Ending Torture: Wrong Agency, Mr. President
Obama thinks he can end torture by asking the State Department for effective policies to stop torture. Instead, he needs to be asking the Justice Department to end torture.
WaPo Discovers C Street
"The Family" is trying to pretend it's not implicated in Mark Sanford's and John Ensign's moral hypocrisy.
Monica Conyers Pleads Guilty
My biggest question for months was not whether or when Monica Conyers would accept a plea deal in a pay to play bribery scandal--as she did today. But whether or not her legal problems would make her husband, John Conyers, timid in his role as House Judiciary Chair. Monica Ann Conyers beginning on a date unknown and continuing until or about December 2007, did knowingly and voluntarily conspire and agree with
Old Friends
Was hanging out with my old friend Amy Speace until late last night early this morning not long ago.
If you're in Chicago or Grand Rapids, check her out this weekend.
Posting will resume later.
A Ten-Day Nookie Run Turned Break Up?
Is it really possible that Mark Sanford booked a ten day trip to break up with his mistress?
Hayden Throwing Mudd at Bloggers
In what will not be a surprise, it turns out that Michael Hayden was actually hiding his own failures behind a recent attack on bloggers.
Ponzi Nation: Sports Talk "Webio" Edition
A Ponzi to fund a "sports talk webio." In America, everyone's got an idea.
"God's Law" and Mark Sanford's DIY Consequences
Mark Sanford wants to reinforce his "God's law" even as he breaks it by asserting the power to determine the limits of the consequences he'll pay for his adultery and hypocrisy.
Bush Officials Compromised Renzi Investigation for Political Gain
Via Murray Waas, writing at The Hill, we have at long last fresh news on the Rick Renzi corruption case in Arizona. As you will recall, Renzi's indictment was a critical prong in the greater US Attorney firing scandal, specifically as to Arizona US Attorney Paul Charlton.
Did "the Family" Force Sanford to Ditch His Mistress?
It's not just that it appears Sanford may also have had ties to the Family. It's the timing of his decision to break off the affair.
Steelworkers Don't Like Scrapple
The Steelworkers just uninvited Arlen Specter from a speaking gig and replaced him with Joe Sestak.
They Planted a Gay Whore in His News Conferences!!!
The AP, which seems oblivious to the very existence of Jeff Gannon, joins the pout-rage that Nico Pitney got a question.
The CIA Loses Control of the Narrative
As Aeon points out, the CIA's spokesperson, George Little, is pissy about the coverage the WaPo gave to the latest partial declassification of detainee CSRTs.
The June 16 news story "CIA Mistaken on 'High-Value' Detainee, Document Shows" suggests that Abu Zubaida was an unimportant terrorist figure before his capture in 2002.
They Fired Froomkin for THIS?!?
Compare Dana Milbank and Chris Cilizza's take on Obama's "confrontation" with Republicans over Iran with that of the guy the WaPo fired.
Withholding Torture Timelines
By my count, the CIA is now withholding five of its own timelines pertaining to its torture program. Man, I hate when people won't give me their timelines!
Politico: "Oh Noes! The Best Reporter on a Subject Got Called on!!!"
Michael Calderone is bitching that Nico Pitney asked what the White House correctly anticipated was going to be a question on Iran. Since when is it a scandal that the reporter doing the best job on a subject gets asked about that subject?
Yes, an Adulterer WAS Living in "the Family's" House; Yes, "teh Gays" Are Ruining Marriage
Moral scold Tom Coburn still doesn't want to talk about the fact that he knew an adulterer was living with him in "the Family's" home on C Street. And the rest of the moral scolds in the Senate telling us teh gays are ruining marriage were, nevertheless, very supportive of John Ensign when he returned yesterday.
Did Ensign's Mistress Fail to Report Her Own Payoff?
From the time a bunch of "men who are close" to John Ensign confronted him about his affair until his mistress was fired, she did the books for his PAC. Is that why her reported payoff didn't get reported to the FEC?
Auto Decline Not Bringing Local Media Down--as Much as It Could Have
The auto industry has a key role in funding local media. While earlier cutbacks have definitely hurt local media ad sales, the more recent bankruptcy-related moves have not.
Democrats versus the Satellites--Democrats Win!!
Siobhan Gorman reports that the satellite domestic surveillance program has--finally--been killed.