i L i n d . n e t

I notice that Congressman Abercrombie is making relatively frequent use of The Hill’s Congress Blog. Neil, or his staff, added an entry this morning announcing passage of HR 3087 by the House Armed Services Committee. The resolution would require the administration ” to develop and transmit to Congress a comprehensive strategy for the redeployment of United States Armed Forces in Iraq.” Neil’s blog entry calls it “a small step perhaps, but important”, and includes a link to the text and history of the resolution.

Wow. News of FBI and IRS agents raiding Senator Ted Stevens’ Alaska home was a bit of a shock yesterday, given the senator’s position and seniority. It also can’t be good news for Hawaii’s Senator Inouye, who has effectively used his close ties to Stevens to stay afloat in the increasingly partisan Senate. I’m sure all kinds of people are watching this carefully.

NBC correspondent Richard Engel has a very good piece in the Summer 2007 Nieman Reports, “Misperceptions on the ‘War’ in Iraq“. The reality, he writes, “is there are many wars within the war” including the replaying centuries old battles between Sunni and Shi’ite.

Is anyone else stunned by the hypocrisy of President Bush saying that the administration’s strategy awaits direction from commanders in the field, when he has all along swept aside the advice and counsel of senior military officers in order to follow the lead of the neocon political appointees? I can’t see how this intentional misdirecton continues to be reported at face value without accompanying comment.

Speaking of the neocons, you’re sure to enjoy “Neocons on a Cruise: What Conservatives Say When They Think We Aren’t Listening“.

I was checking the latest campaign finance reports, which are due today. A number of legislators filed their reports early, although few report raising any significant amount of money during the first six months of this non-election year. Senator Clayton Hee was one of the exceptions, reporting taking in nearly $42,000 with a fundraiser at the end of the session. Five unions and the cruise outfit NCL America topped Hee’s contributor list with $2,000 each, including the UH Professional Assembly, AFL-CIO, ILWU, Hawaii Carpenters Market Recovery Fund, and the Hawaii Goverment Employees Association. Those giving $1,000 each included lobbyists Red Morris and John Radcliffe, Ironworkers Local 625, attorney and former prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro (who worked for Hee’s committee during the session), attorney Bill McCorriston (who aggressively represented Kauai dam owner Jimmy Pflueger during the session), Republican and former city council member John Henry Felix, and something called the Hawaii Citizens Political Action Committee, which was created by the Electrical Workers Political and Recreation Fund.

There will be more campaign reports to dig through after today’s filing deadline.

And, last but not necessarily least, a few more images of Ms. Kitten, who is still looking for a good home may have just found a very good cat family to live with! That was the great news received during a chance meeting on our early walk. I sure hope this works out, as it would be great for both kitten and people.