Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 5 Comments »
by- Suzie-Q @ 8:48 PM MST
This morning, CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux reported that “very senior level sources” inside the administration are telling her that Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff will replace Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Additionally, these sources say Chertoff will be replaced at Homeland Security by Clay Johnson III, the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget.
Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 1 Comment »
by- Mentarch … 20:55 EDT
By now, we’ve gotten used to hearing voices from lobbyists and politicians for the need to make government less costly and more efficient by outsourcing its services through awarding contracts to the private sector. All for the good of free market competitiveness, thus ensuring better services at cheaper costs – right?
Among many of the dark, sad and tragic tales and lessons that the Iraq War keeps serving us, if not actually reminding us of, there is one which offers us a glimpse into the future of for-profit corporation-provided governmental services and for-profit corporation direct influence, if not control, over our lives.
This future is dystopic and inhuman – frighteningly enough, this is not science-fiction but reality … today.
Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 17 Comments »
by GEF @ 7:22 PM EDT
By: Steve Benen @ 2:59 PM – PDT
There have been rumors swirling for years about Sen. Larry Craig’s (R-Idaho) personal life, subcription-only Roll Call reports this afternoon that the rumors might very well be true.
Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested in June at a Minnesota airport by a plainclothes police officer investigating lewd conduct complaints in a men’s public restroom, according to an arrest report obtained by Roll Call Monday afternoon.
Craig’s arrest occurred just after noon on June 11 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in the Hennepin County District Court. He paid more than $500 in fines and fees, and a 10-day jail sentence was stayed. He also was given one year of probation with the court that began on Aug. 8.
It’s obviously to know whether the charges have merit, but it doesn’t sound encouraging for the conservative Republican senator. Greg Sargent notes the details.
John Amato: He paid a 500.00 fine. I got this from Larry: “Meet the PressJanuary 24, 1999, Sunday 9:00 AM
MR. RUSSERT: Larry Craig, would you want the last word from the Senate be an acquittal of the president and no censure?
SEN. CRAIG: Well, I don’t know where the Senate’s going to be on that issue of an up or down vote on impeachment, but I will tell you that the Senate certainly can bring about a censure reslution and it’s a slap on the wrist. It’s a, “Bad boy, Bill Clinton. You’re a naughty boy.” The American people already know that Bill Clinton is a bad boy, a naughty boy.
Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 3 Comments »
by- Suzie-Q @ 4:15 PM MST
It’s been a week since eight Indian men were chased through the small eastern town of Muegeln, Germany, by a drunken mob while people looked on.
In the last seven days, speculation about why it happened, finger-pointing, soul-searching, worries and concerns over the violent incident have followed and brought back to the forefront issues of right-wing extremism, neo-Nazism and xenophobia in Germany.
In a country that has taken great pains to highlight recent historical transgressions and where Nazi activities are outlawed, the question arises once more: Is Germany facing the return of neo-Nazism?
After a brawl at a street festival, the eight Indian men suddenly found themselves being attacked by dozens of angry German youths shouting “Foreigners out” and “foreigners go back where you belong.”
Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 8 Comments »
by- Suzie-Q @ 11:50 AM MST
One of the most repeated criticisms of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’s tenure was that he continued to serve as Bush’s lawyer, rather than the nation’s lawyer. “He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove,” said Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-NV) in a statement today.
The media are reporting that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is the frontrunner to replace Gonzales. Yet it’s not clear that Chertoff will be any more independent or competent.
Most recently, Chertoff was criticized for claiming that he had a “gut feeling” the nation faced a heightened chance of a terrorist attack this summer. As head of the agency overseeing FEMA, he managed the administration’s bungled response to Hurricane Katrina. He also faced bipartisan criticism for his agency’s misallocation of terrorism funding.
FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS With Stevie Ray Vaughan- Tuff Enuf
Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 5 Comments »
by- Suzie-Q @ 11:15 AM MST
President Bush, commenting on Alberto Gonzales’ resignation this morning, said, “It is sad.” Bush isn’t the only one in mourning. Appearing on MSNBC and CNN, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) repeated the same talking point. “I think it’s a sad thing,” Cornyn said, adding that today is “a sad day.” (Watch the video)
In a statement released this morning, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers finds the true sadness in the situation. “It is a sad day when the Attorney General of the United States resigns amid a cloud of suspicion that the system of justice has been manipulated for political purposes,” Conyers said.
Jackie Wilson – Lonely Teardrops
Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 5 Comments »
Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 9 Comments »
by- Suzie-Q @ 5:48 AM MST
WACO, Tex., Aug. 27 — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned. A senior administration official said he would announce the decision later this morning in Washington.
Mr. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his resignation, submitted his to President Bush by telephone on Friday, the official said. His decision was not announced immediately announced, the official added, until after the president invited him and his wife to lunch at his ranch near here.
Mr. Bush has not yet chosen a replacement but will not leave the position open long, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the resignation had not yet been made public.
Mr. Bush had repeatedly stood by Mr. Gonzales, an old friend and colleague from Texas, even as Mr. Gonzales faced increasing scrutiny for his leadership of the Justice Department, over issues including his role in the dismissals of nine United States attorneys late last year and whether he testified truthfully about the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs.
Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 6 Comments »
anthony @ 12:00 BST
If 3,000 people had not died on September 11, 2001, a report released by the CIA’s inspector general would be laughable. “A CIA report released Tuesday blames the top leadership of the agency for major lapses in fighting al-Qaida and outlines how intelligence officials missed numerous opportunities to thwart two hijackers prior to the Sept. 11 attacks,” reports NBC. “The 19-page executive summary, written by the CIA’s inspector general, finds extensive fault with the actions of former director George Tenet and other CIA leaders.”
And what, pray tell, are these “major lapses” in “fighting al-Qaida,” the mostly smoke and mirrors terrorist organization named after a mujahideen database?
Posted in Uncategorized on August 27, 2007 | 6 Comments »
anthony @ 10:30 BST
Conyers would no doubt dearly like to see Bush and Cheney impeached. Only, he doesn’t want to be the one to start the ball rolling because he’s afraid the Democrats will look stupid in ’08 if the process fails. But not nearly as stupid as they’ll look if, following a natural disaster or a “terrorist attack”, Bush imposes martial law and postpones indefinitely the ’08 elections. What matters most at the moment is not electoral advantage, but restoring the Constitution which BushCo have been busy dismantling these past six years. So Anthony says: Impeach their sorry bottoms, Conyers, you know it makes sense! As one of your fellow-countrymewn once said: “Feel the fear and do it anyway!”
by Cheryl Biren-Wright
OpEdNews
August 26, 2007 at 17:24:45
The People’s March for Peace, Equality, Jobs, and Justice on Saturday, August 25 in Newark, New Jersey brought thousands of impassioned pleas for the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. It also brought Congressman John Conyers to the stage to promote the very popular National Health Insurance Bill, H.R. 676.
While the discussion of health insurance for all and the great congressman from Michigan were well-received with cheers and applause, the cries for impeachment took center stage. In what has become routine now, Conyers fed into the momentum asking “What should we do?” “IMPEACH!” cried the crowd. “What should we do?” “IMPEACH!” and so it was repeated. The congressman went on to declare that we needed to bring back Rumsfeld and put him on trial and the big question was to decide who ought to go first. “Cheney!” shouted the crowd enthusiastically.
Some knowing impeach activists in the crowd called the bluff asking “When are you going to act on this?” He replied that he was going to meet with impeachment activists. “When?!” they called. “Right after this march. Right here!” and he pointed back stage.
(more…)
