The Failed Presidency.

Tart:

I'm grateful that, similar to Austin, Houston is a bastion of enlightenment in a sea of fundamental conservative blissful ignorance.

(Don't get too far out of town, though; else you'll find yourself sitting next to those people who keep re-electing Tom DeLay et. al.)

Besides, the new rail line to downtown is coming right past the end of my street. I'll be able to walk to end of the block and catch the train to the theatre in about a half-hour.

It'll be like living in a real city.

PDiddie
I'm too far out to enjoy the trains. I do use park and ride whenever I have business downtown. The thing to me about Mississippi and Kentucky is, they are deep south, which is most likely to be in the Bush column in '04 anyway. I don't like losing anything to the Republicans, but, we have to be realistic about where Democratic strenth is also.

Hey, don't forget the Dems got the Oklahoma governorship last year, and many others - all is not lost.............

I believe we will be virtually where we were the last election: too close to call down to the wire, unless one side makes too major a blunder.

It's a fifty-fifty nation, and that's why the Republicans are energizing their base--conservofundamentalists--with issues like the abortion ban.

It's also why, if Dean is the nominee, they will hang that gay marriage bill he signed in Vermont around his neck like an albatross.

In lots of key issues, 50/50 is about the split ... much as in 2000. Dean is The Democrat To Beat ... from everyone's perspective.

PDiddie -- One of the reasons I was glad to leave Austin was increasing evidence of the grab and push guys moving in -- tech execs, biochem, etc. -- post yuppie Hummers of the most depressing sort. The city has therefore turned Right -- I notice the fight most in the environmental scene. Me and Mine (for which the Right has a wonderful word: "realism"!) rule in that once gentle town. Houston, however, seems to be moving in the opposite direction. And my jaw is still in dropped/astonished mode at the vibes I picked up in BillW's wonderful home state last month. Worms do turn, but not all at once and all in the same direction!

You mean a major blunder like this:

Dem Memo on Politicizing Intelligence

Zell Miller (D) said of this, "If this isn't treason, it's treason's cousin." I wonder whether the Dems will be able to spin their way out of this one. (With the help of most of the media, they probably have an even shot.)

What's wrong with the memo, Scrat?

Well, for starters, it indicates:

1) The security of The Intellignce Oversight Committee has been breached

2) That breach of security falls to The Democrats on the committee

3) The Democrats' intent is to cynically politicize the issue of National Security

4) The Democrats present no plan of remedy to what they perceive as "failed policy", only one of partisan attack


In "Smoking Gun" terms, this one is in The Democrats' hand, and is just above the hole they've blasted through their own foot.

1. has it been breached and if so by whom?
2. as i understand it the memo was in in-office memo that went nowhere other than to whom ever "pilferred" said memo.
3. "intent" is very loosely used here, as this was a "memo" within the staff of one office.

In my own estimation, frankly this is a non-issue ... it is likely to fade as its "15 Minutes of Fame" expires. Its fun to play with while its out front, though.

I don't consider it cynical to discuss national security policy, particularly, since it is not working that well.

I hope it doesn't die. There was no breach of security. It was the result of staffers' frustration at the lies. The Repubs will make a stink, but the stink will (I hope and expect) adhere to them.

I'm always grateful to those in government who are willing to blow the whistle on cheating.

It is the right of the Minority - no breach of security (on the part of the Dems). They, the Dems, find that the Repubs are giving the Admin an easy ride. It is their right to have a separate investigation.

The big "stink" was that they said they will wait till next year - a political year (month after next BTW). Funny that the Republican chairman said he might extend the investigation, but is going to wait until next year to decide. Where's the uproar over that....

Just more Republican whining..............

I think that pretty much covers it, Bill.

!!

Rockefeller posits perhaps the memo was pilfered from a trashbin. Consider that it is routine, no-brainer Intelligence proceedure to not just discard, but to shred or otherwise thoroughly destroy un-needed documents of real or even potential sensitive nature. What, in my appraisal, is most glaringly called to question here is the fitness of the particular Dems on the committee, and their staffs, to serve on such a crtically important committee. Due diligence seems to have been lacking ... big time. If they are unable to avoid embarrassing themselves in such manner, what trust can be placed in them as regards the vastly more critical matter of National Security?

Still, I suspect this is an issue that will simply "Go away". Leak-driven flaps have a way of doing that.

Can't quite see it your way timber, wonder why..........

If what you say is true then the Repubs are the security problem in reading an Intelligence Committee memorandum in open session. Gees, get real!!!!!!!!

Actually, I've noticed that both parties will let "leak-driven flaps" go away until about 6 weeks before the next election. I think if the Dems hold onto all the "flaps" till then, Bush could well be flapped right out to Crawford, skidding on his bum.