WARNER x2; RUDY’S PLAN GOES ASTRAY; SENATOR THOMAS AILING AGAIN; NO GOP SURGE FOR THE SURGE; SOLDIERS SPEAK OUT; EX-JCOS CHIEF SAYS “LET GAYS SERVE”
Continue Reading January 2nd, 2007
WEDESDAY NEWS UPDATE.
WARNER2; RUDY’S PLAN GOES ASTRAY; SENATOR THOMAS AILING AGAIN.
The American Spectator, a conservative publication, reports that former Virginia Governor Mark Warner (D) is conducting polling related to a possible 2008 challenge against US Senator John Warner (R) … In an embarrassing gaffe, a Rudy Giuliani campaign staffer seemingly lost his 140-page Giuliani campaign plan notebook. The lays out the GOP primary strategy, Rudy’s pros and cons, and the fundraising plan. Fortunately, the notebook was found by someone. Unfortunately for Rudy, the person sent a copy to the New York Daily News. Giuliani’s campaign claims someone stole the notebook out of the staffers luggage when it went astray on a trip, photocopied it, then placed it back in the luggage before it was returned to the staffer a few days later … US Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY) is hospitalized again for more treatment related to his leukemia. Thomas announced after his re-election in November that he has cancer. His staff described the new hospitalization as “normal” and part of “more treatment” towards his recovery.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.03.07 | Permalink | postCount(’010307a’);
NO GOP SURGE FOR THE SURGE; SOLDIERS SPEAK OUT; EX-JCOS CHIEF SAYS “LET GAYS SERVE”
According to conservative columnist Bob Novak, US Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are all on record now in opposition to the President’s call for a “surge” increase in US troops in Iraq. US Senator John Thune (R-SD) backed off his earlier support for the surge, now describing his support for the plan as only being “conditional.” US Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) warmly embraced the idea a a few months ago. Now, The Hill reports, he’s backed away from it. Kyl explains he would support an increase “only if the commanders on the ground requested it.” US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) initially supported the short-term surge proposal, but now says “I don’t believe that more troops is the answer for Iraq … Apparently even the Joint Chiefs do not support increased combat forces for Baghdad.” US Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and new House Intelligence Committee Chair Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) are the leading Dems most openly supportive of the “surge” concept … In related news, the annual Military Times poll released this week shows that only 35% of US service members approve of President Bush’s handling of the Iraq War. Just half said victory in Iraq was likely. In 2004, by contrast, 83% of respondents in the same poll expected the US to win in Iraq. Also, only 41% of the soldiers said the US was correct in going to war with Iraq. Of respondents, 60% identified themselves as Repubicans in 2004, versus just 46% today. The 14-point shift didn’t favor the Dems (who remain mired around the dismal 16% mark) as nearly all the shift moved into the “Independent” column. Respondents to the poll are described as coming predominantly from the ranks of the more conservative career officers and long-term enlisted soldiers. … Retired 4-star Army General John Shalikashvili — who served as the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman in 1993-97 — penned an op-ed in Tuesday’s New York Times expressing support for allowing gays to serve openly in the military. He opposed the idea in 1993 when he was the JCOS Chairman. “The compromise that came to be known as ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ was … a useful speed bump that allowed temperatures to cool for a period of time while the culture continued to evolve. The question before us now is whether enough time has gone by to give this policy serious reconsideration. Much evidence suggests that it has. … I now believe that if gay men and lesbians served openly in the United States military, they would not undermine the efficacy of the armed forces. Our military has been stretched thin by our deployments in the Middle East, and we must welcome the service of any American who is willing and able to do the job,” wrote Shalikashvili. A few hours after the column was published, former US Senator and Clinton Administration Defense Secretary Bill Cohen (R-ME) in an interview with CNN expressed support for Shalikashvili’s new stance.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.03.07 | Permalink | postCount(’010307b’);
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Your daily open thread for the first day of the new Congress. Also, FYI, we’ll finish updating the 50 state pages to reflect all the new incumbents within the next few days. We’re more than half-way finished already.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.03.07 | Permalink | postCount(’010307c’);