Bush to Push Congress for Offshore Drilling

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»

McCain-Palin campaign steered by former Bush workers

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin may be a newcomer to national politics, but her army of aides has ace operatives who chiseled their craft working for George Bush's campaigns and administration, reports the Washington Post. They won the White House —twice —but some Republican loyalists question if the former Bush communications experts and strategists should be the ones steering a campaign themed on change. More»

McCain plans to introduce her to foreign leaders at general assembly

(NEWSER) - John McCain plans to introduce Sarah Palin to foreign leaders at the United Nations next week to boost her foreign-policy experience, the Wall Street Journal reports. McCain advisers say they hope the running mate will demonstrate her diplomatic prowess and understanding of foreign-policy issues during the visit Tuesday, the same day President Bush addresses the general assembly. More»

He's making every debate, even energy, a 'cultural wedge issue'

(NEWSER) - Why are Republicans chanting "drill, baby, drill," a call for an outdated, 19th-century technology like fossil fuels? Because they are turning every political debate into a cultural "wedge Issue," Thomas Friedman writes in the New York Times—"including even energy policy, no matter how stupid it makes the voters and no matter how much it might weaken America." More»

(NEWSER) - President Bush tonight praised the "courage and vision" of John McCain and invoked the "lessons" of the 9/11 attacks as he asked Americans to vote for him, CNN reports. Bush, who addressed the Republican convention via satellite, also praised McCain for backing the US military surge in Iraq when it was politically unpopular. The president said McCain's "independence and character helped change history." More»