Mid day musings

It is interesting to see the so-called Gang of 14 inch toward no fillibuster. It seems like they are all, at least the ones commenting, trying to keep a level tone and leave room to maneuver. CNN:

After the group's first meeting on Alito, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colorado, told reporters there was "a sense that we're still together and keeping this a civil and orderly process at this point."

He said the Gang of 14 "is not going to blow up."

Libby has pleaded not guilty. Here is what Juan Cole thinks:

A trial involves discovery and subpoenas, which might throw up evidence incriminating Cheney or his aide John Hannah in the CIA leak case, or might nail Karl Rove. My own interpretation is that it is now every man for himself. That is not good news for Bush.

It is more probable that Libby is waiting to see how things shake out. There is still a great deal of time before this becomes a big deal outside of the Beltway. The idea of Cheney testifying with elections looming is no doubt tempting to the left, but don't count your chickens before they are subpoenaed.

A Soldier's Thoughts from today in Iraq:

It is a lot different when you can communicate with the Iraqis you know. When you can ask them how they feel about things instead of just telling them to get back with arm signals. They are people, and they are like you and I. Time may tell things differently just as the victors write the history books, but it seems that such a great injustice has been done, and we are getting farther and farther from the things we promised the Iraqis when we invaded. I will not attempt to predict the future however I can't help but let it be known that I fear we have gone too far and that our eyes were so much larger than our stomach.