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In what may be a surprise to many Senate watchers, Sen Richard Durbin (D-IL) came to the floor of the Senate on Tuesday to apologize for his remarks comparing US interrogators at Guntanamo Bay to Nazis, Soviets, and the regime of Cambodia's Pol Pot.
Before issuing the apology, Durbin restated his press release of Friday saying that his words on the Senate floor last Tuesday were "misunderstood." Senator, they were not misunderstood. Your speech on the Senate floor was clear and unmistakable. There was no confusion. There was no doubt you meant what you said.
"Mr. President, I've come to understand that was a poor choice of words," said Durbin. "Last Friday, I tried to make this very clear that I understood that those analogies - the Nazis, Soviets, and others - were poorly chosen. I issued a release, which I thought made my intentions and my innermost feelings as clear as I possibly could," added Durbin.
If the senior senator from Illinois wants to call it a poor choice of words, so be it. It was his choice of words that are the problem. During the week that passed since Durbin's remarks, no Democrat publicly supported his statement. Durbin's reluctance and refusal to apologize until yesterday, demonstrates tacit approval of his statements by Senate Democrats.
Durbin's apology followed on the heels of a letter written to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) by Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). Although the letter may have been effective in pushing the democrats to ask Durbin to apologize, it was called "pathetic" by a Reid staffer. In addition to Frist's letter, calls for a censure by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and a complaint by the Anti-Defamation League plus the White House put Durbin in a "no-win" situation.
While he did apologize for the C-SPAN cameras, it is unlikely that it was heartfelt or sincere. It is unlikely to help Durbin in the 2006 election. He may win the primary, but a solid Republican candidate with ties to the military and the Jewish community will soundly defeat Durbin. At least, that is the hope of patriotic Americans.
Will Durbin pick his words more carefully in the future? No, he doesn't believe his statements were wrong.
Durbin Apologizes on Senate Floor for Nazis, Soviet Gulags Remark -- 06/21/2005
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With all the controversy surrounding comments made by DNC Chairman Howard Dean and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), democrats were careful to avoid public statements and the media at a fundraiser Tuesday night.
All speakers, including Dean and Durbin refused to take questions from reporters before or after the vent.
Dean, Durbin Avoid Reporters, Controversy at Fundraiser -- 06/22/2005
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In order to waste more taxpayer dollars on useless commissions and hearings, House Democrats are calling for a commission on "prisoner abuse."
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) announced the introduction of legislation that would set-up such a commission. Neither could provide information on how the commission would be funded or who would be placed on the commission.
Pelosi could only offer criticism of the Bush administration and the U.S. military.
"It is a disgrace that the matters relating to the treatment of detainees have not been meaningfully investigated by this House," Pelosi said.
"The treatment of detainees is a taint on our country's reputation, especially in the Muslim world, and there are many questions that must be answered," Pelosi said. She said the safety of the United States "depends on our reputation and how we are viewed, especially in the Muslim world."
Neither Pelosi or Waxman have visited any prison in Iraq or Guntanamo Bay to see first hand the condition of prisoners.
Democrats Call for 'Prisoner Abuse' Commission -- 06/22/2005
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By the end of next week, the US Supreme Court should issue its ruling in two cases involving the display of the Ten Commandments. A federal court in Maryland may have "jumped the gun."
In its ruling Tuesday a federal district court in Maryland said that a Ten Commandments memorial sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) in a park in Frederick was constitutional.
"As there is no evidence of religious purpose for Frederick's display, and no indication that its secular purpose was insincere, the Court finds that Frederick had a secular purpose in displaying the monument," the court said in its ruling.
"In light of these historical and secular considerations, and the FOE's freedom to remove the monument at any time, no reasonable observer would believe the continued display on the Memorial Ground was intended to advance religion," the court added.
In light of this ruling, it will be interesting to see how the high court rules on its cases from Kentucky and Texas.
Maryland Court Rules Ten Commandments Display Constitutional -- 06/21/2005
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Many of the laws passed by state legislatures go into affect on July 1. For most states, this is the date the new fiscal/budget year starts providing funding (sometimes) to new initiatives. Other states allow laws to go into affect 90 days after passage or on Jan 1 of the following year.
In California, Montana, and New Mexico new laws will go into affect to further protect children and communities from sex offenders.
Several states including Indiana, Kentucky, and Georgia will have laws in place to restrict the sale of certain cold medicines. These medicines include an ingredient used in the production of methampheatamine.
Several states passed laws that will strengthen auto safety including laws banning the use of cell phones while driving, a law requiring a child alarm in day-care vans, a law requiring children to be in a safety seat until the age of 8, and a law requiring headlights to be turned-on whenever the driver uses the windshield wipers.
For a complete list of laws in your state go to stateliness.
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More later.
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