If I may be so bold as to pick a money quote, THIS

George Bush really believes -- and is outright telling us -- that when he orders private citizens to do something, and they obey, then it means that -- even if what they're doing is illegal -- they are acting "patriotically" and should be protected from all consequences. Are there any monarchs left anywhere in the Western World who even claim such a power -- to be able to order citizens to break the law? That's been a discredited "principle" since at least the Nuremberg Trials, yet this warped assertion of monarchical powers really is the central premise of the case for telecom amnesty.

needs to be spread far and wide.

Inane comment of the week!

(See nasalbarfer, below)

For those not in the know, "Marcy" refers to the emptywheel affiliate of the firedoglake blog. Lotsa knowledgable FISA type discussion over there.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/

Isn't this shite ILLEGAL?

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/13/bush-11th-hour-ozone/

According to the LA Times, President Bush personally intervened to overrule EPA staff who were pushing to protect forests and crops:

President Bush intervened at the 11th hour and turned down a second proposal by the EPA staff that would have established tougher seasonal limits on ozone based on its harm to forests, crops and other plants, according to documents obtained by The Times. Federal scientists had recommended those growing-season limits as a way to keep vegetation healthy and capable of trapping carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to global warming. […]

Better article on the Bush EPA law--breaking here...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031304175_pf.html

Bush overruled EPA officials and on Tuesday ordered the agency to increase the limit, according to the documents...

...The president's order prompted a scramble by administration officials to rewrite the regulations to avoid a conflict with past EPA statements on the harm caused by ozone.

Solicitor General Paul D. Clement warned administration officials late Tuesday night that the rules contradicted the EPA's past submissions to the Supreme Court, according to sources familiar with the conversation. As a consequence, administration lawyers hustled to craft new legal justifications for the weakened standard.

I think if you read Glenn Greenwald often enough, some fairly obvious themes recur. He rails against hypocrisy in its myriad forms, and he is a scathing critic of much of what passes for mainstream "journalism" and "political discourse".

And he doesn't seem to really give a damn about what you, I, or anybody else thinks he OUGHT to be writing about. So, if you don't like the topic of the day, you're free to move on. Or talk about how you think it's not important. Just don't be surprised when you don't get too much mileage out of that tack.

I had to call Pelosi's and Reyes' offices, retract some of the vituperation I'd directed their way over the past few weeks, and offer them instead a hearty thank you.

I couldn't be happier about it.

Your personal vendettas detract from the amm bee ants.

I had to call Pelosi's and Reyes' offices, retract some of the vituperation I'd directed their way over the past few weeks, and offer them instead a hearty thank you.

I couldn't be happier about it.

You assh*les, take it down the street!

Or, get a room. Whatever. Just spare the rest of us. Please.

Say, the 5 previous that I can see on this page alone.

I can't detect a single iota of rational discourse in any of them. It's all "L.W.M. is this", and "WT is that".

You add nothing, NOTHING.

I had been firmly convinced that if HRC won the Dem nomination, I would stay home in Nov.

Realized I can't do that. The goddam Dems have me where they want me as a result of the preceding 7 (15?) years.

My only option is to support a "More and Better [Candidates]" strategy, in whatever way, shape or form I can.

Carry on, folks.

That thing in Tibet is BAAAAAD.

I lack enough good sense that one time I decided to tell a joke to a few Irish fellas that actually entailed me attempting to imitate an Irish accent. (I forget the joke, it's beside the point anyway, so take yer pick - an Irishman, Eliot Spitzer, and Jesus go walking into a bar...)

Si there I am, attempting my best Irish Brogue, and Feargal, the bartender looks at me and says w/ a quizzical lilt -

"Was he an Irish PIRATE?"

One can only hope Calebrisi (or somebody on his behalf) will take issue w/ this post and offer a hearty "defense". Please share?

And may I offer a pre-emptive "it takes two to tango" (see? I didn't say STFU) to a certain twosome?

PEACE!

H/T Americablog

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8603419

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed the guilty verdict in the criminal insider trading case of former Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio and ordered a new trial before a different judge.

Theology made simple

Not bombing angers God.

-- Baldie McEagle

Thanks, Baldie. Funny cuz it's true?

Vis-a-vis vis-a-vis Iowa Democrat - does my snark detector need a tune-up?

Those commenters who have their grundies in a bundle about Wright's "God damn America" comment are miscontruing commentary on the U.S. and A's abject lack of moral standing with an epithet so overused it has lost all meaning.

Check around for Obama's speech today.

The man is gooooooooooooooood!

I've been known to comment that "Anybody who would NOT vote for Obama simply on the basis of his race, would never vote Democratic in any case."

Should I be rethinking that postulate?