Cheney's Lawless Assistant

New York Times columnist Bob Herbert's column today is a must read. It details how an aid to Vice President Dick Cheney, a man named Addington, has been the force behind the gutting of the U.S. Constitution under Bush/Cheney:

In the view of Mr. Addington and his acolytes, anything and everything
that the president authorized in the fight against terror — regardless of what
the Constitution or Congress or the Geneva Conventions might say — was all
right. That included torture, rendition, warrantless wiretapping, the suspension of habeas corpus, you name
it.

Note: the American people did not elect this Addington character - he is a political appointee.

Jim

PHOTO: I took a lot of pictures over the weekend at the annual Fire Island Dance Festival. It's a spectacular event to shoot.

Dowd On Greenspan: The War Over Oil

What a pleasure to be able to read Maureen Dowd once again, Here she is taking apart the old Republican windbag Alan Greenspan in the Times:

Even though he rubber-stamped W.’s tax cuts, Alan Greenspan is now
upbraiding the president and vice president for profligate spending and putting
politics ahead of sound economics.
He also says in his new memoir that “the
Iraq war is largely about oil,” telling Bob Woodward that he had privately told
W. and Cheney that ousting Saddam was “essential” to keeping world oil supplies
safe. Irrational exuberance, indeed.

Yes, and we've destroyed a country and lost over 5,000 young Americans thanks, in part, to Greenspan's "advice" to war criminals Bush and Cheney.

Jim

Cheney In Iraq

8:30 AM: Well, this morning I saw a photograph of Vice President Dick Cheney getting off a helicopter in Iraq. He is there for a "surprise" visit. That's the only kind of visit he can make. He can't announce he's coming for obvious reasons. Even so, he had on this bullet proof vest that made him look like an NFL linebacker. Meanwhile, talking heads this morning were discussing the inevitability of a U.S. pullout, and the likelihood that even Republicans in congress will abandon Bush in the Fall if there is no progress with"The Surge." So, if you are a soldier fighting in Iraq, or a family member of one, how must you feel about the Iraq war?

I'm still stuck with an old computer and dialup out here on Fire Island. I'm working on a solution and hopefully I'll be able to get back online with a wireless high speed connection before long. I miss not being able to post pictures easily. Yesterday the dog and I found some lovely sand castles on the beach that were created by some high school students from Long Island. It must have been a senior trip to the beach for a day. I took some photos and I'll post them when I'm able.

The Island and Cherry Grove are finally awakening after the long, cold winter. The pizza parlor and the grocery store are open in the Grove, and Ms. Skinner has the post office open as well. This morning was foggy with lots of dew on everything, but it's burning off now. Time to get out for a morning walk.

Jim