William F. Buckley’s Son Says He Is Pro-Obama; Writes Own Headline
Let me be the latest conservative/libertarian/whatever to leap onto the Barack Obama bandwagon. It’s a good thing my dear old mum and pup are no longer alive. They’d cut off my allowance. Funny, but probably not the best week to make jokes about father's (or grandfather's) cutting kids off. Mr. Buckley continues, "The only reason my vote would be of any interest to anyone is that my last name happens to be Buckley—a name I inherited." [Again, "inherited" is probably not a good w

Lawyers' group: Sotomayor well qualified for court - Yahoo! News
WASHINGTON – Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor earned a "well-qualified" rating from the American Bar Association on Tuesday as she prepared for Senate hearings next week. The ABA committee that reviewed her qualifications came out with that unanimous rating of the federal appeals court judge and released it in a letter to White House lawyer Greg Craig. The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to begin hearings Monday on President Barack Obama's choice to replace retired Justice David...

Hospitals, Democrats near deal on health care - Yahoo! News
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Tuesday welcomed progress on health care overhaul as top Senate Democrats and the administration closed in on a deal with hospitals to help pay for the president's proposed expansion of medical coverage to the uninsured. Several officials said Monday that after talks involving the White House and Sen. Max Baucus , the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee , the nation's hospitals were on the verge of signing off on a deal to reduce their...

Obama asks Russians to forge partnership with US - Yahoo! News
MOSCOW – Working to turn Russia from antagonist to ally, President Barack Obama asked the Russian people Tuesday to "forge a lasting partnership" with the U.S., but he acknowledged after talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that on divisive issues there won't be "a meeting of the minds anytime soon." Obama was wrapping up a two-day stay in Russia, during which he and President Dmitry Medvedev said they were determined by year's end to negotiate a new nuclear arms treaty that would...

Obama notes McCain’s effort to temper GOP comments
AP - Barack Obama acknowledged Saturday that John McCain has asked his supporters to temper their attacks on him. But the Democratic presidential nominee said the Republican’s economic plans remain wrong for the country. "I appreciated his reminder that we can disagree while still being respectful of each other," Obama told supporters in Philadelphia. He said McCain "has served this country with honor, and he deserves our thanks for that." However, Obama said, McCain "still doesn’t get it" reg

U.S. Firms Press Russia On Rule Of Law: Locke
U.S. firms are confident they can make progress in doing business in Russia but want Moscow to boost the rule of law and transparency, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke told Reuters on Tuesday. Locke met top U.S. executives on Monday evening in Moscow as part of U.S. President Barack Obama visit to Russia. "Actually they (US firms) have remarked that they have made great progress that there can be great economic returns here in Russia but you have to be patient," he said. "America's high...

Obama asks Russians to forge partnership with US - Yahoo! News
MOSCOW – Working to turn Russia from antagonist to ally, President Barack Obama asked the Russian people Tuesday to "forge a lasting partnership" with the U.S., but he acknowledged after talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that on divisive issues there won't be "a meeting of the minds anytime soon." Obama was wrapping up a two-day stay in Russia, during which he and President Dmitry Medvedev said they were determined by year's end to negotiate a new nuclear arms treaty that would...

Tila Tequila to Barack Obama: Shape Up on Gay Rights!
Typically, when Tila Tequila stands up, her clothes come off . But in a recent open letter to President Barack Obama, posted on GlobalGrind.com, the naked model actually does a decent job standing up for gay rights (and, we assume, keeps her clothing on while doing it). Citing Dan Choi, a soldier that was kicked out of the Army because he was a homosexual, Tila writes: "Now keep in mind, this is a man who proudly enlisted himself in the army, possibly endangering his own life, just so that he...

Excerpts: Obama's Speech To Moscow Students
The following are key excerpts from the speech by U.S. President Barack Obama to graduating students of the New Economic School in Moscow on Tuesday. The text was provided by the White House. Obama ON RUSSIA'S HERITAGE "I speak to you today with deep respect for Russia's timeless heritage. Russian writers have helped us understand the complexities of the human experience, and recognize eternal truths. "Indeed, Russia's heritage has touched every corner of the world, and speaks to the humanity...

Obama Offers Russian Youth A Vision Of "Reset" World
Barack Obama attempted to bridge the divisions of the Cold War with a new generation of Russian students on Tuesday, outlining a vision of a world made safer by closer ties between the Kremlin and Washington. The U.S. president told students from Moscow's New Economic School the future of Russia -- and its relations with the United States -- belonged to them. "What kind of future is Russia going to have? What kind of future are Russia and America going to have together? What world order will...

Highlights: Obama's Summit Visit To Russia
The following are comments by U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow. AT A MEETING BETWEEN Obama AND Putin Obama: "I very much appreciate you taking time to meet with me. "We had excellent discussions with the president yesterday and I am aware of not only the extraordinary work that you've done on behalf of the Russian people in your previous role as prime minis, uh, as president, but in your current role as prime minister. "We think there's an...

Obama fundraiser, convicted of fraud, spills beans
AP - Jailed political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, the Chicago real estate developer who helped launch Barack Obama on his political career, is whispering secrets to federal prosecutors about corruption in Illinois and the political fallout could be explosive. Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose administration faces multiple federal investigations over how it handed out jobs and money with advice from Rezko, is considered the most vulnerable. Rezko also was friendly with Obama — offering him a

Palin drubs Obama on abortion during Pa. rally
Palin says a vote for Obama is, in her words, "a vote for activist courts that will continue to smother the open and democratic debate that we deserve and that we need on this issue of life." Palin made her remarks Saturday during a rally before about 5,000 people in Johnstown, about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh. On Saturday night, the self-described "hockey mom" is scheduled to drop the ceremonial first puck when the Flyers open their NHL season in Philadelphia against the New York Rangers. Share with

Obama Legal Team Wants Defendants' Rights Limited
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is asking the Supreme Court to overrule long-standing law that stops police from initiating questions unless a defendant's lawyer is present, another stark example of the White House seeking to limit rather than expand rights. The administration's action _ and several others _ have disappointed civil rights and civil liberties groups that expected President Barack Obama to reverse the policies of his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, after the...

Sotomayor Gets ABA's Highest Rating, Unanimously
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor earned a "well-qualified" rating from the American Bar Association on Tuesday as she prepared for Senate hearings next week. The ABA committee that reviewed her qualifications came out with that unanimous rating of the federal appeals court judge and released it in a letter to White House lawyer Greg Craig. The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to begin hearings Monday on President Barack Obama's choice to replace retired Justice David...

Obama Praises Public Insurance Plan On Healthcare
President Barack Obama said on Tuesday a government-run, public health insurance plan would be one of the best ways to bring down costs and "force the insurance companies to compete and keep them honest." The statement by Obama, released by the White House, came as Congress considers whether to include a public insurance option as it crafts a broad overhaul of U.S. healthcare. The public option, supported by many Democrats, has drawn sharp opposition from Republicans who say it would hurt...

Obama Makes Pointed Quip On Russian Sale Of Alaska
Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama made a pointed quip Tuesday about Russia's sale of Alaska to the United States in the 19th century. Referring to the long history of Russia-U.S. trade stretching back more than two centuries, Obama told an audience of business people in Moscow: "Along the way, you gave us a pretty good deal on Alaska. Thank you." Czar Alexander II's sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million in gold, around 1.9 cents per acre, was regarded by Russians as a...

Obama Touts Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid In Video To African Leaders
LONDON — President Barack Obama renewed his support for Chicago's Olympic bid Tuesday, telling African Olympic leaders in a video message the 2016 Games would give America the chance to "renew our bonds of friendship around the world." "From the beginning I have fully supported Chicago's dream of hosting the 2016 games," Obama said. "If Chicago is selected for this honor we will ensure that the Olympics and Paralympic Games are a key priority for our nation. ... "You can count on our...

Gay-rights wedge issue fading away?
For more than four years, the Bush White House has run against any changes in the law that would allow gay Americans -- even his vice president's daughter -- to marry. Under the guidance of political maestro Karl Rove, George W. Bush even ran against gay rights in his 2004 re-election bid. The strategy: push a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman and thereby stir the base of evangelicals to the polls. It worked. Now, four years later, the climate has changed,

Obama renews plea for playoffs
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama says he still thinks there needs to be a playoff system for determining the country's college football champion.

Obama says war with North Korea not imminent
MOSCOW (AP) - President Barack Obama says he doesn't think any war "is imminent" with North Korea. Speaking in a network interview while meeting with Russian leaders, Obama was asked how precarious is the security situation in the wake of North Korea's nuclear tests and new sanctions as a result of them. In the CBS interview, he said, "I don't think that any war is imminent with North Korea." He also said, "I think they understand that they would be overwhelmed in a serious military conflict...

Obama Offers Russia Partnership And Challenges
President Barack Obama called on Tuesday for Russia to forge a true partnership with the United States, promoting democracy and the rule of law but avoiding direct criticism of the Kremlin. Obama was speaking after a first meeting with Russia's most powerful figure, Vladimir Putin, whom he had upset with pre-trip comments accusing the prime minister of keeping one foot in the past. U.S. officials called the talks "very successful." In a carefully calibrated speech billed by the White House as a...

Vladimir Putin Praises Bush Hospitality During Obama Visit
Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin praised the hospitality and openness of U.S. former President George W. Bush in a telegramme sent hours before meeting his successor Barack Obama. "During the last years we have been working on strengthening Russia-U.S. cooperation. Although there were differences between our countries, I always valued your openness and sincerity," Putin said, congratulating Bush on his 63rd birthday on July 6. "With special warmth I recall your hospitality in the Crawford...

Palin On Obama: "Unconditional Support For Unlimited Abortion"
Governor Sarah Palin launched a harsh, frontal attack against Barack Obama on Saturday for the Senator's position on abortion rights. Appearing in Pennsylvania, the Alaska Republican claimed that Obama had "unconditional support for unlimited abortion," was "vague and evasive on the subject," and...Full Article @ huffington post Comment Share Email Post Your Comment say something interesting

Obama Responds To Biden On Economy: "We Had Incomplete Information" (VIDEO)
In a pair of separate interviews, President Obama defended his administration's response to the economic crisis in the wake of Vice President Joe Biden's remark Sunday that "we misread how bad the economy was." "I would actually -- rather than say misread, we had incomplete information," President Obama told NBC News' Chuck Todd. "What we always knew was that a) this recession was gonna be deep, and b) it was gonna last for a while." Watch [at the 2:00 minute mark]: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking...