AM Feed - April 20: Rove Reversal
Hot Topics
- Is President Bush entering “lame duck” status already? The ongoing staff shake up at the White House has further solidified the image of the Bush White House as being completely stuck in the mud. While Scott McClellan announced his resignation as press secretary yesterday, it was also revealed that Karl Rove would be losing some of his responsibilities as well. Rove had assumed a role in domestic policy, but now that’s over after the Bush team has recorded a string of policy failures. Rove will continue to work in the White House, and the investigation into his role in the Plame leak case will continue as well. [link]
- Meanwhile, yet another Bush administration official is drawing poor reviews on both sides of the aisle for his job performance. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte has been chastised by both the top Democrat and top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. In a recent report, the committee warned that Negroponte could become “another layer of large, unintended and unnecessary bureaucracy” in the intelligence world. Negroponte’s role was created following 9/11 as a means to increase coordination among the intelligence community, although a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that this important goal had not been realized. Negroponte was dismissive of the GAO’s report. [link]
- Yesterday an appeals court upheld a ruling from a lower court that dismissed a felony conspiracy charge against indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX). DeLay still faces charges of money laundering and conspiracy in his Texas lawsuit. The conspiracy charge in question was originally dismissed on the grounds that the laws on the books did not pertain to the election code back in 2002 (they were amended the following year). DeLay’s trial on the two remaining felony charges probably will not begin until sometime in July. [link]
Quote of the Day
”[I] think you’re an a******.” – The concluding line of a letter sent by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) to one of her constituents. Emerson couldn’t explain how the line ended up in the letter.
Morning Snark
- Is Vice President Cheney moonlighting as a staff assistant in Rep. Emerson’s office now?
Comment
- Representative Emerson’s line, when placed in context with Dick(head) Cheney’s F*** yourself gaffe just shows the low level of the Republicans and how they apparently react when they are criticized (and, at other times, just for grins and giggles).
— Mike Apr 20, 13:21 # - I think it also represents their disdain for and feeling of superiority over others not of their ilk. I loathe Cheney and his supercilious attitude and his expression was extremely rude and shows his lack of class. I don’t know Rep. Emerson so can’t comment on her lack of class but am not surpised at her reaction that she couldn’t explain it – republicans rarely take responsibility for their own poor behavior – the buck never stops with them.
— jen Apr 20, 19:28 #
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