01.27.08
Football…
01.25.08
“Ice Ahead, Captain”
Stolen from “Joey Donuts”
Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) announced his retirement today, according to a GOP operative, becoming the 25th House Republican not to run for reelection this election cycle.
In his retirement announcement, Weldon cited his desire to spend more time with his family and return to his medical practice.
“It is a very big undertaking to run and successfully serve, and I would never have been able to do it were it not for the generous help of so many fine people,” Weldon said in a statement.
Weldon, a physician, was elected in the Republican wave of 1994 and has maintained a solidly conservative voting record throughout his seven terms in Congress. Holding a seat on the House Appropriations Committee, he played a key role in securing funds for NASA’s budget — a major issue in a district that’s home to the Kennedy Space Center.
His retirement is the second in as many days; Rep. James Walsh (R-N.Y.) announced his retirement yesterday, opening up a seat that Democrats are aggressively contesting.
Democrats view Weldon’s Republican-leaning seat, based on Florida’s Space Coast, as winnable and already have a candidate ready to run. A Democratic operative said that former Brevard County Commissioner Nancy Higgs (D) will be entering the race soon after Weldon makes a formal announcement, and is viewed by the party as a strong challenger.
Welcome to the SS Permanent Majority, please do not be alarmed by that slight 30 degree list to port. The Captain has assured me that everything is perfectly fine…Uhhh…in fact some of us taking the last dinghy out for a little…uhhh…picnic cruise. That’s it…just a little picnic…just me, the Captain, some of senior staff…couple of the really hot interns…Bruce,Ted…you know…so wait right here….
~S(teward)Squirrel
More Tortue-Gate…
WASHINGTON - Attorney General Michael Mukasey said Friday he doesn’t plan for a special prosecutor to investigate whether the CIA broke the law when it destroyed videotapes of terror interrogations, defying some in Congress who want an independent look at the politically charged case.
Speaking tersely and in an even, low tone, Mukasey would not discuss whether he has seen any evidence that destroying the interrogation tapes violated court orders or otherwise interfered with any case.
He said the ongoing criminal investigation, headed by career federal prosecutor John Durham of Connecticut, was opened on grounds of “some indication — which is a lot less than probable cause — some indication that there was any violation of any federal statute.”
“And that’s the only basis on which we proceeded,” Mukasey said.
Asked if he has reconsidered his decision to not put a special prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Mukasey said, simply, “No.”
Admitting that you did it is “some indication”. My, my…how “Clintonian”. Just because at least three federal judges disagree(see previous post) and your dept. argued in court that it was such an important investigation that the federal courts should not get involved.
U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts seems to think there’s “probable cause”.
Publicly confessing to violating a court order when even the dept. formerly known as justice under “Lapdog” Gonzalez advised against it?…Priceless!
~S(ix dollars)Squirrel
Happy Valentines Day?
WASHINGTON - A federal judge said Thursday that CIA interrogation videotapes may have been relevant to his court case, and he gave the Bush administration three weeks to explain why they were destroyed in 2005 and say whether other evidence was destroyed.
Several judges are considering wading into the dispute over the videos, but U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts was the first to order the administration to provide a written report on the matter. The decision is a legal setback for the Bush administration, which has urged courts not to get involved.The Justice Department has warned that a judicial inquiry could jeopardize the criminal investigation. U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy, the first judge to consider the question, held a public hearing before agreeing not to hear evidence in the case.
Earlier this month, a federal judge in New York said destroying the tapes appeared to have violated his order in a case involving the American Civil Liberties Union. But U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein has not yet said how he will rule.
Roberts said he wants a report by Feb. 14 explaining what the government has done to preserve evidence since his July 2005 court order, what it is doing now and whether any other potentially relevant evidence has been destroyed.
The Last Boy Scout…I want his autograph, a hero just for doing his job. Just like you’d expect all judges would rule…mad world…
~SSquirrel
01.24.08
Kinda looks like Rudy ‘Round the Eyes
NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 23 — After months of debate over illegal immigration, social issues and the Iraq war, the economy and taxes have emerged as the central focus of the Republican race in Florida.
A new poll for the St. Petersburg Times shows McCain and Romney leading the contest in Florida, with Giuliani and Huckabee fading. The poll put McCain at 25 percent and Romney at 23 percent, with Giuliani and Huckabee tied at 15 percent each, and 13 percent undecided. The Times’s November poll had Giuliani in front of Romney by nearly 2 to 1.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) said he thinks the new poll reflects fallout from Giuliani’s failure to win in any of the earlier states. “It’s important to win,” Crist said in an interview at the governor’s mansion. “If you’re going to win somewhere, you’ve got to win.”
Crist has not endorsed a candidate but said he has not ruled out doing so before Tuesday’s primary. With an approval rating over 70 percent, Crist could offer an important boost in the final days of a campaign.
Guv’nor Crist added he has a wide stance, and that he is not gay. Several of his ex-boyfriends agreed, saying he “sure was lousy in bed” and his wife, whom he married shortly before his election as Guv’nor, echoed the sentiment…
As for Giuliani? Well he’s got a nice base tan for a vacation in Bali…
~S(outhSeas)Squirrel