Ice lake found on the Red Planet

quote[Scientists believe the water ice is present all year round because the temperature and pressure are not sufficient to allow it to change states.]

Cool.

Bolton Lied To Congress Over Plame Affair

quote[His statement came hours after another State Department official said Bolton had correctly answered a Senate questionnaire when he wrote that he had not testified to a grand jury or been interviewed by investigators in any inquiry over the past five years.]

And, still, Shrub will go ahead with the recess appointment.

Today's Press Briefing

This was too funny (flash animation).

Bush Flips Out

Some have told me it's a pen, while others have said it's actually his thumb.

Well, I did a frame by frame, and the best I can tell is it's definitely not a pen, but it might be a thumb.

Brazilian did not wear bulky jacket

quote[Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian shot dead in the head, was not wearing a heavy jacket that might have concealed a bomb, and did not jump the ticket barrier when challenged by armed plainclothes police, his cousin said yesterday.]

Again, this shit makes me sick.

Case of C.I.A. Officer's Leaked Identity Takes New Turn

quote[Mr. Pincus has not identified his source to the public. But a review of Mr. Pincus's own accounts and those of other people with detailed knowledge of the case strongly suggest that his source was neither Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's top political adviser, nor I. Lewis Libby, the chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, and was in fact a third administration official whose identity has not yet been publicly disclosed.]

Let's face it: this administration was shopping the identity of Plame. Can we just impeach them now and get on with things?

The Anointed of America

quote[It has been my observation that the sincerity of a person’s religious devotion can best be gauged by how vocal that person is about it: the greater the volume, the less genuine the spirituality is likely to be. Whenever people introduce themselves as Christians, ask what church I attend, or voluntarily announce a personal devotion to their lord and savior, I usually work a couple of fingers into the pocket where I keep my wallet, just to make sure it’s still there.]

This is in response to our previous discussion on the bible and Christianity.

Shots to the Heart of Iraq

quote[hree men in an unmarked sedan pulled up near the headquarters of the national police major crimes unit. The two passengers, wearing traditional Arab dishdasha gowns, stepped from the car.

At the same moment, a U.S. military convoy emerged from an underpass. Apparently believing the men were staging an ambush, the Americans fired, killing one passenger and wounding the other. The sedan's driver was hit in the head by two bullet fragments.

The soldiers drove on without stopping.]

WTF?

Congress Plans to Scrutinize Plame-Related Issues

quote["It's time there's a comprehensive law that will make it easier for the government to prosecute wrongdoers and increase the penalties that hopefully will act as a deterrent," said Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, the panel's Republican chairman.]

It's about freaking time!

Bush Aide Learned Early of Leaks Probe

quote[Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales said yesterday that he spoke with White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. immediately after learning that the Justice Department had launched a criminal investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's identity. But Gonzales, who was White House counsel at the time, waited 12 hours before officially notifying the rest of the staff of the inquiry.]

...giving him plenty of time to shred any evidence.

Man, this scum pond is deep.

Final Minutes of the Innocent Man Mistaken for a Terrorist

quote[Another family member said that he had recently been attacked and robbed in that area by a gang of young white men and thought the plain-clothes officers were muggers.

By far the most controversial claim comes from a number of witnesses who have cast doubt on police statements that they shouted a warning or identified themselves to the suspect before opening fire.]

Christ, this story disturbs me to the core.

Cheney Working to Block Legislation on Detainees

quote[The legislation, which is still being drafted, includes provisions to bar the military from hiding prisoners from the Red Cross; prohibit cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees; and use only interrogation techniques authorized in a new Army field manual.]

How in hell does this undermine the President?

Conflicting Stories

quote["There also is a discrepancy between accounts given by Rove and Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper. The White House aide mentioned Wilson's wife -- though not by name -- in a July 11, 2003, conversation with Cooper, the reporter said. Rove, 55, says that Cooper called him to talk about welfare reform and the Wilson connection was mentioned later, in passing.

"Cooper wrote in Time magazine last week that he told the grand jury he never discussed welfare reform with Rove in that call."]

A few more Bushies going down?

Treaty gives CIA powers over Irish citizens

quote[US INVESTIGATORS, including CIA agents, will be allowed interrogate Irish citizens on Irish soil in total secrecy, under an agreement signed between Ireland and the US last week.

Suspects will also have to give testimony and allow property to be searched and seized even if what the suspect is accused of is not a crime in Ireland.]

Holy fuck! How many other countries are signing similar treaties?

Is Bolton Finally Cooked?

quote[

DAVID SHUSTER, NBC CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A witness who testified at the grand jury and lawyers for other witnesses say the memo was written in July of 2003, identified Valerie Wilson, also known as Valerie Plame, as a CIA officer, and cited her in a paragraph marked S for sensitive.

According to lawyers, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and undersecretaries, including John Bolton, gave testimony about this memo. And a lawyer for one State Department official says his client testified that, as President Bush was flying to Africa on Air Force One two years ago, Press Secretary Ari Fleischer could be seen reading the document on board.

The timing is significant, because the president's trip on July 7 was one day after Ambassador Joe Wilson's column was published criticizing the administration. In other words, on July 6, Wilson's column comes out. On July 7, the State Department memo about Wilson's wife is seen on Air Force One. And, on July 8, Karl Rove had a conversation with columnist Robert Novak, but says it was Novak who told him about Valerie Plame, not the other way around.

Rove also says he never saw the State Department memo until prosecutors showed it to him. Six days later, on July 14, 2003, Novak published the now infamous column that publicly identified Valerie Plame, Wilson's wife, as a CIA operative.

Grand jury witnesses say a call record kept by Ari Fleischer shows Novak placed a call to him during this period. And lawyers for several witnesses say their clients were questioned by investigators about Fleischer's conversations. Fleischer, however, did not have the power to be a decision-maker in the administration. And White House observers point out, he wouldn't have likely taken it upon himself to disseminate the State Department memo. In any case, Fleischer and his lawyer have declined to comment.

As far as Karl Rove is concerned, a recent line of questioning about him suggests the grand jury may be pursuing issues related to possible inconsistencies. For weeks, Karl Rove's lawyer has been saying the now deputy White House chief of staff testified his 2003 conversation with “TIME” magazine reporter Matt Cooper was about welfare reform and, only at the end of that discussion, did Rove talk about anything else.

Matt Cooper recalls leaving Karl Rove a message about welfare reform. But Cooper testified that, when he and Karl Rove spoke, Joe Wilson was the only topic of conversation. Cooper says this contradiction with Rove, combined with his testimony that Rove told him about the Wilson's CIA wife, prompted a flurry of grand jury questions. And Cooper told NBC's Tim Russert the grand jurors themselves played an active role.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, “MEET THE PRESS”)

MATT COOPER, “TIME”: A lot of questions that I answered were posed by them, as opposed to the prosecutor. I thought they were very involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SHUSTER: Legal experts say that, if the grand jurors are convinced they were misled by Karl Rove, the president's adviser could face charges of perjury or obstruction of justice. Karl Rove's lawyer says the contradiction with Cooper is innocent and can be chalked up to conflicting memories of a 2003 conversation.

(on camera): By all accounts, much about this investigation was known only to the prosecutors and grand jurors. And they are sworn to secrecy.

Witnesses and their lawyers, however, are under no legal obligation to stay silent. And their accounts reveal that this investigation, at least in part, has focused on a classified State Department memo. The question is, was this how the White House learned about Valerie Wilson? And, if so, did anybody in the White House take information about Wilson that was marked secret and pass it along?]

So, now, even he has connections to the Plame affair.

Would Bush still dare a recess appointment?

GOP Candidate Calls For Impeachment

quote[Dennis Morrisseau, 62, of West Pawlet, plans to seek the Republican nomination to run for U.S. House of Representatives. The seat is being vacated by Rep. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., who plans a run for the U.S. Senate.

A central part of his platform, Morrisseau said, will be bringing articles of impeachment against Bush.]

Is this for real??

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., IS A FUCKING HACK!

quote["The science says very clearly that vaccines save lives and protect our children," said one of the officials, Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.]

I am really getting sick of this asshole promoting bad science in order to add to his personal coiffures.

All he wants is (one) to sell his book and (two) to bring about, and settle, a class-action lawsuit against vaccine manufacturers in which the majority of litigants will get pennies while he just gets rich(er).

I am tired of this jerk pedaling his fear mongering that is based on junk science. He has no fucking clue as to what he is talking about, and is no better than the Goddamn neocons who also use fear as a tactic for corporate profit.

Plame's Identity Marked As Secret

quote[A classified State Department memorandum central to a federal leak investigation contained information about CIA officer Valerie Plame in a paragraph marked "(S)" for secret, a clear indication that any Bush administration official who read it should have been aware the information was classified, according to current and former government officials.]

Don't listen to the righties who tell you that she was just a desk jockey. This is a serious matter, and the fuckers who outed her committed a serious crime. Not only was she compromised, so were her overseas contacts as well as anyone connected with the front company she was associated with.

Nearly everyone in the CIA winds up behind a desk at some point in their careers, but that is not necessarily a permanent position. This outing effectively destroyed her career.

Last Week, John Roberts Wrote Bush A Blank Check.

quote[...But an opinion that the 50-year-old judge joined just last week in the case Hamdan v. Rumsfeld should be seriously troubling to anyone who values civil liberties. As a member of a three-judge panel on the D.C. federal court of appeals, Roberts signed on to a blank-check grant of power to the Bush administration to try suspected terrorists without basic due-process protections.]

It's all about political payback.

Link To Cheney Deepens ‘Leak-Gate’ Scandal

quote[But if Time’s story holds, I. Lewis Libby’s involvement represents an even more insidious abuse of power. The Bush administration is being accused of leaking the name of Valerie Plame in retribution for a New York Times op-ed article written by her husband, diplomat Joseph Wilson. Wilson wrote that he never found any evidence in a 2002 trip to Africa, contrary to claims made by President Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address, that Saddam Hussein was procuring uranium from Niger for nuclear weapons.]

They should all be impeached.

Now America Accuses Iran Of Complicity In World Trade Center Attack

quote[The all-party report by the 9/11 Commission, set up by Congress in 2002, will state that Iran, not Iraq, fostered relations with the al-Qa'eda network in the years leading up to the world's most devastating terrorist attack.]

But they're not done fucking up Iraq yet...

Man, This Guy Is Full Of Vitriol

quote[But despite all my doubts, the astonishing news remains: Rove, AKA Bush's Brain, AKA "Turd Blossom" (Bush's nickname for Rove), AKA "The Architect," AKA the most powerful and brilliant and deeply unlikable political thug most people have barely heard of because he's just that kind of secretive nefarious genius the likes of which makes women recoil and flowers wilt and moderate politicians break out in hives, well, Rove might have stepped over the line just far enough to end his current reign as Dark Lord of Shrubtown.]

But I couldn't have said it better myself.

Lacrosse team sparks White House flip-flop flap

quote[A photo of Northwestern University's national championship women's lacrosse team, taken during the athletes' visit to the White House last week, shows four of the nine women in the front row wearing flip-flop sandals along with their dresses and skirts.]

HA HA!

He Brakes For Midgets

quote[Since you usually can't anticipate an arrest for drunk driving, a motorist does not have the luxury of planning a wardrobe for the mug shot session. Floridian Jon Matteson, who last month pleaded no contest to a reckless driving count, knows all about that predicament. The 28-year-old was wearing a rather distinctive t-shirt when he posed for the below Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office mug shot following his December 2004 DUI arrest. We're sure Matteson was more appropriately attired in Circuit Court on June 1, when he was sentenced to a year's probation, fined $775, and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.]

Really, no comment necessarry.

51% Want Military Response to London Bombing

quote[Republicans, by a 7-to-1 margin, say that military attacks are the appropriate response. Thirty-five percent (35%) of Democrats share that view while 39% favor withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Nine percent (9%) of Democrats favor negotiations.]

This is the most ridiculous poll I've ever seen. Who the fuck are we supposed to bomb in retaliation???

All of the damn terra'ists were U.K. citizens.

Flip...Flop

quote[President Bush said Monday that if anyone in his administration committed a crime in connection with the public leak of the identity of an undercover
CIA operative, that person will "no longer work in my administration." At the same time, Bush again sidestepped a question on the role of his top political adviser, Karl Rove, in the matter.]

But I thought it was anyone involved who would be fired???

Bush Admin. Alters Scientific Results To Suit Their Agenda

quote[Large numbers of agency scientists reported political interference in scientific determinations:

*
More than one third of respondents positioned to make such recommendations (37 percent) have “been directed, for non-scientific reasons, to refrain from making findings that are protective” of marine life and nearly one in four (24 percent) of those conducting such work reported being “directed to inappropriately exclude or alter technical information from a NOAA Fisheries scientific document;”
*
More than half of all respondents (53 percent) knew of cases where “commercial interests have inappropriately induced the reversal or withdrawal of scientific conclusions or decisions through political intervention;” and
*
More than half of the scientists (58 percent) knew of cases “where high-level U.S. Department of Commerce administrators and appointees have inappropriately altered NOAA Fisheries determinations.” A substantial minority (42 percent) also cited incidents where members of Congress “inappropriately influenced NOAA Fisheries determinations.”]

All this administration cares about is money, not policy, not the environment, and certainly not integrity.

Chinese General Says China Ready to Use Nuclear Arms Against US in Taiwan Conflict

quote[A senior military official in Beijing says China would be prepared to use nuclear weapons against the United States if Washington intervenes in any future conflict over Taiwan.]

Scary stuff!!

Don't Call Me Crazy On The Fourth Of July

This is pretty chilling, even if the guy was a nut.

(Warning: This is a long video - definitely not for dialup).

Rove Uproar Sparks Democratic Plan on Security Clearance

quote[The Democrats hoped to attach the measure to a spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security. Should the maneuver succeed, and Republicans then resist the overall bill, Democrats could portray them as trying to block legislation vital to national security.]

Beat them at their own game.

The Physics Of Unaccountable Power

quote[Take my word, there has been a lot of soul searching in the so-called Main Stream Media (MSM) over its performance, or lack of performance, in the months leading up to the American-led ouster of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. Specifically, did we replace what should have been professional skepticism with a certain mindless credulousness in assessing the reality of the Bush administration’s claims of imminent danger to the country and the world from Saddam’s supposedly vast stash of weapons of mass destruction, including — only months away, it was said — the nuclear kind?]

Are they (the MSM) finally getting it?

Post: White House Fears Indictment

quote[White House officials told The Washington Post they fear someone in the Bush administration may be indicted regarding the leak of a covert CIA operative's name.
The Post report Thursday did not name its sources, saying "officials acknowledged privately" that an indictment naming a member of the administration could come this year.
Special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald has been investigating the release of the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame, which is a crime for a government official. But the Post said legal experts said there are other possible problems related to the case, including perjury and obstruction of justice.
Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper appeared Wednesday before a federal grand jury convened to look into the case. Another reporter, Judith Miller of The New York Times, remains jailed in Virginia because she refuses to appear before the grand jury.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has been linked to Cooper but Rove's attorney Robert Luskin said, "Cooper's truthful testimony will not call into question the accuracy or completeness of anything Rove has previously said to the prosecutor or grand jury," the Post reported.]

McClellan Continues To Get Hammered (Day 3)

quote[Q Scott, some White House advisors expressed surprise that the President didn't -- did not give a warm endorsement to Karl Rove when he was asked about him at the Cabinet meeting. They had expected that he would speak up. Can you explain why the President didn't give a -- express confidence?

MR. McCLELLAN: Sure. He wasn't asked about his support or confidence for Karl. As I indicated yesterday, every person who works here at the White House, including Karl Rove, has the confidence of the President. This was not a question that came up in the Cabinet Room.

Q Well, the President has never been restrained at staying right in the lines of a question, as you know. (Laughter.) He kind of -- he says whatever he wants. And if he had wanted to express confidence in Karl Rove, he could have. Why didn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: He expressed it yesterday through me, and I just expressed it again.

Q Well, why doesn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: He was not asked that specific question, Terry. You know that very well. The questions he were asked -- he was asked about were relating to an ongoing investigation.

Q But, Scott, he defended Al Gonzales without even being asked --

MR. McCLELLAN: I'll come to you in a second. I'll come to you in a second. Go ahead.

Q Yes, he defended Al Gonzales without ever being asked. (Laughter.) Ed brings up a good point. Didn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I think he was asked about the Attorney General.

Q Scott, you know what, to make a general observation here, in a previous administration, if a press secretary had given the sort of answers you've just given in referring to the fact that everybody who works here enjoys the confidence of the President, Republicans would have hammered them as having a kind of legalistic and sleazy defense. I mean, the reality is that you're parsing words, and you've been doing it for a few days now. So does the President think Karl Rove did something wrong, or doesn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, David, I'm not at all. I told you and the President told you earlier today that we don't want to prejudge the outcome of an ongoing investigation. And I think we've been round and round on this for two days now.

Q Even if it wasn't a crime? You know, there are those who believe that even if Karl Rove was trying to debunk bogus information, as Ken Mehlman suggested yesterday -- perhaps speaking on behalf of the White House -- that when you're dealing with a covert operative, that a senior official of the government should be darn well sure that that person is not undercover, is not covert, before speaking about them in any way, shape, or form. Does the President agree with that or not?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we've been round and round on this for a couple of days now. I don't have anything to add to what I've said the previous two days.

Q That's a different question, and it's not round and round --

MR. McCLELLAN: You heard from the President earlier.

Q It has nothing to do with the investigation, Scott, and you know it.

MR. McCLELLAN: You heard from the President earlier today, and the President said he's not --

Q That's a dodge to my question. It has nothing to do with the investigation. Is it appropriate for a senior official to speak about a covert agent in any way, shape, or form without first finding out whether that person is working as a covert officer.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, you're wrong. This is all relating to questions about an ongoing investigation, and I've been through this.

Q If I wanted to ask you about an ongoing investigation, I would ask you about the statute, and I'm not doing that.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think we've exhausted discussion on this the last couple of days.

Q You haven't even scratched the surface.

Q It hasn't started.

MR. McCLELLAN: I look forward to talking about it once the investigation is complete, as the President does, as well. And you heard from the President earlier today.

Q Can I ask for clarification on what the President said at Sea Island on June 10th of last year, when he was saying that he would fire anybody from the White House who was involved in the leak of classified information? What were the parameters for those consequences? Was it --

MR. McCLELLAN: I appreciate your question.

Q Was it a knowing leak with the intent of doing damage? I'm just wondering when he talked about that, what those parameters were?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I've nothing to add on this discussion, and if we have any other topics you want to discuss, I'll be glad to do that.

Go ahead, David.

Q Scott, when the President asked that question at Sea -- was asked that question at Sea Island, and, in fact, when you made your statement that Karl had had nothing to do with this, was there an ongoing investigation at that time?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we've been through this for two days now, and I've already responded to those questions.

Go ahead, April.

Q I'm going to give you another --

Q I'm sorry, I wasn't here yesterday, so could you refresh my memory? Was there an ongoing investigation --

MR. McCLELLAN: The briefings are available online.

Q -- at the time that you answered previous questions on this issue?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I responded to those questions the past couple of days. Go ahead.

Q The answer is, yes.

Q I'm going to go to another question, somewhat on the same subject, but a different vein. Let's talk about the Wilson family. Is there any regret from this White House about the effects of this leak on this family?

MR. McCLELLAN: We can continue to go round and round on all these --

Q No, no, no, no. This has nothing to do with the investigation. This is about the leak and the effects on this family. I mean, granted there are partisan politics being played, but let's talk about the leak that came from the White House that affected a family.

MR. McCLELLAN: And let me just say again that anything relating to an ongoing investigation, I'm not going to get into discussing. I've said that the past couple of days.

Q This is not -- this is about -- this is a personal -- this is not about the -- I mean about the investigation. This is about the personal business of this family, an American family, a taxpaying family, a family that works for the government of the United States. And the executive branch -- someone in the executive branch let this family down in some kind of way, shape, or form. Is there any regret from the White House that this family was affected by the leak?

MR. McCLELLAN: It doesn't change what I just said...

...Q Scott, Secretary Rumsfeld has in the past told Congress, under fire from certain members, that he has, in fact, offered his resignation and the President has, in fact, rejected that idea, and said, no, I'd like you to stay on. Is the same true of Karl Rove, either in the context of offering a resignation or offering to take a leave of absence? And how has the President responded?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think I've made the President's views on Karl very clear and his support for all those who work at the White House, including Karl Rove.

Q We know that the President has supported Karl publicly, but I guess what I'm asking is, has Karl Rove offered, as a courtesy to the President, that?

MR. McCLELLAN: And again, these are all some of the similar questions that have been coming up over the last couple of days, and I don't have anything to add while this investigation is ongoing. But I think the President's views are very clear when it comes to Karl Rove and others who work here at the White House.

Q Scott --

MR. McCLELLAN: Let me go to Jessica, and then I'll come back to you.

Q Scott, I've spoken to one person at least who says that when -- after being interviewed by the special prosecutor was asked not to discuss subjects, the substance of their interview, but was free to talk about this investigation more broadly. So my question is, has the White House been asked by the special prosecutor not to talk about specific testimony, or to discuss nothing about this at all?

MR. McCLELLAN: These questions came up the last couple of days, and again --

Q But you haven't been explicit. Did the special prosecutor say to the White House --

MR. McCLELLAN: Again --

Q -- don't discuss this?

MR. McCLELLAN: I want to help the investigation proceed and come to a successful conclusion. And the best way to do that, as I've said, not only the last couple of days, but going back nearly two years, is to not get into discussing the investigation from this podium, and those questions --

Q Because the prosecutor asked you not to?

MR. McCLELLAN: And those questions I've been through the last couple of days, this morning, and there's really nothing to add. And I appreciate it, but we've exhausted this discussion, I think. And we need to let that investigation proceed.

Q Scott, from Africa, Mrs. Bush says, Karl Rove is a very good friend of mine; I've known him for years. And she's not going to speculate on any other part of the case. Well, does the President feel the same way about Karl Rove, the relationship with Karl Rove, a very good friend for many years?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he does.

Q And at this point, is it ebbing or flowing? Is that relationship with the President ebbing or flowing? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, this is a creative way to come out to the same kind of questions.

Q You're right, it is, and I want an answer.]


Gosh, this is getting fun. All the jucy bits are in the quote above.

Repuglican Thinks Russert, Not Rove, Should Be Shot

quote[And Joe Wilson has no right to complain. And I think people like Tim Russert and the others, who gave this guy such a free ride and all the media, they're the ones to be shot, not Karl Rove. Listen, maybe Karl Rove was not perfect. We live in an imperfect world. And I give him credit for having the guts.]

Do these republican assholes actually believe the shit they say??

(You have to scroll down to the part of the transcript that has Congressman Peter King - about 2/3 down).

THIS HAS TO STOP.

JAPAN SAQ (SELDOM ASKED QUESTIONS)

Some interesting, if not useless, information here about the land of the rising sun.

Republican Asshat Blames Liberals For Priest Sex Abuse

quote[Specifically, here's what Santorum wrote about the church pedophile scandal on a religious website called Catholic Online. ''When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political, and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm."]

White House Press Corps Grows A Spine/Attacks McClellan

quote[QUESTION: Scott, this is ridiculous. The notion that you're going to stand before us, after having commented with that level of detail, and tell people watching this that somehow you've decided not to talk.

You've got a public record out there. Do you stand by your remarks from that podium or not?

MCCLELLAN: I'm well aware, like you, of what was previously said. And I will be glad to talk about it at the appropriate time. The appropriate time is when the investigation...

QUESTION: (inaudible) when it's appropriate and when it's inappropriate?

MCCLELLAN: If you'll let me finish.

QUESTION: No, you're not finishing. You're not saying anything...]

Finally...

U.K. Memo Cites Plans For Troop Reduction

quote[The paper, which is marked "Secret -- UK Eyes Only," said "emerging U.S. plans assume that 14 out of 18 provinces could be handed over to Iraqi control by early 2006," allowing a reduction in overall U.S.-led forces in Iraq to 66,000 troops. The troop level is now at about 160,000, including 138,000 American troops, according to a military spokesman in Baghdad.]

Just in time for the 2006 midterm elections!

It just goes to show that this administration is all about getting power, not what are in the best interests of our country.

Fox News Is Shameless And Disgusting

quote[GIBSON: By the way, just wanted to tell you people, we missed -- the International Olympic Committee missed a golden opportunity today. If they had picked France, if they had picked France instead of London to hold the Olympics, it would have been the one time we could look forward to where we didn't worry about terrorism. They'd blow up Paris, and who cares?]

Cage and Stone to make a true adventure story of heroism at the World Trade Center in the aftermath of 9/11!

quote[Academy Award®-winner Nicolas Cage will star in and three-time Academy Award®-winner Oliver Stone will direct an untitled World Trade Center project for Paramount Pictures.].

Oh fuck, this is going to suck.

Rehnquist To Retire Before I Wake Up

quote[Adding to the tension is word from court sources that ailing Chief Justice William Rehnquist also will announce his retirement before the week is over. That would enable Bush to play this game: Name one justice no less conservative than Rehnquist, and name Gonzales, whose past record suggests he would replicate retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on abortion and possibly other social issues. Thus, the present ideological orientation of the court would be unchanged, which would suit the left just fine.]

The story is a fluff Novak piece, but my sources indicate that Rehnquist is about to throw in the towel.

Israeli Embassy Given Heads Up On London Bombings

quote[British police told the Israeli Embassy in London minutes before Thursday's explosions that they had received warnings of possible terror attacks in the city, a senior Israeli official said.

Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had planned to attend an economic conference in a hotel over the subway stop where one of the blasts occurred, and the warning prompted him to stay in his hotel room instead, government officials said.]

And yet the MSM can't stuff down our throats fast enough that there was no warning.

Anyone else find it convenient that whenever Bush starts to get into hot water (Rove's indictment is imminent) there is a spectacular setback to the war on terra'?

Iraq Signs Military Pact With Iran

quote[ Responding to the suggestion that the thaw in ties with Iran would anger Washington, Dulaimi said: "Nobody can dictate to Iraq its relations with other countries."]

So, what's going to happen when Bush attacks Iran?

Troops' Silence at Fort Bragg Was Mandatory

quote["The guy from White House advance, during the initial meetings, said, 'Be careful not to let this become a pep rally,' " Captain Earnhardt recalled in a telephone interview. Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, confirmed that account.

As the message drifted down to commanders, it appears that it may have gained an interpretation beyond what the administration's image-makers had in mind. "This is a very disciplined environment," said Captain Earnhardt, "and some guys may have taken it a bit far," leaving the troops hesitant to applaud.]

Looks like the chimps plan worked too well.

Fox Facts

quote[It seems that FNC has brought their "fair and balanced" approach to President Bush's Supreme court nominee via the FOX FACTS.

No matter who Bush picks the FOX FACTS has the right stuff: I'm so glad his pick will decide to use the constitution in their rulings.

I'm very impressed that the person won't be a crook or an idiot either.

So we can be sure that Bush will not pick an ideologue that wants to do away with individual rights and Roe v Wade. They will embrace the New Deal and protect the rights of minorities while sustaining the seperation between church and state.

I feel so much better now. Thank you FOX FACTS.]

White House Scrambles to Stop Criminal Indictment of Rove

quote[Rove has long been suspected as the leak of Plame’s name which first appeared in conservative commentator Robert Novak’s column in July 2003. Novak has reportedly cut a deal with the special prosecutor to avoid jail time but two other reporters who also reported Plame’s name – Cooper and New York Times reporter Judith Miller – could be jailed for refusing to testify before the grand jury.]

I hope this bastard goes down in flames.

Episode III: The Backstroke Of The West

quote[...the next day i was walking past my friendly dvd salesperson and decided to check out revenge of the sith. i was assured the quality was good and for 7rmb why not give it a shot.

aside from the counters on the top of the screen and a distorted perspective it was ok- not high quality but watchable. the captions were a hilarious surprise- a direct english translation of the chinese interpretation of what the script was saying. it varied from being somewhat close to the script to being 'far far away'....]

That was too funny.

Astrologist Sues NASA Over Crash

quote[A Russian astrologist who says NASA has altered her horoscope by crashing a spacecraft into a comet is suing the U.S. space agency for damages of $300 million, local media has reported.]

WTF???

KARL ROVE: WORSE THAN OSAMA BIN LADEN

quote["[Knowingly revealing Plame's name and undercover status to the media]...is a violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act and is punishable by as much as ten years in prison," notes the Washington Post. Unmasking an intelligent agent during a time of war, however, surely rises to giving aid and comfort to America's enemies--treason. Treason is punishable by execution under the United States Code.]

If Ax Falls on Roe, It May Also Split GOP

quote[Strategists worry that overturning Roe would make abortion a top-tier political issue again, galvanizing liberals and moderates who have long assumed the issue was settled. At the same time, it would eliminate a major organizing principle of the evangelical movement that gained prominence in last year's elections. And Republican candidates, who have long sidestepped the issue by assuring moderate voters that judges had the final say on abortion, would suddenly be forced to say how they would vote on a woman's right to choose.]

Interesting take. Maybe we aren't so fucked after all.

Rove Blew CIA Agent's Cover

quote[I revealed in yesterday's taping of the McLaughlin Group that Time magazine's emails will reveal that Karl Rove was Matt Cooper's source. I have known this for months but didn't want to say it at a time that would risk me getting dragged into the grand jury.]

But why is Novak so immune to prosecution??

No, not Gonzales!

quote[It was not merely a leak from the normally leak-proof Bush White House. For more than a week, a veritable torrent has tipped Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as President Bush's first nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. It has sent the conservative movement into spasms of fear and loathing.]

For once, I can agree with the scum that is Robert Novak. However:

"It was not merely a leak from the normally leak-proof Bush White House.

Give me a break!! They're the ones that leaked Valerie Plame's name to him.

O'Connor to resign from Supreme Court

quote[Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the high court and the key swing vote in some of the nation's highest-profile cases, announced her resignation Friday.]

Yep, we're fucked.