When the Dems took control of both houses of Congress in January of 2007, they vowed to bring the fight to Bush on Iraq. They've gotten benchmarks into the budget, but have rejected toothier measures, such as timetables for withdrawal and funding cuts. Critics say the Dems have failed to take decisive action; others argue they've done the best they could without a two-thirds majority. Meanwhile, GOP reps have had to decide whether to stick with Bush on Iraq, or to defect and join the growing anti-war mainstream. Or, if they're John McCain, both.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 28 Aug 2008 7:46:10 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/34239/iraq-has-79b-budget-surplus.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe Iraqi government could end this year with as much as a $79 billion cumulative budget surplus, based largely on ever-increasing oil revenues, US congressional auditors say. A report by the Government Accountability Office made public today prompted renewed calls from senators that Baghdad pay more of the bill for its own reconstruction, which has been heavily supported with US funds.http://www.newser.com/story/34239/iraq-has-79b-budget-surplus.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 05 Aug 2008 19:31:43 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33867/stevens-pleads-not-guilty.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAlaska Sen. Ted Stevens pleaded not guilty today in federal court in Washington to seven counts of corruption, the Anchorage Daily News reports. At his lawyers' request, the judge set a tentative trial date of Sept. 24, more than 5 weeks before the Nov. 4 general election. He'll rule on the defense team's request to move the trial to Alaska on Aug. 19.http://www.newser.com/story/33867/stevens-pleads-not-guilty.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 0:43:30 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33859/bush-aides-must-testify-judge.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTurning aside White House arguments that top aides are protected from subpoenas by executive privilege, a judge ruled today that Harriet Miers must testify before a congressional committee on the firings of nine federal prosecutors, the Washington Post reports. Miers and fellow aide Joshua Bolten can, however, invoke executive privilege in declining to respond to specific questions.http://www.newser.com/story/33859/bush-aides-must-testify-judge.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 0:43:30 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33830/housing-bill-funds-democratic-ally.html?refid=rss_all_defaultNestled in the housing bill President Bush signed yesterday is an acronym Republicans don’t like one bit: ACORN. The Wall Street Journal reports that the group is among the many housing-related nonprofits the bill hands cash to, but Republicans grumble that it does more than housing. It’s also co-managing a $15.9 million voter registration campaign aimed at low-income Hispanics and African Americans–in other words, likely Democratic voters.http://www.newser.com/story/33830/housing-bill-funds-democratic-ally.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 0:43:30 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33797/white-house-order-ramps-up-spy-boss-powers.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA sweeping overhaul of spy powers will give the director of national intelligence broad new authority, reports the Wall Street Journal . Mike McConnell will be able to command information-sharing between agencies, hire and fire agency heads, and make major purchase decisions under a new executive order signed yesterday by President Bush and to be announced today, say officials briefed on the changes.http://www.newser.com/story/33797/white-house-order-ramps-up-spy-boss-powers.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 0:43:30 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33682/natl-review-stevens-get-out.html?refid=rss_all_defaultNewly indicted Ted Stevens should resign as soon as possible, write the editors of the National Review . The Alaskan senator, who is accused of seven counts of making false statements, legally “deserves the benefit of the doubt—but not from an ethical standpoint,” they note. “The facts that have emerged over the course of the federal investigation into his personal finances are damning enough on their own.”http://www.newser.com/story/33682/natl-review-stevens-get-out.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 0:43:30 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33701/payback-time-for-meanest-man-in-congress.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFew tears were shed on Capital Hill when Ted Stevens was indicted yesterday. Alaska’s celebrated senator spent 4 decades bullying Congress, writes Michael Crowley in the Washington Post, rising ever higher in the ranks by making politics personal. “I'm a mean, miserable SOB,” he’d boast, sporting his trademark Incredible Hulk tie. The message was clear: You wouldn’t like Stevens when he's angry.http://www.newser.com/story/33701/payback-time-for-meanest-man-in-congress.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 0:43:30 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33655/send-blue-dogs-to-pound-elect-real-democrats.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA Democratic Congress has bowed to President Bush on Iraq, waterboarding and FISA, and Glenn Greenwald of Salon says enough is enough. With the help of progressive bloggers, he’s campaigning against so-called “Blue Dog” Dems, hoping to teach the party’s conservatives that they will “lose seats … the more they accommodate the right’s agenda.” Greenwald doesn’t mind if Democrats lose a few seats in the revolt.http://www.newser.com/story/33655/send-blue-dogs-to-pound-elect-real-democrats.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 0:43:30 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33673/house-measure-apologizes-for-us-slavery.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe House has apologized to black Americans for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow segregation laws. Today's resolution marks the first time Congress has ever formally apologized for America's past history of enslaving and discriminating against blacks.http://www.newser.com/story/33673/house-measure-apologizes-for-us-slavery.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSat, 02 Aug 2008 0:43:30 CDT