Daily Archives: Aug. 18, 2007

Open thread 8/18

Aug. 18, 20071:05 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (166)

Draft not in foreseeable future

Aug. 18, 20071:04 a.m.

President Bush’s “war czar” did not call for a military draft or say it was likely in the future, as some suggested. Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute (in photo), deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan, was asked last week by National Public Radio if a draft made sense militarily. Lute responded: “I think it makes sense to certainly consider it, and I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation’s security by one means or another. Today, the current means of the all-volunteer force is serving us exceptionally well. It would be a major policy shift — not actually a military but a political policy shift to move to some other course.”
Lawmakers, including Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., don’t support such a policy shift, even though there is real concern about the volunteer military being stretched too thin. When asked Sunday on ABC News’ “This Week” about Lute’s comments, Brownback was emphatic: “We don’t need a draft.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Iraq | Comments (55)

Tough time to count illegal immigrants

Aug. 18, 20071:01 a.m.

Given the country’s mood, the Census Bureau’s request that the federal government suspend immigration raids during the 2010 census seems like a lot to ask. In the past, easing up on enforcement has eased illegal immigrants’ fears about cooperating with census takers. But these days, unfortunately, many Americans would prefer that undocumented residents were deported rather than counted.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Immigration | Comments (291)

Lawyers suiting up to follow businessman Bush

Aug. 18, 20071:00 a.m.

John McCain’s fading fortunes have left nothing but lawyers among the top presidential hopefuls in each party: Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson for the Republicans; Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards for the Democrats. What’s more, notes the Kansas City Star, the leading Democrats’ spouses are all lawyers, too.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (29)