Open Thread for Night Owls & Early Birds (Blast from the Past Edition: 2002)

Tonight, a tidbit from the early days of Daily Kos, June 11, 2002, to be precise. More proof that some things never change, even if the press secretary does.

It wasn't "The Little Caterpillar"

Last week, Bush surprised people by rejecting a report issued by the EPA admitting global warming was a scientific certainty. When asked about the report, Bush dismissively said "I read the report put out by the bureaucracy." I was shocked. What, Bush read a 268-page report? That would require some sort of adult attention span!

Well, Ari Fleischer finally admitted that Dubya lied: "Whenever presidents say they read it, you can read that to be he was briefed." That may be the case with Shrub and Reagan, but competent presidents do their own reading.

Of course had President Gore made this lie, it would be all over Fox news for weeks ...

The Overnight News Digest is posted and informs us that Norway legalizes gay marriage.

Open Thread and Diary Rescue

This evening's Rescue Rangers are Louisiana 1976, Unitary Moonbat, jennyjem, dopper0189, TruthOfAngels, and avila, with watercarrier4diogenes scrounging around in the pockets of the Robes of Objectivity, looking for the Wand of 'Seriousness' (tm) Glenzilla.

Tonight's diaries cover a variety of interesting issues not covered by the 'traditional media' (tm Kos) with the kind of research, perspective and analysis we see here every day.

• rktect points out that some have known about the reasons to Impeach for years, but for others, Common Knowledge isn't really all that common. (jennyjem)
• refinish69 (a Netroots Nation Scholarship candidate) provides a field report while Herding Cats at the Texas Democratic Convention Podcast. (Avila)
• While the headline-grabbing weapons in this war have been high-tech drones, jimstaro points out that a sizable and growing number of U.S. combat troops are taking daily doses of antidepressants in Our Medicated/Wounded Military. (dopper0189)
• Translator makes physics understandable and explains why fireworks are pretty in The Electromagnetic Spectrum VII - Visible Light Final Thoughts. (Unitary Moonbat)
• Asinus Asinum Fricat offers some excellent news tidbits for consumers and connoisseurs in Food News Roundup: The Cheery Edition. (Avila)
• aztecraingod's first diary is the story of A shift in my family, as well as a great piece of genealogy. (Unitary Moonbat)
• Sometimes we forget the obvious. gaspare reminds us of a basic fact in Big secret exposed, the government prints your money. (dopper0189)
• alexnovo discusses stereotypes you might not have noticed during the Democratic primaries in What this election has taught me about racism, sexism and bigotry in general. (Avila)
• Eternal Hope brings on images and cogent arguments to warn us of The antitax extremism of John McCain. (Unitary Moonbat)
• drational smells what the Bush Administration is cooking for the Gitmo detainees in No, Really. I'm Serious: A Guantanamo Recipe. (jennyjem)

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread (even if you're the author! Here's where that's actually appreciated). And, of course, since it's an open thread, PLAY NICE, OK? 8^)

Cheney's Third Term? "Hell, yeah."

Here's a thought that's enough to chill the blood:

In interviews for Stephen Hayes’ 2007 biography of Cheney, McCain "strongly" asserted that Cheney "has been of enormous help to this president of the United States." Politico’s Jonathan Martin reports today that in unpublished comments to Hayes, McCain also said that he would consider Cheney for a post in his administration:

Going further, McCain even told Hayes in comments heretofore unpublished that he’d consider Cheney for an administration post.

Asked whether he’d be interested in Cheney had the vice president not already have served under Bush for two terms, McCain said: "I don’t know if I would want him as vice president. He and I have the same strengths. But to serve in other capacities? Hell, yeah."

Rahm offers to pay Cheney's travel expenses

Jonathan Martin ponders the awkward position Dick Cheney finds himself in this election cycle. Loathed by most of American except a small rump of wealthy Republican donors, Cheney has been shunted onto the chicken-dinner circuit. Even then the Vice President has had to keep out of the public spotlight to avoid embarrassing the candidates he's raising money for.

Rahm Emanuel has a good suggestion: Let Cheney campaign loudly and proudly on behalf of Democrats. Emanuel is even willing to pay his way.

"The last time they put him on the road was for the Mississippi special, and look at how he worked there," crowed Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the former House campaign chief for the Democrats and currently the caucus chairman. "I look forward to and I will pay the travel fees to put Vice President Cheney out on the road to talk about energy policy. Because it will remind this country of where this administration has been and who their friends are. And their friends are doing very well."