Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Your Day?

Any wonder why it is not recognised in our country?

MAY DAY - THE LABOR DAY
May 1st, International Workers' Day, commemorates the historic struggle of working people throughout the world, and is recognized in most countries. The United States of America and Canada are among the exceptions. This despite the fact that the holiday began in the 1880s in the USA, linked to the battle for the eight-hour day, and the Chicago anarchists.

The struggle for the eight-hour day began in the 1860s. In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada, organized in 1881 (and changing its name in 1886 to American Federation of Labor ) passed a resolution which asserted that "eight hours shall constitute a legal day's work from and after May 1, 1886, and that we recommend to labor organizations throughout this district that they so direct their laws as to conform to this resolution". The following year the Federation repeated the declaration that an eight-hour system was to go into effect on May 1, 1886. With workers being forced to work ten, twelve, and fourteen hours a day, support for the eight-hour movement grew rapidly. In the months prior to May 1, 1886, thousands of workers, organized and unorganized, members of the organization Knights of Labor and of the federation, were drawn into the struggle. Chicago was the main center of the agitation for a shorter day.

78 comments:

blah blah blah said...

interesting lead in. i was raised that we didn't celebrate it because it was a commie holiday, even if we was union.

btchakir said...

Sam:
Thanks for reminding us what most of the world celebrates on May 1.

Of course, celebrating Mission Accomplished Day also gives us so much to remember!

Happy MayDay.
Under The LobsterScope

toniD said...

Clashes erupt at May Day rallies in Macau, Istanbul
2 hours, 59 minutes ago
MACAU (AFP) - Riot police fired into the air and clashed with protesters in Macau while Turkish security forces deployed tear gas and water cannons in Istanbul as May Day rallies turned violent Tuesday.

LINK

toniD said...

Venezuela to leave IMF, World Bank
1 hour, 59 minutes ago
CARACAS (AFP) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez announced Monday his country's decision to pull out of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, accusing them of exploiting small countries.

LINK

Anonymous said...

I have my May pole up!

It is firm and erect!

I'm ready for the dancing to begin around it.

toniD said...

Bush will get Iraq spending day four years after he declared major combat operations were over
by Joe Sudbay (DC) · 5/01/2007 08:32:00 AM ET

What a difference four years make. Bush and Rove probably figured that by now, this would be a national holiday with glowing commemorations of Bush's triumphant speech on the aircraft carrier. Instead, it's a stark reminder of how George Bush lied to the American people -- and how the traditional media fell for his stunts.

Fortunately, there is some sanity on one end of Pennsylvania Avenue this year:
Democratic leaders in Congress are planning a special ceremony on Tuesday afternoon to send President Bush a bill that sets timetables for troop withdrawal from Iraq.

The timing is no accident. It comes on the fourth anniversary of the day Mr. Bush stood on an aircraft carrier under the banner “Mission Accomplished” and declared that major combat operations in Iraq had ended.

The Democrats’ ceremony, featuring the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, is part of the elaborate political theater at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue surrounding the Iraq spending bill, which is destined to produce only the second veto of Mr. Bush’s presidency.

But with Mr. Bush planning to spend Tuesday in Florida talking with military commanders, the White House was being coy on Monday about what kind of theatrics of his own — if any — he might stage. Democrats, however, said they expected the veto to come Wednesday.
This isn't about theater. It's about a war that Bush started without a plan. It's about a war where over 100 U.S. soldiers died after George Bush said major combat operations were over. We've seen plenty of Bush's theatrics. We need to see some rational thinking and a plan to end the war. Bush and his team should put as much time in to thinking about ending the war as they put in to the theatrics and politics of the war.

LINK

toniD said...

Saudi Prince Bandar Bought Powell A Car

Now we know why the President and Turd Blossom refer to the Saudi Prince as "Bandar Bush." Only a Republican would make the argument that its ok to accept a car from a Saudi Prince because its technically "legal."


A few nights after he resigned his post as secretary of state two years ago, Colin L. Powell answered a ring at his front door. Standing outside was Prince Bandar, then Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, with a 1995 Jaguar. Mr. Powell’s wife, Alma, had once mentioned that she missed their 1995 Jaguar, which she and her husband had traded in. Prince Bandar had filed that information away, and presented the Powells that night with an identical, 10-year-old model. The Powells kept the car — a gift that the State Department said was legal — but recently traded it away.
COMMENT FROM CLIFF: This is of course why we trump up evidence against Iraq while Bush's sponsors get to send 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers here and still get invited to break out the brandy snifters at Camp David. Because, on a larger level with oil, and a smaller one with all manner of gifts like this (If Saddam had only given Powell that '97 Jaguar...), the Bush Republican Party has been bought by the Saudis.

LINK

Anonymous said...

i'm trying to give this guy a chance but he's just not cutting it.

toniD said...

Update: And now we have this "breaking news" banner from ABCNews.com:

SOURCES TELL ABC NEWS THAT REPORTS OF THE DEATH OF HAMZA AL MASRI, LEADER OF AL QAEDA IN IRAQ, ARE UNCONFIRMED AND PART OF A MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN. DEVELOPING...

LINK

Anonymous said...

Jo,
No lie---I too tried giving this guy a chance man, who the hell is he anyway...I cant torture myself any longer for real, thats it i am tuning off for real. What a fool AA is, what a damn fool, to let a great guy go for THIS???? Wow, how low can you go???

toniD said...

Today's Must Read
By Paul Kiel - May 1, 2007, 9:18 AM
I think we've identified a rule of Alberto Gonzales' Justice Department: the more senior you are in the leadership, the less of a clue you have of what's going on there.

We were all treated to Gonzales' historical display of bumbling amnesia before the Senate Judiciary Committee a couple of weeks ago. Now we learn that the second in command, Paul McNulty, wasn't really in the loop, either. From The Washington Post:

Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty told congressional investigators that he had limited involvement in the firing last year of eight U.S. attorneys and that he did not choose any to be removed, congressional aides familiar with his statements said yesterday.
McNulty said he provided erroneous testimony to Congress in February because he had not been informed that Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and his aides had been working with the White House on the firings for nearly two years, the congressional aides said.


Put this together with the news yesterday that McNulty, along with other members of the senior leadership in the department, had been cut out of the hiring and firing process for junior political appointees, and it's clear that he really didn't have much to do with running the place. From all evidence, that responsibility fell to Kyle Sampson and Monica Goodling, two young aides who acted as little more than proxies for the White House.

As Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) puts it: "If the top folks at DOJ weren't the key decision-makers, it's less likely that lower-down people at DOJ were, and much more likely that people in the White House were making the major decisions."

LINK

toniD said...

This guy on AAR, I just turned it on to listen and I got through a whole 6 minutes and turned him off.

Yep, you all were right. He's terrible!

But what a lead in to Lionel! Maybe that's what they had in mind.

Anonymous said...

Ray McGovern said on Tucker that the Niger goes back to Cheney, that he has evidence.
Could that link be Michael Ledeen?

Anonymous said...

As much as I will miss SAM...I will NOT miss His insulting My mother (and Myself Frankly) on a daily basis by calling her RACIST, ANTI-IMMIGRANT, and ANTI-LATINO. Nevermind the fact that my mother is a DEMOCRAT (like Myself), An IMMIGRANT, and LATINA. Sadly, He could never QUITE bring himself to discuss the Issue of Illegals Honestly. At every opportunity he had to SHINE on this issue and Avoid dragging The Democratic party into the gutter on this issue, he instead chose to sink to the level of the rest of the PRO-ILLEGALS on the far left and far RIGHT. Dis-honest Racist Rhetoric (Putting everyone that's ANTI-ILLEGAL under this Racist / Anti-Immigrant Umbrella the way Pro-illegals love to do) ,
Floating BOGUS Analogies! (Comparing The Elderly going to Canada to buy Medicine to Criminal Entry Into America[!?!?!??!]).
And of course insulting Immigrants by Referring to Illegals AS Immigrants. NEVER once commenting on the fact that Children (born here) of ILLEGALS are suffering because of their parents crimes, and trying to Push THEFT as part of the American way. All I'm saying is that it will be refreshing to Finally have someone on Air-America Besides Thom Hartmann (who uses the Racist Rhetoric Himself, but nowhere nearly as bad) who's really capable of Discussing Honestly and Completely this very contentious (NOT ONE-SIDED) Issue. We Voted for ACCOUNTABILITY, TRUTH, AND JUSTICE in the last Election. 3 Things which Illegals want NOTHING to do with. And 3 THINGS which have nothing to do with ILLEGAL entry into this country....Latinos will remember Being associated (incorrectly) Illegal Entry just because we're being invaded by a Latin Countries.
Not all Latinos are even IMMIGRANTS, let alone ILLEGAL and I hope it's not too late and this issue does not Blow up in our collective faces (The Democratic Party).
A concerned Democrat and Latino.
E. Roque

Anonymous said...

Sam, Sam, Sam....I'm still missing you....

Anonymous said...

thanks to reagan, we don't celebrate much, except imperialism

toniD said...

BBC: At one-year mark, Iraqi democracy on rough road David Edwards and Mike Sheehan
Published: Tuesday May 1, 2007

Democracy is failing in Iraq, a new BBC News video report surmises.

"Four years after President Bush declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq, the country's parliamentary democracy is barely functioning," says the BBC's George Alagiah. "Members of the 275-member Iraqi parliament face constant threats; no substantive legislation has been passed."

In Iraq, BBC foreign correspondent Humphrey Hawksley reports "a blistering attack" on the U.S. government from a Member of Parliament. "George Bush is the leader of all evil," she exclaims. "American troops must leave Iraq."

Hawksley also hears from the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, who says, "We don't want them to color our culture or politics with American culture, because that will cause us more problems than the occupation itself. We need to choose who helps us, and how."

Illustrative of Iraq's troubles with democratic rule, Hawksley notes that Iraq's Parliament is nearly a year old, but major laws have yet to be passed.

Video at link

Unknown said...

You should have seen the arguments we used to have on this blog about anarchism. Some people think anarchists all look like the Sex Pistols, and throw dynamite.

Nice to see someone remembers we owe whatever labor laws we've got to the anarchists.

Anonymous said...

Sacrificial Wolfie
By Naomi Klein, The Nation

Posted on April 28, 2007, Printed on April 30, 2007

http://www.alternet.org/story/51157/

It's not the act itself, it's the hypocrisy. That's the line on Paul Wolfowitz, coming from editorial pages around the world. It's neither: not the act (disregarding the rules to get his girlfriend a pay raise) nor the hypocrisy (the fact that Wolfowitz's mission as World Bank president is fighting for "good governance").

First, let's dispense with the supposed hypocrisy problem. "Who wants to be lectured on corruption by someone telling them to 'do as I say, not as I do'?" asked one journalist. No one, of course. But that's a pretty good description of the game of one-way strip poker that is our global trade system, in which the United States and Europe -- via the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization -- tell the developing world, "You take down your trade barriers and we'll keep ours up." From farm subsidies to the Dubai Ports World scandal, hypocrisy is our economic order's guiding principle.

Wolfowitz's only crime was taking his institution's international posture to heart. The fact that he has responded to the scandal by hiring a celebrity lawyer and shopping for a leadership "coach" is just more evidence that he has fully absorbed the World Bank way: When in doubt, blow the budget on overpriced consultants and call it aid.

The more serious lie at the center of the controversy is the implication that the World Bank was an institution with impeccable ethical credentials -- until, according to forty-two former Bank executives, its credibility was "fatally compromised" by Wolfowitz. (Many American liberals have seized on this fairy tale, addicted to the fleeting rush that comes from forcing neocons to resign.)

The truth is that the bank's credibility was fatally compromised when it forced school fees on students in Ghana in exchange for a loan; when it demanded that Tanzania privatize its water system; when it made telecom privatization a condition of aid for Hurricane Mitch; when it demanded labor "flexibility" in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami in Sri Lanka; when it pushed for eliminating food subsidies in post-invasion Iraq. Ecuadoreans care little about Wolfowitz's girlfriend; more pressing is that in 2005, the Bank withheld a promised $100 million after the country dared to spend a portion of its oil revenues on health and education. Some antipoverty organization

toniD said...

Leahy: Leaked Justice Department memo 'disturbing,' should have been turned over Michael Roston
Published: Tuesday May 1, 2007

The chair of the Senate committee that is investigating the firing of 8 U.S. Attorneys by the Justice Department called news of a classified internal memo on hiring and firing authorities granted by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to his staff "disturbing." He also chided the Justice Department for failing to turn the memo over as it produced documents upon Congressional request.

"It is disturbing to learn that the Attorney General was granting extraordinary and sweeping authority to the same political operatives who were plotting with the White House to dilute our system of checks and balances in the confirmation of U.S. Attorneys," Sen. Patrick Leahy said in a statement.

Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, added, "This memorandum should have been turned over to Senate and House committees as part of requests made in ongoing investigations. I expect the Department of Justice to immediately provide Congress with full information about this troubling decision as well as any other related documents they have failed to turn over to date."

The Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman was referring to the revelation of the memo published in the National Journal late on Monday.

"Attorney General Alberto Gonzales signed a highly confidential order in March 2006 delegating to two of his top aides -- who have since resigned because of their central roles in the firings of eight U.S. attorneys -- extraordinary authority over the hiring and firing of most non-civil-service employees of the Justice Department," wrote Murray Waas at the Journal.

LINK

Anonymous said...

E. Roque,
You must be out of damn illegal alien mind, Sam was the bomb---you the racist here, and I AM truly illegal straight out of Africa baby. Sam was the man, now you better kiss the ring of the king. This boy did not even cover up for his own, and told on AIPAC when he needed too, are you fff kidding me man. Poor poor illegal alien you are. And guess what I have 3 kids that are illegal as well and aint no way Sam is going to insult me and mine. Sam please come back soon, am missing you!

Alice said...

DN Headlines

- Hundreds of Thousands to March for Immigrant Rights

- April 2007 Becomes Sixth Deadliest Month of War For U.S. Troops

- Sen. Durbin: I Knew the Public Was Being Mislead into the Iraq War

- Israel Commission Criticizes Olmert's Handling of Lebanon War

- Israeli Whistleblower Vanunu Convicted For Speaking to Media

- Justice Dept Memo Reveals Broad Effort to Politicize Department

- Virginia Governor Partially Closes Loophole In State's Gun Laws

- Three U.S. Troops Indicted In Killing Spanish Journalist Jose Couso

- Chavez to Pull Venezuela Out of World Bank & IMF

Anonymous said...

(Listening to NOVA M Radio...)

Why is Stephanie Miller so short with Charles Rangel?

Oh I remember, she isn't a serious radio host. She doesn't 'get' what he is saying.

She probably has something better to do than have a real interview.

Is this the mainstreaming of leftwing radio? Because it sucks.

Alice said...

The history of May 1, International Workers´ Day

toniD said...

Female bloggers face stalkers, harassment
'Disturbing trend' at blogs as threats cause fear; some quit blogging.

LINK

Alice said...

Police charging the mob after the explosion, Explosion of the bomb, and Hospital scene.

Border images include clockwise from left: A.R. Parsons, Louis Lingg, Inspector Bonfield, Captain Schaack, Sheriff Matson, Michael Schwab, August Spies, Samuel Fielden, Officer Mathias Degan, Mrs. Parsons, Oscar Neebe, Nina van Zandt, Captain Ward, George Engel, and Adolph Fischer

toniD said...

Teaser from Raw Story.

Op-ed: Bush may retain Gonzales to preempt senate action


Might want to watch this. I have to go to work. sounds interesting.

Alice said...

Second Life-based mock trial of the Josh Wolf case- trnscript

When they returned, the jury found for the defense. The verdict was delivered by an avatar named ‘Parmesan Eggplant,’ and, in true Second Life form, rudely interrupted by an avatar named ‘Nameless Amat.’

.

‘Eon Berkman:’ please rise and state the jury’s verdict

‘Parmesan Eggplant:’ first question - yes, there is a protectable first amendment interest

‘Parmesan Eggplant:’ second question - no, the Feds case did not outweigh Josh wolf’s interests

‘Parmesan Eggplant:’ not sure about exact wording of third questions - but he has been in prison long enough

‘Nameless Amat:’ wtf is going on

‘Eon Berkman:’ thank you

‘Rebecca Berkman:’ Nameless, we are having a trial.

‘Eon Berkman:’ the court orders josh wolf RELEASED!

Anonymous said...

Fuck, Stephanie Miller is on KRXA too.

Usually I listen to Sam/Lee Rayburn/, Thom Hoffman, Randi Rhodes on AAR, then Peter B. Collins on KRXA, then Mike Malloy on Nova M Radio.

So now I'm stuck in this time slot.

"There wasn't as much 'troop hating'" during the Barry Goldwater days?

"You suck. I want Imus back. " Thank you honey, I appreciate that.

Stephanie Miller is a fake and a phoney.

toniD said...

Bush In The Bunker

doubt President Bush is drinking again (although with him, anything is possible). That being said Bush probably feels like he is living in a pressure cooker (one of his own making, I hasten to add). And it appears he is not happy with it!

From tonight's uber-insider Washington newsletter The Nelson Report (sub reqd):

Sometimes insider gossip seems to confirm what all us outsiders think we're seeing, so, for what it's worth...we're hearing that some big money players up from Texas recently paid a visit to their friend in the White House. The story goes that they got out exactly one question, and the rest of the meeting consisted of The President in an extended whine, a rant, actually, about no one understands him, the critics are all messed up, if only people would see what he's doing things would be OK...etc., etc.

This is called a "bunker mentality" and it's not attractive when a friend does it. When the friend is the President of the United States, it can be downright dangerous. Apparently the Texas friends were suitably appalled, hence the story now in circulation.

Its relevance to various current issues is all too obvious, including the fate of World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz. Ask anyone at or close to the Bank, and you know, just as a professional, that Wolfowitz's effectiveness is finished, no matter what. But there are now other issues in play, assuming you think that the US role in selecting the Bank leadership remains important.

Here's a private comment summing up the entire situation, from a Loyal Reader out in the real world of the Rocky Mountains, who happens to be a lifetime Republican, and a business person. We pass it along, as it is representative of comments we get ALL the time from Republican friends...a mixture of hyperbole, irony, and angst...and is thus a cautionary tale in itself:


Sometimes I am tempted to feel sorry for Republicans like this, but then I remember that in the aftermath of 9/11 they choose tax-cuts and short-term partisan gain over national unity and then I realize they are and will get their just desserts.

As Nelson's interlocutor writes:

"You know, if Bush would stop his self-indulgent stubbornness for half a day, he could see plain as day that he has an opportunity to retain American control of the World Bank by easing Wolfie out. If he tries to keep Wolfie in that spot, American control could end.
I really wonder whether his failure to distinguish between necessary toughness and catastrophically shoot-ourselves-(America)-in-our-foot pigheadedness results from biological anomaly. His inability to harvest experience, and so to think and form successful judgements, is just so inexplicable".


Actually it's not inexplicable at all. See, Bush's interests--his legacy, his leverage vis-a-vis Congress and the like--diverge starkly from those of the U.S., the World Bank and the international community insofar as this: if it doesn't benefit Bush or redound to him in some positive way--most often only in a short term, expedient political sense--it's not worth the effort.

But I digress. Back to Nelson:

Assuming the Europeans want Wolfowitz out badly enough to compromise with the White House on his replacement, ARE there qualified Republican players available, at this point? One might be tempted to remind Bush that then-Deputy Secretary of State Bob Zoellick wanted the Bank very much, and one might be tempted to add that Zoellick would have been a perfect choice professionally and personally...one who would never have embarrassed himself, the President, and his country, as Wolfowitz seems intent on doing.
One would probably be wrong to remind Bush of all this, and in any event, indicators are Zoellick rather enjoys making a zillion dollars as a big time investment banker, and so maybe he's not available.

One might then be tempted to suggest the former Asia Subcommittee chair, Rep. Jim Leach, an Iowa Republican whose defeat last Fall came almost entirely due to the war in Iraq, and who would be seen by most of the rest of the world as a superb choice from his days as a Foreign Service officer, and his three decades in the House, during which he served on both Foreign Affairs and, if memory serves, the Banking Committee.

Of course Leach is a "liberal Republican"...an endangered species, and not one generally found south of the Pecos River...and he was a persistent critic of Bush North Korea policy until the White House finally took his advice, and let Asst. Sec. State Chris Hill actually practice diplomacy. Leach is probably still waiting for the thank-you call on that.

But if temperament, talent, and training has anything to do with it, and with Wolfowitz now absolutely untenable, perhaps the White House might want to give Leach a call, over in his Wilson Center office. Just a suggestion.


But I imagine the White House will probably call Doug Feith, John Bolton or maybe even crazy Curt Weldon to run the bank when Wolfowitz goes. For Bush it's always about Bush's short-term political gain and nothing more.

LINK

toniD said...

Later. Have to get ready for work. Might stop back if time permits.

blah blah blah said...

allright, rachel if you're listening:

john bolton - the worlds worst banker...

bibimimi said...

International Cannon Fodder Day

War Dog said...

Ha ha ha ha ha ha..

That guy is funny..

He thinks I should go away..

Ha ha ha ha ha..

I wonder if he know I have posted here for 3 years..

Why would I want to go..??

I think I know what bothers him..

The Truth..!!!

I am Reality..

And he can not stand to have his Crazy Talk help up to the light of day..!!

It's like that Fitzmas Thing..

I laughed and laughed at all the Crazy Talk about Fitzmas..

And guess what..

I was right again...

Ha ha ha ha ha ...

Ya gotta love that.!!!

War Dog said...

May Day..!!!

That's kinda funny..

Americans like Pay Day..!!!

War Dog said...

That communism thing just never caught on...

Folks like Capitalism...

A chance to make a better life in the greatest country in the world...

That's the American Way..!!!

War Dog said...

Now the 4th Of July...!!!

That's a Holiday folks like to celebrate..!!

War Dog said...

I wonder how many more days Castro has on this earth..

Tough old bird that one..

But I would like to buy a Condo down there on the beach...

Cuba will be a great country when Castro kicks off..

========================================================================================================




Fidel Castro a no-show as Cuba’s May Day parade begins


HAVANA — Hundreds of thousands of cheering workers marched through Cuba’s Revolution Plaza on Tuesday in a May Day parade, but Fidel Castro was nowhere to be seen.

The 80-year-old communist leader was not watching from his usual perch atop a viewing platform and has not been seen in public since emergency intestinal surgery forced him to step down temporarily nine months ago.

Castro has attended the annual International Workers’ Day march for decades. Cuban officials had refused to speculate on whether he would use this year’s event to make his first public appearance since undergoing surgery and temporarily ceding his duties to his 75-year-old brother.

mmrules said...

Alice said...
Little Lobbyist on the Prairie

Great post.I didn't know that about her.I sure hope congress will listen to her and her group,PROTECT!

War Dog said...

On economics, it is reasonable to assume that Sen. Clinton's policies would not be altogether different from Bill Clinton's. This is not a bad thing.

On trade, his record was outstanding, and on the budget was far better than George W. Bush's. While Clinton raised taxes in 1993, it should be remembered that he cut them in 1997, including a cut in the capital gains tax.

On regulatory policy, Clinton was no worse than the current administration and probably better on net.

War Dog said...

War Dog is always ahead of the curve...

I picked Hillary years ago..

=========================================================================================================


At some point, politically sophisticated conservatives will have to recognize that no Republican can win in 2008 and that their only choice is to support the most conservative Democrat for the nomination. Call me crazy, but I think that person is Hillary Clinton.

mmrules said...

toniD said...
Today's Must Read
By Paul Kiel - May 1, 2007, 9:18 AM
I think we've identified a rule of Alberto Gonzales' Justice Department: the more senior you are in the leadership, the less of a clue you have of what's going on there.

We were all treated to Gonzales' historical display of bumbling amnesia before the Senate Judiciary Committee a couple of weeks ago. Now we learn that the second in command, Paul McNulty, wasn't really in the loop, either. From The Washington Post:

Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty told congressional investigators that he had limited involvement in the firing last year of eight U.S. attorneys and that he did not choose any to be removed, congressional aides familiar with his statements said yesterday.
McNulty said he provided erroneous testimony to Congress in February because he had not been informed that Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and his aides had been working with the White House on the firings for nearly two years, the congressional aides said.


Put this together with the news yesterday that McNulty, along with other members of the senior leadership in the department, had been cut out of the hiring and firing process for junior political appointees, and it's clear that he really didn't have much to do with running the place. From all evidence, that responsibility fell to Kyle Sampson and Monica Goodling, two young aides who acted as little more than proxies for the White House.

As Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) puts it: "If the top folks at DOJ weren't the key decision-makers, it's less likely that lower-down people at DOJ were, and much more likely that people in the White House were making the major decisions."



Or just an old lawyer trick to get out of a perjury claim! :)

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know if the Sunday show with Sam will have podcasts?

Unknown said...

The promo's for Lionel's show are really scaring me. The guy sounds like Buddy Hacket, but isn't nearly as funny. C'mon Sammy, where are you? Surprise us with some really cool new show on TV or something.

Unknown said...

Not sure Red Badge. I think I heard Sam mention podcasts prior to leaving. Any idea when they're going to fix this blog so it's not in a flat format?

toniD said...

Op-ed: Bush may retain 'drastically, weakened' Gonzales to avoid Watergate-like hearings Nick Juliano
Published: Tuesday May 1, 2007

A member of the House panel that voted to impeach former President Richard Nixon said in an op-ed Tuesday that the Bush Administration's battle with congressional probes into the firing of eight US Attorneys is "reminiscent of the Watergate scandal."

Former Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman, who sat on the House Judiciary Committee that investigated Nixon prior to his resignation, says President Bush may be sticking with embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to avoid a confirmation hearing for his replacement.

"All this is reminiscent of the Watergate scandal," Holtzman writes in Tuesday's Los Angeles Times. "In 1973, as the cover-up was unraveling, the Senate imposed a condition on the confirmation of President Nixon's nominee for attorney general, Elliot Richardson. Richardson's predecessor had resigned because of Watergate troubles. Concerned that the Justice Department would not get at the truth, the Senate insisted that Richardson would name a special prosecutor to investigate Watergate. Richardson duly appointed Archibald Cox."

Holtzman said the Senate could use confirmation hearings to investigate whether administration officials miscarried justice in firing US Attorneys on what Democrats say was largely political ground. Those hearings would serve the same role as the Watergate-era special prosecutor's investigation, Holtzman says, adding that the Senate "also might use the opportunity to probe the Justice Department's role in mistreatment of detainees, four years of flouting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and other serious matters."

A coauthor of "The Impeachment of George W. Bush: A Practical Guide for Concerned Citizens," Holtzman was active last year in a series of rallies calling for the president's impeachment. In December, she told a crowd of activists in New York that impeachment can work when done right, as previously reported by RAW STORY (link).

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/OpEd_Bush_not_ousting_gonzales_to_0501.htmlLINK

air-ono said...

E. Roque

fuck off to south america

*all* of north america is for english-speaking people

(keep out)
(and take shelly with you)
(but send cocaine)

toniD said...

FDA limits Chinese food additive imports

By Elizabeth Weise and Julie Schmit, USA TODAY
The Food and Drug Administration is enforcing a new import alert that greatly expands its curtailment of some food ingredients imported from China, authorizing border inspectors to detain ingredients used in everything from noodles to breakfast bars.
The new restriction is likely to cause delays in the delivery of raw ingredients for the production of many commonly used products.


STORY: U.S. food imports outrun FDA resources
GRAPHIC: Some imported food rejected (interactive map)
The move reflects the FDA's growing unease with what the alert announcement called China's "manufacturing control issues" and that country's inability to ascertain what controls are in place to prevent food contamination. For example, the agency says that, after weeks of investigation, it still does not know what regions of China are affected or what firms there are major manufacturers of vegetable proteins.

Inspectors are now allowed to detain vegetable-protein imports from China because they may contain the chemical melamine. Melamine, used in the manufacture of plastics, was found in the wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate that has led to the recall of 5,300 pet food products.

Melamine's effects on humans, if ingested, is unclear. In fact, the chemical has not been found in earlier tests to be highly toxic, a fact that has scientists looking for second chemical agent that could be increasing its toxicity.

The agency for the first time also said it has received reports, which it has yet to confirm, that approximately 1,950 cats and 2,200 dogs died after eating contaminated food. The only number of pet deaths that the FDA has confirmed thus far is 14.

An import alert of this breadth is rare. Before this new FDA action, only products from two Chinese companies that exported the melamine-tainted wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate had been detained.

Now for the products to reach U.S. foodmakers, the importers will have to prove to the FDA that they are safe. The ingredients restricted include wheat gluten, rice gluten, rice protein, rice protein concentrate, corn gluten, corn gluten meal, corn by-products, soy protein, soy gluten, mung-bean protein and amino acids.

The FDA has not reported finding melamine in food imports for humans from China, yet it last week launched sample testing "out of an abundance of caution," said chief medical officer David Acheson.

Now it worries the FDA? If they'd been doing their job....

air-ono said...

Anonymous said I AM truly illegal straight out of Africa baby.
(May 1, 2007 10:46 AM)

i'll pay you to eat war-dog

toniD said...

Venezuela seizes oil fields
Venezuela stripped the world's biggest oil companies of operational control over massive Orinoco Belt crude projects on Tuesday, a vital move in President Hugo Chavez's nationalization drive.

LINK

air-ono said...

it's a full moon & i'm as restless as a motherfucker

so best i read an article before i say something that may bring the blog into disrepute
: )

toniD said...

Biden: Going to shove
Iraq bill down Bush's throat
Blunt talk from Joe Biden, picked up by C-Span answering a man's question at Jim Clyburn's fish fry April 27 in Columbia, S.C. Biden is asked what he'll do when Bush, as is expected, vetoes the Iraq funding bill.

LINK

toniD said...

FLASHBACK: In 1999, Bush Demanded A Timetable
President Bush will soon ignore the will of the American people and veto a bill that would set a timeline for ending U.S. involvement in Iraq’s civil war.

For the last several weeks, Bush and members of his administration have attacked proponents of a timeline, saying they were undermining U.S. generals and legislating defeat:

I believe artificial timetables of withdrawal would be a mistake. … I will strongly reject an artificial timetable withdrawal and/or Washington politicians trying to tell those who wear the uniform how to do their job. [President Bush, 4/23/07]

“The…attempt to micromanage our commanders is an unwise and perilous endeavor. It is impossible to argue that an unconditional timetable for retreat could serve the security interests of the United States or our friends in the region.” [Vice President Cheney, 4/13/07]

“He’s also in denial that a surrender date he thinks is a good idea. It is not a good idea. It is defeat. It is a death sentence for the millions of Iraqis who voted for a constitution, who voted for a government, who voted for a free and democratic society.” [Dana Perino, 4/23/07]

Flashback to 1999, when George W. Bush was governor of Texas. Then, Bush criticized President Clinton for not setting a timetable for exiting Kosovo.

George W. Bush, 4/9/99:

“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is.”

And on the specific need for a timetable:

George W. Bush, 6/5/99, Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

“I think it’s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn.”

Despite his past statements, Bush now refuses to apply the same standard to his war and smears those who want a similar timetable for Iraq.

Words seem to come back and bite you in the ass!

toniD said...

Looks like the Bush admin is inraveling faster now. No matter the talk against impeachment, I think it will be brought up more and more. I would not be surprised if Bush resigned and Cheney, will have to also.

Off to work. Later mais ami!

blah blah blah said...

toniD - thats tough talk. if only biden et.al. would follow through and capitalize on bush's weakness for the good of the country.

the dems need to stop being the only side that plays by the queensbury rules.

blah blah blah said...

maybe somebody could explain the art of war dogging to them...

Alice said...

air-ono said...

May 1, 2007 12:14 PM

I'd Love to fuck off to South America...! :)

Alice said...

http://www.liberaloasis.com/2007/04/memories_of_gravel.php

Memories of Gravel

Back in 2005, I had the pleasure of being on a MSNBC roundtable on Deep Throat with now-presidential debate superstar former Sen. Mike Gravel, while Sam Seder served as guest co-host. He didn't take any crap then either. Check out the video at Crooks and Liars.

Posted by Bill Scher on Apr 30, 2007

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/06/02/3200/

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/06/02/3200/

Alice said...

Thanks, me too mmrules...

Alison is very cool, & VERY funny...

:)

http://protect.org/

Alice said...

No duff, blah blah blah...Ick! I'm going to Uruguay.. :) (nawww...)...but it does sound nice there..a friend of mine ust came home from staying on the beach there...

Alice said...

http://deoxy.org/wc/wc-index.htm

WAR CRIMES

A Report on United States War Crimes Against Iraq to the Commission of Inquiry for the International War Crimes Tribunal

by Ramsey Clark and Others

Anonymous said...

I dig me!

mmrules said...

Bushes problems making it hard on GOP canidates.


http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/05/01/bushs-unpopularity-making-it-hard-for-gop-candidates/

War Dog said...

Looks like the Bush admin is inraveling faster now. No matter the talk against impeachment, I think it will be brought up more and more. I would not be surprised if Bush resigned and Cheney, will have to also.

=================================================================================

Ha ha ha ha ha ...

Now that is the kind of Funny Crazy Talk that keeps me around here..

Where are you gonna get anything more Crazy than that..???

War Dog said...

I first started reading funny stuff like that here in 2004..

Three years later they say...

"Any day now.. Any Day"

It's like a comedy act.!!!!

Anonymous said...

//Three years later they say...

"Any day now.. Any Day"//

it's their tactic, war-dog

to drive you out with mindless repetition and tautology

air-ono said...

[the Anonymous @ 12:53 PM was me]

air-ono said...

//I'd Love to [FO] to South America//

great!

we sure could use the cocaine...

a pretty white girl like you should fetch a pound of blow

: )

air-ono said...

toniD said...
Bush In The Bunker

(huh!?)

what is "Bunker"!?

//[S]ome big money players up from Texas recently paid a visit to their friend in the White House. The story goes that they got out exactly one question, and the rest of the meeting consisted of The President in an extended whine, a rant, actually, about no one understands him, the critics are all messed up, if only people would see what he's doing things would be OK...etc., etc.

This is called a "bunker mentality"//

(oh)

then mmrules said...
Last refuge of the scoundrel

(huh!?)

what is "scoundrel"!?

//Bush is trying to convince the American people that Iraq is the WWII of our time, and Democrats are craven defeatists. Both claims are absurd.//

(oh)

Anonymous said...

Hey, Anonymous, maybe you should lear to read..Sam Didn't insult ILLEGALS like you and your kids...He's PRO-ILLEGAL...He insulted IMMIGRANTS AND LATINOS by Associating them WITH ILLEGALS, like you. Can you not read or are you eatin' janja weed? lol,
VIVA LA MIGRA!!
E.Roque

Anonymous said...

Sweetie, Not all illegals are from mehico, in case you did not read---I am african. can you say something in african for me to read---i dont know what janja weed is..is that something you drink/eat to learn to speak mehican? because we smoke "DAGGA" in the mother land. Oh good my other 2 kids and hubby are immigrants and i have ONE latino friend as well....lol is not cute at all sweets....Sam is the ultimate man, no matter what you say...by the way what are you doing writing to him if he is so detrimental to you and your mothers health anyway...
I MISS YOU SAMMY!!!!

Anonymous said...

WOW, you're ignorant (that's not an insult, ignorance is a choice) on so many levels I cant even list them all here. I can only tell you to go back and READ what I wrote lady! First read what YOU just wrote. I never said all Illegals were From Mexico or Latino, THAT'S PART OF MY POINT. I never even mentioned Mexico.
E. Roque

Anonymous said...

I LOVE MY CHOICE thank you very please...ITS YOU THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOURS.......Why speak spanish to me when I just told you I am african then mr. smartie pants over there????

bibimimi said...

my pants have no brain

bibimimi said...

these lionel promos make me wanna urinate spontaneously

bibimimi said...

Judy Gold on Rachel??

It's a Lesbopollooza!

Unknown said...

Well, on May Day, you see it takes much longer than only 8 hours each day these days to see and then forget what you are seeing or deny/excuse away/pray it isn't true/or more importantly make the constant efforts of re-creating reality so everyone beleives what you want them to. And if people only worked 8 hours a day they'd have time to see through all the smoke screens (we'll it really only takes a minute, but...)
So why recognize what isn't working for them?
Who's Howard Hunt anyway?

cet said...

hello to everyone who has blog.first I congratulate the blog owner.he is got excellent blog.actually I read all your articles from weary and your writing very attractive waiting to continue thanks
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