Who Told Woodward of Impending Tax Problems Over 10 Days Ago?
While I'm disgusted that a third Obama nominee has tax problems (though at least Killefer is withdrawing), I'm just as disturbed that Bob Woodward knew this was coming.
Margaret Chiara's Falsely-Accused "Lover" Re-Hired
DOJ has re-hired one of the lawyers fired in the Gonzales-era witch hunts. But all is not yet well for Leslie Hagen.
Grand Jury Getting Closer to Rove
Luskin says Rove will cooperate with Nora Dannehy's investigation, if asked.
Subpoenas are a remarkable thing, huh?
Eric Holder Confirmed, 75-21
We finally have a new Attorney General.
The no votes include (I'll update when the roll call is available):
Barrasso
Brownback
Burr
Coburn
Cochran
Cornyn
Crapo
Ensign
Kaybee Hutchison
Inhofe
Johanns
McConnell
Risch
Shelby
Thune
Wicker
Kit Bond Sings a Different Song on Holder
Kit Bond just addressed his private conversations with Eric Holder. And it's a different story than what the Moonite Times reported.
Holder on State Secrets
The Senate debate on Eric Holder's nomination is on CSPAN2 right now. Tom Coburn is on the floor now pretending that Holder is going to bring back the Fairness Doctrine and take away your guns.
But Holder's nomination is bound to pass, with large margins, when they vote this evening. So it'll be interesting to see how Holder implements these highly parsed views, written in response to questions from Russ Feingold, courtesy
dr. emptywheel
I think Dr. Jill Biden should get to use her title whenever she wants. She's the one doing the difficult task of teaching adult learners, after all.
Rahm's Not So Secret Plans
It seems that everyone running to replace Rahm knows that Rahm will come looking for the seat back in a few years. But no one wants to talk about that.
Conyers Invokes the CIA Inspector General Report on Torture
Every time I've raised the 2004 CIA IG report on torture on the Hill, whomever I've been talking to has gotten all hush hush, as if even they had to pretend the report never existed. Today, Conyers invoked it as one of the things that a Commission investigating the crimes of Bush and Cheney would focus on.
WaPo: You Should Give the $800 Billion Away with No Oversight
It's always disconcerting when a big paper like the WaPo agrees with Crazy Pete Hoekstra on substantive issues. But that's particularly true when the paper is doing so on a subject they have massive conflicts on.
Some Obama Folks Miffed about al-Haramain
The NYT reports at least some Obama figures think that the Bush dead-enders were trying to force their hand on al-Haramain.
Taking Out Iraq's Future Leaders
There's a detail in the WaPo story on Charles Duelfer's new book that suggests, at a time when DOD was pushing Ahmed Chalabi to run Iraq, they were targeting Iraqi leaders for harrassment and arrest.
Pat Tillman's Super Bowl
Corporal Pat Tillman, who left the NFL after 9/11 to serve in the Army Rangers, was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. For months surrounding his death, he was made into a propaganda tool to glorify Bush's failed wars. The exposure of the truth behind Tillman's death has since turned him into a symbol of the duplicity of the Bush Administration, the fight for the truth, and the futility of the war itself. And today, the day before new Cardinal heros take the stage, we should remember the Tillman family's fight for truth.
Rove Deadline Delayed
We don't get Rove's testimony until February 23, at the earliest. But at least by then, Obama will legitimately be running DOJ, which gives him several additional ways to respond to this.
Super Bowl 43 Trash Talk: The Red & The Black
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bmazThis is it baby, the big finale. All the marbles come down to these two: One Red. One Black. One will leave with the Lombardi Trophy in hand, the other with the regret of the world's biggest runner-up percolating in their gut for the entire off season, maybe for the rest of their lives. It is time for Super Bowl Trash Talk!
Why the Silence on Tice's Revelations?
Why haven't journalists shown any outrage--or even mere interest--in the news that the government systematically spied on journalists?
Mikey Isikoff's Old Lovers Cite New Privileges
Mikey Isikoff (surprise!!!) has the exclusive (!!!) read of what Fred Fielding is now trying to assert for Rove: Executive privilege. For the first time. With no specific review of whether or not Rove's actions--particularly as they relate to pursuing a witch hunt against Governor Siegelman and attempting to get Patrick Fitzgerald fired while investigating Bush's orders to go after Joe Wilson--merit "executive privilege," Fielding is now asserting executive privilege. And Isikoff is such a crack journalist, he doesn't notice the change in stance!!!
Welcome to old ways in Washington DC!
Matt Cooper Predicts Bad Things for His Buddy Karl Rove
It was bound to happen. Matt Cooper, to whom Karl Rove leaked Valerie Wilson's identity, is now reporting on Karl Rove again (at his new digs over at TPM). Better yet, Matt suggests Turdblossom may have miscalculated in his efforts to avoid testifying before the House Judiciary Committee.
I spoke with a Washington lawyer who has dealt with many presidential privilege issues and he (or is it she?) raised some interesting questions
About those Missing OLC Opinions
Go read the ProPublica database of missing OLC opinions. Or my timeline on the same subject.
