The creeping feeling of guilt

What must it feel like to work under a constant worry of being found out? Republicans are the experts on this question as of recently.

The natural instinct is escape trouble, perhaps placing blame elsewhere or lying about your actions. Imagine dragging into work everyday having to constantly look over your shoulder, playing out situations and conversations in your head. What will the media do to me? Maybe you can get your friends to cover for you. Will I have to resign? The stress must be painful.

The creeping feeling of guilt is stirring Washington. Who is responsible for leaking Valerie Plame's CIA identity?

Karl Rove and Robert Novak have maneuvered their way to put an innocent woman in jail over the CIA leak: Judith Miller, a NY Times reporter sent to jail because she would not reveal her source - because confidentiality needed to be defended (Miller's boss at the NY Times sent out a memo this week analyzing what he could have done to stick up for his reporter - he's feeling it too).

Rove is not yet indicted. But he's surely expecting it. The extended investigation of Rove's involvement in the CIA leak means that he will now have to wait in expectation longer to hear his fate.

Another Republican has already heard his fate. Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was indicted today and as this is being written, he has handed in his resignation. Early reports are saying he is tied to the CIA leak and he was under investigation for nearly two years, leading to today's indictment. If convicted on all charges, he faces 30 years in prison.

Yet another Republican, Tom DeLay was indicted and stepped down as majority leader of the House. Political money has a paper trail, and DeLay knew better than to funnel it around. Behind the candid smiling mug shot picture, DeLay is facing the death of his political career.

Republicans are loosing their grip on the nation, losing power, and facing political death and jail time. What a horrible feeling it must be...knowing that you're not as cunning and politically astute as you thought.

Here's a simple suggestion for dealing with that feeling: end the corruption, please.

The Greater Threat

The American way of life, all that we believe in and stand for, has come under attack. This threat comes not from terrorists, but from our leadership’s response to them. Specifically, I am referring to Vice President Cheney’s proposal that would exempt the CIA from Senator John McCain’s measure barring the cruel and inhumane punishment of prisoners in our custody. This comes in the wake of veto threats for this measure that emerged from the White House immediately after its passage.

It is now clear that the current administration, beyond ignoring the mistreatment and abuse of prisoners, actually encourages and supports these actions. Abu Gharib should be a mystery no longer. This is despicable. By changing our policies to fly in the face of international law, by forfeiting our notions of human rights, justice, and due process, by altering our perspective to accept actions more becoming of a dictatorship than a liberal democracy, we in essence concede defeat to the terrorist. We admit that they have in fact changed how we live and have the ability to do so, that we now live in a fear so perpetual that we are willing to stoop to any base and immoral level to counter it.

I do not believe these things to be true - I think we as a nation are better, stronger, and more resolved than that. I believe that we can, we MUST again become the "city on the hill" to which other nations look for an example of democracy, justice, and what is right. However, by forgoing our core national values, as this administration seems hell bent on doing, we lose our credibility and moral authority around the world. We cannot achieve victory in the War on Terror by abandoning everything that we stand for.

Giving Credit Where it is Due

It has always been the policy of this blog (at least me in particular) to give credit to Republicans when they do something commendable.

Today, as occurs almost every year Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy proposed an increase in the Federal minimum wage. As usual, Republicans voted to reject this measure. Every single “nay” vote of the 51 total came from a Republican mouth.

Similarly, every single Democrat fell in line and supported this measure (a core Democratic value), except for two who were unable to make the vote. This means that there were four brave souls who crossed Republican Party lines and voted with the Democrats to help low-income workers improve their measure in life.

We applaud them all. They were: Chafee of Rhode Island (no surprise – he usually votes with the Dems), DeWine of Ohio, Specter of Pennsylvania, and – get ready for this one – Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. That’s right, Rick Santorum, the bastion of Conservatism, the man who makes Bush look liberal, voted in favor of a measure so core to Democrats that they supported it unanimously. Apparently even though he wants women home “barefoot and pregnant” (perhaps an exaggeration, but he did write that he opposed them working in his recent book), he at least wants to make sure the men who work make enough to survive. I could be cynical and say that he did this because he is running for reelection and is way behind, and PA has a lot of working-class voters. However, I’d rather be more optimistic and believe that Santorum has come to the realization that taking care of the less fortunate is every bit as much of a “moral value” as any of his more right-wing positions, perhaps even more so.

So, while this may be the only time you’ll ever read this on this page - Sen. Santorum, thank you for your stand. The College Democrats at the University of Delaware applaud you for it.

At least they have balls...

Well, republicans have balls, there's no denying that. I mean obviously it takes balls to slash $50 billion from vital social programs, most for the poor, such as medicaid, food stamps and student loans. They have the nerve to do this under the guise of offsetting the costs of cleaning up and reconstructing New Orleans...Now if that isn't the most backwards logic I have ever seen, I don't know what is. In order to help the people of New Orleans, a large percentage of which benefit from said programs, lets cut funding to these programs. In addition, they are looking to add another $70 billion in tax cuts to the budget, and in typical Republican fashion, these tax cuts are largely for the wealthy. Hmmm...hold on 1 second, I'm not really good with math...$70 billion - $50 billion = $20 billion...Wait...that can't be right...$70 billion - $50 billion = $20 billion...no wait...it is right...rather than cut vital services for the poor, republicans could easily choose to slash their taxcut for the wealthy, aka people who don't need it, by $50 billion, and still have $20 billion to give to the wealthy, not exactly what i would do with the $20 billion, but hey, its a compromise...

Mark your Calendars! What It Means To Be Progressive

Mark Your Calendars!
Please Join Us for this Upcoming Event!

What It Means To Be Progressive

with Ruy Teixeira, joint fellow from
The Center for American Progress

Tuesday, October 25
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

University of Delaware
Wolf Hall, Room 100

Part of a national Speaker Series by Campus Progress,
a wing of Center for American Progress

Sponsored by College Democrats,
Students for the Environment,
& Secular Student Alliance

Wolf Hall: http://chico.nss.udel.edu/buildings/NC10.html

Parking via Trabant Garage: http://chico.nss.udel.edu/buildings/NW22.html

Questions: 302.983.9376
dcrohrbough@aol.com

2006D = 1994R?

A recent poll indicates that 48% would like to see a Democratic Congress come 2006, versus only 39% who wish to see the Republicans maintain their control. According to MSNBC, “that nine-point difference is the largest margin between the parties in the 11 years the NBC/Journal poll has been tracking this question.” If we do some math, 2005-11 = 1994, the year the Republican revolution bumped Democrats from power. What’s more, only 28% of Americans now believe this nation is headed in the right direction. The climate is ripe for the Democrats to make serious positive gains, perhaps even regain control of some or all of Congress in 2006, even though we must remember much can happen before then.

Before celebrating, however, we must find a leader. As we found in 2004, it is difficult to rally around a negative. Who will be our Newt Gingrich? There are timing issues as well – 1994 came half way through the first of two Clinton terms, not two years before the first open election in upwards of 50 years. Anyone trying to become a leader now will also have greater aspirations. Other factors, such as the war and the ongoing struggle against international terrorism also present themselves as critical variables. I continue to believe the timing of the Bin Laden video right before the 2004 election was responsible for the discrepancy in pre-election polls favoring Kerry and the actual results. Still, if we can find ourselves a leader with a positive vision for the future, if we can seize the day and take advantage of Republican mistakes and corruption, we can begin the process of getting this country back on the right track.

Wednesday: Free Pizza!

Memorial 108, 6pm: Tomorrow (Wednesday), we will hold the first "regular" meeting in weeks. Mike will moderate a current events discussion, and free pizza will be availble. Upcoming events and co-sponsorships will also be discussed in detail. Questions? E-mail Sarah Von Esch at svonesch@udel.edu.

One Giant Leap for Human Rights

Recently, the Senate passed John McCain’s amendment to a defense spending bill that would curtail the abuse and mistreatment of prisoners in US custody. This measure, which passed 90-9, is both powerful and unfortunately necessary given the present Administration’s willful disregard for the Geneva and Torture Conventions, which they have chosen to dance around using empty legalistic rhetoric.

Has President Bush embraced this important bill in an effort to restore American integrity, to show the world that we can admit our mistakes and change course when it is damaging to our national interest and our reputation around the world?

In a word, NO. As a recent Washington Post editorial said, “Let's be clear: Mr. Bush is proposing to use the first veto of his presidency on a defense bill needed to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan so that he can preserve the prerogative to subject detainees to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. In effect, he threatens to declare to the world his administration's moral bankruptcy.”

That’s right – he has threatened a veto, and his administration is currently working on pressuring the House to water down this crucial measure before it even reaches the President’s desk, this in spite of the fact that a vast majority of REPUBLICAN senators, along with Democrats, supported it.

This past June, President Bush said, "Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law." How can anyone take him seriously on this matter now? Mr. President, actions do indeed speak louder than words.

Sen. Corzine (D-NJ) leading Doug Forrester for NJ Governor

From DC Debate

Corzine Links Forrestor to Bush; Holds Lead

Senator Corzine’s campaign recently began running an ad linking Doug Forrester to President Bush: “Doug Forrester, he’s George Bush’s choice for Governor, is he yours?” The ads can be viewed here, by clicking “Videos” on the left sidebar.

According to the latest Rassmussen Report, Senator Corzine is attracting 45% of the Garden State vote while Forester earns 38%. “That’s the closest the race has been since the day after both men emerged victorious from their party primaries.”

Left: Karl Rove raised money for Forrester this summer, and the two have a strong relationship. That could make for a decent ad once Rove is indicted.

Right: Karl Rove also worked for social liberal William Weld as Governor of Massachusetts. That doesn’t mean the White House backs him. The real story: Corzine is getting desperate as he sees his lead slipping away in this traditionaly blue state.

Delaware Republicans: an Endangered Species

Celia Cohen from Delaware Grapevine, the political news source for Delaware, wrote a very interesting article today about the ever-decreasing and "irrelevant" Delaware Republican clout.

Democrats in Delaware are an enormous force. We hold almost all of the statewide offices - soon to get back the Attorney General -- as the Republican Attorney General, Jane Brady, is jumping out of politics in hope of a judicial appointment and in order to escape a daunting re-election campaign, especially if she has to run against a Biden (the Senator's son).

Here is an excerpt from the article:

The Republican Party is experiencing a case of creeping irrelevance, and even its own officeholders are infected. When Donna Lee Williams announced she would not run for a fourth term as insurance commissioner in 2004, she did not bother telling Republican state headquarters first. Ditto for [Attorney General Jane] Brady, when she applied for the judgeship.

The Republicans are down to a scant holding of three of the nine statewide offices -- occupied by U.S. Rep. Michael N. Castle, state Auditor R. Thomas Wagner Jr. and Brady -- and the majority in the state House of Representatives.

"No new faces have really come on. They're just short on candidates," said James R. Soles, a political science professor emeritus from the University of Delaware.

The descent has come over 25 years, from a time when the Republicans were the state's indispensable party.

See the full article at http://www.delawaregrapevine.com/9-05republicanebb.asp

Casey Leading Santorum in PA

From DC Debate

PA-Senate 2006: Casey Widens Lead over Santorum

A Quinnipiac University Poll released October 6: “If the 2006 election for Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Bob Casey Jr. the Democrat, and Rick Santorum the Republican, for whom would you vote?”

Bob Casey(D): 52
Rick Santorum(R): 34

Tip: Political Wire

Left: It’ll take a village to save Rick Santorum.

Right: Calm down liberals! This is why we base these on elections not polls.

THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS

This is for-serious. How can this Republican get away with such awful & rascist remarks?

From ABC News, via AP

WASHINGTON Sep 30, 2005 — The White House on Friday criticized former Education Secretary William Bennett for remarks linking the crime rate and the abortion of black babies.

"The president believes the comments were not appropriate," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

Bennett, on his radio show, "Morning in America," was answering a caller's question when he took issue with the hypothesis put forth in a recent book that one reason crime is down is that abortion is up.

"But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down," said Bennett, author of "The Book of Virtues."

He went on to call that "an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky."

Responding later to criticism, Bennett said his comments had been mischaracterized and that his point was that the idea of supporting abortion to reduce crime was "morally reprehensible."

Bennett was education secretary under President Reagan and director of drug control policy when Bush's father was president.

Tomorrow (Wednesday): How to Get a Career in Political Science

Marianne Green of the Career Services Center will offer her expert advice on how to obtain a career in our favorite field - political science! The College Republicans and Students in the Public Interest are co-sponsoring this event with us. We hope to see you there -- Trabant MPR C at 6pm. Questions? E-mail Sarah at svonesch@udel.edu.

Out of Touch

During the critical days following the national emergency of hurricane Katrina, it seemed as though President Bush was out of touch with the suffering and plight of the victims. Although there was plenty of blame to go around, his aloofness undoubtedly hurt his poll numbers, dragging them down below 40% for the first time in his presidency.

In recent statements about the situation in Iraq, it again seems as though President Bush is out of touch; even as the top US commander in Iraq recently reported that only one battalion of Iraqi troops was ready to fight without US support, down from an estimate of three a few months ago, President Bush today cited “important gains in recent weeks and months” in Iraq. He went on to say, “Our commanders report that the Iraqi forces are serving with increasing effectiveness.” Did I miss something? Is President Bush even aware of the statements his military leadership is making?

I truly want to believe there is a reason for this discrepancy of opinion – I even want to believe that President Bush is right and that the reports from his general are misleading. For the sake of our troops over there, I pray this is the case. The problem is, I have no reason to believe the President – he is not on the ground over there, and he has every reason to put a positive spin on a negative situation. Moreover, I’m reminded of the old “boy who cried wolf” scenario; even if it was the result of many intelligence failures and through no fault of his own (though the Downing Street Memos indicate otherwise), President Bush misled the American people and the Congress into supporting this war in the first place. Even as bombs explode again in Bali, he continues to insist that progress in Iraq is part of bringing about “victory in the war on terror,” denying that the whole action may have actually been a distraction from our fight against those who attacked us and who continue to attack our allies around the world.

Nevertheless, we - President Bush included - cannot go back and undo past mistakes – I realize that. When he seemed out of touch with Katrina and his numbers started to slide, he publicly took responsibility for the mistakes that were made, and then worked to make sure they were not repeated with hurricane Rita. The time has come for him to do the same with the situation in Iraq – admit that mistakes were made under his leadership, level with the American people that the road ahead may be long and rocky, admit that even though Iraq may have not had much to do with the War on Terror in 2003, it has everything to do with it now, and seek areas in which the efforts over there can be improved. Certainly, any one of these steps would be better than more out of touch speeches and rhetoric that undermines the statements of the generals directly responsible for our friends and family in uniform in Iraq.