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
How to Establish an Empire without Congressional Approval
/15 Comments/in Foreign Policy, War/by emptywheelCharlie Savage has a great article summarizing Bush’s threats to establish a security relationship with Iraq without consulting Congress.
President Bush’s plan to forge a long-term agreement with the Iraqi government that could commit the US military to defending Iraq’s security would be the first time such a sweeping mutual defense compact has been enacted without congressional approval, according to legal specialists.
After World War II, for example – when the United States
What Ever Happened to “Upperdown Votes”?
/48 Comments/in Bingo, Unitary Executive/by emptywheelSay what you will about Senator Reid. But right now, he’s in a giant showdown with Mitch McConnell (and, disgustingly, Jello Jay Rockefeller), and I guarantee you’d rather have Reid win than McConnell.
The Republicans have refused to allow an “upperdown” vote on any amendment since the Leahy substitution amendment went through.
Fieger Judge: Prosecution “Unusual;” Government Must Explain Recusal
/23 Comments/in Law/by emptywheelThe federal prosecutors prosecuting Geoffrey Fieger are going to have to reveal to him why the top lawyers in Detroit’s US Attorney office recused themselves from the investigation–seven months after it began. Judge Borman has judged that, “the reason for the November recusal – is essential to permit the Defendants to argue their claim, of Government misconduct.”
Did Bush Re-Nominate Bradbury to Control Mukasey?
/77 Comments/in Law, Unitary Executive/by emptywheelMind you, I’m sure Bush re-nominated Steven Bradbury, the second incarnation of John Yoo, because Bradbury has dutifully shredded the Constitution on demand, and Bush would like to reward him. But the National Journal’s coverage of the Bradbury re-nomination raises an interesting point. It notes, as does everyone else, that Bradbury’s nomination is a big “Cheney yourself” to the Democrats who have refused to approve Bradbury’s nomination in the past.