Here is what I don’t get. Other than this incident, P.J. Crowley was doing a fine job, from an administration POV. Am I wrong? Crowley never struck me as a DFH.

He’s not — he agrees with holding and charging Manning, he just doesn’t agree with torturing him:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/13/state-departments-p-j-crowley-stepping-down/#more-150108

But even that minor level of dissent is too much for the increasingly Nixonian Obama.

Marcy’s going to have more on this within the hour.

Classic DC gaffe: truth-telling leads to loss of job. It’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from Obama, and I am not at all surprised after his irritation at Jake Tapper’s question on Friday, especially the followup “So do you disagree with PJ Crowley?”

The same night as Obama finally showed up at the Gridiron Dinner, so all the “working press” of DC were busy at the hilarious show! “A little song, a little dance, a balding spokesman down your pants!”

When you are morally without defense, you can broach no dissent. Otherwise, it doesn’t come to the level of resignation. Resignation is the clue. Loyalty is all that matters. Not any variation of opinion because that is a threat to the morally weak.

FWIW, from Mike Allen at Politico (from HuffPost coverage):

Crowley, a respected NSC spokesman under President Clinton, has never clicked with Secretary Clinton: He doesn’t travel with the Secretary, which is crippling and unusual for someone in his post. His doom was sealed early this year when Mike Hammer, who had been the NSC spokesman, was reassigned to State. Technically, Hammer is Crowley’s deputy. But everyone knows he is his likely replacement.

And Clinton’s statement, now up at Fox (!) (but can be found through HuffPost link):

“It is with regret that I have accepted the resignation of Philip J. Crowley as assistant secretary of state for public affairs,” said Clinton in a statement. “P.J. has served our nation with distinction for more than three decades, in uniform and as a civilian. His service to country is motivated by a deep devotion to public policy and public diplomacy, and I wish him the very best.”

Crowley’s quick demise amplies what I stated regarding the attempts to breakdown Bradley Manning via isolation and degradation through forced nudity (emphasis added):

The isolation and degradation of Bradley Manning by the Marine Corps penal authorities at the Quantico brig represents a significant acceleration of government torture policy, as it is meant, among other things, to further desensitize the U.S. population to the use of torture. Torture will be used on political dissidents in this country, that is clear now, and PFC Manning is the first, but there will be others.

The Democratic Party-led administration has embraced the worst kinds of barbaric treatment, in line with its support of imperialist war and assassination policies.

If you have a shred of decency still left in your bones, and you work for this administration, you will be hung out to dry (with mealy-mouthed platitudes to send you on your way, no doubt).

If Crowley had guts, he’d ream this administration on his way out, but in the end, he will prove a company man, and go quietly into that good night, where a plum private sector or university job awaits him.

To live in this country is to fight daily feelings of moral exhaustion, to force oneself to blunt the most human feelings of sympathy and empathy for those who suffer.

To paraphrase an old revolutionary:

Which way they fly is Hell; themselves are Hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep
Still threatning to devour them opens wide,
To which the Hell they suffer seems a Heav’n.
O then at last relent: is there no place
Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left?

Yeah, so it was the trifecta: weekend news penumbra + Gridiron + Japan capturing what available media attention was left after those two events.

Thanks for the news on the HRC-Crowley contretemps.

“Mike Hammer” (his real name?) doesn’t sound like the kind of person anyone would want at a striped-pants podium.

Despite all the major coverage of Japan and Libya, not to mention the Ivory Coast, I did see coverage of this – on Al Jazeera, of course. I’m sure Secretary Clinton must be pleased by that.

Rigid disclipline to go with the rigid thinking.

With a name like Mike Hammer, you’d think it was a character out of a Mickey Spillane novel or something.

From Jake Tapper:

While some White House officials knew of Crowley’s comments, White House chief of staff Bill Daley learned of them when ABC News asked that question of the president. Daley told White House officials of Crowley, “he’s done.”

Is Manning the first of many citizens whose right to a fast and speedy trial have given way to never ending detention and interrogation? Isn’t the military held to the same constitutional standards as civilian law under UCMJ? Of course after the Marines et al. are done abusing Manning and he’s finally adjudicated, it’s DoJ’s turn at bat.

“To live in this country is to fight daily feelings of moral exhaustion, to force oneself to blunt the most human feelings of sympathy and empathy for those who suffer.”; very well said Jeff.

HUMM…..

THIS IS TRAVESTY AND WHAT MORE TRADGIC IS THAT OBAMA HAS HIS HEAD SO FAR UP HIS BUTT HE REFUSES TO SEE OR FIX WHATS HAPPENING TO BRADLEY”!!!!

THE REAL TRAVSETY HERE IS OBAMAS SILENCE AND PASSING THE BUCK!!

AND HE REFUSES TO TAKE NO REPSONSIBILITY FOR THE TORTURE OF BRADLEY!!

HERE IT IS FOLKS!! OUR OWN ABU GRAVE!!

AND MANY OF US WIL GET THE EXAXCT TREATMENMT!! SOME DAY WHEN WE SERIOUSLY OBJECT!!

OBAMA HAS SOLD US OUT.. THE PATRIOT ACT AND NOW BRADLEYS TREATMENT!!

DOWN WITH OBAMA!! WE DONT NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WILL NOT KEEP HIS PROMISES AND SELLS OUT!!
1. PATRIOT ACT!!
2. GITMO IS NOT CLOSED..!!
3. TREATMENT OF BRADLEY M.
4. THE BONUSES PAID TO BANKERS!
5. THE BANKERS AND WALL STREET RAPING US AND RIPPING US OF!! BIG TIME!!
6. NO MORTGAGE RELIEF!!
7. NO JOBS!!
8. NO FOOD!
9. HIGHEST POVERY RATE FOR CHILDREN SINCE 1955!!
10. THE MOST PEOLE ON FOOD STAMPS EVER!!
11. THE MILITARY BUDGET IS 100 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE BUSH BUDGETS!!
12 THE OUT RAGEOUS OUT OF CONTROL MILITARY SPENDING FOR OUR MILT INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX MACHINE!! PROPOGATING MORE WARS AND ABUSE OF THE WORLDS PEOPLES AND POPULATIONS!!
13. WAR-ING IN ALL THE COUNTRIES WHO HAVE OIL!! FOR OBVIOUS RRASONS!!
ETC….THE LIST GETS BIGGER EACH AND EVERY DAY!!..NEED I SAY MORE>>????

OBMAMA HAS JOINED THE NEO CONS!! NOW HE AGREES AND RANKS ON TOP WITH ALL THE NEO CON LIARS THIEVES!! IN THE GOP AND OUR GOVT OFFICIALS!!

WHO PROMOTE WARS !! AND WHO RAPE THE AMERICAN PEOPLES TAX DOLLARS..!!

DO NOT ELECT OBAMA!! EVER AGAIN!!

REMEBER BRADLEY MANNING!! YOU ARE NEXT!!

~~~Edited by Moderator. Please use your “indoor” voice (all caps are considered shouting AND are difficult to read~~~

So 150k rally again in Madison yesterday, the largest labor rally in history, and neither dday or anyone at FDL can be bothered to write about it. Liberals apparently too busy wallowing in their Obama pity and the rights of one single human being. No wonder we lose.

Lifting the Veil: Obama and the Failure of Capitalist Democracy {Full Film}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzULm4d8h8w&feature=feedf}

Torture will be used on political dissidents in this country … and PFC Manning is the first …”

I would say that Jose Padilla was the first.

marksimm,
You write about it, hmmm

FWIW: “Assault on Collective Bargaining Illegal, Says International Labor Rights Group”

It seems that a lot of people are glossing over the fact that Manning’s trial is on a defense delay, and has been since Coombs took this case.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/us/03manning.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

You might have noticed that there’s a large amount of breaking news this weekend that has caught people’s attention. David Dayen may perform wonders of coverage but even he is allowed a bit of time off (as are others who write most days at FDL) – plus he is not actually in WI at the moment no matter the wonders of his coverage that make it seem he is right there.

If you notice the left hand corner of your screen the “MyFDL” – if you click that it will take you to the MyFDL front page. Then scroll down just a bit and on the right will be a widget box with “My Stuff” and just to the right of “My Stuff” you can click “Write Post” and create a diary and tell us all about it. We do want to know what happened and if you have a first hand account, I can assure you that you will receive both readers and commenters who will appreciate your efforts.

You have to remember, everything Obama does is for vanity purposes. He wants to be seen as “strong” in a Repug framed way. Now they’ll let slip that this administration is decisive, although every other action leads to the contrary assessment. Remember, all of the tough talk and cowardly actions like this is all for the superficial appearance of being strong.

On a tangential note, HuffPo is reporting that Anonymous is going to release the Bank of America emails. THANK GOD!!!!!!!

So far, based on the actions of spokespeople and the administration’s reaction, I have concluded that this administration believes:

* Saying that real progressives should be drug tested — is good.

* Speaking against the torture of Manning — is bad.

I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling ashamed of voting for Obama.

More from Madison:

A tunnel connects Madison’s M&I Bank to the basement in the capitol, or “the rat hole to the Walker palace.”

DO NOT MISS the Tractorcade, particularly the manure spreader.

Bless you!

Awww, thanks. But bless them. Incredible bunch of people, aren’t they? Go Wisconsin! Lead the nation.

Things that make you want to just spit:

LEHMAN EXECS MAY ESCAPE CHARGES LINK.

Another Inside Job
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: March 13, 2011
“In the days and weeks ahead, we’ll see pro-banker politicians denounce the proposed settlement, asserting that it’s all about defending the rule of law. But what they’re actually defending is the exact opposite — a system in which only the little people have to obey the law, while the rich, and bankers especially, can cheat and defraud without consequences.”

LINK.

Finally, there’s this from the UK Daily Mail:

Obama told Bradley Manning’s prison treatment is ‘appropriate’ as it’s revealed he now wears suicide-proof sleep suit

can you say gestapo,it looks like our president has lied to his base,we need to primary him but with who?bernie sanders seems like he is the only honest person in dc.

There’s some serious talk here in DC about impeachment (no joke, I work on K St.) … except we have nothing but Slow Joe to fill the empty slot … and no strong candidates to run in either of their places … just a few months ago, HilBeast was being talked about, but that’s dead now … and, the latest word on K St., a rumor but still interesting, is that our “fearful leader” has no intention of running for a second term, but plans to cut and run in early 2012 … apparently, he’s got some tee times lined up that just can’t wait … a big factor in the decision, rumor has it, is that Mooch hates being First Lady, hates living in the White House, and wants out big time … also, the big money is starting to leave Zippy and is looking for something/someone viable …

But that’s all the firebaggers’ fault, you know. If only they’d been nicer to him, he wouldn’t be all Nixonian-paranoid now…. /s