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.

I've moved from die-hard cynic and pessimist to eternal hopist. Because I'd be crushed under my realistic expectations otherwise.

I've actually been a lot more hopeful since the midterm elections. But in the "unitary executive" issue, Bush intends to raise the stakes to an ungodly high level, and that makes me nervous. Especially considering how wussy the Democrats have been.

SHUT UP.

You are encouraging my natural state.

cycles. human nature. cycles. strangles natural state.

lalala politics

I have 5 ebay auctiosn ending tonight and am obsessively hitting refresh.

I have been reassured that mac will be promoted to first grade. Not that I was worried, but still good to hear. He got in BIG trouble today and has lost all play and tv time after I pick him up for the rest of the week.

Encouraging news: Senate voted 94-2 to strip Justice Dept. of Patriot Act right to appoint prosecutors without Senate approval citing the recent abuse.

This is also encouraging:

"We are conservative scholars, activists and writers. We do not favor a crippled executive or enfeebled government. In a time of danger, checks and balances make for stronger government because the people will more readily accept a muscular authority if barriers against abuses are strong. If at some future time Congress, in turn, aggrandizes power and invades the executive or judicial domains, we will be equally alert to sound the alarm. But today, the clear and present danger to conservative philosophy is the White House."

OK, this... is just funny:

“In DOJ documents that were publicly posted by the House Judiciary Committee, there is a gap from mid-November to early December in e-mails and other memos, which was a critical period as the White House and Justice Department reviewed, then approved, which U.S. attorneys would be fired while also developing a political and communications strategy for countering any fallout from the firings.”

So they release all the documents and emails, but there's a mysterious gap.... Let's see - in what administration did such a gap become famous? What was it, 18 minutes?

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