Comments (32)

bobh wrote on July 10, 2007 6:55 PM:

CAN WE HAVE A palfrey research thread?i foudn this one 703-525-3398 from 1999 half a minute phone call seems to be from this person (hodierne, Robert) a journalist in arlington, va.
any way i can tell the continuity fo the phone number? its a land line and i wonder if it was owned by someone else back then.

Jake D. wrote on July 10, 2007 7:11 PM:

Tying both topics together, maybe we can de-fund based on this -- Dick Cheney's office number is 202-456-2326 -- anyone find that on Palfrey's list?

(Security Code: HOPE springs eternal)

Anonymous wrote on July 10, 2007 7:17 PM:

Excellent: Keep the dollar amount at Zero. Once the Zero-dollar amount hits the floor, the burden is on the GOP to pass an Amendment. How is the GOP going to "pass" an Amendment "adding" money, unless the DNC approves?
Time for the DNC to close ranks, and agree to the zero-budget-amount. If the Congress cannot agree, then the President/OVP gets . . .no money in the bill. Let the President veto it: OVP still gets no money.

TARGETING CONTRACTOR BUDGET LINES

There is no obligation for the Senate to add money. Call the OVP on its bluff, shut it down, and lets get some real oversight of the personnel OVP has been managing in the intelligence community and wandering around the globe.
Time to end the funding for the contractors who are taking on these illegal activities. Go after the employment contracts; find out the clauses in their contracts that "immunize" them for illegal activity; and lets get a straight story why, as it appears, US contractors have been green lighted to support FISA violations, war crimes, prisoner abuse, illegal warfare, and Geneva violations.
Nuremberg is precedent for prosecuting civilian contractors for war crimes. Congress also may impeach anyone it chooses: Even legal counsel assigned to those contractors.

No funds shall be expended for illegal things. Time to go after the contracting officers in the US government and find out why they are issuing payments for war crimes, FISA violations, illegal activity, Geneva, prisoner abuse, and rendition.

Jake D. wrote on July 10, 2007 7:34 PM:

Sure, Congress can "impeach" people who post on TPM Mudracker too (whether they use their name or not). I doubt they are going to do that if they don't have the balls/votes to even impeach Bush or Cheney.

theswan wrote on July 10, 2007 7:37 PM:

We have waited for a long time for the trial. We may have to wait a lot longer. But the price of admission on this or any blog will be priceless.

chabuka wrote on July 10, 2007 7:40 PM:

I think you would have a better chance to impeach ...the "people" are okay with that, even behind it...to many lilly livered scardy cats in Congress...afrid Cheney might tell them to "go f**k themselves" (oooo..that would be soooo mean!)

Anonymous wrote on July 10, 2007 7:50 PM:

I kind of like cutting Cheney funding better than impeachment. It's could be so quick and easy, and it's just so richly deserved.

Anonymous wrote on July 10, 2007 7:51 PM:

I kind of like cutting Cheney funding better than impeachment. It's could be so quick and easy, and it's just so richly deserved.

Anonymous wrote on July 10, 2007 7:56 PM:

OVP may suggest that it's "not" subject to the EO. However, they cannot explain this problem:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_06/32cfr2800_06.html
32 CFR 2800 is the very security-compliance requirement that OVP shall comply with.

This isn't just about an EO; but whether the OVP will or will not cooperate with all audits. Once auditors arrived to do their 32 CFR 2800 review, Cheney cannot explain why there were blocked.

There are other standards: Generally Accepted Auditing standards which apply to OVP in re CFR compliance. The issue of whether the EO does or does not apply is a smokescreen: The _requirements_ are legal requirements under the CFR. If you read the CFR, you'll see that the CFR includes several references to EOs which do apply; and also to various security standards.

This then goes back to the questions Waxman and others have been asking: Why didn't OVP comply with the archivists reviews? OVP has no answer. It appears the refusal to cooperate has more to do with hiding evidence OVP was involved with illegal activity, than invoking bonafide claim of privilege.
When you think of the OVP blocking of the auditors, think of the RNC e-mail destruction. Same legal team solving the problem in a different way: Both asserting privilege: One method was to block the audit; when that failed, destroy the evidence.

The next question: Where is the evidence _of that destruction order_; and why aren't there records of the destroyed records _as required_ under the Security Regulations which require a log of all destroyed documents?

There's only one reasonable explanation why they would go to this length to not comply with legal requirements, create different databases, then destroy the evidence in the very location that was supposed to be hidden, protected, and never discovered or see the light of day: That evidence is related to something very serious -- war crimes.

OVP problem is they don't know how their IP numbers have been tracked to help fill in the holes of what was destroyed; who was involved; and who was physically involved with which dates. Personnel inside EOP are linked with unofficial activity. Check the DOJ Staff IP numbers and how they intersect with [a] the intelligence community; [b] common meeting locations; and [c] the DC area sports facilities. This is where the meetings occurred. You can find the IP numbers from DOJ: and the rosters for the sports facilities can be subpoenaed.

Focus on the following date, for now: July 2001, two months prior to Sept 2001. Then ask: What was going on then that would give Cheney confidence not to permit the fighter aircraft to launch? Once the demolitions were placed, there were recorded communications confirming the aluminium-power was stable; and that things were ready. Then they waited. Then there were more meetings. Why is the DOJ staff meeting in July to discuss various intelligence issues; yet we're asked to believe they were all surprised by the issue? OVP records are missing.

Here's the problem: The aluminium powder has a distinct chemical signature that can be traced to a specific manufacturing plant. When did OVP know the aluminium powder in the explosives could be traced? When you add water to this compound, it _fuels_ the fire. That's why the fire was still raging days later. It was _intended_ to have the fire department _add water_.

HipHopLawyer wrote on July 10, 2007 7:59 PM:

$4.8 million? You've got to be kidding me. Even if this jumps through all the congressional hoops and etc, Cheney can raise that much with a couple of quick phone calls. I'm sure Halliburton (among others) would happily underwrite the VP's office for the next 18 months. Some would say they are already doing so...

Anonymous wrote on July 10, 2007 8:28 PM:

What a joke. How many times will they feed us crumbs and expect us to beg for more?

Harold Ralphson wrote on July 10, 2007 9:49 PM:

Impeachment!

Now!

Contact your representative in the House.
switchboard: 202-225-3121

Bob wrote on July 10, 2007 9:49 PM:

Cheney will just take some money from the "black budget." These people don't believe they're subject to US law and neither do their bureaucratic minions. This is Nixon and Hoover all over again. Law means nothing when the President thinks he has the Constitutional power to violate just about any law there is, just as Nixon and his people thought.

The best answer is to turn the Office of Special Counsel into the Independent Counsel, make it a completely apolitical position, and appoint them to 10-year terms. Give them their own investigators and equivalent powers to the Attorney General with respect to prosecuting government officials. That would go a long way to restoring law and order after 6 years of self-serving politicians corrupting our government.

Samsara wrote on July 10, 2007 9:55 PM:

Your right, this is a joke. Appropriations Chairman David Obey will not let this thing see the light of day. Maybe Rham got some face time on the tube, but that’s all that will come of this stunt.

Suzie-Q wrote on July 10, 2007 10:08 PM:

This comment is to let you know that you have been tagged with a Thinking Blogger Award.
Please check it out at this link:

http://suzieqq.wordpress.com/2007/07/10/bam-holy-cow-we-did-something-right-again-justice-bloggers/

Suzie-Q wrote on July 10, 2007 10:09 PM:

This comment is to let you know that you have been tagged with a Thinking Blogger Award.
Please check it out at this link:

http://suzieqq.wordpress.com/2007/07/10/bam-holy-cow-we-did-something-right-again-justice-bloggers/

VictorLaszlo wrote on July 10, 2007 10:21 PM:

>Cheney will just take some money from the "black budget."

Yes, but at that point it will be obvious that he's getting money from somewhere other than proper channels.

ShorelineCT wrote on July 10, 2007 10:22 PM:

It's not forget this little nugget from the OVP:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/013285.php

...Almost two years ago we noted the odd news that the first federal contract (Mitchell) Wade ever received was with none other than the White House, the White House itself, which is officially called the Executive Office of the President in federal contracting-speak.

The contract was signed on July 15th, 2002 and it was supposedly for "office furniture."

On December 5th, 2005, the LA Times reported that the contract was "to provide office furniture and computers for Vice President Cheney."

Now, a lot of people have wondered for a long time just what that contract was really for. Remember, this was the maiden contract for a company specializing in defense and intelligence services. snip....

uncle vester wrote on July 10, 2007 10:29 PM:

Is it too early to start filling the bathtub?

JNagarya wrote on July 10, 2007 10:47 PM:

What a joke. How many times will they feed us crumbs and expect us to beg for more?

Posted by:
Date: July 10, 2007 8:28 PM

Ridicule is key to bringing Cheney down to size. It isn't a crumb, as those not totally ignorant of politics realize.

What this says to Cheney is: "Go fuck yourself, _PUNK_."

1oldlady wrote on July 10, 2007 10:53 PM:

tomorrow should be good, J. Wilson will be testifying in Connors Court!

JNagarya wrote on July 10, 2007 10:56 PM:

Your right, this is a joke. Appropriations Chairman David Obey will not let this thing see the light of day. Maybe Rham got some face time on the tube, but that’s all that will come of this stunt.

Posted by: Samsara
Date: July 10, 2007 9:55 PM

It is no more a stunt than Cheney's bullshit. It is perfectly suited to the credibility of Cheney's claim. And it is totally appropriate as a repudiation of his nonsense.

You want his claim treated seriously? Then you're a pro-Bushit-Cheney troll.

At the same time, Congress controls the purse strings, and can choose to not fund whatever it wants to not fund. It need not fund unconstitutional lunacy.

mbbsdphil wrote on July 10, 2007 11:11 PM:

The Senate should also put its own house in order. It should immediately withhold all funds and facilities from Cheney's budget as President of the Senate. He has consistently failed to abide by the rules because he's "so thspecial." He refuses even to say who the hell works for him on the public payroll. Enough.

expatjourno wrote on July 11, 2007 3:54 AM:

If Cheney isn't part of the executive branch (and isn't a leading presidential candidate), why does he have Secret Service protection?

Paul wrote on July 11, 2007 6:49 AM:

I just sent a thank you email to Durbin via http://senate.gov . I encourage everyone to do likewise.

Paul wrote on July 11, 2007 6:50 AM:

I just sent a thank you email to Durbin via http://senate.gov . I encourage everyone to do likewise

Lescoeurs wrote on July 11, 2007 7:04 AM:

I am very sorry to say the obvious....ALL of the handwringing, tsk tsking name calling at an obviously corrupted, illegal felonious Administration is only making the opposition look flaccid. Another Bill comes to strip Cheney of his budget, doesn't pass , and Cheney continues to laugh at the weakness. He thrives on it. Nothing. Nothing will happen until these guys are required to be accountable for their actions in a court of law or an impeachment court. America is angry , to be sure, at Bush & Co., but if they get out of town with 90% of the National treasury and no one goes to jail, America will be livid......at the DEMOCRATS.

Fritz McGee wrote on July 11, 2007 8:41 AM:

Cool - if they cut his funding, then Cheney will just have more time to preside over the Senate. He can refuse to recognize Reid or Durbin on the Senate floor, appoint his own set of conferees on every bill that goes to conference, massively alter Senate precedents, etc. Great work, Durbin!

Paul wrote on July 11, 2007 9:10 AM:

McGee: You clearly know nothing about the rules of the Senate. None of what you described would happen. Are you a troll?

Xman wrote on July 11, 2007 9:53 AM:

Forget seriously thinking defunding is the magic moment the whole mountain will slide into the valley.
If it were you and me, there is enough reason to pick us up for questioning. Cheney/Bush created the new incognito detention laws to safe guard national security. Certainly their behavior is a threat to national security and congress has a right and responsibility to get to the bottom of it. Detain them, waterboard them and make them do the potty hop.

oldtree wrote on July 11, 2007 10:21 AM:

I am sure my memory isn't unique, but the slush fund that the shooter has working will cover his expenses in shutting down the world, even if his office doesn't get money. After all, he has the bank account of Opec to bribe those that will take it
remember, follow the money

Jake D. wrote on July 11, 2007 11:09 AM:

Paul:

He could preside over the Senate every day, though, couldn't he? Read up on how our very first Vice President took to the job : )