When The Walls Come Crumbling Down
I am sorry to stir the pot, but there is just too much stuff about the failures of this administration and it's leadership of the GOP to go uncalled today.
1. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two years ago, Rep. Walter Jones voted for the Iraq war and led the "freedom fries" brigade inCapitol Hill cafeterias to protest France's opposition to the war. This morning, the North Carolina Republican stands with two ofFrance's favorite House Democrats, calling on President Bush to begin ending that war.
It's a motley crew of congressmen, spanning the spectrum of ideology and geography: The co-sponsors of the first bipartisanresolution on withdrawal from Iraq are two Democrats, Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, as well asRepublican Ron Paul of Texas. (We don't know for sure, but we bet it's the first time all four men have agreed on anything, ever).
All three of Jones' co-sponsors, for various reasons, have long opposed the war. So it's Jones who draws the spotlight today, as hehas since he first discussed his new feelings Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
"I just feel that the reason of going in for weapons of mass destruction, the ability of the Iraqis to make a nuclear weapon, that's allbeen proven that it was never there," Jones said on ABC. The Morning Grind, CNN
2. With the Senate Finance Committee at an impasse on Social Security and House leaders anxious about moving forward,Republican congressional leaders have told the White House in recent days that it is time to look for an escape route. Senate GOP leaders, in discussions with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and political officials, have made it clear theyare stuck in a deep rut and suggested it is time for an exit strategy, according to a senior Senate Republican official and FinanceCommittee aides.
Democrats are united in their opposition, and the Finance Committee does not have the Republican votes to approve a SocialSecurity plan that would divert some payroll taxes to private investment accounts. But the committee, which has jurisdiction over theissue, also does not have the votes to pass a plan that would preserve Social Security's solvency without the personal accountsbecause too many GOP conservatives want them.
Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) has held 14 meetings with the panel's 11 Republicans to reach aconsensus just on achieving solvency, he said, but they have yet to produce a deal. He has not even broached the idea of personalaccounts, which he acknowledged to be the harder piece of the puzzle.
Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) has been unwavering in her opposition, and at least three other Republicans have questioned thewisdom of moving forward. "We are stuck," Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) said. MSNBC
IWG says: "So much for political capital!!! Bush had to spend all of that on Iraq and Gitmo!!!"
3. The six U.S. deaths raised Wednesday’s toll from insurgent attacks to 58 killed, making it the deadliest day of violence in morethan a month.
At least 1,714 U.S. military members have died since the war began in 2003, according to an AP count. CNN
4. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter challenged Congress on Wednesday to help define legal rights ofterrorism-era detainees at Guantanamo Bay, bemoaning a "crazy quilt" system. Top Pentagon and law-enforcement officials defended current practices at the U.S. military prison camp.
"It may be that it's too hot to handle for Congress, may be that it's too complex to handle for Congress, or it may be that Congresswants to sit back as we customarily do," Specter, R-Pennsylvania, said as his panel took testimony on practices and policies at theU.S. military camp at an American Navy base in Cuba. "But at any rate, Congress hasn't acted," Specter said.
The hearing came against a backdrop of growing reports of U.S. abuse of terror-war prisoners at the camp. CNN
Kos at Daily Kos has a great post on Republican hypocrites about terrorism here.
5. The House voted Wednesday to block the FBI and the Justice Department from using the anti-terrorism Patriot Act to searchlibrary and bookstore records, responding to complaints about potential invasion of privacy of innocent readers. Despite a veto threat from President Bush, lawmakers voted 238-187 to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that allows thegovernment to investigate the reading habits of terrorism suspects. MSNBC
IWG says: "Bush loves the veto pen because he is so extremely right wing of the mainstream! Civil Liberties, pah! Stem cell research,pah! Good thing SOME in the GOP have some sense about them!!"
30% approval rating for Congress, 42% for the President.
Bush's Legacy: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/
1. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two years ago, Rep. Walter Jones voted for the Iraq war and led the "freedom fries" brigade inCapitol Hill cafeterias to protest France's opposition to the war. This morning, the North Carolina Republican stands with two ofFrance's favorite House Democrats, calling on President Bush to begin ending that war.
It's a motley crew of congressmen, spanning the spectrum of ideology and geography: The co-sponsors of the first bipartisanresolution on withdrawal from Iraq are two Democrats, Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, as well asRepublican Ron Paul of Texas. (We don't know for sure, but we bet it's the first time all four men have agreed on anything, ever).
All three of Jones' co-sponsors, for various reasons, have long opposed the war. So it's Jones who draws the spotlight today, as hehas since he first discussed his new feelings Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
"I just feel that the reason of going in for weapons of mass destruction, the ability of the Iraqis to make a nuclear weapon, that's allbeen proven that it was never there," Jones said on ABC. The Morning Grind, CNN
2. With the Senate Finance Committee at an impasse on Social Security and House leaders anxious about moving forward,Republican congressional leaders have told the White House in recent days that it is time to look for an escape route. Senate GOP leaders, in discussions with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and political officials, have made it clear theyare stuck in a deep rut and suggested it is time for an exit strategy, according to a senior Senate Republican official and FinanceCommittee aides.
Democrats are united in their opposition, and the Finance Committee does not have the Republican votes to approve a SocialSecurity plan that would divert some payroll taxes to private investment accounts. But the committee, which has jurisdiction over theissue, also does not have the votes to pass a plan that would preserve Social Security's solvency without the personal accountsbecause too many GOP conservatives want them.
Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) has held 14 meetings with the panel's 11 Republicans to reach aconsensus just on achieving solvency, he said, but they have yet to produce a deal. He has not even broached the idea of personalaccounts, which he acknowledged to be the harder piece of the puzzle.
Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) has been unwavering in her opposition, and at least three other Republicans have questioned thewisdom of moving forward. "We are stuck," Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) said. MSNBC
IWG says: "So much for political capital!!! Bush had to spend all of that on Iraq and Gitmo!!!"
3. The six U.S. deaths raised Wednesday’s toll from insurgent attacks to 58 killed, making it the deadliest day of violence in morethan a month.
At least 1,714 U.S. military members have died since the war began in 2003, according to an AP count. CNN
4. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter challenged Congress on Wednesday to help define legal rights ofterrorism-era detainees at Guantanamo Bay, bemoaning a "crazy quilt" system. Top Pentagon and law-enforcement officials defended current practices at the U.S. military prison camp.
"It may be that it's too hot to handle for Congress, may be that it's too complex to handle for Congress, or it may be that Congresswants to sit back as we customarily do," Specter, R-Pennsylvania, said as his panel took testimony on practices and policies at theU.S. military camp at an American Navy base in Cuba. "But at any rate, Congress hasn't acted," Specter said.
The hearing came against a backdrop of growing reports of U.S. abuse of terror-war prisoners at the camp. CNN
Kos at Daily Kos has a great post on Republican hypocrites about terrorism here.
5. The House voted Wednesday to block the FBI and the Justice Department from using the anti-terrorism Patriot Act to searchlibrary and bookstore records, responding to complaints about potential invasion of privacy of innocent readers. Despite a veto threat from President Bush, lawmakers voted 238-187 to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that allows thegovernment to investigate the reading habits of terrorism suspects. MSNBC
IWG says: "Bush loves the veto pen because he is so extremely right wing of the mainstream! Civil Liberties, pah! Stem cell research,pah! Good thing SOME in the GOP have some sense about them!!"
30% approval rating for Congress, 42% for the President.
Bush's Legacy: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/
posted by GT at 8:27 AM
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