [2005-7-31 0:48:33 by Al Rodgers]:

  •  10 Polling Graphs (are now) in the Comment Section, Below

  •  Congress in recess for 5 weeks

  •  30 years ago today, former Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa vanished. Or as Union Boss Frank Fitzsimmons would say: “Jimmy’s always gonna be a ‘cornerstone’ ”

  •  Only 5 weeks till the kick off of College Football

  •  Only 6 weeks till the kick off of Pro Football

  •  Only 2 months till the Baseball playoffs

  •  Only 3 months till Halloween

  •  Only 5 months till New Years

  •  Catch the Wicked Witch of the Mid-West (Jean Schmitt), as she  melts on Hardball - She breaksdown and starts yellin' at David Gregory Via CrooksandLiars

  • Tune -in to Crooksandliars.com - a must daily complement to text blogging.

    On a serious note:  July 31 is a very important day.  It's Baseball's official Trading Deadline.  

    There are a lot of exciting races this year, everyone is trying to add help for the stretch.   But yet again the Red Sox find themselves in another street fight with the dreaded New York Mercenaries.    Ooops.  I meant "Contractors."  

    Yes, it's another spark in the long Twilight Struggle - born in the last century - tempered by "Free Agency."   And as everyone knows, Steinbrenner (the Dumbsfeld of Baseball ;-p), is engaged in a destabilizing arms race.  Well Boston will not fight a war, in which the fruits of victory, will be ashes in our collective mouths.  

    So look for a special Trading Deadline report, in the comment section, later tonite---:-]



    • Tags: (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

    Permalink | 177 comments

    •  Shrub's Still Sliding.... (4.00 / 25)



      McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

      by Al Rodgers on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 08:51:42 PM PDT

    •  Reading a good Al Rodgers Post (4.00 / 16)

      is like opening your cereal box and finding an extra toy inside.

      Al, you are the shit.
      The antidote to the infectious shoegazing attitude round these parts sometimes, a jolting dose of visual optimism.

      by Sam Loomis on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 08:52:07 PM PDT

    •  Weekly ScoreBoard (4.00 / 16)


      McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

      by Al Rodgers on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 08:52:29 PM PDT

      •  Check this out . . . (4.00 / 5)

        A line from a LTE in Saturday's Orlando Sentinel criticizing Doonesbury:

        Lately Trudeau has stooped to vulgar name-calling ("turd blossom"), something I'm surprised Sentinel editors didn't find disgusting.

        Sheesh.  And we catch flack for calling Bush supporters stupid.

        And in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false - about HOPE. Barack Obama

        by thesunshinestateisdark on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:21:48 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Didn't Bush coin the nickname? (4.00 / 2)

          Or am I missing something. I mean, why criticize Doonesbury for simply repeating Bush's own words?

          Old Man McCain.com - the best McCain attack blog on the web!

          by existenz on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:50:20 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  :: lol :: QUOTING Great Leader is so uncouth! (4.00 / 5)

          Talk about moral values denial. It's like Scotty McClellan getting his tighty whities in a bunch when asked about God's Man in the White House flipping off the press.

          Q. ... In that video, the President walking away from the press lifts his hand and raises a finger. Mr. Leno interpreted it as, shall we say, a finger of hostility. Each of our fingers has a special purpose and meaning in life. (Laughter.) Can you tell us what finger it was he held up?
          .
          SCOTT McCLELLAN: Ken, I'm not even going to dignify that with much of a response. But if someone is misportraying something, that's unfortunate.
          .
          Q. Well, it was not a finger of hostility?
          .
          MR. McCLELLAN: Ken, I was there with him, and I'm just not going to -- I'm not going to dignify that with a response. I mean, I haven't seen the video that you're talking about, but I know the way the President acts. And if someone is misportraying it, that's unfortunate. (07/28/05 Press briefing)

          Damn that lying videotape!.

          Crooks & Liars has the flipoff clip, and here's an alternate (*.mov format). Please maintain a state of moral values decency by immediately forgetting what you saw. Remember, the pRes is perfect and good, and noticing his slime trail of rotten words and deeds on the public record is what will ultimately stain the fabric of society.

          by Peanut on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 10:49:34 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Did you send an LTE pointing (none / 1)

          out that Bush was the one who coined the nickname for Rove?

          "The way the loser loses will determine whether the winner wins in November." -- Rahm Emanuel

          by Newsie8200 on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 09:34:59 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  That mileage comparison... (4.00 / 2)

         ...should be on billboards everywhere.

        by strangely enough on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 11:09:51 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Frist.... FLOP!! Frist.... FLOP!!! (4.00 / 20)

      Get This: Delay lectured Frist on "Personal Ethics" !!!


      McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

      by Al Rodgers on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 08:53:32 PM PDT

    •  TraitorGate Keeps Dripping.... (4.00 / 9)


      McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

      by Al Rodgers on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 08:54:07 PM PDT

      •  Poor Scotty.... (4.00 / 8)

        He's still looking for Gannon out there, isn't he?

        Hanoi didn't break John McCain, but Washington did.

        by Dallasdoc on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:04:46 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  oops, double post....n/t (none / 1)

        McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

        by Al Rodgers on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:54:59 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Finding the leak (4.00 / 2)

        One of the best articles on how much of the law which has been missed by the MSM and the Blogsphere in terms of Treasongate, is revealed by Citizen Spook.  The garbage of Intent and the "Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982" is a smokescreen and doesn't cover the other statutes that Rove/Libby are guilty of--by what is already public knowledge.  One on the interesting points he/she makes is that in time of war, these crimes are punishable by death.  Intent has nothing to do with it and even the B.S. about Plame's status is nothing but smoke and mirrors.  Anyway, I strongly encourage all to become familiar with an Article that I linked to as a reply on Huffington's site.  PLEASE, Check out the article on TreasonGate at:

        http://citizenspook.blogspot.com/

        In any event, here's a taste:

        TREASONGATE: The Controlling Law - Big Trouble For The White House Staff.

        The controlling law for Treasongate has been greatly ignored by the main stream media and the blogosphere. This article seeks to clarify the controlling law.

        To determine the controlling law, all one needs to do is read the non-disclosure agreement Karl Rove and all of the members of the Bush administration with security clearance signed which included the following statement:

        Sanctions for a breach of the non-disclosure agreement are provided for by Executive Order, but those sanctions are ancillary to the United States Code provisions cited in the paragraph above which stand alone.

        Please notice that the Title 18 United States Code statutes are separate statutes that precede the first mention of the "Intelligence Identities Protection Act". The complicated "Intelligence Identities Protection Act" of 1982 which has been exclusively discussed by the media is not controlling. Rove and company may be guilty of violating that act, but prior United States Code statutory law and Federal case law, specifically 18 USC 793 as interpreted by United States v. Morison (and related cases) has been breached and should lead to convictions under the facts known to the public at large. 18 USC 793 provides for a maximum of ten years in prison to those convicted under this statute.

        There is so much more that I could post the entire article, but justice would seem to demand that you go to this site.  

        One thing not linked in the article is the actual Non Disclosure Agreement that Rove, Libby, etc all signed, which I'd earlier linked to from Rep Waxman's site.

        http://contacts.gsa.gov/webforms.nsf/%200/03A78F16A522716785256A69004E23F6/$file/SF312.pdf

        The portion of the article mentioning possible death penalty for TreasonGate is further down in the article:

        [If 18 USC 794 has also been breached, that statute provides a maximum sentence of the death penalty for those convicted "in a time of war"

        by Russron on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 04:19:46 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  That could be THE reason for the slogan shifting.. (none / 1)

          ...From Global War on Terror (GWoTTM) to Struggle Against Violence by Extremists on Freedom (SAVE Freedom®).

          By reframing us in a 'struggle' rather than being 'at war', at least Turdblossom, et al. can escape the death penalty if convicted.

          Just a wild thought!

          He who gives up liberty in exchange for security is deserving of neither

          by joby on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 12:04:55 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Beardmentum! (3.57 / 7)

      McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

      by Al Rodgers on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 08:55:11 PM PDT

      •  wow (3.16 / 6)

        hope that thing grows out, because right now it looks like joementum went on a week-long bender.

        my web log

        by matty fred on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:05:11 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Three Strange Days (1.50 / 2)

          Was Joe-mentum found out on a side street downtown by a dumpster, clutching a bottle in a brown paper bag, and a wet spot on the front of his disheveled trousers?

          Maybe he's got a guilty conscious now for his turning his back on fellow Democrats in Senate voting, and his symbolic betrayal--of those that supported him in 2000--in giving Chimpie a kiss last year?

          -4.75, -5.33 Cheney 10/05/04: "I have not suggested there is a connection between Iraq and 9/11."

          by sunbro on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 11:17:36 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  You need to retract your comment (3.57 / 7)

            He is in mourning for the passing of his mother.  In the Orthodox Jewish tradition, one is not supposed to shave or groom for 30 days after the passing of a parent.  You do realize you are mocking the guy for how he is mourning for his mother?  I think you should retract your comment.  

            by GoVOTE on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 09:21:26 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  This comment got a 1? (none / 1)

              WTF?

              Have a 4.   Good lord.

              Impeach Presidents Cheney & Bush

              by tlh lib on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 02:55:00 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  yeah bobb cobb is an asshole (4.00 / 2)

                He posted two comments here earlier which were 1'ed and 0'ed out of existence in which he said something to the extent of boo hoo his mom died stop wasting space.  she was 90 and it wasn't a tragedy.  Sheesh.  I'd like to think that maybe he was 12 years old, but judging by his other comments in other threads, it looks like he's an adult.  It's too bad that we have assholes in this community.  They make us look bad and make our attacks on Republicans very weak.

                by GoVOTE on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 04:02:17 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

                •  Heh (none / 1)

                  * yeah bobb cobb is an asshole

                  He posted two comments here earlier which were 1'ed and 0'ed out of existence in which he said something to the extent of boo hoo his mom died stop wasting space.  she was 90 and it wasn't a tragedy.  Sheesh.

                  Heh.  No comment lol.  

                  Impeach Presidents Cheney & Bush

                  by tlh lib on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 04:11:06 PM PDT

                  [ Parent ]

                  •  If you asshole are going to quote me... (1.00 / 2)

                    Then give the actual fucking quote:

                    She was 90, what a tragedy - didn't see that coming?

                    You see asswipes, its humorous.  When you "quote" me as saying she was 90, no big deal - well it loses something in the translation.

                    So please, from now on, feel free to call me an asshole - but fucking make sure the humor of my remarks survive.

                    by bobb cobb on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 11:32:11 PM PDT

                    [ Parent ]

                •  Oh and to be real....I can't claim to be an (none / 1)

                  innocent in the "asshole" category.

                  I've had my few moments over the past almost year....usually in posts soaked with Yeungling or St. Pauli's Girl at 3am when a rant turned a bit too nasty.

                  But um when I've been wrong in the extent I've ranted I've apologized and issued 4's to those calling me out on it in the cases in which I've realized it.    This shit is just common fuckin sense though.   Troll rating someone for giving you the info you obviously (or hopefully) lacked in making an offensive remark about someone's religious mourning of their own mother?   People seriously need to seek some perspective every now and then.

                  Impeach Presidents Cheney & Bush

                  by tlh lib on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 04:15:14 PM PDT

                  [ Parent ]

                •  For fuck's sake (1.00 / 2)

                  That's fine, I'm a asshole.  But I do need to reiterate the substance of what I said (since it's been zeroed and oned out to oblivion):

                  Doesn't it strike anyone as obscene as to why his mother get so much airtime on this posting?  He is an unapologetic enabler of the war that's cast its ugly shadow over a hundred thousand people's lives.  And trust me, these aren't a bunch of 90 year old people.  As a matter of fact, I've seen some horriby burned babies less than a year.  Where are all the lamentations for something truly that horrific?

                  Of course, they don't have internet access and from a pragmatic point of view, what the hell does that have to do with Lieberfuck's mom?  Well, I just wanted to point out the obscenity of the contrast:  one person who is so embroiled in his religion, that he makes his mourning so visible and public vs. those whose loss has been rendered into oblivion and seemingly forgotten by everyone (often including us).  

                  by bobb cobb on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 06:05:53 PM PDT

                  [ Parent ]

                  •  fuck off (2.50 / 2)

                    You know, his mother died.  If you can't separate your politics from a discussion (mocking) the way a guy mourns for his mother, the conversation ends there.  

                    This whole discussion was in response to people mocking Lieberman's beard without knowing the cultural significance.  Instead, you KNOW the cultural significance and you use it as a means of critiquing his politics.  

                    There is nothing wrong with puting the "faces" behind the names of the dead.  It would be nice if you started diaries that did that.  But this is not a discussion about Lieberman's mom.  This is a discussion about how when you disagree with someone's politics you DON'T make fun of the religious customs they use to mourn for their parent's passing.  I mean you can, but then you'd be called a bigot (which would be deserved) and you'd receive a slew of 1's and 0's (ditto).

                    You are a sick individual.

                    You need to be 1'ed and 0'ed again.  I have not come across a poster that fits the very definition of 1's and 0's.

                    You embarrass us all.

                    by GoVOTE on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 08:03:19 PM PDT

                    [ Parent ]

                    •  You're a piece of shit, fuck-wad (1.00 / 2)

                      Now that the separation of church and state is dead, your distintion between politics and religion is ridiculous.  Next time your head happens to be at my rectum, please open your mouth and tongue my balls.  And in an attempt to bring back civility to this discussion, I will thank you.

                      by bobb cobb on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 08:47:16 PM PDT

                      [ Parent ]

                      •  No further comment needed (none / 0)

                        by GoVOTE on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 09:08:19 PM PDT

                        [ Parent ]

                      •  And another thing you sanctimonious garbage (1.00 / 2)

                        I never mocked Lieberfuck's religion.  I was mocking people's (like you) lack of proportion.  Its more important to fuck's like you that assholes like Lieberman can practice their religion without mockery (not exactly something that's protected by the constitution), then it is the mourning of hundred's of thousands of innocent civilian.  

                        People should be able to practice their religion without interference.  Why the fuck should they even care that its without mockery?  Shouldn't the borderline erotic glow of copulating with the holy-father make one immune to the shame of mockery?

                        I hope the democratic party ceases to pander to fuck-nuts like you.

                        by bobb cobb on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 11:20:19 PM PDT

                        [ Parent ]

                      •  you are a hateful person (none / 1)

                        Take your hate elsewhere. These types of personal attacks about a man's recently deceased mother and his mourning in the proud tradition of his people are disgusting. Your comment above takes the cake. Are you 14 years old?. I guess not but you sure act like it. I pity you and your sad sad life.

                        by friendofliberty on Mon Aug 01, 2005 at 07:58:33 AM PDT

                        [ Parent ]

            •  I retract (none / 1)

              Sorry, I did not read about the passing of his mother until after I had posted my comment.

              My reaction was based upon his cozying up to the administration on the war, and on the government's desire to invade the privacy of individuals.

              I certainly have no bias against religious expression nor against the passing of a relative.  In fact, I think there is too little love in this world.

              My apologies for inadvertantly offending anyone.  

              May everyone have the ability to live in peace and love, without infringing upon the rights of others.

              -4.75, -5.33 Cheney 10/05/04: "I have not suggested there is a connection between Iraq and 9/11."

              by sunbro on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 08:30:03 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  Mocking is not infringement upon anyone's rights (none / 1)

                Did any of us forcibly shave the beard of Lieberfuck?  No?  I didn't think so.

                Its time for you people to get a sense of proportion.  That's my only point.

                And don't give me some sentimental bullshit about dying parents.  Yes, having a parent die is bad, and puppy dogs are cute.  Enough of the 8 year old rhetoric.

                by bobb cobb on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 11:25:11 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

                •  To All (none / 1)

                  It's time to band together, and focus our energies at taking the corrupt Bush administration down.

                  Let's get our message out to the apathetic public.  We need to wake them up to the fact that their government does not give a damn about them.

                  It's time for regime change at home.  We must demand responsibility and accountability of our officials on The Hill.  So we don't get fooled again...

                  We'll be fighting in the streets

                  With our children at our feet

                  And the morals that they worship will be gone

                  And the men who spurred us on

                  Sit in judgement of all wrong

                  They decide and the shotgun sings the song

                  I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

                  Take a bow for the new revolution

                  Smile and grin at the change all around

                  Pick up my guitar and play

                  Just like yesterday

                  Then I'll get on my knees and pray

                  We don't get fooled again

                  The change, it had to come

                  We knew it all along

                  We were liberated from the fold, that's all

                  And the world looks just the same

                  And history ain't changed

                  'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war

                  I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

                  Take a bow for the new revolution

                  Smile and grin at the change all around

                  Pick up my guitar and play

                  Just like yesterday

                  Then I'll get on my knees and pray

                  We don't get fooled again

                  No, no!

                  I'll move myself and my family aside

                  If we happen to be left half alive

                  I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky

                  Though I know that the hypnotized never lie

                  Do ya?

                  There's nothing in the streets

                  Looks any different to me

                  And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye

                  And the parting on the left

                  Are now parting on the right

                  And the beards have all grown longer overnight

                  I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

                  Take a bow for the new revolution

                  Smile and grin at the change all around

                  Pick up my guitar and play

                  Just like yesterday

                  Then I'll get on my knees and pray

                  We don't get fooled again

                  Don't get fooled again

                  No, no!

                  Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

                  Meet the new boss

                  Same as the old boss

                  -4.75, -5.33 Cheney 10/05/04: "I have not suggested there is a connection between Iraq and 9/11."

                  by sunbro on Mon Aug 01, 2005 at 12:43:14 AM PDT

                  [ Parent ]

          •  No. (none / 1)

            GoVOTE is right; Lieberman is entering a public period of mourning for his mother as prescribed by his faith. I discuss this custom more here.

            Conservatism is Dead!

            by Eternal Hope on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 10:49:04 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  Rest in Peace, Marcia Lieberman (4.00 / 14)

        From the New Haven Register:
        " While the Senate is in recess this week, the beard was neither a cosmetic experiment nor a break from shaving. The growth rather is a solemn act of mourning over the June 26 death of Lieberman's 90-year-old mother, Marcia Lieberman. The senator, an observant Jew, is in the midst the 30-day mourning period of "shloshim," which includes the intense, initial seven-day period of sitting "shiva" following an immediate relative's burial."

        John McCain

        by joejoejoe on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:50:23 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  lol (none / 0)

        from that angle he almost looks like one of the old civil war generals.  To bad I cant place the name:(

        by Hari Rothstein on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 11:01:22 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  WTF? (none / 0)

        First Gore, now Joe?

        by strangely enough on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 11:13:07 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  You Do Know (none / 1)

        That his mother died and that growing a beard under such circumstances is for a Jewish man part and parcel of honoring her memory.

        by eafredel on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 05:19:41 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Man! Do I Love Your Posts!! (4.00 / 3)

      But even more importantly...do the Sox keep Manny?  BTW, I'm going to Fenway tomorrow and watching the beginning of the Papelbon era.

      "We're all working for the Pharaoh" - Richard Thompson

      by mayan on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 08:59:43 PM PDT

    •  Ah, like the FNC/CNN-inspired graph (4.00 / 8)

      for the Rove-fire poll. It isn't a typical media poll if they go stupid on the graph.

      And kudos for the Mommie Dearest reference!

      "The way the loser loses will determine whether the winner wins in November." -- Rahm Emanuel

      by Newsie8200 on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:03:02 PM PDT

    •  Rove mug shot (4.00 / 8)

      On that Time cover Rove looks so guilty he's practically holding a number against his chest.

      Bless you for the Miller Dearest bit... that's priceless.  Excellent work, Al, even for you.

      Hanoi didn't break John McCain, but Washington did.

      by Dallasdoc on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:03:20 PM PDT

    •  ROFLMAO (4.00 / 2)

      Al, dude, I love the Rove graphic at the top.

      You're like the drummer from REO Speedwagon. Nobody knows who you are.

      by Plutonium Page on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:27:23 PM PDT

    •  Baseball TRADING REPORT (4.00 / 3)


    • Trading Report #1

    • Trading Report #2

    • Trading Report #3

      Move cursor to bottom right hand side, to enlarge, when the report appears.


      • McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

      by Al Rodgers on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:29:55 PM PDT

    •  For those will reading comprehension skills (4.00 / 2)

      You should check Somerby lay the smack down on the group think...

      http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh073005.shtml

      by Kaphin on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:33:08 PM PDT

      •  A Mind is a terrible thing (none / 1)

        For those will reading comprehension skills

        WTF ???

        take a bow, kaphlin

        by knowthings on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:58:52 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Valid Points (4.00 / 3)

        Right now, I think they're right that the overexuberance of a possible Rove indictment is allowing for some groupthink.

        There are several big mysteries in this case that need to be solved before we know for sure.

        • What is Judith Miller hiding?  I don't buy the notion that she's doing this for her integrity.

        • Can Rove convince people that he was unaware that what he was doing was a crime?

        • Was Joe Wilson the one who they were trying to discredit, or was it the CIA (through Wilson, painting his as an inept resource of the CIA, spurred on my nepotism)?

        • Is Fitzgerald concerned more with Obstruction of Justice than anything else?

        Probably a few more questions need to be asked before any Democrats rushes to the White House to see Karl Rove's frogmarch.

        "Surprise is the base of all humor, and nothing is more surprising than truth" - Bill Watterson

        by thehim on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 10:04:47 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  my $.02 (none / 0)

          the answer to your first question is WHO CARES!
          the answer to your second question is WHO CARES!
          the answer to your third question is WHO CARES!
          the answer to your fourth question is WHO CARES!

          Why are my answers to your questions all the same.  Because your questions are irrelevant.  The Plame affair I used to think was complex (not complicated).  Now, I think it is neither.  It is quite simple.  Wilson went to Niger at the behest of the CIA to check out the claims THAT IRAQ SOUGHT (in this context it meant purchased. If you say otherwise, you defy reason.  It's like saying "fixed" in DSM meant something other than "the fix is in.") uranium.  Wilson came back and told the CIA that there was no basis to the assertion.  Bob Novak, through his own admission, states that two senior administration officials told him Wilson's wife was CIA. Karl Roves' own lawyer, Gold Bars Luskin, admitted that Rove told Miller and confirmed for Novak that Wilson's wife was CIA.  Karl Rove (and others) revealed classified information. END OF FREAKIN STORY. As far how many other crimes were committed, it does not matter.  We know he broke the law and jeopardized national defense in a time of war.  Now comes the juicy part.  THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN OBSTRUCTING AND DENYING AND OBFUSCATING FOR TWO YEARS. In other words, the White House is COVERING UP its actions.  AND, AS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW BY NOW, THE COVER-UP IS ALWAYS WORSE THAN THE CRIME.  what else more do you need to know?

          by fightorleave on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 03:54:34 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  Answer: I care. (none / 0)

            I care because in addition to Rove releasing classified information and jeopardizing our National Security, it's an interesting story of intrigue and corruption. The question about Judy Miller is, to me, on the more interesting ones. Is she a 'good guy' or a 'bad guy'? I mean, we already know that she is corrupt and incompetent and that the NYTimes not only allowed her incompetence to continue but they fostered it by kow=towing to her regularly. But, in this case, is she protecting a source or is she protecting herself. Is she a die-hard criminal and will eventually spend a lot of time in the slammer for releasing classified information or is she protecting some stooge in the WH and will stay in jail despite the stooge using her like a cheap date.
            It's a fu--ing fascinating story. That's why I care.

            In the end, the bottom line is the Rove and Scooter committed mass felonies and should go to jail for sometime, unless their boss pardons them, which I would expect, considering how little he cares about the constitution.
            But, the rest of the story is not only fascinating but it continues to drive down bush's poll ratings by dominating the news.
            So, let's have more questions!!

            The GOP = The Treason Party McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion

            by jonathan94002 on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 06:18:37 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  Somerby (4.00 / 3)

        is over for me. I get all the preaching I need in church.

        Canada - where a pack of smokes is ten bucks and a heart transplant is free.

        by dpc on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 10:33:46 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  The Tide is Turning (4.00 / 5)

      My summer project here, I'm finally finished, and this will be my signature link for the next year:

      Chapter 11: Ann Coulter's Iraq War Argument Files for Bankruptcy

      Enjoy (I don't expect anyone to be able to read the whole thing...  :) ), and have a great weekend everyone!

      "Surprise is the base of all humor, and nothing is more surprising than truth" - Bill Watterson

      by thehim on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:34:22 PM PDT

    •  I've come to look forward... (4.00 / 4)

      ...to Al's Saturday night diary.  < Note to self:  get a freaking life>  ;-)

      Great job as always, Al!  

      Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler - Proverbs 17:7

      by BarbinMD on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:35:07 PM PDT

      •  I take my joy where I can get it! (3.75 / 4)

        Hey, after Saturday night [whatever], a cup of camomile tea and some cookies, a footrub from Mr P. and a prowl through Al's roundup and I'm ready to face a new week of unremitting crap.

        It may not be much but it's mine, mine, mine! :-) (Besides, it's not as expensive or bacteria-laden as the equivalent in spa-hours.)

        by Peanut on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 12:01:52 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Thanks again, Al! (4.00 / 4)

      I always love this diary!  I like the new Weekly Roundup title.  Can't remember if I mentioned that before.

      I wondered what Lee Iacocca was doing on This Week, so I took a look at the site.

      Looks like a stem cell discussion maybe:

      Plus, Lee Iacocca, former chief executive of Chrysler, talks about his love for his late wife and his devotion to research into diabetes -- the disease that helped claim her life.

      Does everyone recall that Iacocca endorsed Kerry?  Not that it matters one flip, but at least we know Lee thinks Bush's economics and tax cuts were stoooopid.  Looks like he might think Bush science is stupid too.

      Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

      by OLinda on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:39:25 PM PDT

      •  Yup (4.00 / 3)

        Dont know about his free trade policy, but I think he said his main motivation with the Kerry endorsement was the loss of manufacturing jobs in places like, OH, PA, MI etc. So perhaps a discussion of CAFTA as well??

        by jj32 on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:54:17 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Bush Stumbles, Tumbles, Fumbles to new LOWS (4.00 / 14)






      McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

      by Al Rodgers on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:40:34 PM PDT

    •  John Glenn and Paul Hackett (4.00 / 5)

      I know Glenn is on to talk about NASA but I hope George Stephanopolous asks a quick question about Ohio and Hackett.

      John McCain

      by joejoejoe on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:52:45 PM PDT

    •  31% means bye bye base (4.00 / 3)

      I don't think a Republican administration has got less than 35~37% support on any issue in decades, including Nixon on Watergate. To go that low means chronic Republicans are defecting.

      by Maynard G Krebs on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 09:57:26 PM PDT

    •  Mr. Fish says.... (3.92 / 14)

      Mr. Fish..Harpers

      Mr. Fish..Slate

      ....Listen to Ded Prez....

      by Manix on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 10:01:37 PM PDT

    •  Gregory and Schmidt (4.00 / 10)

      One of my favorite parts of the David Gregory - Jean Schmidt interview:

      Jean had made a comment about how Hackett sounded just like the Democratic party talking points on everything.  

      Then she started saying her own views and David interrupted her and said something close to "What you're saying could have come verbatim from one of the President's speeches."  Hahaha.  He is sooo trying to call people on their crap.

      Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

      by OLinda on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 10:12:05 PM PDT

      •  I liked her response to (4.00 / 4)

        why we were misled about WMD and if Bush should be held accountable. Jean Schmidt responded:

        The fact of the matter is there are no WMDs.  We were listening to a thug, Saddam Hussein, who said that there was. He wasn't allowing people to go into inspect...

         I thought for a brief second she was going to say Chalabi.  Man that women is drowning in the Kool Aid.

        If you haven't seen the video clip, go visit crooksandliars.com  .  It is well worth it, even on dial-up.

        by Ted Hitler on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 11:07:24 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  I certainly (4.00 / 4)

          had a WTF moment during that part of the interview?  She's blaming Bush's lying on Hussein?  Didn't Hussein tell the truth, that they didn't have any weapons?  I guess she conveniently forgot there were weapons inspectors there that didn't find anything.

          McCain: Less jobs, more war.

          by Unstable Isotope on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 03:56:18 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  Schmitt did not melt down.. (4.00 / 3)

            OK, I hate Bush and the rest of them as much as any of you, really. But Jean Schmitt did not blow it on Hardball under Gregory's pummeling
            .
            She stayed with the Bush message, got  out  her talking points (support the President, he knows best, bust illegals, subsidize ethanol, blah, blah) out in spite of Gregory's attempts to make her say something off message, and talk about nothing but iraq. And she was probably right to stress that her district is not obsessed on Iraq, but cares about the other issues.

            She may have looked like a fool to kossaks, but to her average agranian teutonic lunkhead constituent, she did ok, unfortunately.

            "We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again." General Nathanael Greene, Continental Army, April, 1781.

            by faithnomore on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 05:12:06 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  She was able (none / 1)

              to recite the talking points with a sense of outrage that anyone would disagree, yes, but she made no sense.

              She said there were no WMDs and we were fooled by the 'thug, Saddam Hussein" who said there were and wouldn't let in the inspectors.

              Just dissect that sentence alone.  It requires elite level gymnastics to believe it.  

              by KibbutzAmiad on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 05:35:45 AM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  Sadly, she doesn't have to (none / 0)

                Sadly, she doesn't have to make sense and as Karl Rove has proven, the truth doesn't matter anymore.  She followed the Republican line of talk fast and stay on message.  The only way she will loose on Tuesday is if enough of the GOP faithful are sick of all the lies and take it out on her.  I honestly don't know, as the SPIN that Jean recited really sounded old to me.  But I've hated those lines from the first through the 1000th time they were said and expected the rest of the country to get sick of it as well.

                I saw the interview as it happened (work nights) and my take was that I just don't trust the American voting public to do the right thing, even when they recognize they are being lied to.

                Finally, are Diebold machines being used in this election and who is counting the votes?

                by Russron on Mon Aug 01, 2005 at 05:42:29 AM PDT

                [ Parent ]

            •  She did okay....by lying....kudos Jean! (none / 1)

              Ya know....if you want to compliment her for sticking to the lies then thats fine but at least say it how it is.   It's not simply talking points....she simply repeated another Bush lie.

              Crazy Jeannie

              He wasn't allowing people to go into inspect...


              This is not what is called "Talking Points".  This is not what is called "spin".  This is what the dictionary would refer to as a "LIE".

              Impeach Presidents Cheney & Bush

              by tlh lib on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 03:20:45 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

          •  In fact (none / 1)

            she goes so far as to say that Hussein wouldn't let inspectors in.  Bush tried that line himself, and got a free pass on it, so what the heck, might as well try it too.

            But if you really want proof that she's got her head completely up Dubya's ass, she even pronounces the word "Nuc-yoo-ler!"

            I honor John McCain's military service to our country (but I have no intention of voting for him)

            by frsbdg on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 02:04:10 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  Gregory (4.00 / 5)

        should permanently replace tweety.

        by ProgressivePrinciple on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 09:06:19 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  We should Invent (4.00 / 2)

      a Liberal Jesus. Instead of The Rapture we would have The Capture. We will know The Capture has arrived when we get up one morning and notice that all the corporate criminals have been beamed naked into big nets and suspended three feet off of the ground. As well, all children under 12 will have been provided with iodine tipped fondue forks and an insatiable appetite for Republican flesh.

      Hey, all I'm saying is it could happen.........

      Canada - where a pack of smokes is ten bucks and a heart transplant is free.

      by dpc on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 10:39:16 PM PDT

      •  That (none / 1)

        may be the best comment I have ever read.

        by ProgressivePrinciple on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 09:09:23 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Thanks (none / 1)

          I thought it was a nice little scenario but you seemed to be the only one to agree. There is a kossack who posts from time to time with the tag line:

          "After the Rapture we get all their shit."

          I love that line.

          Canada - where a pack of smokes is ten bucks and a heart transplant is free.

          by dpc on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 09:51:40 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

      •  No need to invent. (none / 0)

        The first one was quite liberal, thankyouverymuch. Radical, even.

        In fact, we have no proof that the Second Coming hasn't happened. It's just that if someone shows up these days and says "If your enemy strikes you, turn the other cheek" and "Love your enemies" or "feed the poor" - particularly someone from the Middle East - (s)he's probably been hustled off to Guantanamo, never to be seen again.

        "I like to go into Marshall Field's in Chicago just to see all the things there are in the world that I do not want." M. Madeleva, C.S.C.

        by paxpdx on Sun Jul 31, 2005 at 06:55:41 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Rove Scandal Documents HQ (4.00 / 3)

      Here's a complete collection of Rove Scandal Documents.

      And don't forget to enter the Karl Rove Whack-a-Mole Contest.

      by Avenging Angel on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 10:40:59 PM PDT

    •  Tucker Carlson being replaced in One WEEK ! (4.00 / 5)

      They've already started running ads for the new show last week....wow.

      After all that advertising, after all that promotion,

      They pulled the plug (or moved the plug)really quick because Tucker stinks.  As good as Rachel is, it's hard to watch because Tucker is so juvenile and dishonest.

      And it's only a matter of time before it gets pulled (by thanksgiving), the costs will be too high for a 11:00 pm show. I mean none of the newstainment channels have original programming at the hour , because they don't recoup their costs.

      If they wanted a cool show, they show have built one around Rachel

      McCain: He's Constipated and Ready to GO

      by Al Rodgers on Sat Jul 30, 2005 at 10:57:05 PM PDT

    •  Fabulous compilation -- but you missed the SOW! (4.00 / 7)

      Image hosted by Photobucket.com A quibble with your fabulous-as-usual Dessert Cart of News: you missed the big SOW Or Story of the Week! (Would love to see a poll on that included with your weekly roundup, btw, if you're not already tapped out. Yes, I'm spoiled by this feature, but who's responsible for that now? :-) )

      The Global War on Terror is OVER, man!