Morning copy 02.17.2006

Bicameral investigative jujitsu

The New York Times:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 — Leaders of the House Intelligence Committee said Thursday that they had agreed to open a Congressional inquiry prompted by the Bush administration's domestic surveillance program. But a dispute immediately broke out among committee Republicans over the scope of the inquiry.

The Los Angeles Times:

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans blocked a proposed investigation of President Bush's domestic spying operation Thursday as the chairman of the Intelligence Committee said he had reached an agreement with the White House to pursue legislation establishing clearer rules for the controversial program.

Lobbying

Senator Specter is caught in the mix, the Phila. Inquirer:

WASHINGTON - Sen. Arlen Specter said yesterday that he would ask the Senate ethics committee to investigate whether any rules were violated when he directed almost $50 million to companies and institutions that employed the husband of one of his top aides as a lobbyist.

Specter (R., Pa.) told reporters that he did not believe that he or anyone in his office had done anything wrong. He acknowledged that he had not sorted out all the actions of his aide in the approval of the spending.

His office later issued a statement saying the senator was asking for the ethics investigation "to satisfy all conceivable concern."

His comments came in response to a USA Today article yesterday reporting that companies employing lobbyist Michael Herson - the husband of a senior Specter aide - had been the recipients of $48.9 million in funding "earmarked" by Specter.

A.P. via the Washington Post on the A.G.'s role:

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales brushed aside requests on Thursday that he remove himself from the investigation of Jack Abramoff and the lobbyist's ties to Bush administration officials and members of Congress.

The Hill: "Ney faces unexpected challenge in GOP primary"

Do I like how Rumsfeld talks?

No. The Washington Times:

"Now, is it a pretty picture? Has it been done instantaneously? No. Is there a lot of tugging and hauling and politicking? You bet there is over there," he said. "And are we gong to end up with something that we stand back and look at it and say, 'Gee, that's a pretty picture?' No. It's going to be an Iraqi picture. It's not going to be an American picture. But it's going to get done."

The all important Cuban vote in Florida

Today's Washington Post:

"This community must face the realization that politicians, especially national politicians, come here to Miami when they need our votes and forget their promises," he said. "President Bush came here and said he would review this policy, and nothing has happened. Cuban voters will be looking into this reality a little bit when they cast their votes."

This is not the first time that the Cuban lobby has talked tough about switching its vote, but it caused enough of a scare among Republicans to prompt the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) to deplore the Coast Guard's decision to dispatch the refugees back to Cuba, and put in calls to the White House.

The White House responded last week by agreeing to meet with a delegation of Cuban lawmakers, lawyers and advocates. A State Department official confirmed that it would participate, along with the departments of Homeland Security and Justice.