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File under: Not helping
Author: Raine    Date: 06/18/2012 12:58:03

Good Morning and welcome to another version of Thanks for the help, Joe Lieberman.
A special counsel should investigate leaks of national security secrets to avoid an appearance of a conflict of interest, Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said on Sunday.

“Counsels, independent counsels, were created for a situation like this, where people might reach a conclusion that investigators, U.S. attorneys -- even working for the attorney general, who was appointed by the president -- cannot independently and without bias investigate high officials of their own government,” said Lieberman.

"I've been thinking about this since these leaks came out and I've reached a conclusion which is that we do need a special counsel," said Lieberman, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Operations Committee, on Fox News Sunday. {snip}

Lieberman said, “I have no reason to distrust or disrespect either of these U.S. attorneys.” But he joined Republicans in noting that one of them -- Ronald C. Machen Jr., the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia -- gave a contribution to Obama. "No matter what he concludes, people are going to say it was biased,” Lieberman said.
Sounds to me as though the lame duck senator has already come to a conclusion. He decided to go after the administration during a campaign. Sound familiar? Need I remind you of Whitewater?

While Republicans are calling for the heads of those that may have leaked this information, it should be noted that the Obama administration actually has a strong record with regards to national security leaks.
The administration has brought a total of six cases under the Espionage Act, which dates from World War I and criminalizes disclosing information “relating to the national defense.” (The Department of Justice has five criminal cases and the Army has one against alleged Wikileaks source Bradley Manning.) Prior to the current administration, there had been only three known casesresulting in indictments in which the Espionage Act was used to prosecute government officials for leaks.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice told us the government “does not target whistleblowers.” (Read their full statement below the timeline.) As they point out, government whistleblower protections shield only those who raise their concerns through the proper channels within their agency—not through leaks to the media or other unauthorized persons. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper summed up the government’s approach in a 2010 memo: “people in the intelligence business should be like my grandchildren—seen but not heard.”

Here’s a timeline of leak prosecutions under the Espionage Act, showing how they’ve picked up steam under Obama.
We all know about Bradley Manning, but there HAS been a significant uptick in prosecuting those that leak information from this administration. I would like to see the Justice Department be able to do its job and find out how this information became public. I do have a sneaking suspicion that the GOP itself may not be as pleased with the results as they are with the ongoing witch hunt. Why? There are a number of people who think that it is quite possible that Darrell Issa may be behind these leaks. He's leaked information before, most recently, last month.
WASHINGTON -- House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) has taken the unprecedented step of leaking a secret U.S. trade document, in hopes of pressuring President Barack Obama's administration into disclosing the details of a major trade deal with far-reaching implications on everything from "Buy American" contracting rules to prescription drug prices to internet freedom.
And let's not forget this interesting ponderance from our friend Karoli over at Crooks& Liars.
For nearly three years, national security leaks were few and far between. There were leaks from the White House, but most of them centered around domestic policy. Then John Boehner appointed Michele Bachmann to the House Select Committee on Intelligence. Please, no snickering. For 2011, Bachmann was preoccupied with her primary run at the GOP nomination. Few national security leaks occurred, and none of consequence.

Now we come to 2012, and since Mitt Romney won the nomination for President, there have been several major national security leaks, which the press questioned President Obama about at last week's press conference, and to which Michele Bachmann has responded.
STEPHANOPOULOS: I want to ask you about another issue that came up at the president's press conference on Friday, those national security leaks. We have two investigations now being ordered by the attorney general.

And the president said that he was offended by any suggestion that these leaks were for political purposes by his White House aides. Michele Bachmann responded to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R-MN), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Of course the White House leaked it and of course they did it, to make Obama look like he was tough on terror. I am offended that he lied to the American people this afternoon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANOPOULOS: I see you smiling in response to Michele Bachmann. And I take the president's point that this was not for political…

AXELROD: As I often do.

STEPHANOPOULOS: That this was not for political purposes. But if you look at these articles that were in The New York Times, on both the Stuxnet worm that went after the Iranian nuclear program, and the president's going over this so-called "kill list" for drones, in both cases they quote members of the president's national security team who were in the room.

So somebody who was in the room with the president was giving out some of this information or at least discussing classified information.
You know who else is privy to briefings like the ones about Stuxnet and the drone "kill list"? That's right. Michele Bachmann. Even Orange Man Boehner was concerned about her loose lips:

Bachmann may have justified Boehner’s faith in her abilities, but he wasn’t always so confident. When he appointed her to the committee last December, he made a special point of sitting Bachmann down to warn her that she could not let national secrets slip.
There is more at the link. Perhaps those calling for a special independent council might want to cool their heels. Even Darrell Issa appeared to do so before Mr. Lieberman went full throttle asking for a special investigation. On Friday, he said he was willing to postpone a contempt vote against the Attorney General in the case of Fast and Furious.

I think that some people may be overreaching in their desire to 'get the administration'. This could be quite interesting, and not at all like Whitewater, after all.

and
Raine
 

46 comments (Latest Comment: 06/18/2012 19:57:13 by Mondobubba)
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Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 13:45:17
Sounds like SCOTUS is going to have a ruling on something this morning.


Comment by Scoopster on 06/18/2012 13:57:26
Mornin' all & Happy Mondee..

Quote by Raine:
Sounds like SCOTUS is going to have a ruling on something this morning.

Justice Ginsberg had some interesting quotes on Friday.. You can't tell which way any of the decisions are going, but it seems like the court's more politicized than ever before.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 14:01:14
Morning all.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 14:08:33
BTW, WRT today's blog, I'm just sayin' ...

I honestly don't see WHY the administration would leak this information.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 14:15:00
Also, WRT to the Axelrod Interview (and perhaps I should add this to the blog ) he is also quoted as saying:
I think the authors of all of this work have said that the White House was not the source of this information. I can't say that there weren't leaks. There were obvious leaks, but they weren't from the White House.




Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 14:23:33
Ah the Alternet problem, or how many times can you permutate the same idea into a different article? Main story today: Conservatives hate science! Really I had no idea! Tell more!

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 14:23:41
No rulings on ACA or Arizona will be forthcoming today.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 14:29:07
Quote by Mondobubba:
Ah the Alternet problem, or how many times can you permutate the same idea into a different article? Main story today: Conservatives hate science! Really I had no idea! Tell more!

Ah alternet... that wonderful awkward cousin at the bbq.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 14:30:18
Oh, Massachusetts....

Leave Chicago to handle the sausages....

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 14:35:12
Quote by Raine:
Oh, Massachusetts....

Leave Chicago to handle the sausages....



Inmate 1: What did you do?
Perp: Ag asault with sausages and a wrench.
Inmate 1: Sausages?
Perp: And a wrench!
Inmate: 1 Okay then!

And scene!

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 14:42:05
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Ah the Alternet problem, or how many times can you permutate the same idea into a different article? Main story today: Conservatives hate science! Really I had no idea! Tell more!

Ah alternet... that wonderful awkward cousin at the bbq.


Not your crazy uncle who forwards debunked by Snopes email he gets to you. You really want to support the the awkward cousin, but deep down you know he or she's kinda full of shit, like crazy Uncle Joe.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 14:47:26
Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 14:50:47
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Oh, Massachusetts....

Leave Chicago to handle the sausages....



Inmate 1: What did you do?
Perp: Ag asault with sausages and a wrench.
Inmate 1: Sausages?
Perp: And a wrench!
Inmate: 1 Okay then!

And scene!
Well played!


Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/18/2012 14:51:08
Good morning, bloggers!! I hope that everyone is well.

One thing that I remind myself is that everything is political this time of year. However, I find Darryl Issa asking for an investigation into anything -- considering his own past -- is a bit absurd. I suspect that this will lead nowhere, but will give the GOP some talking points.

As for myself, I am busy job hunting and trying to beat the heat. We should be up to perhaps 97 degrees.

By the way, do leave it to Chicago to handle the sausages. Unlike some perps, we actually know what to do with our sausages here.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 14:58:50
Quote by Will in Chicago:
By the way, do leave it to Chicago to handle the sausages. Unlike some perps, we actually know what to do with our sausages here.
Thanks for having my back, Will!




Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2012 15:14:41
Morning

Finally dragged myself out of bed and downstairs, only today and tomorrow left of vaca

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 15:17:38
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
By the way, do leave it to Chicago to handle the sausages. Unlike some perps, we actually know what to do with our sausages here.
Thanks for having my back, Will!





http://sonarfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Superfans.jpg


Will and his buds discussing the correct use of sausages


Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/18/2012 15:24:02
Raine, would you believe that I hit the wrong emoticon! Fortunately, there is such a thing as serendipity.

In some good news, I have already found SEVEN teaching jobs to apply to in the Bay State. So, I may have to import sausages to show people in Massachusetts how to use them properly.



Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 15:31:09
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Raine, would you believe that I hit the wrong emoticon! Fortunately, there is such a thing as serendipity.

In some good news, I have already found SEVEN teaching jobs to apply to in the Bay State. So, I may have to import sausages to show people in Massachusetts how to use them properly.

NICE!




Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 15:32:56
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning

Finally dragged myself out of bed and downstairs, only today and tomorrow left of vaca





Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 15:45:11
Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2012 15:48:20
Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 15:53:12
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
By the way, do leave it to Chicago to handle the sausages. Unlike some perps, we actually know what to do with our sausages here.
Thanks for having my back, Will!





http://sonarfish.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Superfans.jpg


Will and his buds discussing the correct use of sausages


Will, home many heart attacks for ya?

Comment by livingonli on 06/18/2012 15:53:15
Good morning, folks. It's going to be tough to try to figure whether to watch Rachel or Fugelsang tonight at 9 unless Rachel is still out since there have been some suspicions about her absence last week.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 15:54:01
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Raine, would you believe that I hit the wrong emoticon! Fortunately, there is such a thing as serendipity.

In some good news, I have already found SEVEN teaching jobs to apply to in the Bay State. So, I may have to import sausages to show people in Massachusetts how to use them properly.




:Hisses, hunches: Excellent!

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 15:55:57
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, folks. It's going to be tough to try to figure whether to watch Rachel or Fugelsang tonight at 9 unless Rachel is still out since there have been some suspicions about her absence last week.
Suspicions?

From whom?


Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 16:01:12
Comment by livingonli on 06/18/2012 16:03:02
Quote by Raine:
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, folks. It's going to be tough to try to figure whether to watch Rachel or Fugelsang tonight at 9 unless Rachel is still out since there have been some suspicions about her absence last week.
Suspicions?

From whom?

I have to remember where I heard it from since it might have only been on facebook. Apparently, something to do with the fill-in not saying that Rachel was on vacation which is presumably what happened last week. Then again, she could have been on her book tour as well.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/18/2012 16:08:23
Okay, why is Jeff Santos on the Ed Schultz Show? Last week, Ed's show was taken off the Revolution in Boston.


Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 16:09:11
REALLY?!?!? Fluckin Jeff Santos is filling in for ED?

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2012 16:19:09
* sigh * time for house stuff - I hate mowing the lawn

Comment by livingonli on 06/18/2012 16:22:17
Quote by Raine:
REALLY?!?!? Fluckin Jeff Santos is filling in for ED?

Glad I'm listening to Sam Seder. So, he's not on in Boston but annoying the rest of the country.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/18/2012 16:24:28
Quote by Raine:
REALLY?!?!? Fluckin Jeff Santos is filling in for ED?


I think that Santos may work reasonably well as a local host, but I do not like what happened at WCPT -- which is apparently very unpopular with other listeners. So, we will see what develops.

I am now working on my TENTH teaching application for Massachusetts today. Maybe if I go there, progressive talk will improve. (I suspect that Dial Global may be looking at getting on the air elsewhere, as Mr. Santos' actions seem to be a desperation tactic.)

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 16:40:22
Quote by wickedpam:
* sigh * time for house stuff - I hate mowing the lawn



You could hire the sullen teen nextdoor. It would prevent the intrawall noise.

Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 16:47:42
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, folks. It's going to be tough to try to figure whether to watch Rachel or Fugelsang tonight at 9 unless Rachel is still out since there have been some suspicions about her absence last week.
Suspicions?

From whom?

I have to remember where I heard it from since it might have only been on facebook. Apparently, something to do with the fill-in not saying that Rachel was on vacation which is presumably what happened last week. Then again, she could have been on her book tour as well.
I am leaning towards book and Vacation. I have not heard anything like this.




Comment by Raine on 06/18/2012 16:49:52
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Okay, why is Jeff Santos on the Ed Schultz Show? Last week, Ed's show was taken off the Revolution in Boston.
I have notified people who really do care about such things.

Perhaps Pap is busy, but to get a fill in that already pays to be aired is a strange move from the Shultz producers.

In other words: NOT HELPING.


Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/18/2012 17:02:05
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Okay, why is Jeff Santos on the Ed Schultz Show? Last week, Ed's show was taken off the Revolution in Boston.
I have notified people who really do care about such things.

Perhaps Pap is busy, but to get a fill in that already pays to be aired is a strange move from the Shultz producers.

In other words: NOT HELPING.


Here is also what is puzzling. Ed is off the air in Boston, last I checked. So, is Santos airing Ed today?

Honestly, if I wanted to put together a radio station in Boston and wanted to get in some local hosts, Santos would not be my top pick. I would rather see if Jeff Farias or Nicole Sandler could relocate.


Comment by livingonli on 06/18/2012 17:06:01
Quote by Raine:
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, folks. It's going to be tough to try to figure whether to watch Rachel or Fugelsang tonight at 9 unless Rachel is still out since there have been some suspicions about her absence last week.
Suspicions?

From whom?

I have to remember where I heard it from since it might have only been on facebook. Apparently, something to do with the fill-in not saying that Rachel was on vacation which is presumably what happened last week. Then again, she could have been on her book tour as well.
I am leaning towards book and Vacation. I have not heard anything like this.



It was probably someone who had his tinfoil hat screwed on too tightly.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2012 18:15:49
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
* sigh * time for house stuff - I hate mowing the lawn



You could hire the sullen teen nextdoor. It would prevent the intrawall noise.



Sullen teen, not so sullen really, don't think her parents have ever asked her to do anything to help around the house, especially not yard work.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/18/2012 18:25:55
I have some errands to run, but I have some minor good news in that I ended up applying to TEN different teaching jobs in Massachusetts before lunch. So, hopefully the calls will be coming in.

An aunt who lives in Clarksville suggested that I check around her and in Nashville, but I suspect that I am about as Southern as a bagel with lox or a bowl of clam chowder.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 18:32:50
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
* sigh * time for house stuff - I hate mowing the lawn



You could hire the sullen teen nextdoor. It would prevent the intrawall noise.



Sullen teen, not so sullen really, don't think her parents have ever asked her to do anything to help around the house, especially not yard work.


Okay I am assuming she's sullen. No, you don't need to hassle of explaining the workings of the mystery that is lawn mower.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/18/2012 18:34:52
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
* sigh * time for house stuff - I hate mowing the lawn



You could hire the sullen teen nextdoor. It would prevent the intrawall noise.



Sullen teen, not so sullen really, don't think her parents have ever asked her to do anything to help around the house, especially not yard work.


Okay I am assuming she's sullen. No, you don't need to hassle of explaining the workings of the mystery that is lawn mower.


or the weed wacker - I don't need teen losing a toe


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 18:47:30
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
* sigh * time for house stuff - I hate mowing the lawn



You could hire the sullen teen nextdoor. It would prevent the intrawall noise.



Sullen teen, not so sullen really, don't think her parents have ever asked her to do anything to help around the house, especially not yard work.


Okay I am assuming she's sullen. No, you don't need to hassle of explaining the workings of the mystery that is lawn mower.


or the weed wacker - I don't need teen losing a toe



Unless it is one of those annoying 2 stroke gas powered jobbies with an actual blade, not much chance of accidental amputation with a weed wacker. A nasty welt, yeah.

Comment by livingonli on 06/18/2012 19:08:26
And they're doing Brunch with Bernie today since they didn't do it on Friday.

Comment by BobR on 06/18/2012 19:28:30
Quote by Will in Chicago:
I have some errands to run, but I have some minor good news in that I ended up applying to TEN different teaching jobs in Massachusetts before lunch. So, hopefully the calls will be coming in.

An aunt who lives in Clarksville suggested that I check around her and in Nashville, but I suspect that I am about as Southern as a bagel with lox or a bowl of clam chowder.

There's actually a Kosher deli in Nashville called Noshville, but other than that... yeah.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/18/2012 19:57:13
Lady for someone who's been working in computer industry for 20 friggin' years you are effing stupid. Put yer friggin URL in the address bar of your browser, don't do it as a friggin Google search!