Where’s the Outrage?

From CNN.com:

Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, is expected to plead guilty as early as Friday to at least one criminal charge in an election-year congressional corruption investigation, Republican officials said Thursday night.

Ney, who has close ties with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, has consistently denied wrongdoing. He announced earlier this summer he would not seek re-election, a step he took reluctantly and at the prodding of party leaders fearful of the loss of his seat.

The Republican officials who described the legal developments said they did not know whether Ney intended to resign his seat in the House. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of pending legal proceedings.  more

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Isn’t this the same guy who was acting like he did nothing wrong.  He was going to fight to the bitter end?

Tags: House of Representatives by ecthompson
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From USA Today:

A senior American commander in Iraq said Tuesday that U.S.-led military operations are “stifling” the insurgency in western Anbar province but are not strong enough to defeat it.

Marine Maj. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer told reporters in a telephone interview from his headquarters in Fallujah that he has enough U.S. troops — about 30,000 — to accomplish what he called his main mission: training Iraqi security forces.

“For what we are trying to achieve out here I think our force levels are about right,” he said. Even so, he said the training of Iraqi soldiers and police had not progressed as quickly as once expected.

“Now, if that mission statement changes — if there is seen a larger role for coalition forces out here to win that insurgency fight — then that is going to change the metrics of what we need out here,” he added.

Zilmer, who has commanded U.S. forces in western Iraq since February, said increasing the number of U.S. troops there would help in the short term, “but at the end of the day I don’t think it’s going to be the significant change that is necessary to achieve long-term security and stability out here in Anbar.”  more

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Hum? If we had listened to General Zinni and put 350,000 troops in Iraq then we would have had enough troops to secure the borders.  Enough troops to train Iraq Forces.  Enough troops to stop the looting and keep order.  Then we wouldn’t have to read stories about nearly 100 brutal murders in Iraq.  Wow, that would be strange, a peaceful Iraq.  ;-) 

Tags: Iraq by ecthompson
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From the Austin Statesman:

AUSTIN — Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, the witty and flamboyant Democrat who went from homemaker to national political celebrity, died Wednesday night at her home surrounded by her family after a battle with cancer, a family spokeswoman said. She was 73.

Richards was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in March and underwent chemotherapy treatments.

Her four adult children spent the day with her, said Cathy Bonner, a longtime family friend and family spokeswoman.

“They’re a strong group of people but they’re broken-hearted, of course,” Bonner said.

Political leaders remembered Richards Wednesday night for her leadership.

“We’ve lost a little bit of that mystique and that wonderfulness that so captivates the rest of this country about Texas,” former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk said. “She was a wonderful spirit, a great fighter and humanitarian, and a political leader of enormous courage and compassion and a wonderful inspiration to so many Texans for so many reasons.”

Gov. Rick Perry described Richards as “the epitome of Texas politics: a figure larger than life who had a gift for captivating the public with her great wit.”  more

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I never met Governor Richards.  I always admired her.  She pushed for a progressive agenda before the word was popular.  She will be missed.

Tags: Other Political Thoughts, State and Local Politics by ecthompson
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