Rahm-bo To Go?

The Torygraph reports that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel will quit after the midterms.  He denies it.  But is there anything lamer than a lame-duck chief of staff?  And why are so many Dems so willing to participate in this whispering campaign?

Comments

[Clarice]

Wretchard has the best explanation for these accounts over at PJM. (Liked on an earlier thread here.)

[Clarice]

*liNked*

Here:
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/author/richardfernandez/

[Danube of Thought]

The ballet-dancing reptile.

[Neo]

Maybe they will blame this on Rahm ???

Planned Parenthood Federation of America's (PPFA) audits show the organization spent just $657.1 million between 2002 and 2008 from federal government grants and programs, but the abortion behemoth's own annual reports show that it took in $2.3 billion from government grants and programs during the same time period.

Even the GAO doesn't seem to know where the remainder of the money went just yet.

[JM Hanes]

I think this is actually step 2 (if it's not a two step). The whispering campaign was up and running a few months ago, oddly enough, about the time when reports about Rahm's disagreements with the Prez started "leaking."

In other news, if folks will pardon a quick digression, this was my weekend LOL The text is almost as funny as the video still. Sometimes things just come together.

[Wuzzagrunt]

Like him or not (I don't), but Rahm is one of the very few people in this administration who actually knows how things get done. The rest of the clown posse don't know where the sun goes at night.

[cathyf]

Wuzzagrunt, isn't that a reason to be happy he's leaving and the sooner the better?

[Neo]

Once the Democrats lose their majorities in Congress, there won't be much left for Rahm to do anyway. Obama will be golfing full time.

[narciso]

He was the one who was opposed to the Gitmo trials and pushing health care first over the economy, and he was right on both

[JM Hanes]

I thought it was also amusing that Rahm is supposedly getting tired of the "idealists" around the Prez, when it's more like sharks and barracudas. The "idealists" did manage to ram a big bill through, but I wouldn't be surprised if Rahm were already looking towards November, when they will reap their rewards. Without the Democratic majority in both Houses, Obama would have been a truly Epic Fail, from the get-go. If he thinks being President is hard now....

[Captain Hate]

Twinkletoes isn't well-liked? Could somebody give me a heads-up before shocking things like this get posted?

[glasater]

Didn't Jimmy Carter have this similar problem with his congressional D's?
Although he didn't lose his majority in the mid-terms.

[btraven]

Surely they mean "ideological" not "idealistic"?

[Boatbuilder]

I haven't been following the Blago trial, but I seem to recall that Rahm was heavily involved in the negotiations. maybe there's something really bad on one of Fitzgerald's tapes. . .

[Janet]

Oh Neo...that link makes me sick. Why does my family have to pay to help kill babies? Why should one dime of tax money go to that organization? Let those people interested in killing babies donate to PP. I don't want to. Why is government involved at all with those organizations?

[Janet]

JM Hanes,
LOL, the arrow is pointing to his left too!

[MayBee]

They are crazy if they think Rahm is the problem, and not Axelrod and Jarrett.
I'm no Rahm fan, but at least he doesn't talk about "harmonizing the strands" and ask why drilling rigs won't just come back in 6 months, after the moratorium.

[Appalled]

"Idealist" seems too polite a term for Rahm to use, even on background.

[lyle]

Who knew Terpischore could be such a bitch, huh?

[MayBee]

The "idealists" did manage to ram a big bill through

They did, but they blame Rahm for not making it easy. As if.

[matt]

the Bolsheviks versus the Mensheviks? I'm shocked......

[narciso]

Interesting from the quarterly dispatch from MiniTrue, two of the organizations on your list, Matt, the Nature Conservancy and the National Wildlife Fund, will be sponsoring the concert for the Gulf, 60 days out!!

[Ranger]

Well, Rahm knows very well how an antagonistic congress can make life hell in the White House. He knows the Rs will be running congress and the investigations will be relentless.

[Neo]

Janet: .. but what happened to the other $1.65 billion ?
Lobbying, ads, political contributions, fraud ?
Who got it ? PP Swiss bank account ? Democrats ? Rahm ?

[Clarice]

Very droll,jmh.

Janet--lobbying and political contributions.

[narciso]

You know I'm leaning against supporting Kagan, nothing in particular mind you (sarc) in the LUN

[JM Hanes]

btraven:

Ideological makes perfect sense. That's probably why they didn't use it.

Janet:

Oddly enough, when I clicked over to the story, the ostensible headline "Obama takes a more partisan tone," was nowhere to be found. Perhaps someone had last minute thoughts about absurdity.

[Clarice]

nbc news:
Getty Images
President Barack Obama's chief of staff, then a congressman in Illinois, apparently attempted to trade favors with embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich while he was in office, according to newly disclosed e-mails obtained by The Associated Press.
Emanuel agreed to sign a letter to the Chicago Tribune supporting Blagojevich in the face of a scathing editorial by the newspaper that ridiculed the governor for self-promotion. Within hours, Emanuel's own staff asked for a favor of its own: The release of a delayed $2 million grant to a school in his district.
The 2006 discussion occured with Blagojevich's top aide, Deputy Gov. Bradley Tusk, and doesn't appear to cross legal lines; Emanuel couldn't speed up the distribution of the funds. But it offers a peek at ties between two high-profile Illinois politicians — one now the president's right-hand man, the other facing years in prison if convicted of political corruption.
Discussion of the exchange could come up at Blagojevich's corruption trial, currently under way in Chicago. Blagojevich, who is accused of plotting to profit by selling an appointment to Obama's former Senate seat, also tried later that year to use the school grant in an extortion attempt against Emanuel, according to federal prosecutors.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Rahm-Traded-Favors-with-Blago-Report-96812049.html#ixzz0rVwCSadW>Big surprise

[RichatUF]

Neo-

Bernie Madoff

[Neo]

RichatUF ... OMG

[Neo]

Obama is some real judge of horsemeat

[Clarice]

The Hill:
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has spent weeks throwing political punches at the Obama administration’s six-month freeze on deepwater oil-and-gas drilling, alleging it will wreak havoc on the region’s already battered economy. Now, Jindal is battling the moratorium in the courtroom, too. Jindal and state Attorney General Buddy Caldwell on Sunday filed a legal brief in support of a Louisiana-based offshore services company that’s asking a federal judge to lift the ban. The ban is “effectively turning an environmental disaster into an economic catastrophe for the state,” the brief alleges.

[daddy]

OT,

Dennis Pragar is doing a fine job on his radio show today demolishing Peter Beinart's arguments laid out in Beinart's new book "The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris."

Hope a few JOMer's had the pleasure today of hearing it.

[fdcol63]

More and more it looks like Obama was the Alvin Greene of 2008, but on a national scale.

[gmax]

Rahm is no shrinking violet moderate, so its hard to see the point of calling the horde around Obama something that would apply equally to the foul mouthed Emmanuel. If they are all true believers where is the distinction? On hope? Or change?

[Jane]

The ballet-dancing reptile.

Every time I refresh the page starts with this remark.

I heartily approve.

[PDinDetroit]

More and more it looks like Obama was the Alvin Greene of 2008, but on a national scale.

Sounds like the start of a great Political Ad to me!

[matt]

I just wonder if the Blagojevich case may play into some of the turmoil in the White House. Paging Tony Rezko, paging Mr. Rezko!!!

[lyle]

Pas de deux, mutha******!

[Jane]

From the Blago Blog:

AP: Rahm Emanuel traded favors with Blagojevich as he sought $2M grant

I question the timing.

[Clarice]

Can you imagine a hard nosed pragmatist working day after day with the loons in the WH?

[Thomas Collins]

It was stated by fdcol63:

"More and more it looks like Obama was the Alvin Greene of 2008, but on a national scale."

That may be giving Obama too much credit, fdcol63. With his military background, Greene probably has more executive experience and experience with making tough decisions than Obama did when Obama was running for POTUS.

[lyle]

Plie this, a******!

[Ranger]

Paging Tony Rezko, paging Mr. Rezko!!!

Posted by: matt | June 21, 2010 at 03:11 PM

An observation made by one of those following the trial for the local press is that Rezko is the most mentioned name so far in the trial, and yet it appears he will not be called to testify by the prosecution. Rezko has been at the center of pretty much every corrupt deal the prosecution has alleged. Now they wonder why Fitz does not want him on the stand. Could it be that the judge even hinting that he might reconsider Blago's efforts to call Obama to the stand impeach Rezko as a witness was enough to scare off Fitz?

[daddy]

Morning Jane,

If you have a moment, How went the sailboating?

[cathyf]

but what happened to the other $1.65 billion ? Lobbying, ads, political contributions, fraud ? Who got it ? PP Swiss bank account ? Democrats ? Rahm ?

Funding abortions, probably.

[fdcol63]

I'm still wondering why Richard Armitage got off scott-free but Libby got convicted.

[Rob Crawford]

I'm still wondering why Richard Armitage got off scott-free but Libby got convicted.

Armitage could not have been cast as a "scalp" collected from the Bush administration, as he's entirely too much of a Powell crony.

[daddy]

This ">http://www.adn.com/2010/06/21/1333869/begich-introduces-oil-spill-legislation.html"> ADN story just out says Begich and 2 other Dems are introducing Legislation that would make every Oil Company have to set up an Escrow Account prior to drilling in case of Oil Spills. No word yet on who would control the funds deposited in the Escrow accounts.

So for example, in the case of Chevron, which has already paid 3.5 Billion for the leases they are now prohibited from exercising in the Chukchi, they would now have to cough up even more money prior to the potential, but far from certain, possibility of drilling in Alaska.

Could we make it any harder economically for Oil companies to drill in this country? Angola or Kazahakstan or wherever, say "Hey" to Chevron when they arrive.

[Old Lurker]

"Armitage could not have been cast as a "scalp" "

And also because he is bald as a cue ball.

[Rob Crawford]

No word yet on who would control the funds deposited in the Escrow accounts.

Or, something I thought of the other day, who would receive the "float" earned off those escrow accounts.

[Old Lurker]

Great idea, Daddy!

And we could demand funds for drug companies.

And plane manufacturers.

And drywall from China.

Already got the tobacco money.

Booze for sure.

Cars...oh never mind we got them too.

[Rob Crawford]

Could we make it any harder economically for Oil companies to drill in this country?

Sure -- require them to use drill bits made of chalk.

[Clarice]

Ranger, maybe Rezko's too easy for the defense to impeach and if the prosecution doesn't use him, the defense is unlikely to be able to find a basis on which to call him as a witness in aid of Blago's defense...Just saying.

[Strawman Cometh]

saw this bumper sticker this morning:
"Hope we Change presidents in 2012"

[Janet]

I'm still wondering why Richard Armitage got off scott-free but Libby got convicted.

Me too fdcol63. That injustice opened my eyes like never before to our corrupt media. Mr. Libby and his family are on my permanent prayer list. I consider him a wounded soldier in the war against radical Islam.

[gmax]

but what happened to the other $1.65 billion ?

You never heard of administrative overhead?

Or as the old joke goes, "I spent half of it on wine, loose women and song, and the rest of it I just pissed away!"

[daddy]

IMHO this mandatory Escrow Account Business for Oil Spills seems to be orchestrated from the top down to not let the Oil Spill crisis go to waste by:

Giving the Government greater power

Giving the Government greater slush funds

Painting the Repub's who will oppose this economic drilling killer as being in bed with the Oil companies and against the Earth. Poster child for the movement will be constant repetition of Congressman Barton and his "strong-arming" BP Statement.

Battle lines are drawn; Stand by for the all out MSM assault.

[l]

Bend at the barre, bitches!

[matt]

I guess that's in addition to the Oil Spill Cleanup Trust Fund that already exists and has (had) $1.6 Billion deposited by the oil companies.

These crooks are so corrupt they will continue to feed at the trough right up until the axe falls.

[توبيكات]

thanx for all :)

[Bill in AZ sez it's time for Zero to resign]

I'm still wondering why Richard Armitage got off scott-free but Libby got convicted.

'Cause FITZ!!11!11!!! couldn't find his ass with both hands - as he is demonstrating once again.

[Jim Miller]

Here's my speculative explanation for Rahm's possible departure.

It's hard to know whether to be happy if he leaves the White House. He is, from what I can tell, one of the more competent political operatives in the Democratic party. But is competence what we want in the Obama White House? Mostly no for domestic policy, mostly yes for foreign policy is what I would say.

[Ranger]

Ranger, maybe Rezko's too easy for the defense to impeach and if the prosecution doesn't use him, the defense is unlikely to be able to find a basis on which to call him as a witness in aid of Blago's defense...Just saying.

Posted by: Clarice | June 21, 2010 at 04:37 PM

Very true, but not calling him will be a very bad move for Fitz. Blago's entire devense is that those who are testifying against him are lying to get a lighter sentence. Not calling Rezko will let Blago say "he's not here because he woldn't lie on the stand."

I am sure the stuff about Rahm was leaked by Fitz to try an mitigate the damage. Blago's defense is that all the talking about deals was just the way things are done in Illinois, and the Rahm trading favors for funding of a local school supports Blago's defense.

Let us not forget just how much jepardy there is for Obama in all of this. Rahm and Obama were two key players in getting Blago into office in the first place, and Obama was key to greasing the skids in the state senate creating the seats on the state hospital construciton board that Blago and Rezko sold for 50K of campaign controbutions.

[Melinda Romanoff]

There is NO ideological split in the WH. This is all for show, and is more likely aimed at recalcitrant Congressional Dems to get on board while there's still a chance to get the program, of which they've all dreamed, done.

It just doesn't make sense from either "avowed socialist" to say otherwise, and Rahm is definitely "avowed".

[daddy]

Sorry guys,

Up above I meant Shell Oil, not Chevron.

[Old Lurker]

When Jack is Back...back, he will enjoy the LUN regarding his recent voyage.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Still evil, daddy, still evil.

[Extraneus]

So I guess we know why the Republican leadership beat Barton up over the "shakedown" apology, but why haven't they been all over secret deals made as part of the "escrow" slush-fund? Obviously a deal was made.

We know what Obama got, but we don't know what he gave up. We know what BP gave up, but we don't know what they got in return.

Seems worthwhile to bring up the question. Why haven't they?

[Janet]

I have a hard time believing this Blago, Rezco, Rahm stuff will hurt the administration. Non news junkies won't understand and the media won't help them understand.
The media has all the power as to what is a big deal & what isn't. I don't think the media will let this hurt Obama.

[boris]

"Why haven't they?"

Not only masters of the prevent defense, also grand masters of the prevent offense.

[glasater]

Wouldn't Blago's appeal--if it goes to that extent--depend on the defense's request for Rezko testimony and the judge's denial?

[lyle]

Codpieces!

[daddy]

Codpieces!

Is that what Michelles wearing now?

[anduril]

First of all, I'd like to assure everyone that I've been very productive since cutting back on my posting here. I've been able to edit a lot of things that needed work but that I'd been neglecting. In fact, I was so involved in that work that I failed to notice that there has been

AN ARREST IN THE DUBAI ASSASSINATION CASE!

Clarice and the other usual nitwits here (Hey, how's that Dubai investigation going?) will be surprised to learned that the arrested person was an Israeli, not some Arab from a rival terror group.

There are a number of informative accounts. Here's the Haaretz article: Report: Suspected Mossad agent arrested in Poland over Dubai assassination. Although the initial arrest took place in Warsaw, the offense took place in Germany. The arrest by Polish authorities took place at the request of the German government, which is now seeking extradition: Arrest of Suspected Mossad Agent Strains German-Israeli Relations.

Some excerpts from the Der Spiegel article:

Whatever the outcome, the political consequences of the Dubai debacle and the arrest in Warsaw are probably unavoidable. Germany has a unique -- and very sensitive -- relationship with Israel. But does that also mean that German authorities should turn a blind eye to the Mossad's use of a German passport to commit a murder?

For the German government, it is beyond question that Germany should support the Israelis in the Middle East conflict and the dispute over the Iranian nuclear program, and that the country should supply information to Israeli intelligence. When the Mossad is planning an operation on German soil, the Germans are usually generous in giving their permission. "The 'smooth and cozy' approach applies when it comes to Israel," says a German intelligence official.

On the other hand, German law forbids foreign intelligence services from conducting unauthorized operations on German soil, and it does not provide an exception for the Mossad. The Israelis did not request German permission to conduct the operation in question, because the Germans would never have permitted the use of a passport to facilitate a murder. And once a case has been opened in a constitutional democracy like Germany, the wheels of justice start turning.

...

The story the alleged Israeli agent concocted to obtain the passport had apparently been in the works for some time. In late 2008, an old man went to the German Embassy in Tel Aviv, where he identified himself as Hans Bodenheimer and told officials that he had fled from the Nazis and had come to apply for German citizenship. The consular division approved the request and mailed him the passport. A few weeks later, Hans Bodenheimer's alleged son Michael turned up in Cologne.

There are many indications that Michael Bodenheimer is a Mossad hit man who was directly involved in the Dubai murder. German investigators suspect that Alexander Verin, a.k.a. Uri Brodsky, on the other hand, may have been a Europe-based logistics specialist whose job included inventing fake biographies. The pattern of his travels throughout Europe -- from Germany to Switzerland and then to the Baltic countries -- support this theory. When he was arrested, he had just come from Austria. And when it began to emerge that Bodenheimer had someone helping him in Germany, the investigators expanded their search to include Verin, who had also registered as "Alexander Varin" in some hotels.

One of the basic rules of the intelligence business is never to get fake identities mixed up, but apparently this was precisely what happened in this case. Sometimes the suspected agent posed as Alexander Verin, sometimes as "Varin" and sometimes as Uri Brodsky, allegedly born on April 12, 1971. The Mossad may have even borrowed the identity of a real Israeli for its purposes, a respectable psychiatrist named Uri Brodsky who lives near Tel Aviv, immigrated to the Jewish state from St. Petersburg 15 years ago and denies all involvement with the intelligence service. "I am not a Mossad agent," he told SPIEGEL.

Leaving a Trail

While the real Uri Brodsky hasn't left Israel in two years, his doppelganger has left a trail during his travels. An analysis of air travel and credit card records yielded so many connections that investigators are convinced that the passports of Alexander Verin and Uri Brodsky were used by one and the same person. Based on a photocopy they obtained from one of the hotels where he stayed, the authorities now know what the alleged agent looks like. Germany's Federal Court of Justice issued a warrant for his arrest on April 13.

...

Of course, it remains to be seen whether there will in fact be a trial. The attorney for Uri Brodsky, who is in custody in Poland, announced last week that his client is not the man being sought by German authorities. It is now up to the German Federal Criminal Police Office to prove that Brodsky is their man, otherwise he may not be extradited. It is also possible that officials in the United Arab Emirates, who are investigating the Mabhouh murder, will seek his extradition. And even if the alleged Mossad agent is indicted in Germany, the line of defense is not that difficult to predict. Brodsky "is only accused of having used a forged German passport," claims Israeli Trade Minister Ben-Eliezer. Anything else, he adds, "must be proven."

Until then, the wheels of justice will continue to turn in Germany. The investigators now want to analyze the clandestine practices of the Mossad and are looking into other clues that lead to Germany, directly before and after the Hamas official's murder. "The investigations," says a senior German government official, "have opened a Pandora's box."

[narciso]

"Lesson 14, in things I wish to unremember" You knoe Daddy, my mock suggestion once that
they fill the state Senate seat with a marmot, seems only have missed by two levels
of authority

[Stephanie]

Burton said Americans stand by the notion that "their president ought to have a little time to clear his mind." He said Obama relaxed after a week in which he got help for victims of the oil spill and travelled to Ohio to speak on the economy, among other work. Burton said that having time to himself "probably does us all good."

Unintended understatement of irony alert!

LUN

[daddy]

A bit more info on the ">http://alaskadispatch.com/blogs/political-animal/5728-begich-you-spill-you-pay"> Begich Oil Spill Escrow Fund.

This one says it would not mandate an Escrow Fund until after a spill.

"If the bill passes, in the event of a spill the Interior Secretary would be required to estimate the responsible company's liability. The company would then put the money into an escrow account, which the Interior Department would then use to pay claims. Any money not paid out after five years would be returned to the company."

It appears it is trying to make Lawful what Obama just forced BP to do.

[lyle]

Let see you stand on your toes, you f****** P****!

[narciso]

Meanwhile, the press is bought and paid for by our neutral and other nations, in the LUN

[Danube of Thought]

Could it be that the judge even hinting that he might reconsider Blago's efforts to call Obama to the stand impeach Rezko as a witness was enough to scare off Fitz?

Doubtful. If Fitz can make his case without putting a known scumbag on the stand, he'll do it. Plus, he couldn't care less about whether Obama gets subpoenaed.

[daddy]

Narciso,

Speaking of the Press, this tells us ">http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.2c6f14552747669c04f5e6970a59d48d.181&show_article=1"> AP and CNN are divorcing and going their separate ways.

Wonder which one walks away with the dishonesty and which one gets to keep the disingenuity.

[Extraneus]

I like this Kyl-Obama dust-up. Obviously, the Dems used the same strategy on health care: Why work to solve the real problems, when that would only remove the pretext for a "comprehensive" bill that gets us the socialism we want?

This is very obviously their M.O. Would someone in the Republican leadership make the point that this is a common leftist strategy? No? Why not? Is it up to Sarah Palin to do it on Facebook? Romney sure doesn't seem to have the stomach for it.

Incompetent prevent-offense and -defense, apparently, as boris points out re: the BP slush fund.

Come on, fools. You had them on the run.

[narciso]

It's kind of Resse's pieces, 'chocolate and peanut butter' thing, daddy,

Didn't these folks learn anything from the Joe Wilson episode, I know rhetorical question, Lisa wants the President to set liability claims on each new lease, under what authority

[matt]

daddy;

Just Up. The Dems and the oil disaster; never let a good crisis go to waste. The Begich scam helped me finish it off after a few days rumination. LUN.

[Danube of Thought]

Looks like McChrystal could be circling the drain. He might be gone before Rahm.

[Extraneus]

Shame to see it happen to an Obama-appointed general. Is Ashley Wilks available?

[Old Lurker]

Key point from your LUN, DoT:

" The article says that although McChrystal voted for Obama,"

Welcome to your hope and change, Chump.

[PaulL]

That is some seriously unpolitic stuff to say.

Anyway, the ROE for Afghanistan are insane.

[glasater]

Kudlow is trumpeting the fact that the NJ legislature failed to override Christie's veto of the "millionaires tax".

Christie is the MAN!

[Danube of Thought]

Now, Jindal is battling the moratorium in the courtroom, too. Jindal and state Attorney General Buddy Caldwell on Sunday filed a legal brief in support of a Louisiana-based offshore services company that’s asking a federal judge to lift the ban.

Interesting lawsuit. I believe they have to persuade the judge that Salazar's decision was "arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion," which is a tough standard to meet.

[JM Hanes]

"Texas Democratic Congressional nominee wants to impeach Obama, opposes UN." Rove, you magnificent bastard!

Extraneus:

"We know what Obama got, but we don't know what he gave up. We know what BP gave up, but we don't know what they got in return."

The WSJournal has your answers. For starters, BP only had to commit $100M to relief for folks being hurt by the moratorium. Sounds like just enough for Obama to claim he's protecting the people he's putting out of work.

[Old Lurker]

Dunno, JMH. $100M for something they might not be liable for at all seems pretty stiff to me. And seeing Feingold on Fox talking about paying claims in say 24 hours sure seems like a recipe for fraud at the lowest threshold imaginable. Claiming that when this $20B is gone, his understanding is that more will be made available by BP immediately upon request makes me wonder who was paying any attention at all to BP shareholders and bondholders. Hell, it took ten years for many of the asbestos claims to work their way through the meatgrinder, and even then the fraud was unbridled.

BP seems to deserve a real shellacking for very bad management of that well, but for heaven's sake somebody needs to pay attention or these looters will have it all.

[Extraneus]

Thanks JMH. It's a wonder why every lawyer doesn't wear white shoes.

[glasater]

I understand that Zerohedge is a somewhat alarmist web site according to Melinda but....

BP's Bankruptcy Would Impair 117 (18% Of Total) Collateralized Synthetic Obligations, Lead To Pervasive Losses

[Jane says obamasucks]

How went the sailboating?

Daddy,

It was great. I will tell you my awe and admiration of Caro just continues to expand. It's a very different way of life, and except for the prick that hit us in the trimaran and then pretended it was our fault, really a wonderful change of pace. We couldn't get to Cuttyhunk because the current and the wind were against us.

On Sunday we witnessed a boat launching which Caro has promised to post about at You Too. (BTW I can't tell you how many people at the launch I heard say (pointing to Caro) "she sailed around the world you know") (It wasn't around the whole world, but close.) The launch was an amazing thing, but more amazing were the men that just kept showing up out of the blue to either sing, or play instruments ranging from the cello, to the biggest bass I've ever seen, and guitars that you play on your lap and fiddles. I kept wondering how they knew when to show up.

Anyway it was great. I can't wait to do it again.

[Boatbuilder]

Question: You were summoned to the White House for a meeting; 20 minutes later it was announced that you had committed to put $20 Billion into a fund for victims of the spill, to be administered by an appointee of President Obama, without apparent oversight by BP, this Congress or anyone else. What was offered or threatened by the Administration to obtain your commitment to this unprecedented fund, and what concessions or promises did you receive in return?

If BP says "None, we just felt it was our responsibility," noone will believe it; to ask the question is to raise the issue. Just ask the question--that's what your constituents put you there to do.

Besides, we all know that three months from now there will be all sorts of fawning articles about how Obama channelled his inner LBJ and armtwisted BP into saving the Gulf, while saving his political fortunes and screwing the Republicans, who were cowed by the Barton episode into a hasty retreat. Why wait?

When Sarah Palin suggested that Obama was too close to Big Oil, that put the bastards on the defensive, and postponed the "The Republicans want to rape the Gulf for Big Oil" meme for at least a month. Now its back, of course, and the Republicans are afraid to fight it.

[matt]

after all the fraud with Katrina, I would have thought they had learned their lesson. From the same people who deliver your mail and want to provide your health care.

[Ann]

One for our side and Governor Bobby Jindal:

LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE PASSES HEALTH CARE FREEDOM ACT

[Ann]

I wonder if US Senator Mary Landrieu has to give back the booty bribe now?