CAVE-IN!

Congressional Democrats have, for all intents and purposes, completely capitulated to Bush's demands on FISA--his unfettered power to spy on American citizens. The "compromise" not only blesses the President's illegal actions, but also exempts the tele-com Quislings from the inconvenience of having to answer for their actions in court--the ONLY avenue by which the American public could ever have learned who in the government authorized this lawless action in the first place. I suspect, as other commenters have noted, that Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer were motivated by a combination of lust for tele-com campaign contributions and fear that another terrorist attack would be blamed on them; how else to account for abasing themselves to a wildly unpopular lame-duck President in an election year? Even more disappointing is that Barack Obama has signed off on this instrument of surrender.

Another One Bites the Dust

Yet another heavily Republican Congressional District, this one in Mississippi of all places, is won by a Democrat, thanks to very heavy turnout in a special election. Meanwhile, Obama's polling lead over McCain continues to expand. A look at the cross-tabs shows heavy Democratic advantages on nearly all issues, with the notable exception of "combating terrorism." Obviously, it's still WAY too early to draw too many conclusions from this, but it's probably safe to say that the GOP is at the very least looking at a serious drubbing at the Congressional level. And if, as opined by Robert Novak(!), the trend on the Political Christian Right is seeing an Obama Presidency as an inevitability, that could flatten the last tire on the Straight Talk Express. Don't let it go to your head, Barack; the Christianists also consider you in the nature of a Biblical plague.

Republicans Against Motherhood

Minority Leader John Boehner pledges future votes against apple pie, puppies, kittens, and little girls eating ice cream cones in the park.

Quick Freedmen Update

Cong. Barney Frank, the powerful and well-connected Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, announced he will oppose a conference committee report on HR 2786 (the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act) unless it contains the Freedmen Rider proposed by the Congressional Black Caucus. So far, all of Chief Smith's intensive lobbying hasn't come to much.

More coverage and thoughtful commentary by my Right Honourable Cherokee Colleague, EBW at Wampum.

Congress & the Freedmen

Congress is demanding answers from the BIA over the current status of the Freedmen. Be sure to check out the comments section; John Cornsilk wades in and smites the ignorant hip and thigh.

Republicans Give Up...

...on defeating Chet Edwards, anyway. After dispatching Arlene Wohlgemuth and annihilating the hapless Van Taylor, it's pretty clear that Chet couldn't be dislodged from this seat with dynamite. Hopefully, he will still run his usual strenuous campaign and offer some coattails to local Democrats, maybe even carry Johnson County this time (having fallen less than 10 votes short last go-round). And now that he's about as secure as you can get in Congress, he won't feel the need to cave on issues like Bankruptcy "reform."

H/T the Great and Powerful Kos

Marching Backwards

House Republicans use procedural tactics to delay nearly every single piece of legislation that comes up. How long do you think it will be before John McCain starts railing about the "do nothing Democrat Congress"? Be sure to share this knowledge with any liberal friends who bleat to you about how the Democrats have "done nothing" since taking control of Congress.
On the plus side, former Speaker Denny Hastert's old seat has been won by a Democrat in the special election.
And speaking of House Republicans, Cong. Steve King (R-Iowa) is an idiot. Further updates as events warrant.

In Congress

A fascinating and informative law review article on a seldom-discussed matter: the right of the Cherokee Nation under treaty to a delegate in the US House of Representatives. I had always thought that some other tribes (for some reason, the Delaware stuck in my head) had at least been promised a delegate at some point, but apparently CN is unique. If not for all the negative feelings generated over the Freedmen Issue, now would seem to be a good time to push for this delegate, given Speaker Pelosi's efforts to increase the power of other delegates.

Don't Go Away Mad...Just Go Away

In a bold demonstration of their increasing irrelevancy, House Republicans walked out of the chamber today rather than vote on Contempt of Congress citations for Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers over their refusal to respond to Congressional subpoenas. House Minority Leader John Boehner denounced the citations as a "partisan fishing expedition"...in contrast to a Republican inquiry back when they were in the majority over who paid for the postage on Bill Clinton's Christmas cards which was clearly a desperately-needed inquiry vital to future of the Republic.
Boehner went on to say that Congress should instead be voting for the President's telecom immunity and warrantless wiretapping bill, because otherwise America is at imminent risk of attack. Except of course that's not true. And, of course, Boehner fails to mention that telecom immunity could be stripped out of the warrantless wiretapping bill and voted on separately if it was really so important.
Assuming that Obama or Hillary becomes President next year and Republicans remain in the minority, I predict many more such walkouts and other similar theatrics.

UPDATE: Showing the sort of taste and dignity for which they are justly famous, House Republicans have interrupted a memorial service for the late Tom Lantos in their latest fit of pique. Now that's class.

Republicans Not Only Hate Kids...

...they brag about it.

Harry Reid Grows Spine!

Vows to preserve last remaining shred of Constitution. Film at eleven!

Republicans STILL Hate Children

I don't understand why Congressional Democrats aren't doing more to publicize the GOP's unconscionable intransigence on the SCHIP bill. If I were Speaker or Senate Majority Leader, I would bring this bill back up for a vote once a week, every week, between now and November.

Probably Not A Good Sign...

"Not one of the Republican (presidential) candidates is viewed favorably by even half the Republican electorate..."

Also, Congressional Democrats may have finally wised up to the reality that neither the White House nor the GOP leadership has any intention whatsoever of negotiating in good faith on the budget.

Couple of Things

1. The MSM regurgitates GOP talking points (in this case regarding reform of the FISA Court and reining in warrantless wiretapping) that are easily verifiably false. What a surprise, huh? Only this time, Congress pushes back. Hard. And the MSM (in this case Time) is pissed. Good.
2. The DNI unexpectedly and against his previously-stated opposition, releases a public summary of the NIE. And it shows that, shockingly enough, the Bush Administration and the Serious Foreign Policy Experts were absolutely, positively dead-wrong about Iran's quest for nukes. Why would the DNI do this? Not (apparently) pressure from Congress. My guess is that either he is in the Condi Rice camp and trying desperately to avert a disastrous preemptive strike on Iran by the Cheney or he is trying to CYA in case the Cheney attacks Iran anyway. Or both. And Bush and Cheney have apparently, since they learned of the report a year ago, been subtly shifting their rhetoric to justify an attack with or without Iranian nukes. Oh, and the Right-Wing Blogosphere despairs.

aaaaaaand we're screwed. Again.

Senators Feinstein and Schumer will vote for the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General, evidently based solely his vague, off-the-record assurance that the President would actually have to obey a law banning "waterboarding." Of course, this is the same Mukasey who, as a federal judge, ruled that the President has the authority to arrest US Citizens on US soil and lock them up for the rest of their lives without ever charging them with a crime.
I have painstakingly defended this Democratic Congress, pointing out that in many cases they lack the votes to accomplish what many want of them in terms of reining in this lawless Administration. But if this is the best we can hope for, confirming a nominee just because he's "not Alberto Gonzales," even though his views on the apparently limitless bounds of Presidential power are completely indistinguishable with those of Gonzales, then what is the point of having a Democratic majority in the first place?

UPDATE: Guess which country prosecuted as war criminals enemy soldiers who used waterboarding on Allied POWs during WWII? Go on, guess!

UPDATE 2: But Condi Rice's legal advisor would apparently have let them walk.

Hissy Fit

The Deciderer has decreed that if Michael Mukasey (whose nomination is floundering because the White House demands that he tow the line on cheerleading for torture) then there will be no Attorney General at all. This is in line with other recent temper tantrums by a Dear Leader infuriated that Congress will no longer prostrate itself at his feet. I'm sorry, but could we get a grownup President anytime soon?

In A Bold Electoral Strategy...

...the Republicans have defeated a proposal that is supported by 80% of the American people (including 70% of REPUBLICAN VOTERS). Take that, you whiny sick kids! Next up, the GOP will ensure their political dominance by introducing a measure to outlaw puppies and kittens.

UPDATE: Oh, and the "Pro Life" people? They're all a bunch of screaming hypocrites who really don't give a rat's ass about children. Try to contain your shock and awe.

This Just In...

...President still slightly less popular than scrofula, Congress even less popular for not fighting harder against him.

The Caucus Strikes Back, Part 3

Turns out Dan Boren's deal was not so much a "deal" as a "brief respite."
So, what happens if one or both of these bills pass and all or part of the Cherokee Nation's federal funding is cut off? Will Bush veto? Has he given any indication up 'till this point that he gives a load of flaming dingo's kidneys about Indian Country?

The Caucus Strikes Back, Part 2

HR 3002, with its provision denying funds to the Cherokee Nation, could be voted on as early as this week. I had previously thought the amendment eliminated all federal funding until the Freedmen are reinstated, but actually it only prevents CN from participating in this particular program. A separate bill, HR 2824, which would cut off all funding to CN, is also pending.

UPDATE: Cong. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma) claims to have cut a deal to put the Housing bill on hold (thereby depriving all other tribes, apparently) while the Freedmen issue is hashed out in court. We'll see.