Friday’s Mini-Report

July 20, 2007

Today’s edition of quick hits.

* Bush will undergo a routine colonoscopy tomorrow, and under the 25th amendment, will temporarily transfer power to Dick Cheney. The procedure is expected to take about two and a half hours, during which time Cheney will no doubt be tempted to start several new wars.

* The president acknowledged yesterday that he considered sending U.S. troops into Darfur, but decided not to because he doesn’t believe in “unilateral” deployments. Bush has quite a sense of humor doesn’t he?

* Under pressure from Bill O’Reilly’s minions, JetBlue has pulled its sponsorship of the YearlyKos conference. (Note to the airline: if you give in to bullies, you’ll probably continue to be bullied.) As it turns out, JetBlue is taking the worst-of-both-worlds approach: it’s still donating some free airline tickets for yKos attendees (which will annoy the right), but is pulling its official support (which annoys the left). Dumb.

* 74% of Republicans believe Rudy Giuliani is an “acceptable” presidential candidate, the highest of the current GOP field. Now, how many of those 74% know that Giuliani is pro-choice, supports gay rights, and has had more adulterous affairs than Romney has had hunting trips? I have a hunch that it’s a pretty low number.

* Bill Clinton is blogging. (Now, if I can figure out how to finagle my way onto that blogroll….)

* National Journal: “Barack Obama is losing his top foreign-policy adviser to active military duty. Mark Lippert, who has helped to write every major Obama foreign-policy speech and is known as “an expert at nailing down details,” has been called up by the Naval Reserve. He’s in training now but says his orders don’t specify where or how long he’ll deploy. This will be the first tour for the lieutenant junior grade, who signed up for the Reserve about three years ago.”

* TPMM: “President Bush signed an executive order Friday spelling out new interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects that bar cruel and inhumane treatment, humiliation or denigration of prisoners’ religious beliefs.” There may already be a loophole.

* CNN political analyst Bill Schneider told viewers today that conservatives “admire Giuliani’s record on terrorism.” What record on terrorism?

* John Cole makes fun of Hugh Hewitt over and over again so I don’t have to.

* Rumor has it former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is planning to not seek re-election, and may decide to quit Congress before the end of the 110th Congress. Would anyone notice his absence?

* Conservative columnist Jim Pinkerton: “When kids see ‘Harry Potter,’ they should be thinking first about defending their country, and their civilization, against evildoers wielding weapons of mass destruction.”

* Exactly 18 months from today, a new president will take office. Something to look forward to.

* Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.), the only Republican in the House from New England, makes the perfect WINO case: he argues publicly that the U.S. should begin to plan a withdrawal of troops, but refuses to vote accordingly.

* I find it startling that the Washington Post would run an entire piece on Hillary Clinton’s cleavage on the front page of its Style section, and yet, there it is.

* Matt Groening doesn’t want Rupert Murdoch to buy the Wall Street Journal, either.

* And finally, MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann had another one of his Special Comments last night, this time in response to Under-Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman’s argument that the Iraq debate encourages the “enemy.” Take a look; you’ll be glad you did.

Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.

What, Bush has any powers *left*, that he hasn’t *already* given to Cheney?

  • Bush will undergo a routine colonoscopy tomorrow, and under the 25th amendment, will temporarily transfer power to Dick Cheney. The procedure is expected to take about two and a half hours, during which time Cheney will no doubt be tempted to start several new wars.

    Beautiful, just beautiful. They are both traitors and guilty of treason.

    Long live the Constitutional Republic of the United States of America!

  • CB is right. Watch Keith Olbermann at the link given above. You’ll be glad that you did.

    Speaking of Harry Potter: When I saw the new Harry Potter movie the other night, and the forces of evil were taking over Hogwarts, all I could think about was that they were using the same tactics that the Bush gang uses. Did anyone else pick up on that?

    If Dennis Hastert resigns, the governor of Illinois (a Democrat) might notice. Would he get to appoint a Democratic replacement? Wouldn’t it be cool for both Hastert’s and DeLay’s former seats to be occupied by Democrats?

  • “Rumor has it former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is planning to not seek re-election, and may decide to quit Congress before the end of the 110th Congress. Would anyone notice his absence?” – CB

    Maybe a better question would be, “Did anyone notice his presence?”

    Or not. Just saying. 🙂

  • Again, and it should be mentioned each and every time that the leaders of BushCo have these medical procedures, they are covered under “socialized” medicine that is paid for by the rest of us, many of whom are without health insurance and are denied “socialized” medicine thanks to the BushCo hypocrites.

  • Yeah Marc #5, I wonder how much this little procedure is costing us. They should just ask Cheney how it looks up there. He’s so far up Bush’s colon…

  • On The Situation Room today, Miles O’Brien shot down repub J.C. Watts during the stategy session with Paul Begala and Watts. The subject wasw hether McCain should adopt a stronger position on global warming. Watts tried to argue that ‘science’ was on both sides of the global warming ‘debate’.


    WATTS: Even, but, you know, that’s not — that’s not a — a popular position in the Republican Party. And I think science would support, you know, what I would say about it.

    Well, like I said, I can’t talk for John McCain, but I can talk for me. I don’t believe the Earth is melting because of carbon emissions.

    O’BRIEN: Oh, well, you’re not paying attention to the science, J.C.

    WATTS: Well…

    O’BRIEN: You’re definitely not paying attention.

    (CROSSTALK)

    WATTS: You have got science on both sides of that issue.

    BEGALA: No.

    (CROSSTALK)

    O’BRIEN: No, you don’t. No, you don’t.

    (CROSSTALK)

    O’BRIEN: The scientific debate is over, J.C. We’re done. We’re out of…

    (CROSSTALK)

    WATTS: Well, Miles, that’s your position.

    O’BRIEN: No, no, no, that’s not — that is science. That is science.

    (CROSSTALK)

    O’BRIEN: The science is…

    (CROSSTALK)

    WATTS: Well, it’s political science.

    O’BRIEN: Yes, no, no.

    (CROSSTALK)

    WATTS: It’s political science.

    (CROSSTALK)

    BEGALA: The politics of it…

    O’BRIEN: We’re out of time.

    The transcript doesn’t really do the segment justice.

    O’Brien would have none of it, cutting him off repeatedly. I’ve always thought Miles O’Brien was one of the best on CNN’s staff. It was great to see him forbid abject bullshit on his watch.

  • From the TP link CB cites, on Bush’s latest Executive Order….

    “The Post reported that exempting “CIA case officers and other government employees from prosecution for past war crimes or torture” was a “technical provision [that] held great importance to Cheney and his allies.” So while the administration is saying that it will not torture, it appears to be turning a blind eye in the event that it happens.”

    Sort of like an unlimited number of pardons except that we’ll never know for whom, when, or what for. Citizens who stay in their homes and observe the curfew will have nothing to fear.

  • Bush will undergo a routine colonoscopy tomorrow, and under the 25th amendment, will temporarily transfer power to Dick Cheney.

    Ha! Good luck, buddy!

    74% of Republicans believe Rudy Giuliani is an “acceptable” presidential candidate, the highest of the current GOP field. Now, how many of those 74% know that Giuliani is pro-choice, supports gay rights, and has had more adulterous affairs than Romney has had hunting trips? I have a hunch that it’s a pretty high number.

    I would think that they would have a bigger problem with him having gay friends and cross-dressing. I know the cross-dressing isn’t a big deal, really, but I’m kind of annoyed by stuff like that (just rubs me the wrong way) and I’m not a gay-hater or homophobic; other people will be really offended or bothered by it even though it’s just putting on some clothes. And his friends- no one rely on me for this, because I’m not solid on this guy’s biography, but the impression I get is that Giuliani needed some in with the rich + powerful and the rich guys he hooked up with were gay guys- that he was patronizing them and amusing them by doing stuff like cross-dressing. Again, to us the cross-dressing isn’t a big deal, but to someone who thinks gays are real big sinners, that context will drive them up a wall. I’d count on the mainstream media to barely ever refer to it, though.

    “When kids see ‘Harry Potter,’ they should be thinking first about defending their country, and their civilization, against evildoers wielding weapons of mass destruction.”

    Weeiiiiiiirrd.

    OT-

    I have a diary up at Daily Kos today here.

  • I keep hearing on talk radio and reading in the news and in the blogs that America has reached a “tipping point”, that Americans need to understand…need to become aware…need to open their eyes…and it needs to stop.
    American’s, except for the 31% still supporting Bush, are well passed the “tipping point”. We are in fact submerged in an ocean of lies and corruption. We totally understand, are very well aware with eyes popping out, and we are outraged by our own frustrating powerlessness.
    We know what we want but are being held hostage by “political tactics”. When a majority of voters are being told “NO” by a handful of obstructionists something is very wrong with the rules.

    When a majority stands up and demands withdrawal of troops,
    Demands accountability and impeachment, demands regulation of government contract war profiteers, demands our elected officials do what we elected them to do and all that gets done is a big refusal to cooperate because of compromised executive and judicial branches of government then know that we are all well aware of being held hostage and no longer need to “be persuaded”.

    We are letting the Legislative branch know that we are willing to go to any lengths to stop this implosion of our way of life.
    We no longer need to be persuaded that drastic measures are needed but are merely waiting for the legislature to implement them. We do not want to wait for elections that may never come. We are ready now for the reign of King George to end and no longer need to be convinced of the necessity.

    Enough is Enough, so stop talking and just start doing no matter how it looks to the press because we are way ahead of the controlled press. We want the remedy to this crisis now before it is completely too late.

  • Note to the airline industry: I shall henceforth refrain from so much as setting foot aboard a JetYellowDogCoward aircraft.

  • Okie,

    A governor does not have the power to appoint a new Member of the House after a death or resignation. The replacement must be chosen in a special election. For example, on Tuesday, there was by-election in Georgia to choose a replacement for Charlie Norwood, who died earlier this year.

  • Regarding O’Lielly: Considering many, many of his statements on his radio and television programs, I thought that when the Fox “News” personality claims that the Daily Kos website is full of “hate,” he is actually paying the site a compliment.

  • TPMM: “President Bush signed an executive order Friday spelling out new interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects that bar cruel and inhumane treatment, humiliation or denigration of prisoners’ religious beliefs.” There may already be a loophole.

    Bush is at it again, first he denied that he allowed torture in his administration, then Cheney says waterboarding is a no brainer, then Bush writes an order against torture – gee, why write that order if torture wasn’t taking place in this administration???? I’m sure it’s simply Bush’s political theater because we all know that Cheney calls the shots and Cheney has already said that waterboarding is a no brainer. So this current stunt is another one of Bush’s poltical lies. I’ve noticed is all the GOP has left with this days.

    It was like that with wiretapping too, first Bush denied it, then admitted it, and said he had the right to wiretap – NO US Constitution and NO Amendment IV need apply – Bush admits no laws need apply to him and indeed that he alone has the right to be lawless. Indeed his oath of office was nothing but a contrite and boring novelty that was utterly without significance. I mean, why the hell is Bush making an executive order for something that is already part of the US Constitution? Because Bush’s oath of office is meaningless?

    Bush is an activist judge in his own right, certainly not a strict constructionist, who would have a strict interpretation of the law or an strict interpetation of an oath. And if conservatives don’t like change – why then is Bush considered a conservative since he is quite liberal with the way he feels free to change any law, to change anything at anytime. NRO and Repug pundits point to Bush as the icon of far right conservatism – but Bush spends like the liberals he derides, makes changes like a liberal, shows no sign of ethical behavoir. All the taboos conseratives preach against.

    We’ve noticed that lots of voters have left the Republican party and I don’t think they are moderates, as the GOP and the press would have people believe. Bush has turned conservatism on its head. Bush has redefined the conserative party for the worse and I think its fair to say that for conservatives of today – This Republcan Party is not your father’s party.

    I would have NO doubt whatsoever, that Goldwater, if he were alive today, would have been completely appalled with todays Republican Party and would have been completely unable to identify with any part of it. Ron Paul is harkening back to the roots of Goldwater conservative party, and Bush has no identifiable roots to that kind of party.

  • “I find it startling that the Washington Post would run an entire piece on Hillary Clinton’s cleavage on the front page of its Style section, and yet, there it is.”

    I look forward to future WaPo articles on the cute little bumps in the male presidential candidates’ Speedos and how it will affect their status as leaders.

  • With Libbys commute – who needs Chief Justice Roberts. With Bush able to set legal precedent.

    Bush has become the Judical branch, AND his commute of Libby makes Bush an activtist Judge.

    Bush complains about isolationist but HE is an isolationist,
    Bush complains about spending but he the BIGGEST spender,
    Bush complains about activist judges but he is an activist Judges
    Bush says Dems play political theater but does nothing himself but does one theatrical political stunt right after another.

    Libby’s commute was not stict constructionist law – its a liberal interpretation. Bush is NOT a conservative – there is nothing conservative about him.

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