Anchor alleges fraud
in Guard report aftermath, says contract violated
New York Times Sep 19, 07 5:15 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Dan Rather has filed a $70 million lawsuit against CBS and its corporate parent, claiming bias and fraud in the investigation of the broadcast that brought him down—and then violated his subsequent contract with “60 Minutes.” The filing says Rather was made “a scapegoat” in order “to pacify the White House,” the Times reports.
More »
Choice of retired federal judge seen as effort to avoid confirmation fight
New York Times Sep 17, 07 10:24 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
President Bush nominated retired federal judge Michael B. Mukasey today as attorney general. Seen as a compromise that would avoid abrasive confirmation struggles but still maintain DoJ’s law-and-order mindset, the choice comes after Democrats vowed to block the more controversial Ted Olson, reports the New York Times .
More »
Compromise candidate will be named
attorney general
Washington Post Sep 17, 07 2:30 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
President Bush is expected to announce the appointment of retired New York federal judge Michael B. Mukasey as attorney general, reports the Washington Post . Mukasey, 66, is considered an authority on national security issues and is a law-and-order conservative. He is also seen as someone who could be confirmed without a long battle in the Senate.
More »
Bipartisan favorite on short list of attorney general candidates
CNN Sep 15, 07 4:49 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
A judge nominated by Reagan but endorsed by liberals may be Bush’s pick to replace Alberto Gonzalez, CNN reports. Michael B. Mukasey, 66, a high-profile judge for more than 15 years, is now on the short list of rumored attorney general candidates. Analysts say that Mukasey is ideal for a lame duck president who wants to avoid a long confirmation battle.
More »
Plan would require troops to stay at home as long as last tour before redeploying.
New York Times Sep 15, 07 8:40 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Democrats in Congress are pinning their hopes on what they believe is the most politically palatable way to speed the withdrawal of troops from Iraq in the wake of Gen. Petraeus’ report last week. A bill mandating that troops be allowed to spend the same amount of time at home as on their most recent tour before redeploying looks close to winning enough GOP support to pass, backers tell the New York Times.
More »
Speaker says GOP must bring 'dramatic, bold change' to win in '08
Reuters Sep 14, 07 5:45 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Republican presidential candidates should make a “clean break” from the Bush Administration, Newt Gingrich declared today. “If you don't represent real change, you just gave away the 2008 election,” the former Speaker said, citing Iraq, the Hurricane Katrina response, and border control as reasons for public unhappiness. Gingrich also said he is highly unlikely to join the race himself.
More »
Ex-governor will challenge newly weakened Republican incumbent in rematch
Union Leader (NH) Sep 14, 07 4:24 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Democrat Jeanne Shaheen will run again for US Senate from New Hampshire, hoping to set up a rematch against Republican rival John Sununu. The ex-governor lost to Sununu in a tight, bitter race in 2002, and the freshman senator’s tireless support of the war has eroded his support and makes him vulnerable in 2008, the Union Leader says.
More »
Government met only half of its benchmarks
Associated Press Sep 14, 07 11:06 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Iraq has made "satisfactory" progress on only half of its 18 benchmarks for success, the White House told Congress today, hours after President Bush said the country’s advancements merited a strong US military presence there. Since the July progress report, only one benchmark—reintegrating Baathists into the government—has been upgraded from unsatisfactory to satisfactory, the AP reports.
More »
'Endless military presence' slammed by Dems
New York Times Sep 14, 07 5:09 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
President Bush announced that 24,000 troops will return home by July 2008 in an address to the nation in which he touted advancements in Iraq. He termed the reduction "a return on success" that could be squandered by larger withdrawals. Troops could still be added, however, so the total in 2008 could end up higher than the pre-surge number in 2006, the New York Times reports.
More »
Progress on security allows withdrawal, president to tell nation
New York Times Sep 13, 07 6:08 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
In a speech tonight, President Bush will outline a plan to bring 5,700 US troops home from Iraq by Christmas, claiming enough security objectives have been met to allow the withdrawal. The New York Times reports that Bush is following the recommendations of Gen. David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, US ambassador to Iraq, who testified before Congress this week.
More »
New poll shows approval rating climbing; war strategy remains divisive issue
Wall Street Journal Sep 13, 07 9:35 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
President Bush inched up from record lows in one poll this week, thanks in part to buzz around David Petraeus’ report on Iraq. His overall approval rating was 33% in the latest Journal /NBC News poll, up from 31% in July. The results reveal the complexity of Americans' feelings toward the war: They want it over but can’t agree on when.
More »
His speech will add caveats to top general's plan, caution against quick pullout
Associated Press Sep 11, 07 5:34 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Bush will back his top general by pulling 30,000 troops out of Iraq by next summer, the AP reports. But he will condition all cuts on future progress when he gives his speech to the nation this week. He will also echo cautions by Petraeus and Crocker against a quick pullout, positioning his plan as a way to reduce troops without abandoning Iraq.
More »