Blue Radar

As I post each morning, here are some of the political stories thatmight not be worthy of their own posts, but are nonetheless newsworthy:

• Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) claims the $90,000 that was stuffed in his freezer was actually given to him by the FBI, which was supposed to be laundered to the Nigerian Vice President.  (Good gawd!)
• According to an NSA acquisition official, the number of contractors seeking to do business with the NSA have ballooned over recent years.  In 2001, only 41 contractors did business with the NSA.  By 2006, the number hit 1,265.  (Can you say "military industrial complex?")
• The Army will "reconsider the bids of companies that were eliminated from the competition to win the largest private security contract in Iraq," writes the Washington Post. 
• The wife and son of the Baghdad police chief were among 50 killed in attacks across Iraq.
• 199 Iraqi civilians have died in violence in the first full week of June.
• The U.S. House passed a bill by a 247 to 176 vote that allows federal funds for embryonic stem cell research.  The bill is expected to be vetoed by the President.
• A new U.S. intelligence report reveals that the Bush troop surge has neither reduced sectarian violence nor devalued al Qaeda's political position.
• Gallup: Only 30% of American adults think the U.S. will win the war in iraq.
• Last three Bush approval rating polls: 29%, 32% and 34%.
• New Hampshire Democrats (Mason-Dixon): Clinton - 26%, Obama - 21%, Edwards - 18%, Richardson - 9%, Biden - 6%.

If we left anything out, feel free to add any stories in the commentbox.

Comments

[George]

Surge? It hasnt even started yet. I mean, Lt. Freddy Jackson from Virginia missed the ship to Iraq and there are only 29,999 extra troops now, not the required 30,000. So the surge is not complete. How can you comment on a surge that is incomplete? Give a bigger war a chance, man!

[granny]

Given recent history, William Jefferson (D.LA) could as easily be telling the truth as any one else involved.

I know nothing about him, but plenty about the FBI, and that makes Jefferson's a perfectly plausible story from where I stand.