FEC slaps Swift Boat Veterans for Truth with a $300,000 fine and knocks around some liberal 527 groups, too, all for activities from the 2004 election cycle.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) to roll out his proposal for universal health care today.
Democrats’ decision to forgo earmarks this year is making for strange bedfellows:
Surprisingly, some Republican conservatives agree with the do-nothing approach, because Democrats have decided to rule out any ‘earmarks,’ otherwise known as ‘pork’ for local areas and special interests, while the continuing resolution is in effect.
These earmarks became a huge political issue in the midterm elections as Democrats pointed to expensive GOP-sponsored projects, such as a ‘bridge to nowhere’ in a remote area of Alaska, as a sign that pork had gotten out of control.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), one of the Senate’s most conservative members, said in a statement that ‘my hat is off to Reid and the Democrats for making this decision. By agreeing to do a yearlong spending resolution for 2007, we will effectively take a time-out on pork-barrel spending.’
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), chairman of the Republican Study Committee’s Budget and Spending Task Force, said that ‘it is somewhat refreshing’ that Democratic leaders have adopted a strategy that for weeks has been favored by conservative Republicans.
The New York Times today gives us what I think is the first good read of what Vice President Cheney’s trip to Saudi Arabia two weeks ago was all about: King Abdullah told Cheney that if the U.S. pulls out of Iraq, the Kingdom might have to give financial backing to Iraq’s Sunni minority in the civil war against the Shiite majority. But I think CNN captures the flavor of the exchange, quoting a senior U.S. official as saying that the King “read the riot act” to Cheney. That sounds about right.
More troops to Iraq? The idea is gaining favor, reports the Los Angeles Times:
As President Bush weighs new policy options for Iraq, strong support has coalesced in the Pentagon behind a military plan to “double down” in the country with a substantial buildup in American troops, an increase in industrial aid and a major combat offensive against Muqtada Sadr, the radical Shiite leader impeding development of the Iraqi government.
But as TPM Reader AH remarks, “double down” is the wrong phrase:
Since the Pentagon has decided to discuss its new strategy in gambling parlance, it should at least use the proper terminology. Today’s LA Times article says that a Pentagon official has referred to the option of sending more troops in to Iraq as a “double down” strategy. The reference is to a bet in blackjack when, based on the cards that have been dealt, the player seeks to maximize a payoff that is more likely to occur in that hand, given the probabilities. The double down is a calculated bet, made from a position of strength when the odds are favorable to the bettor.
In Iraq, we are certainly not in a situation where the odds are favorable to winning. Our bet is not a double down. Let’s call it what it is: double or nothing. This is is more like the gambler who has been on a bad losing streak deciding to empty the savings account and put all of his chips on red, hoping that the roulette wheel will spin his way and bring him back close to even. Double or nothing is a desperation play. It is an ill-advised way to gamble, with chips or human lives, and such a strategy inevitably leads to another appropriate gambling term. Gambler’s ruin: winding up completely broke.
President Bush, just now at the Pentagon (emphasis added): “I thank these men who wear our uniform for a very candid and fruitful discussion about how to secure this country and how to win a war that we now find ourselves in.”
It’s being reported now on the cable networks that Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) has had a stroke this afternoon on Capitol Hill.
We heard the first reports of this 15 or 20 minutes ago through the capitol hill grapevine. No information about the severity of the stroke or his current condition. That’s all we know.
An update on Sen. Johnson’s (D-SD) condition form the Argus-Leader, the major South Dakota paper.
Here’s WaPo’s update.
A number of you have written in to note, correctly, that control of the senate hinges on Sen. Johnson’s ability to serve in the 110th Congress. Were he unable to do so, South Dakota’s Republican governor would appoint a Republican and control would go to the Republicans — a 50 – 50 tie with the tie break from Cheney. That’s all we’re going to say about that point until we get some definitive word on Johnson’s condition.
If we hear more on the senator’s condition, we’ll bring it to you.
Late Update: The only available information that sheds any light on Johnson’s condition is contained in these three grafs from MSNBC …
Johnson became disoriented during a call with reporters at midday, stuttering in response to a question. He appeared to recover, asking if there were any additional questions before ending the call.
Johnson spokeswoman Julianne Fisher said he had walked back to his Capitol office after the call with reporters but appeared to not be feeling well. The Capitol physician was called and Johnson was taken by ambulance to the George Washington Univeristy Hospital in D.C. for evaluation.
A statement released by Johnson’s office said, “Senator Tim Johnson was taken to George Washington University Hospital this afternoon suffering from a possible stroke. As this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team. Further details will be forthcoming when more is known.”
Later Update: Roll Call reports that Johnson was conscious when he was taken to the hospital.
McCain set to announce team of big-bucks fundraisers poached from Rudy’s turf.