Sunday, April 16, 2006

London Update!

So this is my 2nd full day in London for football. Friday saw Southend United lose a close one at home to Gillingham. I was 1 row off the pitch and had to stare directly in the sun for the entire match. Pre-match fish and chips from the inventively named "The Fish House" were tremendous. Thick, clean tasty fish and big bulky chips. Simply excellent. Got some nice pictures. Will post later. Southend is a nice little town.

Yesterday Arsenal beat WBA 3-1, goals from Hleb, Pires (set up by DB10) and DB10. AND it was Dennis Bergkamp day at Highbury. Storybook stuff. Following the match, enjoyed some time at the Tavern, talking to James and Tom from Richmond, Jeremy from LA and Adam from Indianapolis/Cleveland. We also went for a late dinner at the Finsbury Bite, a nice little Morrocan joint where I had the Merges Sausage Brochette with savoury rice.

Went to mass this morning and then to the Spring Cafe for some Eggs, chips and beans. Solid if unspectacular. Good tea, though.

LAter today it's off to Watford for Saracens v. Wasps in an exciting Rugby Union contest.

Tomorrow it's Southend v. Barnsley with Pete. Tuesday, mercifully, is a break.

Until next time----

Frank

Friday, April 07, 2006

Lies and hypocrisy and deceit, Oh My!

First THIS, from yesterday

Vice President Dick Cheney's former top aide told prosecutors President Bush authorized the leak of sensitive intelligence information about Iraq, according to court papers filed by prosecutors in the CIA leak case.Before his indictment, I. Lewis Libby testified to the grand jury investigating the CIA leak that Cheney told him to pass on information and that it was Bush who authorized the disclosure, the court papers say. According to the documents, the authorization led to the July 8, 2003, conversation between Libby and New York Times reporter Judith Miller.There was no indication in the filing that either Bush or Cheney authorized Libby to disclose Valerie Plame's CIA identity. But the disclosure in documents filed Wednesday means that the president and the vice president put Libby in play as a secret provider of information to reporters about prewar intelligence on Iraq.

Now, let's take a trip back to September 30, 2003:

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Let me just say something about leaks in Washington. There are too many leaks of classified information in Washington. There's leaks at the executive branch; there's leaks in the legislative branch. There's just too many leaks. And if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. And if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of.
...

I want to know the truth. If anybody has got any information inside our administration or outside our administration, it would be helpful if they came forward with the information so we can find out whether or not these allegations are true and get on about the business.
...

I know of nobody -- I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action.
...

And we can clarify this thing very quickly if people who have got solid evidence would come forward and speak out. And I would hope they would.
...

And we've had leaks out of the administrative branch, had leaks out of the legislative branch, and out of the executive branch and the legislative branch, and I've spoken out consistently against them and I want to know who the leakers are.

Ok, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, etc. let's step up to the plate. Bush lied. Again. Blatantly and on a matter of importance. Let's go. Don't gimme the "Well, republicans dispute the characterization of the president's comments as misleading..." baloney. Bush KNEW who authorized the leak of classified information. HE did it. He knew he did it and he sat there and lied to you, media people. Lied to your face. So step up, call him the liar he is. We're waiting.

Update: We've got the party line. ATTENTION! ATTENTION! FULL SPIN MODE!

A senior administration official, speaking on background because White House policy prohibits comment on an active investigation, said Bush sees a distinction between leaks and what he is alleged to have done. The official said Bush authorized the release of the classified information to assure the public of his rationale for war as it was coming under increasing scrutiny.

Ya see, it wasn't a lie, there was a distinction, it's not the same. See, he didn't LEAK the classified information, he authorized its release. Not the same at all. Completely different words and everything. Leak and authorize even have a different number of sylables. Besides, he was doing it for a GOOD reason, to educate the public.

Unbelievable.

Later Update: Here's a man who means what he says!!! --->

“But it is a shameful act by somebody who has got secrets of the United States government and feels like they need to disclose them publicly. . . . We’re at war, and we must protect America’s secrets. “

– George W. Bush, December 19, 2005.