Condi Rice: If The President Does It, It’s Legal

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was asked by a fourth grader at the Jewish Primary Day School in DC what she thought of President Obama’s  view on how his predecessor treated detainees. Rice replied that President Bush did whatever he could to protect the country, but would do “nothing that was against the law” or violated international agreements.

“Let me just say that President Bush was very clear that he wanted to do everything he could to protect the country. After September 11, we wanted to protect the country,” she said. “But he was also very clear that we …

Joe The Plumber: “It’s Called ‘Queer’…It’s Not Like A Slur”

Who on the right, in addition to Meghan McCain, will stand up and say this guy doesn’t speak for them?  Non-Joe the non-licensed plumber spoke with” Christianity Today” about his Christian faith and the future of the Republican Party.

Some highlights:

On Monday’s Radio Show…

• Brian Jennings, author of Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio, discusses the flaws of the Fairness Doctrine.

• Did Condoleezza Rice lie to a fourth-grader about the Bush administration’s record on torture? Alan reviews the evidence.

• Alan pays tribute to his friend Jack Kemp.…

Did Jack Kemp Die Because Of The GOP Agenda?

That’s what Arlen Specter implied on “Face the Nation” when he said this:

“If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. And that research has saved or prolonged many lives, including mine.”

Specter says he’s been the spear carrier for more funding for medical research.

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GOP Becoming The Lunatic Fringe Party

They give a good man who can broaden the party base, Michael Steele, a hard time.

The latest flashpoint is an acrimonious, increasingly public fight over control of the GOP’s finances that pits Steele’s team of consultants and younger RNC members against a contingent of longtime committee members who opposed his election and remain distrustful of his leadership.

They lose Arlen Specter whose independence is anathema to them (even as his first vote as a Democrat sided against Obama), and who says not to count on him as an automatic 60th vote.

One of the loudest online voices …

Another Right-Wing Talker In Trouble

Shannon Burke, a conservative Florida radio personality describes his program as a “mixture of outrageous daily, biker attitiude and personality and right-wing style rants.” Now he’s being charged with shooting his wife and dog.

Burke’s version of the story is that he got mad at his dog, grabbed a handgun and threatened to shoot it. When the gun “accidentally” discharged, the bullet went through the dog’s leg and then grazed the side of his wife head.

He’s been charged with two counts – aggravated battery with a weapon and animal cruelty. Bond was set at $10,000 and he …

Rudy Avoids Gay Roomates’ Wedding

When things weren’t go so well in his marriage to Donna Hanover, Rudy Giuliani lived with two gay men, Howard Koeppel (left in photo) and Mark Hsaio.  They got married this weekend in Connecticut, and invited their former rommie to be part of the small group of attendees. 

“Rudy and Judith were both invited with a beautiful written invitation by mail,” said Koeppel. “His secretary called Thursday and said he was not able to come to the wedding and wished us all the best.”

Koeppel once quipped that Giuliani was a perfect roommate who “always made his bed” and “called …

RIP Jack Kemp

Jack was a dedicated, principled conservative who always took the high road.  I loved talking to him, debating him, and knowing him.  His untimely passing is a great loss to our country and to all who knew him.

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Rove: Right Will Oppose Sotomayor Because She’s Liberal

Karl Rove rails against the possible nominaiton of Judge Sonia Sotomayor because “her opinions…have been very liberal.”  But when Sandra Day O’Connor retired, Rove said the opposition has a responsiblity to approve judges who are qualified, even if they disagree with their views.

Karl Rove, President Bush’s chief political architect, said precedents from the most recent Supreme Court vacancies suggest that opposition-party senators have a responsibility to back a president’s choice if they believe a nominee is qualified, even if they disagree with the person’s views. He also maintained that a strongly held ideological stance would not amount to “extraordinary …

Another SCOTUS Short-Lister

I mentioned former Harvard Law School dean and current Solicitor General Elena Kagan as a possible Obama choice to replace David Souter.  The New York Daily News says Obama must also consider Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayer, who could be the first Hispanic on the high court.

Born in the Bronx in 1954 to parents from Puerto Rico, she was diagnosed with diabetes at 8. Her father, a factory worker, died when she was 9. Her mother supported Sotomayor and her brother, now a doctor, by working at methadone clinics.

More fluent in Spanish than in …

Michael Vick Wants To Be PETA Spokesman

In other news, Rush Limbaugh seeks to become White House press secretary, Tom DeLay initiates charm offensive, and Michele Bachmann up for MacArthur Award.

But Michael Vick is actually looking towards doing public service announcements for PETA upon his release from prison this month.  This is all part of a PR scheme to improve his public image and get him back in the good graces of the NFL.

“I’m familiar with [the plan],” said Dan Shannon, director of youth outreach and campaigns for PETA. “We have been in discussions with Michael Vick, with his management team, about the possibility of him putting out …