Don't Let 'Waste' Taunts Prompt More Waste

(NEWSER) - Robert Gates has apologized for the Air Force One photo op debacle over New York last week, the Los Angeles Times reports. “We deeply regret the anxiety and alarm that resulted from this mission,” the defense secretary wrote in a letter posted on the website of John McCain, who has called the flyover an "Air Farce One photo op." Meanwhile, the incident has cost the head of the White House Military Office, who OK'd it, his job, the New York Times reports. More»

Defense sec cuts deep, readies dep't for this century's wars

(AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates today recommended halting production of the F-22 fighter jet and scrapping a new helicopter for the president as he outlined deep cuts to many of the military's biggest weapons programs. Gates said his $534 billion budget proposal represents a "fundamental overhaul" in defense acquisition and reflects a shift in priorities from fighting conventional wars to the newer threats US forces face from insurgents in places such as Afghanistan. More»

Ad's message is 'guess what, it's your turn,' he says

(NEWSER) - Signalling a no-holds-barred fight ahead, Mitt Romney is standing by the use of an out-of-context quote from President Obama in his first TV ad . The ad—slammed by Democrats and called "ridiculously misleading" by non-partisan campaign watchdog Politifact—features Obama saying, "If we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose," without mentioning that he was quoting John McCain's campaign in 2008. More»

Obama campaign blasts 'deceitful' attack ad

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney has rolled out the first TV ad of his 2012 campaign—and he has John McCain to thank for its most effective line. The ad begins with images of President Obama on the stump in 2008, saying: "I am confident that we can steer ourselves out of this crisis," and "If we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose." The latter line, the Obama campaign was quick to point out, was first said by McCain and later mocked by Obama. More»

Tasks federal agencies with trimming the fat in four other areas, too

(NEWSER) - If you happen to be sipping from a promotional coffee cup bestowed on you by a federal agency, hang on to it: You might not be getting a new one anytime soon. As part of his "We Can't Wait" campaign, President Obama will today announce his latest effort: slashing waste. The president will sign an executive order tasking federal agencies with reducing spending by 20% in five areas that have been identified by a Joe Biden-helmed task force as particularly fatty: travel, technology, printing, autos, and swag. USA Today and Politico dig into the nitty gritty: More»