37% Dare Call It Treason

To: Josh Marshall
Re: A short note from TPM Reader MC ...

President Bush gave the speech at a military base because he wants to portray criticism of his administration as treason. As his approval rating is below 40%, this makes the majority of the American people traitors... pity the poor patriot!

Wilson Was Sent at the Behest of the OVP

To: Mickey Kaus
Re: Kristof: 'I might have gotten it right!'

Wasn't Wilson sent to Niger by the CIA pursuant to a request the OVP to investigate claims that Iraq was seeking yellowcake there? Doesn't that count as "behest" or would Cheney have to have asked for Wilson personally? The latter is the neocon's interpretation, but is it reasonable? Were soldiers sent into Iraq at the behest of President Bush, or would he have had to request the soldiers invade via personal phone call to each individual soldier?

The original use of "behest" is: that's where the impetus for the mission came from. Fair enough.

Out-of-State Workers

To: Mickey Kaus
Re: In Louisiana, Worker Influx Causes Ill Will

Near this speck on the map southwest of New Orleans, where an oil refinery spouts flames into the sky and alligators are said to lurk in the green canals, sits something that is causing consternation across Louisiana: a camp for out-of-state workers cleaning up after the flood.

The Times homepage tagged this as a story about out-of-state workers causing resentment in Louisiana. It's about illegal immigrants.