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Chris Matthews points out the inconsistency of Kate O'Beirne's support of Bill Clinton's impeachment for High Crimes for being found guilty of committing perjury and obstruction of justice and her support of a pardon for Libby.
To his credit, Tweety nails the O'Beirne's logic: IOKIYAR.
I think it's a faraway land known as "Planet Beltway." Apparently Kate O'Beirne doesn't think it's improper for the President of the United States to pressure a bedridden Attorney General into legalizing a domestic spying program he already considered illegal. According to the self-proclaimed beltway-bubbled Kate, "there's no there there." After all, the President tried his very hardest to make sure the program was on sound legal footing (something so rare that he should be applauded for it) and no cases have arisen to suggest otherwise. Well, except that one case in Michigan. And what kind of program was in place before Bush sent his goons out? Must have been something pretty radical considering the usually slavishly loyal Ashcroft, Comey and Mueller threatened to resign en masse if it continued unchanged.
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What was it that Reagan used to say, Kate? Oh yea: "Trust, but verify." With all the Reagan nostalgia of late, it's remarkable that it's slipped your mind.
Why is Kate O'Beirne doing Meet the Press? The lineup was Kate O'Beirne of the National Review, PBS’s Judy Woodruff, and David Gregory & Chuck Todd of NBC News. All journalists and one partisan hack. When it came to the topic of Matthew Dowd turning on Bush, she replied: MSNBC transcripts
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MS. O’BEIRNE: I think there might be a larger, more generic lesson about Matthew Dowd, as we head into the next campaign season. Put not your faith in princes, the biblical admonition. He fell in love with a candidate. He’s a Democrat. There weren’t too many Democrats who fell in love with George Bush in 2000, certainly even fewer in 2004. You know, lying with a candidate takes a, I think, cold-hearted, clear-eyed disposition. Half of all marriages fail, so falling in love with a candidate, I said—I think is a risky business, and this Democrat fell in love with a candidate and is now disillusioned.
Dowd was a chief strategist for Bush which helped win his Presidency and all she can tell us is that he is in a divorce proceeding? I hope Dowd gets Crawford Ranch out of it...How does Russert defend this decision? Oh, never mind...
This explains a lot. Christy says that Alberto Gonzales was so bad in preps for the Bobble heads that he couldn't go on....
At a recent "prep" for a prospective Sunday talk-show interview, Gonzales's performance was so poor that top aides scrapped any live appearances.
The NRO wankers want Scooter free so it's no surprise to hear Kate O'Beirne say that she thinks everyone that is guilty of a crime by a jury, but says they are innocent should be pardoned...The juror thinks Scooter should be pardoned because he was a nice guy. He lied, what the heck...No biggie...She'd rather be on juicer cases anyway...
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As Digby says: Pardon My Outrage
Kate O'Beirne agrees, naturally. She is also sitting right next to the juror saying that Libby didn't lie and wasn't really guilty. The juror says nothing. How much do people want to bet that this woman is going to end up being the poster girl for the Free Scooter campaign?
Republican administrations always break the law and when they are caught they always pardon their own. I guess we've just become so used to it now that people don't even find it shocking anymore.
If this happens, from this day forward, Republican administrations know they have no obligation to uphold the law while in office, ever. Why should they?
This is rich:
Although everything wasn't shipshape on board, neither the chronic engine problems nor the election results dampened the spirits of our 450 guests who were unfalingly cheerful and engaged. They appeared to attribute many of the GOP losses to the betrayal of the conservative principles they strongly support.
Engine trouble--Ok, sure...Did the group then throw everyone at the NRO overboard?---Since you guys---led that betrayal.
George Washington University Professor and Countdown resident Constitutional expert Jonathan Turley joined Keith tonight to discuss the legal implications of President Bush's proposed changes to Article III of the Geneva Conventions. Keith raises an obvious yet seldom mentioned point: Is the Bush administration trying to retroactively legalize crimes it very well may have already committed? Wouldn't be the first time.
(guest blogged by Mike)
Kate: the Bribes: the Blogs
( I'm writing this quickly) While talking about Congressman being bribed on "Hardball" today, Kate O'Beirne tried to spin it as a bi-partisan problem. Matthews surprising gave liberal bloggers some props.
Matthews: Is it partisan?
O'Beirne: Oh, It's totally bi-partisan.
Matthews: Every time I say on this show that it's bi-partisan, liberal bloggers and other people say-wait-a-minute. The preponderance of evidence here and I believe it is true. Is that the Republicans have abused power more recently...
I tried to find a graphic that helped Kate out, I really did, but it was impossible. I'm not kidding. I guess she is feeling a bit down about her beloved beltway connections being in deep trouble. Robinson, who I like as a columnist said it was because the Repubs have the power so they get the dollars, but why no mention of Delay's K-Street operation? The one that punished people if they worked with Democrats. Chris goes off into some weird addiction excuse at the end of the clip. You'll notice how "liberal blogs" worked it's way into the conversation...
Digby: "For the first time, I'm truly feeling the democratizing power of the internet (and I'm realizing why the powers that be are trying to cut off its oxygen.) The beltway courtiers are nibbling idly at their cakes, unnerved by the unruly mob of common men committing drive-by emails and digital lynch mobs and storming the stifling, airless social club that has become the nation's punditocrisy...read on"
FDL: "Richard Cohen's Oh-Lawdy-Miss-Scarlett column excoriating the mannerless brutes of the angry left (how very original) drew down predictable ire today. As the blogs turn into the Never Back Down wing of the Democratic Party the call to regulate us into oblivion is only equaled by the one that calls for our marginalization...read on
