Archives: July 2006
Republican Sen. Hagel breaks with Bush on Mideast
Urging President Bush to turn all U.S. efforts toward "ending this madness," a leading Republican senator Monday broke with the Bush administration and called for an immediate cease-fire in the Mideast. "The sickening slaughter on both sides must end and it must end now," Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel said. "President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Israeli bombing of Qana kills dozens of children
There is worldwide press condemnation of the Israeli bombing of Qana (in which as many as 35 children were killed), with one Lebanese daily writing that the village witnessed the opening of the gates of hell. In Israel, one commentator admits to feelings of shame at the raid, but others are uneasy at the suspension of air strikes for 48 hours and the possibility of a ceasefire. Papers in Iran and Iraq appeal to Muslims to go to Lebanon and wage jihad against Israel and its perceived allies, the US and the UK.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Lieberman Loses New York Times Backing
Does it matter that The New York Times has endorsed anti-war challenger Ned Lamont over Senator Joe Lieberman in the August 8 Connecticut Democratic primary? Of course it does. No, newspaper endorsements do not swing all that many votes in and of themselves, especially in high-profile contests. But, especially when they go against a long-term incumbent like Lieberman, they help wavering voters make the leap into the opposition camp.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Old guard Democrats fear backlash as Lieberman flounders
Top Democrats, including Senators Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid and Representative Rahm Emanuel, are obsessed with the number 51. That's the percentage of the vote they hope Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut gets in his Aug. 8 Democratic primary election. Lieberman, the party's vice presidential candidate just six years ago, is struggling. His close ties to the White House and support for the Iraq War have dismantled his support. Most observers attribute his predicament in large part to the Iraq war, which Lieberman strongly supports, but most Connecticut Democrats just as strongly oppose.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
"Do-nothing" Congress goes on break...again
The House of Representatives has taken a first step toward raising minimum wages for America's poorest workers, although critics say the plans are unlikely to get much further. The House voted to raise the minimum-wage level from its current rate of $5.15 an hour to $7.25 by the middle of 2009. With intense Republican opposition lurking in the Senate, it all may be for nothing, as have so many other recent efforts, as taunts of "do-nothing Congress" grow louder each day.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Axis of Evil Flooded With Membership Applications
The Axis of Evil, which originally consisted of Iran, Iraq and North Korea, has been flooded with membership applications of late as evildoers around the world vie to fill the slot vacated by Iraq. That is according to North Korean President Kim Jong-Il, who since 2002 has served as Chairman of the Axis of Evil while also holding down the post of Chairman of the Axis of Evil's membership committee. At a press conference in Pyongyang today, President Kim said that the bewildering number of applications received at the Axis of Evil offices each day is "proof that evildoing is alive and well."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
House Vote Inches Minimum Wage to $7.25 Over Three Years
Republicans muscled the first minimum wage increase in a decade through the House early Saturday after pairing it with a cut in inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates. Combining the two issues provoked protests from Democrats and was sure to cause problems in the Senate, where the minimum wage initiative was likely to die at the hands of Democrats opposed to the costly estate tax cuts. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation next week.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Ken Lay's Corpse Sentenced To Prison
A U.S. district court judge handed down the maximum sentence Tuesday to the body of former Enron CEO Kenneth L. Lay, who was convicted on multiple counts of securities and wire fraud when alive last May. "Mr. Lay, given the severity and scope of your blatant disregard for the laws and ethics of business, this court has no hesitation in posthumously sentencing you to rot in a maximum-security correctional facility," Judge Sim Lake said while addressing Lay's decomposing corpse Tuesday. "May God have already had mercy on your soul."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
US Increases Troops in Iraq
The top U.S. general in Iraq had hoped to be able to recommend what he called a "fairly significant" reduction in U.S. troops in the country this year. Instead, on Thursday Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld approved the general's request for 3,500 more troops. And that follows the general's decision to call in a reserve brigade from Kuwait earlier this year.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Fighting breaks out between CNN and Fox
Fears of a wider war in the Middle East were realized today as fighting broke out between CNN and Fox in southern Lebanon. In the two weeks since the Mideast conflict began, camera crews and on-air personalities from the two cable news giants had been staring each other down, jealously guarding their territory in the fight to beam the most dramatic footage back home. Diplomatic experts have worried, however, that the massive presence of both CNN and Fox in southern Lebanon was a powder keg waiting to explode -- worries that seemed particularly justified today. While setting up a shot with his camera crew this morning, the Fox News Channel's Geraldo Rivera saw that another newscaster was clearly visible in the background of his shot: CNN's Anderson Cooper.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Democrats launch 'Six for '06' agenda
The Senate's top Democrat says 1994's "Contract with America," the Republican campaign agenda the year the GOP regained control of Congress -- was an "urban myth." "The 'Contract with America' didn't accomplish anything," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada. "(It) didn't change the election at all." Republicans signed the 10-point plan with fanfare on the steps of the Capitol before they took control of the House for the first time in 40 years. Yet, even as Reid dismissed the "Contract with America," he and other Democrats were promoting their own election-year document of six broad legislative goals, called "Six for '06."- National security
- Jobs and wages
- Energy independence
- Affordable health care
- Retirement security
- College access for all
» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
UN body criticizes U.S. on rights
The US should immediately shut all secret detention facilities used in its campaign against terror groups, the UN Human Rights Committee has said. The committee called on the US to give the International Red Cross prompt access to those held in such jails. The UN report also covered the domestic human rights situation in the US. It urged the government to ensure the rights of poor people and blacks are respected in relief efforts. Both groups were "disadvantaged" in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the UN committee noted. The UN panel said the US should increase its efforts "to ensure the rights of poor people and in particular African-Americans are fully taken into consideration in the reconstruction plans with regard to access to housing, education and health care".» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Former FEMA Director to lawmaker: 'He can bite me'
A congressman hit back at former disaster agency chief Michael Brown after the former FEMA director described him as "that little twerp." "Brown is an incompetent fool, and everyone in South Mississippi knows it," said Rep. Gene Taylor, a Democrat from Mississippi. In a Playboy magazine interview, the fallen Federal Emergency Management Agency chief took issue with Taylor for harshly questioning him during a hearing into the government's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina last year. "He said I didn't recognize the death and suffering that was going on," Brown said of Taylor.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Analysis: Bush foreign policy struggling
These are dreary days for U.S. diplomacy. A string of disappointments in recent weeks has left Washington's role as a global power broker diminished. The unalloyed U.S. support for Israel during two weeks of fighting with Hezbollah insurgents in Lebanon and American refusal to agree to a quick cease-fire are leaving the Bush administration ever more isolated internationally. U.S. relations with its allies had shown signs of improvement in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But the signs of strain are growing:» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Democrats to map out election message
Democrats plan to press for a minimum wage increase and "tough, smart" national security in their final push to wrest power from the Republicans in the November elections. House and Senate Democrats will hold a joint meeting on Thursday to discuss events planned for the 100 days leading up to midterm congressional elections and lay out their party agenda, called "A New Direction for America." It's a compilation of positions the party has staked out over the past few months on income, national security, energy, education, health care and retirement accounts.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Gulf drilling plan advances in Senate, Exxon posts $10.4 bil quarterly profits
The Senate is poised to pass legislation that would open a vast portion of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas exploration, after a landslide vote Wednesday allowed debate on the measure to advance over environmentalists' objections. The vote to proceed was 86-12, showing broad support for the legislation, which could give energy companies and Gulf Coast states their best prospects for new oil and gas exploration since a nationwide moratorium on offshore drilling was imposed in 1981.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Mideast crisis talks fail
Talks in Rome on a plan for ending the 15-day-old conflict in Lebanon have failed to reach agreement barring a last-minute breakthrough, sources said. With key Middle East players unable to reach consensus on a cease-fire and deployment of an international force, diplomats were trying to cobble together a face-saving statement, they said. A U.S. official described Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as being "under siege" but holding firm any cessation of hostilities must include a permanent disarming of Lebanonese Hezbollah militants.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
A president, not a king
In five and a half years in office, President George W. Bush has lodged more "signing statements" — or challenges to provisions of laws passed by Congress — than all 42 previous presidents combined. Numbers don't lie. Bush is overusing a tool relied on occasionally throughout history to lay down legal objections in case of subsequent court challenges and to instruct agencies how to execute new laws. The imperial president has a more pernicious approach. He uses signing statements to expand his powers and cherry-pick laws he likes — or doesn't like.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Angelina Jolie, Bono Sign Mideast Peace Accord
Hopes for a lasting peace in the Middle East were raised today when a comprehensive Mideast peace accord was signed by Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and Bono, the lead singer of the rock band U2. Just hours after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Beirut to confer with Lebanese officials, Dr. Rice found that her efforts were largely upstaged by the high-wattage amateur diplomacy of the two global superstars.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Senate backs state parental consent laws for abortions
Acting to further chip away at abortion rights ahead of the fall congressional elections, Senate Republicans yesterday pushed through legislation making it a federal crime to evade parental consent laws by taking minors across state lines for abortions. The 65-to-34 Senate vote, which came just a week after a controversial bill on stem cell research divided several leading Republicans from their antiabortion base, gave the party another plank for its "values" agenda.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Democratic leaders lay out vision for success in 2008
Concentrating on the concerns of the middle class -- college, health care, retirement -- is the ticket for Democrats to regain control of Congress and the White House, Sen. Hillary Clinton told a national gathering of moderate Democrats Monday. "We've seen what it's like to have a Republican administration that puts the middle class last,'' said the New York senator and presumed presidential candidate. "The strong got stronger and the rich got richer in the mistaken belief that the rest of the country would eventually get our share.''» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Sectarian break-up of Iraq is now inevitable, admit officials
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, meets Tony Blair in London today as violence in Iraq reaches a new crescendo and senior Iraqi officials say the break up of the country is inevitable. A car bomb in a market in the Shia stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad yesterday killed 34 people and wounded a further 60 and was followed by a second bomb in the same area two hours later that left a further eight dead.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
An Imminent Threat (to the Constitution)
A blistering report out today from a blue-ribbon legal panel dramatically establishes how President Bush's use of signing statements to assert his right to ignore legislation passed by Congress undermines the rule of law and the constitutional system of separation of powers. The report, from an American Bar Association task force, goes a long way toward establishing the parameters for what could be a ferocious and consequential debate -- or an unparalleled acquiescence to an executive-branch power grab.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush Attempts to Give Kim Jong-il Full-Body Massage
In a controversial attempt to break the nuclear stalemate with North Korea, President George W. Bush today tried but failed to give North Korean President Kim Jong-Il a full body massage. Mr. Bush had been searching for weeks for the proper pretext to meet with Mr. Kim in order to administer the surprise rubdown, White House spokesman Tony Snow confirmed. "The president believed that there were knots of tension in Kim Jong-Il's shoulders and neck region," Mr. Snow told reporters at the White House. "He felt that once those knots were removed, Kim Jong-Il would be more amenable to abandoning his nuclear program."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
ABA: Bush violating Constitution
President Bush's penchant for writing exceptions to laws he has just signed violates the Constitution, an American Bar Association task force says in a report highly critical of the practice. The ABA group, which includes a one-time FBI director and former federal appeals court judge, said the president has overstepped his authority in attaching challenges to hundreds of new laws.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Kerry knocks Bush on handling of Mideast conflict
U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D- Mass., who was in town Sunday to help Gov. Jennifer Granholm campaign for her re-election bid, took time to take a jab at the Bush administration for its lack of leadership in the Israeli-Lebanon conflict. "If I was president, this wouldn't have happened," said Kerry during a noon stop at Honest John's bar and grill in Detroit's Cass Corridor.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Pakistan building new nuclear reactor
Washington, July 24 (DPA) Pakistan is building a new nuclear reactor to produce plutonium, The Washington Post reported, citing independent analysts. The Washington-based experts said satellite photos of the Khushab nuclear site appeared to show a heavy-water reactor under construction that would be capable of making plutonium for 40 to 50 atomic weapons each year, 20 times what Pakistan now produces, the newspaper said.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Optimistic Democrats hone a centrist message
With the midterm elections less than four months away, hundreds of state and local elected Democratic officials -- including a few possible 2008 presidential contenders, such as Hillary Clinton -- gathered here today at a meeting organized by the centrist Democratic Leadership Council to shape the ideas and messages they believe will help the party win in November and beyond. But to do that, the featured speakers at the conference said, Democrats must convince Americans that they are tough on national security; that they speak to voters' values; and that they will reach out and strengthen the middle class.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Mideast press focus on Rice visit
As US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flies in for talks, many commentators in the Middle East believe she will do little to change Jerusalem's strategy in Lebanon. One Arab commentator warns Ms Rice that deploying international peacekeepers in Lebanon may only create more problems, while others accuse the Bush administration of using Israel to push its agenda for wider change in the Middle East.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Olbermann Dons O'Reilly Mask at TV Meeting
Keith Olbermann was eagerly anticipating his first meeting with Bill O'Reilly. It didn't happen. The feuding cable TV personalities both attended a charity fundraiser thrown by New York Yankees manager Joe Torre last November. Olbermann picked up his name tag and spotted O'Reilly's tag on the table. "He never got within 20 feet of me," Olbermann told the Television Critics Association's summer meeting Saturday. "I swear to God, every time I looked up, he would suddenly look down. He was staring over at me. But we're about the same height, so I really don't think he's going to come talk to me. If I were about a foot shorter, I'm sure there would be a confrontation of some sort."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Israel, the US, and the Business of War
Reports from the US suggest Washington has been asked to speed up a shipment of precision bombs sold as part of a deal with Israel last year. According to a report in the New York Times, Israel made the request after it began its air assault on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon 12 days ago. The weapons, including five-tonne laser-guided bombs, are part of a sale signed last year.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Democrats Get Welcome Changes to '08 Primary Calendar
There were lots of complaints among Democrats about the lack of racial and geographic diversity in the party's presidential nominating calendar. Yesterday, the party made big changes for 2008, adding two states to the crucial early days of the process. Nevada will be placed in between the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. South Carolina will come after New Hampshire but before Feb. 5, when any state can schedule a vote.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
U.S. Soldiers Ask Rumsfeld If They Could Get Surprise Visit From Loved Ones Instead
Although U.S. troops in Iraq said they appreciated President Bush's recent surprise visit, thousands of them have petitioned the White House to arrange surprise visits from relatives and spouses as well. "As great as it was to get a visit from the commander in chief, given the choice, I'd rather see my mom," said Army Cpl. Emilio Salazar, who is serving his third tour of duty.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Pat Buchanan: No, this is not 'our war'
My country has been "torn to shreds," said Fouad Siniora, the prime minister of Lebanon, as the death toll among his people passed 300 civilian dead, 1,000 wounded, with half a million homeless. Israel must pay for the "barbaric destruction," said Siniora. To the contrary, says columnist Lawrence Kudlow, "Israel is doing the Lord's work." On American TV, former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says the ruination of Lebanon is Hezbollah's doing. But is it Hezbollah that is using U.S.-built F-16s, with precision-guided bombs and 155-mm artillery pieces to wreak death and devastation on Lebanon?» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
White House may seek new term for Bolton at UN
The White House, revisiting a pitched battle with the US Senate, signaled on Thursday it might seek to revive John Bolton’s dormant nomination as ambassador to the United Nations. US President George W. Bush installed Bolton at the United Nations in August 2005 using a recess appointment, an executive power available when the US Congress is not in session, but quickly re-nominated him in September 2005. And on Thursday, one of Bolton’s opponents, Republican Senator George Voinovich, announced that he would now reverse course and support the controversial diplomat if the matter were to come up again.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush names Syria, Iran to 'Axis of A**holes'
Days after using an expletive in discussing the Middle East conflict with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, President George W. Bush's potty mouth was at it again, this time in a 45-minute obscenity-laden keynote address to the G-8 summit. It was a startling performance for the President, who used the raunchy, paint-peeling address to name Iran and Syria to what he called "The Axis of A**holes." Mr. Bush said that the role played by the two nations in the ongoing conflict with Israel was evidence of "a larger pattern of a**hole behavior."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Through churches, Congress spends $750 million to promote marriage
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he’s counting on it. McLain has applied for a $550,000 federal grant to hire counselors for Marriage Mentoring Ministries Inc., a tiny business in Fresno County, Calif., that helps couples before and after they exchange wedding vows. He also has a bid in for a $250,000 grant to teach men to become better fathers.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush quietly rolls back Iraq death toll to zero
BAGHDAD—Nearly two weeks after President Bush's surprise visit to Iraq, the first American combat death in the region has occurred, military sources revealed Monday. "I could have sworn that almost 2,500 American servicemen and women had sacrificed their lives in this theater of operation, but the death toll counter here in my office read 'zero' this morning, and that's what we go by," said Gen. George W. Casey Jr., commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, after announcing the casualty, which took place outside Fallujah on Sunday.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Sen. Reid: Iraq devolves into 'civil war'
Declaring that he believes the situation in Iraq has devolved into a civil war, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday he plans to try to bring the war back up for debate on the Senate floor. The Nevada Democrat said he has been "somewhat gingerly approaching this.... No longer. There is a civil war going on in Iraq. In the last two months, more than 6,000 Iraqis have been killed. That's averaging more than 100 a day being killed in Iraq and we need to make sure there is a debate on this."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Surprise summer TV hit: 'North Korea's Got Talent'
Just weeks after taunting his neighbors and the West with a provocative missile test, North Korean president Kim Jong-Il has launched his first-ever reality show, a surprise summer hit called "North Korea's Got Talent." Hosted by the diminutive dictator himself, the televised talent showcase has been heating up the Nielsens ever since it debuted, with approximately 100% of all North Korean TV viewers watching it.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
President 'out of touch' on stem cells
Scientists have reacted with anger to US President George W Bush's decision to veto a bill allowing federal funding for new embryonic stem cell research. They argue it will damage a promising field of medical research. Leading researchers labelled Mr Bush "hypocritical", "out of touch" and "selfish" over his decision not to sign into law a bill approved by Congress.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Evacuations proceed; 2 die in Nazareth attack
A U.S. Marine general coordinating the evacuation from Lebanon estimated today that more than 6,000 Americans will have been taken out of the country by the weekend. Brig. Gen. Carl Jensen also stressed that the U.S. Embassy in Beirut will not close and that America "is not deserting Lebanon."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush defies public, vetoes stem cell bill
US President George W Bush has vetoed a controversial bill which would have lifted a ban on federal funding for new embryonic stem cell research. It was the first time in his presidency that Mr Bush refused to sign into law a bill approved by Congress. "It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect, so I vetoed it," he said on Wednesday.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush Blocked Eavesdropping Program Probe
President Bush personally blocked a Justice Department investigation of the anti-terror eavesdropping program that intercepts Americans' international calls and e-mails, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday. Bush refused to grant security clearances for department investigators who were looking into the role Justice lawyers played in crafting the program, under which the National Security Agency listens in on telephone calls and reads e-mail without court approval, Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush says roadmap to peace is still in glove compartment of peace
Lashing out at critics who have claimed that the so-called "roadmap to peace" is in tatters, President George W. Bush said today that the roadmap is in excellent condition and has been safely stowed in the "glove compartment of peace." "I know where the roadmap to peace is, because it is exactly where I left it," Mr. Bush said at the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg. "It is in the glove compartment of peace, and it will remain there for safekeeping."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush visits the NAACP
After six years in office, President Bush has agreed to address the NAACP at its annual national convention in Washington, the White House announced yesterday. White House spokesman Tony Snow said the president will appear before the nation's oldest and largest civil rights group tomorrow after years of trading rhetorical jabs with its leadership. "I think the president wants to make the argument that he has had a career that reflects a strong commitment to civil rights," Snow said at a news conference.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Sen. Evan Bayh: Dems need to focus on Middle Class
Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, a potential presidential contender in 2008, said on Monday the party needs to strengthen its appeal to middle-class Americans or risk defeat in the next two elections. "We may consider ourselves the party of the middle class but too many middle-class Americans no longer consider us their party," Bayh said in a speech at the National Press Club.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush's first veto to appease conservatives
US President George W Bush is heading for a major clash with the Senate, and many in his own Republican party, over stem cell research. President Bush is likely to respond immediately after the Senate vote. Senators are expected to pass a bill later on Tuesday increasing federal funding for research on human embryos. But the president, under pressure from religious conservatives, has long promised to use his veto for the first time to block any such bill becoming law.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Gay-marriage opponents win 2 cases
Courts handed victories to gay-marriage opponents in two states yesterday, reinstating Nebraska's voter-approved ban on same-sex nuptials and throwing out an attempt to keep a proposed ban off the ballot in Tennessee. In the Nebraska case, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit overturned a judge's ruling last year that the ban was too broad and deprived gays and lesbians of participation in the political process, among other things.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Marines evacuate Americans out of Lebanon
Two Marine Corps helicopters evacuated 21 Americans from Lebanon to Cyprus on Sunday, while U.S. officials urged others to wait for a formal evacuation plan before they try to leave. The U.S. citizens evacuated Sunday included a family of four with a sick child and four students, said Maura Harty, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs.She said the United States has received hundreds of phone calls from Americans in Lebanon asking for instruction and has urged them not to try to travel by land to Syria. U.S. security teams landed at the U.S. Embassy on Sunday to plan the evacuation for any of the 25,000 Americans in Lebanon who wish to leave.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush First President In Decades To Skip NAACP's Conventions
Is President Bush ready for a change of heart on the NAACP convention? Every year, the NAACP invites him to drop by, and every year, he doesn't. He's the first sitting president in decades to have declined such invitations and hasn't said for sure what he'll do this time around. Mr. Bush does have what appears to be some wiggle room on his Wednesday schedule: a time slot marked "TBA," that is, To Be Announced.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Senate showdown nears over stem-cell policy
Patients and families grappling with long-term, debilitating diseases will be watching this week as the Senate debates lifting President Bush's restrictions on federally funded research using embryonic stem cells. The House has passed the legislation, and the Senate is expected to follow suit on Tuesday. Bush has promised to veto the measure; this would be the first veto of his presidency. Groups on both sides of the debate are blanketing Capitol Hill with messages, via briefings, e-mail, and telephone calls.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Flash: Hezbollah very angry
The leader of the Lebanese movement Hezbollah has warned that the current confrontation with Israel was only the beginning. "We will continue. We still have a lot more and we are just at the beginning," Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said on Sunday in a taped address on Al-Manar television. "We promise them surprises in (any) confrontation," he said a few hours after a Hezbollah rocket killed eight people in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. We will use all means. As long as the enemy (read:Israel and the US) has no limits, we will have no limits."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush backs Israel at divided G8
The US president, in St Petersburg for the G8 summit, has insisted Israel is defending itself against terror and Hezbollah is the root of the crisis. George W Bush added that the Israelis had to be mindful of the consequences of their actions, as fresh air strikes and rocket attacks were reported. The leaders of the world's eight top economic powers have begun working meetings focusing on energy supplies. With global energy use likely to increase by 50% in the next 25 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin is keen to convince other G8 members his country can be relied on as a supplier.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
US dilemma in Mid-East crisis: Israel
Israel is America's ally. When Israeli troops are captured by Hezbollah, the immediate sympathies of the United States lie with Israel. President George W Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert both say that they're fighting a war on terror. They have common enemies - radical Islamic extremists willing to use violence. Both view Hezbollah as a terrorist group. Both see the hand of Syria and Iran in supporting Hezbollah. But Israel's military action against Lebanon has huge complications.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
US officials 'betrayed' CIA agent
A former CIA officer who is suing US Vice-President Dick Cheney and others over the leaking of her identity says the government "betrayed" her trust. Valerie Plame's identity was leaked after her husband, former US ambassador Joseph Wilson, criticised the use of intelligence before the war in Iraq. In a lawsuit the pair say Ms Plame was outed by officials in "revenge". "I and my former CIA colleagues trusted our government to protect us as we did our jobs," Ms Plame told reporters. "That a few reckless individuals within the current administration betrayed that trust has been a grave disappointment to every patriotic American."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Russia and US drifting farther apart
Negotiations on Russia's admission to the World Trade Organization broke off with no agreement being reached, U.S. and Russian officials said Saturday. The talks ended because of differences over assurances the United States was seeking that Russia would accept greater amounts of U.S. farm goods. President Bush, speaking at a joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said intensive talks did not result in a deal because the administration believed Russia needed to offer more in trade concessions to satisfy the Congress.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush Spy Program up for Review
Switching course on one of his most controversial anti-terrorism policies, President Bush agreed Thursday to submit the administration's warrantless-surveillance program to a court for constitutional review. A deal negotiated between the White House and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., came with conditions. Bush is insisting that Congress first give him new leeway in some areas of surveillance and that all lawsuits challenging his eavesdropping policy be funneled to a Washington-based intelligence court that operates in secret.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Democrats fight Voting Rights Act changes
The House voted Thursday to renew the 1965 Voting Rights Act, rejecting efforts by Southern conservatives to relax federal oversight of their states in a debate haunted by the ghosts of the civil rights movement. The 390-33 vote sent to the Senate a bill that represented a Republican appeal to minority voters who doubt the GOP's "big-tent" image. All of the "no" votes came from Republicans, in defiance of their own leaders.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Cheney sued in CIA identity case
A former CIA officer whose identity was leaked to the media is suing US Vice-President Dick Cheney. Valerie Plame is suing Mr Cheney, his ex-aide Lewis Libby and presidential adviser Karl Rove, saying they tried to destroy her career. Ms Plame's name appeared in the media in 2003 after her husband criticised the Bush government over Iraq. A spokesman for Mr Rove, Mark Corallo, said the allegations were "utterly without merit".» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Sen. Ted Stevens: Internet Guru...
"There's one company now you can sign up and you can get a movie delivered to your house daily by delivery service. Okay. And currently it comes to your house, it gets put in the mail box when you get home and you change your order but you pay for that, right. But this service isn't going to go through the interent and what you do is you just go to a place on the internet and you order your movie and guess what you can order ten of them delivered to you and the delivery charge is free. Ten of them streaming across that internet and what happens to your own personal internet? I just the other day got, an internet was sent by my staff at 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday. Why?"» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Israel imposes Lebanon blockade
Israel is imposing an air and sea blockade on Lebanon as part of a major offensive after two soldiers were seized by the militant group Hezbollah. Israeli warships have blocked Lebanese ports, and its international airport was closed after Israeli bombing. A Lebanese cabinet minister said the Israeli response was disproportionate, and called for a ceasefire. Raids on targets across south Lebanon have killed at least 35. Two have died in Hezbollah attacks on Israel. The operation comes as Israel continues a separate offensive in the Gaza Strip. An Israeli soldier was captured there last month.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Senate: How much leeway for Bush?
WASHINGTON – Two weeks after the Supreme Court rejected the Bush administration's system for prosecuting war-on-terror detainees, congressional lawmakers are sharply divided over a plan to replace it. In dramatic testimony in Congress this week, administration officials signaled that - even if Congress speaks with one voice in revamping the Bush plan for military commissions - the president and the Pentagon don't need lawmakers' advice.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Senate Votes to Ease Drug Imports
The Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to make it easier for Americans to import cheaper prescription medications from Canada, a strong reproach to the Bush administration's recent crackdown on drugs ordered by mail for personal use. Approved by a 68-32 vote, the measure would prohibit Customs and Border Patrol agents from seizing prescription drugs imported by individuals from Canadian pharmacies by mail or carried over the border. The Senate proposal, similar to one passed by the House in May, adds to the pressure on drug companies to make U.S. prices more affordable.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Novak: Rove was a source in outing Plame
WASHINGTON - Columnist Robert Novak said publicly for the first time Tuesday that White House political adviser Karl Rove was a source for his story outing the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame. In a column, Novak also says his recollection of his conversation with Rove differs from what the Rove camp has said. "I have revealed Rove's name because his attorney has divulged the substance of our conversation, though in a form different from my recollection," Novak wrote. Novak did not elaborate.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Joe Lieberman's Situation
As the televised debate with Ned Lamont, his principal challenger in the Connecticut Democratic primary, neared its end last week, Sen. Joe Lieberman turned to the camera to defend himself: "Part of why I opened the option of going on (as an independent) after the primary," the three-term senator said, is because Lamont reneged on a promise he made to spend no more than half a million dollars of his own money in the campaign. He said Lamont has actually spent five times as much and "I don't have that kind of money."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Playing the Expectations Game
When President Bush releases the midsummer update on the budget today, he is expected to announce that federal revenue has soared above the levels his White House predicted and that the deficit is headed for a welcome decline from earlier estimates - down about $125 billion to $295 billion, below the $423 billion the White House projected just five months ago. But those with working memories may recall that in 2001 the president's original predictions were for a $300 billion surplus for 2006. The president will likely attribute the new spectacular $300 billion deficit to his tax cuts, which the administration still says are stimulating economic activity and generating a tsunami of tax revenue for all.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Evangelicals Warn Republicans
Prominent leaders from the Christian right have warned Republicans they must do more to advance conservative values ahead of the US mid-term elections. Their message to Congress, controlled by Republicans, is "must do better". Support from about a quarter of Americans who describe themselves as evangelicals was a factor in President George W Bush's two election victories. The Republicans will need to keep them onboard if they are to retain control of Congress in November. At a news conference in Washington, some of America's most influential conservative leaders said the current perception among evangelical Christians was that the Republican majority was not doing enough for them.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Lieberman Fights for Political Life
The leafy streets of New Haven are an unlikely venue for Democratic in-fighting over Iraq, that might see one of its best-known senators effectively ousted from the party in a few weeks' time. Senator Joe Lieberman has been representing Connecticut for 18 years now in Washington and, aside from almost snatching the vice-presidency in 2000 as Al Gore's running-mate, he also ran for president in 2004. But after years of supporting President George W Bush's war policy, and scolding fellow Democrats who question it, he now faces a backlash from local anti-war activists and liberal bloggers all over the country.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Congress Trouble Passing Legislation
WASHINGTON - Could a Republican-controlled Congress, pass a bill to protect the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance from court challenges? No problem, especially if proposed during the patriotic season leading up to the Fourth of July, Republican leaders thought. No way, it turned out. The bill, the first item on the GOP's trumpeted election-year "American Values Agenda," could not make it past a House committee. Even worse for the Republicans was that they could not blame Democrats. One of the GOP's very own, Rep. Bob Inglis of South Carolina, voted no. Seven other Republicans skipped the committee meeting entirely.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Hoekstra: Major Program Kept From Congress
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee accused the Bush administration Sunday of failing to inform Congress of "significant activity" in ongoing secret intelligence programs. "There are lots of programs going on in the intelligence community. We can't be briefed on every little thing," Chairman Peter Hoekstra said on Fox News Sunday. "But in this case there was at least one major -- what I consider significant -- activity that we had not been briefed on," the Michigan Republican said without specifying what that activity was.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Bush Takes Message out of Capital
US President George W Bush has met local leaders in Chicago in what is being seen as part of a new media strategy ahead of November's elections. He took questions from the White House press corps and from Chicago-based reporters at the city's Museum of Science and Industry. Officials said the visit was the first in a series of similar presidential trips around the US over the summer. Mr Bush is battling low approval ratings partly fuelled by the Iraq war. He opened his comments by acknowledging it was unusual to meet the press in places such as Chicago. "I'd like to see what it's like to have a major press conference outside of Washington. Might do me some good. Might do the White House press corps some good too," he said.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
US 'finds Iraq killing failings'
US marine officers at all levels failed to investigate conflicting reports of killings in the Iraqi town of Haditha, a report quoted by US media says. The report has been completed and reviewed by Lt-Gen Peter Chiarelli, the second-ranking US commander in Iraq. Twenty-four civilians died in the incident in November. The US military initially said they were killed in a bomb blast and exchange of fire. But reports subsequently emerged alleging that US soldiers killed them. Gen Chiarelli's investigation is separate from a second, criminal inquiry into whether a group of marines was guilty of murder. A number of women and children were among those killed in an incident that has become the most serious allegation against US troops in Iraq since the invasion.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Rudy For President?
Well-connected public figures report that they have been told recently by Rudolph Giuliani that, as of now, he intends to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. The former mayor of New York was on top of last month's national Gallup poll measuring presidential preferences by registered Republicans, with 29 percent. Sen. John McCain's 24 percent was second, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich third at 8 percent. National polls all year have shown Giuliani running either first or second to McCain, with the rest of the presidential possibilities far behind.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Lieberman to Opponent: 'I'm Not Bush'
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman sought to distance himself from the Bush administration during a televised debate with his upstart Democratic primary challenger Thursday, telling him: "I'm not George Bush." Lieberman's opponent, political newcomer Ned Lamont, has gained in statewide polls by accusing Lieberman of straying from his Democratic roots. Just six years after being his party's nominee for the vice presidency, Lieberman has fallen into disfavor among some Democrats for his perceived closeness to President Bush and support for the war in Iraq. Ned Lamont, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut, answers a question as his wife, Annie, listens during a news conference outside Lamont's headquarters in Meriden, Conn., Monday, July 3, 2006. Lamont was responding to an announcement earlier in the day by Lieberman that if Lamont won the upcoming primary election for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, Lieberman would run as an independent.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
N. Korea Mocks International Criticism
North Korea angrily mocked international criticism of its multiple missile tests, threatening on Thursday to fire off more rockets. In the face of nearly unanimous world condemnation of the seven missile tests on Wednesday, Pyongyang's foreign minister released a blustery statement declaring that it had the right to develop and test its weapons _ and vowing unspecified retaliation against anyone who tries to stop it. "Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future as part of efforts to strengthen self-defense deterrent," said the statement, carried in state-run media. "If anyone intends to dispute or add pressure about this, we will have to take stronger physical actions in other forms." The statement did not specify what actions North Korea would take.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
N. Korea Impact Being Weighed
WASHINGTON - Six-party talks: Dead? Tensions around the Sea of Japan: Off the charts. And in Washington: What do we do now? North Korea delivered some unwanted fireworks to the Bush administration on the Fourth of July, shooting off missiles in an act heard around the globe. Now the White House must figure out how to transform what it calls a "provocation" into an opportunity. "We're just going to have to do our homework, do the analysis and see what we can divine about what they had in mind," National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said of North Korea.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Clinton Draws Line Backing Lieberman
ALBANY, N.Y. - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a longtime supporter of Sen. Joseph Lieberman (news, bio, voting record), said Tuesday she will not back the Connecticut Democrat's bid for re-election if he loses their party's primary. "I've known Joe Lieberman for more than thirty years. I have been pleased to support him in his campaign for re-election, and hope that he is our party's nominee," the former first lady said in a statement issued by aides. "But I want to be clear that I will support the nominee chosen by Connecticut Democrats in their primary," the New York Democrat added. "I believe in the Democratic Party, and I believe we must honor the decisions made by Democratic primary voters."» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.
Carville: "The Power of Hillary"
"Hillary Clinton really is one of the weakest . . . nominees with whom the Democrats could be saddled.""Democrats are worried sick about her chances."
"Just give someone else a chance, so we in the Democratic Party can elect a Democrat."
"She cannot possibly, possibly win."
Yada, yada, yada.
We've heard all this "Hillary can't win stuff" before. In fact, the quotes above aren't from recent weeks but from six years ago, when many pundits -- and Democrats -- said there was no way that Hillary could get elected to the Senate. She won by 12 percentage points.
Guantanamo Tribunals Ruled Illegal
Salim Ahmed Hamdan, the Yemeni at the center of Thursday's Supreme Court ruling on military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, must receive a trial with new, congressionally approved procedures. President George Bush had said he wants to close the detention centre but was waiting for a Supreme Court decision about his plan to put some Guantanamo detainees on trial before military commissions. Well, now he has it.» There's more to this entry. Click here for the rest of it.