Clinton, Obama Equally Adept at Policy Shifts

(NEWSER) - Raúl Castro has warned the US not to expect any changes to Cuba's communist system, saying that while Barack Obama's administration was less "aggressive," he was not prepared to make peace. His comments came after Hillary Clinton made several remarks suggesting better relations if Cuba changed its ways, Reuters reports. "With all due respect to Mrs. Clinton, they didn't elect me president to restore capitalism in Cuba, nor to hand over the revolution," said the Cuban president. More»

Forget Geithner, it's Clinton who's queen of the 'hot nerds': Dowd

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton breezed through her Senate confirmation hearing yesterday, writes Maureen Dowd, "performing as the A-student she always is" on topics from nuclear proliferation to governance in the Arctic. While Tim Geithner got caught up in controversy over back taxes, Hillary charmed the windy John Kerry and buttered the skeptical Dick Lugar. For the New York Times columnist, it looks as if Clinton, and not Geithner, could be the Obama Cabinet's real "hot nerd." More»

Clinton under consideration with fellow senators Kerry, Hagel, Gov. Richardson

(NEWSER) - The Washington rumor mill has spit out an interesting item: Barack Obama may be considering erstwhile archrival Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State, the Post reports. Obama is not pleased with names floated for the position, including Sens. John Kerry and Chuck Hagel and Gov. Bill Richardson. Clinton might salve Democratic wounds, and her foreign policy cred could play well on the world stage. More»

Many pundits ruled out Obama victory early

(NEWSER) - With the election over, what's more fun than calling out all those whose predictions were off—way off. Der Spiegel lists some highlights:

• "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win." Hillary Clinton, on Barack Obama
• "We'll win Florida." Rudy Giuliani
• "Virginians are really getting fired up for this ticket of McCain and Palin." George Allen
• "Romney for the Republicans, Hillary for the Democrats." Ann Coulter, on the nominees

Convention will seek to define candidate and attack McCain

(NEWSER) - The Democratic convention opens tonight, not quite the coronation envisioned only a month ago as twitchy party grandees push Barack Obama to make his case forcefully to a still-skeptical electorate—using the spotlight to draw the strongest possible distinctions between himself and John McCain. "The stakes of this election will be made very clear," chief strategist David Axelrod promised the New York Times. More»