If you haven't watched James Comey's testimony on the Ashcroft-Gonzales hospital incident

[BurtWorm]

I highly recommend you do. You miss nuances of emotional inflection if you only read the transcript--for instance, a brief but pregnant pause before a terse reply ("Yes.") to the question posed by Sen. Schumer, "And am I correct that the conduct of Mr. Gonzalez and Mr. Card on that evening troubled you greatly?"--that tell a larger part of the story than text alone tell. Just consider that question, however, and Comey's reply, and you have an idea of the magnitude of the story that is unfolding. Now go watch the video.

The long (20 minute) version is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxHjWYA50Ds


A brief (8:14 minute) essential highlight of that exchange and the whole scene at George Washington Hospital is here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fmm1W-H8L-4

[Catherine Vincent]

1. Word!

[BurtWorm]

2. Also watch Tony Snow's vicious spin against Ashcroft and Comey

in which he tries (and succeeds surprisingly--disturbingly--well) to get the press corps to laugh along with him at the idea of Ashcroft being taken advantage of by denigrating his condition (pancreatitis and six days in intensive care) as "appendicitis":

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

[BurtWorm]

3. And if Snow doesn't make you sick enough, watch this little shit in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0HEKTr6wrc

[trashcanistanista]

4. You can also catch it

on tonight's Daily Show.

[hootinholler]

5. I like the way Tony is shaking his head during the question

Like he's thinking why did I ever hitch my wagon to this horse.

:rofl:

-Hoot

[Rosemary2205]

10. That is SICK - esp considering pancreatitis is OFTEN fatal.

They have no respect for life at all.

[TacticalPeek]

6. K & R

:kick:

[BurtWorm]

7. kick

[CatWoman]

8. Burt,

you may want to listen to this, too: http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/ros/open_source_070517.mp3

[BurtWorm]

13. Thank you, CatWoman!

I just heard about this over at Glenn Greenwald's blog. Did you listen? I can't now, but will definitely later.

:toast:

[CatWoman]

15. I'm trying to listen

but that damn work keeps getting in my way!!!

:)

[BurtWorm]

16. Don't I know it, love!

:cry:

[Gregorian]

9. Thank you. That's it. It's over.

It's confirmed they're criminals. Just we've known all along.

And it says quite a lot about Ashcroft, as well.

[BurtWorm]

11. Surprisingly.

As someone on another board commented, if Ashcroft is the guy to look to to be a bulwark against this Administration's lawlessness, you know how far this country as fallen. But (strange words to say) thank goodness for Ashcroft!

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. One thing that had me shaking my head was, once again, the TIMING

of things that happen for Bush/Cheney. Comey talked about a meeting they'd had with the WH explaining how they weren't going to sign off re-authorization 'after what they had learned'. Then, within hours of that meeting, Ashcroft suddenly falls painfully ill with a very serious and sometimes fatal disease, incapacitating him for several days.

Now, if I were a Conspiracy Theorist... maybe they should have CSI'd the teacups and scones.

[BurtWorm]

14. It did strike me that Comey said he wasn't going to meet with Card without a witness.

Of course it could have been just legal protection he was concerned about, but... :scared:

[Norquist Nemesis]

19. Card started out as 'chauffeur' for Bush I

From Poppy's limo driver to Son's COS. He must be pretty good at "something" to get that type of promotion. *wink*

[Supersedeas]

20. if it were a made for television drama -- you might be hard pressed to believe it

[moodforaday]

25. You think? How about the Madrid bombing a day later?

Senate Hearing on U.S. Attorney Firings - washingtonpost.com

SCHUMER: And you stated that the next day, Thursday, was the deadline for reauthorization of the program, is that right?

COMEY: Yes, sir.

SCHUMER: OK. Can you tell us what happened the next day?

COMEY: The program was reauthorized without us and without a signature from the Department of Justice attesting as to its legality. And I prepared a letter of resignation, intending to resign the next day, Friday, March the 12th.

SCHUMER: OK. And that was the day, as I understand it, of the Madrid train bombings.

COMEY: Thursday, March 11th, was the morning of the Madrid train bombings.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR2007051501043.html

Another concidence? I stopped believing in those a long time ago. Aznar was about to lose an election. Aznar's then-foreign minister was brought by Wolfowitz into the World Bank. One od her duties was to cover up Wolfie's corruption:

Think Progress » Bank Counsel Hired By Wolfowitz Is Best Friends With Riza, Attempted To Block Investigation

In 2005, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz appointed former-Spanish government official Ana Palacio as Bank General Counsel, one of the top positions in the organization.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/16/wolfowitz-palacio

I do not believe in coincidences at all any more.

[Supersedeas]

17. another K&R

[ThomWV]

18. K&R

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

21. Thanks for putting both these links up.

I intend later today to send both of them onto friends and family.

It's absolutely incredible that our beloved country has fallen this far.

Add to this, Chucklenuts non-answer to Kelly O'Donnell's questions at the presser and it's mind boggling.

They all think that they're above the law.

[Marnieworld]

22. Thank you for posting this

I missed it originally but have read a lot about it. Nothing I've read captured how sincere and credible Comey appears. Very powerful.

In a free media this would be played wall to wall.

[Judi Lynn]

23. Thank you, BurtWorm. Will be sharing the links you posted. n/t

[kikiek]

24. Often on narcotics because it's usually very painful. I would like to know if he was on IV morphine.