Bush Aide Chose to Cheat

A blogger discovered an aide in Karl Rove's Bush White House lifted material for half of his 38 newspaper columns in the Fort Wayne newspaper. The aide, Tim Goeglein, worked for President Bush, as a liaison to social and religious conservatives. The New York Times reported:

Mr. Goeglein, 44, is little known outside Washington. He is a familiar figure to conservatives and evangelical Christians, who knew him as a spokesman for Gary L. Bauer, the conservative who ran for president in 2000.

When Mr. Bauer dropped out of the race, Mr. Goeglein signed on with Mr. Bush, eventually becoming a top aide to Karl Rove, the chief political strategist. He was the eyes and ears of the White House in the world of religious conservatives and an emissary to that world for Mr. Rove and the president.

Mr. Goeglein was often credited with turning out the evangelical vote that helped re-elect Mr. Bush in 2004.

How ironic is it that a man so internally charged by morality would fail repeatedly in his efforts to write ethically? Recall that many economic reforms pushed by the U.S. deal with intellectual property rights. Consider this from the Commerce Department's website:

“This report verifies our significant and substantial efforts to stem the tide of intellectual property theft,” said Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

So what did George W. Bush say about a man who pilfered the intellectual production of others? The Times reported:

With Mr. Bush traveling to his ranch in Crawford, Tex., for the weekend, the White House issued a statement late Friday saying that the president was disappointed and saddened for Mr. Goeglein and his family. “He has long appreciated Tim’s service,” the statement said. “And he knows him to be a good person who is committed to his country.”

Here's the deal, George. America is raising a generation of cheaters. Our role models extend from CEO's who cheat on the executive stock options to baseball players juicing up their performance to White House operatives who cheat without the pressure of a writing deadline. I'm sure they're all good people, committed to their company, sport or political party. I don't believe they're committed to honesty. They share that with our current Chief Executive. The end justifies the means...

FBI Investigations: Clemens vs. LifeCare

Nearly two years ago, I asked the FBI to investigate my concerns regarding the White House Lessons Learned Report on Hurricane Katrina. The circumstances around Fran Townsend's silence over LifeCare's 24 patient deaths warranted probing, at least in my mind. I never heard one word back from any accountable official. No one ever addressed my questions.

Now I see the FBI will investigate baseball pitcher Roger Clemens for perjury for his February 13th testimony. Wow, the FBI took on the case within a month. I've been waiting nearly two years. What's more troubling to the nation, a juiced up pitcher or an overheated dead hospital with patients in need of rescue? Apparently the FBI believes it's the former. One final thought, did Fran Townsend retire so she wouldn't have to be sworn in on this issue? She cited the constant threat of subpoena as a reason for leaving. The White House refused to share her e-mails with Chief of Staff Andy Card during Katrina. Where's the FBI when you need them?

Barack & Hillary Like Wall Street Money

A look at Barack and Hillary's top campaign contributors reveals amazing similarities. Their lists are peppered with big Wall Street investment houses and high dollar legal firms. They even share a number of top donors.

Barack
1. Goldman Sachs $475,000
3. J.P. Morgan Chase $283,000
4. Lehman Brothers $274,000
5. National Amusements $266,000
7. Citigroup $248,000
8. University of California $240,000
9. Skadden, Arps $229,000
14. Time Warner $190,000
15. Morgan Stanley $190,000
17. Kirkland & Ellis $163,000
18. Latham & Watkins $161,000

Hillary
2. Goldman Sachs $426,000
7. J.P. Morgan Chase $232,000
6. Lehman Brothers $255,000
8. National Amusements $218,000
4. Citigroup $354,000
15. University of California $162,000
9. Skadden, Arps $199,000
14. Time Warner $164,000
3. Morgan Stanley $369,000
11. Kirkland & Ellis $183,000
17. Latham & Watkins $149,000

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama share 11 of their top 20 donors. They share many positions as well. I find it hard to believe Mr. Obama can participate in these muddy waters and remain clean. However, one can hope...

Rock the House!

Nearly half the members of the House of Representatives temporarily walked out yesterday. They did so under protest. I think the people should exercise a similar protest this November and give every House member a one way ticket back to their home district. Send 1/3 of the Senate home as well.

Could yesterday's action have been a warm up? It gives me hope that my goal of every incumbent permanently leaving can be accomplished. Vote them all out. A pox on both their houses.

Will the Real CIA Interrogators Please Admit Their Age?

White House mouthpiece Dana Perino gave another flimsy excuse for the Bush administration needing to torture people in American captivity. It turns out the Army Field manual is not the standard for interrogation anymore. Her excuse for the change? Young people, not old enough to drink, need explicit guidance on how to treat enemies in their hands. At the White House Press Briefing Dana had this to say:

This is done at the CIA, and it is done by professionals who are given hundreds of hours of training, who are — I think General Hayden said an average age of 40; who are being asked to do very hard work in order to protect Americans. The Army Field Manual is a perfectly appropriate document that is important for young GIs, some so young that they’re not even able to legally get a drink in the states where they’re from.

But Dana isn't the only one changing stories. Even John McCain flip flopped from his years ago position:

Senator John McCain (Republican), a former US navy pilot who was captured and tortured in Vietnam, wants an unequivocal ban on all "cruel and inhuman" treatment of prisoners in US custody, including those held by the CIA.

Why do I have a recollection of inexperienced CIA agents being blamed for interrogations gone awry? A look back at news reports show:

1. ABC's sources said that just over a dozen CIA interrogators were trained and authorised to use the "enhanced interrogation" techniques.

2. In a CIA facility in Kabul known as the "Salt Pit", an officer, described as young and inexperienced, used the "cold treatment" on a detainee, who was left outdoors, naked, throughout a freezing Afghan night. He died of hypothermia. The case is being investigated, along with several others in Afghanistan and Iraq where interrogators - CIA officers, civilian contractors or members of the special forces - went well beyond the guidelines and suspects died as a result.

3. Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff to Colin Powell when he was US Secretary of State, said last week that he knew of more than 70 "questionable deaths" of detainees under US supervision up to the end of 2002, when he left office. That figure, he added, was now around 90.

4. America's covert forces are operating in a climate of impunity, described by Cofer Black, then CIA counter-terrorism chief, who told a congressional committee in 2002: "After 9/11, the gloves were off." At one point, according to Newsweek, the Bush administration formally told the CIA it could not be prosecuted for any technique short of inflicting the kind of pain that accompanies organ failure or death.

5. The CIA went ballistic when a former agent revealed prisoners had been waterboarded.

6. Military and CIA leaders lamented the impact of TV agent Jack Bauer.

US Army Brigadier General] Finnegan and the others had come to voice their concern that the show’s central political premise — that the letter of American law must be sacrificed for the country’s security — was having a toxic effect. In their view, the show promoted unethical and illegal behavior and had adversely affected the training and performance of real American soldiers. “I’d like them to stop,” Finnegan said of the show’s producers. “They should do a show where torture backfires”...

Finnegan told the producers that “24,” by suggesting that the U.S. government perpetrates myriad forms of torture, hurts the country’s image internationally.

7. Meanwhile Bush high ups praise the Bauer model.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who has said that "24" "frankly, . . . reflects real life" in presenting scenarios with "no clear magic bullet to solve the problem," and to former CIA Director James Woolsey, who has said that "24" is "quite realistic" about the threats that it depicts. And then there's the pop culture shout-out from former presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, who said that if the government captured a would-be suicide bomber, "I'm looking for Jack Bauer at that point, let me tell you."

8. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia reportedly defended that same fictional federal agent in 24, who often tortures terrorist suspects to save lives.

9. Harper's reported the psychologist used to create the urgent interrogation techniques were themselves inexperienced.

10. Yet, an experienced interrogator's knowledge and wisdom are ignored.

So who needs explicit instruction on interrogation, Dana? It looks like everyone needs to go back to school. Please implement "No White House Left Behind," and that includes wannabe's:

"I made it very clear that I think that waterboarding is torture and illegal, but I will not restrict the CIA to only the Army Field Manual," McCain said before voting against holding the CIA to the field manual, which bans waterboarding.

And what does the Field Manual prohibit? It forbids eight methods including waterboarding, forced nudity, electric shock, use of dogs and mock executions. It looks like McCain's unequivocal ban got equivocated.

Bush to Veto Any Limits on His Right to Waterboard

How far down the rabbit hole does one have to go on this issue before becoming completely disoriented? It turns out, not far, but Congress' latest act sent the populace plunging. The New York Times reported:

The Senate voted Wednesday to ban waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods that have been used by the Central Intelligence Agency against high-level terrorism suspects. The vote, following House passage of the measure in December, set up a confrontation with President Bush, who has threatened to veto it.

The Senate action is the latest chapter in a long-running battle between the Democratic majority in Congress and the Bush administration over the treatment of detainees, an issue certain to play a role in the presidential election campaign.

The leading Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain of Arizona, a former prisoner of war who steadfastly opposes the use of torture, voted against the bill. Mr. McCain said the ban would limit the C.I.A.’s ability to gather intelligence. “We always supported allowing the C.I.A. to use extra measures,” he said.

At the same time, he said that he believed “waterboarding is illegal and should be banned” and that the agency must adhere to existing federal law and international treaties.

The White House again said Mr. Bush intended to veto the bill, on the ground that it would interfere with successful intelligence gathering. And Tony Fratto, a presidential spokesman, said that at least in the case of waterboarding, Democrats were criticizing a method that American interrogators no longer used.

Whoa! McCain says waterboarding is illegal, a violation of federal law and international treaties and he voted against the bill? White House mouthpiece Fratto looks like a fool for saying "it's a method interrogators no longer use." How do we know? It took Bush 4-5 years to confess to its past use. Tony, it's still on the menu for use. Why else is George W. going to veto the bill?

How many years has torture been the top topic? At least three, if my recollection is correct. No wonder American government is despised around the world. We're supposed to be the shining light. Not any more. It's now clear John McCain can't lead us from our dark place. And the Supreme Court is no help at all.

Salute Before Shooting

Patriotism is the reason Congress wants to give immunity to telecommunication companies for their participation in illegal government spying. So next time you plan on committing a crime, be sure to salute. Or better yet, as you offend, wave a small American flag at the videocamera. Then ask the House and Senate to provide retroactive immunity. Ask Bush to berate the people's legislative on your behalf.

If they'll do it for telecoms, surely they'll come to the aid of the average citizen. After all, it's government of the people, by the people and for the people.