According to some reports, Bush’s most famous henchman, Karl Rove, may actually be forced to testify about the Attorneygate scandal. One of the biggest roadblocks into the investigation into the politically motivated firing of US Attorneys has been the refusal of Bush officials to testify, but it looks like that may soon end, now that an independent federal prosecutor is probing the dismissals. According to Newsweek’s Michael Isikoff, the White House has said that they plan to cooperate with the special prosecutor’s probe. Isikoff pointed out a little-noticed letter sent from the Justice Dept to a US Appeals Court, which is considering an attempt by the House of Representatives to pursue Contempt of Congress charges against Bush administration officials who have ignored subpoenas. According to Isikoff, in the Sept 30 letter the Justice Dept told the Court of assurances it received from White House counsel Fred Fielding that if the prosecutor “determines that access to information from the White House would be helpful to assist her review, the White House will provide her with such information.” So at least at this juncture it appears the White House is not planning on claiming privilege over the information the special prosecutor wants. We’ll have to wait and see how this one actually plays out.
The price of Sarah Palin’s RNC-provided wardrobe is approaching the price of an average American home. As the price of median US home prices continues to fall, the price of Sarah Palin’s wardrobe continues to rise. According to recent reports, the RNC is scheduled to file a campaign report with the Federal Election Commission disclosing that the committee spent additional funds to clothe and accessorize Sarah Palin during her stint as their vice presidential candidate. It is said the McCain campaign spent more than $150,000, including bills from Saks 5th Ave for $49,425 and a bill from Neiman Marcus totaling $75,062. It’s reported that the RNC also spent almost $5,000 on hair and makeup for Palin as well. We’re gonna keep our eyes peeled for that report, but seriously, how would it make you feel to know that it took over $150,000 just to make you palatable to the public? I say we don’t pick on Palin about this one. First to know that you needed that much help and then to find out you can’t even keep the clothes…I’d be crushed.
And finally, the Bush administration is reportedly planning as one of its final actions to announced a “right of conscience” rule that could further limit access to abortion, particularly for poor and rural women, and might even impact a much broader range of medical procedures. The rule would apply to over 500,000 facilities nationwide and would allow ALL healthcare workers – not just doctors and pharmacists but potentially even janitors – to refuse to participate in any procedure they find morally objectionable. Activists see this as a major set back for reproductive rights. Melissa Harris-Lacewell, a Princeton professor and reproductive rights activist commented on the rule saying, “This could have a huge impact. You want your doctor to be making choices based on medical needs, based on the health of the patient…not on these moral ‘conscience’ questions…we want to make sure that as a nation these kinds of decisions are note being legislated out by these broad opt-out rules.” Just one more right the Bush administration is going to try and sneak out the back door on their way out of Washington.
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