"Bush's Guard service may affect Mier's nomination"

[Rowdyboy]

Harriet's "services" to the BFEE are gonna catch a LOT of attention

"A former Texas Lottery official said he wants to talk to senators about the Supreme Court nominee's role in covering up his Bush's record

Advertisement

By Ken Herman

WASHINGTON BUREAU

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

WASHINGTON -- A former Texas lottery official, who claimed that then-Gov. George W. Bush's desire to cover up his National Guard record helped steer decisions about a key lottery contract, said he wants to talk to senators about Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers' possible role in that effort.

"If I were to be subpoenaed to come to the thing, I would come," said Lawrence Littwin, who filed a lawsuit after he was fired as the lottery's executive director in 1997. "I would say the committee, I think, would be interested."

Littwin claimed in a federal lawsuit that lottery operator GTECH held sway over the Texas Lottery Commission because former GTECH lobbyist Ben Barnes was involved in helping get Bush into the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/tuesday/news_3424a21495f7521000f4.html

These hearing are NOT going to be dull. I'm not at all certain she'll be confirmed, not with the limp support the 'thugs offer, anyway.

[Vanje]

1. Recommended!

And how!

[speedoo]

2. Let's hear it, Mr. Littwin.

We need to know whether this nominee helped the Coward betray his country.

[oxbow]

63. Which Dem on the Judiciary Committe should we send this to? nt.

[Vickers]

3. Stay off small planes, Larry.

I'm just sayin'.

[Maat]

10. That's one of the first thoughts that came into my head.

People who have crossed the BFEE have an unusually high 'suicide' rate.

[Spurt]

38. Yes...

Looks like a suicide note to me.
Be a shame to lose a guy with such courage.

Two self inflicted shots in the back of the head I imagine.

[Maat]

98. "Two 'SELF-INFLICTED' shots in the back of the head .."

:rofl:

[dflprincess]

71. Sometimes I think people who make comments like this

do have a deathwish.

Why does he need a subpoena? He should tell all NOW - for his own safety as well as the country's well being.

Does anyone know, do the minority members of the Judiciary Committee have the power to issue subpoenas? If not, and this guy really knows something, does anyone think the Republicans will call him to the confirmation hearing?

[PinkyisBlue]

94. Subpoena

It said in the article that, if he is subpoenaed, he can testify about what he knows without forfeiting any of the settlement he received. If he tells what he knows without a subpoena, he must forfeit $50,000 due to the confidentiality agreement.

A Democrat needs to issue him a subpoena soon!

[ms liberty]

4. Recommended...

They could SO use this as an opportunity to air the * dirty laundry to the world...and show how crooked & secretive these morans are.

Please, gods and godesses, let it be so...

[Old and In the Way]

5. I agree....this could lead to some very interesting questions which

might not have any direct bearing on her SC nomination, but could expose a lot about Dimson's past.

[RaleighNCDUer]

51. The connection is, was she involved in the purging of documents

in his NG files. 'Purging of documents' is a nice way of saying "destroying government property' - it is a crime. Did she commit a crime on *'s behalf, and is this the payoff for her?

It would be prima facie evidence that she has no business being on the court.

[Carla in Ca]

83. I wonder what Dan Rather is thinking right now.

n/t

[TacticalPeek]

6. More cowbell.

:)

[jazzjunkysue]

48. Yes!!!

:rofl:

[lonestarnot]

66. Yes and More Cowbell!

Call, call, call! We definitely need to hear from him!

[mod mom]

50. I never saw that segment until DC on the 24th, sitting in a bar after

peace march. Funny.

[underpants]

72. EAGLES UP!!

okay more cowbell is now the official DU whateveryoucallit

[against all enemies]

92. Expand the space!!!!

[gulfcoastliberal]

7. Now THAT is fascinating! I remember GTECH & Barnes!

Oh yes I do. Will our dems remember it? Do they know about it? Maybe we should write to them and include this article! Emailing my dem senator stat!

[joeunderdog]

34. so doesn't Greg Palast.

He devotes alot of pages to this issue in his book.

[liveoaktx]

40. VIDEO-Ben Barnes on Bush and the National Guard

Remember this?

[maryallen]

70. Not Harry Reid ...

He's already made up his mind ...

More in Harriet's corner than the Repubs, for Christ's sake!

Even Trent Lott is taking a "wait and see" attitude, but not our Harry.

[MADem]

78. Actually, Trent seemed a bit skeptical, to me

He said he wasn't going to bow down and swoon at the Dunce's pick, and that he wanted to KNOW MORE...

He is also thinking about going after the whip job. Trent seems determined to mix it up, and follow his OWN agenda, not the monkey's.

Payback for the Strom business, no doubt. He bade his time, but he kept that fire of revenge well banked.

[Gregorian]

8. I'm beginning to think it was good that Bush took office.

I mean, America might not have discovered and seen the incredible corruption that exists here.

edit- However, it is a very expensive discovery.

[yorkiemommie1]

9. this is going to be veddy veddy interesting to say the least !

let it all out, Littwin!

[rodeodance]

11. but is the Repug committee going to invite him for a visit to DC? (NO).

[rodeodance]

12. kick

[norml]

13. The Church Lady says "Quid Pro Quo"

[LynnTheDem]

14. "bush's desire to cover up his National Guard record"

bush's desire to cover up his National Guard record

ROTFLMAO!!!

Hey rightwingnuts...ya been HAD, ya stupid MFers! :rofl:

[BrotherBuzz]

15. Cool, I have no objection to dredging up the TANG story....

"Bring 'em on." :rofl:

[antonialee839]

18. Dan Rather could probably provide some background information.

[BrotherBuzz]

21. YES!

:thumbsup:

[Rowdyboy]

22. I hadn't even thought about the Rather connection to this story.....

Come on Danno! Its worth coming out of retirement to expose these scumbags for the filth they are.

[BrotherBuzz]

25. Dan Rather is already making noise on this subject. Hoot!

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/54213.htm

DAN WANTS SECOND GO AT BUSH

September 28, 2005 -- DAN Rather wants to reopen the investigation into President Bush and the National Guard story that resulted in the Memogate scandal and led to his early departure from the anchor desk. But his bosses at CBS have forbidden him to go back at it, he said.

"CBS News doesn't want me to do that story," Rather said during an interview that aired on C-SPAN Monday night.

"They wouldn't let me do that story," he said during the shockingly frank interview with former NBC newsman Marvin Kalb.

Rather continues to insist that the story was correct and suggested in...

Here be the DU thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1811719

HOOT!

[YDogg]

32. I believe one day that Dan Rather will be fully vindicated ...

... it's just a matter of time.

Drip, drip, drip ... one drop at a time, the proof is adding up.

[goforit]

45. YES!! GoDAN!!!!......Another piece to the puzzle of multiple crimes!!!

[JoFerret]

36. He is working on it

....he just needs air time that he can't get.

[oxbow]

61. He should try Keith Olbermann

Seems like Countdown is the home for many stories our Corporate Media doesn't want to talk about these days.

[Wordie]

81. Good idea...I just mailed this thread to KO.

[assclown_bush]

16. Recommended and thank you for posting this. Must read. n/t

[sandnsea]

17. Would he say anything about bribes to Miers?

So that GTech could keep control of the Texas Lottery because Bush backers also backed GTech, and getting Barnes and Littwin out of the way was to protect the money flow and had nothing to do with TANG.

"GTech was founded in 1981 and backed by the Texas Bass brothers and none other than Richard Rainwater. I think one could literally start writing now and not stop for twenty years and still not touch on everything the Bass Brothers and Richard Rainwater have been involved in. In fact, Rainwater was the Bass Brothers money manager for many years and had put up the money to buy out Bush’s Spectrum 7 oil and for Harken Energy to drill in Bahrain. And, of course, Richard Rainwater also stepped up to the plate, literally, and put up a good portion of the $86 million to purchase the Texas Rangers. Bush bought in by borrowing $500,000 from a bank he had once directed, and a millionaire was born.

By 1995, allegations of GTECH’s underhanded practices were beginning to surface. In 1993, Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Records, accused Guy Snowden of GTech of bribery. He later sued Snowden for libel, a case which he won in 1998. In 1994 GTech's national sales manager resigned amid charges that he received kickbacks, although the charges against Ben Barnes in that matter were subsequently dropped. In addition, GTech is part owner of the Retama race track in San Antonio, race track owners having contributed some $3.1 million to Texas politicians, along with the $4.1 million of slot money. This is the same Retama race track where instant game tickets went missing in 1996, followed by :more than 180 files regarding bingo and lottery security investigations.” And the same Retama race track that is also partially owned by Red McCombs, former Vikings owner and Bush Ranger.

It is amid this bedlam that Harriet Miers came to chair the Texas Lottery Commission in 1995."


http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/?view=plink&id=1397

[KoKo]

57. sandnsea, why would Bush have appointed her know that this would all

come out. One of the first stories when he announced her was that he met her when he hired her to "track down damaging info about his National Guard Service." I believe it was in the WaPo article posted here on DU.

Also I remember all the DU threads about Barnes and TANG that were posted about the whole cover up.

I wondered why he would nominate someone that would drag the TANG story back into folks minds considering it was THE Successful strategy against Kerry and cost Dan Rather his job?

Wouldn't it have been very foolish of him to pick her given the "Flashing Lights" of connections that the Media and us here would be bound to make?

:shrug:

[sandnsea]

87. I have my ideas

I wish I had more resources. Think of it, she saw every single solitary piece of paper that crossed his desk. Every single one until June of 2003. THEN she went into the job that Karl Rove has now. My guess is that this woman knows things and he needs to give her the cover a Supreme Court Justice would bring. Like it or not, most of America never pays any attention to politics and would be shocked at Democrats dragging a Supreme Court Justice into political battles like Plame, and who knows what else.

When I google Undersecretary Chief of Staff, I get Josh Boltens and Karl Rove's name a bunch of times. She had that same job and her name never comes up in connection. Never. She slept on the "Mission Accomplished" ship, one of the few from the Administration who did. She is more of a Bush loyalist than Condi Rice. She knows stuff, lots of stuff, I just feel it in my gut.

[HuffleClaw]

19. this is downright odd

why would they walk into a trap such as this? they CALCULATE this stuff very very carefully. someone mentioned that they WANT 'an idealogical battle' between themselves and the democrats, but over THIS ??
i'm still convinced any republican opposition to miers is a complete sham. they are good at only a few things. TIMING is one of them. could it be that the fitzgerald grand jury is about to bring down some very damning indictments? this could be a 'lets play the victim' ploy. 'look at the democrats and the MEDIA attacking us!'
anyone have an idea what they are really doing here? there are a few pieces missing from this puzzle.

[Rowdyboy]

20. The pieces of the puzzle fit together too easily....I'm beginning to

wonder if they don't want her to withdraw, and planned it from the beginning-possibly with her knowledge...

[BrotherBuzz]

23. Why?

I hear people saying this, but I fail to see what advantage there is to submitting her name and then to withdraw it.

[Rowdyboy]

24. Bush appoints this kindly oldr lady and the mean Republicans and

Democrats pick on her and make her cry (believe me, she will be reduced to tears while testifying-at least once for effect). Then he counterpuches with a hard right nutcase like Alito or Brown and all his leery conservative come joyfully home.

GWB doesn't think like the rest of us. He tries to use deviousitiveness to confuse and alienatorize us.

Sadly, all too often, he suceeds....

[BrotherBuzz]

27. You may be correct, BUT....

There may be a little blowback if the democrats play it right by dredging up the TANG story and bringing it to the forefront of the debate. Controling unintended consequences is has not been a strong suit for Bush* et al of late, and I would would be happy to see that happen.

[Rowdyboy]

29. I believe you're spot on.....There will be big-time blowback if Dems

play it right. If they don't....well, I'm really hoping they do so I don't have to get angry at my home team.

[Carla in Ca]

84. This blows my mind!

Rowdyboy, why in the world would they, through this nomination, have wanted the corruption in Texas and his military records to be brought up and re-hashed? I mean, 'bring it on', but wow!

[bostonbabs]

93. I thought this too...a decoy ...smart....evil. n/t

[shanti]

42. payback?

then * can't say he didn't try to get her in - perhaps she was promised this plum by him long ago if the chance came up :shrug: just speculating.

[EST]

30. We give them credit for being a lot sharper than

they really are. Most of the results that look so well planned are, in fact, a matter of timing and a savagely stubborn insistance on the one tactic they know so thoroughly--slash, slime, and mindless attack, eschewing all truth, combined with blind, irrational idealism.

[belle]

56. Word.

[Demeter]

37. Mindless Arrogance and Faith -Based Wishful Thinking?

I'm sure it wasn't intentional. The trouble is, nowadays, any time a Bushbot steps into the public eye, we know what to look for. There is no privacy left for the crooks.

[jazzjunkysue]

52. Because "They" are B**:: A brainless, fearful cokehead.

The difference now is that people who used to clean up for him and cover up for him and manage him are slowly backing a way, allowing him to really screw up and shoot himself in the foot.

And his Daddy obviously gave up bailing him out a while ago.

They're letting him fall. It's about time.

[Love Bug]

55. I think their hubris blinds them sometimes

Who was that guy that was nominated for a cabinet post but * had to withdraw his nomination after all kinds of shady things came out? He had been vetted but I think this was another situation where * wanted to promote one of his loyal friends. The * cabal is so immersed in their own hubris they think they can push through ANYTHING and this nomination of Meirs is just another example of that.

[BrotherBuzz]

62. Bernard Kerik

Bernard Kerik was President Bush's nominee for US homeland security chief and he carried a lot of suspected baggage, but was dropped because of a puny little 'nannygate' thingy. Kerik's nanny thingy was just an excuse because reports were emerging of links to the Mafia, misuse of police power, affair with subordinate, taser stock profits, and more... Hubris, in spades, and it's fair to say, vetting is not a strong Bush* suite.

[Love Bug]

97. Thank you!

I knew someone here would remember! My problem is there have been so many scandals I can't keep them all straight!

[tulsakatz]

26. if this is true...........

........and I have no reason to doubt it, but if it's true, this could be a much more difficult confirmation than Bush thought!!!

The Republicans are already pissed that he did this and if it comes out that she helped Bush cover up his guard service, the Democrats will be against her too!!

[Rowdyboy]

28. This is likely to be an interesting autumn!

If we don't like him, and they refuse to cover for him......my oh my oh my oh my oh my.......

[fasttense]

31. This is how mediocrity gets elevated to positions of power. Despite

what Ayn Rand has to say, mediocrity is rewarded when one person is blindly loyal to a ridiculous theory and is in control. This is what happens when one party rules, we get incompetence and mediocrity.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

64. mediocrity is rewarded

But that was an underlying theme of "Atlas Shrugged," "The Fountainhead," and her other works.

[sendero]

33. Hmmm..... pass the

:popcorn:

[0007]

35. Let's hear it all! Perhaps this will give Dan Rather his window

in coming back to get the folks that did him in over junior's National Guard fiasco? And will the freepers start raising hell to help out junior's Harriet?

Stay Tuned!!

[SpiralHawk]

39. K & R

[drm604]

43. SpiralHawk, could you expand on that? What about K & R? n/t

[SpiralHawk]

46. K & R is DU shorthand for "kicked and recommended (for Greatest)"

[clydefrand]

41. Problem?? Why did the above link allow me to look at the

article without registering. I went back to look again and had to register to look at it if I wanted to see it. That is strange indeed. Was I just given one shot to read a story in this newspaper online and then no more? Or was it because so many people are trying to access this story? It did take a long time the first time I tried to open the page.

I want to send it to Dan Rather. Will do so anyway.

[JoFerret]

49. Be afraid

...be more afraid. (!)

[Festivito]

44. Limited time questioning should mean FILIBUSTER.

CONs will limit questioning time. If it is limited, then the up-or-down vote will have to be 60-40 in the Senate.

That would be one of my stands.

[Cha]

47. Hey, isn't this where

Dan Rather came in? Only to be stopped in his tracks about the fascist wing and cbs?

[Catchawave]

53. I need closure on this NG story !

Like how much * paid ($$$ or politically) for an honorable discharge. Well, it just has never added up with the "missing year" for me.

His stoooopid supporters place more on that honorable discharge, than those pesky details :(

[TankLV]

85. Missing paychecks, missing time, missing records, missing memories.

I'm sure it's all just cooincidental!

After all, he is a WAR HERO and a FIGHTER PILOT who SERVED IN VIETNAM! not like that coward and liar KERRY!

[Catchawave]

91. Yeah, the Kerry Team really fu*ked up the 2004 election......

What have we learned for 2008 ????

[redqueen]

54. Anyone calling their Senators yet?

Let's get on it, folks. Demand this man be called to testify.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

58. The Revenge of Littwin - Coming soon to a Senate hearing near you

I'd pay $50k to spill what I knew if I were him, too.

How sweet it is...

[savemefromdumbya]

59. send this to all the news editors of the national newspapers!

news worthy? I think there is unfinished business as far as Bush's Guard duty is concerned. Bet he wishes he didn't pick Miers now?

[democrank]

60. I`m not sure how the decisions are made about

who gets to testify and who does not, but I`ll bet you that the Republicans in control will do everything in their power to keep Mr. Littwin away from Washington.

Perhaps DUers could put some pressure on by sending this info to media outlets and contacting our representatives.

[CatWoman]

65. Rowdy,baby, you done good

good post/story/thread :thumbsup:

nominated!!!!

[Rowdyboy]

69. Cat, I am stunned.....I knew it was a great story

but I never expected 48 nominations for the greatest page! Damn! I'll have the big-head for the rest of the day! :hug:

[CatWoman]

75. LOL

Looks like I'll have to volunteer as your guardian, to bitch slap you back to reality if that head gets too big!!

:hi:

:loveya:

[Rowdyboy]

82. Thank you, ma'am...May I have another?

:blush:

[Jose Diablo]

67. It just keeps getting better and better n/t

[zbdent]

68. WHY THE HELL IS HE WAITING FOR A SUBPEONA????

If I were him, I would get in front of a bunch of Dem congresspeople and have copies of my statement on record . . . if this is true.

I am paranoid about him "suiciding" - I agree with several others on this thread, he needs to stay away from small planes.

But why is he waiting? Get this out in a sworn statement!

[shovelrock]

73. ????

What are they going to do? Forge more documents?!?!?!?!

[Bridget Burke]

74. There's no proof any documents were forged.

I used a proportional space typewriter back when Bush was up to his antics. Whatever the provenance of those documents, nobody even tried to disprove two facts:

1) Bush used favoritism to get a space in TANG, a "special" commission (no Academy, no OCS) & pilot's training.

2) Bush did not fulfill his military obligation.

[Brother Buzz]

79. Harriet Miers is the right age to have trained on an IMB Selectra, too...

I'm just saying....;)

[zbdent]

76. aww, this one's cute . . .

can we keep him around just for torture?

[Bridget Burke]

89. Just like cats....

Those mice are NO FUN after they stop moving!

[zbdent]

96. Yeah, it looks like this one's spent its intellectual quota

for life . . .

[Catrina]

88. You mean Rove?

Seems he didn't need to forge them, but with the help of FR, Drudge and the rest of the propaganda machine (currently being thoroughly exposed at last) they furiously covered up the lie that Bush deserved, rather than bought, that infamous honorable discharge.

Can't wait to read Mary Mapes book, that ought to be a best-seller. Still, it was naive of her not to have known about FR for the brown-shirt role they had been playing for the rightwing for so long. It's harder for them now, being that we know who and what they are. She should have known but better late than never.

I hope Rather and Mapes SUE FR. This way, they could get Buckhead/AKA Rightwing, lawyer, operative, who seems to have something big to hide, being that he was the so-called expert who 'discovered' the 'proof' of 'forgery'.

Wouldn't you think he'd be proud of what he did? But no, he's terrified of talking to the press. So, let's get him under oath. It's time to finish this story, and get the truth out about how the right set up Dan Rather to hide Bush's AWOL status.

Oh, and the statute of limitations is 40 years, on AWOL crimes. I don't think it's run out for W yet.

Btw, welcome, enjoy your stay ~

[vonslagle]

77. Where's Dan Rather?

He's the only one in the media who had the courage to tell the truth about the Bushies. We need him back

[Dr Fate]

80. Where are the Senate Democrats? They can talk about this too.

n/t

[ClintonTyree]

86. It would be great........

to see bush's "missing years" put back under the microscope for further review. This was white-washed before his selection in 2000 and re-selection in 2004. I wonder how it will hold up under EXTREME scrutiny and background of the wonderful Mr. bush's military service. The little dandy has had things handed to him all his life, including 2 presidential elections. Let's see what the people of this country think after they find out HOW he got where he is today!

[KamaAina]

90. But, but, but the "th" was the wrong size! It's all fake! (sarcasm)

A blogger told me so! And he was wearing pajamas! :sarcasm:

I love the smell of blowback in the morning (Hawai'i time)! Pass the popcorn... :popcorn:

[AuntiBush]

95. Anyone Questioning All The Reasons * Picked His Long-Time

Attorney, Ms. Faux-Christian Miers? She's gonna save his butt in many ways, and already has.

Try this google link and look under those first few MSNBC links mentioning Miers covering-up *'s Natl Guard rec'ds, and her scandals.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=miers+help+bush+military+records&btnG=Google+Search