AM Feed - July 17: President Bush Poised for Stem Cell Veto?
Hot Topics
- Is President Bush really going to issue his first veto since entering office? The Senate is expected to pass a bill this week to allow for increased federal funding for stem cell research – something that Bush has promised in the past to veto. Five years ago, Bush limited federal funding to existing stem cell lines. Fertility clinics (which Bush has praised) often have many leftover embryos that could be used by scientists to access stem cells and make progress on a number of medical issues. The new Senate bill would potentially allow for that access. [link]
- The House Government Reform Committee has issued subpoenas for records from Greenberg Traurig, the former lobbying firm of Jack Abramoff, seeking records of any contacts between Abramoff and other Greenberg Traurig employees and the Bush White House. Billing records, emails, phone logs and other materials will likely be turned over as part of the subpoena. Secret Service records have already identified several visits by Abramoff to the White House, including one occasion where he met with a policy adviser to Vice President Cheney. [link]
- Meanwhile, Ralph Reed continues to be dogged to his ties to Abramoff. Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition, is currently running for lieutenant governor of Georgia. Reed has tried to play off his connection with the tainted lobbyist by claiming he was unaware of Abramoff’s ties to the gambling industry, but his emails suggest otherwise. Last week, Reed was named in a lawsuit filed by a Texas Indian tribe, which accused him, Abramoff and others of “corruption and deceit.” [link]
Quote of the Day (Part 1)
“What they need to do is to get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this sh—.” – President Bush, displaying some of his legendary diplomacy when a microphone was mistakenly left on.
Quote of the Day (Part 2)
“I think I would answer that by telling you I don’t think we’re losing.” – Gen. Peter Schoomaker, when asked if the U.S. is winning the war during a briefing on Capitol Hill.
Morning Snark
- It looks like Gen. Schoomaker is about to be scheduled into some remedial summer school classes at the Karl Rove School of Spin.
Comment
- Of course he would deny people the right to be cured….he’s an idiot. Stem cell research would benefit a lot of people but HE does not seem to realize that. Would he deny this treatment if anyone in his family needed it. No, they would get the treatment secretly while everyone else would be made to suffer.
— Jeannine Jul 18, 10:51 #
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