MOsanthrope

The administration’s Middle East policies have been a great success:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Oil prices surged to a record above $78 a barrel Thursday in a market agitated by escalating violence in the Middle East and the threat of supply disruptions there and beyond.
* * *
The latest fear being priced into the market is that the […]

Filed under: Politics, Business, U.S., World, Economy

Former CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband, Joseph Wilson, have filed suit against Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Karl Rove, Vice President Cheney and unnamed administration officials. The complaint alleges:

the intentional and malicious exposure by senior officials of the federal government of one… human source at the CIA, Valerie Plame Wilson, whose job […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law

Talking Points Memo is one of only a few blogs I read every morning while perusing the “real news”. In his inaugural column for Time.com, TPM’s Josh Marshall touches on what has been a recurring theme here.

The “tell” in this case was the date. The FBI got wind of this plot last […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Media

Compare and contrast:

“Well, when the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.”

– President Richard M. Nixon, May 1977
 

As Congress opened hearings yesterday on the treatment of terrorism detainees, the Bush administration’s view was neatly summarized by Steven Bradbury, the Justice Department lawyer serving as lead witness. “The president,” Bradbury said, “is always […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law

Updated on July 11, 2006 at 4:38 pm.
I knew him, Blogosphere….
I have accepted a position which will permit me, I hope, to do some important work. It’s been awhile since I’ve walked the walk. I start July 17.
Employees of the office I’m joining may not publicly spout off about things political. I’ll […]

Filed under: Politics, Announcements, Blogs, Employment, Law, Missouri

Good news:

Bush heralds improved deficit figures
Annual deficit to come in at $296 billion, below original estimates
Tuesday, July 11, 2006; Posted: 11:45 a.m. EDT (15:45 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush touted new deficit figures Tuesday showing considerable improvement upon earlier administration predictions, saying it shows the wisdom of his tax cuts.

That’s great, right?

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Economy

I can think of nothing to add to this.
The news will not come as a shock to the terrorist sympathizers (you remember that, right?) in the reality-based community.

Filed under: Politics, U.S., World

Go read Yglesias.
(Via Atrios).

Filed under: Politics, U.S.

Today’s essential conservative commentary from National Review’s The Corner:

MARINE SPACE PLANE [Jonah Goldberg]
I like it! Particularly if the Marines inside get batwings and lasers. It seems an obvious point to me that flying space Marines would be a valuable contribution to the arsenal of democracy.

That would be kewl!
Which reminds me…

Aired December 5, 2003 - […]

Filed under: Politics, Science, U.S., Media

Civil war:

civil war, n.
A war between factions or regions of the same country.

Not a civil war:

Two bomb blasts in a Shi’ite neighborhood killed 12 [people] and wounded dozens [of people], while gunmen ambushed a commuter bus in a Sunni district and shot dead seven people. Militiamen, believed to be Shi’ite, fought gunbattles in a southern […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Language, World

Updated on July 1, 2006 at 5:58 pm and 6:27 pm (I) and on July 2, 2006 at 8:02 am (II).
The whole The New York Times wants to destroy America episode has really become appalling. For obvious reasons, the crowd which presided over perhaps the greatest national security failure in American history is […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law, Media

Go read digby.

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law

The Observer’s Paul Harris has an interesting take on the abortion debate:

[T]he end of Roe could liberate Democrats. It will finally draw the sting out of this poisonous topic that has allowed Republicans and conservatives to portray Democrats as uncaring and unreligious. With Roe gone - and Republicans responsible for the political aftermath - Democrats […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S.

Just try to parse her latest without having a seizure. I dare you. In fact, I’m begging you.
I’ll summarize for the benefit of those without ready access to their medication:
Hillary Clinton is an asexual robot. In contrast, George W. Bush is a deeply compassionate man who “would breastfeed the military if […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Media

Updated on June 29, 2006 at 1:31 pm (I) and 4:53 pm (II).
The talk radio crowd, which blows its collective gasket each time a judge uses the word “international” or suggests there are limits to the President’s power despite our perpetual war against terror, will not be pleased with todays Supreme Court decision in Hamdan […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law

I guess it is an election year. This will shortly be dusting off far more significant keyboards than mine, so I’ll note the following without commentary and await the clamor: CNN is now publishing commentary under the byline of James “SpongeBob - is - a - tool - of - the - […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Media

I’ve resisted the urge to spout off about the latest attempt by Senate Republicans to rile up the base with a non-issue, primarily because the consensus had it that the flag burning amendment was dead before debate even began.
No matter. Balloon Juice’s Tim has a very good take here.
Read the post and […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law

I normally save things like this for Friday, but this is simply fascinating. I give you the pimp tax:

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote Wednesday morning on the pimp tax. The bill also calls for more jail time for sex workers.
If passed, the provision will authorize at least $2 million toward the […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law

Updated on June 28, 2006 at 2:58 pm.
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) is balking again. This time he’s deeply concerned about the disclaimer language the President frequently appends to bills before signing them, the gist of which is “It is with great pride that I sign this bill into law which applies to everyone except […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law

I see that a federal judge has ordered a moratorium on executions in my state until Missouri can “ensure that inmates do not suffer excruciating pain when they are put to death“:

Missouri Corrections Director Larry Crawford said in a hearing before [U.S. District Judge Fernando] Gaitan two weeks ago that he would clarify the execution […]

Filed under: Politics, Law, Ethics, Missouri

It was bad policy when they sold out consumers to benefit doctors and corporations, and it stinks to high heaven when they do it to benefit lawyers.
(Thanks: Steve).

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law

There was a time, Garrison Keillor laments, when conservatives were “pragmatic Main Street businessmen in steel-rimmed spectacles who decried profligacy and waste, were devoted to their communities and supported the sort of prosperity that raises all ships.” We’ve come a long way from Teddy Roosevelt’s square deal to government as corporate benefactor. Despite […]

Filed under: Politics, Finance, U.S., Ethics

As much fun as it might be to jump all over Rush Limbaugh’s latest brush with the great, gangling arm of the law (”talent on loan from Pfizer” springs immediately to mind), it seems to me that, obvious hypocrisy and trivial controlled substance law infractions notwithstanding, what prescription medications the man ingests ain’t nobody’s business […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law, Media

Remember Vietnam Veterans For The Truth? They ran that KerryLied.com site. They’re back, this time with clever new web sites like MurthaLied.com and BootMurtha.com.
You see, Congressman Murtha (D-PA) has actually criticized the President’s increasingly popular war. Worse yet, last year he introduced a House resolution advocating withdrawal of our troops from Iraq, […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Internet, Media

Well, butter my butt an’ call me a biscuit:

Missouri voters say they’re willing to spend more tax dollars to restore Medicaid coverage to 90,000 residents, and strongly support increasing the state’s minimum wage for workers.
They also continue to overwhelmingly embrace a ballot proposal that would protect many forms of embryonic stem cell research, and one […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Missouri, Media

Kansas was ahead of the curve as the country took a hard right turn toward wackyland. An interesting piece in The Observer suggests that the heartland may now be leading the way back to the middle:

The two-storey office block is Parkinson’s campaign headquarters as he runs as Democrat candidate for deputy governor. So far, […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S.

1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW. One of a kind 132-BR., 35 bath, 55,000 sq. ft. neoclassical sandstone mansion. Recently remodeled. 28 firepl., tennis ct., bowling, theater, jogging trk., pool. Includes private meeting with President or top political adviser. Steal at $100,000 per session. Contact Grover Norquist or Jack Abramoff, […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S.

Updated on June 24, 2006 at 2:54 pm
Don’t get me wrong: Their expressed desire to kill American citizens made the Miami wackos a threat. The feds deserve nothing but praise for their successful infiltration and apprehension of the group.
On the other hand, because the usual suspects will inevitably forget their proclamations […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Law

The Vice President is mad as hell, and he’s not going to take it anymore:

“What I find most disturbing about these stories is the fact that some of the news media take it upon themselves to disclose vital national security programs, thereby making it more difficult for us to prevent future attacks against the American […]

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Media

The latest from the New American Ministry for Public Enlightenment.

Filed under: Politics, U.S., Media