No-Confidence Vote Looms For Wolfowitz

(AP) - Obama environmental adviser Van Jones is resigning amid controversy over past inflammatory statements. The so-called green jobs czar got into hot water this week when two things surfaced: He called Republicans "assholes" in a video made before he joined the administration, and he signed a petition supporting the "truther" movement, which alleges that the Bush administration allowed the 9/11 attacks to happen. More»

Disgraced senator says supporters don't want him to resign

(NEWSER) - Sen. John Ensign says he’ll stick with his job and run for reelection despite news of his affair and his parents’ $96,000 payment to his mistress’ family, the Las Vegas Sun reports. The Republican says his supporters are telling him he shouldn’t resign, and “I fully plan on running for reelection,” he says. “I’m going to work to earn their respect back.” More»

Sudden announcement puts Palins' ties to building firm in the spotlight

(NEWSER) - With the search on for budding scandals that might have prompted Sarah Palin's sudden resignation, her ties to a building company seem the likeliest prospect, writes Max Blumenthal at the Daily Beast. Rumors are flying in Alaska that investigators have seized paperwork to look for evidence that Spenard Building Supplies received juicy contracts in return for building the Palins' lakeside home just before her campaign for governor began, Blumenthal writes. More»

(NEWSER) - A photo of Richard Nixon with Rod Blagojevich has surfaced in what Time Out Chicago describes as an ironic twist of fate and a reminder that politicians should rely on better role models. “In 1980, most twenty-something men probably pined to bump into one of the Beatles or maybe Bo Derek," writes Jake Malooley. "Blago wanted the autograph of our nation’s most notorious politician.” More»

Strauss-Kahn's 'activist' economics suit crisis

(NEWSER) - Even as he faces a probe for misconduct, the head of the International Monetary Fund is being praised for a decisive response to the world financial crisis, Bloomberg reports. Europe’s chief banker says he’s “convinced the investigation will prove that Dominique Strauss-Kahn didn’t abuse power.” Strauss-Kahn, 59, has streamlined the fund’s process for loans to strapped countries, with Iceland and Hungary among the needy. More»