Tuesday Roundup: The Cards Begin To Fall?

Hope springs eternal, and as such I have to lead with this: MSNBC's First Read has it that Rep. Jay Inslee and a group of House Democrats will formally call for the House Judiciary Committee to begin impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Even MSNBC tries to keep hope alive:

It's too early to say whether it will actually get anywhere.

Considering that a number of people are assuredly thinking "that's not going to get anywhere," their assessment is downright optimistic. Even as much as my inner idealist is cheering at this move, I have to admit that it feels a little premature. The case against Gonzales is still building, and has gotten substantially stronger in just the past couple of days, but I imagine Congress is looking to see exactly how far into a hole Gonzales could keep digging himself, all the better to bury him in. Then again, I may underestimate the level of disdain Gonzales has incited in Congress. I guess only time will tell.

In less dramatic news, congressional Democrats presented a sweeping ethics reform package yesterday, which touches on earmark disclosure and reporting of bundled campaign contributions, among other things. Some Republicans tried to denounce the ethics bill as too lax in its earmarking provisions, but watchdog groups voiced their support for legislation and labeled the Republican thrust as “outright obstruction, plain and simple.”

Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha is having to field some criticism for his proposal ordering troop withdrawal from Iraq to begin within 60 days. Though his plan states a deadline for withdrawal to begin, it sets no deadline for its completion. That key omission does not make the Out-of-Iraq caucus happy. The continued struggle between representing the will of the people and presenting a bill that will get passed and not vetoed does not seem to be getting any easier. Another wrench in the works is a New York Times op-ed titled "A War We Just Might Win," which was the big buzz-getter yesterday. It is a report on improvement seen in the military situation in Iraq, the increased security and stability and the recent drop in civilian and military death rates. Republicans have seized upon the opportunity to justify continued involvement in Iraq, quick to point out that this analysis came from the Brookings Institution — a political think-tank that no one would call "conservative" — and from writers who characterize themselves as "two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration’s miserable handling of Iraq." Think Progress is quick to debunk that claim, noting that both writers have been consistent supporters of both the initial invasion and the recent "surge." Glenn Greenwald also skewers them in The Salon. But the mainstream media has been quick to latch on to Pollack and O'Hanlon's claims that they are converted ex-critics — and who can blame them? After all, it makes for a much better story, doesn't it?

At least the rolling debate on the merits of the occupation makes for the unusual bedfellows that make for great stories: The Dallas Morning News continues to confuse us with random progressively-slanted opinion pieces, this time writing on how the current plan isn't working and recommending a Plan B which involves troop redeployment and a withdrawal to the Iraqi border, which they follow up with a question-and-answer addressing, among other things, the idea that the surge may finally be working. I'd say this isn't something we'd expect from the Dallas Morning News, except that it's getting to the point where I'm losing track of how many times I've said that recently.

The political situation in Iraq isn't bound to get particularly better any time soon either, especially now that the Iraqi parliament has gone home for summer recess. The list of things the parliament got done before recess is short and remarkably uninspiring. From the article:

"Bush cannot realistically go to Congress and say he has to keep U.S. troops there because the Iraqi government is doing a good job -- because the government is largely absent. It places him in a very difficult predicament," said Gareth Stansfield, an analyst at leading British think-tank Chatham House.

It is hoped that a summit being held next week for Sunni, Shi'a, and Kurdish leaders will ease some of the infighting and allow for a reconvened parliament to get something done. But with little diplomatic help from their current occupiers, I don't see any reason to hope for such a change.

John Edwards seems to continue being the only top-tier Presidential candidate from either party that can get his name in the press for something positive. This time, The Hill covers his comprehensive tax program, which again puts him at the front of the Democratic policy discussion. I know, it sounds like I'm shilling for him. Don't take my word for it, then: read the article. And while you're at it, you can read other reports noting his "racing to the fore" on a number of key issues. Campaigns & Elections magazine sums many of them up. See, I don't make the news. I just report it.

Lastly today, in a story we were remiss in not catching yesterday, we are sad to report that Houston TV legend Marvin Zindler lost his fight to pancreatic cancer Sunday. Many may know him best for his efforts to close down the Chicken Ranch brothel, which were made famous by the Broadway hit "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," but my generation (and many others) grew up with his Action 13 consumer reporting and his restaurant health violation reports which gave birth to his trademark "sliiiiiiime in the ice machine!" Through his segment, he helped a number of underprivileged Houstonians in unfortunate situations find justice. The only word that could adequately describe him and his influence is "irreplaceable." We'll miss you, Marvin.