Yellow Dog

When Bush was asked by a reporter what his "best moment" has been over the past five years, it was a political softball allowing him to reflect on what he sees as his successful policies or significant encounters with international leaders. So it makes perfect sense that this is what he picked:

"I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5 pound perch in my lake," he told the newspaper in an interview published on Sunday.

THAT'S the highlight of his presidency? I guess, since he represents the interests of the fat cats, there's a certain logic in his reference to catching a fish.

Now compare the responses from past presidents on the question of their "best moments":

Carter: "I think the best time was probably dealing with the Middle East issue at Camp David," he said, "and even better I think was the peace treaty that came along six months later. I made a very difficult decision over the almost unanimous opposition of my cabinet and my staff to take the initiative and to go to Egypt and to go to Israel to try to get Begin and Sadat to agree on a peace treaty. And when they did sign-both of them signed the agreement-I guess that was probably my best moment."

Clinton: I don't know. So many things have happened here at home that have been important to me; passing economic plan, passing the Brady Bill and assault weapons ban, so many things have happened internationally, the role that I was fortunate to be able to play in the peace process in the Middle East and in Northern Ireland, but this (Kosovo) could have the biggest long-term positive consequences if we do it right.... I think what we did in Kosovo was profoundly important.

Bush: I caught a big fish on my ranch.

Bush's best moment in office? Reeling in big perch�|�Top News�|�Reuters.co.uk

The Carpetbagger Report poses the question, "Are we near the tipping point on the Republicans' "culture of corruption" story? Have we passed it?"

He offers the following as evidence that this administration does not govern by policy but instead by ideology, corporate fealty, and blind stubbornness:

* CIA Director Porter Goss resigned suddenly Friday, a move than may have been driven, in part, by his connection to Kyle "Dusty" Foggo (who is now facing a criminal investigation of his own) and the Brent Wilkes/Duke Cunningham/prostitutes scandal. In fact, the San Diego Union Tribune and the New York Daily News both reported that Goss' departure is related to the Cunningham affair.

* The AP reported yesterday that Tom DeLay's office knew full well that Jack Abramoff had "arranged the financing for the GOP leader's controversial European golfing trip in 2000 and was concerned 'if someone starts asking questions.'"

* MSNBC's David Shuster reported on Friday night that the "tea leaves" suggest Karl Rove will get indicted in the Plame scandal, while Scooter Libby's defense is already going poorly in his own Plame-related charges.

* David Safavian, the administration's top federal procurement official before he was arrested last fall, will go on trial shortly for his Abramoff-related charges.

* All the while, Patrick Fitzgerald's grand jury is still meeting, the case against Tom DeLay in Texas is still proceeding, the investigation into Bill Frist's investments is ongoing, and Rep. Bob Ney is still this close to an indictment.

As the New Democratic Network's Simon Rosenberg put it:

"This has never been about lobbying reform, or connecting the corruption to legislative outcomes. The corruption is of such magnitude that it stands alone as a statement of their values, of their lack of respect for the public trust. Simply put these are the largest set of scandals in American history. That should be enough for us to make the case for a new direction."
The Carpetbagger Report

Add one more scandal to the already huge heap of scandals of this administration (cherrypicking intelligence to justify an unwarranted war, outing a CIA operative, spying on US citizens without warrants, trading money for political favors--as a side note, it was revealed this week that slimy Jack Abramoff visited the White House over 200 times in one year): Hookergate. The details are in the link below, but since it involves a former Goss aide, it's hard to believe that Porter Goss' sudden resignation from the CIA wasn't somehow related to these, um, poker-and-"escort" parties.
TPM Muckraker: Hookergate Archives

A recent AP-Ipsos poll found that 51 percent of Americans say they want Democrats rather than Republicans to control Congress. Only 34 percent favor Republican control.

Sentiment is favoring Democratic control of Congress (although Republican gerrymandering and redistricting may make this a tough road to hoe), but what is the plan should Dems regain control?

"Their leaders said a Democratic House would quickly vote to raise the minimum wage for the first time since 1997. It would roll back a provision in the Republicans' Medicare prescription drug benefit that prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from negotiating prices for drugs offered under the program. It would vote to fully implement the recommendations of the bipartisan panel convened to shore up homeland security after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Democratic leaders said. And it would reinstate lapsed rules that say any tax cuts or spending increases have to be offset by spending cuts or tax increases to prevent the federal deficit from growing.

Sounds like a good start. Now just add in a plan for getting us out of the Iraq war debacle, and we're good to go.
Confident Democrats Lay Out Agenda