AM Feed - May 22: Trial Begins Today for Former Bush Administration Official
Hot Topics
- The first criminal trial in connection with the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal is set to begin today, as David Safavian, formerly the top procurement official in the Bush administration, will head to court on charges of making false statements and impeding federal investigators. Safavian accompanied Abramoff, Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) and other on a now-infamous golf trip to Scotland in 2002. If he’s found guilty, Safavian could face up to 25 years in prison, and more than $1 million in fines. Neil Volz, the former chief of staff for Ney and former Abramoff associate is expected to testify at Safavian’s trial. Volz has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Hundreds of emails between Safavian and Abramoff are expected to be introduced as evidence during the trial. [link]
- Back in 1999, George W. Bush pledged to veto any tax increase – but Bush’s latest tax package has tripled the tax rates for teenagers with college savings funds. The bill, which Bush signed into law last week, contains billions of dollars in tax reductions for America’s wealthy, but simultaneously shifts more of a burden onto younger Americans aged 14-17 who are struggling to save for their higher education. The new plan is expected to raise these taxes by $2.2 billion. The White House has refused to discuss the fact that Bush broke his pledge. [link]
- The Valerie Plame leak case has taken yet another twist, as former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has entered the picture as a potential key witness in the case. Armitage is not expected to be indicted in connection with the case, although he has been questioned several times. According to sources close to the case, Armitage – like Karl Rove and the indicted “Scooter” Libby – had conversations with reporters about Plame. Unlike Rove and Libby, however, Armitage appears to have tried to convince the press not to write about it – which means that his testimony on issue could be damaging to Libby and/or Rove. [link]
Quote of the Day
“The American people like this president. People like him.” – Karl Rove, last week. A recent CBS/New York Times poll found that 29 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of President Bush.
Morning Snark
- If Rove can’t get his message out that President Bush really is popular, despite what every major poll says, will he resort to trying out a few well-placed leaks?
Comment
- THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE EVERYTHING IT IT’S POWER TO UNRAVEL THE UNITED STATES AND IT’S CITIZENS.
IT HAS SHOWN BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE WELL BEING OF IT’S CITIZENS. NOT MANY OF US ARE FOOLED ANYMORE.
BUSH AND COMPANY SHOULD BE IMPEACHED FOR ALL THEIR LIES TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
— KAREN HAGGERTY May 22, 12:14 # - You’re right on the mark, Karen.
— John May 22, 12:31 # - I would like to correct an item that I posted last week concerning All Dems, except Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, pledging their ultimate loyalty to the Democratic Party rather than to their constituents. Maxine Waters, also a wonderful African-American progressive, has broken with the Democratic Party’s strict incumbent protection policy – she’s urging voters in Congresswoman’s 36th Congressional district in California to vote for her very progressive challenger, Marci Winograd. I salute Waters’ stance on this Congressional race and I would like to point out that she has an outstanding record of progressive votes during her time so far in Congress. Btw, House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi is going to remove Jane Harman from her position of ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee. It seems like Harman’s Blue Dog Democrat status is coming to an end. I hope to be able to discuss more progressive Dems standing up and fighting for principle.
— John May 22, 12:54 # - Somebody on this forum mentioned that Rove had been indicted recently. I haven’t heard anybody talking about this. What’s going on?
— Countess Sofia Belinskaya May 22, 13:01 # - I don’t know if anybody else mentioned Rove’s indictment, but I did awhile back. I was basing that on Jason Leopold’s scoop about a week ago. I believe he’s the only one claiming that right now. We’ll have to wait and see if it happens, Sofia. Hey Sofia, what’s with the title, Countess? Did you buy that title or is it kind of a Queen Latifah sort of a thing?
— John May 22, 13:09 # - BUSH SHOULD BE IMPEACHED. THERE ARE CERTAINLY GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT. THEN CHENEY BECUMES PRESIDENT AND WOULD HAVE TO BE IMPEACHED. THAT WOULD TAKE TWO YEARS. THEY HAVE GOT US HOG TIED AND THEY KNOW IT. THE DEMS CAN’T IMPEACH ALONE AND THE REPUGS WON’T.
— Rosalie Stern May 22, 13:16 # - The only difference between Bush and Hitler is that Hitler was elected!
— Teekleman May 22, 13:18 # - Thank you your latest snark, Teekleman. Humor is much appreciated. Rosalie, Former Attorney General Ramsey Clarke is campaigning to build a critical mass of Americans to mobilize and force power to impeach the whole Junta – Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Alberto “Torquemada” Gonzales, et.al – concurrently. It’s not something that has to be done one at a time.
— John May 22, 13:25 # - I believe John Conyers, a Michigan Congressman, has drawn up articles of impeachment, hasn’t he?
— Healing Bear May 22, 13:30 # - Yes, Healing Bear, he has – but, alas, his ability to push it forward has been stopped cold by the mind-boggling hypocrisy of the ruling elites in Congress. Apparently, these guys are so bitter because they didn’t get laid in the 60s that a President getting a hummer from an intern is more heinous than murdering hundreds of thousands of Iraqis in an illegal war.
— John May 22, 13:37 # - Deborah, Lorraine, MO, Jen and others – if you’re out there, we’d love to hear your ruminations on all manner of things political. COME ON DOWN…
— John May 22, 13:44 # - Very busy today, just got to read all the messages. I’ve been following the Valerie Plame story since Novak wrote the article that was published in the Wash. Post. I’ve been waiting so long for this to play out and am convinced that Cheney had a hand in having Libby and Rove put her name out there. I want to see him go down, Rove with him. I hope it’s true Rove was indicted but I haven’t heard a whisper about that.
— jen May 22, 20:28 # - I just wonder how the people that are supposed to represent us can justify not doing anything at all to clean up the lobbying issue.
That should pretty much sum up where our politicos stand on corruption. All of the bribery and graft is ok with them as long as you don’t get caught.
Obviously the American people don’t care too much either. They’re more worried about who’s going to win American Idol.
And besides, what can we do? We have no voice in DC unless it’s backed by a golf trip or dinner in the most exclusive place in town.
— MO May 23, 08:25 # - It’s odd that prosecutors outside of the beltway and amazing whistleblowers are really saving the day. The Bushites are threatening reporters now – and there’s AG Gonzales threatening patriotic leakers, the Daniel Ellsbergs of this era, with criminal charges, and truly brave folks are just coming out of the woodwork to fall on their swords to take this criminal junta down. Hell, even special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was assigned by conservatives within the DOJ who were revolting against Bush’s criminality. And let’s not forget to tip our hats at activists, many of us included, who have educated enough folks to bring Bush’s approval rating down, finally, into the 20s – which will embolden more people to revolt in a kind of positive feedback loop.
— John May 23, 09:40 # - Somebody mentioned recently that these people in power are so reviled that handlers have to arrange little Potemkin Villages of thoroughly vetted cultists to encourage bubble boy and his moronic little airhead wife to keep thinking everybody is behind them. This is so much like Soviet Union, I can’t stand it.
I’ve heard that the “Busheviks” are so beset and beleaguered that even Ann Coulter is facing charges for election fraud.
— Countess Sofia Belinskaya May 23, 09:50 #
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