September 28, 2007
New Vote On Iran Sanctions Delayed
UPDATED.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice did not go out of her way to hide her disappointment at the latest setback in U.S. efforts to clamp down further on Iran.
"The international community has to have a greater sense of urgency about some of these issues," she said, speaking to reporters at the U.N. this afternoon. "We have two unanimous Security Council resolutions in place on Iran. We're working on a third, and using that track to try to invigorate the negotiations track." Rice conceded that there was already a "certain level of cooperation in Iran."
Continue reading "New Vote On Iran Sanctions Delayed"
Posted at 3:25 PM
Posted to:
Asia, Bush Administration, China, Condoleezza Rice, EU, Europe, France, Germany, IAEA, Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Russia, Terrorism, U.K., U.N.
Share via
Nude Gingrich: A Second Life Story
UPDATED.
Looks like Newt Gingrich is the latest potential '08 politician to get swept up, up and away by the Second Life craze.
Tech Daily Dose reports that Gingrich's town hall appearance in the "online fantasy world" yesterday was besmirched by the appearance of a virtual streaker. Or, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution so delicately put it, "a lovely young digital lady, who arrived moments before her clothes did."
Hmm, not sure how that's going to play with the conservative base Gingrich is trying to court as he weighs a potential White House bid. (Twig Tomorrow, an official with the Metaverse Mod Squad, which moderated the virtual event on Thursday, disputes media reports that the avatar appeared nude).
Continue reading "Nude Gingrich: A Second Life Story"
Posted at 3:03 PM
Posted to:
Campaigns, Newt Gingrich, Republicans, WH 2008
Share via
Race & The GOP: Six Out Of 10 Ain't Bad
The highly anticipated season premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" opened
with --
Oops, wrong post.
In case you missed it, and you probably did, there was a Republican presidential debate last night at Morgan State University in Baltimore. As with the Democrats' turn in June, radio and talk-show host Tavis Smiley was on hand to host the All-American Presidential Forum on PBS before a mostly black audience on the historically black campus.
What was different this time around? The four empty podiums on stage.
Out of the belief that the gains made by the GOP under President Bush's leadership have been hopelessly eroded (by President Bush's leadership), or the belief that with independents out of reach, their socially conservative, mostly white base is more crucial than ever, front-runners Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson skipped the event.
The six candidates chasing them were smart enough to take advantage.
Continue reading "Race & The GOP: Six Out Of 10 Ain't Bad"
Posted at 9:00 AM
Posted to:
Alan Keyes, Bush Administration, Campaigns, Democrats, Duncan Hunter, Fred Thompson, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, President Bush, Race, Republicans, Ron Paul, Rudy Giuliani, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, WH 2008
Share via
Earlybird Roundup: Student Loans Overhauled; Debt Ceiling Raised
Administration. President Bush yesterday signed a student loan bill that will provide $20 billion in federal money to college students and is being compared in scope to the G.I. Bill.
Congress. The Senate passed a stopgap spending bill yesterday, as well as a bill that would increase the federal government's debt ceiling.
Iraq. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki today rejected a Senate-backed plan to decentralize the Iraqi government and partition the country.
Military. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said yesterday he would likely approve the acceleration of a plan to expand the active-duty Army that Bush OK'd earlier this year.
World. More people were killed during another day of protests in Myanmar, as international pressure on the military junta continues to mount.
See Earlybird (subscription) for more of this morning's headlines.
Posted at 8:47 AM
Share via
Senate OKs SCHIP; Post-Veto Strategies Kick In
The Senate's 67-29 vote yesterday on a bill to add $35 billion to the State Children's Health Insurance Program will officially allow it to be lobbed down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, only to have it bounce back with a veto stamp.
But that volley will probably wait until next week. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Congress might hold onto the bill over the weekend. White House spokesman Tony Fratto said yesterday that President Bush will veto the bill with little fanfare once he receives it.
Depending on the timing of those two actions, Hoyer said the House could hold a veto override vote later in the week. The Senate's 67 yes votes are enough to stave off a veto, but the House's 265-159 vote on Wednesday fell short of a veto-proof margin.
Continue reading "Senate OKs SCHIP; Post-Veto Strategies Kick In"
Posted at 7:50 AM
Posted to:
Bush Administration, Congress, House, President Bush, Senate
Share via
September 27, 2007
Edwards Opts In For Public Financing
The Democrats' perpetual No. 3, former Sen. John Edwards, put a little oomph into his campaign this afternoon when he announced that he would accept federal matching funds for the primaries -- and the limitations that go with them.
An Edwards campaign adviser told The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder that the influx of cash means three big players will go into the primaries: "Before we did this, there were only two campaigns [Barack Obama's and Hillary Rodham Clinton's] who thought they'd be around before the primaries with about $20M or $30M on hand. Now, we're going to be right there with them. We're going to have between $18M and $21M on hand now. That'll give us a huge boost."
After a town hall forum in Conway, N.H., last night, Edwards defended his choice to ask for public financing this far into the campaign, saying he wasn't concerned about state campaign finance limits.
"One thing that's clear is that we have plenty of money to compete," he said.
Ambinder has more on the pros and cons of Edwards' decision, as well as the official statement from his campaign that challenges Clinton to follow his lead.
Posted at 6:25 PM
Posted to:
Campaigns, Democrats, John Edwards, WH 2008
Share via
Who's Afraid Of Tavis Smiley?
Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson are, apparently.
The leading Republican presidential candidates cited "scheduling conflicts" as their reason for skipping tonight's All-American Presidential Forum on PBS.
"I'm puzzled by their decision. I can't speak for them. I think it's a mistake," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich earlier this week.
President Bush also weighed in on the matter last week: "My advice to whoever will be our nominee is to reach out to the African-American community as well as other communities, because I believe we've got a very strong record when it comes to" issues affecting them.
Continue reading "Who's Afraid Of Tavis Smiley?"
Posted at 5:14 PM
Posted to:
Alan Keyes, Bush Administration, Campaigns, Democrats, Duncan Hunter, Fred Thompson, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, President Bush, Race, Republicans, Ron Paul, Rudy Giuliani, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, WH 2008
Share via
The N.H. Democratic Debate: Blurring The Lines Of Distinction
The longer the seemingly endless presidential primary season drags on, the more it's beginning to look like there's not much, substantively or ideologically, to distinguish the top tier of Democratic contenders.
Indeed, front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton more or less admitted in her numerous television appearances over the weekend that she and her fellow Democrats were united on the subject of universal health care, and that her much-vaunted plan wasn't even all that different from those proposed by John Edwards and Barack Obama.
And when it comes to the issue most voters claim is the most important to them -- the war in Iraq -- last night's Democratic debate in New Hampshire further blurred the lines of distinction among the top three. Debate moderator Tim Russert of NBC News pulled no punches, kicking off the event with a specific and pointed question for all the candidates: Will you pledge to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of your first term in January 2013?
The answer from Clinton, Edwards and Obama was a resounding "no," which suggests that all three of them now have at least one eye on the general election, not on winning over anti-war activists and the left-wing netroots.
Continue reading "The N.H. Democratic Debate: Blurring The Lines Of Distinction"
Posted at 4:20 PM
Posted to:
Campaigns, Democrats, Iraq, WH 2008
Share via
Eric Carmen Has 'Hungry Eyes' For The Gate
Remember 1970s blue-eyed soul singer Eric Carmen? We did, in a report on President Bush last week that led with this: "Instead of 'Hail to the Chief,' President Bush might take his final walk out of the White House to the tune of the Eric Carmen ballad 'All By Myself.'"
Turns out that post made its way to Carmen, who was nice enough to e-mail us about it.
I will happily grant the sync license for Mr Bush's White House exit walk. Hell, I'll even go sing it.
Regards,
Eric Carmen
In January 2009, please remind us to invite Mr. Carmen to D.C. and take him up on his offer.
Posted at 3:28 PM
Posted to:
Bush Administration, President Bush
Share via
Where's John Ashcroft? Part Deux
We've asked it before and we're asking it again: Where in the world is former Attorney General John Ashcroft?
Very busy, his people say, and apparently too busy to give his version of that mysterious bedside visit to the press. Humph.
Actually, Ashcroft did speak to the press today, but on a completely unrelated matter. He appeared at a press conference in New Jersey to talk about a federal investigation into five hip and knee surgical implant companies found to have bribed surgeons into using their products. The companies have agreed to hefty fines and monitoring under an agreement that allows them to avoid criminal prosecution, and Ashcroft will be the independent monitor for Indiana-based Zimmer, Inc.
Continue reading "Where's John Ashcroft? Part Deux"
Posted at 3:16 PM
Posted to:
Attorney Scandal, Bush Administration, John Ashcroft
Share via
Reunited, And It Feels So Not Awkward
In 1992, the young and handsome duo of Bill Clinton and Al Gore achieved something close to rock-star status. Fifteen years later, they're more famous and beloved than ever, thanks to their work on humanitarian and environmental causes.
Yesterday, a grayer Clinton and, uh, more big-boned Gore teamed up for the third annual Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York City (video). The dynamic twosome had parted ways since leaving the White House, thanks to a certain intern and failed presidential bid. It seems both may have put the past behind them.
"I'm very proud that he's continued in this fight," Clinton said, after talking about losing the battle to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
"First of all, I'm proud of what you're doing... and thank you for your leadership on all of these issues," Gore responded, beaming warmly.
Continue reading "Reunited, And It Feels So Not Awkward"
Posted at 10:59 AM
Posted to:
Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Bush Administration, Campaigns, Climate Change, Democrats, Hillary Rodham Clinton, President Bush, WH 2008
Share via
Monasteries Raided In Second Day Of Myanmar Crackdown
Myanmar's ruling military government raided at least two monasteries yesterday, the New York Times reports, beating and arresting dozens of Buddhist monks that have been trying to push the junta toward democracy in recent weeks.
Frustrated by the robe-clad monks, who have stayed at the helm of vocal protests for more than a month, the junta seems to have lost its patience. The military dictatorship's response to the pro-democracy movement had initially been more muted than the harsh responses to similar protests in the past. But over the last two days, the military has fired into crowds, sprayed temples with tear gas and beaten monks and other protesters as it tries to rein in the demonstrations.
Today, the military police sparred with a huge crowd at a temple in Yangon, the country's largest city, before issuing an ultimatum warning of "extreme action" that cleared the streets.
Continue reading "Monasteries Raided In Second Day Of Myanmar Crackdown"
Posted at 9:25 AM
Posted to:
Asia
Share via
Juan Williams: Bill O'Reilly Not A Racist
UPDATED.
We meant to go up with something on the Bill O'Reilly controversy du jour on Tuesday, but more pressing news did not permit. The Lede beat us to it: "Mr. Reilly [sic] is guilty of being sheltered, old-fashioned and possibly exhibiting a casual racism." Maybe. We decided to put the question to his sparring partner in the now-infamous interview, NPR's Juan Williams.
Williams, a prominent political journalist who is also black, is the liberal counterpoint on "FOX News Sunday." We reached him by phone on Tuesday, and asked if he thought O'Reilly was a racist. His answer was, "No."
Continue reading "Juan Williams: Bill O'Reilly Not A Racist"
Posted at 9:00 AM
Posted to:
Don Imus, Economy, FOX News, Media, Race
Share via
Earlybird Roundup: Canadian Border, Patriot Act, Korea Talks
Congress. The U.S.-Canada border can easily be breached by a smuggler trying to get radioactive material or other contraband into the country, according to a GAO report to be presented to Congress today.
Courts. Key provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act were ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge in Oregon yesterday, on the grounds that they allowed surveillance of U.S. citizens without a demonstration of probable cause.
Iraq. At least 50 people were killed yesterday in a new surge of violence.
United Nations. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addressed the General Assembly yesterday, noting that terrorists are targeting the "new Iraq" and urging member nations to support the reconciliation process.
World. Six-party talks on North Korea began today, with U.S. negotiators hoping to set targets for the total dismantling of its nuclear program.
See Earlybird (subscription) for more of this morning's headlines.
Posted at 8:58 AM
Share via
September 26, 2007
Craig Changes Mind Again About Resigning
Idaho Sen. Larry Craig is apparently backtracking on his decision to resign on Sept. 30. In a statement from his office, he said, "Today was a major step in the legal effort to clear my name. The court has not issued a ruling on my motion to withdraw my guilty plea. For now, I will continue my work in the United States Senate for Idaho."
Craig appeared before a Minnesota court today to request judicial review of his guilty plea to disorderly conduct following a sex sting in an airport restroom. The judge adjourned the case until at least next week, citing his caseload.
See The Gate's previous posts on why Craig may win his bid to reverse his plea here and here.
Posted at 5:01 PM
Posted to:
Congress, Larry Craig, Senate
Share via
Bush: 'Childrens Do Learn'
President Bush has done it again.
The misspeaker in chief was promoting his No Child Left Behind educational testing program in New York City, with first lady Laura Bush, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at his side.
Referring to a new National Assessment of Educational Progress, Bush said, "As yesterday's positive report card shows, childrens do learn when standards are high and results are measured." You won't find that gaffe in the White House transcript, though; the Washington Post reports that it's been corrected to "children."
While campaigning for the job he currently holds, Bush famously wondered aloud, "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
This got us to thinking that Bush's verbal gaffes make him a disturbingly good candidate for the confounding LOL phenomenon. Turns out others agree.
Posted at 4:44 PM
Posted to:
Bush Administration, Education
Share via
Bush & Karzai Tout Security Gains In Afghanistan
When President Bush met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the United Nations today to discuss the security situation in that country, the meeting was bolstered by the news that coalition forces had killed about 160 Taliban insurgents in two separate battles yesterday. Only one foreign soldier was felled in the clashes, the U.S.-led coalition announced. The Taliban disputed those numbers, calling them propaganda, Reuters reports.
In New York this morning, Bush and Karzai "discussed drug-fighting operations, the battle against al-Qaida and the Taliban and the development of energy using Afghanistan's natural resources," AP reports.
"Afghanistan has indeed made progress," Karzai said, as Bush reassured the Afghan president that "you've got strong friends here." Bush went on to say that he expects "progress" to continue in Afghanistan, despite the resurgence of the Taliban and the escalating drug trade there.
Agence France-Presse has more on the meeting, and Bloomberg News reports on the U.N.'s call for negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
Posted at 4:19 PM
Posted to:
Afghanistan, Bush Administration, President Bush
Share via
Senate Approves Biden's Plan To Partition Iraq
When the Democratic presidential candidates gather in New Hampshire tonight for yet another debate, don't be surprised if Joseph Biden walks on stage with an extra spring in his step. The Delaware senator just scored a fairly significant victory on the issue that has dominated his campaign: Iraq's political future.
Today, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an amendment "calling for creation of a federal system of government in Iraq with regions divided along ethnic lines," CongressDaily reports. The measure, sponsored by Biden, marks the first Democratic amendment calling for a change in Bush's war policy to clear Senate negotiations of the defense authorization bill. And it passed with a bipartisan, 75-23 majority.
Continue reading "Senate Approves Biden's Plan To Partition Iraq"
Posted at 3:15 PM
Posted to:
Campaigns, Democrats, Iraq, Joseph Biden, WH 2008
Share via
DOD Team To Investigate Security Contractors
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a Pentagon investigation of security contractors in Iraq after a deadly gunfight involving Blackwater employees raised questions about oversight of foreign contractors in Iraq.
AP reports that in a briefing today, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the initial round of answers to Gates' questions about the military's relationship with private contractors has "not been satisfactory" and that he is seeking a deeper probe into the matter.
Although he would not elaborate on the specifics of Gates' dissatisfaction with the investigation thus far, Morrell did say that a five-person team has already been sent to Iraq and "will talk to all the key players" there, including top U.S. commanders Gen. David Petraeus and Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno. The team is expected to report back to Gates by the end of the week.
Continue reading "DOD Team To Investigate Security Contractors"
Posted at 1:28 PM
Posted to:
Bush Administration, Condoleezza Rice, House, Iraq, Middle East, Military, Robert Gates
Share via
U.N. General Assembly: Like Last Year, Only Worse
The astute Brits at the Economist called it.
By granting so many interviews to curious American journalists and agreeing to take questions from college students at Columbia, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made sure that this year's meeting of the U.N. General Assembly would revolve around him. It helps that his BFF in these parts, Venezuelan firebrand Hugo Chavez, sat this one out, which means Ahmadinejad's "no gays in Iran" statement remains the craziest (and most sinister) thing said all week.
Ahmadinejad put on his "serious" face (no smiling) yesterday when he delivered his U.S.-centric speech before the General Assembly. The American delegation didn't bother to stick around for its entirety, such was its predictability. If this scenario reminds you of last year's meeting at the U.N., it should. The bottom line for the Security Council has been no nuclear material for Iran, period. Yesterday, Ahmadinejad ensured that the U.N. will act to shut him down, one way or another.
Continue reading "U.N. General Assembly: Like Last Year, Only Worse"
Posted at 1:15 PM
Posted to:
Asia, Bush Administration, Chechnya, China, Condoleezza Rice, Hugo Chavez, IAEA, Iran, Iraq, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Middle East, North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, President Bush, Russia, Terrorism, U.N.
Share via
Earlybird Roundup: Rice & Blackwater, Iraq Assassinations
Congress. A House committee chairman accused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday of trying to interfere with the investigation into the Blackwater USA security firm.
Iraq. Sunni insurgents have started a campaign to kill Iraqi officials and leaders; 40 policemen have already been attacked or killed.
Administration. President Bush will meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai today, seeking answers on security problems and the drug trade.
World. Police cracked down on marching Buddhist monks during another day of protests in Myanmar.
Courts. Lawyers for Sen. Larry Craig will try to convince a Minneapolis judge today that the senator made a mistake when he pleaded guilty to charges after a sex sting in an airport bathroom.
See Earlybird (subscription) for more of this morning's headlines.
Posted at 8:51 AM
Share via
Tentative GM-UAW Deal Ends Two-Day Strike
General Motors and the United Auto Workers reached a tentative deal early this morning to end a massive national strike that brought the Detroit-based automaker to a halt for two days. Plants will be up and running again today as thousands of unionized employees head back to work.
The four-year contract agreement still needs to be ratified by UAW members and its details are sketchy, but the Wall Street Journal (subscription) reports that the deal includes "a historic restructuring of GM's obligations for UAW retiree health care." According to a GM press release, the agreement establishes "an independent retiree health care trust" for the approximately 74,000 unionized GM workers.
"This agreement helps us close the fundamental competitive gaps that exist in our business," GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said in the release.
"'We're proud of this tentative agreement," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger also said in a statement, "and we look forward to getting into the field and discussing it with our membership."
The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press have full coverage of the labor negotiations and the tentative agreement.
Posted at 7:50 AM
Posted to:
Economy
Share via
September 25, 2007
Voter ID Case To Be Decided Before Election '08
Among the cases granted cert [PDF] by the Supreme Court today is a highly anticipated appeal concerning one of the strictest voter ID laws in the land.
Petitioners in the consolidated case, Crawford v. Marion County Election Board and Indiana Democratic Party v. Rokita, are appealing the decisions of two lower courts to uphold the 2005 law, which requires would-be voters to present government-issued photo identification. The court will be asked to decide, probably in oral arguments early next year, whether the law infringes on Indianans' right to vote.
This case will settle a patchwork of conflicting laws popping up in the states, a welcome relief as the very act of voting becomes ever more complicated in certain places. But voting rights advocates opposing ID requirements could well find themselves wishing the case hadn't been brought just yet.
Continue reading "Voter ID Case To Be Decided Before Election '08"
Posted at 4:25 PM
Posted to:
Campaigns, Constitution, Race, Supreme Court, WH 2008
Share via
Dems Reaping Financial Benefits Of Anti-Bush Sentiment
Play it again, Eric.
Last week, The Gate reported that President Bush was looking increasingly lonely, both in Washington and on the world stage. Looks like you can add the campaign trail to the list of unwelcome places for the president, as well.
Bush's approval ratings have teetered a bit lately, but they're still in the low-to-mid 30s (and in some cases the 20s) according to most national polls. So it comes as no surprise when AP puts out an analytical piece headlined, "Bush Unwelcome on the Trail," even though the president called himself a "strong asset" to GOP candidates in a press conference last week.
Indeed, while the Republican presidential candidates (not counting a few lower-tier contrarians) are careful not to criticize Bush in front of GOP crowds, they are loathe to volunteer his name or heap praise on him unprovoked. They are far more likely to rail against the current leadership -- both in Washington and in the Republican Party -- and present themselves as agents of change, much like their Democratic counterparts have been trying to do.
But is it already too late? Bloomberg News reported last week that the Bush backlash may be hitting '08 Republicans where it hurts most: their pocketbooks.
Continue reading "Dems Reaping Financial Benefits Of Anti-Bush Sentiment"
Posted at 4:14 PM
Posted to:
Campaigns, Democrats, President Bush, Republicans, WH 2008
Share via
Reed vs. Romney: The Pun-less Ad War
Sick of the controversy over MoveOn.org's "General Betray Us" ad? (And no, it hasn't died yet). For a distraction, check out the new ad war between the Mitt Romney campaign and Slate's Bruce Reed.
Reed, a former Clinton administration adviser and head of the Democratic Leadership Council, is miffed that "Team Mitt" has rebuffed his entry into the campaign's Create Your Own Ad! contest. In August, the Boston Globe characterized the contest as "the latest example of how the 2008 presidential candidates are using the Internet to engage supporters in unprecedented ways." But it looks like it's also turning out to be the latest example of campaigns not recognizing how little control they have over their own Web efforts.
By Reed's account, his entry into the race, a video called "Way!" that pokes fun at Romney's vision of "family values," is the most beloved according to viewers, who are supposed to be determining the outcome of the contest. But when the finalists were announced, "Way!" was nowhere to be found, prompting Reed to cry foul: "Our fearless leader promised us online democracy, not a Soviet-style election run by totalitarian Mittistas."
"Way!" isn't the only entry from Slate, which seems to have it in for Romney. A longer, better-produced parody from the online magazine is available here. Meanwhile, there's still time to weigh in on the real finalists here. The winner will have his or her entry aired on TV as part of Romney's prolific ad campaign.
Posted at 3:10 PM
Posted to:
Campaigns, Mitt Romney, Republicans, WH 2008
Share via
Bush's Other Legacy On Display At U.N.
President Bush called on the U.N. General Assembly to renew its focus on human rights, as he reminded increasingly distant member nations of America's outsized role in humanitarian work around the globe.
Placing the spotlight on the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Bush told the audience, "The nations in this chamber have our differences. Yet there are some areas where we can all agree."
The president ticked off a laundry list of ills, some of them ancient, still plaguing the globe, from malaria to HIV/AIDS, starvation to closed markets, impositions on the freedom of speech and assembly, and "tyranny and violence."
The Universal Declaration is not being upheld, Bush said, "when innocent people are trapped in a life of murder and fear" or "when millions of children starve to death or die from a mosquito bite."
"Changing these underlying conditions is what the declaration calls the work of underlying freedom," he said.
Bush then turned his attention to the representatives of Myanmar.
Continue reading "Bush's Other Legacy On Display At U.N."
Posted at 12:17 PM
Posted to:
Asia, Bill Clinton, Bush Administration, China,
