Jason's Thursday Political News 03.15.07

Posted by Jason Easley on 03.15.2007

No, I am not Justin, he is on vacation, but in the spirit of Justin's work, I will praise Democrats and make fun of Republicans for at least 1,000 words. In this brief news report I'll fill you in on what Hillary, Obama, and Edwards have been up to. We'll talk a little John McCain too. I'll also give you my thoughts on the future of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Lastly, I'll discuss what the Senate Republicans motives are for allowing debate on the troop withdrawal measure.

Clinton, Obama, and Edwards all promise better care for vets

On Wednesday, the top three candidates for the Democratic nomination each separately promised that, if elected, their respective administrations would provide better health care for veterans. During an address to the International Association of Firefighters, Obama said that he is tired of politicians who are all talk when it comes to supporting the troops. "They don't do anything except slap a yellow ribbon on the back of their SUV. When our veterans come home, I don't want them forgotten in run-down buildings," the Illinois senator said.

The firefighters union invited both Democratic and Republican candidates to address their members all of the major candidates from both parties attended, except Rudy Giuliani, who has been feuding with the union since after 9/11. "We have got to stand by the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States of America, including many heroes in this room," John Edwards said. Sen. Hillary Clinton described herself as heartbroken over the conditions in building 18 at Walter Reed. She also expanded her message to include a proposal for better health care for fire fighters and police officers. She also accused the Bush administration of failing to provide for the fire fighters. Mrs. Clinton said, "It's great for photo ops, but how about taking care of the people who have taken care of us across the country."

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) seemed to sum up the collective feeling in the room when he said, "Our veterans deserve the very best medical care this country can provide. That ought to be something that every one in America can come to terms with, that that couldn't happen here in the United States." Sen. John McCain decided not to address the veterans' health care controversy; instead he spoke in defense of the Iraq war. "The war has not gone well. We failed early on to recognize that we faced an indigenous and foreign insurgency in Iraq." McCain went on to defend Bush's Iraq strategy and say that progress was being made.

McCain's choice of topics was a little odd, when one factors in the public opinion of the war, and the fact that the International Association of Firefighters has over 1,000 of its members fighting in either Iraq or Afghanistan. The reception his comments received from the firefighters was noticeably quieter than any of the Democratic speakers received. This war is not popular, so if McCain wants to be president, he either needs to stop talking about it, or change his position on it. I think that it is strange that McCain, as a veteran, did not speak about veterans' health care. As a decorated veteran himself, McCain would have a great deal of credibility on this issue, but with speeches like the one he gave today, it almost seems like McCain is trying to lose his party's nomination.

Attorney General Gonzales could be out soon

Only hours after President Bush gave Attorney General Gonzales a vote of confidence at a press conference, Republican Senator John Sununu (R-NH) joined the chorus of legislators who believe that the Attorney General should be replaced. "I think the president should replace him. We need to have a strong, credible attorney general that has the confidence of Congress and the American people. Alberto Gonzales can't fill that role. I think the attorney general should be fired," Sununu said in an interview with the Associated Press.

During a news conference in Mexico, President Bush said, "I do have confidence in Attorney General Al Gonzales." The president did say that he was not happy with the way the firing of eight U.S. attorneys was handled last year, and he said that Gonzales needs to appear before Congress and straighten things out. "I've talked to him this morning. And we talked about his need to go up to Capitol Hill and make it very clear to members in both political parties why the Justice Department made the decisions it made; make it very clear about the facts," Bush said.

Democrats, and now Republican Sununu, are calling for Gonzales to step down because there are worries that the U.S. attorneys were fired for political, not performance based reasons. Initially the White House said that they did not have involvement in the plan to fire the attorneys; however email exchanges released this week between Gonzales' chief of staff, then White House council Harriet Miers, and her deputy, William K. Kelley paint a much different picture. The House and Senate Judiciary Committees have invited Rove, Miers and her deputy, William K. Kelley, to testify about their roles in the firings. Gonzales also says that five of his aides, who were involved in the terminations, will be available to testify.

In case any of those who are asked refuse to testify, the Senate Judiciary Committee is considering issuing subpoenas for the administration witnesses on Thursday. Democrats have accused the White House of firing U.S. Attorneys who disagree with the administration, so that they can replace them with political friends. A new provision in the Patriot Act allows the attorney general to new hire new U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) predicted that Gonzales will be fired very soon. "I think he is gone. I don't think he'll last long," Reid said. Someone is going to have to take the fall for the exposure of the White House's plan to the U.S. attorneys, and I would bet my bottom dollar that Gonzales is going to take the fall here. Plus, I think we all know what happens to members of this administration after the president gives them a vote of confidence. In case you have forgotten, just ask Rummy and Brownie.

Senate begins debate on Iraq troop withdrawal resolution

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate opened debate on a resolution to withdraw the troops from Iraq. Republicans said that recent events in Iraq have convinced them that it would be better to allow debate on President Bush's war policy than to block debate on the issue for a third time. "The surge is underway," said Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS). "There are some positive signs here." Republicans, like Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) oppose the Democrats measure because he believes it "moves us down the road toward further micromanaging the troops."

Democrats are uncertain whether or not they can cobble together a majority in the Senate to support the measure. Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) said that he has 49 votes in support of the measure. Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) will not vote because he is still recovering from a stroke, and Independent Joe Lieberman (I-CT) is opposed to the measure. "I start with 49," Reid said. "Unless you get some Republicans it's hard to get to 50, even with modern math." Just because the Republicans are allowing debate, does not mean that the measure will ever come to a final vote. The Senate would have to vote to end debate and allow a final vote. In most instances, 60 votes are required to end debate and move to a final vote.

This makes it very likely that the GOP minority will kill the measure by not allowing it to come up for a final vote. The Senate measure calls for troops to begin to be withdrawn from Iraq within four months of the measure becoming law. It sets a deadline of March 31, 2008 for the complete withdrawal of all combat troops. The House is going to try to pass a similar measure by attaching it to the pending $124 billion war spending bill. The Republicans in the Senate do not want to appear to obstructionists on the Iraq issue, but they don't want to even consider the embarrassment that would come from two of their own crossing the aisle and voting with the Democrats. My best guess is that this measure will never come to a vote in the Senate. Plus, many of them really seem to believe that the troop surge is working, and that things are improving in Iraq. These Republicans will use the debate to highlight what they view as positive changes in the situation in Iraq.

Justin will be back next week, and I will see you tomorrow for the Friday edition of The Political Universe. Go read Josh and Joe.