Bad Deeds for 01-18-07

White House Snubbed Iran Offer in 2003 – Iran offered the White House a package of concessions in 2003, including an end to Iran’s support for Lebanese and Palestinian militants, assistance in stabilizing Iraq, and increased transparency to its nuclear energy program – but was rejected by Vice President Dick Cheney’s office, according to former Bush official Lawrence Wilkerson. Many of the offers are virtually identical to what the White House has been demanding of Tehran for the past few years, and were contingent on an end to U.S. hostility. In return for its concessions, Tehran asked Washington to end its hostility, to end sanctions, and to disband the Iranian rebel group the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and repatriate its members. Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had allowed the rebel group to base itself in Iraq, and it came under US power after the Iraq invasion.

Republicans Stall Senate Ethics Bill – Senate Republicans scuttled broad legislation last night to curtail lobbyists’ influence and tighten congressional ethics rules, refusing to let the bill pass without a vote on an unrelated measure that would give President Bush virtual line-item-veto power. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned the GOP that if it doesn’t change course, it may have to spend the next two years explaining to American voters why it opposed lobby reform.

Pentagon Manual Says Terror Suspects Can Be “Imprisoned, Convicted And Executed” Using “Hearsay Evidence Or Coerced Testimony”

Rick Santorum Says That It’s Good That Bush Doesn’t Listen to Congress or the People, and We’re Already at War with Iran – Today on Fox News, former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) said President Bush’s approach to the war in Iraq, particularly his recent speech, was “Lincolnesque.” Fox Host Martha MacCallum asked Santorum what he thought of the criticism that President Bush “is just going his own way, not listening to the people, not listening to Congress.” Santorum responded, “Good for him.” Santorum also added that Bush understands, but most people aren’t aware, that we are already at war with Iran.

And now for the funny (not bad) line of the day : – Representative Mike Pence, Republican of Indiana, made this contribution late last week during a quick interview in the Speaker’s Lobby, just off the House floor. “I’ve been losing arguments to a good-looking brunette for 22 years, so I’m used to this,” Mr. Pence said, referring to his wife, Karen, and now presumably, to Nancy Pelosi, the new speaker. “Now I’m in a powerless minority in two houses,” he added, grinning.

Regards,

Jim