Talking Points Memo | October 21, 2007 - October 27, 2007 Archives

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10.27.07 -- 11:30PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Dangerous All By Himself

Check out David Greenberg's piece on Giuliani in tomorrow's Post. The basic point is a simple but very accurate one: the talk of Rudy as too moderate or liberal for the GOP is malarkey. Rudy's reputation for liberalism is based on three factors -- abortion rights, gay rights and serial adultery. In which order, I'm not certain. But those basically cover it. On most other key issues Rudy is fundamentally an authoritarian, and thus a right-winger on the key issues of the day. And that's a product Republicans are buying.

I've discussed at some length the group of fanatics and warmongers that Rudy has surrounded himself with as advisors on foreign policy. But there's a point that's important to take note of here. In their book American Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy, Ivo Daalder and James Lindsay make an important point about President Bush's foreign policy and the influence of his advisors -- the so-called "vulcans." They argued that it is a mistake to believe that because President Bush had no experience or deep knowledge of foreign affairs that his policies were just the work of his advisors, as though he were a blank slate or an empty vessel into which they could simply pour their agenda.

The advisors were key. But Bush didn't end up with these advisors by accident. And as we've gotten to know President Bush over the last eight years it has become clear that the key aspects of his policies -- petulant unilateralism, a reliance on force, inflexibility and more -- are rooted in the president's personality. They cohere with a world view that he clearly brings to the table.

I think the same is the case with Rudy. Yes, Podhoretz and Pipes and Rubin and the rest of them are nuts. But it's no accident he's gravitating toward them and vice versa. He has a deeply authoritarian personality. And his approach to governing is heavy on bullying and what in domestic affairs amount to appeals to force. Soften the words a bit and I think even his fans would agree to that description as the root of his success.

The thing is that whatever his views on abortion, which he's trimming daily, Rudy offers to the Bush 30% what they love about Bush which is authoritarian government and aggression abroad. The absence of conspicuous religiosity in Rudy's World is a significant difference. But I think these other qualities, especially with where core Republicans are on Iraq, trump even that.

At least on foreign policy and presidential power -- two pretty big issues at the moment -- Rudy is Bush without the soft edges.

--Josh Marshall

10.27.07 -- 10:16PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Our partners at Veracifier went down to DC to spend a little time at the Family Research Council's Values Voters Ho-Down last weekend. Here's some of what they saw ...

--Josh Marshall

10.27.07 -- 12:22PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Crystal Ball in Secessionville

Check out this Times article on South Carolina as the pivotal state in the GOP nomination process. It seems more than likely that Mitt Romney will win Iowa and New Hampshire. Nothing is for certain; but his leads there are substantial and consistent. But South Carolina is where the white evangelicals -- en masse -- come into play. If Rudy can't win there, the importance of his strong plurality showings on the national level probably fade quickly, both as an indicator and as a reality, since Romney will likely pick up the support of others who throw in the towel. If Rudy can win there it probably means the lifers will trade their principles on abortion for beefed up aggression abroad.

Of course, none of these developments may mean any such thing. But that's my read as of now.

The Times paints it as a four-way contest with McCain and Thompson. I'd discount those two -- McCain as a collapsed candidacy, Thompson's as a joke waiting for its punch line.

And for those of you interested in such things, here are the latest Intrade prediction markets charts for Rudy (at 42.1) and Romney (25.8) ...

Rudy

Romney

That's the race.

--Josh Marshall

10.27.07 -- 12:17PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

In the Wilderness

Family Research Council bucks the emerging pro-life embrace of Rudy.

--Josh Marshall

10.26.07 -- 10:55PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Push Send

We have all either heard of or experienced cases where a misaddressed email or a "cc:" that was supposed to be a "bcc:" got the sender in really hot water. But the House Judiciary Committee has taken it to a whole new level.

A while back the HJC set up a web tipline for tipster with information on politicization and wrongdoing at the Bush DOJ. Today the committee sent an email to all the tipsters alerting them to extremely tight safeguards in place to keep their identities and stories confidential. Unfortunately they put the 150+ email address in the "to:" field in the email, not "bcc:". So everyone's email got sent to anyone else. And probably because of pranksters one of the addresses those emails got sent to was none other than the vice president's office.

Paul Kiel has the whole sorry tale.

--Josh Marshall

10.26.07 -- 9:55PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Wilkes Takes Stand In Own Defense

Celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos surprised everyone, including prosecutors, by putting alleged Duke Cunningham briber Brent Wilkes on the stand in his own defense when trial resumed in San Diego today. In his testimony, Wilkes made specific denials of a number of the pieces of evidence arrayed against him. Then there was this exchange:

Prosecutor Phillip Halpern asked Wilkes whether he had told colleagues to deny any wrongdoing about their transactions with Cunningham.
"I believe you're referring to the phrase, 'Admit nothing, deny everything and make counteraccusations,'" Wilkes said. "It's a CIA saying. It's a joke."

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 5:00PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Double Standard?

Fox News goes after John McCain for using some of its debate footage in one of his campaign ads and demands he remove any Fox News reference from his campaign website.

But lookee, here.

Rudy Giuliani has Fox News plastered all over his campaign website, and as far as we know, Fox News hasn't said a thing.

Rudy and Fox News chief Roger Ailes go way back.

McCain gets a cease and desist letter. Giuliani gets nothing.

Coincidence?

Late Update: Fox News responds--bars all candidates from using its footage and images.

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 4:08PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Alert!

Horowitz on Cavuto (Fox). Right now.

--Josh Marshall

10.26.07 -- 3:45PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Slouching Toward a Vote

A House vote on holding Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers in contempt of Congress could come within the next couple of weeks.

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 3:14PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Dick Cheney goes hunting again Monday. Those of you in the Hudson River Valley are in the warning zone. Take heed.

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 2:24PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

I'm Important!

So Ben Craw and I just got back from the final day of Islamofascism Awareness Week at Columbia University where David Horowitz delivered a speech that might be better titled David Horowitz Awareness Week. He actually seemed a little more scattered and ragged than I'd seen him in previous speeches. The highlight of sorts was when he discussed the recent incident in which a noose was left on the door of an African-American professor at the university. He agreed it was an 'unfortunate incident'. But his real point was the double standard it showed since nooses were being figuratively left on the doors of college Republicans who'd invited him to campus. And of course, a noose always hangs over Horowitz's head because of the threat of violence he's under from college progressives who want to silence Islamofascism Awareness Week.

On one level, it's obviously offensive. But the comedic dimensions of the man's self-pity and fantasies of victimization are far more profound.

Here's a video sneak peek look at next week's episode of TPMtv on the finale of Islamofascism Awareness Week and Horowitz's quote.

--Josh Marshall

10.26.07 -- 2:13PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Rudy!

We are at least now getting some clarity on the Rudy question. Pretty simple. Even now, at the point when bluffing would have maximum advantage, most of leading conservative and pro-life lights are happy to get behind Rudy Giuliani's candidacy. The third party talk is basically just a lot of talk.

--Josh Marshall

10.26.07 -- 12:47PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

A Well-Paid Potted Plant

If you're Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), this is not what you want to read your lawyer saying to the press:

“By the time somebody comes to me, they are pretty far up the creek. The good thing is they will pay almost anything."
--Brendan Sullivan, quoted by the Washingtonian

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 12:26PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

The GOP's Abortion Divide

As Josh noted earlier, there may have been a seismic shift in the GOP primary race yesterday, when Sam Brownback essentially gave Rudy Giuliani a pass on his abortion rights views.

Over at TPM Election Central, we're tracking the fallout from Brownback's remarks. And they really do have far-reaching consequences--for Giuliani, for the prospect of a third-party pro-life candidacy, and for some of the other candidates, Mitt Romney, in particular.

For instance, a major Romney supporter, who is pro-life, is outraged over Brownback's remarks, telling Greg Sargent in an interview that Brownback is "cozying up" to Giuliani for some purported personal political gain. That in turn complicates things for Romney, who is still trying to secure a Brownback endorsement to shore up his own weakness among evangelicals. Around and around it goes.

Late Update: Brownback's political director in Iowa (up until his departure from the race) says Giuliani may get the nod from Brownback because he has the best chance of beating Hillary.

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 11:56AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Get the Popcorn Ready

Here's one to keep an eye on. We've written a fair bit about John Tanner, the chief of the voting rights section at DOJ. This is the guy who thinks voter ID laws are inherently unfair to whites because--and you have to follow the logic here carefully--the elderly are less likely to have ID cards, minorities have less access to health care and therefore die younger, the elderly are thus disproportionately white, and, if you're still following, voter ID laws therefore actually benefit minorities.

That logic from the federal officer in charge of protecting minority voting rights prompted Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to call for Tanner's resignation. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) followed suit yesterday. Sen. Ted Kennedy is now asking that AG-nominee Mike Mukasey conduct a review of Tanner and consider firing him.

That's not the only eyebrow raiser from Tanner. He also inserted himself into the investigation of voting irregularities in Ohio after the 204 elections. Tanner is not a political appointee, but he still manages to do the bidding of those on the Republican side who view minority voting protections as a hindrance to GOP electoral success.

Next Tuesday, after DOJ essentially stonewalled allowing him to testify, Tanner finally goes up to the Hill for an appearance before a House Judiciary subcommittee. Might be a fun one to watch.

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 11:29AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

New developments in unearthing the details of the administration's torture policies. Paul Kiel has the details.

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 11:14AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Thompson Disagrees with Cheney on Executive Power

Jake Tapper talks with Fred Thompson about executive power:

Thompson agreed that he didn't share the views of Vice President Cheney when it comes to the supremacy of the executive branch.
"No, I think the constitution in times of war, especially, is very definitive about that," he said. "The president is the commander in chief, but the Congress has the power of the budget. The power of the purse. So everything has to go through that prism. So it’s divided power in the constitution. Our founding fathers divided that up. Divided it up at the federal level, the idea being that things like Watergate should be made very difficult to happen. So no one branch of the government can misuse power."

. . .

Thompson said he sides with the Bush administration in its struggle with Congress over "issues of surveillance," but he suggested in some of the cases on detainees that have been ruled upon by the Supreme Court he sides with the Congress.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but it's not what I expected to hear from Thompson.

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 10:29AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

FEMA At It Again

FEMA employees played the roles of reporters at a press conference yesterday given by the deputy FEMA administrator on the California fires. The Post's Al Kamen has the details.

Late Update: You may remember that in the early days after Katrina, hundreds of firefighters sat in Atlanta awaiting deployment to the hurricane zone. When one group of firefighters was finally dispatched, it was to serve as a TV backdrop for the President's press conference.

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 10:23AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Today's Must Read Watch

Watch the Duke Cunningham/Brent Wilkes scuba diving video shown at Wilkes trial. Bali Hai indeed!

--David Kurtz

10.26.07 -- 10:23AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Dingbat Clampdown

The state of Pennsylvania has decided not to release a list of state polling places to prevent terrorists from disrupting the state's elections.

Just glad we have our priorities straight.

--Josh Marshall

10.26.07 -- 9:51AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Horowitz says Princeton University is participating in "Islamofascism Awareness Week." But University and the campus college Repubs say that's news to them.

"Asked in an interview this week with The Daily Princetonian why Princeton was listed as participating in Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, Horowitz said he thought he was invited to speak at the University as part of the program. He added that he thought College Republicans scheduled the event last week, rather than during the official Islamo-Fascism Awareness week, so that it wouldn't conflict with midterm exams."

--Josh Marshall

10.26.07 -- 9:25AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Power Trumps All

I've told a number of people over the last few days that for all the talk of this evangelical third-party candidacy if Rudy gets the nomination, I'll believe it when I see it. Sam Brownback, a big pro-lifer, appears to be laying the groundwork for a Rudy endorsement. It makes a hypocrite of one or the other of them. Probably both. But I bet you'll see others making their peace as well, especially if Romney doesn't, can't make the sale.

--Josh Marshall

10.26.07 -- 9:09AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Flip-flopping to the Nomination

We talk a lot about Rudy being at the front of the Republican pack. And there's no question about that if you look at the national polls. But it's very hard to ignore that Romney has a commanding lead in Iowa and a solid lead in New Hampshire. While he's yet to take the lead in South Carolina, he's rising fast. And he's got the right people down there working for him (right in the highly amoral sense of the people who tend to win the contests down there).

The delegates at stake in these contests are negligible. But these contests tend to be defined by those early contests. There's always someone who thinks he can wait till the bigger delegates races to start racking up numbers but I've never seen that work.

--Josh Marshall

10.26.07 -- 12:39AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Sweets and Candies

Former Iranian President Khatami has attacked President Ahmadinejad for falsifying government economic statistics and hiding the depth of the country's economic plight.

From the Guardian, "Mr Khatami's comments represent his first explicit criticism of his successor and follow predictions that he might run in the 2009 presidential election. Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a former aide to Mr Khatami, said the remarks were intended to prepare for a reformist revival at the March parliamentary elections."

Presumably, if the US launches a war against Iran between now and 2009 this should increase the chances of Khatami's unseating Ahmadinejad at the next election, yes?

(ed.note: Earth to bleary early morning readers. Yes, this last sentence was meant sarcastically. Tooth fairy still not real. Colbert not really running for prez ... etc.)

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 11:58PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Reason Certain to Prevail

From the Post ...

A U.S. military strike against Iran would have dire consequences in petroleum markets, say a variety of oil industry experts, many of whom think the prospect of pandemonium in those markets makes U.S. military action unlikely despite escalating economic sanctions imposed by the Bush administration.
The small amount of excess oil production capacity worldwide would provide an insufficient cushion if armed conflict disrupted supplies, oil experts say, and petroleum prices would skyrocket. Moreover, a wounded or angry Iran could easily retaliate against oil facilities from southern Iraq to the Strait of Hormuz.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 10:28PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Credibility

From the Post ...

In approving far-reaching, new unilateral sanctions against Iran, President Bush signaled yesterday that he intends to pursue a strategy of gradually escalating financial, diplomatic and political pressure on Tehran, aimed not at starting a new war in the Middle East, his advisers said, but at preventing one.

Yep ...

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 8:26PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

What's Up in Syria

At various times I've mentioned the DC insider sheet The Nelson Report. The writing style sometimes takes a little getting used to. But in tonight's edition, Chris Nelson says there's a growing consensus even among skeptics that that Israeli raid was on some sort of nuclear reactor under construction in Syria. For now I'll simply pass on this link to a report just out from David Albright (who was highly credible and skeptical on the Iraq WMD questinos) and his colleagues at the ISIS think tank on the question.

I'm still quite skeptical. But very knowledgeable skeptics seems to be growing less so.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 8:03PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Work in the TPM News Room!

Live in the New York area? Come work with us as an intern in our newsroom at TPM World Headquarters. Research stories, hunt up and edit video, be a part of everything we do as we gear up for 2008. Find out the details here.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 6:12PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Romney open to embracing Rudy's insane foreign policy vision.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 5:48PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Can It Really Be?

Dems will block Mukasey nomination unless they get an answer from the AG nominee on whether waterboarding is torture.

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 5:48PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Twisted Coda

Given his statements sad is not the right word. But bizarre certainly and a weird coda to the career behind one of the great discoveries of the 20th Century: DNA. James Watson, who along with Francis Crick discovered DNA, the core building block and information transmitter of life on earth, has been forced to retire as chancellor of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island. This, of course, comes after last week when Watson told an interviewer that he is not optimistic about the future of Africa since, he believes, Africans have a lower average intelligence than whites.

Has he always been a racist? I'm not naive enough to believe that there are not many more than a few people who still believe such things. What does strike me as odd is that he expressed these views openly and unabashedly.

No profound observations. Just a passage that seems worth noting.

Late Update: TPM Reader LP responds ...

In answer to your question, Watson has at least been a horrible racist for the past several years, probably his whole life, in addition to being a notorious sexist since the very beginning. I went to a talk of his at Berkeley while I was a molecular biology grad student there, and he spoke for an hour in a public setting making completely fabricated scientific claims as to links between skin color, obesity, happiness and sex drive. With some misogyny thrown in (women are only interested in getting men to buy them pretty dresses). Some female faculty walked out in the middle of it. The whole thing was written up by the SF Chronicle at the time, and it's a pretty interesting story and they got absolutely every detail right: I think the difference is that American scientists were used to it and had been ignoring it. It took an event outside the US to really bring the problem into focus (and more blatant statements, I suppose, though not by much).
Good riddance, I say.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 5:04PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Mission Impossible?

For Hillary, the dilemma is how to trumpet her own inevitability without creating impossible expectations.

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 4:47PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Syrian Subterfuge?

More on that Israeli bombing run into Syria, from the Post:

A mysterious Syrian military facility that was reportedly the target of an attack by Israeli jets last month has been razed, according to a new satellite image that shows only a vacant lot in the place where Syria was recently constructing what some U.S. officials believe was a nuclear reactor.
The new photograph, taken by a commercial satellite yesterday, suggests that Syrian officials moved quickly to remove evidence of the project after it was damaged by Israeli bombs on Sept. 6, said David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security, a nonprofit research group.

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 3:18PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

OK, But Just a Peek

White House offers Leahy and Specter access to secret surveillance docs already released to Senate intel committee.

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 2:47PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Love Me!!!

The student paper at GW interviewed Horowitz on 'Islamofascism Awareness Week' and he seems to have let the cat out of the bag about the goal behind the event.

"I'm a prominent conservative but no one is inviting me to speak at their campuses," Horowitz said in an interview with The Hatchet. "I had to create an event."

The conspiracy against me is revealed by the fact that despite my popularity and prominence no one wants to have me come and speak at their campus.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 12:58PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Little Threat

From Ha'aretz ...

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said a few months ago in a series of closed discussions that in her opinion that Iranian nuclear weapons do not pose an existential threat to Israel, Haaretz magazine reveals in an article on Livni to be published Friday.
Livni also criticized the exaggerated use that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is making of the issue of the Iranian bomb, claiming that he is attempting to rally the public around him by playing on its most basic fears. Last week, former Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy said similar things about Iran.

The article also reveals for the first time a document Livni prepared and sent to Olmert a few months after the Second Lebanon War proposing a new division of labor between the two. "Enclosed is a proposal for work procedures between us, with the aim of providing an answer to Israel's strategic needs and facilitating early planning and the formulation of coordinated Israeli positions ... within the framework of cooperative
relations, full transparency and continuous mutual updates," wrote Livni.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 12:16PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Rudy?

TPM Reader JM responds to my post from last night on Rudy ...

I bet all the Democratic frontrunners are praying that Rudy wins the nomination. Why? Because negative campaign advertising is more effective than any other political tactic, and Rudy’s life reads as if it’s been scripted for cinematic evisceration. No one has pulled the big guns out against Rudy yet. He’s got a target on his back the size of Montana’s sky: his personal indiscretions, his penchant for befriending mobbed up guys and sexually abusive priests, and his flip-flopping on issues near and dear to his base. Then there’s Rudy’s perceived strength: 9/11. Talk to the FDNY about that one. Once the real heroes of 9/11 have told their side of the story in 30 second snippets with the Twin Towers devastation swirling in the background, Mr. 9/11 will be Mr. Smoldering Ruin. If you doubt any of this, take a look at Robert Greenwald’s short videos on Rudy. There’s a powerful, multi-faceted anti-Rudy narrative lurking out there waiting for a wide audience. As the 2004 election proved, swiftboating works. This time around, should Rudy get the nod, the swiftboating will have the added benefit of being, you know, true.

I agree with a lot of this. Indeed, I've written about a lot of it. There's a lot to be said about Rudy's judgment by the fact that he put a mobbed-up cop in charge of the NYPD on the basis of his having done a good job as Rudy's driver. He's also being advised on foreign policy by a pack of loons. And I hasten to point out that I didn't say Rudy might be a strong candidate but that I think he might be the strongest. Big difference.

That said, I didn't think Rudy'd be at the head of the pack in October 2007. So we'll see.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 11:53AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Now, I don't want to knock paralegals in any way. I've known paralegals who were far more competent and capable than many lawyers. But when the head of one of the State Department's anti-corruption units in Baghdad isn't a diplomat or a trained anti-corruption official but a paralegal who works at the U.S. embassy, you have a sense of Bush Administration priorities.

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 11:37AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Rudy wins over the heroin kingpin caucus.

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 11:32AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Waxman v. Rice

Condi Rice faces down Henry Waxman this morning in an oversight hearing. Already, Rice seems to have picked up on some of Alberto Gonzales' more dubious stonewalling techniques as a way of avoiding answering questions. Spencer Ackerman leads our coverage at TPMmuckraker.

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 9:57AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Army admits leaking Beauchamp documents to Drudge.

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 9:57AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

TPMtv: Campaign 2008 Roundup #3

Did the Obama campaign's effort to embrace a 'new politics' lead to his collapse in the polls? We take a look in our third weekly campaign 2008 roundup ...

Watch this episode on YouTube.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 9:37AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Today's Must Read

A fascinating glimpse into Blackwater's secretive compound in Baghdad's Green Zone.

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 8:42AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

The Waxman Cometh

Nice profile of Henry Waxman in today's Washington Post, although it's really more of a profile of how he and his staff operate, which is even better. If you're into muckraking, you'll practically salivate at how smart and effective the committee's Democratic staff has been:

But the real secret, Waxman said, is simply to follow investigations wherever they lead. When Republicans were in control of Congress, the committee began looking into the activities of felonious lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a probe that turned up e-mails that Bush administration officials sent via Republican National Committee accounts. When Democrats took over, Waxman pursued it further, producing evidence that administration officials as high as former presidential adviser Karl Rove had violated federal rules by using RNC e-mails to cover their tracks on official business, including the controversial firings of U.S. attorneys allegedly for political reasons.
As it turns out, thousands of RNC e-mails have disappeared, stoking still more investigations.

Waxman's fascination with government contracting led him to investigate the pricing on a contract between the General Services Administration and Sun Microsystems and a no-bid job, ultimately terminated, that GSA chief Lurita Alexis Doan had given to a longtime friend.

When committee aides asked the GSA for information about the contracts, they inadvertently received documents on a political briefing that a White House political aide had given to GSA political appointees after the 2006 elections. In subsequent interviews, multiple sources told committee investigators that, at the conclusion of the briefing, Doan asked what could be done to "help our candidates" in the next elections.

Now, that investigation has swelled, as committee staffers seek to catalogue all the political presentations and activities that White House political staff members marshaled in federal agencies in connection with the 2006 elections.

Pulling threads to see what they unravel--whodathunkit? But compare that to this tacit admission from Waxman's predecessor as chairman, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA): "For the administration, and for a lot of others, people need to be careful now. Someone is looking over their shoulder."

--David Kurtz

10.25.07 -- 12:56AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

It Could Happen Here

Who's the Republican I'd least like to see the Democratic nominee run against next year? This topic came up in my conversation with Markos of Daily Kos last week. And he was pretty clear that he thinks the Republicans' strongest candidate is Rudy Giuliani. But I'm having a hard time getting my head around this question.

Basically I agree. He's their strongest candidate. For all his problems of temperament, authoritarianism, ignorance and general ridiculousness, I know most people don't see him that way. The sheen of 9/11 is real for Rudy. And many otherwise sensible people see him as a generally moderate guy on social policy who couldn't be as stupid as Bush in managing the country's foreign policy but would still be ready to kick some ass to keep everyone safe. He's the only one of their crew who could put even a few reliably Democratic states into play.

I don't think he's wears that well over time. And I think the generally bleak outlook for Republicans would doom his candidacy. But these things are definitely possible.

So yes, he's their strongest candidate. Unless, that is, he splinters the Republican party and spawns a third-party social conservative protest candidate who siphons off numbers even in the high single digits and he gets crushed.

So their best candidate or their worst. I'm already repeatedly on record saying that I think it's ridiculous to believe that Rudy can win the Republican nomination with the burden of his social liberalism and personal profligacy. (A prediction that isn't looking as good as it once did.) And if he does, that certainly suggests there should be some sort of revolt on the right. And the Dobsons and other hardcore right-wingers are certainly talking a good game about supporting a third party candidate.

Those of us who've watched a few of these cycles know that these threats seldom pan out. But on the other hand I don't think we've seen a case in modern history where the presidential nominee was against what is arguably one of the party's two or three core issues.

So I can't really make heads or tales of this whole question. All the possibilities require outcomes that common sense tells me are not likely to happen. Who can help me with this?

And as long as we're on the question of Giuliani, another point. As Sullivan noted today, in quoting Jimmy Breslin, if we're on the subject of fascism, Rudy may be a better mark to revive the the use of the name than someone wearing a suicide belt in Tel Aviv.

My point of comparison would be Benito Mussolini. You've got the extreme hostility to civil liberites and the foreign policy adventurism. But I'm not thinking so much of the harder and sinister side of the fascist dictator as his more comic and melodramatic traits. The strutting peacock on the balcony, the histrionic gesture, the rich personal vanity. I propose to term my insight 'combofascism'.

--Josh Marshall

10.25.07 -- 12:29AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

The Younger Set

You've probably seen how Stephen Colbert is running for president. You may even have seen this Rasmussen poll that has Colbert pulling down a respectable 13% of the vote in a hypothetical Rudy-Hillary match-up.

But look at this paragraph down into Rasmussen's write-up (italics in the original) ...

Colbert does particularly well with the younger voters most likely to be watching his show and therefore most aware of his myriad presidential-like qualities. In the match-up with Giuliani and Clinton, Colbert draws 28% of likely voters aged 18-29. He draws 31% of that cohort when his foes are Thompson and Clinton. In both match-ups, Colbert has more support with young voters than the GOP candidate.

There's something appropriate in this. Americans in their twenties would prefer a normal person pretending to be a Republican buffoon than the real thing.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 11:00PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

No, I Can't Help It

So I'm here checking out the Young America's Foundation, conservative group that helps college conservatives bring right-wing speakers to campus. They've got a little widget that helps you select speakers by name, topic, price. It's sort of the VRWC accessible in 8 or 9 different dimensions at once.

Anyway, I'm checking out prices people charge, topics they'll yak about and how they describe themselves. So I come across Horowitz. He's a "civil rights activist and author."

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 10:50PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

About Time

The Times takes a look at the loons who make up Rudy's foreign policy team.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 9:36PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Most Annoying Thing on the Planet

I know many of you may not be crazy about the number of ads we need to run, though we try our best to keep it in bounds. But here is my nominee for most annoying web innovation this century. You've probably noticed that on some sites these days if you happen to randomly click on unlinked text a little box pops up with the dictionary definition of the word you clicked and of course an ad. (I'm used to low-rent sites pulling this kind of nonsense but the New York Times is doing it now too.)

Now I don't mind ads if they're paired along with something I'm remotely interested in. But do you ever really click on these things to find word definitions? I'm convinced this whole thing is just a scam to serve up accidental pop-ups while allowing the publisher to pretend they're providing a service.

If you find this useful, please let me know. (And no, don't worry, we're never going to do it. It's just my idle curiosity.)

Late Update: TPM Reader RM, not a fan ...

The Times has been doing it for months now. I'm someone who highlights paragraphs as I read them and when I accidentally click on the highlighted section I get the damn pop up.
It's irritating as hell and it's gotten to the point where I'm so sick of it I don't even look at the Times' site anymore.

But at least they got rid of Times Select, eh?

I do the exact same thing. Drives me nuts.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 8:20PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Rep. Noxious Weed

It was of course a publicity stunt. But in case you hadn't heard about it, I wanted to flag this incident. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) is the chief immigrant-basher in Congress, perhaps in the country. He's also running for president. Yesterday, Sen. Durbin held a press conference on the senate side of Capitol Hill to introduce a bill that grant legal status on illegal immigrants who've graduated high school, choose to serve in the military and meet certain other requirements. As you can imagine, the immigrants they chose to have on hand all had legal status. But Rep. Tancredo suspected there might be illegals somewhere on hand. So he rung up ICE (the successor to the INS), told them he believed illegals would be on hand and asked them to raid the event.

Apparently the ICE officials sensed that even that this would be too craven and outrageous even for the Bush era and wisely demurred.

Tancredo doesn't cut much of a figure in the progressive blogosphere. But in the mainstream media circles he's treated as a respectable if rather outlandish figure. But it's worth pausing play for a moment and recognizing the guy as we would if read about him in the history books: a hate-peddler and huckster, the dark side of our national selves.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 7:52PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

HRC Hits Obama Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign hits the Obama campaign for its planned use of an anti-gay gospel singer for a campaign event.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 6:07PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Perino on the "Code Pink Congress"

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 5:45PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

In Need of Protection

Blackwater sends an emergency extraction message to supporters ...

From: Blackwater Worldwide
Date: October 24, 2007 12:42:04 PM EDT
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: A Request for Your Support Reply-To: btw@blackwaterusa.com
A Request for Your Support

The Blackwater family is comprised of dedicated and active service providers that work vigorously to support the American nation. In this tumultuous political climate, Blackwater Worldwide has taken center stage, our services and ethics aggressively challenged with misinformation and fabrications. Letters, e-mails and calls to your elected Congressional representatives can and will create a positive impact by influencing the manner in which they gather and present information.

While we can’t ask that each supporter do everything, Blackwater asks that everyone does something. Contact your lawmakers and tell them to stand by the truth. Correspondence should be polite and professional. We don’t support generating negative messages. Tell the Blackwater story and encourage your representatives to seek the truth instead of reading negative propaganda and drawing the wrong conclusions.

Suggested themes:

- Cost efficiency of Blackwater – saving the US taxpayer millions of dollars so that the US Government doesn’t have to take troops from their missions or send more into harms way

-Professional population of service veterans and mature law enforcement personnel

- Sacrifice in lives lost by Blackwater saving US diplomats without one single protectee harmed

If you see a lawmaker speaking good things about Blackwater, contact their offices and let them know that they have your support. Find and contact your federal, state, and local officials by visiting www.congress.org.

Expanding our communications effort starts with you. Pass the word –
pass the truth.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 5:24PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Who Will Be Their Moses?

A mil contractor exodus from Iraq? Their loss of legal immunity today might lead to just that. Spencer Ackerman has the story.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 5:11PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Question

Since a high senior member of the Fred Thompson campaign has to quit every few weeks. And since they can't seem to replace 'em as fast as they lose 'em. Doesn't that mean that Thompson himself will likely have to leave the campaign before the primaries even start?

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 4:55PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Work and Learn at TPM? Be a TPM Intern!

If you're a fan of TPM and you'd like to learn more about what we do in reporting, news aggregation, video production and more, consider applying for one of our TPM internships. We're now accepting applications for our winter intern round -- which starts in December. We also have two new full-time positions open immediately -- one working on TPMtv and another working with our news editor on the TPM front page news section.

We all work in one big open space in an office in Chelsea in Lower Manhattan (except for when I need to revert to my natural habitat and find a cafe to work at). It's a collaborative and fast-paced environment and you'll learn a lot very quickly. Interns are closely involved in the substance of everything we do.

If you have questions you can send us an email at the comments address.

If you're interested in one of the new positions, we're accepting applications on a rolling basis. The deadline for the Winter round is November 7th. If you're interested in joining us, email talk (at) talkingpointsmemo.com with the subject "TPM internship." Send us a resume, a couple references, and a letter explaining why you would be good for this job.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 3:33PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Life's a Beach

DOJ lawyer gives a whole new meaning to forum shopping.

--David Kurtz

10.24.07 -- 3:03PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Don't Tase Me, Bro!

State investigation finds University of Florida police were justified in using taser in that much-publicized incident during a John Kerry speech.

--David Kurtz

10.24.07 -- 3:01PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Global Warming Can Be Fun!

After some boiler plate discussion of the Southern California fires, Dana Perino responds to charges the White House "eviscerated" CDC Director Gerberding's testimony on global warming. Listen in for the discussing of the cool health benefits of global warming ...

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 2:13PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Getting to the Bottom of What Happened at DOJ

If you missed TPMmuckraker's coverage yesterday of the House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the politicization of the Justice Department, take a look at a couple of the videos we've put together. The first is a summary of former Republican Attorney General Dick Thornburgh's testimony about the "apparent political prosecution" of his client, a local Democratic coronor in Pennsylvania. The second is a rundown of some of the testimony about the best-known of the suspect prosecutions, the case against former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.

--David Kurtz

10.24.07 -- 2:07PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

War on Science

From the AP:

The White House on Wednesday denied that it had "watered down" the congressional testimony that Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had given the day before to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
But a draft of the testimony submitted for White House review shows that six pages of details about specific disease and other health problems that might flourish if the Earth warms were not delivered at the hearing.

. . .

Referring to the draft, one CDC official familiar with both versions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the review process, said that "it was eviscerated."

White House press secretary Dana Perino said the prepared testimony went through an interagency review process and the Office of Science and Technology Policy did not believe that the science in the testimony matched the science that was in a report by the International Panel on Climate Change.

"She testified yesterday. Her spokesperson said that she was able to say everything she wanted to say," Perino said. "It was not watered down in terms of its science. It wasn't watered down in terms of the concerns that climate change raises for public health."

--David Kurtz

10.24.07 -- 2:00PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Nisour Square Fallout

First State Department resignation over Blackwater scandal.

--David Kurtz

10.24.07 -- 1:42PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Obama Stakes Out Position on Telecom Immunity

In response to progressives grumbling that Barack Obama was hedging on telecom immunity, his campaign has given Election Central a statement confirming that he will support a filibuster of any bill with telecom immunity.

--David Kurtz

10.24.07 -- 1:29PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Elizabeth Warren at TPMCafe: "Phone Sex and Mortgage Servicing."

--David Kurtz

10.24.07 -- 1:00PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

What's in a Name?

Christopher Hitchens steps forward to defend the neologism "Islamofascism" and Andrew Sullivan skeptically reviews his attempt.

Setting aside our on-going coverage of the Horowitz buffoonery, here's my answer to this question.

Why not call it Islamotarianism? Or Islamozism? We say there's a lot in a name. But many names come into existence and stick for no particularly good reason whatsoever. Actual students of fascism find it pretty hard to tie the term even to many of the European movements which carried the title during fascism's heyday between WWI and WWII, let alone would-be post-war imitators in Latin America and elsewhere. Certainly we needn't constrain ourselves by the professional literature in deciding how to frame the public debate. But all violent and illiberal movements have parallels of one sort or another, pretty much by definition. And it's dubious whether the label makes sense for movements from a different century and culture. Fascism's racism and general irreligion would seem to create some hurdles to its use as well.

Presumably we're talking about various forms of violent religious extremism within Islam. Radical Islam, Islamic terrorism, Islamism, Muslim extremism all seem like serviceable enough terms.

But let's be crystal clear about their real inadequacy. They don't fill the key need of inflating the political egos and intellectual pretensions of those who most push for its use. The battle against fascism and then later communism were not only by most measures the greatest battles and dangers the United States has ever faced. They were also the greatest mixes of military struggle and intellectual engagement. For people who make their livings with pens and keyboards especially that combination is simply intoxicating. That is, among other reasons, what is behind the very deserved reputation of George Orwell.

But this isn't 1938 or 1948. A bummer perhaps if you're aiming to write a political essay for the ages. But not a bad thing if you're trying to live a life, raise a family or a bunch other things. If the War on Terror is on par with the struggle against fascism and communism, or far graver as some claim, the case can be made with fact and argument. The craze for 'Islamofascism' is just an effort at verbal bamboozlement, flipping the volume up to 11, a hedge against the evident losing of the argument on the merits. Orwell wouldn't be amused.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 11:44AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Buckle Your Seatbelts

Podhoretz, who says war against Iran is a necessity, on Rudy ...

“I was asked to come in and give him a briefing on the war, World War IV. As far as I can tell there is very little difference in how he sees the war and how I see it.”

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 11:43AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Not Brownie Again?

Former FEMA Director Michael "Heckuva Job" Brown is touting himself as "available for interviews" about the California wildfires.

--David Kurtz

10.24.07 -- 9:35AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

TPMtv: DKos Interview, Part II

Last week we brought you Part I of our interview with Daily Kos founder and publisher Markos Moulitsas, in which we talked all about the Democratic half of the '08 presidential race.

Today, part II: of the sorry roster of Republican presidential contenders who does Markos think would be the hardest for the Dems to beat?

And as a special bonus, of the Dems who's the best and worst at web outreach? All of that today in part two of our interview with Markos Moulitsas ...

Embed code:

Watch this episode on YouTube.

--Josh Marshall

10.24.07 -- 9:24AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Today's Must Read

From the why-didn't-I-think-of-that files: State Department decides more oversight of its security contractors is needed.

--David Kurtz

10.24.07 -- 9:21AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Reports from the Field

TPM Reader PK reports in on Islamofascism Awareness Week in Rhode Island, my old stomping ground ...

You'll be happy to know the local public radio affiliate here in Providence, WRNI, has gotten into the festivities. They ran a story on the morning drive local news segment this morning about Islamofascism Awareness Week and the effort to challenge "leftist professors" attacking Bush. The University of Rhode Island is apparently involved, but there was no indication of what they are actually doing to advance the cause of getting David Horowitz' name out there....er...I mean to advance the cause of IAW. They did quote a college Republican who said the week would allow them to target "tenured leftist professors teaching anti-American curriculum". How they are doing that--beyond finding gullible media people desperate to bow before the altar of "objectivity" and "balance" by reading Horowitz' press releases on air--remains uncertain.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 11:04PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Obama and Hillary on the Dodd Bandwagon

This is fascinating. You remember a few days ago, Sen. Dodd -- who sometimes doubles as a presidential candidate -- said he would filibuster the telecom immunity bill now moving through the senate. Now both Hillary and Obama are saying they'd support Dodd's filibuster.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 10:27PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Catching up with IAW

Okay, I know I've been talking a lot about David Horowitz and Islamofascism Awareness Week (IAW) today. But there are so many serious and weighty questions in life, so much tragedy and heartbreak that you really have to grab on to the comedy with both hands when it comes along. And watching IAW really is like watching a real live version of Spinal Tap or Waiting for Guffman unfold before you.

So anyway, I stop by Horowitz's FrontPage magazine to see how things are going with IAW. And the first thing that catches my eye is David's latest rant about how George Soros, Hillary, the Center for American Progress and the Muslim Brotherhood, inter alia, have created a pro-Jihad alliance to attack David and crush Islamofascism Awareness Week. Then a lot of stuff I had a hard time following. But then at the end there's this ...

Meanwhile I was invited to conduct an online chat with respondents all over the world by the Muslim website IslamOnline, which is based in Cairo. IslamOnline proved to be gracious hosts and you can read what I actually believe about Muslims here.

So, I'm thinking, 'wow, i've got to see this. Horowitz actually found some dudes in Egypt that gave his nonsense a respectful hearing. I've got to see this.' So I click through ... and, I don't know what to say, but that you've got to read this online chat. I literally laughed out loud. The questions range from thoughtful but critical to derisive and angry. And in most cases Horowitz responds by telling the questioner his/her question is ridiculous and launching off on some new tirade. One fun example ...

Hakim: United States
Profession:engineer
Question: why the focus on women in the Islamic world? does oriental mean exotic? is it out of a fantasy? why are you so bent on equating the veil with oppression? have you ever seen a picture of the Virgin Mary without a veil?
Answer :With all due respect, this line of questioning is ridiculous. What fantasy do you have about 12 year old girls having their genitals sliced off without anesthetic?

Then there's this special moment ...

From: Muslim - United States
Profession:
Question: Thank you Mr. Horowitz,

I read something about a guy called Adam Kokesh, he is the one who is claimed to be behind the notorious George Washington Uni. posters, do you think that his counter-campaign has been effective so far in mobilizing awareness against your campaign, which is seen by most Muslims as offensive? (especially when we read the names on the speakerslist)

Thank You,

Answer
I don't believe for a second that most Muslims find our campaign offensive. Are you saying that you think most Muslims support terror, the stoning of women, clitorectomies?

Everyone got along great basically.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 8:35PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

This Should Be Fun

It seems Condi Rice is set to really lower the boom on Blackwater and other military contractors in Iraq, sending them to sensitivity training. Spencer Ackerman runs down a few points they should cover.

1. Don't get drunk and murder the bodyguards of Iraqi dignitaries.

That's always an important one. Check out Spencer's post for the rest.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 8:13PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Wicked Pitch

In case you haven't checked in yet I want to tell you about something we've got going on this week at TPMCafe. You may remember 'Curveball' from the annals of Iraq WMD bamboozlement. He was the Iraqi refugee who told the Germans a bunch of baloney about alleged Iraqi WMD programs in order to get asylum and ended up providing much of the crucial 'intelligence' that was the basis for the invasion of Iraq. If you're familiar with the story you know there were numerous overlooked red flags suggesting that Curveball was full of it. But that didn't stop his story from being the basis of those now endlessly embarrassing illustrations of Iraqi mobile chemical weapons labs that Colin Powell told the UN about just before the war.

Anyway, Bob Drogin writes about national security and intelligence issues for the Los Angeles Times. And he's got a new book out -- called Curveball, appropriately enough -- that tells the whole sordid, spy-thriller-esque tale of intrigue and ineptitude. And we've got him at TPMCafe Table for One this week blogging, discussing the book and answering your questions. Stop by ...

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 6:30PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) urges White House to share surveillance documents with Senate Judiciary Committee.

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 5:49PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

MoveOn is teaming up with some of the netroots blogs to pressure Clinton and Obama to oppose telecom immunity.

Late Update: Obama camp issues statement supportive of Sen. Chris Dodd's threatened filibuster of telecom immunity.

Late Late Update: Hillary issues statement saying she'd support filibuster of current bill. --gs

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 5:36PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Hmmm. Anti-Anti-Islamofascism revolt? Seems like College Republican groups on a couple campuses have decided not to use the name "Islamofascism" to the great displeasure of the Horowitz Freedom Center. An update later on the details.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 5:03PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Islamofascismentum!!

We've dedicated a lot of space today to discussing the issue of Islamofascism Awareness Week. So in case you missed our video primer on what's going on, check out today's episode of TPMtv ...

Embed code:

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Late Update: TPM Reader PB explains how he'll observe the event ...

In honor of Islamofascism awareness week I am busy rewriting all of my old history books in order to properly show that the danger of some men in caves, along with one moderate regional power are in fact a greater threat to the United States then were the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, the secessionist Confederacy, and even the Redcoats from our founding days. Mostly the work is easy, however I am having a bit of trouble figuring out how to explain that Reagan the Infallible in fact saw that these Islamofascists were a greater threat than the Evil Empire even when he was supporting them in Afghanistan.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 3:27PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Over at TPMCafe's Table for One, Bob Drogin posts on how the Curveball case was a prime example of the "high-priest mystique of intelligence and national security concealing tawdry ambition, frightening ineptitude and weak leadership."

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 3:22PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Senate Dems give AG-nominee Mike Mukasey a waterboarding primer (not literally).

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 3:18PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Must See TV

Spencer Ackerman previews the Frontline episode that airs tonight about the brewing crisis with Iran. He gives it a big thumbs up. I'll be watching.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 3:10PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

At today's White House press briefing, Iran's nuclear program . . . a European missile shield . . . the Vice President's saber-rattling . . . Pete Stark's apology . . . and the Turkish-Kurdish conflict:

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 3:01PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Larry Johnson has more on "Valerie Plame Wilson and the Ultimate Betrayal."

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 2:33PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

You Say Obama, I Say Osama

Mitt Romney is the latest to flub the names of the Democratic senator and the terrorist.

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 2:31PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Fight the Islamofascists with Your Handcam!

On the subject of Islamofascism Awareness Week, if you're a student on a campus where the event is occurring, we definitely want to hear from you. Even if you're an aging grad student or staff or faculty member. Actually, we'd definitely like to hear from you if Horowitz has put your school's name on the list even if nothing's happening. But even more if something really is happening. Take a handcam, shoot some video of the events for us. We're going to try to do a salute to Islamofascism Awareness Week follow-up episode. And your contributions will help us bring IAW the honor and publicity it deserves.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 2:29PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Bogus Intel Used in Fight with Islamofascism

Hmmm. I've never been an advocate of kicking a buffoon when he's down. But it seems our friend David Horowitz may be padding his list of colleges and universities participating in Islamofascism Awareness Week (aka "the biggest conservative campus protest ever"). According to ThinkProgress, Horowitz has already been caught adding names of schools that aren't participating in his mumbojumbo in any way. Indeed, they even got caught listing Liberty University, the school Jerry Falwell founded. But now Liberty has demanded their name be removed.

And think about it, when you can't get Jerry Falwell U. to sign on for Islamofascism Awareness Week things have come to a pretty sorry pass, right?

And now comes this from TPM Reader JL ...

I am the Vice President of the Drexel University College Democrats (www.drexeldems.org ), and I was checking out Horowitz's list of colleges participating in TAW. I was suprised to see my own school, Drexel University ( www.drexel.edu ) on the list, because I'm pretty tuned into political events on campus, and I hadn't heard anything. Long story short, a certain former Drexel College Repubilcan leader contacted Horowitz's group and said Drexel was participating. The problem is, however, there is no college republican group on campus. They are not recognized this year, have not even filed any paperwork to be recognized, and as far as I can tell from speaking to their former leader, no plans to start the chapter again. I can definitavely say that there are no plans for TAW week at Drexel University. I thought it was worth pointing out that one of the "participating" colleges is most decidedly not participating. There are no speakers, movies, or other events planned, and there has been no announcement of TAW either. I suspect that Drexel is not the only ghost participant in that list. Apparently, all it takes to be listed as a participating school is for a single conservative student to email Horowitz and say "I'd like to do that on my campus." No follow-through. Best, John Lloyd VP Drexel Democrats PS- Long time reader first time caller.

So it turns out that the campaign against Islamofascism is plagued by phony data and incompetent management ...

Late Update: If it turns out that these are yet more of the outrageous attacks and lies that Horowitz has had to suffer and endure on behalf of Western Civilization, we'll let you know. David?

Yet Later Update: So far we've heard from students at Tufts and Temple who haven't heard anything about events even those schools are listed.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 2:15PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Hillary Clinton promises a systematic review of the Bush administration's executive power grab if elected--with an eye toward relinquishing some of those powers.

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 2:08PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

From TPM Reader DF:

If Kucinich actually thinks he's seen a UFO, that is, at some level, "fair game", but consider this - on the scale of rating as prima facie disqualification for holding high office, how does belief that one has encountered an alien spacecraft above Shirley MacLaine's house compare to all the stated beliefs of all the GOP candidates (let alone their top advisers - cough, Norman Podhoretz, cough)? And, how much harm might come to us all if that person got into said office and could then act on those beliefs?
And with that consideration in mind, how appropriate is it for TPM to pile on with all the righty smear-merchants, when Kucinich is one of the few candidates out there consistently uttering the truths that TPM "holds dear"?

One particular point I take exception to - David included the part of the Plain Dealer article with this graf:

"I'm in favor of expanding opportunities for people to have a deeper understanding of the universe. . . . I don't think we could ever discount the possibility of other intelligent life in the universe," he said.

That's a totally non-controversial statement. There are 100,000,000,000 galaxies in the universe, of which ours is but one; ours, alone, holds 100,000,000,000 star systems, probably averaging more than one planet each; many serious astronomers not only don't "discount" the possibility of other intelligent life, many millions of dollars are being spent searching for radio signals from possible civilizations in other star systems.

So, please, don't participate in a slime that's partly based on Kucinich agreeing with significant numbers of very reality-based scientists.

Getting back to the nub of it - by peddling this unconfirmed (if undenied) report, you are doing us all a grave disservice by reinforcing the meme that Kucinich is a far-out wacko (DFH, even?) and helping to spread the notion that he shouldn't be listened to, when you could, instead, be talking about the substance of his policy ideas and helping to foster the national debate we need regarding where we want to go as a country, and how to get from here to there.

You folks do so much good work - please don't descend to the level of the sloppy, lazy reporting of the conventional media, the countering of which I thought was one of the main motivations for forming TPM in the first place.

I would draw a distinction between assuming there is other life in the universe and thinking it is sending you messages.

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 2:05PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Dennis Kucinich's congressional office not denying his UFO claim, as related by Shirley MacLaine.

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 11:53AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Rep. Stark (D) apologizes.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 11:29AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

TPMtv: Happy Islamo-fascism Awareness Week!

Did you know it's Islamo-fascism Awareness Week? Founder David Horowitz promises "the nation will be rocked by the biggest conservative campus protest ever." You may think it's a clownish buzzword designed to prop up President Bush's War on Terror. But Horowitz is raising an army of courageous college students on campuses around the country to fight the forces of the terrorist-loving establishment and prove you wrong. See all the gory details in today's episode of TPMtv ...

Embed code:

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Late Update: In today's episode we ask you to email us and let us know how you're going to celebrate and/or raise awareness for Islamofascism Awareness Week. We'll pub the good ones ...

From TPM Reader JN ...

To commemorate Islamo-Fascist Awareness Week, I intend to hide in a closet with an old Lee Geenwood 8-track tape as a symbol of feeling free. Being free is dangerous. Feeling free is the best we can hope for now.

From TPM Reader JS:

To commemorate Islamo-Fascist Awareness Week I will be hosting a marathon movie party featuring such greats as Red Dawn, The Day After, Top Gun, First Blood, Rambo, The Manchurian Candidate, North by Northwest, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Day the Earth Stood Still and any other wildly paranoiac Cold War flick to remind myself how good it was to be in an age where two Super Powers constantly reminded each other and their citizenry that mutually assured destruction or internal political subversion or spies and saboteurs or suitcase bombs, etc. was just around the corner. Surely we can all find some solace in a little Cold War nostalgia, considering how much more "threatening" the new bogeyman is.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 11:15AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

In Defense of the DC Madam

Dana Milbank has some fun with the legal defense being mounted by Montgomery Blair Sibley on behalf of the notorious DC Madam:

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler's courtroom yesterday experienced the kind of harmonic convergence generally reserved for those occasions when the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars.
In a legal pleading that may have set a new standard for inventiveness, the lawyer for the alleged D.C. Madam argued that his client is a victim of -- you guessed it -- the scandal over the firing of U.S. attorneys. The federal charges that Deborah Jeane Palfrey ran a prostitution racket, her lawyer said, were cooked up to fit the "political purposes" of former attorney general Alberto Gonzales and his now-former aides Monica Goodling, Kyle Sampson and the like.

Just what these "purposes" would be was unclear, for the case has ensnared from political Washington only Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana and then-Deputy Secretary of State Randall Tobias. But this bit of logic did not trouble the madam's lawyer, Montgomery Blair Sibley.

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 11:01AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Close Encounters of the Kucinich Kind

This isn't the first time that Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) has dabbled in, um, the extraterrestrial. Here's an excerpt from a 2003 piece in his hometown Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Kucinich, for instance, appears on the August 2002 cover of Whole Life Times, billed as a "Journal of the Holistic Lifestyle," which is published in Malibu.
In it, he also responds to the question of whether he supports "full disclosure by the government of information on UFOs and other anomalous space sightings?"

"I'm in favor of expanding opportunities for people to have a deeper understanding of the universe. . . . I don't think we could ever discount the possibility of other intelligent life in the universe," he said.

Kucinich's willingness to listen to non-mainstream groups has created some controversy.

For instance, in his original 2001 bill to ban the use of weapons in space, Kucinich listed a series of weapons that should be outlawed.

The list went beyond the interceptor missiles and subatomic particle beams often associated with government's "Star Wars" programs.

His bill banned "other energies" directed at individuals or targeted groups for the purpose of "mood management or mind control." It also banned "chemtrails."

The term chemtrails is part of a conspiracy theory that has been at the center of lively Internet chat room debates and radio talk shows.

Its supporters believe the white streaks jets leave in the sky - known as contrails, which are formed by condensed water vapors - are actually toxic substances the government is spraying on people.

After being questioned about the bill last year, Kucinich rewrote it, removing the controversial language.

"I'm not into that," he insisted. "Understand me. When I found out that was in there, I said, 'Look, I'm not interested in going there.' "

--David Kurtz

10.23.07 -- 10:30AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Donor Outreach?

Shirley MacLaine says Dennis Kucinich received messages from a UFO when visiting her in Washington state. And his campaign's not denying it.

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 10:07AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Davis Packing It In

Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) is apparently pulling out of the Virginia senate contest. That leaves embarrassingly failed presidential candidate and former Gov. Jim Gilmore as the probable Republican challenger. And unless I'm missing something that comes close to guaranteeing Sen. Warner (D).

--Josh Marshall

10.23.07 -- 9:50AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Today's Must Read

State Department contracting is massively screwed up.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 10:26PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

New JCS Chair: Cheney's Whacked

The new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, seems to agree, albeit it politely, with the most of the civilized world that Dick Cheney and his crew are nuts.

From the Times ...

He rejected the counsel of those who might urge immediate attacks inside Iran to destroy nuclear installations or to stop the flow of explosives that end up as powerful roadside bombs in Iraq or Afghanistan, killing American troops.
With America at war in two Muslim countries, he said, attacking a third Islamic nation in the region “has extraordinary challenges and risks associated with it.” The military option, he said, should be a last resort.

...

He pushed back against those who are calling for military action against Iran’s nuclear program, saying that diplomatic and economic pressure must take precedence.

The threat to American and allied troops from high-powered explosives from Iran, he said, should be countered by halting their flow into Iraq or Afghanistan across the borders, and with attacks on those bomb-making and bomb-planting cells inside Iraq or Afghanistan.

“That said, that doesn’t get at the source of it,” he acknowledged. Asked whether the American military should aim at sites inside Iran if intelligence indicated that such interdiction could halt the flow of those bombs, he said “the risks could be very, very high.”

“We’re in a conflict in two countries out there right now,” he added. “We have to be incredibly thoughtful about the potential of in fact getting into a conflict with a third country in that part of the world.”

--Josh Marshall

10.22.07 -- 10:07PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

A much more canny take on what Putin was doing in Iran, not surprisingly from the Israeli press (Ha'aretz), which paradoxically is much less whacked on this issue than the American.

--Josh Marshall

10.22.07 -- 9:46PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Heads Up

For those of you interested in all that intel and rule of law stuff, Charlie Rose has CIA Chief Michael Hayden on his show tonight. Here's an advance transcript.

--Josh Marshall

10.22.07 -- 8:06PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Islamofascism

Did you know it was Islamofascism Awareness Week? And have you thought about what you're going to do to raise awareness about this concept the loss of which would be such a devastating blow to the vanity and intellectual pretensions of countless right-wing bloggers and editorialists throughout the English-speaking world?

Yes, it's Islamofascism Awareness Week, Oct. 22nd - 26th. So I'm afraid National Breast Cancer Awareness Month will have to step aside for a week. And, yes, perhaps needless to say this is yet another confection of David Horowitz.

In case you're not familiar with Horowitz, he's probably most charitably described as a rather entrepreneurial self-promotion artist, though perhaps more accurately as one of the great buffoons of the modern American soapbox. I should probably say, as a matter of disclosure, that I've had a couple run-ins with Horowitz, one in person. And he's probably one of only two people I met in Washington, or really in any of my dealings with people through TPM or any other professional writing I've done, who was just as nasty and whacked in person as anything you see on TV. It's no act.

Horowitz's basic MO is finding the silliest opponents he can find, goading them into a shouting match and then working himself into a frenzy about how the "left" is out to get him and then taking the moment of attention to shake the trees for some more right-wing money for his next show. Money, that is, for his Center, the Center for the Study of Popular Culture, which I only found out today he has recently had renamed in honor of himself.

In any case, the promotional material for Islamofascism Awareness Week promises that the "nation will be rocked by the biggest conservative campus protest." And if you're on campus and want to get involved, definitely check out the Students Guide to Hosting Islamo-fascism Awareness Week.

Actually, in all seriousness, I strongly recommend that you take a few moments and check out one or more of the "feature presentations" listed on this page of Horowitz's "terrorism awareness project" website. Not because you'll be outraged or offended but because they are so clownish and ridiculousness that you may actually find them entertaining. I did. Take a look and tell me what you think. And do your part for Islamofascism Awareness Week!

--Josh Marshall

10.22.07 -- 7:43PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Mostest

I've sort of gotten tired of explaining that, no, the Founding Fathers actually weren't all born-agains and bible thumpers. Not hardly. (Probably better to say that the great majority ranged from believers in an entirely impersonal God -- Deists -- to believing Christians who nonetheless viewed popular religious enthusiasm with a polite and paternal disdain.) But presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governoer Mike Huckabee, himself a Baptist minister, actually told a crowd yesterday that "most" of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were "clergymen."

As these folks at Politifact.com point out, one out of 56 were clergymen.

It's a creative definition of 'most'.

--Josh Marshall

10.22.07 -- 6:49PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Huh. Turns out that the SBA is shooting down Blackwater's explanation for the tax issue being scrutinized by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA).

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 6:46PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Obama campaign refuses to disavow association with an antigay crusader who has railed against "the curse of homosexuality."

Late Update: Obama has now issued a statement strongly denouncing his views. -- gs

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 5:47PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Is Rockefeller Now the One Stalling?

The other day I reviewed at length Sen. Jay Rockefeller's capitulation on telecom immunity and suggested that this was one of several instances where Rockefeller had been steamrolled by his GOP foes. The most notable of those other instances was when, as the then ranking member, he failed to push for and get completion of the so-called Phase II investigation into intelligence during the buildup to the Iraq War. Time and again, then-Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) stalled and delayed the report. By the time Rockefeller took over as committee chair in January, Phase II still had not been completed. Ten months later it still isn't, and as CQ's Tim Starks reports, it's the Republicans who are now complaining.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 5:00PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Pretty Please?

Close viewers of last Friday's White House press briefing caught it, and so did the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

In explaining why the White House gave the Senate intelligence committee long-sought documents on warrantless wiretapping but not the Judiciary Committee, which subpoenaed them months ago, spokesperson Dana Perino seemed to make the document production contingent on support for telecom immunity.

Sens. Leahy and Specter--still waiting on those documents--were none too pleased to hear of that condition and have fired off a letter complaining to White House counsel Fred Fielding.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 4:50PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

House Committee Wants to Know Where Bodies Are Buried

Former Attorney General Dick Thornburgh testifies tomorrow on the curious case of forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 4:37PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

TPM Readers On the Loose

TPMmuckraker Reader CK sent in this improvised photo from a construction site in DC:

Lurita Doan is the GSA chief whose memory of briefings Karl Rove's White House political shop have been hazy. Very, very hazy.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 4:10PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

TPMCafe's Table for One: Bob Drogin

Los Angeles Times reporter Bob Drogin joins us this week at TPMCafe's Table for One to blog about his new book, Curveball: Spies, Lies, and the Con Man who Caused a War.

Curveball is, of course, the now-notorious Iraqi defector whose tales of WMD formed part of the basis for the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Or as Drogin writes in his first post:

He was a nobody, a schlub, a former taxi driver who told a few lies to get a visa - and instead wound up as the crucial center of the Bush administration's case for war. His is a classic story of a simple man who gets caught up in events outside his control, and winds up having an extraordinary impact on history.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 3:54PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Waxman the Tax Man

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) finds fault with Blackwater's tax treatment of its independent contractors. Waxman says they're really employees. It's a multimillion dollar distinction.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 3:45PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

GOP Family Values

If you haven't had your share of schadenfreude today, then you haven't yet read the voyeuristic piece on Richard Mellon Scaife's very public divorce in the Washington Post's Style section.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 3:39PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Unlike Larry Craig, the scandal-plagued Ted Stevens gets the warm and friendly treatment from his Senate GOP colleagues.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 3:31PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Small, Small World

The man responsible for keeping the Bernie Kerik criminal case away from Rudy Giuliani is none other than the son of AG-nominee Michael Mukasey.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 1:05PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Oh, That Tim Griffin

If you get a chance definitely take a look at Jim Rutenberg's piece on Drudge in the Times today, particularly on the Drudge-Hillary alliance of convenience.

But did anyone else notice this passage ...

Senior aides in the Bush war room, run by Steve Schmidt, a veteran Republican communications aide, insisted on vetting any information to be fed to Mr. Drudge so as not to annoy and overwhelm him with items he might find unworthy. And, these officials said, when the approval was given, the main point of contact was usually the Bush aide who was closest to Mr. Drudge, J. Timothy Griffin, now a consultant to the campaign of Fred D. Thompson, the former Republican senator from Tennessee.

Rutenberg doesn't mention it (and I suspect didn't make the connection). But that's none other than our pal, Tim Griffin, the guy at the center of the US Attorney scandal, the Rove aide who got a Patriot Act appointment to be the US Attorney in the Eastern District of Arkansas. Guess we were on firm ground saying he had a pretty strong partisan profile.

--Josh Marshall

10.22.07 -- 11:25AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Hostages

We note over at Election Central that Ron Paul got booed in last night's debate for calling for a pull-out from Iraq, something that had not happened in previous Republican debates, notwithstanding the relative unpopularity of his views among the Republican faithful.

Far more interesting, but pointing to the same reality is this article in this morning's LA Times. Democrats have gotten tons of criticism, at least some of it deserved, for not making more progress in forcing a legislative end or deescalation of the war. But the underlying reality is a fairly simple one: virtually no Republican legislators will buckle under and support their efforts. And this article explains why. Several of those GOP stragglers have already drawn serious and well-funded primary challengers. And others will likely get them in the coming months.

This highlights a key point: in a highly polarized electorate, the issue isn't really aggregate public opinion. It's the percentage of the 51% of the folks who get you elected. If 50% of them (25% of the electorate) say they want you out, you're toast. And that would appear to be what a lot of these folks are facing.

It reminds me a lot of the situation during the impeachment crisis in '98-99. I was reporting on it at the time for the American Prospect and Salon.com. So I watched the dynamic pretty close up. And it was very, very similar -- even, perhaps, especially in the ways the numbers lined up. I went into the story with visions of Tom Delay as The Hammer, crucifying Republican moderates to push them to vote for the impeachment most of them obviously didn't have much stomach for. But the truth of it was a little different. He didn't need to break a lot of arms. It was actually a pretty calm and straightforward presentation -- focused largely on polls. Sure, most of the country was against impeachment. But for the core of people who got these reps and senators elected every two or six years, it was an absolute live or die issue. Go against them on this issue and the breach with a lot of these voters would never be repaired.

The flip side of the argument was that by November 2000 most people who opposed impeachment would have moved on to other issues. And the folks for whom it was a live or die issue on the other side were never going to vote for these Republicans anyway.

It was a convincing argument for virtually any Republican in Congress. And in terms of the predicted fade of interest in impeachment among middle of the road voters, it was on the mark.

The difference here, of course, is that I very much doubt Iraq is going to be a fading issue by November 2008. And even among independents, support for the war barely gets out of the teens. So a lot of these folks are looking at pretty bleak encounters with the electorate in a little over twelve months.

--Josh Marshall

10.22.07 -- 11:20AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Mike Huckabee wins coveted Chuck Norris endorsement.

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 11:04AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

In case you missed it over the weekend, Larry Johnson on how "Valerie Plame Wilson Speaks Muzzled."

--David Kurtz

10.22.07 -- 10:18AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Surge

Bush recovers, rises to 25% approval rating.

--Josh Marshall

10.22.07 -- 9:34AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

The GOP vs. Hillary Clinton

The Republican presidential candidates debated in Orlando, Florida Sunday night. While the debate purported to feature only the GOP field, it was a Democrat's name that was on everyone's lips throughout the night... someone by the name of Hillary... Hillary something. We tally up the numbers in today's Sunday Roundup Debate Edition of TPMtv ...

Embed code:

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Late Update: More on the debate in our Election Central roundup.

--Ben Craw

10.22.07 -- 9:15AM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Today's Must Read

How did Blackwater wind up guarding State Department personnel in Iraq in the first place? More importantly, how did it evolve into a co-dependent relationship?

--David Kurtz

10.21.07 -- 11:32PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Rudy ready to support federal 'marriage' amendment.

--Josh Marshall

10.21.07 -- 10:53PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Seems Like Old Times

Ready for war with Iran? Get ready. Looks like Cheney may be back in the driver's seat.

--Josh Marshall

10.21.07 -- 10:40PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

Statewater

The Post has a nicely detailed piece in Monday's paper on the relationship between the State Department and Blackwater. The main investigative questions still need to be gotten into. But is a good overview. How did State get into this tight relationship with Blackwater? The narrow and immediate answer is that they inherited the relationship from the Pentagon when the CPA went out of business. But there's turf battles between State and DOD, the State Department's own lack of capacity to protect so many of its people in such a hostile environment. The piece is, in some respects, State's response to all the bad publicity and criticism. But if you're interested in this issue definitely give it a read.

--Josh Marshall

10.21.07 -- 3:22PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

The Price of Loyalty

Fired US Atty McKay: Gonzales may face prosecution.

--Josh Marshall

10.21.07 -- 1:06PM // link | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)

The Latest Line

I suspect we'll be hearing more of this.

According to once-prominent religious right figure Cal Thomas, we were on the brink of victory in Iraq, until House Democrats ruined it by pushing that Armenian genocide amendment through committee. Says Cal, "Are Democrats so cynical that they would stir an already boiling pot in hopes that it would negate whatever success America may finally be having in quelling terrorist acts in Iraq? One would hope that is not the case, but given their leadership's rhetoric about the war already being lost and their refusal to acknowledge even the slightest progress in Iraq as positive lest it reflect well on the Bush administration, cynicism about their cynical actions might be justified."

--Josh Marshall

Dangerous All By Himself

Crystal Ball in Secessionville

In the Wilderness

Push Send

Wilkes Takes Stand In Own Defense

Double Standard?

Alert!

Slouching Toward a Vote

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

I'm Important!

Rudy!

A Well-Paid Potted Plant

The GOP's Abortion Divide

Get the Popcorn Ready

Thompson Disagrees with Cheney on Executive Power

FEMA At It Again

Today's Must Read Watch

Dingbat Clampdown

Power Trumps All

Flip-flopping to the Nomination

Sweets and Candies

Reason Certain to Prevail

Credibility

What's Up in Syria

Work in the TPM News Room!

Can It Really Be?

Twisted Coda

More Rudy Reading Pt. 2

Mission Impossible?

More Rudy Reading

Syrian Subterfuge?

OK, But Just a Peek

More on the Rudy Question

Love Me!!!

Little Threat

Rudy?

Waxman v. Rice

TPMtv: Campaign 2008 Roundup #3

Today's Must Read

The Waxman Cometh

It Could Happen Here

The Younger Set

No, I Can't Help It

About Time

Most Annoying Thing on the Planet

Rep. Noxious Weed

HRC Hits Obama Campaign

Perino on the "Code Pink Congress"

In Need of Protection

Who Will Be Their Moses?

Question

Work and Learn at TPM? Be a TPM Intern!

Life's a Beach

Don't Tase Me, Bro!

Global Warming Can Be Fun!

Getting to the Bottom of What Happened at DOJ

War on Science

Nisour Square Fallout

Obama Stakes Out Position on Telecom Immunity

What's in a Name?

Buckle Your Seatbelts

Not Brownie Again?

TPMtv: DKos Interview, Part II

Today's Must Read

Reports from the Field

Obama and Hillary on the Dodd Bandwagon

Catching up with IAW

This Should Be Fun

Wicked Pitch

Islamofascismentum!!

Must See TV

You Say Obama, I Say Osama

Fight the Islamofascists with Your Handcam!

Bogus Intel Used in Fight with Islamofascism

TPMtv: Happy Islamo-fascism Awareness Week!

In Defense of the DC Madam

Close Encounters of the Kucinich Kind

Donor Outreach?

Davis Packing It In

Today's Must Read