The Hillary Clinton Conversion Syndrome

As is perfectly clear, I'm waaaay to the left of Senator Clinton. And I want to smack the blood-on-their-hands Naderites upside the head. Possibly on a permanent basis. (Metaphor, metaphor).

You heard me complaining below about all media whore media's continuing sexist coverage of the Senator, and it's still going on today.

My spies in Limbaugh-land say that he's ranting on about "single women" and how they're going to decide the election. As if there's something wrong with that? Who cares?

And I've read some columns, oddly, where other right-wingers are going all nutty on "single women" (who comprise a quarter of the population -- and I'd guess the other 25% of the 50% female population would be -- married women?) and calling them "slutty"?

As if calling women "slutty" will keep them from casting their vote? Ee-ew. How Anita Hill swiftboaty.

Now we have Charles Krauthammer, who apparently doesn't know any better, putting a metaphoric pubic hair on our public coke can.

His argument against Hillary Clinton is: don't vote for her because she's married to Bill Clinton, and presidents shouldn't be married to former presidents.

I kid you not. That's his frickin' beef.

Well, Charlie, that's pretty dumb of you. You on the rag, or something?

It's idiotic on its face.

Plus, you know, a lot of people LIKED having a surplus, and not being involved in big-time foreign wars, and not killing a lot of our troops and other people's civilians, trying to expand health care for all, and protecting the environment, and not pissing money away on mercenaries, and working on energy independence, and having a FEMA that worked, and improving our infrastructure, taking the Al Qaeda threat seriously, and upholding the rule of law, and generally having a professional and competent government.

So again, I am waaay to the left of Hillary Clinton, but I thought I'd let all my fearless readers know that columns and comments by right-wingers like Krauthammer are really starting to get to me.

I read that column, "Americans reject a co-presidency," with something like shock and awe.

This wild vile sexist swiftboat spin is creating in me and in many of us something like a Hillary Conversion Syndrome.

I just sent her money. Stop these sexist rants, reichwingers, or I swear, I'll send again.



.Hillary Clinton
Clinton and sexism
gender controversy (sic)

None Dare Call It Sexist

Here's a fine sexist slam-down of Clinton brought to you by the New York Times. They're so enlightened. Really.

And for a walk down memory lane, here's an earlier article about a fine sexist slam down of Clinton, brought to you by the Washington Post. It's all about cleavage. And remember, WaPo is so enlightened. Really.

And here's Taylor Marsh, pointing out the fine sexist slam-down of Clinton by "neutral" media whore Tim Russert. He's so enlightened. Really.

The Daily Howler's coverage of the frat boy pile-on was right on point:

(Liveblogger Garance) FRANKE-RUTA: OK, this is now everybody—and I do mean everybody—against Clinton. It makes her look brave for just standing there, this small determined woman being attacked by three men on either side of her, two male moderators, and the entire male Republican field. Each of the critics on his own would be more effective, but taken as whole, the optics of this are uncomfortable.

You know, it really doesn't matter that she gets peppered with snide question set-ups about having been merely a President's wifie, though that happened some years back (can you believe Timmeh taking up time on national TV to mention that the Senator is a "wonderful woman" with "a great husband"?) and trivializes her completely, which is of course, the point.

What a load of crap.

Clinton regularly gets blamed for being AT ONE TIME too weak AND too strong (oh, and the NY Times publishes a whole article about this, whilst merrily swiftboating Clinton sexistly on its front page!).

Useless jealous Heather spinster semi-femi MoDo trashes Clinton in every way for every stupid reason -- like giving away a cat (hunh?) -- all the frickin' time, but the blood on the torturing hands of illiterate sadist Bubble Boy, former enthusiastic Toad-exploder, don't really bother that MoDo much. Just get fix her up with that other stupid NYT columnist, Tierney, who worries 24/7 about who will educated women marry. (Answer: not you.). And bemoans the fact that more women than men are going to college (but didn't give a shit when the figures were reversed. Hmm. )

But it's ok to call Senator Hillary Clinton a nappy-headed ho, see? Just don't say it like that! Sure, all her supporters are really Anita Hill nutty/slutties! And that's ok! Because we don't give a crap about them anyhow, they're just a buncha frickin' broads!


I love how the boys love to play the gender card in national politics, do not you?

It works like this: if you're a gurrrl, and you complain about sexism, that's you being sexist, because you're a gurrrrl.

You can't even mention sexism, because that would be playing the gender card, which you can't do, because you're a gurrrl.

It's the perfect double bind!

Therefore, the only way you can criticize sexism and not play the gender card, is to just shut up about it, bitch.

And isn't shutting up uppity bitches what it's all about in the first place?

Duh.




Hillary Clinton
Clinton and sexism
sexist

US Diplomats: Hell No, We Won't Go -- To Iraq, Dirty Bush's Deathtrap.

Sure, you don't want to go to Iraq. But Dirty Bush will make you go. Or, he'll destroy the State Department and US professional diplomacy from within. It's not like he believes in diplomacy, or professionalism anyhow, is it?

Really, it's win-win for Dirty Bush.

STATE DEPARTMENT TO FORCE DIPLOMATS TO GO TO IRAQ
Lack of volunteers prompts agency to impose Baghdad service on some

WASHINGTON - The State Department said Friday it will require some diplomats to serve in Iraq because of a lack of volunteers willing to work at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Beginning Monday, 200 to 300 diplomats will be notified that they have been identified as "prime candidates" to fill 40 to 50 vacancies that will open next year at the embassy, said Harry Thomas, director general of the Foreign Service.

Those notified that they have been selected for a one-year posting will have 10 days to respond. Only those with compelling reasons, such as a medical condition, will be excused from duty, Thomas said.

More here. WaPo here.


Nobody forced Dirty Bush go to Vietnam.

In fact, the coward got to check off a little box saying, "I don't wanna serve overseas." And he got away with it. He didn't go to Vietnam, and let others spill their blood because he wanted to save his own ass.

And he's still trying to save his sorry ass.

At the expense of others.

Rummy Thrown Into Frog Hot Water: Is a Slow Simmer Torture, Or Just a Pleasant Bath?

Uh-oh.

Rummy's in trouble.

Didn't he know enough to stay away from France?


Torture Complaint Filed Against Rumsfeld


October 26, 2007

PARIS (AP) -- American and European rights groups filed a legal complaint in France accusing former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld of responsibility for torture in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay.

The complaint was filed with the Paris prosecutor's office as Rumsfeld arrived in France for a visit, according to the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, the Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and two Paris-based groups, the International Federation of Human Rights and the League of Human Rights.

Full story here.

Christian Missionary "clown" nabbed for child porn; molested orphans

Conservative Christian missionary, Paul Carlock, a 57-year-old former police officer who worked as "Klutzo the Clown" alongside his wife dressed as "Smilee" for about a decade at birthdays, hospitals and partish parties has been caught with kiddie porn he filmed in the Philippines -- where he also molested orphans as they slept.(Can't you just hear him telling little kiddies, "Oops! So sorry about touching you there! I'm just so clumsy! Have a balloon and don't tell your mommy what the bad clown did. She won't believe you anyhow.")

read more | digg story

GORE WINS NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE

Could this be a turning point?

Will the USA now begin to stop its six-year slide into the vile Dirty Bushist hell of moral and fiscal bankruptcy?

Tune in next week, kids.


Full story here.



Al Gore
Gore+Nobel+Prize

Torturz "R" -- US!!

Jimmy Carter tellz it like it iz.

Not that anyone here seems to give a shit. I mean, not that any of the Bushist fascists seem to give a shit.

Oh wait. Right.

That would be because -- they're Bushist fascists!!

Anyhow, God bless you, Jimmy Carter.

God bless you.


.

Casualties of War

A Task

. by Czeslaw Milosz


In fear and trembling, I think I would fulfill my life

Only if I brought myself to make a public confession

Revealing a sham, my own and of my epoch:


We were permitted to shriek in the tongue of dwarfs and demons

But pure and generous words were forbidden

Under so stiff a penalty that whoever dared to pronounce one


Considered himself as a lost man.






.





This photograph says it all.
Osama lives, our young men and women die and suffer, Iraqis die and suffer.

Bushist fascism and the arrogant, Oedipal, sanctimonious hubris that fuels it continue to bring our country to its knees, leaving us fiscally bankrupt and morally bankrupt.


No one pays for these crimes.

So far.







I'm going on retreat for a while.

See you later.

Iraq War
Dirty Bush
Photograph by Nina Berman, from her excellent book, "Purple Hearts." I think this photo will become an emblematic photo of Bubble Boy's horrid Oedipal war. (Another was the Abu Ghraib hooded black figure with wires attached to his hands.)

Ex-Reagan Aide Calls Bush 'Mass Murderer'

The headline says it all. Paul Craig Roberts, former assistant secretary of the treasury under the Reagan administration, cites a recent report of more than 1 million deaths in Iraq since the war began. He calls Bush a "mass murderer" and also refers to his "Brownshirt administration."

read more | digg story

Breaking: Republican Senator Larry Craig Resigns

"Disgraced Republican Senator Larry Craig announced that he would resign from the Senate effective September 30th. Apologizing to his family, colleagues and constituents, Craig was somewhat humbled, yet remained defiant to the end. It should be noted that someone brilliantly chose to hold the presser at the historic Boise Train Station."

So what about Senator Vitter, Bushist fascist family values adulterer/hooker enthusiast with a dirty-diaper fetish? He's not good to go?

read more | digg story

Senator Larry Has His Own Private Idaho? His Own Private Idaho Ho'? Ho ho ho.

First it was poopy-filled diaper Republican fetishist Senator Vitter.

Now it's anti-gay marriage activist, fake-married, closet homosexual homophobe Republican Senator Larry Craig of Idaho getting caught with his pants down, too.

Yes, no doubt, Senator Larry Craig, like Abu Gonzo Gonzalez, is just a good man whose name is been smeared by . . . .smeared with. . . unwarranted . . . . (long pause from beleaguered Preznit?) . . . mud?

Or whatever.

Senator "Larry" Craig's name is joining the long long list of Republican adulterers, pedophiles, wife-beaters, public adulterers, cancer-stricken wife-abandoners, fake heterosexuals who are loudly anti-gay and seek public sex, lying "family values" guys who indulge themselves in pay as you go sex with male prostitutes and female prostitutes, sometimes paying to be made to be forced to be sexual in poop-filled diapers (my personal GOPervert party favorite).

I think they're all "biblical" Christians, too.

O my God.


(Cartoons here.)



Larry Craig
lewd Senator

Alberto Gonzales resigns as Attorney General

Alberto Gonzales has finally decided to step down from the helm of the Justice Department. He faced calls for his resignation for months after questions arose about his role in the firings of nine US Attorneys. Democrats have also accused him of misleading Congress in testimony about the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program.

read more | digg story

Matt Cooper: Karl Rove DID Leak Plame's Identity

Excellent coverage over at Crooks & Liars, here.
Below is a C & L transcript of David Gregory interviewing Matt Cooper earlier today.

David Gregory: Matt Cooper, let’s pick up on an aspect of the interview with, with Karl Rove having to do with the leak case, the CIA leak case, that you were part of as well.

And something’s that’s very interesting, he, he went out of his way to say, “I would not have been a confirming source on this kind of information” and taking issue with, with Novak’s testimony in his column that he knew who Valerie Plame was.

He said he would never confirm that information. That’s different from your experience with him.

Matt Cooper: Yeah, I, I think he was dissembling, to put it charitably.

Look, Karl Rove told me about Valerie Plame’s identity on July 11th, 2003. I called him because Ambassador Wilson was in the news that week.

I didn’t know Ambassador Wilson even had a wife until I talked to Karl Rove and he said that she worked at the agency and she worked on WMD.

I mean, to imply that he didn’t know about it or that this was all the leak…

David Gregory: Or that he had heard it from somebody else . . .

Matt Cooper: . . . . by someone else, or he heard it as some rumor out in the hallway is, is nonsense.

David Gregory: But he makes no apologies to Valerie Plame.

Matt Cooper: Karl Rove never apologizes. That’s not what he does.

A little consciousness of guilt there from closet cupcake Rove.

Hm. Interesting.

Here's emptywheel via firedoglake pointing out another of Rove's blatant, self-serving lies on TV today, enabled (as ever) by our useless masochistic media whore media.

On a brighter not, here's a story at WaPo about Rove's use of government funds for partisan political purposes. Bet someone will be spending some time on the Naughty Seat.

But I wonder about that careful dance Rove did about Plame, and the outright lie he told. Does this mean that Bubble Boy actually was made to fire Miss Piggy?

Karl Rove
Plame leaker

Fall of Turd Reich As Karl Rove Cuts & Runs

Turdblossom Karl Rove says he's leaving the White House because he wants to spend more time with his family, coming home from work early every day and playing gentle games lying on the floor with his 18-year-old adult son. And his second wife.

So sweet, really.

He wants to spend more time playing with his son, who won't be at even be at home to play with -- because the 18-year-old adult son's going away to college. (Perhaps changing his last name?) Not the second wife, though.

Hm.

No time to think up a less feeble excuse? Ouch.

One wonders why, having weathered many a storm, Turdblossom's finally thrown in the towel.

Whatever could have dislodged him?

Will it be a big shiny new fresh steaming turd that someone just plopped into the Bush WH punchbowl?

A turd that really makes waves.

Big ones. Bad stinky ones.

A turd so big, it says:

EVERYBODY OUTTA THE POOL.






Ee-ew.


Karl Rove
Rove resigns

Sadists for Christ

"Suffer the little children to come unto me?"

Nah.

Let's let the little children who come unto me suffer.


Yes, let's tie children to our motor vehicles with ropes and drag them in the dirt on their stomachs in Jesus' name to show our little children the wonder of His love.


You think I'm joking? Sadly, no.

These are the godly (sic) works of "Love Demonstrated Ministries."

I kid you not.

Aug. 11, 2007, 2:45PM
Pastor accused of dragging girl behind his van
A trainer also faces charges in incident at boot camp

A San Antonio pastor and an employee of his Christian (sic) boot camp were arrested Friday on aggravated assault charges, accused of dragging a girl behind a van

And get this:

The camp was created to "reinstill the values that have been lost in our society for a couple of generations, values such as discipline, morality, unity and integrity."

Full story here.

Christian child abuse
bad Christians

New Evidence Clearly Indicates Pat Tillman Was Executed

New details surrounding the death of Pat Tillman clearly indicate that top brass decided to execute the former pro football star in cold blood to prevent him from returning home and becoming an anti-war icon.

read more | digg story

NEW-BOUGHT RUPERT PAPER RUNS SEXIST FRONT-PAGE ARTICLE ON SENATOR CLINTON & CLEAVAGE ( or, "Rupie Murdoch Is a Nappy-headed Ho")

Mr. No Blood for Hubris and I have been vacationing happily on sunny global-warmingly humid Cape Cod.

One spent a particularly lovely evening in cyber-reality dancing at Jesus' General's party at Cafe Wellstone last night. (One was the one in a lent lavender gown with non-matching but satisfyingly sparkly stilettos).

Returning to cold reality this morning, one read the front page of the Cape Cod Times, that odd very Republican paper, Dow-owned, and now, of course, Murdoch-owned.

That front-page article is called "Peeks and Valleys."

It features three blue Barbie-doll-boobed pictures (an eye-catching 12-column-inches), and manages to mention the name HILLARY CLINTON, and the word CLEAVAGE in its entire two inches of text.

Raise your hands if you think the appearance of a FRONT PAGE, illustrated, 14-column-inch article mentioning HILLARY CLINTON, and CLEAVAGE is the work of just some little local copy editor gone berserk.

(Here's a link, but the online version doesn't do justice to the story's actual presentation, lacking the striking Barbie-doll boob blueprints showing various degrees of cleavage styles, the middle one being marked as "potential U.S. prez" and the rightmost one being marked "va-va-voom." )

Sex objects, anyone?

It's more Hillary-bashing. (And remember, one is well to the left of the Senator).

And it's unabashedly misogynist to boot.

And it's Rupert at work.

One is almost ready to start writing about Rupert's own bag of nuts.

In fact, one just did. (Ee-ew.)


.
Hillary Clinton
Murdoch
sexist cleavage coverage

Oh, Lookie! More Sexist WaPo Coverage of Senator Clinton! (Or, Howie Kurtz and Robin Givhan are Nappy Headed-ho's!)

We covered it before, and now we're covering it again.

The "nappy-headed ho" of all media whore media "nappy-headed ho"s is apparently the Washington Post, which just can't get enough of publishing wildly sexist articles about Senator Clinton, who, by the way is running for President.

But really, let's talk about Mitt Romney's choice of neckties, and whether his donger shows in his pants. Senator Vitter's pants-load, on the other hand, is not really sexual, not in the normal sense, anyway, so that doesn't count.

I guess the closest thing would be for the media whore media to keep talking about Bubble Boy's fake codpiece bulge.

So have at it.


Update: Here's Howard Kurtz's sexist defense of the indefensible: do note his charming sexist title! How witty! He calls it: "Cleavage and Clinton's Campaign Chest"


Hillary Clinton
Clinton cleavage
sexist Washington Post

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Huzzah! Bubble Boy Brings Back Burqas!

Bubble Boy Wastes Blood and Treasure to Install Medievalist Islamic Theocracy: Mainstream Media Mum

No Veteran Not Left Behind

We Can't Care for the Children We Already Have

Child Abuse Prevention Month

America, America: Torture for Fun

Bubble Boy's Oedipal War Broke 'Em, But Bubble Boy Won't Pay to Fix 'Em

More tales of incompetence and inexcusible stupidity about shabby, shoddy "treatment" for American troops with PTSD.

(Recommendations for fixing VA system, here. Earlier WaPo story here.)

The American military, led by raucous draft-dodger George W. Bush as its shining, sock-stuffed-codpiece commander, apparently just can't handle treating its own troops with PTSD now, even thought it's Bush's own Oedipal war that gave them their severe psychological injuries.

Every month, 20 to 40 soldiers are evacuated from Iraq because of mental problems, according to the Army. Most are sent to Walter Reed along with other war-wounded. For amputees, the nation's top Army hospital offers state-of-the-art prosthetics and physical rehab programs, and soon, a new $10 million amputee center with a rappelling wall and virtual reality center.

Nothing so gleaming exists for soldiers with diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder, who in the Army alone outnumber all of the war's amputees by 43 to 1. The Army has no PTSD center at Walter Reed, and its psychiatric treatment is weak compared with the best PTSD programs the government offers. Instead of receiving focused attention, soldiers with combat-stress disorders are mixed in with psych patients who have issues ranging from schizophrenia to marital strife.

Even though Walter Reed maintains the largest psychiatric department in the Army, it lacks enough psychiatrists and clinicians to properly treat the growing number of soldiers returning with combat stress. Earlier this year, the head of psychiatry sent out an "SOS" memo desperately seeking more clinical help.

Individual therapy with a trained clinician, a key element in recovery from PTSD, is infrequent, and targeted group therapy is offered only twice a week.

Here's the real deall:

1. Assess.
Assess symptomatology, and the level of risk to self and others.
2. Refer In or Out, then Treat.
High-risk patients (dangerous to self/others) go inpatient, receive individual counseling at least twice a week, med eval, groups with possible referral for psych eval. They stay inpatient until they are stabilized.
3. Assess again, Refer Again.
Patients assessed as suitable for outpatient treatment get individual sessions, twice a week to start if they're very symptomatic, once a week if that will suffice. Med eval referrals made by clinician as needed. Work toward stabilization of symptoms.
4. Add Groups. (Maybe.)
Once a patient is doing well (symptoms less severe/less frequent), add group treatment -- down the line. Don't start out with group treatment.


Earlier in this series, the writers suggested that "more research" needs to be done on PTSD before treatment can begin.
This is total bullshit. Effective treatments already exist, the military just is not using them.

If the military's not prepared to treat their own wounded, they need to refer their wounded troops for treatment to experienced trauma-trained clinicians.

They're ready, willing, and able.

Get it done. Make it happen.

Get it done.


vets with PTSD
support the troops

Dirty Diaper Fetishist Senator Vitter Caught With His Pampers Down

"I'm not a fan of personal vendetta gotcha-style politics," said Jon Stewart on Tuesday's Daily Show.

"But -- there can be exceptions. Take Louisiana Senator David Vitter . . . .who came to prominence in the 90's demanding President Clinton's impeachment for the Monica Lewinsky affair.

Well, it seems the condom is on the other foot."

read more | digg story

The condom is indeed on the other foot. Seems that prostitute-using Talibangelical Senator Vitter, beyond merely paying big bucks for his hookers, prefers using pro-ho dominatrices to fuel his diaper fetish. And he's the one wearing them. Ee-ew.

Oh, and apparently flat-earth-Republican Mrs. Vitter, who was SO unforgiving of budgetary surplus-creating, Al-Qaeda aware President Clinton's brief consensual fling, has NO problem with her own hubby's illegal kinky professional adultery.

Hey, they're Republicans. They can have contempt for the rule of law. They can get away with murder and adultery. Up is down. Bad is good. Different strokes. "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." (See below)

More on the Sex Senator, here.


Senator Vitter
Vitter and diapers

ARP Poll: Scooter "OJ" Libby's Get Out of Jail Free Card Does Not Sit Well With American Public: 45% Support Impeachment of Bush

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.


--George Orwell, Animal Farm.












Bet Bubble Boy never thought he'd see these numbers.

Poll: Impeachment talk gains steam after Libby move

A bad week for President Bush may foreshadow a dismal political season, as the president’s poll numbers plummet, Republicans abandon his Iraq policy and he faces a nascent censure and impeachment movement.

A new survey by the American Research Group found that only 31 percent of respondents approve of the president’s commutation of former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s prison sentence. The study by the private New Hampshire-based polling company canvassed 1,100 Republicans, Democrats and Independents from July 3-5, finding 64 percent disapproved of the commutation and 5 percent were undecided.

The president commuted the sentence Monday, saying the 2 years imposed last month on Libby, who was found guilty of perjury and obstructing justice in a case linked to the Iraq war, was “excessive.”

The commutation has sparked a firestorm on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), who has drafted a resolution to censure Bush, said the president’s “intervention is an unconscionable abuse of authority by George W. Bush, and Congress must step forward and express the disgust that Americans rightfully feel toward this contemptible decision.”

Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has scheduled hearings Wednesday on the commutation. The hearings will include pardons made by Clinton, former President Bush and possibly other past presidents.

Those hearings may be the least of the White House’s problems.

The ARG poll found a remarkable 45 percent in favor of the U.S. House of Representatives beginning impeachment proceedings against Bush.


In Los Angeles, a storefront “impeachment headquarters” emblazoned with American flags opened July 4. Activists who gathered to open the center accuse the Bush administration of condoning torture, spying on Americans and misleading citizens about the war in Iraq. They also were angry at the president’s decision to commute Libby’s sentence.

“Isn’t it ironic that Paris Hilton will spend more days in jail than Libby?” said Byron De Lear, a Green Party activist.

The White House declined to comment on the impeachment poll, the latest bad news for a president who has seen his public opinion standings dragged to record lows by the unpopular war in Iraq. A Newsweek poll puts Bush’s approval rating at 26 percent.

Full story here. (Big coverage from a rightwing newspaper.)

HuffPo story on Bush hiding his dirty laundry by stiffing Congress, here.

A great piece on the Augean stable that is Bubble Boy's DOJ.

And here's a Bush voter who believes in the rule of law!

And here's a Bush voter who wants to re-elect Gore!


Have the American people finally awakened from the deep sleep of 9/11 PTSD-induced numbing and avoidance?

One hopes so.


Libby
Dirty Bush

FLIP-FLOP: Bubble Boy Has Big Heart for Big Buddies, Black Heart for All the Rest

FLIP.

FLOP.

Mostly FLOP.



Via the New York Times:

Until he commuted the 30-month prison sentence of I. Lewis Libby Jr. on Monday, President Bush had said almost nothing about his philosophy in granting clemency while at the White House.

As governor of Texas, though, Mr. Bush discussed and applied a consistent and narrow standard when deciding whether to issue pardons and commutations. And that standard appears to be at odds with his decision in the Libby case.

Mr. Bush explained his clemency philosophy in Texas in his 1999 memoir, “A Charge to Keep.”

“In every case,” he wrote, “I would ask: Is there any doubt about this individual’s guilt or innocence? And, have the courts had ample opportunity to review all the legal issues in this case?”

FIn Mr. Libby’s case, Mr. Bush expressed no doubts about his guilt. He said he respected the jury’s verdict, and he did not pardon Mr. Libby, leaving him a convicted felon. And Mr. Bush acted before the courts had completed their review of his appeal.

“As governor, Bush essentially viewed the clemency power as limited to cases of demonstrable actual innocence,” said Jordan M. Steiker, a law professor at the University of Texas who has represented death-row inmates.

“The exercise of the commutation power in Libby,” Professor Steiker continued, “represents a dramatic shift from his attitude toward clemency in Texas, and it is entirely inconsistent with his longstanding, very limited approach.”

In the six years that George W. Bush was governor of Texas, a state that executes more people than any other, he commuted a single death sentence and allowed 152 executions to go forward. He also pardoned 20 people charged with lesser crimes, said Maria Ramirez, the state’s clemency administrator. That was fewer than any Texas governor since the 1940s.

As president, Mr. Bush has commuted three sentences in addition to Mr. Libby’s and denied more than 4,000 requests, said Margaret Colgate Love, the pardon lawyer at the Justice Department for most of the 1990s. He has also issued 113 pardons and denied more than 1,000 requests. “His grant rate is very low compared to other presidents’,” she said.

In commuting Mr. Libby’s sentence, Mr. Bush said he had found it excessive. If Mr. Bush employed a similar calculus in Texas capital cases, he did not say so. Even in cases involving juvenile offenders and mentally retarded people, Mr. Bush allowed executions to proceed, saying that he was satisfied of the inmates’ guilt and that they had received a fair hearing.

The United States Supreme Court has since barred the execution of juvenile offenders and mentally retarded people as a violation of the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

FLIP.

FLOP.

“The grounds he offered for commuting Libby’s sentence were equity — that the sentence was out of line with other sentences — or compassion,” Professor Sarat said. “Those two grounds seem so out of character with anything Bush had ever said or done in the area of clemency that it’s as if he has become a different person.”

Mostly flop.

Full story here.

Scooter "Scot-Free Felon" Libby IS Paris Hilton!! (But Paris Spent Way More Time in Jail)

Scootie to Judy:

"Out West, where you vacation, the aspens will already be turning. They turn in clusters, because their roots connect them."

Will they fall down in clusters, too, as one by one they are chopped down at the root?





Here's the Shuster smackdown of an OJ Libbyist.
Here's Dana Milbank.
And let's not forget: Clinton pardonee Marc Rich's lawyer was -- SCOOTER LIBBY.
Here's Dana Milbank.
Here's Thom Hartmann.


Libby
Dirty Bush

Dirty Bush Springs Convicted Felon Libby, Demonstating Typical Bushist Fascist Total Contempt for the Rule of Law

Sickening.

Completely sickening.


Arguably the most morally disgusting thing that Dirty Bush has ever done.


(And there's so much competition in this category, is there not?)



It's Bushist Fascist Jury Nullification.

Sort of like Bushist Fascist Geneva Conventions Nullification. And Bushist fascist Habeas Corpus Nullification.

Which leads to the overriding principle, Bushist Fascist Abiding-by-Law Nullification. Which sends an important message to our young people!

If you work for Bushist fascists, you can commit crimes with impunity!

And what a spin Bubble Boy put on his Scooter Libby "Get Out of Jail Free" "Free DC' sParis Hilton!" moment -- criticizing the sentence itself as "excessive," though the sentence is well within federal guidelines, and was imposed by a Bush-appointed Republican judge.

No, Preznit Toad-Exploder prefers the "slap on the wrist" punishment for cronies, whilst happily (like the true pro-life pro-torture Oedipally-challenged narcissistic monger of war killing 600K+ beings he is) frying many many other felons, like Karla Faye Tucker and assorted retarded persons.

Responding to the Rove-spin is Prosecutor Fitzgerald:

We comment only on the statement in which the President termed the sentence imposed by the judge as "excessive."

The sentence in this case was imposed pursuant to the laws governing sentencings which occur every day throughout this country.

In this case, an experienced federal judge considered extensive argument from the parties and then imposed a sentence consistent with the applicable laws.

It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals. That principle guided the judge during both the trial and the sentencing.

Bubble Boy has no interest in the rule of law, for he is Deciderer Emperor (sans clothes) of the Bushist Fascist Animal Farm.

Where "All Animals Are Created Equal -- But Some Are More Equal Than Others."




















More here.
.Libby
Dirty Bush