The Blogging of the President: 2004
Tom Toles, as succinct as ever.
Friday Five
Continuing the reach back:
1. What was the last song you heard?
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer - John Lee Hooker
2. What were the last two movies you saw?
Manhattan - Woody Allen
The World of Henry Orient - Peter Sellers
3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Spray Starch, Two Blue Button-Down Shirts, Grande Mocha Frappaccino
4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?
Finish Final Day of Training at Jim 'n' Nick's, Do Two Shows, Go To Cast Party, Get My Check in the Bank
5. Who are the last five people you talked to?
My Roommate, Chris the Bartender at JnN's, Waitress at Chinese Buffet, Kevin the Shift Leader at JnN's, Addison another server at JnN's
Daily Howler
On December 21, 2002, Bush sat down with George Tenet and John McLaughlin to look at the best intelligence America possessed on Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. He was less than impressed.
McLaughlin’s version used communications intercepts, satellite photos, diagrams and other intelligence. “Nice try,” Bush said when the CIA official was finished, according to [Woodward’s] book. “I don’t think this quite—it’s not something that Joe Public would understand or would gain a lot of confidence from.”Bob Somerby then carefully points out what the press is pretending not to notice: the Bush Administration had been hyping the intelligence for four months before this meeting.
He then turned to Tenet, McLaughlin’s boss, and said, “I’ve been told all this intelligence about having WMD, and this is the best we’ve got?”
“It’s a slam-dunk case,” Tenet replied, throwing his arms in the air. Bush pressed him again. “George, how confident are you?”
“Don’t worry, it’s a slam dunk,” Tenet repeated.
FEC.gov
This was a settlement fine, by the way. They neglected to tell the FEC that they had redesignated an election account to a recount account, one that raised $11 million and spent $13 million.
That's a nice trick. Are we to understand that the account had at least $2 million in it when the account was redesignated? Sounds like the Bush-Cheney campaign dodged a really bullet with their guilty plea.
BBC NEWS
BBC News reports a recent survey that 70% of people would reveal their computer password for a chocolate bar. 34% gave it out without even needing a bribe.
Silly people.
PS: I don't use my mother's maiden name in any of my passwords, in case you were wondering...
THOMAS KEAN: Mr./Ms. [WITNESS], I'd like to welcome you to these hearings, and thank you for all the time you've already spent with us. I understand that you have an opening statement prepared...Other than not throwing in a lick at Gorelick, I'd say that the templete is depressingly accurate...
WITNESS: Thank you, Commissioner Kean. [Heavy sigh, fiddling with glasses/papers.] I was, as you know, the [TITLE] of [OFFICE] from [DATE] to [LATER DATE/PRESENT]. During that time, I was responsible for [THINGS]. Before 9/11, you have to understand, my specific job did not involve [KEY THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE IT MY FAULT]. During the lead up to 9/11, I received several important warnings about Al Qaeda's plans and intentions, but my hands were tied, largely due to the fact that [I WAS NO LONGER IN OFFICE/ IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S RESPONSIBILITY/ DAMN THAT BUREAUCRACY] as well as [SIGNIFICANT AND SOON-TO-BE-REITERATED BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLE]. Thank you.
KEAN: Mr./Ms. [WITNESS], thank you for your persuasive and complete statement. I only have one main question: Given that you knew [IMPORTANT CLUE TO 9/11 PLOT], why didn't you take some sort of action?
WITNESS: Well, I did take the action that was appropriate to my position. Also, I wasn't aware of [ANOTHER IMPORTANT DETAIL]. But after I'd mentioned it to [IMPORTANT FIGURE IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT OR ADMINISTRATION], there wasn't much else I could do.
washingtonpost.com
What was that someone was saying recently? "A country that's hiding something is a country afraid of getting caught." What's the Bush Adminstration afraid of getting caught doing?
Panda's Thumb > Alabama Citizens for Science Education
Godspeed, people. You've got your work cut out for you, but I'm rooting for you.
Pandagon: I Wish We Were Wrong
We need a change in the White House not because of partisan distinctions, but because government is ultimately supposed to be responsible to us...and Bush is responsible only to himself.
