The tension is building. The more Frist fulminates and fumes at Harry Reid, the greater the Democratic leader becomes in the eyes of Americans, on both sides of the aisle. Finally, many are saying, the Democrats are doing something of consequence. And amidst this chaos, Republican cohesiveness is eroding.

Senator Harry Reid, in a motion seconded by Senator Richard Durbin, just called for a very rare closed door executive session of the Senate. This motion is called “Rule 21” so that Senators can discuss “secret matters.” I’m impressed.

I found this short article interesting. My friend and former colleague Gordon Silverstein has noted that Samuel Alito would be the 11th Roman Catholic ever appointed to the Supreme Court — and the 5th on this court. Catholicism used to be considered a political liability, but those tensions have appropriately subsided.

Nick Kristoff just put it all the way it should be put to Vice President Cheney this morning. Everywhere he appears, someone should be asking: “What did you know about Plame, the leak, and the cover-up and when did you know it?” Read the entire piece — particularly the powerful last line: So, Mr.

This is an interesting graphic representation of the Cheney-Rumsfeld network of fellow travelers in and outside the administration. If you click on the graphic, it will download a more readable and larger version.

President Bush moved to distract the nation from the fact that his White House is the first to sustain an indictment of one of its most senior officials in 130 years by nominating Appellate Court Judge Samuel Alito Jr. to the Supreme Court.

After Fitzgerald’s announcement of five indictment charges against I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, I have to admit that I felt sick to my stomach about this whole affair. It is a great national tragedy to have someone of Libby’s stature fall from his post — but it is something that had to happen.

Bolton in the clear. This from a tuned-in TWN reader. His comment seems right: The Undersecretary of State referenced in the indictment is not John Bolton — it is Marc Grossman, the former U/S for Political Affairs. Because Powell and Armitage were out of the country at the time, Grossman was Acting Sec State.

Here is the current roster of senior State Department officials. Robert Joseph now holds the portfolio previously held by John Bolton. My hunch — given the other options at the Under Secretary level — is that John Bolton was one of Libby’s four sources on Valerie Plame Wilson. It would be nice to have confirmation….

According to Patrick Fitzgerald comments now being made, Libby had four sources for his information on Valerie Plame: 1. Senior CIA Officer 2. An Under Secretary of State 3. Vice President Cheney 4.