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The Daily Muck
Many families of soldiers killed in Iraq, like Lt. Col. Billy Hall, have given permission for the media to cover the burial of the deceased to show the realities of war. But the Pentagon has done its best to block such coverage, quelling sound and video allowed for recordings and obstructing reporters and photographers. (Washington Post)
The senator who added "wide stance" to the American lexicon now faces further hardship. Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), arrested last June by an undercover cop in an airport restroom, has used funds from this campaign committee to pay his lawyers. But the Senate ethics panel ordered him to pay out of his own bank account. (Washington Post)
Chalk up another victim to the scam artist Christopher Ward, former treasurer to several GOP campaigns and subject of an FBI investigation into alleged embezzlement charges. Rep. James Walsh (R-NY) is the latest (of the now six-member club) to reveal that he was a victim. (Washington Post)
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is claiming the organization U.S. Term Limits, a non-profit group, crossed federal legal lines by not disclosing that contributions sent to them are not tax-deductible. U.S. Term Limits recently aired an ad for former Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-CO), who's running for Senate seat. Schaffer has recently come under scrutiny for alleged dealings with shamed former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. (Roll Call)
The six suspects accused of plotting to decimate the Sears Tower, join Al Qaeda and, as government lawyers claim, enact a "ground war" on America will be tried yet again. This will mark the third attempt by the federal government to convict them. Searches of the group's headquarters in Miami found no evidence of weapons or plans for such "ground wars." (New York Times)
A federal judge has ruled that the government's practice of withholding information from Americans about their appearance on the terrorist watch list is unlawful. The decision stems from a 2005 lawsuit filed by ten Muslim or Arab-American plaintiffs who claimed unwarranted harassment upon entering the U.S. (New York Times)
Josh
Zachary
I think I might have to stop reading this column. It just frustrates and angers me.
April 24, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm suprised Josh's staff isn't a bunch of raging alcoholics by now.
April 24, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
U.S. Term Limits is starting up again? That's Howard Rich's gang which includes the inimitable William A. Wilson. Grover Norquist works closely with this bunch as does the National Association of Manufacturers.
Partial list of affiliates:
US Term Limits
US Term Limits Foundation
Term Limits America PAC
America At Its Best
Council For Responsible Government
Parents In Charge (formerly Legislative Action Drive)
SocialSecurityChoice.org, SocialSecurityChoice.org Foundation
Club For Growth and its affiliates
National Association For Workers And Employers Rights
April 24, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is very, very difficult for me to find sympathy for Craig, Walsh, Schaffer, and the others for their financial problems. They'd probably like us folks to see them as victims.
But how much legislation is each one of them responsible for that has either tightened or loosened laws that have now boomeranged on them—enacted, most likely, at times when the ones who'd suffer from them would be "liberals"?
Who sees victimless prostitution (not to mention homosexuality), and therefore solicitation, as such a scourge on society? Who claims the mantle of fiscal responsibility, yet pushes for deregulation?
If this is karma, then take heed, you guys. You are not above the law—especially when you've spent so much time in charge of making it.
April 24, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink