Today’s edition of quick hits.
* These guys are going to need good lawyers: “Two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers, Ralph Cioffi and Matthew Tannin, were indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on charges they intentionally misled investors in two funds that collapsed last summer under the weight of wrong-way bets on mortgage-backed securities. Cioffi and Tannin, who surrendered Thursday morning to the FBI, face charges of conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud. Cioffi faces an additional charge of insider trading. The case turns on the question of what the men knew when they told investors they were hopeful about the funds’ prospects – at a time when their performance was deteriorating and some investors were trying to withdraw money.”
* One of the few issues on which John McCain has been entirely consistent is his opposition to drilling ANWR for oil. Apparently, even that long-held position is now on the table.
* I’ve been wondering the same thing: “Someone help me here. McCain is grandstanding on public financing when he is, as we speak, breaking the law by continuing to spend unlimited primary campaign money after opting in to public financing for the primary phase of the campaign? And then greenlighting the outside 527s to go after Obama only days ago? Something doesn’t compute.”
* Remember, these are the words of a retired U.S. general, not just some blogger: “[T]here is no longer any doubt as to whether the current administration has committed war crimes. The only question that remains to be answered is whether those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account. ”
* Dems and Republicans in the House struck a deal on a war supplemental bill late yesterday. The breakthrough suggests Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-Va.) modernized GI Bill will be in position to become law.
* We can say with a high degree of confidence that the Bush/McCain drilling plan won’t produce oil anytime soon: “As oil trades at more than $135 a barrel — up from $68 a year ago — the world’s drill-ships are booked solid for the next five years. Some oil companies have been forced to postpone exploration while waiting for a drilling rig, executives and analysts said.”
* Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) gave a speech on the House floor today, urging everyone to be nicer to “our friends,” the oil companies. Wow.
* Taking Bush’s legacy on the road.
* Brian Williams will host “Meet the Press” this weekend, but there’s no word about a permanent replacement for Tim Russert.
* I’m not at all sure the “Media Bloggers Association” is a reliable, representative outlet.
* I’ve always liked Nirvana, too.
* Remember that re-Baathification law passed by the Iraqi parliament in January? And how it was supposed to be a breakthrough? It’s not being implemented.
* I’m really not sure who Elisabeth Hasselbeck is, or what she’s done to become some kind of celebrity, but if her Fox News appearance last night is any indication, she’s not very bright.
* Republicans are apparently worried about what Scott McClellan might say if he testifies before the House Judiciary Committee as planned.
* And people wonder why I make fun of the Washington Times: “Times columnist and editor emeritus Wesley Pruden opened with a line stating that the AIDS virus is ‘the gifts of the gays.'”
* And finally, the #1 nightmare in the right-wing worldview is bringing Islamic Sharia law to America. I look forward, then, to hearing the conservative reaction to Blackwater’s request that a federal U.S. judge apply Sharia law to a civil case against the company. I guess this means Blackwater is literally trying to destroy Western civilization?
Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.