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The Daily Muck
He's been called the Boy Genius, the Architect and Turd Blossom. Yesterday, he even called himself Moby Dick escaping the Captain Ahabs of Congressional oversight (take that, Patrick Leahy). But Karl Rove, the President's longtime political strategist, is leaving the White House on August 31st. The Boston Globe is dreaming that Rove's exit will mark the dawn of Bush's new consensus, moderate platform. The Politico just sees the man whose dream of a permanent conservative majority has destroyed the Republican party. And Dana Perino sees the loss of the man who invented Ice Cream Fridays. So what will Rove do after the White House (he doesn't have a college degree, which doesn't bode well for finding a job these days)? Rove says teaching. Members of Congress have assured us that they are still after him for just about everything under the sun. And Bush wants him to write a book. Recommendations for the title?
Is warrantless wiretapping unconstitutional? Who cares! That's because the Justice Department has no plans of releasing information about whose information they gathered, even when they did so illegally or in violation of someone's 4th Amendment rights. However, because no one can prove they were the victim of illegal eavesdropping without the government disclosing that they were, no individual will be able to bring a lawsuit that could then challenge the nature of the program's intelligence gathering, says the DoJ. (USA TODAY)
A court has called five reporters to testify about information that was leaked to them regarding an inquiry concerning the 2001 anthrax attacks. Steven J. Hatfill was a scientist under scrutiny for his possible connection with the attack, and now Hatfill is suing the Justice Department for telling reporters about the ultimately groundless investigation. All five reporters have already given depositions, but thus far have been unwilling to name the anonymous sources that gave them the information. (Associated Press)
The American Bar Association voted yesterday to urge Congress to override Bush's executive order on enhanced interrogation that allows waterboarding and sensory deprivation for detainees. (LA Times)
Jose Padilla has hardly been the focus of conversation these days, even in his own trial. But the highly public "enemy combatant" will be at the center of closing arguments today. The government is arguing that Padilla was a star recruit of al-Qaeda and should be found guilty, even though the original charges that led to his arrest have been dropped and the government has made assertions about Padilla's intentions that sometimes rely on strained evidence and no witnesses. (NY Times)
Why can't government agencies just get along? A report released yesterday found that a lack of cooperation between the FBI and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency likely caused ICE agents to recommend fewer terrorism-related cases to the FBI. Specifically, the ICE agents cited delays and refusals by the FBI to arrange court orders for investigations as reasons for not pursuing cases against potential terrorists. (Associated Press)
Aid money marked for Katrina victims is being used in some cases to build luxury condominiums in places like Tuscaloosa, AL. I guess it rained hard in Tuscaloosa; that's kind of like a hurricane. Via Think Progress. (Associated Press)
Comments (21)
JD21 wrote on August 14, 2007 10:08 AM:You know, I criticize Bush for his secrecy. And Bill Clinton was vastly better many ways, such as waiving Executive privilege. But particularly in this environment, Hillary should release her records as First Lady. Hillary should be against, not a part of, the ridiculous secrecy surrounding Washington. Hillary knows that sunlight, as it is often said, is the best disinfectant for rotten politics.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-clintondocs14aug14,1,1086895.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
Anonymous wrote on August 14, 2007 10:21 AM:Right now, is it even her decision? I think the Bush Administration is blocking release of all records.
Jane wrote on August 14, 2007 10:29 AM:Obama should release the names of the lobbyists he tapped to get access to their lists: when politicians take PAC money we know who is influencing them, when politicians get unregulated help who knows.
Obama did vote for legislation for the disclosure of bundling.
BobbyD wrote on August 14, 2007 10:40 AM:"The American Bar Association voted yesterday to urge Congress to override Bush's executive order on enhanced interrogation that allows waterboarding and sensory deprivation for detainees. (LA Times)"
Why don't they just take the simple first step that is clearly within their power and disbar AG Gonzales? Not allowed to "practice" law/no AG job
Alguien wrote on August 14, 2007 10:40 AM:A new career path for Karl?
How about becoming a "Republican Rapper"?
I'm MC Rove
a.k.a. Bush's brain
I love leaking secrets
of those who complain
I heard Wilson's wife
was Valerie Plame
so I called Bob Novak to
give him her name
She’s a secret agent
That looks like a doll
[Too bad she has married that liberal troll!]
And what do I care that she's undercover?
I ruined her career; she will never recover!
That will teach her husband not to mess with us
He wrote’is Op-ed and we kicked'er ass!
I outed her proudly and I feel no shame
And I got Scooter Libby to take all the blame
"That’s a serious crime!" some people will claim
But to me, Wilson’s wife was always FAIR GAME
We also dismissed some US attorneys
[And getting them fired made me feel so horny!]
We had to replace them with some new hires
that pleased me and Cheney and Harriet Miers
The Dems call me mean
‘cause I’m full of hate
and Margaret Spellings won’t go on a date
But my boss is the Prez
And he thinks I’m awesome
He loves me so much he calls me Turd Blossom!
Don’t think I resigned cause I felt defeated
My job in the White House is far from completed
I must stick around in order to teach them
How to break the law
While avoiding impeachment
If GOP majority isn’t an option
TheraP wrote on August 14, 2007 11:19 AM:I’ll have to think of some other concoction
To hold on to power for ever and ever
Lest the Dems wake up and get someone clever!
Bravo, Alguien!
Nelly Bly wrote on August 14, 2007 11:52 AM:What do you think Tony Rudy is talking about that is so interesting to the Feds? According to a 7/23/ motion to postpone his sentencing until November, the Feds expect Rudy's cooperation to continue for the foreseeable future.
Below, I linked to a 4/1/06 WaPo story about Rudy, "A Force Behind the Power", by Julie Eilperin and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum in case anyone here is not familiar with the Rudy case.
I am curious about this bit:
"As first reported in the Wall Street Journal, Rudy made nearly 500 stock trades from his Capitol Hill computer in 1999 and 2000 and profited handsomely from the day trading."
Never having read about Rudy's day trading in the WSJ,I'm going to try to find it. If Rudy was profiting from insider trading, I'm sure he wasn't the only in DC doing it.
carolyn wrote on August 14, 2007 11:55 AM:Awesome, Alguien!
C-92 wrote on August 14, 2007 12:18 PM:@NB
The recent Atlantic Magazine article (September edition) on Rove that has been getting blogger attention noted that Rove placed White House staffers in Tom DeLay's suite at the Capitol. I wonder if they were daytrading?
You'll probably also recall that there were allegations and (supposedly) an investigation into daytrading occuring in Bill Frist's office.
foggylady wrote on August 14, 2007 12:53 PM:Title for Rove's book:
Mien Kamf 2
casam wrote on August 14, 2007 1:36 PM:Title for Rove's book:
"How My Turd Blossomed"
Alguien
Nelly Bly wrote on August 14, 2007 1:48 PM:Date: August 14, 2007 10:40 AM
Excellent!
Thanks, C 92. I'm going to try to read the Atlantic Monthly article on Rove later today.
I do recall the allegations about day trading in Frist's office. I've long suspected that insider trading is a bigger problem on the Hill than anyone has admitted to.
lespool wrote on August 14, 2007 6:40 PM:That a man without even a bachelor's degree was placed in such a powerful position and allowed to make important policy decisions, effecting every American --- including those of us without bachelor's degrees is as inconceivable as it is outrageous and terrorizing. Is there any wonder why Bush's anti-intellectual stance and inability to reason is due to Rove's uneducated influence and sophomoric advice?
lespool wrote on August 14, 2007 6:41 PM:That a man without even a bachelor's degree was placed in such a powerful position and allowed to make important policy decisions, effecting every American --- including those of us without bachelor's degrees is as inconceivable as it is outrageous and terrorizing. Is there any wonder why Bush's anti-intellectual stance and inability to reason is due to Rove's uneducated influence and sophomoric advice?
lysias wrote on August 14, 2007 6:57 PM:Rove put his spies in DeLay's office in the Capitol? He didn't even trust the Republicans in the House?
dipsy wrote on August 14, 2007 7:02 PM:I'm wondering whether the precipitous departure of "turdblossom" has anything to do with the impending disclosures of the five reporters in the Stephen Hatfill suit.....aka "Anthraxgate" Rove seemed to be a master of dropping names to the press to ruin the lives of people who disagreed with this administration's policies.
lysias wrote on August 14, 2007 7:04 PM:There are many unanswered questions about the Anthrax Attack on Washington and Florida? Why did the terrorist target only Democrats? Why did the "terrorist(s)" target the National Enquirer? What were they about to publish? Many think this attack was for the sole purpose of creating a climate of fear in order to control the populace. Didn't this attack occur shortly before we went into Iraq? Wasn't there talk of an exchange of anthrax powder between Mohamed Atta and an agent of the Iraqi government which was later disproven? Will the truth of this tragedy ever come out?
Technically, trading stocks on the basis of knowledge about what legislation is being considered is not considered insider trading, and is not illegal. This is an area where the law should probably be changed.
However, I wonder if it's against any ethical rules that members of Congress and their staff operate under. Would White House liaisons placed in DeLay's office be under any such rules?
Dipsy wrote on August 14, 2007 7:21 PM:Perhaps if we waterboarded (it's not torture} Gonzales and others who claim "executive privlege" we could get some straight answers.
scott wrote on August 14, 2007 10:14 PM:"He did it My Way" by Karl Rove
scott wrote on August 14, 2007 10:15 PM:"He did it My Way" by Karl Rove
Anonymous wrote on August 15, 2007 10:01 AM:I agree that AGAG should be disbarred, but the ABA has no authority to do that. Decisions on those matters is done by the State Supreme Court (normally based on a recommondation after investigation by a judicial branch administrative agency called something like the Lawyer's Board of Professional Responsibility) or by the federal court wanting to take the action.