Okay, okay, okay. You were all very right and I was all so very wrong. Patrick Fitzgerald had nothing to do with leaking the letter of correction to the press. Team Libby admitted they leaked it, and defended it to Walton in a brief filed today.

Lawyers for Vice President Dick Cheney's indicted former chief of staff on Friday defended their decision to release a letter to the news media before it was filed in federal court, and they urged the judge in the CIA leak case not to react by issuing a gag order.

I'm an ass. I suppose I was trying to avoid putting all my eggs in the Fitz Easter basket, trying to not put too much hope in him, I guess.

That's all I have to say.  I'm going back on hiatus. I return you to your previously scheduled programming

Well, okay. I needed a reason to leave here. Earlier I posted a diary that went over like a lead balloon, and I got people so upset that somehow after several years of posting here I've become a troll.  I was troll-rated so much that I've lost my trusted user status.  I think today was the first day I've ever even BEEN troll-rated.

I'm not going to throw a temper tantrum about it, even though I am a little upset about it, but I am going to take that as my cue to leave here, mostly because I need an out. I'm posting the diary about it because then I've said it publicly, and I'll embarrass myself if I come back and you'll all heckle me, so that will help me kick the jones.  I'm sorry if this is too self-indulgent.

 I am a DKOS addict, and it doesn't work for me.  I spend way too much of my days here, and when I do step away, I often find myself more than a little bit dull.  That's just unhealthy.

Articles in the NY Times and WaPo indicate that Judge Walston is upset by the press storm following the release of Fitz Doc 80 and the subsequent correction.  The correction submitted to the court by Fitz on Wednesday was received by and reported on in the press on Tuesday.

UPDATE: Also, as The maven wrote in a diary last night, Team Libby's brief was also being discussed in the press before it made it to the docket.

The federal judge presiding over the pending trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby threatened yesterday to impose a gag order barring statements or disclosures to the news media by Libby's defense team or by the special prosecutor investigating alleged wrongdoing by the former White House official.

snip

He complained that the parties to the case did not heed an earlier warning that he would not tolerate "this case being tried in the media," and he said such disclosures could impair the court's ability "to ensure that both sides receive a fair trial." Walton gave both sides eight days to state any objections before he imposes the gag order.

Oh, that's rich. Tom Delay says he'll file an ethics complaint against Cynthia McKinney.  I'm not wild about McKinney's actions during and since this incident, but geez, Delay has got some nerve.

Soon-to-retire Rep. Tom DeLay (R.-Tex.) said today he would file an ethics complaint against Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D.-Ga.) for striking a Capitol Police officer should no other House member do so first.

DeLay's comments came during a wide-ranging interview at his Capitol Hill office with reporters, including HUMAN EVENTS Editor Terry Jeffrey.

"If nobody in this House files an ethics charge, I am," DeLay said in response to a question about McKinney. "Her behavior is outrageous. And it's not the only time.

Well, I'm anxiously awaiting tonight's West Wing episode. It's election night, Josh and Donna get nekkid, and it's apparently the last episode for John Spencer/Leo McGarry.  Should be QUITE dramatic.

I know, I know, it's never been as good as it was with Sorkin, but I still love the characters and I will miss it when it's gone.

IT'S ELECTION DAY ON THE WEST WING - The night before Election Day makes for interesting bedfellows. Josh (Brad Whitford) stresses over returns. Meanwhile, CJ (Allison Janney) is faced with her future job offers. Anabeth (Kristin Chenoweth) makes a startling discovery. Also starring Jimmy Smits, Alan Alda, Teri Polo, Josh Malina, Mary McCormack, Dule Hill. TV-PG

I just came across the post from last night on Lieberman and Obama, and since it's already a pretty old post, I wanted to point out in a separate diary that Obama actually trashed Lieberman, calling him a Republican, on the Al Franken Show back in November, I believe. You can get the podcast free if you go to this link or just look it up on iTunes.

He said, when talking about Iraq:

"We should work on a bi-partisan basis. Joe Lieberman and uh, the rest of the Republican Party." The crowd went "oooh" and Franken said "I- I got the joke..."

Someone diaried this then deleted it, probably because they didn't want to post something just based on Drudge, but it seems to be real, and unfortunate.

Here's a report from an Atlanta news station.

One of the sources, a member of the House Republican Conference, confirmed that McKinney struck the officer.

The officer grabbed her arm after following her after she went through security, and she turned and hit him in the chest.  

I'm hoping this is all a misunderstanding that can be discussed and taken care of, but at this point, it seems that charges may be pursued against her.

This diary is mainly for the 32% of people in The Termite's diary who said they were going to "..sit on my ass and watch this whole thing turn into a sham" to quote Termite's poll response choice on the Judiciary Censure hearings action diary.

Shut the Fuck Up and Fight!!! Come on. Are you really going to let your resignation and cynicism hand this one over to these bastards?

I know, people are frustrated. People have multiple jobs, families, health issues. People are tired of the abuses, the nightmare stories from places like Iraq and New Orleans, the lies, the manipulations, the inaction on the part of Democrats, the losses.  But we cannot let that stop us. This is OUR country too. This is our constitution.  We HAVE to stand up for it, because we're the ones who are pissed, we're the ones who are paying attention.  It's our fight. And don't give me that "but we shouldn't have to" crap.  Really? Which amendment to the Bill of Rights says that? Remember this from your high school history class?

Just watched the East Coast feed of West Wing. I won't put any spoilers in here at this point for the rest of the country, except to say that after last week's tease about Donna and Josh gettin' it on, she wasn't even on this week. It was a good episode, but it really seems to me like they're trying to pack too much in. Not exactly surprising given who the producers are. Very John Wells, the producer who showers the entrance to ER with crashing helicopters, chemical spills, crashed airplanes, trucks, etc etc, season after season. It does get a little much after a while. Yeah, we get it - it's DRRRAMMMA!!!!

But I still HHHATE it when West Wing episode is over for the week, especially when they have Danny on flirting with CJ.

Okay, people. If we really want to make some news on the illegal wiretapping and rule of law, if we really want to force this censure issue, this is what I suggest:

You know all those Senate offices we've been calling and getting the run-around from? Go there. Ask if your Senator has  taken a position on the censure. If not, tell them you're going to sit there until they do. Bring some friends, some water, some food, etc.

Now, after a point, you will have to make a choice. There are several options. You can leave at the end of the business day and return the next morning until they give you an answer. Or you can stay until someone drags you out.

Red Carpet dish. Surprises, disappointments, critique, etc.

So far, HATE Michelle Williams' dress. Like Keira's dress but not alot. George Clooney looks just fffffine..... I wonder if Isaac Mizrahi will grope anybody this time? I actually think he's less inane than most of the hosts, but he is a bit of a loose cannon.

Watched some Crash on DVD as I was getting ready for my Oscar party. I have to say, the scene with Thandie Newton and Matt Dillon and the car accident is some seriously great drama. I sobbed again. Don't love the whole movie, but that scene is amazing.

Boy, this year's crop of Oscar movies is sure driving the religious right up the wall! I was driving home this afternoon and happen to switch the radio to a religious station that was broadcasting an interview with Michael Medved. He was reviewing all the "left wing" movies that were up for Oscars and explaining the ills of each. Luckily I hadn't eaten lunch yet.... Wish I could find a transcript, but no luck.

He described Good Night and Good Luck as a movie about the "so-called McCarthy era" and said that it was left wing liberal propaganda because it did not describe Stalin's massacres under communism and the very real threat that communism posed in this country and what Senator McCarthy was trying to protect us from. He said George Clooney was guilty of "Goebbels-like revisionism." !

I want to emphasize that this story about domestic spying has actually been aired as long ago as the Bolton hearings, in Newsweek and other sources, and was mentioned in an August  10, 2005 NY Times Op Ed. See wutai's diary from yesterday that got overlooked on this one.

The second point about that is to note that John Bolton has been reviewing these intercepts and Democrats went to bat to try to get this information . And of course, Bush appointed Bolton between congressional sessions to avoid having to deal with this question.

Does anyone else around here think it's crazy to get sucked into this War on Christmas crap any more than just making fun of it like Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert do? To respond is to give it credibility.

People for the American Way are starting a video campaign on this and I think it's a bad idea.

This is pathetic

Over $100 Million not accounted for in Iraq and the best that US officials can come up with is THIS?

According to Democracy's Blooper Reel via Wonkette, General Karpinski says that torture continues at Abu Ghraib, and this she knows because of emails and calls she's getting from soldiers:

"Karpinski has evidence that we are still torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

In a previous interview, Karpinski alluded to emails from soldiers alleging current abuse at the prison. Now, she says she's got voicemail messages from soldiers making similar reports. When will the media- whether it be mainstream, right wing, left wing, blog-o-whatzit pay attention to this damning bit of information?"

Time for some dKos Gannon-style heat, and some pressure on our good friend Atty Gen Alberto "Torture" Gonzales. Time for some letters and heated calls. This is crazy.

I been thinking.

I went to a meeting yesterday where some representatives from the Riverside, CA County Democratic Committee came to talk to a grassroots group about their voter registration project for the County (goal: register 10,000 new Democrats this year), and they told us that 99% of the Democratic County Committee is retired. One guy said he's 76 and he's a youngster compared to some!

I have heard this especially from people in red states a lot lately,and it's got me to thinking about an idea.

What if there was a grassroots Red State/District scholarship fund that younger activists from red areas could apply to go to Wellstone trainings and Campaign for America's Future conferences and the like, as a way to support developing new leaders in these areas to take on the future and the big fight?

How would we set that up, financially/legally?

Any ideas?
Could this be a dKos fund?

Help defeat Governor Schwarzenegger and tell people we don't need his stinkin' $70 million Special Election!

This Friday is April Fool's Day and Defeat Arnold folks across the State are doing "Don't Be Fooled By Arnold" projects including doing Freeway Blogging. It's happening in San Diego and Los Angeles, at least.

Would love to have some suggestions for signs. Here are a few so far:

Teachers say: Arnold is a Kindergarten Flop

or

Support Arnold - Oppose Firefighters' Death Benefits

or

Arnold the Renig-enator

Please contact me if you are in LA and you'd like to help, or check out California for Democracy for other activities across the state. We are having a sign-making party on Thursday in Los Angeles.