Another one for the chart

Have you heard the tale about Alberto Gonzales and former WH Chief of Staff Andy Card going to the hospital room of then-AG John Ashcroft, struggling to survive a tough go with pancreantitis, to get him to sign off on the NSA wiretapping even though he and the entire Justice Department had rejected the plan before the AG took ill? The showdown between Mrs. Ashcroft, Justice Deputies, security details, and a steaming mad Gonzales? Honey, it's better than Desperate Housewives!

This tale was told yesterday in gripping detail by then-Deputy AG James Comey to the Senate Judiciary Committee. I can't say anything that wasn't more eloquently said in a Salon War Room post, and they have also posted a partial transcript of the hearing.

Not to trumpet Salon all day, but their Glenn Greenwald is also following this closely and has analysis on his blog on Salon. Mr. Greenwald is even more long-winded than I am, but he thoroughly and intelligently dissects the whole thing, and that's worth a read.