Afghan War Vets Patrol Halls of Congress to Stop Troop Escalation
A little more than two months ago, Brock McIntosh was fighting in Afghanistan, a member of the Army National Guard. This week, he's walking the halls of Congress, trying to end a war that began when he was 13 years old. McIntosh, now 21, and four other vets are in Washington for something of a preemptive strike. A new pro-war group calling itself Vets For Freedom plans to begin lobbying Congress Thursday, pushing for an escalation. The anti-war vets hope to head them off. But if their erstwhile...

A New Isolationism? -- By: Conrad Black: PHOTO
In an article on the homepage , I discuss the Obama Administration’s feckless vacillating over the war in Afghanistan. Here’s an excerpt: If the Democrats will not fight in Afghanistan, it is hard to imagine a campaign they would support. In Afghanistan, unlike in Iraq, the United States has serious allies and a multilaterally (NATO and the U.N.) approved mission. Unlike the Vietnam intervention, it has been properly endorsed by Congress, and the governing party was elected...

Garamendi to Washington; Villines to Lt. Gov?
by Blake Taylor L ieutenant Governor Jo hn G aramendi has won a special election to a northern California congressional seat, keeping the district in democratic hands. G aramendi's election to Congress means we'll be getting a new second in command. C lovis A ssemblyman M ike V illines has been a rumored candidate.

Congress Approves 500 Billion For Monument To Human Folly: PHOTO
WASHINGTON—Our goal is to create a structure that, like the human race itself, is doomed from the outset and plagued by innate flaws that can never be corrected, said Sen. George Voinovich.

Social Media Playing Role In U.S. Policy Making: PHOTO
Senior staff in the U.S. Congress and European Parliaments regularly access digital outlets and social media to research, influence and set policy, according to a new study by StrategyOne. Nearly every staffer (96%) uses online resources for public policy research, more than half (54%) reported learning of policy issues for the first time online and (19%) actually changed policy positions based on information and opinions they found online. Sixty percent said they access social media for...

Congress, Washington Catches Kindle Mania
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers Those Amazon Kindle E-readers are popping up everywhere in Washington, a city that likes to be plugged in. Some lawmakers have been seen toting them around and reading local Newspapers, books, and even legislation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi uses one. Wyoming Sen. Michael Enzi "loves" his, says aide Elly Pickett . "He is a speed reader and goes through books very quickly, so being able to have 1,500 books at his fingertips at all times is...

Last Night's Results: Lesson Lost
This morning, I don’t enitrely understand the crowing and chest-beating from ultra-conservatives, nor the smattering of headlines re: a “ wake-up call ” for, or “ warning ” to, Democrats. Sure, governors might comment on federal policy, and they might some day run for federal office. But while governors are governors, they don’t cast votes in the Chambers of Congress on a President’s agenda. What’s more, Virginia’s history suggests that the...

Honduran Congress consults Supreme Court on agreement to end crisis
    Tegucigalpa, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Honduran Congress on Tuesday requested the opinion of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Prosecutor's Office, the Public Ministry and the Human Rights Commissioner on a Political agreement to end the Political Crisis in the country.     On Friday, representatives of Honduras' de facto leader Roberto Micheletti and those of ousted President Manuel Zelaya signed an agreement for the Honduran Congress to decide whether...

Republicans win key US elections: PHOTO
The Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey are a huge setback for Obama as he struggles to overhaul the United States Health Care system, win passage of Climate Change legislation, and build political support for his handling of the war in Afghanistan. They could also be ominous for Democrats ahead of next year’s midterm Elections, when a third of the Senate, all of the House of Representatives and most governorships are on the ballot. And yesterday's Elections are bound to energize...

Congress Approves White Nose Syndrome Funding
While white-nose syndrome's symptom of fungus on the white nose of an affected bat is well-known, it's cause is not. In fact, it's currently unknown if the disease is a side-effect or symptom of some other illness. Researchers of white-nose syndrome have noted that bats are waking in the middle of winter and ,being unable to find sufficient food, die of starvation. However, other factors have been found at play. Bats with white-nose syndrome have been found to have lesser stores of fat, as...

BJP, Shiv Sena demand President's rule in Maharashtra
Mumbai, Nov. 4 (ANI): The BJP and Shiv Sena have demanded President's rule in Maharashtra where a deadlock over the formation of government is continuing due to differences between Congress and the NCP over sharing of key portfolios.

No rift, Pratik campaigns for dad Raj Babbar
MUMBAI - Belying rumours of a rift between them, budding actor Pratik Babbar this week took off for Ferozabad district of Uttar Pradesh to campaign for his father and Congress candidate Raj Babbar for a by-election Nov 7.

India Disaster Management Congress gets underway
New Delhi, Nov 4 (ANI): General N.C.Vij, Vice-chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), today inaugurated the second India Disaster management Congress. In his remarks, General Vij said that NDMA has come out with guidelines on various types of disaster and these need to be converted into actionable plans for the concerned ministries to make the country disaster resilient. He said that our aim is to bring out a paradigm shift in the approach towards awareness and response to...

Today in Congress
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader: FLOOR SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009 House Meets At... 10:00 a.m.: Legislative Business First Vote Predicted... 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Last Vote Predicted... 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. "One Minutes" (15 per side) H.R. 3639 - Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009 (Rep. Maloney – Financial Services) (Subject to a Rule) Suspensions (6 Bills) H.Res. 868 - Honoring and recognizing the service and achievements...

BJP, Shiv Sena demand Presidents rule in Maharashtra
Mumbai, Nov. 4 - ANI: The BJP and Shiv Sena have demanded President's rule in Maharashtra where a deadlock over the formation of government is continuing due to differences between Congress and the NCP over sharing of key portfolios. The NCP and Congress alliance gained majority after winning 144 out of 288 seats in last month's assembly Elections, but both parties have failed to reach a consensus. The Congress, which has emerged stronger after the Elections, wants the NCP to part with at least...

The Associated Press: US food stamp rise at glance
Some 36 million Americans are on food stamps, an increase of nearly 10 million over the past two years. The program at a glance: _ Food stamps were established by Congress in 1964. _ The program pays for most foods. It cannot be used for household or personal hygiene products, pet food, prepared hot meals, alcohol or cigarettes. _ Some 66 percent of those eligible participate. _ The average recipient last June got more than $133; the average household, more than $293. The U.S. Department of...

Give Thanks to Bourbon This Holiday Season
LAWRENCEBURG, Ky., Nov 04, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ----Declared by Congress as America's Native Spirit and the country's official distilled spirit, bourbon has become a special part of many holidays - and nowhere more so than in bourbon's home state of Kentucky.

Monica Yant Kinney: They won't burn Rx cards, but . . .
October was the deadliest month in the war in Afghanistan, but it's been ages since I saw anyone protesting the Military industrial complex. Global warming isn't exactly firing up the young folks, either. Instead, a dozen college students swarmed Independence Blue Cross' Center City headquarters Friday for an earnest demonstration in favor of Health-care reform. They demanded a sit-down with CEO Joe Frick. When denied, the protesters plopped down on the pavement, linked arms, chanted, and...

Monica Yant Kinney: They won't burn Rx cards, but . . .
October was the deadliest month in the war in Afghanistan, but it's been ages since I saw anyone protesting the Military industrial complex. Global warming isn't exactly firing up the young folks, either. Instead, a dozen college students swarmed Independence Blue Cross' Center City headquarters Friday for an earnest demonstration in favor of Health-care reform. They demanded a sit-down with CEO Joe Frick. When denied, the protesters plopped down on the pavement, linked arms, chanted, and...

U.S. Seeks to Counter Enemy's -Weapon of Choice': VIDEO
U.S. Seeks to Counter Enemy's -Weapon of Choice' By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service Washington, Oct. 29, 2009 – The Defense Department expects U.S. forces in Afghanistan to continue to be targeted by improvised explosive devices — which have claimed more lives there than any other weapon — while it seeks ways to counter the threat, officials said. As President Barack Obama and his advisors weigh decisions on the next phase of the Afghan war, Defense...

Kim Howells: Afghan killings 'blow to the heart of British strategy': PHOTO
The killing of five British Soldiers by an Afghan police officer has “struck at the heart” of Britain’s entire strategy for Afghanistan, a former Labour minister has said.

Merkel to Congress: 'Tear down walls of today'
Six days before the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday addressed a joint meeting of Congress, and charged U.S. lawmakers to tear down other walls.

Breaking News from The Onion -- By: John J. Miller: PHOTO
This just in : WASHINGTON—In recognition of mankind's inherent propensity for tragically foolish decisions, Congress allocated nearly $500 billion Monday for the construction of a new national monument honoring human folly. "From Hannibal's disastrous crossing of the Alps to Custer's humiliating defeat at Little Bighorn, human history has been plagued by senseless mistakes, and it is high time we built a memorial to honor that history," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said of the...

Lupe Fiasco Performs "Superstar" / "Fighters" Featuring Matthew Santos
Here's some footage of Lupe Fiasco performing "Superstar" & "Fighters" with Matthew Santos at the Congress Theater on October 29, 2009 during the Remember 2 Smile: Retrospective special concert event!