Aren't They Pesky Little Rascals!
New California Media files a report from Outer Space:

Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the "dean" of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), said the Black legislators "are all opposed to any proposed invasion of Iraq" that is being pursued by the Bush administration.

He also said the group would welcome a briefing by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan on findings from his recently completed Peace Mission to the Middle East and Africa, including a visit to Iraq.

"We don't have a policy to articulate to you," Rep. Conyers said July 20, referring to lack of a united statement by the CBC on Iraq, "but we oppose any extension of war on terror" that operates outside the parameters of the U.S. Constitution, Rep. Conyers said, adding that only Congress can declare war against a nation.

Rep. Conyers made the statement to reporters during a press conference at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition headquarters at the start of the organization's 5-day annual convention, which will include a speech by former President Bill Clinton. Reps. Bobby Rush and Jesse Jackson Jr., both Chicago Democrats, flanked Rep. Conyers.

"Minister Louis Farrakhan should be in before the Congressional Black Caucus to give a briefing on his trip to share information from an Iraqi perspective of what's taking place in the Middle East," Rep. Jackson told The Final Call.

"He should be seeking a meeting with (Rep.) Dennis Hassert (D-Ill.) and (Rep. Dick) Gephart (D-Mo.) for they are policymakers in Congress. [Min. Farrakhan] can be very helpful to our government at this time," Rep. Jackson said.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) put her position more bluntly.

"The U.S. has a schizophrenic policy toward Iraq," she said, adding that the U.S. international policy is "completely destructive."

"We have to work with the world community to build bridges, not walls," she said. "We should be looking for different ways to show a better face."

...

For the past 11 years, the tiny Muslim nation has been under strict no-fly zones along its northern and southern borders. With the UN embargo and sanctions still in place, the country cannot purchase or build conventional arms to secure its own sovereign airspace.

The last bon mot was thrown in by James Muhammad, the author of this screed. But back to the main players: John Conyer is a truly diverse fellow - his official website is available in Arabic as well as English and Spanish. By the way, if the Democrats win the House, he will be the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Marcy is just a knee jerk white liberal and would lead the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.

Jesse Jr. apparently has other fish to fry - he does not even have an official House of Representatives web site, but does have http://www.jessejacksonjr.org/ . I was astonished that a Jackson would pass up a government freebie, until I noticed that having his own site outside www.house.gov allows him to run commercial ads including the Jesse Jackson Jr. Book Club (via an Amazon affiliation). Check it out!

I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree.