Category Archives: Government

White House locked down because of ‘smoking objects’

By doris | Published: January 18, 2012

Full Story at POLITICO.com The White House was locked down Tuesday night because of “smoking objects” found near the North Portico as hundreds of protesters rallied outside the executive mansion, Secret Service officials said. “We had approximately 1,000 to 1,500 protesters from Occupy D.C. on the fence line. There were no arrests but what we [...]

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Obama unveils plan to streamline government

By doris | Published: January 16, 2012

Full Story at CNN.com Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama asked Congress Friday for more power to streamline and reorganize the federal government, a move designed to claim the political middle ground in an election likely to be dominated by questions about Washington’s role in the economy. The president asked legislators to grant him the [...]

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Pardon power varies widely

By doris | Published: January 15, 2012

Full Story at NBCPolitics.msnbc.com Most states give their governors broad latitude in granting pardons. Some don’t trust them with that authority at all. And the rest allow a governor to grant pardons only with the recommendation of other state officials. Mississippi’s raging controversy over last-minute pardons by outgoing governor Haley Barbour has generated calls for [...]

Also posted in American, Law, Legal | Leave a comment

Obama defies GOP by naming new consumer watchdog

By doris | Published: January 13, 2012

Full Story at BottomLine.msnbc.msn.com The long-delayed start of a new consumer protection bureau took a major step forward Wednesday when the White House defied Congressional Republicans who had been holding out for changes that consumer advocates say would have substantially weakened the agency. President Barack Obama announced a recess appointment to name Richard Cordray as [...]

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Five things we learned from back-to-back debates

By doris | Published: January 10, 2012

Full Story at CNN.com Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) — Republican presidential candidates faced off twice in 11 hours on Saturday and Sunday in debates ahead of Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. While both debates were staged in the Granite State, it was clear that the rivals intended for their messages to go beyond New Hampshire. Here [...]

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Obama unveils plans for pared-down military

By doris | Published: January 6, 2012

Full Story at CNN.com Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama unveiled his administration’s plan Thursday for a leaner, cheaper military, a reflection of Washington’s fiscal belt-tightening and slower national economic growth. The president insisted the new strategy — which eliminates the military’s ability to actively fight two major wars at once — will allow U.S. [...]

Also posted in Economy, Federal, Military, Presidental | Leave a comment

Two more states allow same-sex civil unions

By doris | Published: January 2, 2012

Full Story at CNN.com (CNN) — Several same-sex couples came together in the first minutes of New Year’s Day in Honolulu to become the first in the state’s history to enter into civil unions. “We really don’t want to wait any longer because we have been together for 33 years waiting for the opportunity and [...]

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New laws toughen rules on abortions, immigrants, voters

By doris | Published: December 31, 2011

Full Story at msnbc.com About 40,000 state laws taking effect at the start of the new year will change rules about getting abortions in New Hampshire, learning about gays and lesbians in California, getting jobs in Alabama and even driving golf carts in Georgia. Several federal rules change with the new year, too, including a [...]

Also posted in Law, Lawmakers, Legal | Leave a comment

How ballot access laws hurt voters

By doris | Published: December 30, 2011

Full Story at CNN.com (CNN) — Only two Republican presidential candidates will appear on the ballot in Virginia next year, regardless of how many are in the race. Mitt Romney and Ron Paul will have the Dominion State all to themselves. Supporters of Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Jon Huntsman and Michele Bachmann will [...]

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Caution mutes US response to North Korea

By doris | Published: December 27, 2011

Full Story at msnbc.com WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s cautious response to the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il reflects unease and uncertainty about the leadership transition in the reclusive country that has confounded U.S. presidents for 60 years. North Korea, the “hermit kingdom,” has vexed the United States and its allies with war, [...]

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Romney clarifies Medicaid comments

By doris | Published: December 19, 2011

Full Story at PoliticalTicker.blogs.cnn.com Greenville, South Carolina (CNN) – Mitt Romney quickly clarified comments he made regarding Medicaid Friday, saying he had in fact been familiar with the entitlement program in the early 1990s. At a town hall in Sioux City, Romney told an audience he had once been unclear about the particulars of the [...]

Also posted in Candidates, Medicare | Leave a comment

Five things we learned from Saturday’s debate

By doris | Published: December 11, 2011

Full Story at CNN.com Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) — Newt Gingrich’s position at the top of the Republican presidential field made him the target of his rivals in the 12th major GOP debate Saturday in Iowa, a little more than three weeks before the state’s caucuses launch the 2012 primaries. Here are five things we [...]

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