Election Tea Leaves

I know senators think they're all-powerful, but the New Republic has still more evidence:

"Patrick Fitzgerald is said to be lining up a host of witnesses--including Tim Russert, Judy Miller, Ari Fleischer, and possibly even Dick Cheney--to testify that Scooter Libby lied to investigators when he said he learned of Valerie Plame's identity from reporters. But there's one more name Fitzgerald might want to add to his witness list: Tom Coburn. The senator, evidently, has a special knack for sussing out liars. During John Roberts's confirmation hearings, the Oklahoma Republican said:

"I've tried to use my medical skills of observation of body language to ascertain your uncomfortableness and ill at ease with questions and responses. I will tell you that I am very pleased both in my observational capabilities as a physician to know that your answers have been honest and forthright as I watch the rest of your body respond to the stress that you're under."

If only journalists could detect truth and lies so easily!

A classic debunking piece about Iraq, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch :

"For more than a year, former Marine Staff Sgt. Jimmy Massey has been telling anybody who will listen about the atrocities that he and other Marines committed in Iraq. In scores of newspaper, magazine and broadcast stories, at a Canadian immigration hearing and in numerous speeches across the country, Massey has told how he and other Marines recklessly, sometimes intentionally, killed dozens of innocent Iraqi civilians. Among his claims:

"--Marines fired on and killed peaceful Iraqi protesters.

"--Americans shot a 4-year-old Iraqi girl in the head.

"--A tractor-trailer was filled with the bodies of civilian men, women and children killed by American artillery.

"Massey's claims have gained him celebrity. Last month, Massey's book, 'Kill, Kill, Kill,' was released in France. His allegations have been reported in nationwide publications such as USA Today, as well as numerous broadcast reports...News organizations worldwide published or broadcast Massey's claims without any corroboration and in most cases without investigation. Outside of the Marines, almost no one has seriously questioned whether Massey, a 12-year veteran who was honorably discharged, was telling the truth.

"He wasn't.

"Each of his claims is either demonstrably false or exaggerated - according to his fellow Marines, Massey's own admissions, and the five journalists who were embedded with Massey's unit, including a reporter and photographer from the Post-Dispatch and reporters from The Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal."

How on earth did this guy get such a free ride from the press?

Eric Pfeiffer, blogging at Wonkette ,

"White House reporters have noted Laura Bush's appetite for news. Unlike the professions of her husband, Laura reportedly not only reads the papers but calls reporters when she disagrees with a particular take. We don't know if the rumors are true, but this corrected White House pool report did catch our eye.

" The president and first lady arrived at the lock at 10:35 a.m. EST, about 15 minutes ahead of schedule. He was wearing a blue shirt and gray slacks and no tie. The first lady had on a white pantsuit, looking very crisp."

"Skies were overcast, but it was not raining. A very large cruise ship, tourists lining the railings, passed thought the lock just before they arrived."

"The Bushes were joined at the lock by President and Mrs. Torrijos. The Panamanian president was without jacket and tie, also His wife had on an eggshell-white pantsuit. Hers appeared to be linen, while Mrs. Bush's outfit was probably polyester and cotton .

"About three hours later, the following correction went out to reporters:

" First Lady Laura Bush's white pantsuit was linen, and not polyester and cotton, as reported. It still looked crisp.

"Richard (Saint Laurent) Benedetto, USA TODAY."

Me, I don't do fabrics. But what about Laura "reportedly" calling scribes to complain about stories? This is the first I've heard of it. If any ink-stained wretch out there has gotten such a call, drop me a line.