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Thursday, May 24, 2007
Rudy’s Money Team
President Bush awarded the terms “pioneers” and “rangers” to his top fund-raisers. GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, a New York Yankee fan, is going with baseball nomenclature.
Here’s the line-up for what he calls his “All-American Team”:
If you agree to raise $25,000, you’re an All-American Pitcher. At the $50,000 level you’re an All-American Slugger. At $100,000, the title is All-American All Star. At $200,000, the title is All-American MVP. The top category, for those who collect at least $1 million, is All-American Team Captain.
National chairman of the effort is Dallas investment executive Bryan Pickens.
Donald Trump is listed as one of 20 team leaders.
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Secret Hold Redux?
Advocates for transparency are asking the senator from TOP SECRET to lift his or her SECRET hold on yet another piece of open government legislation.
Yes, it has happened again for all of you who remember Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, putting a hold on making earmarks public last fall.
This time it is with legislation that promises to overhaul the 41-year-old Freedom of Information Act so that it is easier for you, the public, to learn more about your government without the notorious delays from Washington bureaucrats.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., reports that an unnamed senator has secretly invoked a parliamentary maneuver to keep the bill from hitting the floor in the Senate before the Memorial Day recess.
The measure, introduced by Leahy and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has already cleared the House and the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“It is both unfortunate and ironic that this bipartisan bill, which promotes sunshine and openness in our government, is being hindered by a secret and anonymous hold,” Leahy said.
“This is a good government bill that Democrats and Republicans alike, can and should work together to enact,” he said.
The delay is frustrating to open government advocates who pressed the last Congress to enact the measure.
“This bi-partisan good government bill needs to move to the floor,” said Patrice McDermott, executive director of OpenTheGovernment.org, an umbrella organization of more than 60 conservative and liberal groups concerned about government secrecy. ” It has been thoroughly discussed for two years; it is time to move forward. The American public deserves a Freedom of Information Act that works for them.”
Rick Blum, coordinator of Sunshine in Government Initiative, agreed.
“The hold is disappointing given this bill has broad support, and is gaining supporters as we speak,” Blum said. “We urge quick Senate action.”
The Cornyn-Leahy bill would:
-Restore meaningful deadlines for agency action under FOIA
-Impose real consequences on federal agencies for missing statutory deadlines
-Clarify that FOIA applies to agency records held by outside private contractors
-Establish a FOIA hotline service for all federal agencies
-Create a FOIA ombudsman as an alternative to costly litigation.
“I hope that the senator placing the secret hold on this bill will come forward, so that we can resolve any legitimate concerns, and the full Senate can promptly act on this legislation,” Leahy said.
Incoming!
The video shows the impact was at precisely 11:27:04 a.m. EDT during President Bush’s Rose Garden news conference. The topic at the moment was Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and his ongoing problems.
Sixteen seconds later, after taking a drink of water, Bush responded, taking about five wipes at the droppings deposited on his left sleeve by a passing sparrow.
Mission mostly accomplished, though there appeared to be some mopping up left to do.
To view the action, courtesy of ABC News, click here
Lock Up The Kids
Twice during his Rose Garden news conference today, President Bush told individual reporters that al-Qaeda is a danger to their children.
“They are a threat to your children,” the president told NBC’s David Gregory, father of three. “And whoever’s in that Oval Office better understand it and take measures necessary to protect the American people.”
A few minutes later:
“I would hope our world hadn’t become so cynical that they don’t take the threats of al-Qaeda seriously, because they’re real. And it’s a danger to the American people. It’s a danger to your children, Jim, and it’s really important that we do all we can to bring them to justice,” Bush told the New York Times Jim Rutenberg, father of none, so far.
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Republicans Hope You’ll Click, Laugh, and Share Net Ads
In the minority on Capitol Hill and deep in debt, Republicans are fighting back online. The National Republican Campaign Committee has just launched a series of edgy Web video ads that they hope you’ll want to click on just for the entertainment value.
The YouTube entries, all aimed at freshmen Democrats in the House, include this video spoof of former rock muscian turned New York congressman John Hall:
Among others targeted is Houston Democrat Rep. Nick Lampson:
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