Miscellaneous News

It's 11am. Do you know where your empty rhetoric is?

Before I head to work, hear are some stories that fell through the cracks this week.

In addition to empty Iraq rhetoric, Congress also voted itself a raise.

Meanwhile, The Supreme Court shows off its 'new conservatism' (?!) with Justice Alito on board. The AP reports that a Court decision "made it easier Thursday for police to barge into homes and seize evidence without knocking or waiting" and that "The court, on a 5-4 vote, said judges cannot throw out evidence collected by police who have search warrants but do not properly announce their arrival." The decision is causing some controversy.

President Bush does good; creates a new marine sanctuary in Hawaii for endangered species and ocean-area conservation. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, called it "a large milestone". It pays to be an area without any oil.

Homeland Security finds that major cities- including New Orleans- are still not ready for catastrophe.

Back in Congress, the Democrats lead by example on the ethics front... Democratic leaders, led by Nancy Pelosi, "stripped Democratic Rep. William Jefferson of his committee seat on Friday in an unprecedented action against a lawmaker ensnared in scandal, but not under indictment". Jefferson is under investigation for taking bribes. Pelosi told reporters "This isn't about proof in a court of law. This is about an ethical standard."

The same week, Democrats reveal their plan for taking back Congress- focusing on a 'new direction'. "Our new direction will advance a common agenda, seek common ground, and apply common sense in the service of the common good. We know that with a new direction, we can meet our national challenges in a way that makes our nation stronger, our economy more vibrant, and our families more secure. Instead of record deficits, we will go in this new direction in a fiscally sound way. We will make America more competitive and not heap mountains of debt on future generations," their announcement reads. Republicans responded with the usual talking points.

In Iraq news, the first stage of the investigation into the Haditha massacre is complete. No details are known yet, because the investigation is ongoing.

Finally, an odd development in Iraq, as the Washington Post reported on Thursday that "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday proposed a limited amnesty to help end the Sunni Arab insurgency as part of a national reconciliation plan that Maliki said would be released within days. The plan is likely to include pardons for those who had attacked only U.S. troops, a top adviser said." The idea of granting insurgents amnesty as way of helping to curb fighting met with loud approval from congressional Republicans and outcry from their Democratic colleagues and liberal bloggers (such as AmericaBlog). However, a twist came yesterday when the Washington Post had an updated story stating that "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office on Thursday accepted the resignation of an aide who had told a reporter that Maliki was considering a limited amnesty that would likely include guerrillas who had attacked U.S. troops, the aide said." The aide stands by his initial remarks on the amnesty idea. Me, personally? I'm not sure I'm as opposed to the idea as the AmericaBlog folks, but I'm certainly not as enthusiastic about it as some Republicans were. It's hardly without precedent, if anything.