We need some comic relief to the pre-Fitzmas tension, and as so often this past week, the feisty and always informative all-Plamegate-all-the-time blog Firedoglake comes through. It also has provided much real news and near-constant updates in the latest. A good site to add to your Fitzmas checking list:
http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2005/10/viagra-pen-and-non-speaking-spokesman.htmlThursday, October 27, 2005
The Viagra Pen and the Non-Speaking Spokesman
(snip)
"One more thing," I said. "I'd like to know if you could confirm the Viagra pen story."
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
"Refresh my memory," he said.
I said I was told that Mr. Fitzgerald likes to wave a pen around in his press conferences, and that someone planted a Viagra pen in the green room prior to one of them. He picked it up and spent the entire press conference waving it around like -- well, like a Viagra pen.
(snip)
Read the whole thing, get your laugh, and then read Firedoglake's report on Miers' withdrawal - it's my fave of what I've seen so far in terms of putting the most important and latest facts and rumors together, and it manages to be nastily funny too.That potent Fitz Viagra Pen, apparently a useful instrument of intimidation, could bring a hefty price on eBay if it exists.
And note the eerie parallel in the finger-pointing posture in the Fitz photo above, which is undoubtedly deliberate. But we know which pointing finger is scaring more people right now...
http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2005/10/miers-nomination-withdrawn.htmlThursday, October 27, 2005
Miers Nomination Withdrawn
(snip)
Bushie released a statement blaming the meanies in Congress for wanting actual information about his nominee. (Looks like the Krauthammer face-saving out idea {
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102001635.html} came just in time.)
{cited from the WaPo:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/27/AR2005102700547.html}
...He {Bush} blamed her withdrawal on calls in the Senate for the release of internal White House documents that the administration has insisted were protected by executive privilege.
"It is clear that senators would not be satisfied until they gained access to internal documents concerning advice provided during her tenure at the White House -- disclosures that would undermine a president's ability to receive candid counsel," Bush said...
Thank goodness for Harriet's commitment to separation of powers issues and...well, and for the Republican leadership in the Senate clearly communicating to the WH that this was going to get more and more embarassing if they kept going. Oh, and that the votes were not there. Wow, thank goodness for that adherence to principles...thingy.
(snip)
The Miers withdrawl Firedoglake entry goes on to give an excellent take on the story.
Update: Firedoglake has just posted a useful commentary on Grand Jury facts & functions, and I'll post on it shortly.