"I'm Tired of this Mother****ing Tuberculosis, on this Mother***ing Plane!"

Seems the Department of Homeland Insecurity botched several chance to stop the jet-setting-TB-carrying-man.

TB Man is the fellow with the nearly incurable form of tuberculosis who got married, hopped a crowed jet to Europe, flew around that continent on flights to six countries, then came back to the states -- leaving hundreds of people possibly exposed to his disease.

DHS Failures in the TB Man case:

• His name was on a no-fly list -- but he was allowed to board several different planes
• Border agents alerted to stop him -- didn't
• He ducked Italian agents in Rome and hopped another plane when he learnedthe feds were on to him

So TB Man skirts DHS like some character Stephen King could have included in "The Stand." But try to carry that cup of joe on a flight -- and you're looking at serious time, terrorist! (Columbus Dispatch)

Iraqi Refugees Arriving in the US

The Bush administration has signed off on a plan to accept more of the 2 million refugees who've fled Iraq.

And in a sign of how little optimism some Iraqis have for the US efforts there -- the first batch of 59 refugees are all US employees in Iraq. The 59 are part of a group of 700 refugees the US government considers vunerable -- potential targets of insurgents.

A total of 7,000 refugees are expected to arrive in the US by September. That's roughly nine times the total of 800 Iraqi refugees the US has allowed in the country since the 2003 war began.

Part of the delay: the Department of Homeland Security has been working on screening procedures for allowing Iraqi refugees into the country. (Boston Globe)

Making the "No Job List"

That immigration bill working its way through the Senate is supposed to keep illegal immigrants from working in this county. But the ACLU warns it could keep American citizens from getting jobs.

They argue it'll require every American to get approval from the Deparment of Homeland Security before applying for a new job.

"Under this already flawed program no one would be able to work in the U.S. without DHS approval - creating a ‘No Work List’ similar to the government’s ‘No Fly List.’ We need immigration reform, but not at this cost." -- Timothy Sparapani, ACLU Legislative Counsel

Under the bill, the DHS would have to approve workers' eligibility through the Department's Employment Eligibility Verification System. (ACLU)

Boating -- The New Terrorist Threat

If you water ski -- the terrorists have already won. Or something like that.

Seems the latest terrorist threat getting eyeballed by our dauntless Department of Homeland Security -- is Bubba's bass boat. Actually, all recreational boats.

"Just the sheer numbers and ability to hide among recreational traffic is something that makes it difficult for me to find the threat and address it." -- Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant, US Coast Guard, quoted by FirstCoastNews.com

Uncle Sam's solution: red tape and regulations. Washington's idea so far include: a license for every boater in every state and radio transponders installed on every boat so DHS can track you whenever you're on the water. (FirstCoastNews.com)

Fueling the Tequila Shortage

The boom time in bio fuels could turn Margaritaville into a ghost town. MSNBC reports Mexican farmers are burning fields of blue agave -- the plant used to make tequila -- so they can grow corn.

Ag analysts estimate blue agave crops could shrink by as much as 35% in coming years as farmers cash in on more profitable corn used to make ethanol.

It can take eight years for an agave plant to reach maturity. (MSNBC)

Hot Times in Alaska

Global climate change could cost Alaska $10 billion in road, bridge, and pipeline repairs in the next few decades.

Alaska's average temperature has risen by about three degrees in the last 50 years. If the trend continues, Alaska will see the warmest temperatures in 400 years.

Problem is, so much of Alaska's infrastructure is built on permafrost. As the higher temperatures cause it to melt, roads and bridges could buckle, pipelines collapse, buildings sink into the ground.

Temperatures in the Arctic are rising twice as fast as other parts of the world.

An analysis from the University of Alaska found 20 different kinds of public works -- from schools to city halls -- were threatened by flooding and damage.

And whole coastal villages like Shishmaref are sinking -- forcing a $100 million relocation. (Reuters)

Nearly Six Years After 9/11 -- No National Disaster Response Plan

The top man at the Coast Guard says America's better prepared to deal with another Hurricane Katrina -- but he says we still don't have a formal, national response plan for a national disaster.

Adm Thad Allen was appointed to oversee the federal response to Katrina a week into the disaster. He's created a special Coast Guard unit based on his experiences. But it can only respond in localized emergencies. He says the feds need something like it at the national level. (Reuters)

Plame Declared "Covert" in Court Documents

One of the most hotly disputed loose ends in the Valerie Plame case surfaces in Scooter Libby's sentencing. Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald says she was indeed covert. From Newsweek:

In new court filings, special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald has finally resolved one of the most disputed issues at the core of the long-running CIA leak controversy: Valerie Plame Wilson, he asserts, was a “covert” CIA officer who repeatedly traveled overseas using a “cover identity” in order to disguise her relationship with the agency.

Mr Fitzgerald is seeking three to five years in prison for Mr Libby. He was convicted last year on four of five counts of lying to federal agents and a grand jury. (Newsweek)

Mayor Wolfowitz

Rep Walter Jones (R-NC) suggests making outgoing World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz "mayor of Iraq."

Mr Wolfowitz was one of the architects of the Iraq War.

Rep Jones is the Congressman who pushed through the bill renaming "french fries" as "freedom fries" in Capitol eateries back at the start of the Iraq War. The Congressman has had a change of heart about the Iraq War. (ABC News)

Your Share of $59 Trillion

Some of the most creative minds in government are accountants. A USA Today review of federal spending found the books cooked to the tune of more than a trillion dollars.

Officially, the federal government says there was a $248 billion deficit last year. That's using those "creative" accounting ideas your government has cooked up to cook the books.

USA Today applied modern accounting principles -- and found the red ink was a lot deeper -- about $1.3 trillion. USA Today points out:

"Modern accounting requires that corporations, state governments and local governments count expenses immediately when a transaction occurs, even if the payment will be made later.

The federal government does not follow the rule, so promises for Social Security and Medicare don't show up when the government reports its financial condition."

Add up all the deficits over all the years and taxpayers owe around $59.1 trillion bucks.

You're share -- $516,348. Compare that to the $112,043 the average household owes for mortgages, car loans, and all other debt combined -- and you'll see you're a more frugal spender than your Uncle Sam. (USA Today)

Oddly, "DamnYankees" was Left OFF the List

Alabama's Department of Homeland Security has taken down a website page that listed just about every imaginable group betweent he Boy Scouts and AARP as potential terrorists.

Alabama's DHS headquarters were swamped with angry phone calls and e-mails after posting the warning. The list of groups to suspect of terrorism were included under the heading of "single issue terrorists." Making the list:

• Gay rights groups
• Anti-war organizations
• Environmentalists
• Animal rights advocates
• Abortion opponents

In other news, Alabama has a Department of Homeland Security! (AP)

Hey, Maybe Osama even got a Refund!

The IRS has no idea what it's looking for when it looks for terrorist funding.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration audited the IRS's anti-terrorism efforts. Since 9/11, the IRS has shut down only a half dozen or so suspect charities believed to be funneling money to terrorists. There are more than 200,000 on the IRS's watch list. But the audit shows the tax agency isn't looking too closely at them.

"The IRS provides only minimal assurance that tax-exempt organizations potentially involved in terrorist activities are being identified." -- Treasury IG Audit, quoted in USA Today

Part of the problem is technology. When the crackdown started after 9/11, the IRS was buried under a flood of paperwork from 300,000 domestic charities. Practically none of it was digital -- just old, fashioned paper that required people to review each page by hand.

The audit warns, the system could let terrorists slip through the cracks. (USA Today)

Waste & Red Tape Favored over a Break for Taxpayers

Come up with a plan to save Uncle Sam million millions of dollars and months of backlogs -- and the government will shoot it down.

Prakash Khatri works for the US Immigration Service. He cooked up a plan that'd save taxpayers $350 million. It'd also cut the time one million legal immigrants would have to spend in waiting lines from 45 hours to just about 15.

Can't have all that thrift and red tape cutting now, can we?

Apparently not. US Citizenship and Immigration Services killed the time and money saving plan. Seems it'd cut into their application renewal fees -- about 20% of the agency's $1.8 billion budget.

They don't want to give up that steady cash flow. But have no problem letting taxpayers pick up the slack for them. (Boston Globe)

Frist Cashes Out of the World Bank Replacement Running

Former Sen Bill Frist (R-TN) has taken his name out of the running to be the new World Bank President. Paul Wolfowitz announced earlier this month he was resigning over the ethics scandal surrounding his pay raises and perks for former girlfriend Shaha Ali Riza. From the AP:

"Frist told administration officials Monday that he did not want to be considered for the top job at the bank, citing his desire to take a break from government work, said the source who asked not to be identified because he had not been authorized to speak publicly about the decision."

Sen Frist had said he planned a "sabbatical from public life" when he quit the Senate last year. (AP via Yahoo)

Secret Service Stretched Thin

The US Secret Service is stretched so thin, they're borrowing agents from other outfits.

About 2,000 immigration officers and airport screeners will join about 250 of it's own agents who'll be shifted from investigations to security details.

They're hit with a wide field of Presidential candidates -- and an early start to providing them with security. The Secret Service has a record $110 million budget for guarding candidates next year -- but they didn't expect to have to guard anyone until January.

Early protection for Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) tossed that plan out the window.

The shifts mean the Secret Service has already cut back on it's efforts against counterfieters and cybercriminals. Brace for spam attacks of phoney money! (WaPo)

Homeland Security Not Focused on Terrorists

Terrorism represented less than 0.01% of Department of Homeland Security prosecutions over the past few years.

Bush administration claims of success fighting terrorism has been boosted by lumping a tiny number of terror cases in with routine immigration cases. A case of padding the books?

The Transactional Records Action Clearinghouse tallied the numbers. They found of the more than 814,000 people DHS charged with crimes in the last three years, only 12 faced terrorism counts. And only 114 were charged with any "national security violation."

The Bush administration has claimed that the purpose of DHS is to fight terrorism. But the charges that appear to beef up DHS's terror fighting numbers are actually old-fashioned immigration cases. (CNN)

Sissy Slap Fight & Lone Wolfowitz

Presidents get in a sissy slap fight, Democrats become Congressional Columbos, and the Lone Wolf is back on the prowl.

Tonight on FOX: "Beatdown" with Bob Beckel

Confronted on a Bethesda parking lot, Democratic consultand and talking head Bob Beckel debated a couple of Bush-backers with reason and logic. His right fist is "Reason." His left fist, "Logic."

Mr Beckel's sporting a shiner after the spirited political discussion.

He says he was sitting in his Jeep Cheerokee waiting for his kids when a couple of young guys started peeling off his anti-Bush bumper stickers (see the Washington Post photo).

He asked them to stop. They said he didn't respect the presidency. Yada yada. One of the guys went back to peeling a sticker and Mr Beckel pushed his hand away. That's when Mr Beckel says one of the fellows "sucker punched" him.

Who knows. Maybe the Bush fan thought Mr Beckel would welcome him as a liberator for the move. He certainly didn't take into account Mr Beckel's 6-foot-one, 235 pound frame and the pounding Mr Sucker Punch was about to recieve. He probably also didn't count on his buddy deciding to cut and run -- which is exactly what happened.

Mr Sucker-Punch was pounded like the GOP in the last election, before conceding defeat with an eloquent curled-up-in-the-fetal-position-on-the-asphalt speech. (WaPo)

Damn, Liberal Birds

The President's suit is off to the dry cleaners after Thursday's news conference. Bird poop. From ABC News:

"[A] sparrow flew overhead and left a splash on the President's sleeve, which Bush tried several times to wipe off. "

Neither al Qaeda nor the Audubon Society have claimed responsibility.

See the video here. (ABC)

The GOP Summed up in 45 Seconds

Why sit through a whole, long, boring debate. Here's the whole GOP Presidential debate summed up in 45 seconds.

Dirty Laundry

They used to call it "immunizing" a candidate -- getting the dirt out up front, early in the campaign, so it won't hurt you come election day. Saturday Night Live touches on how it's going overboard in the 2008 Presidential campaign.

"I'm New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, and I should be dead."

Yeah, like that line won't come back to haunt him at election time.

Remember how Gov Jon Corzine (D-NY) was seriously injured in an SUV roll-over? His State Police driver was hauling the governor to a "talk show emergency" -- doing 90 miles per hour -- and the Governor was breaking the law by failing to wear his seatbelt.

Amazing what umpteen broken bones, a coma and six months of recovery will do to convince people to buckle up.

Apparently, there's no Betty Ford program for failing to wear seatbelts, so the Governor was unable to do pennance by checking into rehab. He's instead opted to star in a series of public service announcements telling people to wear their seatbelts.

Gov Corzine also voluntarily paid the $46 fine for failing to wear his seatbelt. Hard to argue your case in court with a broken leg. And 11 broken ribs. And a broken sternum. And on a ventilator. (NorthJersey.com)

Duck & Cover: Connecticut

President Bush was a big draw in his birth-state of Connecticut this week.

War opponents turned out to protest, Bush-backers turned out to counter protest. Coast Guard Cadets saluted their Commander in Chief as he delivered their commencement address -- billed for days as a major policy speech. Turns out, he rehashed the connection between Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The later died of a bad case of smart bomb last June.

But guess who wasn't there.

The state's Republican Governor -- Jodi Rell (pictured).

She says she just couldn't get out of a meeting with Massachusetts Gov Defal Patrick (D-MA).

Back during the 2006 campaign, we kept you posted on all the Republican politicians who ducked any appearance with Mr Bush -- fearful of a photo of the two together showing up in an opponent's campaign ad.

Looks like President Bush still has the "Duck and Cover" touch -- a year and a half before the next election. (The Day)

Outlawing Price Gouging at the Pump

Fifty-four Republicans crossed the aisle to join House Democrats in making gasoline price gouging illegal.

President Bush promises to veto the bill.

It'd allow the President to declare a gas price emergency and fine oil companies -- even arrest their executives -- for gouging. The power to look for and declare price-gouging would rest with the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC found 15 cases of potential price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Katrina -- but lacked the authority to investigate further.

At least 29 states already have some kind of price gouging laws on the books -- but enforcement varies from state to state. (HeraldNet)

America's Gas (Price) Cap

$4.16.

That's how high gasoline prices will have to go before Americans finally say enough is enough.

And you thought road rage would kick in so much sooner.

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that we're fed up with high gas prices, they're causing household budget crunches, and canceling our vacations.

But Americans are slow to anger.

It seems -- on average -- we'll have to hit $4.16 a gallon before we demand action. So that's when -- about this time next week? (Philly Inquirer)

Care & Feeding of Former Presidents

The care and feeding of ex-Presidents is pretty pricey.

And Bill Clinton is the most expensive of the three living former chief executives. At $1.16 million a year -- his expenses are almost as much as those of Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush combined.

For the record, Mr Carter billed Uncle Sam $518,000 for expenses -- Mr Bush, $786,000.

Mr Clinton has raked in $40 million in speaking fees since leaving office. But he still gets a $191,000 pension from taxpayers -- just as Mr Carter and Mr Bush. But Mr Clinton has requested an extra $10,000 on his pension next year -- to pay for health insurance. (WaPo)

Navy Sank Millions in Waste into Boat Barriers

After al Qaeda blew a hole in USS Cole -- killing 17 Sailors back in 2000 -- the Navy wanted a plan to prevent it from ever happening again.

The job fell to NCIS -- the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. But their solution has cost taxpayers millions in waste.

They cooked up the idea of giant, floating rubber barriers -- each the size of an 18-wheeler.

The Washington Post got hold of government documents that show millions going to companies that never did any work -- barriers that leaked, deflated, and simply didn't work --

The Post details an elaborate plan to avoid competitive bidding that involved contractors hiring subcontractors and driving prices for each barrier from $31,000 -- to nearly $43,000 each.

NCIS wanted the barriers quickly. That's why they didn't want to deal with complex competitive bidding rules. In the end, auditors found the plan drove up prices by as much as 40% for some support equipment like radar systems. (WaPo)

Payback's a Bitch

Politico.com calls the 110th congress -- "The Oversight Congress." Since Democrats siezed majorities in last year's election and took office in January -- they've been busy with investigations. From Politico:

Aided by a new investigative team including a former mob prosecutor and a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Democrats have launched more than three dozen probes of the administration ranging from the White House to obscure aency heads. The House Oversight Committee alone has conducted 20 investigations.

This is troubling news for the Bush White House and Republicans. No fewer than six administration officials have resigned already amid the congressional probes -- and many more are in Democratic sights.

Voters named "corruption" as the most important issue to them in the 2006 elections. Rare that you see politicians actually do what voters want. Probably helps that the politicians are getting some payback in the process. (The Politico)

Lone Wolf Back on the Prowl

Poor Paul Wolfowitz -- lost his job, lost his girl. Mr Wolfowitz -- an architect of the Iraq War, immortalized in "Farhenhiet 9/11" as the guy who licked his comb on a live TV news feed (see picture) -- announced last week he'd resign as World Bank President amid an ethics scandal.

Apparently, without all the power and prestige of being World Bank President masking his ragged good looks - and Brylcreem breath -- Shaha Ali Riza actually got a good look at her boyfriend. Ms Riza is the woman who got a cushy promotion and pay raises at the urging of her boss/boyfriend after he took the reigns at the World Bank.

Now, the New York Post reports the power-couple have split after Mr Wolfowitz's power failure:

[Post Investigative reporter Wayne Madsen] spotted Ali Riza by herself, walking up 19th Street in Washington from World Bank offices after Wolfowitz appeared in a closed-door meeting before the bank's executive board. "I thought to myself . . . it's strange she'd be alone right now," Madsen said.

Hey, ladies! The lone Wolfowitz is back on the prowl! Ahhhhh-ooooooooooo! (NYPost)

Did US Play into Al Qaeda Hands in Iraq?

President Bush will tell graduates of the Coast Guard Academy that Osama bin Laden planned to use Iraq as a base of operations back in 2005, to attack the US.

The information is from a report the President just declassified. From ABC News:

He will say that in 2005 Osama bin Laden tasked Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to go to Iraq to set up terror cells that would plan and plot attacks against the U.S. and other countries. Suspected terrorists captured or killed in the last 18 months have provided this intelligence but a White House official would not say if they were all captured or killed in Iraq.

Three US investigations since Baghdad fell -- from the US Senate, the Pentagon Inspector General, and the White House itself -- have discounted any connection between Iraq and al Qaeda before the war. This announcement raises the question of whether the invasion played into al Qaeda's plans for Iraq.

There have also been reports since the invasion that the administration fell victim to an al Qaeda disinformation campaign to encourage the US to invade Iraq.

The announcement's timing comes as the President struggles with Congress to get more money for the Iraq War. He'll argue that the plan shows the need for US troops remaining in Iraq.

But if al Qaeda's plan after 9/11 was to use the US military to destabilize Iraq -- making it ripe for al Qaeda operations, the President's announcement may only highlight more poor planning on the administration's part leading to the invasion -- and playing into al Qaeda's hands. (ABC)

Edwards' Memorial Day Campaigning

Former Sen John Edwards (D-NC) wants Americans to spend Memorial Day weekend calling on Washington to end the Iraq War.

His campaign launched a website last weekend outlining his 10-point plan. He asks voters to greet veterans, send enlisted troops care packages and volunteer at local Veterans Administration hospitals. It's not sitting well with some veterans' groups:

"[Sen Edwards' idea is] as inappropriate as a political bumper sticker on an Arlington headstone." -- Statement from the American Legion

Senator Edwards argues the Iraq War has weakened America's status in the world. (Tulsa World)

Dadburn Varmits! Getcher Gun, Mitt!

"[Mitt Romney's immigration policy is] to get out his small varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn." -- Sen John McCain (R-AZ)

Hear the actual soundbite at CNN. (CNN)

Clinton: The FEMA Disaster

With the clean up coming up on two years after the Katrina disaster -- Sen Hillary Clinton (D-NY) wants the US to guard against another disaster like the response and recovery.

The Democratic Presidential candidate wants a national insurance backup fund.

"We have to rebuild an effective, functioning, qualified emergency system. I think we've got to get it out of the Department of Homeland Security, where it's mired in a dysfunctional bureaucracy." Sen Hillary Clinton (D-NY), in an interview with The Associated Press.

President Bush moved FEMA to the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11. Critics say that's left the US unprepared to handle natural disasters.
(Baker City Herald)

Rudy's Iowa Stumbles

Rudy Giuliani may be slipping in Iowa and skipping the country's lead off caucuses.

The Associated Press points to a series of problems in the Giuliani campaign in Iowa:

• A sluggish campaign start
• Indecision over participating in a key straw poll
• A poor poll showing

The August straq poll is a key part of the Iowa race. Candidates spend millions to rally support. Many of the 2000 candidates quit the race all together after poor showings there.

"The bigger question is, from a man basing his candidacy on decisiveness and leadership, waffling on the straw poll is a real question." Bob Haus, Republican Consultant

And the Giuliani campaign sounds overconfident about Iowa. Staffers brush aside the straw poll saying it's only important to other candidates and are counting on Mr Giuliani's fundraising prowess and name recognition to save the day at the actual caucuses.

And a new poll from the Des Moines Sunday Register shows Mr Giuliani running third in Iowa's GOP race:

• Romney: 30%
• McCain: 18%
• Giuliani: 17%

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says he hasn't seen anything to convince him that Mr Giuliani is as far along with organizing a campaign in Iowa as he should be. (TCPalm: News)

Democrats: Strategic Withdrawal on Timelines

Congressional Democrats -- on the verge of passing a war funding bill without timelines -- have to come up with their own battle plan for selling it to the party faithful.

Democrats in Congress had insisted on timelines for withdrawing troops from Iraq -- even having their first bill vetoed. Democratic voters -- in poll after poll -- overwhelmingly support some kind of withdrawal plan from Iraq.

But with time running out -- and Memorial Day approaching -- Democrats in Congress are hustling to get something out of Congress the President will sign. The idea of a political speech blasting Democrats, delivered from Arlington Cemetary would be a PR nightmare for the Democrats.

Expect the Democrats to focus their attention on what battles they did win in the war with the President over a spending plan. They focused attention on public support for withdrawal, painted the President as stubborn, and got him to agree to accepting benchmarks in Iraq -- or cutting off foreign aid to the Iraqi government. (TCPalm News)

Keeping America Safe from PB&J

Homeland Security has kept our skies safe from Rep Tim Ryan's (D-OH) peanut and butter sandwiches. The whole incident also resulted in some of the more bizarre writing from a sitting Congressman -- posted on Mr Ryan's blog:

"[TSA] took my bag and walked towards the gate thinking about the 4 or maybe 5 meals that she had taken from me. What am I going to do now? It’s not like I can just go to Safeway and grab another jar. I have .33 cents and a bag of cornmeal to last today and tomorrow."

OK, to explain -- the Congressman hasn't been cut off from lucrative lobbyist contributions. He's just trying to live on a food stamp budget -- to see how difficult it is. (Rep Tim Ryan Blog)

GOP, Stuck in the Tubes

Republicans admit to playing "catch-up" on the Internet. What do you expect, when their President refers to it as "the Internets," talks about "the Google," and their last Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee described the Internet as "a series of tubes."

The Washington Post reports on how even top Republican strategists say their party is stuck in Y2K when it comes to using the Internet for politics.

Underlining that problem, Nielsen/NetRatings shows that former Senator John Edwards' (D-NC) had 690,000 unique visitors to his campaign website in March -- more than all of former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R), Sen John McCain (R-AZ), and former Gov Mitt Romney's (R-MA) unique visitors combined.

Maybe they're just behind the times. Waiting for this silly computer fad to fade. You know, repeating the mantra: "If politicians were supposed to use the web, they'd be spiders -- not snakes." (WaPo)

McConnell on Hagel on the War

From the Hotline:

"Many of the predictions that Chuck made about how the war might go have come true." -- Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell on Chuck Hagel, Omaha World-Herald, 5/20

Stretch, Stretch, Stretch....

Hey, the cable networks have a lot of time to fill before the election. They're already doing stories on candidates' spouses. CNN's Mary Snow takes one of the first looks here.

Florida Gets a Jump

Florida's getting a jump on screwing up the next election. Governor Charlie Crist (R-FL) has signed legislation moving the Sunshine State's Presidential primaries to January 29.

That's the same day as the South Carolina primary. There are only three states with earlier nominating contests. (CNN)

Jimmy Carter Makes "L" with Thumb & Forefinger, Holds to Head -- Bush Goes "Nuh-uh"

In what future historians may call the greatest sissy slap fight of all time between fifth tier Presidents, the Bush administration is tangling with Fromer President Jimmy Carter.

Mr Carter started the shouting match in an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

"I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history." -- President Jimmy Carter on George W Bush

The White House fired back with an official, "I know you are, what am I:"

"[Mr Carter] is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments." -- Tony Frattto, White House spokesman

Mr Carter says the Bush administration has reversed progress on "America's basic values." The White House calls his comments "reckless personal criticism." (AP vis Detroit News)

Hillary Wants Pre-Kindergarten

Sen Hillary Clinton (D-NY) wants all 4-year-olds in pre-kindergarten classes.

She says she can pay for the $10 billion plan by closing tax loopholes and killing Bush administration programs she dislikes.

Her campaign says state efforts to do the same thing only reach about one-in-five kids. Her federal play would distribute money through state governors who'd have to decide where to best spend it. (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Never Let the Facts Get in the Way

Never let facts get in the way of a good story.

Former Gov Bill Richardson (D-NM) (left) has a great story he tells on the stump as he campaigns for President. It's about how he attended the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Aaron Austin (right) back in 2004. He tells crowds that after the funeral, LCpl Austin's mother came up to him, thanked him for the federal death benefits she recieved and showed him the check.

Just a few problems with that tale. From the Associated Press:

In speeches in New Hampshire, Richardson has gotten Austin's name wrong at least once and age wrong at least twice. He also has called Austin the first New Mexico soldier killed in Iraq - instead of the third.

But that's not what bothers the Marine's mother, De'on Miller, of Lovington, N.M., who says the conversation about money never took place.

Gov Richardson sticks to his story. He says the meeting inspired his plan making New Mexico the first state to underwrite $250,000 in life insurance for National Guard members. That amount is up to $400,000 now. (AP via Washington Times)

McCain Takes on the "Culture of Corruption"

Sen John McCain (R-AZ) is pushing his party to champion government reform. You know, the party all tangled up right now in scandals with the World Bank and Justice Department.

In a speech in Oklahoma City Monday, the Republican Presidential candidate will wax nostalgic about the "Republican Revolution" of 1994, when the GOP took majorities in the House and Senate on a platform of cleaning up Washington.

Sen McCain says his administration would routinely review ethical standards and practices of his Cabinet. And he says Cabinet Secretaries would be held accountable for unethical behavior of their Departments. He'd also provide Inspectors General direct access to top bureaucrats in their agencies -- up to and including the Cabinet Secretaries. (WBTW-TV)

Romney Ad: "Secure Our Borders"

Former Gov Mitt Romney launched a new ad in New Hampshire and Iowa this weekend where he speaks out against an "amnesty" plan for illegal immigrants.

It went on the air a day after the Senate cut a bipartisan deal on a new immigration plan. From CNN:

Though the ad does not refer to the measure specifically, Romney says, "Legal immigration is great. But illegal immigration that we've got to end -- and amnesty is not the way to do it."

Mr Romney's comments in the ad were taken from a border security question raised at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire back in April. (CNN/Romney Campaign/You Tube)

Where the Candidates Got their Cash

Hillary Clinton made her political debut designing Arkansas education reforms in the 1980s that have been copied by other states ever since. But she trails Democratic rival Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) in campaign donations from education interests.

The Washington Post adds up contributions form key industries to see where the candidates are getting their cash.

• Education: Barack Obama -- $696,076
• Insurance: Christopher Dodd -- $405,550
• Telecom: John McCain -- $123,600
• Gambling: Rudy Giuliani -- $118,200
• Lobbyists: Hillary Clinton -- $234,550

The Center for Responsive Politics has analysis of lots of other industries.

Where the Candidates Are

Wouldn't you love to have the aviation fuel concession at the Des Moines airport? The Washington Post's added up all the campaign events in the early primary states:

• Iowa: 230
• New Hampshire: 203
• South Carolina: 125

Fore! Score a bogey for Big Dig - The Boston Globe

Billions overbudget, years behind schedule, and a chunk of it fell on top of a car killing a person. And you thought the Big Dig couldn't get any worse. From the Boston Globe:

"Now authorities are investigating how the Big Dig -- or, more precisely, a structure built for the project -- became something else: the site of an unauthorized indoor driving range for state troopers who love golf."

The chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority had never heard of the golf range until a local TV station did a story on it.

The state police started their own investigation this week after a reporter started asking questions.

The golf range is in one of seven buildings built to suck dirty air out of the tunnels -- similar to the one pictured here. The driving range takes advantage of a 25 foot ceiling. (Boston Globe)

Mrs Giuliani got $125G as a Speechwriter

GOP Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is keeping his wife on the payroll. From the New York Daily News:

"A day after the former mayor disclosed in federal filings that he considers his third wife, Judith, a salaried employee, sources said he has paid her about $125,000 a year for speechwriting help - since before they were married."

Mind you, Mr Giuliani has made nearly $1 million a month from speaking fees over the last 16 months. But that's still a lot higher than the going rate for a copy editor. Not that she has any experience at that sort of thing. She's been a sales executive for a drug company and managing director at a consulting firm. (NYDN)

Banning Names of War Dead in War Protests

Despite serious constitutional questions, states are beginning to ban anti-war items featuring the names of dead troops. Oklahoma and Louisiana have passed laws. Texas and Florida are waiting for Governors to sign or veto their versions. And Arizona's legislature is working on their own bill. From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

"In many cases, the target of their ire is Dan Frazier, a Flagstaff, Ariz., man who sells T-shirts online that list the names of 3,155 U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq. The shirts bear slogans such as 'Bush Lied -- They Died' and 'Support Our Remaining Troops -- Bring the Rest Home Alive.'"

Mr Frazier says the laws ban his free speech rights to speak out against the Iraq War. (Seattle P-I)

Dead Man on Campus

You'll never miss any college reunions. Not if you're buried at your alma mater. From the New York Times:

For a few thousand dollars, the University of Richmond and a half-dozen other universities are giving alumni and faculty the opportunity to have their ashes maintained on campus in perpetuity.

Three more universities — Notre Dame, the Citadel and Hendrix College — are building similar memorials, known as columbaria.

And since you "can't take it with you," schools see the final resting place as a final time to hit you up for a big donation. (NYT)

Flunking Disaster Preps

America's schools are flunking emergency preparedness. It's a sign a lot of kids could be left behind if disaster strikes.

The Government Accountability Office found about half of all school districts have no plan to continue teaching kids after a hurricane, earthquake, terrorist attack or some other calamity.

Two-thirds report a lack of expertise with emergency equipment -- like two-way radios or even proper locks on the doors.

And 28% of schools have no plans for evacuating students with disabilities.

The GAO also found that for the most part, schools aren't even working with first responders on emergency plans. (WSJ)

Interest Way Up in Presidential Campaign

Coffee table meetings in a living room have given way to 3,000 people packing a town hall like it was a rock concert. The face of Iowa politicking is changing. The intimate meetings with a handful of voters are looking more like late season campaign rallies. The Associated Press says it could be because voters are a lot more interested in the 2008 campaign:

"A poll released April 12 by The Pew Research Center for People and the Press found that 55 percent of voters are paying 'very or fairly close' attention to the presidential race nine months before Iowa's lead-off caucuses. By contrast, only 38 percent were paying close attention in early 2003 and 45 percent in early 1999.

Democrats have consistently paid greater attention to the 2008 race than Republicans by an average of 12 percentage points, according to the Pew poll."

Just like in the polls, Democratic frontrunners have been drawing larger crowds in Iowa than GOP candidates. Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) have both drawn crowds in the thousands. Nine Republican candidates showed up at one event drawing 1,000. (Daily Star)

Wolfowitz's Blue Ribbon Opposition

For more than a month, as scandal swirled around World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, blue ribbons pinned to lapels served as a silent protest among World Bank staffers. From the Washington Post:

"The ribbons were initially intended to show support for good governance in the World Bank and beyond. Since most staffers saw Wolfowitz's role in Iraq policy as governance gone horribly bad, the ribbons became a symbol of anger, a silent demand for the big boss's resignation."

World Bank workers would slap them together in 15-minute shifts on their coffee breaks. By the first day, 1,000 of the ribbons had been snatched up. Even Mr Wolfowitz was seen sporting one -- apparently unaware of what it represented. (WaPo)

You're On the Bus or Off the Bus -- No One Rides in the Door

All aboard the Topsy-Turvy Bus.

Ben Cohen -- the "Ben" of "Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream" is takin the bus cross country toward New Hampshire Iowa.

It's part of a campaign urging presidential candidates to move spending from defense projects to programs helping families and communities. The bus is a project of the Priorities Campaign, headed by Cohen -- wearing the green jacket in this AP photo. (AP via Yahoo)

DOJ Had 26 US Attorneys in its Sites

Seems the Justice Department wanted to unload a lot more US Attorneys than they've reported in the past. From the Washington Post:

"Unreleased government records obtained by the Washington Post show that the Justice Dept. listed 26 U.S. attorneys as candidates for firing, including nine who were fired in 2006. The roster of prosecutors is much longer than previously acknowledged. "

Political Capital

Republican Presidential hopeful had audiences putting money where his mouth is. He earned $16.1 million over the last 16 months -- mostly in speaking fees.

The numbers are from come from financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Candidates are giving insight into their income. Some other candidates and income:

• Rudy Giuliani: $16.1 million income, $13-$45 million in assets
• Fmr Sen John Edwards (D-NC): $1.25 million income, $29.5 million in assets
• Sen Barack Obama (D-IL): $457,000-$1.14 million in assets, $572,490 in income from book sales alone

Sen Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Fmr Gov Mitt Romney (R-MA), Sen John McCain (R-AZ) and Former Gov Tommy Thompson (R-WI) have recieved 45-day extensions. Former Gov Jim Gilmore (R-VA) asked for a 30-day grace period. (WVEC)

They did Give Us Adlai Stevenson

Want a presidential primary that reflects most of America? Might want to let Illinois go first.

Iowa and New Hampshire aren't very reflective of all of America -- very white, very rural. To win an early primary -- and lead the race for your party's nomination -- you have to appeal to what is essentially a minority of America's demographics.

The Associated Press crunched Census Bureau numbers and came up with the most representative state for an early primary. They've deemed Illinois the most average state out there!

Farms, cities, diverse population. Income, education, and age all mirror America as a whole. Right in the middle of middle America. Hey, isn't it's state flag just a rectangle of beige? Maybe not. (Commercial Appeal)

Deadeye Dick Cheney Imortalized in Gun Play

Just like our Vice President, you can shoot someone in the face, thanks to the Young Republicans of Alexandria, Virginia.

They're hosting the "First Annual Dick Cheney Paintball Tourney."

The $45 donation includes a picnic lunch, paintballs plus gear rental, and a t-shirt. (Alexandria Young Republicans)

The Decider, The Commander Guy, The Maestro

Comedy Central's The Daily Show reports on "the conductor guy." President Bush took the conductor's baton and led the orchestra at weekend ceremonies marking the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown colony in Virginia. (The Daily Show)

Governors on the Guard

A quick survey from the Chicago Tribune shows only Tennessee and Rhode Island have the National Guard equipment on hand to respond to major emergencies.

The Bush administration has been borrowing National Guard equipment for the Iraq War. Most of it is left in Iraq or destroyed in fighting there.

Two Government Accountibility Office reports since 2005 have shown repeated shortages of equipment to meet state missions. It showed Illinois, for example, only had 45% of the earthmovers needed to respond to emergency flooding on the Mississippi or Ohio Rivers.

Other shortages:

• New Jersey: 42% of needed equipment
• Idaho: 42%
• Arizona: 34%
• Louisiana; 50%

Hurricane Katrina exposed the shortages when Louisiana was left without deep water equipment to rescue people in the post storm flooding.

Just this spring, Gov Jodi Rell (R-CT) says her state is missing equipment needed to dig out of a northeaster. Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) reports only half the deep water vehicles needed for flood response.

Snowplows and flood equipment. Sent to Iraq. Can't figure out why any of President Bush's plans haven't worked yet. (Chicago Tribune)

OMG! HRC 2 txt Her BFFs!

HRC wl uz txt msgs 2 SIT W her supporters. Her tx svC launchd mon. -- providing campaign ^dates str8 2 fons of NE1 hu syns ^ @ her campaign W3.

Now for your translation: Sen Hillary (Rodham) Clinton (D-NY) will use text messages to stay in touch with her supporters. Her text message service launched Monday -- providing campaign updates straight to phones of anyone who signs up at her campaign website. (CNN)

Sen McCain's Mom Chases Pesky Whippersnapers Away from Her Son's Yard

Sen John McCain (R-AZ) has a simple plan for critics who say the 70-year-old Senator is too old for the White House: He sics his mom on them.

Sen McCain brought along his 95-year-old mother for his appearance on "Meet the Press" Sunday. It was, after all, Mother's Day.

Rudy's Ties Run Deep

Since leaving the Mayor's office, Rudy Giuliani's company has spun a web connecting the former New York City Mayor with dozens clients doing buisness with practically every part of the federal government.

If he's elected -- that could create some conflicts starting the day after the election. From AP:

If Giuliani were elected president, his administration would be on the receiving end of regulatory requests, contract bids and policy proposals by the same clients of his Houston firm, Bracewell & Giuliani, that have contributed toward his personal net worth of millions of dollars.

The Associated Press has identified more than 175 companies and special interests Bracewell & Giuliani, the former Mayor's firm, have done business with over the years. (York Daily Record)

Bloomberg Beats Rudy

A New York Daily News poll suggests former mayor Rudy Giuliani might have a pretty tough time getting his old job back from the current mayor -- Michael Bloomberg.

New Yorkers in their poll say Mr Bloomberg is a better mayor than Mr Giuliani was by 56% to 29%.

On top of that, New Yorkers would vote 46% to 29% in a Bloomberg/Giuliani race for the White House. (Daily News)

Message from President Clinton

President Clinton appears in the latest web ad for Sen Hillary Clinton (D-NY). Want to think this is a Linda Bloodsworth Thompson production. It looks and sounds a lot like the film they produced with Mr Clinton for his Presidential Library in Little Rock. (Hillary Clinton Campaign/YouTube)

Gingrich: The Anti-War Candidate?

Appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said there's a "great possibility" he'd run for President.

He wouldn't elaboate, but has said in the past he'll make a decision around September -- about the same time the Bush administration promises an assessment on the current "surge" in Iraq. From ABC:

Gingrich said as far back as 2003 that Bush had "gone off a cliff" with the Iraq War. Gingrich believes the United States should get out of Iraq as soon as possible.

Mr Gingrich has been positioning himself for a possible run, apologizing publically for his affair shortly before his resignation from Congress in 1998 and now on a book tour allowing him plenty of time to talk about a potential run. His criticism of the Bush administration, and his long-time conservative credentials also help him stand out from the crowd of GOP hopefuls -- seen as following the President's war agenda while flip-flopping in their stands on social issues like abortion. (ABC)

Tommy Thompson's Excuses

Republican Presidential candidate Tommy Thompson says he was distracted during a debate question about civil rights for gays. He answered that firing gays should be left up to the business owner. He's since backtracked and says there were a lot of things distracting him from the question at the time:

• A dead hearing aid
• An urgent need to use the bathroom
• A case of the flu
• Oh, and bronchitis, too
• Just got out of a hospital emergency room three days prior to the May 3 debate

No word on if his dog ate his talking points. (Pawtucket Times)

Obama Downplays Race

Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) says if he doesn't win the Democratic nomination, it won't be because of the color of his skin.

"'It's going to be because I didn't project a vision of leadership that gave people confidence. It's going to be because of something I didn't do as opposed to because I'm African-American." -- Sen Barack Obama, quoted by the Associated Press

The Senator has recieved Secret Service protection -- some of the earliest in history for a Presidential candidate. He admits some of the threats he's recieved have been because of his race. (Edwardsville Intelligencer)

Driving Home Tougher Fuel Standards

Democratic Presidential hopefuls are pushing Detroit on fuel efficiency. More of the candidates are demanding tougher fuel standards. The Big Three automakers say it'll hurt them. The Democrats say it's the lack of fuel efficiency that's gotten Detroit into their current mess. From the AP:

"[T]he political climate is turning against the companies. Concern is increasing about global warming. Pump prices are high. People are worried about U.S. dependence on oil from the Middle East."

Many of the candidates are pushing for average mileage standards of as much as 40-50 mpg by the end of the next decade. (AP)

Size Matters to the Postal Service

It's not enough the Post Office is raising stamp prices Monday -- 41-cents for first class. They're adding new rules for the shape and size of packages -- and they're not too clear on what those rules are.

If something's too thick -- more than a quarter inch -- or if you stiffen an envelope with cardboard to protect photos or DVD's of the kids you're mailing to Grandma, you may have to pay more.

MAY is the key word, because few people understand exactly how the Postal Service's rules will charge you to mail it. (CNN)

Not a Millionaire? Oh, Rudy will have to Cancel.

Republican Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani snubbed an Iowa couple -- because they weren't millionaires.

That's the story Deb and Jerry VonSprecken are telling.

First they got a call from Mr Giuliani's campaign asking if they'd host a campaign rally May 4. They agreed and went to work organizing it, inviting people, and planning for a big crowd on the farm.

Then Mr Giuliani's people brought up money. From the Anamosa Journal-Eureka of Jones County, Iowa:

“They wanted to know our assets,” she revealed, and added that she and Jerry have a modest 80 acre farm and raise cattle.

Later she received a call from Tony Delgado at the Des Monies location.

“Tony said, ‘I’m sorry, you aren’t worth a million dollars and he is campaigning on the Death Tax right now.’ then he said they weren’t going to be able to come,” Deb continued.

Now that's just embarassing. They may do that sort of thing in New York City -- but pull something like that in Iowa, and you're off the guest list for the next hoedown! (Anamosa Journal-Eureka)

Fanning the Campaign Flames

Since 9/11, no icon has symbolized the great American hero quite like the fireman.

And politicians wanting to wrap themselves in the flag want to be surrounded and supported by firemen.

So six Democrats vying for the White House spoke in person or by phone to the International Association of Fire Fighers convention this week.

"They'll praise your work in speeches, they'll honor you as heroes in words, but when it comes to deeds, they make it harder for you to do your job." Sen Barack Obama (D-IL), speaking by phone about the Republican candidates to the International Association of Fire Fighters leadership convention.

In addition to Sen Obama, Sens. Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards, and former New Mexico Gov Bill Richardson were scheduled to address the convention.

And it's only a small gathering of a couple dozen union leaders.

Gives you an idea of how powerful the outfit could be -- with that many candidates talking to that few representatives. (AP)

Holding Kids to Higher Standards than Iraq

Democrats accuse President Bush of being tougher on American school kids than the Iraqi government.

During debate over paying for the Iraq War, the House Speaker pointed out that the President demanded benchmarks for schools under the "No Child Left Behind" Act. But he rejected the same kind of standards Democrats want to impose on Iraq's government.

“While holding America’s school children accountable with consequences, the President refuses to hold the Iraqi government responsible with consequences while our young people in Iraq are dying.” -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Floor debate, May 10, 2007

The President has rejected the House version of the Iraq spending plan -- but appears to be more open to a compromise -- including benchmarks -- being worked on in the Senate. (NPR)

Giving Ground on Iraq Money

"The Decider" has decided to become "The Compromiser" on paying for the Iraq War. President Bush signaled he'd be open to setting benchmarks for progress in Iraq to get money for the war there.

"It makes sense to have benchmarks as a part of our discussion on how to go forward." -- President Bush, May 10, 2007, on his willingness to compromise with Congress over war funding

Democrats offered up the benchmark plan after the President vetoed a $122 billion war spending plan earlier this month. (Chicago Tribune)

How Many Watched the Debates

Viewership for the first 2008 Presidential debates topped 4 million viewers. MSNBC carried the debates and released those numbers.

The Democratic debate at South Carolina State University drew 2.3 million viewers.

The Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library drew 1.8 million.

MSNBC also says web traffic to the network's political page increased five-fold the days of the debates. The network reports a total of 1.96 million people watched the debates on their computers within three days of each. (The Greenville News)

McCain: I'm Rubber, Bush is Glue.....

Republican Presidential hopeful Sen John McCain (R-AZ) says President Bush's low approval is hurting the party. But he doesn't believe it'll rub off on whoever gets the GOP nomination.

"I don't think there's any doubt that when the president's polling numbers are low that it harms the Republican Party in general, but I think that when it comes election time that the overwhelming majority of Americans will choose their candidate on the basis of that individual candidate's qualifications, vision and record." -- Sen John McCain (R-AZ) in an interview with The Associated Press."

He's counting on voters looking at the candidates regardless of party affiliation -- and scoring points in the debates to win the White House if he wins the nomination first. (Providence Journal)

Competing for the Debates

The University of Central Arkansas is willing to put off construction on a $16 million business school just to get one of the 2008 Presidential debates.

The school in Conway -- about 30 miles west of Little Rock -- is one of 19 colleges, universities, and other insititutions that put up a $7,500 entry fee just to be considered. The competition for a debate sounds a lot more exciting than most of the actual debates in recent elections:

"[It's] like bringing the Super Bowl to your town or your campus, in terms of media attention and the amounts of media and the space required." --Marty Slutsky, an executive producer with the Commission on Presidential Debates, quoted by the Associated Press.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has a 10-page list of requirements that reads like Rudy Giuliani's rider:

• 1,300 phone lines
• 3,000 hotel rooms within 30 minutes of the event
• Working room for 3,000 reporters
• Parking for 50 satellite trucks

And if you win, you still have to spend about $1.35 million in incidental costs to host the event. (Providence Journal)

Flip Flops Protest Romney

Dressed like giant flip-flops, conservative protesters hounded Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney during a campaign stop in Massachusetts.

The activists protested the former Governor's shifting positions on abortion over the years, and his wife's $150 contribution to Planned Parenthood during Mr Romney's failed 1994 Senate race.

Mr Romney's views on social issues seem to have changed dramatically since his 1994 Senate race. At the time, he was running for office in a liberal state -- and stated liberal views (see video from 1994 Senate debate below). He's become much more conservative since he started wooing the GOP base in the run for the Republican nomination. Critics have questioned the timing and sincerity of his turnaround. And he's found himself saddled with the nickname of "Multiple Choice Mitt." (ReviewJournal.com)

And You Though the Haircut was Expensive

Among the Democratic presidential candidates, John Edwards is offering up more specific, concrete plans than anyone else. But that also makes his platform the most expensive for taxpayers if he's elected.

The Associated Press did the math and predicts his programs would cost $125 billion a year. That's a cool trillion bucks over a two term administation -- more than twice the cost of the Iraq War so far. (AP)

Slashing Security in Baltimore

Washington has slashed security spending 60% for the seaport nearest the nation's capital.

The Port of Baltimore saw grants for Homeland Security infrastructure drop from $4.9 million last year to $1.9 million this year.

It's the 14th largest port in the US.

In one of the movies based on Tom Clancey's books, terrorists smuggle a nuke into the US through the Port of Baltimore.

You may remember in another of his books, an attack on the US involved flying a jumbo jet into the US Capitol.

But, that's only fiction -- no one would ever think to use one of his ideas for an actual attack. Right?

Bill Richardson -- Overqualified?

Former Gov Bill Richardson (D-NM) has a pair of funny campaign commercials out in a situation a lot of voters can identify with -- trying to get a job.

Rudy's Drug Connection

Republican Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani's consulting firm represented a company convicted of triggering a nationwide epidemic of OxyCotin abuse.

The company, Purdue Frederick -- has pled guilty to federal charges it mislead doctors about the addictive qualities of the drug.

ABC's Brian Ross reports Mr Giuliani and his then-partner, Bernard Kerik met personally with the top man at DEA to discuss his client's case. From ABC:

"Kerik told New York Magazine at the time that Giuliani had raised $15,000 in donations for a 'traveling museum operated by the DEA.'

Some officials told ABC News there were questions inside the agency of whether the donations were an attempt to influence the DEA."

Federal prosecutors claimed that Purdue Frederick's actions led to "scores" of deaths. (ABC)

Global Warming could Cook Dixie's Cities

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize it's getting hot outside. But it helps.

NASA scientists predict average summer temperatures could hover around 100-110 degrees in the not too distant future -- say 50-70 years -- all thanks to global climate change. That'd be the hottest summers in Atlanta since Gen Sherman's stroll to the sea.

The all time high for Atlanta stands at 105. The Atlanta Journal Constitution says much hotter temps could be common all summer long from Florida to Chicago:

"The researchers say the projected increase would push the maximum summer temperatures throughout the eastern United States, from Florida to Pennsylvania, to as high as 100 degrees — and to as high as 110 in a smaller area that includes Georgia, the Deep South and Texas."

Cue the quote from one of my favorite TV shows:

"Dale, you giblet-head, we live in Texas! It's already 110 in the summer, and if it gets one degree hotter, I'm going to kick your ass!" -- Hank Hill to Dale Dribble on "King of the Hill," after Dale figures global warming will allow Americans to "grow oranges in Alaska"

Atlanta's burning, but the Eskimos will have fresh oranges! (AJC)

Republicans Warn Bush on Iraq

A handful of moderate Republicans warn President Bush they'll jump ship on Iraq if things don't turn around by this fall.

The New York Times reports 11 Republicans, meeting privately with the President at the White House -- warning him support for the war was vanishing in their swing districts.

The Republicans identified in the Times article shows some crossover with those Republican congress members seeing anti-war commercials from retired generals in their districts.

Lord of the Rings

Rudy Giuliani's been spotted sporting New York Yankees World Series Rings. And the way he got them -- could get the GOP Presidential hopeful in hot water.

The Villiage Voice reports the forer New York Mayor has four of the rings -- one for each year the Yankees won the Series while he was Mayor. They're valued at $200,000 for the set of four. But the Mayor reportedly got a sweetheart deal -- getting them for just $16,000. The Voice says that's a problem:

"What's more troubling is that Giuliani's receipt of the rings may be a serious breach of the law, and one that could still be prosecuted. New York officials are barred from taking a gift of greater than $50 value from anyone doing business with the city, and under Giuliani, that statute was enforced aggressively against others."

A World Series ring scandal is a problem Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) will never have with the Cubs. (Village Voice via PoliticalWire.com)

Gen Batiste Launches Offensive on Bush

Major General John Batiste worked with then Assistant Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to design the Iraq invasion. Later, he commanded the 1st Infantry Division as it took Baghdad. Now, he's opened a new front -- starring in TV ads attacking President Bush's Iraq policies. The ads are running in the districts of moderate Republicans -- where support for the President is teetering.



VoteVets.org will spend $500,000 running in the districts of Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA), Phil English (R-PA), Randy Kuhl (R-NY), James Walsh (R-NY), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Timothy Johnson (R-0H), Fred Upton (R-MI) and Michael Castle (R-DE).

Now You See Him, Now You Don't

Stalin did it with photos featuring folks who fell out of favor (see retouched photos).

Appears the Bush administration is stuffing some pictures down the old "memory hole," too.

Al Kamen in his In the Loop column at the Washington Post got his hands on an administration email telling folks to start scrubbing "all picture and statements" from Randall Tobias:

"...[P]lease be alert to the need to remove all picture [sic] and statements from Ambassador Tobias in light of his resignation dated as of April 27, 2007. You should carefully review any ongoing projects such as Websites, reception room walls, printed publications, brochures, PowerPoints, newsletters, etc., to ensure that agency materials are not maintained, produced, printed, or reprinted, with Tobias listed or shown as Administrator or DFA."

You may remember Ambassador Tobias' crime against the State -- he admitted to hanging out with escorts from the DC Madam case.

Oh, if you do remember it, the administration requires you to forget Mr Tobias ever existed. Thank you. (WaPo)

Fuzzy Math

Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) has proven he's as good at math as any politician in Washington. He mentioned the death toll in Kansas from Friday's fatal twister and was only off by a factor of 1,000.

Turn this guy loose with a federal budget!

Florida. Election. What More Can I Say?

And you thought the butterfly ballot was a mess. Florida -- "America's wang" as Homer Simpson calls it -- could give America another case of "electile dysfunction" in 2008.

Seems the Democrats have cooked up a complicated, apparently non-binding primary that gets Florida into earlier voting -- but leaves the selection of delegates up in the air.

In other words, the whole 2008 Florida Democratic Primary might not count. The St Petersburg Times explains the mess.

HPV Shots Shot Down

The Texas legislature has shot down mandatory HPV shots for women.

The vaccine can prevent HPV, a leading cause of cervical cancer. Gov Rick Perry (R-TX) wanted the shots required for all sixth-grade girls before they could attend public schools.

Just a couple of problems.

First, HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, and conservatives argued that the shots -- making girls immune to one STD -- would also make them easy, more willing to have pre-marital sex.

Second, Merck -- the vaccine's maker -- flooded Texas campaign committees with cash the same day Gov Perry's office began it's blitz to make the shots mandatory. Gov Perry picked up a $5,000 donation. Merck split another five-grand among eight state legislators.

31 States Target Global Warming

Thirty-0ne states -- representing 70% of the US population -- are doing something Washington won't do about global climate change.

They created the Climate Registry. From the LA Times:

State officials, along with some industrial groups and environmentalists, say the registry is a crucial precursor to both mandatory and market-based regulation of industrial gases that contribute to warming.

The outfit will set up shop in Washington, DC in January. It'll track greenhouse gas emissions. (LAT)

Jumping Ship at SS Bush

The Bush Administration is having a hard time finding good help. Seems no one wants to come to work for them -- and people are jumping ship with nearly two years to go on the administration. The Financial Times reports:

"In the last 10 days alone Mr Bush has lost four senior officials and more resignations are expected to follow. 'I wouldn’t describe this as disintegration,” said one senior official. “But there are worrying large gaps opening up and it is very hard to recruit high-quality people from outside.'"

And that "War Czar" gig? Still open. Get your resumes in.

Getting Political Mileage Out of $3 Gas

With gasoline at an all time high -- and the summer driving season still weeks away -- politicians are going for all the mileage they can get.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) accuses big oil of deliberately shutting down refineries to drive up prices and profits.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced seven hearings in coming weeks and wants an energy package ready for Congress by the Fourth of July.

Figured out the Democrat's theme? Independence Day. Get it, "energy independence?"

The Democratic plan would focus on cutting US gasoline demand by improving automotive fuel efficiency.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) struck back saying Democrats have blocked plans to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling. (Reuters)

Unchain the Lawyers

The Iraq War funding bill could open a new front on the President's signing statements.

President Bush has attached the statements to express his understanding of how a bill he signs into law should be enforced. Democrats argue the President effectively changes the law they voted on every time he does that. And he's done that hundreds of times. He's expected to issue a statement that any restrictions on Iraq War spending is only "advisory" and that he's not required to follow it.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) says it may be time for Congress to take the President to the courts. But The Hill reports that could be difficult.

Congress would first have to show the President is willfully ignoring a bill he's signed into law. The catch: It appears Congress can simply vote themselves "standing" -- with a Resolution the President doesn't have to sign. (The Hill)

Hey, Peg, You're a Tough Old Broad

Hey, he's the "uniter," the "decider," and the "commander guy." He's not Captain Etiquette.

President Bush got off on the wrong foot by mis-speech-ifying. In remarks with Queen Elizabeth II, the President slipped up and suggested she'd visited the US in 1776. Or would that have been "the colonies" then? Anyway the Daily Telegraph says it went downhill from there:

"When you've just made it sound like the Queen is more than 200 years old, there may be a few ways of recovering from the gaffe. But turning to her and giving her a sly wink is probably not included in any book of royal etiquette."

Heh, heh, heh. At least he didn't give her a nickname. (The Daily Telegraph)

War is Heck on the Homefront

It's the first war that's included a tax cut.

One of the first thing troops notice when they come home from Iraq and Afghanistan is how detached the homefront is. Few families contribute most of the fighting men and women. Do the rest of us really know a war is going on?

Not by past measuring sticks. In other wars, the homefront had it's share of hardships: rationing, higher prices, tax hikes to pay for the war.

But the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are about to come in as the second most expensive war in US history -- right behind World War II. Thing is, the economy is bigger, so the amount of total wealth we're spending on war isn't noticeable to a noticeable number of Americans. It's only a little over 4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) -- less than half the share of Vietnam's cost.

The Washington Post added up the costs of past wars, adjusted to 2007 dollars:

• WW II: $3.2 trillion, 37.8% of GDP


• Iraq/Afghanistan: $754 billion, 4.2% of GDP


• Korea: $691 billion, 14.2% of GDP


• Vietnam: $650 billion, 9.4% of GDP


• WW I: $364 billion


• Civil War: $81 billion


• Spanish-American War: $7 billion


• American Revolution: $4 billion


• Mexican War: $2 billion


• War of 1812: $1 billion

The problem you run into with relatively little hardship on the homefront is there's relatively little pressure from the people to push for an end to the war. Pressure in past wars forced politicians into timelines and benchmarks, to win a war -- or really accomplish a mission -- before the people got fed up.

Ultimately, politicians are more interested in winning re-election than winning any war.

Since the Civil War, the US military has operated on the idea of speedy victories. Without the pressure for that on politicians -- the politicians are willing to take the wind out of the military's sails and let a war linger.

The longer that goes on, the more resistance can build up in places like Vietnam and Iraq, and the harder it becomes to end with a win. (WaPo)

Voter Approval up after Corzine Crash

Got trouble in the polls? Try breaking a couple of laws -- and a bunch of your bones -- racing to a talk show emergency!

Worked for Gov Jon Corzine (D-NJ).

The Governor's numbers are up since he was laid flat on his back. His SUV was moving 91 miles per hour -- and the Governor wasn't wearing his seat belt -- when it crashed last month. He was on his way to a meeting with the Rutgers women's basketball team amid the whole "Imus crisis."

Since then, his poll numbers are up: 58% now compared to his pre-crash 53%. (NorthJersey.com)

Longest Serving Guard Unit

A National Guard unit made up of folks from Minnesota and Wisconsin is on it's way to being the longest serving outfit of citizen soldiers in Iraq.

The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division is slated to stay in Iraq as late as August 1. That'd be 22-months.

Federal law caps National Guard units service in combat tours at two years.

The outfit was due home in March. They were extended 125 days. (AP)

Another Use for "The Tubes"

Sen Ben Nelson (D-NE) uses the Google on the Internets to document his recent tour of Iraq.

Coupling digital video with Google Maps, Sen Nelson shows constituents to his website where he went and what he did on the tour.

CNN describes how it works here.

Dang, what'll they think of next on them Intertubes? (CNN)

Tough Pill to Swallow

The Senate's voted 49-40 to block you from buying cheaper prescriptions from Canada or other countries.

Big Pharma is keeping American prescription prices the highest in the world -- for drugs often made on the same assembly lines as those sold in other countries. From the AP:

Overseas, drugs can cost two-thirds less than they do in the United States, where prices for brand-name drugs are among the highest in the world. In many industrialized countries, prices are lower because they are either controlled or partially controlled by government regulation.

The Congressional Budget Office says allowing imports would save about $40 billion over 10 years. And it also worried about other countries banning exports to protect their supplies of prescription drugs. (AP)

Tackling Health Care & Gas Prices

For the American family, no rising prices have been pinching pocketbooks as much as health care and energy costs.

With gasoline prices breaking the all-time high, 1981 record this weekend, Sen Barak Obama (D-IL) found a way to combine the two issues into a single one for his White House campaign. From the AP:

"[Sen] Obama said his plan encourages domestic automakers to make fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles by giving them health care assistance for retirees. Federal financial assistance would cover 10% - up to $7 billion - of automakers' annual legacy health care costs through 2017, under Obama's plan, which would require automakers to invest at least half of their health care savings into technology to produce fuel-efficient cars."

Financial incentives to help with health care costs and fuel efficient cars. It's a vision for America's future -- where we're driven to the emergency room in a hybrid ambulance getting 50 miles to the gallon. (AP)

The Wolf at Wolfowitz's Door

Don't bank on Paul Wolfowitz holding onto his job as World Bank head honcho. A panel has issued a report saying the World Bank President broke the rules -- stepping up pressure for him to resign. From the AP:

"A special panel at the World Bank, which has been investigating the matter for a month, has found that Wolfowitz ran afoul of bank rules in securing the 2005 promotion and pay package for bank employee Shaha Riza."

The panel's report hasn't been released. The bank's 24-member board will have to decide what actions to take. Those include fines, asking for a resignation, or reprimands. (AP)

Horns & Flags To Be Banned in Aurora

Aurora, Illinois is poised to outlaw honking your car horn while waving a flag.

And you thought cell phone users were a problem.

Though it's never mentioned anywhere in the new law, the honking-flag-waving ban targets Mexican-Americans. It's apparently a tradition to celebrate love of homeland.

People complain that it's too noisy.

This in a state that celebrates Polish heritage with polkas played on accordians?

Heck, the Valley Community Bank of Illinois -- with offices in North Aurora -- even co-sponsors something called "Illinois Polkafest." (Chicago Tribune)

Homeland Insecurity, Part Umpteen

The fine folks at the Department of Homeland Security -- you know, the ones suppose to protect us -- have lost a computer drive with personal info on 100,000 of their current and former workers.

Gotta make you stand a bit taller in your bare feet as you walk through airport metal detectors knowing that the guy checking your luggage is a prime candidate for identity theft.

The drive contains three and a half years of payroll data, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and bank account info.

You know, everything a terrorist would need to get a start here in America -- not to mention an airport security badge.

It's just the latest in a series of government security breaches on personal info. The worst being last year's loss of a Department of Veterans Affairs laptop with info on 26.5 million veterans and active duty service members. (WaPo)

Obama & Youth

Can't figure out the Obama appeal? May be a generational thing. Maybe you're just too dang old.

For all the talk earlier this year about how Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) broke from the traditional sense of an African-American leader -- no one seemed to point to the simple matter of time. The whole debate may have focused on the wrong demographic: race instead of age.

African-American politicians and leaders have for years been shaped by the Civil Rights movement. Most are veterans of it.

Sen Obama came of age after it.

Later generations view it -- and it's leaders differently. Just as later generations view World War II differently from its veterans.

And just look at the youth appeal. This from Bloomberg:

When John Kerry sought the Democratic nomination in the last presidential election, his biggest Iowa crowd before the state caucuses was about 1,500 people. At a University of Iowa rally last month, Barack Obama drew 10,000 -- many of them students.

The Illinois senator's candidacy has helped spark a surge in campus activism that he has moved quickly to harness, establishing 300 college chapters and working with students to organize many of his largest rallies.

It's an emerging bloc of voters for politicians to energize. More young voters participated in the 2006 elections than in any election since the first time 18 year olds got the vote. And it was the second major election year in a row that saw sizable increases in voters under the age of 25. (Bloomberg)

What Would $456 billion buy?

The folks at Boston.com added up all the spending on the war effort. They figure it'll hit $456-billion in September.

Then they decided what all that money would buy. Some items on their list:

• 30 Big Digs -- the cost overrun-plagued Boston road project
• 1.2 years of free gasoline -- for everyone in the USA
• 14.5 million year long scholarships at Harvard

And based on World Bank numbers, the money would be enough to eliminate starvation worldwide by 2015. (Boston.com)

Record Highs at the Pumps

The record stood since before John Hinkley shot Ronald Reagan was President, before the first Space Shuttle flight, and just as the first DeLoreans were rolling off an Irish assembly line.

This weekend, gas prices hit an all time high.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg reports gasoline prices in America averaged $3.07 a gallon on Sunday.

"[The President] must jawbone OPEC members to lower prices.” -- Candidate George Bush in the the first GOP Primary debate, 1999

Factor in inflation and they beat the previous record set in March, 1981.

Back then, they averaged $1.35 a gallon -- $3.13 in today's dollars.

And more recently, the latest average is four-cents higher than the $3.03 average set in August, 2006. (CNN)

Thompson Hints

He's not announced, but he's campaigning.

Actor and former Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) spoke at the conservative Lincoln Club, in California conservative capital, Orange County.

Most telling quote:

“When our problems seem to be getting bigger, our politicians seem to be getting smaller.”

Mr Thompson says partisanship is squelching debate on issues from Iraq to health care. (Politico.com)

Freeing up Debate

In another boon to bloggers, podcasters, and online video junkies, CNN's releasing it's New Hampshire Presidential Debate without restrictions.

CNN says the two debates -- on June 3 & 5 -- are historical and they believe the candidates need to be held accountable for what they say throughout the campaign. (CNN)

Not So Magnificent Seven

The Washington Post reports that seven of the 10 candidates or the GOP Presidential nomination poll in the single digits. The Post refers to those Republicans -- who do not have the last name of Giuliani, McCain, or Romney -- as the "single-digit seven." (WaPo)

Doolittle's iPod

What kind of evidence could be lurking on an iPod?

Rep John Doolittle (R-CA) claims FBI agents took his wife's iPod in last month's raid on their northern Virginia home.

Rep Doolittle is believed to be under investigation for ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

In an op-ed piece in Sunday's Auburn Journal, Mr Doolittle claimed the search -- and media leaks about it -- were timed to deflect attention from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' problems in the US Attorney scandal.

"I now believe that the search of our home was in large measure an attempt to strong arm my wife in order to get me to admit to a crime — a crime that I did not commit," -- Rep Doolittle, Auburn (California) Journal

Eleven GOP aides, Bush administration figures, and others have been convicted so far in the Abramoff case. (SFGate.com)

Bush Hits New Low

President Bush has hit an all time low in the Newsweek approval poll -- tying Jimmy Carter's low of 28%.

Only Presidents Nixon and Truman have hit lower marks.

The poll shows 62% believe his recent actions on Iraq show he is "stubborn and unwilling to admit mistakes." And 55% say the president is not "politically courageous." (Newsweek)

Dinner with the Queen

The guest list and menu are both secret for tonight's white tie State dinner at the White House -- the first of its kind in more than a decade. A reported 134 people have been invited. (Reuters)

A Plate Full of Politics

South Dakota wants Heather Moriah (left) to surrender her vanity license plate. Seems it has a hidden, partisan political message that got past the DMV folks.

MPEACHW

Someone complained and the DMV folks are talking about sending the cops out to take back the plates if Heather doesn't play nice.

Heather's apparently telling the DMV folks to take a number and wait until they're called. She says since the plate isn't obscene or otherwise dirty -- it should be protected speech.

The state -- by law --is only allowed to retrieve the plates if “any letter combination which carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency.” (Rapid City Journal)

Schools Overlook the Obvious

Folks in Liverpool, New York are shocked -- shocked, I tell you -- that teenagers given laptops at the local school used them to "exchange answers on tests, download pornography and hack into local businesses."

What part of "teenager" did the local school board not understand?

The New York Times reports that local school boards are reconsidering the whole idea of supplying kids with laptops. (NYT)

VA Bonuses? Keep Your Shirt On!

Rocker turned Congressman John Hall (D-NY) (that's him in the center when he was front man for Orleans) calls big bonuses at the Department of Veterans Affairs -- "Crazy" (how's that for an obscure song title reference?).

Rep Hall put his shirt and tie on to complain about taxpayers giving the shirts off their backs to reward VA honchos. Some of the people for VA's billion dollar budget shortfall got $33,000 dollar bonuses afterwards. They total $3.8 million.

The AP reports backlogs of veteran claims at the VA are between 400,000 to 600,000 with vets averaging 177 day waits to have their claims processed. (AP)

Conservatives Take on YouTube

Conservatives convinced YouTube has a liberal bias are launching their own online video service.

"'The 2008 campaign will be dominated by video and in particular by user-generated video." -- QubeTV founder Charlie Gerow

QubeTV will hightlight user generated content in the service of conservative causes. QubeTV founder Charlie Gerow claims YouTube banned conservative blogger Michelle Malkin's video about radical Muslims. YouTube denies it. (ABC)

OPOs -- Like Nixon's Make-up, only Smarter

They're called Online Political Operatives -- or OPOs -- and they're redesigning political strategy in the 21st century, just as television changed it in the mid-20th.

The Washington Post profiles a few of this new generation of campaigners already having a major influence on the look and feel of the 2008 Presidential race:

"For these online political operatives -- or OPOs, as a few have taken to calling themselves -- the Internet isn't just a tool. It's a strategy, a whole new way of campaigning, a form of communication, from blogs to MySpace to YouTube, with far more potential than the old media of print and television. 'TV is a passive experience, and the Internet is all about interactivity, all about making a direct connection,' said Rospars, waxing expansive in the way all the OPOs tend to do."

But they may not be taken seriously by all the candidates. The Post quotes one OPO who says he's treated like "a mascot" and left out of the loop on important daily strategy sessions.

That could be the 2008 equivilent of Richard Nixon's 1960 decision to decline TV make up before his first debate with JFK. (WaPo)

De-authorizing the War

Sen Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is teaming with Sen Robert Byrd (D-WV) on a plan to de-authorize the Iraq War.

"The American people have called for change, the facts on the ground demand change, and the Congress has passed legislation that requires change. It is time to sunset the authorization for the war in Iraq. If the president will not bring himself to accept reality, it is time for Congress to bring reality to him." -- Sen Clinton, quoted by CNN from Senate floor speech

The White House refers to the idea as "politics '08-style." (CNN)

Fred Thompson, Blogger

As the Fred Thompson Watch continues, the former-actor-turned-Senator-turned-actor-again has taken up blogging in a big way.

He was posting short blurbs for a while at ABC News Radio. But the Associated Press reports he's now jumped in in a big way.

"Whenever I've seen one of those 'Gun-free Zone' signs,' I've always wondered exactly who these signs are directed at. Obviously, they don't mean much to the sort of man who murdered 32 people just a few days ago." -- former Sen Fred Thompson (R-TN) blogging at National Review Online

In addition to National Review Online, his posts are turning up with greater frequency on RedState.com and on his ABC Radio blog, the Fred Thompson Report.

It's an interesting way to join the debate, without jumping straight into the GOP race.

GOP Debate

ABC reported on GMA, the GOP candidates invoked Ronald Reagan's name 16 times in Thursday's debate -- and George W Bush's name only once. Sen Hillary Clinton (D-NY) even got more mentions than the current President.

Surrounded by Reagan Library exhibits -- including a Boeing 707 that once served as Air Force One, the candidates harkened back to conservativism's golden age. You know, when the war was cold and Iraq was an ally.

It was time bridged by Bruce Springsteen music. You may recall how Mr Reagan wanted to use "Born in the USA" as his campaign theme song. It sounds like these guys prefer "Glory Days."

Rudy Giuliani and Sen John McCain (R-AZ) both attacked the sitting Republican President for mistakes in Iraq.

In doing so, they broke Mr Reagan's 11th Commandment -- "Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican."


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Politics

White House Eyeballs Critics

In recent weeks, the Bush administration has launched a series of investigations into critics and potentially damning witnesses against the administration. It's raising outright claims of "retribution and intimidation."

Most recently, the Department of Justice has launched an internal investigation of Monica Goodling.

It's an internal investigation into whether Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales's former White House liaison illegally took party affiliation into account in hiring career federal prosecutors.

She recently resigned and has been granted immunity to testify before Congress on the US Attorney firings. Her attorneys call the timing indications of "retribution and intimidation."

And the White House has launched an investigation into the Inspector General who recently embarrassed the administration by uncovering waste, fraud and abuse in the Iraq reconstruction effort. From the Washington Post:

"Stuart W. Bowen Jr., the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, is under investigation after complaints were made by former employees about his work habits and work he required employees to perform. The investigation is headed by the integrity committee of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency, which is made up of inspectors general appointed by the president."

The White House is also investigating Scott Bloch, head of the Office of Special Counsel -- who just happens to be looking into two possible cases of the administration breaking the law. From the LA Times:

"The first was a preliminary interview with the fired U.S. attorney from New Mexico, David C. Iglesias, who said, among other things, that his termination might have resulted from his failure to swiftly pursue a corruption case against Democrats.

The second involved a PowerPoint presentation highlighting upcoming battleground election races that a Rove aide, J. Scott Jennings, made at the General Services Administration this year."

Now, if I could just subpoena that meter maid who left a ticket on my car the other day.....

Call for Dropping Debate Copyright

It would sure make life easier on bloggers and podcasters.

Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) wants Democratic debate video made public -- copyright restrictions relaxed -- so a wider number of people can use it.

C-SPAN relaxed it's copyright restrictions earlier this year, putting all Congressional hearings and White House events up for grabs. (AP)

Air Assault on GOP Debate

A pair of small planes are buzzing the GOP debate at the Ronald Reagan Library. Politico.com -- one of the debate's sponsors -- reports the planes are trailing banners that read "McCain, Mission Accomplished?" and "Republicans, Mission Accomplished?"

The anti-war coalition Americans Against Escalation in Iraq hired the planes and have scheduled them to circle the debate through the night. (Politico.com)

Obama Placed Under Secret Service Protection

Senator Barak Obama (D-IL) has made it in politics -- earning the least welcomed perk of American politicians -- Secret Service protection.
You only get it this early in the campaign after a threat on your life. Usually, a committee has to approve someone as a "major candidate" -- something that's rarely if ever happened seven months before the New Hampshire Primary.

Homeland Security won't say what the threat was. The Secret Service says the threat wasn't specific and they aren't being specific because it's against their policies.

Yeah, Homeland Security -- not the Treasury Department. The Secret Service was moved to the new Department on March 1, 2003.

RFK Legacy

Secret Service protection for presidential and vice-presidential candidates came about following Bobby Kennedy's assassination in 1968. Officially, it's part of Public Law 90-331.

The Cost of Protecting Candidates

Back in March, Newsday reported the Secret Service expected to spend $21.4 million this year, and another $88.5 million in 2008 protecting candidates.

That's $106.6 million -- compared to the $73 million spent in the 2004 campaign.

Newsday attributed the 46% jump in price to the large number of candidates in "a wide open field."

The Perk of Protection

Last month, Sen Hillary Clinton (D-NY) had her Secret Service protection increased. She was already under protection as a former First Lady. (CNN)

VA Honchos Pocket Bonus after Bungled Budget

Remember those guys at the Department of Veteran's Affairs who ran up a billion dollar budget shortfall last year?

They're getting bonuses.

Big bonuses. Up to $33,000.

A year ago, they failed to account for an increase in wounded vets coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The VA had to go to Congress and ask for emergency money to pay the bills.

The bonuses add up to $3.8 million.

Now, Congress has found out about the big bonuses going to some of the people there responsible for the problems.

Despite the budget fiasco, a missing laptop containing personal info on millions of veterans and active duty service members, and a 177 day wait for vets to get benefits -- the VA averages $16,000 annual bonuses. Those are the best in the federal government. The Office of Personnel Management reports roughly three in every four senior honcho at VA has gotten a bonus in recent years. (AP)

Foreign Affairs: Sex and the CIA

Where does a Bond girl get a good lawyer?

America's women spies are taking the CIA to court over claims of a double standard for men and women who spy for America.

David E. Kaplan of US News & World Report reveals how women spies of the CIA are suing for being disciplined over "close and continuing relationships" with foreigners.

Mr Kaplan reports on the CIA's secret disciplinary hearings and internal investigations, detailing how top female spies lost their jobs after falling in love overseas — while men with foreign relationships, they say, escaped scot-free. (US News/IRE.org)

Edwards Calls for Repeat Performance on Iraq Bill

Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards is running a TV ad attacking the President's veto of the war funding bill. President Bush vetoed the bill because it set timelines for withdrawing from Iraq.

In the ad, airing today in the Washington, DC market, former Sen Edwards calls on Congress to send the exact same bill back to the President.

Rudy: "Excessive Concern with Little Weasles"

No, it isn't what he's saying about his Republican rivals before tonight's debate. On his radio show -- back on July 23, 1999 -- then-mayor Rudy Guiliani got all bent out of shape over ferrets as pets. Oliver Willis dug up this a clip from "This American Life."

Didn't Hear it Coming!

Indiana has a new law requiring all new mobile homes to be equipped with a weather radio. Weather radios come on automatically in the event of tornado warnings and such. And mobile homes are tornado bait.

Waiting for the first soundbite of a storm's aftermath: "It sounded just like a freight train...with a weather radio a-playin'." (IndyStar.com)

Walter Cronkite, Richard Nixon, Dan Rather and Karl Rove

Dan Rather interviews Karl Rove.

On January 18th.

1972.

The FOXification of SCOTUS

The US Supreme Court has -- for the first time in history -- posted video on its website.

Want to guess what it is? A car chase.




That's the YouTube version above.

Click here to see it on the SCOTUS website.

It's from the case of Scott v. Harris. A guy running from the law wound up in a wreck and paralyzed. The court used dashboard cameras to decide he didn't have a leg to stand on in wanting to sue police.

So. The stuffy old Supreme Court -- which didn't have a website until well after Mongolia's Supreme Court got one -- has jumped right into the YouTube craze with not just car chase video -- but car chase that ends in a paralyzing crash video.

And remember the court took up Anna Nichol's case long before she was even dead.

You have to wonder if they have any shark attack cases on their docket. (SCOTUS)

29 Embassies For Sale -- But Congressmen are Still Cheaper

Uncle Sam's unloading a bunch of embassies around the world. Moving into new, safer quarters has put Washington in the world wide real estate business. From the AP:

"Some 29 properties worth more than $205 million are now on the market in 21 countries, including a huge and historic embassy annex in the heart of London, large chancery buildings in Panama, Nicaragua and Nepal and homes fit for envoys extraordinary in Belize and Venezuela."

The State Department even has a web page of it's real estate up for sale. Sorry, no bus benches with pictures of Condi Rice in a gold blazer though. (AP)