Yawn.
It never ceases to amaze me how Democrats get all flustered every time some Republican -- gasp! -- plays politics.  "My word, they are saying BAD things about us.  How dastardly!"
The GOP has just handed Dorgan the rope to hang them with.  Will he? I doubt it, but there is no sense whining about the whole thing.
Dorgan should play this to the hilt:  Denounce the attacks on his character.  Demand a special prosecutor be appointed to look into the matter.  Pledge to take a lie decector test and demand GOP pols do likewise.  Remind people that Abramoff is tied to a MURDER investigation and say how any association with him would never happen...too bad the GOP can't say likewise.  In short, point the finger right back at the pit of sleaze that is the Congressional GOP leadership.

Posted at November 29, 2005 5:01 PM in response to The Dorgan Smear

I agree that it might not pass muster as a legal defense (however, since we don't know the scope of Miller's clearance, it is premature to conclude that discussions of Wilson and "Flame" were outside of it).



But you are right that it might be used as a distraction, which wouldn't please the NYT at all.



Sadly, I question how isolated such ties to the intelligence community are. There are two questionable journalistic incidents that have received surprisingly scant criticism from the journalistic community. The first, of course, is Miller apparently acting as a DoD plant for WMD reporting. The second is Armstrong Williams being bought off with federal funds. In neither case was there a substantial outcry, leading one to suspect that they were not anomolies.

Posted at October 16, 2005 11:50 AM in response to Miller's Security Clearance

Bingo!

It has long been my suspicion that the NYT has fought to keep Miller from testifying precisely because they did not want this to come out.

The last thing they want is for Libby (or any other official) to use the defense that leaking Plame's identity was not a crime because Miller had a security clearance.

OTOH, Democrats in Congress would be wise to use a little ju-jitsu to highlight Miller's ties by demanding her security clearance be revoked. Certainly someone who recieves classified information, cannot remember where she received it, and then loses the notebook in which she recorded it cannot be trusted.

Posted at October 16, 2005 9:39 AM in response to Miller's Security Clearance

As offensive as the actions by the Gretna Sheriff's department were, they are not unexpected. I do not want to minimize the clearly racist views that were behind this, but it is not unreasonable for people to be wary about what will happen to their community if massive evacuees come pouring in. This is exactly the type of behavior that an enlightened FEMA (and state emergency agencies) should expect in the event of a catastrophe. They should have been reassuring Gretna's residents that they wouldn't have to bear the burden of hundreds of thousands of people camping out in their back lawns.

The question is what the hell was FEMA and the LA national guard doing while this two bit police chief Lawton was giving these orders? One would have presumed that the caravan of aid flowing into the city would have been so massive that the local police would have gotten run over trying to stop it.

Posted at September 10, 2005 8:45 AM in response to Gretna's Choice

Luigi:

What on God's earth are you talking about? Lieberman was the committee chair, for Christ's sake! The Democrats were in the majority! They couldn't derail the nomination? Please.

Lieberman is guilty of criminal negligence, along with Bush. He called Brown qualified. He supported him, along with his equally unqualified minions. Lieberman knew damn well that he had no expertise and he didn't care.

You are defending the indefensible. If this is the level of competence of the Democrats, I don't want them back in the majority.

Posted at September 9, 2005 7:00 AM in response to 42 Minutes of Shame

Luigi:

I want a majority party, and we aren't going to get there if we A) can't find a place for the Joe Liebermans of the country who typify a lot of middling voters;

I have no idea where you are coming from. Are you aware that hundreds of Americans, if not thousands, are dead today because Joe Lieberman did not do his job? Do you get that? Do you care?

Is there "a place" in the party for Joe Lieberman? Yes. In the broom closet. So long as he has a "D" next to his name and votes for the Democratic leader he can stay. But, make no mistake, the party does not need him. He is a Senator from Connecticut. If he drowned in a hurricane tomorrow, the party could fill his slot with someone much better. I refuse to give his disloyalty a pass the way I might to a Senator from a purple or red state.

and B) Stop wasting time by attacking the Liebermans and the Daschles when the real enemy is radical modern conservatism.

Is this a joke? The only reason those two get attacked is because THEY DON"T UNDERSTAND THE THREAT. If Lieberman wasn't smooching the "real enemy" on the floor of Congress he wouldn't be getting attacked. If Lieberman wasn't signing off on all the "real enemy's" appointments and miserable decisions he wouldn't be attacked. If Lieberman attacked the "real enemy" he wouldn't be attacked.

It is bad enough that Lieberman undermines the Democratic Party. Now that his criminal negligence has gotten Americans killed he must be held to account. I would say that even if it wasn't good politics or personally pleasing because it is the right thing to do. Fortunately in this case we have hit the trifecta.

Posted at September 9, 2005 5:45 AM in response to 42 Minutes of Shame

The Duke:

This is utter bunk. The head of FEMA was formerly a cabinet-level position. The ostensible reason for folding FEMA into DHS was that the consolidation of agencies would make disaster mitigation and relief more effective -- not that the position wasn't important.

Even if actual hearings are not always necessary and are time-wasting formalities in many cases, Lieberman and his staff should have spotted that Brown was unqualified merely by reviewing his resume. The sad fact is that Lieberman didn't care that Brown wasn't qualified. It is obvious from the transcript that Liberman was familiar with Brown's dismal background.

I'm not sure if I really want to know what Lieberman thought was more important than protecting the country.

Posted at September 8, 2005 11:51 PM in response to 42 Minutes of Shame

More highlights from Chairman Joe:

I am glad the President has nominated someone already familiar with FEMA's mission to become Deputy Director. Mr. Brown is currently General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of the agency, a position he has held since February of 2001. Before joining the Bush Administration, I note from his resume, he served as executive director of the Independent Electrical Contractors in Denver. In the early 1980s, Mr. Brown served as staff director of the Oklahoma Senate's Finance Committee, while serving on the Edmund, Oklahoma, City Council. He ran for Congress in the sixth district, and, in what I think is particularly useful experience, early in his career, was assistant city manager in Edmond, with responsibility for police, fire and emergency services.

[...]

Mr. Brown, you have extensive management experience. For this job, you will need it.

Truly, Lieberman is a disgrace. He should be stripped of his committee position by Reid. Otherwise the Democrats will have no credibility. Lieberman signed off on this buffoon and credited him with "extensive management experience". Joe lied and people died.

Posted at September 8, 2005 9:44 PM in response to 42 Minutes of Shame

I hate to say it but I almost feel sorry for Bush. The man clearly thinks much more like a FReeper than your typically wonkish politician. I have no doubt that he truly believes all the policy peddled by the Norquists, Limbaughs, and Wolfowitzes.



I am sure that Bush just scratches his head and cannot figure out why the economy isn't booming (he cut taxes!) or Iraq is a quagmire (They were going to greet us with rose petals. Chalabi said so.).



Similarly, what is obvious to the rest of us -- that appointing unqualified political cronies like Joe Allbaugh or Michael Brown to critical executive positions at FEMA is a recipe for disaster -- is no doubt a great mystery to Bush. He surely views Michael Brown as a Good Man who would naturally do good work.



Clearly Bush is used to rubbing shoulders with those far smarter and more accomplished than he is. He has long since given up trying to evaluate what they do. He has faith in his appointments much as a boy has blind faith in his father.



What is shocking is that the United States of America could actually pick a President with such an infantile view of the world.

Posted at September 1, 2005 4:12 PM in response to Is Bush Overwhelmed?

Even as Ed waves his white flag, the GOP is ramping up their talking points. I can count a few so far.



1. Looters deserve what they get.



2. Looters (shooting, etc.) preventing rescuers from delivering aid.



3. Nobody could have predicted the levee failures.



In 2008 (When Ed feels the time is right to politicize the storm), the Democrats' arguments will go over like a lead zeppelin. Not only will the public recognize the 3 year late criticism as being politically opportunistic and not see the critics as being genuine but the GOP will roll out the Democrats' statements from 2005 to impeach any attacks on the GOP ("Well, when Katrina hit you said 'the President is doing all he can, why are you attacking him now?").

Posted at September 1, 2005 2:11 PM in response to Why FEMA Matters