Not really. It’s yet another reason……
Study: Child abuse, troop deployment linked
By Robert Davis and Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY Sending soldiers to war puts their children left at home at higher risk of abuse and neglect, says a study out Tuesday. The study among military families shows that reports of emotional, physical and sexual abuse and child neglect peaked during the main deployment of troops to Iraq. When [...]
Tags: War, Child Abuse, Troop Deployment
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Tony Snow came up verbally limping during today’s White House Press Briefing. He can usually manage to piece together some kind of response that sounds good, even if there’s not much substance to it. Not so today. At least not on this question..
Snow On Why It Took Four Years To Appoint A War Czar: ‘I Don’t Know’
During today’s White House press briefing, spokesman Tony Snow twice confessed “I don’t know” when asked why it has taken four years for President Bush to appoint a czar to oversee the war in Iraq. Referencing yesterday’s selection of Gen. Douglas Lute, one reporter asked why it took so long “to come up with somebody of [...]
Tags: Tony Snow, War Czar, Douglas Lute
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Just for fun…via The NBC White House crew…
Tuesday two stacks of dense, hard-to-read documents were passed out here at the White House and they contain some interesting bits of information about the president and vice president. Like many other government officials, President Bush and Vice President Cheney [...]
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The Dems may not have gotten the war funding bill through, but they’re hanging tough on Gonzales…
Senate Committee to Gonzales: AHEM
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena for any of Karl Rove’s emails in the Department’s possession that might be relevant to the U.S. attorney firings. The deadline was 2 PM yesterday. The deadline came and went. And [...]
UPDATE: That’s not the only mail Gonzales is getting..
Senators Write Gonzales: Did You Lie Under Oath About NSA Wiretapping Program?
Today, U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), and Richard Durbin (D-IL) sent Attorney General Alberto Gonzales regarding the testimony of former Deputy Attorney General James Comey given yesterday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. In the letter obtained by ThinkProgress, the senators ask Gonzales if he stands by his 2006 testimony [...]
Tags: Senate Judiciary Committee, Rove
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"Frightening", you say? "Fascinating", perhaps. But, "Frightening"? Yes, indeed. For this reason…
Do we fully understand what this means?
Have you seen this video of former Justice Department official James Comey’s testimony yesterday? Do we fully comprehend how close to the edge we came in the story he relates? While John Ashcroft lay sedated in the hospital, having handed the reins of the Department over to Comey as Acting Attorney General, Comey got word that then-White House counsel Alberto Gonzales and [...]
And, here’s more:
many parts of this late night hospital blitz story that it’s a bit hard to know where to start. One thing that seems very clear — even clearer than when I discussed it below — is that the president sent Gonzales and Card over to the hospital to coax an okay out of the presumeably heavily sedated Ashcroft. The first day’s reportage really skirted around that issue. Maybe day two [...]
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They’re just a phone call away.
Bush Personally Intervened To Arrange Ashcroft Hospital Visit And Kneecap Comey
During his testimony yesterday, former Deputy Attorney General James Comey noted that John Ashcroft’s wife “had banned all visitors and all phone calls” to the hospital due to Ashcroft’s poor condition. So how were Alberto Gonzales and Andrew Card able to make it into Ashcroft’s room to pressure him to overrule Comey and reauthorize the [...]
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Betcha never heard of this fellow, but he wants to be our next Democratic President. Ladies and gentlemen, meet "President….
Just when you thought the ‘08 playing field was a little bit crowded and already stacked with a few dark horses… In rides another one… Move over, Mike Gravel. Step aside, Dennis Kucinich. There’s a new dark horse to the rescue. Faster than a Mach3 razor, more powerful than a laser hair remover, and able [...]
Tags: Tweezerman, Democrats
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Did you watch the GOP debate last night? Here’s a short collection of thoughts from those who did. (I’ll admit that I missed it. Company at the house, late dinner, etc.) I’m somewhat surprised that our Mike Huckabee got some "thumbs up" for his performance. From SOME who watched.
My awards for the Republican presidential debate
The winner, as will be chosen by the media: Rudy Giuliani, for his back-and-forth with Ron Paul over 9/11, which the press will love talking about and replaying over and over again (as some people are already predicting). The winner, in my opinion: Mike Huckabee- the man did the best job of the second tier candidates, [...]
I’m glad I went for a walk instead
"22 minutes. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will not let McCain be the funniest guy in the room. "We’ve had a Congress that’s spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop," he says. The crowd loves it. The laughter is louder. Huckabee wins the joke contest" Ah, the "girlie-man" joke. Boy, Republicans sure are insecure about their own manhood, aren’t they? And hey, nice "do unto others" from the Baptist minister Mike Huckabee. Because after all, [...]
Ron Paul gets turn in spotlight at U.S. debate
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Reuters) – It was showtime at the Republican presidential debate on Tuesday, and the big surprise was the man in the spotlight — Ron Paul, the longest of longshots. Paul, a nine-term congressman from Texas and the Libertarian Party candidate for [...]
Ron Paul Suggests That "We Were Asking For" 9/11
I didn’t bother watching the debate last night, but I heard about it, And this just shocks me [...]
Ron Paul gains support in second GOP debate
For those who doubted that Rep. Ron Paul was a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, the debate Tuesday night in South Carolina put all doubts to rest. Paul stirred up a firestorm of controversy for suggesting that the Department of Homeland Security made national security even more inefficient after September 11 than before, and especially for his assertion that U.S. foreign policy over the past several decades contributed to the rise of Islamic terrorism. But viewers at home responded, putting Ron Paul in second place in [...]
And, lastly..
Politico Playbook: Fight night
Giuliani comes out on top in second GOP presidential debate [...]
Tags: GOP Debate
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It’s on the way. Around here, it’s right up against the a massive weekend-long festival that draws hundreds of thousands of people to the banks of the Arkansas River for music, food, etc. All too often, I fear, it’s difficult to wake up the next day, chase the cobwebs from the head, and remember what Memorial Day is all about. Bob Geiger has some thoughts. Well written thoughts. Many of you will agree. Some of you will not.
American Legion Attacks On Edwards Sicken This Veteran
It’s always been kind of sad for me that, ever since my discharge from the military in the mid 70s, the best thing I’ve been able to say about the American Legion is that their restaurant makes the best damn steak I can get in my tiny Nebraska hometown. Other than that small bit of merit, the organization has done nothing but embarrass me with their rote, pro-war positions and, over the last few years, how they seem to care far more about people burning the American flag than they do about troops being used as [...]
Tags: American Legion, John Edwards, Iraq War
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At least, it seems that way to me. Why pick a General who’s been outspoke against the Bush Administration policies in Iraq to be War Czar? I think Carpetbagger has figured it out.
About five weeks ago, the Washington Post had a fascinating scoop: the White House was looking (unsuccessfully) for a “high-powered czar to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.” The person would apparently be the new Commander in Chief — coordinating military policy and having the power to issue directions to the Pentagon, the State [...]
"War Czar" Hates the Surge? (Updated)
So the White House has finally found its war czar — someone to coordinate efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq — after three generals turned down the job. But here’s the funny thing about the czar, Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute: Early [...]
Tags: War Czar, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lute
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Just one of those stories to keep an eye on. It could turn into something major, I’m thinking. Especially if you’re thinking of a fishing trip to the Great Lakes or anywhere nearby.
Fish Virus In The Great Lakes Causing Concern
From Medical News Today: "Media reports coming in from towns in and around the Great Lakes in North America are expressing concern about the spread of a deadly fish virus called viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) that is thought to have killed large numbers of fish in the past few years. The virus is not harmful to [...]
Tags: Fish, Fish Virus, VHS
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Finally. After what seemed from here to be a heck of a lot of arm-twisting, the White House has found somebody who agrees to be "War Czar". Who is it? Follow the link for all the info…
President Bush finally finds someone to take the ‘war czar’ job: Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute [...]
Tags: War Czar, White House, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bush Administration
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Several options for dealing with Alberto Gonzales. Take your pick.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer but I am married to one. And I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night as well (ok, that part isn’t true…) Unless there is a special exemption that would allow this nation’s top ranking prosecutor the right to, well, break laws and run afoul of any of the ethical and other conduct codes by the American Bar Association (which all other attorneys must follow), how does Alberto Gonzales still have a license to practice law? This past week, members of his [...]
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Jerry Falwell died today. There is a short list of people who epitomize the term "televangelist", and Fallwell was certainly among them. He played the roll, but (to me, at least) failed to live the life.
"He Thought It Would Be Dramatic" by digby Every…
Everyone will be writing remembrances and elegies for Jerry Falwell today because he had an enormous influence on American life of the past quarter century which will continue to be felt for some time to come. In his favor, I can say that he always seemed to be a man of good humor and calm demeanor who seemed to know on some level that he was playing a role, whether political or theatrical. But his rather placid personality can’t make up for the fact that he was at the epicenter of some of the most "uncivil" and unseemly political hit-jobs of [...]
Of course, MSNBC had to fall flat on its journalistic face, using a quote about Falwell from a satire website…Oooops…
Contessa Brewer uses Whitehouse. org to describe Falwell’s influence in the White House…Her producer gave her this: [video clips here] "Dr. Falwell has earned his role as the defacto Executive Director of Domestic and Global Policy for the White House. How much influence did he have over George Bush… The only problem with that is it’s [...]
Tags: Falwell, Televangelist
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Brainy, as long as they don’t want to go on to college. Then, the numbers don’t look so good.
Yet another study about how well our high school students are doing:Only one-quarter of high school students who take a full set of college-preparatory courses four years of English and three each of mathematics, science [...]
Tags: Education, Math, Science, College Prep
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He’s okay with the Feingold-Reid bill. Waiting on the other big names.
Obama to Support Feingold-Reid Bill
Illinois Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama today announced that he will support the Feingold-Reid bill to end funding for George W. Bush’s war in Iraq in March of 2008. “Today, 1518 days after it began, the war in Iraq rages on, with no sign of a resolution,” said Obama in a statement. “The Iraqi people appear [...]
Hmmm. Not so fast, buddy..
Obama Misleads On "Support" For Reid-Feingold
Sen. Barack Obama’s "support" for Reid-Feingold is based on a phony description of what the Reid-Feingold framework is about: [...]
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Today’s chapter in the ongoing saga of how the GOP is forsaking the base of the party. When you start losing NW Arkansas, somebody better start paying attention and look for some fixes. Really. via Arkansasblog.com and the Arkansas Times newspaper
The University of Arkansas has released results of a poll of 602 residents of Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison counties — fortress GOP, more or less. It shows 53.1 percent believe the Iraq war was a mistake and that 57.4 percent favor bringing troops home in the next year. Only 37 percent, even in yellow-dog Republicanland, want [...]
Tags: Republicans, GOP, Arkansas, Iraq War
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And, no, we’re not talking about President Bush’s poll numbers. We’re talking about the approval rating for Congress. A Congress that promised much, but is accomplishing little. That, it would seem, is at the core of these numbers…
Gallup Poll: Last Year’s Congress Had Higher Approval Rating Than This Year’s Congress
Remember last year’s Congress? The GOP-led, “Do Nothing Congress” full of crooks, big spenders and pedophiles – THAT Congress. Enter the “New Democratic Congress” — much less corrupted than last year’s Congress, at least at this point in the game. Well, according to Gallup, we approved of last year’s Congressional crooks [...]
Tags: Gallup Poll, Congress
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I guess this ages me. And, likely, many of you. Remember when "pong" first appeared? 40 years ago, today.
May 15th marks the 40 year anniversary of the first games hooked up to the television. An article on the 1up site tells the story of Ralph Baer, Bill Harrison, and Bill Rusch working at the Sanders Associates company on a little game called Pong. They go into a great deal of detail on the development of the console, going so far as to include [...]
Tags: Video Games, Pong
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The kind certain to spark fireworks and great debate. via Think Progress, this summary of the morning’s testimony from James Comey.
Comey Breaks Silence: White House Tried To Force Incapacitated Ashcroft To Back Warrantless Spying
In March 2004, President Bush’s warrantless domestic spying efforts were temporarily suspended after then-acting Attorney General James Comey refused to sign on to an extension of the program “amid concerns about its legality and oversight.” Today, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Comey detailed the extraordinary and potentially illegal efforts made by Alberto Gonzales and Andrew [...]
Warrantless Wiretaps and Outrage Fatigue
Is anyone else suffering from outrage fatigue? James Comey testified today about a visit that Alberto Gonzales and Andrew Card made to John Ashcroft in the hospital. Ashcroft was recovering from surgery and Comey was Acting Attorney General. Card and Gonzales wanted the Justice Dept. to sign off on warrantless wiretaps. According to Comey, Ashcroft told them to [..]
And, then, Tony Snow tried to downplay Ashcoft’s illness..
Snow: Ashcroft Wasn’t That Ill, It Wasn’t Like ‘His Brain Didn’t Work’
Tags: Comey, Gonzales, Card, Ashcroft, DOJ, Warrantless Spying
Tags: Tony Snow
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