From Time:
Sources with knowledge of the case tell TIME that behind closed doors at the E. Barrett Prettyman federal courthouse, nearby the Capitol, a grand jury began hearing testimony Wednesday in the investigation of who leaked the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame to columnist Robert Novak and other journalists.
I’d sure like to see the results packaged up and delivered to the people well before November.
Via Atrios.
If you like science Fiction and in particular if you like Isaac Asimov you will love West Virginia University’s new Asimov collection which was donated by Larry Shaver.
The 600 item collection is housed in a controlled environment and may be viewed by appointment only. This presentation of the covers of many of the books is great.
And here is a lot of related cover art and illustrations. Makes you wonder just what was on the minds of those folks back in the 20th century.
Via Metafilter where this robot generated some commentary…
James Landrith has cosigned Jonathon Wilde’s fine response to the SOTU reading:
It is a spectacle millions watch on air with tremendous involvement and pointless excitement, but is ultimately an act of fakery.
Message to politicians:
I don’t want your ‘strengthening of the economy’. You have screwed it up enough already.
I don’t want your ‘sanctity of marriage’. It’s not your business.
Quit trying to define everything as right or left. The world is not binary.
….
Do go read the rest. His summation should be constantly visible to every politician.
Buy ribs.
This interchange is much better then the State of the Union reading:
Remarks by the President to the Press Pool
Nothin’ Fancy Cafe
Roswell, New Mexico
11:25 A.M. MST
THE PRESIDENT: I need some ribs.
Q Mr. President, how are you?
THE PRESIDENT: I’m hungry and I’m going to order some ribs.
Q What would you like?
THE PRESIDENT: Whatever you think I’d like.
Q Sir, on homeland security, critics would say you simply haven’t spent enough to keep the country secure.
THE PRESIDENT: My job is to secure the homeland and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. But I’m here to take somebody’s order. That would be you, Stretch — what would you like? Put some of your high-priced money right here to try to help the local economy. You get paid a lot of money, you ought to be buying some food here. It’s part of how the economy grows. You’ve got plenty of money in your pocket, and when you spend it, it drives the economy forward. So what would you like to eat?
Q Right behind you, whatever you order.
THE PRESIDENT: I’m ordering ribs. David, do you need a rib?
Q But Mr. President —
THE PRESIDENT: Stretch, thank you, this is not a press conference. This is my chance to help this lady put some money in her pocket. Let me explain how the economy works. When you spend money to buy food it helps this lady’s business. It makes it more likely somebody is going to find work. So instead of asking questions, answer mine: are you going to buy some food?
Q Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, good. What would you like?
Q Ribs.
THE PRESIDENT: Ribs? Good. Let’s order up some ribs.
Q What do you think of the democratic field, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: See, his job is to ask questions, he thinks my job is to answer every question he asks. I’m here to help this restaurant by buying some food. Terry, would you like something?
Q An answer.
Q Can we buy some questions?
THE PRESIDENT: Obviously these people — they make a lot of money and they’re not going to spend much. I’m not saying they’re overpaid, they’re just not spending any money.
Q Do you think it’s all going to come down to national security, sir, this election?
THE PRESIDENT: One of the things David does, he asks a lot of questions, and they’re good, generally.
END 11:29 A.M. MST
I agree with Eugene Volokh that bush is actually handling this interchange well. We should not discount the possibility that Stretch is not a member of the press corps but rather a local alien. Perhaps bush should retire now to Roswell.
If you were paying attention back in November you answered $401 billion as approved in the Defense Authorization Bill.
Robert Higgs would like us to think a little more inclusively. He argues that the true cost for fiscal year 2004 is closer to $754 billion.
Via Damn Foreigner.
