Here’s Judge Alito’s family. The daughter looks none too happy to be under President Bill Clinton. GIRRRRLLL, you should be SMILING.
Here’s Judge Alito’s family once more, this time pictured with adopted son, Senator Bill Frist.
President Bill Clinton spoke at the Texas Book Festival on Saturday, and I was one of the lucky ones who got a wristband and gained entrance to the House Chamber. I was THIS CLOSE to him. So I started snapping pictures like a madwoman, my eyes misting over, my heart pounding through my chest. A part of me wondered, does he remember me?
How could he not? It was 1998, and I had an internship as the DC correspondent for the Waterloo Courier in Iowa. These were my golden years – reporting on ethanol subsidies and benefits for old people. My big break came when I attended a Conference on Aging (we’re talking Iowa here, people) at the White House, and Clinton spoke to us. I shook his hand. Our eyes locked for a brief moment. I bet a day hasn’t gone by that I don’t think about what could have been.
He used to look at Harriet that way too.
President Bush has picked a new Supreme Court nominee. His name? Samuel Alito. Alito currently serves on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Biggest thing he’s got going for him? His name isn’t Harriet. And, he has a penis. As far as we know.
In this morning’s announcement, Bush praised Judge Alito as the nominee with “more prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in more than 70 years, calling him “brilliant.” Harriet Miers, meanwhile, has been holed up in her apartment listening to “Killing Me Softly.”
Alito has been nicknamed “Scalito” by some due to his similarities with Justice Antonin Scalia. This is just another example of the smearing of conservative Italian-Americans who serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Scalito – I mean, Alito – is the darling of the conservative right based on his abortion rights and church-state rulings. Basically, he doesn’t believe in abortion rights or a hyphen between church and state. It should just be churchstate. In fact, in a case concerning a city’s holiday display involving a creche and a menorah, he ruled that it was constitutional because it also included Frosty the Snowman. Which is really the first time I’ve ever heard of a nativity scene where Baby Jesus is holding a menorah and Frosty shows up with the Magi.
OK – who should I watch? CNN’s Wolf Blitzer or MSNBC’s Chris Matthews? Not to mention FOX, although they’re probably not covering it.
Here are the “Breaking News” teasers:
MSNBC: Waiting for grand jury to return to open court in CIA leak probe.
CNN: Release of documents in CIA leak case imminent.
ITPT: The longer I wait, the drunker I get.
Scooter has just been handed a five-count indictment based on false statements, obstruction of justice
and perjury. Libby has been accused of lying “several times” about when and how he heard that Valerie Plame was in the CIA. He’s also been accused of being possibly the least photogenic person of all time.
Libby was one of the chief architects of the Iraqi war, and now he’s being called a liar. He’s also facing up to 30 years in prison. And, oh yeah, he just resigned.
I suppose I’d be more irate if the war wasn’t going SO WELL.
Karl Rove is one. lucky. bastard. For now.
He may not get indicted today but the CIA leak investigation is ongoing.
This morning, an optimistic Rove told reporters, “I am going to have a great Friday and a fantastic weekend and hope you do too.”
Of course, Rove’s idea of a “fantastic weekend” is outing CIA operatives and lying about weapons of mass destruction so the country can go to war. He’s a party animal!
Patrick Fitzgerald’s office announced that it will release the dirty details today at 11AM CST. Fitzgerald will give a presser at 1PM CST. I will be glued to my TV, not because I really care about the indictments, but because I have a crush on Fitzgerald. He’s the thinking girl’s Extra-Special Counsel.
So who did the White House hang out to dry in order to save the precious Rove?
Doh! It’s Lewis “Scooter” Libby. Scooter is expected to be indicted for making false statements to the grand jury, including the fact that Scooter is not
his real name – he gave himself the nickname in college.
He has been called “Dick Cheney’s Dick Cheney” and “the man behind the guy behind the guy.” Now, Libby will simply be known as “screwed.”
Sen. John Cornyn says that “it’s a shame” that Miers’ nomination has been withdrawn.
Cornyn: “This is quite a tough process, and I can certainly understand. I encourage the president to submit a new nominee as quickly as possible.”
He added, “PICK ME! PICK ME! PICK ME!”
Top 10 Reasons John Cornyn Should Sit On The Supreme Court
(Taken from “Interesting Facts About Senator Cornyn”)
10. He climbed Mount Fuji (correction – he had
the “opportunity to climb Mt. Fuji” – we’re not really sure if he did it or not)!
9. He wrestled when he was in high school!
Greco-Roman wrestling, not sumo style!
8. He plays the trombone!
7. He waited tables at Steak & Ale!
6. He met his wife on a blind date!
5. He already had white hair at 32!
4. He supports the death penalty!
3. He owns several firearms!
2. He likes blueberries!
And the number one reason Cornyn should be the next nominee…
1. Because he’s a hot-rod badass.
Try to keep up.
There is so much news coming out of Washington today that even MSNBC might talk about something besides Janet Jackson’s love child.
CNN is reporting that Special
Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald (aka the thinking girl’s hottie), is focusing on…
Karl Rove. Did he commit perjury? What did he know and when did he know it?
Is he even human?
The charges are expected to be announced on Friday. I don’t know
about you, but I don’t think I’m going
to get much sleep tonight.
In a press briefing yesterday, Scott McClellan was asked about the investigation.
“We’re focusing on what the American people care most about, and that is winning the war on terrorism, succeeding in Iraq, addressing high energy prices and helping the people in the Gulf Coast region recover and rebuild.”
Are you KIDDING?! Rove is about to get taken down. Screw the high energy prices.
Harriet Miers has come out.
This morning, she withdrew her nomination from the Supreme Court, causing Washington insiders to speculate if she was simply too unattractive to secure the votes she
needed. I mean, girl ain’t no Ruth Bader Ginsburg. *Rowr.*
Sandra Day O’Conner, meanwhile, has
agreed to stay on the court until her successor is confirmed, or until Bush
leaves office, whichever comes first.
President Bush: “Harriet Miers’ decision demonstrates her deep respect for this
essential aspect of the Constitutional
separation of powers — and confirms my
deep respect and admiration for her.”
As he rises to her apology
Anybody else would surely know
He’s watching her go
If you’re anything like me, the following question has been plaguing you.
What does Sen. David Vitter, Republican from Louisiana, really think of Harriet Miers?!
Vitter has asked the White House to provide WRITTEN EVIDENCE proving that Miers has a conservative judicial philosophy.
Which begs the question: How does a woman prove that she’s a true conservative, aside from shopping at Talbots?
Vitter: “What I am suggesting is that I’d love to see more written material that predates the nomination… It’s extremely important. I don’t know how to put it in a numbers term, but it’s extremely important.”
I don’t know what I’m searching for but it’s extremely important.
In Vitter’s press release following his morning meeting with Miers, he called her “fairly forthcoming and engaging.”
Fairly forthcoming and engaging? It sounds like a bad blind date. Looks like Harriet didn’t put out.
Here he is telling Harriet to come sit on old Uncle Dave’s lap.
It’s never good when the KKK’s on your side.
The Klan will be holding a rally in Austin on November 5… in support of Prop 2 outlawing gay marriage.
Jessica Edwards of the KKK’s Texas chapter had this to say: “We just want to come and encourage people to vote for Christian family values and against legalized homosexual marriage in the state of Texas… Our speech will not be inflammatory, but we all know the reputation of the name of the KKK, so we expect anti-Klan demonstrators to be there who may become violent. We certainly don’t want any of our people hurt nor any city officials.”
“Unless they’re black,” she added.
The Klan may say they’re against homosexuality and same-sex marriage but their website tells a different story.
And just where do you think YOU’RE going, Karl?
When the grand jury meets today, they could be hearing charges and possible indictments in the Valerie Plame case.
I think I can speak for all Irish people when I say that Independent Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald is a serious o’badass.
The smart money’s on Lewis “Scooter” Libby to get indicted, if only because he’s a grown man who still goes by “Scooter.” But Rove ain’t in the clear yet. And what about Cheney? WHAT ABOUT CHENEY?
According to White House press secretary Scott McClellan, Cheney has always told the truth to the American people. Oh, I mean, except when he appeared on Meet the Press a couple years back and said, “I don’t know Joe Wilson.”
Oh, Cheney. Let’s be honest. You don’t know JACK.
I’ll be glued to CNN for the rest of the day (in between Lifetime movies and Dr. Phil). Feel free to stop by.
I’m THIS CLOSE to supporting the war in Iraq just to be on the opposite side of anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan.
Not only is she planning to “die symbolically” in front of the White House over the next four days by
lying down on the pavement (until
she gets arrested), she’s also declaring that she won’t support Hillary Clinton for president
because Clinton has supported the war.
Did anyone ASK if she would support HRC for president (and OMG is she really going to be the nominee)?! Does anyone CARE who she’s supporting? An endorsement from Cindy Sheehan matters about as much as an endorsement from Alec Baldwin. Spare me.
Sheehan wrote an open letter to Clinton on Michael Moore’s website saying, “I think she is a political animal who believes she has to be a war hawk to keep up with the big boys… We all know that Sen. Clinton, along with many other Representatives and Senators voted to give George Bush the authority to invade a sovereign nation that was no threat to the USA. We know that they spinelessly abrogated their constitutional responsibility and duty to declare war.”
She added, “Playing politics with our soldiers’ lives is despicable.”
Dude. You’re writing on MICHAEL MOORE’S website. Who’s playing politics now?
Global warming = Bad
Political animation that will eat up a couple minutes of your miserable work day (yeah, you) = Good
I’m not usually one to post things that will be seen ad nauseum on other sites but this one was created by Austinites. Mostly. Plus, remember the Monster Mash (it was a graveyard smash)?? If you watch this, it will be going through your head ALL DAY. Better that than Michael Bolton (yeah, you).
It looks like Uncle Cheney done sprung a leak!
According to the NYT, Lewis Libby first heard of CIA operative Valerie Plame/Wilson from his boss, Mr. VP. Oops! Libby must have FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION because he TESTIFIED TO THE GRAND JURY that he heard about Plame from… wait for it… journalists.
Cheney said he heard it from CIA director George Tenet. And then he told two friends and they told two friends and so on and so on and so on!
Yesterday, President Bush “fielded” questions from the media on the ongoing investigation after discussing Hurricane Wilma. (By “fielded,” I mean, of course, “completely avoided.” )
From the transcript:
Q: You said several weeks ago that Special Counsel Peter Fitzgerald was handling the CIA leak investigation in a very dignified way. Yet some of your Republican supporters have recently suggested he may be an overzealous prosecutor, or one obsessing over legal technicalities. Have you revised your thinking on this issue?
THE PRESIDENT: Nedra, I also said — this may be the fourth time I’ve been asked about this, which I appreciate, you’re doing your job — I’m not going to comment about it. This is a very serious investigation, and I haven’t changed my mind about whether or not I’m going to comment on it publicly.
Fine-looking shades you got there.
I’m not even close to kidding.
John Edwards is on tour. You remember John. VP candidate for the Dems. Father was a mill worker. Former Senator from North Carolina. Father was a mill worker. Edwards is going cross-country trying to engage young college students to get involved in the war on poverty, something he is calling Opportunity Rocks.
Today, Edwards was at UT. At 2PM, he walked out on stage casually dressed in jeans and a blue oxford shirt.
Edwards delivered a (mostly) impassioned speech about the 37 million Americans living in poverty today (not counting bloggers because, really, who counts them).
After the speech (which was attended mostly by University Dems wearing oversized Opportunity Rocks! t-shirts), the bloggers were whisked away into a back room. And left there for dead. No, really, for some reason, Edwards made himself available to us for questions. I’d never been this close to a vice presidential nominee in my life. I asked his security guard if I could pinch him to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
Edwards was asked by Mr. Pinkdome about the leadership in the Democratic party today. (Insert Joke Here.) According to Edwards, the party needs leadership that “will stand up for the core beliefs of the Democratic party.” (Insert Joke Here.)
After Edwards once again mentioned the void in American leadership, I saw my in. My palms sweating, my face turning red and my heart breaking just a little bit, I asked him if he had any interest in the 2008 ticket. But Edwards said that his heart is in the poverty issue and he’s not sure where that will lead.
And then I jumped on his campaign staff.
Early voting begins today on Prop 2, the constitutional amendment which would ban gay marriage, which is already banned by state law. I like to think of it as a cover-your-a** amendment.
And time is of the essence. Texans for Marriage even has a COUNTDOWN to ELECTION DAY ticker on its site.
Natural. Desire. From. Paid. Actors.
And the hits just keep on coming.
According to the Star-Telegram, in 2000, Harriet Miers collected more than 10 times the market value ($106,000+) for some crappy half-acre piece of family land in a pollution cleanup site in Dallas. The state wanted to build a highway offramp there. Miers wanted to play hardball.
It only gets better.
The windfall came after a judge who received several thousand dollars in campaign contributions from Miers’ law firm appointed a close professional associate of Miers and an outspoken property-rights activist to the three-person panel that determined how much the state should pay.
I believe Harriet told the judge, “You are the best judge ever!”
At his courtroom appearance, Fugitive, Dead Man Walking , The Accused Tom DeLay enlisted the protection of two bald bodyguards to… deflect from his own baldness. (See “bald spot,” “back of head.” ) Not even the best toupee could hide it.
Ron Heflin / Associated Press
I received an ePostcard from the Republican Party of Texas today, reminding me to vote early and often FOR Proposition 2, which would “protect Texans from having to recognize same-sex unions that are granted in other states.”
I bet you didn’t realize you were in such GRAVE DANGER.
We’re not in Kansas anymore.
Guest writer King Coozie tells us why God hates Florida. – Ed. Note
Cry me a River…
As the umpteenth hurricane of this year’s Global Warming Gone Bad series pulled a “u-ey” off the Mexican coast, Florida’s Governor and karaoke fanatic Jeb Bush, doing his favorite Justin Timberlake impersonation, made an impassioned plea to the Gods, whining, “Why us?” Across the nation, theologians have already answered: “It’s because of 2000, stupid.” And here are just some of the other reasons that God doesn’t like Florida and wants Floridians to know it:
• Making us sit through weeks and weeks of endless Terri Schiavo commentary on TV and in the papers from talking heads and political grand-standing from all sides.
• Subjecting us to the rise of “cimiversity” football teams in Miami, Gainesville and Tallahassee.
• Because of the average speed of traffic in retiree and snow bird favored towns like Naples and St. Augustine.
• Because of the political influence of a very vocal and well-funded special interest group, the Cuban exile community, that keeps us all from smoking fine Cuban cigars and drinking sweet, sweet Cuban rum. That’s just how I roll ‘G.
• Jacksonville, ’nuff said.
• For turning the Everglades into strip malls and cookie cutter housing developments.
• Readers: Add your favorite reason here.
… I cried a river over you.
At least Jeb doesn’t have to think about having lost out to this guy.
