Ehud (part 2), Senate decisions, and Memorial Day tribute 1st edition

The Senate easily confirmed General Michael Hayden as the Director of the CIA this morning. Hayden will be the first active-duty, or retired military officer to run the CIA in 25 years. After hearing that Hayden would work independent of the Pentagon, it was the last straw that Senators needed to confirm him for the job. In a written statement of support over the confirmation, President Bush stated: "Winning the war on terror requires that America have the best intelligence possible, and his strong leadership will ensure that we do. Gen. Hayden is a patriot and a dedicated public servant whose broad experience, dedication and expertise make him the right person to lead the CIA at this critical time." At this point, I agree. I think that it was the right decision. There is no questions about Gen. Hayden's abilities. I think that he was the right choice at this time.

Speaking of the Senate, yesterday was a pretty big day with regards to immigration. In a highly debated, much anticipated bill, the senate passed the immigration reform bill yesterday. It is the biggest change in American immigration policy in some time, and some argue that it could change the face of America as we know it. The bill establishes more boarder security, a guest worker program, and the opportunity for millions of illegal immigrants to stay in the country and possibly become citizens. The surprising thing was how bipartisan the bill was. With a final tally of 62-36 which included 38 Democrats, 23 Republicans, and James Jeffords the lone Independent in the Senate. The real split came between members of the Republican party, where 23 voted yes and 32 voted no. Arizona Senator John McCain who along with Mass. Sen Ted Kennedy championed the bill, for which McCain has received a lot of criticism from the conservative base that may not want to have him as their candidate in the 2008 Presidential race. Some of the accomplishments of the bill are: 370 miles of triple fencing guarding America's boarders. Making English the national language (which many people find insulting), and a more complicated system to determine who can stay and who must be deported. This is one of the most (if not the most) complex immigration bills in U.S. history and opponents of the bill argue that the bill is flawed and will ultimately do more harm than good. Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, called the measure "a bad bill" that "puts more emphasis on amnesty than on border security." While the first step is passed the Bill now travels across the capitol to the House, where many say that it will not receive nearly the support it did in the Senate. If it does get through the House look for it to be changed in many ways. President Bush and the White House are campaigning for the bill to look similar to what it does now when it comes to his desk, but with members of the House in an election year, you can bet that nothing will come easy. Look for more on this in the upcoming weeks, as I am concerned about this, but have yet to formulate an intelligent position from which to approach it.

As part of my three part Memorial Day salute, I wanted to share an excerpt from the speech that Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave to joint members of Congress on Wednesday:
"This coming Monday, the 29th of May, you commemorate Memorial Day for America's fallen. The graves of brave American soldiers are scattered throughout the world: in Asia and in the Pacific, throughout Europe and Africa, in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. The pain of the families never heals, and the void they leave is never filled."
"It is impossible to think of a world in which America was not there, in the honorable service of humanity. On Monday, when the stars and stripes are lowered to half-mast, we the people of Israel, will bow our heads with you."


As we begin this wonderful Memorial weekend of fun, family and friends, and to many the beginning of summer, I hope that you will all take a moment at some point and remember why it is we are all able to enjoy what we enjoy as Americans. Remember those who have given what Abraham Lincoln called "the last full measure of devotion." Remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom. Those who gave their lives so I can sit here and freely share my thoughts on this blog. And if you get a chance thank someone in the military right now, or a veteran. Even though we are honoring those who have passed on, many of those brave men and women have risked their lives for the same purpose. To all those brave, buried around the world: Thank you from the bottom of my heart.