Pretty clear and damning indictment from Think Progress on the track to war…I think that it’s time we put the ‘who said what when’ arguments to rest and get to work contacting out elected representatives. Clearly, this Administration misled the American people on its intent to go to war with Iraq. There seems to be no bottom to the evidence that details the President’s desire to do so. Much of this evidence is prior to the attacks of September 2001!

Congress must hold an investigation. Congress must then decide on censure or impeachment.  It’s clearly the right thing to do…

Today, the New York Times reports on a previously-disclosed British memo that states Bush had decided by late January 2003 — nearly seven weeks prior to the invasion — that he was going to war. In today’s White House press briefing, Scott McClellan claimed this report was “fully consistent” with what President Bush was saying in the lead-up to war:

This was a meeting that took place back in January of 2003. Even if I know exactly what was said in that meeting, I wouldn’t get into discussing private conversations between world leaders like this. Again, I reiterate to you: The comments that we are making publicly and privately are fully consistent with one another.

Were Bush’s public comments consistent with his private desire in January 2003 to begin the military campaign? We report, you decide.

Public statement:

Bush: “I’ve not made up our mind about military action. Hopefully, this can be done peacefully.” [3/6/03]

Private statement

“The start date for the military campaign was now penciled in for 10 March,” Mr. Manning wrote, paraphrasing the president. “This was when the bombing would begin.” [Bush/Blair meeting, 1/31/03]

Public statement:

Bush: “We are doing everything we can to avoid war in Iraq.” [3/8/03]

Private statement:

“The U.S. was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in U.N. colours,” the memo says, attributing the idea to Mr. Bush. “If Saddam fired on them, he would be in breach.” [Bush/Blair meeting, 1/31/03]

Public statement:

Bush: “Should Saddam Hussein choose confrontation, the American people can know that every measure has been taken to avoid war, and every measure will be taken to win it.” [3/17/03]

Private statement:

“But [Bush] had to say that if we ultimately failed [to get a second U.N. resolution], military action would follow anyway.” [Bush/Blair meeting, 1/31/03]

Related…

[Think Progress]

This is a really cool video of the new Office User Experience (or UX, don’t say interface!). It makes me drool and it makes me want the new Office NOW!! (If only I’d been accepted to the Beta!! L)

This morning, new information was published on the Office 2007 Preview web site, including a new video of the UI in action and updated links to sign up to receive information about Beta 2.

The build used in the video is a little old (it was shot in early January), but it still looks more or less like Beta 1 Technical Refresh.

Check the site out.

And no mean comments about my acting ability, please!

 

[Jensen Harris: An Office User Interface Blog]

 I’ve noticed that recently, there have been few voices in the Republican halls that still follow this President and this Administration without question. Senator Specter may have recently seen the light. He wants the NSA ‘Terrorist Surveillance Program’ to be legal, but in order to ensure that, there would have to be oversight. That’s exactly what the appropriate committee (Senate Intelligence) is not providing. No oversight, right along with no investigation.  

A vocal Republican critic of the Bush administration’s eavesdropping program will preside over Senate efforts to write the program into law, but he was pessimistic Wednesday that the White House wanted to listen.

“They want to do just as they please, for as long as they can get away with it,” Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I think what is going on now without congressional intervention or judicial intervention is just plain wrong.”

[The Huffington Post | Raw Feed]

It’s day five of the unknown illness. Headaches, coughing, sore throat and fatigue. That’s just what I have now…It started with a two-day migraine marathon over the weekend. Five days of fevers, chills, hacking and spitting, choking and gagging…And yes, even the stomach got involved.

After sweating through my clothes in my office (which was a chilly 68 degrees), I decided I should visit my local doc. Which I did, yesterday. I checked in with a 102.7 degree fever. I had the customary Strep test and culture sample taken (because, ya know, they can’t use the same swab for both tests!) and a flu test. If you’ve never had a flu test, it seems to involve collecting some tissue from the inside top of your skull. For some silly reason, the doctors would rather go up through your nose with a Q-Tip instead of just using a saw. Or at least, that’s what it felt like.

Again, another mystery malady, like the abdominal pain a few weeks ago. I wonder, what is so wrong with me that the doctors don’t know? Do I have some new exotic disease? If so, I get to name it…How does Brock’s Syndrome sound? Tom Brock Disease? Or, my personal favorite, Kill Me Now Because It’ll Be Faster Than Recovering From This Crap Condition?

If that ever gets used, I get paid for it, right?

 And with the stroke of a pen, so goes the liberties that millions of Americans have fought for centuries to protect…

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush signed a renewal of the USA Patriot Act on Thursday, hailing it as vital to the war on terrorism, but a key congressional critic said it lacked adequate safeguards for civil liberties.

 

[Reuters: Politics News]

Kirby Puckett died. The following article is from ESPN.com. Read it here. It’s a great article that details the baseball career of a great man.

“I don’t know where the funeral is going to be because there isn’t a church big enough to hold everyone.

I have never covered any athlete who was more universally liked and admired than Kirby Puckett. What Michael Jordan was to basketball and Chicago, Puck was to baseball and Minnesota. Indeed, the Twins used to wear T-shirts that read “I wanna be like Puck.” (Do you think there are “I wanna be like Barry” T-shirts in San Francisco’s clubhouse?) Puck’s locker was the one every player surrounded at the All-Star Game. And why not? A clubhouse with Puck in it was always a happier place than one without him.”

Mileage                       9.88 Gallons added

 Tank 446.1 miles        1 (angrily) blinking pip

 Odo 1849

 Gotta agree with Wil…This is way beyond cool.

This is beyond cool. Follow this link to You Tube if the embedded player thingy doesn’t work. (via Waxy)

 

 [WWdN: In Exile]

Just another couple of reasons that O’Reilly is an idiot. Why is it that he gets the First Amendment right to free speech, but the rest of us schlubs get calls from Fox Security (Or someone claiming to be Fox Security)?  

Many of you are aware of the feud between Keith Olbermann and Bill O’Reilly. Keith has been highlighting distortions in Bill’s arguments for months now and has honored O’Reilly with the “Worst Person of the Day” award several times. Finally-O’Reilly responded by sending a letter to NBC chairman Bob Wright saying:

Therefore, in an effort to rescue MSNBC from the ratings basement and to restore the honor and dignity of Mr. Donahue, who was ignobly removed as host three years ago, we ask that you immediately bring Phil Donahue’s show back at 8:00 PM EST before any more damage is done.

On his website he has a petition posted for his Factorette’s to sign. Olbermann responded by signing the petition on-air along with some of his colleagues. O’Reilly, the narcissist that he is now won’t let callers to his radio program even mention Keith’s name without cutting them off and calling security. Here’s a transcript of the call.:

O’REILLY: Orlando, Florida, Mike, go.

CALLER: Hey Bill, I appreciate you taking my call.

O’REILLY: Sure.

CALLER: I like to listen to you during the day, I think Keith Olbermann’s show –

O’REILLY: There ya go, Mike is — he’s a gone guy. You know, we have his — we have your phone numbers, by the way. So, if you’re listening, Mike, we have your phone number, and we’re going to turn it over to Fox security, and you’ll be getting a little visit.

HILL: Maybe Mike is from the mothership.

O’REILLY: No, Maybe Mike is going to get into big trouble, because we’re not going to play around. When you call us, ladies and gentleman, just so you know, we do have your phone number, and if you say anything untoward, obscene, or anything like that, Fox security then will contact your local authorities, and you will be held accountable. Fair?

HILL: That’s fair.

O’REILLY: So, just — all you guys who do this kind of a thing, you know, I know some shock jocks. Whatever. You will be held accountable. Believe it.

Soon after a few callers received phone messages from the head of security at FOX-threatening them:

“I got the call on the phone I used to call him from the head of Fox News security. He said that harassing phone calls were coming from my phone. I asked him how many? He did not know. I asked him what was said that was harassing? He said that he did not know but that it did not have to be what was said, but how many calls were being made. He tried to make like I made 20 phone calls instead of one, and that I cursed O’Reilly out. All I said was that I was grateful to O’Reilly for turning me on to Olbermann.
Then he hung up.”

Bill is obviously losing it and trying to harass callers for disagreeing with him. Isn’t that part of the job description of a talk show host? And why is FOX security calling people when Bill is broadcasting on Westwood One? I know there’s a lot of screening that goes on, but trying to intimidate callers because they mention the name of someone you don’t like is ludicrous. As Susan Filan, a former prosecutor said on Countdown last night-the one person that might have a legal problem is O’Reilly himself. I called the head of FOX security who has been contacting callers for comment, but he hasn’t returned my call so far. Stay tuned. Maybe the falafel police will be knocking down my door because I dared to ask a few questions about O’Reilly cowardice.

 

[The Huffington Post | Raw Feed]

Here’s the information from my first four fill-ups on the Prius.

First Tank

Mile 353 —- 3 bars on fuel gauge —- Filled up with 7.81 gallons 

Second Tank

Mile 758 on the Odo/405 miles on the tank —- 2 bars on fuel gauge —- Filled up with 6.97 gallons

Third Tank

Mile 1096 on the Odo/338 miles on tank —- 1 bar on fuel gauge —- Filled up with 6.54 gallons

Fourth Tank

Mile 1403 on Odo/307.1 on tank —- 1 blinking bar on fuel gauge —- Filled up with 8.85 gallons

The last two tanks were after driving at highway speeds (65-80mph) for about 600 miles using Cruise Control. I’ve discovered that the Cruise Control is quite aggressive and doesn’t make for better fuel economy. Also, when filling the third tank, it was quite cold. That probably led to the rubber bladder being constrictive and not allowing more fuel into the reservoir.

Right now, the Prius has 4 bars left, is at mile 26x on the tank. I’m expecting to get about another 150-200 miles, but not going to push that limit.