July 8, 2007 – Capitol Hill Blue

Cindy Sheehan threatens run against Pelosi

July 8, 2007

Cindy Sheehan, the slain soldier’s mother whose attacks on President Bush made her a darling of the anti-war movement, has a new target: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Sheehan, who announced in late May that she was departing the peace movement, said she decided to run against Pelosi unless the congresswoman moves to oust Bush in the next two weeks.

“I think all politicians should be held accountable,” Sheehan told The Associated Press on Sunday. “Democrats and Americans feel betrayed by the Democratic leadership. We hired them to bring an end to the war.”

Me vs. George Bush

July 8, 2007

The radio said that George W. Bush is a birthday boy turning 61. It got me to thinking that I am only 63, just two years older than our president. Could I do a better job? I mean, Bush, he seems like a perpetual adolescent playing at being president to me.

Sicko

July 8, 2007

Instead of sweating outside in 98+ F heat, I decided to brave the motion picture industry and see a movie.

Mike Moore’s Columbine was over the top. His F-911, while creative and amusing, took took too many liberties or swipes without a basis (although I enjoyed it and agreed with his message).

Bloody weekend: 220+ dead in Iraq

July 8, 2007

Prominent Shiite and Sunni politicians called on Iraqi civilians to take up arms to defend themselves after a weekend of violence that claimed more than 220 lives, including 60 who died Sunday in a surge of bombings and shootings around Baghdad.

The calls reflect growing frustration with the inability of Iraqi security forces to prevent extremist attacks.

At times, Couric regrets move to CBS

July 8, 2007

Katie Couric says the move to CBS would have been less appealing if she had known she’d be doing the more traditional “CBS Evening News” broadcast that she anchors now.

“People are very unforgiving and very resistant to change,” Couric said in an interview with New York magazine. “The biggest mistake we made is we tried new things.”

‘Cheney fatique’ descends on GOP

July 8, 2007

Dick Cheney, who thrives on secrecy while pulling the levers of power, is getting caught in the glare of an unwelcome spotlight. Once viewed as a sage and mentor to President Bush, Cheney has approval ratings now that are as low as — or lower — than the president’s. Recent national polls have put them both in the high 20s.

Bush’s decision to spare former Cheney aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby from a 2 1/2-year prison sentence has focused new attention on the vice president and his possible role in the commutation.

More Republicans bail on Bush’s war

July 8, 2007

The tide of Republican defections from President George W. Bush’s camp swelled Saturday when two more US senators joined the chorus of critics of his Iraq policy, demanding change.

But while expressing sharp disagreement with the strategy of “surging” the number of US troops in Iraq, Senators Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire stopped short of backing legislation that would force the White House to begin a drawdown of US troops in Iraq.

“It should be clear to the president that there needs to be a new strategy,” said Alexander told The Los Angeles Times. “Our policy in Iraq is drifting.”

Edwards: Count votes, not money

July 8, 2007

Presidential hopeful John Edwards said Saturday he’s raising enough money to compete in the early states and invoked Howard Dean’s 2004 fundraising totals as a cautionary tale.

“Money will not decide who the nominee’s going to be,” Edwards said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Everyone will remember Governor Dean who outraised everyone else by more than 2-to-1 and wasn’t able to win the nomination.”