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L.W.M.

Published Letters: 6225
Editor's Choice: 5

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 01:57 PM

Marty Lederman adds another possibility...

of what may have changed..

Jack Goldsmith of the OLC:

Jack Goldsmith was confirmed to be head of OLC in October 2003. He was a loyal Republican and supporter of the President. And yet almost as soon as he took office, he began reviewing much of John Yoo's handiwork, and found it lacking. Barely two months into his new job, for instance, Goldsmith called the Pentagon and told them that they must immediately cease relying on the critical Yoo Opinion that formed the basis for the Department of Defense's absuive interrogation policies in Iraq and elsewhere. (I've reviewed this fascinating story in detail here.)

http://balkin.blogspot.com/2007/05/can-you-even-imagine-how-bad-it-must.html

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 02:05 PM

And a commenter on a previous thread At Balkanization

H/T Charlie Savage for that about Jack Goldsmith

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/05/16/senate_hears_of_split_over_wiretaps_in_04/

But Marty has his own knowledge, having been at OLC himself...

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 02:07 PM

Shoots His Mouth Off did title his letter...

What a complete and total crock......

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 03:59 PM

"It's about the immunity stupid."

From out of Shoots off his mouth's mouth:

Exactly. From out of nowhere comes this change of heart. Sorry, I don't buy it. I'd like to hear it from the horse's mouth. On something this big, one would think he'd have something to say about it.

It did not come from out of nowhere. Try to keep up.

From a commenter at Balkanization, "It's about the immunity stupid."

See my last two posts previous page for links. Jack Goldsmith, OLC.

Charlie Savage spotted it, and Marty Lederman sees it.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 04:01 PM

"It's about the immunity, stupid!"

Forgot the comma, and the !

my posts with links, page 21, two pages back.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 04:07 PM

Tiny URL

For Boston Globe

http://tinyurl.com/2wcumq

In early 2004, several Justice officials who were not in office at the launch of the NSA program began questioning whether it violated civil liberties. Jack Goldsmith , the new head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, said he doubted that the program was lawful. After listening to Goldsmith, Comey and Ashcroft agreed, Comey said.

The program was set to expire on March 11, 2004, unless the attorney general recertified that it was legal. That week, however, Ashcroft was hospitalized with pancreatitis, and Comey became the acting attorney general. Comey told the White House that he would not sign off on it, setting up the dramatic confrontation.

Marty's post, links here.

http://balkin.blogspot.com/2007/05/can-you-even-imagine-how-bad-it-must.html

Thursday, May 17, 2007 07:24 AM

"Dominant political narrative"

As defined by the dominant media culture.

I like that.

Thursday, May 17, 2007 08:42 AM

Glenn,

I am wary of trying to diagnose the audio difficulties some have noticed, (I did too), with the BloggingheadsTV session but I think you are eminently capable of getting these "technical difficulties" sorted out. Start here:

http://spruce.vcu.edu/sametime/sthelp/H_IMPROVING_COMPUTER_AUDIO_QUALITY_7615_OVER.html

TinyURL: http://tinyurl.com/ysh5nz

Tips for Improving Computer Audio Quality

To improve the sound quality when using computer audio:

Use a high-quality microphone. When you move the microphone connection wire, you should not hear static or hissing, and the sound should not cut out.

Use a speakerphone that includes echo cancellation. The Polycom SoundPoint PC speakerphone is recommended.

Do not lay the microphone on the table. (Laying the microphone down amplifies noise.)

Do not place the microphone near your speakers.

If possible, use a headset that contains a boom microphone. If you are using a boom microphone, do not touch the microphone with your face or hands. Also, do not breathe loudly near the microphone.

If you are using a desktop microphone, a unidirectional dynamic microphone with batteries is recommended.

Do not use a microphone with an on and off switch unless the microphone is of high quality.

Note Be sure to test your audio and video equipment before participating in a meeting with computer audio and video. You can test your audio and video when you test a meeting. To test a meeting, click Test Meeting in the Meeting Center or choose Options - Test Meeting in the Sametime Connect window.

See also:

Communicating with Computer Audio and Video

Muting Your Microphone or Your Speakers

Adjusting the Volume of Your Microphone or Speakers

Using Audio and Video in Multiple Meetings

Setting Audio/Video Preferences in the Meeting Room

Troubleshooting Audio and Video During a Meeting

Thursday, May 17, 2007 08:49 AM

Glenn, OT audio technical difficulties

I posted this on the previous thread re: the audio "technical difficulties". I hope this helps. It's not as difficult as it seems if you follow some basic guidelines.

Salon: http://tinyurl.com/ynkppu

website: http://tinyurl.com/ysh5nz

Thursday, May 17, 2007 11:07 AM

Glenn,

"Technical difficulties" are that part of technology that make it "distinguishable from magic" (as Arthur C. Clarke would say). For all intents and purposes it was fine. You are not playing a violin recital here. I hope the audio suggestions were helpful. Those are pretty crucial because what you are saying is what we all came to hear. I suppose there are other things to consider as you do this more often. I just hope you continue to do it more often and I think I can speak for most here when I say that.

Thursday, May 17, 2007 11:16 AM

Maybe it lacks a moderator (formality?)

The format, in a sense, mixes a bunch of incompatible attributes. Rather than, say, having the formality of being in a television studio or even on a radio debate with a moderator -- where one is much more conscious about presentational issues -- this ends up having the feeling of chatting on the phone while sitting at home. That creates an informality which is what explains why they end up being so chatty and giggly and substance-free.

Still, this is done in a TV studio with a "moderator" (formality) in one place and two parties in discrete locations via satellite. It's a technology that will evolve and if recent history is any indication, evolve rather quickly.

I think it has possibilities.

Thursday, May 17, 2007 12:20 PM

Feinstein and Schumer calling for No Confidence vote on Gonzo

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/17/breaking-senators-want-gonzales-no-confidence-vote/

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