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The Daily Muck
Following the recent indictment of Re. Jefferson (D-LA), as well as pesky scandals involving Duke Cunningham and Jack Abramoff, the Democratic House leadership is planning to take a bold new step in ethics reform: allowing outsiders to file ethics complaints. (Congressional Quarterly)
The lead prosecutor in the case of former Gov. Seigelman released a letter saying that he has never met with Karl Rove, disputing allegations in a recent affidavit that Bush’s architect played a role in ousting the former governor. (Montgomery Adviser)
The House heard complaints about NASA’s Inspector General Robert “Moose” Cobb yesterday. Cobb denies being the world’s meanest boss. (Washington Post)
James Holsinger, the Presdient’s recent nominee for surgeon general, is drawing protests from critics who say Holsinger has a strong bias against gays and lesbians. (Associated Press)
Latin America countries that cooperate with the U.S. in the "war on drugs" have found American funds easier to come by since 9/11. This cross-pollination of the "war on terror" with the drug war has moved serious money into places like Colombia with undisputable records of human rights abuse. (Center for Public Integrity)
Via War and Piece, the New York Times’ editorial board pushes Congress to issue subpoenas against White House officials.
Two more Justice Department officials resigned from the agency that is already reeling from other exits as a result of the US attorneys’ scandal. One of the two, Matthew Mead, is the US Attorney for Wyoming and appeared on at least one version of Kyle Sampson’s firing list. Mead has stated publicly that his departure has no connection to any larger firing plan. (ABC’s Political Radar)
Could the U.S. repel a cyberattack? Probably not. (USA TODAY)
A Saudi prince accused of bribery could show Duke Cunningham a thing or two. Reports suggest the man was taking home up to $200 million a year. (BBC)
As information about the warantless surveillance program trickles out, House Democrats are threatening to employ their power of subpoena in order to continue their oversight. (NY Times)
Comments (8)
Anonymous wrote on June 8, 2007 9:56 AM:"...The lead prosecutor in the case of former Gov. Seigelman released a letter saying that he has never met with Karl Rove..."
Of course, the following are not included in that statement:
--Had dinner w/
--Played golf w/
--Went to church w/
Etc, etc
mmc0412 wrote on June 8, 2007 10:28 AM:"...The lead prosecutor in the case of former Gov. Seigelman released a letter saying that he has never met with Karl Rove..."
Just because the prosecutor didn't meet with Rove doesn't mean Rove didn't meet with someone in Justice about Seigelman.
Mrs Panstreppon wrote on June 8, 2007 10:44 AM:How about a "What the heck, it's Friday" Curt Weldon Golden Oldie? This one is a beaut!
The offices of John J. Gallager, Philadelphia lawyer, were raided by the FBI last October as part of the Curt Weldon investigation.
A month later, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Gallagher had set up a bogus, non-existent company, CTG Software Inc., in order to obtain a DOE contract to re-train Russian nuclear weapons scientists in October 2001.
Weldon and Gallagher go back years. In fact, Gallagher has accompanied Weldon on some of his infamous overseas junkets. So when Weldon held a press conference about CTG Software's Russian project, he knew that CTG Software only existed on paper.
Take a look at the photos of Weldon and Gallagher at this fancy-dancy press conference from an 11/01 United States Industry Coalition newsletter - see p.3 (link below).
Again, both Weldon and Gallagher knew at the time of the press conference that CTG Software was bogus. It had no employees, no operations and had only come into existence on paper the day before. Gallagher's co-chairman was a convicted felon by the name of Neil
B. Godick.
If Weldon lied about the security of Russian nuclear weapons in the weeks after 9/11, what wouldn't he lie about? Kind of shoots down the argument that the GOP is strong on defense, doesn't it?
Anonymous wrote on June 8, 2007 11:46 AM:Who cares if they never met, it’s irrelevant. Conspiracy doesn’t require that they know each other, only which they act in concert. Did the AG deny acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, the political needs of the administration?
gonzone wrote on June 8, 2007 11:57 AM:Spelling error:
James Holsinger, the Presdient’s recent nominee
President's
It's OK, I do it too.
security code: fear
jrc wrote on June 8, 2007 2:46 PM:Have talked to a lot of "swing voters" this week, and they keep saying similar things: that dems are just as corrupt as repubs, and then cite Jefferson. I come back with Stevens, Cunningham, and others, but frankly can't keep all the thugs straight.
Is there a good list anyone's keeping of the political figures indicted or even investigated over the past 2 or 3 years, so I can get my facts straight?
jrc wrote on June 8, 2007 2:48 PM:Have talked to a lot of "swing voters" this week, and they keep saying similar things: that dems are just as corrupt as repubs, and then cite Jefferson. I come back with Stevens, Cunningham, and others, but frankly can't keep all the thugs straight.
Is there a good list anyone's keeping of the political figures indicted or even investigated over the past 2 or 3 years, so I can get my facts straight?
The Oracle wrote on June 8, 2007 9:17 PM:"I have never spoken with or even met Karl Rove," Franklin said in the statement."
Ah, but Mr. Franklin, there are so many other ways to communicate with Karl Rove, without necessarily meeting with or speaking to him directly.
Democrats in Congress are finally realizing that members of the criminal syndicate that goes by the name of Republican Party will use any means possible to avoid telling the truth and nothing by the truth, including using weasel words.
In other words, Democrats have to ask specific questions that don't allow any wiggle room. Otherwise, members of the criminal enterprise that goes by the name of Republican Party will use (and distort) the English language as part of their assault upon the truth and our democracy.
For instance, Brad Schlozman said that Mr. Donsanto, head of the DOJ's Office of Public Integrity, directed him to bring voter fraud charges against members of ACORN just before last year's election, even though Mr. Donsanto wrote the DOJ's manual that strongly advises against doing such a "highly partisan" thing prior to any election.
Now apparently, Brad Schlozman is thinking about revising his testimony (i.e. he lied before and now is trying to cover his butt), although his testimony indicates that someone at the Office of Public Integrity (or someone who oversees this office) did give him the go-ahead, but not Mr. Donsanto.
In other words, Democrats in Congress should call Brad Schlozman back and question him again under oath, asking very, very specific questions, so they (and we) can get to the bottom of this pack of Republican liars.
Having lied for so long, to us and themselves, the Republicans cannot seem to help but lie, or parse, or obfuscate.
Enough is enough.