How deeply disappointing that we couldn't get enough of a majority on the committee to stand up for a basic right granted to us since the Magna Carte.

The Hill:

The new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee dealt a blow to the human-rights community by failing to include provisions to overhaul GOP legislation governing military tribunals in the 2008 defense authorization bill.[..]

Skelton said he has prepared separate legislation and is planning to work with Democratic leadership, the Judiciary Committee and members of the Armed Services panel to bring a stand-alone bill to the floor. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is supporting Skelton's efforts to move forward with a stand-alone bill, according to a Pelosi aide.

Concerns over a potential presidential veto of the defense authorization bill - which contains critical policies for the Pentagon - as well as a partisan split in the committee prompted Skelton to leave it to Democratic leadership to take up the issue. Congress has passed a defense authorization bill every year for the last 47 years.

<<snicker>>

No, seriously. <<snort>>

Okay, I give up. I can't even blog about this with a straight face ... BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Here's Katrina's take:

Who needs The Onion when you can find this report on the AP wire? (Hunter is Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.)

Washington (AP) -- California congressman Duncan Hunter looks like he may be mulling a presidential run.

A party official says the San Diego-area Republican plans to announce Monday that he's considering a bid in 2008. More...

Reuters :

Hunter said he decided to announce his White House plans after traveling to Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Arizona and Oklahoma earlier this month. His announcement took the Republican Party leadership by surprise.

"In typical Duncan Hunter fashion, I didn't consult with any Republican leaders," Hunter said. Full article here...

Build up that Wall

Majikthise: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R), the Chair of the House Armed Services Committee wants to spend 8 billion dollars to build a 2000-mile fence between the United States and Mexico...read on

He ain't crazy; he's just bothered

Duncan Hunter
Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee

Dear Rep. Hunter,

I always thought of Guantanamo Bay as a place of disgrace. A hideous example of what the United States of America stands for. But after seeing your heartfelt press conference yesterday, I realized that the many reports disseminated by the liberal elite media were nothing more than an attempt to demoralize our fine troops and condemn that great detention facility...read on