On Vacation

I am out of town for the next two weeks... so just do... well, what you normally do and I'll be back soon

Happenings

So, beyond the three ring circus of Cheney's aim, there is much happening on the NSA wiretapping front.

The House looks to have agreed on a bipartisan investigation of the Bush administration's use of the NSA to spy on Americans without a warrant. The only thing to iron out is the scope of the investigation (Accord in House to Hold Inquiry on Surveillance).

The Senate, on the other hand, will not be investigating the NSA wiretapping (Senate Rejects Wiretapping Probe). The possible probe was halted when Bush made it known that he would not clear Ashcroft to testify in a Senate hearing.

On the same NSA program, a federal judge has ordered the release of documents related to a civil suit (Judge orders spying documents released). It is unlikely that the docs will actually ever be released, but this steps up the pressure on the courts who will most likely be the final arbitrators of the legality of the program. Expect to see this go all the way to the Supreme Court. While I am sure that the SC would love to take a pass on this, it would be difficult for them to pass without knowing the scope, and therefore, the details of the program.

And of final note, Republicans look to make laws on leakers of NSA type programs harsher (Senator May Seek Tougher Law on Leaks) while some Republicans are joinging Democrats in giving stronger protection to wistle blowers (Bipartisan Support Emerges for Federal Whistle-Blowers)

Easy In, Easy Out

I am a fairly trusting person, but this does not make me feel the securest. The Bush administration has just awarded a company based in the United Arab Emirates the right to major control of NY City ports. Not only has the administration not closed the loopholes in port security as they promised 4 years ago, but now they have handed over much of the control to an Arab run company.

Despite Fears, a Dubai Company Will Help Run Ports in New York

Ouch!

Chuck Hagel takes a nice little jab at Dick Cheney after he shot a fello hunter last week while talking about the Iranian crisis.

"If he'd been in the military, he would have learned gun safety."

And that is coming from his friends...

U.S. should be talking with Iran, Hagel says

House Blasts Bush on Katrina

The House panel hearings on the Katrina failures blasted the Bush administration yesterday when it released its findings (House Probe Blasts Katrina Preparation). A 520-page report, titled A Failure of Initiative laid blame at the feet of Bush for having no initiative in the matter:

"Passivity did the most damage," it said. "The failure of initiative cost lives, prolonged suffering, and left all Americans justifiably concerned our government is no better prepared to protect its people than it was before 9/11, even if we are."

The panel, made up mostly of Republicans, faulted state and local officials for not being prepared for the initial consequences of Katrina, but also blamed Bush for not recognizing or completely ignoring the situation as it unfolded.

The report finds fault with Chertoff for failing to activate a national plan to trigger fast relief, and with Homeland Security for overseeing a bare-bones and inexperienced emergency response staff. It found that the military played an invaluable role in the response but lacked coordination with Homeland Security and other relief agencies.

The report, coming on the heals of Senate hearings, is an indictment of the Bush administration claim that it has prepared the nation for emergencies. But, hey, Bush has conviction, right... and he looks good with a blow horn in his hand, standing on top of a pile of rubble.

Cheap

Ok, I don't think Cheney meant to shoot his hunting partner. I am sure it was an accident. And, I am not going to give him flack for not disclosing it for a day. I have no idea why it took so long, but that really doesn't bother me so much.

But what does bother me is blaming it on the victim as Cheney's office has now done. It is always the shooters fault, ok. It is like rear ending a car in front of you. It doesn't matter that they stopped short, or whatever. If you rear end them, it is always your fault.

Be a man, Cheney. Just say, "look, it was an accident. I am sorry that it happened. I regret that I didn't know where he was. My sympathies go out to Harry." That's it. That is all you have to do. People understand that accidents happen and everyone makes mistakes.

But don't be an ass and blame it on the guy you shot. Was Harry not where he should have been? Possibly, but it is the shoots job to know his surroundings. Why is it impossible for anyone in this administration to ever say that they could be at fault for anything. They are like a bunch of teenagers.

Cheney's companion at fault in shooting, White House says

Update: He has only himself to blame for this now. Cheney's Response A Concern In GOP, Gunning for Cheney
Update: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart: "I'm joined now by our own vice-presidential firearms mishap analyst, Rob Corddry. Rob, obviously a very unfortunate situation. How is the vice president handling it?

Rob Corddry: "Jon, tonight the vice president is standing by his decision to shoot Harry Wittington. According to the best intelligence available, there were quail hidden in the brush. Everyone believed at the time there were quail in the brush.

"And while the quail turned out to be a 78-year-old man, even knowing that today, Mr. Cheney insists he still would have shot Mr. Whittington in the face. He believes the world is a better place for his spreading buckshot throughout the entire region of Mr. Whittington's face."

Jon Stewart: "But why, Rob? If he had known Mr. Whittington was not a bird, why would he still have shot him?"

Rob Corddry: "Jon, in a post-9-11 world, the American people expect their leaders to be decisive. To not have shot his friend in the face would have sent a message to the quail that America is weak."

Jon Stewart: "That's horrible."

Rob Corddry: "Look, the mere fact that we're even talking about how the vice president drives up with his rich friends in cars to shoot farm-raised wingless quail-tards is letting the quail know 'how' we're hunting them. I'm sure right now those birds are laughing at us in that little 'covey' of theirs.

Jon Stewart: "I'm not sure birds can laugh, Rob."

Rob Corddry: "Well, whatever it is they do ... coo .. they're cooing at us right now, Jon, because here we are talking openly about our plans to hunt them. Jig is up. Quails one, America zero.

Jon Stewart: "Okay, well, on a purely human level, is the vice president at least sorry?"

Rob Corddry: "Jon, what difference does it make? The bullets are already in this man's face. Let's move forward across party lines as a people ... to get him some sort of mask."

Libby Will Sleep Wit Da Fishes

Cheney claims that it was an accident when he shot a fellow hunter over the weekend. I think it was a message to Lewis Libby to stop implicating Cheney in the authorization to leak classified information to the press.

After shooting Harry Whittington in the neck and face, Cheney was overheard saying, "of course it was an accident! I only eat babies! Harry is 78 and way too stringy for my taste."

Cheney Shoots Fellow Hunter in Texas Accident

Babies Eating Their Parents

It looks like a solid day of Republicans turning on their own today.

it starts off with the testimony of former FEMA manager, Michael Brown in front of Congress (Brown says he's been made Katrina scapegoat, Former FEMA Chief Blames DHS). He is claiming that the Bush administration abandoned him and there was nothing he could do. I think it was a combination of incompetence and apathy all around. Some records show that Bush, again, lied about the surprise's he felt when the levies broke (White House Knew of Levee's Failure on Night of Storm). No surprise there.

But Congressional investigators have now learned that an eyewitness account of the flooding from a federal emergency official reached the Homeland Security Department's headquarters starting at 9:27 p.m. the day before, and the White House itself at midnight.

Libby's defense (unconfirmed) may be that Cheney 'OK'd' him to leak the info about Valerie Plame to the media to discredit her husband Joe Wilson (Libby Says 'Superiors' Authorized Leaks, Libby Testified He Was Told To Leak Data About Iraq, Cheney 'Authorized' Libby to Leak Classified Information). Of course the claims are beyond the leaking of Plame's name, but a whole host of other classified information. Hmmm... classified info... national security... hypocrisy... I guess classified info being leaked is only dangerous if it is Democrats doing the leaking. Otherwise, it is perfectly ok.

Additionally, it looks like the connections between Abramoff and the White House are more than what the White House wants to let on too (E-Mail Notes Say Lobbyist Met President Many Times).

And last but not least, former CIA chief analyst, Paul R. Pillar, is also making the claim that Bush manipulated pre-war intelligence to make the case for war (Ex-CIA Official Faults Use of Data on Iraq).

The former CIA official who coordinated U.S. intelligence on the Middle East until last year has accused the Bush administration of "cherry-picking" intelligence on Iraq to justify a decision it had already reached to go to war, and of ignoring warnings that the country could easily fall into violence and chaos after an invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

But, I am sure the White House will find some reason to discredit him also.

But, of course to divert attention, Bush and Cheney are doing exactly what they always accuse the democrats of doing - politicizing the war on terror (Besieged Bush touts foiled plot, Cheney Says NSA Spying Should Be an Election Issue). It is nothing new for the duo, but Cheney is especially keen on pulling the 'vote for me or Bin Laden will have sex with your wife' out for political gain time and time again. I watched Cheney on The News Hour earlier this week talk about who the NSA program saved bazillions of American lives over the past years. Every time I watch him, I can't help but think what a great Hannibal Lecter he would make. I could so see him sitting down to a filet de bebe with a side of fava beans and a nice Chianti Classico.

Boneheads

The Republican controlled House stepped in a big pile of dog crap on the way to the office today.

After much resistance and whining, the GOP finally replaced indicted Tom DeLay as the Republican leader last week.

So, the bum is out. "Great!" you might think. Well, not so fast. Tom DeLays consolation prize? As spot on the most coveted committee in Congress. The appropriations committee. The spot was open because the last Republican to hold the seat (Cunningham) is in jail for accepting bribes. So, they replaced a convicted criminal with an indicted criminal... good thinking guys.

Why is this committee so coveted? Well, that is because that is the committee that doles out the money. That is the committee that has 80% of the lobbyists targeting.

Adding insult to injury for the Republican hopes of getting out from under the "culture of corruption" name that has dogged them for the past year, DeLay was also named to the sub-committee on Judicial Affairs. This is the committee in charge of the investigation of influence-peddling scandal involving convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is directly tied to DeLay. This is like putting the accused criminal in charge of the court proceedings.

The GOP is loyal to their big money man, I'll give them that. But when you are trying to move on from ethics scandals, you don't put DeLay (the fox) in charge of the hen house.

Democrats have pulled some stupid moves lately, but this tops all of those. The GOP just made the attack ad commercials for the Dems without the Dems having to lift a finger.

DeLay Lands Coveted Appropriations Spot

Compassionate Conservative My Ass

This is what I am talking about when I say that Bush's priorities are completely out of whack. Bush's new budget proposal slashes Medicare and Medicaid over the next 10 years. Whether you are for the cut or against it is irrelevant to what I am talking about here.

In defending the cuts, Bush responds to critics who call his proposed budget "immoral" by saying that it is not immoral to stop retired persons to transferring their assets to their kids so they can qualify for Medicaid (Medicaid, Medicare Growth to Slow).

Without naming him, Bush rebutted criticism by Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.). "People talked about how the decision to reform Medicaid was immoral," Bush said. "Well, it's not immoral to make sure that prescription drug pharmacists don't overcharge the system." Nor is it immoral, he said, to stop recipients from transferring assets to children to make themselves eligible for more benefits: "We're able to keep the commitment to the poor."

The process that Bush is talking about is called a spin down. to qualify for Medicaid, the elderly person must have less than $2000 of assets (not including their home). In a spin down, those close to the Medicaid limit will give to their kids their inheritance now, instead of when they die. Because of limits on the participant's income, and asset levels, this way of qualifying for Medicare is only applicable to the elderly who are fairly poor in the first place. Someone living on much more than just Social Security payments can't qualify for Medicare.

You may or may not agree with people doing this, but here is where Bush's values are out of wack. He finds a relatively poor person to be immoral, but at the same time, he thinks it is perfectly acceptable to remove the estate tax so that billions of dollars that no one has ever paid taxes can be passed down tax free.

That is right - little ol' grandma living on SSI who gives away the $10,000 she has saved up in the bank over her life = immoral.

Mommy and Daddy Hilton can pass along billions of dollars of assets that they nor there bratty little kids will ever pay taxes on = moral.

Additionally, he is slashing billions from student aid over the next decade (Years of Deep Cuts Needed to Meet Goal On Deficit, Data Show) along with a whole host of other social programs. Yet, tax cuts for the wealthy remain.

Something is wrong here.

Bush's Budget

In an election year, it appears to be dead on arrival (Administration touts '07 budget). Not only are the Democrats criticizing the proposal, so are many Republicans. Most of the cuts are unlikely to be actually enacted.

Cuts in Medicare, in addition to the ones already passed are unlikely (New York Health Care Industry Says It Faces $1.2 Billion in Cutbacks Under Bush Plan ). Even the vets are going to get hit (Veterans, lawmaker join to fight plan to raise health care fees). His energy policy is lacking and counter productive to his State of the Union address (Energy gaps seen in Bush's budget). His back door approach to dropping Social Security will be a no go (Bush's Social Security Sleight of Hand). And the long run affects of his tax cuts will leave us in dire straits in the future (Getting Past Budget Blab).

Bush has ignored the fact that many of his cuts have been dropped in the past (Many Proposed Cuts Have Met Limited Success in the Past), and will probably have the same amount of success this time around.

This will all play out soon, and most of it will not ever be introduced to the house floor.

Bush Sure Knows How To Pick'em

As I asked before, why should I trust this administration? First, we had Brownie, now we have Deutschie.

A Young Bush Appointee Resigns His Post at NASA

George C. Deutsch, the young presidential appointee at NASA who told public affairs workers to limit reporters' access to a top climate scientist and told a Web designer to add the word "theory" at every mention of the Big Bang, resigned yesterday, agency officials said.

Mr. Deutsch's resignation came on the same day that officials at Texas A&M University confirmed that he did not graduate from there, as his résumé on file at the agency asserted.

Officials at NASA headquarters declined to discuss the reason for the resignation.

"Under NASA policy, it is inappropriate to discuss personnel matters," said Dean Acosta, the deputy assistant administrator for public affairs and Mr. Deutsch's boss.

The resignation came as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was preparing to review its policies for communicating science to the public. The review was ordered Friday by Michael D. Griffin, the NASA administrator, after a week in which many agency scientists and midlevel public affairs officials described to The New York Times instances in which they said political pressure was applied to limit or flavor discussions of topics uncomfortable to the Bush administration, particularly global warming.

Hmmm... How did he come by this job?

Mr. Deutsch, 24, was offered a job as a writer and editor in NASA's public affairs office in Washington last year after working on President Bush's re-election campaign and inaugural committee, according to his résumé. No one has disputed those parts of the document.

Sorry, Dubya. You are not making the case for yourself.