In Brief - July 19th, 2006
Here is today's quick news digest:
- On the other side of the mountains, Peter Goldmark's campaign for Congress is picking up speed. Goldmark outraised his opponent, freshman Republican incumbent Cathy McMorris, by $84,700. While that's good news, Goldmark still has a tough challenge, and he won't be able to win unless his campaign can demonstrate its ability to cleverly innovate.
- The U.S. Senate yesterday passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 by a vote of 63 to 37. Senators Murray, Cantwell (Washington) Wyden, and Smith (Oregon) voted for the bill, while Senators Craig and Crapo (Idaho) voted against it. Dubya has promised to veto the bill.
- Senator Russ Feingold tells the DailyKos community that "the Administration's defense for illegal wiretapping is just plain gone" in a great diary.
- ThinkProgress has the video of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales revealing in sworn testimony that Dubya personally blocked Justice Department lawyers from pursuing an investigation of the warrantless eavesdropping program.
- Duncan Black (a.k.a. Atrios) had an outstanding guest column in the Los Angeles Times yesterday, explaining why the progressive blogosphere wants to get rid of DINO Joe Lieberman.
- David Sirota reports that House Democrats have discovered provisions in the controversial Oman Free Trade Agreement that would permit foreign ownership of U.S. ports and other key national security assets.
- Notable theocon Ralph Reed, trounced by State Sen. Casey Cagle in Georgia’s Republican primary for lieutenant governor, conceded defeat last night.
- Carl Ballard writes a must-read letter to Dori Monson.
