Senator stands behind subpoenas in
US attorney probe
Associated Press Jul 1, 07 1:48 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Patrick Leahy has a message for White House officials who object to subpoenas issued in the US attorney firing investigation: See you in court. The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman took the dispute over executive privilege to the airwaves today, saying, "If they don't cooperate, yes, I'll go that far" when asked about a congressional vote on contempt charges.
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Travel ban represents vote of confidence in Lebanese government
Reuters Jun 29, 07 4:24 PM CDT
(Newser)
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President Bush moved to boost the Lebanese government today, barring officials who have acted to undermine the precarious regime from entering the US. The ban applies to some high-level Syrian officials and five former Lebanese cabinet ministers, Reuters reports. An NSC spokesman said the goal is "to demonstrate to Syria our desire for them to stop meddling in Lebanon."
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With the death of the latest immigration bill, the president may have lost his last chance at a domestic legacy
Washington Post Jun 29, 07 10:00 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The immigration bill that died in the Senate yesterday was President Bush's last hope to salvage any one of his four domestic policy goals for the second term, the Washington Post reports. The goals laid out after 2004 reelection included Social Security and tax overhauls, a curb upon "excessive litigation," and immigration reform.
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Bush invokes executive privilege
in Senate probe of US attorney firings
New York Times Jun 28, 07 5:35 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The White House shot down attempts to subpoena internal documents concerning the US attorney firings today by invoking executive privilege. Though not a surprise, the refusal moved the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to accuse the administration of "Nixonian stonewalling." If the committee doesn't back down, the Times reports, the next step is a Congressional resolution on contempt citations.
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Vote to move forward falls 14 votes short
Washington Post Jun 28, 07 1:55 PM CDT
(Newser)
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In a serious setback for the Bush administration's second-term agenda, the Senate effectively killed the immigration-reform bill today, voting 53-46 to keep the legislation from going forward. The president had actively promoted the bipartisan measure, going so far as to lobby senators by phone this morning, but with his influence at a low ebb, the effort fell short.
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Debate on controversial measure, numerous amendments to resume after 2-week hiatus
New York Times Jun 26, 07 1:46 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The Senate breathed new life into the stalled immigration bill today, voting to resume debate on the signature legislation of President Bush's second term. With a slew of amendments waiting in the wings, passage is hardly a sure thing, the Times reports, but the bipartisan coalition that crafted the measure took heart.
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Lugar urges Bush to pursue economic and diplomatic strategy
Indianapolis Star Jun 26, 07 1:06 PM CDT
(Newser)
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An influential Republican senator abandoned his support for President Bush's Iraq war strategy last night with a call to cut back the US military's role in the region and focus more on diplomatic and economic options. Richard Lugar, the senior minority member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has a reputation for rising above partisan sniping, reports the Indianapolis Star .
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Sally Quinn: Thompson offers perfect solution
Washington Post Jun 26, 07 9:35 AM CDT
(Newser)
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GOP decision-makers are so fed up with Dick Cheney that they've been searching for a replacement, without much success—until recently. In an op-ed in today's Washington Post, inveterate insider Sally Quinn lays out an ingenious plan: Use heart surgery scheduled for this summer as an excuse to oust the VP, and install Fred Thompson in his place.
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Robert Zoellick to take over July 1
BBC Jun 26, 07 5:48 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Declaring that he's looking forward to "encouraging hope, opportunity and dignity," Robert Zoellick was elected yesterday to succeed the embattled Paul Wolfowitz as new chief of the World Bank. The Goldman Sachs investment banker and former US deputy secretary of state will officially step into office July 1.
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President wants to avoid nasty floor fight on post-surge strategy
Los Angeles Times Jun 25, 07 3:01 PM CDT
(Newser)
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President Bush has quietly dispatched top officials to work with lawmakers who've defected on the war in Iraq, the Los Angeles Times reports. With support of the war plummeting, the goal is a revised war plan that could avoid bruising battles as the mixed results of the troop surge come in over the next few months.
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Senators launch
PR offensive in run-up to crucial vote
Associated Press Jun 24, 07 1:19 PM CDT
(Newser)
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This week's debate over the immigration bill, which is headed for a nail-bitingly close Senate vote, started on the Sunday talk shows. The improbable coalition behind the legislation—which President Bush supports—faces a tough job, Jeff Sessions made clear. The Alabama Republican vowed to "use every effort to slow this process down and continue to hold up the bill."
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White House orders reports that could counter pro-surge Petraeus come Sept.
New York Times Jun 23, 07 9:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The Bush administration has commissioned a slew of reports that could help it justify an end to the troop surge later this fall, the New York Times reports. Three months before Gen. Petraeus's planned report on the efficacy of the troop increase—expected to recommend a continuation of the surge—Bush and Co. are lining up others who will recommend an alternate strategy come September.
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