Login HereBill Maher let one fly on the betrayal of Valerie Wilson. If you haven't seen it, you really should. Especially the part where he calls the Bush Administration on their constant hyping of WMD threats around the globe -- and the fact that this was exactly the issue that Valerie was working on, trying to keep the nation safe along with the rest of her network of CIA agents and assets in nations that pose threats to our nation.
In other words, the Bush Administration put their own CYA ahead of the safety of the rest of the United States when they outed Valerie. As Maher says, even the mob doesn't go after people's families.
(And H/T to twolf1 for the YouTube link on this. Thanks much!)
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Dang, did it again! I gotta get a life!
conniptionfit — you are cracking me up. *g*
Christy Hardin Smith @ 2
Honey, it aint nothin’ to what yer doin’ to me!
Kinda dissappointed in my fellow doggies, today. They sure didn’t hang around long when y’all aked for $$ for Carol!
I was actually waiting for a new thread, so I could post a link to the transcript.
conniptionfit @
2
Well, aren’t we getting greedy. You beat me out just last thread!
Oh, well, off to my nap.
Heh. Loved the look on David Frum’s face at the close. Bill Maher - truth teller.
“pretending to be a cowboy or fighter pilot…”
Or PRESIDENT I might add.
Buscho despicable…. and that is putting it diplomatically.
Wow, everybody is getting into the “Special Commentary” business these days.
And a good thing too!
One of these days we gotta have a thread where we can get the story behind some of thse screen names-FIGBASH! On second thought, could it BE any better than my own sick, fevered imagination?
Not a president, but he plays one on TV.
Maher’s Mark Twain quote needs to be entered at the top of today’s national lexicon:
[paraphrased] “Patriotism is serving your country all of the time, and your government when it deserves it.”
The wing nuts have become victims of the slow drip, drip of Rove type Kool-aid so they actually think in the paradigm which even the USSR’s Michael Gorbechev rejected when he said; “never confuse your country with your government. They are two different things.” [paraphrased]
In this vein, every time someone says Bush is head of my country, or this nation’s leader, I inform them he is not. He is head of the government, not my country.
Renee in Ohio @ 13
And NOT very convincingly!
Which is sad, conniptionfit, because I would think most people, with the amount of help and money he has behind him, should be able to convincingly play that part.
tbsa @ 10
Here’s how I put it “diplomatically.”
Renee in Ohio @ 16
Hey, I got a 16yr old sittin’ around the house not doing anything….
BobbyG @ 17
I like the way you think!
conniptionfit @
5
I wish that I could but thanks to this “wonderful” economy of Chimpy’s, the employment position somewhat precludes it for the time being…
How likely is it that they will get busted for treason - or anything else? I like John Dean’s take.
By JOHN W. DEAN
It Seems Likely Bush, with Fielding, Will Go to the Wall on Executive Privilege
This time, it is my belief that Bush — unlike Reagan before him — will not blink. He will not let Fielding strike a deal, as Fielding did for Reagan. Rather, Bush feels that he has his manhood on the line. He knows what his conservative constituency wants: a strong president who protects his prerogatives. He believes in the unitary executive theory of protecting those prerogatives, and of strengthening the presidency by defying Congress.
In short, all those who have wanted to see Karl Rove in jail may get their wish, for he will not cave in, either — and may well be prosecuted for contempt, as Gorsuch was not. Bush’s greatest problem here, however, is Harriett Miers. It is dubious he can exert any privilege over a former White House Counsel; I doubt she is ready to go to prison for him; and all who know her say if she is under oath, she will not lie. That could be a problem.
Friday, Mar. 23, 2007
Renee in Ohio @ 13
or fighter pilot.
Why is it that so few people with a public forum can speak this plainly? The truth is such a rare commodity these days, yet those who speak it do us and themselves a great sevice. Just look a the popularity of both Maher and KO.
A White House in denial. What else is new?
Another anonymous “senior administration official.” How many of them are there, really?
Re: prior thread, I wonder if the FDL crew can access information regarding the contributors to the Blue America page. I observed on the last thread that it would be good if we could do that. Maybe we could identify large contributors, and try asking for bigger dollars for specific candidates.
I am willing to do the asking.
dakine01 @ 20
I know my contribution wasn’t what I wish it could be, (I did give a little) but it is important to me that folks like Carrol, and Patrick are re-elected. These are people we can all be proud of having in our party.
Hm, I’ve got a picture of him playing fighter pilot too, come to think of it.
dakine01- I get that. Mostly I was shaking my finger ’cause not many of us stuck around to take advantage of the opportunity to ask Carol some of the government/ procedural type questions that we’ve been asking eachother. You know- expert stuff.
Renee in Ohio @ 16
years from now, i have no doubt it will come out that bush suffers from some sort of mental impairment.
i’m not soliciting jokes. i mean that seriously.
I do love Waxman. He has such a way with words.
From the previous thread:
http://oversight.house.gov/Doc.....-81505.pdf
Good going Bill Maher. Tnx to great blogs like FDL and C&L which find great vidclips and make it unnecessary for me to watch TV. The toobz are much more fun anyhow, especially with truth-tellers like Maher on tap.
Tnx FDL for this gem.
Have you gotten your Pulitzer Prize yet?? :)
Puesto @
14
It gets my goat when he insists, “It’s MY job to protect the American people” I always say (to the TV) No, it’s your job to protect the Constitution!
Masaccio—may I send mail to your address listed with your commenter info?
dmg @ 29
Early onset alchoholism
dakine01 @ 20
at some future point i hope to, too. let’s just say no one would want to be in my shoes financially right now.
but things will change.
Not alcoholism–there’s some word for the damage that comes from years of that. Um, “alcohol related program activities”? No, that’s something else…
you know, every time I hear about the service Valry Wilson gave to this country I get those shivers when you are awed.
Then when I read about her husband and his service…it’s really mind boggling isn’t it.
And these fools and morons in office that try to bring their reputation to denigration.
and the fools and morons that continue to support their “party” leaders
yet we are America after all, and though votes were stolen by the 100’s of thousands, democracy arose never the less to spread her wings and regain flight
yet the flight is cumbersome as we attempt to bring these criminals to justice, the wheels turn much too slow and the damage being done far too great
how long will America and her constitution suffer the harm from those in office today?
dmg @ 35
Unfortunately in the same boat. Loved having her at the lake, though
Yeah. Fetal alchohol syndrome. Babs should laid off the sauce while she was breeding
Well that was certainly hard hitting.
I wonder how many people saw that.
I wonder how many people are emailing that YouTube clip around.
OT–but important:
From the NYTimes:
RGB @31
Yes, but please use this one instead.
Christy!!!!!
Did you happen to catch TRex’s song for you last night?
I’ve been thinking about it all day - Agent Scully, indeed! (That last walk she takes down the hallway captures your attitude nicely.)
Love you so much, thank you for all that you do. (and belated Happy Birthday to Ms. Peanut!)
conniptionfit, dmg, Wil, et al: Maybe we should put together a firm for unemployed/underemployed refugees of the reich wing econmy. My skills are Software Quality Assurance and Testing with some Accounting training from the AF and generally being an overall pain in the a** (kinda required for QA)…
Any thoughts?
Notice how Shea-Porter answered a direct question about whether anyone in the House — where impeachment must originate — is speaking of impeachment against Gonzalez. She said to the effect — Congress is paying just as close attention to all this as you all are.
Lying to Congress is a crime, which, among other possible crimes, was listed by the NYTimes in an editorial last Monday..
It seems to me, with the Special Prosecutor law now dead, that impeachment is the correct way to get to the bottom of whether Gonzalez lied to Congress. And, I believe he was under oath when he testified a couple of weeks ago, which, as of the e-mails on Friday, we now know was at least a lie or two regarding he “was not in on any discussions of the fired USA’s.” [paraphrased]
I still say the Bush/Rove strategy is to build up Gonzalez as a “higher-value target” to see if the opposition will back off and end all this when his head is offered. Regardless of what the press says, Bush has a history of being very loyal, until the end, when the back-knives come out.mrobinsong @
21
this one’s for you,
mr. karl rove, and
you, mr. dick cheney:
……………………. //)
……………….. ..,/ ..//
…………………/… ./ /
………….//’…’/ `•
………./’/…/… ./……./
……..(’(…’(…….. ,~/’…’)
…………………… ../…./
……….”……. ….. . _.•
………………. ….. ..(
more here.
Talk about somebody getting paid for doing nothing. Why doesn’t the Bush administration just pay this ridiculous woman to stay home?
Rice seeks ‘common approach’ on Mideast trip
Secretary of state hopes to get Israelis, Palestinians on the same page
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday she hoped to persuade Israelis and Palestinians to agree on a common set of issues to discuss as she headed to the Middle East amid skepticism about the U.S. commitment to pursuing peace.
My overriding impression of bush is that first he is a sociopath.
Second he act as if he was running this country from some country club where he and his fellow slime balls tell stories about all the money the money they are raking in.
The profits they engender from the deaths of so many as if they were playing a game of golf, laughing and joking with not one thought or twinge of conscience, it is just a game to them, nothing more, no thought to duty, honor, character, and not a jot or tittle of integrity.
Bush doesn’t give a shit because he is empty, hollow, and has no capacity to experience empathy.
conniptionfit @ 5
I was disappointed and quite surprised. Perhaps this was neither the best day nor time of day for any activity from the commenters on the sidelines. Perhaps some potential donors would prefer to show their support for something other than radio.
My suggestion is we should have a brief follow up next Tuesday. Indicate the total amount received. Provide other ways to donate to Carol’s campaign. Why not just checks or credit card donations to her campaign committee to use as they see fit. It is obvious they will not waste it.
If ever there was a politician worthy of our support, Carol Shea-Porter is that person.
How about Shea-Porter for President, Richardson for VP, and Finegold for Attorney General? We certainly need candidates in their image and not just what has captured the media attention thus far.
Now that’s a clip that should be seen by all Americans even if they’ve got there head up there somewhere.
Crooks and liars has an interesting bit about Bush owing the government $40 mil.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/.....ed-limits/
mrobinsong @
21
Can’t recall who it was but someone on a thread last night re-named the Unitary Executive Theory to the URINARY Executive Theory since all he’s doing is p*ssing on the Constitution
BobbyG @
17
Funny! I’ve never seen such a colorful military group before or since Mission Accomplished.
Renee in Ohio @ 36
Dry drunk syndrome? Google it.
Thanks to Bill Maher for putting the Plame leak in proper perspective. I hope it gains a wider audience with the help of YouTube.
I have in the past. I’m probably thinking of some sort of “alcohol-induced dementia” though.
Rocket Scientist @ 49
Hello,
The money that was donated today via Carol’s Blue America account goes to her campaign - not for radio spots. That would be Blue America PAC (or at least that’s what we spent most of the ‘06 money on… )
There is a difference! And I might add, any of you who do not have cash BUT have skills and want to help out, we are looking for people to help coordinate an Ebay auction. Email me at “my fdl handle” AT mindspring DAHT com.
nolo @
46
Clever, Nolo.
Pretty great rant by Maher. Why do Republicans hate our country and the people in it?
The intertoobz is bubbling about Turdblossom’s use of the GWB43 server for his email 95% of the freakin’ time. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/24/125331/162
Did Fitz know that? Doesn’t that count as “New Information”? An excellent point is also made that since so much of his “work” is overtly political, that puts him way out of contention for an executive privelege claim. He would still obfuscate and smarm and writhe like the lizard he is but it would still be important to do.
Accountability People!!!
Also, over in the other Washington, Abu Gonzo was evading and squirming against some tough questioning by two Seattle radio folks:
http://www.horsesass.org/?p=2716
He refuses to answer a very simple question: why were they fired?
Check it out
The view here is that the Bush situation is not all that complicated. Rich (not self earned wealth, mind you), spoiled brat.
dakine01 @ 44
Dakine01: Please see my comment in 56 looking for skilled people.
Biodun @
24
More to the point, how many WH reporters are left who are willing to grant anonymity just to give yet another bit of spin or trial balloon talking point a push around the carousel?
Other than Tim Russert, of course.
;>)
Renee in Ohio @ 36
What’s alcohol-related dementia?
Alcohol related dementia is a form of dementia related to the excessive drinking of alcohol. This affects memory, learning and other mental functions. Korsakoff’s syndrome and Wernicke/Korsakoff syndrome are particular forms of alcohol related brain injury which may be associated with alcohol related dementia.
I am not willing to let Bush off the hook lightly by blaming his behavior on alcoholism (although that could have been a contributing factor). I believe he has some fundamental character flaws that go way back.
masaccio @ 25
We have done well today in terms of raising money for Carol. People give what they can give and I have found the FDL crowd to be super-generous. I don’t ever want to pressure anyone to give more than they feel comfortable giving, whether they donate $500 or $5.00.
We raised more for Carol in 90 minutes than we have raised for Patrick Murphy and for Steve Cohen in several weeks. The way Blue America works is that every week there are people who contribute more to the candidates on the list, not just the one candidate we are talking to that day. In fact Charlie Brown and Murphy both had a good day today thanks to Carol’s donors who threw a few bucks to each of them when they gave to Carol. Last time I looked we were over $1,400 for Carol. That’s excellent because it is indicative of a solid $2,000 weekend. There’s no reason to think we won’t raise $30,000 for her by election time.
Masaccio, I can well understand your anxiety, but chill. I don’t want anyone to ever feel pressured. If you have any ideas about getting non-contributors to kick in– either FDL lurkers or non-FDL folks– please, let’s talk. Jacquie and I are starving for new ideas about how to make this work even better. Remember, though, last cycle we raised $545,000 this way… and the DCCC is polite to me even though I curse Emanuel out at least once a week.
I’m always looking for books and CDs to offer as premiums for donors and I try to do a match every week. But I bet you– and others– will have ideas that can make it better. I want those ideas.
This is the link for #65
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/....._6246.html
conniptionfit @ 5
i thought it was a good idea for me to refrain from participating… i’m still so upset and angry about the house vote yesterday to provide supplemental funding for the war… i knew i couldn’t participate w/o saying something about that… and i don’t think carol needed to be hearing from me on that subject.
… i did have a good talk with my own rep (jim mcgovern - who i think very well of) about it this afternoon. it was distressing (i started bawling and couldn’t stop)… and i don’t know if i feel better or worse now.
Help save me…. still reading through the comments of the DOJ document review over at TPMmuckraker….
Interesting points…. why are DOJ employees using Yahoo email addy?
Christy…. can you address the issue of government employees using NON gov. email addresses for Government business?
Anyone want an eyeopener on poor business practices put into government emails go take a gander. Didn’t anyone learn appropriate business language? Some of these people sound totally inept.
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002809.php
selise @ 66
i thought it was a good idea for me to refrain from participating… i’m still so upset and angry about the house vote yesterday to provide supplemental funding for the war… i knew i couldn’t participate w/o saying something about that… and i don’t think carol needed to be hearing from me on that subject.
… i did have a good talk with my own rep (jim mcgovern - who i think very well of) about it this afternoon. it was distressing (i started bawling and couldn’t stop)… and i don’t know if i feel better or worse now.
{{{{{{{{{{selise}}}}}}}}}}
Jacqrat @
60
Just sent you an e-mail with my real name and such…
Howie,
I know there must be a good reason you don’t use Paypal. Can you explicky?
Oh, and I wasn’t putting in the right expiration date….
Maher’s been on fire lately, and Frum did have the poopy-diaper look at the end.
Perhaps I’m naive, but I don’t think Bush’s manly petulance is going to carry the day on the USA scandal, because most people in this country see him as the whiny incompetent that he is. And he has a bit of a credibility problem.
The Rude Pundit (bless his Rudeness) wrote after Katrina that the debacle of New Orleans was the tipping point for this administration - that the veneer of competence was washed away and, quoting Nietzsche, I think (can’t find the post) noted that once the bell has been rung, it cannot be unrung.
Bush might have a chance if people still thought of him as the straight-talkin’ Texan bringing honor and dignity back to the White House, but most floks now see him as the small, overmatched hack that he is, so his stand on principle looks pretty lame.
It doesn’t help that Abu G turns out to have lied about this only slightly less often than he has opened his mouth.
George Soros on Israel, the US, and AIPAC in the NY Review of Books:
Condi, currently visiting the Middle East seeking solutions, should read Soros’s thoughtful piece. But I bet she hasn’t, and won’t.
I read Justin Franks book - “Bush on the Couch” the summer of 2004 on a road trip to Vancouver BC. Dr Franks has the creds as he is ex-CIA profiler using CIA methods to profile persons of interest.
Scared the sh*t out of me then and it scares me more today. Bush’s last presser I heard via the radio so it was only audio…. boy did he sound drugged, slurred speech and bad case of the cotton mouth.
Jeb Bush denied honor at U. of Florida
thank you Jacqrat @ 68. i think jim also felt bad, ‘cuz he gave me a hug too (and that sure hadn’t happened before).
Renee in Ohio @
55
Some variant on the DTs (delirium tremors) maybe?
Jeepers. I always thought of Maher as a centrist, haven’t spent much time watching him for years now because he was too far right of me to waste my time.
But wow, he actually got the outing of Plame dead-on for somebody who’s as centrist as I think he is.
We have definitely passed the tipping point.
BobbyG @
17
tbsa @ 10
Buscho despicable…. and that is putting it diplomatically.
Here’s how I put it “diplomatically.”
I served my country honorably and when I see this picture it makes me want to do things like Fucking scream and #$%%%^
link
Or this
link 2
selise @ 66
Selise, only 4 members of Congress have a 100% on Iraq. Your congressman, James McGovern, is one of those 4. Trust the guy. He voted against Bush on every single bill that came up since the war was proposed. McGovern has been a saint– the purest of the pure. There are too many reactionary Dems plus rubber stamp Republicans– apparently all of them but 2– for Pelosi to have gotten anything stronger. A dozen congressmembers told me how anguished they were about the bill this week but in the end they felt this is what they had to do to move the process along.
I’ve been trying to write about it– and figure it out– at Down With Tyranny, as you know. I just put up a piece a few minutes ago that tries tackling some of the issues we’re all feeling on this vote.
Some of us have been saying this for three years, since Kristoff and Krugman first made a big deal out of it: It was Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson who were doing the right thing and got busted for outing a dirty trick run out of the OVP.
But Maher just said it with a “WOW”. Good on ya.
dakine01 @ 44
Sounds great to me. Financial Accounting, Non-profit administration and social services for Homeless, HIV/AIDS nd chronic mental illness. Also have done a lot of software conversion, systems implementations. Any takers?
howieklein @
64
Anyway to get with Molly Ivins estate and maybe offer some of her writings? It would honor her and keep her stuff current…
Condi shops and plays the piano. Her hobby is being Secretary of State.
Howard Zinn is being true to us, selise
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/03/24/65/
Wil @ 81
I’ve also done the system conversions and implementations. Worked on multiple state and local gov’t programs for child welfare, child care, and child support. Sociology major first time through school (albeit without degree)…
Oklahoma kiddo @
59
and dont forget, he’s a bully.
katymine @ 67
They’re supposed to use their government e-mail addresses for official government business. However, breaking the law and firing people to obstruct justice fall outside the realm of official government business, so from a legal standpoint, they were correct to use personal e-mail accounts for these interactions.
Biodun @ 72
The Sec. of State can visit all she wants to. The impression is it’s neither ‘here nor there’.
It’s not just Democrats. Anybody - left, right or in between - should be mad as hell. Whatever the OVP imagined it was protecting by outing Plame was not worth this tactic or its consequences.
Let’s see who can get legit access to the CIA damage assessment on outing Plame, Brewster Jennings, and its network. (Which seems to have been Hoovered up with a lot of other dirt about this scandal.) Somebody paid with their life; people disappeared, lost their jobs, their credibility, their safety because they were connected to Plame’s intelligence gathering, or their govt or their enemies thought they were.
The liability, like much else is on Dick Cheney’s desk. He was aided and abetted by Libby, Rove, Fleischer, McClellan, Armitage and Mr. Bush. Too right these men should be afraid of a Congress wanting to investigate their doings while the trails are still fresh.
TiredFed @ 86
A bully? Very much so.
katymine @
67
1. It shouldnt matter whether email was on govt server or yahoo, all such are govt. property and are subject to Congressional oversight (sent to govt. email address by govt. employee on official govt. business).
2. My agency just recently gave us Internet access to email servers at work. So, up until then, would have used private account for email from home. I’m not a crackberry addict, so my only option would have been yahoo or whatever.
Found this nugget to refute prosecution of Immigration cases!
AZ.. almost a 100% increase in prosecutions. One thing they tried to tie to Charlton firing was refusal to push for the death penalty for a murder case, no body, no weapon, just witness statements who were druggies. And not going after Adult Porn….. another holdover from Ashcroft I am sure.
jacqrat
I just sent you my details.
This community amazes me. Why was a lurker for so long. The support and encouragement I’ve gotten here over the last few weeks has come close to bringing me to tears on a couple of occasions, and the kicks in the ass to get off the blog and go to interviews for jobs I didn’t want, but desperately needed were well received.
Thanks, pups.
Wil
selise @
66
i thought it was a good idea for me to refrain from participating… i’m still so upset and angry about the house vote yesterday to provide supplemental funding for the war… i knew i couldn’t participate w/o saying something about that… and i don’t think carol needed to be hearing from me on that subject.
… i did have a good talk with my own rep (jim mcgovern - who i think very well of) about it this afternoon. it was distressing (i started bawling and couldn’t stop)… and i don’t know if i feel better or worse now.
Hearts go out to you, selise. However, I have Lantos (Fool-CA) as my rep. And there are no hugs coming from that pugnacious war-monger. A little envy from the CA-12th.
thanks howie and angie… off to dwt…. but, before i go - one good piece of info is that jim told me that speaker pelosi has promised there will be a vote on a stand alone bill to tell bush he can’t attack iran w/out congressional approval. i had read reports of this, but it was nice to have it confirmed.
One thing that very much bothers me about the Dems, is will my party actively pursue a fair and just peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians if we win the WH back? Or will it just be more of the same? If so, I will possibly become angry.
This vile man turns my stomach!
“March 13, 2007 –Our White House Press Corps sources report further
disturbing news about President George W. Bush. Our sources have witnessed a
clearly inebriated Bush approaching members of the press corps and making
rude comments, including one particularly crude remark about First Lady
Laura Bush. In that case, Bush, nodding toward Laura, called her a “c**t.”
While Bush’s drinking is no secret to the White House press contingent, that
particular comment wa