Wednesday’s Mini-Report

May 23, 2007

Today’s edition of quick hits.

* TPMM: “Monica Goodling admitted ‘crossing the line’ earlier in her testimony with regard to hiring assistant U.S. attorneys based on their political affiliations. That’s against the law. Assistant U.S. attorneys are the prosecutors in the U.S. attorney offices across the country that actually prosecute the cases. But how many federal prosecutors were submitted to Goodling’s litmus test? Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) asked was it fewer than 50, more than 50? Goodling couldn’t say. ‘I can’t think that I could have done it more than 50 times, but I don’t know.'”

* In what may prove to be one of the more interesting moments of this afternoon’s hearing, Goodling suggested that Alberto Gonzales made her “uncomfortable” with a March conversation in which he apparently tried to shape her recollection of the firings. (It is, of course, a crime to tamper with a witness of a congressional investigation.)

* I’ve been whining for weeks about Michael Baroody being nominated to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Good news: he withdrew from consideration today, citing staunch Democratic opposition. Of course, the last Bush nominee to withdraw from the Senate confirmation process because of Dem opposition got a recess appointment, so stay tuned.

* Remember in March when we learned that General Services Administration chief Lurita Doan almost certainly violated the Hatch Act by politicizing her agency? Yesterday, the Office of Special Counsel found that Doan violated the Hatch Act by politicizing her agency. Doan has until June 1 to respond to the OSC report.

* I mentioned yesterday that the Smithsonian may have engaged in some self-censorship on climate change in order to keep Republican officials happy. Today, House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) sent the Smithsonian a letter notifying the institution that he is starting an investigation into the matter.

* There’s a poll of Muslims in the United States that has most of the right up in arms. Glenn Greenwald adds some helpful perspective to the results.

* AP: “Congress cleared legislation Tuesday that would curb President Bush’s power to appoint prosecutors indefinitely, resolving one controversy linked to the firing of federal prosecutors. The 306-114 vote gave the House’s blessing to the Senate-passed bill, readying it for Bush’s expected signature. It will close a loophole that Democrats say could have permitted the White House to reward GOP loyalists with plum jobs as U.S. attorneys.”

* Mary Cheney, Dick Cheney’s daughter, gave birth today to healthy baby boy. Cheney’s pregnancy became controversial when the VP’s friends in the religious right complained about his lesbian daughter having a baby.

* “Behind the Curtain of the MySpace Legal Drama.” Interesting stuff. (thanks, Goldilocks)

* Looks like the no-confidence vote on Gonzales will be delayed until after the Memorial Day recess.

* Speaking of Gonzales, fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias has a blistering op-ed in today’s LAT, calling on the AG to start taking his responsibilities seriously: “What has become clear already is that the ‘loyalty uber alles’ mentality has infected a wide swath of the Bush administration. Simple notions like right and wrong are, in their eyes, matters of allegiance, not conscience.” The whole thing is worth reading.

* Bob Novak is complaining about his legal fees. I don’t feel sorry for him.

* Is the Pentagon punishing McClatchy’s DC bureau for aggressive coverage of Iraq? Maybe.

* House Minority Leader John Boehner apparently isn’t fond of Bush’s new immigration policy. At a reception for the Republican Rapid Responders on Capitol Hill, Boehner said, “I promised the President today that I wouldn’t say anything bad about … this piece of sh*t bill.”

* And finally, MoveOn.org asked me to pass along word to Carpetbagger readers about its new campaign. MoveOn is organizing opposition to the war funding bill that Dem leaders agreed to yesterday. Looks like a good way to channel frustration into action.

Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.

Glenn Greenwald adds some helpful perspective to the results.

I have a lot of respect for a lot of Glenn’s work.

But I will not read a story that practically starts with: “The reality, though, is that it is almost impossible to conduct a poll and not have a sizable portion of the respondents agree to almost everything.”

I’m hoping that Glenn sincerely regrets having written that.

  • I’d be more than happy to start a Bob Novak legal fund, but I’d rather spend my money on something more useful like paying for a gigantic satellite that will fire a laser to scratch my ass from orbit.

    Apologies to Warren Zevon:
    Novak’s Lawyers, guns and Money

    Well, I took a call from Karl Rove
    The way I always do
    How was I to know
    She was with the CIA, too

    I was grumbling on CNN
    I wrote a little note
    Send lawyers, funds and money
    Readers, get me out of this

    I’m the innocent bystander
    Somehow I got stuck
    Between squealing and the hard truth
    And I’m down on my luck
    And I’m down on my luck
    And I’m down on my luck

    Now I’m writing in the Post
    I’m a desperate man
    Send lawyers, funds and money
    The shit has hit the fan

    Send lawyers, funds and money..

  • * Mary Cheney, Dick Cheney’s daughter, gave birth today to healthy baby girl. — CB

    And named her… Samuel David Cheney. Just can’t do without a man, can they, if in name only

  • OT I saw a bit of truth in the news the other day. The report named a Palestinian “refugee camp” and said it was actually like a small town with 2 story houses etc. Maybe when they stop thinking of them as camps, the Palestinians will start thinking in terms of peaceful solutions to their problems.

  • Mary Cheney gave birth to a boy – not a girl, CB. And libra, I am sure Mary and Heather can do without a man. Thanks.

  • Ramki (@6): the puter “ate” the “grin” that was supposed to have gone at the end of the sentence. Of course they can do without a man — have done for 15 yrs, haven’t they? Not but… they’ll have one now, willy nilly.

  • Haven’t been able to get to the report today until now and I just wanted to say that you have been particularly pointed and brilliant today Steve. Thanks. Keep it up. Your take on the news of the day always brings me a few laughs, morbid as they may be.

  • Just spoke with CB.

    He’s aware of his error on the gender of Mary Cheney’s child, but doesn’t have access to fix it at the moment. He assures me he will fix it later this evening.

  • re Zeitgeist (#3): Are you saying you think “it is almost impossible to conduct a poll and not have a sizable portion of the respondents agree to almost everything” is a reasonable statement?

  • “He’s aware of his error on the gender of Mary Cheney’s child, but doesn’t have access to fix it at the moment. He assures me he will fix it later this evening. ”

    There’s something slightly disturbing about this statement.

  • I’ll bet Lurita Doan would look fabulous in an orange prison jumpsuit. Or even a dowdy ensemble in the unemployment line.

    She probably won’t even get a reprimand, though, knowing how her boss works.

    Dammit. 🙁

  • sarabeth – no, i was just taking a jab at the remaining residue of Bush supporters. my snark apparently didn’t come through well. 🙂

  • He’s aware of his error on the gender of Mary Cheney’s child, but doesn’t have access to fix it at the moment. He assures me he will fix it later this evening.

    And it’s fixed. Only three hours late!

  • “And it’s fixed. Only three hours late!”

    — CB

    Well done. Now young Sam can relax. Until he meets grandpa.

  • Zeitgeist: Sorry! I thought 29% was a number from the poll of Muslims that Greenwald was addressing! (Doesn’t help that each poll has it’s own different version of that 29%.)

  • When the chief umpire is the one thowing sand in the eyes, the special prosecutor will need goggles.

  • Someone needs to make sure Monica Goodling is disbarred for her rampant politicizing of the DOJ civil service hiring process. Everyone knows that you’re not supposed to do that, and she should be punished.

  • And finally, MoveOn.org asked me to pass along word to Carpetbagger readers about its new campaign. MoveOn is organizing opposition to the war funding bill that Dem leaders agreed to yesterday. Looks like a good way to channel frustration into action.

    Too late.

    My wife and I quit the “democrat” party today.
    We are Independents now.
    Feels good.
    We told our Congresswoman why in a scathing email…
    (She is a Bush dimocrat. )

    Told them also not to send me any more crap begging for funds.
    Good luck with that eh?

  • Mary Cheney, Dick Cheney’s daughter, gave birth today to healthy baby boy.

    And today Jimmy Falwell realized that reincarnation is true and God wants to make sure he learns not to to be such an arsehole.

    There’s a poll of Muslims in the United States that has most of the right up in arms.

    My reaction to this poll: StFu until you’ve done a poll of the other major religions. I found its release the same week a nice Christian lad (studying to be an army chaplain no less) was caught with a bunch of home made bombs in his car to be particularly ironic.

  • From the polling article CB posted:
    “On balance, they believe that Muslims coming to the United States should adopt American customs, rather than trying to remain distinct…”

    What exactly does “adopt American customs” mean?

    It always irritates me when people talk about our country’s “culture” or “customs”, and how “foreigners” never want to assimilate to said culture and/or customs .
    Whenever someone starts talking like that, I ask them “Well, what is America’s culture and customs?”

    I can never get a straight answer.

  • 2Manchu, you are absolutely right. As a slightly tongue-in-cheek, I’d be absolutely frantic if I didn’t have foreign sources for my meal preparation. No more pizza or Italian food, no more Indian curry dishes, no more tacos (or tamales or enchiladas, etc.), no more Greek lamb, and let’s not even get into Asian food. French food I tend to disregard, since their sauces are fantastic, but the actual “meat” of the meal is rather blase.. 😉

    On another note, thanks, CB, for posting the link to the moveon.org link. My entry is below.

    The Democratic Party’s abdication of its responsibility to the American people is unconscionable. You were voted into office to undo some of the damage that has been done by the smirking chimp and his corrupt administration, and your caving on timelines for withdrawal and benchmarks is abhorrent. The current administration has done more harm to America in the last six years than any amount of WW2 or Cold War rhetoric could have possibly done.

    Vote against this bill. Send Bush the original bill again, and make it clear that if he doesn’t sign it, it will be HIS fault that the troops don’t have the money, armor, training, and equipment they need to do this impossible Herculean task.

    Michael Willis
    Wilton Manors, FL

  • Blurb on CSPAN: Senator Coburn (Backwoods, OK) blocks resolution honoring the late environmental author Rachel Carson.

    Stupid of course, and spiteful perhaps? But in the long run, it doesn’t make a difference as Rachel Carson will be known and respected forever.

    Sen. Coburn will be lucky to be remembered at all after he leaves office. And if he is, it won’t be in a good light.

  • I blogosphered a bit on my blog yesterday about the survey of American Muslims and violence, with a side-by-side comparison of the two questions about targeting civilians:

    The exact question asked to Americans in the PIPA study:

    Some people think that bombing and other types of attacks intentionally aimed at civilians are sometimes justified while others think that this kind of violence is never justified. Do you personally feel that such attacks are often justified, sometimes justified, rarely justified, or never justified?

    Often Justified: 5%
    Sometimes Justified: 19%
    Rarely Justified: 27%
    Never Justified: 46%

    The exact question asked to American Muslims in the Pew study:

    Some people think that suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets are justified in order to defend Islam from its enemies. Other people believe that, no matter what the reason, this kind of violence is never justified. Do you personally feel that this kind of violence is often justified to defend Islam, sometimes justified, rarely justified, or never justified?

    Often Justified: 1%
    Sometimes Justified: 7%
    Rarely Justified: 5%
    Never Justified: 78%

  • I’m wondering if some of the respondents included civilian bombing during police actions and those rarer cases where Congress can be persuaded to perform the formality of declaring a war.

    Civilian bombings during wars ARE highly controversial.
    There’s no question Dresden, London, and Hiroshima were not bombings of distinct military targets.

    “Other types of attacks”? Like infrastructure demolition? Propaganda bombs? Cyber attacks? Are Halibruton’s computers considered civilian? Military? or both? Is it outlandish to attack them given their HEAVY involvement in the Iraq war? Could we condemn an attack on their new UAE headquarters as “terrorism” given the nature of their enterprise? The water is exceptionally muddy and gets worse and worse as more military action is outsourced to “civilians”? Are contractors in delivering ammunition to soldiers civilians?

    The numbers make more sense given the exact wording. The ones who say such attacks are sometimes justified may not be endorsing violence so much as acknowledging the nature of war.

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