Even in Florida, they don't like Jeb Bush

Like brother, like brother.

PS Happy Greek Independence Day. Read the rest of this post...

Official report on Pat Tillman case due to be released on Monday

From Editor & Publisher.

By all accounts, the belated official military probe of the Pat Tillman killing and cover-up will call on Monday for some sort of punishment for nine officers, including up to four generals. This is what The Associated Press reported yesterday. But even if there's a general sense from Tillman's outspoken family that justice has finally been done -- don't count on it -- it is vital to look back two years at why the case stirs such anger and reveals so much about military deceit and (too often) media acceptance of it....

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Going on CNN tonight to talk about the US Attorney scandal

Going on around 1045pm Eastern, debating Jim Geraghty, the guy I went on with a number of times before the election last fall. You may recall he was quite the decent fellow, and we actually had a good rapport going - I much prefer those kind of TV debates than the nasty ones. We're going to be discussing the US Attorneys scandal. As always, I'm open to any suggestions - though Joe has briefed me well, and I'm going to check the latest right now at Josh Marshall's site.

As an aside, what is it about TV controllers that gets them so easily lost. Mine, for my TiVo, has been missing for 4 hours. It just appeared in the bathtub. Yes, the bathtub. Read the rest of this post...

Open thread

Doing my taxes. God I hate accounting. Read the rest of this post...

Dick Cheney continues to undermine democracy

The man who has been wrong about everything at every turn continues with his tired routine. Fortunately for our democracy, Americans are no longer listening to him. Read the rest of this post...

Important points about the Bush Admin. and Fox News

We learned some important things last week from our fellow bloggers. These are key points that cannot be overlooked.

About the Bush Administration from Josh Marshall:

This isn't about the AG's lies. It's not about the attempted cover-up. It's not about executive privilege and investigative process mumbojumbo.

This is about using US Attorneys to damage Democrats and protect Republicans, using the Department of Justice as a partisan cudgel in the war for national political dominance. All the secrecy and lies, the blundering and covering-up stems from this one central fact.

About Fox News via Daily Kos:

I'm going to keep this nugget from Kerry pollster Mark Mellman up on the Open Thread for a few days so it takes solid root:

Fox News viewers supported George Bush over John Kerry by 88 percent to 7 percent. No demographic segment, other than Republicans, was as united in supporting Bush. Conservatives, white evangelical Christians, gun owners, and supporters of the Iraq war all gave Bush fewer votes than did regular Fox News viewers.

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How many times can an article say Gonzales is a liar without saying the word?

I count at least five different ways the New York Times discusses how Alberto Gonzales didn't tell the truth. They're running out of ways to call him a liar without just saying it. Word is that reporters are averse to using the word "liar" unless there is proof to show actual intent. Hmmm. How much more intent do they need? Rove and the Bush gang know the media won't call them on their lies. So they do it over and over and over:

An accumulating body of evidence is at odds with the statements of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales...

The conflicts between the documentary record and Mr. Gonzales’s version of events have contributed to an erosion of support for him in Congress...

The disparities are giving Democrats in Congress a rationale...

As attorney general, Mr. Gonzales has become a central figure, and increasingly, critics say, the emblem of ineptitude, in the swirl of contradictions, memory lapses and conflicting testimony that has defined the unfolding story behind the removal of the prosecutors.

Mr. Gonzales also said, more explicitly: “I never saw documents. We never had a discussion about where things stood.” This directly conflicts with documents released late Friday...

One thing to keep in mind -- Alberto Gonzales, the liar, is also the nation's chief law enforcement official. Read the rest of this post...

Sunday Talk Shows Open Thread

The war and the U.S. Attorneys scandal will dominate the discussion. Here's the line up:

ABC's "This Week" , Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.; breast cancer specialist Dr. Eric Winer; breast-cancer survivors.

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CBS' "Face the Nation" , Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; former U.S. Attorney H.E. "Bud" Cummins.

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NBC's "Meet the Press" , Fired U.S. attorneys David Inglesias and John McKay; Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa.

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CNN's "Late Edition" , Samir Sumaidaie, Iraqi ambassador to U.S.; John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.; Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Lanny Davis, former Clinton special counsel; Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist; Ed Gillespie, former RNC chairman.

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"Fox News Sunday" , Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Trent Lott, R-Miss.

Give the good comments and commentary, you know, the kind that the pundits won't give. It's real here. Read the rest of this post...

TJ Maxx/Marshalls data thieves reportedly caught

Great news for the millions of customers that had their data stolen simply for being a customer of TJ Maxx/Marshalls because of the corporate failure to protect data and customers. The obvious downside here is that TJX (parent company of the stores) has done a miserable, if not illegal, job of failing to protect personal data and exposing millions to fraud and years of headaches. TJX is being pursued in court both by customers as well as banks who are suing for over the violation of holding on to customer data well beyond the standard period.

Congress is busy with very serious matters at the moment but consumer protection - whether for situations like this or food safety - needs to get on to the agenda and be taken seriously. With Big Finance being exposed, you can bet they will help move this process forward, but most consumers probably would be interested in their interests being addressed as well. Read the rest of this post...

Friends & Family of Les Chats

Meet distant cousin, Pas-Chat. He's just over six months old and has all of the loveable characteristics of his distant cousins here in Paris, though he's much more playful, as you would expect for a kitten. Read the rest of this post...