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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (341227)	1/9/2003 10:58:53 PM
From: Patricia Trinchero	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

The Republicans are going to allow themselves more rewards from lobbyists: House GOP Eases Some Ethic Rules January 8, 2003 latimes.com. E-mail story From Associated Press WASHINGTON -- House Republicans unraveled some of their strict ethic rules Tuesday, passing changes that would allow charities to give lawmakers free travel and lodging at resorts and make it easier for lobbyists to send free food to congressional offices. The move by the Republican leadership was hidden so well it even caught leaders of the House Ethics Committee by surprise. A Republican leadership aide called the changes cosmetic, but Democrats characterized them as a serious erosion of ethical standards. The revisions were part of a package of rule changes that passed on a 221-203 party-line vote. A Democratic effort to kill the revisions lost, 225 to 200. "The Republican majority made much of past abuses in this body," said Rep. Martin Frost (D-Texas) in the House's first debate of the 108th Congress. "Yet, now that the Republicans believe they have a safe and secure majority for the foreseeable future, they want to undo some of the significant strides that were made." John Feehery, spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert of Illinois, called the changes clarifications. Republicans imposed strict ethic rules after taking over the House in 1995, following 40 years of Democratic control and many ethic investigations of members.

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (341227)	1/9/2003 11:01:10 PM
From: Dr. Doktor	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

You should find and read this book. Then get 3 more of your liberal friends to read it too. "Economics for Liberals" When was the last time you met a Lefty (a.k.a. Liberal, Leftist, Socialist, Marxist, etc.) who understood even the most rudimentary concepts of economics? They are a rare breed. And chances are if you find one, they are probably in the transition stage before abandoning Leftism altogether. Capitalism is not only the best, but it is the only economic arrangement consistent and compatible with a society rooted in economic and political Liberty. Lefties think they can have a "little bit" of central control and planning without sacrificing Liberty. But the United States' 20th century experience with this type of psuedo-socialism puts the lie to that claim. The simple and straightforward facts in this book will be hard for Leftist to swallow as each page will probably be accompanied by the usual knee-jerk reaction - rooted in envy and hatred for success; in love for equal outcomes and mediocrity; and in a warped sense of what wealth is and isn't. ETA WAG: Winter, 2003

To: Kenneth E. Phillipps who wrote (341227)	1/10/2003 6:39:14 AM
From: Tom Clarke	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Patty Revisits Osama By The Prowler Published 1/10/2003 12:28:00 AM THERE'S NO GETTING OVER HIM Democratic leaders were fuming on Thursday after colleague Sen. Patty Murray revisited her embarrassing sympathetic comments about Osama bin Laden. Murray stopped to speak to reporters after spending time with her 13 female Senate colleagues yesterday, and was asked about the Bin Laden comments. According to a Democratic Senate leadership staffer, Murray had received advice from several colleagues to avoid returning to the controversial topic, and to let the furor over her comments die down. Instead, Murray walked head first into the bin Laden mess all over again. She said that her comments had been twisted and misconstrued. But she didn't say they were also inaccurate. Recall that on December 18, Murray spoke to a group of students and was asked why bin Laden found support in many Middle Eastern and African nations. Murray said of the terrorist, "He's been out in these countries for decades building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day care facilities, building health care facilities and people are extremely grateful. He's made their lives better. We have not done that." In fact, the United States has been the leading aid donor to several of the countries where bin Laden's following has grown in the past few years. "She's already on thin ice with her performance on the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee last year," says a DSCC staffer, noting that as leader of the committee she'd promised her caucus would widen its majority control of the Senate. "And she's up for re-election this time around and already in trouble. People up here are pulling their hair out over this." The Democratic concern is that Murray's wet kiss to Osama will continue to haunt her politically at home, where the White House is hoping to lure either Rep. Jennifer Dunn or Rep. George Nethercutt to challenge her in 2004. Dunn is by far the more appealing of the two. Thus far she is said to have been noncommittal to White House and RNC suggestions that she make a play for the higher office. Even before her gaffe, Murray was targeted by Republicans as highly beatable in the next election cycle. "What bothers us is that she seemed to understand how this thing could stick to her for the next 18 or 20 months," says the Democratic leadership staffer. "All she had to do was keep her mouth closed. But with some of these guys [and gals], they're just incapable of doing that." ZELL OF A GOOD GUY Republicans were doubly cheered by Democratic Sen. Zell Miller's decision to retire from the Senate in 2004. "Not only do we have a better shot of picking up the seat," said a Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee staffer, "but Miller is a free man now." Republicans think that Miller, unfettered by concerns about re-election fundraising and the like, is more likely to be a more vocal supporter of the Bush Administration agenda. "We need him on the economic stimulus package, and this announcement may make it possible for him to more readily support us if we can bring a satisfactory package to the floor," says a Senate Finance Committee staffer. Miller has long been a target of Republican attempts to jump parties, but he has tamped down such talk. Instead, he has stayed with the Democrats, crossing over to vote with the GOP on issues he felt strongly about. theamericanprowler.org