Michael Chertoff Update

The vote over Homeland Security Secretary-Designate Michael Chertoff has been delayed over a memo. This memo deals not with torture but with...FBI agents seeking guidance on the questioning of detainees in Guantanamo Bay. Wait a minute here, if it wasn't torture, than how is not torture? Oh, wait, this is Cuba where Castro gets what he wants...not Iraq...

"We should make the point during this nomination that we're being denied a document that may relate to the nomination itself," said Levin, a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The memo and the ensuing delay is "not necessarily about Chertoff," Levin said. "It may not be, but we may never know."

At issue is a heavily edited May 2004 e-mail from FBI agents seeking guidance about questioning terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay. Last week, Levin and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., asked the Justice Department for an unedited version of the memo to see if it mentioned or involved Chertoff, who headed the agency's criminal division from 2001 to 2003.

The Justice Department denied the request, saying the memos contain "information covered by the Privacy Act," and had nothing to do with Chertoff.

In sharply worded letter Thursday to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Levin and Lieberman warned that denying the information and the oversight "sets a dangerous precedent." Lieberman is expected to vote for Chertoff.

The Kentucky New Era of Hopkinsville has made a major mistake in the mispelling of a name. You will not get away this time! But then again, you might! (This is where humor plays a hard way communicating.) I have already contacted the author dealing with the error.

"We're really hoping to take that energy from the campaign trail and build on it," Jeremy Norton, the Kentucky DFA coordinator said. "We're hoping that Democracy for America will be the grassroots arm for the Democratic Party, and that the group will continue to build by us getting back to reaching out neighbor by neighbor."

A new group seeking to promote financial literacy in Kentucky will be holding a press conference on February 15th. Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathan Miller will be on hand as well Attorney General Greg Stumbo. Missing in action is State Auditor Crit Luallen. But, strangely missing is Governor Ernie Fletcher who has shown he knows nothing about financial literacy with his budget plans.

Senate Democrats vow to defend their newly elected Senate Leader Harry Reid. None however defended the election results of 2000. Strangely. Shame on you, Senator Joe Lieberman, for not defending Al Gore in the Senate!