An Old Hand Goads Democrats to Get Tough on Ethics

"We appreciate your partial responses to our initial queries. Your responses, however, have raised further questions," Dingell wrote along with Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who chairs an investigative subcommittee.

Dingell listed seven topics on which he was seeking more detailed information from the companies. These should be given "prompt attention," he added.

At least he signed the note "Sincerely."

McCain, the New Bush?

With so much attention focused on the presidential race, vulnerable Senate Republicans facing reelection in November have largely escaped the spotlight. But Democrats aim to change that by launching an Iraq attack, starring Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), his party's presumptive presidential nominee, as whipping boy.

Although exit polls from the presidential race show the economy as the No. 1 issue on the minds of voters, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Web ad hits Senate Republicans for their positions on the Iraq war and ties them to McCain.

Titled "Swear," the new DSCC ad features McCain, President Bush, and GOP Sens. John E. Sununu (N.H.), Susan Collins (Maine), Norm Coleman (Minn.) and Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who are considered four of the most endangered Senate Republicans this year. It plays clips of all four senators either expressing their support for staying the course in Iraq or saying that U.S. troops aren't coming home anytime soon.

"I think to basically begin to withdraw before the job is finished is a mistake," the ad quotes McConnell as saying. It uses McCain's memorable "I don't think Americans are concerned if we're there for 100 years, or 1,000 years, or 10,000 years" quote. Collins is on the video saying, "It's important that we hold the line in Iraq and that we stay the course." Coleman says, "We will be in Iraq a long time."

A narrator adds: "For a new beginning, enough of Bush. Enough of status quo Republicans in the Senate. Enough." The narrator doesn't mention McCain by name. But DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller contends that "John McCain may be fine with continuing Bush's failed policies for the next 100 years, and Senate Republicans may agree with him, but most Americans couldn't disagree more."

A Republican leadership aide said the GOP figured it was only a matter of time before DSCC Chairman Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) attacked. "That leopard hasn't changed a single spot."

Debate-Crazy

If you haven't gotten your fill of debates by now, get on over to the Jack Morton Auditorium at George Washington University on Monday night for the first in a series of congressional contests.

Monday night's showdown on the economy will feature Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus; Rep. Adam H. Putnam (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Republican Conference; and six other members of Congress -- three Democrats and three Republicans.

The showdown will be moderated by Ron Brownstein, formerly of the Los Angeles Times, now the political director of Atlantic Media Co. The series of debates is being held in cooperation with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council and the GOP Congressional Institute.

House Democratic Caucus spokeswoman Sarah Feinberg says the idea of the debates -- believe it or not -- is to neutralize the exceedingly partisan atmosphere on Capitol Hill.

"The hope is that these debates will enable Republicans and Democrats to discuss our differences without being disagreeable, and our policy differences without being partisan," she said. "The aim is for this to be about ideas, not insults."

Rahm Emanuel, not insulting? What, is hell freezing over?

Noted and Quoted

"We've been waiting, hoping for the moment of Castro's death. . . . All fear, all power lies with one man: Fidel Castro. While he is alive, while that dictatorship is still alive, that's going to be the case."

-- Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) on why there's no reason to celebrate news that the world's longest-serving communist ruler has resigned.