Recession fears and foreign unrest
fuel pessimism
Reuters Nov 23, 07 5:10 AM CST
(Newser)
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Americans are in a glum mood this holiday season and pessimistic about 2008, according to a survey conducted by Reuters and polling firm Zogby. Economic concerns ranging from the fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis to the skyrocketing price of oil have dampened Americans' confidence, with 40% believing a recession will take hold within a year.
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Streets quiet over civil war fears as sides negotiate
Wall Street Journal Nov 22, 07 5:40 PM CST
(Newser)
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Lebanon's parties failed to pick a new president today, leaving them 24 hours to find a replacement before President Emile Lahoud's term ends, the Wall Street Journal reports. Lahoud has said the army chief may take over if sides remain deadlocked tomorrow at midnight—a turn that could spark blocs to pick their own candidates and set off civil war, officials fear.
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Press secretary says Bush gave him false information
Salon Nov 20, 07 6:20 PM CST
(Newser)
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Bush's ex-press secretary says he falsely exonerated Scooter Libby and Karl Rove in the outing of a CIA agent in 2003 because the president told him to, Salon reports. A leaked excerpt of Scott McClellan’s upcoming memoir says that his misinformation came from "the president himself" when McClellan claimed the two men were innocent of outing Valerie Plame.
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Power-sharing deal off, Washington will likely have to pick sides
Bloomberg Nov 20, 07 1:00 PM CST
(Newser)
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As Pakistan's state of emergency wears on, the Bush administration is still hedging its bets on whether to withdraw support for Pervez Musharraf, Bloomberg reports. But now that a power-sharing deal with Benazir Bhutto is almost surely off the table, Bush may no longer be able to support both sides—and the White House is realizing that the general's time might be up.
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Townsend leaves behind mixed legacy
Washington Post Nov 19, 07 2:23 PM CST
(Newser)
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The president's homeland security adviser resigned today, extending the string of high-profile White House departures. Frances Frago Townsend was in charge of the president’s counterterrorism program for 4½ years, the Washington Post reports, managing the response to the London bombing and upgrading air transportation security. No reason was given for her departure.
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Political opponents never reconciled after bitter 2000 election
Washington Post Nov 17, 07 6:11 PM CST
(Newser)
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Bush recently invited US Nobel laureates to their annual White House photo op, but he personally called Peace Prize winner and bitter presidential loser Al Gore—and moved the event to November 26 to accommodate Gore's schedule. “It’s unusual, that’s for sure,” said one Gore advisor. “But the conversations were good, and the White House has been very gracious about it.”
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In further blow to power, president's political party calls for end to martial law
New York Times Nov 17, 07 1:29 PM CST
(Newser)
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In a face-to-face meeting today with a top American diplomat, Pervez Musharraf remained tightlipped when pressed on when he would end emergency rule in Pakistan. Musharraf told John Negroponte he would cease martial law when security improves in the country, but his resistance is winning him few fans in Pakistan and the US, the New York Times reports.
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Leaders offer assurances on Afghanistan, North Korea
Reuters Nov 16, 07 5:25 PM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush and new Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda today vowed to reconcile hot-button issues concerning North Korea and Afghanistan that have strained relations, Reuters reports. In his first visit to the White House, Fukuda pledged to do his "utmost" to renew a refueling mission for coalition forces in Afghanistan, which has been halted by a parliamentary stalemate.
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Expect discord as new PM arrives in US for weekend summit
Los Angeles Times Nov 16, 07 11:33 AM CST
(Newser)
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As President Bush welcomes the third Japanese prime minister in 3 years to Washington today, a former Tokyo correspondent writes in the Los Angeles Times that current difficulties with arguably our most important ally stem from a fundamental Bush misunderstanding. W has confused Japan with the US's other "special relationship," he writes, and treated Japanese PMs as if they were Tony Blair.
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House falls two votes short for key health, education bill
Washington Post Nov 16, 07 5:29 AM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush's veto of a major domestic spending bill yesterday withstood a challenge by the House after it failed by just two votes to muster a two-thirds majority to override it. The $606 billion labor, health and education measure is the largest of 12 spending bills that have pit Congress and the White House against each other in a showdown over the federal budget.
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Military opens airspace to Thanksgiving commercial flights
Chicago Tribune Nov 15, 07 2:03 PM CST
(Newser)
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The military will open some of its East Coast airspace to commercial traffic around Thanksgiving, President Bush announced today in a series of measures to cut down on air-travel delays, reports the Chicago Tribune 's Swamp blog. “We can do better," Bush said in Washington. "We have an aviation system that can be improved."
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New Attorney General brings 'clear purpose and resolve'
Associated Press Nov 14, 07 11:15 AM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush looked on as Michael Mukasey was ceremonially sworn in today as attorney general today, the AP reports, and promised to rebuild the ravaged Justice Department behind him. “Michael Mukasey has my complete trust and confidence,” Bush said. “And he's going to have the trust and confidence of the men and women of the Department of Justice.”
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$606B bill isn't kosher, prez says, ordering Congress to trim
Los Angeles Times Nov 13, 07 3:17 PM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush vetoed a $606 billion domestic spending bill today, accusing Congress of “acting like a teenager with a new credit card.” His rejection of the measure, which included education, health, and job-training funds, will likely lead to a showdown, the Los Angeles Times reports. The House appropriations chair called the veto “pure politics” and noted that more than 50 Republicans supported the bill.
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