His nomination, which was announced on Dec. 10, was supported by the Senate Commerce Committee but did not come up for a vote in the Senate before adjournment.
Facing long debates on domestic security, spending bills and now an invasion of Iraq, Congress will almost certainly not complete its work before its scheduled Oct. 4 adjournment, which itself is highly likely to be extended until Oct. 11.
Although the judge in this case reportedly cast doubt on the validity of those arrests, he or she issued what's called an adjournment contemplating dismissal, or ACD, which is an agreement saying the charges will be dropped if the defendant stays out of trouble for a certain period of time.
I've been to hacker trials and misdemeanor court and the sentencings of friends – though at my lone disorderly conduct hearing, I got an ACD (which is short for adjournment in contemplation of dismissal) so fast I couldn't even reach for my sketchpad.
The adjournment allowed for a Crown Prosecution Service investigation, which is continuing, as to whether any criminal offences had been committed.
Well the legislature had "sine die," which is a Latin term for adjournment, on June 1.
As a result, Republican leaders are unable to say when Congress, which is now a month past its adjournment date, will end.
The contra aid issue had been the most serious stumbling block in passing the deficit-reduction package, which is all that stands between Congress and adjournment for the year.
Sukhendu Roy, a leader of the Trinamool Congress party, which is an ally of the ruling government, also criticised the adjournment of the vote, saying it was a "shameful" day for democracy and a result of "orchestrated chaos".
