Rumors Swirling
The Associated Press is reporting that it looks likely that some sort of deal is about to be reached in the standoff over terror legislation. No details of any sort are leaking out yet, but a White House spokesperson seems to indicate a deal is almost ready.
President Bush's call for legislation has been deadlocked in an intraparty dispute, with Republican Sens. John McCain, John Warner and Lindsey Graham seeking a provision to make it clear that torture of suspects is barred.
Also at issue was whether suspects and their lawyers would be permitted to see any classified evidence in the cases against them.
Warner, McCain, Graham and Hadley met at mid-afternoon with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in the Capitol. The session came a few hours after Frist phoned the lawmakers and strongly urged them to reach a compromise after more than a week of Republican discord.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in an e-mail there was not yet an agreement, but added, "Good trajectory. Stand by for confirmation."
No details of the emerging compromise were immediately available.
Nor was it clear how Senate Democrats might react.
I really don't think that the Democrats would want to really block anything this close to an election when they are already fighting uphill on the "soft on terror" issue. But it wouldn't be the first time they fought the wrong battle, either.
UPDATE: MSNBC is reporting a deal has been reached.
WASHINGTON - President Bush and Republican negotiators led by Sen. John McCain have reached an agreement on legislation covering tribunals for enemy combatant suspects, NBC News has learned.
Details on the deal were not immediately available, but Rep. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said it represented “very positive steps forward. Once everyone looks at it, we hope to come to an agreement.” He was meeting with McCain and Sens. Bill Frist and John Warner, according to NBC.
President Bush’s call for legislation has been deadlocked in an intraparty dispute, with Republican Sens. McCain, Graham and John Warner seeking a provision to make it clear that torture of suspects is barred.
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Blue Crab Boulevard » Blog Archive » No Joy In Mudville — Friday, 22 September , 2006 @ 12:25 pm
By ck, Thursday, 21 September , 2006 @ 4:25 pm
McPain gonna run as an independent? Starting to look that way.