Almost 32 yrs to the day after President Ford created an independent Intelligence Oversight Board made up of private citizens with top-level clearances to ferret out illegal spying activities, Bush issued an executive order that stripped the board of much of its authority. Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to Bush and his "secrets" and the power he "gives to himself". This is just one of the many things he has done lately. (Further info available at www.truthout.org) I just hope America can make it until January 2009. History will certainly show us all that King Bush has done to destroy America with his
"self-given power".

Last Saturday, George Bush announced that he vetoed the Intelligence Authorization Bill, thereby sending a message to the rest of the world that he supports torture, even after Congress rejected practices such as water boarding.

I want to thank the tens of thousands of you who signed our petition taking a stand against torture. It is still vital that as many people as possible take this stand as Congress goes back to work on the Intelligence Authorization Bill.

If you've already signed, please ask your friends and family to do so. If you haven't signed, speak out against torture now by clicking here.



George Bush has once again compromised the moral leadership of our nation. By vetoing a bill establishing a single, government-wide interrogation standard, the President has substituted his own judgment for that of the vast majority of military and foreign policy experts -- including Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq -- who all agree that torture is simply counterproductive.

Ironically, George Bush has warned against ignoring the advice of our commanders in Iraq -- while at the same time ignoring the Army Field Manual's determination that horrific tactics such as water boarding elicit unreliable information, put U.S. troops at risk and undermine our counterinsurgency efforts.

Take a stand against torture today byclicking here.

With your help, we will continue working to reverse the damage President Bush has caused to our standing in the world.

It is not my intention to be derogatory, but if Senator Reid really wants to give 'em Hell, I wonder why he permits a horrid version of FISA to come to the Senate Floor and pass.

The Senate version of the FISA legislation permits the Bush/Cheney administration escape liability for the invasion of our privacy. It allows those complicit in the constitutional violation of our freedoms to secure immunity. Respectfully, such legislation should never have reached the floor.

So far, we are fortunate that the House has not agreed to the Senate version. Let us insure that the House/Senate caucus does not cave in to Bush again. As Democrats that were elected to preserve our Constitutional guarantees, I am requesting that Give 'em Hell Harry insure that the final version, if there need be one, delete the immunities set to protect Bush/Cheney and the telecoms. They should suffer the consequence of their unmitigated attack on the Constitution. They are fortunate that the Democrats, for whatever reason, have determined not to impeach. They should not be cowtowed to if the Democrats want to maintain and increase their hold on Congress.

Figuring out who's got power and who doesn't is something of a parlor game in Washington. So, a study ranking members of Congress by clout and influence is giving folks on Capitol Hill plenty to talk about this week.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ranked No. 1 in terms of power in Congress, according to this year's power ranking by Congress.org.

Other Nevada lawmakers didn't fare as well. U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., ranked 42nd among the 100 members of the Senate. U.S. Rep. Dean Heller, R-Carson City, ranked near the bottom in the House, at No. 420 out of 435 members.

The annual study ranks members each year based on committee assignments, leadership posts, influence, legislative accomplishments and money they've helped secure for their districts.

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