Stevenson’s army, October 5

– State’s legal adviser Harold Koh is resigning with a blistering letter criticizing administration immigration policy.

– USTR explains Administration’s China policy. Here’s the text.

– Crisis Group suggests changes in war powers to deal with war on terror.

– Joe Klein cites  historian’s analysis of early immigrant groups to today’s political divisions. Interesting read.              

-I’m beginning to wonder whether the best debt limit action would be a narrow Senate ruling that measures affecting the debt can’t be filibustered. I know McConnell can’t be shamed into changing his position. And Democrats fear a vote-a-rama if they use reconciliation [which is stupid since they’ll face multiple votes on their ultimate package]. But I could see a point of order on the narrow debt question based on the 14th amendment, paragraph 4.

The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.