That. I dont think donations are disqualifying at all but if you represented the Clinton Foundation or clinton herself, it would be a bit disturbing to me but i will take care of that. As to russia, do you have any doubt that the 17 Intelligence Agency report that was submitted last year or early this year, that russia interfered in our election is acted . Senator, this is an issue discussed in my confirmation rate and trouble of you attended that. At the point i access only to the public right. Public admission which classified information but what can you tell us down . I know access to classified information and i think that assessment made by the Intelligence Community is justified based upon investigation, the evidence they had. Jeff sessions will testify on capitol hill today. Hes expected to get questions from lawmakers about his contacts with russian officials during the 2016th election campaign. This will be the first time hes testified before Congress Since his confirmation h
The senate to a halt as the fight over obamacare state enters the key to week stretch. You can read more at the hill. Com today. The defense secretary james mattis and general Joseph Dunford chair joint chiefs of staff testify now about the president s 2018 budget for for the pentagon. The Senate Armed Services Committee Held at this hearing last week. Good morning. In the thin Arm Service Committee meets this one tracy testimony on the department of defense fiscal year 2018 budget request. We welcome secretary mattis and chairman dent for, secretary norquist, i thank you for your many years of distinguished service and your leadership of our men and women in uniform. Before we begin, i want to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of Sergeant Eric houck, Sergeant William bays, and Corporal Dillon baldridge. M these three soldiers from the armys 101st Airborne Division were killed this weekend in afghanistan. The thoughts and prayers of this committee are with their loved ones. The sac
President obama said there are larger issues to be resolved and they wont be fixed by throwing bottles or breaking car windows. He spoke last night. The situation in ferguson speaks to broader challenges that we still face as a nation. The fact is, in too many parts of this country, a deep distrust exists between what enforcement and communities of color. According to prosecutors, the most credible witnesses told the grand jury the teenager Michael Brown charged that the Police Officer just before he fired the fatal shot. Turns out that chuck hagel did not put up a fight with president obama asked him to resign as defense secretary. One pentagon official said he was ready to go anyway. White house officials disagreed with hagel over policy. Hagel was frustrated with the white houses management style. None of that came up when the announcement was made yesterday. It has been the greatest privilege of my life, the greatest privilege of my life to lead the most important, to serve, to ser
226th anniversary of the u. S. Constitution and i am reminded of vindication on the 200th anniversary, when the nation magazine asked novelist el doctorow to read the constitution from start to finish in right of his reactions. Didnt enjoy the assignment. Is 5000 words long, but reads like 50,000 he said. Alexei erdrich and shows not a trace of wit. He uses none of the troops of literature to create an pathetic state of mind of the reader. Those of you whove read the work now that he is one of our finest writers and understands American History very well. But this occasion i think you missed the story. For one thing, he missed a third of the constitution, which is 7500 words long. Apparently he quit when he got to the end of the original power. Under the common american misconception that the amendments dont count. Even reading the 1787 document, kia i think missed some truly high rhetoric, some literary trope and may be no wait, but a certain amount of irony. Like at doctorow, america
Purloined, trafficked and concealed for over two centuries. This last constitution could forever change americas history and its future. So the idea is that the words on that are upstairs in the parchment, those arent clear. But if we could get a hold of some other word that those same people wrote, that would make everything clear. Freedom of religion can date sovereignty, the right to bear arms. These other words are so powerful in the constitution that people are willing to kill for them. If we could just get our hands on these words, we would finally be will to read the words we do have. Original intent of the original meaning of original understanding, whatever you call this idea, it is worth asking why so important in our national dialogue. There is a history here. It is particularly american. We did people for the past 200 or 300 years have had a more intense relationship with the christian bible than probably any other people in history. That biblical tradition is where the ide