September 06, 2006

September:   Sept. 29, 2006   Sept. 28, 2006   Sept. 27, 2006   Sept. 26, 2006   Sept. 21, 2006   Sept. 20, 2006   Sept. 19, 2006   Sept. 14, 2006   Sept. 13, 2006   Sept. 12, 2006   Sept. 07, 2006   Sept. 06, 2006 JULY:   Jul. 28, 2006   Jul. 27, 2006   Jul. 26, 2006   Jul. 25, 2006   Jul. 24, 2006   Jul. 20, 2006   Jul. 19, 2006   Jul. 18, 2006   Jul. 17, 2006   Jul. 13, 2006   Jul. 12, 2006   Jul. 11, 2006   Jul. 10, 2006 JUNE:   Jun. 29, 2006   Jun. 28, 2006   Jun. 27, 2006   Jun. 26, 2006   Jun. 22, 2006   Jun. 21, 2006   Jun. 20, 2006   Jun. 19, 2006   Jun. 16, 2006   Jun. 15, 2006   Jun. 14, 2006   Jun. 13, 2006   Jun. 12, 2006   Jun. 9, 2006   Jun. 8, 2006   Jun. 7, 2006   Jun. 6, 2006 MAY:   May 25, 2006   May 24, 2006   May 23, 2006   May 22, 2006   May 19, 2006   May 18, 2006   May 17, 2006   May 11, 2006   May 10, 2006   May 4, 2006   May 3, 2006   May 2, 2006 APRIL:   Apr. 27, 2006   Apr. 26, 2006   Apr. 25, 2006   Apr. 6, 2006   Apr. 5, 2006   Apr. 4, 2006 MARCH:   Mar. 30, 2006   Mar. 29, 2006   Mar. 28, 2006   Mar. 16, 2006   Mar. 15, 2006   Mar. 14, 2006   Mar. 9, 2006   Mar. 8, 2006   Mar. 7, 2006   Mar. 2, 2006   Mar. 1, 2006 FEBRUARY:   Feb. 28, 2006   Feb. 16, 2006   Feb. 15, 2006   Feb. 14, 2006   Feb. 8, 2006   Feb. 1, 2006 JANUARY:   Jan. 31, 2006 DECEMBER:   Dec. 16, 2005   Dec. 15, 2005   Dec. 14, 2005   Dec. 13, 2005   Dec. 8, 2005   Dec. 7, 2005   Dec. 6, 2005 Archives

Don’t get caught flat-footed in front of the press!  Below is a quick rundown of today’s “must reads.” – John T. Doolittle, House Republican Conference Secretary

The Morning Murmur –  Wednesday, September 06, 2006

1. Take Osama at his Evil Word - New York Post
President Bush used Osama bin Laden's own hate-filled rhetoric yesterday to bolster American resolve in the global war on terrorism and make the case for finishing the mission in Iraq.

2. Katherine Harris Wins GOP Nomination - Associated Press
Rep. Katherine Harris, who as secretary of state oversaw Florida's 2000 recount that gave George Bush the presidency, easily won the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson yesterday. In another closely watched race, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis won the Democratic nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Jeb Bush.

3. Congress's Last Stand - Wall Street Journal Op-ed
Republicans could help their prospects, and motivate their own supporters, if they use the next month to advance sound policies that highlight differences between the two parties.

4. Don't Blame the GOP - USA Today Op-ed
Comprehensive earmark reform remains a top priority and will be considered by the House this month. It will be interesting to see whether Democrats once again follow their leader, or decide to support real reform.

5. Newsman to Tony Snow: 'Don't Point Your Finger At Me!' - Editor & Publisher
A not especially eventful press briefing at the White House yesterday turned rancorous with NBC's David Gregory telling Press Secretary Tony Snow, "Don't point your finger at me," and Snow accusing the newsman of being "rude" and delivering Democratic talking points.

For previous issues of the Morning Murmur, go to www.GOPsecretary.gov

FULL ARTICLES BELOW:

1. Take Osama at his Evil Word - New York Post

By IAN BISHOP

September 6, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - President Bush used Osama bin Laden's own hate-filled rhetoric yesterday to bolster American resolve in the global war on terrorism and make the case for finishing the mission in Iraq.

"Bin Laden and his terrorist allies have made their intentions as clear as Lenin and Hitler before them. The question is: Will we listen? Will we pay attention to what these evil men say?" Bush told the Military Officers Association meeting in Washington. "We're taking the words of the enemy seriously. We're on the offensive, and we will not rest, we will not retreat and we will not withdraw from the fight until this threat to civilization has been removed." Bush also said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a tyrant who gives money and weapons to Hezbollah and allows "them to attack Israel and America by proxy. "

Bush vowed "America will not bow down to tyrants" and added that the United States and its allies "will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon."

To remind Americans of the stakes in the global fight on terrorism on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Bush quoted extensively from letters, Web site statements, audio recordings and videotapes from bin Laden and other terrorists.

The president recounted bin Laden's declaration that the Sept. 11 attacks were "an unparalleled and magnificent feat of valor" and the terror kingpin's insistence that "death is better than living on this earth with the unbelievers."

"This is the great ideological struggle of the 21st century - and it is the calling of our generation," Bush said.

And he cited a "grisly al Qaeda manual" uncovered during a house raid by British cops in 2000 which included a chapter called "Guidelines for Beating and Killing Hostages."

"The terrorists who attacked us on September the 11th, 2001, are men without conscience, but they're not madmen. They kill in the name of a clear and focused ideology, a set of beliefs that are evil but not insane," Bush said.

Bush used bin Laden's words to support his case. He cited a 2004 bin Laden audio message declaring "the most important and serious issue today for the world is this Third World War" raging in Iraq.

"If we retreat from Iraq, if we don't uphold our duty to support those who are desirous to live in liberty, 50 years from now history will look back on our time with unforgiving clarity, and demand to know why we did not act," the president said.


http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/take_osama_at_his_evil_word_nationalnews_ian_bishop.htm
 

2. Katherine Harris Wins GOP Nomination - Associated Press

By STEVEN WINE
Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) -- Rep. Katherine Harris, who as secretary of state oversaw Florida's 2000 recount that gave George Bush the presidency, easily won the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson, shrugging off critics who derided her campaign as spectacularly inept.

"Tonight I say to Bill Nelson: Come home, Bill. Enough is enough," Harris said Tuesday.

Harris faces an uphill battle in her bid to unseat Nelson, though. Polls have shown the Democrat more than 30 points ahead of Harris in a general election matchup.

Harris became a darling of the Republican Party after the 2000 recount, and she parlayed her name recognition into two terms in Congress. But state GOP leaders tried to talk her out of running for Senate, citing fears she would lose to Nelson and spur a large turnout by Democrats in November that would hurt the entire Republican ticket.

In another closely watched race, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis won the Democratic nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Jeb Bush, beating state Sen. Rod Smith. Davis' opponent in November will be Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist, who claimed the Republican nomination.

Harris' campaign was widely ridiculed, even by her own party. Fundraising lagged, her appearance was mocked, staff members kept quitting, and she was linked to a corrupt defense contractor.

Still, she won the primary comfortably, thanks to weak opposition and a strong base of support. Some 2 1/2 hours after the polls closed, the 49-year-old congresswoman arrived at her Tampa campaign headquarters to chants of "We want Katherine."

"It's a great victory because it shows each of us we can overcome adversity to achieve extraordinary victories," Harris said.

With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Harris had 49 percent of the vote against three relative unknowns. Attorney Will McBride ran second at 30 percent, and retired Navy Admiral LeRoy Collins had 15 percent.

Nelson didn't address Harris' win directly but said in a statement that he looked forward to "spending the next six years continuing to fight for the people of Florida in the United States Senate." The Democrat had no primary challenger.

Despite a handful of late openings at polling places, the primary appeared to be debacle-free, with no problems reported to rival the troubled elections in 2000 and 2002. Rainy weather in South Florida and other parts of the state was expected to reduce turnout figures.

"The primary election in Florida today ran very smoothly," said state Division of Elections spokesman Sterling Ivey.

The Democratic race for governor tightened in recent days, but Smith fell short in his bid for a come-from-behind victory. Davis dogged Smith about his connections to big sugar companies, repeatedly pointing out how U.S. Sugar Corp. spent millions of dollars to fund attack ads.

Davis spoke to supporters in Tampa shortly after Smith phoned to concede.

"With all the talk of sugar in the news, let me say, how sweet it is," Davis said. "It's time to change direction, and tonight is a new beginning."

Crist campaigned as a champion of consumer causes and the governor's policies - at least when it came to crime, taxes and education. A roar went up in Crist's hotel suite in St. Petersburg when he told family and supporters he'd been declared the winner.

"All I want to be is the people's governor," Crist said, "and they should rest assured that if they elect me in November, no one will fight harder for the people."

In other results, state Sen. Skip Campbell easily won the Democratic nomination for attorney general over a little-known lawyer who did not campaign. Bill McCollum, a former congressman, was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Senate President Tom Lee won the Republican nomination for chief financial officer, setting up a November race against Democrat Alex Sink.

In the race for Harris' House seat, auto dealer Vern Buchanan fended off four opponents for the GOP nomination to fill the 13th District seat. He will face banker Christine Jennings, who easily won the Democratic nomination.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FLORIDA_ELECTION?SITE=NCWIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

3. Congress's Last Stand - Wall Street Journal Op-ed

A few things for Republicans to do before November.

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 12:01 a.m.

Congress returns to work today, with the GOP majority down in the polls and only a dozen or so legislative days left to impress voters before Election Day. Can they do anything to stop a rout?

Republicans are already staking their election chances less on their achievements than on the damage Democrats might do if they take over, so perhaps the GOP answer will be to do nothing and say a prayer. But Republicans could still help their prospects, and motivate their own supporters, if they use the next month to advance sound policies that highlight differences between the two parties. For example:

Military tribunals. In Hamdan, the Supreme Court invited Congress to rewrite the rules for military tribunals for terrorists, and Republicans can help President Bush and the war effort by doing so. Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) is the main obstacle as he courts media flattery by opposing Mr. Bush's proposed language. His colleagues should make it clear that the language will move with or without him.

Spending restraint. One reason many GOP voters are in a sour mood, and may stay home in November, is the lack of spending discipline. Republicans can lighten that blot on their record by passing reforms that stem the worst abuses--namely, more transparency for special-interest "earmarks," and a line-item veto to allow a President to delete specific spending pork.

The House is holding up earmark reform, which is part of the ethics bill, because its leaders want to outlaw campaign spending by big-money 527 groups funded by the likes of George Soros. The Senate GOP rightly views this as another restraint on political speech. House leaders are only hurting themselves by blocking an anti-earmarking victory.

Health insurance. The latest Census data finds that 46.6 million Americans lack health insurance, with the cost of coverage rising. The House has already passed a popular bill to let small businesses and associations offer lower-cost insurance the way that Fortune 500 companies can. Liberals in the Senate are blocking it precisely because it might reduce the ranks of the uninsured and thus reduce the demand for government health care. Why not force Democrats to vote up or down?

Gas prices. Gasoline prices are falling nationwide, but with oil prices still near $70 a barrel now is the time to open new sources of domestic energy supply. The House and Senate have both passed bills to expand drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf, and there's no reason they can't be reconciled in conference. The House has also passed faster permitting for new gas refineries, and Senate Democrats should also be forced to kill that if they dare.

Property rights and judges. The Supreme Court's Kelo decision has provoked bipartisan outrage against the taking of private property for private development. But Congress still hasn't taken the popular opportunity to do something about it. The House long ago passed a measure to block federal dollars from financing local projects invoking eminent domain. But the Senate has sat on its hands, thanks mainly to Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter.

And speaking of Judiciary, whatever happened to pushing more judicial nominees for a floor vote? The White House recently resubmitted five appellate court candidates to the Senate, and they deserve a vote in what could be the last time in this Presidency that Republicans control the legislative calendar.

Taxes. Democrats who oppose making the Bush 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent are arguing for one of the largest tax increases in American history. The average family with children would see its tax payment rise by $2,084 a year. A vote in both houses on making these permanent is good policy and politics. Ditto for another vote on repealing the death tax, to remind voters in red states about where their tax burdens will head if Democrats take control.

We'd also mention immigration reform, except that House leaders tell us there is zero chance of that passing before November. Leave it to Republicans to fan national concern about the issue for a year and then say, well, never mind. On the policy merits, this may be for the best because anything that passed in the current environment would only throw more police at the border or further harass employers. But if Republicans lose the House, their demagoguery on immigration will be one reason.

As the nearby table shows, the GOP's legislative record in the House is actually better than the media advertise. Many good ideas have died in the graveyard of the Senate, thanks to Democratic Leader Harry Reid's use of the filibuster and the eagerness of too many GOP Senators (Maine's Olympia Snowe, George Voinovich of Ohio) to run away from Mr. Bush on key issues. Republicans can't undo all that damage in a month, but they can at least give voters some better reason to re-elect them in November.
 

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008896

4. Don't Blame the GOP - USA Today Op-ed
 

By David Dreier

No one needs to be reminded that we're in the midst of the political season. Many Americans have been bombarded by automated phone calls sponsored by Moveon.org and other special interest groups or barraged with attack ads attempting to create false ethical clouds around members who have no connection to recent scandals. Some of these ads were pulled from the air after they were proved false. It is within this context that the lobbying reform and ethics debate must be considered.

A recent Time magazine profile of the Democratic leader in the House reported that her legislative mandate to her members included, as the magazine put it, "avoiding compromise with Republicans at all cost."

This strategy was on display when the House considered the Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act earlier this year. Fewer than 10 House Democrats supported this legislation, which would increase lobbying disclosure requirements, include critical reforms of the earmark process and stiffen penalties for breaking the rules. Why the Democrats refused to work with Republicans on real reform was clear - it did not fit into their political strategy.

Even before the bill was considered by the House, Democrats made known their intention to make ethics a political issue. It was to be their key to winning back the majority they lost in 1994. Hence, their fierce opposition to our reform bill. But intervening events undermined their strategy. Members on their side of the aisle began to face ethical questions of their own, and a special election built on the "culture of corruption" message they so frequently espoused yielded a loss rather than a win. Since then, they seem to have lost interest in the issue entirely.

For the Republican leadership, however, work continues. We remain committed to achieving greater transparency and accountability in the lobbying and ethics process. Former members who are registered lobbyists have been banned from the House floor. Comprehensive earmark reform remains a top priority and will be considered by the House this month. It will be interesting to see whether Democrats once again follow their leader, or decide to support real reform.

Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., is chairman of the House Rules Committee.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-09-05-oppose_x.htm

5. Newsman to Tony Snow: 'Don't Point Your Finger At Me!' - Editor & Publisher

By E&P Staff

NEW YORK A not especially eventful press briefing at the White House today turned rancorous with NBC's David Gregory telling Press Secretary Tony Snow, "Don't point your finger at me," and Snow accusing the newsman of being "rude" and delivering Democratic talking points.

Earlier, speaking to reporters, Snow, continuing the administration's media focus on the war on terror, accused "some in the Democratic Party" of saying "we shouldn't fight the war" and "we shouldn't apprehend al-Qaeda" or even "question al-Qaeda."

Snow got into a tussle with Gregory after the NBC journalist told him, in a lengthy remark, that the public may wonder why the president's statement and report today on the war on terror did not admit more failings on the administration's part. Snow observed that he had nicely summarized "the Democratic point of view," and Gregory took exception to this.

This exchange followed.
*

Q Actually, Tony, I don't think that's fair, if you look at the facts. If you look at the facts.

MR. SNOW: Well, I do, because -- no, because, for instance --

Q No, no, no. No, I don't think you should be able to just wipe that, kind of dismiss the question --

MR. SNOW: Well, let me --

Q It's not a Democratic argument, Tony.

MR. SNOW: Let me answer the question, David.

Q But hold on, let's not let you get away with saying that's a Democratic argument.

MR. SNOW: Okay, let me -- let's not let you get away with being rude. Let me just answer the question, and you can come back at me.

Q Excuse me. Don't point your finger at me. I'm not being rude.

MR. SNOW: Yes, you are.

Q Don't try to dismiss me as making a Democratic argument, Tony, when I'm speaking fact.

MR. SNOW: Well, okay -- well, no --

Q You can do that to the Democrats; don't do it to me.

MR. SNOW: No, I'm doing it to you because the second part was factually tendentious, okay? Now, when you were talking about the fact that it failed to adapt, that's just flat wrong. And you will be -- there has been -- there have been repeated attempts to try to adapt to military realities, to diplomatic realities, to development of new weapons and tools on the part of al Qaeda, including the very creative use of the Internet. So the idea that somehow we're staying the course is just wrong. It is absolutely wrong.

*
Elsewhere, Snow denied that the president's statement and report today on the war on terrorism were political in any way. "I think it belittles it by trying to dismiss it as politics," he said. But later, when a reporter asked, "But you don't disagree that he's trying to frame the debate for what is an important political choice?", Snow replied: "Absolutely. Of course, of course."

He also said there would be no troop withdrawals in Iraq any time and reiterated the president's strong support for Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld. President Bush "would love to see members of both Houses of Congress returning to that sense of cooperation we had after September 11th."

Here is an excerpt from Snow's remarks:

"There have been some in the Democratic Party who have argued against the Patriot Act, against the terror surveillance program, against Guantanamo. In other words, there are some people who say that we shouldn't fight the war, we should not detain -- we shouldn't apprehend al Qaeda, we shouldn't detain al Qaeda, we shouldn't question al Qaeda, and we shouldn't listen to al Qaeda. In other words, they're all for winning the war on terror, but they're all against -- they're against providing the tools for winning that war.

"And we think it's a perfect opportunity for Democratic leaders to say, no, we are serious about winning the war. We have now reiterated some of the basic precepts of administration policy and also the policy put together by generals over the months of the engagement in Iraq. And we look forward to working with members of Congress to figure out how best to prevent terrorists from coming here, but, more importantly, how to defeat terrorism.

"Finally, one other point, which is, there is a reiteration of a call to replace or have Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stand down. The President strongly supports the Defense Secretary. It's not going to happen. Creating Don Rumsfeld as a boogeyman may make for good politics, but would make for a lousy strategy at this time. And, furthermore, if you listen to the speech that Secretary Rumsfeld gave last week, it was not only thoughtful, but comprehensive about trying to frame the ongoing war against terror, and also the war going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"So this, again, is something that the President would love to see members of both Houses of Congress returning to that sense of cooperation we had after September 11th, where the real goal was not to try to hand out pink slips at the Pentagon, but instead to win the war on terror in a way that is going to make not only America safer, but also the rest of the world safer so that democracy can take firm root throughout the globe."
 

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003087485

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