Friday’s Mini-Report

February 9, 2007

Today’s edition of quick hits.

* E&P: “A young woman met a sudden and tragic end, it was reported on Thursday, leaving her family and people who knew her in great distress. No, it’s not Anna Nicole Smith. Her name is Jennifer Parcell, and she died in Iraq. But you’d be lucky if you could find any mention of her, amidst the front page and wall-to-wall media coverage of the likely drug-related death of ‘starlet’ Smith.” Take a moment to read about Parcell’s remarkable life, tragically cut short.

* While some congressional Republicans want to make the Pelosi/plane nonsense a big deal, a handful know better. “This is a bunch of baloney,” said Representative Ray LaHood, Republican of Illinois, who said he had flown on Hastert’s military plane. “Next week,” Representative Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said, “we are going to steal their mascot and short-sheet their beds.”

* In response to Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Peter Pace and Defense Secretary Robert Gates telling lawmakers this week that congressional debate doesn’t undermine troop morale, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is reportedly “outraged” by their tolerance for dissent. Graham told the far-right Washington Times that their perspective “shows a lack of sophistication about how this would play in newspaper headlines throughout the world.”

* Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said this week she doesn’t remember the Iranian memo from 2003 in which they sought to negotiate a diplomatic resolution between the U.S. and Iran. Newsweek’s Michael Hirsch obtained a copy of the document itself, which Rice might want to take a look at. Who knows, maybe it’ll jog her memory.

* On a related note, Eliot Abrams seems to be having some memory trouble as well.

* Rupert Murdoch wants to create a right-wing rival to already-conservative CNBC. Murdoch told a media conference in NYC yesterday, “Many times I’ve seen things on CNBC where they are not as friendly to corporations and profits as they should be.” As one insightful blogger put it, “Talk about shooting the messenger: It’s not the media that falsified option records, engaged in fraudulent accounting, had corrupt research, stole from investors, or any other of a long laundry list of corrupt, illegal and shareholder-hostile actions. They just reported it.”

* Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) on whether an anti-escalation resolution undermines the troops: “You have to ask who is really undermining this mission? Didn’t the Bush Administration undermine it from the start by going to war without sufficient cause, without sufficient planning, without sufficient equipment for our troops?”

* The AP reported today: “One of President Bush’s uncles, William H.T. Bush, was among directors of a defense contractor who reaped $6 million from what federal regulators say was an illegal scheme by two executives to manipulate the timing of stock option grants, documents show. The uncle, known as ‘Bucky,’ is the youngest brother of former President George H.W. Bush.” (thanks to reader K.M. for the tip)

* If you haven’t yet, I hope you’ll take a moment to read about the pain Eric Fair, a contract interrogator in Iraq in 2004, continues to feel after having played a role in abusing detainees. It’s shocking, powerful, and poignant.

* All of a sudden, congressional Republicans want to take oversight seriously? Now that Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) is putting the GOP to shame by holding hearings into waste, fraud, and abuse in the Iraq contracting process, a Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has set up an email address, anonymous whistleblower tip line, and online “reform suggestion box” to help citizens pass on tips about waste, fraud, or abuse. Nice try, guys. Too little, too late.

* Congressional Republicans generally believe scandals helped drive them from the majority in 2006 — and they’re worried the scandals aren’t quite over yet.

* The Patriot Act provision that allowed the Bush administration to conduct its prosecutor purge is going to be changed. It’ll be too late for the U.S. Attorneys who’ve already been fired, but it’ll protect others in the future.

* And, finally, following up on Rep. Gary Ackerman’s (D-N.Y.) idea about getting fired gay military linguists to work at the State Department, Secretary of State Rice reportedly believes the idea has merit. “Last night, Ackerman said in an interview that, after the hearing, he received a call from an aide to Rice who said that his suggestion was being taken seriously.” Stay tuned.

If none of these particular items are of interest, consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.

Now, now, don’t be TOO harsh on A N Smith. Maybe it will eventually be determined to be drug-induced. But it also could have been a drug-induced death due to post-partum depression. No one knows yet, and that is as likely a candidate as any. That said, I agree that the coverage is way over the top and the deaths of folks in Iraq get way too little attention.

  • I think the Republicans are over-playing the Pelosi non-story like they did the Terri Schiavo story. They’re looking like trouble-making morons again.

    I love Google. I couldn’t remember Schiavo’s exact name so I typed in “dying woman congress” and hit it the first time.

    WaPo had an interesting typo in the Eric Fair story earlier. It read, “Aman with no face stares at me from the corner of a room.”

  • Every time I look at, or even think about, Condoleezza Rice I think about the incongruity between that name and her face. The name is derived from a musical instruction, con dolcezza, meaning “with sweetness” (or pleasantness or kindness). Think of that the next time you see her glowering at a questioner.

  • I have been trying to post that press release from the sergeant-at-arms on ABC’s “Political Punch” for the last two days (the posts are moderated). They will print my insults, snark, vitriol, but not the press release. I’ve tried it with and without a link, with and without commentary, with and without snark – they post other people’s unsourcd, fact-free commentary, but not mine. Finally, I wrote the following in his next post:

    Funny, how quickly the right wing gets you to dance when they say you’re going so easy on the Obama, a week after he gets slimed as having coming from a radical Islamic terrorist producing Madrassa. You even make sure to get his middle name out there to feed the “Obama” sounds like “Osama” storyline, which fits neatly into the Obama as Muslim meme (even though he’s Christian). Now you’re going to whine about the soft treatment he’s receiving?

    Yet, you won’t let me post the following press release from the sergeant-at-arms, that exposes the Pelosi plane story as the Moonie fabrication it is:

    For Immediate Release

    February 8, 2007

    As the Sergeant at Arms, I have the responsibility to ensure the security of the members of the House of Representatives, to include the Speaker of the House. The Speaker requires additional precautions due to her responsibilities as the leader of the House and her Constitutional position as second in the line of succession to the presidency.

    In a post 9/11 threat environment, it is reasonable and prudent to provide military aircraft to the Speaker for official travel between Washington and her district. The practice began with Speaker Hastert and I have recommended that it continue with Speaker Pelosi. The fact that Speaker Pelosi lives in California compelled me to request an aircraft that is capable of making non-stop flights for security purposes, unless such an aircraft is unavailable. This will ensure communications capabilities and also enhance security. I made the recommendation to use military aircraft based upon the need to provide necessary levels of security for ranking national leaders, such as the Speaker. I regret that an issue that is exclusively considered and decided in a security context has evolved into a political issue.

    Go check out what they posted:

    Funny, how quickly the right wing gets you to dance when they say you’re going so easy on the Obama, a week after he gets slimed as having coming from a radical Islamic terrorist producing Madrassa. You even make sure to get his middle name out there to feed the “Obama” sounds like “Osama” storyline, which fits neatly into the Obama as Muslim name (even though he’s Christian). Now you’re going to whine about the soft treatment he’s receiving?

    Notice anything missing?

    If they can edit my e-mails, clearly they are aware of the exculpatory evidence they excised. They just don’t want it to appear on their website, just as they won’t allow it to appear in their news reports. The only reason for this is that they know such a clear refutation exposes the absurdity of the story they’re pimping. For whatever reason, they are honor bound to get on their knees and service these guys any time the GOP want something — even when the Dems are in power.

    Shills, not suck-ups.

  • * The Patriot Act provision that allowed the Bush administration to conduct its prosecutor purge is going to be changed. It’ll be too late for the U.S. Attorneys who’ve already been fired, but it’ll protect others in the future. — CB

    What about the party hacks who’d been installed in theirplace? If the provision is repealed, then their nominations aren’t permanent anymore, but should be reviewed by the local judiciary, as before, no? And that has to be done within 120 days of the original, temporary, nomination. And it’s not been 120 days yet since Dec 7. So, will the hacks be fired in turn?

  • I read earlier somewhere that she choked on her vomit & drugs were involved, or at least on the scene. A meaningless end to a pointless life.

    But while this sordid tableau unfolds (there’s even a fatherless child involved! Pathos!), several investigations are under way on the hill, each with potentially shocking revelations should anyone care to pay attention. Doug Feith says he “didn’t endorse the content” of central claims against Iraq by the OSP. Four Billion dollars of Iraqi money in US care missing. “No big deal” says a Bush official. The Libby trial revealing the seedy unbelly of how this Whitehouse conducts business, not to mention the spineless complicity of the MSM. Er… well, I guess I can see where the MSM wouldn’t want to get too down in the weeds with that last story.

    Apparently none of these stories (& many others) warrant the amount of coverage that the drug induced, vomit-choking death of a talentless, gold-digging ex-stripper cum “celebrity” will receive over the next few news cycles — indeed, the whole who’s-the-daddy angle will keep this story alive for a while (Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husband might be the father? What the Hell?!). A sad state of affairs to be sure.

  • “Next week,” Representative Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said, “we are going to steal their mascot and short-sheet their beds.”

    This really is the best response to this “story”. Much kudos to this guy for making it. Flake gets some bonus points in my book.

    Graham, on the other hand, (responding to the next item) can suck it.

  • Next week,” Representative Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said, “we are going to steal their mascot and short-sheet their beds.”

    This really is the best response to this “story”. Much kudos to this guy for making it. Flake gets some bonus points in my book.

    remember, these are the guys from the party that won’t let there be any discussion of the war. What does it say about them sucking up the oxygen with this faux manufactured outrage crap while we sit back and watch our men and women and national treasure get sucked into Bush’s dieing machine in Iraq?

  • That Eric Fair article really is haunting. A good quote on the idea of transparency about what’s going on – “If we’re doomed to repeat the history we forget, what will be the consequences of the history we never knew?”

    The Repubs whistle blowing e-mail address? Another hopeful attempt to find dirt on Dems to ditrict from Republican corruption and then be able to claim the problem is “bipartisan.”

    Bucky Bush is evil too? Damn, when Ed Stephan calls them the Bush crime family, he’s not kidding. I didn’t realize there is a gene for evil.

  • a Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has set up an email address, anonymous whistleblower tip line, and online “reform suggestion box” to help citizens pass on tips about waste, fraud, or abuse.

    Yeah, so they can either get in on the fun or knock off the witnesses.

  • okay … i’m sick of this. can we talk about the hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollar bush burns up using air force one to run partisan campaign junkets ? have you SEEN the entourage that flies with potus when the mood strikes him (or rove orders him) to move the bubble from dc or crawford ? the cost is obscene, and he’s supposed to be using it for government business only.

    shall we take a hard look, while we’re on the pelosi plane story ?

    nahhh … didn’t think so.

  • Anna Nicole, as a public persona, is about as empty and vacuous as you can get. But, face it, folks. Celebs are celebs. But, the woman is prematurely dead, and that’s always a tragedy. Someone is grieving instead of smirking. Still, people have always been interested in celebrity and have always overlooked more concentrated, off-the-radar pathos. That’s why good authors write good books.

    CB’s mention of Eric Fair is important. You don’t see many catharses in the NYT. Eric’s is impressive. From reading about the French in Algeria, I’ve found that the people of France in the mid 1950s were horrified over the reports of torture — that their nation could even be associated with such a crime. They took it as national insult and betrayal. Seems to be okay here in the land ‘o Freedom Fries, though.

    Senator Graham can go to hell. This country was founded on dissent, and the founding fathers suggested it continue. I’d say “lack of dissent” is not only less a problem, but just plain terrifying.

    For some reason, John Edwards hasn’t dropped out of the race. Apparently, he didn’t understand that blogophiles are a greater priority than anyone else. But, heck. He’s a dumb, Klan-member bigot like all the rest of “his ilk.”

    Sorry. Allibubba ain’t in a good mood tonight.

  • Doug Feith goes on the Situation Room and informs Wolf that the situation in Iraq – the mess that we find ourselves in in Iraq – is all due errors that the CIA made. The man’s ability to delude himself is on full display. All he and his colleagues at the Pentagon were doing, afterall was criticizing the CIA for filtering its intel to fit its own theories about Sadaam and Al Qaeda (i.e., that they would not cooperate). WMD’s? Programs were found. Intent was found. Even after all this time – I found his performance breath taking.

    Crooks and Liars has the clip.

    http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/09/douglas-feith-under-secretary-of-lies-obfuscation/

  • Dude – get back on your meds and get some therapy. If you can’t figure out after having your comments deleted multiple times that no one wants to hear your delusional racist rants then maybe you should look in the mirror to find the problem.

  • Dude – get back on your meds and get some therapy.

    Just to clarify, the comment marcus was referring to has been deleted.

  • CB, Where in the Fox Business News article (by the NYT, even) does it cite any “right wing” reference? I guess “business friendly” is synonimous with right wing aound these parts. Good way to judge the product even before you’ve had a look!

  • Additions to your report – possible?

    RECENT HEADLINES

    DEMOCRATIC FIELD NARROWS

    After Barack Obama’s electrifying speech announcing his candidacy, five previously announced candidates withdrew from the race.

    NUMBER OF SMITH PATERNITY CLAIMANTS SETS RECORD

    The number of men claiming to be the father of Anna Nicole Smith daughter now exceeds the number of reporters subpoened in the Libby trial.

    MICHAEL BROWN CHOSEN TO LEAD JAKARTA FLOOD CLEANUP

    Selection of former FEMA director based on impressive resume’ and strong recommendation of Secretary of Homeland Security Director, Michael Chertoff.

    GIULIANI CLARIFIES HIS VIEWS ON ABORTION

    Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani reaffirmed his strong support of a woman’s right to choose while
    promising to limit his judicial appointments to those who agreed to rule all abortions illegal

    from Sub-Rosa News at http://www.altara.blogspot.com

  • CB, Where in the Fox Business News article…

    jsini, why did you stop using your usual “JRS Jr.” tag line?

  • When the hell are some very wealthy people with progressive politics going to bankroll a progressive alternative to CNBC, CNN, Fox and the like? And tied into such a progressive cable network it would be great to have them also bankroll a TV network that would air, in additional to the usual array entertainment fare, news programs far more hard-hitting and intelligent than the current MSM.
    Am I naive to think there is enough of combined wealth among progressives to rival Murdoch’s and to sustain the losses that are associated with both start-up costs and less of an ad base? (I’m presume many potential advertisers would avoid supporting such a network.)
    I am sure there are many of us, myself included, who have chosen occupations and places of employment not to maximize our earnings but, rather, to contribute in whatever ways, large and small, to a better world. And is it crazy for me to imagine that there might be some successful and relatively secure financially (if not super-wealthy) writers, directors, producers, actors and others who would be willing to work for less in order to support such a network?
    With the MSM media so corrupt, so entangled with the disinformation of the right, I can’t think of a better use of progressives’ wealth, even if it were to cut into the fundraising for progressive candidates.

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