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The Daily Muck
The salmon are fighting back. The House Resources Committee has announced an investigation into Cheney's involvement in Klamath River water management following a WaPo report that Cheney helped to push a federal water policy that benefitted farmers but also killed over 70,000 salmon. A date for the hearing has not been set. (McClatchy)
U.S. companies are partly to blame for civil unrest in Colombia, according to Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA), who said at a congressional hearing yesterday that Chiquita Brands International and an Alabama coal company were funding paramilitaries with millions of dollars. (AP)
Cheney's expense account is safe. The House narrowly rejected Rep. Rahm Emanuel's (D-Ill.) proposal to cut off funding for the Office of the Vice President. (AP)
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) thwarted an attempt by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to set conference proceedings (sub req) on an ethics and lobbying reform deal. (Roll Call)
Democrats will grill Bush's nominee for White House budget director, Jim Nussle, during his as-yet-unscheduled confirmation hearings about his pork spending past. As a former congressman for Iowa, Nussle pursued earmarks that included an industrial lubricant program and the Grout Museum. (Washington Post)
Fired U.S. Attorney John McKay spoke at Portland State University about possible reasons for his dismissal, which was reported as part of the USA firing scandal. McKay addressed a crowd of 200 lawyers and judges, saying that he also was personally disappointed with U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' behavior. (The Oregonian)
Comments (14)
Sick of it All! wrote on June 29, 2007 10:29 AM:So who were the Dems that sided with the Republicans when it came to allowing Cheney to keep his entertainment expense account while at the same time he takes a shit on the laws of the land? I want names!
Anonymous wrote on June 29, 2007 10:52 AM:So these are the traitorous Dems who sided with the Republicans:
yellowdogfox wrote on June 29, 2007 11:25 AM:Melissa Bean- IL
Dan Boren- OK
Allen Boyd- FL
Mike Capuano- MA
Henry Cuellar- TX
Chet Edwards- TX
Brad Ellsworth- IN
Bart Gordon- TN
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin- SD
Marcy Kaptur- OH
Ron Klein- FL
Nick Lampson- TX
Jim McDermott- WA
John Murtha- PA (REALLY disappointed to see his name)
Dave Obey- WI
Colin Peterson- MN
Mike Ross- AR
John Salazar- CO
Joe Sestak- PA
Ike Skelton- MO
Adam Smith- WA
Vic Snyder- AR
Zack Space- OH
John S. Tanner- TN
What in hell is McDermott doing on that list????
Mrs Panstreppon wrote on June 29, 2007 11:38 AM:Might not be a bad idea for the Dems to look into what Sue Wooldridge was up to at the DOI. We know she handled the Kalmath River issue to the satisfaction of Cheney and Rove.
Who moved Wooldridge over the the DOJ's Environmental Dept. to handle the ConocoPhillips anti-pollution equipment settlement? I could easily see Cheney having an interest in the outcome of the case.
Sue Ellen Wooldridge is now the third wife of convicted felon, J. Steven "Steve" Griles, former DOI Deputy Secretary. Prior to marrying Wooldridge, Griles had a romantic relationship with Italia Federici, another convicted felon.
I've been reading through DOI Secretary Gale Norton's calendar online at CREW. On 7/10/01, Wooldridge, Norton and others met with Italia Federici who, by then, was being funded mostly by Jack Abramoff's Indian tribes.
According to her calendar, Norton had a business and personal relatonship with Federici. She held a 15-minute call with Federici on 4/30/02 marked Exemption 6 and then held a 2-hour meeting with Federici on 9/1/04.
Since Federici lied about her relationship with Griles and Abramoff to the Senate, it is entirely possible that she lied about her relationship and access to Gale Norton.
At the Griles sentencing the other day, DOJ prosecutor Armando Bonilla told Judge Huvelle that the DOJ originally was going to charge Griles with multiple felony counts.The judge then asked why Griles off so lightly.
Why, indeed? Griles doesn't even have to cooperate with the DOJ. I wonder why.
Calling Dick Cheney.
Jeff wrote on June 29, 2007 11:40 AM:I think, just to fu@k with Jim Nussle, the Democratic members of the House Budget Committee ought to show up at his confirmation hearings with a paper bag over their heads:
Nussle, 46, was part of the "Gang of Seven," a group of young GOP reformers who sought to embarrass the Democratic leadership. In 1991, he attracted attention when he put a paper bag over his head on the House floor to protest the Democrats' handling of overdrafts at the House bank.
Bobby Scott (VA) might do it. Tom Allen (ME) could get some buzz for his Senate campaign. The list of ethical lapses and budget bamboozlement is so lengthy, I don't know how you pick just one thing to protest.
Nellcote wrote on June 29, 2007 11:52 AM:I'm both surprised and not surprised at the Griles/Wooldridge connection but thanks for the info. Quite the incestuous bunch in this administration! Has anyone made a chart yet?
Anonymous wrote on June 29, 2007 12:08 PM:What in hell is McDermott doing on that list????
Posted by: yellowdogfox
Date: June 29, 2007 11:25 AM
That one kind of surprised me as well.
CSH wrote on June 29, 2007 12:38 PM:In the story about McKay he evidently said that the attorneys spoke out when Gonzales claimed he would not use the Patriot Act clause to appoint replacements without Senate confirmation -- something McKay says the USAs regarded as a lie under oath. I've been following this all fairly closely, and I always thought the story was they spoke out once DOJ claimed that the dismissals were for "performance reasons" -- to save their own reputations. Did I miss something? Is this new reason news? Did the USAs know anything about intended replacements?
foggylady wrote on June 29, 2007 1:14 PM:McDermott always struck me as the poor man's Ted Kennedy...
He was a lot thinner and a lot more liberal back in the 70's in the Wa. State Legislature, as I remember.
Something about the Tidal Basin water, perhaps.
Powkat wrote on June 29, 2007 1:15 PM:Since Cheney keeps his $$ how about somebody sneaks a microwave into his office?
Mrs Panstreppon wrote on June 29, 2007 2:33 PM:Nellcote, The Griles and Federici cases are excellent examples of how the DOJ, the Bush administration and the GOP are running the clock out on the Abramoff, Weldon, Mtichell Wade et al investigations.
According to the DOJ's fact sheet attached to the Federici plea, Griles and Federici had dated from 1998 to 2004 (link below). Since they were both single, they had no reason to hide their romance. When Griles and Federici lied to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee about their relationship, half of Washington must have known about their romance.
Gale Norton surely knew about the Griles-Federici romance. She has known Federici since at least 1996 and she headed CREA's predecessor, the Coalition of Republican Environmental Advocates.
In 1998, Griles was a million dollar lobbyist who not only began dating Federici but also raised money for CREA.
When she moved to DC, Federici reportedly styaed with Grover Norquist who was also a pal of Gale Norton's. Norton herself moved to DC from Colorado in 1998.
I believer that before she joined the DOI, Sue Ellen Woolridge worked with Norton in conjunctin with the nationwide tobacco lawsuit settlement.
Federici isn't going to be sentenced until November and unlike Griles, she is cooperating with the Feds. R. Jared Carpenter, CREA VP, is expected to plead guilty to tax evasion next month so presumably he, too, will cooperate.
So far, Griles and Federici have only been accused of helping Jack Abramoff but Abramoff wasn't the only one funding CREA.
Anonymous wrote on June 29, 2007 2:40 PM:Since Cheney keeps his $$ how about somebody sneaks a microwave into his office?
newbie wrote on June 29, 2007 4:31 PM:Posted by: Powkat
BWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Oregon paper should hire some fact checkers. MIKE Mckay. John's his brother.
Anonymous wrote on July 1, 2007 5:46 PM:What amazes me is Pelosi whining that she's not happy with Congcress "either". After a vote like this on the VP budget, and DNC defections, what use is it for the DNC to claim, "We have the majority."
Looks like the same rubber stampgin we had under GOP control, except Nancy's run out of excuses. Or is she not really in charge; and is Darth Cheney pulling her strings as well?