At the time of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' resignation, I pointed out how much more needed to be learned about the politicization of the Justice Department, and its consequences, during his tenure.

Now David Iglesias, an U.S. Attorney who was fired for political reasons, has come out with a book that is sure to give us more insight into the corrupt culture of the Cheney/Bush administration. More particularly, how it meddled in the affairs of the Judicial Branch. The book's title is Injustice, read it if you're looking to be informed and outraged.

Scott McClellan's new memoir is coming out-- here's a reaction from the Washington Post:

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan writes in a new memoir that the Iraq war was sold to the American people with a sophisticated "political propaganda campaign" led by President Bush and aimed at "manipulating sources of public opinion" and "downplaying the major reason for going to war."
McClellan includes the charges in a 341-page book, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," that delivers a harsh look at the White House and the man he served for close to a decade. He describes Bush as demonstrating a "lack of inquisitiveness," says the White House operated in "permanent campaign" mode, and admits to having been deceived by some in the president's inner circle about the leak of a CIA operative's name.
The book, coming from a man who was a tight-lipped defender of administration aides and policy, is certain to give fuel to critics of the administration, and McClellan has harsh words for many of his past colleagues. He accuses former White House adviser Karl Rove of misleading him about his role in the CIA case. He describes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as being deft at deflecting blame, and he calls Vice President Cheney "the magic man" who steered policy behind the scenes while leaving no fingerprints.

Now one of the point men in the propaganda machine has admitted that the administration he worked for was misleading the public. The public opinion of Bush can't get much worse, yet this memoir may help give other Republicans the nerve to speak up and denounce the Cheney/Bush regime. Let's hope that maybe some more people are prompted to look at McSame's role in cheerleading for this war pushed on us by liars and cheats!

Warm best wishes for Senator Ted Kennedy

It was good to see Ted Kennedy leaving the Hospital under his own steam this morning. We can only hope and pray that he and his doctors find a way to beat this malignant brain tumor, whether through surgery or other treatment options. Ted Kennedy is an inspirational and courageous figure in the United States Senate. Kennedy's son Patrick, who represents my congressional district in Rhode Island, has gotten off to a fine start in his own career of public service with guidance from his father. We need more people like Ted Kennedy in politics. Maybe this year we'll elect a new President more in tune with Ted Kennedy's way of thinking!

Karl Rove

Karl Rove still acts as if he is above the law. His recent refusal to testify before Congress is just the latest example of an administration violating our Constitution-- by not allowing any meaningful oversight of their activities. Rove offered only to appear before the Judiciary Committee if he wasn't under oath and if there was no transcript. Judiciary Committe Chair John Conyers is now left with no choice but to put Rove in contempt of Congress. The arrogance of Bush and his cronies is remarkable. Holding them to account is very difficult, yet we must applaud people like John Conyers who make the effort. Again, WHY NOT IMPEACH??

Edwards' Endorsement

So John Edwards has followed the lead of so many who voted for him in the early primaries. He has thrown his support behind Barack Obama. This is of course welcome news for the Obama campaign. Yet Senator Clinton is not yet done, and she has every right to keep fighting for the nomination. We'll be waiting until at least the end of the primaries before we see her concede. I think Edwards was sincere in praising her tenacity. His endorsement is one of many factors that make Obama's nomination very likely, yet it is still not certain. Let the games continue!!

Something New in the Mix

So here's something interesting: former Republican Congressman Bob Barr will enter the Presidential contest as a Libertarian. Although it is unlikely he will have much more of an impact than Ron Paul, he is sure to give some disaffected conservatives an outlet for their frustration with the status quo. In particular, Bob Barr will speak to those conservatives who have been shocked at the dismantling of civil liberties under the Cheney/Bush regime. He will also appeal directly to "fiscal conservatives" alarmed at the huge expense of the Iraq war. Progressives will not be too happy with many of Barr's ideas. Nonetheless, it is healthy for the political debate to see the mainstream Republican party come under attack from the left and the right.

Many of us remember Bob Barr's eagerness to impeach Clinton. Dennis Kucinich is equally adamant about impeaching Bush, yet Kucinich doesn't now enjoy the partisan support that Barr did in the 1990's. Our constitutional Republic survived Clinton's impeachment. Can our Republic survive the failure to impeach Cheney/Bush?

Can Congress grow a spine?

We're at a decisive moment in our nation's history. Can our Democratic leaders in Congress step up to the plate and begin to cut back substantially the huge amounts of money they're being asked to pour down the drain in Iraq? I understand Bush and his allies can exert enormous pressure, yet polls show the majority of Americans want these cuts. We'll be watching closely to see who tries to honor the wishes of those who voted them into office! I for one will be very disappointed if Representatives succumb to the temptation to tread water until the fall elections. A real fight over war-funding would only help their chances of winning re-election.

Five Years of War in Iraq

A few months ago I noticed someone wearing a T-shirt with this emblazoned on the front: "My Country invaded Iraq and all I got was this lousy $3/gal. gas." The price needs to be updated, but the general sentiment is still valid. The war in Iraq has taken a horrific toll in Iraqi and American lives, with no appreciable benefit to the Iraqi or the American people. We desperately need to change course in Iraq, yet we're still stuck deep in the quagmire. This is the foremost reason McSame must not win the next election-- his solution is to keep doing the same thing, while hoping for a better result. He should instead listen to the growing chorus of retired military leaders, like General Batiste, who are fed up with our current Iraq policy.

Mission Accomplices

So-- we've passed the fifth anniversary of President Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" photo-op. What better way for our nation to celebrate than to launch a mission to root out Bush/Cheney accomplices who have so far escaped justice for their crimes. From those who allowed torture, to those who violated our constitution, there are many folks who should be exposed and punished. This country deserves a chance to see that happen, painful as it may be to watch.

Sadly, it looks as if both houses of Congress lack the will to overcome the obstructionist tactics of the Bush/Cheney regime and its Republican allies. I still think it's worthwhile to call for impeachment hearings, even if impeachment seems unlikely to happen.