Tuesday, December 6, 2005

Stephen Schlesinger: What's With Condi Rice?. What's with Condi Rice? She was supposed to be a moderating and even humanizing force in the second Bush Administration -- that was the advanced word, anyway. OK --she gave a speech in Paris early in 2005 saying the US wanted to work with its European allies and then she even authorized the UN to allow the International Criminal Court (which Bush detests) to try war criminals in Darfur. But what's happened since then -- she permitted the appointment of UN-wrecker John Bolton to be the new American envoy to the UN. He subsequently destroyed a genuine reform movement in the organization last August and now he threatens to withhold US dues -- or even go so far as to create our own international body -- if the US does not get its way on management changes. Every horror story ever associated with this unilateral fanatic is starting to come true. Then Condi tells the Europeans on Monday, December 5, in reference to possible American prison camps in Eastern Europe, that, whether they exist or not, the US does not practice torture on its inmates. But as ABC pointed out in its evening news broadcast that same Monday, she says this knowing full well that the CIA manual on torture defines the crime so narrowly that everything short of murder is permitted as acceptable treament of prisoners while not legally being labelled torture. In other words, Condi is turning out to be a just another pathetic shill for the despicable policies of this shameless White House. Even Secretary of State Powell had regrets; this dame has none. [The Huffington Post | Full Blog Feed] 2:31:09 PM    comment []

Short On Guests, DeLay Fundraiser Lets In Protestors. Cheney yesterday skipped the White House Christmas party to headline a fundraiser for Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX). Top ticket prices were $4,200, where donors could attend a VIP reception, take photographs with Cheney, and receive recognition. For $2,100, attendees could rub elbows and take photos with DeLay. Regular tickets (the lowest cost for admission) were $500. DeLay (with an approval rating at 37% and a money laundering charge still standing) and Cheney (at 19%) weren’t enough of a draw to attract high-dollar donors. While 250 people allegedly attended the event, evidently not everyone had to pay full ticket price. Protestor Diane Wilson of Code Pink said she paid only $50: I guess they needed people inside. You can get in pretty cheap. I didn’t want to give too much. When DeLay is relying on feminist, anti-war protestors to fill his campaign coffers, you know his days are numbered. [Think Progress] 2:03:54 PM    comment []

NEW YORK, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent statements by San Quentin's Vernell Crittendon accusing Stanley Williams of "orchestrating gangland crimes from his cell" are flatly contradicted by official San Quentin documents to which Mr. Crittenden certainly has complete access. An official San Quentin ICC Summary dated August 5, 2004, reported upon an interview of Stanley Williams and a review of his conduct as prisoner at San Quentin. Among other things, it states: "Lt. G. Fuller stated that during his assignment in East Block he has not observed Williams in any gang involvement. ICC commended Williams on his positive program over the last ten years. Williams thanked ICC for their respectful treatment." This San Quentin report is supported by statements from the Los Angeles Police Department, whose spokeswomen, April Harding, has recently said that there is no evidence of any illegal gang activity on Williams' part. Lead clemency counsel for Stanley Williams, Peter Fleming, Jr., called Crittendon's accusations "a blatant, wholly improper, and dishonorable attempt by a prison spokesman to damage a man on death row for the apparent purpose of gutting Stanley Williams' petition for clemency. It is a shocking attempt to intervene in a matter where Crittendon should play no part." Daniel Vasquez, who was warden at San Quentin from 1983 to 1993 recently said, in reference to Crittendon's statements, that he had never seen such an inflammatory statement in a news release from the prison. "It is like they're trying to drum up business for death row," he said. Background Stanley Williams was one of the founders of the Crips street gang. He was convicted of four murders in 1981, and has been on death row at San Quentin for the past twenty-four years. He has always maintained his innocence of these crimes. Stanley Williams is scheduled to be executed by the State of California on December 13, 2005 and is now seeking clemency from Governor Schwarzenegger. While on death row, Stanley Williams has undergone a personal redemption. He has openly apologized for his role in forming the Crips and his actions as a gang member, and become a prominent anti-gang spokesman. He has written a series of anti-gang books for children, promoted gang truces, and given numerous talks to at-risk youth about the power of education, self-discipline and peace. He has received thousands of emails from individuals personally influenced by this message. As a result of his work while on death row, Stanley has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and for the Nobel Prize in Literature. This year, he received the President's Call to Service Award. Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP is clemency counsel and Verna Wefald, Esq. of Pasadena, CA. is counsel of record for Stanley Williams. SOURCE Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP Web Site: http://www.cm-p.com 1:57:13 PM    comment []

Source: Think Progress; 12/6/05; 11:41:38 AM. ThinkFast: Ethics Reformers Unveil Major House Legislation. A host of ethical scandals now plague Congress. Yesterday, four lawmakers came forward to unveil a proposal to bring integrity back to the halls of Congress. Rep. David Obey, the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, joined with colleagues Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. David Price (D-NC), and Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME) to propose "rules changes that would make it more difficult for lawmakers to sneak provisions into legislation on behalf of special interests." They appeared together at an event hosted by the Center for American Progress to detail their reform legislation. Afterwards, Congressmen Obey, Allen, and Price sat down with Think Progress to answer some of our questions about the ethical problems pervading Congress, from the leadership on down. Some highlights from the interview: Rep. Allen on the lesson the Jack Abramoff scandal has taught Congress: If you preach selfishness, it's a short step to acting that way for your own interests. I think that Abramoff is an exception to the general rule of lobbyists, but I certainly have felt in my nine years in the House that there is way too much deference to the rich and powerful in this country. Rep. Obey on the alleged [OE]truce[base '] between House Republicans and Democrats not to file ethics complaints: People were looking for ways to restore some civility [following the ethics scandals of the early 1990s], so maybe that was in their heads when they were reluctant to needlessly politicize ethics issues, but I think recent developments have demonstrated that we need much more aggressive action. Rep. Price on why the conservative House leadership has encountered recent difficulties passing key legislation: Roy Blunt's got his hands full. I mean, this is an agenda - a terrible way to try to start out a leadership career - cutting food stamps, and Medicaid, and student loans, and child support, while you're at the same time giving tax breaks for dividends and capital gains. Goodness, that's a nightmare for any leader. And the notion that Tom DeLay could pull this off, I'm not sure is correct. Full interview below: THINK PROGRESS: Hi, I'm Faiz Shakir with Think Progress and we have five questions for Congressman Obey, Congressman Allen, and Congressman Price. The first question is: Do you hear conservative members now privately echoing your concerns about a Congress that's too beholden to special interests and mired in ethical problems? OBEY: I think individual Republicans are very much concerned about the abuse of leadership power by their leadership. I think they don't know quite how to get out the box because they're intimidated, but I think that they're...a number of them are very very worried about. PRICE: One thing that's helped heighten their worry is the decline of President Bush's popularity and the pushing by the Republican leadership of some very unpalatable things. Like you supposedly pay for Katrina by cutting food stamps, or Medicaid - cutting things that the very victims of Katrina depend on. A lot of Republicans - so-called moderates who have let their arms be twisted on past votes and have let themselves be brought in line - they're resisting a bit now. It's a little different. And so, we think some of these proposals for reform might find a little more receptivity on their part. ALLEN: I detect a lot of anxiety among Republicans in the House and it comes in part from the fact that they're being forced to do the things that they believe are very unpopular back home. So this issue of the power of their leadership over them is causing them concern. THINK PROGRESS: In terms of how lobbyists interact with members of Congress, is Jack Abramoff the rule rather than the exception? Are there more Jack Abramoffs out there? OBEY: I think Jack Abramoff is an example. I mean, I think he's an outrageous example of the system gone run-amok. I think he's going to be setting new examples of outrageousness. But the problem is you have a culture of "anything goes," which has been pedaled by the Republican House leadership, an attitude that rules are something to be gotten around, and I think Abramoff is an example of what results when you have that kind of thinking. ALLEN: If you preach selfishness, it's a short step to acting that way for your own interests. I think that Abramoff is an exception to the general rule of lobbyists, but I certainly have felt in my nine years in the House that there is way too much deference to the rich and powerful in this country. THINK PROGRESS: Today the Washington Post reports that the House ethics committee has been missing in action despite the fact that numerous members of Congress are under federal investigation. What's really holding up the ethics panel's work? OBEY: Well, the ethics panel was put out of business by the Republican leadership on purpose. They wanted to disarm the committee, they didn't want the committee to proceed, so they eliminated the chairman who tried to do his job, and they eliminated several reform-minded members and put in their own list of compliant members in their stead. Now I think the public heat has made them wish they hadn't done that, and they're getting off to a belated start, but I'm still dubious we're going to get much out of them. ALLEN: Norm Orenstein had a suggestion during our conversation earlier, and he basically said there ought to be an outside group which could take complaints and evaluate complaints and do an investigation of alleged violations of the ethics rules and then kick that over to Congress to deal with it, rather than putting all the burden on this so-called bipartisan evenly-divided group of members. There needs to be outside pressure in order to make this system work more effectively. PRICE: It certainly isn't a matter of the two parties being equally culpable here. The Democrats have pushed every step of the way for being a process that is truly bipartisan with an equal division of members in authority on that ethics committee and Republicans have resisted every step of the way. It's a good thing that the press is finally paying some attention to this and I hope the result will be, if nothing else, to shame them into doing their job. THINK PROGRESS: For years, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have had a truce not to file ethics charges against one another. In retrospect, was this a bad idea? OBEY: I don't know that they had a truce. I think that you had some serious scandals several years earlier, especially with Speaker Gingrich, and I think that sort of shocked people. People were looking for ways to restore some civility, so maybe that was in their heads when they were reluctant to needlessly politicize ethics issues, but I think recent developments have demonstrated that we need much more aggressive action. THINK PROGRESS: Our last question - why isn't Roy Blunt as effective a leader as Tom DeLay? OBEY: Well, there was a reason Tom DeLay was referred to as "The Hammer" because Tom didn't just lead by persuasion, he led by intimidation, he led by muscle. I mean, this is a man who would bring in outside lobby groups in and trade associations and tell them that if they wanted attention and access, they had better hire Republicans in their operation. He created a marriage between K Street lobbying operations and the Capitol and Pennsylvania Avenue and that made him very formidable even as it gutted what democracy was supposed to be able to produce. ALLEN: I would say it's too early to say how effective Roy Blunt is, but clearly, the ruthlessness of a Tom DeLay has had a huge impact on the way the House has been run. Of course, right now, Roy Blunt's going to deal with the fact that opinions of this Republican Congress are in the tank, and there are Republicans who, just as I said before, are really anxious, they're afraid they're going to lose their own elections - so it's a hard group to manage. This is all the result of an underlying philosophy that we're not going to deal with Democrats, we're only going to rely on Republicans, and we're going to force cohesion when it doesn't even exist in many cases. PRICE: Roy Blunt's got his hands full. I mean, this is an agenda - a terrible way to try to start out a leadership career, cutting food stamps, and Medicaid, and student loans, and child support, while you're at the same time giving tax breaks for dividends and capital gains - goodness, that's a nightmare, for any leader. And the notion that Tom DeLay could pull this off, I'm not sure is correct. But, anyway, it's Roy Blunt's bad luck to be coming in just as President Bush's popularity goes south, and conservatives are trying this power play to do all these draconian cuts to the most vulnerable people in society and Roy Blunt's being asked to deliver on this. He's guilty of, if nothing else, of bad timing, of trying to pull this off. But the notion that DeLay could come in here and do it - I'm not sure even DeLay could manage this. THINK PROGRESS: Congressman Obey, Congressman Allen, Congressman Price, thank you for joining us for this edition of Think Fast. 12:21:11 PM    comment []

He's Lying. It would be a full-time job to catalogue all the lies that come out of the Bush administration. But here are two important ones. Hilzoy of Obsidian Wings calls the president on his statement today that "we do not render [detainees] to countries that torture." Not even the most Clintonian parsing of that statement could make that true. Meanwhile, in the Christian Science Monitor, Tom Regan swats down Condoleeza Rice's claims about rendition, and compiles evidence that innocent detainees have been captured, rendered abroad, and tortured. Numbers are hard to come by, but here's one attempt: One [US] official said about three dozen names fall in that category [those mistakenly detained]; others believe it is fewer. The list includes several people whose identities were offered by Al Qaeda figures during CIA interrogations, officials said. One turned out to be an innocent college professor who had given the Al Qaeda member a bad grade, one official said. "They picked up the wrong people, who had no information. In many, many cases there was only some vague association" with terrorism, one CIA officer said. [MoJo Blog] 11:58:17 AM    comment []

Danielle Crittenden: The Secret Presidential IMs: A, Oops, Live Discussion. December 6, 2005: Last Updated 9:35 a.m. (E.D.T.) The President Hosts a Live Discussion With The Nation's Schoolchildren For the first time in his presidency, George W. Bush will go online to answer questions from the nation's schoolchildren. The President's live discussion will take place on Tuesday, December 6 at 10 a.m. EDT at www.whitehouse.gov. Students at selected elementary and high schools with internet access have been chosen to participate. The discussion will be moderated by the President's counselor Dan Bartlett. He will screen and choose the most relevant questions for the President. BigBartlett (9:48 AM): Mr. President? We'll be going on live in a few minutes. Are you ready, Sir? Kickass43 (9:49 AM): Yep. Sittin at my desk. Got my O'Douls & sandwich. It's nearly lunchtime 4 me. BigBartlett (9:50 AM): Just remember I will screen all the questions for you, Sir. There will be no surprises. The session will last 30 minutes. Kickass43 (9:51 AM): roger BigBartlett (9:51 AM): We also have Karen and Condi on standby to help you as needed. You'll see I've created a chat room named "Live Discussion."? If you need to IM them with a question, go ahead. No one will see the chat room. I'm doing all the official posting. Kickass43 (9:53 AM): so I just IM u with my answr rite? BigBartlett (9:54 AM): Right, Sir. Kickass43 (9:54 AM): ur sure itll b private BigBartlett (9:55 AM): Absolutely, Sir. You'll be able to follow the transcript of the discussion on your computer, but your answers will be posted via me. And let me say again that I think this is a terrific way to reach out to America's youth. BigBartlett (9:59 AM): Get ready, Sir. Here we go. Dan Bartlett: I'd like to welcome all the students who will be participating in today's historic online live discussion with the President. The President is right now sitting at his computer in the Oval Office. He is excited about answering your questions. Don't forget to let us know what grade you're in and where you're from. We'll keep your names private. So let's go. Port Orange, Florida: Hello, Mr. President. I'm a sixth grader. My question is: Do you have any favorite video games? And what are they? Kickass43 (10:04 AM): How bout this Danno: "I don't have much time to play video games these days as I'm kinda busy right now running the war. It's kinda like a giant version of Doom 3. So you might say that's the video game I'm playing now."? SecStateUSA (10:05 AM): I'm not sure that's the right message, Mr. President BigBartlett (10:05 AM): Let me edit that, Sir. The President: Thank you for your question. I don't have much time to play video games these days as I'm very busy protecting our nation from terrorists and winning the war in Iraq. That's enough exciting action for anyone! But on the rare occasion when I do have time to sit down at the PlayStation with Jenna and Barbara, we like to play Madden. I've just got the latest 06 version. Also the latest version of MLB. And hey, say hello to my brother Jeb, who's working hard to improve education right across your great state. SecStateUSA (10:07 AM): Bravo, Dan. Mobile, Alabama: I am an eighth grade African-American student and a big fan of poetry. I was pleased that you chose Maya Angelou to read a poem at the national Christmas tree lighting. Why did you decide to do this? Kickass43 (10:10 AM): o mano! Kickass43 (10:10 AM): wat a ttl downer that chick wuz! Kickass43 (10:11 AM): trnd the "pajent of peace"? into "pajent of death & destruction" IheartUSA (10:11 AM): uh, sir? Kickass43 (10:12 AM): u HERD her karen! Kickass43 (10:12 AM): howd it go Kickass43 (10:12 AM): "thunder rumbles/lightnin rattles/floodwaters await in our avenues"? Kickass43 (10:13 AM): like it wuz the nu orlens xmas tree lightin Kickass43 (10:13 AM): or the comin of the apocolypse xmas tree lightin!! Kickass43 (10:13 AM): shud nvr let laura do the gest list BigBartlett (10:14 AM): The children are waiting, Mr. President. I think we need something positive here. Kickass43 (10:14 AM): I wntd a cowboy poet!! IheartUSA (10:15 AM): Let me do this one, sir. The President: I'm glad to hear that you're a fan of poetry at your age. Shows you've got good teachers - and a good soul. Maya Angelou is not just our finest living African-American poet, but maybe our finest living poet, period. We were honored that she chose to write an original poem on the occasion of this year's National Tree Lighting Ceremony. With her words, she embraced this year's theme, "A Pageant of Peace."? And in doing so, she embraced us all. Kickass43 (10:17 AM): dam thing didn't evn ryme BigBartlett (10:17 AM): I have a couple of controversial questions coming up, Sir. Think we should answer them so we aren't accused of stage-managing this discussion. Kickass43 (10:18 AM): go 4 it Newton, Massachussetts: I'm a middle-school student who is really upset about secret prisons and like the fact we are torturing suspects. I've been taught torture is wrong, especially when it involves my younger sister. How do you justify this? Kickass43 (10:19 AM): this jus so pisses me Kickass43(10:19 AM): like wat r they teachin r kids Kickass43 (10:19 AM): his dad is probably some nutbar harvard prof Kickass43 (10:20 AM): like I'm sooooo sry 4 takin TERRORISTS Kickass43 (10:20 AM): & puttin a hood on em Kickass43 (10:20 AM): & takin em 2 an undisclosd locashun Kickass43 (10:20 AM): where theyr forcd 2 lissen 2 KISS & maya angelou 24/7 Kickass43 (10:21 AM): & no 1 lays a gluv on em Kickass43 (10:21 AM): mayb these students shud wry bout the dudes Kickass43 (10:21 AM): who put a hood ovr sum brit Kickass43 (10:21 AM): whose rebuilding their roads for effs sake Kickass43 (10:21 AM): & who cut his freakin hed off on live TV Kickass43 (10:22 AM): y don't they evr complain bout THAT SecStateUSA (10:22 AM): I understand your feelings and share your frustration, Mr. President. Let me transcribe your thoughts. The President: You raise an important concern, one shared by many Americans of all ages. I commend you for your compassion and caring for others. Recently, on the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, I reaffirmed our nation's commitment to the worldwide elimination of torture. The non-negotiable demands of human dignity must be protected without reference to race, gender, creed, or nationality. Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law. This includes little sisters. Everett, Washington: As a high school senior, I am deeply concerned by the way the war is going. Isn't this really a war for oil? And why won't you withdraw the troops? The President: if it wre a war 4 oil then y r gas price$ so frikkin hi?? The President: wat is it wit these kids? Man if ONLY it wuz a war 4 oil! The President: then my poll #s mite b bttr!! The President: as 4 troop withdrawl The President: we don't lissen 2 those dem pussies The President: who jus cut n run The President: who DON EVN hav a PLAN The President: is all like"we'll get 1 next yr"? The President: like HELLO The President: uve had 4 YRS 2 come up wit a bttr plan The President: but nooooo! The President: u got kerry out there sayin r troops r "terrorizin" wimmin & kids The President: he's bak in 1973 hippy attak mode The President: & like this is the best they've got?? The President: like this wet dude nrly got electd??? BigBartlett (10:26 AM): My goodness, sir. Somehow those remarks got posted. There must be a glitch. The President: ?? The President: :-O IheartUSA (10:27 AM): Stop writing, Sir. NOW. SecStateUSA (10:27 AM): Let me try to fix this. The President: Just kidding you, Everett, Washington. Trying to show I was "hip"? with the IM language. ROFL, huh? But seriously, to answer your very important question with the consideration it deserves. As we fight the enemy in Iraq, every man and woman who volunteers to defend our nation deserves an unwavering commitment to the mission -- and a clear strategy for victory. Victory in Iraq will demand the continued determination and resolve of the American people. We will not withdraw until we are persuaded we have left in place a democratic Iraq led by a federal government that is a strong enough government to protect minority rights. This is not about oil. This is about freedom for Iraqis, and security for all Americans. I hope this answers your question. Dan Bartlett: Well it looks like we've run out of time. I'm sorry that the President will be unable to answer all of you who have sent in questions. We thank you for participating in this historic experiment. An edited transcript will be posted shortly at www.whitehouse.gov. Kickass43 (10:31 AM): danno get yr ass 2 my office pronto BigBartlett (10:32 AM): Right away, Sir. Kickass43 has gone offline. BigBartlett has gone offline. SecStateUSA has gone offline. IheartUSA has gone offline. "The Secret Presidential IMs" appears here every Tuesday. [The Huffington Post | Full Blog Feed] 10:54:10 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2006 Patricia Thurston.