Our Media

Very serious.

Lovin the Troops

Bush-style:

The Army has temporarily halted bonus payments for more than 20 enlistment, re-enlistment and service extension programs pending enactment of authorizing legislation.

President Bush, to the surprise of Congress and the Defense Department, vetoed the fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 29 after months bargaining with House and Senate leaders.

In announcing the pocket veto, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said the president objected to a single provision of the legislation that would delay the reconstruction of Iraq, and expose the Iraqi government to unwarranted law suits in U.S. courts.

You don't negotiate with scum like that. Especially when he's doing it to cover his own ass.

Caucus Time

Iowa Caucuses tonight.

Dodd is the only candidate I feel strongly about, but any of the top 3 are fine with me.

I'm going to call it for Obama and Romney.

Should be a fun night!

Needless to say, Villagers are idiots.

Justice Dept to Investigate Torture Tapes Destruction

Good:

The Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into the destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes and Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey appointed an outside prosecutor to oversee the case.

The Central Intelligence Agency acknowledged last month that it destroyed videos of officers using tough interrogation methods while questioning two al Qaeda suspects. The acknowledgment sparked a congressional inquiry and a preliminary investigation by Justice.

"The Department's National Security Division has recommended, and I have concluded, that there is a basis for initiating a criminal investigation of this matter, and I have taken steps to begin that investigation," Mr.Mukasey said in a statement released Wednesday.

Mr. Mukasey named John Durham, a federal prosecutor in Connecticut, to oversee the case.

Punting

President George W. Bush signed into law legislation that increases Medicare and Medicaid payments to doctors and extends a U.S. children's health program.

The law funds a 0.5 percent payment increase for six months to doctors who treat patients under the government's Medicare and Medicaid plans, which provide health care to the elderly, disabled and poor. The legislation also maintains current funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program until March 31, 2009.

I get it. As much as I hate not being able to get proper legislation passed right now, I know it's going to be impossible as long as Commander Prissypants is riding the Oval Office Pony (no, that's not Condi Rice). If this is how the Dems want to play ball, that's fine, as long as they hammer it home that Bush and the Republicans are the ones who are preventing progress. On that count, I think the Democrats need to try harder.

Link.

Et Tu, Obama?

Using right-wing talking points to attack Democrats does not a Democrat make. Kos:

Obama's recent embrace of right-wing talking points and wholesale embracing of Broderite "Unite 08" talking points suggests that he's giving up on Iowa and playing to the independent vote in New Hampshire. He has to stay close in Iowa to remain viable in New Hampshire, but I'm not sure why else he would decide to shit on Democrats at such a rapid clip these past few days.

First the trial lawyer snip, now giving Al Gore and John Kerry the cold shoulder. I don't know what he's aiming for; even if his policies are comfortably progressive, if he wants to get them passed he's only digging himself into a hole by sistah souljah-ing the people who make up the Democratic party.

If Obama wins the nom and picks Bloomberg as his VP I might not vote.

Unity 08

What Digby said.

Regular posting will resume after New Year's. Have a great one!

It's OK If You're a Republican

Wonder what Chris Dodd has to say about this:

Dr. Coburn's weapon of choice is the "hold," a procedural maneuver that allows a single senator to prevent a bill from being passed quickly without a roll-call vote or floor debate. Until a rule change this year, senators could keep their holds secret, and they usually did. Dr. Coburn notifies colleagues about his intentions.

Dodd for majority leader '08!

Et Tu, Scooter?

Remember how this turned out?

"If there's a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is," Bush told reporters at an impromptu news conference during a fund-raising stop in Chicago, Illinois. "If the person has violated law, that person will be taken care of.

Here we go again:

President Bush said Thursday he will reserve judgment on his administration's destruction of CIA interrogation tapes until several inquiries are finished. "Let's wait and see what the facts are," Mr. Bush said.

I'm not holding my breath.

Abu Who?

Because this makes them worse:

Blood-splotches on walls, chains hanging from a ceiling and swords on the killing floor � the artifacts left a disturbing tale of brutalities inside a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq torture chamber. But there was yet another chilling fact outside the dirt-floor dungeon. Villagers say they knew about the torment but were too intimidated by extremists to tell authorities until now.

Stories such as these claims of insurgent abuses and the silence of frightened Iraqis have emerged with increasing frequency and clarity recently as U.S.-led forces push deeper into former extremist fiefdoms and forge alliances with tribes seeking to reclaim their regions.

The reports and tips now pouring in build a harrowing portrait of rule under al-Qaida and its backers: mass graves, ruthless punishments, self-styled Islamic courts ordering summary executions.

Abu Ghraib was a "correctional facility." We built schools!