As kayinmaine writes, It’s Raining Subpoenas…! In its investigation of the firings of U.S. Attorneys, The House Judiciary subcommittee has given Bush’s offer of unsworn testimony from his staff a phat middle finger. No Thanks, says Leahy; we’ll do this my way, the way my oath requires. TPMmuckraker puts it another way: Leahy to Bush, You Do Your Job, I’ll Do Mine. Commenter Clif aka The Professor has a new twist to the subpoena story - The 18-Day Gap. He posts this from Josh Marshall and Clif adds this additional information…which I snagged from Kay’s blog:
Damn, when I guessed we were in early 1974 last night, I didn’t realize just how CLOSE to 1974…
…BTW for those who are not initiated, 1974 was the year Nixon got nailed and had to resign for HIS crimes, Rose Mary Woods was his secretary, who controlled the taping system and the [current] 18 day gap is in reference to the 18 minute gap that somehow appeared in the tapes Nixon made of himself during his criminal reign.
This time it’s “e mails†not “audio tapesâ€, and the spring and summer of ‘74 had the nation watching numerous White House officials march up to Capital Hill and testify in front of congress about the crimes of Nixon’s administration, looks like 207 could be another banner year for congress to investigate a crooked re-pubie who thought he was above the law.
I wonder if they can find another brain dead foole to promise to pardon Cheney and Bush, like Ford pardoned Nixon after he got into office?…..paging Condiliesalot, Rice…..
Of course the Republicans and their enablers are spinning this as Leahy/Conyers/Sanchez trying to make political hay. One of our commenters of the enabler sort goes as far as writing the House Judiciary Subcommittee is fudging the constitutional separation of powers by their investigation, which was good for a laugh.
This may or may not be Bush’s waterloo, but what we have been praying for is now happening. A Democratic Congress, at least some members of it, are doing their job as defined by their oath of office. And we can, at least momentarily, exhale. Viglant, committed to putting truth to lies, but knowing that now we bloggers have some serious help.
So that’s the Water, this subpoena flood like manna from heaven.
Now for the Air…
The Air Car
Many respected engineers have been trying for years to bring a compressed air car to market, believing strongly that compressed air can power a viable “zero pollution” car. Now the first commercial compressed air car is on the verge of production and beginning to attract a lot of attention, and with a recently signed partnership with Tata, India’s largest automotive manufacturer, the prospects of very cost-effective mass production are now a distinct possibility.
The MiniC.A.T is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued not welded and a body of fibreglass. The heart of the electronic and communication system on the car is a computer offering an array of information reports that extends well beyond the speed of the vehicle, and is built to integrate with external systems and almost anything you could dream of, starting with voice recognition, internet connectivity, GSM telephone connectivity, a GPS guidance system, fleet management systems, emergency systems, and of course every form of digital entertainment.
The engine is fascinating, as is the revolutionary electrical system that uses just one cable and so is the vehicle’s wireless control system. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators etc.
There are no keys – just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket.
Most importantly, it is incredibly cost-efficient to run – according to the designers, it costs less than one Euro per 100Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where the 80% of motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top speed of 68 mph.
Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately 1.5 Euros, the car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometres.
As a viable alternative, the car carries a small compressor which can be connected to the mains (220V or 380V) and refill the tank in 3-4 hours.
Due to the absence of combustion and, consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 litre of vegetable oil) is necessary only every 50,000 Km.
The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0 - 15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power.Complete article here
This is a cool article about cool technology and it begs the question to Corporate United States: Why are you not developing this and other products that benefit both the planet and its inhabitants? It isn’t that we want to deny your ability to get rich; we need you as much as you need us. Rather it’s that we want you to lead our country into the promise of her potential, for us and for the world.
As things stand now with Corporate America, this is a perfect time to tell you my life motto:
Buy Less, Give More
Oh, and this:
Buy Union, Vote Union
March 21st, 2007 at 3:40 pm
If Dems can capture the WH in 2008 and keep their Congress majority, maybe one of the things that can happen is a new emphasis for Corporate American, to aid us and the world instead of continuing to destroy the world and the last shreds of America’s reputation.
March 21st, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Hi Mirthy One. Good post.
Bu$hcon is crying about the Dems being “partisan” and not being team players. I’d feel for him, but my arthritis is acting up today and most importantly, my “give-a-damn” is busted.
Corporate America and multinationals never change, they mutate. Believe me, they already have their tentacles into alternative technologies, they’re just waiting until the breaking point almost, then all of these “discoveries” will happen.
I saw something on the Science Channel about the air car. That is quite the novel concept. I hope it pans out.
Maybe I’ll get one, if they ever get cheap enough.
March 21st, 2007 at 4:04 pm
There is NO right of executive privilege written into the United States Constitution, and Nixon LOST the important battles he tried to wage to claim it, which lead to the spring and summer of ‘74 with it’s long HOT hearings where many facts came out and the re-pubies finally realized they were backing a lost cause…..
Hopefully this spring and summer the new democratic congress can write it’s sequel…….
BTW Mirth thanks for the Kudo’s
If subpoenas are forth coming from congress for D. Kyle Sampson, Karl Rove, Harriet Miers, William Kelley, and Scott Jennings; or any other US Government employees, they HAVE to show up take the oath and either testify, or take the fifth which of course will signal the true depth of this scandal. At that point most Americans would then understand how deep the corruption and criminality goes in the old executive office building, and justice Department.
And if any US Government official takes the fifth in front of congress, they have the right AND power to require a special prosecutor to look into that also. Could we have the return of Archibald Cox? After all we already had a version of the Saturday Night Massacre, and that was what actually got congress off their duffs back then and begin to open their own investigations.
Karma has a good sense of historical perspective on this one.
March 21st, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Am I the only one wondering when bushy will just break down and throw a temper tantrum?
I can just see him rolling on the floor kicking and crying:
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I’m the decider! I’m the decider Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”
March 21st, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Wow Mirth! The Air Car is cool! The Bush Regime will hate it of course. They despise anything that doesn’t use oil and gas and doesn’t wreck the environment. Huh. Another reason to hate them…apparently my list is getting endless.
March 21st, 2007 at 4:58 pm
My first post got eaten. Let’s see if this works:
The air car is cool but until the evil ones can figure out a way to tax it and limit it as a comodity they can make money off of, we’ll probably never see it on the market.
March 21st, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Yet ANOTHER great post Mirth. THIS is a toofer. Those of us who reside in the reality-based community and pay attention understand the implication of bushcorp wagging their weeny at Congress. But imagine the chill this political dumping of US attorneys has on career prosecutors. They will be looking over their shoulders and afraid to look TOO far into the corruption of the GOP. There IS a pathology at play here. A LOOONG time ago I wrote a post titled “George W bully”. Have your un-decided friends read it, it might help explain how and why bushcorp seems to thing they are ENTITLED to do anything they want, to anyONE they want anytime they want. Keep in mind they always base their hiring decisions on loyalty rather than competence or ability. They are ALL bullies. Simple. Period.
The air car thing is a GREAT idea if it works as advertized. Jeeze, it just now occurred to me that a couple years ago, there was a guy who was able to mix naphtha and water together and it worked like a champ without hardly ANY emissions.He tested it with GREAT fanfare in public vehicles in Reno Nevada.Not a peep, the story just died.
March 21st, 2007 at 5:29 pm
This is also an alternate to petrolium power cars;
BMW’s Hydrogen 7: Future or flop?
It’ll be years before you can fill up on hydrogen at your local Gas N Go. But in the meantime, BMW is offering a luxurious V-12 preview of our carbon-free future.
Since hydrogen when it is burned creates H2O(water for you non scientific types), and we could use solar power to get the energy needed to split water back into it’s component parts, from which the resultant freed hydrogen gases could power cars and other machines modern life is dependent upon.
This is a promising future also, too bad Reagan stopped funding this in the early 1980’s(otherwise we might have H2 powered cars and no wars for oil right now) and neither Bush wanted to touch it, for purely crass self interest(they were both oil men, even if Bush the dumber was an abject failure at it). “heck of a job Morons” (all three of you, and those sycophants who backed them).
Even “pusface” might be able to see this is another option to his desire for mass murder in wars of aggression while the worlds supply of oil dwindles, but probably NOT since he works for an OIL Company…….which explains his idiotic stances.
March 21st, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Hi dad,
I read somewhere (but now can’t find) a quote that said a teenager working at McDonalds will be able to buy this car. That is probably an over-statement, certainly for the first few years that it’s available, but it did indicate that the air car will eventually be very affordable. Norway (Beautiful Progessive Norway!) is developing a car that runs on a combination of air & water…I shudda featured that one, which would have been perfect for the post title. lol
Clif, SUCH great info from you, as always. What is pitiful is that the Republican battles of 1974 will have to all be fought again, starting with Congress is only doing this for “political” reasons. We never learn and continue progressing forward. Let’s hope the resolve of judiciary subcommittee (for one) continues…then we’ll all be singing Hot Fun In The Summertime!
And the kudos are deserved, my Friend.
Kay, it is cool! I want one! And you are right that the gov’t & oil industry will put every roadblock in front of this technology.
DMan! Sorry your first post got eaten We’re gonna have to smack the spam filter around!
Like I said to Kay, all roadblocks will be there, but the people will want this car (or one like it) and…look at how many foreign-made cars are on our roads now.
March 21st, 2007 at 5:50 pm
DMan, it looks like you disappeared post has appeared. Yippee!
Frank, there is such hubris among this evil bunch…and why not? They’ve been able to do what they want for years! With an accomodating congress and SCOTUS and AG. But guess what Bush…the jig is up.
Clif…it doesn’t get much more simple than AIR for fuel!
March 21st, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Clif, in a committment to spread the blame for not encouraging this and other planet-saving technology we cannot overlook Bill Clinton’s presidency…but then you may know I’m not a big cheerleader for him. Or his wife.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Busboy says:
I never heard of the “air car†before now.
“pusface” they created a nice collection of what YOU do not know son, it is commonly known as the Internet……
March 21st, 2007 at 6:35 pm
A ^5 and a BAM! and a hug to Clif!
March 21st, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Hey, Clif, if you keep calling me names?, I’ll think up one for you. Can’t you ditch the grade school behavior?
March 21st, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Yo pusface, money does NOT equate wisdom foole, other wise Bush wouldn’t be the stupidest president ever asshole.
March 21st, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Son during ROTC selection camp and other military schools I attended I’ve been called worse than you can EVER do son, so go back to pleasuring mongo…….or what ever you do because real thought and FACTUAL debate ain’t it son.
March 21st, 2007 at 7:49 pm
But given the posts where you whine and moan about HOW bad we treat you here, after the shit you’ve thrown at Kay and Mirth son, your a gutless crybaby and nothing more.
Damn you hypocrite pseudo christians can dish it OUT but can’t take it eh son?
suck it up asshole.
March 21st, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Bushbot gives me the hives. The End.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Remember the NIGHT on Americablog where you threatened to turn ME into the VA because you told everyone there YOU could tell I was faking my disability, even though the VA has done quite a few tests on me and numerous blood and MRI’s over the year tracking my medical condition son?
And NOW you wanna play at being a grown up, give it up asshole, you started this son, now ain’t the time to cry uncle…..
Or when you have sent Kay HATE filled emails attacking HER because she won’t listen to your idiotic ideas and allows me to POST new threads on Her blog son?
You are as transparent as any troll has ever been son, YOU tried to slander Mirth and Kay, and go exactly what YOU deserved, and your asinine post HERE about the worm you supposedly had thrown on the Internet, was truly classic and shows that YOU have no consideration for anybody BUT yourself.
Typical self centered hypocritical lying pseudo christian troll who is the opposite of what he tries to pretend to be.
Try another free thinking American son, I have you pegged real good.
You don’t scare me son, and couldn’t intimidate me if you tried, which you are doing, GFY I am NOT going to take orders from a delusional re-pubie asswipe like YOU ever,
March 21st, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Hey, Clif, You ARE sucking off the gov’t tit. That’s where you belong. I decided not to upset your flimsy applecart. You guys were begging for the worm, so I slipped it to you. Your people won the last election. Why aren’t you happy? I’ll tell you why: You could win the $300 million dollar lottery and not be happy. That’s the way God made you.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Thankx for proving EVERYTHING I said pusface……
March 21st, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I think everyone is convinced, Clif. Except him, naturally.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:43 pm
If a skunk refuses to leave even after repeated kicks, you shoot it. He ain’t right upstairs.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Jeeezuuuz, Bushbot!
Aren’t you getting a little ashamed of your ‘poor me’ routine? “Stop calling me naaaaaaaaaaames!” I mean, isn’t it emasculating even to you?
March 21st, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Pusface, the ONLY reason you have not tried to tell the VA I was faking it, was them you’d have to reveal your super secret “Frist Internet Powers” which nobody but you knows about, oh that and the tests the VA already has son.
But if you decide to come out of your special closet son, and try to convince them your powers are better than their blood tests and MRI’s: PLEASE PLEASE have somebody video tape it , PRETTY PLEASE.
I wanna see your sorry ass get LAUGHED out of their building son.
It could become a U Tube classic, even make you infamous son, like the Morons who knew Terry Schiavo was just sleeping for a long long time.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:48 pm
I think I’ll go fishing for awhile. You guys continue to try to take down the US Government, OK? Let me know how that works for you. If you succeed, make Mirth the Ambassador to Iran. She needs a little “international” experience. Make Kay the Attorney General. That way, Captain Morgan will run the country and we’ll be A-OK.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Well son be sure to tell the “fish” all about your special powers, and see if THEY believe you…………LOL
March 21st, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Please God! let him fall in the river and drown.
Then we can get on with having intelligent and fun threads at ETR.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:54 pm
BTW son, every election is just taking DOWN one government and replacing it with another, Damn son your stupid.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Mirth, think of the poor fish dealing with the SHIT that would flow out of Pusface’s decaying bloated corpse, don’t wish that on them.
However if he was to forget to return, that would be OK with me.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Take a flashlight, Bus. And some dynamite. Hold it at least a minute before you throw it.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Ok, you’re right Clif. I couldn’t do that to innocent fish. And i don’t really wish his death. Maybe just permanent damage to his fingers so HE CAN NEVER TYPE ANOTHER WORD!
March 21st, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Rocky, Honey, you’re making my cheeks hurt from laughing.
Simmadownnah!
March 21st, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Don’t believe what they say, Bus. It IS possible to breathe under water… you just have to stay there LONG enough.
March 21st, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Use the Force, Bus… let go, Bus…
March 21st, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Nooooooooooo, Stoooooooooooooop
:wacko_tb:
March 21st, 2007 at 9:09 pm
*Smiling at Mirth*
He’s precious, isn’t he?
March 21st, 2007 at 9:10 pm
“Precious” is not the word I would use for stinkbot.
March 21st, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Actually Rocky I have extensive experience with explosives, I disarmed Bombs for the Army and Blew tons of Iraqi ammunition and explosives up in Desert Storm, If pusface really wants to see if fishing with dynamite is gonna work real good he needs to light a full stick and count how many seconds it takes to explode so he can understand how long to hold it before throwing it into the lake.
Pusface could do this test while driving to the lake, and save time by multi-tasking.
March 21st, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Me neither… but I’m under censure…
*Eyes downcast*
March 21st, 2007 at 9:14 pm
In fact he could HOLD the dynamite between his legs to keep both hands on the steering wheel, remember “safety first” pusface……
March 21st, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Couldn’t hurt NOTHING there, though!
March 21st, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Clif! You too! Stopit!
My tummy hurts!
March 21st, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Bus is out on the water…
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum…
(Annie Coultergeist approaching from just beneath the surface)
*Music from Pyscho shower sequence interludes*
March 21st, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Sorry Mirth but I see pusface as the stupid third cousin from Dumb and Dumber, who got cut out of the movie because even Hollywood doesn’t believe they could sell somebody as dumb as he is showing us daily here and elsewhere.
I have a devilish streak a mile wide…..I can’t help myself sometimes…
March 21st, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Klingon battle cruiser de-cloaks, snatches up Annie, blows Bus out of the water!
March 23rd, 2007 at 9:16 am
Busboy says:
I think I’ll go fishing for awhile. You guys continue to try to take down the US Government….
We don’t need to do that. Your Fuhrer is doing it without our help.