I've concluded that Bob Woodward has become pretty creepy. I was, of course, pleased that he helped to bring down Mr. Tricky, although Nixon and his crowd are beginning to look pretty good when placed alongside the awful bunch now running Washington--viz, some of the great environmental laws on the books can be traced to his time in office. But what has Mr. Run Amok done for us lately: a couple of fawning tomes on Dubya and yet another crass moneymaker wrung out of the Watergate "bloody shirt." And now he's engaged in whitewashing the Rove/Libby/Cheney cabal's sliming of Joe Wilson and wife. All this presumably to avoid getting in the way of his access inside sources for whatever book he's currently writing. I knew ye (via your honest reporting days) when you were still a nice young man, but now it's good bye Bob

HaPpY ThANkSgIVInG!!!

Following up on yesterday's commentary about Porter Goss and torture, I see an editorial today in the Washington Post about the "unique and innovative" ways the CIA says that it is gaining valuable information. Quoting an ABC News report, the Post says it does indeed include some pretty icky things--just as I suspected. The editorial is recommended reading for a better understanding of why they are opposing the McCain amendment.

And what's with this Porter Goss guy? I read recently that he was being criticized inside the Agency because he took time away from his busy responsibilities to visit "picturesque Slovenia." Now, that caught my eye, because I had just spent a month there. I thought to myself, "now just what is it that the head of the CIA is doing in this lovely little country with only 2 million people?" Slovenia had taken an ambiguous position at the outset of the war, and with the administration desperate for more troops, maybe he was trying to enlist support. My quandary may have been resolved when I discovered that Goss is an avid organic gardener. Well, he went to the right place as this is a country that does "the food thing" right, and there is much to learn there. Whew! I was relieved! But then, I read the Washington Post's story about secret CIA Prisons. I certainly hope he hasn't conned this friendly and wonderful people into accepting one of these. Doesn't seem likely since at least 90 percent of the Slovenian people were hoping John Kerry would win the election last year, and a large percentage of this 90 percent think George Bush is a madman. So, while I somewhat reassured that none of these prisons are in Slovenia, I'm not reassured by Goss's seeming justification for excluding the CIA from John McCain's Amendment outlawing Torture under any circumstances. Goss's claim that the Agency "does not torture" would be more reassuring if it were not the same statement that has been made by Bush and Cheney and their "torture boy" Alberto Gonzales. Frankly, the statement by Porter Goss that his agents are using "unique" and"innovative" methods sounds a little spooky to me. Stay tuned.

By the way, we need to remember today the anniversary of the death of President Kennedy. All the conspiracy nuts won't forget it, so be prepared for the usual annual deluge of nuttiness from this wacky crowd. Here's to you Jack. You might have done something really useful.

This is probably self explanatory even though it is short almost 600 crosses. We support Congressman Murtha's call to get our troops our of Iraq. We'll take Murtha's wisdom about war over that of the draft dodgers who permeate the highest levels of the Bush Administration. Five deferments!?! Now that's working the system!