Lon Monk and Roland Burris
Roland Burris' admission that he spoke with Lon Monk about the Senate seat is interesting for several reasons--not least because Monk is centrally tied to the allegations against Blago.
Blago's Dog and Pony Presser
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bmazOkay EW is tied up and will be along in a bit, but Rod Blagojevich just had a fascinating press conference. Like a demented king (there is that Elvis parallel again) holding forth in his court. Probably not for long, but the guy knows how to play a room, you have to give him that.Blago rambled around about how he has brought healthcare to the poor, which he actually did
Oh, Now They're Trying to Insist on Their Responsibility to Archive
Sounds like John Bates wants to make sure his order giving HJC the documents pertaining to the US Attorney firings goes into effect sooner rather than later.
Blagojevich Impeached
When it became clear that Nixon would be impeached, he had the good sense to step down. Not so Blago, who vowed today to remain governor in spite of the 114-1 vote in the IL House favor of impeaching him today.
In a historic vote, the Illinois House has impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich, directing the Senate to put the state’s 40th chief executive on trial with the goal of removing him from
Eric Holder's New Pardon Controversy: Oops He Did It Again
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bmazHot off the presses, Tom Hamburger and Josh Meyer at the LA Times have an exclusive on new information detailing Obama Attorney General nominee Eric Holder's involvement in the ugly and controversial clemency grants given to members of the violent Puerto Rican terrorist groups FALN and Los Macheteros. And Team Obama has hired Bush toady, and Alberto Gonzales' attorney, George Terwilliger to reassure everybody it is all okay. Brilliant
Steven Rattner?!?!?!
Obama's thinking of appointing someone with no apparent qualifications--though lots of finance success--to be the auto czar.
Burris Doing VERY Badly Before the Impeachment Committee
On CSPAN now.
Burris is doing terribly in his testimony before the Blago impeachment Committee.
He was asked whether he talked to Lon Monk about the Senate seat. He said yes. Lon Monk is Lobbyist 1 in the Complaint.
And now Durkin, the Republican, has noted that a $1.2 million donor to Burris has only given to one other politician:
Five Years After Pay-to-Play Gang Tried to Get Fitz Fired, Blagojevich Tries Again
Five years ago, Blago's alleged accomplices tried to get Fitz fired. Now, he's apparently trying again.
The WSJ's Curious Picture of Congress and Torture
The WSJ is warning Congressional Democrats not to investigate Bush's torture policies. But there are holes in its case.
Draft Blagojevich Impeachment Report Released
Read the draft Blagojevich impeachment report here.
Iraq War Memos Released: Working Thread
More OLC memos get liberated.
The Constitution and Roland Burris
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bmazRoland Burris went to the hill in Washington DC today to claim the Senate seat he has been appointed to but was denied. While this may make Harry Reid, Obama and a lot of other people feel good about frustrating the cad Blagojevich, it is almost certainly unconstitutional, and constitutional scholars, including preeminent voices like Bruce Fein and Erwin Chemerinsky, agree.
The Little Bomblet for Turdblossom in the New Rules
Chairman Conyers isn't all that satisfied with the outcome of the US Attorney investigation last Congress. So, he put a little present for Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten in the rules that just passed to make sure he can still get their testimony in this Congress.
And guess what? He included Karl Rove in there, too!
Another $25 Billion Pissed Away by George Bush
George Bush has failed to implement recommendations made by Inspectors General to the tune of $25 billion. Who was it that said an MBA President would bring competence to the position?
The al-Haramain Dates
It appears that Judge Vaughn Walker will soon have proof that the Bush Administration tapped al-Haramain on days when the illegal wiretap program operated under only Bush's authorization itself, with no sanction from the Attorney General. If I'm right it cuts to the heart of Bush's law-breaking on the warrantless wiretap program.
Oops! They Pissed Off Judge Walker Before He Finalizes Immunity
The government has royally pissed off Judge Vaughn Walker with their continued attempts to prevent anyone from suing Bush for violating FISA. But in doing so, they've royally pissed off the guy who is about to decide whether their retroactive immunity is actually legal.
Vaughn Walker Will Review the al-Haramain Document
For the first time, a judge will review the legality of Bush's warrantless wiretap program.
Honda, Toyota, Fail More in December than Two of Three "Failed" US Carmakers
As they were in November, December's sales stunk. But some manufacturers didn't stink as much as you'd think.
Obama's DOJ Nominees through the Lens of Bush's OLC
Here's what two of Obama's new DOJ nominees had to say about Bush's OLC.
Rahm's Contacts
Why are Rahm and Blago fighting so intensely over what contacts Rahm had with Blago's team?