As folks who visit this blog can guess I have been swamped as of late in all day meetings and trying to catch up on company stuff in the evenings, leaving little time to blog. I do have some time off the next few days but I doubt blogging will get more attention. Be prepared to see more Fly By’s for a while as I ramp up on some new work.

Best news I have seen is this report in the Washington Post (via Drudge) that Michael Steele is in a great position to ‘steal’ a Senate seat from the Dems this fall in Maryland.

An internal document prepared by a top Democratic strategist warns that a majority of African American voters in Maryland are open to supporting Republican Senate candidate Michael S. Steele and advises the party not to wait to “knock Steele down.”

The 37-page report says a sizable segment of likely black voters — as much as 44 percent — would readily abandon their historic Democratic allegiances “after hearing Steele’s messaging.”

Emphasis mine. Needless to say no Democrat in any state can survive a 44 percent defection in the African American vote. The Maryland Democrats are like the Virginian Conservatives, they have been known to cross over when the right opportunity presents itself. An African American Republican Senator would have a lot more clout than another Democrat in a Republican controlled Senate.

People will note that I had a problem with the Senate Immigration Bill in that it set the standard for a work permit to high (5 years) and should have looked at a two year trigger. The new compromise that came out today is perfect as you can expect with an imperfect issue like immigration. Those here 5 years get a work permit, those here 2-5 years can get one but have to leave and apply, and those here less than 2 years need to leave and get at the back of the line. The 2 year window for any special treatment takes care of a real issue – the massive influx of a blanket amnesty or worker program. People are less than 2 years are equal to people coming here tomorrow. So there is no benefit in rushing to our borders under this deal – none. I like it! They still need to pass background checks, pay back taxes and I want an insurance pool to keep immigrants out of our emergency rooms and on less expensive preventive medicine. And I want all non-citizens given the boot if they commit a violent or serious crime.

The media is still grasping at straws to get Bush or Cheney or Libby on some kind of ‘leak’ related to the Iraq war or Valerie Plame.  Get this title:

Former Cheney Aide: Bush Authorized Iraq Intelligence Leak

Then read the article:

A former top aide to Vice President Cheney told a federal grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA agent’s identity that President Bush authorized him to disclose classified intelligence information about Iraq as a way of rebutting criticism from the agent’s husband, according to court papers filed by prosecutors.

However, the former top aide, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, testified that although he gave a reporter sensitive information from a secret National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) in a July 2003 conversation with the president’s approval, he did not disclose the CIA employment of Valerie Plame.

These poor uneducated reporters seem hell bent on demonstrating their ignorance day in and day out. The President as the ultimate and final authority to clear classified information for public dissemination. The media is one path to public dissemination (and the media seems to get all pissy when they are not used). Therefore it is not possible for the President to ‘leak’ information. He clears it for communication and his word is final. When will we have educated reporters covering government? Doesn’t the Washington Post take their responsibilities serious enough to hire people with even a high school level of understanding the government?  The reporting itself notes the following:

Under a March 2003 executive order issued by Bush, the president has the authority to declassify — and thus disclose — intelligence information, and Cheney has also asserted that authority.

But then they add this gem of ignorance from a leader in the US Senate:

“In light of today’s shocking revelation, President Bush must fully disclose his participation in the selective leaking of classified information,” Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said in a statement. “The American people must know the truth.”

Bush doesn’t ‘leak’.  Not in the legal sense, or the common sensse.  The democrats and their media allies are truly a bunch of morons.  You doubt me?  Check this bit of Grade F quality reporting:

Wilson had undertaken a mission to Niger in February 2002 on behalf of the CIA to check reports that Hussein had tried to buy uranium “yellowcake” for use in a nuclear weapons program. Wilson concluded that the reports were unfounded, but Bush nevertheless cited the alleged Iraqi effort in making the case for removing Hussein.

Emphasis mine.  Wilson concluded the reports were unfounded on LIMITED information.  He was directed to only talk to people out of government – veterans of an earlier time.  He was not the only person investigating (there were two others).  And There were other areas in Africa as potential sources of Yellow Cake.  And there was other intelligence regarding other leads in other areas.  So this moron reporter expected Bush to use only the information from Wilson, who was only contacting people with out of date knowledge?  What kind of dipstick approach to national defense would that be?  And where is the ‘reporting’ that the CIA and others, when integrating ALL the information, concluded Wilson’s very narrow report on marginal sources actually SUPPORTED the Saddam claim because Wilson’s Own Report to the CIA included contact by Saddam’s Emissary!  What kind of idiot has been asleep all these years and doesn’t know this?  Obviously a Washington Post idiot! UGH….
On that truly depressing note, I think I will enjoy some of my evening and hope the Democrats cannot screw up anymore than they have today!