Wanted: An Ask for Phone Calls

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emptywheel
When will Obama actually ask the millions of people on his email list to actually make calls to Congress?
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The AP's Remaining Competitive Function: Litigators for Big Media

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emptywheel
The AP is making another argument about how they're the only force that can properly use the First Amendment again.

Haggis Logic

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emptywheel
I just watched Arlen "Scottish Haggis" Specter explain how they didn't really cut $600 million in child care. He explained very helpfully that if you don't get 60 votes, then there would be no money for child care. Of course, he and Susan Collins (and, apparently, one more Republican) are the only ones standing between a bill and 60 votes.

Crazy Pete Hoekstra's Misplaced Priorities on Keeping Secrets

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emptywheel
Crazy Pete Hoekstra just revealed the classified details of his trip to Iraq via Twitter. This is one of the Gang of Eight who is entrusted with our country's top secrets.

DOD Spends More on Domestic PsyOps Than On Foreign PsyOps

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emptywheel
Between domestic psyops (public affairs) and foreign psyops, DOD spends over a $1 billion a year. And the really scary thing is, more than half of that goes toward propagandizing in the US.

Sign the Petition: Howard Dean for HHS Secretary

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emptywheel
So far, there's a lot of support in these parts for Howard Dean to be HHS Secretary. Obama has said he made a mistake by overlooking Daschle's conflicts and tax problems when he first appointed him. I'm here on television saying I screwed up, and that's part of the era of responsibility.
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What Explains Commander Lippold's Newfound Impatience on the Cole Prosecutions?

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emptywheel
Commander Kirk Lippold only ever criticized the Bush Administration's failure to bring the plotters of the Cole bombing to justice once. But all of a sudden, on the same day a Bush dead-ender tries to make it more difficult for Obama to close Gitmo, Lippold is out with accusations that Obama is politicizing the war on terror.

Joe the Vice President at the Train Station

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emptywheel
Apparently, they've sent Joe Biden out to drum up some excitement for the stimulus package. Sending him to do so at a train station that would be upgraded under the stimulus package? A nice touch. (via email) Mr. Mayor, thanks for the passport to get in town here. And, Governor, it's a delight to be with you.

NOW Can We Dismiss the Notion that Toensing Is Independent?

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emptywheel
Remember how Victoria Toensing always got to pretend she had no association with Scooter Libby's defense team? Well, now she's fund-raising to support Libby's PR flack's run for political office.

Dan's Rather Exciting Brief

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emptywheel
As you may recall, Dan Rather is in litigation against CBS, Viacom and executives Les Moonves and Andrew Heyward over his treatment after the Bush Texas Air National Guard story on 60 Minutes II. A critical point was reached Monday afternoon with the filing of Rather's appellate brief (pdf file) by his attorneys.

They're Close to Domenici ... Are They Close to Bush?

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emptywheel
Murray reports that the grand jury investigation investigating David Iglesias' firing is getting closer to Domenici. Will Domenici take the fall and protect Bush?
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Salazar's Successes

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emptywheel
Kudos to Ken Salazar for his efforts to roll back Bush era abuses in the Department of Interior.
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The Only Picture on Dick's Wall

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emptywheel
Say, is that picture on Dick's wall a tribute to the night when he told Andrea Mitchell that she should start covering Valerie Plame's role as a CIA spy?

Gibbs Won't Say There Aren't More Tax Problems

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emptywheel
From today's press briefing (via email): Q That doesn't say who decided that this was the best move. And if I could just follow up quickly. Are there other nominees out there with tax problems that we don't know about? MR. GIBBS: The President is quite confident in the people that serve in this White House and serve in this administration; that we've put a standard of

Is Cheney Behind the Attack on Obama's Plans to Withdraw from Iraq?

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emptywheel
Gareth Porter wrote an important article calling out retired General Jack Keane for his attempt to sabotage Obama's withdrawal plans from Iraq. But the article raises an important, unaddressed question: is Cheney's behind Keane's sabotage?
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