Racing Into The Wind

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bmaz
With this joyous day for all, comes personal sorrow for one. The death of my friend and hero, Phil Hill.

Checking in from Mile High

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emptywheel
So I trudged out to Mile High with David Neiwert, Lindsay, and Ian (Spencer scored some great seats on the 50 Yard Line, so he's here, but with a better seat); the line was miles long. Remarkably, there were only a handful of cops there--but everyone was pleasant and well-behaved. We'll be watching the proceedings from behind the ABC News tent, out in the sun.

John McCain Proves Cactus Is Not The Biggest Prick In The Desert

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bmaz
John McCain is famous for his symbiotic love affair with the national press. But the bloom may be coming off the faded, old, wrinkly rose. The new Time article from Jay Carney and Michael Scherer really shows how dramatically the relationship between McCain and the press has changed.

Richardson Bumped to Prime Time

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emptywheel
Did you notice that Richardson didn't speak when he was scheduled to yesterday?

Bill's Speech

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emptywheel
Thought I'd liveblog because Egregious wants to listen so I need to do something with my snark and adulation.

Like Teddy, Novak Couldn't Stay Away

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emptywheel
In the same way that Democrats need Ted Kennedy to bolster their energy, Republicans apparently still need Bob Novak to funnel their leaks.

Torture At The Democratic National Convention

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bmaz
We are now on the third day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). I have watched most all of the major prime time speeches, thanks to the straight up coverage of CSPAN. Save for a fleeting reference by Dennis Kucinich, the issue of torture as has not been particularly mentioned at the DNC. At another convention, however, the American Legion was fostering a discussion on torture and the "war on terror" that Dick Cheney and Jim Webb were having to address.

Ted Kennedy with Brain Cancer, on (Probably) Morphine, and in Excruciating Pain Can STILL Read a Teleprompter Better than McCain

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emptywheel
According to the NYT, Ted Kennedy was suffering from kidney stones last night during his speech. Wow.

Denied! Bates Refuses to Stay Order in Miers/Bolten Suit

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emptywheel
Harriet Miers just got one step closer to a date with HJC: Judge Bates denied the White House request for a stay of his order requiring her to
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Enhanced Surveillance Techniques and The Police State

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bmaz
Two things have caught my eye this morning. Both have to do with security surrounding the two political conventions. Are the enhanced surveillance techniques just rolled out by the DOJ and Mukasey already exhibiting their heavy hand?

Senator Leahy Is Not Satisfied with the Anthrax Investigation

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emptywheel
Do you think Ivins acted alone? Are you convinced Ivins sent the anthrax letters. No, I think someone was involved either before or after. I'm not satisfied with the answers I've gotten. He said SJC will do a hearing with Mueller in mid-September. Leahy expects some hard questions from both Democrats and Republicans.
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We Have Met The WMD Terrorists, And They Are US

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bmaz
The Bush Administration leaned on the Swiss government to destroy crucial evidence in a broad investigation into the nuclear proliferation network of AQ Khan because the information would implicate the CIA and US Government in a web of entangled activities. As a result, innumerable criminal investigations have been compromised, if not destroyed altogether. And Khan and the others walk free.

So, Why Were The US Attorneys Fired?

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bmaz
For so long now we have been eagerly awaiting the results on the DOJ IG/OPR investigation into the curious and unprecedented firing of nine US Attorneys by the Bush Administration. Today the Washington Post has a report out that gives the lie to the Bush Administration's previously stated reason for firing Arizona US Attorney Paul Charlton. If the reasons stated on the record are not accurate, why were the US Attorneys fired?

What Would You Do with 50,000 Tickets to the Acceptance Speech?

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emptywheel
Even with 75,000 tickets available for the acceptance speech on Thursday, ordinary swing voter Denver residents probably won't get to attend.

When The Levee Breaks

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bmaz
In the face of what ought to be the most serious and profound Presidential election in the last 75 years, and with the opening of the Democratic Convention on the brink, it seemed appropriate to recalibrate for a moment. Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005. Three years ago to this very day. And it is being forgotten in the inane headlong rush to argue over tangential trivia.

Road Trip: Arrival in Denver

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emptywheel
Damn our country is beautiful! Here's a pic for you all while I catch up on what has happened while I was taking the beauty in.
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Malevolence In Mississippi

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bmaz
Ill winds have been blowing through the Mississippi political and legal scene for a long time now. There is Trent Lott and his son-in-law Dickie Scruggs. A real soap opera there. There is a never ending list of of political takedowns being performed in Mississippi, and neighboring Alabama, on Democratic attorneys and politicians at the hand of the politicized Bush Department of Justice.
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