Posted by Frank James at 7:11 am CDT
A quick guided tour of some of the day's most important or interesting (or both) Washington-related news stories
Iraq protests. Thousands of Iraqis loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr took to the streets in the holy city of Najaf in highly disciplined demonstration, demanding that the U.S. leave Iraq.
Immigration do-over. President Bush unveiled his new immigration reform proposal in Yuma, Ariz. Monday, which provides a tortuous route to citizenship for illegal immigrants, in the hope that it will be enough to draw the needed Republican support.
Baggage check. Major airports could be receiving new security equipment like bomb detectors that can theoretically screen luggage ten-times faster than the current models, thanks to legislation containing billions of dollars for the devices.
Bad link. At the request of U.S. immigration officials, immigrant men are doing DNA testing to try and prove paternity of children they are attempting to bring to the U.S. with some finding to their surprise that they aren't really the fathers.
Bad China. The Bush Administration filed two complaints against China with the World Trade Organization for pirating and counterfeiting American intellectual property.
On government time. Officials at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum and affiliated facilities had the personal property of themselves and friends repaired by federally-funded employees and resources, according to an inspector general.
Chemical war. The Iraq spending bills contain little publicized provisions favored by trial lawyers but opposed by the chemical industry and Bush Administration that would make it easier for people to sue chemical companies after a terrorist attack.
Double-duty.Several U.S. attorneys have been doing other jobs for the Bush Administration in Washington, raising concerns that their districts aren't being properly supervised.
Kerry rides high. Sen. John Kerry, the unsuccessful 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, is keeping a high profile as a campaign fundraiser and global-warming expert, even though he has said he won't run for the 2008 nomination.
Slow and steady. New Mexico Bill Richardson may not be getting as much notice as the top tier candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination but those who know him say it's too early to count him out.
Contrite Imus. Radio shock jock Don Imus apologized on the Rev. Al Sharpton show for racist remarks about a group of Rutgers University student-athletes and has suspended by CBS and NBC for two weeks.
Obama backs out. Activists welcomed Sen. Barack Obama's decision to forego a televised debate co-sponsored by Fox News Channel and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute because of the involvement of the conservative-leaning news outlet. Obama joined Sen. Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, the former senator, in passing up the debate.
Fictional Obama. As apparently honest mistake led to a web story about Sen. Barack Obama making a mythical trip to Libya in 1984 where he supposedly met with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
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Comments
Kerry rides high. Sen. John Kerry, the unsuccessful 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, is keeping a high profile as a campaign fundraiser and global-warming expert, even though he has said he won't run for the 2008 nomination.
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I hope the Dems are finally learning the lessons of the Republics.
To wit, the candidate should be an electable vessel for the party platforms and not necessarily an original thinker, which seems to turn the American public off.
Reagan and Bush were intellectually limited, but they won by embodying positions based on party identity. (OK, Bush didn't really win election, but let's assume he did for the sake of argument.)
If that's the case, I think people like Gore, Kerry and others are trying to influence that identity now, versus running for anything themselves.
Under that scenario, the Dems would nominate a "CEO president" to carry the policies and choose cabinet members reflective of those policies.
Posted by: bb | April 10, 2007 7:49 AM
Fictional Obama. As apparently honest mistake led to a web story about Sen. Barack Obama making a mythical trip to Libya in 1984 where he supposedly met with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
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Don't worry.
It will be up on Drudge with a Flashing Red Light by this afternoon.
Then the Loyal Bushies will order Fox News to carry it on their Fox & Friends Show.
Then the Corporate Media will pick it up as legit because, heck, it was on Fox & Friends so it's already out there.
As John Mitchell said, "That's a nice game you guys got going."
Posted by: Ron | April 10, 2007 7:55 AM
Double-duty.Several U.S. attorneys have been doing other jobs for the Bush Administration in Washington, raising concerns that their districts aren't being properly supervised.
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"If they're not in their districts, who's going to force the schools and city halls to post the 10 commandments?"
Listen, judging by Monica Goodling and her doppelganger in Minneapolis, the districts are far better off with those clowns far away.
Posted by: Ron | April 10, 2007 8:01 AM
Bad China. The Bush Administration filed two complaints against China with the World Trade Organization for pirating and counterfeiting American intellectual property.
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It appears the Bushies are torn between their Corporate Donors who develop the products and their Corporate Donors who buy the copies from China and sell them in America.
My guess: They'll protest the copies that are sold in China but ignore the ones that are sold in America.
Posted by: Ron | April 10, 2007 8:06 AM
Chemical war. The Iraq spending bills contain little publicized provisions favored by trial lawyers but opposed by the chemical industry and Bush Administration that would make it easier for people to sue chemical companies after a terrorist attack
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Cities and States have the right to protect their communities if the Federal Government won't.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/13/60minutes/main583528.shtml
'nuff said.
Posted by: Ron | April 10, 2007 8:15 AM
Immigration do-over. President Bush unveiled his new immigration reform proposal in Yuma, Ariz. Monday, which provides a tortuous route to citizenship for illegal immigrants, in the hope that it will be enough to draw the needed Republican support.
Posted by: Ron | April 10, 2007 8:18 AM