Blue Spot

Democracy Now! | Ex-CIA Officials Tied to Rendition Program and Faulty Iraq Intel Tapped to Head Obama's Intelligence Transition Team

...questions are already being raised about the people heading Obama’s transition efforts on intelligence policy. John Brennan and Jami Miscik, both former intelligence officials under George Tenet, are leading the review of intelligence agencies and helping make recommendations to the new administration. Brennan has supported warrantless wiretapping and extraordinary rendition, and Miscik was involved with the politicized intelligence alleging weapons of mass destruction in the lead-up to the war on Iraq.

MELVIN GOODMAN: OK. John Brennan was deputy executive secretary to George Tenet during the worst violations during the CIA period in the run-up to the Iraq war, so he sat there at Tenet’s knee when they passed judgment on torture and abuse, on extraordinary renditions, on black sites, on secret prisons. He was part of all of that decision making.

Jami Miscik was the Deputy Director for Intelligence during the run-up to the Iraq war. So she went along with the phony intelligence estimate of October 2002, the phony white paper that was prepared by Paul Pillar in October 2002. She helped with the drafting of the speech that Colin Powell gave to the United Nations—[inaudible] 2003, which made the phony case for war to the international community.

So, when George Tenet said, "slam dunk, we can provide all the intelligence you need,” [inaudible] to the President in December of 2002, it was people like Jami Miscik and John Brennan who were part of the team who provided that phony intelligence. So what I think people at the CIA are worried about—and I’ve talked to many of them over the weekend—is that there will never be any accountability for these violations and some of the unconscionable acts committed at the CIA, which essentially amount to war crimes, when you’re talking about torture and abuse and secret prisons. So, where are we, in terms of change? This sounds like more continuity.

Labels: Afghanistan, anti-war movement, Congress, FISA, Foreign Policy, Gitmo, Impeachment, Intelligence, Iran, Iraq War, Liberals, Obama administration, Obama critics, Pakistan, Rahm Emanuel, WMD

House Dems win their biggest majority in 15 years - CNN.com

(CNN) -- House Democrats are on track to gain at least 17 seats in the next Congress, according to CNN projections, giving Speaker Nancy Pelosi her party's most powerful majority since 1993.

Such a margin would arm Democratic President-elect Barack Obama with a formidable tool to push his legislative agenda after he takes office on January 20.

Democrats took at least 21 seats from Republicans in Tuesday's election, with the GOP taking four seats from the Democrats, according to CNN projections.

With winners yet to be called for 11 of the House's 435 seats, Democrats were projected to win 251 seats, with Republicans having 173.

Among Tuesday's GOP casualties was longtime Rep. Chris Shays of Connecticut, whose reputation for occasionally bucking his party couldn't keep him from losing to Democrat Jim Himes.

Shays' defeat leaves New England without any Republicans in the House. Shays was seeking his 11th full term.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said Tuesday night she was confident Democrats would ride a "wave" of pro-Democratic sentiment across the country and add to their House majority, though she declined to predict by how much.

"We have surfers to ride that wave," Pelosi said at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, where she was watching election results.

Heading into Election Day, the Democrats had a 235-199 House majority. The Democrats' gains come two years after they took control of the House -- with a gain of 30 seats -- after 12 years in the minority.

Labels: Congress, General Election 2008

ABC News: Congressman's $121,000 Payoff to Alleged Mistress Tim Mahoney Elected to Remove 'Ethical Cloud' of His Disgraced Predecessor, Mark Foley

West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL), whose predecessor resigned in the wake of a sex scandal, agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him, according to current and former members of his staff who have been briefed on the settlement, which involved Mahoney and his campaign committee.

Mahoney, who is married, also promised the woman, Patricia Allen, a $50,000 a year job for two years at the agency that handles his campaign advertising, the staffers said.

A Mahoney spokesperson would not answer questions about the alleged affair or the settlement, but said Allen resigned of her own accord and "has not received any special payment from campaign funds."

Senior Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives, including Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), the chair of the Democratic Caucus, have been working with Mahoney to keep the matter from hurting his re-election campaign, the Mahoney staffers said.

Labels: Congress, Ethics reform, Scandals

Congress passes bailout, Bush signs into law | Reuters NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Congress approved a $700 billion bailout package for U.S. banks as efforts to head off a spreading global financial crisis hung in the balance.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the financial rescue plan by a vote of 263-171. That vote sent the measure to U.S. President George W. Bush, who quickly signed it into law, concluding two weeks of haggling in Washington that had roiled and captivated global markets.

Markets pivoted on passage of the bailout, with stocks drifting from highs and the dollar slipping as the focus began to shift from the immediate response to the financial crisis to signs of a gathering recession.

"This probably comes a bit too late. If this had been done earlier, it probably would have had a much bigger impact in restoring confidence," said Anna Piretti, economist at BNP Paribas in New York. "Over the past two weeks what we have seen is an accumulation of weak reports."

Earlier, the hobbled financial sector was bolstered as Wells Fargo & Co stepped in to buy Wachovia Corp.

But in signs of the spreading crisis, California said it was running out of money, France said the world stood on the "edge of the abyss" and European leaders divided over their response to the banking sector's difficulties.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who had been the administration's chief lobbyist for the plan, said regulators would get going quickly to implement the emergency power to start buying up distressed assets from banks.

Labels: Congress, Economy, Financial, Government Bailout

Lawmakers and the Bush administration must settle the details on a rescue intended to keep credit flowing and avert a recession.

Labels: Congress, Economy, Financial, Government Bailout

Talks Implode During a Day of Chaos; Fate of Bailout Plan Remains Unresolved - NYTimes.com

WASHINGTON — President Bush tried to assure Americans on Friday morning that lawmakers and the administration would be able come together and reach an agreement on a proposal to rescue the country’s financial system.

“We are going to get a package passed,” Mr. Bush said, a day after an earlier agreement dissolved amid a flurry of political rancor. “We will rise to the occasion. Democrats and Republicans are going to come together to get a rescue plan passed.”

Mr. Bush spoke as lawmakers and administration officials were gearing up for a second day of discussions about the shape of the $700 billion rescue package. Thursday’s agreement, which seemed like a sure thing by early afternoon, fell apart during a meeting later in the day at the White House.

Wall Street seemed to find some solace in Bush’s comments, Shares, which trading down more than 100 points, cut their loses in half.

Speaking from the White House just after the New York Stock Exchange opening bell, President Bush noted the disagreements among lawmakers about how the rescue should be shaped. “The legislative process is sometimes not very pretty,” he said.

But he said everyone in Washington agreed that action was needed immediately. “There are disagreements over aspects of the plan, but there is no disagreement that something substantial must be done,” he said.

For their part Friday morning, lawmakers from both parties staked out their positions on a round of morning talk shows. Ahead of the anticipated resumption of negotiations later in the morning, the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said the urgency of the moment meant that agreement would come within the next 24 hours.

“It will happen because it has to happen,” she said in an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America, according to Reuters.

Separately, Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, and the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said on Friday that an agreement depended on House Republicans ending their opposition and “dropping this revolt” against the plan proposed by the Bush administration, The Associated Press reported. He described the rival plan being proposed by Republicans as “an ambush.”

Labels: Congress, Economy, Financial, Government Bailout

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire investor Warren Buffett, calling the market turmoil ``an economic Pearl Harbor,'' said Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's $700 billion proposal to prop up the U.S. financial system is ``absolutely necessary.''

``The market could not have taken another week'' like last week, Buffett told CNBC today, a day after saying his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will buy a $5 billion stake in Goldman Sachs Group Inc. ``I think it was the last thing Hank Paulson wanted to do, but there's no Plan B for this.''

Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke are pushing Congress to quickly approve the plan to remove illiquid assets from the banking system. Lawmakers have balked at rubber- stamping the proposal, with Democrats demanding it include support for homeowners and limits on executive pay and Republicans questioning the plan's reach and size.

``I am betting on the Congress doing the right thing for the American public and passing this bill,'' Buffett said. The economy is ``everybody's problem,'' he said, likening it to ``a bathtub -- you can't have cold water in the front and hot water in the back.''

Berkshire is buying the stake in Goldman, Paulson's former firm, after three of the investment bank's biggest competitors went bankrupt or were forced into emergency sales. He has already agreed to spend at least $25 billion this year to acquire companies, finance buyouts and purchase securities for Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire.

``I certainly have a vote of confidence in Goldman and vote of confidence in Congress,'' said Buffett, who is investing in the firm after it lost 40 percent of its market value in the past year.

Buffett, who last year complained that he couldn't find companies big enough to buy, said he's not a fan of cash.

``It's nice to have a lot of money, but you know, you don't want to keep it around forever,'' Buffett said. ``I prefer buying things. Otherwise, it's a little like saving sex for your old age.''

Labels: Congress, Economy, Financial, Government Bailout

House GOP rises up against Cheney - Daniel W. Reilly and Patrick O'Connor - Politico.com

There was a time when Dick Cheney could turn back a Republican revolt on Capitol Hill. That time is gone.

House Republicans rose up en masse against their vice president on Tuesday morning to blast an administration proposal that would grant Treasury historic authority to start buying hundreds of billions of dollars in devalued mortgage-related assets, according to members present.

The lines to speak were long, the questions many and sentiment in the Cannon Caucus Room Tuesday swayed heavily against the Treasury proposal.

Afterward, Texas Rep. Joe Barton took the unusual step of telling reporters that he had politely given Cheney a piece of his mind – the sort of dissent Republicans considered unthinkable during much of the Bush administration's reign.

A full-throated Republican revolt could create huge problems for the administration and congressional Democrats scrambling to assemble a package to reassure jittery markets. It could also preserve the Republicans’ options after the fact – if the bailout doesn’t work or proves deeply unpopular with voters, they can say they opposed it.

Labels: Cheney, Congress, Economy, Financial

N.Y. Rep. admits fathering child from affair - USATODAY.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Vito Fossella of New York acknowledged on Thursday that he fathered a child from an extramarital affair, answering questions that arose from his arrest on drunken driving charges last week.
"My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love and I am truly sorry," said Fossella, a Republican, who has three children with his wife in Staten Island, N.Y.

Fossella's private life came under scrutiny after he was arrested last week in the Virginia suburbs of Washington. Police said his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, and he could face a mandatory five days in jail if convicted.

When Fossella was pulled over, police said he told officers that he was going to see his daughter in the area. That prompted questions about who the daughter was.

"I have had a relationship with Laura Fay, with whom I have a 3-year-old daughter," Fossella said in his statement. It was Fay who got him out of jail after the arrest.

The disclosure clouds Fossella's political future. He faced a surprisingly tough re-election challenge in 2006, and Democrats were hoping to unseat him this year.

"While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind. Over the coming weeks and months, I will continue to do my job and I will work hard to heal the deep wounds I have caused," he said.

Fossella was elected to Congress in 1997 in a special election to replace Rep. Susan Molinari, who resigned. A graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he also earned a law degree from Fordham University.

Fossella, 43, serves as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Labels: Congress, Fossella, GOP Hypocrisy, Local, NY-13

Vito Fossella's relationship with 'mystery woman' under scrutiny

This is the first look at the mystery woman whom Rep. Vito Fossella (R-S.I.) called for help after he was charged with drunken driving in Virginia.

Laura Fay, wearing sunglasses and dressed in jogging clothes, refused to comment when she was approached over the weekend.

Fay is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and marathon runner. Public records show the divorcee owns a townhouse in Alexandria, Va. She also reportedly has a 3-year-old daughter.

Fossella aides continued to describe the two only as good friends. Fay picked up Fossella last Thursday morning, seven hours after he was arrested for running a red light 3 miles away from her townhouse.

In other developments:

*Watchdog groups questioned Fossella's use of campaign funds to pay a high-priced damage control expert.

*Fossella was one of only two members of Congress whose spouses were not on a list of attendees at a dinner party in Britain.

*Critics in his own party wondered whey he called Fay instead of his chief of staff, who also lives in Alexandria.

The Republican, facing reelection in November, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 - twice the legal limit, cops said, and hired damage consultant Susan Del Percio with money from his campaign war chest.

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local, NY-13

Rep. Fossella (R, NY-13) apologizes to his constituents of NY-13th CD for his DWI arrest in VA. Dem. Steve Harrison who ran against Fossella in 2006, and is now facing a challenge from Dem. Domenic Recchia, is featured in this clip as Fossella's main opponent. This could do wonders for Harrison's bid to take back the Democratic nomination.

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

*Update: Fossella to address the media tomorrow afternoon.

Rep. Fossella Arrested on Charges of Driving While Intoxicated - washingtonpost.com

Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-N.Y.) was arrested overnight in Alexandria and charged with driving while intoxicated, court records showed today.

Fossella is scheduled to appear in Alexandria General District Court on May 12 for an advisement hearing, the records said.

No other details were immediately available.

Late this afternoon, Fossella released a statement, saying, "Last night I made an error in judgment. As a parent, I know that taking even one drink of alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a car is wrong. I apologize to my family and the constituents of the 13th Congressional District for embarrassing them, as well as myself."

Driving while intoxicated is a very serious charge. Over 17,000 people die every year as a result of such irresponsible and illegal action according to Mothers against Drunk Driving Only 2 days ago MADD held a luncheon at which I was represented. I stand shoulder to shoulder with MADD in its quest to rid our society of this scourge and I certainly hope that all candidates and elected officials from all parties and all places would do the same. As elected officials and potential elected officials we have an obligation to set an example for society. Lawmakers cannot expect the people to follow the laws if they themselves disregard them.

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

Congress.org Vito is #365.
He's ranked 26th out of 29 NY representatives and 133rd in his party. The site uses the following criteria to determine the rank:

Our project team identified key characteristics of power. These characteristics were then measured and weighted to determine the relative power or potential power demonstrated by Members of Congress heading into 2007. We grouped those characteristics into three broad categories.

1) Position: How much power might the legislator wield through his/her position in the Congress by virtue of tenure, new committee assignments or new leadership position? This Power Category includes some new weightings for all committees, subcommittees, and leadership positions, taking into consideration the new majority or minority party status of the member.

2) Indirect Influence: How much power has the legislator demonstrated or may be capable of demonstrating to influence the congressional agenda or outcome of votes through the media or congressional caucuses.

3) Legislative Activity: How much power has the legislator demonstrate through the passage of legislation or shaping legislation through amendments thus far? The team eliminated from that data items which did not substantially change the bill or existing law. These included amendments dealing with technical changes or bills of a ceremonial or commemorative nature such as naming of post offices or other public buildings, or non-binding resolutions that expressed the "sense of the Congress."

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local

The Brooklyn Paper: Harrison to challenge Vito again

The campaign may only be a few hours old, but the gloves are already off.

Two years after Democrat Steve Harrison lost to Rep. Vito Fossella (R–Bay Ridge), the Bay Ridge lawyer is looking for another shot at the conservative law maker. He said this week that he would again be a candidate for the seat representing Bay Ridge and Staten Island.

He and Fossella have already begun to set the tone for the debate, and it looks like it is going to be war — literally.

Harrison plans on using the war in Iraq as his rallying cry to counter the hawkish Fossella.

“I am running because I believe we have to build a majority of Democrats in Congress to stop this ill-conceived war,” said Harrison. “I absolutely believe the war in Iraq was wrong, and I would prefer to not even use the term war on terror.”

Labels: Congress, Fossella, Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

Congress passes ethics reform bill - Politics - MSNBC.com

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Thursday to make lawmakers disclose more about their efforts to fund pet projects and raise money from lobbyists, a move some called the biggest advance in congressional ethics in decades.

The 83 to 14 vote, which sends the bill to President Bush, prompted Democrats to claim fulfillment of their 2006 campaign promise to crack down on lobbying abuses that sent some lawmakers and a prominent lobbyist to prison.

The bill would require lawmakers to disclose those lobbyists who raise $15,000 or more for them within a six-month period by "bundling" donations from many people. Lawmakers seeking targeted spending projects, or "earmarks," would have to publicize their plans in advance, although critics said the requirements are hardly airtight.

Labels: Congress, Ethics reform

FBI contradicts Gonzales' testimony - Politics - MSNBC.com WASHINGTON - FBI Director Robert S. Mueller said Thursday the government's terrorist surveillance program was the topic of a 2004 hospital room dispute between top Bush administration officials, contradicting Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' sworn Senate testimony.

Mueller's statement came hours after Senate Democrats called for a perjury investigation against Gonzales and subpoenaed top presidential aide Karl Rove in a deepening political and legal clash with the Bush administration.

Mueller was not in the hospital room at the time of the dramatic March 10, 2004, confrontation between then-Attorney General John Ashcroft and presidential advisers Andy Card and Gonzales, who was then serving as White House counsel. Mueller told the House Judiciary Committee he arrived shortly after they left, and spoke with the ailing Ashcroft.

Labels: AG Gonzales, Alberto Gonzales, Congress, Investigations

A Power Governments Cannot Suppress author Howard Zinn talks about patriotism, congress and impeachment with Walter Mosley at the Harlem Book Festival.

Labels: Congress, Grassroots, Impeachment, Zinn

House votes to withdraw troops - Politics - MSNBC.com

WASHINGTON - Iraq has achieved only spotty military and political progress toward a democratic society, the Bush administration conceded Thursday, an unenthusiastic assessment followed quickly by a House vote to withdraw U.S. troops by spring.

The measure passed 223-201 in the Democratic-controlled House despite a veto threat from President Bush, who has ruled out any change in war policy before September.

“The security situation in Iraq remains complex and extremely challenging,” the administration report concluded. The economic picture is uneven, it added, and the government has not yet enacted vital political reconciliation legislation.

Labels: Congress, Iraq War