Black Caucus miffed
The
LA Times reports on the fact that the Black Caucus is displeased by the
removal of the Black Louisiana Congressman:
In a clash highlighting tensions between Democratic leaders and one of their
party's most important constituencies, House Democrats on Thursday backed a
move to oust scandal-scarred Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) from a
powerful committee post, despite opposition from the Congressional Black
Caucus.
On a 99-58 vote, the House Democratic Caucus endorsed a proposal by their
leader, Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, that would remove Jefferson
temporarily from the Ways and Means Committee because of an FBI
investigation of bribery allegations against him.
Jefferson, who is African American, has resisted pressure from colleagues to
step aside voluntarily. But after making his case to the closed-door meeting
of House Democrats, he left open the possibility that he may give up his
committee seat rather than fight the matter on the House floor, where it
would have to be ratified to take effect. The timing of that floor debate is
uncertain.
War is protecting America
The White House released a transcript of Vice President Dick Cheney’s radio
interview. Here is part:
"Iraq was a safe haven for terrorists, it had a guy running it who had
started two wars, who had produced and used weapons of mass destruction.
Taking down Saddam Hussein was exactly the right thing to do," he said.
"It's also, I think, in part responsible for the fact that we haven't been
hit again in nearly five years. That's no accident," Cheney said.
"The fact is, we've taken the battle to the enemy. That's been the key to
the safety and security of the American people these last few years, and we
need to continue to do it," he said.
"There have been attacks all over the world, in London and Madrid and Bali
and Istanbul, as well as New York and Washington; that the key to our
success to date has been to actively and aggressively go on offense," he
said.
Asked whether he thought Republicans would win November congressional
elections, the vice president replied: "I think we will."
Cheney also defended US Marines under investigation over an allegedly
improper killing of civilians in the town of Haditha, Iraq, saying: "We have
not yet seen the final results of that investigation."
"The people involved are entitled, I believe, to be presumed innocent until
proven otherwise," he said.
The US Marines "have good, solid procedures for dealing with these kinds of
issues, and I'm sure that's exactly what they'll do," he said.
Senate & House War Resolutions
Preceded by the Senate's vote on Thursday, 93-6, to reject a timetable for
the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the House today also voted resounding
no. Voting 256-153, the House also rejected a timetable for troop
withdrawal. [LINK]
The following are quotes made during the Iraq War resolution debate:
"Members, this is not the time to go wobbly. Let's give victory a chance,"
said Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN).
"I look forward to having a debate, but I look forward to having a debate on
the amendment that I bring as a senator," Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) said.
"The battle is not over," said House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL). "The
alternative would be to cut and run and wait for them to group and regroup
and bring the terror back to our shores."
"Frankly, I believe their real challenge is that they have no common unified
position on Iraq as a party," said Rep Tom Cole (R-OK). "Whether we are
right or wrong on our side of the aisle, we do have a common position, and
it's expressed in this resolution."
"It's really unfortunate, as the president contends that we are fighting for
democracy in Iraq, that we can't have democracy on the House floor," said
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
In Iraq, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said, there are "two
things that don't exist: weapons of mass destruction and 'cutting and
running.' "
Where the votes are
The
NY Times looks at Democrats hope to make gains in the suburbs:
In searching for any advantage in this year's Congressional elections, the
two parties are focusing with increased intensity on those cul de sac
jungles of tenuous political loyalties, the suburbs and exurbs.
After years in which Republicans capitalized on rapid growth in outlying
areas, Democrats now see an opportunity to make gains in close-in suburbs
where changes in the composition of the population are working in their
favor. In a dozen or so Congressional districts that are leading
battlegrounds in the midterm elections, older, more densely packed suburbs
are trending Democratic, helping to offset Republican dominance on the
sprawling exurban frontier.
Democratic hopes of retaking the House, party strategists say, could hinge
on places like Bellevue, a city of 107,000 just across Lake Washington from
Seattle. Here, a fast-growing Asian population and an influx of
empty-nesters and singles living in new residential complexes have helped to
make this the kind of district that, while continuing to send a Republican
to Congress, has turned increasingly Democratic.
Iowa's Harkin votes to cut & run
Sen. Tom Harkin, who lied about his service in Vietnam, joined five other
senators (four other radical socialists and the doting Sen. Robert Byrd) in
voting to pull our troops out of Iraq immediately. The others were: Barbara
Boxer of California, Russell D. Feingold of Wisconsin, Edward M. Kennedy and
John Kerry of Massachusetts.
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