From yesterday's Hardball, Kate did her wingnutty best to deflect the new AP video that shows the President was aware of the possibility of the levees being breached by Hurricane Katrina.
Download | play -WMP Download | play -QT (hat tip Lynne)

Matthews: I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees, that's the president. Kate O'BEIRNE:, square those two facts, the briefing we just saw on tape and the president saying he was never briefed as to the possibility of the water coming over Lake Pontchartrain.

O'Bierne: I heard the fellow in front of the weather map saying we can't predict this could happen and then I heard Michael Brown telling us what his gut was telling him. Unfortunately, when I watched, I guess The National Weather Service fellow at his map, we all bring a lot of skepticism to weather reports, Chris. We're habituated to thinking weather reports are wrong....

Matthews: This is the president. He didn't say I didn't expect the lakes to be to run over the levees. Here he says I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees. Why a universal statement like that when it's clear he was briefed as to the prospect that it might well happen?

Our Kansas Roots effort last week was a real success. We managed to get lots of letters about the illegal NSA wiretaps published in local Kansas papers where the Chairman of the Senate Initelligence Committee Pat Roberts no doubt felt their heat, and now we're asking everyone to do the same thing for Chuck Hagel in Nebraska and Olympia Snowe in Maine who are also on the committee.

FDL has a post about today's action.

Glenn Greenwald has a talking points refresher.

Information on calling Snowe's office is here.

Information on calling Hagel's office is here. Information on writing to Maine newspapers is here. Information on writing to Nebraska newspapers is here.

The Senate Intelligence Committee will be taking a vote on March 7 to decide whether they will investigate the illegal NSA wiretaps or not. Everyone who is concerned about this matter should take some action today in order to have an impact this very important upcoming vote.

Murray Waas:

Two highly classified intelligence reports delivered directly to President Bush before the Iraq war cast doubt on key public assertions made by the president, Vice President Cheney, and other administration officials as justifications for invading Iraq and toppling Saddam Hussein, according to records and knowledgeable sources...

The second classified report, delivered to Bush in early January 2003, was also a summary of a National Intelligence Estimate, this one focusing on whether Saddam would launch an unprovoked attack on the United States, either directly, or indirectly by working with terrorists....

The report stated that U.S. intelligence agencies unanimously agreed that it was unlikely that Saddam would try to attack the United States -- except if "ongoing military operations risked the imminent demise of his regime" or if he intended to "extract revenge" for such an assault, according to records and sources....read on

Mike's Blog Round Up

Facing South: Six months after Katrina--the tragic results of Bush's lies and empty promises.

Lawyers, Guns and Money: Newsflash...Contraception prevents unwanted pregnancies!

Beggars Can Be Choosers: Steel workers hit by another lockout as CEO pockets millions.

Shakespeare's Sister: Another alleged rape victim threatened with jail.

Have You Ever Had Any Unkind Thoughts About L. Ron Hubbard?

FBIHOP: A national day of local media protest was announced last week on MediaChannel.org. March 15th will begin this years week-long "spring offensive" against the war
Have You Ever Had Any Unkind Thoughts About L. Ron Hubbard?

FBIHOP: A national day of local media protest was announced last week on MediaChannel.org. March 15th will begin this years week-long "spring offensive" against the war

Another Bill Maher contest entry...