Jay Haynes

Bushies Slandering Patriots

Clark's "New Patriotism" theme for his campaign is getting a huge boost from the Republicans attacking a true patriot like Ambassador Wilson.

From the Washington Post:

"In 1988 he was posted to Baghdad, and was running the embassy after Hussein invaded Kuwait in August 1990.

"...in the eyes of hostages, he was a hero. 'He stuck his neck out in our behalf . . . He worked so hard to keep us from falling apart,' recalled Roland O. Bergheer, 75, a Bechtel Corp. manager who was trapped in Baghdad.

"A conservative who lives in Las Vegas, Bergheer added: "I love Joe Wilson. . . . I don't give a damn what his politics are."

And from MSNBC:

"[Wilson] remained behind in Iraq after the United States withdrew its ambassador [in 1991], and won high marks for bravery and steadfastness, supervising the protection of Americans there at the start of the first Gulf War.

A Few Honest Republicans

Thankfully there are some honest Republicans. This video of a Republican former CIA analyst is priceless.

It reveals that (i) the administration is guilty and (ii) Novak is a spinning liar. There is no difference between an "analyst" and an "operative."

The leakers are traitors and should be jailed. If Bush knew he should be impeached. Given that he has previously himself release confidential information it is not hard to imagine that he did.

Could Bush Be Impeached?

John Dean, the former Counsel to the President of the United States and Richard Nixon's White House attorney has an interesting analysis concerning the potential for a Bush impeachment.

"To put it bluntly, if Bush has taken Congress and the nation into war based on bogus information, he is cooked. Manipulation or deliberate misuse of national security intelligence data, if proven, could be "a high crime" under the Constitution's impeachment clause. It would also be a violation of federal criminal law, including the broad federal anti-conspiracy statute, which renders it a felony "to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose."

"It's important to recall that when Richard Nixon resigned, he was about to be impeached by the House of Representatives for misusing the CIA and FBI. After Watergate, all presidents are on notice that manipulating or misusing any agency of the executive branch improperly is a serious abuse of presidential power.

"Nixon claimed that his misuses of the federal agencies for his political purposes were in the interest of national security. The same kind of thinking might lead a President to manipulate and misuse national security agencies or their intelligence to create a phony reason to lead the nation into a politically desirable war. Let us hope that is not the case."

WMD Statements: "Bogus Information"?

Interesting statements to remember when considering the current state of the WMD search in Iraq:

On January 9, 2003, Fleischer stated, during his press briefing, "We know for a fact that there are weapons there."

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld claimed he knew "where [the WMDs] are; they're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad."

Was It Rove?

There is strong circumstantial evidence that it was Rove who leaked. This is an interesting portrait of Rove by the guy who wrote the book on him.

Very telling...

Bush Likes To Leak Himself

Given Wilsongate, it is truly amazing that Bush himself has actually leaked classified information.

From the Providence Journal in 2002:

"The reporters had an hour to ask their questions. But Woodward said the president gave them 90 minutes, often speaking candidly about classified information and explaining the reasons behind some of his actions.

"Certainly Richard Nixon would not have allowed reporters to question him like that. Bush's father [former President George Bush] wouldn't allow it. Clinton wouldn't allow it."

Amazing. Given this, we should definitely be asking if Bush himself was behind the Wilson/Plame link.

Did Rove Leak?

Very interesting, and telling, remarks by Bush.

Q: Yesterday we were told that Karl Rove had no role in it.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q: Have you talked to Karl and do you have confidence in him?

THE PRESIDENT: Listen, I know of nobody -- I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action. And this investigation is a good thing.

Note that his answer, "yes", was to the statement that the press was told Karl Rove had no role in it (Wilsongate). And then he says he doesn't know of anybody who leaked. He does not say, "Karl Rove did not leak". If Rove didn't leak, and the president knows or was told this, why wouldn't the president just say it? Wouldn't that make a much stronger case. Unless, of course, he doesn't have a stronger case...

Bush's Attacks Will Backfire

It is clear that the Bush administration lies (Niger, No Child Left Behind, WMD, Iraq-Al Qaeda link etc. etc. etc. So it will be a key strategy of theirs to make the leading Democratic candidate look like a liar. They did it with Gore and now they are trying it out on Clark.

It won't work because they have told so many lies to the public, their credibility is sinking fast. In addition, the blogshere will uncover the fallacy of their attacks.

Is There A Traitor Working in The Bush White House?

George W. might want to call his dad to ask about national security issues. Bush Sr. said in 1999 (from Josh Marshall):

"I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors."

Fact: somebody leaked the Wilson wife story to Novak.
Fact: the leak has not been identified or fired yet.
Fact: George Bush Sr. thinks people who reveal sources are traitors.

Conclusion: According the George Bush Sr.'s logic, a traitor is still working in the Bush Administration

Rove-Novak Connection

From Josh Marshall. It looks like there is a connection. The questions now seems to be what did Bush himself know?

"Sources close to the former president [George H.W. Bush] say Rove was fired from the 1992 Bush presidential campaign after he planted a negative story with columnist Robert Novak about dissatisfaction with campaign fundraising chief and Bush loyalist Robert Mosbacher Jr. It was smoked out, and he was summarily ousted."

"Why Are These Men Laughing?" Ron Suskind
Esquire
January 2003