By popular request (in an indirect way).
Plame Step 5
Alright- there seems to be consensus so far. This is slow and tedious, but we are going to hash this out proper. So far, we have general agreement on the following:
1.) Valerie Plame worked for the CIA, was stationed in Washington at the time of her outing, and previously had been a covert agent.
2.) Joseph Wilson, husband of Valerie Plame and former ambassador to Iraq, was sent by the CIA to investigate claims that Saddam Hussein was interested in/trying to buy uranium (ignore precisely what he was doing in Niger for now- we can get to that later).
3.) Valerie Plame recommended her husband to CIA authorities for the job, as he had extensive contacts in Africa from his numerous years of previous service.
4.) Joseph Wilson, either on his own volition, or at the behest of the NY Times, wrote an editorial critical of the Bush administration and many claims made by the Bush administration and was quoted widely in major media outlets prior to the ‘outing’ of his wife.
Time to take another baby step:
5.) It was erroneously asserted in the media (pay no attention who circulated it or why) that Joseph Wilson’s report on uranium/Niger was made at the behest of the Office of the Vice President, when in fact he was sent by the CIA. Whether the CIA sent him at his wife’s request is unknowable and doubtful, but she did endorse/recommend him for the job, as he did have contacts in Africa
Yes or no, please. If no, explain why.
Plame, Step 4
Ok, We generally seem to have agreement about the following statements:
1.) Valerie Plame worked for the CIA, was stationed in Washington at the time of her outing, and previously had been a covert agent.
2.) Joseph Wilson, husband of Valerie Plame and former ambassador to Iraq, was sent by the CIA to investigate claims that Saddam Hussein was interested in/trying to buy uranium (ignore precisely what he was doing in Niger for now- we can get to that later).
3.) Valerie Plame recommended her husband to CIA authorities for the job, as he had extensive contacts in Africa from his numerous years of previous service.
Time to step boldly forward:
4.) Joseph Wilson, either on his own volition, or at the behest of the NY Times, wrote an editorial critical of the Bush administration and many claims made by the Bush administration and was quoted widely in major media outlets prior to the ‘outing’ of his wife.
Again, answer only “Yes,” if you agree, “No” and then why if you disagree.
Plame, Step 2.
Ok. Just about everyone seems to agree with the following statement:
1.) Valerie Plame worked for the CIA, was stationed in Washington at the time of her outing, and previously had been a covert agent.
Do we all agree on the following statements:
2.) Joseph Wilson, husband of Valerie Plame and former ambassador to Iraq, was sent by the CIA to investigate claims that Saddam Hussein was interested in/trying to buy uranium (ignore precisely what he was doing in Niger for now- we can get to that later).
And, to keep the ball rolling, a separate statement:
3.) Valerie Plame recommended her husband to CIA authorities for the job, as he had extensive contacts in Africa from his numerous years of previous service.
Again- we are only addressing statements 2 and 3, and answer simply “Yes” if you agree, “No” if you disagree, but include links (not your own personal opinion). We will assume that for now, statement 1 is accurate.
Another Try
OK- There was no agreement in the comments to the following statement:
No matter what, someone in the administration, inadvertantly or intentionally, compromised Plame’s position?
We are going to work this back until we all agree on something, and then sift forward step by step.
Can we all agree on this statement:
Valerie Plame worked for the CIA, was stationed in Washington at the time of her outing, and previously had been a covert agent.
If you agree with that statement, say “Yes” and nothing more. If you disagree, state “No” and why you disagree (with reputable links to back it up).
NOOOO!!! Not Advertising in Gay Magazines
Every time I think I have a decent grasp on the pulse of the American public, I learn that Focus on the Family has come up with something else to be pissed about:
Johnson & Johnson will be advertising its brand, Tylenol PM, in the July 19 issue of The Advocate, a leading gay magazine.
The ad shows two shirtless men in bed side by side. The text over one reads: “His backache is keeping him up.” Over the other: “His boyfriend’s backache is keeping him up.”
Johnson & Johnson has been advertising in gay media since 1996. Robert Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute, said people need to take notice.
“A lot of corporate America has bought into the idea that they can secretly promote homosexuality without their consumers noticing out there,” he said.
Mike Haley, director of the gender issues department at Focus on the Family, said the gay and lesbian community has a lot of expendable income, so they are targeting big corporations who are caving to their pressure.
“I think it’s a critical issue,” he said, “because it’s one more way that the issue of homosexuality is being normalized and sent out as though it’s not harmful
NOOOO!!! Not Advertising in Gay MagazinesPost + Comments (66)
Another Bad Idea Comes Down the Pike
And when I say ‘comes down the pike,’ I mean it quite literally:
For motorists wondering whether police are working on a quota system, an answer can be found in Montana.
A new policy requires state troopers to stop at least one vehicle an hour, whether the driver has done anything wrong or not. But the driver doesn’t have to be ticketed, so police officials say it’s not a quota system.
State police Colonel Paul Grimstad said the rule that took effect on Monday is intended to reduce traffic accidents and drunken driving.
Makes you sort of long for the days when traffic cameras were offensive and stupid.
(via RWN)