Dayton will boycott Iraqi premier's speech

[Dickie Flatt]

Star Tribune - 9/23/04

Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., plans to boycott Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's appearance before Congress today.

Dayton described the speech as "a production" staged by the Bush administration and said that Allawi "ought to be over there running his country." Dayton made the remarks in a conference call with reporters Wednesday.

Dayton said members of Congress should be able to question Allawi during his appearance but won't be allowed to do so. He said he would like to ask Allawi about the new Iraqi government's responsibility for policing and securing Iraq.

Spokeswoman Chris Lisi said Dayton probably will watch the speech on television.

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., who plans to attend Allawi's speech, said he was disappointed by Dayton's decision.

"Even if one disagrees with American policy in Iraq, Prime Minister Allawi deserves to be accorded the respect of our attendance at his historic appearance before both houses of Congress," Coleman said.

<shameless begging>Mark isn't up for re-election until 2006, but if you have any spare money left after donating to this year's candidates, please consider donating to Mark. He funded himself in 2000, but he won't be able to do it again. Without our donations, he'll be crushed by the ultra-right Minnesota Republican Party. Please consider a donation.</shameless begging>

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Right on, Senator Dayton!

At least I have one senator I can be proud of. And it's not Norm Coleman.

Norm, you suck.

[jwirr]

12. Amen!

[Cha]

2. Go Mark Dayton!

Hope he wins in 2006!

[truthisfreedom]

3. Dayton is doing what Wellstone would have done. on the other hand, nawm

coleman is a turncoat rethug being groomed as a possible runningmate for bush in '08, if diebold pulls the theft off.

[Eye and Monkey]

4. "Allawi deserves to be accorded the respect" - WHY?

A CIA goon serving as a puppet for a sham. Please.

Hope Dayton's not alone.

[bvar22]

5. Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn

Dayton is quickly becomming my favorite Congresscritter. I wish we still had Wellstone!

[0007]

6. Go Mark Dayton go! I'm glad your boycotting this criminal

that kowtows to the the main thugs.

[quaoar]

7. Coleman better save his money for 2008

When Al Franken runs against him and kicks his ass.

[AG78]

8. And yet

votes for Porter Goss.

He stands up somewhat to Allawi and the Bush administration, where no voting takes place.

He votes for a man that was hand picked by the Bush administration to head the CIA.

We really need "our" party to pick a side.

Who is this party voting for? The people, or the system?

[Carolab]

9. Mark was the one who

spoke before the "9/11 commission" the day after the report was published, and brought up the NORAD-FAA coverup in the timelines. He also exhibited a great deal of courage during the Abu Ghraib hearings, reading the reports about the ARC give Rice early warnings about the torture, which were of course ignored.

[goodhue]

10. kick

[goodboy]

11. good. more should stand up....eom