From the International Herald Tribune:

A Democrat has won the congressional seat of former House of Representatives leader Dennis Hastert in a closely watched special election in the longtime Republican district.

Bill Foster has won 52 percent of the vote compared to 48 percent for Republican Jim Oberweis with 556 of 568 precincts reporting.

Foster’s special election win Saturday means he will fill the remainder of Hastert’s term until it ends next January.

Because…….they think this will help them? Bwaaaahaaahaaaaa

Senate Republicans have agreed to advance a bill that would cut off money for Iraq because they say it will let them tout progress in the war.

Senate Repulican Leader Mitch McConnell said that debate “would give us a chance to talk about the extraordinary progress that’s been made in Iraq over the last six months.”

The Senate voted 70-24 to begin debating the bill. A final vote was expected later this week or next week. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said, “It’s obvious, this is only an effort to stall.”

Earlier today, the Army’s top general said Tuesday he wants to reduce combat tours for soldiers in Iraq from 15 months to 12 months this summer - and hopes that sticks.

Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, told a Senate panel he would not embrace going back to the longer tours even if President Bush decided to suspend troop reductions for the second half of the year. The Army is under serious strain from years of war-fighting, he testified, and must reduce the length of combat tours as soon as possible.

“The cumulative effects of the last six-plus years at war have left our Army out of balance, consumed by the current fight and unable to do the things we know we need to do to properly sustain our all-volunteer force and restore our flexibility for an uncertain future,” Casey said (emphasis mine)

More at the AP

WASHINGTON (AP) The House has voted to hold White House chief of staff Josh Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers in contempt for not complying with subpoenas over the firing of U.S. attorneys.

Oh the theatrics! Let me ask a question. Isn’t the original 1978 bill still in effect if nothing is passed now? Just asking…….

Things just keep getting uglier on the House floor.

Moments after President Bush threatened to delay his weekend trip to Africa and force Congress to act before key intelligence programs expire, House Republicans staged a walkout to protest Democratic inaction on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill. Frustrated Republicans streamed out of the Capitol and onto the east steps of the Capitol, a powerful act aimed at stopping House floor proceedings and forcing a vote on the FISA bill.

The Republican walkout came after an angry morning in which both sides accused each other of improperly using House floor procedures during the memorial service of Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) who died Monday. Republicans were also angry that Democrats are taking up contempt resolutions against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers.

Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), led his colleagues out of the chamber in a dramatic gesture, saying “let’s just get up and leave.” But it’s not clear if anything will come of the theatrics, as Democrats have refused to take up a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act bill. Democrats do not want to pass a bill with lawsuit immunity for telecom firms as the White House has demanded.

A Democratic aide said Republicans are at fault because they voted against a 21-day FISA extension on Wednesday, leaving some of the law’s programs set to expire.

“We gave them a chance to pass an extension _ you can’t put the blame on us,” said Nadeam Elshami, a spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). “The president and the Republicans look unreasonable.”

Bush says expiration of some of the spy programs will hurt national security.

Read more »

Stooping lower and lower they are……..

From Politico:

During what was supposed to be a somber memorial service in Statuary Hall for Rep. Tom Lantos, who died Monday, the House chamber became mired in chaos over procedural votes.

Democrats angrily denounced the GOP as insensitive for calling a “motion to adjourn” - essentially a dilatory tactic - while dignitaries were still giving tributes to Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. But Republican aides shot back quickly, saying it was Democrats who broke an agreement to keep the House in recess during the memorial service.

To some extent, it appears both sides are at fault, but the recriminations have been fast and furious.

“The disrespect that has been shown by a Republican member of Congress in calling a political procedural motion during the memorial service for the late Chairman Tom Lantos is incomprehensible,” said Stacey Bernards, a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.). “It is unjustifiable, and Republican leaders should restrict their members from further such action.”

Read more »

John Cole, of Balloon Juice, posts about how Congress can roll over and give Bush all that he asks for, but is making a stink about Roger Clemons‘ steroid use.

Balloon Juice is one of my favorite blogs. Cole’s articles usually are accompanied with some excellent comments also. Check him out sometime if you haven’t yet.

(Post title from: Johnny Cash - “Ring Of Fire”)

I’m disappointed Edwards dropped out, but ANY democrat would be better than what we have now. Something else Georgie is leaving us with…….a wiped out military. How Republicans can claim they are stronger on security and terrorism is beyond me. The Republicans have done nothing but CREATE more terrorists and make the country by far a weaker nation than we were 8 years ago. And I have to say, the Democrats have aided and abetted the past two years. They better wake up and smell the coffee.

The United States military is not prepared for a catastrophic attack on the country, and National Guard forces do not have the equipment or training they need for the job, according to a new report.

The study of the military’s readiness to respond to a chemical, biological or nuclear weapons attack found “an appalling gap that places the nation and its citizens at greater risk.”

The report was released Thursday by the Commission of the National Guard and Reserves, which is charged by Congress to recommend changes in law and policy concerning the those forces.

“Right now we don-t have the forces we need, we don-t have them trained, we don-t have the equipment,” the commission’s chairman, Arnold L. Punaro, a retired Marine Corps general, said in an interview. “Even though there is a lot going on in this area, we need to do a lot more.”

General Punaro added, “There’s a lot of things in the pipeline, but in the world we live in, you-re either ready or you-re not.”

More at the NYTimes

The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee yesterday unveiled a rival plan to stimulate the economy, offering a $500 check to virtually every American — including low-income seniors and rich financiers — in a direct challenge to the bipartisan deal reached last week by President Bush and House leaders.

The new proposal includes rebates for seniors and payroll taxpayers, extended unemployment insurance, tax relief for struggling businesses, and may also include heating assistance for the poor, food’stamp money, more business tax incentives and road-resurfacing funds, among other items.

In his SOTU speech last night, Bush said “the temptation will be to load up the bill” and that “this would delay it or derail it, and neither option is acceptable.”

For all the power they wield, for their over-bloated sense of self worth, these people are doing nothing more than playing Monopoly with our livelihoods.

Poor congressional democrats. Get their asses handed to them at every curve and still believe they’re a force to be reckoned with.

My prediction for next year: Nothing will change. Just more of the same.

Bush Says Congress Wasting Time, Money

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush, successful in forcing the Democratic Congress to bend to his will, complained Thursday that lawmakers had wasted time and taxpayers’ money. His aggressive stand set a confrontational tone for Bush’s final year in the White House.

Bush used a year-end news conference to scold lawmakers for stuffing 9,800 special-interest projects into a $550 billion spending measure. He directed his budget director to explore how to erase what Bush considers wasteful spending.

What began as a troubling year for Bush, facing a new, energetic Democratic Congress, ended in triumph for the president as frustrated Democrats nursed their losses. Democrats failed in their No. 1 objective to stop the war in Iraq and bowed to Bush and his veto threats on tax policies, energy legislation, children’s health insurance and general spending.

After months of bitter fights, Bush said the year was ending on a high note. “It’s an antagonistic world from some people’s point of view,” the president said. “I try to make it less that way and to focus on high priorities.” (emphasis mine)

As much as he already gets his way, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bush’s budget director guts the recent spending bill. Honestly, I just don’t give a damn any more.

Dodd gets ALOT of points for this one. Dirty Harry needs to go. This didn’t need to be passed prior to their ever important vacation. It doesn’t expire until February, and even if it did, the original FISA bill is just fine. I wonder if Dirty Harry cut yet another deal behind closed doors and said he’d get it passed.

Amid deep and growing divisions among Senate Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) last night abruptly withdrew legislation that would have changed surveillance law and granted the nation’s telecommunications companies retroactive immunity from lawsuits charging they had violated privacy rights.

Democratic leaders had hoped to complete an overhaul of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before recessing for the year, since the current law governing the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance program is set to expire in early February. But in the face of more than a dozen amendments to the bill and guerrilla tactics from its opponents, Reid surprised his colleagues when he announced there would not be enough time to finish the job.

“Everyone feels it would be in the best interest of the Senate if we take a look at this when we come back,” Reid said, acknowledging the time crunch he faces in the “last hours” of this congressional session and the hefty number of agenda items remaining.

More at the Washington Post

My boyfriend Cenk ( I love this guy) has a post at Huffington Post regarding this: “The Power of One”

And, of course, our so-called Democratic leaders who are running for president, with the obvious exception of Sen. Dodd, were missing in action. I thought Fox News might devote their whole coverage to Senator Clinton today since she was a missing blond.

H.R. 1585 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 ) passed in the Senate 90 to 3 with 7 not voting. Guess who didn’t vote? Voting against it were Byrd, Feingold and Sanders.

Not Voting - 7

Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Inouye (D-HI)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)

I’m reminded of words from Curb Your Enthusiasm, on of my favorite tv shows:

You know what? There’s a jetstream of bullshit coming out of your mouth, my friend …

via TTagaris:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has made it clear earlier today that he intends to disregard Senator Dodd’s hold on FISA. And because he chose the path of least resistance for it’s passage, it appears we’ll see a filibuster next week.

Chris Dodd will lead that effort, but he can’t speak forever and will need to lateral the ball at some point if we are going to sustain a filibuster for more than 8 hours or so.

The Senate phones need to be ringing off the fucking wall through the weekend and all Monday morning folks.

Our congress must have all business taken care of for the year, as they are now passing the most ridiculous legislation you can imagine. You just can’t make this shit up. Today the House passed H.Res. 847, 379-9 with 10 members also voting “Present,” meaning they took no position on the legislation, and 40 not voting. One of the “Present” votes was cast by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.). More Democrats -195 - voted for the bill than Republicans, 177. What was this resolution you ask? A resolution declaring Christmas and the Christian faith are important. Like I said, you just can’t make this shit up.

Here’s the text of H.Res. 847, just so you know how important Christianity and Xmas are:

“Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;

Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;

Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;

Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God’s redemption, mercy, and Grace; and

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it

Read more »

This will be another case of no consequences. Of course this administration is going to continue to do whatever they want, be it morally, ethically or criminally wrong……why wouldn’t they? There are NO consequences to them personally. WE, as a nation, will pay in so many ways, but not them. Thanks for the try Biden. But it won’t happen.

A Senate Democratic leader said Sunday the attorney general should appoint a special counsel to investigate the CIA’s destruction of videotaped interrogations of two suspected terrorists.

Sen. Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential candidate and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cited Michael Mukasey’s refusal during confirmation hearings in October to describe waterboarding as torture.

Mukasey’s Justice Department and the CIA’s internal watchdog announced Saturday they would conduct a joint inquiry into the matter. That review will determine whether a full investigation is warranted. “He’s the same guy who couldn’t decide whether or not waterboarding was torture and he’s going to be doing this investigation,” said Biden, who noted that he voted against making Mukasey the country’s top law enforcer.

“I just think it’s clearer and crisper and everyone will know what the truth is … if he appoints a special counsel, steps back from it,” said Biden, D-Del.

That view was not shared fellow Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who said Congress can get to the bottom of the matter. “I don’t think there’s a need for a special counsel, and I don’t think there’s a need for a special commission,” he said. “It is the job of the intelligence committees to do that.”

More at the Washington Post