The loss of life from last night’s tornado is tragic. But it is fortunate that more people didn’t die, given the amount of destruction. I was personally relieved to learn that Dennis McKinney, the minority leader of the Kansas House and a top-quality person, survived, though his house was demolished. It’s also good that state and federal officials are acting quickly to provide immediate and future aid.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has fully changed her stance on the Iraq war. Five years ago, she voted for granting President Bush the authority to go to war. Now she wants to revoke that authority. “It is time to reverse the failed policies of President Bush and to end this war as soon as possible,” Clinton said.
But can Congress rescind its prior authorization?
Posted by Ross Stewart
The Iraqi parliament is planning to take a two-month recess starting this July with or without much-needed resolutions for lowering sectarian tensions or reaching other benchmarks. That’s understandably infuriating politicians from both sides of the aisle in Washington.
“If they go off on vacation for two months while our troops fight — that would be the outrage of outrages,” said Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn.
Added Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.: “I certainly hope they’re not going to take any sort of recess when the question is whether they’re going to make any progress.”
Posted by Ross Stewart
In a Wednesday speech on Iraq to general contractors, President Bush characterized which of the following as “just something that we’ve all got to live with”:
1) Taxes.
2) High gas prices.
3) Tooth decay.
4) Freedom of the press.
5) Reality TV.
If you chose No. 4, you win. The First Amendment, though, has had better days.
Bush was asked about the media seemingly not reporting “the good things that are happening as a result of us being in Iraq.”
Here is the context of his answer: “Freedom of the press is a valuable freedom here, and it’s just something that we’ve all got to live with and value it for what it is, and just continue to speak the truth as best as we can without trying to — without trying to gloss over the inherent dangers.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
