When Impeachment means Not Guilty!

A new article in the Washington Post on the Alcee Hastings Controversy by his Lawyer, some interesting points but he was IMPEACHED by the House and kicked out of office by the SENATE.

The Hastings Problem

Will the new Speaker – Elect appoint a former Impeached Judge, Alcee Hastings to be Chairman of the Intelligence Committee in the House of Representatives. Time States the following, ‘ Pelosi — and the Democrats, for that matter — cannot afford another misstep so early in her tenure. ’ In pure political terms the Conservative Democrats should reminded the Speaker – Elect that there is another election in Two years, and the point of the Democratic victory was based on the flaws of the Republicans, to appoint someone who was impeached and thrown out of office by the Senate would raise questions if any thing had changed on the Hill.

David Corn writing in the Liberal leaning Nation states the following on Hastings. ‘ In the late 1980s, Hastings, then a federal judge, was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House on bribery and perjury charges and removed from office by the Democratic-led Senate. He was later elected to the House and subsequently joined the intelligence committee. ’ Corn states the following solution for the new Speaker to think about, ‘ She ought to instead adopt a radical stance and give this most important job to the most qualified person. ’ This would be the prudent political action to take, or in pure political terms the Republicans can come back and say, that the Democrats have learnt nothing from their problems.

On the Assassination

The Truth is no longer Enough

The New York Times states the following on the assassination of Pierre Gemayel in Lebanon today, Gemayel, a ‘ strong opponent of Syrian influence in Lebanon, was gunned down in his car here on Tuesday afternoon, jolting a nation already paralyzed by political conflict that threatens to topple the government. ’ The assassination follows a pattern of those opposed to Syria being killed.

The general view is that Syria has had some hand in the killings, this does cause a problem, while Syria wants influence in Lebanon and uses all methods and thus causes problems for the West, we might need Syria to help the UK and USA in Iraq. A time for hard tough real politics or the pursuit of the Truth.

Time states the following on the assassination, ‘ The killing of his uncle, President Bashir Gemayel, in 1982, marked the beginning of a particularly bloody chapter in Lebanon's 15-year Civil War. And the fear now spreading through the country is that this latest attack could usher in a similar period of heightened violence. ’ Times notes as does the NYT that since the assassination of Former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri last year, those opposed to Syria have been killed.

Time states the following, ‘ Since Hariri's death, a bombing campaign has killed or injured a series of anti-Syrian politicians and journalists. The last murder, of newspaper publisher Gebran Tueni, took place in December of last year. ’

Thus if Syria is behind the killings over the past few years and we need Syria to help us out in Iraq, it will take very careful diplomacy and averting our eyes from the Truth, in the end one has to ask what was the point of Iraq.

Syria

Is Syria behind recent developments in Lebanon, and what does this do for the problem of Iraq.

Iraq OR Nam

The mess that is Iraq, what are the options that can be meet or not meet.

1. Regional Conference with Iran, Syria, but what will they want to attend, what do they want from the West, well the USA and will their demands be meet. In the case of Syria, Lebanon under its influence and no past investigations in to its actions. In the case of Iran, the West allowing it to became a Nuclear Power but would the West allow Iran to became a armed nuclear power.

2. More Troops in, an extra twenty thousand for a short period, but will it work, if it does not work what then.

3. More Troops within the context of a phased withdrawal, in other words another Lebanon, a face saving exit, problem, Iran would win and we would be back here within a few years, with Israel and Iran eye ball to eye ball.

4. Divided Iraq between the interested Parties but keep the oil under Western control but sharing the Profits between the Parties who did not take violent action against Western Troops.

5. A Strong General to take over, not a Liberal, not a Democrat, a General who's only view is my way or the highway to those that oppose him.

6. Give up, cut and run, no way this would work, this is not the 1920s. Oil and Oil..!!

VIEWS ON IRAQ

Why does Views have a nasty feeling Iraq will became another Nam, a place of lost hope and more death. Views IDEA for Iraq:

1. More Troops, a hundred thousand more troops, clean house in the Capital.

2. Close the Borders with Syria and Iran.

3. Send the CIA in to both countries, let lose the dogs of war and win, keep them out of Iraq.

4. Also start talks with Syria, make a deal over its regional interests, break its contacts with Iran.

5. Support those opposed to the regime in Iran, CIA, do what it takes to win. JFK or RFK didn't like to lose.

6. At all costs win, losing its not an option.

Majority Leader Vote, Moderation Wins

Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader, Click here


Speaker - Elect Nancy Pelosi

Link to Speaker Elect's Home Page, Click here


John Murtha
Click here

Pictures courtesy of US Congress, Representatives Home Pages

In the race to be Majority Leader, John Murtha has lost to Steny Hoyer by 149 - 86. An Article in the Washington Post states the following, ‘… the showdown divided the Democratic House caucus only a week after the party won a majority of seats in the Congress that convenes in January. ’ After the election the Speaker - Elect stated that she looked forward to working with her Deputy. Lets see when the political fighting starts among the DEMOCRATS!!

The Democrats and Reality

Courtesy U.S Congress:
Congressman Murtha’s Official Photo, US Congress

Link to the Representative John Murtha’s, Congressional Page

Well it has taken a few days but the Democrats are returning to form, thus the case of Representative John Murtha and his attempt to become Majority Leader with the support of Nancy Pelosi. In the Washington Post Ruth Marcus writes that the Speaker-Elect has already ‘ flunked ’ her first test, and there are other problem cases for the new Speaker to deal with before January. The Congressional Newspaper The Hill States the following, ‘ Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is imploring her colleagues to support Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) for majority leader…’

It should be noted that Representative Murtha supported the Contra Freedom Fighters during the 1980s. A brief history of Murtha, he has served in the Military, a close relationship to this day with the military, a move and shaker in the political corridors. But more important he came out against the Iraq War and gave cover to the Liberal wing of the Democratic Party. Thus his support by Pelosi for the Job of Majority Leader.

In a press release the Congressman states the following, ‘ I intend to help to bring back to this institution: civility; credibility; respect for each other and the offices we hold; and, most importantly, hard work, compromise, and results. It will be difficult at times, no question, because it is not easy to compromise when you believe passionately in a position or a goal. …. But like any authority figure, we have an impact on those who look to us and see in our behavior the example of what is and is not acceptable, professional, honorable, and American. We must set a new standard for leadership in this Congress because Americans are watching and so we must lead by example. ’

If Murtha should win, then his previous actions in the 1980s when he was caught up in a Congressional scandal would come back to haunt the Democrats, if he should lose it would show Pelosi as weak even before coming Speaker. As Views recalls the 1980s under a Democratic Congress let the fun start!!