Countdown: FISA & Fallon - Our Petulant President
By Logan Murphy Wednesday Mar 12, 2008 9:20pm
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President Bush has been doing his best to remind the American people that he's still around, and what better way to do that than to throw a few hissy fits? As Keith Olbermann says on today's Countdown, from the tone of Bush's voice, it sounds like he's just given up. The president is once again chiding House Democrats for drafting new FISA legislation that does not include amnesty for telecommunications companies who illegally spied on Americans, calling those companies - "patriotic." Right.
Rachel Maddow joined Keith and as always, her analysis is spot on. She points out that President Bush was willing to veto the safety of the American people all in the name of protecting corporations and himself from prosecution. They also touch on the "resignation" of Admiral Fallon and how it was obviously a shot across the bow of anyone in the Pentagon who wants to be a real patriot and save the country from launching another unprovoked war against a sovereign nation.
Maddow:"The other part of this strategy is that they're using a biplane to fly a picture of Eric Shinseki around the Pentagon to remind everybody what happens when people don't toe the line and do something that's right instead of what the President wants."
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Bush has never in his entire life known what's right.
He never will.
He is and always will be a sociopath.
I'm out of words for busch. I am genuinely, speechlessly angry.
Too bad the Carlyle Group is going under.
He'll have to whore himself out to the Saudis like dear old dad to earn his future millions.
Gotta be a law drawn up against that sort of thing by ex-presnits.
Or maybe Cheney will give him a little office at Haliburton to justify the kickbacks they owe their puppet.
If you think the US is unpopular now with the rest of the world, just wait and see what happens "when" george decides to have a hissy fit with IRAN. Oh yah the US gets most of it's oil from us not the middle east.
Was it just wishful thinking on my part, or did Mr. Bush sound almost pleading in that clip?
Not that I'm foolish enough to hope that anything will come of it, but it's nice to think that even the bubble president realizes just how dangerous this could be for him.
Bit NOLA @ 4:
Thats why gwb just bought a 70k acre ranch ( right next to his daddys 80K acre ranch ) in Paraqauy , no extradition ! .
I don't understand why the democrats don't hammer home right now that we don't need to trample our rights to "protect America" - we need an Administration who won't ignore the warnings like they had in abundance prior to 9-11, memos from Clarke, etc. We found out just this week how Condi Rice did nothing. The dems should be bringing that up all the time, I think, and pointing out that Bush doesn't have a lot of credibility when it comes to protecting America, because he could have and he didn't.
Carlyle Group had a very bad day...maybe that had something to do with the recent fit....but I do worry that Fallon is gone....I am hoping that his tenacity and courage has been noted by Real Military Leaders- I just worry how many Rummy Warriors are left wandering around Pentagon halls lusting for more war......
To paraphrase Bob Seger, I like Those Old Time Bill of Rights
the falling dollar is the result of busch policy
the lowered interest rates reduces the value of the dollar(rate of return on loans to US)
the lowered dollar increases the prices of imported goods.
the decreased dollar makes foreign purchases in the US cheaper.
We won't own our own country soon, if this continues.
And we'll be too broke to pay for a war and
we won't be able to borrow anymore to feed the war machine.
and the media will blame it all on the democratic president.
Bit NOLA @ 4:
not the carlyle group, but a company within the group. they can afford to lose the $16.6 bil for the mortgage business. Look at all the tentacles they have in our government and the treasury.
Bush conspired with the telecoms to spy on US citizens BEFORE 9/11, and it sure would be nice if our context-free media would mention that when reporting on this debate. This was no response to 9/11. It was a naked grab for power in the face of laws that were passed in response to the crimes of a former Republican president and his out-of-control FBI director in the early 70s, who were using the nation's intelligence apparatus to spy on their political opposition. If this president were to use those powers towards the same ends, how would we know? And is there anybody here who honestly believes this president wouldn't do that?
somebody say hello to Xoites for me!
I'm passing out at the keyboard.
Be well all!
Peace.
The right wing zealots have never given up on an illegal and preemptive strike on Iran
Fox' Fallon Fired
And we're f*cked…
by Justin Raimondo
"If, in the dying light of the Bush administration, we go to war with Iran," says the March Esquire, "it'll all come down to one man. If we do not go to war with Iran, it'll come down to the same man." The piece describes this top military figure as the last obstacle to the Bush administration's persistent push for war with Iran: "It's left to" him and him "alone … to argue that, as he told al-Jazeera last fall: 'This constant drumbeat of conflict … is not helpful and not useful. I expect that there will be no war, and that is what we ought to be working [for].'"
The Washington Note's Steve Clemons on Fallon resignation
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2008/03/stop_hyperventi/
Stop Hyperventilating: Fallon Fired but Iran War Not Back On
- Tuesday, Mar 11 2008, 5:51PM
Admiral William "Fox" Fallon -- CentCom Commander -- has been fired for insubordination, for not stewarding his own views about war and peace privately and in a way that did not embarrass his commander in chief.
By numerous accounts, President Bush was absolutely enraged by an Esquire article -- since amended noting Fallon's demise -- that posited that Admiral Fallon was not on the same page as President Bush and that he was the single military man standing between war and peace.
Rumors are running rampant now in the aftermath of Fallon's resignation today that Bush called a war room gathering on Saturday this past weekend -- and launched plans to hatch a strike of some sort on Iran this spring. Internet bulletin boards, listserves, and chatter among many on the left and the right are hyperventilating (and some excited) about the prospects of a hot conflict with Iran.
My sources in the intelligence arena, in various command staff operations, near Defense Secretary Gates, and even in the White House tell me that nothing structural has changed in America's stance towards Iran. The US is still engaged in an effort to get Iran to the negotiating table if it stops its nuclear enrichment activities. It is continuing to apply UN sanctions pressure via unanimous consent of the UN Security Council to bring Iran into compliance with international obligations. And as Bush, Gates and others have said -- other options can be on the table.
Juan Cole over at Informed Comment on Fallon's resignation
Barack Hussein oBaScOmBe @ 15:
Hey! I just got here!
Hi :)
OK.
Now to all those who were insulting Mr.Olberman yesterday for calling out Clinton, I would like to inquire how your crow is tasting tonight.
Ben @ 18:
Don't be too hard on them, they are in the heat of battle.
Ben @ 18:
People eat crow? Does it taste like chicken?
"The right wing zealots have never given up on an illegal and preemptive strike on Iran"
that's right, we need to get the word out as much as we can
tell everyone not to participate in an illegal act:
The uniform code makes it abundantly clear that it must be the Lawful orders of a superior officer. In fact it says, 'Members of the military have an obligation to disobey unlawful orders.' This principle was considered so important that we, the government of the United States, proposed that it be internationally applied in the Nuremberg trials." - Senator Inouye, a decorated World War II veteran and hero
During World War II the Nazis had a bad habit of shooting their officers for the smallest of reasons including but not limited to returning from a defeat with unspent bullets. The reasoning being that you did not fight to the last bullet.
During the major defeat and turning point in the war at Stalingrad supply Sargents refused to release badly needed blankets to German soldiers who were freezing to death because they had not been authorized to do so by officers who were, by then, dead.
History repeats itself, especially when your knowledge of it only goes back to last Thursday.
Not being a fan of the military, especially the American military, I still have to wonder what is going on in the mind of those intelligent beings that see the world through the five lensed eyball of the pentagon. Do they see the world on the brink of disaster? Everything has gone awry because of the idiot boy in the Whitehouse.
Does the military have other plans for civilization? Or is it the same plan that GeeDUHbellya has? Because so many brilliant military minds have been wasted by the civilian retard commander-in-chief, are they just going to sit there and abide by the now destroyed constitution and be run roughshod out of town to armageddon? The economy is in ruin, and the greatest military on earth is in the dregs. Boo Hoo. Boyest George has bankrupted the nation and there is little that can be done.. but wait? Are there truly people, in uniform no less, that can save America? Is there a coup under there hats? It wouldn't take much. Oh, if John Wayne were still around...
Not that this story isn't disturbing enough, but the offhand remark about the biplane, if true, deserves some attention. Who or what is responsible for this stunt? It never ceases to amaze me how this administration keeps finding even lower depths to explore.
Stranded @ 23:
I took that as a joke. If it is true these people are just exactly as sick as i always thought.
krisken @ 20:
Yeah, but it smells like fish, strangely enough...
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 22:
I strongly disagree.
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I think it was a fuckin great habit, lol. Hi x! ;-}
[Edited. Please. I'm asking you nicely for the 2nd time-don't extend your posts like this-with the periods. Thanks-Sitemonitor]
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 25:
This time I agree. Very wasteful flying in circles. Should use one of those car lot dirigibles.
Hi 2b. Hey did everyone forget about the closed hearing on FISA? They had to be sworn to secrecy. Is that what we can expect from our congress? Don't we have enough secrecy from this adminstration? Don't they have a much more important oath to uphold?
Don Davis @ 11:
I love it
Proud2bHumble @ 28:
The biplane is a figure of speech. It is used to point out what happens to people who disagree with Bush, they get fired, even though they are the experts and should know what they are talking about. The draft dodger fires the generals.
General Eric K. Shinseki in early 2003 before the invasion of Iraq said we need several hundred thousand troops and nearly 100 billion for the first year.
He was right and the Pentagon was wrong but they fired him. We didn't find out he was right until much later of course.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/consequences/200...
We now know from the Pentagon after 600,000 pages of documents that Bush was lying.
We have known for a long time he was lying, but now it is official.
Admiral Fallon is the latest one to go.
slideguy @ 14:
It does make you wonder -- just why the Democrats have been so spineless in the face of Bush's obvious criminal activities while POTUS. I speculate we'll end up finding out after he's crawled back to Crawford that he did exactly what the Nixon WH attempted to do -- compile a dossier on everyone whose had the power to bring his corrupt gang of thieves to justice -- who honestly believes this bunch hasn't wiretapped every email, telephone call and scrutinized tax records and every aspect of his enemies' lives ... and they know he's got it ...
Certainly would explain a lot. I'm just saying!
Alice Hussein @ 31:
Still shoulda used a balloon or kite at least.
Ron @ 29:
Hi Ron, sorry bout the delay, fillin out the survey and editing the letter on the open thread, seeya there.
krisken @ 7:
When I watched him it was almost like the gears were spinning in his head (that is if anything in his head works) and he was thinking, "Why aren't they listening to me anymore, why aren't the American people running around in fear when I speak of all the little boogeyman that are out to harm us"? I'm beginning to think that after 6+ years of having his words being automatically turned in to law that this first pushback by Congress has left him struggling to understand his new world. A world where he is no longer in control on everything, where other people are telling him no for once.
I agree with you that he may actually feel for once that his illegal actions may actually come back to haunt him and for someone like Bush that has to be an odd and scary thought. Telcom immunity = Bush immunity and I hope that everyone begins to publish that fact.
On the Fallon issue, at a certain point someone in the military reaches a point where they can't do their job without the support of their superiors. They also reach a point of frustration when they can't speak the truth because if they did they would be insubordinate. I believe that Fallon reached the point in his current situation that he could no longer carry on the fight without losing too much. Bush has ruined what should have been the finest moments in the careers of so many senior officers by demanding they carry his water or take a hike. Yes he is the Commander in Chief and a self proclaimed "War President" but he has stuck his nose into the working of the military too many times and with too much force. Strange for a man who did his level best to not serve in a manner befitting an Air Force officer and who instead went AWOL to cover up his drug and alcohol addictions. I guess he feels some guilt of never being a warrior so now he wants to play like he is one while trying to snow the American people.
Sroooooom! Bush should just go piss up a rope and leave us alone. Fuckin little whiner.
A good one by Glenn Greenwald:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/?last_story=/opinion/greenwald/20...
Nancy Pelosi gives Bush hell. It is wonderful.
Asked if Bush is lying she says, 'the President is wrong and he knows it'.
Which is to say to me he is lying.
The House may be getting the idea that there is something in it for them to do the right thing.
They have been out of practice for a long time in that regard.
I find myself more and more attracted to Rachel Maddow. Am I the only guy noticing that she is attractive?
Brian @ 38:
The lady has a PHD in political science, so extreme gray matter connectivity is the order of the day.
Also alternative proclivities.
She IS a marvelous political analyst.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 25:
Okay, I'll admit it, I'm suffering from Bush Fatigue Syndrome. Watching the clip again I realized it was obviously a joke. There goes MY credibility...
Rachel is so good, why can't she get more media spotlight?
Immunity would be "unfair" to the telecoms?
Immunity would be unfair to me and all but eliminate my right to privacy.
That. Is. All. I Care. About.
Ha! Waste taxpayer money? Boosh has NEVER cared a bit about wasting taxpayer money. His problem is that money spent investigating his wiretappin' can't be given to halliburton, kbr, and blackwater. Oh, and it also might result in his prosecution.
slideguy @ 14:
HA! You're dreaming. We don't have journalists, we have propagandists. Colbert summed it up best when he said, "...write that book about the intrepid reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration --- you know, fiction!"
Promote the incompetent, retire the competent. That's the Bush Administrations human resources policy.
I love Rachel Maddow-- she's very perceptive and eloquent.
No. 44 @ 42:
R E M E M B E R:
THEY(sic) HATE US FOR OUR FREEDOMS...
And so THEY(sic) lobby and debate the merits to undermining those very FREEDOMS away.
Who wins when the CIC, aided by Congress, surrender those Rights and FREEDOMS away?
.
Maddow was very clear on the FISA with the President's claims...
It is the Adm Fallon that is worrisome......................
Rachel is looking foxy <3
Wow. Bush got Paraguay to grant US troops immunity from the International Criminal Court, then buys land there to build his ultra-secure hideaway from all the people he's screwed, aka: The World.
"Five hundred U.S. troops arrived in Paraguay with planes, weapons, and ammunition in July 2005, shortly after the Paraguayan Senate granted U.S. troops immunity from national and International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction. Neighboring countries and human rights organizations are concerned that the massive air base at Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay is potential real estate for the U.S. military.
The timing of the U.S. military operation into Paraguay and the Bush family’s land acquisition in Paraguay cannot be an accident."
These are not the actions of a proud president. They are the actions of a criminal who is justifiably afraid of being held accountable for his horrendous deeds. Old George is going to take his duffel bags of stolen Benjamins and head for the hills. Who says those C-130's stuffed with cash ever landed in Iraq?
If you ever served on a jury...you know if you catch a witness in a lie....you can discount all or any amout of their testimony.........'cause they lie. So me and mine have fired Keith O and rachael.....it does not feel good....kinda like we broke up. But done with show I am. I know the Obama fan club will not get what I am talking about..and why should they....he carries water for Obama. I am a democrat who will vote for my party's choice....but Keith's diatribes against the Clintons is beyond the pale. I could no longer waste an hour each evening listening to him while screaming at the TV. so goodbye Keith.......and if and when he turns on Obama.......a cry will go out in the land..and those for Obama now...will know what the fuck I am talking about. I am not alone.....I believe there are millions of us. I was such a fan..oh well
Did anyone else notice how Bush stopped after reading "redundant" like he was trying to decide if he had said it right?
Alice Hussein @ 37:
This is from Boehner's spokesperson (from the Greenwald article):
These are the mental giants with whom we are dealing. He calls people who disagree with him "a bunch of liberals who don't want... to keep America safe."
Yeah, well, you hate freedom... and apple pie.
Who believes this shit? Who isn't insulted when these idiots expect we will believe this shit?
Brian @ 38:
I'm a girl, but my first thought when she appeared on-screen was "she's a hottie".
douglas in oklahoma @ 51:
Ok Yoda
Laura @ 54:
as she is gay, maybe you can get a date
If those companies had been patriotic, they'd have stood up and refused to violate the Constitution of the United States.
Let's hope they get b-slapped by those lawsuits, so that they and others will be forced into doing what civil courage would've dicated that they do in the first place: Refuse to cooperate without a court warrant.
Bit NOLA @ 4:
Dear Old Dad is the only reason the Saudis are polite to his bastard infidel children...when he dies 100 years from now, the Bush chillens are on their own.
Bit NOLA @ 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SX0va556qU
Sorry, anything Keith Olbermann has to say is irrelevant. He has no credibility left since he jumped on the Obama-Loveboat and became a member of the Hillary-Haters Club. He also never has the guts to face anyone who disagrees with him. Why would anyone with any integrity care what the blowhard had to say? Stopped watching him long ago. His not-so-special comments are not so special and have become BORING.
kenoshaMarge @ 60:
Somehow I find it hard to fathom how you believe Olbermann's credibility totally hinges upon the viewpoint of someone like yourself ; a Hillary backer living in the sticks somewhere in Loserville ................
Hillary and Obama should both consider Admiral Fallon for their Sec of Defense. He is a true patriot that has hands on knowledge of the current mid-east situation.
Maybe they could let it be known that Admiral Fallon is on their short list.
kenoshaMarge @ 60:
If anything, this makes Olbermann show more relevance...he's even willing to rebuke those he loves....that takes more than just professionalism...that takes integrity...and in consequence shows he has more credibility than those of us who would sooner pretend mistakes made by our heroes never happened.
I saw where Bush said he was "envious" of the troops in Afghanistan fighting his "romantic" war "helping a young Democracy" get started. Heh.
Maybe he should go there, then?
[deleted]
[52 Old Billy Hussein Says]: Did anyone else notice how Bush stopped after reading “redundant” like he was trying to decide if he had said it right?
NO, cuz I can't listen to an entire speech of his. (I totally believe what you say, though.) I haven't been able to for some time. I catch it in bits and pieces, *if it is necessary* (only!), but it usually isn't. What I saw (till I turned it off) was a load of crap that will have the bedwetters wetting their beds tonight.
I'm sure Keith and Rachel were spot on. I know that without even watching; they always are. Go get 'em Keith and Rachel.
Keep those cards and letters coming as Dino would say, but to Pelosi. she is coming to her senses and the political time is right to bury Bush in his lies to the citizenry. Take a moment and e-mail Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House. She is admitting "Bush is wrong." Yes, he's the wrong guy to be president because he lies to the American people, and is not defending and protecting the Constitution. But first Impeach Cheney, then Bush. Impeach, fine, and imprison. It will happen if we work for it.
Barack Hussein oBaScOmBe @ 3:
Bit NOLA @ 2:
The first quote totally correct. The second...I feel your pain.
If they actually did that and used a picture of everyone fired from the Bush Administration for doing the right thing or telling the truth, you wouldn't see the sky for planes and pictures.
Petulant. Priggish. Pathetic. Pandering. Putz. Pretzeldent.
I see where the Presnit interjected during a military strategy meeting yesterday on Afghanistan where he thought being young and on the front lines there would be "romantic". I have a son-in law who is scheduled to deploy there in a couple of weeks in time for the annual spring Taliban offensives. I think our old AWOL Commander and Chief should climb on his mountain bike and lead from the front and show all these young pups like my kin who are now deployed overseas how "romantic" he can be as he charges after these Afghan tribesman. The Presnit must have really liked the romantic part in the book "My Pet Goat" where the goat met an amorous Afghan tribesman.
adobe @ 23:
Your last sentence threw me...John Wayne would be stumping for BushCo...he was a card carryin repug fo SHO!
Other than that you're comment was right on.
check out this link:
whatdoesitmean.com
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 72:
Right, Government of the
corporationsgenerals, by thecorporationsgenerals, for thecorporationsgenerals… and theirbuddiescolonels.Forget it!!!
Rachel Maddow is the best political analyst on the air right now, bar none. Calm, collected, cogent.
She's telegenic, sure, but it's her razor-sharp intelligence that's a turn-on.
Keep speaking truth to power, Rachel.
Alice Hussein @ 74:
:)
I don't see the people doin anything about it anytime soon, other than typing, and yes I am aware that is all I'm doin also.
A military coup might just get us out of at least some of the many messes we're in, as long as they don't stay in power any longer than necesary.
I am open to any and all ideas people...I sure as hell don't know what to do about any of this.
I'm just throwin shit against the walls to see what sticks, lol!
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 76:
If a business could be convinced to shut its doors in protest, that would be a start...My desire is to set the country, and therefore the economy at a standstill...can't miss a rent payment if nobody's running the bank...I know, I'm stupidly naiive...*get out guitar* Kum Ba Ya, M'Lord, Kum Bay Ya....*looks around* hmmm,we're still circling the bowl...maybe I should sing louder...?
I'm still wondering when the rest of this freakin' country will wake up!? The dollar is worthless, the economy is in deep doo-doo, Fallon "steps down" - means Iran attack imminent, Spitzer gets the shaft 'cause he's been working on screwing the investment bankers/Fed, and 1984 is arriving, albeit 24 years late.
After the immunity bill is signed, sealed and delivered, the telecom representatives will be arriving at households across the US - well, the ones that haven't been foreclosed as yet - to install the "telescreens." Then our "Dear Leader" can mesmerize us with his "truth speak" 24/7.
Fallon stepped down because he disagreed with the Imperator, Chimpus Maximus, who speaks with Judo-Christian God of War on a daily basis. To disagree with the Chimp is to disagree with God.
@Nola 4
Oh, no, the Carlyle Group did not go under - they are still very, very very (many more) fat and happy. Carlyle Capital, one of their highly leveraged funds, went under. But the only losers are the outside investors in the fund, CG just cut it loose and the investors are left holding the bag. The CG guys still have their billions, and they are still the Krupps of the 21st century.
Christ Almighty! When are these little frat boys gonna grow the fuck up?! Adult men behaving this way is totally repulsive... Bu$h and his cronies--what a bunch of fuckwads!
President Bush is trying hard to solve the nation's problems but he needs help. Here is a solution:
Bush wants us to cut the amount of gas we use. The best way to stop using so much gas is to deport 11 million illegal immigrants. That would be 11 million less people using our gas. The price of gas would come down. Bring our troops home from Iraq to guard the Border. When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the border, hand him a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship him to Iraq. Tell him if he wants to come to America then he must serve a tour in the military. Give him a soldier's pay while he's there and tax him on it. After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country. He will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal patriot. Bush will simultaneously deter illegal immigration and provide a solution for the troops in Iraq and the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves