Thursday’s Mini-Report

July 17, 2008

Today’s edition of quick hits.

* And so it begins: “The first war crimes trial at Guantanamo Bay can begin Monday, a federal judge has ruled, saying civilian courts should let the military process play out as Congress intended. U.S. District Judge James Robertson on Thursday rejected an effort by Osama bin Laden’s former driver, Salim Hamdan, to postpone his trial. Hamdan argued he would suffer irreparable harm if he was tried before he could challenge the legality of the process.”

* This isn’t something to look forward to: “Climate change will have a “substantial” impact on human health in the coming decades, making wildfires and hurricanes more likely, cooking up more smog, and making summer heat waves longer, hotter and deadlier, according to a new report today from the Environmental Protection Agency.”

* On a related note, there’s some video available of Al Gore’s speech from earlier today.

* Sometimes, I almost feel sorry for Karl Rove: “Last night on The O’Reilly Factor, Karl Rove attempted to defend the Bush administration’s energy record by falsely claiming that it had spent more on alternative energy research than ‘any administration in history.'”

* Everyone can eat tomatoes again.

* Good news — the Senate passed PEPFAR, without right-wing amendments, with increased aid, and with a lift of the HIV travel ban. Bush has said he will sign the bill into law.

* Hmm: “We already know that the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the alleged politically motivated prosecution in the case of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman (D). Today, TPMmuckraker independently verified that the OPR is looking into another complaint– this one for prosecutorial misconduct– involving the Northern District of Alabama’s U.S. Attorney’s office, specifically U.S. Attorney Alice Martin.”

* This was a great piece on the incomparable Rachel Maddow, who, the NYT reports, is being considered for her own show. (Note to MSNBC: the sooner, the better.)

* It’s hard not to enjoy stories about the Bush administration in which John Ashcroft is the moderate who’s concerned about the rule of law.

* Apparently confident that he’ll be able to clear his name, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) is prepared to file an ethics complaint against himself. “Rangel said he wants the ethics committee to investigate the matter ‘in a large part for other members,’ who he doesn’t want to say, ‘Look what happened to Rangel.’ ‘I want them to say, ‘Yeah, and Rangel whupped their butts, didn’t he?'”

* Does nuclear power have a bright future? Brad Plumer explains, maybe not.

* The White House thinks the president might, kind of, in a passive way, know a long-time friend of his.

* The Republican drive to smear Michelle Obama is both tiresome and nauseating.

* Given his unique perspective, Larry Craig probably needs to be a little more mindful of his choice of words.

* Gay couples can get legally married in some states, but in the 2010 census, it won’t matter — they’ll still be recorded as “unmarried partners,” just as they were in the 2000 census.

* This is an extraordinarily effective use of a comic strip by a candidate for political office. (via John Cole)

* This is an extraordinarily insane use of a comic book by a candidate for political office. (via OkieFromMuskogee)

* If I were to create a March Madness-style bracket, with 64 lawmakers, hoping to identify the single most ridiculous member of Congress, I know for certain that I’d give #1 seeds to Michele Bachmann, Steve King, and Darrell Issa.

* And finally, as readers may have noticed, I added a graphic for the Official McCain Flip-Flop List. I was absolutely amazed by how many terrific submissions there were — I knew you guys were talented, but I had no idea you were this talented. Ultimately, I went with one sent in by long-time regular “doubtful,” whose weather-vane submission struck just the right note. Many, many thanks to all of you who helped out with this.

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

Go Rachel !!

  • “If I were to create a March Madness-style bracket, with 64 lawmakers, hoping to identify the single most ridiculous member of Congress, I know for certain that I’d give #1 seeds to Michele Bachmann, Steve King, and Darrell Issa.”

    Ahead of
    John Cornyn?
    Tom Tancredo?
    Jean Schmidt?
    John Boehner?

  • did anyone notice in the tomato article that all of the suspect veggies were salsa ingredients? maybe a pro-guacamole terrorist organization?

  • The website for the candidate for state rep. in Kansas is AWESOME! More like him please!

    Way to go Rachel! She does an outstanding job sitting in for Olberman…

  • Good news — the Senate passed PEPFAR, without right-wing amendments, with increased aid, and with a lift of the HIV travel ban. Bush has said he will sign the bill into law.

    As annoying as it is to say. One is forced to acknowledge that Bush has actually done a reasonably decent job with regards to the AIDS epidemic, at least as far as funding treatment and raising awareness goes. I suppose even the most incompetent idiot fool can get one thing right in their life.

  • As annoying as it is to say. One is forced to acknowledge that Bush has actually done a reasonably decent job with regards to the AIDS epidemic

    Francois I built the Louvre. It’s still not a recommendation for monarchy, though.

  • Does nuclear power have a bright future? Brad Plumer explains, maybe not.

    Plumer (and Romm, who he talks about in the article) doesn’t have a clue about new nuclear power technologies, and is basing his numbers on the stupidity of the business-as-usual crowd that includes the private utility companies. Newclear power is VERY competitive, so much so that it would blow wind and solar out of the water. Details next month when my book comes out. Sorry it’s been such a long wait, the process is rather plodding, but now we’re on track.

  • Issa, Boehner, Mean Jean, Tancredo for my top seeds.

    I’m still curious about Rovian headfake candidates, and appreciate the help about Silverado yesterday [although I think Jeb had some minor issues in Miami about a building or something, very small-time and please correct me if I’m wrong]. It is really amazing to me just how badly McSame is running his campaign. If one believes the latest polls, he’s now even on the male vote with Obama, but O beats him with the ladies, and also 64-18 on independents. Not the numbers McSame really wants to see if the WH is in his future.

    My basic premises on this upcoming administration change (from the Bushie wish list view) are:

    1) There can be no changes in policies (McSame qualifies here, so far, but wait a minute).
    2) There can be no investigations with the risk of prosecutions and frogmarching to cellmates named Big Nasty. McSame would toss W under the bus in a heartbeat for the popularity boost as well as for SC in 2000.
    3) Darth Cheney must still be pulling the strings, aided by Addington. Rove will always be in play, unless he’s in jail. McSame doesn’t strike me as being pals with Darth or Addington.

    So, given the above, I do not see McSame being the actual runner for POTUS, nor can Obama be allowed to win. That leaves the Floridian Candidate (IMHO, the rest are too nuts, incompetent, baggage laden, narrow-based, not loyal enough, etc.) who must be sprung at the last minute.

    Ahnold isn’t eligible nor a Bushie. Jeb’s professed lack of interest is merely tactical IMHO, for a couple of reasons. First, we have the example of Darth’s VP search in 2000. Second, Jeb is the one groomed for the POTUS by Poppy, not W, and Poppy will not prefer to see his legacy as W’s steaming pile of dung, when Jeb could at least get the average back to 0.300, more or less.

  • well, if such a wonderful honor for doubtful isn’t reason to return, I don’t know what is. very nice indeed.

    anything happen in the past 5 months? 🙂

    first, let me say how inadequate I feel. if I were only as smart as those Clinton-supporters at Kos, I could have declared what I was doing a boycott instead of just taking a sabbatical until things return to “the CBR of good old days.” it would have made it sound much more important. (and maybe gotten Steve some publicity – like he needs any more!) darn.

    I have peeked in from time to time to see if it was time yet. i saw everyone was treating my pal Mark Pencil pretty well, that was a good sign. I was pleased to see dajafi back and posting, the occasional AYM sighting is great, too. And MsJoanne and libra, who were just gettin warmed up when I left has been on quite the roll.

    It was amusing, however, to see that just when Tom Cleaver apparently finally decided it was not ok to talk about assassination, that major party Presidential candidates decided it was ok. (see Huckabee, M.; Clinton, H.)

    And it is always fun to see the new folks or newly-active folks like Maria, whose posts were a big part of what drew me back in. But of course the real issue is that Mr. Benen has really been outdoing himself lately – really exceptional stuff. Now that we are all on the same team (except for the occasionally fun-to-shoot-at troll) and Steve is on fire, I’m all rested up and while probably too busy to be back as much as pre-sabbatical, still glad to be back (especially with no little bear!) now if just maybe i can get Anne to do the same?

    the one time i broke the sabbatical was to join the community in honoring Ed, and I would be remiss if I didn’t do so again and note that his presence is still missed.

    anyhow, the real point is congrats to doubtful. carry on.

    oh yeah – topicality: huzzah to Maddow getting a show. The Zeitwife had never heard of her and caught her subbing for KO – at a break she turned to me and said “who is this woman? She’s great!” I hope her long stint at the Countdown desk has caused that reaction in a lot of people.

  • I wonder if Mr. Rove won’t look back and decide that it would have been better to be indicted now, when the GOP has a greater incentive to contribute to his legal defense fund. I’d be surprised if he makes any money with his writing.

  • The Big Z has returned (and I’m sure his alter ego, little z, will be along soon). Be afraid, trolls. Be VERY afraid. And as for assassinations, just think of it as “Life; outsourced expeditiously.”

    Welcome back!

    And as for “* The White House thinks the president might, kind of, in a passive way, know a long-time friend of his,” one can only ask if a Bush, when it’s burning, experiences “excruciating Payne.” And no, there is no such thing as PETS (People for the Ethical Treatment of Shrubbery).

    Pass the charcoal and lighter fluid, please….

  • “And so it begins:”

    Is that meant to be a Babylon 5 reference? The last thing we need is a Vorlon commenting on our politics.

  • The answer to the GOP is to start an online fund that people can contribute to every time they see or hear a GOP-sponsored or right-wing 527-sponsored smear of Michelle Obama. Publicize it, and plow the money into the Obama campaign, just the way the Edwardses turned the nasty attacks into helpful cash.

    I’m sending an extra donation today, with a notation, “Michelle, this buck’s for you!”

  • Another nominee for the most ridiculous member of Congress: Bill Sali of Idaho. Tough my first choice would be Bachmann.

    In the US Congress, Sali: voted against all versions of SCHIP, fiscally consevative yet has not paid off his 2006 campaign debt, opposed raising the federal minimum wage, thinks that the United States was founded on Christian principle and that multiculturalism is “dangerous”, won the 2006 GOP nomination for the open seat with only 26% of the vote (in a 6-way race), then won the seat by only 5% over his Dem opponent in a very highly GOP district.

    Hated by many in his 16 years in the Idaho House. Quote from http://election.nationaljournal.com/2006/profiles/id01_sali.htm

    Bill Sali may be the most unpopular man elected to Congress this year. He burned so many bridges during his 16 years in the Idaho House that the national party worried that he might not be able to hold on to this congressional seat — one of the nation’s most solidly Republican — which opened up when GOP Rep. Butch Otter ran for governor.

    In the state Legislature, many colleagues viewed Sali as an uncompromising grandstander. He was often at odds with his own party leaders, who stripped him of a committee chairmanship in 2004 and temporarily relieved him of his committee assignments this year. During an emotional April debate over an abortion-related bill, Sali angered legislators on both sides of the aisle with his insistence on discussing studies linking abortion to breast cancer. Afterward, House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, a Republican, lashed out at Sali, telling reporters, “That idiot is just an absolute idiot.”

  • #19: Tough my first choice

    Yikes! Should be: Though my first choice

    Typos can be tough!

  • KevinMC, Zeitgeist, MsJoanne,

    Thanks! Glad I could do my part to help, but it’s just the window dressing on Steve’s great list of McCain’s ever changing positions. Glad you all liked it.

    And welcome back, Zeitgeist!

    The last thing we need is a Vorlon commenting on our politics. -Shade Tail

    Better than a Shadow.

  • Rachel is the best! She is very gifted and I enjoy watching her when she fills in for Keith or stops by Countdown to give her political analysis. She deserves her own show. You go girl!

  • No doubt, the weather vane was a fine choice for Old McFuddled and it fits right in with the look of the top graphic. It appears that there’s a storm brewing in back of that weather vane that is going to spin that sucker like a top.

    And the list of McFuddled’s vacillations reminds me of the La Brea tar pits. Deep and sticky. You’ve created a real monument to a world class lack of conviction Mr. CB.

  • Let’s see where this goes.

    Under Congressman Miller’s bill, the Special Criminal Contempt of Congress Procedures Act, a federal court can appoint an independent “Special Advocate” to investigate and prosecute alleged Contempt of Congress charges passed by the House of Representatives against current and former executive branch employees, when the Justice Department fails to do so. Like the expired Independent Counsel statute, the Special Advocate established by Miller’s bill would technically work for the Attorney General, and thus be an employee of the executive branch. In practice, the Special Advocate would be largely independent from both the executive and legislative branches and not subject to undue political influences. Unlike the former Office of Independent Counsel, the Special Advocate would have a specific mandate, a finite budget, and a fixed two-year term of office.

    Does anyone think this has a chance of garnering a veto proof majority in both chambers?

    And doubtful, nice work.

  • * This is an extraordinarily insane use of a comic book by a candidate for political office. (via OkieFromMuskogee)

    Oh, I don’t know… I would like to be the fly on the wall when the GOP-ers’ angelic children get drawn to the comic book — after all, things with pictures are children’s fare — and then start asking their parents to explain some of the terminology. From the article:
    “This is one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen,” said Keith Gaddie, a political science professor at the University of Oklahoma. “I’ve never seen a comic book with the phrase ‘anal sodomy’ in it before. That was a new one for me.”

    Steve (Benen) and Doubtful,

    The graphic is *perfect*; two for the price of one, what with both “whichever way the wind blows” and “the bantam cock” concepts packed into a single image. Congratulations!

    Zeitgeist,

    Welcome back in the old persona. I’ve just given myself a pat on the back for having guessed you were Mark Pencil while Zeitgeist was taking a break. And I still think you were -daze, too, once Pencil disappeared; I have been wondering what “the end of -daze” meant (the last couple of days/daze), and now I know — you were getting ready to end the self-imposed exile 🙂

    For what it’s worth, I don’t think Anne is likely to make a similar comeback; you were ever but accidental co-travellers in Hillary’s train. The difference between the two of you had always been that you were *for* Clinton, while she was *against* Obama, Not, perhaps, to the same degree as Deranged Mary had been, but not far off.

    The afternoon/early evening spent shilling for Dems was fun. Mark Warner came — though only for a few minutes, on his way to a fancy fundraiser — and signed our poster. Given that this was a *county* Fair and that the county is hot-red in its political orientation (our hospital has a “no guns” sign where others have a “no smoking” ones), I was surprised at how many people stopped by and picked up stickers (clothes and bumper), left e-addresses for updates, etc. The young man (volunteer) from Obama campaign was stopping a lot of passers-by asking them whether they were registered to vote but we didn’t get anyone new. They all claimed to be either registered already or too young (have to be 18 by Nov 1). Amusingly, it turned out that, post FISA “fix”, both of us had written Obama recommending the film “Other People’s Lives” (about wiretapping in East Germany).

    We also had a few foreigners — from Oz, from Germany and from South Korea, all visiting relatives in the area — stop by and swoop on the Obama stickers for souvenirs. And one young woman — now locl but, originally, a transplant from Hawaii — whose bi-racial daughter was called Malia (which, apparently, means something like “shining star” in Hawaiian). Needless to say, *they* left plastered with Obama stickers too.

    But the best moment came when the chairman of the county Repub “chapter” strolled by, wearing a “veterans for McCain” polo shirt. Not knowing who he was (I was told later, by the nearly hysterical chairwoman of the county *Dem* “chapter”. who had stayed close by, through th conversation), I asked him how it was possible for any veteran to even think of voting for McCain. And off we went into a spirited debate. My heavily foreign accent probably led him to believe that I’d be an easy target but, primed up by Steve Benen, I gave as good as I got (despite the fact that I’d been taught to respect my elders and the gentleman had, easily, 20yr over my own 58) and he went back to his booth unbowed but, definitely, bloodied.

    Wonder what tomorrow and Saturday will bring…

  • Welcome back Zeitgeist!

    Nice work, doubtful.

    And Mr. Benen, thank you for not changing your commenting policy during the dark days when Z decided to take a break.

  • Nice work, doubtful. That image captures McCain perfectly — spinning in the wind, creaky and obsolete.

  • Darrell Issa wins hands-down. the other two may lack frontal lobes, but they at least have brains. Issa’s “reptile brain” doesn’t connect to his spinal cord.

    “consider a Congressman, then consider an idiot. ah, but I repeat myself.” Mark Twain, 1872

  • Larry Craig…

    Madly yanking gas nozzle…

    Wide stance feet quivering like a little dog doing the crazy hump….

    Oy! The man has a knack with words…

  • The last thing we need is a Vorlon commenting on our politics. -Shade Tail

    Better than a Shadow. -doubtful

    Actually, no. They both turned out just as “good”, remember?

    🙂

  • GO Doubtful!

    Is it Jukebox Johnnie,……Or…..Weather-vane McCain??? Inquiring minds want to know!

  • This is an extraordinarily effective use of a comic strip by a candidate…
    *****************************************

    Yes it is!. ..and the values he promotes (Sean Tevis running in Kansas for State Rep) are right on.

    I gave him $25. I agree w/ CH. The only way the Dems have a chance is if we find them, examine their values, and fund them. Every Democrat in power who promotes open government, women’s rights, separation of church and state, and truly upholding the Constitution, is one less fascist.

  • YAY Zeitgeist is back!! WB. And great job doubtful it’s perfect and OpressmeNot, Weather-Vane McCain is another great nickname. ( Actually, Weather-Vane McCain and the JukeBox Johnnies” sounds like a rock-a-billy band name.

    And Libra, great work, that’s a wonderful anecdote. More please.

    And I still miss Ann, also, man she could write well.

    Oh and I think the 4th Number 1 seed in the stupidest member of Congress must be my own most odious congress- critter, Marsha Blackburn. Even Chris Mathews treats her like she’s a dumbass, and he doesn’t do that to any Republican.

  • Hey, big Z. Welcome back! I’ve missed your witty insights.

    As for the tomato fiasco, I wasn’t really affected by it. I have a weird food intolerance with them. I love tomato sauce, tomato juice, tomato catsup, but I can’t have actual tomatoes. I’m the same way with onions, and peppers.

    As for gay couples in the census, hubby and I marked ourselves as whatever the equivalent was in 2000, after we moved to Florida. We are legally married now, thanks to Canada (and maybe, soon, California, depending on whether jobs require a US marriage license or will accept a foreign one). We’ve offered ourselves up to the ACLU and other civil righs groups to challenge the discriminatory laws, but no takers yet.

  • Marsha Blackburn should definitely make the short list for dumbest Congresscritter.

  • But doesn’t “so it begins” predate B5 by eons? I think it was already a cliche when they used it, no?

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