Clipmarks | zasel's 'congress' clips

THE Bigot is Dead

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:24:15 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Jesse Helms was a disgraceful representation of an elected official in our country. He despised blacks, gays, lesbians, hispanics and everyone who did not look like him or believed as he believed.

While I never take pleasure in the death of another human being, it is my sincere hope that with his death, another layer of bigotry in the U.S. is buried with him. I have to think that maybe seeing Obama on the brink of the presidency may have been just too much for his aging heart to take.

Clip Source: blogs.villagevoice.com

Jesse Helms, an unrepentant supporter of unnatural causes throughout his life, died of natural causes this morning at the age of 86.

The death of Helms is just about the best birthday present the United States could wish for on July 4. Free at last — of Jesse Helms.

As a senator, he explained that he voted against Roberta Achtenberg, President Clinton's nominee for a Housing and Urban Development position, "because she's a damn lesbian."

In 1990, Helms stayed away in protest when Nelson Mandela addressed a joint session of Congress.

While the networks and most of the press will soft-pedal his virulent racism and reckless disregard for the First Amendment in his hounding of artists, foreigners and many others, Helms stayed his divisive course until the bitter end — at least until the end of his public career.

And it's fitting that he should die during a presidential race that features young black man Barack Obama.

Former Speaker Hastert's Congressional Seat is Lost to a Newbie Democrat!

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:13:21 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: If this is any indication of things to come, and it is, the Republicans have a lot to worry about come November.

This seat has been reliably Republican for decades. The Democrats didn't even contest a couple of elections in Hastert's area. Just two weeks ago it appeared the Democrat didn't stand a chance.

I really believe the country has finally awakened to the facts that the Bush administration, and their supporters in Congress has taken the country in a terribly wrong and deadly direction.

Clip Source: www.politico.com

In a race that will likely send tremors throughout the House GOP leadership, Republicans have lost former House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s seat in a hotly-contested special election in exurban Chicago.

Democratic physicist Bill Foster, running in his first political campaign, will be heading to Congress after defeating Republican dairy owner Jim Oberweis in a result that was unthinkable just weeks ago.

Oberweis was even unable to win in Hastert’s home base of Kendall County -- a reliably Republican fast-growing county in exurban Chicago. It voted for Foster by a narrow margin.

The loss is a huge psychological blow to the Republican party, already reeling from a slew of Congressional retirements and fundraising woes. Democrats hadn’t contested Hastert’s seat since 1986, and in Foster, had a political novice running in a traditionally Republican district.

Rove Will Probably Wiggle Out But Is Still Comtemptuous

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:11:28 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: My guess is that Karl Rove and Josh Bolton with the assistance of the criminal in chief, will be able to wiggle out of this contempt citation. But if the public is watching, it will be another potential stake in the heart of the corrupt Republican party. I used to be a Republican, but that was decades ago, before the party was taken over by corrupt, religious freaks, with their hypocritical morality claims, and their far right war mongering ideology.

Clip Source: rawstory.com

Senators vote to hold Bush chief of staff, Rove in contempt

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to hold two top aides to President Bush in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate in its probe of fired federal prosecutors.

On a largely party-line vote of 11-7, the Democratic-led panel sent contempt citations against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove to the full Senate for consideration.

Bush has claimed executive privilege to protect aides from complying with congressional subpoenas demanding documents or testimony in an investigation into the firing last year of nine U.S. attorneys. The committee has rejected his privilege claim as unfounded.

Our Brave Democrats Are As Fearful As Ever

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:48:27 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Once again, the Democrats, who so many of us put into power in order to change the direction of the Iraq policy and to bring our troops out of the hell hole, are going to give Bush his blank cheque to continue his war. Even though better than 72% of the country want this war to end, the Dems continue to be chicken to do anything tangible about it for fear the nasty Republicans, whom the U.S. electorate have all but totally abandoned, might call them soft of terror. Oh come on! This is getting to be not only ridiculous, but criminal. We the people have had our say, and our representatives are ignoring us for their own cowardly political reasons.

Clip Source: rawstory.com

Blank check' seen headed Bush's way, despite Democratic promises to change course in Iraq

Democratic leaders in Congress are quietly preparing to give President Bush essentially everything he wants to keep the Iraq war going for at least another six months without forcing any change in course.

"Democratic leaders continue to fear GOP attacks that cutting off or slowing funds would hurt the troops, despite anger among the Democratic base over the party’s failure to use Congress’ power of the purse to end the war," reports the Capitol Hill newspaper's Steven T. Dennis.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) have said they won't consider a supplemental funding bill that doesn't include timelines for troop withdrawals. But, Dennis reports, "Democrats are quietly preparing to give the president enough spending flexibility to keep the war going anyway," for as long as six more months.

Tags: democrats, bush, iraq, cowardly

Did Someone Get to Mukasey?

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:50:56 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: On Wednesday, during Michael Mukasey's first confirmation hearing, he stated that torture is always wrong and never excusable. Then, mysteriously, the very next day, during his second hearing he was asked if waterboarding is torture, he refused to respond coherently. I have suspicions that the white house was NOT happy with his comments on day one about torture, and gently explained the facts of life to him.

Clip Source: rawstory.com

AG nominee won't say if waterboarding is torture

Attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey left open the possibility that a controversial technique alleged to be used by CIA interrogators could be considered Constitutional, when he refused to say one way or another whether water boarding is torture.

"If water boarding is torture, torture is not constitutional," Mukasey said, claiming that he was not familiar with the specifics of the process.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) called that answer a "massive hedge," and he explained the specifics of the practice -- strapping down a detainee and pouring water over his face to simulate drowning. He asked if that practice would be considered constitutional.

"If it amounts to torture it is not constitutional," is all Mukasey would say.

Whitehouse scolded Mukasey, saying he was "very disappointed" in his "very semantic answer."

"Sorry," Mukasey mumbled.

Tags: attorney general, mukasey, congress, confirmation, hearings

Gay Rights Arrives in Latin America

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 05:51:37 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: So much of the civilized world is beginning to embrace equality for gays and lesbians, and yet in the U.S., the self-proclaimed greatest country in the world, this issue still remains a heated battle. I still cannot understand how countries such as Canada, the UK, France, Israel etc, permit gays to serve openly in the military, while we cannot. I still wonder why so many countries are permitting civil-unions or marriage and yet the U.S. is seriously divided on this issue. The U.S. is still at odds over employment protection for gays, lesbians and transgendered people. The list goes on, and yet, compared to so many other countries we are far behind in social issues such as this one. I just don't get it.

Clip Source: select.nytimes.com

Colombia: Court Extends Benefits to Gay Couples

The Constitutional Court ruled that homosexuals may include their partners in their health insurance plans. It is the first nationwide law of its kind in Latin America. A bill granting the benefit was passed by Congress in June but thrown out when a group of senators changed their minds. The bill’s backers then appealed to the court.

Tags: gay, homosexual, discrimination, equality

Larry Craig Breaks His Promise and Refuses to Resign His Senate Seat

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 08:24:46 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: First he's guilty then he's not. He announces he's gonna quit and then he stays. The Republicans in the Senate are having apoplexy over this guy, who they thought they would be well rid of at the end of September, but he has decided to stay out the full his remaining term. So, now the Republicans have another worry on their plate for next year's elections, which is shaping up to be a nightmare for their party. Several high profile senators and congresspersons are not going to run for another term. There are scandals being investigated, and now Senator Craig says he is gonna stay and keep his sordid story on the front burner right through to November 08. It couldn't happen to a nicer group of pols.

Clip Source: www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com

Larry Craig announces, ‘I will continue to serve Idaho’

The writing has been on the wall for a couple of weeks, but today Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) officially reversed his pledge to resign and announced he would stay in the Senate. Following today’s defeat in Minneapolis in undoing his guilty plea, Craig released a press statement:

“I will continue to serve Idaho in the United States Senate, and there are several reasons for that. As I continued to work for Idaho over the past three weeks here in the Senate, I have seen that it is possible for me to work here effectively.

He added, however, that he will not seek re-election next year, a race he was certain to lose if he even tried to compete. “I hope this provides the certainty Idaho needs and deserves,” he concluded.

I think it’s safe to say Republican leaders throughout the establishment will not take this news well.

Tags: larry craig, senate, congress, gay, hypocrite

Vets Still Ignored

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:27:38 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Our brave vets who the Bush administration never hesitates to politicize, are once again, or should I say continuing, to fall through the cracks of the uncaring bureaucracy. While the Republicans continue to accuse the Democrats and so-called Liberals of not supporting our troops, the big "troop supporters" are doing nothing to correct the terrible conditions our heroes are subject to at Walter Reed and the Veterans bureaucracy. Once again, our Republican and Conservative friends, and our murderous president are all talk and no action. They are just willing to exploit the only people in our country truly doing the hard work, our soldiers in uniform who are coming home dead or grievously wounded.

Clip Source: www.politico.com

Veterans still getting shoddy treatment

A government report being released today concludes that wounded warriors are still getting the runaround from the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs despite big promises of change after last February’s revelations about scandalous conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, says delays for disability payments still average 177 days — nearly six months — with no indication that dramatic improvement is in the offing. The GAO also found continuing frustrations and shortfalls in care for the increasing number of military returnees from Iraq.

“Delayed decisions, confusing policies, and the perception that DOD and VA disability ratings result in inequitable outcomes have eroded the credibility of the system,” the GAO says in testimony to be released on Capitol Hill today. “Thus, it is imperative that DOD and VA take prompt steps to address fundamental system weaknesses.”

Tags: bush, department of defense, veterans

Petraeus/Betray Us Ad Results in A Deluge of Support for Moveon.org

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:43:03 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Moveon.org really started something with its Petraeus/Betray-Us ad. It actually was able to move the congress into introducing and voting on legislation condemning the organization for running the ad, which is the first bit of activity we have seen there in a while. While war rages and blood flows the most important thing on the minds of our legislators was to codify censorship. We must never speak poorly, especially of a military man in uniform. The Republicans were especially outraged. Yes, the same Republicans who swift-boated John Kerry and Max Cleland who were both Viet Nam vets and heroes. I guess it depends on who is wearing the uniform at the time when we condemn an attack. Anyway, Moveon.org has received a tremendous increase in donations since congress condemned them, so as far as they are concerned, keep the complaints coming Congresspersons.

Clip Source: www.motherjones.com

MoveOn.org Rakes in the Cash After "Betray Us" Ad

Dear MoveOn member,

Yesterday, an amazing thing happened. After the Senate's shameful vote, and after President Bush called MoveOn "disgusting," our email started to fill up with messages like this one:

I'm currently in Iraq. I do not agree with this war, and if I did support this war, it would not matter. You have the RIGHT to speak the truth. We KNOW that you support us. Thank you for speaking out for being our voice. We do not have a voice. We are overshooted by those who say that we soldiers do not support organizations like MoveOn. WE DO.

YOU ARE OUR voice.

And then came the donations. By midnight, over 12,000 people had donated $500,000—more than we've raised any day this year—for our new ad calling out the Republicans who blocked adequate rest for troops headed back to Iraq.

Tags: moveon.org, petraeus

Congress Has Betrayed-Us All

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:41:00 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: To my way of thinking, whether one approves or disapproves of the MoveOn.Org ad is immaterial. What is at stake here is our democratic right to freedom of speech, which is a part of our Constitution. And yet, congress decided it was necessary for them to vote on a newspaper ad in order to condemn a groups very freedom to express itself.

Remember the statement "I might not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it?" What happened to that belief in our country? Can anyone now deny that our country is taking a turn away from what it was founded to be? How dare we send our youngest and finest off to war in order to protect democratic liberties around the world, while we vote down those same liberties and rights in our own country.

This was a cheap political trick instigated by the Republican right who has fallen out of favour with the American public for supporting Bush's illegal war, by trying to play on a faux patriotism.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

MoveOn Ad Exposes the True Betrayers

Betrayal is everywhere in the news. We learned from the Washington Post that Alan Greenspan said in his new book, "I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil." Not keeping our country safe, as the troops were told. Not democracy. Not Weapons of Mass Destruction. Not al Qaeda. Oil! All those lives and maimings about oil! Are you shocked, shocked? It is Betrayal of Trust of the highest order: "Politically inconvenient ... everyone knows ..." Oil was not discussed at the Petraeus hearings. The silence in Washington has been polite.

MoveOn's "General Betray Us?" ad has raised vital questions that need a thorough and open discussion. The ad worked brilliantly to reveal, via its framing, an essential but previously hidden truth: the Bush Administration and its active supporters have betrayed the trust of the troops and the American people.

Tags: congress, democracy, freedom of speech

Do Ya Think Connecticutians Have Had It With Holy Joe?

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 03:36:28 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: It was only a matter of time before the good citizens of Connecticut realized their mistake in electing Holy Joe as an independent-democrat. He worked very hard at convincing his fellow Connecticutians that he was really a Democrat at heart, but since he had his nomination stolen from him he was forced to run as an independent in order to continue serving his constituency. He even went so far as to criticize the Iraq war during the campaign, only to become one of the biggest hawks on the Bush team on Congress. Now they are stuck with him for another 5 years.

Clip Source: www.americablog.com

Joe Lieberman, who would lose if the election was this year, is still a registered Democrat. His wife and daughter aren't.

Daily Kos released a poll this week showing that if the election were held this year, Democrat Ned Lamont would defeat Independent Joe Lieberman by a margin of 48 - 40 with 10% for the Republican.

A friend in Connecticut (who knows these things) tells us that the independent Senator from Connecticut registered as a Democrat when he moved to his new hometown of Stamford. He moved there this past summer from New Haven. However, his wife, Hadassah, and his daughter, Hana, are now registered as unaffiliated so there are some independents in the family. That's according to the voter registrar's records in Stamford anyway.

Tags: lieberman, independent, politics, connecticut

Finally, A Straight Question

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:06:33 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Congressman Eliot Engel, of New York, cut through all the bullshit, and asked General Petraeus directly, how he can sit there spouting the same lines he gave in September of 2004, none of which came to fruition and expect the country to accept the assessment again 3 years later. The General said he stands by his original New York Times OpEd of 2004, but never got to answer the part as to why the country should accept that this time things will be different.

Clip Source: www.politico.com

Engel: 'Optimism is great but reality is what we need'

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) slammed Petraeus for a September 2003 op-ed in The Washington Post that said "progress was being made" in Iraq.

"Why should we believe your assessment today is any more accurate" than that op-ed, Engel asked. "Optimism is great, but reality is what we need."

Petraeus said he was "glad" to be asked about the op-ed, and he was clearly prepped for this answer like a professional politician getting ready for a debate. "I stand by it," Petraeus insisted.

He also again reiterated that the testimony he offered to lawmakers was his honest view of the situation on the ground in Iraq.

Tags: iraq, evaluation, war, surge, congress, hearings

More Evidence That Bush Lied About WMD

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:59:31 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: This new revelation adds more evidence to the belief that Bush and his cohorts lied to congress and the American people about the need to go to war in Iraq. This is a must-read article from Salon, and I urge you all to take the time to consider its contents.

By the way, does anyone know what has happened to the so-called part 2 of the intelligence report that deals with how the White House used the intelligence leading up to the Iraq invasion? I know the Republicans under the leadership of Pat Roberts put it on the back burner and then turned off the pilot light. But the Dems promised that this report was A #1 on their list of things to complete and release, and since then, not a word has been said. Or, am I missing something?

Clip Source: www.salon.com

Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction

By Sidney Blumenthal

On Sept. 18, 2002, CIA director George Tenet briefed President Bush in the Oval Office on top-secret intelligence that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction, according to two former senior CIA officers. Bush dismissed as worthless this information from the Iraqi foreign minister, a member of Saddam's inner circle, although it turned out to be accurate in every detail. Tenet never brought it up again.

On April 23, 2006, CBS's "60 Minutes" interviewed Tyler Drumheller, the former CIA chief of clandestine operations for Europe, who disclosed that the agency had received documentary intelligence from Naji Sabri, Saddam's foreign minister, that Saddam did not have WMD.

Now two former senior CIA officers have confirmed Drumheller's account to me and provided the background to the story of how the information that might have stopped the invasion of Iraq was twisted in order to justify it.

Tags: wmd, bush, iraq, lies, intelligence, powell, drumheller

Dean Makes Promises I am Not Sure Will Be Respected

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:35:01 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: There is not doubt in my mind that the Democratic party is far more sympathetic to gay issues than are Republicans. That being said, however, when push comes to shove, the Democratic candidates for president, and those serving in Congress, still seem to cater to the Christian right when it comes to key issues. Not one Democrat with the exception of Dennis Kucinich and former Senator Gravel, have openly endorsed same-sex marriage. They try to equate civil unions with same-sex marriage, but they really are totally different when it comes to Federal benefits and protections. It was a Democratic president by the name of Clinton who accepted 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the "Defense of Marriage Act." So I really have to wonder just how much better, in the long run, the Dems will be on the very important issues pertaining to total equality.

Clip Source: www.pinknews.co.uk

Dean tells US gays: 'We'll make the changes you're looking for'

In a clear statement of intent Democratic party National Committee Chair and former leadership nominee Howard Dean has told US gays to vote for his party if they want to improve their legal rights.

"I think the message is pretty clear," he said. "Vote Democrat and we'll make the changes you're looking for."

Mr Dean claimed a host of measures which protect gay rights and outlaw discrimination had been achieved because of the Democratic party.

These include new laws in Iowa outlawing sexual orientation discrimination in employment and housing and moves in New Hampshire to establish civil ceremonies by the start of 2008.

"I think we've made enormous progress," Dean told the Washington Blade.

He blamed Republicans for slowing down the progress of federal measures to end discrimination.

An Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been crawling its way through Congress and is set to be debated in the House of Representatives next month.

Tags: gay, politics, democrats, republicans

Is Chertoff Another Liar for Bush?

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:22:16 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Rumour has it that Michael Chertoff may be in the offing as the nominee to replace Al Gonzalez as Attorney General of the United States. There is much to question concerning Mr. Chertoff's veracity as this article explains.

Clip Source: www.salon.com

Did Chertoff lie to Congress about Guantánamo?

Just as Gonzales, under oath before Congress, failed to recall whether there was dissension within the Bush administration over a controversial war-on-terror-related policy, so Michael Chertoff seems to have suffered a similar lapse of memory while under oath before Congress when pressed on a different terror-related policy. Gonzales pleaded ignorance of a rift within the administration over warrantless wiretapping; Chertoff has denied knowledge of interrogation techniques that are tantamount to torture, despite regular attendance by his top aides at meetings on the subject.

"If Mr. Chertoff is nominated, the Senate needs to ask him some very tough questions about what he knew about the abuses at Guantánamo," said Hina Shamsi from Human Rights First.

Levin questioned Chertoff about an e-mail obtained by Levin's staff

The e-mail rehashes the FBI objections to the military interrogations at Guantánamo back in 2002.

Tags: chertoff, homeland security, senate, confirmations, investigations, guantanamo bush