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LOUISVILLE /JEFFERSON COUNTY

DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

Week of October 7, 2007

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Jefferson County Democrats 

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CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT LIST OF EVENTS

Updated on a regular basis

The Louisville/Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at 5:00 pm at Democratic Headquarters,            640 Barret Avenue .

 

Notice to our Readers &  2007 General Election Candidates:

This newsletter will carry in this space any Democratic candidates' notice of events or communications (250 words or less) to our readers that the candidate provides to the editor at rcrider@louisvilledem.com

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Yarmuth Announces Federal Disaster Assistance

Some Businesses in Jefferson County Eligible for Small Business Loans.

Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) announced that, after he called on the President to provide emergency assistance for damage resulting from this year’s April frost and snow, Jefferson County will be one of seven Kentucky counties eligible for federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  Small business owners can repay the loans at significantly lower interest rates than traditional loans.

“Extreme weather conditions have jeopardized the livelihoods of the people who work Louisville’s more than 500 farms,” Yarmuth said.  “They provide crops and an economic boost for our community and I’m happy that we are able to provide this assistance.”

“I was really impressed that Congressman Yarmuth—representing a non-traditional agricultural district— understood how important this relief is for farmers, and that he took action on behalf of Kentucky farmers,” Joe Cain, Director of National Affairs for Kentucky Farm Bureau said of Yarmuth’s efforts.  “It shows he listens to people.”

This is the second time that the federal government has offered assistance to Jefferson County’s farm community.  Shortly after Yarmuth requested assistance in April, much of Kentucky received a “natural disaster designation,” making certain farms eligible for emergency low-interest loans from the Farm Services Agency. 

Under the new declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to farm and non-farm related small business and its financial resources.  Interested business owners should contact SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired), Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM—9:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM—9:00 PM.  Loan applications can also be downloaded from SBA’s website: www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.  Completed applications should be mailed to:

U.S. Small Business Administration

Processing and Disbursement Center

14925 Kingsport Rd.

Fort Worth, TX 76155

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THE DSCC SAYS: MCCONNELL MAKES SECOND APPEARANCE IN ITS HALL OF SHAME FOR HIS “NAY” VOTE AGAINST THE “SCHIP” BILL

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There is a job for everyone and everyone's help is needed

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167 Union Volunteers in Action Across Kentucky 

Bernard Pollack, AFL-CIO field coordinator, sends us this report on the campaign to elect a working family-friendly governor in Kentucky. 

In one of the largest statewide labor walks ever held in Kentucky, 167 union activists walked door to door Saturday to talk with union members about the upcoming election in which Steve Beshear is challenging anti-worker Gov. Ernie Fletcher for office.  

Despite Beshear’s 20-point lead in the polls, union members in Kentucky are not sitting back. Fletcher has canceled bargaining rights for state employees, privatized Kentucky’s Medicaid program and pushed to repeal the prevailing wage law and implement anti-union “right to work” for less legislation. Beshear opposes so-called “right to work” legislation and has affirmed his support of safeguards for the prevailing wage, employee bargaining, the need for affordable health care and good jobs. 

After our state kickoff walk last week in which more than 400 volunteers went door to door in Jefferson County, we continue to knock on thousands of union doors across the state, with walks this weekend in Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro, Paducah and Pikeville. 

In Paducah, where 34 volunteers turned out, Jeff Wiggins, Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Labor Council president, notes: 

I’ve been the Western Kentucky Central Labor Council President since 2000, this is the largest labor walk we’ve ever held in Paducah. 

Union members taking part in the Paducah walk include: AFSCME, AFT,  Alliance for Retired Americans, Fire Fighters (IAFF), Ironworkers, Operating Engineers, Painters and Allied Trades, UAW and United Steelworkers (USW). 

Tim Smith, coordinator of the area that includes Owensboro, said the walk there was “larger than any Labor 2004 or Labor 2006 labor walk—and it is only the first one so far this year.” 

Members from the Electrical Workers (IBEW), Operating Engineers (IUOE), the Kentucky Education Association, Mine Workers (UMWA), Sprinkler Fitters, Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA), UAW and USW took part.  

Donnie Colston, coordinator for the area that includes Louisville, said, “Despite more than 400 walkers last week for our kickoff, nearly 60 more union volunteers showed up this week to walk with us again.” Colston concludes: 

Union members refuse to take anything for granted.  

Those union members are part of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), IBEW, Laborers (LIUNA), Machinists (IAM), UAW, USW, Working America and more. 

Meanwhile in Lexington, where 42 volunteers turned out, area coordinator Mike Donta said: 

This is the one of the largest walks we’ve ever had in Lexington. 

Members of AFT, Carpenters, CWA, IAFF, IBEW, Iron Workers, LIUNA, Office and Professional Employees, UAW, USW and Utility Workers (UWUA) all took part. 

Pikeville’s 10 volunteers were part of history, said coordinator Eddie Bowling: 

This is first time we’ve ever held a labor walk in all Eastern Kentucky. 

Click here to view more photos of the walk in Lexington.

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LT. COL. ANDREW HORNE CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR THE GOVERNORS RACE.

I know that many people are extremely focused on the Iraq War and the defeat of Mitch McConnell in 2008. But in the next 5 weeks we can do more to replace Mitch [and maybe a few Congressmen] than we have been able to do all year. Electing strong Anti-Iraq Democrats is the best way to get us out of Iraq and electing Steve Beshear, Daniel Mongiardo, Jack Conway and all our Democratic Party Candidates with an overwhelming mandate is the best way to do that. Right now the Kentucky Democratic Party is building voter files as never before using a state of the art targeting system that will revolutionize grass roots politics. BUT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN WE NEED YOU. Only grass roots volunteers can make the calls and walk the ground to get the job done just as volunteers have brought so much pressure on Mitch McConnell.

Please contact Lisa Tanner for the coordinated campaign at LTANNER@KYDEMOCRAT.COM Lisa can give you the location of one of a dozen call centers across the state [there is one near you] where you can plug in and make a difference, or pick-up walk packets and walk your neighborhood.

I know that focusing on the current races can seem to be far a field from the Iraq debate or Ditching Mitch, but we must fight smart if we are to win this fight. The race for Governor is a key battle in the campaign to take back our country. Just yesterday www.MoveOn.org announced that it is sending several workers to Kentucky to focus on this November’s races. We can do no less. Steph and I have already walked several precincts in Louisville and are making calls the next five Mondays.

Join us.

Semper Fidelis,

Lt. Col. Andrew J. Horne

"A House divided against itself cannot stand."

Nothing this issue

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 DAILY GRILL       

"Blackwater has been a contractor in the past with the department and could certainly be in the future." -- Gen. Peter Pace, 9/27/07

VERSUS

"Presidential Airways, Inc., an aviation Worldwide Services company (d/b/a Blackwater Aviation), Moyock, N.C., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) type contract for $92,000,000.00." -- Pentagon press release, 9/28/07

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"The day you set timelines and deadlines, it's lost in Iraq." -- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), 2/4/07

VERSUS

"Graham told Time Wednesday that the Iraqi leaders have 90 days to start resolving their political differences with real legislative agreements or face a change in strategy by the U.S." -- Time, 9/26/07

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"This is such a blatant use of a valiant combat veteran, lying to him about what I said and then strapping those lies to his belt, sending him out via the media and a TV ad to walk into as many people as he can walk into." -- Rush Limbaugh, 10/2/07, attacking Iraq war veteran Brian McGough for appearing in a Vote Vets ad

VERSUS

"I can assure you that I am no suicide bomber and that I can think for myself." -- McGough, 10/2/07, who was injured by a "real-life suicide bomber" in Iraq

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"[British troops] had made progress in southern Iraq." -- Vice President Cheney, 2/21/07

VERSUS

"Operationally, British forces have performed poorly in Basra. ... Maybe it's best that they leave." -- Senior White House official, 10/3/07, days after Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a withdrawal of troops from Iraq

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Quotes of the Day      

Half the warships in the U.S. Navy now sit within striking distance of Iran. Bush and Cheney have stepped up their rhetoric accusing Iran of threatening to start a "nuclear holocaust." The British press are predicting that the Bush administration will bomb Iran in the near future.By Reese Erlich, AlterNet.  SOURCE

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Recent Senate Votes 

Conference Report for Water Resources Development Act of 2007 - Vote Agreed to (81-12, 7 Not Voting)

The Senate approved the conference report for this bill that would reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act.

Sen. Mitch McConnell voted YES
Sen. Jim Bunning voted YES

Biden Amendment: To express the sense of Congress on federalism in Iraq - Vote Agreed to (75-23, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed the Biden Amendment calling for the partition of Iraq into three semi-autonomous regions.

Sen. Mitch McConnell voted YES
Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act - Vote Agreed to (67-29, 4 Not Voting)

The Senate voted to increase spending on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, by $5 billion to $12 billion per year over the next five years

Sen. Mitch McConnell voted NO 
Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO

Increasing the statutory limit on the public debt - Vote Agreed to (53-42, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate voted in favor of this resolution to raise the debt limit from $9 trillion to $9.8 trillion.

Sen. Mitch McConnell voted YES
Sen. Jim Bunning voted NO

Making continuing appropriations for FY2008 - Vote Agreed to (94-1, 5 Not Voting)

The Senate almost unanimously passed the continuing resolution that funds government operations at its current levels until November 16, while Congress continues to work on the new spending bills.

Sen. Mitch McConnell voted YES
Sen. Jim Bunning voted YES

 

Recent House Votes 

 

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act - Vote Passed (265-159, 1 Present, 8 Not Voting)

The House voted to extend the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, a health insurance program aimed at children from low-income families that do not quality for Medicaid.

Rep. Ron Lewis voted NO

Rep. John Yarmuth voted YES

Making continuing appropriations for FY2008 - Vote Passed (404-14, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed this continuing resolution that funds government operations at its current levels until November 16, while Congress continues to work on the new spending bills.

Rep. Ron Lewis voted YES

Rep. John Yarmuth voted YES

Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act - Vote Passed (260-154, 2 Present, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed this act to help prevent cases of "popcorn lung," a disorder found in popcorn plant workers.

Rep. Ron Lewis voted NO

Rep. John Yarmuth voted YES

Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (263-146, 23 Not Voting)

The House passed this legislation to continue a flood insurance program that provides affordable insurance to homeowners living in areas vulnerable to flooding.

Rep. Ron Lewis voted NO

Rep. John Yarmuth voted YES

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HUMOR    

"The Democrats are so useless that they could not even pass a bill to get our troops more time between deployments. Only the Republicans could make an argument that a bill that literally supports the troops didn't support the troops. And only the Democrats could lose that argument. Next week, the Democrats are going to vote whether to give Republicans all their lunch money or just some of it." --Bill Maher

"You know Bill O'Reilly is in a little bit of trouble with the black folks. ... He had dinner in Harlem with Al Sharpton -- he must have lost a bet -- and he discovered that black people use utensils when they eat. He said he was shocked and delighted to see there was no difference between a black-owned restaurant and a white-owned restaurant. Which is true, because apparently, they both serve crackers" --Bill Maher

"Last week during a speech to the NRA, Rudy Giuliani was interrupted by a cell phone call, which he stopped his speech to answer. Giuliani then told the audience, 'That was my wife reminding me to pick up some milk at the 9-Eleven'" --Seth Meyers

"The Democrats had a very big week this week. They tacked a hate crimes bill onto the war spending bill. ... Apparently, attacks on gays, they said, is also actually terrorism. I don't have time to explain how this bill works, but next year, General Petraeus will be eligible for a Tony." --Bill Maher

"They also had a big debate this week, the Democrats. ... The news out of it was that they were asked, 'Do you think you could get the troops out of Iraq by the end of your first term in 2013?' All the frontrunners said 'no.' No! By 2013! Barack Obama called it 'the audacity of nope.'" --Bill Maher

"One awkward moment during the debate: John Edwards' phone rang and it was Giuliani's wife." --Bill Maher

"There is a new book out this week about President Bush by one of his longtime fans, Bill Sammon. ... It's called the 'Evangelical President,' and it's pretty standard Bush idolatry. You know, he's smarter than we think, his enemies are just jealous, he's ahead of his time. By the way, if you order it though Amazon, they recommend you might also like 'The 10 Pound Bag of Bulls**t.'" --Bill Maher

"According to a report from a British web site, Saddam Hussein offered to step down and go into exile one month before the invasion of Iraq in return for $1 billion. He said he would go into exile for $1 billion. That's the same deal NBC offered me." --Jay Leno

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When Hate Radio Attacks...

Last Wednesday, right-wing pundit and "hate radio" pioneer Rush Limbaugh declared that U.S. troops who support withdrawal from Iraq are "phony soldiers." Limbaugh made the off-handed comment on his daily radio show while engaging in conversation with a caller about Iraq. As Media Matters first noted, Limbaugh said, "[I]t's not possible, intellectually, to follow these people" who call for a withdrawal. The caller replied, "No, it's not, and what's really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media." Limbaugh interjected, "The phony soldiers." The caller agreed, replying, "The phony soldiers." Limbaugh's slap at "phony soldiers" appears to be a direct attack on seven members of the 82nd Airborne who wrote a New York Times op-ed in August, warning that Iraqis had been "robbed of their self-respect" as a result of the invasion and would "soon realize that the best way to regain dignity is to call us what we are -- an army of occupation -- and force our withdrawal." A poll conducted last December found that, at the time (prior to the escalation), 37 percent of the military believed we should not have gone to Iraq, while one in five felt we should have fewer troops on the ground.

...THE LEFT FIGHTS BACK: Limbaugh's smear has generated a fast and furious response from the left. Last Friday, the Democratic Senate leadership began circulating a letter on Capitol Hill that called on Clear Channel CEO Mark Mays, Limbaugh's employer, to repudiate the "phony troops" remark. The letter, signed by Sens. Harry Reid (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Patty Murray (D-WA), states that Limbaugh's comments were "outrageous" and "unconscionable." Mays has since responded, offering his "regret" for Limbaugh's comments. On Monday, Reid took to the Senate floor and challenged those senators who recently criticized a MoveOn.org newspaper ad to condemn Limbaugh "with equal fervor." Also last week, Rep. Mark Udall (R-CO) announced that he would be introducing a resolution in the House criticizing Limbaugh. Several lawmakers have made comments denouncing the smear. VoteVets.org, a pro-military organization founded by veterans of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, has released a series of ads, highlighting the faces of soldiers who oppose Bush's failed policy in Iraq. Additionally, retired Gen. Wesley Clark has called on activists to demand Limbaugh be taken off Armed Forces Radio.

...LIMBAUGH IMPLODES: As a result of having been forcefully condemned for his smear, Limbaugh has responded with revisionist history, claiming he was taken out of context. Limbaugh argues his "phony soldiers" remark was actually in reference to one man -- Jesse MacBeth -- who pretended to be an injured Iraq war veteran. But in fact, Limbaugh did not make reference to MacBeth on that show until nearly two minutes after talking about "phony soldiers" who opposed the war. Also, he used the phrase "phony soldiers" in direct response to his caller's complaint that we "never" hear from "real soldiers" who oppose the war, only troops who "spout" against the war "in the media." Moreover, when attempting to clarify his remarks on Friday, Limbaugh severely undermined his case by identifying Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), who earned the bronze star and two purple hearts during 37 years of service, as an example of a "phony soldier." Having been placed under the microscope for his smears against the troops, Limbaugh has begun lashing out, calling Reid a "nut." Rather than offer an apology to defuse the situation, Limbaugh instead fueled it by claiming  to apologize on behalf of Media Matters for creating a "firestorm over something that did not happen." And yesterday, Limbaugh took his defense to an even more insulting level, comparing an Iraq war veteran who criticized him to a suicide bomber.

...THE RIGHT WING CIRCLES THE WAGONS: Evidence of his powerful influence in conservative circles, Limbaugh has found no shortage of defenders on the right, including Fox News, Republican lawmakers, the Drudge Report, and right-wing blogs. While House Democrats were pushing a resolution to condemn the "unwarranted slur" made by Limbaugh, Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) took exactly the opposite tact, offering a resolution to "commend" Limbaugh's "commitment to American troops." In the wake of the recent furor over a MoveOn ad against Gen. David Petraeus, 72 Senators stood to "strongly condemn any effort to attack the honor and integrity" of any member of the U.S. forces. But the Senate letter calling on Clear Channel to repudiate Limbaugh's comments have garnered only 41 votes, lacking the support of a single Republican and 10 Democrats. Right-wing radio host Melanie Morgan offered a full-throated defense of Limbaugh that echoed his smear. She called soldiers involved with the VoteVets organization "anti-America" "fake" "posers." Fox News has performed its obligatory spin on the incident, offering an unfair and unbalanced perspective that takes Limbaugh's side while attacking his critics.

IRAQ -- PENTAGON ISSUES BLACKWATER USA A NEW $92 MILLION CONTRACT: Last month, Blackwater USA, a private security firm, was involved in the fatal shooting of 11 Iraqi civilians. While the Iraqi government swiftly condemned the contractor, the Bush administration has continued to back Blackwater's story that it was "defensive fire." Last Thursday, Gen. Peter Pace told reporters, "Blackwater has been a contractor in the past with the department and could certainly be in the future." The next day, that future arrived. The Pentagon issued a new list of contracts, including one worth $92 million to Presidential Airways, the "aviation unit of parent company Blackwater." "Presidential Airways, Inc., an aviation Worldwide Services company (d/b/a Blackwater Aviation), Moyock, M.C., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) type contract for $92,000,000.00," reads a press release. Government officials have repeatedly ignored Blackwater's transgressions. Senior Iraqi officials have "repeatedly complained to U.S. officials" about Blackwater's "alleged involvement in the deaths of numerous Iraqis, but the Americans took little action to regulate the private security firm."

ADMINISTRATION -- BUSH'S CASE FOR HITTING IRAN HAS 'SHIFTED,' NOW FOCUSED ON 'SURGICAL STRIKES': In a new article for The New Yorker called "Shifting Targets," Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh writes that there has been "a significant increase in the tempo of attack planning" for war with Iran within the Bush administration. Hersh, who has been warning for months that the White House has been planning for war with Iran, writes that President Bush's focus has shifted from a broad bombing attack against Iran's nuclear facilities to "surgical" strikes against Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities throughout the country. Hersh explained on CNN yesterday that this new rationale would "sell" better, stating, "You can say to people...we're only hitting those people that we think are trying to hit our boys and the coalition forces" in Iraq. Hersh maintains that the Iranians are "nowhere" in the process of making a nuclear weapon and that "there isn't enough evidence to justify a bombing raid." When asked how the drumbeat for war with Iran compares to the Vietnam War or to the months preceding the U.S. attack on Iraq in 2003, Hersh replied, "You'd think in this country with so many smart people, that we can't possibly do the same dumb thing again. I have this theory in life that there is no learning. There is no learning curve."

ETHICS -- BLACKWATER CEO ERIK PRINCE'S RIGHT-WING TIES RUN DEEP: Erik Prince, the CEO of Blackwater USA, is set to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today, after the committee issued a stinging memo yesterday revealing that Blackwater employees who engaged in shooting incidents in Iraq had fired first 84 percent of the time. The controversial firm, which was involved in a shootout in Iraq last month that left 11 Iraqis dead, has long-standing ties to right-wing causes. Prince's father, Edgar Prince, "was instrumental in the creation of the Family Research Council, an influential right-wing Christian group. Furthermore, Erik Prince is the vice-president of the Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation, a group founded by his parents that "gave at least $470,000 to the FRC and $531,000 to Focus on the Family," a conservative Christian group run by James Dobson. Prince has also donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to conservative causes including the American Enterprise Institute and the Prison Fellowship Ministries.

HEALTH CARE -- PRESIDENT BUSH 'QUIETLY' VETOES SCHIP WITHOUT 'CEREMONY': Both the Senate and the House have passed an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) with strong bipartisan majorities, but the Bush administration has vetoed it. Asked yesterday if there would be a ceremony today when the President signs the veto, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said, "I would not anticipate that there would be any ceremony." She added, "The President will probably veto it quietly." It's not surprising that Bush is hoping no one notices his veto, which will deny health coverage to four million children. Over 70 percent of Americans support Congress's proposed SCHIP increase. Bush has stated that he opposes funding the program with revenue from cigarette taxes, even though such taxes are tied to decreases in smoking. Furthermore, the public overwhelmingly supports raising tobacco taxes, by a margin of 67 percent to 28 percent. Bush knows his veto is unpopular. After all, he's certainly not opposed to lavish ceremonies and using children for political photo-ops.

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NEED COMPUTER ASSISTANCE?? 

Democrat Activist Mike Bailey is now providing “Professional Computer Support.”  He can be contacted at 502-558-4026, or mikebailey2000@usa.net. 

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Think Fast       

The Senate voted 92-3 yesterday to "pass a defense policy bill authorizing another $150 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." While the Senate policy bill authorizes the money to be spent, it does not guarantee it. "Bush will have to wait until Congress passes a separate appropriations bill before war funds are transferred to military coffers."

Ferdowi University yesterday invited President Bush to travel to Iran and "speak on campus about a range of issues, including the Holocaust, terrorism, human rights and U.S. foreign policy." The invitation "asked Bush to answer questions from students and professors 'just the same way' that Ahmadinejad took questions 'despite all the insults directed at him.'"

The Anti-Defamation League is calling on Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to "reconsider and withdraw" his comment over the weekend that the Constitution established America as a "Christian nation."

In his opening statement today, Blackwater Chairman Erik Prince will tell the House Oversight Committee that his company and its employees are victims of a "rush to judgment" about a shootout in Baghdad last month. Though Prince says Blackwater employees "acted appropriately," the Iraqi government has concluded that they were "unprovoked" when they opened fire.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that Britain will withdraw 1,000 troops from Iraq by the end of the year. "Forty one British soldiers have been killed this year, the most since 2003."

The nonpartisan watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense sent a letter to the House Ethics Committee requesting an "investigation into how a controversial Florida highway earmark tied to Rep. Don Young (R-AK) made it into legislation that had already passed the House and Senate." But "restrictive House rules" and a recent federal ruling make it "unclear whether any investigation will occur."

After doubts were raised about the recent death of Abu Usama al-Tunisi, a high-level al Qaeda operative in Iraq, counterterrorism analyst Evan Kohlmann writes of confirmation that Tunisi did in fact die in a recent U.S. military raid.

Condi's bodyguard scared a fifth grader. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited an elementary school in Harlem yesterday, where one student was "spooked" by "her muscular security agents." "Her security might kill me if I ask one question or come two feet near her," said 10-year-old fifth grader Miles Figaro. "We'll prove that that's not true. ... You come here," said Rice, giving him a hug to laughter and applause.

Blackwater contractors have alleged that a Sept. 16 deadly shooting in Iraq was initiated in response to hostile fire. But an "extensive evidence file" put together by the Iraqi National Police -- including documents, maps, sworn witness statements, and police video footage -- concludes that the Blackwater vehicles "opened fire crazily and randomly, without any reason."

"For the fifth time since 2001, Congress is raising the debt limit, increasing it by $850 billion to $9.815 trillion. The Senate approved the plan on a 53-42 vote Thursday night. The House of Representatives has already signed off on the plan, without a direct vote." 

Defense Secretary Robert Gates "told a group of U.S. House Democratic lawmakers that the multinational mission in Afghanistan is suffering from a lack of resources, citing the war in Iraq and the reluctance of U.S. allies to contribute more troops, participants at the meeting said."

Yesterday, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq "criticized a Senate resolution that could lead to a division" of the country "into sectarian or ethnic territories, agreeing with a swath of Iraqi leaders in saying the proposal 'would produce extraordinary suffering and bloodshed.'"

Defense contractor Brent Wilkes goes on trial tomorrow "to fight federal charges that he funneled more than $700,000 in bribes" to former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham "in the form of both cash and perks ranging from a Sea-Doo jet boat to the services of two prostitutes at a high-end Hawaiian resort."

 Last week, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) was seen sporting an "icky" "bloodshot eye." A Byrd spokesman confirmed to Roll Call that the injury was not the result of a scuffle with Vice President Cheney, but an "all-out battle" with his grandchildren, who "challenged their 89-year-old great-grandpa to a game of 'how long can you hold your breath' in a swimming pool."

Though Blackwater USA CEO Erik Prince told a congressional committee yesterday that the company's guards opened fire on only 195 occasions in Iraq since 2005, "two former Blackwater security guards" stated they believe "employees fired more often than the company has disclosed. "The underreporting of shooting incidents was routine in Iraq," said one guard.

The Bush administration has made "seemingly inconsistent decisions" when releasing prisoners they deem "among America's most-hardened criminals" from Guantanamo Bay, according to Pentagon documents. "Human rights groups contend that the documents show" that the military panels are often "overridden by political expediency."

The State Department launched its own blog last week, called "Dipnote." People have already complained "that the white print on a black background makes it hard to read" Finally, "unbiased news directly from the federal government, a news source long noted for truthful, unbiased reporting," the Washington Post's Al Kamen mockingly writes. 

The Army has met its stated recruiting goal of 80,000 new active-duty soldiers for FY2007. But to achieve this goal, "the Army rushed enlistees into its ranks more quickly than usual, depleting the number in the pipeline for next year to less than 7,000 -- the smallest in more than a decade."

The Polish ambassador to Iraq was wounded and a civilian was killed in a car bomb that went off in downtown Baghdad today. Approximately 900 Polish troops are currently stationed south of Baghdad training Iraqi personnel.

Final score: Boxer 3, Inhofe 0. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) has repeatedly challenged Sen. Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) authority over the Senate environmental committee. During one hearing, she had to inform him, "You don't make the rules anymore." Yesterday, Boxer slammed down Inhofe's assertion that she couldn't invite sitting senators to the hearings, pointing out that in Sept. 2006, he invited Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN). "I don't mind if we have disagreements, but...let's get the facts right," she admonished him. 

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INTERESTING         

Kristol’s Dark Humor: Bush’s ‘Heartless Assault On Our Children’ Is ‘A Good Idea’

On Fox News Sunday this morning, NPR’s Mara Liasson said that President Bush’s expected veto of an expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which passed both the House and Senate on a strong bipartisan basis, will be seen as “a heartless blow against children.”

Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, who supports Bush’s veto, laughingly joked:

First of all, whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault on our children, I tend to think it’s a good idea. I’m happy that the President’s willing to do something bad for the kids.

Kristol then disparaged yesterday’s Democratic Radio Address, delivered by a 12-year-old boy named Graeme Frost who had received care under the SCHIP program, calling it “pathetic.” “You really wonder how stupid they think the American people are,” concluded Kristol. Watch it:

NPR’s Juan Williams rebutted Kristol’s callous approach to children’s health care. “When you have 3.7 million uninsured children in America, you know you have a crisis,” said Williams. He then ripped Kristol’s disparagement of the Democratic Radio Address as hypocritical because conservatives “use soldiers and everything else to bolster their arguments”:

WILLIAMS: I’m surprised to hear you say, “Oh, how dare you use a child.” What do Republicans do except use soldiers and everything else to bolster their arguments.

KRISTOL: Soldiers aren’t children.

WILLIAMS: Oh come on. Yeah, use uniforms and everything else. And in fact, put on — politicians get in uniforms and get on ships to talk about “missions accomplished.” C’mon.

The expansion of SCHIP that Bush is threatening to veto would extend coverage to 4 million children who would otherwise be uninsured.  SEE VIDEO

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Elephants With Very Short Memories

It's no longer much of a surprise when the Bush administration suddenly tries to ignore its own record, and while continuing its mistakes, seeks to preempt the talking points of critics.

But the impending White House/GOP "fiscal responsibility" offensive, built around planned Bush vetoes of a host of appropriations bills, really does set a new, high standard for amnesia and chutzpah.

In preparation for the appropriations fight, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer delivered a National Press Club speech last week that usefully sets the record straight, and skewers GOP claims of any serious interest in fiscal responsibility, particularly as compared to the record of the last Democratic administration:

"There's no other way to say it, the Republicans' fiscal record is like a decades-long train wreck. For 18 of the 26 years that I have served in Congress, a Republican has occupied the White House. And, in every single year of those Republican administrations, the federal government ran a budget deficit. The cumulative deficits under Presidents Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush, and George W. Bush total more than $4.1 trillion.

"In contrast, the Clinton administration had a cumulative surplus of nearly $63 billion over eight years. Under President Clinton's stewardship, the federal government reduced the deficits he inherited and recorded four consecutive surpluses -- the first time that had happened in 70 years."

The Bush administration's fiscal report card is not, Hoyer notes emphatically, the result of bad luck or 9/11, but of deliberate policies that predictably created an ocean of red ink:

"The President claimed last week that his fiscal record is 'admirable and good.' Does he really believe this? He came to office inheriting a projected 10-year budget surplus of $5.6 trillion, and proclaimed, 'We can proceed with tax relief without fear of budget deficits, even if the economy softens.' But then, the Republican-controlled Congress passed and the president signed the largest tax cuts in a generation -- tax cuts disproportionately skewed toward the wealthiest citizens -- while increasing spending at a rate (7.1 percent) nearly twice that of the Clinton administration.

"As predicted, these irresponsible policies turned surpluses into massive deficits: $158 billion in Fiscal 2002, $378 billion in Fiscal 2003, $413 billion in Fiscal 2004, $319 billion in Fiscal 2005, and $248 billion in Fiscal 2006. ..

"The exploding national debt is equally disturbing. Today, the debt stands at more than $9 trillion, a 56-percent increase (or $3.3 trillion) under President Bush. That's $29,728 for every man, woman and child in our nation."

Yet the administration continues to ignore the federal government's long-term fiscal crisis, focusing instead on narrow differences over appropriations bills, in a classic look-at-the-trees-not-the-forest maneuver. As Hoyer put it:

"The president needs to put down his veto pen and pick up the telephone. Our differences on funding levels for domestic appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008 -- which begins on Monday -- are relatively minor. We need to work out those differences, rather than engage in political posturing."

This isn't just a matter of getting through one year's appropriations bills, or of setting the historical record straight. We're entering a presidential election year in which the Republican candidates seeking to succeed George W. Bush are promoting the same tired mix of vague promises to control federal spending and specific commitments to continue, or even accelerate, high-end tax cuts, thus exacerbating the long-term fiscal crisis while making the federal tax code more and more regressive.

It's time to end the fiscal madness, and a good starting point is to expose the GOP's ludicrous efforts to claim the mantle of fiscal sanity. Bush is like a master burglar who cries "Stop, thief!" and points the finger elsewhere when caught in the act of plundering the public treasury. His "fiscal responsibility" offensive does not begin to pass the laugh test. And the very short memories of Republicans on the fiscal records of the last two administrations need to be refreshed.

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Making Republicans Don the Full Reagan Mantle - By Nancy Scola

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Christian Coalition Applauds McCain’s Religious Bigotry, Claims It ‘Might Make Him President’

In a recent interview with Beliefnet, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) claimed “the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation,” and suggested religious candidates that don’t share his faith should be viewed skeptically. “McCain was raised Episcopalian and currently attends a Baptist church in Arizona.”

Beliefnet columnist David Kuo said McCain was “pandering to what he thinks the Christian conservative community wants to hear” and predicted he would “have a lot of explaining to do about this interview.”

Several religious groups have condemned McCain’s remarks. The Anti-Defamation League is calling on him to “reconsider and withdraw” the comments. The American Jewish Committee said McCain’s attempts to impose religious tests for public office “puts the very character of our country at stake.” James Zogby, head of the Arab American Institute, called called McCain “Cheney without the nuance.”

But there’s at least one religious group that is proudly backing McCain’s religious bigotry. In a press release, the Christian Coalition — an organization founded by Pat Robertson — said McCain may win the presidency with his “America is a Christian Nation” comment:

In a Christian Coalition of America blog entry entitled: “McCain’s ‘America is a Christian Nation’ Comments Might Make Him President,” Jim Backlin said: “Comments like ‘America was founded on Christian principles’ by Senator John McCain just might make him president.

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