Glenn, thank you so much for making this happen. You have no idea how much all of us here appreciate you and your efforts.

Something others may consider: I sent the link to this article to my friends, and I agreed to match their donations up to a certain amount in an effort to grow this bomb exponentially. If you have the cash to spare, it's a great way to help others who might hesitate to get on board when they know you're right there with them donating.

I just caught the tail end of today's anthrax press conference on cspan. Jeffrey Taylor, U.S. Atty for the District of Columbia is sweating profusely in the press conference, as is Alexander Lazaroff, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Chief Inspector. No one that I saw in the audience was sweating so evidently it probably wasn't the room temperature.

Kleig lights, my friend.

Kleig lights.

Investigative journalist Gerald Posner makes some salient comments on Countdown tonight about how the anthrax in the flask under Ivins' control couldn't have been the same anthrax delivered in those envelopes.

Check it out on the rerun show later, or on YouTube tomorrow.

This from the TVNewser Brian Ross interview:

Ross described why it was first reported as bentonite, and explains why ABC News was not lied to. "Their initial conclusion, based on microscopic examination was a brown substance that initially was reported as bentonite. We went back immediately after the White House told us it was not the case. We were told after further chemical analysis it was determined it was a silica, but not bentonite — something they had never seen before but had a brownish color."

So, you are trying to tell me that trained, scientific experts examining this material, who are supposed experts in identifying bio-pathogens and their associated components, had never seen the material they were examining before, so went ahead and identified it as something they were unfamiliar with in the first place (Bentonite)? Bull....shit.

Yet, they (or their bosses, or higher ups in the Administration) ARE knowledgable enough to know that Bentonite exists, and that it is ONLY found in middle-eastern produced anthrax....

No, I don't think so. That makes no sense.

Maybe the "brownish color" is what they relied upon to "call it" as Bentonite. More BS, as that is completely antithetical to the scientific method of examination.

I thought "silica," better known as GLASS, has a pretty standard molecular structure. And due to its common-ness, would be relatively easy to identify. Perhaps I'm oversimplifying.....

They either employ Retardo Montalbons in their chemical analysis wing, or they are lying.

Their report this morning just about made me throw up. No in-depth or original reporting whatsoever, just repeating the same memes that have been floating out there for days. They are still convicting him in the court of public opinion by parroting the sorority story, in all kinds of glorious detail, saying the FBI has been "working with the sorority for months" and that Ivins was "stalking" the sorority or its members.

Not a single question about the mode of the suicide, no interviews with friends or collegues, nothing.

I do find it interesting that Director Mueller has been dispatched to personally talk about the case with victims' families. Wonder why that move is necessary??

This story just reeks, Glenn, and I hope you hold onto it like a pitbull and his bone...

Is information that is spoken in a group therapy session considered confidential? How can it be when it is spoken amongst several people? Where are the notes Duley was surely taking during this session or took afterwards? Where are the others who were in this session and also heard Ivins' crazy talk? Surely the FBI has interviewed them as well. Where are their statements?

I think the fastest way to discredit this entire story is to blow the lid off this "homicidal killer" thing, if indeed it's untrue. The media and the citizenry have heard a lot about it, and it seems it would be easy to disprove if it didn't happen.

Keep pulling at it.

Howzabout all y'all just have a nice big cup of STFU!?

I mean, Fuck off. Seriously.

Bamage, you seriously undermine your own credibility and effectiveness with crap like this. I usually enjoy reading your posts, but this sounds like some sort of Tourette's Syndrome outburst. Time to type like an adult.

Most commenters mentioning Digby's "you knows" was in an effort to help her, not criticize her. I think most people here already like and greatly respect her thoughts and posts. Helping her become a more polished audio voice will only serve all of our collective purposes better. And I think Digby realizes this, and can take some constructive criticism from those who enjoy her most.

Now, go fuck off yourself. ;-))

After reading the transcript, Digby needs to work on the excessive use of the phrase, "you know". It makes Digby sound less like a thoughtful analyst, and more like a professional basketball player. Perhaps Digby was nervous and a little out of the comfort zone.

I think I counted SIXTY EIGHT THOUSAND "You knows" in that brief conversation by Digby.

Please don't get me wrong, the content was great, and I thoroughly enjoy you both ALL the time, but let the Digster know that that space-filler needs to be given the ol' heave ho post haste!

(I have a degree in speech communications, so perhaps I'm a wee bit sensitive about it, but sheez!)