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Debate Still in Limbo as Democrats Blame McCain For Interrupting Process
The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama, scheduled for tonight, remained in limbo last night after the presidential candidates left a White House meeting without a deal on a $700 billion economic rescue plan.
v The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama, scheduled for tonight, remained in limbo last night after the presidential cand... more -
Top officials knew in 2002 of harsh interrogations
Top White House officials were told in early 2002 about harsh measures used by the CIA to extract information from suspected al-Qaeda terrorists in the agency's secret prisons, according to an account given to congressional investigators by the office of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The details of the controversial program were discussed in multiple meetings inside the White House over a two-year period, triggering concerns among several officials who worried that the agency's methods might be illegal or violate anti-torture treaties, according to separate statements signed by Rice and her top legal adviser.
"I expressed concern that the proposed CIA interrogation techniques comply with applicable U.S. law, including our international obligations," John B. Bellinger III, legal adviser to Rice at the State Department and formerly her top legal aide at the National Security Council, said in written answers to questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee. Top White House officials were told in early 2002 about harsh measures used by the CIA to extract information from suspected al-Qaeda ... more -
If Obama Wins
By: Reverend John Killian
The national polling in the 2008 Presidential race continues to be close. Senator Obama seems to have had a small bounce from Convention publicity, but I predict that Senator McCain’s selection of Governor Sarah Palin will quickly overshadow this bounce and the election will be again close.
Yesterday, I became embroiled in quite an argument quite an intelligent individual, a person whom I would normally listen to for advice. By: Reverend John Killian ... more -
The White House is missing emails
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is missing as many as 225 days of e-mail dating back to 2003 and there is little if any likelihood a recovery effort will be completed by the time the Bush administration leaves office, according to an internal White House draft document obtained by The Associated Press.
The nine-page outline of the White House's e-mail problems invites companies to bid on a project to recover the missing electronic messages.
The work would be carried out through April 19, 2009, according to the Office of Administration request for contractors' proposals, which was dated June 20.
Last week, the White House declined to comment on the document.
On Wednesday, the White House refused to talk about internal White House contracting procedures, but said the information is "outdated and seriously inaccurate." It would not elaborate. The White House also declined to say whether it has hired a contractor for the work yet. WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is missing as many as 225 days of e-mail dating back to 2003 and there is little if any likelihood a... more -
Criminals in the Justice Department
Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring.
Former Justice Department counselor Monica M. Goodling and former chief of staff D. Kyle Sampson routinely broke the law by conducting political litmus tests on candidates for jobs as immigration judges and line prosecutors, according to an inspector general's report released todayGoodling passed over hundreds of qualified applicants and squashed the promotions of others after deeming candidates insufficiently loyal to the Republican party, said investigators, who interviewed 85 people and received information from 300 other job seekers at Justice. Sampson developed a system to screen immigration judge candidates based on improper political considerations and routinely took recommendations from the White House Office of Political Affairs and Presidential Personnel, the report said.
Goodling regularly asked candidates for career jobs: "What is it about George W. Bush that makes you want to serve him?" the report said. One former Justice Department official told investigators she had complained that Goodling was asking interviewees for their views on abortion, according to the report.
Taking political or personal factors into account in employment decisions for career positions violates civil service laws and can run afoul of ethics rules. Investigators said today that both Goodling and Sampson had engaged in "misconduct."
The improper personnel moves deprived worthy candidates of promotions and damaged the credibility of the Justice Department, investigators wrote. An experienced counterterrorism prosecutor, for example, was kept from advancing in favor of a more junior lawyer who lacked a background in terrorism. The procedures imposed on immigration judge candidates caused serious delays in appointing judges at a time when the courts suffered under a heavy workload, the report said.
Goodling, who resigned in 2007 amid a scandal over the department's politicized hiring, is a central figure in the long-running investigation into the way politics infused decision-making at the department. Sampson, who had served as a top aide to former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, also left the department last year and now works at a law firm in the Washington area. . Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring. ... more -
McCain blames high oil on Obama
Apparently the whole reason we're in this oil crisis is because of one man ! ! !
According to this add endorsed by Senator John McCain we have Barack Obama to blame for our energy crisis.
In wanting to remain impartial on this issue I am asking you to comment below and join the conversation. What do you think about this latest video? Apparently the whole reason we're in this oil crisis is because of one man ! ! ! ... more -
Is Bush a Tyrant?
World-over, throughout history, political leaders who have engaged in torture and other grotesque crimes of state have justified their actions as necessary to protect their governments or their people or themselves. World-over, throughout history, political leaders who have engaged in torture and other grotesque crimes of state have justified their... more
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US fears Al Qaeda attack next year
The White House warned on Monday that Al Qaeda could launch a major attack on the United States in 2009, endorsing a similar warning by an independent senator Joe Lieberman. The White House warned on Monday that Al Qaeda could launch a major attack on the United States in 2009, endorsing a similar warning b... more
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there's no justice like bush justice
how do they find these judges? this is insane, but i guess if you can pull off "winning" an election, you surely can "lose" millions of emails and afterwards convienently find a judge to say it's cool. appeal, appeal, appeal! how do they find these judges? this is insane, but i guess if you can pull off "winning" an election, you surely can "... more
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Happy B-Day, Pope!
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush welcomed Pope Benedict XVI in an elaborate ceremony Wednesday morning on the South Lawn of the White House. The day marked the pontiff's 81st birthday and as such after the formal welcoming ceremony concluded those in attendance serenaded Benedict with the singing of "Happy Birthday." President Bush and first lady Laura Bush welcomed Pope Benedict XVI in an elaborate ceremony Wednesday morning on the South Lawn of th... more
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Breaking News: Fire finally out at Eisenhower Building
Firefighters battled thick smoke and flames inside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next door to the White House, on Wednesday.
No details as of yet on how the fire started.
UPDATE: Firefighters quickly doused a two-alarm fire Wednesday in the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which houses the vice president's ceremonial offices and the majority of the White House staff.
Firefighting crews used axes to break windows on the third floor of the ornate building shortly after the two-alarm blaze broke out after 9 a.m. Firefighters battled thick smoke and flames inside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next door to the White House, on Wednesda... more -
How to get the president on the line
A 16-year-old boy from Iceland called a private White House number because he "just wanted to chat" with the president. Nice. A 16-year-old boy from Iceland called a private White House number because he "just wanted to chat" with the president. Nice... more
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Bush pardons turkeys
Two turkeys received full and unconditional pardons yesterday from President Bush just outside the country's most powerful kitchen.
"You cannot take the heat, and you're definitely going to stay out of the kitchen," Bush said to the birds at the 60th annual turkey pardoning at the White House.
Presidents since Harry Truman have pardoned turkeys, but the event has been updated in recent years to include a bird-naming contest, with votes cast on the White House Web site.
Nominees this year included Wing and Prayer, Wish and Bone, and Tom and Jake.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said not even speech writers at the White House would know the names of the two birds until the president announced them in the Rose Garden.
"I'm pleased to announce the winning names. They are May and Flower," Bush said with a smile.
"They're certainly better than the names the vice president suggested, which was Lunch and Dinner," Bush said as the crowd chuckled and the turkeys gobbled.
Pity Bush isn't quite so generous with his stays of execution when it comes to human beings... Two turkeys received full and unconditional pardons yesterday from President Bush just outside the country's most powerful kitche... more
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