Here' a quote from last Oct. on the Bush administration and subpoenas:

In fact, when it comes to deploying its Executive power, which is dear to Bush's understanding of the presidency, the President's team has been planning for what one strategist describes as "a cataclysmic fight to the death" over the balance between Congress and the White House if confronted with congressional subpoenas it deems inappropriate. The strategist says the Bush team is "going to assert that power, and they're going to fight it all the way to the Supreme Court on every issue, every time, no compromise, no discussion, no negotiation."

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Here's what Kos says about that:

Realize that the resolution of this stand-off will determine the extent to which the Congress is able to investigate everything that's still on their plate. If they lose this showdown, they lose their leverage in investigating NSA spying, the DeLay/Abramoff-financed Texas redistricting, Cheney's Energy Task Force, the political manipulation of science, the Plame outing... everything.

And that's why Bush is playing it this way. Remember, too, that his "administration" is populated by Watergate and Iran-Contra recidivists, chief among them Dick Cheney, who has wanted to relitigate the boundaries of executive power since forever. Cheney and others on the inside believe that this time, with a friendlier judiciary, these issues can be decided the "right" way, overturning the victories won against Richard Nixon's insane theories of executive power.

Their thinking is that they'll either win it in courts, or run out the clock trying.

And the day they get five Justices to say they're right, everything you thought you knew about checks and balances becomes wrong.

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Christ.

Percoset and other opiates make me vaguely nauseous and unable to sleep (though content to drowse away for hours), but I don't care at the time!

Also, they can testify, but they won't be under oath? What is that, license to lie?

Only a cynic would think that. However, when it comes to looking at this administration, being cynical and facing reality are the same thing.

Drugs, right? Valium. That's my OTD.

I've had little to no experience with pain type drugs. (yes, I know I am lucky) I did have the valium IV when I had my wisdom teeth out. I would have stayed there forever and let them remove my limbs. It was very pleasant. I probably should never be allowed to take it again.

And the day they get five Justices to say they're right, everything you thought you knew about checks and balances becomes wrong.

Now you are making me want the good drugs. Maybe I could stay stoned for the rest of the Bush term.

And it sounds like they don't know what happened to the SpaceX rocket, but SpaceX is trying to spin this into a big success:

"I just wanted everybody to know that we in the Washington, D.C., office are celebrating with champagne. We don't have any information yet from the launch control center, but the Falcon clearly got to space with a successful liftoff, stage separation, second stage ignition and fairing separation," says Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX vice president of business development.

However, what happened during the second stage burn is not clear.

"Regardless, we're thrilled here."

Assuming they don't find it, I'd call the launch a failure. But they're saying, "We know we a least mostly succeeded." Which, I guess they have a point. Being a private company, they really have to demonstrate some success....

eta:

"We did have a roll-control anomoly," Musk says of the second stage. Some oscillations could be seen in the last bit of video from a camera mounted on the second stage before the webcast stopped. Fate of the rocket remains unknown.

Musk says the rocket didn't reach the intended orbit and actually may have re-entered the atmosphere. The rolling motion caused the second stage engine to shut down early. Despite the problem, Musk considers this to be "a very good day" for SpaceX.

Toldja.

OK, thats enough of that for me....

Encouraging news: Senate voted 94-2 to strip Justice Dept. of Patriot Act right to appoint prosecutors without Senate approval citing the recent abuse. Also, the Dems are firing right back with subpeonas to be issued tomorrow for Rove and Miers. Nixon and Clinton both lost when they tried to invoke executive privilege to protect their aides from being called before Congress. The Supreme Court has been explicitly clear that only issues of National Security and related secrets are protected - none of which apply here even under the broadest interpretation.

Only a cynic would think that. However, when it comes to looking at this administration, being cynical and facing reality are the same thing.

I didn't used to be a cynic.

And the day they get five Justices to say they're right, everything you thought you knew about checks and balances becomes wrong.

This is scary. Because every time since Bush got "elected" that I've thought, oh, that couldn't happen! it has. I have little faith anymore.

eta Oh, and now Hec jumps in with good news.

Also, the Dems are firing right back with subpeonas to be issued tomorrow for Rove and Miers.

Really? I read they were gonna vote on this on Thursday.

The Supreme Court has been explicitly clear that only issues of National Security and related secrets are protected - none of which apply here even under the broadest interpretation.

Hec, your America-hating is such a danger to National Security....

Besides, they could do another of their 5-4 rulings that goes counter to everything else and then they again say that the ruling is not to be construed as precedent. (Eta: Which is sorta' an admission that it's bullshit.)

I've moved from die-hard cynic and pessimist to eternal hopist. Because I'd be crushed under my realistic expectations otherwise. Disillusioned a fuckload, but better than my worst ideas being constantly validated and me sinking into the depths.

That makes sense to me. It's a way of clinging to hope when you are not real close with it.

Yeah, it's a game. It's a fucking stupid game, but keeps me from giving up my outrage. I still need my outrage.