From the National Journal, as I eluded to earlier this week, it would appear that the focus of the CIA Leak investigation is headed straight towards the office of the Vice President. "Scooter" Libby has testified, and many sources with firsthand knowledge have confirmed, that Cheney authorized Libby to release classified information, including details of the NIE (National Intelligence Estimate), to defend the administration's use of prewar intelligence in making the case for war. Time for another round of the White House Press Corps vs. Scottie to find what he's not able to comment on regarding this on-going investigation as it relates to Mr. Cheney's conduct. See for yourself here.

From the AP, there should be little doubt at this point that the president is seriously concerned about the direction investigations into his NSA domestic spying program are headed. Yesterday, Congresswoman Heather A. Wilson of New Mexico, chairwoman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence (the committee which oversees the NSA) made clear her intentions for a full Congressional inquiry into the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping program. This, just a day after the conservative publication Insight Magazine reported on Karl Rove's latest attempts to strong-arm Republican congresspersons into siding with the president on the legality of the program. This morning, President Bush held a press conference in the apparent hope to connect a thwarted terrorist attack involving "shoe bombs" which targeted Los Angeles shortly after 9/11 (Bush called the target of the attack the Liberty Tower, but it was actually the Library Tower, and is now the US Bank Tower) with the NSA domestic spying program - though he never specifically connected the two. The mayor of LA, Antonio Villaraigosa, claims this is the first he's ever heard of such a plot and described communication with the White House as "non-existent." Seems odd that you wouldn't notify, through some means, the mayor of a city targeted in a terrorist attack, just as kind of a heads up or something, you know. See for yourself here.

From the Washington Post, on at least two occasions the chief Judges from the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court were warned by a top Justice Department lawyer that evidence obtained in President Bush's eavesdropping program may have been improperly used to obtain wiretap warrants in the court. Those revelations "infuriated U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly -- who, like her predecessor, Royce C. Lamberth, had expressed serious doubts about whether the warrantless monitoring of phone calls and e-mails ordered by Bush was legal. See for yourself here.

From CNN, more good news for the White House today as embattled former FEMA chief, Michael Brown has indicated that he is willing, if not eager, to reveal his correspondence with President Bush and other officials during Hurricane Katrina, to a Senate inquiry unless the White House forbids it AND offers legal support.
See for yourself here.

From Statesman.com, Judge Frank Monroe of Austin has some apparent concerns regarding the new Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, which took effect Oct. 17, 2005. In his ruling, he called some of its provisions "inane," "absurd" and incomprehensible to "any rational human being." Judge Monroe continued in his written ruling highlighting his concerns with this statement, "Apparently, it is not the individual consumers of this country that make the donations to the members of Congress that allow them to be elected and re-elected and re-elected and re-elected." The judge has received quite a bit of attention within the legal community regarding the ruling. See for yourself here.

From the AP, good news for indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay as he takes over a coveted spot on the Appropriations Committee vacated by the convicted Republican Congressman from CA, Randy "Duke" Cunningham. As most of us know, this is only temporary position for Mr.DeLay, though he did also manage to grab a seat on the subcommittee overseeing the Justice Department, which is currently investigating an influence-peddling scandal involving disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his dealings with lawmakers. Convenient no!?! wink, wink. See for yourself here.