EXECUTIVE POWERS EXAMINED

DID YOU WATCH

Did you watch the Torture hearings replay? I made an audio podcast of it. It's a whole day's worth of listening. 52Mb. 8hrs. LINK.

Beavers held no animosity but for a few she called out an individual who sold her out. Haynes was sneaky as shit.

I'm screaming that something smells fishy. Beavers seemed to back Haynes and he used only her opinion to justify the legality of torture after a briefing with Addington and Gonzo at Gitmo!!!!!

CLEARLY!

Somebody needs to make a movie out of this shit.   Because there were many players in these events.

That was too much for Mr. Rodriguez. He stood up in the room, according to one participant in the meeting, and shouted in coarse language that the analysis chief should “wake up and smell the coffee,” because undercover officers were at the “pointy end of the spear.”

The clandestine branch, Mr. Rodriguez was making it clear, would do what it wanted.

What is Torture: This entry is in four parts. The first part addresses the question what is torture?; the second part, what is wrong with torture?; the third part, is torture ever morally justifiable?; and the last part, should torture ever be legalised or otherwise institutionalised?[1] - Stanford

Here Stanford concludes regarding The Moral Justification for Legalised and Institutionalised Torture: So torture warrants are highly undesirable, indeed a threat to liberal democratic institutions. Moreover, torture warrants are unnecessary. As has been argued above, there may well be one-off emergencies in which the use of torture is morally justifiable. In those cases, the relevant public officials must bite the bullet and do what is morally required, e.g. torture the terrorist to save thousands of innocent people. In such an emergency, the military or police officers involved will need to break the law on this one occasion. But in itself this is a small price to pay; and a price the police, the military and the politicians have shown themselves only too willing to pay in situations that are far from emergencies.

Stanford holds that by breaking the law and if found a trial's ensues, clemency may be in order. THEY NEVER ADVOCATE MAKING IT LEGAL. Advanced Immunity is illegal!

Inside a 9/11 Mastermind’s Interrogation By SCOTT SHANE

What did torture buy us?

Asked, for example, how he would smuggle explosives into the United States, Mr. Mohammed told C.I.A officers that he might send a shipping container from Japan loaded with personal computers, half of them packed with bomb materials, according to a foreign official briefed on the episode.

Yet we did nothing to improve the inspection of cargo containers. Instead GWB wanted to leave it to Dubai.

After the attacks, officials recognized that tracking drug lords was not so different from searching for terrorist masterminds, and Mr. Martinez was among a half dozen or so narcotics analysts moved to the Counterterrorist Center to become “targeting officers” in the hunt for Al Qaeda.

Which explains why the War on Terror is as successful as the War on Drugs.

The entire 5 linked page article talks to the benefit of relationship building during interrogations while not making any claims about the harm of the torture tactics on the American values.

Senseless.

MUKASEY GOES TO WASHINGTON

This was a huge challenge for me to juxtapose.

AS SEEN TONIGHT

I took this picture just a couple of hours ago for Wiccan Druid.
My Peter Pace Appropriation Hearing Download ... And the here is an embed for the Apropriations Hearings: Update: This is a work in progress, I won't be done until tonight. Update2: A gap on the video is at 1hr 22 min. It is a part of the source recording I made. Time stamps complete -

At
0:00:30 Robert Byrd's almost blues like opening statement
calls it a nefferious infernal war complains of the lack of White House cooperation. Very moving.

0:12:15 Senator Thad Cochran R-Mississipi

0:14:13 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates opening statements
one short interuption

0:21:00 Deputy Secretary of Sate John Negroponte
protestor evacuated at 0:21:30
seeks funds, touts successes. blah blah blah..... Hard to concentrate on obliterating his misinformation with all those liver spots on his dome.

0:28:00 Byrd again
Says appropriations need to be justified

0:28:45 Sen Dan Inouye D-Hawaii
asked Gates about contractors in Iraq, how many are there, rules of engagement, accountability and who oversees.  137,000 contractors are in Iraq.


0:35:30 Senator Ted Stevens R-Alaska chastises protestors and gets all holy about the rules - he's implicated on bribery right now so really hollow. http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/story/9179115p-9095789c.html
blows Pace then wants to know why its taking so long to get $2B contracts placed. Digging his own grave here.
Negroponte bristles at the opportunity to sell another $6B of crap.

0:42:40 Byrd asks Gates what the president meant by saying we will be there 50 years
Gate affirms the time agreements, claims it would be a fraction of what is there now. Calls it a partnership.

0:51:30 Pace opening statements

0:54:35 Senator Arlen Spector R-Pennnsilvania
over $808B expense by end of '08 Complains that children's health facing veto to pay for this.
requests cost envelope. Arlen asks Negroponte why more talks aren't going on with Iran and other Syria.


0:59:00 Negroponte beats the war drums again Arlen shuts him off and
forces John to admit he is limiting diplomacy.

1:03:00 Senator Patrick Leahy D-Vermont complains to John Negroponte about lack of detail in budget request.
asks if we have the ability to hold Blackwater legally responsible for the criminal conduct. Says they are under the coalition order admits
that he doesn't know but United States can hold them accountable. Admits no one has been jailed, only one investigation, nobody prosecuted. Gates interrupts to say Iraq can not hold
non-iraqi contractors accountable. Gates says military code of justice can hold Blackwater accountable. Asks John if NYT article is false, says he has not read it. Asks for a timeline on investigation. John says pursued actively but doesn't sound to persuasive.
Sounds like a cover-up. Reluctantly admits US courts could try any indictment post investigation.

then there is a blip at 1:22. Moves to Harkin complaining about closing Guantanamo w/Gates. Then Harkin nails Pace on "immoral" comments regarding gays in the military. I will fix this file.
 

01:26:00 Pace gives his response. Significantly different than TPM's edited content.

01:29:00 Thou Shall Not Kill erupts Hearing suspended.
 

Proceedings resume with an empty chamber

01:33:36 Pace tries to wiggle out  Harkin holds him to the fire.

01:36:49 Senator Cochran asks Negroponte what can be done to make our forces less necessary.  John says he's hopeful with little detail.  Gates talks of Jordan & Saudi Arabia and the refugees.  

01:42:00 Senator Mikulsi D - Maryland decrys the indignant hearings.  Addresses Gen. Pace about his personal sacrifice.  Asks Robert Gates about where we are  in improvements in Walter Reed.  Gates elaborates.  300 recommendations have been made.  Determining disability is a big hang up.

01:52:00 Senator Sam Brownback Asks John Negroponte about  the sense of the Senate resolution to split up Iraq into 3 pieces.  Complains about lack of political accomplishments.  Touts Anbar.  John talks a bunch but not very focused or defined nor did this reveal anything new. 

02:00:00 Senator Herb Kohl brings up Gates' involvement with the Iraq Study Group Conclusions.  Gates says most recommendations have been or is being implemented.  Beats a few war drums' but Kohl asks about diplomacy.

02:08:00 Senator Patty Murray D-Washington questions Gates if the breathing space strategy worked to provide political progress, provided push back and asks how much more time Iraqi leadership needs.  Gates touts some military success but doesn't answer the political question.  Then Patty asks about care management.

02:15:30 Senator Byron Dorgan D-North Dakota discusses illegal small weapons proliferations, how the whistleblower (an American Citizen) was tortured and jailed and asks for an investigation.   Then Senator Dorgan complains about why the appropriation is off the books.  Gates puts the question back on Congress, admits George also has a role.  Then questions why major fight is in Iraq when Al Qaeda is in Pakistan.  Gates does Double speaks about the "Central Front".

02:23:40 Senator Feinstein D-California $34, 81, 91, 107, 121, 173, 189B appropriations.  Says it's going the wrong way, questions if this money isn't being done to stage a war on Iran.  Questions the long term commitment and how the supplemental fits with the rest of the Middle East.  Gates said expects long term to be a small effort with no permanent bases but no detailed plans are out there, maybe a force about a fourth as big as now.

02:31:30 senator Dick Durbin D-Illinois  Brings up Blackwater and their criminal nature. Gates passes to Negroponte claims not his domain.  John Negroponte  submits a prepared statement.  Talks of the preparation in training of the contractors.  Clearly can't answer.  Then Dubin talks about the inability to recruit because of contractors.  Gates has dear in the headlights look.

02:40:20 Senator Jack Reed D- Rhode Island to Gates wants to know where he's going to get the troops to balance the numbers.  Gates says Bush was purposely vauge about the draw down then admits there will be no draw down intro ops. Then Reed finds what sounds like a huge double dip in the request for funding.  Questions Pace about Newsweek report (Admiral Fallon's report with rapid drawdown).  Admits Fallon's report and Petraeus had different "flavors" but in the end settled on what the president would accept.

2:49:30 Senator Ben Nelson D-Nebraska tells pace he likes his handwriting.  Then Negroponte gets quizzed about benchmarks.

2:58:00 Senator Byrd asks about draw down plans.  Expected to take at minimum 22 months.  No plans exist.

J. Scott Jennings VS Leahy

C-SPAN 3 at 10am Eastern. Senate Committee
Dismissal of U.S. Attorneys
Judiciary
Washington, District of Columbia (United States)
ID: 08/02/2007 - Jennings, J. Scott Special Assistant to the Pres., White House

The committee continues hearings on, “Preserving prosecutorial independence: Is the Department of Justice politicizing the hiring and firing of U.S. attorneys?”

Personal

Jennings is a native of Dawson Springs, Kentucky and graduated from high school there in 1996. Jennings was a Coca-Cola National Scholar and featured in the Foundation's magazine in 2006. [1]

He received his bachelor's degree from theUniversity of Louisville in 2000 where he was aMcConnell Scholar. While a student at the University of Louisville, he was a news anchor and reporter forWHAS Radio. While at WHAS, Jennings won a local award from the Associated Press for a several-part series on the plight of the homeless living in downtown Louisville.

Career

Jennings served as political director for President Bush's 2000 Kentucky campaign, Sen.Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in his 2002 re-election campaign, Gov.Ernie Fletcher in his 2003 campaign, and managed President Bush’s campaign in New Mexico in 2004, before joining the White House. New Mexico was one of only two states to flip from blue to red in between 2000 and 2004; the other was Iowa.

He served as Associate Director in the Office of Political Affairs at the White House before being named to his present position.^[2].

Involvement

E-mail messages handed over to a congressional committee show Jennings used a Republican National Committee e-mail address to discuss the firings with aides to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales…

Will any Senators on the Judiciary Committee question Jennings on Mitch McConnell’s involvement of the removal of his close friend and former General Counsel, David Huber, from the list of US Attorneys to be fired?

MORE

Comments at SamSederShow.com

DOD BRIEFING REGARDING CORPORALTILLMAN

General Censured for Tillman Investigation Mistakes By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2007 – The Army’s senior civilian announced today that a retired three-star general will receive a letter of censure as the result of a review of previous military investigations into the death of Army Spc. Patrick D. Tillman.

 

What rank does he deserve now?

TODAY'S LETTER TO NANCY

Dear Madam Speaker,

I am urging you again, not to leave for vacation. Please call an emergency session.

Many are concerned about an interim appointment replacing Alberto Gonzales in your absence.

It is irresponsible to leave your post under this threat.

GRILLED GENERAL GONZALES

In its entirety, Justice Department hearings tries to resolve previously conflicting testimony. For video in new window right click here. EMBED CODE:. <embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=6134253684950945629&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>

MUELLER GOES TO WASHINGTON

TODAY'S EPISODE OF

National Security Letters
Washington, District of Columbia (United States)
07/26/2007 AT 1:30pm EASTERN

STARRING

Conyers, John Jr. - U.S. Representative, D-MI

and

Mueller, Robert - Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation

C-SPAN3 LINK RIGHT CLICK, OPEN IN NEW WINDOW.

PREVIOUSLY
The House Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing on the use of National Security Letters by Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Former Deputy Atty Gen James Comey told Senate Judiciary Committee that Pres Bush quelled revolt over legality of domestic eavesdropping program in March 2004 by allowing it to continue without Justice Department approval and directing department to bring it into compliance with law. Atty Gen John Ashcroft, FBI Dir Robert Mueller and other senior officials, James Comey, threatened to resign.   Comey refused to sign the reauthorization and rushed to Ashcroft's hospital room to confront White House chief of staff Andrew Card and then-counsel Alberto Gonzales when they showed up to get Ashcroft to sign instead. Mueller told FBI agents not to eject Comey if Card and Gonzales objected. Comey described seriously ill Ashcroft rising from bed and, in strong and unequivocal terms, refusing to approve eavesdropping program. He recalls anger at effort to take advantage of very sick man who had transferred authority to Comey anyway. Comey says he got an angry call from Card and refused to see him without solicitor general Ted Olson as witness. Bush spoke with Comey and Mueller the next day and told them to amend program and make it legal.

WHY THIS MATTERS
This matters because it sheds more light on the infamous series of events leading up to the installation and legality of the NSA Wiretapping programs.  This hearing may further push our understanding of why the program was so objectionable to Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft.  I expect Robert will be asked to verify that he in fact threatened to resign if the program were to continue.

 

also:
George Bush

  James Comey

Andrew Card

 

and the one, the only,
General Alberto Gonzales

 

Can this be real?  Can it get any worse?  Will Robert back Comey, or the administration?  What did George say to keep Robert from resigning?

TUNE IN AT 1:30 EDT AND FIND OUT

OR BLOG IT LIVE HERE AT:

 

ALBERTO FLIP FLOPS

CALL CPS

WHAT BUSH HAS DONE TO DEMOCRACY

 
BUSH ADMINISTRATION
Contempt Citations 
The House Judiciary Committee meets to consider contempt citations against Fmr. WH Counsel Harriet Miers & WH Chief of Staff Joshua Bolton. Both have failed to comply with subpoenas issued by the committee, and Miers refused to appear at a scheduled July 12 hearing. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) chairs the markup.

Starts 10:15 Eastern Previously: C-SPAN3 LINK RIGHT CLICK, OPEN IN NEW WINDOW. What is Contempt? How does contempt work?

 

Comments on SamSederShow.com

END OF THE NEOCONS

It must be called out. NeoCons are the ugly boil on the great American landscape that is our history. From the Polk, the Segregationists, the Indian killers, and robber barons, to Prescott Bush and much of his gene pool to Nixon, Jim Crow, McCarthy, and George. All of the fools who elected these virus riddled idiots need to take a seat in hell.

HARRIET MIERS QUITS

Note: Garage links to Pravda.

Harriet Miers, brilliant counsel to King George quit yesterday after revelations of new found executive powers enabling the opening of any citizens mail became publicized.

The failed Supreme Court candidate is being replaced to prepare for what aides expect to be a sustained struggle with a new Democratic Congress eager to investigate various aspects of his administration per the Washington Post.

I wonder why George didn't want an American of grace, judgment and unwavering devotion to the Constitution and laws of our country (WaPo) defending him?

I think it's really going to get ugly when people start talking about the Gunfight at the Rayburn Garage.  We don't want a little old lady protecting our leader, right?  Or worse - what if Helen Thomas catches up with him?  Helen can take Harriet pretty quick I believe. 

I wonder who will step up to the plate?  Buffo maybe?

JOHN BOLTON

Force shites upon Reason's Back. - Benjamin Franklin, 1736

"I’m with the Bush-Cheney team, and I’m here to stop the count."  John Bolton, 12/9/2000

 

 

"There's no such thing as the United Nations. If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference."  John Bolton, 1994

 

"long before the timing of that mission (into Darfur) was scheduled, made a personal commitment "  John Bolton, July 2006

 

 

     PEACE ON EARTH