Larry Craig (R-Wide Stance):
Sen. Larry Craig’s attorney, Billy Martin, said this morning the senator intends to file the legal papers in Minnesota later today to seek a reversal of his guilty plea to disorderly conduct in an airport men’s room.According to some TPM readers who happen to be criminal defense lawyers, this seems highly unlikely.
The top American commander in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, has recommended that decisions on the contentious issue of reducing the main body of the American troops in Iraq be put off for six months, American officials said Sunday.Magical
I can't wait to hear what strong Iraq War critic Michael O'Hanlon has to say about this:
The Pentagon is preparing to build its first base for U.S. forces near the Iraqi-Iranian border, in a major new effort to curb the flow of advanced Iranian weaponry to Shiite militants across Iraq.I'm not much for wishing people ill, but if it will prevent war with Iran, I'll even do a little dance in Fourthbranch's honor. Congress needs to grow a pair and stop this war now. Call your Congresspersons and let them know.The push also includes construction of fortified checkpoints on the major highways leading from the Iranian border to Baghdad and the installation of X-ray machines and explosives-detecting sensors at the only formal border crossing between Iran and Iraq.
President Bush's top two military and political advisers on Iraq will warn Congress on Monday that making any significant changes to the current war strategy will jeopardize the limited security and political progress made so far, according to officials familiar with their thinking.My parents always wanted me to be a prophet, but nooo.......
Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a persistent Republican critic of the Iraq war, intends to announce on Monday he will not seek a third term, according to a Republican official.Now things are going to get interesting. We might not have a realistic shot at winning Nebraska, but we sure can make the Republicans spend a lot of effort on defense.The official also said Hagel does not plan to run for the White House in 2008, despite earlier flirting with a candidacy.
You're damned right:
The Senate voted Friday to increase college financial aid by cutting roughly $20 billion in government subsidies to banks and giving it to students.The bill would boost the maximum Pell grant, which goes to the poorest college students, from $4,310 to $5,400 by 2012.
The vote was 79-12.
The House is expected to vote on the bill later Friday and the president is expected to sign the legislation soon.
The bill would cut interest rates on federally backed student loans to poor and middle-class students from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over the next four years.That's a good start. Now let's keep going until college is free for everyone. You know, like investing in our children so they produce a greater return (in wall st. terms). Why we were subsidizing a business is beyond me. Just help kids go to college!
Oh yeah, that war:
Seven U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq, including four in the western province of Anbar, the U.S. military said on Friday.Meanwhile, Bush keeps searching for his pony.
In a statement, the military said four Marines were killed in the vast desert region on Thursday while conducting combat operations. It gave no further details.
U.S. President George W. Bush visited Anbar on Monday and hailed improved security in the province, previously the most dangerous region in Iraq for American soldiers.
The Justice Department on Thursday said Internet service providers should be allowed to charge a fee for priority Web traffic.Bush's justice department - responsible for such great hits as domestic spying, Guantanamo, firing prosecutors who disagreed with the Republican party line and more! - is against a provision that makes it illegal for big business to squeeze money out of you and helps to control the gates of information flow. Hmm...The agency told the Federal Communications Commission, which is reviewing high-speed Internet practices, that it is opposed to "Net neutrality," the principle that all Internet sites should be equally accessible to any Web user.
Several phone and cable companies, such as AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp., have previously said they want the option to charge some users more money for loading certain content or Web sites faster than others.
The Justice Department said imposing a Net neutrality regulation could hamper development of the Internet and prevent service providers from upgrading or expanding their networks. It could also shift the "entire burden of implementing costly network expansions and improvements onto consumers," the agency said in its filing.
"Rather than picking up votes, by removing the deadline to get our troops out of Iraq you have lost this Democrat's vote.
"Despite the fact that this has been the bloodiest summer of the war and report after report says that there has been little to no political progress, the White House continues to argue that their strategy is working.
"It is clear that half measures are not going to stop this President or end this war.
"I cannot and will not support any measure that does not have a firm and enforceable deadline to complete the redeployment of combat troops from Iraq. Only then will Congress be able to send a clear message to the President that we are changing course in Iraq, and a message to the Iraqis that they need to get their political house in order.
Again, refreshing to see a candidate actually lead as opposed to talking about leading.
Took him long enough:
I think even the punditry, with the exception of Margaret Carlson, has thrown in the towel on Grandpa Fred. After all, this comic put it best:Fred Thompson formally launches his White House bid today, focusing less on what he stands for than what he'll try to represent: a deep-voiced conservative who instills confidence and looks more like a president than the other eight candidates.
In short, he's trying to become the conservative version of Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama, who has talked dismissively of policy plans and focused his campaign on "hope" and "change" and getting past the partisan divisions that have wracked Washington for decades.
Mr. Thompson's first campaign television ad -- scheduled for broadcast last night in the middle of yet another Republican debate he was skipping -- centered on the slogan "Security, Unity, Prosperity." Also, in a taped appearance on NBC's "Tonight Show," Mr. Thompson told host Jay Leno, "I'm running for president of the United States."
