Washblog

Congress NEVER gave Bush authority to get engaged with an Iraqi civil war.  Congress never gave Bush the authority to choose sides in said civil war.  Congress never gave Bush authority to stay in Iraq indefinately.

Bush has no legal authority to remain in Iraq, according to Ted Kennedy.

Bush is not legally entitled to escalate the troop presence in a country he is no longer legally authorized to keep troops in to begin with.

That's Ted Kennedy's take on it.  I'd hope that would be Cantwell's and Murray's as well.

Maria Cantwell, meanwhile, exerted herself to create an independent commission to investigate waste, fraud and abuse by contractors. The Republican leadership stopped that one cold (it was an election year). Now the Dems are in power, there are new possibilities. Her aides had heard nothing from their boss about reviving the investigative commission proposal.

The interesting thing about contractor fraud is that we don't need to investigate it at all. Instead, we can just strip the contractors of their immunity, and guarantee the Iraqi courts that if they indict, we'll extradite . This pays off twofold. First, we'll see a marked drop in shady dealings. If nothing else, Iraq's courts have a reputation for getting things done, and done in a way that Halliburton executives would take notice of. Second, we'll see a marked increase in pressure on those same Iraqi courts to be more respectful of the right to a fair trial and a full appeal.

Democratic senators have taken some action on the fraud question. Sen. Leahy introduced S.119 ("A bill to prohibit profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts, and for other purposes"), of which Sen. Cantwell was a co-sponsor.

why couldn't they have signed on with kennedy, hell - why couldn't they help kennedy sell his legislation?

cuz it isn't northwest nice?

cuz THEY ARE NOT LEADERS?

last night's speech from dear leader was a middle finger poke in the eye.

kos is full of detailed well written analysis of something REAL SIMPLE.

GWB is saying,

"F$$K YOU, I'LL STEAL WHATEVER I WANT"

If YOU are not a United States Senator or Representative, and, you disagree with me, fine.  Your job isn't looking out for hundreds of thousands / millions / all of us.

IF, on the other hand, you are 1 of 100 or 1 of 435,

and YOU did NOT know what a completely low down despicable selfish elitist f$$$ this guy was and is,

and that all their fancie words and fancie theologies are just smokescreens to confuse

so they can oppress and steal,

YOU should be fired.

Patty-Cant-Do-Nothing - What a Dynamic Duo ...

rmm.

http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

I admit I didn't last long, standing in the subfreezing temp.

But a member of the first group told me they'd just met with Sen. Patty Murray (or her staff) asking her to support Kennedy's legislation. They were frustrated because, as far as they could tell,  she didn't "get it" that the U.S. is in an urgent state, a Constitutional crisis.