Democrats Announce Agreement on Budget Pact
April 27, 2009
The deal would prevent Senate Republicans from delaying or blocking the president’s plan to expand government-subsidized health care when it advances this fall.
Key Posts Remain Vacant as Untested Pandemic Response Plan Implemented
April 27, 2009
As they confront the growing swine flu crisis, President Obama’s administration is attempting to implement a never-before-tested pandemic response plan while dozens of key public health and emergency response jobs in the administration remain vacant.
Secretary Napolitano – So nice to have someone rational in office.
April 27, 2009
This 51 yr old, former governor of Arizona, is the third head of the Department of Homeland Scrutiny. I suspect that we are lucky to have her. If nothing else, she’s a survivor.
Security problems uncovered in Iraq
April 27, 2009
A commission investigating waste and fraud in wartime spending has found serious deficiencies in training and equipment for hundreds of Ugandan guards hired to protect U.S. military bases in Iraq, The Associated Press has learned.
The problems at Forward Operating Bases Delta and Hammer include a lack of vehicles used to properly protect the two posts, a shortage of weapons and night vision gear, and poorly trained guards. Both bases house several thousand U.S. military personnel.
Screw ’em: We know when we’re right
April 27, 2009
In December 2005, a long-time friend who worked in the Bush White House tipped me on a meeting the President had with some top GOP leaders. During that meeting, a worried Republican aide told Bush that the USA Patriot Act represented a threat to the Constitution.
Bush, whose temper is always close to the surface, exploded:
"Stop throwing the Constitution in my face," Bush screamed back. "It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!"
Obama’s ambitious first 100 days
April 27, 2009
In his high-velocity first 100 days, Barack Obama has sketched the outlines of a presidency of astounding ambition, which would remake the United States at home and transform its role abroad.
Yet the new president’s agenda still faces tests of fire posed by a punishing economic crisis, the scheming of US allies and foes abroad and a poisoned political environment back home.
Leahy calls for investigation of torture
April 27, 2009
A senior US lawmaker on Sunday called for a special commission to investigate the US government’s alleged torture of terror detainees, amid calls by some that the country bury the controversy.
"I know some people say, let’s turn the page. Frankly, I’d like to read the page before we turn it," Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy told CBS television’s "Face the Nation" program.
Swine flu declared national emergency
April 27, 2009
The United States declared a swine flu outbreak a public health emergency as officials confirmed 20 cases in five US states and warned that they expected more in the coming days.
President Barack Obama is monitoring the spreading virus and has reviewed US capabilities to counter the deadly flu outbreak, which has killed up to 81 people in Mexico, White House homeland security advisor John Brennan told reporters.
Obama has ordered a "very active, aggressive, and coordinated response," Brennan said.
McCain splits with Cheney on memos
April 27, 2009
Releasing classified memos showing whether harsh Bush-era interrogation methods yielded useful information from terrorism suspects is not necessary, Republican Senator John McCain said on Sunday in a public disagreement with former Vice President Dick Cheney.
After President Barack Obama released four memos this month revealing the Bush administration’s legal justification for methods such as waterboarding — a form of simulated drowning — Cheney called for declassifying any memos showing that these techniques succeeded in producing valuable information.
Pentagon will release prisoner abuse photos
April 27, 2009
The Pentagon said on Friday it will release hundreds of photographs from investigations into prisoner abuse but insisted they did not reveal a policy of mistreatment.
The Obama administration’s commitment to release the pictures by May 28 could fan the flames of a political firestorm over the treatment of terrorism suspects and other detainees during George W. Bush’s presidency.