WP: Tensions Rise in House Over Security Issues

[Pirate Smile]

Tensions Rise in House Over Security Issues

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 17, 2005; Page A06

A conservative, a moderate, a liberal and a libertarian teamed up in the House yesterday to prod President Bush to set a timetable to withdraw from Iraq, striking a rare tone of unity on a day when tensions about national security provoked marathon brawling on the floor.

The resolution was sponsored by Reps. Walter B. Jones Jr. (R-N.C.), Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Ron Paul (R-Tex.). It calls for Bush to begin drawing down troops in Iraq by Oct. 1, 2006, but does not set a date for complete withdrawal.

Jones -- a congressman's son who voted for the war, sits on the Armed Services Committee and represents the huge Marine base at Camp Lejeune -- said he believes that in the long run, his constituents "will think that we as a nation have a responsibility to take a fresh look" at goals for Iraq. "I think Mr. Bush could really declare victory in the next six months if he wanted to," he said.

Abercrombie said he sees a parallel to Vietnam in that "military action is becoming its own political policy," and said the "Homeward Bound" legislation was written to avoid blame and generate bipartisan support.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/16/AR2005061601569.html

[merwin]

1. That first line of the article sounds like the first line of a joke.

"A conservative, a moderate, a liberal and a libertarian teamed up in the House yesterday."

[wicket]

9. LOL- I was thinking the same thing!

:D

[mbperrin]

2. Well, uh, gee, this is sorta embarassin'to the * folk,

surely!

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!

[maddezmom]

3. WP: Tensions Rise in House Over Security Issues (Sensenbrenner)

One of the most contentious security issues is on the domestic front, the president's call for Congress to renew 15 provisions of the USA Patriot Act that are set to expire at the end of the year. A hearing on the Patriot Act last Friday ended in turmoil when Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (Wis.) became irritated by a stream of criticism of the administration and gaveled the session to an end.

Sensenbrenner, under heavy criticism from Democrats, acknowledged during a 16-minute defense on the floor starting at 9:10 p.m. that he had "adjourned the hearing in a manner inconsistent with the spirit of comity that has and should continue to inform committee deliberations." But he said he had "exercised great patience" in the hearing. Turning to the Democratic side, he said,"I will not be deterred by malicious attacks or minority obstructionism."
~snip~

Sensenbrenner was responding to a resolution of disapproval proposed by a committee Democrat, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.). The panel's ranking Democrat, Rep. John Conyers Jr. (Mich.), said he was stunned during the hearing by Sensenbrenner's "hostility" toward lawmakers and witnesses. "I've never, ever experienced a witness being stopped dead in mid-sentence," said Conyers, a 40-year congressman.

~snip~

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/16/AR2005061601569.html?nav=rss_nation/nationalsecurity

[MaineDem]

4. Headline should be something about the resolution of disapproval

That was an interesting half an hour on the floor of the House last night. I was amazed that the chair let the House applaud Sensenbrenner's comments. It was pretty contentious.

But what he did was wrong!!! At least the Dems (as well as the GOP for that matter) held ranks on the vote to table.

Edited for grammar.

[tk2kewl]

5. Not to mention the prick actually left the room and had the mics and

audio equipment shut off.

[Stockholm]

6. Seems Conyers a regular Bunsen Burner for Sensenbrenner n/t

[Coventina]

7. Pink Tutu Democrats AGAIN

Frickin' Abercrombie says it's "written to avoid blame and generate bipartisan support."

EXCUSE ME?!?!?!?!?

Avoid blame?

No fucking way. That is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!

[stillcool]

8. Bring them home now....

say anything you want, but bring them home. Not one more death, for an illegal immoral war. This fight is on sooooo many fronts now...feels like we're going to implode.....

[Straight Shooter]

10. "bush could really declare victory in the next 6 months if he wanted to"

bush has been declaring victory all along. What difference will 6 months make?

If our troops do come home, and please let that be so, it will be like any other good thing in the reign of Little Boots, that it will happen with bush fighting it tooth and nail.