Steve Gilliard, 1964-2007
It is with tremendous sadness that we must convey
the news that Steve Gilliard, editor and publisher of The News Blog,
passed away June 2, 2007. He was 42.
To those who have come to trust
The News Blog and its insightful, brash and unapologetic editorial
tone, we have Steve to thank from the bottom of our hearts. Steve helped
lead many discussions that mattered to all of us, and he tackled subjects
and interest categories where others feared to tread.
Please keep Steve's friends and family in your
thoughts and prayers.
Steve meant so much to us.
We will miss him terribly.
photo by lindsay beyerstein
|
Matthew Saroff: "Assuming the Best of Dick Cheney"

Why, you!Thanks to Matthew Saroff for this fine analysis - THANKS MATTHEW!For the sake of argument, let's look at the US Attorney purge under theassumption that Dick Cheney is a decent and honorable human being. (Whilewe're at it let's assume that Santa Claus exists, pro-wrestling is real,and that the Bush crime family are dedicated public servants). Let us further assume that when Mitchell Wade, President of MZM and briberof Randall "Duke" Cunningham, got a $140,000.00 contract for furniture andcomputers in the Vice President'soffice(http://thinkprogress.org/2005/11/28/cunningham-white-house/), thatthis was not a direct byproduct of corruption. (Other services brought upthe total to over $600,000.00) Even though MZM was clearly bribing the Dukester, let us assume that aninformal conversation between Cunningham and then House Appropriationschair Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) that resulted in a DEFENSE ANDINTELLIGENCE firm being recommended to the White House was simply legal,but unethical pay-back to a political supporter. Let us further assume that neither Mr. Lewis nor Mr. Cheney had any ideathat MZM was a corrupt organization. We are well past Easter Bunny territory now. In fact, I believe that weare well past where Rod Serling would have crumpled the "Twilight Zone"script and thrown it into the garbage because it exceeded the audience'scapacity for suspension of disbelief. In fact, we may have exceeded limits of a Max Bialystock production(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Producers_%281968_film%29).But lets give these folks the benefit of the doubt. So, when it's discovered that Duke Cunningham is dirty, they are shock,shocked I tell you, that MZM might not be above board. So when US Carol Lam expands her investigation, looking at ties to corruptCIA Agent Dusty Foggo, and opening up Lewis to scrutiny, they aredisturbed that completely above board contracts for furniture and otherservices will doubtlessly be reviewed, and the ties between the office ofthe Vice President with the largest corruption case in the history of theUS Congress would cripple both Cheney, and the whole Bush administration. It would prevent their pursuing their policies, and tie up excessiveresources for the remainder of the term. So Dick Cheney picks up the phone, or more likely sends an underling, toGonzalez, and explains how this investigation is bad news for both theAdministration and the country. He has not-so-subtly demanded that the investigation be shut down. That is obstruction of justice, even if the firings are legal, despite thefact that the US Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President, and itis an impeachable offense, and this is when one casts Dick Cheney in thebest possible light. - posted by Matthew Saroff
Labels: Cheney
|