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U.S. Vows to Make Allies 'Step Up' in Afghanistan
Tweet Share on Facebook January 31, 2008 CommentRichard Boucher, the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, said in Senate testimony today that as 3,200 U.S. marines arrive in Afghanistan in March, "we're definitely going to use the deployment . . . as a lever to get other countries to step up."
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Morning Buzz: Jan. 31, 2008
Tweet Share on Facebook January 31, 2008 CommentOne day after picking up the endorsement of former presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, John McCain is expected to receive the endorsement today of another high-profile Republican: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Aides say the announcement will be made at a news conference in Los Angeles.
The Senate may begin voting today on several measures associated with the economic stimulus package that recently passed in the House. Several senators have proposed additional measures to extend rebates and benefits to disabled veterans and more wealthy individuals, setting up a potentially contentious debate.
John McCain and Mitt Romney squabbled repeatedly last night about their records on the war in Iraq, with McCain reiterating his contention that Romney, for political purposes, had failed to speak out in support of the surge when it was first proposed in 2006. Visibly annoyed, Romney at one point leaned backward, slung his right arm over the back of his chair, and fixed his other hand like a spear at his opponent.
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Not All Giuliani Backers Want McCain
Tweet Share on Facebook January 30, 2008 CommentThe rush by many supporters of departing GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani to back front-runner John McCain isn't being followed by all the New Yorker's friends despite Team Rudy's encouragement.
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Dingell Set to Tackle Global Warming
Tweet Share on Facebook January 30, 2008 CommentHouse leaders say that Rep. John Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, will likely push through a new global warming bill this spring, presenting the administration with a new battle over the environment and energy policy.
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Morning Buzz: Jan. 30, 2008
Tweet Share on Facebook January 30, 2008 CommentThe Florida results are in and the presidential field is narrowing. John McCain boasted last night that he had won his first all-Republican primary, defeating Mitt Romney. Rudy Giuliani, who had put all of his eggs in the "win Florida" basket, came in a distant third. In a surprising flip, former frontrunner Giuliani will drop out of the race today, before tonight's GOP debate in California, and endorse McCain, whose campaign at one time looked dead in the water.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton won a decisive victory in Florida over Barack Obama and John Edwards. However, because the state held a primary before February 5, at this time no Florida delegates will be sent to the Democratic National Convention this summer in Denver. Edwards is expected to announce that he will drop out of the contest when he speaks in New Orleans later today.
And as the economy becomes a bigger and bigger issue in the presidential race, the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates today, following a similar move last week. Analysts are unsure what the size of the cuts will be.
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Democrats Rap Bush on Earmarks
Tweet Share on Facebook January 29, 2008 CommentHouse and Senate Democratic leaders came out guns blazing today when asked to review President Bush's State of the Union address, which included a vow to veto earmarks.
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Survey Finds Widespread Government Misconduct
Tweet Share on Facebook January 29, 2008 Comment (1)A survey by a private ethics research organization finds a "high incidence of ethical misconduct" among government workers at all levels and warns of major scandals to unfold.
The Ethics Resource Center found that 30 percent of federal employees believe their employers have sound ethics and compliance programs. Only 1 in 10, the ERC found, say there is "a strong ethical culture in their federal workplace."
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Chinese Olympics: Death and Greed
Tweet Share on Facebook January 29, 2008 CommentChinese officials are acknowledging that six workers have died building venues for the 2008 Beijing Olympics over the past five years. Ding Zhenkuan, deputy chief of Beijing's Municipal Bureau of Work Safety, initially told reporters no deaths had taken place at the 91,000-seat National Stadium, known as the "Bird's Nest" and the site for the opening and closing ceremonies. He later acknowledged two died there and then added there were six worker deaths in total at all sites, without elaborating on the other four deaths.
The Sunday Times of London reported this month at least 10 workers had died at venues for the Beijing Olympics and said Chinese officials were covering up the accidents. The newspaper said Chinese authorities have covered up the deaths and doled out large payments to guarantee the silence of fellow workers who witnessed the accidents.
In "Olympic Greed," U.S. News last fall reported on corruption and shoddy construction work at Olympics venues.
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Bush Gives Earmarks an Earful
Tweet Share on Facebook January 29, 2008 CommentIn his State of the Union address, President Bush blasted earmarking, the process by which special appropriations benefiting a limited cause or region are inserted into comprehensive spending bills. Bush said:
The people's trust in their government is undermined by congressional earmarks — special interest projects that are often snuck in at the last minute, without discussion or debate. Last year, I asked you to voluntarily cut the number and cost of earmar ks in half. I also asked you to stop slipping earmarks into committee reports that never even come to a vote. Unfortunately, neither goal was met. So this time, if you send me an appropriations bill that does not cut the number and cost of earmarks in half, I'll send it back to you with my veto.
A couple of months ago, U.S. News carried an extensive interview with Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who is leading the fight against earmarks in the Senate. An advocacy group, Taxpayers for Common Sense, tracked earmarks in last year's Labor and Health and Human Services appropriations bills.
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Morning Buzz: Jan. 29, 2008
Tweet Share on Facebook January 29, 2008 CommentAs Florida voters head to the polls today, Republicans John McCain and Mitt Romney are in a dead heat. The two have been thrashing each other on the economy and national security for a week, both hoping to clinch the Florida primary. In addition, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who didn't campaign in the earliest primary states, needs a strong finish tonight to remain a viable presidential candidate.
This afternoon the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the economic stimulus package that would put checks worth $600 and $1,200 in the hands of most working Americans and also give tax breaks to businesses. But in the Senate, the fate of the bill is up in the air as senators from both parties are expected to tack on billions to assist unemployed workers and senior citizens.
Internet auction site eBay announced today that it will cut by half the amount sellers pay to list their goods online in an effort to attract more sellers and stay competitive. The online market website has struggled the past few years as its growth has flattened and fewer items have been put up for sale on the site.