Today’s edition of quick hits.
* More purge-related documents are expected this afternoon. I’ll have a full report in the morning.
* Reuters: “The White House on Friday said no decision had been made on whether to let top political strategist Karl Rove testify to Congress in the flap over U.S. prosecutor firings that is prompting calls for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ ouster.” Sen. Schumer’s office, which had been promised a response by this afternoon, responded, “It is disappointing that the White House is not coming forward with their plan to bring witnesses to testify. We hope that this delay is not a signal they will not cooperate.”
* The Wall Street Journal editorial page argued that John McKay, the U.S. Attorney in Seattle before the purge, was a Democrat. As reader P.K. reminds me, the WSJ is wrong — McKay is a Bush-appointed Republican. “Of course, when a Republican doesn’t act like a vicious partisan hack, maybe he really isn’t a Republican anymore,” P.K. noted.
* McKay’s replacement in Seattle isn’t licensed to practice law in the state of Washington. Wow.
* Answering questions at a town hall meeting today, John McCain was discussing federal involvement in custody cases when he said, “For me to stand here and … say I’m going to declare divorces invalid because of someone who feels they weren’t treated fairly in court, we are getting into a tar baby of enormous proportions and I don’t know how you get out of that.” After the event, McCain apologized.
* New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) has announced that he will not participate in tomorrow St. Patrick’s Day parade in NYC, making him the first governor in 12 years to skip the event. Parade organizers have a policy against allowing gays and lesbians to march, prompting Spitzer’s decision.
* Here’s a crazy thought: replacing Alberto Gonzales with Patrick Fitzgerald. The WaPo’s Andrew Cohen writes, “Can you think of a better candidate to restore honor and integrity to the Justice Department than the man who just took on the White House, and won, with the perjury and obstruction trial of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby? Can you think of a person more likely to erase the standing charge of cronyism that seeps through the current administration like a stink bomb?” (thanks to B.P. for the tip)
* A new Gallup poll shows Americans opposed to a presidential pardon for Scooter Libby, by a three-to-one margin. (Only 43% of the country claimed to have followed the case closely.)
* The same Gallup poll found Dick Cheney’s approval rating dropping to an all-time low of 34%. I find it hard to imagine what those 34% are thinking.
* E&P: “The long and wrenching saga of what happened to Pat Tillman will draw to climax on March 26, when the Pentagon releases a long-awaited report to the media, to Congress and to Tillman’s family.”
* Glenn Beck: “She is like the stereotypical — excuse the expression, but this is the way to — she’s the stereotypical bitch, you know what I mean? … [A]fter four years, don’t you think every man in America will go insane?” and pleaded, “I’m sorry for being such a pig. But please, America. Please. I don’t think I could do it for four years. I mean, sure the country is going to go to hell in a handbasket, but could we make this about me for a second?” Remember, ABC and CNN — mainstays of the “liberal media” — pay this clown.
* USA Today ran a front-page piece that warrants additional scrutiny. Apparently, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center has suites — carpeted floors, antique furniture and fine china — reserved on the hospital’s top floor are reserved for the president, the vice president, federal judges, members of Congress and the Cabinet, high-ranking military officials and even foreign dignitaries and their spouses. Maybe some of the money that paid for all of this could have gone to Building 18?
* And finally, words of wisdom from Bill Maher on Bush calling on Americans to sacrifice during a time of war: “He’s asked us to sacrifice the pride and joy that comes from knowing people all over the world look up to you. Yeah, what can you do? And he’s asked us to sacrifice our future, because that’s where all the real bombs he’s planted — economic, environmental and security-related — are going to go off. Have a great weekend, everybody! In previous wars, Americans on the home front were willing to give up a lot. During World War II, people even pretended Bob Hope was funny. Women donated their silk undergarments to be made into parachutes — can you imagine nowadays Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan doing without underwear? OK, bad example.”
If these items aren’t of any interest, consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.