Today’s edition of quick hits.
* Another rough day in the markets: “Stocks fell sharply Friday after a series of depressing economic and earnings reports and high oil prices stoked concerns about the health of economy. The major stock indexes fell more than 2 percent, with the Dow Jones industrials closing down more than 300 points…. Adding to Wall Street’s list of worries, oil prices continued to stir concern about inflation after topping $103 per barrel for the first time, in electronic trading overnight.”
* Special Assistant to the President Timothy Goeglein works in the White House’s Office of Public Liaison, where apparently he’s been plagiarizing others’ work in published columns. After getting caught, Goeglein fessed up: “It is true. I am entirely at fault. It was wrong of me. There are no excuses.”
* As is often the case with those who take others’ work, Goeglein was caught in one incident, but there are others: “Timothy S. Goeglein, a White House aide and President Bush’s chief liaison to religious groups, has admitted to plagiarizing a column he wrote for his hometown paper, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) News-Sentinel. The problem is: More examples have now been identified at The Washington Post and New York Sun, with further searches (including at the News-Sentinel) just starting.”
* The White House isn’t even trying to defend Goeglein: “‘We were just made aware about Tim’s column and his actions this morning,’ said White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore. ‘Obviously this is not acceptable.’ Lawrimore would not comment on whether the president would ask Goeglein to resign, saying the White House was still ‘looking into the details.'”
* McCain finally responded to his endorsement from anti-Catholic evangelist John Hagee: “Yesterday, Pastor John Hagee endorsed my candidacy for president in San Antonio, Texas. However, in no way did I intend for his endorsement to suggest that I in turn agree with all of Pastor Hagee’s views, which I obviously do not.” Two things: 1) OK, which views does McCain like, and which views does he reject? 2) Obama denounced Farrakhan’s comments; why won’t McCain do the same with Hagee?
* A fiasco gets worse: “The U.S. embassy in Iraq has faulty sprinklers, fire suppression and water supply, despite testimony from the State Department last year that the $592 million was on schedule and on budget. According to a letter released by House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), February inspections found ‘raise serious questions about status of the embassy project and the December decision to certify substantial compliance.'”
* Given that millions of American lives hang in the balance, surely Republicans would want an extension of the recently-expired “Protect America Act,” right? Wrong. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) offered a 30-day extension today, pending additional debate, and Republicans refused to go along. I guess it’s not a matter of life and death after all.
* TPMM: “Two weeks ago, the House passed a contempt resolution against White House chief of staff Josh Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers. The two refused to comply with subpoenas issued by the House Judiciary Committee as part of the investigation of the U.S. attorney firings. [Yesterday], after House lawyers dotted their i’s and crossed their t’s, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) finally followed up by referring the contempt resolution to the U.S. attorney for D.C.” I have a hunch Bush’s Justice Department isn’t interested in helping out on this one.
* Ugh: “A post on the MSNBC.com blog First Read stated: ‘We’ve noticed today the [Sen. John] McCain/FEC stories — that McCain very well might have to abide by spending limits before the GOP convention — are starting to roll in. But why is this only now starting to get more traction, compared with all the stories about [Sen. Barack] Obama waffling on his pledge to accept public funds in the general?'” Here’s a thought: because NBC News hasn’t given the McCain/FEC controversy any attention at all?
* I don’t like to see anyone lose their job, but I did notice that Giuliani Partners is laying off part of its staff “as the business is reshaped after his failed presidential campaign.”
* And finally, an unhelpful Drudge scoop: “Prince Harry will be immediately brought home from Afghanistan, where he has spent the last 10 weeks fighting on the front lines, the British Defense Ministry said Friday…. His presence there had been kept secret from the public in a remarkable deal between the British military and media. But the secret was revealed in two little-noticed articles in an Australian tabloid magazine, and then blasted into the global media spotlight Thursday by the Drudge Report Web site…. The Ministry of Defense announced Harry’s withdrawal early Friday afternoon, saying that publicity about his presence in Afghanistan had unduly jeopardized him and his fellow soldiers.”
Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.
