Want to know why getting that retroactive telecom immunity is so important to Bush? It's not just about tapping phone calls.

Scholars & Rogues:

Following up on my post from a little while back discussing Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell’s desire to police the Internet, the Washington Post’s Ellen Nakashima confirmed last weekend that the Decider had signed a classified directive authorizing the NSA to more expansively monitor intrusions on federal networks for signs of cyberattacks:

Until now, the government’s efforts to protect itself from cyber-attacks — which run the gamut from hackers to organized crime to foreign governments trying to steal sensitive data — have been piecemeal. Under the new initiative, a task force headed by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) will coordinate efforts to identify the source of cyber-attacks against government computer systems. As part of that effort, the Department of Homeland Security will work to protect the systems and the Pentagon will devise strategies for counterattacks against the intruders.

As Brian has said recently, the U.S. is absolutely not ready to handle cyberwar on almost any front. I’m all in favor of redirecting tax money towards protecting and strengthening our Internet infrastructure against any one of the millions of crippling threats it can face, rather than expensive, crappy weapons systems that have little measurable effect except fattening defense contractors’ coffers.
But in an expansive profile of Mike McConnell, the New Yorker’s Lawrence Wright touches on the myriad obstacles our intelligence community faces towards handling a real threat, and why they get it wrong so often.

Bill Maher: The Decider

Greg Sargent:

The meeting between Dem Congressional leaders and the White House over how to resolve the Iraq war spending standoff has just ended, and it looks like things are at a serious impasse...read on

Bush never really wanted to negotiate because he's the Decider after all...via an email--here's Pelosi:

Let me associate myself with the comments of Senator Reid by saying this: the meeting was disappointing. We had come in hopeful that there could be an opportunity to enlarge the issue of this bill, to how we bring stability to the Middle East, to the region. We wanted to talk about how we help the American people by turning our soldiers back to fighting terrorism, strengthening our military, which this war is weakening. And do that in a way that we can work in a bipartisan way and with the President of the United States.---"So it is clear that the difference between the Democrats and the President is the issue of accountability. He will not accept any accountability or responsibility for what has happened there.

Continue reading »

Better than his dancing, at least. And I must admit, I like the song choice.

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"I decide. I'm the decider. I decide when the oboe comes in."

Sen. Mark Pryor just told Hardball that our AG lied to him about Tim Griffin. He says that Gonzales told him he would go through the confirmation process to be appointed, but as the newly discovered emails have indicated---that was never the plan and it never happened...

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The Decider spoke...

Harry Reid..."If Karl Rove plans to tell the truth, he has nothing to fear from being under oath like any other witness."

Duncan: This is correct. The only reason to refuse to be under oath or even have a transcript is because you plan to lie and you want to do it with impunity.

Arlen Specter

A Senate Republican on Tuesday directly challenged President Bush's declaration that "I am the decision-maker" on issues of war. I would suggest respectfully to the president that he is not the sole decider," Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said during a hearing on Congress' war powers amid an increasingly harsh debate over Iraq war policy. "The decider is a shared and joint responsibility," Specter said.

AP:

President Bush. on a collision course with Congress over Iraq, said Friday "I'm the decision-maker" about sending more troops to the war. He challenged skeptical lawmakers not to prematurely condemn his buildup. "I've picked the plan that I think is most likely to succeed," Bush said in an Oval Office meeting with senior military advisers.

Back on 04/18/06, I posted the video of Bush saying: "I'm The Decider and I Decide What Is Best"

Bush: I say I listen to all voices but mine's the final decision and Don Rumsfeld is doing a fine job. He's not only transforming the military, he's fighting a war on terror - He's helping us fight a war on terror. I have strong confidence in Don Rumsfeld. I hear the voices and I read the front page and I know the speculation but I'm the decider and I decide what is best and what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of defense.

So how did Rumsfeld do? And how could I forget "the dicator" quote.

Some last minute reactions to the Preznit's speech. Interesting the Decider didn't mention he's locked up only the "Bad Arabs" for over five years without a trial. So then Bush goes off to "sell" his plan...at Fort Benning?!?

Eric Reeves: "2007 gives all signs of being the most destructive year to date in the Darfur genocide." (h/t Daily Darfur).

On-topic, why does the Governor of New Mexico have more diplomatic competence than the Secretary of State? Nevermind.

Ave Cassandra : response to Ahnold's healthcare plan.

Off the Beaten Path: "Straight but not narrow" edition: The Lesbian Blog Award nominations are open. There are some great, and I mean great, writers over there.

P.S. I'm glad someone misses Fafblog as much as I do...

Guest round-up by Blue Gal

Political Animal: As soon as he dumps another scapegoat, the Decider will announce an escalation--this time with lavender cannon fodder

Halfway There: Correcting another MSM wingnut's lies and willful ignorance

Brainshrub: Why Mom hates Hugo Chavez

The Agonist: The euro officially passes the dollar

Opinions You Should Have: We almost missed this excellent "Year in Review"...

Mad Kane: Leave No Campaign Plans Behind … in a Hotel Room
 

Confined Space: The International Labor Organization calls on Bushistas to stop violating screeners' rights to organize unions.  Meanwhile, in North Carolina last Thursday, hundreds of workers walked off their jobs at the world's largest pork-processing plant.  They face what thousands of American workers face every year--illegal retaliation and firings for standing up for their legal right to form a union. In Houston, mounted police rode into a crowd of striking janitors, trampling many and arresting over 40 peaceful workers for merely demonstrating.  BU$HCO has anticipated worker unrest with this Martial Law made easy legislation. We also note that The Decider has renominated a controversial recess appointee to oversee wage and hour protections. Regulations this groteque nominee, Paul DeCamp, spent his entire career fighting against.

E&P: Editorial director of CBS.News.com has raised eyebrows with a piece titled "Good Riddance to the Gingrichites." It took him 12 years to tell the truth, most of these media clowns never will.

US GULAG WATCH: Guantanamo combatant status reviews are "show trials"... The realities of mass US incarceration...New Guantanamo Bay legal compound planned...Dodd Moves Quickly to Neuter Bush's Torture Bill

Media Matters: Wingnut Smackdown!

HOLY CRAP: Top Ten Abuses of Religion in Politics...Goring Religious Oxen...Theocon Offers Democrats A New Faith-Based Agenda...

OFF THE BEATEN PATH: Black Agenda Report...Last Left Turn Before Hooterville...Debt On Comics ...Science Blog...