AG Gonzales's Hannity Interview

The Admin has found its spot for getttin' out the message, and surprise its the Fox News Channel. Ths time the AG decides to go toe-to-toe with the Larry King of the political set, Sean Hannity, to defend the DP World port deal.

Firstly, it's notable that the admin has decided to make him the point man on this. I guess Mr. Chertoff wasn't available following the Katrina report (BTW, how did he keep his job or is this this a portent of his imminent departure). I simply find Gonzales to be a lightweight and not very pursuasive.

Sean did twice ask the AG if the UAE's failure to recognize Israel was an indication that it was beholden to radical Islamic influence and accordingly should preclude it from operating US ports. The AG just ignored the question. The first time more deftly, as the question was one tine of a multipart question. To Mr. Hannity's credit, however, he followed up, asking the question on its own and Gonzales simply ignored the question. Interestng.

Machine Gun Cheney

If the only realtime investigation of the incident was conducted by the local Sheriff over the phone with members of VP Cheney's Secert Service detail as the Kenedy County Sheriff's press release indicates, how was it that he\they determined that there was no alcohol involved ('cause the Agent wasn't slurring)?

Vice President Quail

The emerging timeline certainly seems to indicate that someone (can you say Karl . . . sure sure . . . I knew ya could) decided to sit on this story. Was the thought to get the story straight and avoid a Sunday morning press-fest? It would have been a big story on a snowy Sunday in the northeast
when we were otherwise a captive audience. Hhmmmm.

"Big, Swinging" DIck, "Draft-dodging, Deferment" Dick, now "Dead-Eye" Dick

This one is too rich for words. How's 'bout the report that a secret servce agent stopped a local deputy sheriff from questioning the VP? What's the basis for that action? One report is that the SS and the VP already had a "deal" to discuss it with the sheriff the next mornng. Boy, that sounds fishy. Note this ain't Dick's first run in with the law, was it one or two DWI's.

I'm not even remotely implying that this incident was intentional, but absent an investigation, how can it beknown whether the VP's conduct was reckless. I believe most similar incidents, especially those that give rise to hospitalization (ICU in this instance), are worthy of immediate questioning. Ya know the coppers are on to that whole takin' your time to get the story straight bit.

NSA Wiretapping-Honest Assessment is the Enemy

While the trckle of information regarding this program continues what becomes more readily apparent as time goes on is that the administration wants no part of a true assessment over the value of the information garnered by the program vis a vis the amount ofor breath of the intrusions. While VP "Big Swinging" Dick Cheney claimed on CNN in December of '05 that the program "has saved thousands of lives." Admiral Hayden, who leads the program was a tad more reserved when he "cannot personnally estimate" that figure. Hhm, the VP wouldn't be engaging in a bit of overstatement would he?

While poll numbers show a small but solid of respondents approve the president's program (althoug if its illegal, it frankly doesn't make any difference what they think), I think that the numbers are reflective of the administration's strong effort to defend and in fact advocate for the necessisity of the program. In now appears clear that the notion that the program overreaches is widely-held not only by card carrying members of the ACLU, but by (most now former) high-level administration lawyers. For the near term the debate is almost entirely political. How, when and if the matter will be resolved in the courts is a more intringung queston. The argument put forward by the administration and proferred by AG Alberto Gonzalez in his prepared remarks for Monday's Senate hearings simply doesn't suffice. Stating that heeding the 1978 law would be too cumbersome strikes me as lending support to critics. Moreover, that it's too cumbersome to follow the law ain't a defense to law breaking, just ask any current resident of a penal institution.

That all said I think the president and the administration do (or at least did) have a colorable argumenis in support of the program. I just believe that their argument is undermined by the express admission that they considered complying with FISA, but found it too cumbersome
and the fact that they continued to operate in this arguably grey area for over four years.

NSA's Warrantless Wiretapping

The issue is the failure to secure warrants to make searches not as Bush ardently attempts to claim the he is committed to making the searches. No one - NO ONE in their right mind is going to deny the governments ability to make searches within the U.S. pursuant to the issuance of a warrant. The original intent of the founders was to ensure that there were checks and balances on the searches of one's person or property. This proscription was intentionally broad and has been whittled down over 200+ years of jurisprudence. It continues to be a rich area of controversy. Yet despite the fact that the courts have been incredibly deferential to the government, the government is constantly seeking to expand its authority. The so-called Terrorist Surveilence Program is merely the latest, perhaps most insidious attempt to expand governmental reach. Any claims of adequate oversight in this area are specious. C'mon George get a warrant. when the president defines the debate with straw men he easy disposes of, he has the ostensible support of the American people. If the debate was addressed honestly and clearly, few would accept the bald power grab. Even if we assume that this administration will use this "power" in a measured fashion, such a power is subject to significant abuse.

Note to Democrats

If you wish to become relevant again, learn to avoid nuance. The Democrats nuance you to death, I mean god forbid you don't appear sensitive to the [fill in the group\name\cause here]. Jeez, ya simply can please everyone and govern. Governing requires priorities and priorities definitionally mean some things are more important than others. Governing is much harder than being the opposition, although you wouldn't know that by watching the Democrats. Effective governing requires a nuance, somethng that ain't a long suit for the current Admin.

The Republicans have repeatedly outflanked the Democrats since '94 with the sole exception of Clinton's reelection by intentionally painting with a broad brush and respectfully stepping to the side to allow Democrats to do a Cleavon Little impresion. (For those who haven't seen Blazing Saddles, he plays a sheriff that points a gun to his own head and warns, "Don't come any closer or I'll shoot").


How's 'bout just keepin' it simple, don't argue just jab,

-where is the federal government on New Orleans (focus on the problem, don't nuance and don't discuss the whole gulf coast),

-financial malfeasance of hurricane relief funds (note, I'm not saying that these items are really any one's fault necessarily, but the idea is merely stay on offense - do what the Republicans have done so effectively, sell doom and gloom),

-focus on Iraqi oil production, or better said the lack thereof,

-focus on the fact that electricity delivery within Iraq remains (Today!) at a level lower than the day we took over management Iraq

-how much was deposing Saddam going to cost? Didn't Wolfowitz tell us it was going to paid for by the Iraqi people through the production and sale of oil. I mean really talk about miscalculation

-demur as to the legal analysis of the NSA wiretapping program, rather hammer on the fact that Alberto Gonzalez by his own words (later echoed Pres. Bush) undermined the legal argument proferred by the Administraion --- they considered asking for a law change but ether (a) didn't think they'd get it or (b) that it would expose methods and tactics (a strained argument that never has been satisfactorily explained, I mean unless they have a mind reading ray. I think that when we're talking methods and tactics it's about all cell phones, sat.phones, e-mails, text msgs., websites, snail mail etc.

-the Iraq war effort is a financial black hole, compare the money spent to the amount spent on education, yes, U.S. education

-how does the administration reconcile Homeland's Security's objective's with our country's de facto [illegal] immigration policy

-how did Chertoff keep his job

-keep talking about Harriet Myers, Bernie Kerik, Mike Brown - don't let 'em die
maybe i'll continue to rant. . .

Bill Frist's Appearance on Meet the Press

I have never seen Sen. Frist looking so unnerved. From the beginning of interview he appeared terribly off his game. It went from bad to worse. By the time he got to the HCA stock situation, he looked pale and nervous. He tried to profer the "blind trust" defense that Russert challenged in a shockingly direct manner that the trust remained at all times self-directed. A "blind trust" in this instance is an absolute oxymoron andFrist seemed to quickly and contritely abandon his feeble defense.

The other big question was regarding his presidential aspirations. He predictably demurred, but I simply don't see it happening. A year and one-half ago, I considered him a leading candidate. He had seemed to carefully cultivate the religiously conservative portion of the republican party that always seem interested in any alternatve to John McCain (let alone Rudy Guiliani). Since Karl Rove effectively engineering his ascention to majority leader (by remaning conspicuously silent when Trent Lott faced challenges as a result of his comments at Strom Thurmond's birthday party), he sought to carefully cultivate that most powerful wing of the party('cept for stem cell). I fear those efforts will now come to naught. For now I rate Frist chances of the '08 nomination a 1 on a scale of 1-10.

Super Bowl Pick

I saying lay the points and take the Steelers. I think that player for player Pittsburgh has a slight edge, but I think the Steelers get the nod on the coaching\game plan aspect. Cowher and his staff have had this team extraordinarly well-prepared throughout the playoffs and there's no reason that changes here. I think the 'hawks may suffer from the "it's great to be here" blues.

While the Steelers haven't been to the big game in a long time they have knocked on the door a number of times dutring the Cowher era. Steelers win and Ben and the Bus head to Disneyworld.

Frey Comes Clean, Sort of . . .

I watched Oprah's show with great interest. I've read both of Mr. Frey's books and followed his story before and subsequent to The Smoking Gun's account.

Quick thoughts:

Oprah scores for effectively admitting being duped,

Oprah gets too much credit for coming clean (with the benefit of hindsight to have done otherwise would have been foolhardy and indefensiveable),

"Non" Nan Talese (the publisher), appeared like a poorly prepared apologist, in the end she accepted no responsibility, although I guessing she's still cashing the checks from the brisk sales of A Million Little Pieces and its follow-up My Friend Leonard (note the sequel starts during Mr. Frey's make-believe 87 day jail term),

Mr. Frey deserves some points for subjecting himself to a public credibility castration, although he seemed to remain intent on dribbling out truth pellets (my guess is that additional "clarificatons" will continue to come out in the near term),


So will Mr. Frey enjoy the great American redemption we afford to those that we publically flog (i.e. Martha, Richard Nixon Pat O'Brien et. al.). I'm not sure, he's all that compelling a character, but there's always reality tv.

That said, I don't think he'll ever hurt for a paycheck (given his recent book sales I don't think he's got any problems in the near term). My real question is whether he's going to go out and drink or use. I certainly don't wish it upon him nor anyone else for that matter, but he's certainly at risk right now. His "My Way" self-prescribed recovery plan, is a risky propostion in the best of circumstances and these, these ain't the best of circumstances.