November 21, 2007

Vitter’s Testimony Canceled in D.C. Madam Case

November 21, 2007November 21, 2007 Jon Ponder

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is giving thanks that he won’t have to testify next Wednesday in the D.C. Madam trial. U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler canceled his testimony today because it was immaterial to the case.

Vitter has admitted he was a customer of Pamela Martin and Associates, the out-call service operated by Deborah Palfrey, the alleged madam in question.

Palfrey’s witness list also includes Harlan K. Ulmann, the military strategist who visited the “shock and awe” concept upon the world. Palfrey has said Ulmann was in her records as “Mr. U” — but that after their dates her female associates referred to him as “Mr. Unpleasant.”

Ouch.

For the record, the AP says Judge Kessler was appointed by Pres. Clinton.

Did Bush Lie to Federal Investigators in the CIA Leak Case?

November 21, 2007June 1, 2009 Jon Ponder

Updated Nov. 23, 2007

On Tuesday, an excerpt from former Bush Press Sec. Scott McClellan’s upcoming book was released in which he accused George Bush, Dick Cheney and their three top advisors of conspiring to cover up their roles in the leaking of the covert identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.

Martha Stewart went to jail for lying to federal investigators even though she was not under oath at the time. Scooter Libby was found guilty of one count of lying to the feds but, of course, Bush commuted his sentence and will pardon him late next year.

In the excerpt from his book, “What Happened,” McClellan wrote that he had “unknowingly passed along false information” that had exonerated Bush political operator Karl Rove and Cheney henchman Scooter Libby as sources of the leak of Agent Wilson’s secret identity, and that “five of the highest ranking officials in the administration … Rove, Libby, [Cheney], [Bush’s chief of staff Andrew Card], and [Bush] himself” had been involved in the conspiracy to deceive the public about the plot to forfeit Agent Wilson and her covert international assets in tracking terrorist sales of weapons of mass destruction.

Deceiving the public is par for the course with these guys but deceiving federal investigators is quite another matter. In fact, lying to the feds is a criminal act, even when the person being interviewed is not under oath.

To cite one recent example of this, in March 2004 Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in federal prison for, among other charges, making false statements to federal investigators. Another more salient example: In October 2005, Scooter Libby was charged with two counts of making false statements when interviewed by agents of the FBI, along with one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of perjury in testimony to a federal grand jury.

The criminality of lying to investigators could come into play now if McClellan’s version of what Bush’s role in the apparent conspiracy differs from what Bush told U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald during an Oval Office “interview” — not under oath — on the morning of June 24, 2004, 11 months after Novak betrayed Agent Wilson’s identity.

At first, details of Bush’s answers to Fitzgerald’s questions that morning were tightly embargoed. Around noon that day, McClellan surprised the White House press gaggle with news that George Bush had been interviewed that morning by Fitzgerald, but as was his habit, McClellan gave them very little actual information about the interview:

[…]

Which Candidate Would You Invite to Thanksgiving Dinner?

November 21, 2007November 21, 2007 Buck Banks

Although the notion of inviting a presidential candidate to Thanksgiving dinner gives me acid reflux, apparently there are people out there in America who would actually consider inviting Rudy Giuliani to sit down and pass the cranberry sauce.

According to a Qinnipiac poll, it appears Democrats are considered to be preferred dinner guests over their Republican rivals (probably a question of table manners):

Sen. [Hillary] Clinton is the top turkey for 27 percent of all voters, including 42 percent of Democrats, followed by Sen. [Barak] Obama with 24 percent of all voters and 24 percent of Democrats.

[Rudy] Giuliani is the gravy for 22 percent of American voters, including 26 percent of Republicans, followed by 17 percent who want Arizona Sen. John McCain, 14 percent for former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson and 7 percent for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Clinton is the choice dinner guest for 29 percent of women and 26 percent of men. Giuliani tops the list for 25 percent of women and 19 percent of men.

Interestingly, Obama and McCain rate higher as dinner guests than they do as presidential candidates.

Me? I’d invite Rep. Dennis Kucinich because I find him infinitely more entertaining than the other Dems and I agree with him on 90 percent of the issues. I suppose I’d have to borrow a booster chair ….

Who would you consider inviting to Thanksgiving dinner? Let us know in a comment.

Quote du Jour

November 21, 2007 Buck Banks

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.

Day: November 21, 2007

Vitter’s Testimony Canceled in D.C. Madam Case

Did Bush Lie to Federal Investigators in the CIA Leak Case?

Which Candidate Would You Invite to Thanksgiving Dinner?

Quote du Jour

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.

â€” Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) 26th President of the United States

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.