A National Disgrace- troop funds diverted to pet projects- $2.6 billion taken from guns and ammunition

Oct 15, 2009 - U.S. troop funds diverted to pet projects Study finds $2.6 billion taken from guns and ammunition   By Shaun Waterman THE WASHINGTON TIMES Senators diverted $2.6 billion in funds in a defense spending bill to pet projects largely at the expense of accounts that pay for fuel, ammunition and training for U.S. troops, including those fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an analysis. - 16 Comments

Health Debate Fails to Ignite Obama’s Grass Roots (NYTimes)

Aug 17, 2009 - Health Debate Fails to Ignite Obama’s Grass Roots MUSCATINE, Iowa — At her home on Tom Sawyer Road here the other night, Bonnie Adkins agreed to begin spreading the word that President Obama’s embattled health care plan needed help. Justin Maxon/The New York Times Kevin Geiken, left, the deputy field director in Iowa for Organizing for America, at a health care session in Davenport. Ms. - 3 Comments

Twin sisters Courtney and Corrie Cockrell share a shocking family history

Jan 25, 2009 - By Sheila Weller Around 7:00 P.M. on November 4, 2008, Courtney Cockrell, a 27-year-old law student, was stuck in traffic and yelling at the radio. She was driving from the Ole Miss campus in Oxford, Mississippi, to her parents’ house in Jackson to watch the election returns with her twin sister, Corrie, and their family. - 4 Comments

How They're Preparing for the Debate

Oct 01, 2008 - Public Post VP Candidates Train Hard for First and Only Face-Off With two days to go until the first and only vice presidential debate of 2008, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin aren't taking anything for granted. Tuesday, September 30, 2008 With two days to go until the first and only vice presidential debate of 2008, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin weren't taking anything for granted Tuesday. Thursday's debate at Washington University in St. - 24 Comments

Some Senate Democrats shun huge spending bill big deal, Republicans have signed on

Mar 04, 2009 - WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democratic leaders are working hard to suppress dissent within their party over boosting agency spending by 8 percent as the government runs whopping deficits and constituents are forced to scrimp on their own budgets. Coming to the rescue are a few Republicans standing ready to help pass the pending $410 billion catchall spending bill - and allow lawmakers in both parties to get the thousands of pet projects they crave and above-inflation budget increases for favorite programs like education. A close vote is expected late this week to advance the sweeping spending bill, which wraps together the budgets for 12 Cabinet departments and other agencies, to President Barack Obama. - 3 Comments

Bailout Recipients Hosted Call To Fight Important Labor Bill

Jan 27, 2009 - January 27, 2009 01:10 PM Huffington Post ((Audio of the conference call, which was obtained by the Huffington Post, is excerpted throughout this piece at Huff Post, to provide a clearer insight into the pitched battle surrounding the Employee Free Choice legislation.)) Three days after receiving $25 billion in federal bailout funds, Bank of America Corp. hosted a conference call with conservative activists and business officials to organize opposition to the U.S. labor community's top legislative priority. - 0 Comments

The Donors Who Gave Big, and Often

Jan 18, 2009 - The Donors Who Gave Big, and Often Obama's $100,000-Plus Backers Were Able to Contribute to Several Entities By Kimberly Kindy and Sarah Cohen Washington Post Staff Writers Sunday, January 18, 2009; Page A02 Nearly 100 wealthy families and power couples contributed at least $100,000 each to help Barack Obama over the past two years, creating an elite set of donors to whom the president-elect repeatedly turned in financing his campaign, transition and inauguration, a Washington Post analysis shows. As inaugural donations become public, a list of Obama's most loyal backers has emerged, pointing to his success with a system that allows supporters to give maximum amounts on several occasions and to multiple committees. The families gave to as many as five committees, records show, and 27 of the 94 families also bundled money from others, collecting millions of dollars on top of their personal donations. - 12 Comments