AM Feed - May 25: Cheney Could be Called as Witness
Hot Topics
- Testimony from “Scooter” Libby in the Valerie Plame leak case has been made public by prosecutors – and it reveals that none other than Vice President Cheney took a personal interest in the issue. According to Libby’s testimony, Cheney was angered by Joseph Wilson’s column that questioned the administration’s rationale for war, and directed Libby to “get all the facts out” related to the issue. Cheney also raised the fact that Wilson’s wife Plame worked at the CIA. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has suggested that Cheney could be called as a witness in the Libby court case. [link] and [link]
- The trial of David Safavian, formerly the Bush administration’s top procurement official, opened yesterday as his defense attorney openly admitted Safavian’s friendship with confessed influence peddler Jack Abramoff. Prosecutors contend that Safavian lied about his relationship with Abramoff, particularly regarding a 2002 golf trip to Scotland. In one email from 2002, Safavian asserted that Abramoff “has no business before the GSA,” even though Abramoff had been pressing him for deals on government real estate. [link]
- President Bush’s brand of ultra-conservative politics and policies has helped lead to his current dismal approval rating – but instead of changing course in the face of failure, Bush has dipped back into the conservative well with his latest choice for top domestic policy adviser. Bush selected Karl Zinsmeister, who has spent the last 12 years working at the right-wing American Enterprise Institute. Zinsmeister will replace Claude Allen, who recently stepped down after being charged with using a fraudulent refund scheme to steal more than $5,000 from retail stores. [link]
Morning Snark
- If Cheney is called as a witness in the Plame leak case, would prosecution lawyers be adequately supplied with bulletproof vests?
Comment
- I’m wondering when Bush is going to change some law with help from his lapdog Gonzales making it legal for the president and vice president to lie to a grand jury with no consequences.
His entire administration has already lied to all of the rest of the world with absolutely no consequences to them. Oooohh his approval rating has dropped, that’ll really show ‘em. They’re really gonna change their ways now !!
Absolute power corrupts absolutely and there ain’t nobody to stop them.
— MO May 25, 11:17 # - I think everyone knows that Dick Cheney is behind the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s name. Libby was simply acting at the behest of his boss. This is an administration that thinks the law does not apply to them. They have demonstrated this time after time!
— Tommy May 25, 11:24 # - Abstinence makes the Church Grow Fondlers!
— Teekleman May 25, 12:30 # - I don’t have much use for people who would give up any liberty for a little security. That’s un-American. To Bush’s Boy-Toy, Senator Pat Roberts, who says, “What good are civil liberties if you are dead?” I’d reply, “I’d rather be dead than live without liberty!” I guess one could say I’m a Patrick Henry-style American and I have disdain for silence in the face of creeping fascism. Boy-Toy Pat Roberts and his ilk are the vile spawn of the Tory loyalists that opposed the American Revolution against another King George.
— John May 25, 12:46 # - I urge all AFV readers to go to www.thepetitionsite.com and sign the petition called ‘Stop Mining from threatening Canada’s First Nations’ – Platinex Inc. and diamond giant De Beers are vying for access to the boreal forests in Northern Ontario, Canada. These boreal forests are home to at least 28 Aboriginal communities. The kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug is now being sued by Platinex for $10 billion in damages!
— Healing Bear May 25, 12:57 # - It has been said that Washington, DC is Israeli-occupied territory. Nothing that happened yesterday dispelled this sentiment – H.R. 4681, “The Palestinian Anti-terrorism Act”, passed easily. This is just the latest blow to the beleaguered Palestinian people – it cuts off what little aid the U.S. was providing for Palestinians. We fund Israel to the tune of $3 billion a year in military and other forms of aid. This illustrates the contempt the U.S. gov’t has for democracy by punishing a people for voting in a regime looked down upon by U.S. foreign policy elites. Most galling were how so many members of the Progressive Caucus in the House of Representatives voted for this draconian policy decision. Bernie Sanders, Maxine Waters, Loretta Sanchez, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Tammy Baldwin, Hilda Solis (one of your favorites, John), Henry Waxman, Lynn Woolsey, Barney Frank, Jan Schakowsky, and Louise Slaughter all voted to starve the Palestinian people. Just disgraceful.
The Senate will now consider its version, S 2370, “The Senate Palestinian Sanctions Bill”, sponsored by Mitch McConnell (R-KY), which isn’t as harsh. Please, each of you, contact your 2 Senators and demand that this bullying foreign policy end and that fairness and equity replace it.
— Latifah Mendoza May 25, 13:27 # - Latifah, I was aware of this vote, painfully aware. And yes, I’m partial to Hilda Solis for her progressive positions on so many issues, but especially her determination to stop the grisly and mind-numbingly brutish rape and slaughter of young Mexican woman, mostly Maquiladora workers.
Apparently, she feels more of a connection to Mexicans than to Palestinians. This lack of even-handedness smacks of racism, doesn’t it?
— John May 25, 13:35 # - Kudos to Teekleman for bringing some levity to the somber table today. Good one! :)
— jen May 25, 13:36 # - Healing Bear – I signed the petition you mentioned and a few others – The Petition Site is a really good website.
— Countess Sofia Belinskaya May 25, 13:39 # - Wow. Lay and Skilling got their comeuppance – like I said in a previous post earlier this week, prosecutors are meting out justice here and there in this country so plagued with “crime in the suites.” White-collar crime is far more extensive and far-reaching and destructive than “crime in the streets” and two of its poster-boys just got taken down. Most significant is that “Kenny-Boy” was such a close buddy to Bush that Bush had him select the person of his choice to head the SEC immediately after the five corrupt justices on the Supreme Court stole the election for Bush in 2000. Will Kenny-Boy receive a presidential pardon? Bet on it!
— John May 25, 14:31 # - WHY CAN’T OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT BUSH BE IMPEACHED FOR LYING TO HIS FELLOW AMERICANS ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ABOUT SEVERAL LIFE AND DEATH ISSUES.
LET’S START WITH THE BUNGLED NIGHTMARE CALLED ” OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.”
— KAREN HAGGERTY May 26, 11:25 # - The problem is the Congress’ lack of will, Karen. The Regressives who control both houses of Congress place loyalty and ideological partisanship above of all else and block any attempts to hold hearings, conduct investigations and provide oversight – basically there’s a profound dereliction of duty by Congresspersons by not providing checks on the egregious power-grab by the criminals in the Executive branch. And the political will of the Dems is virtually nil – they don’t even seem particularly interested in re-taking either or both houses of Congress. For the citizens of Amerikkka, this is an intolerable gridlock – a perfect storm of political failings, if you will.
— John May 26, 11:44 #
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