Today’s edition of quick hits.
* One key facet to the escalation policy that’s gone largely unmentioned: “Boosting U.S. troop levels in Iraq by 21,500 would create major logistical hurdles for the Army and Marine Corps, which are short thousands of vehicles, armor kits and other equipment needed to supply the extra forces, U.S. officials said.” As David Corn noted, “It seems that Bush will be sending GIs into war without sufficient levels of equipment. So who’s supporting the troops?”
* To update an item from yesterday, it turns out the Office of the Vice President hasn’t been entirely successful in keeping Cheney’s staff entirely secret. Justin Rood reported on the discovery of a 2004 White House phone directory, with the names of 81 Cheney staffers.
* Great line about Ari Fleischer, after having watched him get grilled under cross-examination in the Libby trial: “The longer you question Fleischer, the less knowledge you take away from the experience.”
* Remember this quote: “You know, I don’t agree with myself on everything” — Rudy Giuliani, campaigning in New Hampshire, Jan. 27, 2007. He was probably kidding, but I guarantee you’ll see that quote again during the campaign.
* Tom Schaller makes the case that the White House will soon feel compelled to throw Dick Cheney under the bus. I’d be very surprised if it happened, but Tom makes a good case.
* Another House Republican facing a federal investigation? Yep, this time it’s Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.), “making him the 20th member of the 109th Congress to fall under federal scrutiny.”
* Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) rejected the notion that Bush is “the decider” on matters of war. “I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider,” Specter said during a hearing on Congress’ war powers amid an increasingly harsh debate over Iraq war policy. “The decider is a shared and joint responsibility.” How long until he caves to pressure and changes his mind? Stay tuned. (thanks to Zeitgeist for the heads-up)
* The GOP filibuster has been broken and a vote on the minimum-wage increase in the Senate will move forward.
* The Iraq National Intelligence Estimate is allegedly coming “first thing next week.” I wonder if it’ll explain how and why the president crafted a new war policy without it.
* Admiral Bill Fallon, Bush’s nominee to head Central Command, seems to have no idea what CentCom does or what his responsibilities will be. Fallon, apparently aware of his ignorance, told senators, “As you know, I’ve got a full-time job in Pacific Command, and I’ve tried to stay away from the detail of Central Command until such time as I might be confirmed,” he said. “Then I intend to dive into it.” How reassuring.
* Balloon Juice’s Tim F. has a great post today about how “Iranian agents would have a hard time crafting a more favorable series of policies” for Iran than what the Bush administration has been up to in recent years.
* The new pastry chef for the White House literally wrote a book called, “Desserts for Dummies.” Sometimes, the jokes write themselves.
* And speaking of jokes, the president delivered a pretty funny speech at the Alfalfa Club on Saturday night. “As always, I’m delighted to be back at Alfalfa,” Bush said. “When I was here last year, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the Supreme Court had just withdrawn and my vice president had shot someone — ah, those were the good old days…. What with the polls and everything, the Washington Post said the other day that I was, quote, ‘at the nadir of my presidency.’ The press always underestimates me. I can go lower.”
If none of these particular items are of interest, consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.