Developing Story! Bush Said Ready To Dump Wolfowitz and Name Blair New World Bank Chief

Sources Say Bush Not Ready To Abandon Rewarding Iraq War Supporters; Cheney Furious, Was Lobbying For Libby Posting

In what would be a stunning move, and very much out-of-character, sources are telling The Garlic that President Bush is getting ready to jettison the beleaguered former staffer, and World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz and name as his replacement the outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Plans moved swiftly once Mr. Blair announced yesterday his resignation as Prime Minister and the quick exit date of June 27th.

The White House, desperate to get the Iraq War Funding bill, the growing U.S. Attorney Scandal, with news surfacing that the administration has withheld emails that show Karl Rove's involvement,, as well as the rerun of testimony by his Attorney General, off the headlines.

And, to end the waiting game and resolve the lagging World Bank Scandal, that has the former Assistant Secretary of Defense, Wolfowitz, being found to have violated rules and ethics in giving his girlfriend, Shaha Riza, a cushy job and outstanding pay raise.

Wolfowitz, one of the architects of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, has faced a mountain of pressure to resign, yet The Uniter/The Decider/The Commander Guy has, up until now, staunchly defended Wolfowitz, giving no indication that he would be fired or asked to leave the post.

Wolfowitz is said to be stunned, notified earlier evening of the move, having expected the continued full backing from White House.

Speaking on deep background, a White House staffer, who was in the meeting on naming Blair to the World Bank, indicated that "All he {Wolfowitz] had to do is look at Scooter Libby ... These guys expect, when it is in their interests, for you to fall on the sword."

This wouldn't be the first time that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair held private, secret conversations.

Bush and Blair discussed the invasion of Iraq, and selling the war, before the launch, with Blair promising support "with or without U.N. backing".

With former CIA Director George Tenet out on the circuit, promoting his new book, the White House was uncomfortable offering the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the British Prime Minister, after the backlash of negative press in awarding it to Tenet.

And President Bush is said to be adamant of not wavering of his policy, of rewarding backers of his plans to take over Iraq with awards and/or elevated positions in, or out, of government.

"He can," offered the White House staffer, in naming Blair to replace Wolfowitz, "keep the continuity of having a pro-Iraq agenda inside the World Bank"

Vice President Dick Cheney is said to be furious, as he has been, behind the scenes, lobbying the President to name his now-convicted former Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby to the post. Some say this was Cheney, playing both sides, and ready to trade the President on withdrawing Libby's name in exchange for a Presidential Pardon.

"It's not exactly Tinker, To Evers, To Chance," offered Holly Martins, Publisher of Axis of Evil Illustrated, a quarterly publication, that is rumored to be a house magazine for the Project for The New American Century, "but Bush, To Wolfowitz, to Blair is, pretty much, the political equivalent. They all can play the game superbly."

"Only," added Martins, "there's, likely, double-crosses in play here, not double-plays."

Bonus Links

Tony Blair's Legacy: George Bush's Iraq Trump Card

From Savior To Bush's Prison Bitch: The Downfall Of Tony Blair

Blair and Cheney Sing A Duet: 'Blair, It's Not So Bad Out There'

Dept. of Sweetheart Deals: Does He Hear the World's Poor? Don't Bank on It.


Soon-To-Be Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be playing a different tune, with President Bush getting ready to name him to replace Paul Wolfowitz as head of the World Bank

New Barry Crimmins Essay - We Are Here

Another great, "must read" essay from Barry Crimmins, offering that there's a great deal of work to be done before we elect the next president.

"Gandhi said, “Fill the jails,” which was a brilliant strategy, meant to ball up the works of oppressive regimes. Now an oppressive regime has adopted the ‘ball up the works’ tactic with scandal overload, while perversely filling the jails with people other than themselves. Some of the jails are hidden beyond our borders and many of the prisoners are unidentified. But that’s getting too scandal-specific and I’m after the big picture here. Or big mug shot, anyway. "

"The ‘fill the jails strategy’ was tipped early with his choice of Dick Cheney as his vice-president. Right away watchdogs had two slimy trails to follow. In short order they led through a labyrinth of smoke and mirrors meant to obfuscate the most massive criminal enterprise ever to lay its hands on the government of these United States. "

Read We Are Here by Barry Crimmins








Barry Crimmins was the founder, and tirelessly producer, of The Ding Ho, legendary comedy club in Inman Square, Cambridge, MA, which launched Barry nationally, along with Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Bobcat Goldthwait, and many, many others. Barry also launched Boston's other fabled comedy club, Stitches, across the Charles River near Boston University.

Barry also been a featured commentator on CNN, NBC, MSNBC and The Phil Donohue Show and also appears in Fran Solimita's 'When Stand Up Stood Out', the critically acclaimed documentary about the Boston Comedy scene.

Barry received the Peace Leadership Award from Boston Mobilization for Survival. He has also been honored, along with Ms. Maya Angelou, with The Courage of Conscience Award from Wellesley College and The Life Experience School at The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Community Works gave the Artist for Social Change Award to Barry for his years of activism.

Barry is also a former writer for Air America Radio, writing and making commentary for the Randi Rhodes Show, including live reporting from Camp Casey.

In 2004, Seven Stores Press published Barry's first book, "Never Shake Hands With A War Criminal" and Barry's writing appears frequently in 'The Boston Phoenix' and the 'Cleveland Plain-Dealer'

Visit the Barry Crimmins website

Barry Crimmins news on The Garlic

Keith Olberman Follow-Up: AAN Presents First Annual Molly Ivins Award to Keith Olbermann

The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN) announced today that MSNBC news anchor Keith Olbermann is the winner of its first annual Molly Ivins Award.

My, My, My ...

Who is Rudy Guiliani going to complain to now?

"Describing her own style of writing, Molly Ivins once wrote, 'Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful.' That's the sort of journalism we recognize today, that which holds those in power accountable in the court of public opinion," said AAN President and Memphis Flyer publisher Kenneth Neill. "Keith Olbermann speaks truth to power with wit and style, just as Molly did."

Links

AAN Presents First Annual Molly Ivins Award to Keith Olbermann

Molly Ivins

Molly Ivins Tribute

Countdown with Keith Olbermann

MSNBC Anchor, “Countdown with Keith Olbermann”

Minced Garlic - New Keith Olbermann Special Comment Slams Giuliani: "Republicans equal life; Democrats equal death?"

A Thread Of Garlic - Hey AP, Hands Off Olbermann!

As many of our readers know, The Garlic is an unabashed fan of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and the hero-anchor himself. With our Minced Garlic posts, we've highlighted his blistering, but very much needed, Special Comments (while adding in our own two cloves).

And you may be aware of the dust-up that began last week.

First, Olbermann layed into presidential wishful Rudy Guiliani, for his hijacking the Bush Grindhouse rhetoric of "vote Republican and you'll be safe, vote Democrat and you die".

This led Guiliani to complain to MSNBC, as to Olbermann's presence in anchoring on the coverage of the Republican Candidate's Debate and the charge that he is partisan.

This lead AP writer David Bauder to pen an article (MSNBC's Olbermann seeks delicate balance) suggesting that Olbermann is, indeed, not fair, that it is a source of trouble for MSNBC and, the whopper, of comparing placing Olbermann on the debate coverage is akin to the Fox News Network placing Bill O'Reilly similarly.

Olbermann and O'Reilly on the same level?

Okay, I'll wait for you to stop laughing and pick yourself up off the floor.

Riding to the rescue, among others, was Salon's Joan Walsh and Glenn Greenwald (who The Garlic highlighted last Saturday), with two great posts yesterday.

Check it out!

Links

A hit job on Keith Olbermann

Brit Hume is a "journalist"; Keith Olbermann is "partisan"

AP Uncritically Reports Giuliani Campaign’s Efforts To Marginalize Olbermann

Olbermann Equals O'Reilly. Huh?

The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the Day

Warning - Bypass this post if you don't want to be discouraged.

"Oh, I know that very much," Laura Bush responded. "And believe me, no one suffers more than their president and I do when we watch this, and certainly the commander in chief, who has asked our military to go into harm's way."

Thank God the Queen of England blew into town, heh, Laura?

So much to do, so many distractions.

The guest list, the protocols, the food and, of course, getting The Uniter/The Decider/The Commander Guy into his white tie and tails.

Little chance of even catching a glimpse of a television screen, and getting washed over with all that discouragement.

Now, we know you're busy, but we do have a bone to pick with you.

A little over a week ago, we gave you a task. You were supposed to become the First Chief Decideress Veto Killer. You were supposed to work on that husband of yours, and not let go until he agreed to sign the Iraq War Spending Bill, so we - that is the American people - could start to see our brave soldiers begin making their way home.

Doesn't look like you made much of an effort there, girl. The Uniter/The Decider/The Commander Guy had his Mission Accomplished II, and signed, with gusto, the veto.

Look, you're part of the team there in the Grindhouse. And you're educated, a former liberian, been around a block, or two in the world of politics. Surely, you must be able to see that the ship is sinking. Even The Uniter/The Decider/The Commander Guy's wing men, the Republican Caucus, is beginning to look for the life rafts. Their not going to get their feet wet.

And you have the former CIA Director out there, running around the country, popping up on television (I know, that probably discourages you as well), selling his book, and making his money, politely slamming the The Uniter/The Decider/The Commander Guy.

And the polls, Laura.

28%

He's down there with Carter, at his worst moments, and, likely, he'll be chasing Hoover next.

Think about that Laura. You don't want to exit the Grindhouse in January 2009, with Herbert Hoover rated as a better President that your The Uniter/The Decider/The Commander Guy, do you?

There's still time to salvage this.

Perhaps, you can pull (well, you're not supposed to touch the Queen, so take that figuratively) the Queen aside and lay out the
First Chief Decideress Veto Killer plan with her. She's been through a few of these things during her reign, so, likely, she can offer a tip or two to help you out.

And you should have the Professor back pretty soon.

Wolfie will likely have some time on his hands and he might, just might, be looking to do something good of a change.

Hang in there Laura, a bright, beaming, discouragement-free television screen is just around the corner.

Todays Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the-Day

8 U.S. Troops Killed In Iraq Bomb Attacks

Links

Laura Bush: Much Of Iraq Is ‘Stable,’ There’s Just ‘One Bombing A Day That Discourages Everybody’

Brookings Institute Iraq Index

CNN Larry King - Interview With Laura Bush/"The Lost Tomb of Jesus"

Laura Bush: My husband never misled about Iraq

Petraeus Ex Machina

New Feature - The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the-Day

Tuesday, March 06, 2007 The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the Day

Friday, March 09, 2007 The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the Day

Friday, March 16, 2007 The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the Day

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the Day

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the Day

Saturday, April 07, 2007 The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the Day

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the Day

Thursday, April 26, 2007 The Laura Bush Bummer Bombing-of-the Day

Top Ten Cloves: Potential Problems At White House Dinner Tonight For Queen Elizabeth II

News Item: Queen Elizabeth II Visits White House

10. President brings in Rich Little, unannounced, who does ten-minutes of bad Queen of England jokes and imitations

9. Queen badgers President all evening, to pardon Paris Hilton

8. Too many of the guests are on their Blackberrys, placing their bets on when Wolfowitz resigns

7. Queen in a foul mood, still miffed at getting blown off by Helen Mirren

6. Stephen Hadley goes around all night badgering the Queen, asking if she has anyone she can recommend for War Czar job

5. Prince Philip still hung over from Kentucky Derby parties

4. Queen insist on no photos of her and the President together; Doesn't normally have dinner with world leaders who are below 30% in public approval polls

3. Lynne Cheney gives the Queen some advice, in case he interviews her, on how to deal with CNN's Wolf Blitzer

2. Receiving line gets bogged down; Queen very nervous when approaching the President, not knowing how to address him- As Uniter, The Decider, or The Commander Guy

1. Queen shows up, toting an autographed copy of George Tenet's book


Wonder if the Queen is getting in on the action and placing a bet on when Paul Wolfowitz will resign?

Hey, No Whining There Tenet, It Was Your Job, You Silly Twit ... The Results - The Garlic Weekly Poll

Whatever you do, George, don't - repeat - don't pose for Vanity Fair, with your wife, sitting in a convertible Jaguar.

Trust me, as the overwhelming voters of the Garlic Poll did this past week, if your wife happened to be a covert CIA agent, the Bush Grindhouse would have had billboards up by now, and flooded the Sunday morning news shows, and cable programs, with everybody - including Barney - to announce it.

You got'em pissed off there, Georgie Boy, not to mention a whole lot of other people.

You kept your mouth shut when you could have saved lives, but are now blabbering away, pitching the book, in sound bites weighed down by sacks of money.

And you even got the Medal of Freedom, for Christ's sake!

Poor Georgie.

You had tough, gut-wrenching decisions to make ...People don't understand ... Everything was super-duper urgent.

Well, it was your fucking job, you silly twit!

The Director of the CIA doesn't just sit and push pencils around. If you wanted a cushy, easy gig, you should have transferred over to FEMA, or aced out Wolfie for the World Bank job.

And you might as well get used to the "Slam Dunk" thing. That's on you with a big, neon arrow hanging over your head, pointing down at you, wherever you go, whatever you do.

The goat horns are all yours, Georgie, even if they fill War Czar post, which has "Scapegoat, Apply Here" written all over it.

Then, in all likelihood, after a few years, we'll have to deal with that War Czar's book, whining about how tough it was, all the gut-wrenching decisions, et al.

And, for certain, that person's book will drag you back into it, the whole "Slam Dunk" thing, and how you could have saved lives if you had spoken out, and not waited, holding it in, marking "X's" on a calendar until you could hit the big payday.

And don't even think about whining how tough it is to count all that money.

The Results - The Garlic's Weekly Poll April 30 - May 5, 2007

With all their dirty work and scandals bubbling to the surface, the Bush Administration surely must be wishing that former CIA Director George Tenent ...

1. Had a covert, CIA agent wife they could out Tally 49%

2. Took the World Bank job instead of Paul Wolfowitz Tally 20%

3. Worked for the Vice President; Cheney could have let him be convicted instead of Scooter Libby Tally 17%

4. Wrote a book about the Medal of Freedom Tally 14%

This week’s Poll - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's rather sudden flurry of diplomacy could signal ...

Scroll up to the top right corner to place your vote