Rudy Giuliani is taking fire from key pro-life organizations for his stance on the issue. Leaders of the movement are so threatened by the prospect of his nomination by the GOP that they would prefer a Democrat to take the White House before Giuliani. The founder of Operation Rescue, Randall Terry, believes that a win by Giuliani would set back 20 years of progress for the pro-life movement in the Republican party. read more »
The decider has vetoed legislation that would have expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $35 billion dollars, effectively denying 4 million children from moderate-income families health care benefits. There are currently 6.6 million children who are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid that are covered by the program.
The legislation would have reversed rules passed in August by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Eight states are suing the Bush Administration over the new rules. Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ), said the "Bush administration has gone beyond its regulatory rights." President Bush defended the veto, explaining that "the policies of the government ought to be, help people find private insurance, not federal coverage." read more »
The Federal Election Committee is reporting that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has only $1.6 million in cash and over $4 million in debts. The Democrats have over ten times that amount of cash. The NRCC is responsible for funding GOP campaigns. This is bad news for non-incumbents, who rely on the money for their nubile campaigns. read more »
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), was among the speakers at the UN climate change meeting on Monday. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that climate change was "directly and constructively discussed at the highest level for the first time in history." Ban worked to build consensus among 80 of the world's top leaders, leading up to climate treaty negotiations this December in Indonesia. read more »
The US military is now targeting heaps of flawed contracts in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Of the total contracts currently being audited or under investigation, $6 billion worth of deals are suspected of criminal misconduct. Over half involve procurement fraud- when a company overcharges, misrepresents, or does not deliver equipment or services. read more »
Republican US prosecutor John Atchinson was arrested in Detroit for allegedly using the Internets to get with a toddler. Sort of like adult friend finder except instead of adults you find five year olds. According to the report he told the agent posing as her mother he would "go slow and very easy." Atchinson is being held without bail, and will likely be killed by other inmates before his trial now that he's been moved off of suicide watch. read more »
Habeas corpus is so... 1215. Who really needs the right to challenge indefinite detention by the government in court? The senate rejected a measure to restore this right, a core part of western law dating from the Magna Carta, to individuals designated as enemy combatants. Co-sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), the bill was supported by six Republicans. read more »
Blood diamonds aren't nearly as nutritious as blood bananas! The paramilitaries of Columbia are some of the most brutal and vicious criminal gangs in the world today. Chiquita is being fined 25 million bucks by the US Government for paying 1.7 million in protection money to a listed terrorist group. The Self-Defense Committees of Columbia collected the cash between 1997 and 2004.
According to prosecutor Johnathan Malis, "Chiquita was funding the bullets which killed innocent Colombians." The executives who ordered the payments will not be prosecuted as part of a deal struck with the government in March. read more »
Mexican Presidente VIncente Fox, whose term ended in 2006, bares all in an autobiography to be released on October 4th. Despite the appearance of warm man-to-man relations between Fox and President Bush, Fox describes Bush as "the cockiest man I've ever met." read more »
Not only was Senator David Vitter (R-LA) in the DC Madam's phone book, a prostitute now claims to have done business with him in Louisiana in 1999. Her name is Wendy Ellis, and her allegations have surfaced thanks to the help of publisher Larry Flynt. She is the latest witness in Flynt's campaign to expose hypocrisy in the US government and force the resignation of disgraced public servants. read more »
