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The slow wheels of Justice
Author: BobR    Date: 11/19/2008 13:48:54

We the people of this great nation have had to endure the insulting and - at times - criminal behavior of the Bush Administration for 8 years now. We've waited in vain for the Democrats in the House to do something (like impeach the bastards). There have been investigations and subpeonas, but the only result was Scooter Libby's indictment and subsequent pardon regarding his role in outing Valerie Plame.

As it happens, it was announced yesterday that Plame and Wilson are taking their civil lawsuit to the Supreme Court:
Former CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, plan to take their civil lawsuit against Bush administration officials to the Supreme Court after a federal circuit court refused to rehear the case on Monday.

Wilson v. Cheney, filed in 2006, charges that Bush administration officials such as Vice President Cheney, and aides Karl Rove and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, violated Plame's constitutional rights in allegedly engineering the outing Plame, who was undercover at the time, as retaliation against her husband, an Iraq war critic, who had been sent to Niger in 2002 to investigate the possible sale of yellowcake uranium to Iraq.
[...]
In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld a district judge's dismissal of the suit saying that it failed to establish a constitutional issue.

"There must be consequences when government officials abuse their power and endanger national security for political ends," said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan on Tuesday. "This is an issue worth fighting over and we will not give up."

Another scandal from the past is the U.S. Attorney firings. The Senate Judiciary committee released a report yesterday showing that these firings were linked to the highest levels of the Administration:
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday said the 2006 firings of U.S. attorneys were orchestrated by the “highest political ranks” in the White House.

The report named former deputy White House chief of staff Karl Rove as among those involved.

“The evidence shows that senior officials were focused on the political impact of federal prosecutions and whether federal prosecutors were doing enough to bring partisan voter fraud and corruption cases,” the report said.

The committee’s majority also concludes the Justice Department’s publicly stated reasons for the firings were “contrived as part of a cover-up.”

Rove did not respond to an e-mail asking for comment.

The findings were released by committee chairman Sen. Pat Leahy, a Vermont Democrat. The full report will be filed with the Senate today.

In a statement, Leahy said the report demonstrated why the Senate should pursue contempt citations against Rove and former White House official Josh Bolten for failing to comply with committee subpoenas in the case.

Rove and Bolten have claimed executive privilege in declining to testify.

Can we see Rove doing a perp walk?... can we?... please?... The bad news: In the ongoing investigation into the Justice Department, taxpayers will be paying for his private attorney. Gonzales requested the private attorney because "private counsel can often be useful where (department) officials are sued in an individual capacity". Apparently, even HE realizes that the stooges they hired wouldn't be able to defend him very well.

The big news yesterday, however, was that Cheney and Gonzales were indicted! A south TX (yes! - Texas!) county indicted them on charges relating to federal prisons in that county:
Cheney is charged with engaging in an organized criminal activity related to the vice president's investment in the Vanguard Group, which holds financial interests in the private prison companies running the federal detention centers. It accuses Cheney of a conflict of interest and "at least misdemeanor assaults" on detainees because of his link to the prison companies.

Megan Mitchell, a spokeswoman for Cheney, declined to comment on Tuesday, saying that the vice president had not yet received a copy of the indictment.

The indictment accuses Gonzales of using his position while in office to stop an investigation in 2006 into abuses at one of the privately-run prisons.

Sure it's not the war crimes indictment we all dream of, but it's a start.

The other big news yesterday was that Ted Stevens officially lost his seat in the Senate. That means that Sarah Palin won't be the states' next Senator. As it relates to this blog post, he said he won't be seeking a presidential pardon for the crimes of which he's been convicted. Not that it matters, Bush will be handing out pardons like candy on Halloween.

What he may NOT be able to do, though, is offer blanket pardons as they relate to torture, according to our "esteemed" colleagues at FAUX News. According to their legal analyst, Bush has to name names when issuing pardons:
George W. Bush "is not a big pardon guy," [ ] says a Fox News legal analyst, but there has been increasing speculation that he might wield the pardon power more generously as he prepares to leave office. However, there are some pardons that Bush either cannot or will not issue.

"The president can still pardon anybody he wants at any time he wants for anything done in their past for a federal violation," former judge Andrew Napolitano explained to the hosts of Fox and Friends on Tuesday. "He has so much absolute pardon power, he could pardon himself."

But although Bush might even pardon individuals who have not yet been charged -- as Gerald Ford did for Richard Nixon -- Napolitano insisted that he cannot issue a blanket pardon to everyone who may have engaged in extreme interrogation techniques. "You've got to name them," Napolitano explained. "You can't pardon somebody without saying who it is."

With just 62 days and a few hours left, I am sure we'll see a lot more 11th hour manuvering. Hopefully, we'll see actual justice done in our lifetime.

 

107 comments (Latest Comment: 11/21/2008 00:50:21 by Random)
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Comment by Scoopster on 11/19/2008 13:52:55
Morning folks! Tri that cappucino on the stubby looked so damn good...



Also, it's kinda funny that you guys were talking about boots yesterday because I'm in the search for a new pair and oddly enough I'm checking out some Timberlands.

Comment by TriSec on 11/19/2008 13:55:03
Check out Chippewa. They make stuff for LL Bean, and that's still in made in the USA.



A member on another board we used to frequent got me checking out Red Wings, too. My brother wears them on the shop floor at GE...they're pretty damn indestructible.





Comment by BobR on 11/19/2008 13:56:46
FWIW - I deleted the stubby... so sorry.... :shrug:

Comment by wickedpam on 11/19/2008 14:04:16
Morning :hug:

Comment by Scoopster on 11/19/2008 14:08:34
Was looking at Chippewa yesterday.. nothing really caught my eye. I'm trying to find something low-cut and snazzy lookin', kinda like a inexpensive Doc Marten type of look ya know?



And waterproof. Has to be with all the walking I do..

Comment by m-hadley on 11/19/2008 14:36:30
Mornin' Everybodee :coffee:

Hope everybodee is having a good Wednesday - It's busy as all get out here at work, so this may be a drive-by posting Hey there, ha cha cha, buh bye for now :hug:

:dance:

Cheers,

mfaye



:gobama:

Comment by starling310 on 11/19/2008 14:46:31
Morning all!





:coffee2:





At the tail end of a head cold. . . it's moved down the pipe and I am now in the gross phlemy cough stage. Mm. Mm. Mm...

I am just glad it's all taking place between shows. If I had to be on stage, coughing up a lung, it wouldn't be pleasant.





Comment by starling310 on 11/19/2008 14:48:05
I was thinking about the Scooter Libby song today.



It's been a long time...

"Scooter Libby Libby Libby's

Goin' to jail jail jail

He will take it take it take it

In the tail tail tail. . . .






Comment by starling310 on 11/19/2008 14:52:37
Umm...Sean, he's the President!!! It's kind of a big deal.



Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 14:56:14
Good Morning!



Speaking of Blankets, it is cold here!

Comment by m-hadley on 11/19/2008 14:57:08
Quote by starling310:

Morning all!





:coffee2:





At the tail end of a head cold. . . it's moved down the pipe and I am now in the gross phlemy cough stage. Mm. Mm. Mm...

I am just glad it's all taking place between shows. If I had to be on stage, coughing up a lung, it wouldn't be pleasant.







So Star,

Do tell. How's your turn on the grand stage going? You will always be a star

to me. Me, I drank about a half gallon of grapefruit juice last night (only a few glasses had vitamin V added :P) That and Dayquil will get me through today.

PS. If you wanna see a photo of my grrrrl - check out the sidebar of my blog - she is Amy in the photo with my boyz. We are going to DC for the inuaguration - I am so very, very excited !!!

Will you be there?

Cheers,

mfaye & :hug:

Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 15:11:45
Still waiting for someone to answer me this... the guy on the phone just said that banks were given money to loan to companies to help clear up the credit crisis... so WHY haven't the banks loaned money to the Automakers?

:waiting:

Comment by BobR on 11/19/2008 15:16:36
Quote by Raine:

Still waiting for someone to answer me this... the guy on the phone just said that banks were given money to loan to companies to help clear up the credit crisis... so WHY haven't the banks loaned money to the Automakers?

:waiting:


Would YOU loan money to the U.S. automakers?

Comment by starling310 on 11/19/2008 15:19:06
Quote by m-hadley:

Quote by starling310:

Morning all!





:coffee2:





At the tail end of a head cold. . . it's moved down the pipe and I am now in the gross phlemy cough stage. Mm. Mm. Mm...

I am just glad it's all taking place between shows. If I had to be on stage, coughing up a lung, it wouldn't be pleasant.







So Star,

Do tell. How's your turn on the grand stage going? You will always be a star

to me. Me, I drank about a half gallon of grapefruit juice last night (only a few glasses had vitamin V added :P) That and Dayquil will get me through today.

PS. If you wanna see a photo of my grrrrl - check out the sidebar of my blog - she is Amy in the photo with my boyz. We are going to DC for the inuaguration - I am so very, very excited !!!

Will you be there?

Cheers,

mfaye & :hug:






Awww.....Good for you Roomie!!

A lovely grrrrl and lovely dogs.



I may be going to DC. Lookin' into it!

Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 15:21:33
Comment by starling310 on 11/19/2008 15:23:10
Oh, and Roomie, the turn on stage is going well. Small audiences, but I think that will pick up closer to Christmas!



Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 15:26:33
Quote by BobR:

Quote by Raine:

Still waiting for someone to answer me this... the guy on the phone just said that banks were given money to loan to companies to help clear up the credit crisis... so WHY haven't the banks loaned money to the Automakers?

:waiting:


Would YOU loan money to the U.S. automakers?
So what is the solution?



I understand what you are saying, but it seems like this is further proof that the banks are NOT using the money the way they are supposed to be using it. PLUS, it's the auto makers that are saying they don't have enough money... why should we give them a separate bailout, when we just had a friggin 700 billion dollar one that was supposed to ease this situation?



If the money can't help the auto makers, let them file chapter 11 and go thru restructuring. I dunno... SOMETHING.







Comment by wickedpam on 11/19/2008 15:27:54
Quote by Raine:

Good Morning!



Speaking of Blankets, it is cold here!




your blood has thinned so quickly since moving south :p



Comment by BobR on 11/19/2008 15:30:12
Quote by Raine:

So what is the solution?



I understand what you are saying, but it seems like this is further proof that the banks are NOT using the money the way they are supposed to be using it. PLUS, it's the auto makers that are saying they don't have enough money... why should we give them a separate bailout, when we just had a friggin 700 billion dollar one that was supposed to ease this situation?



If the money can't help the auto makers, let them file chapter 11 and go thru restructuring. I dunno... SOMETHING.





I was being snarky...

Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 15:30:19
Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:

Good Morning!



Speaking of Blankets, it is cold here!




your blood has thinned so quickly since moving south :p

I have always considered anything below 30 degrees cold...



It was in the 20's last nite!



Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 15:30:57
Quote by BobR:

Quote by Raine:

So what is the solution?



I understand what you are saying, but it seems like this is further proof that the banks are NOT using the money the way they are supposed to be using it. PLUS, it's the auto makers that are saying they don't have enough money... why should we give them a separate bailout, when we just had a friggin 700 billion dollar one that was supposed to ease this situation?



If the money can't help the auto makers, let them file chapter 11 and go thru restructuring. I dunno... SOMETHING.





I was being snarky...


:redface:



Oh.

Comment by Scoopster on 11/19/2008 15:36:20
Quote by Raine:

Still waiting for someone to answer me this... the guy on the phone just said that banks were given money to loan to companies to help clear up the credit crisis... so WHY haven't the banks loaned money to the Automakers?

:waiting:


They're too busy using it to pad their losses..

Comment by starling310 on 11/19/2008 15:37:04
Sacha went to Sidwell Friends!



My Sacha, not Obama's.

Comment by wickedpam on 11/19/2008 15:37:44
Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

Quote by Raine:

Good Morning!



Speaking of Blankets, it is cold here!




your blood has thinned so quickly since moving south :p

I have always considered anything below 30 degrees cold...



It was in the 20's last nite!







20's here too, but it was a dry 20's :p



Comment by Scoopster on 11/19/2008 15:42:53
Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 15:50:50
You know I don't care WHERE the Obama girls go to school, as long as they are safe. This is a choice for the parents to make.



(non sequitor I know -- I was reading a few things online...)







Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 15:53:26
In defense of the Big Dawg and his foundation... I believe he knew that he would have to step down as the head of that organization if Hillary had won the election...



Right now, the biggest problem for him is the vetting by the Obama team --



I really don't think the vetting is going to be pretty, and I think that Ted Kennedy offering her the head of the Healthcare team might have been a brilliant move to allow Hillary a good out in case they uncover some funny money from the big dawg.

Comment by TriSec on 11/19/2008 15:56:29
*snort*



Veered into the weather ditch again?



It's a deeelightful 30º here, but a stiff easterly wind. Not a cloud in the sky, just a wondrous New England morning...



Cold to me is when the snow is crunchy...below 15º.



Comment by Mondobubba on 11/19/2008 15:56:49
It is so nice to sleep in one's own bed. Especially if one's parents guest bed is a tiny lumpy day bed. Good morning all.





Comment by Mondobubba on 11/19/2008 15:59:53
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h137/MondoBubba/swastika.jpg




A little cultural cognitive dissonance for the morning. Some parts of the world it is still a symbol of good luck.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/19/2008 16:02:23
Quote by Raine:

You know I don't care WHERE the Obama girls go to school, as long as they are safe. This is a choice for the parents to make.



(non sequitor I know -- I was reading a few things online...)











I would recommend The Fields School to the Obamas. Progressive, intellectually challenging. Both girls would thrive there.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/19/2008 16:04:12
Quote by starling310:

Sacha went to Sidwell Friends!



My Sacha, not Obama's.






An excellent school. I think many a presidential kid has gone there. Run by the Quakers you know.

Comment by wickedpam on 11/19/2008 16:05:55
Quote by Mondobubba:

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h137/MondoBubba/swastika.jpg




A little cultural cognitive dissonance for the morning. Some parts of the world it is still a symbol of good luck.






If you look at some of the friezes from ancient Rome and Greece it's a pattern that is repeated often.



Comment by wickedpam on 11/19/2008 16:06:41
Am I the only one who finds something wrong in this?



http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g37/Wicked_Pam/whitetail001.jpg


Comment by Mondobubba on 11/19/2008 16:09:08
Quote by Scoopster:

Morning folks! Tri that cappucino on the stubby looked so damn good...



Also, it's kinda funny that you guys were talking about boots yesterday because I'm in the search for a new pair and oddly enough I'm checking out some Timberlands.




Made in China. You Dr Marten has reintroduced the 1461. It is made in England my guys named Clive, Reg and Ian again! Sorry, Scoop inexpensive and Doc Marten-y are mutually exclusive terms.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/19/2008 16:11:02
Quote by wickedpam:

Am I the only one who finds something wrong in this?



http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g37/Wicked_Pam/whitetail001.jpg






Deeply wrong. I think it's the juxtaposition of the books about hunting with the fluffy feety PJs.

Comment by starling310 on 11/19/2008 16:12:01
OMG! Jim's Britney Spears sounds like 'Kenneth' from 30 Rock.

:rofl:

Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 16:12:20
Mala, that was very very wrong. in a hunting catalog?

Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 16:15:41
Jim sounds like the preacher man on Squidbilles!

Comment by wickedpam on 11/19/2008 16:21:41
I have to admit I laughed then I first saw it - it was just so wrong. All I could picture was big brother or sis goin' huntin' with mom or dad and then getting a confused message when the parental units dress up the littlest one as a deer. Its just wrong.

Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 16:26:30
Mormons: The musical

They've tried noisy protests, consumer boycotts, and the odd act of minor terrorism. Now supporters of gay marriage have unveiled a new weapon in their war against the Mormon Church: satire.



The creators of the cartoon South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are planning to stage a Broadway musical based on the lives and (many) loves of typical members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints.



It will be co-written by the composer Robert Lopez, who wrote Avenue Q, the award-winning musical which sends-up another all-American institution, Sesame Street.



Cheyenne Jackson, an openly-gay Broadway star who appeared in the film United 93, said this week that he has agreed to play the lead role, a Mormon missionary, in the show, which is currently being work-shopped and is slated to open in 2009.


Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 16:30:01
BTW, if anyone has not seen the PArker Stone movie, Orgazmo -- I highly recommend it! HIGHLARIOUS!







Comment by Mondobubba on 11/19/2008 16:36:49
Quote by Raine:

Mormons: The musical

They've tried noisy protests, consumer boycotts, and the odd act of minor terrorism. Now supporters of gay marriage have unveiled a new weapon in their war against the Mormon Church: satire.



The creators of the cartoon South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are planning to stage a Broadway musical based on the lives and (many) loves of typical members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints.



It will be co-written by the composer Robert Lopez, who wrote Avenue Q, the award-winning musical which sends-up another all-American institution, Sesame Street.



Cheyenne Jackson, an openly-gay Broadway star who appeared in the film United 93, said this week that he has agreed to play the lead role, a Mormon missionary, in the show, which is currently being work-shopped and is slated to open in 2009.






OMG! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Comment by Raine on 11/19/2008 16:39:24
SSo does anyone know what the status is right now regarding marriage in California? Can people go and get married today?

Comment by starling310 on 11/19/2008 16:41:47
Momma should get a GLAAD award...In my opinion.



*ding*

Comment by Scoopster on 11/19/2008 16:41:52
Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Scoopster:

Morning folks! Tri that cappucino on the stubby looked so damn good...



Also, it's kinda funny that you guys were talking about boots yesterday because I'm in the search for a new pair and oddly enough I'm checking out some Timberlands.




Made in China. You Dr Marten has reintroduced the 1461. It is made in England my guys named Clive, Reg and Ian again! Sorry, Scoop inexpensive and Doc Marten-y are mutually exclusive terms.


Actually.. I priced out a pair of DM boots at about $115 which really isn't that bad. The pair of Tims I was looking at was coming in about $90..

Comment by m-hadley on 11/19/2008 16:42:52
Heya Kids,

I think Monda and Mala must share the best visual award for today or at least this morning - Mala, I am most disturbed by the juxtaposition of the hunting tale and the bambi jammies and Mondo, I am equally disturbed by the Nazi bread. Thanks for bringing both of these images to our attention this morning.

Cheers,

mfaye



:gobama:

Comment by BobR on 11/19/2008 16:45:13
Quote by Raine:

In defense of the Big Dawg and his foundation... I believe he knew that he would have to step down as the head of that organization if Hillary had won the election...



Right now, the biggest problem for him is the vetting by the Obama team --



I really don't think the vetting is going to be pretty, and I think that Ted Kennedy offering her the head of the Healthcare team might have been a brilliant move to allow Hillary a good out in case they uncover some funny money from the big dawg.


This may have been pre-arranged by all three prior to the convention...

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/19/2008 16:46:16
Quote by Scoopster:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Scoopster:

Morning folks! Tri that cappucino on the stubby looked so damn good...



Also, it's kinda funny that you guys were talking about boots yesterday because I'm in the search for a new pair and oddly enough I'm checking out some Timberlands.




Made in China. You Dr Marten has reintroduced the 1461. It is made in England my guys named Clive, Reg and Ian again! Sorry, Scoop inexpensive and Doc Marten-y are mutually exclusive terms.


Actually.. I priced out a pair of DM boots at about $115 which really isn't that bad. The pair of Tims I was looking at was coming in about $90..






On what planet do 1461s come in at 130 bucks. You can order then directly from Dr Marten North America for 90.00 dollars!

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/19/2008 16:48:06
Quote by m-hadley:

Heya Kids,

I think Monda and Mala must share the best visual award for today or at least this morning - Mala, I am most disturbed by the juxtaposition of the hunting tale and the bambi jammies and Mondo, I am equally disturbed by the Nazi bread. Thanks for bringing both of these images to our attention this morning.

Cheers,

mfaye



:gobama:






It's Indian bread! The picture was taken in a heavily Jewish section of Brooklyn! That makes it even more delish!