Dkos diarist John Campanelli points to this blog post on Rick Warren by Melissa Etheridge's partner.

It seems to me both posts miss the point. I doubt too many object to talking with Rick Warren (it is worth noting however that Ms. Etheridge's partner seems woefully ignorant about Mr. Warren's views on gays and lesbians.) I believe the objection is to President-Elect Obama's tapping Mr. Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation.

In any event, that is my objection. Ms. Etheridge, President-Elect Obama and anyone who feels it would be productive should talk to anyone they choose -- but honoring Warren by tapping him for the inaugural invocation sends a terrible signal in my estimation.

Speaking for me only

It's cold in New York. I'm going to Florida today. J is not available today. Hopefully, TChris will be.

Corrente is organizing house party discussions on health care. Health care geeks are encouraged to add their thoughts to the discussion.

From the TalkLeft diaries, lilburro is still on the torture beat, discussing Biden's statements on prosecutions. Dalton Hoffine, like me, does not think much of "experience" in politics. Jacob Freeze finds some humor in the "oversight" of the TARP bailout.

This is an Open Thread.

Glenn Greenwald writes in more detail on the statements by Vice President Dick Cheney that directly implicate the top Congressional leaders on intelligence matters. Glenn identifies the Dem players:

Cheney's claims encompasses the following key Democrats:

* Nancy Pelosi (Ranking Member, House Intelligence Committee, House Minority Leader)
* Jane Harman (Ranking Member, House Intelligence Committee)
* Jay Rockefeller (Ranking Member, Senate Intelligence Committee)
* Harry Reid (Senate Minority Leader [or Tom Daschle, depending on the date of the meeting]).

To coin a phrase - what did they know and when did they know it? And what did they say in response? It has been reported that Sen. Jay Rockefeller wrote a letter (PDF). The statements made by Rockefeller in the letter have been challenged by Cheney. At this point, Cheney's gone on the record. So must these Democratic leaders.

Speaking for me only

Watch the heads explode:

Joe Lieberman's 2006 primary campaign manager, Sean Smith, who accused Ned Lamont of hacking their website the day of the Connecticut primary in 2006, has been selected to be the new Administration's spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security. If there's any federal department that needs truth-talking more than DoJ, it's likely DHS. . . . Americans have many good reasons to distrust DHS.

Putting Sean Smith at the podium at the Department of Homeland Security is not going to advance the credibility of the department. Recall, please, that Sean Smith first proposed the "hacked website" canard in Connecticut the day of Ned Lamont's primary victory over incumbent then-Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman

That's a good point actually. This Smith fellow probably is the wrong choice here.

Speaking for me only

The economic downturn has hit private college admission applications:

Admissions officers nationwide point to several possible reasons for the drop in applications. Some students have pared their college lists this year. Many more are looking at less-expensive state universities. Many institutions accepted more students under binding early-decision programs, and each such acceptance drains off an average of 8 to 10 regular-decision applications. And some experts suspect that students are delaying their college plans.

Two interesting points in the article. First, on the availability of financial aid:

I have been ridiculed and ribbed for the use of "speaking for me only" on my posts. But this little incident proves the correctness of my use.

When a mild mannered blogger like Yglesias has his rather innocuous post stir up trouble, imagine what my incendiary pieces might do?

As we all knew, logrolling is not limited to writers and Hollywood - it is a DC pasttime as well. But I do laugh at those folks who think it does not happen at their place. There may not be an official policy, but there are hierarchies and sacred cows throughout the blogosphere too.

And yes, I am speaking for me only.

Vice President Dick Cheney defended himself and the Bush Administration today on Fox News Sunday.

Cheney expressed no regrets in today's interview, vigorously defending the Bush administration's war and counterterrorism policies and saying he was untroubled by opinion polls showing that he and Bush are among the most unpopular White House occupants in modern times. "Eventually you wear out your welcome in this business, but I'm very comfortable with where we are and what we've achieved substantively," he said.

In discussing his views of broad executive power on national security issues, Cheney said Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt "went far beyond anything we've done in a global war on terror," and said that all U.S. presidents since 1973 have viewed the War Powers Act -- which gave Congress the role of declaring war -- as unconstitutional.

He also mocked Joe Biden. The transcript is here.

On Fox News this morning, Vice President Cheney implicated the Congressional leadership, including the current Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader, in the Bush Administration abuses regarding civil liberties. In an interview with Chris Wallace, Cheney said:

WALLACE: Let's drill down into some of the specific measures that you pushed — first of all, the warrantless surveillance on a massive scale, without telling the appropriate court, without seeking legislation from Congress. Why not, in the aftermath of 9/11 and the spirit of national unity, get approval, support, bring in the other branches of government?

CHENEY: Well, let me tell you a story about the terror surveillance program. We did brief the Congress. . . . We brought in the chairman and the ranking member, House and Senate, and briefed them a number of times up until — this was — be from late '01 up until '04 when there was additional controversy concerning the program.

MORE . . .

Via Drum, the NYTimes explains how the Obama Inauguaration team chose the printer for the invitations:

According to Mr. Donnelly, Precise Continental was selected over rival printers because it is a union company, it uses recycled paper and it is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which promotes responsible forest management.

Is Obama not President for all - including non-union, non-recycling, non-Forest Stewardship Council certified printers? How very uninclusive of Obama! How very stigmatizing! My point, for those who missed it, is that the Presidency is a bully pulpit on every issue and every decision made carries important symbolism. The power of the Presidency extends beyond those tangible powers granted by the Constitution. Moral suasion? Or "coercion and pressure?"

Update - Irony is lost on some.

(Speaking for me only)

I read this piece by Andrew Sullivan (Full Disclosure - I have a great distaste for Sullivan from the days that he was engaged in the New McCarthyism (calling war opposers "Fifth Columnists") while he cheerleaded the Iraq War and his days championing racist and sexist pseudo science like "The Bell Curve") and I am not sure what he is trying to say. In it he says some things that make no sense to me. Let me parse it on the flip.

It's too sunny to stay at the computer today, so here's an open thread for you. I'll be back tonight.

With Christmas shopping out of the way (except for those who truly wait until the last minute), shopping online is still worthwhile for great deals on things to buy ourselves.

Amazon is having a blow-out on boxed DVD sets. See, Great Deals on DVD boxed sets. There are 800 DVD Boxed Sets up to 60% Off. From The Wire: The Complete Series in one set to pre-ordering 24 - Season Seven.

Another good one: Amazon's Electronics Sale. From tv's to cameras to blue ray.

There are also big sales on books

What great deals have you found today?