Even though the votes are still rolling in on what we’ll find in Rove’s missing emails, it turns out that a THF reader, maryjane, has some expertise in the area of computer forensics.  We are proud to say that she has now announced the recovery of a portion of the missing emails from a two-week period in September, 2002.  Beware, this is pretty shocking stuff! 

Thanks maryjane!

Remember the good ol’ days of yore (last week) when the White House claimed to be conducting diligent forensic analysis in order to produce the missing emails.  Turns out, eh…not so much.  I can almost hear the spin now – if staffers aren’t 9-11 allowed to delete terrorism incriminating emails from illegal accounts axis of evil without the constant fear of being WMDs subject to congressional bin Laden seen outside shopping mall in Fresno review, then the president will not be did I say 9-11? able to count on getting frank advice.  Which in today’s political climate, will play out a little like this:

Continued apologies for yesterday’s break from THF conventions on name-calling.  By means of atonement, I present this wonderful piece of prose from Adequacy.  Though originally written for 9-11, I believe the sentiment is timeless: 

Many people will use this terrible tragedy as an excuse to put through a political agenda other than my own. This tawdry abuse of human suffering for political gain sickens me to the core of my being. Those people who have different political views from me ought to be ashamed of themselves for thinking of cheap partisan point-scoring at a time like this. In any case, what this tragedy really shows us is that, so far from putting into practice political views other than my own, it is precisely my political agenda which ought to be advanced. 

Not only are my political views vindicated by this terrible tragedy, but also the status of my profession. Furthermore, it is only in the context of a national and international tragedy like this that we are reminded of the very special status of my hobby, and its particular claim to legislative protection. My religious and spiritual views also have much to teach us about the appropriate reaction to these truly terrible events.

 

 

I graduated from Virginia Tech in 1996. I also lived in West Ambler Johnston dormitory, the site of the first two homicides. My connection to this tragedy gives me exactly zero insight, which is exactly how much I can add to the dialogue. A vastly unhappy and disturbed person went crazy and killed a bunch of innocent people. What could I possibly say that would help make any more sense out of it? I don’t know what this says about human nature. I have no idea what the victims’ families must be going through right now. And I have no talent for soothing words in the face of something so completely messed up.

The only thing I do know is that the absolute bare minimum of respect for people’s emotions is to not politicize the moment. If you want to have a rational debate about gun rights I’m all for it. But now is not the time. You filthy, soulless, black-hearted bastard.

UPDATE: I normally have a strict rule against ad hominem attacks on this site and I apologize for my transgression.  But Im pretty upset about this, so the link stays. 

You’ve probably heard by now of CREW’s discovery that strange things are afoot at the Circle Rove. Specifically, it appears that at least 50 White House staffers have been using RNC email accounts for correspondence in direct contravention of the Presidential Records Act (44 U.S.C. section 2203) dictating the preservation of White House communication. Oh, and not to mention that the use of external email servers is, according to White House Spokesperson, John Stanzel, specifically prohibited by internal policy as well.

Well, we all know that these silly laws and policies are sooo pre-911 and the administration has now admitted that as many as 5 million RNC email records are “missing” for at least 15 staffers including Karl Rove. The total extent of damage is unclear at present as White House claims continue to evolve alongside their spin du jour. The only thing we know at this point is that that we are looking at a modern version of Nixon’s notorious 18 minutes.

Not to beleaguer the obvious, but losing email records is nothing like misplacing a box of archived papers. In fact, though the White House would have us simple folk believe otherwise, it is virtually impossible (pun intended). Whenever you send electronic communication, a copy is stored on the personal hard disk and server account of both the sender and recipient. This says nothing about the myriad relays through which it passes along the way.

Basically, tossing a bunch of mail into your recycle bin merely destroys your mail program’s record of the email, never the file itself. For this to occur requires special software to make multiple passes through your storage to overwrite the previous data. Of course, this is only effective on your local computer and the process must be repeated for the server as well as whatever archival system with which the server interfaces. Oh, and let’s not forget that this entire process must be repeated for each and every recipient throughout the planet.

Simply put, the complexities involved in destroying email records are so vast that the courts have long stopped accepting claims of missing emails. The RNC’s claim that Rove may have personally deleted the emails is disingenuous. At best, it will distract the public’s attention by focusing on Rove rather than the emails themselves. And if they are willing to cast a shadow on their golden goose, the “missing” emails must be juicy indeed.

So … what do you think they’re hiding? Don’t forget to vote in the poll at the top-left, or suggest your own in the comments section.

Poor Georgie, will nobody come out and play?

The White House wants to appoint a high-powered czar to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with authority to issue directions to the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies, but it has had trouble finding anyone able and willing to take the job, according to people close to the situation.

At least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks have declined to be considered for the position, the sources said, underscoring the administration's difficulty in enlisting its top recruits to join the team after five years of warfare that have taxed the United States and its military.

"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," said retired Marine Gen. John J. "Jack" Sheehan, a former top NATO commander who was among those rejecting the job. Sheehan said he believes that Vice President Cheney and his hawkish allies remain more powerful within the administration than pragmatists looking for a way out of Iraq. "So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks,' " he said.

The story has made big headlines and even inspired a Broadway musical due for release in 2008. Here is an excerpt:

Lil’ orphan GW: Daddy WarbCzar, Daddy WarCzar! Guess what!

Daddy WarCzar: <sigh> What is it, Junior?

Lil’ orphan GW: I just set fire to the basement.

Daddy WarCzar: What, again?!

Lil’ orphan GW: Oh Daddy <giggles>. Don’t worry about it, I put it out myself! Only…

Daddy WarCzar: <crosses arms and stomps his foot> Only what George?

Lil’ orphan GW: Well…only…er, I know water puts out fires, right? So I broke open that big metal pipe. And guess what? It worked! Except…

Daddy WarCzar: George-eeee!

Lil ‘orphan GW: Yeah, well now the basement is full of water.

Daddy WarCzar: Well, I guess I’ll get Punjab to mop it up. PU N-JAB!

Lil ‘orphan GW: <starts to cry> err, I already sent Punjab down there, but there was a lot of water. So I told him to get the Butler, the gardener, the maids, and the kitchen staff to help. Oh, and I also sent Tony Blair from next door. B-but…

Daddy WarCzar: But what George? But what?!

Lil’ orphan GW: Well, by the time they all got down there the water was getting really high, so I locked the door to keep it from getting into the house. I was going to let them out, but I was playing with my tinker toys and forgot. By the time I went back to check on them they weren’t moving. I guess I forgot to give them the equipment they needed.

Daddy WarCzar: George, you’ve gone and done it this time!

Lil’ orphan GW: Hey, I have a great idea! YOU should take over! I’d bet you’d do a heckuva job Daddy!

I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center.

I'm aware that there are problems with the site, particularly for Internet Explorer users. Layouts aren't loading all the way, the site crashes when you try to post comments, etc. I'm working on them and will let you know when they are back up. In the meantime, be aware that your comments are posting, but it will require a reload in order to view them. UPDATE: I'm pretty sure I've gotten the problem taken care of. Please let me know if you're experiencing anything else weird.

This was clipped from an editorial written by retired Park Service employee, Catherine Spude, for the Santa Fe New Mexican (apologies, can’t find the original link) in 2005:

"According to a recent Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility press release, all new mid-level managers of the National Park Service will have to swear a fealty oath to the administration currently in power. In other words, in order to get promoted beyond a "worker bee," employees will be approved by a political appointee, promising to be a "yes person."

I’m a couple of years late on this, but given the recent resurgence of jobs-for-loyalty scandals, it seems timely to remind ourselves how this administration has elevated the concept of ‘sycophant’ to unprecedented heights. From FEMA to US attorneys to Forest Rangers, if you want to be promoted in the federal government, you’d do well to go out and buy yourself a nice set of knee-pads – you’re gonna need ‘em.