While I'm not complaining about the outcome this year, it is definitely disconcerting that Randy Wooten of Waldenburg, AR voted for himself, and the tally shows that he got 0 votes. Imagine that.

This is on top of reports that FEMA paid $301.7 million for manufactured homes that were sitting unused in runways and open fields.

In response to a student's question regarding Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald's report about "evidence of a concerted effort by the White House to puish Joseph Wilson", the President replied,

I will say this, that after we liberated Iraq, there was questions in people's minds about the basis on which I made statements, in other words, going into Iraq. And so I decided to declassify the NIE for a reason. I wanted to see -- people to see what some of those statements were based on. So I wanted to see -- I wanted people to see the truth and thought it made sense for people to see the truth. And that's why I declassified the document.

Back at a 2003 Press Briefing, then Whitehouse Press Secretary, Scott McClellan said that "The President expects everyone in his administration to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. No one would be authorized to do such a thing..." Now, I could go through a whole list of "highest standards of conduct" violations that have been made by leaders of the Republican party. On a side note, if you read this briefing, you might almost feel bad for Mr. McClellan too.

Bush has repeatedly claimed to not know who leaked the information, and that leaking classified information is a serious matter. He also has said that he would punish whomever was involved in this leak.

A few words for you Mr. President: honesty, integrity, trust. All words that are small enough that you should know their meanings. I'm pretty sure you've said all of them at various points in your life. And to quote Stewie Griffin, "When you least expect it, your uppance will come!"

With the passing of Chief Justice William Rehnquist and the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Bush had the chance to appoint 2 justices to the highest court in the land. This will leave a lasting impression on civil liberties and policy in the United States. In doing so, Bush has also scored a victory in the war on terror for him, and a serious blow to civil liberties that are guaranteed to citizens in the United States Constitution.

This victory has to do with the United States's policy of detaining American citizens captured in the United States without any criminal charges or a trial.

By a 6-3 vote, the court sided with the Bush administration and refused to hear an appeal by Jose Padilla, who was confined in a military brig in South Carolina for more than three years after Bush designated him an "enemy combatant".

The Justice Department apparently had urged the Supreme Court to reject Padilla's appeal after the DOJ moved to bring criminal charges against him in November. Padilla is now accused of being part of a cell that provided financial aid and recruits for terrorists overseas. Padilla's appeal was one vote short of getting the four vote approval needed to hear the case.

My prediction, the Supreme Court will reject the proposal to hear the case of Bush's domestic spying program due to "national security concerns."

Concerns about such hybrids, or "chimeras," are part of a larger debate over human cloning and medical research with embryonic stem cells. Pilcher Cook offered her ban as a substitute for a bill creating a new legislative committee on biosciences.

"It's an unusual step," he said. "It's a big step, but what the president did by consciously and intentionally violating the Constitution and laws of this country with this illegal wiretapping has to be answered."

Russ, it was a fine effort, you might want to try to get some support before you introduce a resolution such as this [pdf 159k].

It's quite ironic that with DeLay's ties to Jack Abramoff, he apparently hasn't learned anything about dirty laundry.

DeLay faces three opponents in the Republican primary. For the first time in the 22 years he's held office, he is up against a serious challenge after being forced out of his job as House majority leader amid corruption and campaign finance scandals.

Along with criticism from the Democrats and the public, DeLay is also getting mud flung on him from his challengers. Tom Campbell, who is the largest thr

DeLay's support is growing weak as well in his district. The Chicago Tribune reports that a poll conducted in January by The Houston Chronicle showed that a quarter of DeLay's 2004 supporters were undecided this year, nearly 20 percent said they would vote for another candidate, and only about half of the people who voted for DeLay in 2004 said they would send him back to DC.

To add more fuel to the fire, the New York Times reports that producer Robert Greenwald is releasing a film this spring entitled, "The Big Buy: How Tom DeLay Stole Congress".

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in November.

According to those who have read the report and talked with others present at the outing, Cheney was drunk when he gunned down his friend and the day-and-a-half delay in allowing Texas law enforcement officials on the ranch where the shooting occurred gave all members of the hunting party time to sober up.

I think I smell a cover-up.

Chicago, one of the cities asked to submit proposals said, Yeah, no, we don't think so.

...a spokeswoman for Mayor Richard Daley says City Hall isn't interested.

The Houston Chronicle reports that the QDR calls for a $439 Billion budget for 2007, to be sent to President Bush on Monday. Notable other highlights are:

• The number of soldiers assigned to psychological warfare and civil affairs units--in heavy demand in Iraq and Afghanistan--will increase by 3,700, or about one-third.


• A new five-year, $1.5 billion program is planned to develop medical countermeasures for bioterrorism threats.


• Minuteman III land-based nuclear missiles will be cut by 10 percent, from 500 to 450.


• Special operations forces will be increased by 15 percent.


• The plan does not recommend elimination of any major weapon system.


• Naming China the Most Likely Country to Challenge US Military Power.

However, by naming China as the Most Likely Country to Challenge US Military Power (among emerging powers along with Russia and India), does that really indicate to the world that we're ready to work with our allies? This article is slighty contradictory to itself, by saying that China is a threat, and that the US is willing to work with China to "be a constructive partner in the community of nations," according to Undersecretary of Defense Ryan Henry. Henry also said that "The United States needs to be prepared in case China chooses a course that results in confrontation."

One question that needs to be addressed is, what other countries would we work with to prepare for a conflict with China? It's obvious that South Korea has it in it's best interests to coordinate with the US. Perhaps the United States could get Japan on it's side as well, but pitting those two countries against China (which will undoubtedly have North Korea on it's side), would have broad consequences that will reach far beyond Asia.

It is worth mentioning though, that the security of the world does, in my mind, depend on keeping certain countries in check, but countries in the past that have tried to fight 3 wars in 3 different areas have all lost. Right now, we're up to 2 wars.

Administration sources said the charges are expected to include false reports to Congress as well as Mr. Bush's authorization of the National Security Agency to engage in electronic surveillance inside the United States without a court warrant. This included the monitoring of overseas telephone calls and e-mail traffic to and from people living in the United States without requisite permission from a secret court.

This is all pre- State of the Union last night. That speech is a whole 'nother topic.

Email me if you want an account.