Homeland Security Adviser Joins White House Exodus

GOP had blasted Dawn Johnsen for criticizing Bush on terror

(AP) - President Obama's nominee to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel has withdrawn her bid for confirmation, after several Republicans objected to her criticism of the Bush administration's terrorist interrogation policies. Dawn Johnsen's withdrawal—a setback for the Obama administration—was announced by the White House on a day capital lelites were absorbed in the news that Justice John Paul Stevens would retire from the Supreme Court. More»

Usually notes 9/11, just forgot in earlier interview

(NEWSER) - Rudy Giuliani backtracked this evening on his earlier statement that there had been no domestic terror attacks under President Bush, telling CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that he indeed remembers the events of Sept. 11, 2001. “I usually say, ‘We had no major domestic attacks under President Bush since Sept. 11,’” he explained. “I did omit the words, ‘since Sept. 11,’ and I apologize for that. I do remember Sept. 11. In fact, Wolf, I remember it every single day and usually, frequently during the day.” More»

George W. Bush headlines Texas 'mega show' with $19 tickets

(NEWSER) - It sure ain't the G8: George W. Bush, nine months retired, is headlining a motivational speaking "mega show" in Fort Worth next week, which promises "more inspirational firepower than a stick of dynamite!" As the event's screaming website reveals, the former president is appearing alongside Colin Powell and Rudy Giuliani, as well as the "legendary" quarterback Terry Bradshaw and an alleged "top sales expert." Cost to see the former commander in chief: $19, helpfully glossed as "not per person, but per office." More»

(NEWSER) - Two-thirds of Americans want an investigation into alleged Bush administration misdeeds, including torture and warrantless wiretapping, a USA Today/Gallup poll shows. Forty percent of respondents would like to see criminal probes; one-quarter would prefer investigations without the possibility of criminal charges. And even more—70% of those surveyed—said the government should look into allegations that administration officials tried to use the Justice Department for political purposes. More»

Seeks freedom after 7 years in prison

(NEWSER) - A young California man captured with the Taliban in 2001 is asking President Bush to commute the remaining 13 years of a 20-year prison sentence. John Walker Lindh, 27, joined the Taliban a month before the US-led invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. Lindh claims he was never a terrorist. Former president Bush famously called Lindh a "misguided Marin County hot-tubber"—comments for which he later apologized to Californians. More»