IS THE CHESHIRE CAT PLAYING POSSUM NOW?

After James Elmer Gantry Dobson ran his yap yesterday about the confidential tip-off Rove gave him about Harriet Miers being a certifiable right-wing fanatic and a 100% anti-choice hardliner, there was a shit-storm on Capitol Hill. In Dobson's home state of Colorado, Senator Ken Salazar, a conservative-leaning Democrat, demanded that the White House share whatever they told Dobson with senators. But with Republican senators still sniping from the right-- Trent Lott (KKK-MS) was quoted by USA TODAY: "Is she the most qualified person? Clearly the answer to that is no"-- and Democrats and normal Americans starting to feel uneasy with extremists like Dobson embracing her, the White House asked Dobson to back-off a little and hold down the glee until after the pre-ordained confirmation.

Today's ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS ran a story by M.E. Spengelmeyer called "Dobson Admits Doubt-- Focus Founder Questioning Early Endorsement of Miers." Spengelmeyer claims an "anguished" Dobson prayed yesterday for a sign from God. (I swear I'm not making this up.) According to the newspaper story "Dobson's 'agonized heart,' as he called it, is a sign of continuing turmoil in the religious conservative movement over the selection of Miers, a longtime confidante of Bush who has never been a judge and therefore has no paper trail detailing her views. Many evangelicals, including Dobson, see the pick to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as critical because O'Connor was viewed as a swing vote on contentious issues like abortion. For more than 30 years, Dobson has waged a crusade to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion. He said he believes Miers is against abortion, based on talks with her longtime friends and other information. He also confirmed reports that he received a special briefing from Bush's political adviser, Karl Rove, but still will not discuss the talks in detail. 'When you know some of the things I know - that I probably shouldn't know - that take me in this direction, you'll know why I've said with fear and trepidation (that) I believe Harriet Miers will be a good justice,' Dobson said in a broadcast with co-host John Fuller. 'And John, if I have made a mistake here, I will never forget it. The blood of those babies who will die will be on my hands to a degree. Lord, if I am right, confirm it, and if I am wrong, chastise me and I will repent of it and come before these microphones.'"

Dobson went on blathering in his holy-roller, pass-the-donation-plate-brother way and finally offered something hopeful. "Lord, you know I don't have the wisdom to make this decision. You know that what I feel now and what I think is right may be dead wrong" and that he's (drama-queen worried his
position "could do something to hurt the cause of Christ, and I'd rather sacrifice my life than do that." Let's hope the sacrifice takes place on a national TV network so everyone can see how satan takes back one of his own. Maybe he'll start a trend!


6 PM UPDATE- MIERS-DOBSON-SALAZAR 3-WAY HEATS UP


Today the CBS station in Denver reports that Salazar wasn't bullshitting when he asked the White House why the hell were they feeding "privileged" information to Dobson that was being kept from senators who have to examine Miers, Bush's "trust me" candidate for the Supreme Court, and decide if she's fit for the job or not. In fact, according to CBS, Salazar may oppose her confirmation if BushCo doesn't provide enough information for senators to make informed decisions. He is calling the Bush Regime out on the fact that they may have waived their right to withhold documents from the Senate about Miers' work as White House counsel if officials have given that information to "others" (read "right-wing loons and fanatics"). As expected, and as part of his stealth nomination strategy,
Bush has arrogantly declared he would not release documents relating to Miers' work at the White House, citing the need to maintain executive privilege. Salazar said he is concerned about media reports that the White House has "secretly" shared information with far right kingpin and politco-religionist powerbroker James Dobson. "I could envision voting against Harriet Miers because I do think that it is very important for the United States Senate to have complete information about the people who are brought before us," Salazar said in a conference call with reporters.