Author Archive for: emptywheel
About emptywheel
Marcy Wheeler is an independent journalist writing about national security and civil liberties. She writes as emptywheel at her eponymous blog, publishes at outlets including Vice, Motherboard, the Nation, the Atlantic, Al Jazeera, and appears frequently on television and radio. She is the author of Anatomy of Deceit, a primer on the CIA leak investigation, and liveblogged the Scooter Libby trial.
Marcy has a PhD from the University of Michigan, where she researched the “feuilleton,” a short conversational newspaper form that has proven important in times of heightened censorship. Before and after her time in academics, Marcy provided documentation consulting for corporations in the auto, tech, and energy industries. She lives with her spouse in Grand Rapids, MI.
Entries by emptywheel
Another Stupid Idea to Exacerbate the Clusterfuck
/70 Comments/in 2008 Presidential Election/by emptywheelMarkos likes the idea Mark Halperin claims is being floated.
–Michigan’s 156 delegates would be split 50-50 between Clinton and Obama.
–Florida’s existing delegates would be seated at the Denver convention—but with half a vote each. That would give Clinton a net gain of about 19 elected delegates.
– The two states’ superdelegates would then be able to vote in Denver, likely netting Clinton a few more delegates.
Now, any “solution” to
House to Go Into Secret Session
/124 Comments/in FISA/by emptywheelAt the request of the Republican leadership (who want to say something to the entire House that can’t be said publicly), the House is going to go into a secret session to debate FISA. Hopefully, Dems will take this opportunity to tell their colleagues that there is clear evidence the telecoms knowingly failed to take measures to ensure their wiretapping was legal.
Gold Standard Gate, an Update
/43 Comments/in emptywheel/by emptywheelGolly, I just remembered that people beyond Eliot Spitzer are facing political troubles–the WaPo has a story that slightly advances the NRCC story, including the CYA that the Republicans considered Christopher Ward, the treasurer at the center of the scandal, the “gold standard” in campaign finance compliance.
In the tiny world of people who keep the books for Washington’s multitude of political committees, Christopher J.
Spitzer Resigns
/136 Comments/in emptywheel/by emptywheelNot a big surprise. Here’s the bit I hope gets the most traction:
Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor.
Think Outside the Box
/63 Comments/in FISA/by emptywheelThe ACLU says this about the House’s proposed compromise on FISA.
While we still have concerns about aspects of the new House FISA bill, the American Civil Liberties Union is encouraged by the new draft – particularly the language on state secrets, which would allow the cases to go forward while allowing the telecommunications companies to assert any defenses.
Republicans Uncork A Fine Whine Spitzer
/194 Comments/in emptywheel/by emptywheelAnd just guess what is being served with the fine whine at Casa de GOP? Thats right, impeachment is on the table! Yep, the news of the foibles of Elliot Spitzer had been public less than 24 hours and the Republicans are seriously threatening impeachment.