I suppose it was too much to ask to squash the mythology that America wants to stand in “the middle” and demands we all come visit them there. It’s like the word “Liberal” … it means something now that’s been assigned to it for decades but is mostly untrue. “Middle” may be the place where people think we can come to “cooperate” … but the middle of the current political petrie dish is over on the Right leaning toward a suggestion of a hint that there might be a center somewhere over on the “other side.”
It will be Nancy’s job to lead everyone by the nose past center and over there into the territory of the Happy Left. She tried to take Jack with her … but it didn’t work. Well — he’s overseeing the Pentagons money and oversight on the Defense subcommittee … we can live with that. Steny? Who the hell knows what’s up with him — he’s kind of like the guy you never heard of that crawls out of the woodwork and grabs the spotlight. Guess we’ll find out.
Meanwhile, this “centerist” business is the next mythological critter we need to shoot with an elephant gun — if we find an actual center, we’ll have something to discuss. For right now? It’s still lock and load … and a lot of fuzzy rhetoric on FOX News.
Jude
House Democrats name Hoyer to No. 2 post
ANDREW TAYLOR, AP
WASHINGTON - Democrats picked Rep. Steny Hoyer to be House majority leader on Thursday, spurning Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s handpicked choice moments after unanimously backing her election as speaker when Congress convenes in January.
A Marylander and 25-year veteran of Congress, Hoyer defeated Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania in a vote of 149-86.
His election to the No. 2 job came just a short time after the Democratic caucus put Pelosi in line to become the first woman to be speaker, a position which is second in line of succession to the presidency. It marked a personal triumph for Hoyer.
Earlier, an ebullient Pelosi declared: “We made history and now we will make progress for the American people.”
In remarks after being chosen for speaker, the Californian vowed that after 12 years in the minority, “we will not be dazzled by money and special interests.” Pelosi also called for unity in the party, but within moments she put her prestige on the line by nominating Murtha.
Murtha, a Pennsylvanian, is a powerful lawmaker on defense matters, and he gained national prominence last year when he called an end to U.S. military involvement in Iraq.
He and Pelosi have long been close, and when Pelosi issued a statement supporting Murtha on Sunday night, it raised the stakes in a leadership election within a party that is taking control of the House in January for the first time in a dozen years.
“I didn’t have enough votes and so I’ll go back to my small subcommittee I have on Appropriations,” Murtha said after the vote.
Murtha will chair the powerful defense subcommittee with responsibility for the war in Iraq and the Pentagon budget. “Nancy asked me to set a policy for the Democratic Party. Most of the party signed onto it,” he said, referring to pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq.
“I was proud to support (Murtha) for majority leader, because I thought that would be the best way to bring an end to the war in Iraq,” Pelosi said after the vote.
Pelosi and Hoyer, 67, have long had a difficult relationship. The two ran against each other in a leadership race several years ago. Pelosi won, but Hoyer rebounded more than a year later when he was elected the party’s whip.
Hoyer’s margin of victory reflected a pre-election strategy in which he showcased support from moderates, veteran lawmakers in line to become committee chairmen and more than half of the incoming freshman class — the majority-makers whose victories on Election Day gave the party control of the House.
“Steny was more where the mainstream of where the party was,” said Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, who will become chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.”
Of Pelosi’s endorsement of Murtha, Frank said, “She’s a very smart woman who made an error in judgment.”
The intraparty battle had preoccupied Democrats, overshadowing Pelosi’s promotion to speaker — a position that is second in line of succession to the presidency.
Many Democrats were dismayed that the family feud had broken out in the first place and objected to heavy pressure placed on longstanding Hoyer supporters.
Pelosi officially becomes speaker in January, succeeding Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., when the House convenes and formally elects her in the next session of Congress.
Pelosi’s selection was more history than mystery; that was reserved for the Hoyer-Murtha faceoff.
Murtha, 74, was a problematic candidate because of his penchant for trading votes for pork projects and his ties to the Abscam bribery sting in 1980, the only lawmaker involved who wasn’t charged.
The race dredged up Murtha’s involvement in the Abscam scandal.
FBI agents pretending to represent an Arab sheik wanting to reside in the United States and seeking investment opportunities offered bribes to several lawmakers. When offered $50,000, Murtha was recorded as saying, “I’m not interested … at this point.” A grand jury declined to indict Murtha, and the House ethics committee issued no findings against him.
“I told them I wanted investment in my district,” Murtha told MSNBC’s “Hardball” on Wednesday. “They put $50,000 on the table and I said, ‘I’m not interested.’”
Democrats also selected James Clyburn of South Carolina as majority whip, their No. 3 post. Clyburn, who is black, would become the highest-ever ranking member of his race in Congress. Campaign chair Rahm Emanuel of Illinois was rewarded with the caucus chair post, the No. 4 position for Democrats, for his efforts in leading the party back into the majority.
Meanwhile, House Republicans, soon to be in the minority for the first time since 1994, met in private Thursday to hear presentations from candidates for their leadership posts. Their election was scheduled for Friday.
Finding a replacement for Hastert, R-Ill., as the caucus leader turned into a two-man race between Majority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and conservative challenger Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana after Rep. Joe Barton of Texas dropped out and endorsed Boehner.
In the Democratic race, Murtha came forward for the job despite a record of not always being a leadership loyalist. He often supplied votes to GOP leaders who were struggling to pass bills. The none-too-subtle trade-off: Murtha and his allies would do better when home-state projects were doled out by the Republicans.
Wisconsin Rep. Dave Obey, who will chair the Appropriations Committee, said the divisions exposed by the race doesn’t pose a problem for Pelosi.
“There’s such universal respect and affection for Nancy. She’s gutsy as hell and she’s willing to take a chance…, push the envelope. “It was bitter between the two candidates, I suppose, but it wasn’t bitter among the members of the caucus. People get over this stuff.” ++
Murtha Loses… But It’s Still a Victory for Pelosi
Arianna Huffington
11.16.2006
The votes are in and Steny Hoyer is the new House majority leaders, winning out over Jack Murtha 149-86.
For all the reasons I’ve made abundantly clear, I would’ve loved to see Murtha as Majority Leader. But he remains the Democratic leader on Iraq — and we need his unwavering voice on the war out there more than ever, as the debate on Iraq threatens to enter the twilight zone.
Barely a week after the American people sent the unequivocal message that they want to bring our troops home, we have Gen. Abizaid telling the Senate Armed Forces Committee that he was “very encouraged” by his recent trip to Iraq, that “significant progress is being made” in turning over security to “capable Iraqi forces,” and that “levels of sectarian violence are down in Baghdad.” Tell that to the 150 Iraqis kidnapped on Tuesday or the dozens killed in the last few days.
What’s more, we even have the New York Times — not George Bush or Dick Cheney, mind you, but the editorial page of the Times — arguing for more troops to be sent “in one last push to stabilize Baghdad.” First McCain, now the Times — the peace through escalation meme is catching on.
So even though Murtha won’t be Majority Leader, he is still the one Democrats need to follow on Iraq — the clearest, most passionate voice breaking through the cacophony trying to give new life to staying the course or, even worse, upping the ante in Iraq.
And don’t shed any tears for Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi. Even though her guy lost, this was still a big win for her. A victory for taking a stand — and for her leadership. Because that’s what real leaders do, they take stands. They listen to their hearts and follow their gut. If you only jump into the fights you’re sure you can win — notches in the W column that will look good on your political resume — you’re a hack, not someone who can move the party and the country forward. It’s not about trying to have a spotless record; it’s about knowing which battles are worth fighting, whatever the outcome.
It bodes well for Pelosi that was willing to spend her political capital right off the bat — especially on the issue that will define her time at the helm. Far too many modern politicians save their political capital until it’s lost all its value. ++
What’s right and good doesn’t come naturally. You have to stand up and fight for it - as if the cause depends on you, because it does. Allow yourself that conceit - to believe that the flame of Democracy will never go out as long as there’s one candle in your hand.
~ Bill Moyers
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)
November 16th, 2006
After years of will he won’t he, the on-off love affair of Tony Blair and the chancellor Gordon Brown seems to have resulted in a happy ending, with Tony’s official backing of Gordon as the man to take the reigns for the Labour party when he retires as leader.
Watching their mutual baiting is almost as much fun as cat calling politicians yourself so their new found contentment with each other means I have to find my kicks elsewhere. I’m unsure what this means in terms of any possible changes of policy for the UK domestically and abroad and Brown could still fall at the final hurdle and not be voted in, but real Socialist MP’s are a rare breed these days and ‘New Labour’– Tony’s particular brand of modern socialism with more than a nod to Margaret Thatcher’s capitalism looks likely to stick long after he has gone. Now they just need to get someone in to retrain Brown out of his distracting tic of opening his mouth like a goldfish between sentences — or is it just me that sees that?!
Mel
Tony and Gordon — as usual showing a united front
Video
Blair finally anoints Brown his successor at No. 10
16 November 2006
Tony Blair anointed Gordon Brown as his chosen successor in unveiling his final package of legislation before standing down as Prime Minister next year. Mr Blair took everyone in the Commons, including the Chancellor, by surprise by making clear he saw Mr Brown as his inevitable successor during fiery exchanges on the Queen’s Speech with David Cameron.
A beaming Mr Brown patted Mr Blair on the back at the close of his speech as the impact of the Prime Minister’s words sunk in. “Everyone knew what it meant,” said one Brown ally. “It wasn’t choreographed. We weren’t expecting it.”
Despite the attempted coup by Brown supporters against Mr Blair in September, the Prime Minister and Chancellor have begun working more closely together in recent weeks. But there is still no agreement between them on when Mr Blair will leave Downing Street. “Gordon doesn’t know,” said one aide.
Some Blair allies suggest he remains determined that his “long goodbye” will last until next July. But that is opposed by Mr Brown, who wants to make maximum impact on the public in his first 100 days and does not want to take over just before the summer holiday period.
Mr Blair’s endorsement is expected to kill off any lingering hopes among ultra-Blairites, who fear that Mr Brown might lose the next general election, or that another cabinet minister might challenge Mr Brown for the leadership. Some have been trying to persuade John Reid, the Home Secretary, or David Miliband, the Environment Secretary, to run - without success.
John Hutton, the Blairite Work and Pensions Secretary, said Labour had to “move on” following the coup attempt, adding: “I think Gordon Brown will be a tremendously impressive leader of Labour.”
The Chancellor now looks a shoo-in. He will face a challenge from a left-wing Labour MP such as John McDonnell or Michael Meacher, but is expected to win an overwhelming majority in the electoral college in which Labour MPs, party members and the trade unions each have a third of the votes.
Five weeks ago, Mr Cameron scored a Commons coup against Mr Blair by challenging him to say whether he wanted Mr Brown to succeed him. The Prime Minister refused do to so. Yesterday the roles were reversed as Mr Blair easily deflected the Tory leader’s attack.
Mr Blair told the Tory leader: “The next election, it will be a flyweight versus a heavyweight. And however much he may dance around the ring before times, at some point he will come within the reach of a big clunking fist. He will be out on his feet, carried out of the ring - the fifth Tory leader to be carried out, and a fourth-term Labour government still standing.”
The attack trailed Labour’s strategy for the next election - highlighting Mr Brown’s experience and track record in delivering economic stability, while accusing an inexperienced Mr Cameron of lacking substance.
The Tory leader tried to sketch a different dividing line yesterday as he accused Labour of resorting to the “politics of fear” after security was made the key theme of the Queen’s Speech. The Home Office will dominate the parliamentary timetable with Bills on organised crime, reforming the criminal justice system, ending trial by jury in serious fraud cases and toughening border controls. A separate Counter-Terrorism Bill could increase the 28-day period for which suspected terrorists can be held without charge.
Other central measures over the next year will affect the pensions system and the Child Support Agency, while a Climate Change Bill will set five-year targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. But there were few details in yesterday’s speech.
Mr Cameron said the package was “repetitive and hollow”, and designed to keep a “tired and discredited” Labour Party in office. “The tragedy of this Prime Minister is that he promised so much and yet has delivered so little,” he said.
A programme for Government
* The fight against terrorism will be “at the heart” of the Government’s programme, with new counter-terrorism measures.
* Court procedures to be “rebalanced” in favour of victims and sentences made clearer.
* Police are to be given the authority to close anti-social premises, such as brothels, at 48 hours’ notice.
* The probation service is to be opened to competition from the voluntary and private sectors.
* Immigration officers will get powers to seize cash and take foreign nationals’ biometric details.
* The state pension age will be gradually raised to 68 and the link between pensions and earnings restored by 2012.
* Britain’s emissions of CO2 will be cut by 60 per cent by 2050, overseen by an independent Carbon Committee.
* Serious fraud trials are to be allowed without a jury, where that is approved by a High Court judge.
* Estate agents are to be made to compensate homeowners for bad advice. ++
US plans last big push in Iraq
Thursday November 16, 2006
President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make “a last big push” to win the war in Iraq and that instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase US forces by up to 20,000 soldiers, according to sources familiar with the administration’s internal deliberations.
Mr Bush’s refusal to give ground, coming in the teeth of growing calls in the US and Britain for a radical rethink or a swift exit, is having a decisive impact on the policy review being conducted by the Iraq Study Group chaired by Bush family loyalist James Baker, the sources said. Although the panel’s work is not complete, its recommendations are expected to be built around a four-point “victory strategy” developed by Pentagon officials advising the group. The strategy, along with other related proposals, is being circulated in draft form and has been discussed in separate closed sessions with Mr Baker and the vice-president Dick Cheney, an Iraq war hawk.
Point one of the strategy calls for an increase rather than a decrease in overall US force levels inside Iraq, possibly by as many as 20,000 soldiers. This figure is far fewer than that called for by the Republican presidential hopeful, John McCain. But by raising troop levels, Mr Bush will draw a line in the sand and defy Democratic pressure for a swift drawdown. The reinforcements will be used to secure Baghdad, scene of the worst sectarian and insurgent violence, and enable redeployments of US, coalition and Iraqi forces elsewhere in the country.
Point two of the plan stresses the importance of regional cooperation to the successful rehabilitation of Iraq. This could involve the convening of an international conference of neighbouring countries or more direct diplomatic, financial and economic involvement of US allies such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
“The extent to which that [regional cooperation] will include talking to Iran and Syria is still up for debate,” said Patrick Cronin, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “Externally, US policy is focused on what is achievable. Some quarters believe Syria in some ways could be helpful. There are more doubts about Iran but Iran holds more cards. Some think it’s worth a try.”
Yesterday, a top state department official, David Satterfield, said America was prepared in principle to discuss with Iran its activities in Iraq.
Point three focuses on reviving the national reconciliation process between Shia, Sunni and other ethnic and religious parties. According to the sources, creating a credible political framework will be portrayed as crucial in persuading Iraqis and neighbouring countries alike that Iraq can become a fully functional state.
To the certain dismay of US neo-cons, initial post-invasion ideas about imposing fully-fledged western democratic standards will be set aside. And the report is expected to warn that de facto tripartite partition within a loose federal system, as advocated by Democratic senator Joe Biden and others would lead not to peaceful power-sharing but a large-scale humanitarian crisis.
Lastly, the sources said the study group recommendations will include a call for increased resources to be allocated by Congress to support additional troop deployments and fund the training and equipment of expanded Iraqi army and police forces. It will also stress the need to counter corruption, improve local government and curtail the power of religious courts.
“You’ve got to remember, whatever the Democrats say, it’s Bush still calling the shots. He believes it’s a matter of political will. That’s what [Henry] Kissinger told him. And he’s going to stick with it,” a former senior administration official said. “He [Bush] is in a state of denial about Iraq. Nobody else is any more. But he is. But he knows he’s got less than a year, maybe six months, to make it work. If it fails, I expect the withdrawal process to begin next fall.”
The “last push” strategy is also intended to give Mr Bush and the Republicans “political time and space” to recover from their election drubbing and prepare for the 2008 presidential campaign, the official said. “The Iraq Study Group buys time for the president to have one last go. If the Democrats are smart, they’ll play along, and I think they will. But forget about bipartisanship. It’s all about who’s going to be in best shape to win the White House.
The official added: “Bush has said ‘no’ to withdrawal, so what else do you have? The Baker report will be a set of ideas, more realistic than in the past, that can be used as political tools. What they’re going to say is: lower the goals, forget about the democracy crap, put more resources in, do it.”
Addressing Congress yesterday, General John Abizaid, the top US commander in the Middle East, warned against setting a timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, saying it would impede commanders in managing US and Iraqi forces. Gen Abizaid spoke as the Senate armed services committee began re-examining US policy after last week’s Democratic election victory. But Gen Abizaid argued against extra troops, saying US divisional commanders believed more pressure needed to be put on the Iraqi army to do its part.
Four-point strategy
· Increase US troop levels by up to 20,000 to secure Baghdad and allow redeployments elsewhere in Iraq
· Focus on regional cooperation with international conference and/or direct diplomatic involvement of countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
· Revive reconciliation process between Sunni, Shia and others
· Increased resources from Congress to fund training and equipment of Iraqi security forces
Additional Links
U.S. general says troop adjustments won’t solve Iraq
Japan patriot bill clears house
Thursday, 16 November 2006
Japan’s lower house of parliament has passed a bill encouraging teachers to instill patriotism and respect for tradition in their students. The bill, which will now go to the upper house, would change the country’s education law for the first time since it was enacted in 1947.
Opponents fear the move could help fan a resurgence of nationalism. They are wary because Japan’s military leaders used patriotism to justify the expansionism which led to World War II.
The bill calls on teachers to instil thinking among students “respecting tradition and culture and loving the nation and homeland.” Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has strongly backed the bill. In a weekly e-mail he said Japan’s education system “has not sufficiently addressed ideas such as moral values, ethics and self-discipline”. He also mentioned a recent spate of bullying incidents which, he said, would leave parents concerned the education system needed reform.
Conservative groups have long argued for a revision of the current law, saying pupils should learn national pride as Japan assumes a more active diplomatic and military role on the international stage.
The bill passed after the opposition boycotted the vote. It now goes to the upper house, where the government hopes to win approval before the current parliamentary session ends on 15 December.
According to the BBC’s Tokyo correspondent, Chris Hogg, Japan has become a lot less cautious about patriotism than it used to be. Seven years ago a piece of music that honours the emperor became the national anthem and the rising sun flag became the emblem of the Japanese state.
But the government would argue that the country¿s pacifist constitution is pre-eminent and that no-one has anything to fear from a more patriotic Japan. ++
And here is something frivolous!
DHS: Individual Al-Qaeda Operative Assigned To Each American Family
The Onion
November 16, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC—The Department Of Homeland Security claimed to have “reliable information” Monday that al-Qaeda is proceeding with a plan to dispatch to the United States 120 million operatives trained to antagonize and disrupt every American household. “These domestic operatives are already highly knowledgeable about their assigned families’ daily schedules, eccentricities, and deepest desires,” said DHS secretary Michael Chertoff. “All we can say is that they are serious, they are committed, and they have a lot more members than we ever imagined.” While Chertoff said people should go about their daily lives as normally as possible, he did urge people to be diligent in reporting any unusual activity or suspicious Arab-looking men in their kitchens, bedrooms, closets or underneath their dinner tables. ++
English Teacher On First Date In Ages Lets Dangling Modifier Slide
The Onion
November 13, 2006
FALLS CHURCH, VA—Recalling that it was her first date since September 2005, high-school English teacher Melanie Fitzgerald thought it prudent to overlook the grammatical errors of dinner date Aaron McPherson on Monday. “I really had to bite my tongue when he said, ‘After getting stuck in traffic this evening, canceling dinner plans would have been completely understandable,’” said Fitzgerald, recounting her date’s response to her five-minutes-late arrival. “I kept telling myself to give him the benefit of the doubt, even after he said, ‘Being nervous sometimes, I can come off a bit awkward.’ ” Friends of Fitzgerald have advised her to continue disregarding McPherson’s poor grammar and instead focus on his character, which sounds like that of a complete asshole. ++
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
November 16th, 2006