SAM ROCKS!!! He Needs More Airtime.

Chris Dodd rocks! Sam rocks! (and Alison Stewart is teh hot! ;-)

Bill Clinton: George H.W. Bush will help President Hillary

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina (CNN) – Former President Bill Clinton said Monday that the first thing his wife Hillary will do when she reaches the White House is dispatch him and his predecessor, President George H.W. Bush, on an around-the-world mission to repair the damage done to America's reputation by the current president — Bush's son, George W. Bush.

"Well, the first thing she intends to do, because you can do this without passing a bill, the first thing she intends to do is to send me and former President Bush and a number of other people around the world to tell them that America is open for business and cooperation again," Clinton said in response to a question from a supporter about what his wife's "number one priority" would be as president.

Sam got shafted by AAR. and AAR just shafted Kent Jones of the Rachel Maddow show. I'm glad KO and Co. know where to find the bright spots in 'liberal' media.

jeanruss @ 4:

I was disappointed that she didn't mention the endorsement of John Edwards by Iowa first ladt Mari Culver-in fact, Countdown RARELY mentions John Edwards-this is starting to seem like a FAUX liberal show-I have been supporting Edwards for almost a year now and the news blackout of him is considerable when you consider that Iowa is in a dead heat-I feel that corporate media is just wanting to appear liberal here and there so that their bias isn't as blatant-I don't watch Countdown as much because they still have non-progressive shills on like Richard Wolffe-he never misses an opportunity to diss Edwards-I have lost count of how many times he has said Edwards is over-why does Keith still have this guy on? why is Edwards rarely mentioned on this supposedly liberal show?

at least Edwards isn't blocked out AND blacked out like Dennis Kucinich! the desmoines register has no satisfactory explanation for what they did.

A little off topic but here's a poll that shows Osama Been Laiden is more popular in Saudi Arabia than Dick Cheney or the congress is in America.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317226,00.html

Don't you love polls?

L.A. Confidential @ 5:

Bill Clinton: George H.W. Bush will help President Hillary

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina (CNN) – Former President Bill Clinton said Monday that the first thing his wife Hillary will do when she reaches the White House is dispatch him and his predecessor, President George H.W. Bush, on an around-the-world mission to repair the damage done to America's reputation by the current president — Bush's son, George W. Bush.

"Well, the first thing she intends to do, because you can do this without passing a bill, the first thing she intends to do is to send me and former President Bush and a number of other people around the world to tell them that America is open for business and cooperation again," Clinton said in response to a question from a supporter about what his wife's "number one priority" would be as president.

I first thought this was an onion piece but it's not.

When will C&L post info on the house caving to the president regarding his stupid outrages war budget.

anney @ 8:

Two comments:

Senator Dodd will get more votes and support for his campaign because he returned to Washington from Iowa to fight telecom immunity than if he'd just objected but remained in Iowa to campaign.

I know some people will say that this is a cheap political stunt (I'm not sure if you are, based on this comment so I won't direct this at you specifically) but even if it were, I wouldn't really care. I wish more politicians would campaign by taking meaningful stands and actually doing something to help this country instead of fiddling in Iowa while the constitution burns.

MackJ @ 18:

anney @ 8:

Two comments:

Senator Dodd will get more votes and support for his campaign because he returned to Washington from Iowa to fight telecom immunity than if he'd just objected but remained in Iowa to campaign.

I know some people will say that this is a cheap political stunt (I'm not sure if you are, based on this comment so I won't direct this at you specifically) but even if it were, I wouldn't really care. I wish more politicians would campaign by taking meaningful stands and actually doing something to help this country instead of fiddling in Iowa while the constitution burns.

I agree, his opponents will surely try to label this as a campaign stunt...but Dodd is actually DOING HIS JOB!!! Excellent work Senator! I will be sending you a check sir!

The vast majority of Americans don't approve and want to stop the Reslug crooks and criminals in the White House.

pissed off patricia @ 14:

Forgive me the girlie talk, but I loved Alison's hair when it was curly and just don't think the straight hair does anything for her. I vote she allows it to curl again.

I think I am going to send Dodd a check and a thank you note. Seems the least I can do after what he did for us yesterday.

Do you want to vote for a true patriot or one of three part time senators?

============
I agree, at first glance I thought she was Michelle Malkin! Ew!

I love what Dodd did, don't get me wrong... but should we give them cash each and everytime they do something we want them to? And, this, of course is yet more evidence why Obama and Clinton SHOULD NOT EVEN BE IN THE RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY, but oh well... They look good on teevee dammit! I like Dodd and approve of his actions, but 100% of my money and support is going to John Edwards for this coming election.

Great Stuff. Good for Dodd. He's a stand-up guy...but.

To be fair to the others. Would he have come back if he were within the margin of error from Hillary? Don't think so.

Again...Thanks, Sen. Dodd.

Keep the pressure on Reid, he's disappointed me for the last time.

DODD and KENNEDY are heroes

I don't know what it is with people, but on my blog commenters will go ten rounds on a phone poll or mailer related post, but when I talk about important issues like FISA or torture or government secrecy, nothing, nada, no one comments. It's really disappointing. However, I do wonder if that mentality is what our candidates respond to when they stay in Iowa when a critical bill is being debated on the floor. The public doesn't seem to care about the real issues, but they love the gossipy political stuff. Maybe if we focused more on the important issues, the candidates will too.

L.A. Confidential @ 5:

Bill Clinton: George H.W. Bush will help President Hillary

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina (CNN) – Former President Bill Clinton said Monday that the first thing his wife Hillary will do when she reaches the White House is dispatch him and his predecessor, President George H.W. Bush, on an around-the-world mission to repair the damage done to America's reputation by the current president — Bush's son, George W. Bush.

"Well, the first thing she intends to do, because you can do this without passing a bill, the first thing she intends to do is to send me and former President Bush and a number of other people around the world to tell them that America is open for business and cooperation again," Clinton said in response to a question from a supporter about what his wife's "number one priority" would be as president.

hiller like bill longs for the bushes to lean them over a pickle barrel and cram thier salamis up thier collective asses, clintons love some of them bush porking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Media consolidation is currently in play with the FCC (and by extension, with Congress). The telecoms all want a slice of this pie. Money greases the skids in Washington. Congress-critters are in a perpetual money feeding-frenzy. The telecoms have money to give -- to get their wishes fulfilled. They will place conditions on the acceptance of their bribes campaign contributions. The Congress-critters will take the money, make noise about how bad it would be to give the telecoms retroactive immunity, and do precisely that!

Best damn Democracy money can buy!

binky @ 30:

Keep the pressure on Reid, he's disappointed me for the last time.

DODD and KENNEDY are heroes

Don't forget Russ Feingold. You may have missed his speech but it was even better than Kennedy's. Kennedy had a better sound bite but Fiengold explaned the history of FISA.

I love Alison Stewart we need to see more video of her.

I donated online to the Dodd campaign.
The man went to Washington and did his job.
This is behavior that I think should be encouraged.
Sad in a way isn't it?

anney @ 17:

I'd personally vote for Obama if he ended up being the Democratic nominee, but not Clinton. I'd prefer that Edwards, Kucinich, or Dodd got the nomination -- I'd vote for any one of them before even Obama.

So, if I'm reading you right, you'd rank the candidates:
1. Edwards 2. Kucinich 3. Dodd 4. Obama 5.Clinton.
Sounds like you could use Instant Runoff Voting.
www.fairvote.org

To accomplish that, we need good politicians to replace the do-nothings and wimps in the Democratic party. I think we really need to focus on who's actually best for Congress and do what we can to ensure the best candidates are elected.

Politicians are just manifestations. How you run your election and count the votes is the consciousness. Don't hate the player, hate the game. Focus on the Rigged System that produces those politicians, lest you find yourself in the same position EVERY ELECTION.

michael @ 10:

the fact that Sam Seder doesn't have a nationally broadcast program is a crying shame.

well said. he is so smart and so articulate. we need him bad.

Sam Seder is a totally different person on TV then he is on the in his streaming shows. On the tubes, he is edgier, angrier and more to my liking. I think he's tried to mold his personality to TV so he doesn't come off as an angry ranter and will be invited back, but he's almost too low key and quiet for me...

Sent my donation . . . along with a request that Dodd reproduce the visual aids he used late in the day de-bunking the "conservative's" arguments. I think a concise handout would be useful to those who falter when trying to counter opposing talking points. Perhaps someone has already reproduced these???

pissed off patricia @ 14:

Forgive me the girlie talk, but I loved Alison's hair when it was curly and just don't think the straight hair does anything for her. I vote she allows it to curl again.

I think I am going to send Dodd a check and a thank you note. Seems the least I can do after what he did for us yesterday.

Do you want to vote for a true patriot or one of three part time senators?

I also like the curly hair better.

Well, that's what America is about. Disagreement about hairstyles. Thank God for our Democratic Way of Life. :)

Larisa,

Air America's Tom Hartman ~1:16 into today's show [18 Dec 2007] mentioned your coverage at Raw Story of the interview you did with one of the Siegelman relatives: He mentioned your full name, "Raw Story" and your reporting.

Also, a couple of minutes later [FYI] an A T & T employee "Simon" called from San Francisco discussing the legal training A T & T employees receive. Lawyers with the company require employees like Simon to get training and sign an agreement saying they will not disclose/share anything they might hear while doing line checks. Simon emphsized that if he were to hear "illegal activity" or any comments -- good or bad -- he was not allowed to repeat them to anyone.

Simon mentioned the option to "refuse to sign" the agreement, presumably this would not allow the employee to do that job; or they would be transferred. Curious, this "refusal" for employees was not also something the A T & T lawsyers dared to remind A T & T CEOs in re participating with alleged illegal FISA violations.

Simon mentioned "cognitive dissoance" when contrasting (1) the legal requirements on himi with (2) what A T & T was doing to cooperate with the US government's illegal activity. Hartman emphasized the point -- which is critical for the Siegalman case: Lawyers well knew the legal requirements; imposed those requirements on employees; but did not apply the same legal requirements to the legal counsel. It appears "telecom immunity" is about giving not just the telecom immunity, but legal counsel who signed off on the illegal activity they well knew all employees were not allowed to cooperate with, support, or participate.

Big picture approch to Siegalman, FISA, lawyers, and public oversight of the US government:
- Where were the lawyers;
- What about the lawyers' duty to remove themselves from illegal activity;
- Where are the legal memoranda these lawyers would have to draft that would (a) require standards on A T & T employees; but (b) waive those same standards for the CEO;
- What was the line of e-mail, discussion, and other communication between Rove, lawyers at AT&T, and the targets of that surveillance;
- Is it the view of anyone that the FISA violations were related to illegal evidence gathering against Siegalman, his family, or any private discussions Siegalman may have had with counsel? [Recall, NSA intercepted lawyers' communciations, and that log was disclosed.]
- To what extent would these legal memoranda from A T & T show counsel was making frivolous legal arguments to justify the FISA violations, and how do these legal memoranda contrast with the language Simon referred to in the employee statements.

Seems like the US Atty firings/e-mails about those firings/DOJ plans to "gum this to death" seem similar to how the A T & T lawyers have been handling this. FYI: One outside counsel working with A T & T on the alleged FISA violations is S I D L E Y - A U S T I N, who also provided the financial attestation for BOeing, parent company of J E P P E S S O N, the company allegedly involved with the rendition scheduling.

The question that comes to mind: To what extent -- given the S I D L E Y connection with A T & T -- how much information gathered through FISA violations was used to support rendition?

Also, we can speculate as to what other secret meetings Pelosi and others were a part of; but agreed to remain silent about that illegal activity.

1. Constitutional Challenge To Telecom Immunity: Illegal Assertion of Judicial Power By Congress

I would like to hear more discussion in re telecom immunity: "How can Congress -- a legislative branch -- Constitutionally affect on going litigation by passing retroactive immunity? These cases started before Congress voted for idea of immunity. When Congress passes legislation affecting ongoing litigation, that is an illegal assertion of Judicial power. Where is the discussion of the subsequent problems. What will the court challenges be to this telecom immunity provision -- on the grounds the Congress illegally exercised judicial power?

2. State Secrets: Theoretically Impossible When President Openly Discusses Evidence

Conversely, the Supreme Court stated discussion/litigation of rendition was a state secret. Is it the aim of the legal community working for defense counsel [WH, telecoms] to claim -- despite open disclosures of the illegal activity -- that the FISA violations cannot be litigated because they too are a state secret? Is it the position of the US Supreme Court that Nuremberg trials would have been impossible if Hitler had declared all evidence related to the Holocaust a perpetual state secret?

3. ICC Evidence Gathering Against US Supreme Court, US Federal Judges

Recall, it was the failure of the Nazi judges to strike down bad laws, or their decision to enforce illegal laws, or their failure to prosecute illegal Nazi activity that exposed those Nazi judges to war crimes prosecutions. What is the plan of the ICC to gather evidence in re US Supreme Court alleged complicity -- as Nazi Judges were in re Holocaust -- in re these war crimes, rendition, FISA violations, and breaches of Geneva?

- On these FISA violations: Are we looking at the link between (a) illegally captures information; and (b) use of that illegally captured information to "justify" abusing prisoners; or (c) how illegally captured information was used to "justify" rendering people for abuse?

4. Scope of Other Member of Congress Complicity With Illegal Activity

It is disturbing to discover Members of Congress were given evidence of this illegal activity, but that briefing was part of a "secret" briefing. Arguably, when someone is given evidence of illegal activity, an agreement to keep quiet about that evidence could not be enforced. Members of Congress do not have an "attorney client" relationship with the President; they have the opposite: A Constitutional 5 USC 3331 oath of office requirement to defend, enforce, and protect the Constitution. Even against domestic enemies who are allegedly giving them information related to illegal activity.

- Is there any review of US government-sponsored programs which targetd US citizens with warrantless interrogations?

- Did the Cognress "approve" DHS-JTTF aggressive interrogations against US citizens; and methods to deprive US citizens of access to legal counsel during these coercive interrogations?

The only reasonable answer -- given the continued funding, and decision of Congress to not block funding for these illegal methods -- is taht Congress is complicit with the things they openly assert are illegal. If Congress was serious about defending the Constitutional rights of Americans, they would stop all funding for this illegal activity; there is a way to stop funding: Refuse to let the bill out of Committee; zero out the funds; and require others to pass amendments to add money back. No conference committee is required if the House and Senate jointly start the same appropriation bill with the same funding lines: Zero.

5. Pelosi: Tainted; Subject to Independent investigation

It is disturbing to discover one of the (apparent) reasons for Pelosi to take impeachment off the table is for her to avoid questions about her approval/review in secret of the very things this President is alleged to have illegally done. The next question is: What other things has Pelosi -- in secret -- been told the President is illegally doing; when will her conduct -- as it reflects on the US House -- be reviewed in re ethics: To what extent is she bringing discredit upon the House? It appears Pelosi is in the same camp with the President; and cannot credibly be trusted. Time for the State-level prosecutors to take the lead, work outside Congress, and prosecute Pelosi for alleged violations of the States' right to an enforcement mechanism. Pelosi appears to be a domestic threat to the US Constitution.

6. Pelosi Defenders Momentarily Muted

Note the Pelosi defenders have been quiet once it was disclosed she was aware of the illegal water boarding in 2002. Still think she's up for leadership as the Speaker? I think not. Time to remove her -- now, before the election -- as Speaker, and find a new Speaker who will open all the doors to an inquiry into Pelosi-Bush-Cheney alleged illegal activity/refusals to end illegal activity/other alleged illegal activity in re CIA tape destruction.

I am unemployed and broke, but I just gave Dodd's campaign ten bucks.
What's your excuse? We need to show the Democratic candidates that good behavior will be rewarded with money for their campaigns.

Good deeds get money. I think even the top three Dems can understand that.

Oh, and in case they're wondering which deeds qualify:

- Impeach Bush and Cheney, and I'll send you my rent money
- Contempt of Congress for Mukasey, Rove or Rice gets a hundred bucks
- Any prison sentence for any Bushie or Republican gets twenty bucks

Other deeds may qualify. See your Bush ScandalBase for details.

Dodd rocks, and so does Alison Stewart, (and this is totally off topic) but...

WHY DID SHE STRAIGHTEN HER HAIR?

It's like Valley of the Dolls at MSNBC!

Major respect for Dodd !