Democracy

Dealing With Rupert Murdoch

Alastair Campbell, who was the chief media adviser for British Prime Tony Blair between 1997 and 2003, recently released a book on his reign as a spin doctor. In The Blair Years, Campbell notes that in 1995 former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating offered Blair some advice on how to deal with Rupert Murdoch.

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Debate Over Iraq War Continues to Surge in Congress

The Iraq War is once again the hottest issue on Capitol Hill, as numerous bills and amendments aimed at ending the four and a half year-old conflict have been introduced. Earlier this year, both chambers passed a supplemental appropriations bill which required President Bush to begin removing U.S. combat troops from Iraq later in 2007, and also provided nearly $100 billion for the war through Sept. 30 of this year. When Bush promptly vetoed the measure, Congressional Democrats sent him a new bill which provided the funds with no troop withdrawal requests or mandates but vowed to revisit the issue, which they are doing now.

The key question is whether enough Republicans will defect and vote with the Democrats to get a majority that could override Bush's expected veto. Most recently, Sens. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and George Voinovich (R-Ohio) have called for a change in policy, though Lugar, at least, has stated that this doesn't mean he will vote for a Democratic withdrawal bill.

Which Republicans have publicly supported a withdrawal? Help us keep track by adding to the list on Congresspedia's congressional actions to end the Iraq War article, which also contains information on the current proposals and how your members of Congress voted.

Those current proposals include:

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