Window on Washington
News, analysis, color and photography from Cox Newspapers' Washington BureauRSS feed
What's on this page →
All the entries posted in October.
Categories
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS |
Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F
Recent entries
Home > Window on Washington > Archives > 2007 > October
October 2007
Hughes heads home
Another Texan is headed home. Longtime Bush adviser and aide Karen Hughes will announce this morning that she is quitting as undersecretary of state, effective at year’s end, according to aide Rena Pederson.
Pederson said Hughes, after two and a half years on the job, “feels it’s time to go home” to Austin.
Hughes is in charge of public diplomacy, an effort to improve the U.S. image around the world.
The official announcement is expected this morning in Washington. Hughes told The Associated Press earlier today that improving the world’s view of the United States is a “long-term challenge” that will outlast her.
She’ll protect you
An Irmo, S.C., town council member seeking re-election opts to highlight her first name in her campaign materials.
Permalink | |
House Judiciary goes ballistic on Tanner
House Judiciary Committee Democrats criticized the head of the Justice Department’s voting rights section today for saying that “our society is such that minorities don’t become elderly the way white people do-they die first.”
John Tanner, the head of the section that was created after the Voting Rights Act of 1965, tried to apologize for the remarks.
“My explanation of the data came across in a hurtful way, which I deeply regret,” Tanner said.
But Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., said that was no excuse. He accused him of using faulty statistics to support a faulty stereotype.
Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., the civil rights leader who helped press for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, said he was “appalled” by what Tanner has done to voting rights section at the Justice Department.
Since 2001, the Justice Department has brought two cases alleging voter discrimination against African Americans. Neither case was in the South, according to Julie Fernandes, senior policy analyst at the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights.
Permalink | |
Allbaugh signs on with Rudy
Joe Allbaugh, one-third of the fabled Texas “Iron Triangle” (with Karl Rove and Karen Hughes) that helped get George W. Bush to the White House signed on today with Rudy Giuliani’s campaign.
Allbaugh, a former FEMA director and now a consultant, will be “senior adviser,” advising on “general strategy and homeland security.” Allbaugh was chief of staff for then-Gov. Bush in Austin and served as national campaign manager for the 2000 presidential race.
Here, from the official announcement, are the nice things Giuliani and Allbaugh said about each other:
“Rudy Giuliani is the only candidate who will keep America on offense in the Terrorists’ War on Us,” said Allbaugh. “The leadership he showed after 9/11 was an inspiration not only to New Yorkers but to the country. He knows what it takes to keep America safe, and as president, he will ensure that our country never goes back on defense in this war.”
“Joe and I worked closely together in the aftermath of 9/11 to ensure that everything possible was being done to help victims and their families,” Giuliani said. “He has significant experience in emergency management and I will look to him for sound advice and expertise.”
Allbaugh now runs Allbaugh Company LLC, which, the company says, “is uniquely able to create new opportunities and expand competitive advantage.”
Permalink | |
Former Brownback campaign leader endorses McCain
An anti-abortion activist and former member of Sen. Sam Brownback’s presidential steering committee endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination Monday.
Dr. Jerry Zandstra, president of the Pro-Life Federation of Michigan and former member of the Brownback for President National Steering Committee, said McCain is “the only pro-life candidate in the race with the ability to defeat (Democratic) Sen. Hillary Clinton.”
Zandstran said he will spend the next several weeks trying to “convince other pro-life leaders and Brownback supporters that John McCain is the best candidate for conservatives to support.”
Brownback, a staunch opponent of abortion rights, dropped out of the GOP presidential campaign earlier this month, having failed to move up in the polls or raise enough money to compete in the upcoming primaries.
Permalink | |
Journalists’ group urges Bush to talk to Congo president about attacks on press
President Bush and Congo President Joseph Kabila met today at the White House to discuss a variety of topics of mutual interest and concern.
The Committee to Protect Journalists wanted Bush and Kabila to talk about ending attacks on journalists in Congo.
“On Monday, Higher Education Minister Sylvain Ngabu ordered police in his office to beat two journalists of the private Horizon 33 TV station, according to local journalists and news reports,” CPJ said in a letter to Bush. “Last week, Information Minister Toussaint Tshilombo summarily banned 22 private television channels and 16 radio stations for alleged noncompliance to national media laws. The decision came without notice or legal hearing, as is guaranteed by the Congolese transitional constitution, according to local journalists.”
See the letter here.
Permalink | |
And please tip your waitresses
White House Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto was ready with the A material at his morning briefing with reporters.
The topic was congressional Democrats’ determination to pass another children’s health insurance bill despite another White House promise to veto it if it does not meet President Bush’s standards.
The Democrats, lead by Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, says Fratto, are just trying to score political points, not standing on principle, as they claim.
And now here it comes…
“It’s not based on principle,” says Fratto, setting up his zinger. “I think the last principal Rahm Emanuel knew was in his high school.”
Stay up late coming up with that one Tony?
“It just came to me,” he insisted.
Didn’t take long for Emanuel to respond.
“I’ll gladly see my high school principal if President Bush will allow 10 million kids to see a pediatrician,” he said in a statement. “And by the way, after I helped negotiate the bill to create SCHIP, Governor Bush was second to last in enrolling kids in SCHIP, but I do appreciate the lecture.”
Permalink | |
Georgia Tech president honored for U.S. competitiveness initiative
CEOs and counterparts in other colleges honored Georgia Tech president Wayne Clough Thursday for leading the National Innovation Initiative aimed at helping Americans compete in an increasingly cutthroat global market.
Clough and the IBM CEO Samuel Palmisano, who was also honored, have been heading a rather large team — 400 corporate leaders, academics and others, from different sectors. All of them are members of the Council on Competitiveness, a Washington-based non-profit, the organizer of the award ceremony.
“There are any number of studies but they are narrow,” said Clough, implying that the work done his team is broad-based and hence special. “We look at funding, policy, the international aspect.”
The council claims that the initiative’s proposals paved the way for the American COMPETES Act, which President Bush signed a couple of months ago. The act increases funding for math and science education and for research.
Clough feels that he and Palmisano, coming from different backgrounds, brought different perspectives to the table.
“Sam is very engaging and bright and has been all over the world,” he said. “He is very easy to work with and has a knack of bringing the discussion back on track.”
Clough also has substantial international exposure - thanks to Georgia Tech’s campuses in Singapore, China and France.
William Booher, COO for the council, called Wayne a leader among his peers. Wayne, in turn, expressed his thanks to the council and team members late Thursday night for their contributions.
Permalink | |
The warm and fuzzy side of global climate change
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino wants everyone to know about the upside of global warming. There are, she said today, health benefits.
“Look, this is an issue where I’m sure lots of people would love to ridicule me when I say this, but it is true that many people die from cold-related deaths every winter,” she said. “And there are studies that say that climate change in certain areas of the world would help those individuals. There are also concerns that it would increase tropical diseases and … I’m not an expert in that.”
At home with McCain’s mom
Roberta McCain is making her first campaign trips with her son the presidential candidate.
“Occasionally my age comes up,” John McCain, 71, tells audiences. “That’s why I have to take her wherever I go.”
Mrs. McCain is 95. So is her twin sister Rowena.
Highlights of the video: Mrs. McCain’s international driving exploits, why she wasn’t involved in her son’s 2000 campaign, what she wants to do (or not do) if he becomes president and how much she likes GOP candidates Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson.
Permalink | |
Gore Leads Poll In Dean’s Old Grassroots Organization
Former Vice President Al Gore is leading the on-line poll being conducted by Democracy for America, the grassroots organization founded by onetime Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean.
With more than 65,000 votes cast by Democracy for America members so far, Gore has 19,873 votes, or 28.64 percent, followed by Barack Obama, with 15,094 votes, or 21.75 percent, and John Edwards, with 12,963 votes, or 18.68 percent.
The Democratic frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, is running fifth in the DFA poll, with 3,572 votes, or 5.15 percent, behind Dennis Kucinich, with 12,472 votes, or 17.97 percent.
Voting will continue until midnight Nov. 5, after which Democracy for America will announce its endorsement in the campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.
Arshad Hasan, executive director of the organization, points out, however, that Gore cannot get the group’s endorsement because he is not seeking the nomination. “Only an announced candidate can win the DFA endorsement,” Hasan said.
The poll is located at http://www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/PulsePoll
Dean formed Democracy for America in 2004 after he had lost the 2004 Democratic nomination to John Kerry. The organization was at the forefront of Dean’s successful campaign for chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
After taking over the DNC, Dean turned over control of DFA to his brother, Jim Dean.
Bill: Send A Birthday Message To Hillary
Hillary Clinton’s 60th birthday isn’t until Friday, but the celebration is already under way, with Bill Clinton urging people to send his wife a special birthday message.
In fact, the ex-president has set up a special Website for you to post your special message to Hillary and see his own special message to her. It’s http://www.hillaryclinton.com/birthdaymessage.
“In 36 years, Hillary and I have shared a lot of birthdays, and each year I’m amazed at everything she has accomplished,” Bill Clinton says in an e-mail sent to Clinton supporters Tuesday. “This is a very special year: we’re celebrating Hillary’s 60th, and I hope you’ll join me in sending her a birthday message, sharing your wishes for her and your hopes for the coming year.”
More importantly, though, the birthday celebration will include a party Thursday night at New York’s Beacon Theatre. Actually, it’s more a fundraiser than a party, with rocker Elvis Costello scheduled to perform. Tickets start at $250 a piece.
An offer they can refuse
The Lambda Rising bookstore in Washington’s Dupont Circle area notes it has been serving the gay and lesbian community since 1974.
This weekend the bookstore reached out to the thousands of attendees at the “Values Voter Summit” being held at the nearby Washington Hilton by offering them a 20 percent discount.
The not-so-fine print at the bottom says “No toe-tapping under the stall required.”
No early tally on how many attendees took advantage of the discount.
Permalink | |
Martinez steps down as GOP chairman
Sen. Mel Martinez has announced he is stepping down as general chairman of the Republican Party.
Rumors have been circulating for weeks that Martinez, R-Fla., would relinquish the position in February after a GOP presidential candidate appeared certain. But Martinez made the surprise announcement today in a statement.
“”I believe that our future as a party and nation is bright and I have every intention of continuing to fight for our president, our party and our candidates.
Martinez said it was his goal “to lead the party as it established the structure and raised the resources necessary to support our presidential candidate and ensure Republican victories next November. I believe we have accomplished those goals.”
Permalink | |
Discordant notes at Values Voters summit
It’s all about values at the “Values Voter Summit” underway in Washington and sponsored by the Family Research Council, a staunch supporter of conservative principles and family values.
Nine presidential candidates are scheduled to speak. Each is brought on to appropriate theme music. Minor problems with first two.
Arizona Sen. John McCain came on to “The Marine’s Hymn.” McCain was in the Navy, not the Marines. Different song.
Next was Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. Selected for him was Wilbert Harrison’s “Kansas City,” which - after his speech about family values - allowed Brownback to leave the stage to this lyric: “They got some crazy little women there and I’m going to get me one.”
Clinton Pollster Predicts Defection Of GOP Women
Mark Penn, the pollster and senior strategist of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, predicted Thursday that nearly a quarter of Republican women would defect from the GOP if the New York senator is the Democratic presidential nominee in 2008.
At a breakfast with political reporters, Penn said his internal polling shows Clinton would win over some 24 percent of Republican women in the 2008 general election because of the “emotional” appeal of electing the country’s first woman president.
Penn said the trend is as evident in the South, a region Democratic presidential candidates have had trouble winning in recent elections, as in all other regions of the country.
Penn said the trend indicates that Clinton would be a stronger Democratic presidential candidate in the South than either Al Gore was in 2000 or John Kerry was in 2004.
McCain: Eats hot dogs, loves ABBA
During a campaign bus swing through South Carolina today, Sen. John McCain demonstrated his love of hot dogs and declared his love of ABBA. The comments about the Swedish group came up on the bus as he talked about what’s on his iPod.
“Dare I say ABBA. Everybody says, ‘Ehhh, ABBA.’ Why is that? ABBA was the largest selling (recording act ever). Nobody likes them but they sold more records than anybody in the history of the world, including the Beatles. But everybody hates them. (But) you’re a no-class guy if you like ABBA. Why does everybody go see ‘Mamma Mia?’ Hypocrisy! Rank hypocrisy! I’m not embarassed to say I like ABBA, ‘Dancing Queen.’”
More from McCain. If elected, “the background music would be ABBA in the elevators all over the White House.”
And even more.
“‘Take a Chance on Me.’ Maybe that’s what we should have as our (campaign) theme song. That would be good.”
Perry puzzled by interviewer
Texas Gov. Rick Perry knew who he was supposed to talk about when he went on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” this morning to announce his endorsement of GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.
Perry, however, didn’t seem to know who he was talking to as he began the interview with Fox anchor Brian Kilmeade.
KILMEADE: Joining me right now with his perspective on the presidential race for 2008, with a major announcement, I understand, Texas Governor Rick Perry. Governor, welcome to “Fox & Friends.”
PERRY: Good morning, Sean. How are you?
KILMEADE: Well, first off, yes, Sean’s coming up a later bit later on tonight.
PERRY: Brian.
KILMEADE: And actually, we’re going to replay some of Rudy Giuliani’s interview with Sean. And that’s going to come up later in the show.
But, Governor, I understand that you have a major announcement.
Permalink | |
Texas Governor Endorses Giuliani
In some parts of Texas, “New York City” is a punchline to a joke. But that didn’t stop Texas Gov. Rick Perry from endorsing former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for president Wednesday.
Neither did their differences over abortion.
At a news conference with Giuliani at a hotel in Washington, Perry, an abortion foe, told reporters that the GOP frontrunner’s support for abortion rights was not a deal breaker for him.
“I go to buy a pickup truck, if it’s got one option on it I’m either not particularly fond of or not looking for, it doesn’t mean I discard that pickup truck,” Perry said in response to a question about the ex-mayor’s liberal social views.
The Texas governor said that in private conversations with Giuliani, the New Yorker had assured him that as president he would appoint judges who view the issue of abortion conservatively.
“The one that I wanted to hear him give me an answer and look me right in the eyes was that issue of who can I expect, what type of individuals can I expect on the Supreme Court,” Perry said.
“He clearly said … you can look for people like (Antonin) Scalia and (John) Roberts and (Samuel) Alito. Let me tell you, I can live with that,” Perry said.
Permalink | |
Thompson endorses Rudy
Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who used to think he should be president, now thinks Rudy Giuliani should be president.
Thompson, an ex-secretary of health and human services in the current White House, will serve as a national co-chair of Giuliani’s bid for the GOP presidential nomination.
“Rudy Giuliani has shown that he is a true leader. He is America’s mayor and during a period of time of great stress for this country he showed tremendous leadership,” Thompson said in a Giuliani campaign release announcing the endorsement. “He can and will win the nomination and the presidency of the United States.”
Thompson shut down his own presidential race in August.
Permalink | |
Wartime president “happy” about Gore’s Nobel Peace Prize
How does a White House enmeshed in an ongoing war react to news that a former opponent has won a share of the Nobel Peace Prize?
Here’s how Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto handled it aboard Air Force One this morning:
Q: Tony, does the president have any reaction to Al Gore’s winning the Nobel Prize?
Fratto: Yes, the president learned about it this morning. Of course, he’s happy for Vice President Gore, happy for the International Panel on Climate Change scientists, who also shared the Peace Prize. Obviously it’s an important recognition and we’re sure the vice president is thrilled.
Q: Is he going to call him?
Fratto: I don’t know of any plans to make calls to any of the winners at this point.
More from Fratto: Well, obviously Vice President Gore has helped to bring attention to climate change. The IPCC scientists have done remarkable work to bring scientific rigor to the questions surrounding climate change. And obviously the next step for, and really the most difficult step is implementing climate change strategies that are effective and practical, and that allow for continued economic development and for countries to do the work that they need to do to lift people out of poverty.
And that’s a challenging task. That’s why the president brought together the major economies — the announcement he had prior to the G8 and then the summit meeting last week, I guess it was two weeks ago now, to discuss a strategy for climate change. And that’s the next step and that’s an important step.
Q: Given that his approach on climate is so different from Al Gore’s, does he feel that this award is in any way sending a message about his own policies?
Fratto: I’m not sure what … no, I don’t see it that way at all. No.
Q: Does he think, though, that the award will place pressure on him and on the Bush administration to do more quickly, and to maybe fall into line with what other countries want, which are mandatory caps on emissions?
Fratto: No.
Permalink | |
Latino youth meet “Fez”
Actor and producer Wilmer Valderrama reminded Latino youth leaders at a luncheon on Thursday to be grateful for their rich heritage. Valderrama, most recognized as the quick witted Fez on That 70’s Show, emigrated from Venezuela to America when he was 13.
Representing the American dream story, Valderrama advised the young audience to recognize their strength as Latinos in America, saying, “When I came to this country, I could not speak English, now look how far I have come. We are a strong people that can do anything.”
Actress Rosario Dawson, who has had leading roles in Men in Black II and Rent, also attended the event.
More than 100 young Latino leaders from across the country flew into Washington, D.C., to attend the luncheon in collaboration with the Hispanic Heritage Awards Celebration. The event provided a platform for young Latino leaders to network and share their personal stories of obstacles overcome to achieve success, although some of the female participants trailed off to meet with actor Valderrama.
The luncheon also recognized the eight winners of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Youth Award. Winners were selected from 13,000 applicants and received scholarship money for college.
One winner, Miami resident Fabian Poliak, graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class and is now in his first year at Harvard University. Moving from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to America when he was 10 years old, 19-year-old Poliak said being a Latino immigrant has given him an edge over his classmates.
“Knowing where I come from, I know I can never settle,” Poliak said. “My parents sacrificed a lot to get me here and I know I always have to do my best.”
While at Harvard, Poliak said he is working to eliminate ethnic and cultural barriers that separate racial groups at his school.
Another award recipient, Daniel Lage, is also in his first year at Harvard. As a Miami resident, Lage said his greatest challenge since moving from Cuba has been starting school not knowing English. After graduation, Lage hopes to be a medical director and expand healthcare for the underserved Hispanic community throughout Florida.
Permalink | |
White House demotes Carter
White House reaction to former President Carter’s harsh assessment of Vice President Cheney? Not much, other than a demotion.
This today from Press Secretary Dana Perino:
“I haven’t talked to the president about the recent comments by VIce President Carter. Obviously, he’s an American citizen and free to express his views. Personal attacks on the vice president are just something that we’re not going to comment on. And if the former president chooses to engage in that, we’ll let him do that on his own.”
For the record, Carter told the BBC today that Cheney has been a “disaster” for the U.S.
“He’s a militant who avoided any service of his own in the military and he has been most forceful in the last 10 years or more in fulfilling some of his more ancient commitments that the United States has a right to inject its power through military means in other parts of the world,” Carter told BBC World News America.
Permalink | |
Dan Bartlett’s free speech
It costs up to $30,000 to get former White House Counselor Dan Bartlett to speak at your function. But, thanks to the speakers bureau that represents him, you can see the speech free here http://www.leadingauthorities.com/24384/Dan_Bartlett.htm
Click on the Chamber of Commerce link to see video of Bartlett’s recent speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It includes his less-than-flattering remarks about some of the GOP presidential candidates.
Also watch for Bartlett’s recollections about sitting in on President Bush’s meetings with Russian President Putin. “Each of them become a little bit more bizarre,” Bartlett said of Bush-Putin summits, noting that Russian leaders “still work in the old KGB group think about America.”
That showed up, Bartlett said, when Putin told Bush that the U.S. sends to Russia only poultry from “bad chicken plants.”
Bartlett also talks about what it’s like to deal with Vice President Cheney up close and personal. “The Cheneys aren’t into small talk,” Bartlett said, adding, “What you see publicly is basically what you get privately with the vice president. It’s a very matter-of-fact conversation usually with him.”
And watch for a pretty good Bush impression when Bartlett talks about Putin showing off his bigger-than-Barney dog.
Permalink | |
Perkins’ Invitation To Hillary Still Open
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins says he’s holding open an invitation to Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton to speak at the upcoming “Washington Summit” for values voters. And even if she shows up at the last minute, she can have his spot on the program.
“I would love to see Hillary Clinton (at the gathering),” Perkins said in an interview Wednesday. “If she comes now, I would give her my time to speak. The agenda is full, but I would give her my time.”
Moreover, he said, “we’ll make sure that it is a congenial audience … we have differences of opinion, but it doesn’t mean we have to be disagreeable in our manner.”
None of the Democratic presidential candidates accepted the Family Research Council’s invitation to speak at the two-day gathering, which begins Oct. 19 and is expected to attract several thousand evangelical Christian voters from around the country.
All nine Republican candidates have accepted, however, including Rudy Giuliani, whose views on abortion and gay rights have clashed with the activists associated with Perkins’ organization.
Asked whether the Democrats are missing an opportunity, Perkins said, “I think they are. They’ve been talking the faith talk and people have been skeptical about it. And I think this only increases the skepticism that they will not come and talk to probably the largest cross section of social conservative Christians in this country.”
Permalink | |
Gramm spins for McCain
Eleven years after his own aborted bid for the GOP presidential nomination, ex-Texas Sen. Phil Gramm was working the spin room on behalf of Sen. John McCain after the Republican presidential debate in Dearborn, Michigan. Despite the help of the nice woman holding up a sign identifying Gramm, he didn’t seem to draw much media attention.
But Gramm did draw a kind word during the debate from a McCain foe. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, fielding a question about who would be his “ideal adviser” on economic issues said, “I think on economics the things do move around on you, you need a number of people. There’s even a pretty good one in the audience in Phil Gramm, the former senator out of Texas.”
Gramm now does his economic advising for the financial services firm of UBS Warburg, where he is a vice chairman.
Permalink | |
Terry: “Clinton Better For Pro-Life Than Giuliani”
Christian activist Randal Terry, founder of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, said Tuesday that Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton would be a better president for “pro-life” voters than Republican frontrunner Rudy Giuliani.
Terry, starting a 10-week, 20-state tour in opposition to a Giuliani presidency, issued a statement saying, “As horrifying as it seems, Hillary Clinton would be a better president for the pro-life movement than Rudy Giuliani.”
He added: “Gudy is the GOP’s crazy aunt. Every family has a crazy aunt in the basement. So what do you do with her? Don’t give her the family checkbook; don’t give her the keys to the car; and by all means, keep her in the basement.”
Terry said his mission is to deny Giuliani the White House “at all costs - even if it means Hillary becomes president.”
Christian conservative leaders met recently to discuss whether to back a third party candidate if Giuliani, a supporter of abortion rights, is the Republican Party nominee.
Permalink | |
This debate is brought to you by…
The word “Ford” shows up in Dearborn more frequently than the word “Alamo” appears in San Antonio.
Today’s GOP debate site is the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center (probably better than naming it Ford’s Theater and trying to attract GOP presidential candidates).
The center is not far from Ford Drive and the Henry Ford Medical Center and Ford’s headquarters and the Henry Ford Centennial Library and Henry Ford Community College and the Henry Ford Estate and a museum complex simply known as The Henry Ford.
And, as a corporate sponsor of the debate (along with Chrysler and GM), Ford had a few of its newer-fangled vehicles parked at the front door of the debate site. Friendly Ford employees handed out brochures touting the company’s “Road to Greener Miles.”
Permalink | |
Lamar Smith disappointed by FISA Fix
A key Republican is sharply critical of a new Democratic bill that would overhaul the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said he is disappointed with the bill from Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.
“I’m disappointed with the Democrats’ decision to ignore the requests of the director of National Intelligence with regard to FISA modernization,” Smith said. “Rather than responding to the urgent needs of our intelligence community, Democrats are giving unprecedented constitutional protections to terrorists, spies and other enemies overseas.”
The bill “ignores well-established practices governing the collection of foreign intelligence information and will enhance our enemies’ ability to carry out deadly plots,” Smith said.
The measure is another example of how Democrats are unwilling to enact “smart, bipartisan legislation that strengthens national security,” Smith said.
Permalink | |
GOP Debate: Royal nap?
Sign on athletic field adjacent to site of today’s GOP presidential debate in Dearborn, Michigan.
Unfortunately named monarch or commentary on the field of candidates?
Permalink | |
FISA fix from House Democrats
Leading House Democrats believe they have crafted a way to give intelligence agencies more surveillance powers without stepping all over civil liberties.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas., introduced a new bill today that would restore oversight of domestic wiretapping by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
The bill seeks to appease the Bush administration by granting the attorney general or the director of national intelligence the authority to apply to the secret court to conduct surveillance of foreign targets or groups of targets for up to one year.
“This bill provides what the director of national intelligence and assistant attorney general for National Security told us they needed-a means to acquire information from telecommunications companies about physical threats to the nation in which the target is overseas,” Conyers said. “They testified that they do not want warrantless access to spy on American businesses, hospitals and libraries, so we are taking them at their word and making it crystal clear that a FISA court order is required to access Americans’ communications.”
But wait just a second, says Caroline Fredrickson, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’ s Washington Office.
As drafted, the Conyers-Reyes bill would still allow for the federal government to collect phone calls and e-mails from Americans without an “individual warrant,” Fredrickson said.
And that, Fredrickson said, goes smack against the Fourth Amendment, which requires individual warrants if Americans are involved.
So called “program warrants’ are equivalent to the “21st century version of King George’s heavy-handed intrusions on individual privacy,” Fredrickson said.
“We would not tolerate allowing government agents to sit in our living rooms recording our personal conversations,” Fredrickson said. “We should not permit it simply because the government now has the capacity to monitor remotely and without our knowledge.”
Permalink | |
Rummies for Romney
Across the street from the Dearborn, Michigan site of today’s GOP debate, proof that you can enjoy an adult beverage and support a Mormon for president.
Permalink | |
SEIU To Endorse State-By-State In Presidential Race
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced Monday that it will leave it up to its locals in each each state to make its own endorsements in the presidential campaign rather than endorse a candidate itself.
In a statement, SEIU President Any Stern explained: “The outcome of this election will decide whether we finally achieve comprehensive, affordable healthcare for everyone, whether we bring economic security and fairness to working people, whether we bring our sons and daughters home from a civil war in Iraq, and whether working people in America finally have the freedom to form unions without intimidation. Given the importance of this election, we are encouraging members and leaders to act on their passion for the candidates and get involved on a statewide basis.”
Stern said none of the local endorsements would be announced before Oct. 15.
SEIU’s board of directors declined to make an endorsement last month although a majority of the board supported Democrat John Edwards. Unidentified SEIU officials said the decision not to endorse was the result of questions about Edwards’ “viability.”
In 2004, SEIU endorsed Democrat Howard Dean, who was running first in the polls at the time of the endorsement but finished third in the Iowa caucus and never recovered.
Edwards, who has actively courted the SEIU, has consistently run third in the Democratic field, behind Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But in the polls in Iowa, he has led or ran a close second behind Clinton
Permalink | |
City of dreams: Build it and seniors — lots of ‘em — will come
In a world often roiled by division and debate, there’s one thing on which folks most everywhere agree: getting old’s a pain.
“Cross lights are made for Olympic runners,” laments an over-60 senior in Halifax, Canada.
“You get tired,” pointed out another from Melville, Australia, “and need to sit down.”
“I can get on the bus,” explained another from Saanich, Canada, “but the minute the man takes off the bus rocks and I’m flat on my face.”
Those are a few of the responses the World Health Organization http://www.who.int/en/ published in a report http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr53/en/index.html Monday about what works and doesn’t work for the aged in cities.
The WHO based its report on conversations with 1,485 seniors and 765 caregivers in 158 focus groups in 33 cities around the world.
What makes for a good city for the elderly?
Public gardens with quiet benches, public toilets and non-slip pavement.
Buildings with doorways wide enough for wheelchairs.
Safe and affordable housing, police patrols, good public transportation and well-lit streets.
Volunteer opportunities, the chance for social interaction and civic participation and, of course, affordable health care.
And, above all, separate spaces for those skateboarders and bikers that go whizzing past at breakneck speed.
People over the age of 60 make up 11 percent of the population, worldwide: that level’s on track to double by 2050, when, for the first time in human history, seniors will outnumber children 14 and under.
Portland, Oregon, was the only U.S. city where the WHO spoke with seniors. The survey looked at 32 other cities around the world, from Amman, Jordan to Udine, Italy.
Permalink | |