October 9, 2009 – Capitol Hill Blue

America’s ruling class

October 9, 2009

They roam the halls of power in Washington like jackals in a feeding frenzy — predators in Gucci loafers and $4,000 suits.

They are the lobbyists, political action committee managers and special interest group hired guns — America’s real ruling class.

They write the checks to secure support from members of Congress and they write the bills that emerge as laws and land on the President’s desk for signature.

The health care vote headed for a Senate vote next week is a document produced by the health care industry lobbyists — the same health care industry that is spending a million dollars a day to exert absolute control over the legislation.

Pulling out of Iraq ain’t all that easy

October 9, 2009

There is no more visible sign that America is putting the Iraq war behind it than the colossal operation to get its stuff out: 20,000 soldiers, nearly a sixth of the force here, assigned to a logistical effort aimed at dismantling some 300 bases and shipping out 1.5 million pieces of equipment, from tanks to coffee makers.

It is the largest movement of soldiers and matériel in more than four decades, the military said.

By itself, such a withdrawal would be daunting, but it is further complicated by attacks from an insurgency that remains active; the sensitivities of the Iraqi government about a visible American presence; disagreements with the Iraqis about what will be left for them; and consideration for what equipment is urgently needed in Afghanistan.

Senate panel approves Patriot Act renewal

October 9, 2009

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill Thursday that would renew portions of the USA Patriot Act in an effort to address administration concerns about protecting terrorism investigations.

But several Democrats and civil liberties advocates said the legislation would do little to strengthen privacy protections. And some Republicans said the bill, despite amendments worked out with the administration, would still unduly burden investigators.

By a vote of 11 to 8, the committee sent to the Senate floor a measure that would extend until 2013 three surveillance provisions set to expire Dec. 31. They would allow investigators to use roving wiretaps to monitor suspects who may switch cellphone numbers, to obtain business records of national security targets, and to track “lone wolves” who may be acting alone on behalf of foreign powers or terrorist groups.

GOP candidates shun help from Palin

October 9, 2009

Sarah Palin stands ready to stump for the Republican gubernatorial candidates running in the two most closely-watched campaigns in the country this fall, but neither seems to want her help.

Less than a month before voters go to the polls, it appears increasingly clear that the former Alaska governor, vice-presidential nominee and conservative favorite will not appear on behalf of either New Jersey’s Chris Christie or Virginia’s Bob McDonnell.

Palin is the only one of the most talked-about potential 2012 presidential candidates who has not yet campaigned for either Republican candidate.

President Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

October 9, 2009

President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for giving the world “hope for a better future” and striving for nuclear disarmament.

The decision to award one of the world’s top accolades to a president less than nine months into his first term, who has yet to score a major foreign policy success, came as a big surprise and provoked strong international criticism as well as praise.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Obama for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

The first African-American to hold his country’s highest office, Obama has called for disarmament and worked to restart the stalled Middle East peace process since taking office in January.

“Very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future,” the committee said in a citation.

Obama’s mortgage help program not working

October 9, 2009

The Obama administration’s effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure may not achieve its goal of helping 3 million to 4 million borrowers and may simply delay mortgage defaults for many, a government watchdog group says.

The Congressional Oversight Panel, charged with making regular assessments of the $700 billion financial rescue fund enacted last year, said the Treasury Department should consider whether to improve the current $50 billion program or adopt new programs to meet an expected rise in foreclosures fed by increased unemployment.

The panel’s report is scheduled to be made public Friday.

It comes a day after the Treasury said its mortgage relief effort has helped 500,000 homeowners and that it was still on track to help up to 4 million homeowners within three years.

Of Hagfish and Human Herds

October 9, 2009

The idea that the state has the right and the responsibility to eliminate any and all actions, habits, and things considered ‘hazardous’ to one’s health or safety is the dream of those seeking to regulate the lives of others with the intent of ensuring the conformity necessary to frame the world to their liking, comfort, and benefit. They are eager to point out the sugar of social engineering while hiding the decay of liberty that usually results. Their tool is usually the point of a government bayonet. They like it. It feeds their Inner Fascist.