Some days my newspaper reads like someone in the newsroom wanted to see what it would happen if someone blended Ripley's Believe it Or Not with The Daily Show. No, seriously. Some days the actual, straight-face, fair and balanced news copy leaves me slack-jawed.
Today was one of those days.
Now listen, I'm not making any of this up. I will even provide links to the full versions of these news snippets.
Real Story #1
Head of Rove Inquiry in Hot Seat Himself The Wall Street Journal -- White House Special Counsel used Geeks on Call to delete files on his office computer. The head of the federal agency investigating Karl Rove's White House political operation is facing allegations that he improperly deleted computer files during another probe, using a private computer-help company, Geeks on Call....Scott Bloch runs the Office of Special Counsel, an agency charged with protecting government whistleblowers and enforcing a ban on federal employees engaging in partisan political activity. Mr. Bloch's agency is looking into whether Mr. Rove and other White House officials used government agencies to help re-elect Republicans in 2006. (Full Story)
So, why aren't FBI agents, right this very moment, kicking in this clown's office door? Did someone make obstruction of justice legal since I last checked? And why aren't key members of the House and Senate Judiciary committees calling for immediate hearings and using same-day courier services to sending out subpoenas?
What's it take to get a criminal probe going these days? Earlier this year we learned the White House had "accidently" erased upwards of 5 million internal emails, coincidentally just after Democrats took over key oversight committees and began asking to see them.
What a coincidence. Do you think a jury of normal people would find that a convincing defense? I'd sure like to see some prosecutor try to find out. And if the jury does find it a believable defense then I guess the next time one us is notified we are being audited by the IRS the smartest thing to say is something like, "Gee, I'd love to help you government guys, but I accidently shredded all those receipts."
Then there's the former senior administration Interior Dept. official recently caught just willy nilly taking threatened species off the endangered list because she figured, apparently, "who needs them anyway." (Story here)
But the special counsel story was the week's biggest jaw dropper. The very guy who was supposed to be investigating wrong-doing within the Bush administration himself involved in precisely the kind of wrong-doing he was supposed to be getting to the bottom of. Even John Grisham would consider such a plot twist a twist too far.
Makes me wonder, did some DNA researcher splice John Gotti's DNA with Charles Keating DNA to create a small army of shameless feloniously inclined clones that ended up populating the inner workings of the Bush administration?
Sure, I know it's a farfetched notion. But at this point it's all I've got.
Story No. #2
Sen. Lott's brother-in-law indicted on bribery charges Sen. Trent Lott's brother-in-law, Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, a high profile trial lawyer best known for suing big tobacco and insurance companies, has been indicted on bribery charges...Scruggs, has been accused of trying to bribe a Mississippi judge... he also acted as Lott's lawyer...Scruggs is perhaps the most powerful attorney in Mississippi, but is well known in Washington for his involvement in tobacco and asbestos litigation over the years.A 13-page indictment accuses Scruggs, his son and law partner Zach Scruggs and three other lawyers of conspiring to bribe state Circuit Court Judge Henry Lackey with more than $40,000 in cash. (Full Story)
As you may know, Trent Lott announced just the other day that he is retiring from the Senate. Of course his office claims this little family affair had nothing to do with his decision to retire before the end of his current term. But...oh come on, let's play "but" for moment -- what if Trent Lott were a senior Democrat in the Senate and the Senate was still in the hands of Republicans? Can you imagine the self-righteous chest thumping, moralistic pontification-izing, the holier than thou-ing, the calling for investigating Lott's connections and business deals between him and his tobacco-company, insurance company-suing brother-in-law? (Think "Webster Hubbell.")
There was also a story rumbling around the fringe media early this week about Lott's alleged involvement with a male gay escort. Both sides have denied it, and I hope it's not true. All these hypocritical closeted Republicans are starting to give normal gays a bad name.
Story #3
Trent Lott's Likely Replacement Featured In "Borat" Sen. Trent Lott's resignation announcement Monday may have woken many on Capitol Hill out of their tryptophan stupors, but speculation over his replacement is not surprising anyone. The focus is on Mississippi Rep. Chip Pickering and Roger Wicker as the most likely candidates to replace Lott. (Full Story)
Well, I could wax insane here if I allowed myself. But instead I invite you to join me in looniland by reading the FULL POST and then watching the associated full video.
The first question you might ask yourself half way through the video is, "Why are all these people off their medication?" The second question might be why any governor would even consider appointing someone to the US Senate who so enthusiastically associates himself with such mentally and intellectually challenged people?
Stephen Pizzo has been published everywhere from The New York Times to Mother Jones magazine. His book, Inside Job: The Looting of America's Savings and Loans, was nominated for a Pulitzer.
Firstly Panda can be 6' and 250lb I wouldn't call that small Kaolas now they are under 3' and weigh max 40lb . Ind you if they're pissed off they'll claw you to shreds or if you wake them they'll pee on you. Maybe you should consider a sugar glider they fit in a coffey mug have big eyes furry and cute as all get out. Then again the pee when their startled and suddenly fling leap away..gliding upto 30 meters. Well maybe you should consider a Muhammad bear. Then again.... note the clever way I linked subjects.
I have to take issue with you about your comments about Islam they unwise and inaccurate. What you did was tar all muslims with the bush of a (Political) extremists or missunderstood peasants. You comments were the equivelent of tarring all Chistians with the insanity of Jim Jones or Koresh for Davidian what ever (Waco Texas). Your story didn't mention that the highranking Muslim Iimams in 6 countries denounced the 'issue' as being nonIslamic. Almost to a man they said that this was an internal political powerplay by the Sudanese Clerics that had more to do with their distrust of western governments they suspected the teacher as being part of a CIA plot to insult Allah. Given all the movies that Hollywood have put out on that gendre and that this is the only view of America tmany of the viewers see other than war footage. What would you think?
Steve You must agree some Sthn. Judges have done some outrageous thing in the name of religion.
ISLAM in the minds of a lot of these peasants is more than a religion devoid of the state it is a life philosophy in somle cases it the source of their food and hope. see Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood arguably the source of muslim aggression. Th BM is the source of food distribution and social support because the state has failed them. Consider the angst and fuss over the ten commandments being removed from a court house lobby? Didn't it go to the Supreme court? what a waste of resources! but then again consider the paralell with the muslim cartoon isn't it really two competing fundementalistic Arogances?
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Andris (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 532 comments)
on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 1:15:02 AM
what if Trent Lott were a senior Democrat in the Senate and the Senate was still in the hands of Republicans? Can you imagine the self-righteous chest thumping, moralistic pontification-izing, the holier than thou-ing, the calling for investigating Lott's connections and business deals between him and his tobacco-company, insurance company-suing brother-in-law?
I have heard lots of pontification on this... LOUD chest thumping.. In fact, I don't believe the chest thumping has stopped since the Dems took control of the congress! I have seen investigation after investigation, and EVERY SINGLE DAY we hear about some other dastardly thing the Republicans (mostly bush et al) have done...
However, do you know what else I have seen??? NOTHING! there has been no follow through with anything.. there has been so many calls for investigation that nobody is bothering to pay attention to the calls anymore!
There probably is something untoward happening in this case, but the reality is that NOBODY is going to really care, because they stopped paying attention to the Dems a long time ago... (It is really tough to have people pay attention to your pleas for investigation when your approval rating is in the SINGLE DIGITS... Maybe if they were driving a NASCAR Car they would be paid attention to?? Doubtful....
Ciao, CZ
by
steve scheetz (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 434 comments)
on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 9:10:10 AM