The Screw Job

When trouble comes like a rainy day
I run to our secret hideaway and listen
You tell me what to do
--Secret Hideaway, Crystal Lewis

I got me a Chrysler, it seats about 20
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money
The Love Shack is a little old place
where we can get together
--Love Shack, B-52's

There's a small hotel
With a wishing well
I wish that we were there together
--There's a Small Hotel, Rodgers and Hart
____________

The Bush administration is seeking to sequester White House visitor logs for a decade, while two dozen news agencies have filed for their release under the Freedom of Information Act ("White House Challenges Release of Visitor logs.")

According to Seymour Hersh's book, The Dark Side of Camelot, John F. Kennedy's Secret Service-abetted trysts with prostitutes were kept secret so as to prevent public scandal. After all, Catholics only screw to procreate, or so the Pope tells us.

45 Years later, White House denizens again want to keep hanky-panky out of the headlines. Except this time, it is the U.S. taxpayers who are getting the screw job.

"If released, the documents would show how often prominent religious conservatives visited the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney's residence. . ."

Today's prostitutes -- the "prominent religious conservatives" -- are every bit as practiced as Kennedy's Ms. Exner in separating a fool from his money. The problem is, this time it is our money.

We're getting taken for a ride, but it is not a pleasurable one.

Den of Iniquity

When criminals in this world appear,
And break the laws that they should fear,
And frighten all who see or hear,
The cry goes up both far and near for
Underdog! Underdog! Underdog!
__________

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) recently won a court case requesting the Secret Service's White House visitor logs be revealed.

Judge Royce Lambert said the logs were public property, and rejected the White House claim that they were protected via executive privilege, as they did not reveal the content of executive deliberations. CREW must be either a very lonely, or a very busy, office. The White House has expressed it may appeal the ruling.

In 2006, The Washington Post had obtained a similar ruling against Vice President Cheney's logs, but dropped it upon a block by an appellate court. Understandable seeing how the unctuous, minx-like, shape-shifting character of VP Cheney -- neither executive nor legislator -- would most likely allow him to slip out of any prosecutorial hands.

CREW pursued its own lawsuit, and is interested specifically in the visits of nine conservative Christian leaders, including James Dobson, Jerry Falwell and Gary Bauer.

Executive privilege is not a constitutionally-derived legal principle, yet everyone from activist judges to supposed conservatives firmly adhere to the concept. Why would a self-proclaimed wartime President fight a judicial battle to keep secret the White House visitor log? Surely this is not official State Secrets material, nor is it a matter of national security. Why the secrecy?

As a matter of democratic principles, the White House belongs to the American people. Do we not pay the utilities and the rent on that shack? In fact, do we not pay the occupant's health care? The White House residents have a great gig, but on top of that they want to turn this public house into a secret den. Why the secrets -- is Larry Craig a frequent fly-by visitor?

Ranger envisions any White House appeal will stress the importance of secrecy in the service of winning the Phony War on Terror (PWOT ©). This, tied to the need for absolute security, should save the day.

Terror, secrecy and security, con brio. It is a proven formula for success.

--by Jim