MSM finally acknowledges the Diebold E-Voting Threat to Democracy

Read all about it at BradBlog

Please join me in demanding paper ballots.
MOM, this means YOU! (She lives in Florida.)

Fitz-watch: Any day now

The grand jury meets every Wednesday and Friday. One might surmise that the indictment will be served on one of those days--but not necessarily . . .

Read more at ThinkProgress

Rove Indictment Summary: From TRUTHOUT: Information Sharing on the Rove Indictment Story

I am reposting this TRUTHOUT blog post in its entirety because the server at TRUTHOUT is overloaded. It took me several hours to get to it.

Information Sharing on the Rove Indictment Story

By Marc Ash

Sun May 21st, 2006 at 11:58:26 AM EDT

Fitzgerald Investigation

I'd like to break this posting into two categories: What we know, and what we believe. They will be clearly marked. We know that we have now three independent sources confirming that attorneys for Karl Rove were handed an indictment either late in the night of May 12 or early in the morning of May 13. We know that each source was in a position to know what they were talking about. We know that the office of Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald will not confirm, will not deny, will not comment on its investigation or on our report. We know that both Rove's attorney Robert Luskin and Rove's spokesman Mark Corallo have categorically denied all key facts we have set forth. We know we have information that directly contradicts Luskin and Corallo's denials. We know that there were two network news crews outside of the building in Washington, DC that houses the offices of Patton Boggs, the law firm that represents Karl Rove. We know that the 4th floor of that building (where the Patton Boggs offices are located) was locked down all day Friday and into Saturday night. We know that we have not received a request for a retraction from anyone. And we know that White House spokesman Tony Snow now refuses to discuss Karl Rove - at all. Further, we know - and we want our readers to know - that we are dependent on confidential sources. We know that a report based solely on information obtained from confidential sources bears some inherent risks. We know that this is - by far - the biggest story we have ever covered, and that we are learning some things as we go along. Finally, we know that we have the support of those who have always supported us, and that must now earn the support of those who have joined us as of late.

We now move on to what we believe. (If you are looking for any guarantees, please turn back now.)

We believe that we hit a nerve with our report. When I get calls on my cell phone from Karl Rove's attorney and spokesman, I have to wonder what's up. "I" believe - but cannot confirm - that Mark Corallo, Karl Rove's spokesman gave Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post my phone number. I believe Howard Kurtz contacted me with the intention of writing a piece critical of our organization. I know that Anne Marie Squeo of the Wall Street Journal attacked us and independent journalism as a whole in her piece titled, "Rove's Camp Takes Center of Web Storm / Bloggers Underscore How Net's Reporting, Dynamics Provide Grist for the Rumor Mill." We believe that rolling out that much conservative journalistic muscle to rebut this story is telling. And we believe that Rove's camp is making a concerted effort to discredit our story and our organization. Further - and again this is "What We Believe" - Rove may be turning state's evidence. We suspect that the scope of Fitzgerald's investigation may have broadened - clearly to Cheney - and according to one "off the record source" to individuals and events not directly related to the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. We believe that the indictment which does exist against Karl Rove is sealed. Finally, we believe that there is currently a great deal of activity in the Plame investigation. We know that this story is of vital interest to the community, and that providing as much information as we can is very important to our readers. We want you to know that this is challenging territory and that we are proceeding with as much speed as the terrain will allow. Marc Ash, Executive Director - t r u t h o u t
director@truthout.org

Fun facts from last week

Bush's approval rating dipped into the twenty's this week, and Cheney's hit 17.

Judith Miller had a warning prior to 9/11. Can we believe a word she says?
http://alternet.org/story/36388/

The Pentagon FINALLY released a video of the airplane hitting the Pentagon to dispel conspiracy theories that a plane didn't hit the Pentagon.
http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?f=00&g=d4325ef7-fe03-4a49-af96-ff2ed8a983d0&t=m5&p=News_Comment%20-%20Analysis

MERRY FITZMAS!!!

Karl Rove told President Bush and Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten that he will be indicted in the CIA leak case and will immediately resign his White House job when the special counsel publicly announces the charges against him.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051206Y.shtml

Friday afternoon entertainment

A little non-political fun, for a change!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

Approval rating slips 3% in one week

Bush's approval rating/popularity is down to 31%, a new low.

He is:
7% among liberals (huh? That many?)
28% among moderates
54% among conservatives
68% among Republicans (this is as surprising as the 7% liberals)

How can 68% of Republicans be so wrongheaded as to put party above the
nation's well-being? What percentage of those people still haven't figured
out that Fox News is rigged?

Disapproval rating: 65%.

Don't gut our health insurance!

Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005
S.1955

Please help get the word out about the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005 S.1955.

Despite the name, this bill--which we prefer to call the "Lose Your Health Care Benefits Bill."--would eliminate state mandates on health insurance companies that protect Americans. Many of the state requirements are particularly important to women, including prescription contraceptives,mammographies, cervical cancer screenings, bone density screenings,maternity care, and minimum hospital stays after mastectomy. This bill would also preempt these health care requirements and would also raise insurance premiums for Americans with complex health needs by lifting most state restrictions on how insurance companies establish premiums. Under S.1955, insurance companies would have the leeway to charge people more based on their age, gender and health status. This would price many out of the health insurance market and could especially burden women, whose health care costs tend to be greater.

Below is a compilation of articles on this issue.

Field/Development Assistant
National Women's Law Center
11 Dupont Circle, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
202-588-5180 tel
202-588-5185 fax
amaytal@nwlc.org

Billings Gazette (MN)

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/03/16/news/wyoming/30-enzi.txt

LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-golden6apr06,1,4779499.column

Reuters

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-03-15T214238Z_01_N15298093_RTRIDST_0_CONGRESS-HEALTH.XML

United Press International

http://www.upi.com/HealthBusiness/view.php?StoryID=20060320-072249-2304r

Dayton (Ohio) Daily News

http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0325brown.
html

The NewStandard (Internet only)

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/OPINION0101/603070366/1012/OPINION

Scripps Howard News Service - ran at least in Times Record News (TX)

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=HEALTHPOOLS-03-22-06

Commercial Appeal (TN) -- editorial by Sen. Frist

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/editorials/article/0,2845,MCA_25348_4559743,00.html

In these times

http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2558

McCook Daily Gazette (NE) - LTE against bill

http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1145811.html

Duluth Weekly (GA)

http://www.theweekly.com/news/2006/March/16/Johnny_Isakson.html

BusinessWeek, appears on web sites for MSNBC and TV stations in:
CA, IA, GA, TX, FL, PA, NM, CT, NV, MI, MD, WA, CO, RI, AL, OK,
WI, IN, MS, NH, NC, OH, NY ....

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/mar2006/sb20060316_204180.htm

The Chattanoogan (TN)

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_82083.asp

Sacramento Bee (CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/story/14227209p-15050979c.html

April 10, 2006

Tell Senators: "Don't Gut My Health Insurance!"

Irans plans

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43956

Man confronts Rumsfeld about Lies

http://images1.americanprogress.org/il80web20037/ThinkProgress/2006/rum.320.240.mov

Hearing vowed on Bush's powers

Hearing vowed on Bush's Abuse of Power

____________________________________________________________

The following appeared on Boston.com:
Headline: Hearing vowed on Bush's powers
Date: May 3, 2006

"WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
accusing the White House of a ''very blatant encroachment"

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/05/03/hearing_vowed_on_bushs_powers?p1=email_to_a_friend

Cheney exempts his office from reporting

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14462039.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

Be the first to own an ITMFA plate!

http://www.itmfa.com/

Katherine Harris is in trouble

Washington defense contractor Mitchell J. Wade admitted yesterday in federal court that he attempted to illegally influence Defense Department contracting officials and tried to curry favor with two House members... The new admissions, including details that identify Reps. Virgil H. Goode Jr. (R-Va.) and Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) as recipients of illegal campaign contributions, are contained in Wade's agreement to plead guilty to four criminal charges stemming from his role in the Cunningham probe.