The Very Model of a Modern Major-General

This is kind of a silly analogy, but hey, you gotta link to Gilbert and Sullivan at least once in your life -

When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary at
And when I know precisely what is meant by "commissariat"

When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery
When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery
In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy
You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a gee

You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a gee
You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a gee
You'll say a better Major-General had never sat a sat a gee

Patrick Fitzgerald is the absolute pinnacle of professionalism, patriotism, and seriousness. If Ken Starr had behaved like him, like a federal prosecutor should, the history of our nation would be radically different. That empty-headed hit man Hannity has tried to impugn Fitgerald's motives, but that dog won't hunt.

The other right wing associates of that despicable Official A Rove - who has a history of smearing and character assasinations - should keep repeating the fact that treason and perjury and obstruction of justice is A-OK is God if on your side. A-OK if you're a Republican. A-OK as long as it's not about a BJ.

Here are some choice quotes from the press conference of Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, the very model of a patriotic civil servant:

• It's important that a CIA officer's identity be protected, that it be protected not just for the officer, but for the nation's security.
• It was known that a CIA officer's identity was blown, it was known that there was a leak. We needed to figure out how that happened, who did it, why, whether a crime was committed, whether we could prove it, whether we should prove it.
• And given that national security was at stake, it was especially important that we find out accurate facts.
• And what we have when someone charges obstruction of justice, the umpire gets sand thrown in his eyes. He's trying to figure what happened and somebody blocked their view.
• I can't give you answers on what we know and don't know, other than what's charged in the indictment.
• It's not because I enjoy being in that position. It's because the law is that way. I actually think the law should be that way.
• I can say that for the people who work at the CIA and work at other places, they have to expect that when they do their jobs that classified information will be protected.
• When you do a criminal case, if you find a violation, it doesn't really, in the end, matter what statute you use if you vindicate the [public] interest.

I hope Republicans all across the nation continue to try to justify the leaking of a CIA's agent's identity. Why perjury is OK for a high White House official. Why the ends justify the means.

Let them say it a thousand times.

Let the American people hear their bullshit from sea to shining sea.

It needs to be heard. The Republicans need to say it.

Get a grip

Some quotes from a Republican lawmakers on the White House Indicments:

• The president got a pretty good wake-up call.
• He needs to stop thinking about his grand legacy and being the all-time hero of the Republicans and concentrate on doing the job he was elected to do.
  
• He really has to get a grip on his administration.
• They brought this on themselves.
• Let's wait until [Libby's] convicted.
• They wanted the president to restore honor and integrity to the White House; if he hasn't reestablished a strong ethical standard, he's going to fail.

Not so much

Do I worry about the Iraq war? Those high gas prices? Not so much. They aren't so bad. Plus I'll be seen as a genius when this is over. Bank it, Danno.



CAPTION: In a file photo Exxon Mobil Corp. Chairman and CEO Lee Raymond laughs during a news conference in Dallas, Wednesday, May 25, 2005. Exxon Mobil Corp., the largest publicly traded oil company in the world, on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005, said third-quarter profit surged, buoyed by higher crude-oil and natural-gas prices, even as the period's hurricanes hampered production. Revenue grew to $100.72 billion from $76.38 billion in the prior-year period. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

"I can't stop. I don't have any legs."

Noble cause?

In July, a Humvee belonging to Alpha Company was out on patrol in Kirkuk when it was hit by a bomb equipped with a shaped charge, said Capt. Paul White, 39, the company commander. The explosion drilled a hole the size of a softball in the driver's door, he said. The red-hot shrapnel severed the driver's legs while the Humvee was still moving.

"He probably would have bled out [to death] except the shaped charge made [the metal] so hot it actually cauterized his legs as it cut his legs off," White said.

When a soldier yelled to stop the vehicle, White said the driver replied: "I can't stop. I don't have any legs."

Background Noise?

Republicans plan to denounce any indictments as "trivial", "political".




Are these really the same guys that claim to hold our national security at the highest priority? The same guys who say Democrats are traitors for criticizing a failed war plan? The same guys who say lies about sex should be prosecuted, but lies that got us into war a "technicality"?

It truly is pitiful the lengths they will go to maintain power, to maintain the facade of competence.

Let's hope the destruction of this incarnation of the Republican party is complete, profound, and revelatory for the American people. I have my doubts.