WASHINGTON – One of the most splendid pleasures of moving to this area has been the choice of daily newspapers. While in Mobile, I’d spend my 50 cents and purchase the Press-Register almost every day. Now for only a dime more, I can get the Washington Post and the Washington Times.
I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for the Masked Observer, Frances Coleman and J.D. Crowe, but it’s really tough to say there hasn’t been an improvement in this small aspect of my quality of life. I’ll take Tony Kornheiser over Paul Finebaum, any day.
One thing is for certain, no matter what criticisms anyone may have of Lagniappe, at least we’re free.
Bonner takes gutsy stand on Chastang’s behalf
Earlier this month while addressing the Washington/Douglass Economic Forum in Mobile, Rep. Jo Bonner took one of the boldest stands in his four-and-a-half years in office by voicing his support for the embattled Juan Chastang.
Chastang was removed from office by a panel of federal judges because they believed his 2005 appointment violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In their decision, they stated the move disenfranchised black voters because Chastang, who is black, was a Republican and the regional of the county Chastang was appointed to serve traditionally votes Democractic.
Bonner told the majority black audience since Chastang is black, Gov. Bob Riley’s 2006 appointment of Juan Chastang met the intentions of the act. Bonner voted against renewal of the law last year and defended his vote.
“The act was not created to protect Democrats or Republicans,” Bonner said.
Also in attendance was Sen. Jeff Sessions. Sessions pledged his support for Juan Chastang, but was not as emphatic in using the platform to voice his opposition to the Voting Rights Act. He instead chose to use the opportunity to rail against illegal immigration.
The push for Ron Sparks 2008 senatorial campaign
A potential 2008 senatorial match-up between Sen. Jeff Sessions and Alabama Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks was featured in the May 15 edition of Roll Call, a newspaper that reports exclusively on the goings-on inside Congress and is exclusive to Washington.
The story, written by Josh Kurtz, makes a case for Sparks to provide a formidable challenge to the two-term incumbent Sessions and also tries to make a case for the vulnerability of a couple of other Congress seats in Alabama – primarily Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama’s Third Congressional district and Rep. Terry Everett of Alabama’s Second Congressional District. The story quotes Alabama Democratic Chairman and popular cable news network circuit participant Joe Turnham drawing parallels between a potential Sessions/Sparks race with the Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) victories last fall.
The Roll Call story has sent waves throughout the left-wing blogosphere, but even the nuttiest of the liberal Daily Kos blog regulars admit defeating Sessions in the upcoming 2008 senatorial race would be difficult financially and should Sparks be trounced by Sessions in an election, it could make him politically irrelevant in future elections.
George Tenet attacks Shelby in book
In the opening pages of former CIA director George Tenet’s new book, “At the Center of the Storm,” Tenet claims Sen. Richard Shelby sought “dirt” on his former boss Anthony Lake, when Lake was nominated to head the CIA.
As the story goes, Lake ultimately withdrew his name from consideration from the post and Tenet was confirmed as the CIA director in 1997. Shelby was instrumental in blocking Lake’s appointment and pushing through Tenet’s eventual confirmation in 1997.
Shelby has told several media outlets Tenet’s claims were false and his opposition to Lake wasn’t personal, but ideological. He even claimed to have a close personal relationship with Tenet when he was just beginning his tenure at the CIA, stating he Tenet would eat breakfast together.
However, since 1998, their relationship soured and Shelby after the September 11 attacks had been very critical of Tenet’s leadership. When Shelby was asked on the nationally-syndicated “Hugh Hewitt” talk show on May 1 if Bush’s retention of Tenet was a mistake, he replied “Oh absolutely, oh goodness – everybody knew that.”
Sessions attacks comprehensive immigration reform efforts
A bi-partisan group of senators led by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D.-Mass.) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R.-Pa.) struck a deal with President Bush on a controversial immigration reform bill last Thursday. The legislation reportedly would grant quick legal status to many illegal immigrants already in the United States, but would also include initiatives to increase border security.
“So we’re told they’re close to reaching an agreement, those I call the ‘Masters of the Universe’,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions sarcastically on the Senate floor last week. “They’re meeting, but what will they produce, I don’t know.”
Sessions attacked the efforts saying the bill would be nearly 1,000 pages long and there would not be sufficient time to review the bill with the Senate and the White House wanting to pass it by the week’s end.
Alabama’s junior senator has been vocal on immigration and immigration reform legislation over his last several years in office.
Contact Jeff Poor at jeffreypoor@yahoo.com.
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