Yahoo! News: Elections

Senate struggles on stimulus in nighttime session (AP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 12:40 AM CST

AP - In an uncertain reach across party lines, Senate moderates struggled for a compromise on economic stimulus legislation Thursday as the government spit out grim new jobless figures and President Barack Obama warned of more bad news ahead.

Charges dropped in Guantanamo terror trial (AP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 12:16 AM CST

AP - The Pentagon's senior judge overseeing terror trials at Guantanamo Bay dropped charges Thursday against an al-Qaida suspect in the 2000 USS Cole bombing, upholding President Barack Obama's order to freeze military tribunals there.

Ex-Ill. gov's fundraiser faces new fraud charges (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 11:21 PM CST

AP - Prosecutors filed new charges against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's ex-chief fundraiser Thursday, alleging that he used a bid-rigging scheme to get $8.5 million in inflated contracts for roofing work at O'Hare International Airport.

Obama admin. seeks treaty to cut US, Russia nukes (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 10:36 PM CST

AP - The Obama administration, reversing the Bush administration's limited interest in nuclear disarmament, is gearing up for early negotiations with Russia on a new treaty that would sharply reduce stockpiles of nuclear warheads.

At retreat, Obama goes on the offensive (Politico)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:41 PM CST

Politico - WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — A fired-up Barack Obama ditched his TelePrompter to rally House Democrats and rip Republican opponents of his recovery package Thursday night – at one point openly mocking the GOP for failing to follow through on promises of bipartisanship.

Justice Ginsburg has pancreatic cancer surgery (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 10:37 PM CST

AP - Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had surgery Thursday for pancreatic cancer, raising the possibility that one of the ideologically divided court's leading liberals and its only woman might have to curtail her work or even step down before she had planned.

INSIDE WASHINGTON: Congress retreats, luxuriously (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 09:31 PM CST

AP - Members of Congress were quick to shame corporate executives for over-the-top extravagance during the economic crisis, flying private jets and taking luxury junkets. But some lawmakers are strolling fancy resorts spending tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars and mingling with lobbyists.

Labor pick deals with husband's tax problems (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:04 PM CST

AP - Labor Secretary nominee Hilda Solis became the latest Cabinet nominee to face questions about unpaid taxes Thursday as a Senate panel abruptly postponed a scheduled vote on her confirmation.

Key Bush Gitmo advisers still on job at Pentagon (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 09:18 PM CST

AP - Three senior Pentagon officials tapped by the Bush administration to oversee detainee policy at Guantanamo Bay remain on the job despite President Barack Obama's order to reverse course at the Navy prison in Cuba.

Obama asks Democrats to quickly pass stimulus plan (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 11:24 PM CST

AP - Pushing Congress to pass his economic plan by next week, President Barack Obama implored House Democrats on Thursday to reject delaying tactics and political gamesmanship that often stymies legislation and keep a promise to voters who booted Republicans from power.

Can Obama Regain Control of Congress's Stimulus Bill? (Time.com)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 01:40 AM CST

Time.com - The biggest challenge President Barack Obama faces in trying to sell America on his nearly $900 billion stimulus package is that, as it stands, it's not really his

Obama rejects 'petty politics' of stimulus foes (AFP)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 12:09 AM CST

AFP - President Barack Obama has fired a biting campaign-style attack on Republicans and the former Bush administration, seeking to drive his 900 billion dollar stimulus plan through Congress.

Democrats aim to pass U.S. rescue package Friday (Reuters)

Posted: 06 Feb 2009 12:17 AM CST

Reuters - The Democratic-led U.S. Senate will again try on Friday to pass a $937 billion economic stimulus package even as moderate lawmakers sought to broker a deal to trim proposed spending some criticized as too much.

Fight averted as Cole charges dropped (Politico)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 10:58 PM CST

Politico - President Obama will meet with the families of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and of the USS Cole bombing on Friday, a day after the judge charged with convening the military trials at Guantanamo ordered charges withdrawn against Saudi national Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who is accused of being the former Persian Gulf Operations Chief for al Qaeda and the mastermind of the attack on the Cole.

U.S. needs clear mission in Afghanistan: Obama (Reuters)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 10:34 PM CST

Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday expressed concerns about the difficulty of maintaining a focused military mission in Afghanistan as his administration prepares a troop buildup there, sources at a Democratic meeting said.

Judge drops charges in USS Cole bombing case (Reuters)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 10:20 PM CST

Reuters - The judge overseeing U.S. war crimes court at Guantanamo on Thursday dismissed the charges against a Saudi prisoner accused of plotting the bombing of the Navy warship USS Cole, the Pentagon said.

Senate panel OKs Lynn to become Pentagon deputy (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:47 PM CST

AP - The Senate Armed Services Committee voted Thursday in favor of William Lynn, a former Raytheon Co. lobbyist whose nomination as deputy defense secretary ran counter to President Barack Obama's promise to close the "revolving door" between government and big business.

Obama: Economy faces catastrophe without stimulus (Reuters)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:40 PM CST

Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama pressed Congress on Thursday to pass a massive fiscal stimulus package, saying the economy would face "catastrophe" without it.

Democrats defeat GOP plan on mortgage rates (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:24 PM CST

AP - A plan by Republicans in the Senate aimed at pushing mortgage rates lower has gone down to defeat at the hands of Democrats.

Air Force One: Obama's new 'spiffy ride' (AP)

Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:21 PM CST

AP - Suffice to say, President Barack Obama likes his new ride.