Liberal Oasis has the link to the House website with the Final Vote Results for Roll Call 455 on the war resolution--a majority of the Democrats voted against it: 126-81.

Here is the text of H. J. RES. 114 JOINT RESOLUTION passed by the House October 10:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the `Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002'.

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--

(1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

(2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq .

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) AUTHORIZATION- The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to--

(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq ; and

(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq .

(b) PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION- In connection with the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President shall, prior to such exercise or as soon thereafter as may be feasible, but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that--

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq ; and

(2) acting pursuant to this joint resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorist and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

© War Powers Resolution Requirements-

(1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION- Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS- Nothing in this joint resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

(a) REPORTS- The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 3 and the status of planning for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are completed, including those actions described in section 7 of the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338).

(b) SINGLE CONSOLIDATED REPORT- To the extent that the submission of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission of any other report on matters relevant to this joint resolution otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the reporting requirements of the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), all such reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the Congress.

© RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- To the extent that the information required by section 3 of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) is included in the report required by this section, such report shall be considered as meeting the requirements of section 3 of such resolution.
Passed the House of Representatives October 10, 2002.

Source: Thomas, Federal Legislation Server.

I have always thought that Las Vegas got a huge gift when it elected Oscar Goodman, one of my heroes and a great criminal defense attorney, as its Mayor a few years ago.

Today's LA Times captures Oscar perfectly in Las Vegas Mayor Gins Up Support:

"He is the mayor, after all, who invites residents to meet him for a drink at a local bar to discuss civic issues. "Martinis With the Mayor," the sessions are called. And they've become so popular, bars clamor to host the next one. And gin martinis have been Oscar Goodman's companion for 38 years, which has helped endear him with constituents as a regular fellow who lives life with gusto."

"All this is to say that, in Vegas, the mayor and martinis go together like Siegfried and Roy. So when Goodman agreed to switch from his favorite gin to a brand sold by the state's largest liquor distributor in exchange for $100,000 (donated to charity, of course), there was barely a stir (which is not how he prefers his drink)."

"Goodman, who encourages only responsible drinking and designated-driver programs, has never let convention stand in the way of promotion."

We're taking advantage of the three day holiday weekend and will be lightly and only sporadically posting. You can read some of our earlier posts by clicking on the subject archives or searching for a particular topic. We also recommend you visit the blogs we've mentioned on the right. If we've missed some good ones you think should be listed, let us know.

Federal officials investigating the September 11 attacks are publicly speculating that five, not four attacks were planned for September 11, and that Ramzi Binalshibh, the former roomate of Mohammed Attah arrested a few weeks ago in Pakistan, may have been the intended fifth pilot. The speculation is that he would have led a fifth team in an attack on the White House.

This is quite a change from the Government's prior theory that Binalshibh was supposed to be the 20th hijacker on one of the four September 11 flights until he couldn't get a visa, which resulted in Moussaoui being picked to take his place. The new theory has Binalshibh as the leader of a fifth hijacking group intending to attack the White House but the plan was aborted when Binalshibh couldn't get his visa.

The sources for the new theory are John Walker Lindh and other detainees, but not Binalshibh.

"...Mr. bin al-Shibh's role in the plot was a main topic of his interrogation at a secret military base abroad. Military officials have asked Mr. bin al-Shibh about organizational changes in Al Qaeda since the Sept. 11 attacks and about plans for further attacks."

"The officials said Mr. bin al-Shibh has provided only fragmentary information about the hijackings and Al Qaeda's activities since the war in Afghanistan. The officials said Mr. bin al-Shibh had not said he planned to lead another hijacking group."

Sounds to us like the Government is still grasping at straws trying to fit Moussaoui and Binalshibh in the September 11 picture.

A federal magistrate today ordered the release of October Martinique Lewis, one of the six Oregon defendants charged with being part of a terror cell.

The Magistrate Judge found that the Government failed to sufficiently establish that Lewis was either a flight risk or a danger to the community. It appears that the Government has requested a review hearing by a Federal Judge, which will be held Friday.

"Lawyers for the defendants and their relatives maintain that the government is overreaching and that the group -- all Muslims, five of them U.S. citizens -- wanted to work for or support humanitarian groups in Afghanistan."

"Today at Lewis's detainment hearing, prosecutors offered the magistrate some of their evidence, reading from e-mail messages sent between Lewis and Battle, whose own detainment hearing was postponed until Tuesday."

"The e-mails, however, were vague and their incriminating evidence in question. None of the e-mails specifically mentioned Afghanistan, bin Laden or the Taliban. Instead, the electronic correspondence referred to "you know who."

The Government has alleged that Lewis wired hundreds of dollars to her ex-husband overseas who was trying to enter Afganistan. We reported the details of the case here.

18 people have now been arrested on terrorism related charges in the past six weeks.

NORML and other drug-law reform organizations today filed a federal admintistrative petition to reclassify marijuana so that doctors may prescribe it for medical purposes.

"The petition argues that the scientific record doesn't support the DEA's classification that marijuana has no accepted medical use in the United States, is unsafe for use, and has a high potential for abuse. The federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) classifies drugs in five distinct categories - Schedule I through V - with Schedule I drugs being strictly prohibited. Federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance without medical value."

In Seattle, an initiative has been certified on the ballot that would make enforcement of marijuana laws the lowest priority of law enforcement.

"Proponents of a citywide initiative to minimize the amount of time local police spend enforcing marijuana possession laws announced last week that county election officials have certified their proposal for this November's electoral ballot. If passed, Initiative 75 would require the Seattle Police Department and the City Attorney's Office to make the "investigation, arrest and prosecution" of adults for pot possession the city's "lowest law enforcement priority."

And in Oakland, "a pair of California medical marijuana patients and providers brought suit Wednesday to demand the federal government stop targeting those who use and grow the drug legally under state law. The suit is in response to a recent wave of federal raids and arrests of California medical marijuana patients and cooperatives."

Instapundit, as a strong supporter of states' rights, favors the lawsuit but doesn't think it will win.

A lawsuit brought by Illinois Attorney General and Gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan,against Governor George Ryan, seeking to block Gov. Ryan's plan to hold 135 clemency hearings back to back in 30 minute intervals has been thrown out of court.

For more on the Ryan v. Ryan controversy, go here.

Via Hamster: In California, the San Jose Chief of Police removed his officers from a DEA Task Force because he doesn't want them raiding pot clubs.

"Lansdowne said his four officers and one sergeant have better things to do - - such as tackle the methamphetamine epidemic -- than harass local pot clubs, which are operating within state law. "

"I think the priorities are out of sync at the federal level," said Lansdowne, who said he agrees the state's voters made the right decision in legalizing marijuana for medical use under regulated circumstances. "The problem in California right now is methamphetamines, not medical marijuana."

The ACLU has issued a press release decrying today's passage of the Election Reform Bill.

"In response to tonight's expected passage of election reform legislation that has been touted by supporters as a cure for America's flawed voting system, the American Civil Liberties Union said that the bill would disenfranchise whole classes of Americans by erecting new bureaucratic hurdles for voters."

"This bill turns back the clock on four decades of voting rights advances," said LaShawn Warren, an ACLU Legislative Counsel. "Instead of making sure that the voting process is inclusive, this bill provides the tools to excludes people from the voting process, negatively impacting the elderly, the disabled, racial and ethnic minorities, students and the poor. Not only does this bill make it more difficult to vote, it makes it more difficult to register to vote."

My DD quotes from the Hauser Report on the battles in the Senate. Among those in trouble on the Republican side is Wayne Allard of Colorado. He and Democratic challenger Tom Strickland are running neck and neck in the polls with Zogby showing them equal at 42 percent each. Political Wire reported recently that independent voters are favoring Strickland by a large margin.

The campaign is nearing the end. Strickland needs help for his tv ads that have been very effective. Tim Russert said on Meet the Press a few weeks ago that this has become the most important race in the country because it could determine whether the Democrats or Republicans control of the senate.

We were at a fundraiser for Strickland last night. We've known him and his family for fifteen years as our kids went to school together. We've also observed his management and leadership skills first-hand when he was the U.S. Attorney in Colorado (appointed by Clinton, fired by Bush). As anyone who reads TalkLeft knows, it's rare that we praise prosecutors. Strickland did a great job. He took an office that was low in morale and performance and turned it around. By elevating the professionalism and spirit of his prosecutors, federal court became a fairer place for defendants. He was one of the rare prosecutors who instinctively understood and whole-heartedly believes that the job of a prosecutor is to do justice, not to convict.

Strickland cares about who gets on the Supreme Court. As a Senator he will vote against right-wing judicial activists. He considers Attorney General John Ashcroft "an enemy." Last night he said that when he got the telephone call from Robert Mueller (former Acting Attorney General and U.S. Attorney in California and current F.B.I. Director) telling him he was fired, Mueller told him that he had been instructed to make the call to Strickland first.

We don't agree on every issue. For example, he supports the Victims' Rights Amendment and we oppose it. But we agree with him on the fundamentals, and we know he will use his power in the Senate to restrain and oppose Ashcroft in his relentless assault on the Constitution.

Strickland is highly critical of Bush's foreign policy. He thinks he has politicized the Iraq issue to validate his father. He thinks Saddam is a threat, but he doesn't favor attacking Iraq now as the way to eliminate him--not until we've exhausted every other reasonable means. He thinks we should be helping to re-build Afganistan and similar countries. By attacking the poverty, despair and hopelessness that is the daily existence of people in these countries, we can reduce the number of those drawn to terrorism and those most susceptible to being converted by the terrorists.

If you can, go here and give him some money. If you care about the next twenty years of Supreme Court decisions, which will be affected by upcoming retirements of at least two and maybe more Justices within the next few years, we need to control the balance in the Senate. Strickland is a godsend on that issue alone.

If you give to one race this year, even if it's $25, give to Strickland.

"With tensions rising between intelligence agencies and a congressional panel investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, lawmakers have decided that a meeting with the directors of the CIA and FBI today will be held behind closed doors ."

The scheduled witnesses are FBI Director Robert Mueller and CIA Director George Tenet. The decision to close the hearing was made late Wednesday night. No reason was given, but speculation is that the topic to be discussed is the FBI's handling of the informant who was the landlord of two of the 9/11 hijackers.

The informant had been promised anonymity. The FBI has allowed the agent who was the informant's handler to speak with Congress but has refused to allow the informant himself to be questioned. For more on the informant and the controversy, see our October 6 post.

The hearings will go public agains next week.

Lawyers in Illiniois say Attorney General Jim Ryan, the Republican candidate vying to replace outgoing Illinois Governor George Ryan, is not worthy of the job. The announcement came at a press conference of the Chicago Bar Association. (via Buzzflash).

"Best-selling novelist Scott Turow and the other big legal guns who helped exonerate three men convicted of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico's murder argued Tuesday that Republican Attorney General Jim Ryan's role in the botched death penalty case shows he lacks the character to be governor."

"Calling themselves a group of Democrats, Republicans and independents, the lawyers stopped short of endorsing Ryan's Democratic rival, Rod Blagojevich, but called on voters not to vote for Ryan in the Nov. 5 election."

"Anyone who carefully examines the record in this prosecution must conclude--must conclude--that Jim Ryan wholly lacks the capacity to run a public office with integrity," Turow said."

"As DuPage County state's attorney, Ryan prosecuted Rolando Cruz, Alejandro Hernandez and Stephen Buckley for the 1983 kidnap, rape and murder of Jeanine from her home near Naperville. When the state Supreme Court overturned the case in 1988, Ryan pushed to retry the men despite mounting evidence that another man, sex offender Brian Dugan, committed the crime. All three were eventually exonerated, Cruz after spending more than a decade on Death Row."

We've written about Jim Ryan and the Orlando Cruz case several times, for example here , as has Daily Kos here.