Updates -- 1/17/06
Today's papers have some quick follow-ups to the stories we have been covering here. None of these contain breaking news, but if you are following these stories you'll find them interesting.
Re: Alito. The Senate Democrats, while recognizing that they don't have the votes to stop Alito from being confirmed, still have a parliamentary trick or two up their sleeves to try to dilute the victory for Bush. This Washington Post article explains the maneuvering behind the timing of the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote to confirm him, currently delayed until next week. (Amy Goldstein, Senate Panel's Vote on Alito Delayed Until Next Week, 1/17/06.)
The New York Times has several articles relating to the NSA spying controversy. The most interesting relies on leaks from the FBI, whose agents seem to want to avoid getting tarnished by the emerging scandal. They say that they argued early on that the warrantless searches, which they had to follow up on, were illegal and that there were no real gains from the effort anyway, just a diversion of their time and energy. (Lowell Bergman, et al., Spy Agency After Sept. 11 Led FBI to Dead Ends, 1/17/06.)
Another NYT article discusses the intentions of two groups representing some American journalists and lawyers to sue the federal government on the grounds that the eavesdropping is illegal. The individuals fear that their conversations may have been monitored by the NSA. The Bush administration responds that their actions were legal and necessary to prevent terror attacks in the U.S. and it and opposes the law suits. The same article reports on a story all the other papers carry as well--former vice president Al Gore made a speech Monday declaring his opinion that the NSA spying without warrants constitutes a "gross and excessive power grab." (Eric Lichtblau, Two Groups Planning to Sue Over Federal Eavesdropping, 1/17/06.)
Finally, the NYT reports on Congressman Bob Ney from Ohio, who, it says, is likely to face an indictment over the Abramoff lobbying scandal for doing favors for Abramoff's clients in exchange for gifts and travel. Ney claims he was tricked by Abramoff. (Anne E. Kornblut, Spotlight on Lobbying Swings to Little Known Congressman, 1/17/06.)