Yahoo! News: Elections

Obama says long-term investments cannot wait (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 01:09 PM PDT

AP - Facing misgivings within his own party, President Barack Obama mounted a stout defense of the administration's economic blueprint Thursday, arguing that delay on health care, energy and education would make "recovery more fragile and our future less secure."

White House got heads up before FBI raid (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:46 AM PDT

AP - The White House says it got a heads up before FBI agents raided the former offices of a new Obama administration technology official.

GOP's Steele clarifies his opposition to abortion (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 01:10 PM PDT

AP - GOP national chairman Michael Steele said Thursday that he's opposed to abortion and that Roe v. Wade should be repealed, commenting a day after a magazine quoted him as saying abortion was "an individual choice." Steele clarified his stance in a written statement after online publication of the interview with GQ magazine.

White House objects to UN calling US 'deadbeat' (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 12:18 PM PDT

AP - The White House objected Thursday to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's description of the United States as a "deadbeat" donor to the world body.

Gregg grills Geithner on budget (Politico)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:30 AM PDT

Politico - Staring down at Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner at a Budget Committee hearing, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), the one-time Obama commerce secretary nominee, slammed the fiscal 2010 budget proposal Thursday, warning that it could “drive this country into bankruptcy.”

2 charged after search of DC tech office (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 01:20 PM PDT

AP - A District of Columbia employee and a technology consultant have been hit with corruption charges after a raid on the former office of a city official who now works for President Barack Obama.

Obama spells out threats facing US in 21st century (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 10:48 AM PDT

AP - President Barack Obama says a host of threats face the United States in a rapidly changing world, but that "this nation will maintain our military dominance."

Senate fills No. 2, 3 Justice Department positions (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 01:20 PM PDT

AP - The Senate filled the No. 2 and 3 positions at the Justice Department on Thursday, pushing aside objections from conservative Republicans who questioned the nominees' positions on pornography and the right to die.

Obama, Chinese official meet at White House (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 01:05 PM PDT

AP - President Barack Obama and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (yahng jay-uh-CHUR') have met in the Oval Office to discuss their countries' need to have more frequent and intense communications to avoid military scuffles.

Michelle Obama tours, mingles at NC Army base (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 12:39 PM PDT

AP - First lady Michelle Obama, voyaging away from Washington to begin defining her White House role, visited with soldiers Thursday and spoke to their spouses and children.

U.S. business leaders say hobbled by healthcare costs (Reuters)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 01:25 PM PDT

Reuters - U.S. business leaders urged lawmakers on Thursday to act quickly on healthcare reform, saying American companies were losing out to other countries with cheaper healthcare and healthier workers.

Senate panel backs Kirk for U.S. trade rep (Reuters)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 01:05 PM PDT

Reuters - The Senate Finance Committee voted on Thursday to back the nomination of former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to be U.S. trade representative.

Obama official not a target in FBI raid: spokesperson (Reuters)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 12:34 PM PDT

Reuters - The FBI raided the former office of Obama administration official Vivek Kundra and arrested two people in a corruption probe on Thursday, but Kundra is not a target of the investigation, a spokeswoman for Washington's mayor said.

Rendell: Steele's 'days are numbered' (Politico)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:39 AM PDT

Politico - Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell predicted on Thursday that Michael Steele's "days are numbered" as chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Coleman's legal woes mount (Politico)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 11:21 AM PDT

Politico - Former Sen. Norm Coleman's political and legal problems over the security breach at his campaign website may get worse, with new questions about whether his team violated state law by not reporting the problems earlier.

Better brain trauma testing urged for those at war (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 12:14 PM PDT

AP - A group of doctors and scientists said Thursday the U.S. needs to devise a uniform test for traumatic brain injury to be performed on all troops who are exposed to a blast or other violent event in wartime.

Army fired 11 soldiers in Jan. as openly gay (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 12:43 PM PDT

AP - The Army fired 11 soldiers in January for violating the military's policy that gay service members must keep their sexuality hidden, according to a Virginia congressman. Democratic Rep. Jim Moran said he has requested monthly updates from the Pentagon on the impact of the policy until it is repealed.

Obama's CIO: Gov't data can drive innovation (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 10:01 AM PDT

AP - The White House's first chief information officer, Vivek Kundra, wants Americans to have access to more government data to drive innovation and help stimulate the economy.

New debate on how to decide best health treatments (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 09:55 AM PDT

AP - People's lives and plenty of money are at stake when it comes to determining which medical treatments work best.

Mexico violence prompts new look at US gun laws (AP)

Posted: 12 Mar 2009 09:31 AM PDT

AP - A gun control expert says the administration can help control drug violence in Mexico by enforcing already existing laws.