The Blue State

Senator Warner: "We Have a Problem, and We Better Solve it" (What a genius)

Today on MTP (Meet The Press),one of Tim Russert's guests was Senator John Warner (R-VA). Warner who recently calledfor a limited troop withdrawal from Iraq,   "I say to thepresident respectfully, 'Pick whatever number you wish.' . . . Say, 5,000 couldbegin to redeploy and be home to their families and loved ones no later thanChristmas of this year. That's the first step."

To me, that sounds like a political move...5000 out of 160,000 which are deployedin Iraq.

He has recommended Bush announce the beginning of a U.S. withdrawal inmid-September, after a report is released from the top U.S. officials in Iraq,and that those troops should be back in the United States by Christmas.

"In my humble judgment, that would get everyone's attention -- theattention that is not being paid at this time," Warner said.

He added: "I really, firmly believe the Iraqi government, under theleadership of Prime Minister [Nuri] al-Maliki, let our troops down."

Maybe it's me, but when I watched Warner's interview this morning, it soundedlike he was agreeing with everyone's point of view, opinion and plan, and notplaying hardball (like a kid in a candy store that wants to have one of each)

What put the icing on the cake for me, making it sound like a political movewas when Russert questioned Warner on what the answer was:

Russert: "What's the answer"

Warner: "The answer is clear, we have a problem and we need to solveit"

After almost 10 minutes of complimenting everyone on the job/s they aredoing, he comes up with "we have a problem"? I think it's time for himto move to Florida.

I could be missing the boat here, but watch and weigh in with your opinion.

 

Senator Warner (R-VA) on MTP

Bush to veto 6 million children out of health coverage

The House of Representatives voted along partisan lines to pass a health care bill that would cover 6 million more children.  That would mean six million more kids getting regular physicals, immunizations and other preventative care so that down the road many of them won't require pricey emergency procedures that taxpayers usually end up paying for.

To President Bush and most Republicans, this is a horrible idea.  Since the measure passed the House, it heads to the Senate for debate.  In a statement, the White House issued a veto threat, saying the plan "clearly favors government-run health care over private health insurance."

This bill will likely not make it through the Senate.  Instead, a bipartisan group of Senators support a more scaled back proposal, which increases funding for the program by $35 billion.  It doesn't beat the $47 billion in the House bill -- but it's still not bad.  Bush says he would veto either bill.

What the President wants instead is a bill that only increases federal funding for the program by $5 billion.  But according to columnist Art Levine, Bush's plan guts states of resources:

Bush’s proposed $5 billion increase in funding to the program would still leave nearly 20 stateswithout sufficient funds to cover all those now enrolled. Bush opposesmajor expanded funding for SCHIP because he’d like to link the programwith his dead-in-the-water proposals to offer tax credits or deductionsto help people pay for high-cost, often exclusionary private insuranceon their own.

It is interesting how the Republican Party brags about being for states rights, yet their policies of unfunded mandates actually hurt states and empower the federal government.  No Child Left Behind and the Patriot Act are two perfect examples.

Graham: GOP will always have enough votes to block veto override

Republican leaders in both the House and Senate have put their feet down and will make sure the Democrats never have enough votes to override a Bush veto of an Iraq troop withdrawal legislation.  Let's use the Senate as an example.  The Democrats need 60 votes just to force a vote on an Iraq bill.  Even if it passes, President Bush will veto it.  The Senate must have 67 votes in order to override the veto.  Although there is no filibuster in the House, it is the same as the Senate in that Democrats need a two-thirds majority to override a Bush veto.

According to Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who is spearheading the effort to oppose troop reductions, the GOP will always have at least 33 hardcore Bush-supporting senators:

And a loyal group of GOP senators are prepared to back a Bush veto ifDemocrats ever succeed in limiting or ending the U.S. mission in Iraq.

"At the end of the day, all of this hand-wringing needs to beunderstood (in the context) of how Congress works: There will always be33 of us, as long as there is not a complete meltdown, to support amilitary strategy that is aggressive and is not based on needs of thenext election," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Lindsey underestimates how elections can impact votes.  There are 15 Republican senators up for reelection in 2008.  Even in places such as Alabama, where incumbent Senate candidate Jeff Sessions is from, voters only give Bush a 42% approval rating, mostly because of the war.  Democrats need to step up their opposition against all the GOP Senators running for reelection, such as Sessions -- and maybe then we will get our 67 votes.

Special Counsel or Impeachment -- It's Bush's Choice

Today on CBS' Face the Nation, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said his committee will give Alberto Gonzales one week to re-clarify his statements.  Last week both documents and the FBI Director contradicted the testimony of Gonzales a few days prior.  Leahy is giving Gonzales one last chance and then the gloves are off:

"He has a week to correct it if he wants," Sen. Patrick Leahy,D-Vermont, said. "If he doesn't correct it, then I think that there areso many errors in there that the pressure will be very, very heavy,whether it's a special prosecutor, special counsel efforts within the –within the Congress."

This next part is where it gets tricky.  Obviously the Judiciary Committee prefers to have a special counsel.  But that may not happen.  Congress can request a special counsel.  Ultimately though, the decision is made by Solicitor General Paul Clement.  The problem is that Clement is a Bush official, and may be instructed by Dick Cheney not to appoint a special counsel for fear of it opening the executive branch up to further investigations regarding the legality of the warrantless eavesdropping program.

Even though the congressional request can be denied, the Democrats still have political leverage.  Judiciary Committee Chairman can call for impeachment of Gonzales.  So in other words, the Democrats' message to the Administration should be this: allow Clement to appoint a special counsel, or else face an impeachment trial for their Attorney General.

Rove Subpoenaed -- adding to very productive week in Congress

The Senate Judiciary Committee today took their biggest step in uncovering the mystery behind the fired US Attorneys.  They subpoenaed White House Adviser Karl Rove and his deputy, Scott Jennings.  Rove and Jennings will be forced to show up at a hearing on August 2nd.  It is expected that the Bush Administration will fight this subpoena.

Here is a quick refresher of Congress' busy week, spearheaded by Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT) and House Rep. John Conyers (D-MI):

• MONDAY: House Judiciary Committee handed down contempt charges against former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and current White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolton.
• TUESDAY: Senate Judiciary Committee confronted Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, as he evaded questions from both Republican and Democrat committee members.
• WEDNESDAY: Alberto Gonzales' testimony the day before was contradicted by federal documents.  Lawmakers raised the concern that Gonzales could face perjury charges.
• THURSDAY: Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Karl Rove and Scott Jennings.

UPDATE (4:00 PM ET): Here is a copy of the subpoena handed down by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Franken challenges Coleman on the war

Minnesota Senate candidate Al Franken held a huge fundraiser in Moorhead late last night, kicking off his 2008 effort to defeat incumbent Republican Norm Coleman.  He took issue with Coleman's consistent support of the President's policy in Iraq:

Franken, who opposes the war in Iraq, said Coleman had a chance tosupport bringing military servicemen home, but didn’t. He believesColeman’s vulnerability on the war could affect voters’ decisions nextyear.

Colemansaid earlier this month he rejects a specific withdrawal date fromIraq, but added that troops need to be removed from heavy combat nextyear.

“I’m going to hold him accountable,” Franken said of Coleman.

Even after a long night, Franken heads back on the campaign trail today.  From 4 PM to 8 PM this evening, he will appear at Eagen Central Park picnic shelter, where he will be joined by two local Minnesota legislators.

A few celebrities have contributed to Franken's campaign.  Rosie O'Donnell, for example, has donated $2,300.

Tobacco bill destined to pass Senate

With the Democrats wrapping up debate on the Iraq legislation, one of its committees will hold a vote on a bill aimed at giving the FDA authority to regulating tobacco.  The ultimate goal of some Democrats is to institute a new tobacco tax, and use the money to pay for children's health care:

The long-debated bill to give the Food and Drug Administration thepower to regulate tobacco begins to move forward today, when the Senatehealth committee is expected to pass it — after a bruising fight.

Republicans, including ranking member Michael Enzi of Wyoming, Richard Burr of North Carolina, and Orrin Hatch ofUtah, are expected to offer more than 30 amendments. They are alllikely to be voted down by the Democratic majority led by the bill’slead sponsor, committee Chairman Edward Kennedy ofMassachusetts. Public-health group lobbyists who support Kennedy’s billsay that most of the amendments would either weaken the legislation orchange it in ways that would hurt its chances of clearing the fullSenate.

The bill's chances of clearing committee are great.  It is also likely that the Senate will conduct a full vote on this issue before the August recess.

(Video) Late night candle light vigil outside Senate Building

This is the kind of effort we have been asking from the Democratic Party for what has felt like an eternity.  After four months of half-hearted efforts to force a vote on the war, Majority Leader Harry Reid kept the Senate up all night to try and break a Republican filibuster on an amendment that would call for the withdrawal of US troops beginning in 120 days.  Whether or not the Democrats can achieve the end result they want is out of their hands in the short-term.  What they can continue doing is pressing hard each day, using every tactic they can.

In the late-night hours of this debate, a group of Democrats joined veterans and other anti-war activists outside the Senate building.

Obviously this brand of fierce opposition should have been implemented months ago, and the Democrats were lazy not to stand their ground until now.  But here we are.  Where do we go from here?  The Democrats are getting the message that debates like this one are healthy and welcomed by seven out of every ten Americans, and they will not maintain majority without giving it their all.

John Kerry takes the floor

It's going on 6 AM ET/3 AM PT, and I'm getting tired.  But I should note that former Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry has just taken the floor following the 5 AM vote.  Even though it's still early, he is full of energy.

Here are some John Kerry excerpts from the speech he is giving at this moment:

• "It's easier for al Qaeda to play off" Sunni vs Shia rift than it would be had the US not invaded.
• "The 'here' is broadening all around the world" -- Kerry said when responding to the Bush argument that we need to fight the terrorists over there so we don't fight them here.
• President Bush "went on the longest vacation in history" in the month before September 11th.
• "This is not an Administration that has been correct conceivably about anything."
• "Not one expectation has been met.  Not one basic political transformation.."
• This bill "is also profoundly about the troops."
• "They (troops) deserve missions that make sense."
• "If you don't learn lessons of history ...you are doomed to repeat mistakes that you made."
• "The mission itself I think is as flawed as the mission a few years ago."

Amen!

GOP filibuster still holding

I have been monitoring the Iraq debate throughout the night.  It's past five o'clock on the east coast, and they are once again voting to end the filibuster.  As I watch now, a flurry of GOP lawmakers are fast-walking to the floor as the role is being called.  At the moment, it looks like the filibuster will hold.  I will continue to keep tabs on it.

On a less enchanting note, according to the New York Times, a number of lawmakers, including Hillary Clinton, convinced Harry Reid to postpone a few of the votes so they could get some sleep.  Apparently Reid was going to be very aggressive tonight, calling for votes every few hours.  But a few Democrats wanted sleep instead:

It was shortly before midnight when the senators arrived back onthe floor of the Senate to cast their second vote of the marathon Iraqwar debate. The Democrats circled Senator Harry Reid, the majorityleader, with a purposeful plea: Won’t you please delay the next voteuntil a little closer to sunrise?

   â€œHarry, sweetheart,” said Senator Barbara Boxer of California, leading the group of Democrats. “5:30 or 6?”

From our vantage point in the press gallery overlooking the Senatefloor, Ms. Boxer was leading the lobbying effort on behalf of severalsenators in her party. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York andDebbie Stabenow of Michigan joined in, too.

What a shame!