
"There's a new Congress in town..."
Well, I don't know about you guys, but so far I think the 110th Congress is an unqualified success. I especially liked hearing Grandma Pelosi quietly and patiently explain to the Toddler-in-Chief today that he needs to suck it up and learn to effing cooperate before she pulls this country over and tans his behind out in front of God and everybody.
SPEAKER PELOSI: Calm down with the threats. There is a new Congress in town. We respect your constitutional role; we want you to respect ours. This war must end. The American people have lost faith in the President’s conduct of the war. Let’s see how we can work together. This war is diminishing the strength of our military, not honoring our commitment to our veterans, and not holding the Iraqi government accountable.
That's riiiiiiiight, y'all. The Imperial Presidency has run aground on the submerged reef of accountability, suffered massive damage to its hull, and is currently taking on water at a high rate of speed.
Frankly, I don't understand why we don't just go ahead and impeach the little turd. And his minder, Dead-Eye. And absolutely anyone and everyone that their vipers'-nest of an administration has appointed to any job at all since the 2000 elections. I mean, what further proof could we possibly need at this point that every little thing Republicans touch is irretrievably corrupted and infected, rotting from the inside from unchecked necrotic politicization? The Justice Department, the GSA, the War and subsequent "Reconstruction" in Iraq, the Patriot Act, the nation's intelligence agencies, the educational system, everything these filthy kleptocrats have turned their hands to has been sullied almost beyond repair by the "loyal Bushies'" insistence on politicizing EVERYTHING.
From "The Pleasurers of the President", a Chris Lehman piece about the US Attorney firings in today's New York Observer:
Except, of course, this case is all about legal authority of the most destructively controlling sort. “You particularly have the legal branch of government trashing the law,” says legal historian Stanley I. Kutler, author of the Nixon-tapes chronicle Abuse of Power. “The rule of law isn’t applying to the rulers any longer.”
Mr. Kutler notes as well that this sort of core tampering with the separation of powers isn’t exactly easy to reel back once it’s been unleashed. “So am I supposed to think that Hillary will instantly bring my habeas corpus back?” Mr. Kutler asks. “For 40 years, I taught legal and constitutional history. I’m glad I’m no longer teaching. If I had to give one of those lectures today, I’d have to tell my students, ‘This is all now bullshit.’”Veterans of past Justice Departments feel much the same outrage.“When I joined the Justice Department in 1990,” recalls Jonathan Shapiro, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, “there were still folks around who would tell you the story about how they lined the hallways to give Elliott Richardson a standing ovation when he left,” after the then Attorney General resigned in protest over Richard Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” firing of Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox. “When I left the job in 1998, there was still the sense that it was verboten to fuck around the with the U.S. attorneys. No one had the brass to fire them for political motivations—it would look far too craven, partisan and dirty.”
(March 28, 2007 -- 06:39 PM EDT)
Hmmm. Looks like the new document dump may contain some bad emails for the White House. More soon.
-- Josh Marshall
This Thursday, though, viewers tuning in to Senate hearings looking into the administration's latest scandal, the U.S. attorney firings, will get a peek at a chief of staff who just might represent the perfect distillation of Bush's much-maligned administration: D. Kyle Sampson, who, until two weeks ago, held the title for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Though Sampson himself has kept a low profile since he quit amid the rising waters at the Justice Department, his old press clips and the massive volume of e-mails released to congressional investigators depict a magical combination of piousness and arrogance, bumbling and dogmatism, hackery and, now, deep trouble. He's central casting's version of a loyal Bushie.(snip)When it comes time for a movie version of the Bush administration, the Libby story will play as a high-stakes intellectual thriller (the protagonist writes novels set in Japan!) and the Safavian crimes will be part of a sweeping underworld saga (the intrigues of the house of Abramoff). Sampson, meanwhile, could most easily be commemorated via rather lower-brow fare. The e-mails depict the government as a Police Academy sequel or substandard frat-house comedy, with Sampson as one of the student council types sucking up to the college dean. Is Steve Guttenberg free these days?
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TREX!
TRex!!
Stay Calm Trex!!!
TRex!!
Al Gore!! (still hungover from Eli’s thread)
Looks like Rasputin has imbibed a bit too much of his won Kool-Aid. From Thinkprogress:
Video: Rove raps at correspondents dinner.
At tonight’s White House Correspondents Dinner, Karl Rove said he likes to “tear the tops off of small animals” in his spare time, then rapped about it as “MC Rove.” Video coming.
They are all cracking under the pressure.
-GSD
Evening, TRex (now scurrying back up to read the post)
i think that little Boots and his Shiny Star are destroying the US of A.
and the world.
When Snarks Attack Attack ATTAAAAACCCKKKK!
From Downstairs:
Evening, TRex and pups.
One of these couldn’t calm Reorgie down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQJSZs-euZU
*note the name (not advocating violence)
Evening, gang!
How is everyone?
God bless Nancy Pelosi. She nailed it.
Good evening, TRex! I’m happy about what’s been done so far, too. No one can expect miracles, but the Dems are doing better than I feared.
I especially liked hearing Grandma Pelosi quietly and patiently explain to the Toddler-in-Chief today that he needs to suck it up and learn to effing cooperate before she pulls this country over and tans his behind out in front of God and everybody.
Pay per view this and we can eliminate the National Debt.
Oh, you know, Trex - another day, another excellent smackdown of Shrub by Madame Speaker. Life is good!
LoudounLib @ 15
She was particularly awesome today, wasn’t she? Sort of, “If you won’t do your job, President Bonaparte, shut the FUCK up and let us do ours.”
Nice.
Do y’all mind cloning Pelosi and sending her Down Under? She could do a great job of cleaning out the Howard misGovernment’s dirty laundry.
What whinners the Repubs were today in the GSA hearings. I could not believe that Doan. She was doing stonewall routine that was pathetic.
And Nancy did call Georgie on his tantrum. Tomorrow the Flames of Hell will roast the Sampson twit.
Get your Popcorn here!
“Toddler-in-Chief”. Have to say, that tickles me. ;0)
The correspondents dinner put me to sleep this evening! I woke up in time to see Chimpy leave.. his body language, in a word, rude.
TRex - I swear, when I saw Speaker Pelosi today, sheriff was exactly what I thought of. She is doing a fantastic job in an awful situation.
Next, we’ll hear Nancy Pelosi gently reminding Georgie to use his “inside voice”.
Trex, why exactly is it that we can’t just sit back and feel completely entitled to watch Pelosi “tan[] his behind out in front of God and everybody.” I mean, we’ve paid the price for the past five-six years, I think we’ve earned it. What’s with the generous and benevolent “try again, kiddo” approach — did he really earn it? Do we really think he isn’t just going to try to steal the car keys, too, and make a run for it?
Just jank his hand out of the cookie jar and let the ruler rip right across the petulant little jerk’s cheeks, already…
SubwaySerenade @ 9
Unedited…
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/.....e-threats/
Could the ‘edit’ in the C&L vid just be a digital dropout? Someone ask JohnA. to look at his original.
Too funny; too true; too sad. Why is the refrain from that old rock song “kick em when their up, kick em when their down!” playing in my head?
This Pelosi woman is one fine speaker. I can’t see any downside in a double impeachment.
I think she could start up a great couple of years that could end up with Gore/Edwards or Gore/Clark.
Checking the committee’s website, I see the hearing begins at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Does anyone know which cspan channel will have it? (I assume some cspan channel will show it, right?)
I spent several minutes this evening being instructed in what happens when one congresscritter insults another, as in what was said today to Big Hank at his committee hearing. We may hear more about it in the future.
SubwaySerenade @ 8
in The Country Formerly Known as the Land of the Free., the snarks sometimes win.
Watching the WH correspondents dinner, I was struck at how lame and unsettled they all seemed to be. The press, especially. It isn’t that they’re concerned about the rumors they’re hearing of imminent war against Iran. No, that isn’t it - they could give a flying fuck about that. They’re worried that their sense of being so much better than the lumpenprole might evaporate soon. They’re worried that if we get our freedom back, we’ll hold them accountable for so fully accomodating our loss.
Seems as though the rest of the world is listening to Pelosi too. All of the world is rejoicing.
Nancy Pelosi was great. The quote on Keith Olbermann at the end was perfect: “Take a deep breath, Mr. President.”
P J Evans @ 27
How do you mean? I’ve only seen bits of today’s testimony. (If you could call it that. Maybe “today’s non-testimonial testimony” or today’s “failed testimony” would work better.)
masaccio @ 30
What? I missed that part. Did she say, “This is going to hurt you a lot more than it hurts me” or something to that effect?
tejanarusa @ 27
CSPAN3
My 3 Pelosi ‘07 bumper stickers should be arriving tomorrow. I am really liking the 110th.
TRex, I think one of the Repubs called Waxman a “reformed lady of the evening.” Dunno exact phrasing, have to rely on the live-blogging
Just watched the C&L video of StraightTalk McCain backpedalling his comments on safety in Baghdad when confront by John Roberts of CNN. He flip-flopped nicely.
Flippty-floppity!
Pelosi for President 2007
I think that in their quest for Karl Rove’s “Permanent Republican Majority”, the Republicans have accomplished exactly the opposite, a Republican Party that’s going to have to start sucking dicks for change in a bus-station bathroom to support itself for the next 50 years.
Once again Trex: I love you.
ET - Next year we should throw a bloghouse dinner. Hosted by TRex and the Fact Checkers…)
Carolyn in Baltimore @ 35
I’m really liking the 110th, too!
tejanarusa @
36
Douchebag Dan Burton with that line.
-GSD
legaleze @ 25
“Dirty Laundry” by Don Henley. Great song. Also happens to be about the media going after sleazy people like politicians… highly appropriate, indeed. Now, if we could just get the MSM to do their jobs a bit better…
Loved the Pelosi speech today. That was just a delightful thing to see after listening to Lurita Doan’s wretched testimony.
TRex, I stayed up to read your delightful post-du-jour. I must go to bed, as this cold/bronchitis/whatever the heck it is has been kicking my butt for days. I wish you all a very good night.
One last thing: if you’re looking for something else that is an amusing read, check out this outstanding webpage. Apparently, a group has decided to pull one over on those Nigerian email scammers… I dunno if this is for real, but it sure is funny nonetheless. It’ll take you a while to read it, but the hoax on the scammers is priceless. Enjoy!
Elliott @ 38
June 2007 *s*
tejanarusa @ 36
It’s being replayed on CSPAN2 right now. I missed the “fight” too. Was in a meeting. Looking forward to it.
tejanarusa @ 36
Oh jeez. They call waxman a ’seamstress’ basically? Eeesh. Not so veiled threats and very stupid ones besides. I do wonder what he’ll say in reply to that. He has his own devistating wit as well, as we saw during the Plame hearings. (yes, i know all the coarser terms, but this doesn’t put me in mod. heh.)
I’m glad I took my BP meds before reading this. WOOT. I can hope. We’ll see what happens if Chimpy invades Iran as is rumored…. Total revolt? I know it will shred what’s left of our professional military.
tejanarusa @ 36
And as we all know, the Republics hate reform. They prefer their whoring right out in the open.
tejanarusa @ 27
Looks like C-Span3 at 10am:
http://inside.c-spanarchives.o.....hedule.csp
Ed*ard Teller @ 29
Heh. I picked my username because I am hoping we’ll become The Land Of The Free once again.
And I love me some snarky.
G’nite, all!
TRex @ 33
Well, we erased tonight’s Olbermann, but I’m pretty sure the last part of the clip he showed, as she was leaving the mike, was “take a deep breath, Mr. President.” I think it was that snide thing parents do that just infuriates the kids.
LandOfTheFree @43, thanks for the background. And hope you feel better.
Terry Olson @ 30
Absolutely. I still get goosebumps everytime I read Pelosi’s manifesto for the first 100 Congressoinal hours. :D
One of my not-very-political friends proposed a toast the night that the Dems won the midterms. Don’t ever think that the battles won and lost on your side of the puddle don’t get noticed over here in Oz.
Ed Teller: Do you have any additional information regarding a date for conflict to begin with Iran? I was curious about a comment you posted much earlier in the day.
Salut!
Yes, today’s news, especially after hours, was very bad for them.
ATTAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!
Madame Speaker!
Sort of pathetic, sort of creepy, sort like Nero and his fiddle.
Rove raps, Chimpy claps at radio/tv dinner.
-GSD
Curious in Central Texas @ 54
Just off the top of my history…
http://www.opednews.com/articl.....3a_att.htm
…I’ll see if I find more.
Lou Costello @
24
It appears to be a drop out, which can happen when compressing video files but there’s no harm in checking the original to be sure.
Helen, Lou Costello-
thanks for the info on the hearing.
I’d better get myself to bed so I can be up bright and early to watch (9:00 a.m. central time - I have a tendency to sleep past that time on my days off).
I foresee another day glued to the FDL screen. heh. (when payday comes, I really must pony up a contribution. I love this place.)
Eureka Springs @ 44
And wouldn’t she look fabulous behind the desk in the Oval Office?
paging Darkblack…
Lou Costello @ 58
Thanks. Teller seemed to have different information. I’m aware of all the talk about April 6. I appreciate the help, tho. Thanks.
legaleze @ 52 - thank you!
I can’t go until I fix a factual error: the song is primarily about sleazy journalists. I thought there was a line about a sleazy politician, but now I realize that line isn’t in the lyrics (thinking of a different song).
Great tune. This was on one of Henley’s albums after he went solo from The Eagles… a band which I believe is doing a reunion tour this year.
Okay, I must rest - have a great evening, all!
Rove’s witty repartee had him joking about “ripping the heads off of small animals”.
Hoo…hoo….goes Chimpy….Guffaw goes the lackies in the press.
Sickening. America is close to terminally ill.
-GSD
Is the senile harpy from GSA going to get strung up? Seems like she violated the Hatch Act doesn’t it?
tejanarusa @ 60
Well, look for me right here tomorrow morning. I am planning to live-blog it here as much as I can.
RagingGurrl @ 64
If she did, she can’t remember.
But there were cookies on the table!!
RagingGurrl @ 65
Are you watching it right now (repeated)? Stay tuned. There’s a fight coming up. And Big Hank stays way calm.
Helen @ 67
Oooh!! Ooooh!!
Details!!
OMG Mzz Doan, on cspan, just tried to say she works hard as an example to her employees.. even if she has to leave early or come late.
Rex, I’m so glad you’re back..hot stuff here.
Completely off topic but -
Get the John Fogerty Live album he put out recently. Fogerty is a national treasure. When it comes to real music, ol’ John is a master. The real deal .
Curious in Central Texas
MORE……Operation Bite:
http://unrulymob.blogspot.com/.....h-can.html
TRex @ 69
Let’s see: Henry is called a Whore. He is also told to “EAT IT” by a repug. Watch it - I was at a meeting when this happened and only saw the blog later. I am PSYCHED that it is now being re-run
Helen @ 39
um…aren’t there elements of the Republican party who have been preparing for this eventuality?
LandOfTheFree @ 43
Oooh! I am enjoy!
Re: the Pelosi video. There does appear to be a drop-out at the C&L site.
I found the same video via Politics TV, and she clearly says “lost faith in the President’s…”
link at Politics TV-
much longer vid than that posted at ThinkProgress. Same as C&L, but w/o the drop-out.
Also TREX - when Ms. Doan parses the word “briefed” (She origianlly said she was not briefed) Henry says “but you had a phone call” She defines “briefed” as sitting down in an office” or some such. Henry says “Oh my - That’s real CLINTONIAN.” Oh yes he does
But, ya know, I hear there were other people at her GSA team building meeting who had better memories.
Maybe they know what kind of cookies they were, too :-)
Valley Girl @ 77
What’s Nancy got in her hand in that photo?
Helen @ 78
Oooh! Thank you. I just got the joke!
Terry Olson @ 80
Haha! Nice observation. Video, not photo, I trust you mean. I think it’s Bush’s balls. My take, anyway.
Corry342 @ 74
Indeed. The GOP loves its man-whores.
I wonder who will do better for Repukenican fund-raising. The cocksuckers or the male prostitutes.
Helen @ 77
Nice.
I hope we get all of this in viewable clips at some point.
p.s. TO—or maybe his codpiece…
Valley Girl @
77
Thanks. I can take off my tin foil hat for a few minutes…
But the MSM should know by now that we in blogtopia sleep with one eye open.
The male prostitutes. They have more economic experience.
Suzanne @ 86
And where exactly on this continuum does Tom DeLay fall?
TRex @ 84
I know nothing about the YOUTUBE - but if you have CSPAN2 it is now bwing replayed and we are close to the fight sequence.
The Hammer was all about the $$$, not the hummer.
I’m still at work, so I guess I’ll miss the fireworks on CSPAN. Somebody please try to TiVo it?
Suzanne @ 90
We don’t know that for sure do we? Maybe he was all about the hummer.
Ed*ard Teller @ 29
That was surreal wasnt it? The chattering class making nice nice for an evening of whatever while civilization burns. yet, as you poin tout, the unsettledness was, um, unsettling.
Freaked me out. Betcha Bush is gonna get bombed tonite.
Did you notice Steny Hoyer behind Pelosi? He looks in pain. I can just hear the thoughts in his head, “Damn! I thought I’d be able to derail all this shit. The fellas down at the Country Club are gonna be pissed at me! They won’t let me in the foursome anymore.” All his Conglomerate buddies will be expecting something from him soon.
GSD @ 5
I. Cannot. Wait. to see Colbert’s treatment of this. Talk about your silver platters!
Valley Girl @ 85
**waves to VG and Suz**
Helen @ 91
He certainly isn’t all about the humor.
Gotta go.
See you kids in a bit.
TRex @ 91
STREAM IT!
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs.....p;Code=CS2
Jacqrat @ 96
Waves back to you, and to Suz! Thank you both for keeping the faith. And for all that you do.
Curious in Central Texas @
54
Do you mean why April 20?
Renee in Ohio @
22
That was about the tone of it wasn’t it!
Everyone must be glued to cspan..
Ed*ard Teller @ 100
Yes.
Move over GWB43 — here comes Pelosi 44!
(waving back to Jacqrat and VG)
I still think Delay is all about the money. He is so snakeoil, so used car salesman, it is all about how much is in it for him.
I guess W’s swagger is pretty much gone now…
I’m seeing a re-broadcast of Lorita Doan’s testimony before Henry Waxman’s committee today. By golly, she’s using Libby’s defense! “I was so busy, doing really important things, I can’t remember anything about that meeting!” (That’s my paraphrase.) Even when shown specific slides from the meetings, her memory was not refreshed, and she stuck to her line about not remembering. To b