Suspicious Mind

Bet On Blackmail.

It seems; oh, so deliciously ironic, that one of the top Democrats, part of the Blank Check Club, one who waved her pom-poms so high, with so much vigor and energy, for The Bush Grindhouse, and their illegal wiretapping, finds herself, today, in the middle of a soon-to-grow-bigger scandal, starring herself, and, on - c'mon, everybody at the same time - a wiretap!

We, of course, refer to California Congresswoman Jane Harman.

CQ Politics broke the story this morning, and it's been a feeding frenzy all day.

The Readers Digest version is Harman was working (or, let's say, "communicating") with AIPAC (The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee), or, somebody working as an "agent" with AIPAC, with lots of "winks and nods", about her helping AIPAC get a court case squashed, and this AIPAC contact would help Little Miss Pom-Pom Jane get the coveted chairmanship of the Intelligence Committee.

But wait, it's all on a legal wiretap (something, apparently like a magnet, regarding AIPAC), and the first Crony General got wind of it, and decided to make it all go away, as long as Little Miss Pom-Pom Jane put on her little cheerleading outfit, which she did, and coo for the Crony General, and Bush Grindhouse, even though she tried to duck out of it, saying, heard on the wiretap, "this conversation doesn't exist".

Oh, yes, it does, there, Little Miss Pom-Pom.

Let's just say this is stinkier that the stinkiest French cheese, on multiple levels.

But it would seem, layered in there, between the stinkiest parts (or, perhaps, the stinkiest part), is that the Crony General (and Bush Grindhouse) may have engaged in blackmail, purposefully, and intentionally, backing off prosecution (or, at minimum, investigation), in exchange for all that pom-pom waving.

The Anonymous Liberal has this angle;

Now, again, Stein likely does not have any evidence of such a communication, which is why he is very careful not to suggest that Harman was blackmailed by the administration. But given the overall facts of the story, it's really not that much of a stretch. There is enough smoke here to warrant official investigation. Eric Holder really should appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the circumstances of the decision not to proceed with charges against Harman. If that decision was driven by purely political considerations (which Stein's multiple sources clearly allege) that alone is worthy of investigation. But if the threat of prosecution was secretly wielded in order to influence the actions of a member of Congress, that is a serious crime and as blatant an abuse of power as you will ever see. I hope that's not what happened here, but further investigation is needed.

I mean, can't you just see it?

It is so Rovian, so Chenyesque, to have a Congresswoman pinned against the wall, in their hip pocket, relishing it all the more that she is a Democrat.

Now, we'll just have to see where this fits in with President Obama.

Is this something, looking through the windshield, out in front, on the road, or, does he just "tsk-tsk" it, waving it goodbye in the rear-view mirror, not bothering to talk to his Attorney General, and, you know, maybe, have him investigate it.

Let's hope Holder digs in this, and we don't hear soon that, for some inexplicable reason, the former Crony General gets immunity, or something.

And, all you wannabe Congressmen-types out in California, you've got ready-made campaign slogans, should you think it a good move to run against Harman (like "Did Jane Harman help throw the 2004 election to Bush?")

Hit it, Elvis!

Elvis Presley - Suspicious Mind




Lots Of Links To Wade Through

Josh Marshall: Must Read

Ryan Singel - Harman: It's Not My Fault I Couldn't Figure Out Domestic Wiretapping Was Illegal

Kim Zetter: DoJ Nixed Investigation of Congresswoman to Get Support for NSA Wiretapping

Greg Sargent: New York Times Exec Editor Denies Harman Helped Persuade Him To Hold Wiretapping Story

Emptywheel: Jane Harman: Stupid and Reckless, Not the Victim of Illegal Wiretaps

DougJ: The wages of wiretapping Jane’s sedition?

Libby Spencer: Harmon wiretap: explosive story or clever distraction?

Glenn Greenwald: Major scandal erupts involving Rep. Jane Harman, Alberto Gonzales and AIPAC

Que Sera Sera

Back on the DL today, folks ... Dealing with the latest snowfall has, yet again, issued a setback to the hip injury, sustained about four snowfalls ago ... So, along with enduring pain, the energy level is zapped as well ...

Then again, not sure what we could have come up with today ...

Let's see ...

The Republicans aren't being obstructionists, they're just looking out for the country ...

And where o' where is our President Obama, of where o' where can he be?

Keyser Soze (aka, former VP Cheney) is baiting and goading the terrorists of the world, all but asking them to come and attack us again, so we will all say he was right to shit on the Constitution, illegal spy on us, and torture anyone who doesn't look like "us".

David Noon, over on Lawyers, Guns and Money, is on-the-money, with his "Dick Cheney is Insane";

In a truly just world, Dick Cheney would be stuffing envelopes at home for a living, or perhaps sorting plastic at a recycling center somewhere. And yet here he is, "in a non-descript suburban office building in McLean, Va., in a suite that could just as easily house a dental clinic," making his O Face for Politico. It nearly goes without saying that Dick Cheney proved to be one of the nation's greatest natural catastrophes -- a Dust Bowl in human form, the Spanish Flu incarnate -- and as such, he merits our enduring scrutiny. Still, it bears remembering that much of what he has to say from now on will be completely insane ..."

We also saw another example of why it is urgent, desperately urgent, that someone give Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia a couple-of-bucks, so he can go out and buy a personality ...



CNBC's Mark Haines, the jolly large guy that Morning Joke throws it over to for some pithy comments about how funny the Wall Street Meltdown is, went all Dick Armey on Arianna Huffington.

How appropriate his show is "Squawk Box" for, whenever I see Haines on the tube, I can't help but think of him as the obnoxious fat guy that anchors the end of the neighborhood bar, beer-and-bowl-of-peanuts perpetually in front of him, pontificating and lecturing everyone in the room, on any subject, and always, always being abjectly wrong.

And speaking of insanity, and obnoxiousness, there was "Fredo", peering into the looking glass, saying everything was hunky-dory at his Department of Injustice.

As we have done so often, we sigh, throw up our hands and say ...

Que Sera Sera - Sly & The Family Stone

Oh, Our Hopes Were High ...

Cheney, Gonzales Indicted in Texas

Oh, how our hearts raced last evening, when that headline was espied.

I let out a roaring "Finally!"

Finally someone picked up on The Garlic's offer, and went out and nailed these suckers.

Back on July 4th, 2007, we posted a Garlictorial, calling on a, seemingly, last option, of putting The Commander Guy and Darth Vader under "Citizen's Arrest".

Since Congress wasn't going to do anything about their lawlessness, it was time for a good, ol' average American citizen to pick up the ball and run with it.

And there were (still are), some mighty impressive benefits for corralling this less-than-dynamic duo;

There must be some tiny hamlet, some Main Street USA berg that would be willing to put themselves on the map, become the saviors of our nation. A Sheriff with balls, a U.S. Attorney ready to swing back for justice.

Think Truth or Consequences, New Mexico... You can change your name to Citizen's Arrest and really cash in on it.

Leave history for a moment. For starters, think of the economic boon it would be.

The MSM media camped out for weeks, eating in your diners, sleeping in your motels (if you have a hotel, even better), shopping in your stores. Same for the protesters that will show up.

We're talking millions here.

Anderson Cooper will likely become your best friend ... Morning interviews on the Today Show (and, if the timing is right, perhaps you'll make it into a "Where In The World Is Matt Lauer" segment) ... Diane Sawyer ... Larry King ... Weeks-and-weeks of MSNBC Doc-Blocks ... 24/7 baby, all the way.

Yeah, Bill O'Reilly and Fox Noise might launch a jihad against you, but we can get Keith Olbermann to handle them.

And there's other revenue streams.

Bush and Cheney in orange jumpsuits - Priceless!

But, alas, it probably will not come to be this time around.

It seems that the local D.A. down there in Texas, that brought these charges against the deadly VP, and his sidekick, the former Crony General, doesn't have all his oars in the water, not to mention, in the recent elections, got voted out-of-office.

And, it still needs to be looked into if he is related to that Brewster family, from "Arsenic and Old Lace".

From Steve Benen;

The prosecutor in question is Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra, who's apparently developed a reputation for being something of a ... how do I put this gently ... legal eccentric. A lawyer for Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., who is also charged in the Cheney/Gonzales indictment, called Guerra a "one man circus."

The description seems to fit. David Kurtz noted that Guerra even got himself arrested not too long ago.

As it happens, Guerra sought re-election as a district attorney, but lost (badly) in a Democratic primary back in March. With his term nearly complete, it appears that he's scurrying to get some 11th-hour indictments against his enemies off his to-do list.

Sigh!

That means the sands are running through the hour glass on our call for a Citizen's Arrest, and we won't, most likely, not see a prep walk of Bush and Cheney, in those prison-orange jumpsuits.

Citizen's Arrest USA ... That could be your town ... Booming economy for months-to-come, possible longer ...

Don't let the World Court, in The Hague, grab all the glory ...


Bonus "Almost" Riffs

Emma Perez-Trevino, The Brownsville Herald: Vice President Cheney indicted by Willacy County grand jury

The Raw Story: Cheney, Gonzales indicted

Attytood: UPDATED: DICK CHENEY INDICTED!!!!!!

Bush To Change Legal Landscape - White House Primed To Replace "Miranda" With New, "Cheney Decision"; Says Still Tough On Crime; Won't Be Applicable For Rounded-Up Terror Suspects - "That's What Patriot Act Is For"

White House To Manage Media - New White House Press Strategy On VP Shooting Deemed "Smashing Success"; Expect More Reports From Average Citizens, Local Papers Breaking News; President May Board Up Press Room

Special Sing-Along: Dick, The Magic Vice Prez

Libby Trial Update - The Scooter and Cheney Show Theme Song

Retro Garlic: Is Monica Goodling Just Like Batman?

Maybe it will take another day, or two.

Some Right Wing Freak Show blog, or publication - perhaps the Wall Street Journal, again - will run an essay comparing the newest Brokeback Batman, err, The Dark Knight, to Monica Goodling.

After all, in her Pat-Robertson-educated mind, she was fighting for the American Way.

She could be equally tough and ruthless, coming out with The Commander Guy's "You're either with us, or against us" ethos, asking prospective Justice Department hirees "What Is It About GWB That Makes You Want to Serve Him?"

Oh boy, is that a loaded question ...

(Knowing, during the Bush Regime, the Republicans healthy, lusty carnal appetites, I wonder if anyone answered that question with "the twins")

So, you ask, why is this Lady Injustice back in the news again?

Well, yesterday, The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility released findings on the investigation of how Crony General Alberto Gonzales, and his cronies Monica Goodling and Kyle Sampson, stacked the deck at the Justice Department (turning it into the Injustice Department), by skewing the hiring, dumping qualified candidates because they didn't Goose Step to the Bush Grindhouse, and hiring lame GOP lackeys for career positions.

In sum, we concluded that the evidence showed that Goodling violated both federal law and Department policy, and therefore committed misconduct, when she considered political or ideological affiliations in hiring decisions for candidates for career positions within the Department. In particular, the evidence showed that she considered political or ideological affiliations in deciding several waiver requests from interim U.S. Attorneys, in promoting several candidates for career positions, and in disapproving a candidate for an EOUSA career SES position

Yeah, I know, another "I'm shocked, shocked to find gambling going on here ..."

It may become easier to line up all the people, all of them, who worked in, and for, the Bush Grindhouse the past eight-years, and ask whoever hasn't broken the law, violated the Constitution and otherwise went about their work completely unethically, to take one step forward.

You could probably count them on one hand.

Now, one would think of the terrible scandal, the hours of hearings, followed up by indictments, trials and perp-walks to jail, however, you only need to remember that it is the 110th Congress in session, so, likely, this will slowly fade away, no trials, no jailbirds, just quietly falling off Nancy Pelosi's infamous table.

Anyway, the Retro Part;

Top Ten Cloves: If Monica Goodling's Wedding Plays Out Like Her Last Job


Bonus Lady Injustice Links

Larisa Alexandrovna: Speaking of Monica "The Good American" Goodling... did you know...

John Cole: Crooks

Think Progress: Goodling ‘frowned’ when applicant said he admired Condi Rice: ‘But she’s pro-choice.’

Greg Palast: Palast Exclusive: The Goods on Goodling and the Keys to the Kingdom

The Longer Morning of a McCain Presidency

Prom Dress Boy is at it again.

In a one-paragraph post, he disparages Barack Obama, Deval Patrick and John Edwards, senselessly, without any context.

The Long Night of an Obama Presidency [Jonah Goldberg]

Reading this piece about the Edwards endorsement of Obama, a cold shiver went down my spine. As scary as a Deval Patrick appointment as AG would be (I've long thought he would be Obama's likely choice), the suggestion that John Edwards would be even considered for Attorney General is horrifying. I really can't think of any mainstream political figure more inappropriate for that job than Edwards.

Hey PD Boy, why is it "scary" and why have you "long thought" Deval Patrick would be Obama's choice for Attorney General?

Was it he was a competent Assistant Attorney General during the Clinton Administration?

Or is this just a little Right Wing Freak Show race-baiting?

As to Edwards, a successful trial attorney, I would get more than a cold shiver down my spine if (and that is a monumental "IF") Stumblin' Bumblin' John McCain were to be elected, the nitwit shittrain he would place in that office.

Considering the two Crony Generals of the Bush Grindhouse - the former, Alberto "Huh?" Gonzales and the current, Michael "See No Torture/Hear No Torture" Mukasey - not to mention the overall lawlessness of this current administration, I don't think you RWFSers' should be picking up stones to throw.

Stay in your bubble and stick to trying to cover-up the nightmare of the past 7+-years by calling everyone a fascist.


Prom Dress Boy Riffs

"The morning after always looks grim if you happen to be wearing last night's dress"

Last Nights' Dress Boy Sticks His Neck Out

Sadly No Slaps Down Prom Dress Boy On Bush Legacy

Maybe He Should Try Monster.Com ...

I could while away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head, I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a job.

I'd unravel ev'ry riddle
For any individ'le
In trouble or in pain

With the thoughts you'd be thinkin'
You could be another Lincoln,
If you only had a job.

Oh, I could tell you why
The ocean's near the shore,
I could think of things I never thunk before
And then I'd sit and think some more.

I would not be just a nuffin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry
Life would be a ding-a-derry
If I only had a job--Whoa!

Well, Alberto Gonzales's head may well just be full of straw, being he sure as hell didn't show much, if any, smarts while he was the Crony General.

Let's see ... The Commander Guy (and Cheney) made all his decisions, and Karl Rove, essentially, ran the Injustice Department, so "Fredo" was, basically, an extremely well-paid hat rack.

And, it still causes a shudder to think, at one point in time, he was being touted for the Supreme Court!

What prompts this additional scorn (not that any particular reason is really needed) on the former Crony General?

It is a delicious sentence in the NYT article today ("In Searching for New Job, Gonzales Sees No Takers") on the trials and tribulations of post-Crony General life;

What makes Mr. Gonzales’s case extraordinary is that former attorneys general, the government’s chief lawyer, are typically highly sought.

Man, that's pretty bad.

How many other nitwit henchman have vamoosed the Bush Grindhouse, only to land in fat cat jobs?

I mean, even Fox News hasn't picked him up!

Wow, he really a sorry-ass case.

Cliff Schecter, in his post "Alberto Gonzales can’t get arrested" cites "I guess lying under oath and helping to destroy what was once a thriving democracy just didn’t pay off, huh Gonzo?"

And Jeff Fecke, over on Shakeville, relishes the karma in his "Alberto Gonzales Will Work for Food", but does offer Fredo a good tip on finding work.

More from the NYT article;

Despite those credentials, he left office last August with a frayed reputation over his role in the dismissal of several federal prosecutors and the truthfulness of his testimony about a secret eavesdropping program. He has had no full-time job since his resignation, and his principal income has come from giving a handful of talks at colleges and before private business groups.

The greatest impediment to Mr. Gonzales’s being offered the kind of high-salary job being snagged these days by lesser Justice Department officials, many lawyers agree, is his performance during his last few months in office. In that period, he was openly criticized by lawmakers for being untruthful in his sworn testimony. His conduct is being investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the Justice Department, which could recommend actions from exonerating him to recommending criminal charges. Friends set up a fund to help pay his legal bills.

Yesiree Bob, nothing closes the deal like telling your prospective employer that you may need some time off, because you're likely to be indicted.

Doesn't some conservative, or some Right Wing Freak Show person need a new hat rack?

Bonus Fredo Follies

"He aggressively and successfully pursued public corruption ..."

Top Ten Cloves: How It Would Be Different If Alberto Gonzales Was The Head of March Madness

Alberto Gonzales Sings 'Justice For Sale'

Top Ten Cloves: If Monica Goodling's Wedding Plays Out Like Her Last Job

News Item: Breaking: Monica Goodling Is Engaged!

10. In unusual step, the DOJ is notifying all Government contractors of Goodlings' Wedding Registry

9. Reception will be in a Congressional Hearing Room motif

8. Pat Robertson will offer one of his special blessings for the couple

7. All emails about the wedding will be sent "directly up to Goodling and outside the system"

6. Justice of the Peace who will perform ceremony got licensed from Regent College

5. Goodling not sure if she will say "I Do", or plead the 5th Amendment

4. Goodling had Barbara Comstock do a thorough "opposition research" on her prospective husband

3. Bridesmaids and ushers will be chosen strictly along party affiliation

2. Alberto Gonzales will pull her aside, before the wedding, to talk to her about what to say during the wedding

1. Karl Rove is planning the whole thing!


Bonus Monica/DOJ Riffs

Think Progress: Monica Goodling engaged to conservative blogger

Attaturk/FDL: Just Perfect for Marching to Wagner Together

Dana Milbank: Monica's Own Monica Problem

"He aggressively and successfully pursued public corruption ..."

Alberto Gonzales Sings 'Justice For Sale'


Here's Monica, practicing for her ring fitting

What If Spartacus Ran The Justice Department? ...The Bush administration's dumbest legal arguments of the year

Today's a day where you can expect to be bombarded by "Year-End" lists, and such, growing out of newspapers, magazines and the World Wide Web like The Blob.

However, we have a keeper for you.

Dahlia Lithwick, a Slate senior editor, has compiled a most entertaining accounting of the the Bush Grindhouse's Injustice Department, and the Crony General, with her "Legal Fictions: The Bush administration's dumbest legal arguments of the year."

And, in all likelihood, Ms. Lithwick will have a killer list again next year, being the Crony General has been replaced with the "See-No Evil-Hear-No-Evil-Speak-No-Evil" Mukasey.

Read "The Bush administration's dumbest legal arguments of the year."

Bonus Links

Dahlia Lithwick: The Bill of Wrongs - The 10 most outrageous civil liberties violations of 2006

Top Ten Cloves: How It Would Be Different If Alberto Gonzales Was The Head of March Madness

Alberto Gonzales Sings 'Justice For Sale'


Justice Icon, or just a picture of another Bush Torture practice?

And, In The Double-Take Department ...

Gonzales Named Lawyer Of The Year

Yeah! ... When I stumbled on this a few days ago it was definitely a "WTF!"

A quick thought also flashed, could the Bush Grindhouse have also rigged this vote?

According to the Associated Press;

The monthly magazine gave the awards to lawyers who made the most news, said editor and publisher Edward A. Adams.

"Think about Time magazine's Person of the Year," Adams said in an interview. "In years past they've named people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin. So we're not suggesting by these awards that these are the best lawyers in any sense of the word. We are saying they are the most newsworthy — and perhaps also the best."

Most newsworthy?

What an understatement!

I expect, in years to come, the name "Crony General Alberto Gonzales" will be listed in dictionaries, under the word "corruption" and, perhaps, double-dipping with the word "incompetent".

The kids from 'Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead' could have run a better Justice Department than Fredo.

By all accounts, it would appear Gonzales (well, really Cheney, Addington and Yoo) took and twisted Donald Rumsfield's philosophical gem and applied it to the Crony General's office;

"You don't govern the country with the laws you have ... You govern it with the laws you might want, or make up at a later time ..."

Bonus Fredo

Coleen Rowley: The Law School Commencement Speech that Alberto Gonzales Did Not Give

Eugene Robinson: Gonzales's Signature Moment

Cold Body Assoc. Denounces Gonzales For Finger-Pointing, Break In Tradition; "Blaming McNulty At This Point In Time Is Scurrilous"; CBA Membership Upset, Fears Could Be "Open Season" On Scapegoats

Top Ten Cloves: How It Would Be Different If Alberto Gonzales Was The Head of March Madness

Alberto Gonzales Sings 'Justice For Sale'

The Crony General Slinks Away ... "I have seen tyranny, dishonesty, corruption, and depravity of types I never thought possible"

The question really begs, given his memory issues, is if Crony General Alberto Gonzales remembered where the exit was.

The Crony General served his last day yesterday, leaving with the scales of justice very much not balanced, after his caretaking role as the nations' top law enforcement officer.

And it is just astounding how telling statements hang on this man.

The Garlic pointed out how The Commander Guy noted, shortly after it was announced the Crony General would slink away, that he "He aggressively and successfully pursued public corruption ...".

Yes, he did that quite well, and the Bush Grindhouse is most appreciative for that.

And yesterday, who exactly was the Crony General referring to when he served this one up;

"Over the past two and a half years, I have seen tyranny, dishonesty, corruption, and depravity of types I never thought possible," Gonzales said at a Hispanic Heritage Month ceremony at Bolling Air Force Base. "I've seen things I didn't know man was incapable of ..."

WOW!

If The Decider Guy's book is titled "Dead Certain", the Crony General's should be, using the above statement, "Dead On".

Whatever you do Alberto, be sure not to go fishing with Dick Cheney, or any of his men.

Bonus Crony General Links

Andrew Cohen: Good Riddance

Murray Waas: Aborted DOJ Probe Probably Would Have Targeted Gonzales

Washington Post: Justice Dept. Probing Whether Gonzales Lied

Top Ten Cloves: How It Would Be Different If Alberto Gonzales Was The Head of March Madness

Alberto Gonzales Sings 'Justice For Sale'


Two peas in a very well corrupted - but protected - pod

Retro Garlic ... A Sidewalk Full of Banana Peels

"Yes, we have no terrorist charges ...We have-a no terrorist charges today"

No doubt, they're singing that tune around Chiquita Brands International headquarters today.

Especially loud, after this;

Ex-Chiquita Execs Won't Face Bribe Charges

"The United States gave serious consideration to bringing additional charges in this matter," prosecutors wrote in a memo filed in court yesterday. "In the exercise of prosecutorial discretion, the United States has decided not do so."

Could it be that being a fat cat donor to the Republican Party have anything to do with it? Especially circumspect, considering the politicalization of the Injustice Department, as run by the former Crony General Alberto "Fredo" Gonzales.

What would have been the disposition had the funding by Chiquita gone to, say, al Qaeda? Or Hezzbollah?

Looks like a sidewalk full of banana peels for Congress to wade into this one.

The Retro Part

Developing Story! Chiquita Case Emerges With Ties To Bush, DOJ, CIA; To Bolster Surge, President Weighs Using Banana Company Thugs In Iraq; Goodling Courted By Chiquita For "Hiring Expertise"; CIA Contractor Cuts May Hit '54 Coup Vets


Bonus Links

For more information on the Chiquita case, and other Immigration issues, visit Imigration Orange

Virtual Truth Commission

Third World Traveler

"He aggressively and successfully pursued public corruption ..."

Darn it!

I was all set to write an analogy of the Crony General's resignation using a baseball motif.

"Tell them I'm through, "for love of the game"
Billy Chapel, from the movie "For The Love of the Game"

I intended to point out how, as he fleeced the city of Arlington, Texas, for a new baseball stadium, The Uniter Guy, in his oil man/baseball owner days, should have spent more time learning the game.

Not that the Crony General wasn't pitching a perfect game ... Perfectly abysmal, that is.

The Commander Guy might have picked up that you don't leave your starting pitcher in there, when he's being hit like it's batting practice.

But, then I went and read "President Bush Discusses Resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales" (h/t Barry Crimmins) and one line jumped out;

"He aggressively and successfully pursued public corruption ..."

Boy, did he ... With flying colors!

Take your pick ... His bedpan voyeurism of badgering the sick, doped-up Kaiser Ashcroft ... Torture ... Wiretapping ... The firing of the U.S. Attorneys ... Painting the walls of the Injustice Department RNC Red and personally altering - like Nathan Detroit and a racetrack tote board - the work-placement averages of the Pat Robertson Law School...

And there was the other angle, of the Bush Grindhouse continuing to stagger like a freshman nerd taking his first swigs out of the brown-bottled GIQ.

Firing, excuse me, "reluctantly accepted his resignation", the Crony General on the Monday before the Labor Day weekend?

Anybody left in the Grindhouse that knows how to read a calendar?

A Friday Dump on this one, man, the havoc that would have caused ... MSNBC probably wouldn't have it until Tuesday, not wanting to muck with their mega-holiday-Doc-Blocs

So, why would they pull the plug on the Crony General on a Monday?

As we did when the Blossom Turd pulled his smear-laden tent up and left town, what needed to be buried this week ...

• The pre-coronation of Ayad Allawi, with the big assist from Grindhouse-soaked Barbour Griffith and Rogers
• A little distance from the Friar's Roast of Terrorists/Lessons of Vietnam speech last week
• The continually-deflating impact of the Petraeus Report

It wasn't just happenstance that the Crony General suddenly "recalled" he best get his ass out of the frying pan (but with Congress insisting he keep in under the heat lamp) ...

Two things will dominate the news this week;

The Crony General, from the scandals, to the swappin' spit-brotherly love stories of him and The Decider Guy

And, who will replace the Crony General ... Who will be Crony General No. 2?

While it is fanciful to talk about "putting standards" on the nominee, and how the next Crony General will have to "uphold the rule-of- law first", let's get real.

With the list of potentially-indictable crimes hanging over their heads, the next one will be lamer that Gonzales.

I just have a gut feeling about it.

"Mr. Chertoff... They're cuing you ... "


Bonus Crony General Links

Andrew Cohen: Good Riddance

Bush Loyalist Helped Shape Signature Anti-Terror Policies

Top Ten Cloves: How It Would Be Different If Alberto Gonzales Was The Head of March Madness

Alberto Gonzales Sings 'Justice For Sale'

Breaking News! Bush Grindhouse Backs Up Letter With Wiretap Poll Showing Overwhelming Support For Gonzales

Massive Overnight Data Mining Rings In Big Number For Embattled Crony General; "They Want Him To Lie More"

The Bush Grindhouse, followed up the letter sent yesterday by Intelligence Czar Mike McConnell, with another set of documents, culled from their Terror Surveillance Program, and "other intelligence activities", showing overwhelming support for the embattled Crony General Alberto Gonzales.

"They love him," beamed Grindhouse Press Secretary Tony Snow. "They want him to lie more."

According to Snow, the Grindhouse conducted -legally - a series or wiretaps, as well as a massive Data Mining program, keying in on Gonzales, and his testimony given last week.

The Bush Grindhouse cites well over 78% approval for Gonzales via the Wiretapping, and slightly less support, only 68%, coming from the Data Mining exercise.

"The people emailing pulled the numbers down a bit," confessed Snow, "but overall, we extremely pleased that, along with the President, an overwhelming and significant number of Americans also have confidence in the Crony General."

The documents supplied today to the Senate Judiciary Committee were only an overview of the results of the Wiretapping and Data Mining Poll.

"Since most of this is classified, we can't release the raw results," said Snow.

Gonzales, who had his testimony contradicted by FBI Director Robert Mueller, has until Friday to correct his answers, or face a possible perjury charge, and, potentially, impeachment.

"We looked for those things as well," added Snow, "and it was strong, very strong, against taking any action on the Crony General ... They want him to stay right where he is, and doing the things he does best ..."

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) said he was enraged with the report given him today, and indicated that he may, if his anger stays with him, fire off another letter to the Bush Grindhouse.

"This is unacceptable, " fumed Specter. "A blind poll, that we can't see who was polled, and what the results were ... I'm beside myself ... This administration is very close ... Very close to getting another letter from me!"

Specter's colleague, Judiciary Committee Chairman, Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT), was also displeased, indicating he may give the Bush Grindhouse the month of August to redo the Wiretapping and Data Mining Poll and resubmit it to the committee.

"This is ridiculous," barked Leahy. "We'd like to submit our own questions to this Wiretapping and Data Mining audience, to get our own results. I agree with my colleague, Mr. Specter, that another stern protest letter is probably warranted here."

When apprised of this latest development, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi expressed her disagreement with Specter and Leahy.

"We have to stop the war and have the business of the country to attend to," huffed Pelosi. "I have no interest in letter writing ... It's off the table."

Bonus Links

Anonymous Liberal: The Gang of Eight Smokescreen

TalkLeft - NewSpeak: Bush's FISA Proposal

The Crony General: "Not necessarily. I could be arguing in my spare time ..."

Breaking News! "That's al-Qaeda Talking" On Riff Between Maliki And Golden Boy General

President Blaming Terror Group; Claims Classified Wiretap Program Shows Scripted Dialog Given To Iraqi PM

President Bush, first setting the stage with his weekly radio address, came out today squarely blaming the terrorist group al-Qaeda for the burgeoning squabble between Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and U.S General David Petraeus.

The Bush Grindhouse would only say they blamed al-Qaeda, alternately citing al-Qaeda in Iraq, and al-Qaeda central, based in their safe haven in Pakistan.

"We know", offered White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, "that al-Qaeda is - literally - putting words in his mouth."

This revelation came after reports of growing tension between Maliki and Bush's 'Golden Boy" General mushroomed to the point that Maliki appealed directly to President Bush to replace Petraeus, to remove him from operations in Iraq.

When pressed by reporters how the President knew it was al-Qaeda, Snow referred to the controversial Terrorist Surveillance Program.

"Now, understand, I can't go into specifics," Snow pleaded, "so, let's say that our intelligence from a classified surveillance program gave us this valuable information."

Snow would neither confirm or deny if it was the same TSP, the one the President confirmed, and that Crony General Alberto Gonzales lied about in his appearance testifying this week, or if it was Gonzales additional lie of it being "other intelligence activities".

Coincidently, in his weekly radio address, The Commander Guy badgered Congress to update the The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

"The President needs a better FISA program," said Snow. "We had the terrorists pulling dry runs last week... We have to be able to take action and can't be stopping and asking this judge, or this senator if it's okay if we listen to a phone call ... Or read an email ... American lives are at stake here."

"It's all part of al Qaeda in Iraq strategy," Snow continued. "They attack us on September 11th, fan an insurgency after we liberate the country, and now want us to leave so they can take over the country. They're telling Maliki what to say in an effort to push us out."

Snow would not confirm if the latest NIE report offered evidence that al-Qaeda in Iraq was putting words in Maliki's mouth, citing the most sensitive information is classified.

Snow wouldn't comment on the reports of a growing rift with Saudi Arabia, that has the Saudis distributing fake reports that lie about Maliki and his government.

"I can't comment on that at this time, confessed Snow. "We still looking that one over ... It could be al Qaeda in Iraq's work, or it could be coming from al Qaeda Central ... We are pretty certain it has al Qaeda fingerprints on it..."

Snow, also, would neither confirm or deny reports circulating around Washington that al Qaeda was responsible for attempting to send electrical interference in the area near the hospital where Vice President Dick Cheney was today, having his heart defibrillator replaced.

Sources tell The Garlic that there was tension between the Bush Grind House and the Vice President's office, after the Secret Service picked up the stray currents of unexplained electricity.

The Bush Grindhouse argued that al Qaeda should be blamed for it, while the OVP lobbied that it was clearly coming from Iran, and a full, military reponse should be ordered.

Furthermore, Senator Joe Lieberman (I&R- CT) was said to side with Cheney and the OVP, and was prepared to call the Senate into session today, and sponsor legislation for an attack on Iran.

Both plans stalled, after Crony General Alberto Gonzales was said to be "totally confused" on which set of intelligence - Iraq or Iran - he was to lie about next.

Bonus Links

Think Progress: The Ever Changing Definition of ‘Mission’ In Iraq

Glenn Greenwald: Various items ...(Update III -- with Bush's radio address tomorrow re: FISA)

TalkLeft: NewSpeak: Bush's FISA Proposal


President Bush is said to be outraged, and blaming al Qaeda for the rift between General David Petraeus and Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki

The Crony General: "Not necessarily. I could be arguing in my spare time ..."

This should have been Pay-Per-View today ... Line up the tour, secure the "eight-page layout with Viceroy" ...

The Crony General is not a thinking man!

The Decider Guy won't fire him ... The Crony General, himself, is blinded that he is a walking joke and won't resign ... And the Congress is equally blind, not willing to lay a hand on any of these monumental lawbreakers ...

The fact that Crony General Alberto Gonzales will wake up tomorrow, and still have his job should have the entire Department of Injustice (those that haven't taken the Omerta to the Bush Grindhouse), including the Federal Judiciary, pulling a "sick out" ... Aw hell, just go out on strike ...Refuse to work under this person ... Demand, by your job action, The Commander Guy throw his ass out of the building.

I only saw a brief bit of his testimony today, before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Then, later, various clips from various news programs.

It was jaw-dropping.

Gonzales was absolutely child-like, saying anything that popped into the thing resting on his shoulders, even the most bizarre and outlandish statements, almost as if his speech was subtitled, emblazoned with "lying" as he spoke, only digging himself deeper into the lies.

At times, it played out, with the same joie de vive as the infamous Monty Python "Argument" skit.

Of the multitude of postings filling up the web this evening, to give you a good sense of the absurdity the Crony General is, check out The Washington Post's Andrew Cohen's "Gonzo on the Hill: A Comedic Tragedy".

Digby is in sync with the opening of this post, as she ends her "Depends On What The Definition Of Program Is" with "This man is an insult to the constitution. Impeach him. Get him out of there. Whatever it takes."

More On The Crony General

TPMmuckraker.com: Gonzales Memo Widened Cheney's Office Access to DoJ Case Info

TPMmuckraker.com - Gonzales: I Only Visited Ashcroft's Hospital Bed Because Congress Wanted It

The Raw Story: Senator stumps Gonzales over authority granted to Cheney to intervene in Justice probes

The Crony General ... On The Garlic

Alberto Gonzales Sings 'Justice For Sale'

Cold Body Assoc. Denounces Gonzales For Finger-Pointing, Break In Tradition; "Blaming McNulty At This Point In Time Is Scurrilous"; CBA Membership Upset, Fears Could Be "Open Season" On Scapegoats

Top Ten Cloves: How It Would Be Different If Alberto Gonzales Was The Head of March Madness

"I could be arguing in my spare time ..."