Bush Derides Pelosi's 'False Populism' in Trade Impasse

They change House rules to avoid a vote, angering Bush

(NEWSER) - Congressional Democrats thumbed their noses today at Bush's renewed efforts to pass a free-trade pact with Colombia. Bush sent the bill over Monday, mandating Congress to vote yea or nay within 90 days. Or so he thought. Nancy Pelosi is changing the House rules and won't allow a vote until the White House attends to more pressing domestic issues, the New York Times reports. More»

GOP, Obama can't halt proceeding vs. Bybee

(NEWSER) - House Democrats may start a constitutional confrontation over the fate of Judge Jay Bybee, and there’s nothing anybody—not even lukewarm President Obama—can do to stop them, reports Politico. As liberal think-tanker John Podesta argues, Bybee “authorized things that were illegal under US law” when he wrote memos endorsing waterboarding in his role as a Bush legal adviser. More»

(NEWSER) - Nancy Pelosi plans to convene a lame-duck House session to vote on an expanded rescue of the auto industry, the Wall Street Journal reports. “I am confident Congress can consider emergency assistance legislation next week,” the House Speaker said. Both GM and Ford have said they are cash poor, even after the $25 billion in government loan they received prior to the election. More»

But president links Detroit aid to Dem backing for Colombia free trade pact

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama urged President Bush during their White House meeting yesterday to extend emergency aid to the auto industry, the New York Times reports. The president indicated that he might be willing to approve Detroit aid and a broader economic stimulus package—but only on the condition that the president-elect and congressional Democrats drop their long-standing opposition to a free trade deal with Colombia. More»

Dubya's last fan gets a little excited

(NEWSER) - Affairs don't get much more formal than a White House official dinner, but last night's reception in honor of Silvio Berlusconi had all the seriousness of a frat party. The Italian prime minister was so excited to toast President Bush that he knocked into the lectern, which collapsed in pieces. His response? He picked up the top of the podium and kept speaking into the attached microphones. More»