Offering constructive criticism to the social cripples in our midst since early 2005.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Because as a political move, Bush had DOJ send around a generic, full-blown waiver to all WH employees. What are you going to do, not sign?

Bush did that to forestall the criticism. It worked for a year. Too bad Rove didn't speak up then.

Serious question, Burger, since you seem to know about this stuff. Should Rove be able to keep his security clearance until this is resolved one way or the other?

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by sgtclub
We are, but Africa serves as a good, although severe, example of the limits of education to transform behavior. So does drug education in this country. It would be nice to think that all we have to do is educate people and they will make better choices. That works at some level, but not with the vast majorities.

Exactly. So give them free abortions and birth control.

Alternatively, you're using a variation of Laura Bush's argument against stem cell research ("Well, we don't know if it will work, so lets not try"). Yours seems to be "Stats seem to indicate poorly implemented education will not eradicate the problem, so lets throw out education as an option entirely."

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Serious question, Burger, since you seem to know about this stuff. Should Rove be able to keep his security clearance until this is resolved one way or the other?

I'm not entirely clear why a "political adivsor" got a security clearance in the first place. He wasn't Deputy Chief of Staff until earlier this year.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
I'm not entirely clear why a "political adivsor" got a security clearance in the first place. He wasn't Deputy Chief of Staff until earlier this year.

I was under the impression that he only knew about Plame's employment because it was "common knowledge" in his circles that Wilson's wife was CIA. No?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
I was under the impression that he only knew about Plame's employment because it was "common knowledge" in his circles that Wilson's wife was CIA. No?

By "his circles," you're referring to the senior White House officials involved in the decision to respond to Joe Wilson by trashing Valerie Plame?

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
I was under the impression that he only knew about Plame's employment because it was "common knowledge" in his circles that Wilson's wife was CIA. No?

NATIONAL DESK | July 5, 2005, Tuesday

Private Spy and Public Spouse Live at Center of Leak Case

By SCOTT SHANE; LYNETTE CLEMETSON CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FOR THIS ARTICLE. (NYT) 1939 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 1 , Column 2

ABSTRACT - Valerie Wilson, known to country by her maiden name Valerie Plame, returns to CIA in new job after being identified as covert officer; startled neighbors say they thought of her as 'working soccer mom' before her true job was revealed by syndicated columnist Robert Novak in 2003; her husband Joseph C Wilson IV interprets leak of his wife's CIA connection as act of vengeance from White House officials for his public accusations of Bush administration deceit in building case for Iraq war; former CIA officers differ on impact of Novak's identification of Valerie Wilson, who had been working against weapons proliferation in Europe posing as analyst for shell company set up by agency (M)

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstrac...AE0894DD404482

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
By "his circles," you're referring to the senior White House officials involved in the decision to respond to Joe Wilson by trashing Valerie Plame?

And the news media riff raff that hangs around that circle.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
NATIONAL DESK | July 5, 2005, Tuesday

Private Spy and Public Spouse Live at Center of Leak Case

By SCOTT SHANE; LYNETTE CLEMETSON CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FOR THIS ARTICLE. (NYT) 1939 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 1 , Column 2

ABSTRACT - Valerie Wilson, known to country by her maiden name Valerie Plame, returns to CIA in new job after being identified as covert officer; startled neighbors say they thought of her as 'working soccer mom' before her true job was revealed by syndicated columnist Robert Novak in 2003; her husband Joseph C Wilson IV interprets leak of his wife's CIA connection as act of vengeance from White House officials for his public accusations of Bush administration deceit in building case for Iraq war; former CIA officers differ on impact of Novak's identification of Valerie Wilson, who had been working against weapons proliferation in Europe posing as analyst for shell company set up by agency (M)

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstrac...AE0894DD404482

retro-whiff.

[Penske_Account]

anyone else hearing the rumour that there will be a late day announcement by Bush of his 2 nominees to the court, plus Thomas' promotion to CJ?

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
anyone else hearing the rumour that there will be a late day announcement by Bush of his 2 nominees to the court, plus Thomas' promotion to CJ?

Unless they're coupled with news of Rehnquist's death or retirement mid-afternoon, I wouldn't bet on it.

[Bad_Rich_Chic]

Originally posted by sgtclub
We are, but Africa serves as a good, although severe, example of the limits of education to transform behavior. So does drug education in this country. It would be nice to think that all we have to do is educate people and they will make better choices. That works at some level, but not with the vast majorities.

I think education is working with respect to drug education, actually. The G spends all sorts of (my) money "educating" the public on it, the public receives this information and in large numbers very sensibly makes the better choice: i.e., this whole war on drugs thing is moronic, pass the blunt.

This seems to me to be an example of an educational program leading to a good outcome (in this case, rejection of baseless, manipulative propaganda and possibly an eventual end to a resource wasting and liberty infringing prohibition). Perhaps the outcome that comprehensive sex ed would lead to is similar - 'cause I know that my own thorough sex ed class did not make the whole thing terribly appealing. The image of turbo-geek bio teacher Mr. Doren demonstrating the resiliency of condoms by shooting them rubber-band-gun style at the slackers in the back of the class will stay with me always.

BR(Don't even get me started on the "over-the-head condom balloon inflation" trick - I'm sure the only reason I now have (relatively) normal sexual function is because a classmate saved the day by asking "so, does this mean you're a dickhead, Mr. Doren?")C

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Gattigap
Unless they're coupled with news of Rehnquist's death or retirement mid-afternoon, I wouldn't bet on it.

Hm...Rehnquist was just released from the hospital. The newspaper article seemed to imply that there was a pulse, though.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
And the news media riff raff that hangs around that circle.

E.g., Jeff Gannon (see last paragraph), or Guckert, or whatever his name is now.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Gattigap
Unless they're coupled with news of Rehnquist's death or retirement mid-afternoon, I wouldn't bet on it.

That was the implicit point. Please tell me that you are not billing me for that post (and don't give me the excuse that you are having your summer associate phone it in. again).

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
E.g., Jeff Gannon (see last paragraph), or Guckert, or whatever his name is now.

Do you believe everything you read on second rate blogs?

eta: oops, i meant, do you believe everything you read on the internet even after the Jayson Blair incident?