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The Daily Muck
Nancy Pelosi is working hard to pass a lobbying bill that will “end the tight-knit relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers.” The problem, according to critics, is that the current bill does nothing of the sort. (USA TODAY)
Freshmen members of the Democratic majority are eagerly pushing stringent ethics reform, and not just because reform was a touchstone of their congressional bids; the Republican Congressional Committee is emailing voters to highlight how Democrats' reforms have not matched their rhetoric. Meanwhile, Democratic chairmen are having a tough time embracing reform after a few months as the lobbyists’ darlings. (The Politico, The Hill)
Looking to avoid the stigma associated with earmarking, lawmakers are finding creative ways to secure money for their favorite causes, including a practice called “phonemarking.” (Washington Post)
Rep. Murtha (D-PA) apologized to Rep. Rogers (R-MI) for his recent outburst on earmarks.
Monica Goodling’s testimony ended with a dramatic series of questions about a private meeting between her and Alberto Gonzales. How did Democrats know to ask these questions? Her lawyer told them to. (Washington Post)
Goodling also became the first Justice Department official to acknowledge hearing complaints about former US Attorney Thomas Heffelfinger, who has maintained his retirement from the Justice Department was not forced. Goodling also discussed the role political preference played in the appointment of his replacement Rachel Paulose. (Star Tribune)
Following Goodling’s testimony, the Democrats in the House are setting their sights on the White House in hopes of finding someone who knows who selected the nine US Attorneys to be fired. (Roll Call)
The lawyers at CREW are busy. This week the watchdog organization has filed a lawsuit against the White House Office of Administration, seeking to obtain over 5 million White House emails that were lost between March 2003 and October 2005. It has also brought suit against the Department of Education for using private email accounts to conduct government business.
Lurita Doan, chief of the General Services Administration, violated the federal Hatch Act, according to the Office of Special Counsel. Doan has until June 1 to respond to the Office’s report, after which it will be sent to the President for his consideration. (Washington Post, LA Times)
Michael Baroody withdrew his nomination to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission after facing strong criticism from Senate Democrats. After announcing his nomination, Baroody received a controversial severance payment of $150,000 from his company that engaged in industry-friendly activities. (USA TODAY)
The Politico tries to sort through the convoluted financial records of Georgia Democrat Rep. David Scott. Particularly of interest is the fact that since his first congressional bid in 2002, Scott has paid more than $640,000 to his family and his family’s business.
Rep. William Jefferson’s case with the FBI’s seizure of his records is going strong. However, the Congressional ethics committee that agreed to investigate him seems to have stalled. The committee has yet to release a statement about Rep. Jefferson since the new session began. (Roll Call)
The United States and Iran are engaging in a worrisome bout of tit-for-tat diplomacy. While the US Navy is currently pursuing its largest round of war games in recent years off the Iranian coast, Iran is pushing to expand it nuclear program and is allegedly increasing its support for Iraqi insurgents. (McClatchy Newspapers)
Greg Palast on caging.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4594
May 24, 2007 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think we should force the conservatives to seriously consider the true scope of any military strike on Iran. The attack could not be limited to only the nuclear facilities, because the Iranian possess the means (asymmetric air and naval power over the Straits of Hormuz, medium range ballistic missiles, influence over events in Iraq) to conduct a meaningful retaliation against US forces and interests. The US would therefore have to strike both the actual target (nuclear facilities) and the means of retaliation (air and naval facilities and equipment, dispersed ballistic missile targets, Iranian military forces in and near Iraq). While the conservatives continue to promote demonstrations of force towards Iran, we should at least make them admit that any attack on Iran would be a costly, dangerous and prolonged adventure.
May 24, 2007 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I guess we aren't going to be impeaching Bush if we are busy worrying about whether he is going to invade Iran.
Oh, wait ..... that would just add another reason to the list of why we should.
But wait ... we have to support the troops.
grr
May 24, 2007 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I crossed the line,
Yeah, I crossed the line!
Lost all my morals,
And then lost my mind!
I'll serve the Bushies,
And happily do time.
Praise the Lord!
I crossed the line!
I crossed the line, folks,
I crossed the line!
I quizzed prospective hires,
with Party in mind.
I only hired the white and refined!
Praise the Lord!
I crossed the line!
May 24, 2007 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps Nancy Pelosi should be informed (BY TPM readers) about the Democrats poor performance at yesterday's hearings. How could they completely ignore acusations of caging, by a witness granted immunity!
Perhaps she should focus a little more time on better coordination amoung her people as who to INVESTIGATE the ___Purge.
Topics not covered yesterday:
A) NAIS connections. WHY did MG defund the liason to NAIS. what was the motive, who directed it.
b) RNC email usage and policies in place. What accounts did you use, were third party web sites used for communication within DOJ and with WH.
c) Further explain all that you know about the 'caging' allegation.
d) Who did you communicate with, irregardless of method, at the WH while you were at DOJ? Where any topics of communication with the WH of the following: A US Attorney; AUSA; Internal DOJ hirees; DOJ policy; ANY DOJ investigation.
e) When you worked at the WH, did the WH provide direction as to what you will do while working in DOJ?
f) Did you recieve positive confirmation from the President to fire those USA's?
There are many more questions that could have been asked.
May 24, 2007 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
defunding iraq. off the table.
ethics reform. off the table.
impeaching the president. off the table.
my campaign donations to DCCC. off the table.
May 24, 2007 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
defunding iraq. off the table.
timetables in iraq. off the table.
benchmarks with consequences in iraq. off the table.
ethics reforms. off the table.
earmark reforms. off the table.
impeaching the president. off the table.
my campaign donations to the DCCC. off the table.
May 24, 2007 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like we can count on Politico to stay on top of the Dems. I seem to remember reading that Politco's ownership has a distinct GOP tilt.
I've been digging into the American Center for Voting Rights these last couple of days at the TPM Cafe. My big question is why the DNC let this GOP front masquerade as a legitimate think tank when it was headed by well-known, shady, Democratic turncoat lobbyist, Brian A. Lunde.
The GOP flaunted Lunde's 20-year-old Democratic credentials as evidence that the AC4VR was bipartisan and the DNC apparently did zip. The AC4VR's main objective was to reduce the number of Democratic voters and the DNC stood by and did nothing.
Lunde and his wife contributed $4k to Bush-Cheney in '04. Lunde co-chaired Democrats for Bush in '04 along with Zell Miller. The WaPo wrote about Lunde's cozy relationship with Karl Rove in 2003. Lunde was a Bush supporter in '00.
Does anyone at the DNC think beyond where they are going to have lunch on any given day? The DNC's lack of response to the threat posed by the AC4Vr is a frigging disgrace and someone ought to be fired for incompetence.
May 24, 2007 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can somebody please compose a tune for Mooser's poem?
Maybe there's a group out there that can put the tune up and spread it around the net!
"Monica's Song"
May 24, 2007 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
phidda...
I liked your statement so much I sent it , not in your name, to :
http://www.dccc.org/action_center/contact/
I also added my intent to join the Independent party or to vote for Ron Paul if Dems did not start taking action in Congress.
thaks for the reminder we need to keep the pressure on.
May 24, 2007 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I stand corrected. The DNC did actually complain about the American Center for Voting Rights once in August 2005.
May 24, 2007 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Re: Crew bringing suit against the Department of Education for using private email accounts to conduct government business..............
oh oh..tip of the iceberg ?
What are the odds that it was a widespread policy for most, if not all, Admin. Depts. to use non-government e-mail?
May 24, 2007 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe that the poem was composed to the tune of:
I saw the light,
Yes, I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
....
Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
May 24, 2007 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
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