AM Feed - July 19: Gonzales Reveals Bush Blocked Investigation
Hot Topics
- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday that President Bush blocked an inquiry into the controversial warrantless wiretapping program earlier this year. The Bush administration has worked overtime to keep news of the program under wraps. Gonzales testified that Bush refused to turn over documents to the Justice Department related to the program, effectively undermining a review. Perhaps the Justice Department will have to wait and learn more about the program the next time President Bush mistakenly leaves a microphone on. [link]
- The Senate voted yesterday to allow for increased federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, defying President Bush’s public threat of a veto. The bill passed comfortably, by a 63-37 margin, although that total falls short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto (which could happen as early as today). The House passed a version of the bill last year, but is not expected to muster a two-thirds majority either. However, a veto would not kill this as a political issue – in fact, it is expected to ratchet up the pressure even more. Polls show that a solid majority of Americans favor this type of research. [link]
- Ralph Reed, once a political golden boy, was defeated in his quest to become the lieutenant governor of Georgia yesterday, due in large part to his chummy relationship with disgraced superlobbyist Jack Abramoff. The results were not even close: Reed conceded defeat around 10 pm last night, trailing by more than 10 percentage points. Reed was a high-profile candidate in a relatively low-profile race, and his defeat signals the fact that the lobbying scandal issue is resonating with the American public. [link]
Quote of the Day
“Thank you for the Hezbollah view.” – White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, responding to a question from reporter Helen Thomas.
Morning Snark
- Do you think former Bush press secretaries Ari Fleischer and Scott McClellan email Tony Snow with new jabs to throw at Helen Thomas, just to stay in the habit?
Comment
- I reckon that Fleischer, McClellan and Snow are bona fide prostitutes, they’re well paid for their whoring.
— Doyal Jul 19, 12:54 # - I’m feeling pretty good now since Ralph Reed got trounced by a political nobody. I am scratching my head as to why he didn’t steal the votes needed to win. We have such a mish-mashed patchwork of election systems – I guess Diebold or other hackable electronic voting machines aren’t utilized in Georgia, but there’s plenty of other old-fashioned ways to steal an election. This looks promising for Dems, although that prospect doesn’t appeal to me much either…
— John Jul 19, 13:45 # - Can you direct us to efforts to make public financing of elections a law? We need to get rid of the lobyists.
— Lorraine Baldwin Jul 19, 13:46 # - Helen Thomas is a respected journalist.
Her treatment by this administration is
simply deplorable. I congratulate her on
her tenacity: to stick it out and allow the
public to see real idiots in action.
I’m sure time will be kinder to Mrs. Thomas than it will be to members of
this administration.
— terry Jul 19, 14:10 # - Doyal, I believe in calling a whore a whore.
— Rosalie Stern Jul 19, 14:35 # - So this administration does not even have respect for a long time reporter like Ms. Thomas? So what else is new. They have “thrown” the elderly to the wolves. If you’re not rich and old and giving them money, what do they care.
— Jeannine Jul 19, 15:39 # - I enjoy the whipping that sanctimonious, good “Christian” Ralph Reed received. He was one of the low-life Republicans that helped trash Sen. Max Cleland in his bid for reelection in 2002. They portrayed Cleland as upatriotic because he did not support homeland security legislation that did not provide for employee rights. Cleland, ofcourse. is a veteran who lost both legs and one arm in Viet Nam.
— Neil Sl Hutchens Jul 20, 01:00 #
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