Slate’s Top Ten Bush Administration’s Dumbest Legal Arguments of the Year. It’s a doozy. Number one: 1. The United States does not torture. First there was the 2002 torture memo. That was withdrawn. Then there was the December 2004 statement that declared torture "abhorrent." But then there was the new secret 2005 torture memo. But members of Congress were fully … Read More
Squandering America’s Leadership
Today’s New York Times editorial says everything that needs to be said in these four simple paragraphs: There are too many moments these days when we cannot recognize our country. Sunday was one of them, as we read the account in The Times of how men in some of the most trusted posts in the nation plotted to cover up … Read More
Top Ten Bushisms Of 2007
Compiled by Daniel Kurtzman: 10. "And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I’m sorry it’s the case, and I’ll work hard to try to elevate it." –interview on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007 9. "I fully understand those who say you can’t win this thing … Read More
Dana Perino on Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me
You would think that the White House spokesperson — the one on the front lines of history — ought to know what the freakin’ Cuban Missile Crisis was. You would think….
Can’t Even Do This Right
Embarrassing: Harried homeowners seeking mortgage relief from a new Bush administration hotline Thursday had to contend with a bit of temporary misdirection from the president himself. As he announced his plan to ease the mortgage crisis for consumers, President Bush accidentally gave out the wrong phone number for the new “Hope Now Hotline” set up by his administration. This is … Read More
A Bridge Tournament Too Far
At the World Bridge Championship last month held in Shanghai, a team of women who represented the United States won the Venice Cup Award, and made a little protest at the awards dinner. Here’s the picture — There was no Dixie Chicks-like speech or anything like that. Just a crude hand-drawn sign on the back of a menu saying "We … Read More
Bush Breaks Nixon’s Record
Latest Gallup poll: For the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50% say they "strongly disapprove" of the president. Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48%, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974.
The Imperial Presidency
Good NY Times review of two new books: DEAD CERTAIN: The Presidency of George W. Bush, by Robert Draper and THE TERROR PRESIDENCY: Law and Judgment Inside the Bush Administration by Jack Goldsmith. The first book, "Dead Certain" is probably the more interesting in that the author, Robert Draper, had a lot of access to President Bush and his aides, … Read More
Cheney’s Hunting Weekend
He managed not to shoot anyone in the face, so it was, all-in-all, a controversy-free hunting weekend at the Clove Valley Rod & Gun Club in LaGrangeville (pictured below) in upstate New York. Uh… is that a confederate flag in the window of the lodge? Cue controversy.
FLASH! WARNING To People In Upstate New York!
The Poughkeepsie Journal in New York reports that “Vice President Dick Cheney is coming to Dutchess County again to go hunting.”
Small Government Conservatism
The graph (and story) at McClatchy says it all:
Not So Hot For Mukasey Anymore
Here’s why: He suggested that both the administration’s program of eavesdropping without warrants and its use of “enhanced” interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects, including waterboarding, might be acceptable under the Constitution even if they went beyond what the law technically allowed. Mr. Mukasey said the president’s authority as commander in chief might allow him to supersede laws written by Congress. … Read More
I Have No Complaints About Bush’s AG Nominee
Especially if he means what he says: Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey said Wednesday the president doesn’t have the authority to use torture techniques against terrorism suspects, a stance not taken by predecessor Alberto Gonzales and considered key to the nominee’s confirmation. Mukasey repudiated a 2002 memo by then-Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee that said the president has the power to … Read More
Five Years Too Late, Matthews Finds The Beginnings Of A Voice
Here is MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews, last night on a gala on the 10 year anniversary of "Hardball": In front of an audience that included such notables as Alan Greenspan, Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Sen. Ted Kennedy, Matthews began his remarks by declaring that he wanted to "make some news" and he certainly didn’t disappoint. After praising the drafters … Read More
The Bush Family Pool Boy Speaks
Not a particularly interesting article. The pool boy, as it turns out, doesn’t have a lot of inside poop. But this was interesting — a run-in he had with members of Bush’s extended family: Turns out a leaf-skimmer doesn’t have tremendous access. In fact, the most insider-y stuff came from outside the gates, at a recent war protest aimed at … Read More