Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Money Scandal
The new chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees ? among other things ? the Justice Department ? has recused himself from some of those duties ? because he is under investigation by the Justice Department.
West Virginia Democrat Alan Mollohan says he wants to "alleviate any legitimate concerns about my service." Mollohan is alleged to have helped steer millions of dollars in taxpayer money into several non-profit organizations that he helped establish. He has denied any impropriety.
A spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi tells Congress Daily newspaper Mollohan's recusal is "the appropriate thing to do." One Democratic aide reacted to the move by saying "Thank God."
added note--
Poll Paralysis
It has now been a month since the Washington Post and ABC news did a poll of public opinion at the year's end, but the neither the paper or the network has reported on the some of the poll's most striking findings. The poll reveals strong public optimism about Americans' personal lives and the country as a whole.
The survey showed 71 percent of respondents optimistic about America's ability to defend itself against terror attacks, 64 percent optimistic about the economy and 61 percent about how things are going in the U.S.
But none of that was mentioned in four stories referencing the poll in the Post ? and two reports on ABC. Instead, those stories focused on overall pessimism about Iraq and the president's policies.
Money Scandal
The new chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees ? among other things ? the Justice Department ? has recused himself from some of those duties ? because he is under investigation by the Justice Department.
West Virginia Democrat Alan Mollohan says he wants to "alleviate any legitimate concerns about my service." Mollohan is alleged to have helped steer millions of dollars in taxpayer money into several non-profit organizations that he helped establish. He has denied any impropriety.
A spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi tells Congress Daily newspaper Mollohan's recusal is "the appropriate thing to do." One Democratic aide reacted to the move by saying "Thank God."
added note--
Poll Paralysis
It has now been a month since the Washington Post and ABC news did a poll of public opinion at the year's end, but the neither the paper or the network has reported on the some of the poll's most striking findings. The poll reveals strong public optimism about Americans' personal lives and the country as a whole.
The survey showed 71 percent of respondents optimistic about America's ability to defend itself against terror attacks, 64 percent optimistic about the economy and 61 percent about how things are going in the U.S.
But none of that was mentioned in four stories referencing the poll in the Post ? and two reports on ABC. Instead, those stories focused on overall pessimism about Iraq and the president's policies.
