I saw some of the remarks delivered at Camp Democracy on C-Span2 yesterday. Perhaps the scariest talk was given by veteran intelligence officer Ray McGovern. (You may remember him as the bearded, bespectacled gentledman who called Cheney on the "bulletproof" proof of Iraq's ties to Al Qaeda and his assertion that he knew where the WMD were. It made the Daily Show.)

I read recently that aircraft carriers have been deployed to the Middle East. McGovern says that he gives it a 50-50 chance that there will be a U.S. strike on Iran before the November election. His sources' best guess is October 21st.

Many people have wondered why, exactly, Bush and Cheney are so effing confident Republicans will retain control of both houses of Congress in the midterm elections. I'd like to think they're either delusional or just feigning confidence. But if the options are "because we're going to bomb Iran" or "because the voting machine fix is in", I decided recently I'd rather it be the latter. Sure, we'd still be screwed, but at least it would just be us. We'd have a chance to fix it, and within our own borders. At least our government wouldn't be starting another illegal, immoral war of aggression that could provoke who knows what in the Middle East.

At least nobody would die right away.

ETA in the wee hours of Monday: Billmon is feeling a mite paranoid as well. It's possible, after all, that Bush believes war with Iran is pre-ordained. New rule: nobody who is pro-apocalypse (tm missmurchison) should be Commander-In-Chief of the world's largest army. It's just a flat-out bad idea.

**

In response to a question, Ray McGovern also said that Vice President Cheney had ten minute and five minute warnings that something was about to hit the Pentagon on 9-11, and chose not to do anything about it. McGovern mentioned this because he said he asked Norman Mineta about it... Mineta was there, and testified about this in front of the 9-11 Commission. I didn't know this. If you didn't either, don't feel too bad – it didn't make it into the 9-11 Commission Report.

W.T.F.

++ WaPo reports that the next nominee to the court could face more scrutiny.

++ Democrats split on Roberts. Basically, the man is going to be confirmed, so any opposition is going to be symbolic. As of right now, I know that Barbara Boxer and John Kerry are going to vote "no". The bastard Lehy is voting "yes". We'll find out for sure what occurs later today. I was so proud of my Democratic representation in the Judiciary Committee when they all stood solidly against the Bolton nomination. Unfortunately, that outcome (nomination without recommendation) will not be repeated. *sigh*

++ Speaking of which, the final debate in the Senate Judiciary committee is taking place today. You can watch on C-SPAN. After their nomination, the motion will proceed to the Senate floor for more debate and a final vote.