CIPA Fun, One
So Jeff Lomonaco and I were trying to figure out the best place for us to meet face to face after having emailed obsessively on the Plame case for two years. We thought of the best place to meet: at Prettyman Courthouse so we could read through the CIPA filings submitted last year in the case.
Cohen Tries to Make Sense
I deliberately avoided Richard Cohen's latest nonsense of the other day. But then watertiger sent me a tidbit from Cohen's online chat today (dirty trick, watertiger), and I got sucked in. First, let me start with this passage:
Boston: If Bush felt he needed to respond to Wilson, why not do it openly, on-the-record, based on the merits?
Richard Cohen:
Sentelle, Henderson, Tatel
It appears that we've got our panel for Scooter's motion for release pending appeal--and we lucked out. Judges Sentelle, Henderson, and Tatel appear to be the panel--the same three judges that heard Judy's and Cooper's appeal on their subpoena. Sentelle is no liberal, not by any shade. But his decision on the appeal was reasonable.
Curbing the Imperial Presidency
Here is my presentation from the Take Back American panel on "Curbing the Imperial Presidency." I'm sure it didn't come out this way. But it might be close.
One year after the publication of his book The ImperialPresidency, Arthur Schlesinger wrote the following for a column in Harpers:
We hear a great deal today aboutthe presumably grim consequences of the impeachment of the President—an endlesspublic trial, a people divided, a government paralyzed, a
Ralston's Deposition
Oh, this is getting good. As part of his interim report on RNC emails, Waxman released Susan Ralston's testimony before the committee. Reading the deposition, it becomes pretty clear why Tom Davis was trying to warn Rove of the danger of Ralston's testimony. Because even what she was willing to testify to makes it clear that Rove is in some deep legal trouble.
Shorter Abu Gonzales: Throw Libby in Jail for at Least 30 Months
I've been meaning to point out a little hypocrisy among the Republican faithful. You see, the Republicans are celebrating Alberto Gonzales' recent call to crack down on federal convicts. They want to reverse the SCOTUS decision that allows judges to treat sentencing guidelines as a suggestion, and return to the era of required minimum sentencing.
Throwing Another Admin Official in Jail for Obstruction
In spite of signing a plea agreement for the charge of obstructing a Senate investigation, Steve Griles is trying to get his already light 10 month sentence reduced to three months of home confinement and community service on two non-profits Griles set up himself (in a scandal, of course, in which non-profits have routinely been used to launder money).
The Foreign Lobby Industry
Back when the Mearsheimer and Walt paper on AIPAC came out, I expressed my hope that they--or somebody--would catalog the way the foreign influence lobby works.
I'm disappointed, too, because I had hoped Mearsheimer and Walt wouldprovide a sophisticated review of the way foreign lobbies influence ourgovernment. I made this point recentlyin response to the conflation of Bush's NSA-related attacks onjournalists and the governments pursuit of leaks to journalists in theFranklin
Bill Moyers Says It Beautifully
When I grow up I aspire to write as well as Bill Moyers:
We have yet another remarkable revelation of the mindset ofWashington's ruling clique of neoconservative elites—the people whotook us to war from the safety of their Beltway bunkers. Even as Iraqgrows bloodier by the day, their passion of the week is to keep one oftheir own from going to jail.
It is well known that I.
Shorter Schloz and the IG
I'd like to point out something about TPMM's story on the two complaints (and do read the complaints--they're infuriating) submitted to DOJ's IG on Brad Schlozman.
It's unclear if the Department's inspector general ever pursued theallegations from the December, 2005 letter at the time. But the officecertainly is now. In a letter to the judiciary committee chairmen lastmonth, Glenn Fine and Office of Professional Responsibility counselMarshall Jarrett announcedthat their joint probe