February 12, 2012

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Obama stance on Bush memos concerns senators

April 22, 2009 By

President Obama’s refusal to rule out possible legal action against Bush Administration officials who authorized harsh interrogation techniques against suspected terrorists has split Washington right down the political middle.

Senator McCaskill said she’s not sure President Obama, a fellow Democrat, opened the door to prosecution with his recent statements.

The White House had earlier released a statement that left open the possibility that the Justice Department could pursue legal action against officials within the Bush Administration who formulated the interrogation policy that some critics say amounted to torture. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel seemed to have quelled such a notion during interviews on the Sunday talk shows. Yet, Obama has since declined to rule out such an investigation and stated that if Congress wants to investigate, an independent commission might provide the best avenue.

Obama has walked a fine line in speaking of a possible investigation. He has stated that CIA interrogators shouldn’t be held legally accountable. He hasn’t offered the same assurances for those who created the legal foundation for the policy.

McCaskill acknowledged she’s concerned about the precedent that could be set if a current administration investigates a former one.

"There’s no question I’m concerned about that," McCaskill told reporters in a conference call. "This is not an easy call. This is one of those judgment calls that you do your best. I can argue both sides of this coin."

Senator Bond isn’t as ambivalent. Bond, a Republican as is former President Bush, said Obama is caught between campaign rhetoric and national security reality.

"The president can’t go to the CIA with reassurances on one day and then the next day turn around and leave the door open to prosecutions," Bond stated in a conference call with reporters.

Bond said Obama will set a dangerous precedent if he goes after Bush Administration officials.

"I think this puts us in the position of a banana republic," Bond said. "In Third World countries, when you lose an election, the person who takes over prosecutes everybody criminally."

McCaskill said she can see both sides of the issue. She understands those who argue that looking back over the methods approved by the previous administration won’t help the country fight terrorism, but McCaskill added she is uncomfortable that people at the highest level of government recommended illegal conduct that hurt the reputation of the United States in the eyes of the world.

Download/listen Brent Martin report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , , ,

Bush approves Missouri request for Expedited Major Disaster Declaration

June 25, 2008 By

President Bush has approved Governor Matt Blunt’s request for an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for 22 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis as a result of the severe flooding.

This means that once damage assessments are conducted, Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, Hazard Mitigation grant funding, and low interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration can be requested.

The 22 Missouri counties are: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Cape Girardeau, Clark, Holt, Jefferson, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Mississippi, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Perry, Pike, Platte, Ralls, St. Charles, St Louis, Ste Genevieve and Scott Counties and the City of St. Louis.

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President comes to Missouri, says check is in the mail

May 2, 2008 By

The check is in the mail. The president says so.

President Bush tells St. Louis area residents that the $600 per person checks should either soon be in the mail or soon be deposited into bank accounts. Bush has visited World Wide Technology in Maryland Heights. Bush says he understands the economy is sluggish and he says the stimulus package that his administration and Congress worked out should give it the kick it needs.

"We didn’t want to make a political statement, we wanted to make a statement that will affect this economy," Bush says, "When you are affecting 130 million households with over $150 billion, a pro-growth package, it’s going to affect us, positively."

The main feature of the stimulus package is the money. Checks will be mailed to those who mailed their tax returns. The federal government will use direct deposit for those who filed electronically. Individuals will receive $600. Couples will get $1,200, plus $300 for each child. Businesses also are being given incentives to invest in new equipment.

Bush says the United States economy is resilient, bouncing back from recession, natural disaster, even terrorist attack. He says that strength will help it turn the corner again.

Bush also advocates approaching rising gas prices in two different ways. He is pressing Congress to drill for more oil domestically, which he says will ease the problem in the short-tern. He says the long term solution is to develop alternative fuel, such as ethanol, which he says will soon be produced from more than just corn.

A combination of market forces and government mediation is seen as the way to relieve housing pressure. Bush says the most positive step the government can take is to keep people in their homes. Bush says market forces will correct some of the problems in the housing market, but government must be ready to intervene to help mortgage lenders make it through tough times. He adds that government has an obligation to crack down on brokers who deceive consumers into loans they can’t afford or don’t understand. 

Download/listen President Bush on strength of economy (:20 MP3)

Filed Under: Economy, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Governor Asks For Federal Assistance for February Storms

February 29, 2008 By

Governor Matt Blunt (R-MO) is asking President Bush to approve a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for 18 Missouri counties as a result of the severe winter weather that hit southern regions of the state between February 10th and 14th.

The weather caused two storm-related traffic fatalities and more than 50 traffic injuries. It also led to the opening of shelters and warming centers in counties impacted by power outages.

Assessment teams identified more than $13.8 million in damages to public infrastructure in those 18 counties. If the request is approved, Public Assistance will reimburse jurisdictions for their eligible emergency protective actions, repairs, or replacement of damaged infrastructure and debris clearance.

The 18 counties are: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Christian, Douglas, Greene, Madison, Mississippi, Ozark, Reynolds, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Wayne, Webster, and Wright Counties.

Filed Under: Weather Tagged With: ,

Bush Talks About Economy in KC Speech

February 1, 2008 By

The Kansas City area welcomes President Bush as he spends a good deal of time in and around the city today. A major stop for the President was Hallmark Cards, where he spoke of the need for an economic incentives package to help make sure consumers don’t lose confidence in the economy.

Bush acknowledged there are some troubling signs with the economy and that it is weakening. He urged the Senate to quickly pass an economic stimulus bill. The President wrapped up his K.C. area visit with a stop at a fundraiser for Congressman Sam Graves.

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,
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