Ahh, this warms the cockles of my heart: Prosecutor Is Named in Dismissal of US Attorneys

It’s the story that just won’t die, isn’t it?

It seems that Attorney General Mukasey wasn’t overly thrilled with the findings of the dismissal of nine federal prosecutors in 2006. The rest of us have known something was wrong for a long time now, but I’m glad he finally decided to come to the party. He’s appointed a prosecutor to look into the matter.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/washington/30usattorney.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1222783869-mxmAc7jBsCPc4SUmOhICSg

The 356-page report, prepared by the department’s inspector general and its Office of Professional Responsibility, provides the fullest account to date of a scandal that dogged the Bush administration for months last year over accusations that it had politicized the federal justice system by ousting prosecutors seen as disloyal.

“Accusations”, huh? For “accusations”, the fact that EVERYONE involved in this STILL will not talk or turn over evidence is fascinating, isn’t it?

It provided particular detail in the dismissal of David C. Iglesias, a former New Mexico prosecutor who was let go at the prodding of Republican leaders in Washington and New Mexico who were dissatisfied with his work in investigating accusations against Democrats. Despite the denials of the Bush administration, the political pressure was “the real reason” for Mr. Iglesias’s dismissal, the report said.

The investigators acknowledged, however, that they could not answer some critical questions because the White House refused to turn over internal documents and to allow interviews with some crucial figures.

I would like to know why the White House can continue to ignore a subpoena. Hell, multiple subpoenas. If you or I did so, we’d find ourselves in a lot of trouble in a big hurry, wouldn’t we? Why does the Bush administration think that they are above the law?

Despite difficulties in receiving cooperation from the White House, the investigation did uncover some administration e-mail messages and other evidence not previously made public in the course of extensive Congressional investigations last year.

BWAHAHAHAHA! Yes, I’m ashamed.

It should be interesting to see if this actually gets any subsequent press, or the continuing financial meltdown/bailout drama shoves this to the back pages.

-S

Acupuncture beats drug therapy for chemo-induced hot flashes

We’re all about being on the cutting edge at The Little Pink Clubhouse. I saw this article a few days ago. We’ve all had other things on our minds over the past several days — bailout, anyone? — but I wanted to bring it here, even if it’s a little late.

I’ve been going to a local acupuncturist for a few weeks now for a couple of health concerns. Since there is nobody in life more needle-phobic than I am (I have to close my eyes and turn my head away during a blood draw, for example,) you’d think I’d be freaking. Acupuncture needles are the width of a human hair. They are inserted into various meridians of the body with a slight “tap”. They don’t hurt. They offer a huge amount of relief for a wide variety of symptoms without the side effects of yet another prescription drug.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080922/hl_nm/acupuncture_cancer_dc_1

The study adds to a growing body of evidence of the value of acupuncture. Earlier research had shown it can reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and post-operative pain.

“It’s been tested directly against a drug that we use regularly. And it’s more effective. It has benefits, as opposed to any side-effects,” Walker said.

“If you only have to give women treatment three to four times a year as opposed to having to take a pill every day, that’s going to be more cost-effective for insurance companies and the patient,” Walker added.

Cancer patients are not the only ones who benefit from acupuncture. The back pain I spent fifteen years walking around with is virtually gone, for instance. The other issues I have are improving. Oddly enough, the insurance company wants to limit my yearly visits to the acupuncturist, but I could go to the doctor and get as many painkillers as I could pay for, right?

This all seems like a no-brainer to me, but I’m sure there’s a good [bigpharma] reason [/bigpharma) for it, isn’t there?

-S

Goodnight, sweet prince: Paul Newman is gone at 83

Photo: Getty Images

I enjoy Paul Newman’s movies, but I enjoy his philanthropic efforts even more. We use a lot of Newman’s Own products at home. I like the fact that the money I spent on his products went to better the lives of others. Plus, they’re good. (Newman’s Own olive oil vinaigrette salad dressing makes a rockin’ marinade for chicken, by the way.)

My favorite Paul Newman movie is “Slap Shot”. Yes, it’s crass, un-PC and non-intellectual, but I laugh till I cry every time I watch it.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/27/MN8R1194R6.DTL

Mr. Newman’s box-office appeal paid off in roles as different as the boxer Rocky Graziano in “Somebody Up There Likes Me” and the Jewish hero Ari Ben Canaan in the founding-of-Israel saga “Exodus.” In 1969 he teamed up with Robert Redford in one of Hollywood’s most adored buddy-outlaw movies, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The pair renewed their screen acquaintance in the “The Sting” (1973).

“There is a point where feelings go beyond words,” Redford said Saturday. “I have lost a real friend. My life – and this country – is better for his being in it.”

I think we’d all strive for a epitaph like the above, wouldn’t we? Of course, there’s one other thing I really liked about Paul Newman: He loved his wife.

Mr. Newman’s long marriage to Woodward, his second, seemed a model of both mutual devotion and decorum. The couple lived in Connecticut, well removed from the Hollywood hurly-burly. In an oft-quoted remark on the pleasures of fidelity he once asked, “Why fool around with hamburger when you can have steak at home?”

My condolences go to his family and friends. He was a great actor, and an even better person. We need more like him.

-S

Don’t care for Governor Sarah Palin’s policies? Donate to Planned Parenthood in her name!

Just like millions of other women across the country, I was lucky enough to have a Planned Parenthood close by when I was single. I went there for my yearly exams. Those across the aisle would like you to believe that Planned Parenthood is the Great Satan. Actually, they do a lot of good. Besides education and women’s health care, Planned Parenthood provides affordable prenatal care. I always find it humorous that those who can’t seem to live what they preach insist that others do, and that brings me to a little trend that’s going on right now among women.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10564322

When Cheryl Altman received an e-mail with a “fiendishly brilliant” way to protest Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee, she was on the phone with her credit card in hand as soon as she stopped reading. An anonymous viral e-mail is circulating nationwide asking people to donate to Planned Parenthood in the name of Sarah Palin. When donors do so, Planned Parenthood sends Palin a thank-you card informing her that donation has been made in her honor.

For Altman, it was a concrete way to fight against someone she sees as an “extreme conservative with absurd views.”
Altman forwarded the e-mail to her entire address book, posted it as a blog entry on barackobama.com and linked to it on her Facebook page.
No one has claimed credit for the e-mail, and Planned Parenthood’s national office says it doesn’t know where it originated.

I’ll be donating to Planned Parenthood in the name of Governor Sarah Palin, and I hope you will, too. She’ll get a nice postcard thanking her for her support. It’s a proven fact that abstinence education does not work. In an age where a STD can kill you, wouldn’t it be better to be armed with the appropriate prophylactic devices and some knowledge? Oh, I forgot: Only the bad and sinful have sex, don’t they? Did I mention that the teen pregnancy rate in the USA has now rebounded to pre-Bush Administration levels? Since ninety-five percent of the population has sex at one time or another, knowledge is always a good thing, and so’s reliable birth control.

Join me!

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

-S

p.s. The New York Daily News reports that Planned Parenthood is an additional $763,350 richer as a result of an e-mail that’s gone viral.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/09/26/2008-09-26_using_sarah_palin_for_fund_raising_plann.html

If you’d like to get in on the fun, there’s still time!

No matter what happens today, the sun will rise tomorrow

Sunrise, sunrise
Looks like mornin’ in your eyes
But the clocks held 9:15 for hours
Sunrise, sunrise
Couldn’t tempt us if it tried
‘Cause the afternoon’s already come and gone

“Sunrise”, Norah Jones

I had to take The Dauphin to the bus stop this morning. Morning and I have never been especially compatible, but this morning, I was peeking at the crescent moon as the sky lightened. We live in a rural area. Usually, I’m keeping an eye out for the deer that like to do stuff like walk out in front of passing cars for fun. This morning, though, the fog was lifting, the animal life must have slept in, and I could enjoy the drive back home.

From all appearances, this could be a rugged day for a number of people and institutions in our country. I’m thinking about one: My friend Colleen. She works at WaMu. I’m thinking about her, and 3,500 others in the Seattle area, that aren’t sure whether or not they still have a job.

Colleen, we’re with you.

Everybody else: Let’s get through this day, and I promise — no matter what, the sun will rise tomorrow.

-S

Wanda Sykes fixes it all for us

“Oversight? I want receipts, dammit!”

I want receipts, too. Vote for Wanda. At least we’ll laugh!

-S

Deadlines, and other near-death experiences

No attorneys
To plead my case
No orbits
To send me into outta space
And my fingers
Are bejeweled
With diamonds and gold
But that ain’t gonna help me now
-Pink, “Trouble”

This should be my cell phone’s ring tone. I picked some nice, unobjectionable classical music, but this is much more suited to my personality.

Why am I in trouble today? Let me explain. I’m racing to make my latest deadline. One of the tasks for anyone who wants to give the high-stakes world of publishing (homage to the amazing Jennifer Crusie,) a spin is the fact you’re going to have to write to deadline, so you might as well start. Now. My deadline’s October 1st. Of course, I’m nowhere near the finish line. As a result, the Rhapsody playlist is blasting, I’ve had some sugar, and I’m going for it. I can DO this.

My deadline is even more anxiety-producing at the moment because I’ll disappoint someone else if I don’t make it. The lovely and irrepressible Cherry Adair, Ms. NYT-Bestsellers-For-Doorstops, challenges everyone that attends the Emerald City Writers’ Conference yearly to “Write the Damn Book”. You have to fill out a piece of paper with the date your next book will be finished, seal it in an envelope, and hand it back to Cherry. We’re not working writers unless we have a product. For someone who doesn’t do this, I’m sure you’re shaking your head and muttering, “Why are you doing this?” It makes me accountable. Doesn’t matter if I’m the conference chair and there’s a million, zillion details that must be handled before October 9th: I MUST finish, or I will disappoint her. Even worse, I’ll have failed, and I don’t like to fail. Ever.

It’s always interesting to listen to other authors’ tricks for making deadline. The last time I saw Cherry, she’d been up for 51 hours. She was on deadline with her latest book. Those publishers can be stern taskmasters. Other authors do stuff like seal themselves in their offices and tell the husband and kids they don’t want to be disturbed unless there’s blood or uncontrollable fire. Some check into a hotel and disable their Internet access. Mostly, it’s a lot of writing, little or no sleep, and a huge sense of accomplishment when you can finally type the words “The End”.

I’ve said all this to explain that I may be scarce for the next six days. I’ll see you on the other side of “Love and Football”!

-S

Thanks, Rep. Carolyn Maloney: Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights has passed the House today

Rep. Carolyn Maloney serves the people of her constituency rather than the special interests that have stuffed the pockets of almost everyone else on Capitol Hill. As a result, she is attempting to do something that will help the people of Main Street, while those on Wall Street help themselves to our wallets yet again. The Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights passed the House. It’s on to the Senate, where it will most likely die. Then again, this will give us even more motivation to VOTE OUT some Senators who need to find out what it’s like to work for a living. (Did I say that? My bad.)

In the interest of full disclosure, I was thrilled to receive a note awhile back from Rep. Maloney’s office. They evidently read my blog. I’m happy to give my support to elected officials who do the right thing, so let’s see what Rep. Maloney’s day has been like. shall we?

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/credit-cardholders-bill-rights-house-vote-pass-1282.php

In another blow to the banking industry, the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday passed a landmark consumer protection measure aimed at leveling the playing field for credit card users.

The Democratic-controlled House voted 312-112, mostly along partisan lines, to support the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights. The vote came amid a tumultuous week for Wall Street and the credit markets and days before Congress considers an administration plan for a $700 billion bailout of mortgage lenders.

“Amidst the financial turmoil on Wall Street, today the House took steps to help those on Main Street,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, the New York Democrat and the bill’s chief sponsor, who is credited with keeping the bill alive on Capitol Hill despite heavy opposition from banking industry lobbyists. “This historic legislation will help working families who face their own credit crunch as a result of what the Federal Reserve itself calls ‘unfair,’ ‘deceptive,’ and ‘anti-competitive’ credit card practices.”

Banking industry reaction
The banking industry was quick to condemn the passage and issued a statement within minutes of the vote. The bill, “while well-intentioned, will increase the cost of credit for consumers and small businesses across the country, result in less access to credit for consumers and businesses alike, and may further roil the securities markets — all at a time when our economy can least afford it,” Edward Yingling, president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, said in a statement.

The passage may represent a hollow victory for those pushing for real reform. A companion bill would have to pass in the U.S. Senate — an event seen as unlikely by both Democrats and Republicans. Maloney called on the senate to “recognize the strong grassroots support for these reforms.”

Color me shocked, SHOCKED, that the banking industry doesn’t like this. Of course they don’t. It’ll cut down on their revenues, won’t it? It also prevents them from continuing the practices this bill was designed to stop.

In the meantime, I’m only sorry I don’t live in Rep. Maloney’s district. She’s looking out for the people that work hard to keep their heads above water, and I’m grateful for it.

-S

Oh, no! Caribou Barbie needs a special and pre-negotiated format for the Vice Presidential debates? I thought she was “ready to lead”!

Thanks to http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/ for the photo.

This is the same woman who’s so brave she shoots wolves from an aircraft, doesn’t she? Why would she be so obviously unable to carry on a traditional debate? I thought she was “ready to lead”. Uh, Governor Palin, I don’t think the heads of other nations will be quite so accommodating. You haven’t spent a lot of time facing the average voter since your name was announced, either, have you? Wow, there were a lot of rally cancellations over the last week, too. If you’re so “ready”, why not face someone besides FOX News and Charles Gibson?

Put your big girl panties on and debate Senator Biden. I promise he doesn’t bite.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/us/politics/21debate.html?_r=4&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1222116414-SupyFOrHTZuL4bpZPriYpg

At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.

McCain advisers said they had been concerned that a loose format could leave Ms. Palin, a relatively inexperienced debater, at a disadvantage and largely on the defensive.

The wrangling was chiefly between the McCain-Palin camp and the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which is sponsoring the forums.

Commission members wanted a relaxed format that included time for unpredictable questioning and challenges between the two vice-presidential candidates. On Wednesday, the commission unanimously rejected a proposal sought by advisers to Ms. Palin and Senator John McCain of Arizona, the Republican presidential nominee, to have the moderator ask questions and the candidates answer, with no time for unfettered exchanges. Advisers to Mr. Biden say they were comfortable with either format.

You know what, Governor Palin? I’m not a professional debater, either, but I can articulate what I think needs to happen in our government over the next four years, and I’m happy to have that “free-wheeling debate”. As a result, I’ll make you an offer. Since you are obviously afraid of Senator Biden’s debating skills, I’ll debate you. Anytime. Anywhere. I’m sure you and your handlers are muttering about my experience. I’m also a former city council member. I held the office for fourteen months in a town of 5,500, which makes my experience similar to yours. We administered a budget of $17 million per year, and supervised a staff of thirty city employees.Since you insist that serving in local government prepares one for the Vice Presidency of the most powerful nation on Earth, I’m qualified.

I’d love to spend even five minutes on a stage with you talking about things like US foreign policy and the health care crisis, let alone the $100,000 per minute it’s costing us to continue the war in Iraq. Have your people contact my people, okay?

-S

A seventy-billion dollar bailout is the tip of the iceberg

I read over the weekend that the Paulson economic bailout has verbiage to the effect that there is no oversight or judicial controls on how seventy billion dollars is spent. That’s right. The Secretary of the Treasury decides who’s getting the cash, and even though we’re paying for it, none of us get any say in what happens before or after.

Are these not the same people that caused the crisis in the first place? Why should any of us give them more money without oversight or any kind of legal protections for us?

In the meantime, the following’s pretty interesting to me as well.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYXtwpG9mw9g&refer=home

Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) — The Bush administration widened the scope of its $700 billion plan to avert a financial meltdown by including assets other than mortgage-related securities.

The U.S. Treasury submitted revised guidance to Congress on its plan a day after first submitting it, as lawmakers and lobbyists push their own ideas. Officials now propose buying what they term troubled assets, without specifying the type, according to a document obtained by Bloomberg News and confirmed by a congressional aide.

The change suggests the inclusion of instruments such as car and student loans, credit-card debt and any other troubled asset. That may force an eventual increase in the size of the package as Democrats and Republicans in Congress negotiate the final legislation with the Bush administration, analysts said.

“The costs of the bailout will be significantly higher than originally considered or acknowledged,” said Josh Rosner, an analyst with independent research firm Graham Fisher & Co. in New York. “How, given these changes, can the administration and Federal Reserve believe they are being forthright in their unrevised expectation of future losses?”

Let’s see: Must include car loans and credit card debt. Must NOT include homeowners struggling with foreclosure. Yes, you read that right. The foreclosures due to upwardly adjusting ARMs are purposely excluded. I wonder why?

I’m sure it has something remotely to do with campaign contributors. Come to think of it, I’m also sure it has something to do with those who want to scoop up those houses for pennies on the dollar. Am I wrong?

-S

p.s. I also found the following interesting. Things are awful for everyone on Wall Street right now, including those who shine shoes or work at the neighboring restaurants:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/19/AR2008091902809.html