The summer has ended, but the political atmosphere in the nation's capital is not cooling down. The AP reports, "Calling President Bush insulting and detached from reality, top congressional Democrats said Thursday they will not compromise with him on a children's health program that Bush vetoed." The "unusually harsh remarks underscored the tense relations between Bush and Congress's Democratic leaders." Regardless of the override outcome, "top Democrats said Thursday, they are uninterested in further negotiations." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "We're not going to compromise." Roll Call also notes on its website that Reid "closed the door to negotiations with...Bush on a vetoed children's health bill Thursday, saying Congress already has given as much ground as it can." Referring to Bush's offer to negotiate, Reid said, "If he's hoping for that, he better hope for something else, like getting our troops home from Iraq."
Bush's veto of the bill continued to draw negative editorial comment, with the New York Times saying as governor of Texas, Bush "fought -- unsuccessfully -- to restrict the state's program to children with family incomes up to 150 percent of the poverty level, well below the 200 percent allowed by federal law. As president, he is again trying to shrink the program for the entire country." Paul Krugman, in his New York Times column, says most conservatives "try to preserve the appearance that they really do care about those less fortunate than themselves." But "the truth is that they aren't bothered by the fact that almost nine million children in America lack health insurance. They don't think it's a problem." And in the Washington Post, Eugene Robinson says "for Bush to get religion on fiscal responsibility at this late date is, well, a joke. And for him to make his stand on a measure that would have provided health insurance to needy children is a punch line that hasn't left many Republicans laughing."
GOP White House Hopefuls Back SCHIP Veto The New York Times reports, "The four leading Republican presidential candidates," Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson, "have aligned themselves with...Bush's veto on Wednesday of an expanded health insurance program for children, once again testing the political risk of appearing in lock step with a president who has low approval ratings and some critics of the veto within their party."
Yesterday's New York Times' front-page story, which alleged that secret Justice Department opinions authorized the use "severe interrogation techniques" on terror detainees has generated somewhat of a media frenzy putting the White House (once again) on the defensive. NBC Nightly News said last night the article alleged that the Bush Administration "secretly authorized abusive interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects, including torture, despite denials from everyone from President Bush on down. And the policy remains even though the Supreme Court ruled against it." The White House, however, "insisted it is not breaking that ban." White House press secretary Dana Perino: "They were safe, necessary and lawful, these techniques, and they've helped save American lives."
On its front page this morning, the New York Times reports that its "disclosure of secret Justice Department legal opinions on interrogation on Thursday set off a bitter round of debate over the treatment of terrorism suspects in American custody and whether Congress has been adequately informed of legal policies." The AP reports House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers and Rep. Jerrold Nadler "promised a congressional inquiry into the two Justice Department legal opinions," which Conyers called "extremely troubling, especially in light of the department's 2004 withdrawal of an earlier opinion similarly approving such methods."
CQ reports Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, "without specifying which administration officials he was thinking of," said, "I'm having people review transcripts now to find out whether perjury's been committed," noting that there has been "sworn testimony from the administration that seems to contradict what The New York Times said." The Financial Times notes the issue "is expected to be raised at the confirmation hearing of Michael Mukasey," President Bush's attorney general nominee. Similarly, the Washington Post says on the front page that the memos "create an unwelcome complication" in Mukasey's confirmation process as Sen. Leahy "vowed to question Mukasey closely about his views on interrogation policies during confirmation hearings this month."
Appearing on CNN's Situation Room, White House Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend said that the US does "have a [interrogation] program," but "it is very limited. There have been fewer than 100 people in it." Townsend added that techniques used in the program "were used on Abu Zubaydah. It produced actionable intelligence that resulted in the capture of Ramzi Binalshibh. These programs stop attacks."
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The AP reports the FBI is "examining the ties between Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson and a friend who was paid $392,000 by Jackson's department as a construction manager in New Orleans, three federal law enforcement officials said Thursday." The inquiry "was first reported by The National Journal, which identified the contractor as William Hairston of Hilton Head Island in South Carolina." According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, a Jackson spokesman "acknowledged that Hairston is the secretary's friend, but said Hairston was only one of three potential construction managers Jackson passed along for consideration."
The AP reports the Senate Finance Committee "approved billions of extra dollars for the farm bill Thursday as senators continue to squabble over how to pay agricultural subsidies and the nation's nutrition programs." The panel "found a way to add money to the bill, generating about $16 billion over ten years by tightening rules on tax shelters, among other tax measures." The Washington Post notes the "proposed Agricultural Disaster Trust Fund is part of a nearly $14 billion package of tax incentives for rural conservation programs, bioenergy development and young farmers, outside the existing farm subsidy program." Sen. Kent Conrad, "who has led the fight for the disaster program, said that 'an awful lot of people around this country are going to benefit.'"
The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, reports "a stalled farm-bill debate in Congress exposes a gap in the Democratic leadership: there is no single strongman to force deals upon three Senate committee chairmen who all want a hand in agriculture policy."
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The top GOP presidential contenders released their 3rd quarter fundraising totals yesterday, with Rudy Giuliani narrowly edging Mitt Romney. The AP reports Giuliani brought in "more than" $11 million," of which $10.5 million is available for the primaries. Romney brought in $10 million, but also contributed another $8.5 million of his own money to the campaign, bringing his personal investment in the race to $17 million. Romney finished the quarter with $9 million on hand, while Giuliani finished with $16 million, although $4 million of that is reserved for the general election. The Los Angeles Times notes, "With loans and donations, Romney's campaign has amassed $62 million, but has spent $53 million -- a record for any candidate in the year before a presidential election. Romney ended the quarter with a relatively modest $9 million in the bank, indicating he is heavily invested in the early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire."
The Boston Globe reports that Romney, during a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Thursday, defended his self-financing, saying, "I am going to contribute to my campaign, but my campaign is not entirely being financed by my own resources." He added "that he could not expect others to give if he did not give himself. 'The campaign is being financed primarily through the donations of others.'" Bloomberg reports that Romney "'has a constituency of one: his banker,' said Republican consultant Craig Shirley, who isn't affiliated with any of the candidates. 'Seventeen million dollars for him is chump change. At this point, their attitude is whatever it takes to win. He's invested now.' ... The former head of Boston-based Bain Capital LLC hasn't set a limit on how much he will add to his campaign coffers, said Romney spokesman Kevin Madden. 'The governor contributed resources that helped the campaign sustain its rapid growth,' Madden said. 'The campaign will have all the resources needed to compete for the nomination and win.'"
Giuliani's campaign was quick to trump his performance. The New York Sun reports that Giuliani campaign manager Michael DuHaime "touted the campaign's war chest, of which $10.5 million can be spent on the primary, as another example of the former mayor's electability. 'In a continued sign of growing support, our campaign has led the Republican field for the second quarter in a row in the fund-raising race,' Mr. DuHaime said. 'We're receiving real support from across the country because voters know Rudy Giuliani is the only candidate who has proven leadership, executive experience, and can beat the Democrats in November.'"
Thompson Raises Over $9 Million The AP reports Fred Thompson "raised $9.3 million in the quarter and attracted 80,000 donors. He joined the GOP campaign only last month but had been raising money all along." The Politico reports Thompson's $9.3 million haul for the third quarter was "considerably more than the 'over 8 million' his campaign originally floated earlier this week. He has $7 million left in the bank." Though it "pales in comparison to Romney's spending, Thompson's 45 percent burn rate does raise some eyebrows, given his lack of advertising and still-developing organization."
McCain Has $2.1 Million Net In The Bank Sen. John McCain's campaign underwent a bit of a resurgence last quarter, bringing in $6 million, finishing with $3.6 million on hand and about $1.5 million in debt.
The AP reports Barack Obama "says he no longer wears an American flag lapel pin because it has become a substitute for 'true patriotism' since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks." Obama "commented on the pin in a television interview Wednesday and then again on Thursday at a campaign appearance in Independence, Iowa." Obama said, "My attitude is that I'm less concerned about what you're wearing on your lapel than what's in your heart. You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those who serve. You show your patriotism by being true to our values and ideals. That's what we have to lead with is our values and our ideals."
The New York Times reports that Obama "campaigned through eastern Iowa, Mr. Obama paused for a moment to address a political dust-up that occurred after he told a television reporter one day earlier that he stopped wearing an American flag pin shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks." Campaign aides, "concerned that the remarks might give an impression of the senator as unpatriotic, first sought to explain them in a short statement. But questions about the comments persisted, and when Mr. Obama arrived here Thursday, he addressed the matter directly to an audience of a few hundred supporters."
The Chicago Tribune reports after "the lapel question made national news Thursday, he revisited the topic. His campaign, sensing the issue was dominating campaign news, had earlier made clear he had not worn such a pin for years." Obama "suggested that some politicians who wear such pins act in disingenuous ways," saying, "After a while, you know, you start noticing people wearing a lapel pin, but not acting very patriotic, not voting to provide veterans with the resources that they need."
Editorials Blast Comments A pair of editorials this morning hammer Obama for his comments. The New York Daily News criticizes Obama for "a breathtaking misunderstanding of the symbolism of the American flag," adding that no "matter how intensely he feels about the conflict or about its flag-wearing sponsors, he was wrong to view Old Glory as nothing more than the emblem of policies he disagrees with." The Chicago Sun-Times says, "Oh for Pete's sake, Sen. Obama, pin the darn American flag to your chest and tell people you're as patriotic as anyone."
McClatchy reports Sen. Hillary Clinton "vowed Thursday to end what she called President Bush's 'war on science' by lifting federal limits on embryonic stem cell research and investing billions in scientific research and development." Clinton "also criticized the Bush administration for 'ignoring or manipulating science' to serve narrow political interests, with the result that 'our economic competitors get an edge in the global economy.'" In a speech "to the Carnegie Institution for Science, Clinton said she would launch a $50 billion fund to research alternative energy, hopes to double the $28 billion budget of the National Institutes of Health over 10 years, and would order political appointees to ensure the integrity of federal scientific inquiry." The New York Times reports that in a "stinging critique of Bush administration science policy," Clinton "said yesterday that if she were elected president she would require agency directors to show they were protecting science research from 'political pressure' and that she would lift federal limits on stem cell research."
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Jay Leno: "Republicans are so mad about" Sen. Larry Craig "staying, they may ask Cheney to take him out back and shoot him."
David Letterman: Top Ten Signs Hillary Clinton Is Getting Cocky:
"10. Already selected her victory pantsuit.
9. Canceled today's campaign appearances; went to see 'Good Luck, Chuck'.
8. Spent most of the last debate listening to her new iPod just a reminder, the new iPod Touch is now in stock at your local Apple store.
7. Hired Faith Hill to beat up women who've hit on Bill.
6. Assembled a Las Vegas crew to steal her football memorabilia.
5. Calling Giuliani during speeches to say she loves him.
4. Already issuing memos about putting White House toilet seats down. The ladies know what I'm talking about here!
3. Responds to difficult questions with 'Oh no you didn't!'
2. Greeted Obama yesterday by saying, 'Wanna be my bitch?'
1. Told Bill he can start dating again."
David Letterman: "Beautiful day here in New York City. Isn't it lovely? So beautiful today President Bush said, 'Maybe I won't do anything about global warming.'"
Conan O'Brien: "President Bush's daughter Jenna is now saying she doesn't want to get married at the White House. She wants her wedding to be in Crawford, Texas. Yeah. Yeah, when asked why, Jenna said, 'I want my dad to be there.'"
Please be advised that the US News Political Bulletin will not publish Monday October 8, due to the Columbus Day Federal holiday. We will resume publication Tuesday October 9.
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