The fat lady sings...

Ari fleisher testified today at the trial for Scooter Libby. Here're some FDL live blog notes of what Ari said:

“There’s a very strict protocol when classified info is spread, my experience, when someone conveyed info that I was authorized to hear, it was always, “this is classified you’re authorized to hear.” When it’s oral, people always say, “this is classified you cannot use it.”"

and

[Libby and I discussed] my plans what I was going to do in the private sector. Talked about sports, football, both fans of the Dolphins. I don't remember if I brought up or Libby brought up the briefing. I said I got asked about Wilson. I said what I was asked by the OVP to say. What I recall Libby saying to me, reiterated that VP did not send Wilson. Amabssador Wilsongot sent by his wife, she works at CIA, Works in CPD, I recall that he told me her name. This is hush hush this is on the QT.

Is this the way a decent government should work?

WHERE'S THE BEAR, DUDE?

Yo Mr. QD,

A few minutes ago I get a loud knock on my door. Who is it? My sister, a friend? An annoying weirdo??

You got it, door number three, the wacko lady from Hells kitchen. I opened the door to find an elderly lady all wrapped up in scarves and a big fake fur coat, at first I thought it was X but she was bigger and older. She inquired about the BEAR and its whereabouts as she plowed into my studio to take refuge from the cold. When I closed the door I instinctively knew I was in for it. Once again, cornered by someone with problems, dying for company. As I small talked about you, this lady, XXXXX XXXX of XXX 9th Avenue, seemed almost incensed that the BIG BEAR was no longer in the window. She went on to describe her blissful moments when she would walk by with her dog and view the Big Bear. As she described these precious moments she began sobbing and possible looking for a hug or something. She explained that her dog had recently died. I tried to muster up some sympathy but was too busy thinking how to be rid of her. Finally I gave her one of your cards and told her to write her address so YOU can put her on your mailing list. She might be some rich eccentric lady, or maybe not. Your Bear for her was sublime, and had the effect of some kind of bond between her and her dog. I think the dog probably got all excited when viewing Bear and she saw this as something they both shared and appreciated.

From B

Ominous Journey

PEARL HARBOR

2 PEARL SHIPS TO SAIL FOR MIDEAST

The Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyers USS O'Kane and the USS Paul Hamilton are due to leave the Islands this week to accompany the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier to the Middle East.

The ships are due to deploy Friday to serve with the Stennis strike group, Navy Region Hawaii said Wednesday in a news release.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said the ships are being sent to show Iran the four-year war in Iraq hasn't made America vulnerable.

The ships' arrival in the Middle East will mark the first time since the U.S.-led Iraq invasion in 2003 that the United States has had two carrier battle groups in the region.

"The presence of two aircraft carriers, while not unprecedented, demonstrates U.S. resolve to bring security and stability in the region," the release said. The ships are expected to arrive in the Middle East in about a month.

thx to an eagle eyed reader of FDL.

Somewhere's down on this list of threads we posted a hint from a buddy of Steve Clemmons which said that if we wanted a good indicator of when to anticipate war with Iran we should keep our eyes open for a deployment of the NIMITZ...click here to read the full NELSON REPORT (Thanks Steve!) This report is not too heartening...

Picture Peace

Photo Credit: 27 Jan 2007 REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun

Cellular Visions: The Inner Life of a Cell

Check this out...

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

The Shifting Power Equation
24-28 January 2007, Davos, Switzerland
(From the meeting):

Europeans "want to win without competing"
Creating dialogue in a multicultural world
Panellists argue for balanced fight against terrorism
Annual Meeting: Climate change has greatest global impact

Perhaps they should be discussing this:
Two-fifths think new Holocaust could happen in UK

Fliday

Because we are royalty we get special treatment. The best perk of our position is the four day work week. Nothing better. Try this at home. So as we write we are gearing up for the three day weekend and pondering. We don't know quite where to begin because we have far too many pots on the fire. Keeping up with the Libby trial is itself a full time job. Thankfully Firedoglake is doing that job terrifically!

Fred on Everything is also working hard at illumunating the dark secrets of life and most recently WAR.
(See: Fred: A True Son of Tzu).

Cheney gets defensive about being questioned about his HIGH PROFILE RIGHT WING ACTIVIST LESBIAN daughter's pregnancy.

More strange lights are reported promting the Air Force to finally admit to conducting weapons testing (gambling? in Casablanca? shocking!!!)

And last but not least... step away from the machine...new study indicates we Americans spend more time on the computer than with our families.

This last reminds us of a poem Queenie recited during our last visit in which the poet (Lewis Carroll) draws attention to the heathly benefits of conversation:

"You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak
For anything tougher than suet;
Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak--
Pray, how did you manage to do it?"

"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law,
And argued each case with my wife;
And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw,
Has lasted the rest of my life."

Karl Rove is framing him

My summary of the opening statements:

Fitz: Libby lied.

Wells:
1. Libby forgot. And forgot again. And forgot again. And forgot again.
2. Ari is lying, because he got an immunity deal.
3. Judy is misremembering, because she looks like a shrew.
4. Tim Russert is misremembering, because…well, because he’s a really good reporter, but even they make mistakes.
5. Cathie Martin and Matt Cooper are probably misremembering, but I won’t know for sure until I hear exactly what they have to say.
6. I have more shit to sling, but you pretty little ladies on the jury shouldn’t worry your little heads about it. Nobody cared about the wife. You just sit back and let us manly men take care of things.

After they’ve managed to revive their jury consultant from his (or her) twenty minute seizure, I’m sure they’re going to be told to (a) knock off the sexism, and (b) put a woman in a high-profile position on Libby’s legal team.

Frank over at FDL kindly gave us permission to reprint this succinct summary of Scooter Libby's trial. Thanks Frank.

Scooter Squeals Like A Pig

dueling banjos

The live blogging of the Scooter Libby trial over at FireDogLake is music to our ears. Seems like Libby's defense is to CONFIRM the intentional leak of classified information but to DENY that the leaker was LIBBY and to ACCUSE the WH of trying to cover for Karl Rove.

Savor the flavor for a moment. When the whole "Plamegate" thing started, Rove was the golden boy who could do not wrong so he was allegedly protected by the WH. Now who is he? Election predictor? King maker? Puppet Master? Stooge? Humph. If then were now, would people scurry to cover for Rove so fast? Would Libby even consider squealing like he did today if Bush's Brain was still going strong?

And with approval ratings for Bush lower than the winter weather in the big apple, how much worse can it get for the adminstration? We hate to ask that since the only thing worse than having a corrupt govenment which lies to and spies on its people is to lose precious lives every day for a war that was based on falsehood, conducted with conceit and doomed to fail.

Weekend Get Away

We are taking a long weekend to pay homage to Queenie.
We are riding in luxury sans technology.
Fortunately for you, Dirty Cookie travels like YO.
Enjoy!

Muslim gals file complaint against "haters"

Friday, January 12, 2007, the National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) filed a formal complaint with the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, and also with the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys at the US Department of Justice. The complaint alleges that as a result of misleading and false information provided to US law enforcement agencies, the media and also to various governmental bodies, various Jewish organizations and individuals have sought to create an environment in the US that is hostile towards US Muslims, resulting in the deprivation, and violation of Muslim civil liberties and civil rights.

The complaint lists the American-Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC), American Jewish Committee (AJC), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), American Jewish Congress B’nai B’rith, the Jewish Council on Public Affairs, and individuals such as Daniel Pipes, Steven Emerson, Rita Katz, Steven Schwartz, Evan Kohlman, and others.

In its complaint, the National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) says, “Jewish organizations and activists in the US may have created enemies lists that include the names of Muslims, Arabs, white nationalists organizations, and others that they have targeted as threats to, or enemies of the state of Israel.” The complaint also says that NAMAW believes that “these Jewish organizations and activists have used their financial resources and also their formidable political influence to purposefully poison public opinion against Muslims, Arabs and Islam in an attempt to demonize and vilify the same for political purposes, and also to create an environment conducive to the deprivation and violation of Muslim and Arab constitutional rights, and especially the repression of Muslim religious and political freedoms, and free speech.”

The complaint consists of five pages of accusation, supported by more than 100 pages of supporting documentation extracted from transcripts of Congressional testimonies, articles, and public statements. NAMAW along with alleging that Jewish organizations and activists sought to demonize, and vilify Muslims, Arabs, and Islam, says that these same people may have also committed perjury in testimonies provided to the US Congress. The group claims that Jewish organizations and activists may have purposely given false impressions, and made false statements aimed at misleading the media, policy makers, law enforcement, and various government agencies. They believe that these false statements led to an aggressive campaign in the US to suppress Muslim rights. The complaint also says that NAMAW suspects that the Jewish campaign against Muslims and Islam in the US, has been ongoing for more than 10 years.

The group asks the Department of Justice to investigate its claims, and to work with the Muslim community to dispel myths and lies that have demonized Muslims, Arabs and Islam. They are also requesting that the DOJ develop and implement programs aimed at healing US society of the harsh racial and religious polarization resulting from what they believe is an ongoing and criminal hate campaign against Muslims, Arabs and Islam.

About National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW)

The National Assoc. of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) is a grass roots political organization whose mission is to organize and educate Muslim women and to make their voices heard on issues that are important and relevent to all Americans. The organization was originally established in 1989 in Newark New Jersey as National Association of Muslim Women, and was later re-established in 1994 as the National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW).
To receive copies of the complaint or for more info contact:
Anisa Abd el Fattah
Chairwoman
email:namaw01@yahoo.com

source: http://elequity.com/

Happy Birthday Queenie!!!

You're Gonna Love This

Spy vs Spy

Iraqi Official Seeks Release of Iranians

US Says:

"The U.S. military said the five Iranians detained last week in the Kurdish-controlled northern city of Irbil were connected to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard faction that funds and arms insurgents in Iraq. It was the second U.S. raid targeting Iranians in Iraq in less than a month."

Iran Says:

``Their job was basically consular, official and in the framework of regulations,'' Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Sunday. ``What the Americans express was incorrect and hyperbole against Iran in order to justify their acts.''

We will not be so crass as to put money on the official start date of the US War with Iran but we will say three things: we are afraid it is when not if; its a really, really bad idea; and this little skirmish is all part of the process.

What is Congress doing about this?

President Bush: Meet Walter Jones
by Patrick J. Buchanan - January 16, 2007

The day after Bush’s threat to Iran, Jones introduced a Joint Resolution, “Concerning the Use of Military Force by the United States Against Iran.” Under HJR 14, “Absent a national emergency created by attack by Iran, or a demonstrably imminent attack by Iran, upon the United States, its territories, possessions or its armed forces, the president shall consult with Congress, and receive specific authorization pursuant to law from Congress, prior to initiating any use of force on Iran.”

Jones’ resolution further declares, “No provision of law enacted before the date of the enactment of this joint resolution shall be construed to authorize the use of military force by the United States against Iran.”

If we are going to war on Iran, Jones is saying, we must follow the Constitution and Congress must authorize it.

[Queenie's Daughter shakes her head] "We are so screwed."

Points for US to Ponder about Iran

``You have to remember, our destiny, as Iraqis, we have to live in this part of the world. And we have to live with Iran, we have to live with Syria and Turkey and other countries,'' he said. ``So in fact ... the Iraqi government is committed to cultivate good neighborly relations with these two countries and to engage them constructively in security cooperation.''

Hoshyar Zebari - Current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq
More about Zebari here.

Moonday Reading

Articles of interest:
From Playboy:
Lockheed Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
From The Guardian:
BAE's secret $12m payout in African deal
From The Onion:
800,000 Privileged Youths Enlist To Fight In Iraq

Nancy Pelosi: Congresses' new den mother?

“We are going to fund the troops that are there,” said Brendan Daly, an aide to Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House speaker. “Any escalation of troops we will subject to scrutiny. We will have hearings, and we will set benchmarks that the president must meet to obtain this money.”

Oooohhh, Nancy, words like "Subject to scrutiny" and threats to "hold hearings" and "set benchmarks" are really putting the fear of God into anyone who would question your strong authority.

Coughcough "BULLSHIT" Cough....

Our grandmother could send a stronger message then you have Speaker Pelosi. You went from "Let's get down to business" to "After the football game." Your idea of nonpartisanship is to roll over for the repugs and play hardball with your own team. What the hell are you thinking?

Trump airs his view

"sad figurehead dominated by a third-rate comedian."

Photo courtesy of Henroid

Policies for the People

More on tonight's speech...
From WaPo

"And Bush has come up with a new jingle: 'Tonight, this source said, the president will explain "that we have to go up before we go down.'"

Ted Kennedy's response to this was the best we can hope for and basically Teddy's message to the pres. is "Blow Me."

"Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam, and we cannot allow history to repeat itself any longer. Our troops deserve better. We must act now.
Today, I introduced legislation to reclaim the people's right to a full voice in the president's plan to send more troops to Iraq. My bill will say that no additional troops can be sent and no additional dollars can be spent on such an escalation unless and until Congress approves the president's plan."

Actually Teddy's Full message seems to be "Blow me and Universal Healthcare"

WELL SAID TED!

Despite more might - Bush still not right

Mission Not Accomplished: The President of the United States will announce tonight that he plans to send more troops to help fight in Iraq despite the fact that he declared major military operations over in May of 2003.

Here's an update from Steve Clemons on what to expect from the Shrub...

"Bush will offer a billion dollar jobs plan Wednesday night -- small change actually given the employment problem in Iraq -- in addition to an escalation of America's troop presence focused on stabilizing Baghdad. And he has all sorts of glitzy personnel changes to announce that are really just shuffling chairs around on a sinking ship.

In this short piece that appeared in the Financial Times, Trita Parsi makes clear why it's important to start negotiations with Iran before things fly further out of control. I don't agree with everything in Parsi's short essay -- but his articulation of an Iran-Saudi Arabia proxy war in Iraq is chilling, and possible."

According to the front page of todays Washington Post

"Pentagon insiders say members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have long opposed the increase in troops and are only grudgingly going along with the plan because they have been promised that the military escalation will be matched by renewed political and economic efforts in Iraq.
Yet...
Those who favored a "surge," such as Kagan and McCain, were looking for a sizable force that would turn the tide in Baghdad. But the Joint Chiefs made clear they could muster 20,000 at best -- not for long, and not all at once."

Calls of the Wild

To take pleasure in a world filled with many kinds of beauty is a joy in life to which all women are entitled. To support only one kind of beauty is to be somehow unobservant of nature. - Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Last night we had the strangest dream. We will not go over the whole long saga, but there was one thing in particular…We were in Dupont Circle trying to hail a cab. Only we didn’t need a ride we needed to be carried since we had, attached to our feet, metal poles covered with black film containers. It was an uncomfortable get up to say the least. Then a very nice cab driver carried us to our car. He only carried us half way because we asked him to put us down and discovered we could walk quite well on our stilts. Then the livery driver became a confidant as we discussed with him our dilemma: how to get back to New York in the 1978 Robins egg blue Cougar given that we don’t have a driver’s license. There is more but that doesn’t concern us here now. What we are interested in are the stilts.

It reminds us of a story of the “Girl with the Red Shoes” that we read in Clarissa Pinkola Estés book…Here’s a blurb from Amazon…

“The Roots of Obsession - With a gift for penetrating the shadows that darken our lives, Dr. Estés helps us grasp how the starvation for inner life corresponds with disastrous outer choices, and the way to recover and restore your critical inner balance. Using a fairy tale deeply rooted in our psyches – "The Red Shoes" – Dr. Estés illuminates how people are driven to excessive behaviors. In our culture, she begins, we may travel life’s path in one of two ways: in hand-made shoes – crafted with love and care according to the unique needs of the individual soul; or in red shoes – initially promising instant fulfillment, but ultimately leading to a hollow, painful, split existence. Drawing from real-world examples, Dr. Estés analyzes the deep-seated hunger that leads to addictions and explains how to tap instinctual forces that offer strength and life direction.”

In the story the girl gets her feet chopped off in order to release her from her past and start fresh. So when we dreamt of walking on the stilts we thought of this story and how accurate it is for who and where we are now.

Babwa Fwucked Wosie?

According to Page Six of the New York Post all is not good in Girl Land

The feud between The Dumpy Donald and the Queen of Mean rages on and the latest news is that Rosie took a big smelly verbal dump on her boss and new BFF Barbara Walters...

"The fight started around 8:30 a.m. when Walters, back from a two-week vacation, walked into the hair and makeup room at ABC studios and tried to hug O'Donnell, whom she hired onto the popular show.

According to spies, O'Donnell recoiled from Walters' touch and yelled, "You kept me in the newspapers this whole time! ... When Walters tried to defend herself, O'Donnell erupted, "Are you looking me in the face and denying you didn't tell him you didn't say this? You're a [bleeping] liar."

What a perfect pairing of idiots this is and for Barbara to get into it...pwiceless.

On a more positive note ... We seem to have a soft spot for "Dick in Box" Justin Timberlake and "Cootchie-Mamma" Spears. In some way ... we would be very pleased if the Jutney took another shot at love. They were Mousketeers together after all... that's gotta mean something!

Passing Gas

Smell of Natural Gas in Manhattan reportedly not dangerous.

This reminds us of the Maple Sugar Smell Mystery!

Neither case is solved.

Then there is this: Secret 'gas' test staged at G. Central
"The Federal Department of Homeland Security released gas in Grand Central Terminal last month in a secret study of how dangerous chemicals might flow through the landmark in a terrorist attack."

What if the smells over New York are tests being run by Homeland Security to see how and where chemicals would travel in case of attack?

The Woman Question Revisited

Notes from Queenie:
Headhunters at Harvard May Pick a Woman
Beloved Cherie,
hahahaha!!!
Read THIS ...Dare I say: nanny nanny boo boo..., Mr. Summers!
All my love,
Maman

The Year of the Pig

2007 Style


Fred on Everything writes what we've been saying: Everyone's got way too much money and they all look dipped in plastic.

Queenie's Daughter, figuring if you can't beat 'em join 'em, spoiled a perfectly good have everything we need moment with a splurge at the Chanel counter in Bloomingdale's.

QD's teenage insecurites swam to the surface as she remembered long ago days in the bathrooms of Bethesda. The Bathroom Wars as we like to think of them, when girls pulled out of their make up cases hundreds of dollars of Clinique, Estee Lauder, Lancome and Chanel makeup. We were on a Wet and Wild budget and still are, but that didn't stop us from living the dream. We now have a little le sport sac tucked away in our pocketbook brimming with the neccessary plastics to both paint a smile on our face and engage in all out warpaint.

Fred is right, we are feeling just a little too comfortable lately.
Not that there is anything wrong with that.
After all, it is the year of the Pig.
Enjoy and smell well

Congratulations Brad and Amy!
We shall see you wed tomorrow.

Arsonist in Aisle One

You have heard of buyer's remorse but buyer's revenge?
One moment, the customer was angry. The next, she was going up and down the isles lighting merchandise on fire.

Allegedly, a customer, pissed off because she didn't get the correct change, took her lit cigarette and started lighting merchandise on fire. We didn't know you could smoke at Walgreens...

This reminds Queenie's Daughter of a time when she was in high school. She was with her aunt shopping for school supplies at Bruce Variety. Another young shopper, obviously frusterated, announced through clenched teeth, "Mom, if you dont leave me alone I am going to blow you up."

At the time, we all knew he was joking ... oh but time's they are a changing!

Happy '07

Queenies Daughter: A Slave to Duty
Queenie's Daughter has been on a long hiatus during which time she got a job, moved and got fat. She was unsure if she would return to her virtual domain, but then realized that when one is born into royalty one has a responsibility towards one's subjects.

Sail Mike is the first real interesting blogging topic of the year. Mike is 14 and he just set the record as the youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic. Queenie's Daughter's dream is to own a sail boat, expatriate and live the life of a modern day adventuress. It is not too late for this to happen but until it does, QD is happy to follow the adventures of others. Well done, Mike!

QD is also very interested in this group called Freegans who seek to get off the crack that is consumerism. Freegans are extremists and QD thinks that perhaps dumpster diving for food takes the whole thing a bit far. Queenie's Daughter had a close friend in high school whose mother humiliated her children by availing herself of the produce in the dumpster behind Magruders grocery. So maybe instead of the dumpster diving for food we can do what Queenie does which is try to buy only those foods produced in say a one hundred mile radius...locally owned and operated....self sustaining communities...yum...yum. This year we will probably talk alot about getting off the money boat and onto a sea of sustainability.

Finally, since we know you are curious about where we have been these long months, we will give you one taste of our past activities. Christmas Night, after the fajitas and Margaritas ... The Irridium jazz club ... We enjoyed an evening with the legendary Les Paul ... if you are ever in NY on a Monday you should go...

SPECIAL NOTE TO JAMIE: We Like Pirates too! Thanks for your email:)