AM Feed - May 9: Hayden in Hot Water
Hot Topics
- In the latest of a long line of curious staff maneuvers, President Bush tapped Gen. Michael Hayden to replace departed CIA Director Porter Goss. Hayden is perhaps best known for designing the highly controversial (and possibly illegal) domestic eavesdropping program. Bush’s choice has already drawn intense scrutiny from all sides, as even Republicans took to the airwaves to denounce the choice. Meanwhile, the CIA has been rocked by scandal. Executive Director Kyle “Dusty” Foggo was present at poker parties held by contractor Brent Wilkes, who is listed as a co-conspirator in the “Duke” Cunningham bribery case. Foggo is expected to announce his retirement shortly. [link]
- Neil Volz, a former chief of staff to Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) who later worked alongside Jack Abramoff, pleaded guilty on a conspiracy charge yesterday. Volz admitted to attempting to corrupt public officials, and particularly noted that perks had been “corruptly offered to and accepted by” Ney. Volz now faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is the fifth member of the Abramoff ring to cooperate with the authorities in the ongoing criminal probe, which appears to draw ever closer to the embattled Ney. [link]
- President Bush’s polling numbers have dropped yet again. According to the latest USA Today/Gallup poll, his approval rating stands at just 31 percent. That’s the lowest number yet recorded by this survey, and marks a three percent drop in just one week. Just 52 percent of conservatives, and 68 percent of Republicans approve of the job he’s doing. Both numbers are record lows for the poll. With what looks like a tough nomination fight for Gen. Hayden on the way, Bush doesn’t appear to be even close to finding an exit sign for these deep woods. [link]
Quote of the Day
“I would say the best moment was when I caught a seven-and-a-half pound large mouth bass on my lake.” – President Bush, “joking” about his best moment as president to a German newspaper.
Morning Snark
- For once, we’re in total agreement: Sadly, catching that fish is probably the best thing Bush has done as president.
Comment
- There is a solution.
Impeachment.
Vote the thieves out in November.
The media are just slobbering over the appoinment of Hayden to the CIA. Write your newspaper and call the TV and radio outlets. We let this happen because we are timid. We are in danger of losing the rest of our liberty.
— Rosalie Stern May 9, 11:51 # - You’re right, Rosalie, but Howard Dean has already announced that the Dems have no intention of pursuing impeachment should the Dems regain power in the House and/or Senate. Of course, massive and intense public pressure can force the Dems to change, but there’s this annoying and persistent pussilanimity in the corporate-lite Democratic Party. This cowardice is extremely ingrained much as hatred of the poor, women, minorities, the environment and science is entrenched in the regressive mentality. Fawning servility and boot-licking obeisance to power are hallmarks of America’s establishment press which makes grassroots efforts at bringing about positive change that much more difficult. But, all these obstacles should have no bearing in our determination to struggle to regain our liberties from the thieves in high places.
— John May 9, 12:33 # - Do the Dems have to do what Dean says? I like Feingold and I thnk he is tough enough to fight. I still think if the majority changes in the House the story might be different.
— Rosalie Stern May 9, 14:52 # - I believe there should definitely be investigations into all the aspects of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and Powell’s lies. As well as the Energy Plan.
This doesn’t mean that business cannot be conducted into the issues that need to be fixed in this country.
Our House of Reps. and Senators should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.
— Joyce Fisher May 9, 15:10 # - If there are not consequences – REAL consequences – the republicans will just do the same thing again. These same folks (except Bush Jr. and Condi) were all part of the Nixon and then Reagan campaign to take over America. All they have to do is wait until the short-term-memory-deficient Americans forget what happened the last time the republicans were in power, and the time before that, and the time before that.
Learning from history is not our strong suit.
The only thing good about the democrats is that they don’t seem to destroy everything around them when they are in power. They do actually realize that people ARE America at times (when their corporate bosses aren’t barking at their heels).
— MO May 9, 16:27 #
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