WTF????

Are you kidding me? DeLay's first day in court was cut short because his lawyer, Dick DeGuerin filed a motion whining that Judge Perkins step aside from the case on the grounds that he gave money to Democratic candidates and the activist group MoveOn.org.

This is hilarious for the simple fact these fucks had no problem with Kenneth Starr, the worst partisan Republican on earth and Independentent Counsel who pushed to have President Clinton impeached over the Monica Lewinsky scandal and still continues to go after Clinton to this day.

What about the fact this slimey jerk [DeLay] finds himself in court today because of his own partisan politics. I guess that's why he's using this tactic, he is so guilty of doing the very thing he's whining about now.

I hope he just keeps on smiling, it'll be that much more enjoyable seeing it wiped off of his face.

Lawmaker DeLay goes to court on finance charges
By Jeff Franks 55 minutes ago

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters)

Tom DeLay appeared in court on Friday to face campaign-finance charges, but the session was cut short by his lawyer's argument that the judge is a Democrat who cannot give a fair trial to the former second-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives.

State District Judge Bob Perkins said he would ask another judge to rule on a motion filed on Thursday by DeLay attorney Dick DeGuerin. The motion asks that Perkins step aside from the case on the grounds that he gave money to Democratic candidates and the activist group MoveOn.org.

"It seems to me this is going to be a continuing issue when there's a Democratic judge and Republican defendant," Perkins said.

DeLay was once one of the nation's most powerful politicians, nicknamed "The Hammer" for his iron-fisted control of House Republicans, but now is an indicted felon fighting aggressively for his political life. He strode into the heavily secured courtroom with a smile on his face and wife Christine by his side.

Because of the abbreviated hearing, he did not stand before the judge to hear the charges against him or make any statements in court.

Afterward, he went to the nearby Texas Capitol, and with it as a backdrop, repeated that he is not guilty of a crime and only the victim of a Democratic political vendetta.

"I have been charged for defeating Democrats," a defiant DeLay said. "I have been charged for advancing the Republican agenda."

He and colleagues Jim Ellis and John Colyandro have been indicted by state grand juries in Austin for conspiracy and money laundering in a campaign-finance plan conducted through DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority political action committee, or TRMPAC.

They are accused of laundering $190,000 in corporate campaign contributions through the
Republican National Committee for distribution to Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature. Texas law forbids the use of corporate money in political campaigns.
DeLay faces a sentence as long as life in prison if convicted.

TARGETED

DeLay said he has been targeted by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, because TRMPAC's activities helped Republicans take control of the Texas Legislature for the first time since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.

The legislature, under guidance from DeLay, then conducted a controversial remapping of Texas congressional districts and added five Republicans to the U.S. House.

DeGuerin, one of Texas' most prominent defense attorneys, told reporters after the hearing that
Perkins had contributed to MoveOn.org and to Democratic candidates since the case came into his court a year ago.

He complained to Perkins that MoveOn.org was selling T-shirts of DeLay's mug shot taken on Thursday when he turned himself into police in Houston after an arrest warrant was issued.

DeLay, who was fingerprinted and put up bail of $10,000, is smiling broadly in the mug shot for police files.

The judge, DeGuerin complained, had "supported people who are in opposition to Congressman DeLay."

Perkins told DeGuerin he had not seen or bought the T-shirt and had contributed to MoveOn.org only ahead of last year's presidential election.

DeLay, who represents a Houston-area district, was indicted on September 28 and, as required by House Republican rules, resigned as majority leader. He was allowed to keep his congressional seat.

Along with the TRMPAC investigation, DeLay has been criticized in the past year for ethics problems involving lobbyists, fund-raising and foreign travel.

No Privilages For Harriet Miers

I agree with this comment on The Nation about Harriet Miers.

NO PRIVILAGES

Harriet Miers's incomplete answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee thus far underscore how little we know about Bush's Supreme Court nominee. Stephen Gillers writes that Miers must disclose the full record of her advice to President Bush on personal, executive and constitutional matters.

Need A Mess Fixed? Call A Woman!

And who better to call on than the very smart and lovely, Molly Ivins, not to mention Texan, the one I look up to.
Let's Fix This Mess
By Molly Ivins, AlterNet. Posted October 20, 2005.

Before we figure out how to beat the Republicans, we have to come up with some good ideas and a plan.

I have been collecting material for a series of columns on the peppy topic, "How Do We Fix This Mess?" The news is dandy in that there are a lot of sound ideas being passed around. Really serious messes, like the one this country is in, do not, in my experience, have simple, definitive solutions. And if they do, such solutions are politically impossible. We are looking for progress, not perfection, so anyone who tells you the entire tax code should fit on a postcard is a bona fide, certified, chicken-fried moron.

But listening to the Democratic debate on what to do now, it seems to me some of the brethren and sistren are asking the wrong questions. The question is not, "How Do We Win?" That's a technical question that comes after, "What the Hell Can We Do About This Disaster?"

I personally think some good ideas and a plan should come first -- and to this end, let me chime in on a note of agreement with some Actual Moderates, William A. Galston and Elaine C. Kamarck, a couple of Clintonites still carrying on in that old Third Way that was good enough for Bill C. They are opposed to putting too much stock in the political strategy of "reframing" issues as advised by the linguist George Lakoff. This seems to me merest common sense, and I'm not sure Lakoff himself wouldn't agree.

Frank Luntz, the focus-group king and message-meister who keeps the Republicans all chorusing the same carefully worded talking points, is indeed a large part of the R's win strategy. But I think the reason R's have been successful in selling rotten policies that really hurt people is not so much because of clever wording as because Democrats haven't stood up and pointed out what was happening.

Believe it or not, there is a certain charm to simply telling the truth, and even to telling the truth simply. This emperor isn't wearing any clothes, and the people who are pointing that out now that Bush's approval ratings are at 37 percent, but who were nowhere to be heard when he was at 60 and better, are maybe not the people we should be looking to now.

Which brings us to the Democratic Leadership Council and the Al From-Bruce Reed take on what we should do now. The DLC is regularly condemned as being Republican Lite, but it seems to me its problem is being Light Lite. The From-Reed proposal is security, values, opportunity and reform -- a perfect symphony of the obvious. I do like their Opportunity ideas:

Create high-wage jobs by making the United States the top exporter of energy-efficient products;

Cut $300 billion in subsidies, and invest it in innovation, education and growth;

Pass tax reform to replace 60 tax breaks with four: college, homes, kids, universal pensions.

The problem comes when you look at their reform initiatives -- lobbying reform to close the revolving door and ban partisan gerrymandering. Uh, how about we address the problem that our entire political system is corrupt, that it has been corrupted by corporate money, and that we have government of corporate interests, by corporate interests and for corporate interests -- and that we really need to change that, instead of trying to raise more corporate money than Republicans?

David Sirota, a stout liberal attacking from the other side, decries Partisan War Syndrome, which he defines as beginning with the assumption that substance is irrelevant when it comes to winning elections and "far more damaging to actually building a serious, long-lasting political movement." I like people who think like that.

Bob Borosage, director of the Campaign for America's Future, offers a "Real Contract With America" in the current issue of the The Nation. He has some excellent ideas, and I'll discuss them more later. Like the others, Borosage emphasizes Making America Safe and Real Security for America. What you find across the Democratic spectrum is agreement that the Bushies are hopelessly inept at homeland security. Essentially nothing has been done to protect the ports, and almost no progress has been made on helping first responders and improving public health capacity, despite all that money spent on small towns in Wyoming. The chemical plants are obvious targets -- but heaven forfend that the Bushies should force their dear friends in the chemical industry to spend money on public safety.

For me, the most annoying suggestion being made is that Democrats somehow need to claim or reclaim patriotism or to do something to let folks know that we, too, love our country. I find that hideously offensive. I have always thought the only way to respond to Republican statements and implications questioning the patriotism of non-Republicans is with a good swift blast of venomous anger.

How dare they imply that opposing war in Iraq calls one's patriotism into question? Take the offensive. Anyone who would use that kind of slimy attack sullies America, where dissent is honored, respected and, Lord knows, needed.

The contemptible, petty, little would-be Joe McCarthys need to understand what love of country really means -- love of the highest and best in America. Never to be confused with "pre-emptive war" over nonexistent weapons and certainly not with using "democracy" to sell a rotten, failed war.

Great Mug Shot, De Lay

Contrary to what Dick DeGuerin, DeLay's lawyer said, "The Hammer" doesn't look all that humiliated to me.

DeLay's lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, stepped up the attack on Earle outside the sheriff's office. "He's got what he wanted," said the lawyer of the mug shot and fingerprint humiliation. "There is no reason for this," he added.

Hopefully by the time it's all said and done that smile will no longer be on his face.

DeLay, a close ally of President George W. Bush, was initially accused last month of conspiracy to violate state election law by diverting corporate donations to candidates for the Texas state legislature. But less than a week later, a separate grand jury added a new charge of money laundering.

I Will Gladly Pay To See This

Brad Blog EXCLUSIVE : Citizens For Principled Conersvatism is denouncing Ann Coulter. Daniel Borchers, the head of the group has been calling out "fake Conservativism" and is now after Coulter.

Borchers' organization, Citizens for Principled Conservatism (CPC) is currently in-production of a documentary named The Truth About Ann which aims squarely at political and religious hypocrisy of Rightwing commentator and author, Ann Coulter.

CPC dislikes Coulter so much they have a site devoted strictly to her called, Coulter Watch.

I love it!

Rove Eating His Own

Rove Told Grand Jury Libby May Have Been His Source In Leak Case-- uh huh, sure.
Rove would have us and the grand jury believe that he didn't know what his left hand was doing. Does anyone here believe that Rove really didn't already know the name of a CIA operative who also just happened to be the wife of Joseph Wilson? Well, I certainly believe he and the whole Bush Adiministration knew but then I live in the real world, not in the Rove/Bush world of make believe.

Jim VandeHei and Carol D. Leonnig staff writers for the Washington Post report...

White House adviser Karl Rove told the grand jury in the CIA leak case that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, may have told him that CIA operative Valerie Plame worked for the intelligence agency before her identity was revealed, a source familiar with Rove's account said yesterday.

Questions, so many unanswered questions...

But many unknowns remain. What role did Hannah play? What, if any, role was played by former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer? Who was the second source for Robert D. Novak, the columnist who first disclosed Plame's name and role in July 2003? Who was the White House official who leaked word about Wilson's wife to The Washington Post's Walter Pincus, who has never publicly revealed his source?

It is possible the public will never learn the answers to these and other questions because Fitzgerald is not required to produce a report and could complete the investigation without charging anyone with a crime.

It's only the 20th of October, we still have plenty of time for more Administration officials to turn on each other and October surprises, so...

Stay tuned

Frayed And Coming Apart

It looks like the Conservatives are coming apart and frayed around the edges. It's just getting worser and worser...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 - In the latest sign of the deepening split among conservatives over how far to go in challenging President Bush, Bruce Bartlett, a Republican commentator who has been increasingly critical of the White House, was dismissed on Monday as a senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, a conservative research group based in Dallas.

A Mug Shot And Fingerprinting

How about this for a mug shot?

I might as well join with my blog buddies and give my whoop! of joy at the thought of that ugly mugshot of DeLay and the ink on the ends of his fingers. Couldn't happen to a nicer crook. I realize this doesn't mean a whole lot but it's more than I ever thought would happen. Yee Haw!

This just in from MSNBC

Court issues warrant for DeLay to be booked

Apparently this is what DeLay wanted and now he's got it.... AUSTIN, Texas -Texas prosecutor, Ronnie Earle offered Rep. Tom DeLay a deal to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and save his job as House majority leader, but DeLay chose to fight felony charges instead, the congressman’s attorney said Monday.

Addendum To Post: Irony of Ironies

Last night, Frontline aired an excellent program about Defense Department investigations into prisoner abuse.

This should leave no question but that Bush and his Administration should be tried for war crimes. Now you will understand why I say Bush should be standing along side Saddam Hussein.

A chronology of the torture memos, Defense Department investigations into prisoner abuse, human rights reports and more.

Chronology: The New Rules of War

The evolution of the Bush administration's bold legal framework and aggressive interrogation policies for prosecuting the war on terror -- and how it links to the prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib and beyond.

The Investigations

The Pentagon says it has conducted at least 12 official investigations into prisoner abuse at DoD facilities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. What have we learned so far? Here is a roundup of the investigations that have gained the most attention due to their shocking findings.

Interrogation Rules of Engagement

This chart hung at Abu Ghraib during the fall of 2003 -- the period of the notorious abuses there. It is a graphic depicting Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez's authorized interrogation approaches. According to the Fay-Jones report, which looked at military intelligence activities at Abu Ghraib, the chart misinterpreted Sanchez's memo and may have contributed to abuses during interrogations. "What was particularly confusing," the investigators wrote, "was that nowhere on the chart did it mention a number of techniques that were in use at the time: removal of clothing, forced grooming, hooding, and yelling, loud music and light control. Given the detail otherwise noted ... the failure to list some techniques left a question of whether they were authorized for use without approval." One anonymous source described the confusion to FRONTLINE, explaining, "There was a posted list of extended measures for interrogations that even said 'by commanding general approval,' which is Gen. Sanchez. And then I would hear about them being used, so I assumed they were being approved."

E-mail From Cpt. William Ponce

This e-mail was sent in August 2003 by a Military Intelligence (MI) captain serving in Iraq. It is notable because it shows the confusion over Geneva Conventions on the ground in Iraq: Cpt. Ponce distinguishes between "lawful combatants" protected by the Geneva Conventions and unlawful combatants, but prisoners in Iraq have always been covered under Geneva. He asks the e-mail's recipients to provide an "interrogation techniques 'wish list'" and reminds them: "The gloves are coming off gentlemen regarding these detainees…"

Government Documents on Torture

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has collected all the documents it has received under the Freedom of Information Act on this page. Of particular note are the e-mails (here and here) sent by FBI agents disturbed by what they saw at Guantanamo. On Sept. 29, 2005, a federal judge ruled in a suit brought by the ACLU against the Defense Department and ordered the release of more photos and videos of prison abuse at Abu Ghraib. Check back on this page for updates.

The Center for Constitutional Rights

The Center for Constitutional Rights, whose president is human rights attorney Michael Ratner, has a number of reports and other information about the situation for Guantanamo detainees, including: The Tipton Report, which details the story of three British detainees released from Guantanamo after the British government found evidence of their innocence; a collection of detainees' habeas corpus petitions; and extended briefs on Rasul v. Bush, a case brought by CCR in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled detainees have the right to challenge their detention in federal court.

Related Links:

Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, Gen. Geoffrey Miller, and Col. Thomas Pappas declined FRONTLINE's request to be interviewed for "The Torture Question." However, they have testified before several government commissions, and their testimony is available to the public:

Col. Thomas Pappas' Testimony for the Taguba investigationAlthough his name is blacked out here, this is the testimony of Col. Thomas Pappas, commander of the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade. He said when detainee abuse was brought to his attention, he took immediate action. He also told investigators, "My interrogators are well advised about the Geneva Conventions and what they can and cannot do with regard to the treatment of detainees." (Feb. 9, 2004; Note: This is a pdf file; Adobe Acrobat required)

Gen. Geoffrey Miller's Testimony for the Fay-Jones investigationThe sworn statements to investigators of Gen. Miller, commander of Joint Task Force GTMO, can be found on pg. 28-29 and 34-35 of this document. Miller described his visit to assess prison facilities in Iraq and his recommendations to improve intelligence collection. He said he recommended using military dogs for command and control issues, but never in interrogations. (June 19, 2004; Note: This is a pdf file; Adobe Acrobat required.)

Gen. Ricardo Sanchez's Testimony Before Senate Hearing on Iraq Prison AbuseIn this hearing transcript, Gen. Sanchez, commander of the multinational force in Iraq, told the Senate that all the interrogation policies he issued "reiterated the application of the Geneva Conventions and required that all interrogations be conducted in a lawful and humane manner, with command oversight." He said he initiated an investigation as soon as he found out about the allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib. [Note: Gen. Miller also testified before this panel.] (May 19, 2004)

home + introduction + watch online + is torture ever justified? + paper trail + analysisinterviews + behind the wire + discussion + faqs + teacher's guide + readings & linksproducer's chat + tapes & transcript + press reaction + credits + privacy policyFRONTLINE home + WGBH + PBS

Well, If This Isn't The Damn Truth

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who feels the Democratic Party is nothing more than a big let down. Here is an excerpt from an article, Partisan War Syndrome By David Sirota, In The Times

A disease is running rampant through the American left these days. Its symptoms are intense and increasingly pervasive in every corner of the self-proclaimed “progressive” coalition. A good name for the disease could be “Partisan War Syndrome” - and it is eating away at what remains of progressives’ ideological underpinnings and the Democratic Party’s ability to win elections over the long haul. The disease is simple to understand: It leads the supposedly “ideological”…

Irony of Ironies

What's wrong with this picture?

Let me get this out of the way right at the start, I do not like Saddam Hussein. In my opinion he is guilty of murdering and torturing Iraqi people.

However, I think George W. Bush is guilty of the exact same things. How many innocent Iraqis have been killed and tortured because of Bush?

Isn't it ironic that Saddam Hussein is on trial for torturing and murding the Iraqi but George Bush is considered a great war President and hero for the same offenses?

Why aren't the Iraqi grunts being tried instead of Hussein, you know, like the American grunts under Bush?

Just seems like a double standard to me but hasn't it always been that way with Bush?

Btw, the answer to my question is...Bush should be standing by Hussein.

Can He or Can't He?

I've been wondering, if it comes down to it, can a Vice President be indicted? Today, Dan Froomkin of WaPo answered that question for me. In his article, The Prosecutor Zeros In, he makes it clear that yes, a Vice President can be indicted.

There is no indication that Fitzgerald is focusing on Cheney but let's just say that if he was, is there a precedent showing that he could be indicted? By jove, it seems there is.

Vice President Aaron Burr was indicted when he shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in their 1804 duel.

When Vice President Spiro T. Agnew found himself in hot water he claimed he was only answerable to Congress. However, then solicitor general Robert Bork concluded that, while "the indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would impermissibly undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions," the vice president was fair game.

The brief from the solicitor general argued that, "while the president was immune from indictment, the vice president was not, since his conviction would not disrupt the workings of the executive branch."

So, if Dick "the snarl" Cheney is found to be involved in the leak of a CIA operative, then yes, he can be indicted. heh heh

Buh Bye Mr. Cheney, couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

It's Enough To Make You Sick

This is really a subject I would rather not think about let alone write about but I think I would be remiss if I didn't.

Yes, this is about the dreaded avian flu pandemic experts expect to eventually hit the U.S. For the last several years we know there has been a shortage of flu vaccine and it looks like this year we are in for more of the same (not that I have a lot of faith in flu vaccines).

Anywho, our friends at AlterNet bring us an article by Madeline Drexler, Thomas Paine.common sense, about the likely event and problems facing us if the avian flu does become a pandemic. I'll leave it to you to read and decide what you think about it.

There are several things in the article that turns my stomach...Washington must offer finanical incentives to drug companies so they wouldn't go broke making emergency vaccines [uh huh]. In case of a pandemic, drug companies must agree to suspend patent rights [well, that will never happen]. The federal government must accept all liability costs for pandemic costs [hehehe, oh my, these people crack me up]. The Bush Administration must lead an international campaign to prepare for, and defend against, the next flu pandemic [as if].

I'm here to tell you that if we don't know by now that those things just ain't never gonna happen (sorry for using the Texas dialect, but when I get upset that tends to happen) then we never will. As if the drug companies don't already make enough money hand over fist. blah blah blah

I have personally decided to do what I can to protect myself and my family because I have no faith in the Bush Administration caring enough about the little guy to do it. An excellent place to find out what you can do to protect yourself and those you love is Flu Wiki.

Btw, I just want to let everyone know I have a new invention coming out just in time for flu season. It is called tissue nose screws. When you go to bed at night just shove the tissue nose screws up your nose and wake up in the morning (provided you can sleep) with a clean face and pillowcase. Yep, I'm gonna make a ton of money off of these babies. heh heh

It's true, what goes around, comes around.

I found this juicy little tidbit at the end of an article by Richard Keil at Bloomberg.com. The article is titled: Cheney May Be Entangled in CIA Leak Investigation.

Ready? Here it is....

In an interview yesterday, Wilson said that once the criminal questions are settled, he and his wife may file a civil lawsuit against Bush, Cheney and others seeking damages for the alleged harm done to Plame's career.

If they do so, the current state of the law makes it likely that the suit will be allowed to proceed -- and Bush and Cheney will face questioning under oath -- while they are in office. The reason for that is a unanimous 1997 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling that Paula Jones' sexual harassment suit against then- President Bill Clinton could go forward immediately, a decision that was hailed by conservatives at the time.
___________________________________________________
Just the thought of seeing Bush and Cheney's ugly mugs as they're being put under oath for questioning...well gosh, you can't even put a price on it.

Listen closely, I think I hear the gnashing of teeth. heh heh

Monday morning wake-up call.

I hope most of you watched Condaleeza Rice on NBC's Meet The Press yesterday but for those of you who missed it you need to know she answered the 201 billion dollar question of, Why we Invaded Iraq? Here it is folks...

"The fact of the matter is that when we were attacked on September 11, we had a choice to make. We could decide that the proximate cause was al Qaeda and the people who flew those planes into buildings and, therefore, we would go after al Qaeda…or we could take a bolder approach."

So there you have it, this is why Osama bin Laden is still running around free, allowed to commit acts of terror against the free world.

Now don't you feel better knowing this is the real reason our soldiers are dying and our tax dollars are being wasted, all because Bush chose to take a bolder approach and go after Iraqi oil (what other reason could there be?) than get the real culprits of 9/11. Whatta guy.

Wake up people!

Some things to contemplate

The way we change the world we live in is by becoming aware of what is going on around us. The Bush Administration has proven time after time they are masters of propaganda, hint: Karl the big lie Rove. We have been told by this administration the economy, the jobless rate, the crime rate, the recession etc. etc. are not problems while at the same time we are being told, oil, terrorism and the Iraqi War are the major problems. [Yes, I realize those are major problems, now, but they are Bush made problems.] However, we live in the United States, we know those are lies and we know we are being lied to.

Here is an interesting quote by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, brother to George W. Bush, about truth... "The truth is useless. You have to understand this right now. You can't deposit the truth in a bank. You can't buy groceries with the truth. You can't pay rent with the truth. The truth is a useless commodity that will hang around your neck like an albatross all the way to the homeless shelter. And if you think that the million or so people in this country that are really interested in the truth about their government can support people who would tell them the truth, you got another thing coming. Because the million or so people in this country that are truly interested in the truth don't have any money."

So it's important for us to research and discern what the truth is and what it isn't because regardless of what Mr. Jeb Bush says I think the truth is important and especially to the million or so people who don't have any money.

I want to encourage everyone to go to this site, OilEmpire.US, Propaganda Patterns and read it. It will give you a different perspective on what we are being told and certainly give you something to contemplate.