Argue With My Dad

After a long and relaxing Thanksgiving Weekend, it is time once again for AWMD’s Monday Musings.  There are plenty of news items to choose from today, but we will try to hit the most interesting ones.  The first item that caught my eye is the news that President Obama may announce tomorrow night that he has ordered an additional 35,000 American troops to be sent to Afghanistan.  We have already seen that the Republicans who screwed up the war in Afghanistan by removing personnel and resources for their war in Iraq are some of the same people who are now saying that we should delay or reduce the pending Health Care Reform bill in order to pay for this surge of troops and the continue the war in Afghanistan. http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/12/health-care-afghanistan/  Of course, this policy begs the question why delaying or stopping a much needed health care reform program that will actually reduce the deficit is a better idea than stopping a war that cost the US over $100 Billion a year, not to mention countless American and NATO soldier’s lives?  That is just the question that Nicholas Kristof asks in a New York Times op ed. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/opinion/12kristof.html?_r=1&ref=opinion  To me it is a no-brainer.  The Health Care Reform bill will save lives and ending the war in Afghanistan will save lives.  Add to that the reduction of the deficit and the easy choice is completing the Health Care reform process and reduce and/or end our involvement in a war that was lost long ago by the Bush regime and is not improving our national security.  Kristof said it well when he wrote, “Meanwhile, lack of health insurance  kills about 45,000 Americans a year, according to a Harvard study released in September. So which is the greater danger to our homeland security, the Taliban or our dysfunctional insurance system?” Amen to that.

The next issue that hit the news this past holiday weekend was the news that the Obama Administration announced that they will miss a deadline to declassify millions of pages of secret documents due to intelligence agencies attempts to delay or prevent the disclosures. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/11/29/declassification_of_secret_documents_to_be_delayed/  “In the face of these complications, the White House has given the agencies a commitment that they will get an extension beyond Dec. 31 of an undetermined length - possibly years, said the administration officials, who spoke on the condition they not be identified discussing internal deliberations. It will be the third such extension: Clinton granted one in 2000 and Bush granted one in 2003.”  I know some of you may not think that this issue is important enough to discuss on our Monday Musings, but it has personal importance to me. 

I have mentioned in past postings that my Father was involved in a fatal military plane crash in the Atlantic in March of 1951 after his reserve group was reactivated after he was credited with 5o bombing missions during World War II.  The reason that is important here now is that the official Air Force accident report from that crash was classified from 1951 until the mid 1990’s.  That meant my mother never had a chance to find out why her husband perished and it meant that my grandparents never knew what the Air Force claimed was the reason(s) why the C-124 crashed on that fateful day.  This kind of unlimited secrecy is uncalled for and damaging to family members and when the accident report finally saw the light of day some 45 years later, there was nothing secret in the report.  On top of the delay, the report when finally declassified, was missing documents.  I will make the assertion that many of these so-called Top Secret documents are kept classified to hide military mistakes and governmental blunders!  According to the online version of the Boston Globe that is linked above, “The documents, dating from World War II to the early 1980s, cover the gamut of foreign relations, intelligence activities, and military operations - with the exception of nuclear weapons data, which remain protected by Congress. ” Some of these delayed documents may relate to my Father’s situation or someone else’s Father’s records and should be declassified without further delay.  People lives are damaged by these delays and we as a country are not able to learn from our mistakes by allowing historians to review these records as originally ordered.  It is time for our government to come clean.  President Obama, there is no excuse for you to allow this additional delay.  Allowing these agencies to control policy is an abuse and a mistake.  Get off your back end and do the right thing, no matter what the politics.   I expect better from you.

After another busy, but short week here in cold Northern Illinois,  it is time, once again, for another edition of the AWMD Friday Free For All.  I do want to say that I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving yesterday.  Mine was great and my grandson was here to entertain the crowd.  This is the only time of the week when our arguewithmydad.com readers can control the topic(s) for discussion.  All you have to do is get someone else to respond to your suggested topic and then the floor is yours.  Don’t be shy and don’t hesitate.  Get busy and be sure to let us know your views and arguments so everyone can read and react to them.  Right here on arguewithmydad.com.  I will make one  suggested topic, but it is only a suggestion.  Today is Friday so only you can be the decider.   But you need to tell us what you want to discuss.  So, what the heck is on your mind today?

The one suggested topic that I have for this Thanksgiving version of the Friday Free For All is the story in the online version of the London Times that reports that Prime Minister Blair knew that Iraq did not have WMD’s before the Iraq War was initiated, but that he ignored that intelligence and continued to push for war. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6932597.ece  Of course, the readers of Argue With My Dad will remember that numerous stories that we have addressed over the years that claimed the U.S. and Britain, were ginning up the evidence of WMD’s to allow for an invasion of Iraq.  The big difference about this story is the reporting comes from the inquiry undertaken by the British government.  “Intelligence that Saddam Hussein did not have access to weapons of mass destruction was received by the Government ten days before Tony Blair ordered the invasion of Iraq, the inquiry into the war was told yesterday. Inspectors in Iraq had also told the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that they believed that Saddam might not have chemical and biological weapons. But with British and US troops massed on the border, the new intelligence was dismissed.”  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6932597.ece  This story makes sense in light of recent storis claiming that Condi Rice was clamoring to attack Iraq shortly after Bush took office in 2001. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h3md2ReGxE9CkpczxPehN4pM-z7gD9C773QG0  What will it take for the United States to do an official inquiry into the war in Iraq and the lies and deception involved by the Bush Administration that has cost us thousands of US lives and Billions in treasure?  The British are way ahead of us freedom loving Americans!  Who would have imagined that the Brits would be getting to the truth even without any TeaBagger demonstrations?

I have made my suggestion, and it is just that, a suggestion.  Let’s hear what You want to talk about.  I will be anxiously waiting to see what You want to talk about.  It is time to get busy and let everyone know what you are thinking about.  Let’s hear from all of You!  Don’t be shy and do not delay.  It won’t hurt to let us know what You think.

After a beautiful late Fall weekend, it is time once again for our weekly Monday Musings.  There have been a multitude of news articles and pronouncements from pundits of every persuasion concerning the vote over the weekend in the U.S. Senate that allowed the debate to begin on the Senate version of the Health Care Reform bill. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/6733528.html Although I am a proponent of single payer universal health care insurance, I  would be in favor of any bill that includes a strong public insurance option.  The insurance companies have made it perfectly clear by their actions that they have no intention of changing their immoral ways of administering their health insurance plans. http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20091122-NEWS-911220310  This habit of insurance companies refusing claims and/or rescinding policies is just institutional stealing.  The only way that  these corporate felons are going to stop is if they have competition. 

That competition can only be effectively obtained through a public option insurance plan that holds the companies feet to the fire.  The Health care reform bills also put an end to pre-existing condition exclusions and to benefit caps which should help curb the mischief of the insurance industry.  The insurance cartel and Republicans continue to lie about the plans in an attempt to sway public opinion against the public option. http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/22/wallace-cbo-costs/ & http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/21/alexander-medicaid-ghetto/ 

Because of the lies by the Republicans and by industry hacks, the public option is essential to the success of this much needed reform.  Not just any public option will do and a public option that is weakened by the so-called “triggers” or “opt outs” may not be strong enough to force the insurance industry to provide a quality product for the prices that they charge.  We have come a long way and we are within sight of the finish line, but we cannot waver or falter.  If the strong bill that Americans need and want can only be had through the reconciliation process, I am all for it.  The Republicans have used this process multiple times in the past so it may be time for a little bit of their own “medicine”!

After another busy week here in cold and wet Northern Illinois,  it is time, once again, for another edition of the AWMD Friday Free For All.  This is the only time of the week when our arguewithmydad.com readers can control the topic(s) for discussion.  All you have to do is get someone else to respond to your suggested topic and then the floor is yours.  Don’t be shy and don’t hesitate.  Get busy and be sure to let us know your views and arguments so everyone can read and react to them.  Right here on arguewithmydad.com.  I will make one  suggested topic, but it is only a suggestion.  Today is Friday so only you can be the decider.   But you need to tell us what you want to discuss.  So, what the heck is on your mind today?

My only suggested topic for this week’s Friday Free For All is the current uproar over the Religious Rights’s use of Psalm 109:8 on mugs, t-shirts and bumper stickers.  The message printed usually says, “Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8”. http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/11/16/biblical-anti-obama-slogan-use-of-psalm-1098-funny-or-sinister/ Why is this Psalm on shirts and mugs so controversial?  It is because of what it says in the Psalm: “Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labor.
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth. ” http://schott.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/psalm-1098-let-his-days-be-few/?   I realize that there is some ambiguity in the use of this Psalm. “Commentators have noted that it’s unclear whether the intent is to hope for an end to Obama’s time in office — or an end to his life. http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/19/pray-obama-psal/  I just can’t imagine how so-called Christians could use this kind of language in a prayer.  What kind of prayer is this Psalm.  Here is one expert’s take on it:  “Psalm 109 belongs to a special category of the psalms known as “imprecatory” prayers–it is a lament in the form of petition to destroy one’s enemies.” http://blog.beliefnet.com/progressiverevival/2009/11/psalm-1098–a-prayer-for-obama.html  Only the wacky Religious Right could come up with a prayer that asks for God to Destroy President Obama.  Can you imagine the howling and gnashing of teeth if the Left had put this language on a Mug during George W. Bush’s reign, knowing that the Psalm asks for God to make Laura a widow?  It is time for Republicans and conservatives to call out these heathens for what they are. Punks!  What’s your take on this issue?

I have made my suggestion, and it is just that, a suggestion.  Let’s hear what You want to talk about.  I will be anxiously waiting to see what You want to talk about.  It is time to get busy and let everyone know what you are thinking about.  Let’s hear from all of You!  Don’t be shy and do not delay.  It won’t hurt to let us know what You think.

After an enjoyable weekend in sunny Carbondale, Illinois, it is time once again for our weekly Monday Musings.  I want to talk about a couple of  issues today that caught my eye. The first issue that jumped off the page at me was the initial story that the Tea Baggers were planning on burning Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, in effigy along with Rep. Tom Perriello.   http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/14/tea-part-organizer-vows-to-burn-pelosi-and-perriello-in-effigy/  Of course, once the public got the message of this effigy burning, the uproar caused the organizers to get cold feet and eventually cancelled the event. http://www2.newsadvance.com/lna/news/state_regional/article/danville_tea_party_group_unsure_whether_to_burn_perriello_pelosi_in_effigy/21440/  I wonder what these TeaBaggers were thinking when this brainy plan was hatched?  The TeaBaggers seemed confused why anyone would be upset with anyone being burned in effigy.  As usual with the TeaBaggers, it seems to be a case of the blind leading the blind.  TeaBagger chairman, Nigel Coleman doesn’t quite understand what all the uproar was about.  Of course after reading this quote, I can understand why Coleman and his group don’t get it. ” This is a fundamental change in the constitution; a fundamental change in America.”  http://www2.newsadvance.com/lna/news/state_regional/article/danville_tea_party_group_unsure_whether_to_burn_perriello_pelosi_in_effigy/21440/Mr. Coleman knows that the health care reform will be a fundamental change in America, but what he doesn’t seem to understand is that the legislation does not make any change to the Constitution.  He also doesn’t understand that 60-70 percent of Americans want this kind of fundamental change.  I guess facts are tough things for the TeaBaggers to understand.  

The next issue that deserves some attention is the decision by Attorney General Holder to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and 4 others in Civilian courts in New York City and the furor from the the Republicans and the Republican media. See Liz Cheney’s head exploding here, http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/cheney-worried-about-terrorists-having-pub.  Cheney’s reaction is just one example of the far Right going nuts over the nerve of Holder to actually hold trials for the criminals who planned the 9/11 attacks in the city that was attacked. These same Republicans have objected to the Obama Administration’s attempts to house the Gitmo detainees in a domestic prison.  In fact, the Obama administration is currently considering a vacant, high security prison right here in Illinois. http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/governor-pat-quinn-senator-richard-durbin-guantanamo-bay-thomson-correctional-center.html. & http://www.truthout.org/topstories/111509ms02 Rep. Kirk seems to be at odds with the town where the prison is located.  The towns people like the idea of the shuttered prison finally being utilized to house prisoners and bring some much needed jobs to the local economy.  I am getting used to Republicans being out of touch with the citizens.  Someone should ask Rep. Kirk why he voted to allow the detainees from Gitmo when he doesn’t want those same detainees to be brought to an Illinois prison.

After another busy week here in Northern Illinois,  it is time, once again, for another edition of the AWMD Friday Free For All.  This is the only time of the week when our arguewithmydad.com readers can control the topic(s) for discussion.  All you have to do is get someone else to respond to your suggested topic and then the floor is yours.  Don’t be shy and don’t hesitate.  Get busy and be sure to let us know your views and arguments so everyone can read and react to them.  Right here on arguewithmydad.com.  I will only make one  suggested topic, but it is only a suggestion.  Today is Friday so only you can be the decider.   But you need to tell us what you want to discuss.  So, what’s on your mind?

The only suggested topic that I have tonight is related to the Veterans Day holiday earlier this week.  It turns out that the Republican party is once again showing its true colors when it comes to taking care of the Veterans and for being obstructionists. ” Using a Senate procedure known as a “hold,” Coburn (R-OK) has single-handedly stopped the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009 from moving forward, and in the process exposed himself to accusations of hypocrisy, acting “illogically” and acting “shamefully.”The bill is designed to address the health needs of at least some of the roughly 1.5 million US veterans who are not currently covered by the military’s health system. It would also provide assistance to veterans’ caregivers. ” http://rawstory.com/2009/11/sestak-coburn-shameful/  Did you read that quote?  This bill is designed to give health care coverage for 1.5 million veterans who are not covered under current law.   This is an example of two truths about the Republican Party.  One, they have no intention to cooperate in any way.  No matter what the issue is.  They are hell bent to prevent President Obama and the Democrats from getting any legislation passed. Secondly, the Republicans do not care about the Veterans and they haven’t cared about them for years.  Just ask the military members who went to Iraq without proper body armor.   Once again, it doesn’t matter to them that this bill has allegedly has bipartisan support and that it will help 1.5 million of our veterans who bled for Coburn and the country.  The veterans didn’t ask which political party is in power when they made their sacrifice.  These same Republicans have put many of President Obama’s nominations on hold as well.  Not only should Coburn be instructed by his fellow “Republicants” to release the hold, he should be held up for public scorn by the Democrats and the 13 Veterans groups that have pushed for this legislation.  What a pathetic excuse for a public servant.  Senator Coburn, how do you sleep at night?  What do you think of Senator Coburn’s actions?  How can you not have an opinion on abusive actions like this?  Let’s hear from you.

I want to let the AWMD nation know that I and AWMD’s very own Qman will be out of town watching our beloved Salukis play their final regular season home football game in venerable McAndrew stadium which is being demolished right after the season.  We will then be watching the home opener for the basketball team later that same day.  I won’t be able to respond to your posts until Sunday, but don’t let that stop you from speaking your mind.  Go Salukis.

When I think of Veterans one word comes to mind.  Love.  Love of country, love of your comrades in arms and love of your family.  Our Veterans gave of themselves to insure that you and I have the freedom to discuss political issues every week.  Our Veterans sacrificed in order that we have the ability to be whatever we want to  be.  Our Veterans even made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives on our behalf.  Is there a greater way to show your love than to give your life for your loved ones?  When we honor the Veterans on this Veterans Day, we give homage to not only the Veterans of World War II and the Koren Conflict, but to all of the men and women who have served on our behalf in every armed conflict up through the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  Some of our Veterans are too old to walk on their own.  Some are still suffering from wounds they incurred during their service.  Some of our Veterans are just reaching their 21st birthdays.  They all have one thing in common.  Love of their country.

All of these warriors have earned our respect and our gratitude.  They have not always served in conflicts or wars that were universally popular in our country, but they never failed to answer the call of their country.    We owe them everything and we can never waver in taking care of them and providing the best for them.  If we cannot honor that part of the bargain, how can we expect them to honor the hard part?  Without hesitation, we are proud of them all.

After a beautiful Indian Summer weekend here in Northern Illinois, it is once again time for our weekly Monday Musings. I only have one issue to discuss today.  That would be the Affordable Health Care for America Act that was passed in the House by a vote of 220-215.  http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/07/health.care/index.html  Now that the House has acted on reform, it is time for the Senate to finish up their version of Health Care Reform.  I would have preferred a true single payer, Universal health care reform, but the House version is a very good start.  It will be interesting to see how the Senate version fares because the Republicants are now redoubling their efforts to stop the bill at any cost.

Of course, when we say “at any cost”, that means the  Republicans are continuing their lies about the health care reform.  After the AMA and AARP came out publicly in support for the House reform bill, the Republicans are running television ads that continue their lie that the reform bill will cause Seniors to lose their coverage and their doctors.  They didn’t stop there.  The ads also claim that the Democrats are passing health care reform on the backs of Seniors.  Of course, the wild claim that Health Care will kill senior is still finding its way into Republican talking points.  Who is this organization that is running these blatant lies?  The ads are being run by the 60 Plus Association.  Who? Luckily, AARP has already looked into these charlatans.   ’ “However, a 2006 report in the AARP Bulletin called 60 Plus a front group for the pharmaceutical industry. 60 Plus, along with Senior Coalition and United Seniors Association, “claim to speak for millions of older Americans, although as recently as 2001 none of the three listed any revenue from membership dues on their tax returns.” The article added: “virtually all of their largest contributions in recent years have come from the same source — the nation’s pharmaceutical industry.” ‘ http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association.  Only Republican front groups could claim that they are speaking for Seniors, when they actually have absolutely no senior membership.  And who would have guessed that this front group is bought and paid for by big Pharma?!  The linked Sourcewatch article gives a very good breakdown of the long time Republican operatives that are involved with the so-called 60 Plus Association.  These veteran political liers have ties to Richard Viguerie, who is a icon of the Republican neocon movement.  They even contributed to that well known friend of the people, former US Senator, Rick Santorum, who was one of the far right Senators who was swept out of office in 2006.  If this association supported the wingnut Santorum, they are no friend of Seniors.

I know that I must be old fashioned, but I just can’t understand how the Republicans can continue to push false information about something as important as Health Care reform.  I guess I keep forgetting that when you are dealing with the Republicans, the Truth very rarely gets in their way.

After a busy week here in Northern Illinois,  it is time, once again, for another edition of the AWMD Friday Free For All.  This is the only time of the week when our arguewithmydad.com readers can control the topic(s) for discussion.  All you have to do is get someone else to respond to your suggested topic and then the floor is yours.  Don’t be shy and don’t hesitate.  Get busy and be sure to let us know your views and arguments so everyone can read and react to them.  Right here on arguewithmydad.com.  I will make a suggestion or two for possible topics, but they are only suggestions.  Today is Friday so only you can be the decider.   But you need to tell us what you want to discuss.  So, what’s on your mind?

My first suggested topic concerns the speech on the House floor that was made by New York Congressman, Eric Massa last night.  In that speech and his follow up written statement, Rep. Massa, a 24 year Navy Veteran, states very succinctly that it is time for the United States to get out of Afghanistan.  As Massa writes, “My fellow Americans, the time to bring this war to a conclusion is now and we must stand with a clear voice and demand it. The war in Afghanistan has lasted five times longer than World War I and twice as long as World War II. When 1/3 of Hamid Karzai’s ballots were thrown out for voting fraud and Abdullah Abdullah declined the runoff election due to the rampant corruption in the system, the world saw what we already knew - it is simply impossible to impose a democracy on a nation that does not want it.”  http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/rep-eric-massa-calls-end-war-afghanista   I have to say that it is refreshing to see a long time Navy veteran take this very public stance to attempt to end a war that was long forgotten by the Bush/Cheney regime even before Obama got into office.  Rep. Massa puts it even better in his speech on the floor, “I have arrived at the inevitable conclusion that the deployment of additional troops in Afghanistan and the continuation of this conflict is not in the best interests of our nation and is in fact in on a par with the potential error of the size of our initial invasion in Iraq.”  Rep. Massa, I agree with you that Afghanistan was lost long ago and that staying there only adds fuel to the terrorists recruitment.  We can defeat terrorists without staying bogged down in the mountains of Afghanistan.  What do you think?

My second suggested topic concerns what has become an epidemic in the U.S. Senate.  Republican Senator Tom Coburn has put a hold on an important Veterans care bill. “Coburn has been identified by Senate aides as the lawmaker preventing consideration of S 1963, the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act of 2009, by using an informal but legal practice of putting a hold on a bill.” http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/11/military_veteransbill_coburnhold_110309w/.  This is not the first time Senator Coburn has held the Veterans hostage. “Earlier this fall, Coburn placed holds on S 252, the Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009, and S 728, the Veterans’ Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009, which led to the introduction of S 1963, which combines key provisions of the two earlier bills in an effort to get around Coburn’s opposition.” http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/11/military_veteransbill_coburnhold_110309w/  This is just one more example of the “holds” and filibusters that the Republican party has resorted to in an attempt to prevent numerous legislative measures from passing and  preventing many appointments made by President Obama to be voted on and approved by the full Senate. The saddest part about this intentional obstructionism is that it is hurting the people who have volunteered to defend and protect our country against all enemies. The very soldiers that protect Sen. Coburn are harmed by his political maneuvers.  Does Sen. Coburn have any problem sleeping at night knowing that his attempts to derail the Democratic agenda is doing great damage to our best and brightest?  Illinois Senator, Richard Durbin put it best,  ”Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate assistant majority leader, mentioned Coburn’s hold in a Tuesday floor speech without citing Coburn by name, saying that the bill was being held up by one senator over cost.“How much is a veteran’s life worth?” Durbin asked, adding that he hopes the hold is lifted.” http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/11/military_veteransbill_coburnhold_110309w/  Numerous Veterans agencies are attempting to petition Coburn to honor the veterans that he claims he is trying to protect.  http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3347.  A total of 13 major Veteran and Military groups are pushing the petition in an attempt to coerce Coburn to do the right thing.  Why do the Vets have to come begging for the benefits that they are owed for their selfless service to our country?  Only Senator Coburn can answer that questions. What do you think?

Now that a very busy weekend is over, it is time for our latest chapter of our regular Monday Musings. The only thing that I want to discuss today is the recent news story that disclosed that during former Vice President Dick Cheney’s May, 2004 interview with Federal prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, the former Veep could not recall the details that were being discussed a monumental 72 times!  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091102/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_cheney_cia_leak .  If you recall, the United States prosecutor was investigating who leaked the covert identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame.  By Cheney playing dumb 72 times, he made sure that his aide, Scooter Libby was the only Bush official to take a fall for their illegal actions.  If Cheney was this forgetful, it is easy to understand why he shot his friend, Harry Whittington,  in the face during a hunting trip.  He probably just fogot that the 78 year old attorney was with him on the quail hunting trip!

On the basic question of whether Libby first heard about Plame’s identity from Cheney, as Libby’s notes stated, ” Cheney “cannot recall Scooter Libby telling him how he first heard of Valerie Wilson. It is possible Libby may have learned about Valerie Wilson’s employment from the vice president … but the vice president has no specific recollection of such a conversation.” ‘ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091102/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_cheney_cia_leak .  The sad part of this story is that Cheney did not have the excuse of dementia like former President Regan had when he was questioned about the Iran-Contra controversy.  It is amazing that Cheney is not behind bars yet. Here is a link to the full transcript of the interview with Cheney.http://www.citizensforethics.org/files/20091030%20-%20Cheney%20302%20(redacted).pdf  It is not a quick read, but it is remarkable that he not only forgot 72 times, but he also blatantly refused to answer some questions. Who would have guessed that Cheney would be too arrogant to answer the FBI’s questions?    ” Here’s a non-comprehensive list of 22 things Dick Cheney claimed he couldn’t recall about the Plame case, in the order they appear in the FBI’s notes:

• Whether the Wilson trip was discussed during any of the visits he made to the CIA with his Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby.
• Any reaction he had to Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times‘ article about the Wilson visit at the time the article was published.
• Whether he discussed the Wilson situation with George Tenet at their meeting on June 10, 2003.
• Who he spoke to about Joe Wilson’s July 6, 2003 editorial (he did remember speaking to someone, but not who it was).
• What happened to the Joe Wilson op-ed after he wrote on it suggesting that Valerie Plame Wilson had sent Joe Wilson on a “junket,” and put it in his outbox.
• Any specific advice he gave his press people in the May-June 2003 timeframe regarding the Wilson trip to Niger.
• Whether he discussed the Wilson situation with Eric Edelman, one of his national security advisers.
• Whether Cathie Martin, his press secretary, entered his office while both he and Scooter Libby were present and advised both of them that Joe Wilson’s wife was employed by the CIA.
• Discussing Joe Wilson or Wilson’s wife with his former press secretary Mary Matalin, although he said it was possible.
• Ever discussing Valerie Plame Wilson with Libby prior to the publication of Novak’s column.
• Whether Scooter Libby knew about Valerie Plame Wilson on July 12, the day before the publication of the Novak column.
• If Libby ever told Cheney he had independent knowledge of Valerie Plame Wilson’s covert identity
• Dictating notes to Libby on July 12, 2003 that Cheney said looked and sounded like something he might have dictated to Libby.
• Discussing the Novak column or any of its contents with anyone at the time it was published.
• Whether he discussed the Wilson trip with Libby as a sort of “boondoggle” or “junket,” although he believed it possible that he had such a conversation.
• If Libby told him that Libby was not Novak’s source.
• Libby telling him how he first learned that Valerie Plame Wilson was a covert CIA operative.
• Whether he told Libby that Valerie Plame Wilson was a covert CIA operative.
• Waving off Libby when Libby offered to tell him everything he knew about the Wilson matter.
• Anyone on his staff, including Libby, ever meeting with Judith Miller during the week of July 7, 2003.
• Having a conversation with Libby during which Libby said he wanted to share the judgments of the National Intelligence Estimate with Judith Miller.
• Whether Libby told him that certain material in the NIE had to be declassified before it could be shared.” http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/10/22-things-dick-cheney-cant-remember-about-plame-case  

What will it take for the Justice Department and the Obama Administration to actually honor the rule of law and put the screws to the former Vice President as well as other Bush officials?  The facts are there for the Attorney General to review and to order a grand jury to look into the lies of Cheney.  What is he waiting for?