Daily Dish
Today is the first day of the 109th Congress and it will begin without a representative from Sacramento. The 13-term Democratic congressman Robert Matsui died at age 63 of complications from a rare disorder. Fifty freshman Congressmen will take their seats at noon today; 9 Senators and 41 House members. llinois Senator Barack Obama will be the first black senator in a quarter century to be seated and only the third black Senator ever. When Senators Ken Salazar and Mel Martinez are seated, it will be the largest number of hispanics in the Senate ever. On the agenda will be Social Security reform, tort reform, various tax issues including a way to reduce complicated filings, immigration reform, an energy policy, and now aid to tsunami victims. The 109th Congress opens with a greater Republican majority than the 108th. This is especially true in the Senate where Republicans gained 4 seats and are no longer interested in the power-sharing arrangement negotiated when they only had a 1 seat majority. But a Republican majority does not necessarily mean an easy ride for the President. Many of those Republicans are conservatives and Bush is not. Budget-busting legislation will not sit well with conservatives nor do they like the President's take on immigration reform. Still, the President has proved himself to be a deft political operator who's biggest asset is that most, if not all, misunderestimate him.
Wannabe Islamic fascists assassinate the Mayor of Baghdad as the day they fear the most approaches: Election Day. Some want to give in to the Islamists and delay the election. Many in the press are breathless in anticipation that this might happen; but it won't. But more Sunni participation is desireable. After a major Sunni Political Party dropped out of the race under pressure from Islamists, the Iraqi and US governments have looked for ways to make sure that Sunnis are represented in the new legislative council including asking Egypt to encourage Sunnis to participate. Of course, European leftists have a completely different perspective on the situation in Iraq, one that is much closer to the fascists than it is to ours. But what do you expect from the Contientent that gave birth to fascism? Austin Bay writes from inside the sandbox and Winds of Change has a link-filled Iraq report.
The Swedes are in shock after discovering that over 3500 of their citizens are missing in Thailand in the wake of the tsunami. Despite this, while the US and the Aussies are busy working 24-7 to bring relief, most of Europe and the UN are busy, um, planning. Though it seems the Dutch are an exception. China, it seems, is not ready for primetime as a Superpower either. And while the ship that Navy deserter Pablo Paredes missed is engaged in humanitarian efforts in Southeast Asia, the former sailor himself seems deaf to the irony of his situation. But the self-absorbed left is almost always irony-impaired. The UN is just impaired in every way imaginable. Arthur Chrenkoff has a complete roundup of the tsunami relief efforts taking place.
One of France's top terrorism suspects and five of his alleged accomplices went on trial in Paris, accused of plotting to blow up American targets in France three years ago, a charge that all six men deny.
The U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program has begun operating at the 50 busiest land crossings.
A singing armed robber shoots himself in the leg after his performance.
Things you should not do at home: imitate Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival.
Games soldiers play.
