Fla.’s Harris to DNC Chair: I Knew Josef Stalin, Josef Stalin was my Friend, and I, Sir, Am No Josef Stalin
“U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris demanded an apology Thursday from Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean, who during a speech this week likened the senatorial candidate to former Soviet ruler Joseph Stalin.” Funny, how easily an ill-advised remark can be turned into a two-day story. (AP)
Congressman, ex-FEMA chief Brown squabble
“A Mississippi congressman hit back at Michael Brown on Thursday after the former FEMA director described him as ‘that little twerp.’
“‘Brown is an incompetent fool, and everyone in South Mississippi knows it,’ said Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss.” (AP)
Draft Bill Waives Due Process for Enemy Combatants
“The Bush administration likes to keep its work under wraps until it’s finished, but that proved impossible with a draft bill detailing procedures the administration is considering for bringing to trial those it captures in the war on terrorism, including some stark diversions from regular trial procedures. A copy of the draft, obtained this week by The Washington Post and others, explains how the government would create commissions of U.S. military personnel who could impose a penalty of life imprisonment or death based on evidence never disclosed to the accused. Military judges could also exclude defendants from their trials whenever “necessary to protect the national security.” (WaPo)
House: More Urgency Needed in Intelligence
“Sweeping reforms to the nation’s intelligence system after the 9/11 attacks have done little to improve information-sharing or generate a greater sense of urgency among U.S. intelligence agencies, a House report concluded Thursday.” (AP)
Senator Sorry for Criticizing Firefighters
“Sen. Conrad Burns apologized Thursday for criticizing a firefighting team for their work on a blaze in southern Montana, saying his frustration came from a meeting with upset landowners. Burns confronted members of a Virginia firefighting team at an airport and told them they had done a “poor job,” according to a state official’s report obtained Thursday.” (AP)
Judges Weigh Combining US Telecom Spying Suits
“Both sides in lawsuits alleging that telephone companies unlawfully cooperated in a secret U.S. government spying program argued on Thursday that a federal court panel should give the cases to a single judge. U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Carl Nichols urged the panel to transfer the roughly two-dozen cases filed around the United States to the federal court in Washington, D.C., while a plaintiff’s attorney asked to have a San Francisco judge handle the class-action cases.” (Reuters)
HAVA Records Draw Feds Attention
“Justice Department investigators have begun a review of Senate Rules and Administration Committee records relating to negotiations over the Help America Vote Act, involving then-Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and former House Administration Chairman Bob Ney (R-Ohio), as they wrap up their investigation into Neyâs connections to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Senate sources said Tuesday. Senate aides familiar with the review said Justice officials indicated the inquiry was not focused on Dodd, who now serves as the committeeâs ranking member, and the type of information investigators were seeking â while not specific enough to indicate they were looking for a smoking gun â appear to point directly at Ney.” (Roll Call)
Homeland Security Money Misspent
Questionable contracts highlighted in the report included: $1.2 billion to install and maintain luggage screening equipment at commercial airports that had a high false alarm rate. $915 million on nearly 26,000 mobile homes and trailers to house hurricane victims and relief workers â none of which could be sent to disaster zones in Louisiana and Mississippi because of prohibitions on their use in flood plains. $19 million for Transportation Security Administration office space for 140 employees that includes 12 conference rooms, seven kitchens, a fitness center, and $500,000 worth of artwork and decorative items.” (USA Today)
Are Private Contractors Better Protected Than The Troops in Iraq?
“Times reporter T. Christian Miller, who was reporting on private contractors, said the government appeared to give more protection to private firms than to U.S. soldiers. “They can tell you a soldier’s name and his company’s name when they are involved in a shooting incident. I didn’t understand why they couldn’t tell us the names of the companies involved in the shooting incidents,” Miller said.” (LATimes)
