The Blue State

Child detainees outnumber foreigners at US camps in Iraq

The typical fiscal conservative would complain that the US has spent more than $460 billion in Iraq, with $50 billion more on the way.  The typical international relations major would note that the Iranian regime is stronger today because of Bush's war.  Many progressive activists are angry because the war feeds into our oil addiction.  And military families say the war is destroying local communities.

All of these insights are important.  But if you ask my generation, we are overwhelmingly against the war mostly because of what the conflict is motivating Middle Eastern children to become.  This story is very bothersome:

Child fighters, once a rare presence on Iraq's battlefields, areplaying a significant and growing role in kidnappings, killings androadside bombings in the country, U.S. military officials say.

Boys, some as young as 11, now outnumber foreign fighters at U.S.detention camps in Iraq. Since March, their numbers have risen to 800from 100, said Maj. Gen. Douglas Stone, the commander of detaineeoperations. The Times reported last month that only 130 non-Iraqifighters were in U.S. custody in Iraq.

The Bush Administration spends so much time harping about al Qaeda in Iraq, when homegrown Iraqi children learning Islamic fundamentalism is really the more pressing problem.

Let's at least learn from some of the lessons here in the United States.  When children, particularly teenagers, are not enrolled in after-school activities during the summer, they are more likely to turn to drugs and other troubled behavior.  In Iraq, when many schools are being canceled and families all over Iraq are lucky to have more than two hours of electricity each day, then don't be surprised when Iraqi children have a lot of time on their hands and are desperate to feel accepted.

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:

• Despite death threats, bodyguards of Iraqi judges are not allowed to carry weapons.
• Richard Jewell, falsely accused of playing a part in the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta, was found dead in his Georgia home at the age of 44.  An autopsy is scheduled for today.
• Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) has lost all of his committee leadership posts, and many are calling on him to resign.
• Cartoon: Why Alberto Gonzales is really leaving.
• Yesterday on Hardball, correspondent David Shuster broke down Bush's bad week. 
• Hillary Clinton has agreed to return the $23,000 she received from a fundraiser who is wanted in the state of California for not showing up for sentencing on a grand theft charge.
• Democratic presidential candidate john Edwards is calling on all SUV owners to sacrifice their sport utility vehicles for more fuel efficient cars.
• Late-Wednesday on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, John McCain joked about his summer campaign struggles: "We are doing so poorly I thought maybe I would announce on this show that I'm running for president."
• John McCain's support in his home state is falling.  He barely leads other '08 Republican hopefuls in Arizona, with 24% of the vote.  In that same poll in April, he had 32%.  In February, he had 44%.
• In receiving the endorsement of the International Firefighters Association, Chris Dodd insisted that most voters have not made up their minds just yet, and he should not be counted out.  "The voters in Iowa and New Hampshire are still very much shopping," said Dodd.
• New Jersey Democrats (Strategic Vision): Clinton - 49%, Obama - 22%, Edwards - 8%, Richardson - 5%.

If we left something out, it's because we either wrote about ityesterday or are scheduled to do so in an individual post later today. Otherwise, feel free to add any stories in the commentbox.

Blue Nightowl Clips

Here we go with the top political clips making their rounds on the blogs tonight:

1. Summer of scandals for both parties, mostly Republicans.
2. Is Bush to blame for Abu Ghraib?  From Hardball on Wednesday.
3. To Catch a Senator.  The media's reporting of Larry Craig.
4. A man wrongly convicted of rape was released from jail after 20 years when DNA evidence contradicted police claims.
5. New Romney campaign ad.

More clips on Thursday.  The Blue Radar will be posted at 4 AM ET, just several hours from now.

Wyoming to hold its contest ahead of Iowa

Good Lord!  "Insanity" is the word that comes to mind.  The 2008 presidential contest looks like it will begin in 2007 after all.  Wyoming has moved its primary to January 5th, ahead of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina:

In another sign the presidential selectionprocess may be headed for 2007, Wyoming Republicans voted to move theirconventions to Jan. 5, leapfrogging Iowa and New Hampshire.

"We're first in the nation," State party County Convention Coordinator Tom Sansonetti told the AP. "At least for the next couple, three weeks until New Hampshire and Iowa move, which I expect they will."

The New York Times reported this morning that the GOP would penalize Florida, New Hampshire and Michigan for moving their primaries up.  You can bet that similar penalties will be handed down by both parties against Wyoming delegates.

Carter says Edwards has the most vision of any '08 candidate

On Wednesday at Georgia Southwestern State University, former President Jimmy Carter appeared with John Edwards, and touted the Democrat's qualities.  However, he did stop short of giving Edwards his official endorsement:

"I can say without equivocation that no one who is running forpresident has presented anywhere near as comprehensive and accurate aprediction of what our country ought to do in the field ofenvironmental quality, in the field of health care for those who arenot presently insured, for those who struggle with poverty," Cartersaid.

He predicted that Edwards "has a very good chance to do well" in the presidential race.

Carter told The Associated Press afterward that it was too soon tomake an endorsement in the 2008 race and that his comments were notmeant as a criticism of other Democrats.

"I think he is a very appealing candidate, especially for rural voters here," Carter said.

Edwards and Carter have been very close ever since the 2004 race, and it is likely that Edwards will get the 39th president's endorsement.  In fact, Edwards and Carter are much alike in many ways.  This is obviously another stab at the Clintons, whom Carter has never thought much of (common knowledge).

Cartoon: State of the surge

(Click for larger view)

By Andrew Wahl, OffTheWahl.com, The Wenatchee World

GeneralPetraeus’ “State of the Surge” report isn’t due for at least a few moredays, but already politicians are in full spin cycle based on what theythink he’ll say. Meanwhile, U.S. soldiers (to say nothing ofIraqi civilians) continue to be killed and wounded at an alarming rate.This situation was the impetus for this week’s toon, “The Surge MarchesOn …” (color version) [Archive No. 0727b], the third in my series ofSurge-related toons using the silhouette of the iconic toy soldier. Theprevious two can be seen on the OtWP Blog this week. Stop by and let meknow what you think of the series:

Till next week,
Andrew

Brownback: Overhaul No Child Left Behind

We see this happen each presidential election cycle.  Washington insiders journey out onto the campaign trail in places like Iowa and New Hampshire, and are forced to justify in layman's terms why failed policies ought to be continued.  And in the short-term, many of the candidates suddenly develop a hidden populist streak.

Sam Brownback is becoming the latest victim in this populist mayhem.  He is proposing to completely overhaul No Child Left Behind:

The Kansas senator, who voted for the measure in 2001, said itsdifficulties stem largely from provisions that force local schools tospend money on certain things while other problems go unfixed.Brownback mentioned the plan during an educational forum at theUniversity of Northern Iowa, where he fielded questions about collegeaffordability, high school standards and the nation's scientific braindrain.

"Where it failed was not giving flexibility to thestates," Brownback told a crowd of 120 at the Gallagher-BluedornPerforming Arts Center.

Maybe he is onto something.  The law is an unfunded mandate that takes a toll on state budgets.  Those state are either forced to cut other programs, or underfund this one.  Over the last five years, No Child Left Behind has been underfunded by $40 billion.

Calling all Democrats with backbone

President Bush will ask the Democratic Congressional majority next month for $50 billion in additional war funds.  The House will begin debating the bill after General Petraeus reads the White House's Iraq report to Congress:

The request -- which would come on top of about $460 billion in thefiscal 2008 defense budget and $147 billion in a pending supplementalbill to fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- is expected to be announced after congressional hearingsscheduled for mid-September featuring the two top U.S. officials inIraq.

The Democrats have a great chance to fulfill the promise they made to voters last November.  The low congressional approval rating has to do with Democratic voters not being satisfied with the effort of Senate and House leaders in ending the war.  If they block this money, or at least appropriate it in a way that funds troop redeployment, then those same voters will see leadership and keep that in mind in 2008.  Even more immediately, Democratic voters will watch how their '08 candidates vote.  Senator Biden (D-DE) will have an even tougher time justifying this one, if he remains on the President's side on the issue of funding.

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:

• Sources confirm to Raw Story that the Bush Administration is preparing for a "massive" military attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
• Bush argued this week that withdrawing from Iraq would increase the nuclear threat in the region.  "The region would be dramatically transformed in a way that would imperil the civilized world," Bush said.  (This is the new political strategy.  Bush will use Iran as an excuse to stay in Iraq.)
• After months of asking Democrats to wait until September to judge the current surge strategy, Bush is now asking us to wait longer.  "It's going to take time for the recent progress we have seen in security to translate into political progress," Bush said on Tuesday.
• Democrats say they will not relent in their investigations into the actions of Alberto Gonzales.
• Average household incomes rose in 2006.
• The number of Americans without health insurance is now up to 47 million, according to the US Census Bureau.  That amounts to 12.3% of the US population.
• In his first public appearance after his stroke, Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) said he is back.  "Hard work is something in which I take great pride. So, let me say this tonight going forward: I am back," Johnson said to a loud applause.
• Mitt Romney is using the Larry Craig scandal to attack Bill Clinton: "And we've seen disappointment in the White House, we've seen it in theSenate, we've seen it in Congress. And frankly, it's disgusting."  (Oh really?  Maybe you should ask Craig who he endorsed for president?)
• The United Transportation Union has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.
• Many would agree that Rasmussen Reports is right on the money in its latest critique of how the media has covered the '08 primaries thus far: "For those who love the game, it's easy to overemphasize the springtraining events like Iowa straw polls and 'debates' with no onewatching. In reality, thought, spring training is a chance for theplayers to get ready for the season and for the insiders to get a firstlook at how the talent is shaping up for the coming season. Those whoreally understand the game know that spring training victories don'tdoesn't count once the regular season begins."

If we left something out, it's because we either wrote about ityesterday or are scheduled to do so in an individual post later today. Otherwise, feel free to add any stories in the commentbox.

(Videos) The interesting world of Larry Craig

As I eluded to earlier this evening, tonight we celebrate the fabulous world of Senator Larry Craig (R-ID).  Earlier this month, Craig plead guilty to engaging in lewd acts inside a men's restroom in Minnesota.

So who is Larry Craig?  You will learn quite a bit by watching the videos below.  Let's watch them in historical order:

1) According to this 1982 ABC News video, Craig allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior with Congressional pages.

2) Skip ahead to 1999.  Craig called Clinton a "naughty boy" for having an affair with Monica Lewinsky.  Hypocritical?

3) In 2006, Barney Frank and Bill Maher discussed Larry Craig and the hypocrisy about gay Republicans.

4) Now to this year.  Here is Senator Craig endorsing Mitt Romney.  At the end of the video, Craig talks about Romney's strong "family values."

5) And earlier this Tuesday, Craig addressed the media and defended his actions in the bathroom.