Why Does Senator Ensign Hate Foreclosed Homeowners ... and Veterans ... and Seniors ... and Telecoms?
I've got a call into John Ensign's Communications Director for confirmation now, but it sounds like John Ensign is the one Senator referenced in Harry Reid's statement last night and Dodd's statement a few minutes ago on the Senate floor. That is, because John Ensign has refused to a unanimous consent agreement on the housing bill, he is holding up everything the Senate is doing right now.
That means Ensign is preventing
About Reid's Potential Delay
As someone who badly wants a win or a delay in the FISA stampede, I caution against getting too excited by Harry Reid's suggestion that the FISA bill might be delayed until after the July 4 recess.
Trading our Constitution Away Based on the Word of Alberto Gonzales
The FISA bill is so bad, it treats Alberto Gonzales' assertion of legality as something worthwhile!
McCain: The Presidency Is All in My Head
John McCain's chief domestic policy, it seems, is to fool Americans with a bunch of "psychological" boosts that do diddly to help the economy.
What Should We Call the Telecoms?
What do you call corporations that Congress and the President have decided should escape all consequences for their law-breaking?
Is Mark Schauer a Better Cook than Cindy McCain?
Which would you rather be served? Bad beer from Cindy McCain? Or homemade pasty from one of MI's future congressmen?
The Ghorbanifar Timeline, Two
The Ghorbanifar meetings appear to coincide with periods of debate within the US about whether or not to establish closer relations with Iran. As such, they look like attempts--on the part of OVP--to undercut attempts to establish such relations.
Mourning The Loss Of A Giant Recently Passed - Sunset Musings II
Despite the wall to wall coverage, not just on NBC and MSNBC, but all the networks, the hand wringing, the eulogizing, the lionization, the body lying in state at the Kennedy Center, and the funeral worthy of royalty, not enough has been said about the recent passing of a giant. Probably because all that bleating was about Saint Tim of Russert. I am talking about a different giant. A giant in my own family has passed. Granpa Pricky.
The Ghorbanifar Meetings Timeline
The SSCI report on the Rome meeting says that Larry Franklin's guilty plea has nothing to do with the Rome meeting. Perhaps. Except that the goal of both activities--and some of the people--are the same.
The Sun Always Rises
If power is based on principles, what principles are they based on? That’s my question for Mr. Obama. Because it would seem that the Congress is attempting to sell out the Bill of Rights to telcos and abusers of the law and our Constitution. It seems that it is, indeed, just “a piece of paper” that the President can ignore with almost complete impunity…as long as those abuses remain hidden from all but the few who get to benefit or suffer by those abuses. At some point, the abuses will grow, have grown, and they continue to this day because…little is done to punish those who have committed those abuses, either politically, and especially legally.
In fact, the abuse has gotten so bad that some loyal Americans and supporters of the U.S. Constitution are left with the helpless and crazy opinion that other countries will have to sort out our politics for us…and some of us, at this point, even advocate for that; for foreign countries to enforce their human rights, and other treaty and legal obligations against our own citizens so that justice and human dignity will be served well.
It is, indeed, a sad and dangerous time that has fallen upon us, the American people, because of the arrogance and power that has been wielded with little restrain, nor concern, for our own well-being. As long as Bush and his coterie are happy, what happens to us appears to be of little importance.
Don't Tell Your Momma, Tell Obama
Well, we got Mr. Obama's reply to all of us. Everybody has a lot to say to Mr. Obama. Here is the place. Now is the time. Trash talk is allowed. I heard the Lakers, er Celtics just won something. Also heard Curt Schilling is done, how the Sawx gonna win without him?
Obama Replied
He gives nice speeches! And when he tells you to "fuck off," he does it ever so politely.
Scott McClellan Testimony: Rove Is a Liar and Cheney an Oil-Hungry War-Monger
I confess to being underwhelmed with the work HJC did with Scott McClellan's appearance before HJC today. I'll do a post later (once I've recovered from a terrible day for Democracy) on what I think was missed. But I'll start with the positive--what I consider the highlights of the hearing.
Conyers started the hearing right, IMO, by introducing the meat-grinder note, showing that as Cheney was pressuring Bush to have Libby exonerated,
HJC: Scott McClellan Testimony
Scottie's back in the House.
A Letter to the Next President of the United States
Senator Obama: You have promised--and will, as President--to protect and defend the Constitution. The FISA bill currently before Congress violates the Constitution. You must lead the Senate in rejecting this law.
It's Not Just that Levin Was Ousted--It's Bradbury's Trial Run on Torture
ABC reminds us that Daniel Levin was ousted from OLC for opposing torture. But don't forget--after Levin was ousted, the Administration then pushed Stephen Bradbury to write three more torture memos before they would nominate him to be head of OLC.
Details on the FISA "Compromise"
The new "compromise" on FISA suggests that the head of an intelligence agency certified the illegal warrantless wiretapping program, along with Alberto Gonzales.
