The Hollywood Liberal

Quote of the Day
“I don’t see any reason at all to continue after June 3rd when we know who got the most delegates, who got the most popular votes, who won the most states and so forth.”

— Jimmy Carter, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, on the Democratic presidential race.

While Malkin & Co. Continue Endless Circle Jerk On Wright, Deadliest Month Of 2008 In Iraq Gets Worse
Of course the Anchor Baby and her minions are blathering on and on about Jeremiah Wright. They desperately want to change the subject. Wouldn’t you, if your party presided over this debacle? The killings of three U.S. soldiers in separate attacks in Baghdad pushed the American death toll for April up to 47, making it the deadliest month since September. How are they going to message this?

Of course the Anchor Baby and company are blathering on and on about Jeremiah Wright. They desperately want to change the subject.

Wouldn’t you, if your party presided over this debacle?

The killings of three U.S. soldiers in separate attacks in Baghdad pushed the American death toll for April up to 47, making it the deadliest month since September.

How are they going to message this? More of our troops getting killed means The Surge Is Working?

Dozens of fighters ambushed a U.S. patrol in Baghdad’s main Shiite militia stronghold Tuesday, firing rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun bursts as the American offensive into the Sadr City neighborhood increasingly faces pockets of close urban combat.

U.S. forces struck back with 200-pound guided rockets that devastated at least three buildings in the densely packed district.

The U.S. military said 28 militia members were killed. Local hospital officials also said dozens of civilians were killed or wounded.

And here is the insanity of the occupation. Americans are fighting and dying in a conflict over which sect of Islam will rule Iraq, and in the process, are killing innocent Iraqis, whose shattered family members then retaliate against Americans, thus making the endless, vicious, violent pointless cycle complete.

100-Years McCain and the GOP know they can’t win on the war. They can’t win on the economy. They can’t win on health care. Their agenda sucks ass. And they know it.

So they’re going to do exactly what they did in ’04 (Faggityfaghomogays) and ’06 (Brownillegalwetbackmexicans). This time it’s Wrightscaryangrynegro.

It’s all they’ve got.

Is A Rockefeller/Hoyer FISA Immunity Deal Imminent?
According to the ACLU, there is rumor of a backroom deal being brokered by Jay Rockefeller on FISA that will include retroactive immunity. I’ve heard from several sources that Steny Hoyer is doing the dirty work on the House side, and some say it will be attached to the new supplemental.

There doesn’t seem to be any greater priorityfor this administration than to get Dick Cheney and the other criminals in the Bush administration retroactive immunity for themselves and their teleco cohorts on their way out the door. Much fear mongering, ads in the districts of freshmen House Democrats, and lookie here, Trent Lott crawls out from under his slimy rock…

photo by Aaron Landry

According to the ACLU, there is rumor of a backroom deal being brokered by Jay Rockefeller on FISA that will include retroactive immunity. I’ve heard from several sources that Steny Hoyer is doing the dirty work on the House side, and some say it will be attached to the new supplemental.

There doesn’t seem to be any greater priority for this administration than to get Dick Cheney and the other criminals in the Bush administration retroactive immunity for themselves and their teleco cohorts on their way out the door. Much fear mongering, ads and robocalls in the districts of freshmen House Democrats, and lookie here — Trent Lott crawls out from under his slimy rock:

AT&T is among charter clients of Breaux Lott Leadership Group, a firm established by former Senate heavyweights John Breaux (D-La.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.). Their sons are also involved in the family business.

The telecom giant has given BLLG the mission to back the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

And how much is that worth? So glad you asked:

Breaux-Lott’s top-paying clients during the first three months of the year include AT&T ($150,000 for help on FISA legislation); the Association of American Railroads ($150,000 for a tax cut on infrastructure investments); and the Plains Exploration and Production Company ($150,000 for work on offshore oil and gas issues).

Predictably, the Blue Dogs are top targets to flip on the Hoyer/Rockefeller deal.

In case anyone is wondering why this might be a really bad idea, Babak Pasdar’s column in the Seattle PI provides a nice refresher.

Feingold’s Secret Government Law Hearing
Sen. Feingold held a hearing this morning regarding secret law, the US government, and the need for better oversight and transparency. It was a fantastic hearing that, as I understand it, C-Span recorded for broadcast later today. Luckily for us, it was webcast from the Senate Judiciary website, and I have roughly transcribed the hearing — but watching it in its entirety is well worth looking for it on

Sen. Feingold held a hearing this morning regarding secret law, the US government, and the need for better oversight and transparency. It was a fantastic hearing that, as I understand it, C-Span may have recorded for broadcast later today. Luckily for us, it was webcast from the Senate Judiciary website, and I have roughly transcribed the hearing — but watching it in its entirety is well worth looking for it on the C-Span schedule today.

Witnesses included:

· J. William Leonard – Former Director, Information Security Oversight Office

· Steven Aftergood – Director, Project on Government Secrecy, Federation of American Scientists

· Bradford Berenson – Partner, Sidley Austin LLP, Washington, DC

· Dawn Johnsen – Professor, Indiana University School of Law; Former Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel

· Heidi Kitrosser – Associate Professor of Law, University of Minnesota Law School

· David Rivkin – Partner, Baker Hostetler, Washington, DC

Witness statements as prepared for the committee are available here. Sen. Feingold’s opening statement is available in its entirety here.

_______________________

Began at slightly after 9:00 am ET. Rough hearing transcription follows:

Feingold calling the committee into session.

FEINGOLD OPENING: More than any other administration in recent history, this Administration has a penchant for secrecy. It has relied increasingly on secret evidence and closed tribunals, in Guantanamo and in the US. There is also an increasing prevalence in our country of secret law. It is a basic tenet of democracy that the people get to know their laws.

The recent release of the Yoo memorandum from 2003 has shown the importance of not allowing this secret law — goes into the binding precedent of the OLC on the federal government agencies. This contains no information about sources, methods or any other information about national security — but it did contain shaky legal rationale which the Administration did not want the public knowing was used as a foundation for their actions, and yet it was classified until just weeks ago.

Goes on to discuss the problems of any sort of oversight when you have such an internal policy of secrecy.

BROWNBACK OPENING: Problem? What problem?

Witnesses sworn in for testimony.

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Obama Files FEC Complaint Over 527 Group’s Hillary Ad

Barack Obama's campaign filed a complaint with the FEC today over a 527 group's ad attacking Obama's economic plan for having no specifics.

He didn't always feel that way about 527 ads. When a group supporting John Edwards aired one in Iowa he was critical, saying:

You can't just talk the talk. The easiest thing in the world is to talk about change during election time.”

But when a 527 group aired a shameful ad on Spanish radio stations in Nevada that re-injected ethnicity into the campaign, an ad that supported him and attacked Hillary in Nevada,

A spokesman for Obama, Bill Burton, did not condemn the ad or the independent spending specifically, but instead attacked Clinton.

More…

On a related note, Move-On tomorrow will launch an ad against McCain.

The 30-second ad, funded by the group’s donors and its political action committee, marks the start of the liberal advocacy group’s million dollar, month-long ad campaign aimed at the Arizona senator.

MoveOn will spend $160,000 to air the new ad — titled “Candles” — on cable as well as on broadcast networks in Iowa and New Mexico, where the McCain campaign is currently on the air without competition from either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

The RNC calls the Move-On ad a smear campaign:

“At nearly every event, Obama bemoans the ‘negative tone’ of politics, even while groups that support him are now running negative ads. Now, Obama should prove his rhetoric is more than ‘just words’ and stand up to MoveOn.org.”

Women’s Voices
Uh…this is pretty bad.

Objective Analysis
CNN brings on a guy from Cato to talk about the gas tax. Did you know we had an awesome state highway system before the Feds started building the interstate system?

Why does Cato hate Eisenhower and, by extension, America?

Having Laid Waste to Their Country, U.S. Indifferent to Iraqi Refugees
For the Bush Administration, admitting that Iraq is in the throes of a humanitarian crisis disrupts the narrative that the war is winnable.

Wash. Post?s Murray: ?Just wait? until after the primaries for media to scrutinize McCain.
In a Washington Post discussion yesterday, Post reporter Shailagh Murray inadvertently admitted that the media is currently scrutinizing Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) less than they potentially could: Q: Will we see more scrutiny of his campaign finances and practices, or will Obama/Wright continue to suck up all the oxygen? MURRAY: This is driving Democrats crazy […]

In a Washington Post discussion yesterday, Post reporter Shailagh Murray inadvertently admitted that the media is currently scrutinizing Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) less than they potentially could:

Q: Will we see more scrutiny of his campaign finances and practices, or will Obama/Wright continue to suck up all the oxygen?

MURRAY: This is driving Democrats crazy right now, but just wait. Once the primary battle is over, Sen. McCain will get his fair share of scrutiny.

Asked about the statement from Murray in his weekly discussion, the Post’s Howard Kurtz said this attitude is the wrong one:

KURTZ: We don’t have unlimited resources, but I think we need to be covering McCain as vigorously now as in the fall. I mean, it’s not like he’s laying on a beach somewhere, he’s out there campaigning. One pet peeve of mine is when reporters don’t cover an issue because the candidates are avoiding it, thus allowing them to set the agenda.

Bush Holds Press Conference, Addresses the Economy
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Thank you. Good morning. It’s a tough time for our economy. Across our country, many Americans are understandably anxious about issues affecting their pocketbook, from gas and food prices to mortgage and tuition bills. They’re looking to their elected leaders in Congres…

McCain Offers Market-Based Health Plan
TAMPA, April 29 — Sen. John McCain on Tuesday rejected calls by his Democratic opponents for universal health coverage, instead offering a market-based solution with an approach similar to a proposal put forth by President Bush last year.

Bill Ayers Tried to Kill My Family
John Murtagh, New York Daily News

Signs Indicate That Duels May Be Hurting Party
With Democratic voters falling into generally predictable patterns, there are signs in the Pennsylvania exit poll that the prolonged battle for the Democratic nomination may have negative consequences for the party.

Administration Says Particulars May Trump Geneva Protections
The Geneva Conventions’ ban on “outrages against personal dignity” does not automatically apply to terrorism suspects in the custody of U.S. intelligence agencies, the Justice Department has suggested to Congress in recent letters that lay out the Bush administration’s interpretation of the…

Preaching to the Choir, and Feeding the Fire
The Rev. Henry P. Davis III, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Highland Park, came to the National Press Club yesterday to see the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., his former seminary professor, and to hear him calm the controversy surrounding him by answering a handful of pre-written questions.

Studies on Chemical In Plastics Questioned
Despite more than 100 published studies by government scientists and university laboratories that have raised health concerns about a chemical compound that is central to the multibillion-dollar plastics industry, the Food and Drug Administration has deemed it safe largely because of two studies,…