Obama Fires Back at Bush—and McCain

Iraq invasion justification again called into question

(NEWSER) - A Pentagon-sponsored study of captured Iraqi intelligence archives has been unable to find a single operational link between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden or his al-Qaeda network, reports the McClatchy newspapers. The study will be released this week and is expected to refuel debate over the US justification for invading Iraq. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld once described evidence for links between the two as "bulletproof." More»

He celebrates bin Laden 'victory' but wants to stay out of spotlight

(NEWSER) - When President Obama visits Ground Zero tomorrow to mark the death of Osama bin Laden, George W. Bush won't be with him. Obama invited the former president to join him on his visit to the World Trade Center site, but a spokesperson tells Politico that Bush turned him down. “President Bush appreciated the invite, but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight,” the rep says. “He continues to celebrate with all Americans this important victory in the war on terror." More»

Reportedly told a group of Brits he wouldn't vote for McCain, too

(NEWSER) - George Bush's stop-the-presses revelations just won't stop , though the latest comes by way of a dusty anecdote that's finally seeing the light of day. Alex Barker, writing for the Financial Times reveals that in an Oval Office meeting with Gordon Brown and other British dignitaries during the 2008 campaign season, John McCain came up in conversation. Bush reportedly told the group (according to two who were there): "I probably won’t even vote for the guy. I had to endorse him. But I’d have endorsed Obama if they’d asked me." More»

Ex-Treasury sec says Mac risked putting US economy in freefall for 'political gambit'

(NEWSER) - With the US economy in utter freefall, John McCain suspended his presidential campaign, jetted to Washington, called a meeting to fix the crisis—then did nothing, according the Henry Paulson's new book, On the Brink . In an excerpt in the Wall Street Journal, the former Treasury secretary recounts McCain's odd refusal to speak at the emergency meeting he called, and how the Democrats and Barack Obama pounced. More»

(NEWSER) - With the end of the decade near, Newsweek has rounded up the top 10 most important quotes from 2000 to 2009. A selection:

• "Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job": President George W. Bush, Sept. 2, 2005. In one line to then-FEMA director Michael Brown, Bush summed up everything wrong with the government's response to Hurricane Katrina.
• "God Angrily Clarifies 'Don't Kill' Rule": The Onion, September 26, 2001. With a traumatized nation desperately in need of humor to deal with 9/11, the Onion managed to find the perfect tone.