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But it's May, and the 13 Missouri summary matches what we've talked about here for weeks. Of course, as a New Englander, I couldn't help but notice this: But beyond the hunger for information were negative impressions. Brice Evans, 44, a letter carrier, said, "I think Missouri would go Democratic, but I don't think they like Kerry that much. Chris Behnen, 25, a college student, said he had recently seen a videotape of Kerry from his days as an antiwar protester. So does he need a VP with some midwestern appeal, or what? In the end, the result of the Bush bankroll will be to delay his demise. But these voters are not happy with what's happening on the ground, and are not likely to cheer up about world events any time soon. However, many rank and file House members are uncertain whether the charge alone is enough to recommend to the full body. Rather, some believe the committee is trying to show it has teeth and push Rowland into providing the requested information. Clark Chapin, R-New Milford, said an obstruction charge by itself won't be enough to push him and fellow House members to impeachment. But he thinks it's a necessary action to provoke cooperation. The committee, in its review this week, has the option of voting it on to the full House or delaying action until the investigation is done. This is a nice local summary of the political maneuvering going on in trying to come to grips with the Committee's responsibilities. What is going to happen is nearly a foregone conclusion, but how it happens is open to speculation, deal-making and unexpected occurrences. If you enjoy government process, this article's for you. The House members would prefer Rowland to resign or be indicted by the feds. Short of that, they'll have to do their homework, and they're not finding the going easy. Politicians don't like uncharted territory and they don't like setting precedent. They persuaded themselves that Gehlen wasnt a Nazi, or even if he had been, he wasnt one of the bad ones. After all, Gehlen had conspired with Claus von Stauffenburg in the 1944 plot to assassinate Herr Hitler. On the other hand, maybe they knew the truth: Gehlen joined the conspiracy because he wanted Germany to win. He felt the skills of generals who could make it happen were being ignored while the soldiers they commanded were being sacrificed on the altar of Der Fhrers megalomania. He had something the OSS men 25 very much wanted a network of spies on the Soviet side of the Yalta line - and 53 drums of microfilmed files about the spy apparatus he had put together in the USSR. The general had been the chief of Army Intelligence for the entire Eastern Front. Who cared if he had participated in some of the worst atrocities against Jews, Slavs and Russian prisoners, who were systematically starved in order to extract information? Monstrous human beings aided and abetted in their escape and concealment by American tax money. With the fall of Communism and the opening of the Russian archives in the early 90s, historians studying the situation 26 learned something startling: almost everything Gehlen had reported to his Allied overlords was pure, unabashed bullshit. This is especially true of his portrayal of Soviet military strengths and intentions during the early days of the Cold War. In 27 Blowback, Christopher Simpson adeptly describes the consequences of recruiting Nazis for duty in the Cold War. It appears theyll soon be fighting someone from the home turf whom they understand and may well have a grudge against. Cause for celebration by anyone eager not to forget the past. The new Fallujah Brigade, put together by Iraqi generals from Saddam Husseins ousted regime, likely will include some former army soldiers who fought American forces over the past month, Marine Lt. He promised, however, that 28 anyone who has blood on their hands would not be allowed to stay in the force. But it seems youve been doing a rather poor job of looking under their nails. But the record of the man chosen to lead the force a commander in Saddam Hussein's feared Republican Guard appeared to be 29 raising questions in the American command, which has appeared somewhat confused over the sudden turnabout here in which old enemies have become new allies. Although some officials in the Pentagon told reporters on Friday that Maj. Jasim Muhammad Saleh had not been a member of the Republican Guard, intelligence and other Marine officers here reconfirmed their own Friday comments that General Saleh had been a ranking officer in the guard, one of the special units close to Saddam Hussein, before being chosen to command the Iraqi Army's 38th Infantry Division. Mark Kimmitt, the chief military spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, said the authority and the new Iraqi Ministry of Defense would have to investigate General Saleh's background, including whether he had been in the Republican Guard. Surely in the tens of billions of our tax dollars being spent in Iraq, theres a budget for running background checks on generals chosen to Iraqify the war. Or maybe like their who-cares-how-many-atrocities-hes-committed OSS predecessors - General Kimmitt and his subordinates know but dont care whats on General Salehs rsum. Especially not when the White House goal is to keep the number of transfer tubes being sent home in May well below Aprils potentially election-shifting total. Instead of saying no thank you and immediately hanging up, she now will inquire about their identity and affiliation, and if it's vaguely political, she hands me the phone so I can hear what's being asked and occassionally toy with the loonies. I'm probably in the minority at Daily Kos, because I actually own a gun--a shotgun--and I've used it. I haven't hunted in years, and may never again, but I started hunting when I was twelve, and I participated in what is now a fading rite of passage for Michigan 14-year olds; I have no use, however, for the NRA, which I think is a scourge on American politics and society. Today's call was further confirmation that they are possibly the most dishonest political organization in America. Not all of this is quoted exactly as said, but here's something very close to what Wayne had to say: There's a dangerous new bill in the Senate supported by Hilary Clinton and John McCain that would tear apart the Constitution. Hilary Clinton says terrorists are exploiting an imaginary loophole that allows people to buy guns at gun shows. This bill would shut down gun shows, and it would eventually ban the private sale of firearms, even between family members! What this comes down to is Hilary Clinton and John McCain just hate guns. After that message from Wayne, a chipper southern-sounding woman named Heidi came on the line; Well, here it is: Do you agree with Hilary Clinton that restricting gun sales will eliminate terrorism? With that came the gong, the hook, the trap door, however you want to describe it--Heidi hung up on me. First of all, I'm pleased that they spent the money to have two individuals speak with me; In fact, if I walked outside and threw a couple rocks, I could probably hit somebody who went to DC for the Million Mom March. But most of all, I'm just stupefied at the brazen dishonesty of the NRA. There was even the incredible lie that there's no such thing as a gun show loophole. Federal law requires licensed gun sellers to ensure that a prospective customer has passed a background check before selling them the weapon. However, federal law does not require sellers at gun shows to be licensed, so they are permitted to sell to individuals without performing a background check. Some but not all states have passed laws requiring dealers at gun shows to perform background checks. A 34 bill sponsored by McCain and Joe Lieberman would require dealers at gun shows to perform the same background checks as licensed dealers. It wouldn't prevent me from selling my shotgun to my step-brother without doing a background search on him. It would, however, prevent me from buying a bunch of guns and selling them to people like the young woman who went to a gun show and purchased weapons for the 35 Co...
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