WataugaWatch

We mentioned a week or so ago that there is no federal shield law for journalists. We were reviewing a movie at the time, a fictional work about a journalist who goes to jail rather than reveal a confidential source that spilled the identity of a CIA spy.

The non-fiction truth of the matter is that since 2001 at least 19 journalists have been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors for information about confidential sources, and four have been imprisoned for refusing to comply, including Judith Miller of the NYTimes who was involved in the outing of Valerie Plame. Prosecutors have also threatened to put two San Francisco Chronicle reporters in jail for reporting leaked grand jury information about steroid use by professional athletes.

Following the Plame affair, legislation began moving in Congress to shield reporters from giving up confidential sources. Former President George W. Bush, that great expander of executive power, naturally opposed the bill, but a strong version has already passed the House and its twin is now pending in the U.S. Senate, introduced by senators Chuck Schumer and Arlen Specter.

Enter the Obama White House, which has sent word to the senators that "it opposes legislation that could protect reporters from being imprisoned if they refuse to disclose confidential sources who leak material about national security." The big problem with that "national security" classification is who gets to decide what it is. Under the expansive definitions of the Bush White House and its g.d. U.S.A. Patriot Act, "national security" can be almost anything. And who's to say when an administration is simply lying about what they're labeling off-limits? Abu Ghraib, anyone?

Instead of breaking with the Bush past, the Obama White House seems content to let the secrecy ride. Boo.

If the American Taliban wants to attack our president on something meaningful, how about this, instead of stoopid stuff like his lobbying for the 2016 Olympics or the complete lie that some religious/civic group is actually praying to Obama rather than to God.

'Course, if the Right Wing did protest the current White House's stance on extending the secrecy prerogatives of The Littlest Bush, we'd probably be forced to point out, once again, their utter hypocrisy.

Labels: Arlen Specter, Charles Schumer, journalist shield laws, White House secrecy

And problem he WILL be. Though perhaps a few degrees less conservative than Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska.

Listening first to Limbaugh and then to Hannity this afternoon on the Arlen Specter party-switch, the gasbags are too too busy crowing "good riddance to bad rubbish" to reflect openly about the huge bag of crap the Republican Party is now left holding ... with the potential now clinched for filibuster-proof Senate votes. Sen. Olympia Snowe certainly gets it.

Unless Specter turns out to be as big a jerk in the Democratic Party as he was a huge waffler in the Republican. He ain't a leader, that's for sure.

But this rumor that Specter got some sort of deal with Pennsylvania Democratic big-wigs to head off major Democratic primary opposition next year is most surprising. Oh, he'll have a primary in the Democratic Party, no doubt, but this source suggests it won't be from any viable candidate.

And meanwhile he'll be facing a hard-right Republican in November 2010. Specter's odds for remaining in the Senate for another six years just improved immensely. Plus he has an opportunity of becoming a hero to Democrats (and the devil incarnate to you know who).

Labels: Arlen Specter

"Off with their heads!" is being screamed all over Right Blogtopia about senators Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and Arlen Specter, the three Republicans who gave President Obama his filibuster-busting majority on the stimulus bill.

Here is just one example among a legion, this one by that great hypocrite Dickie Morris.

As we've offered before, we'll gladly hold the parkas of any devout Republicans who want to organize a public stoning.

Labels: Arlen Specter, Dick Morris, Obama economic stimulus, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins