Claire McCaskill

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Bunning Hijacks Senate With Jobless Filibuster

'I'm trying to make a point to the people of the United States'

(Newser) - Jim Bunning held the Senate hostage last night, filibustering a move to extend federal unemployment benefits, which will otherwise expire on Sunday, for 30 days. The clash lasted until just before midnight, with Bunning complaining that Democrats had forced him to miss the Kentucky-South Carolina basketball game. But “I'll...

Tobacco, Oil, Bank Lobbyists Crowd Dem Senators' Retreat

Miami guest list doesn't quite jibe with anti-'fat cat' rhetoric

(Newser) - Lobbyists for some of the industries most often blasted by Democrats—oil, big tobacco, banks—made up a good chunk of the guest list at a Miami retreat featuring a dozen Senate Democrats. A $30,000 contribution to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is typical, reports Politico , which scored a...

Obama Loves Brainy Women
 Obama Loves Brainy Women 
Maureen Dowd

Obama Loves Brainy Women

And unlike Bill, he's not looking over their shoulders for bimbos

(Newser) - Unlike the Clinton White House, which courted Hollywood, Obama hasn't had movie stars in the Lincoln bedroom—he's the star, Maureen Dowd says in a chat with movie columnist Patrick Goldstein. Dowd says Obama reminds her of a gorgeous actress who insists on being taken seriously for her brains, not...

WH Terror Counsel: 'System Didn't Work'
 WH Terror 
 Counsel: 
 'System 
 Didn't Work' 
TALK SHOW ROUNDUP

WH Terror Counsel: 'System Didn't Work'

Napolitano's comment haunts your Sunday dial this week, too

(Newser) - Forget Janet Napolitano, the system that let a would-be Nigerian suicide bomber aboard a Detroit-bound flight didn't work, White House Counterterrorism Adviser John Brennan told State of the Union today—though "every other day the system has worked this year." "There was no smoking gun. There was...

Senate Sends Obama $1.1T Spending Bill

3 Republicans vote yea, 3 Dems vote nay

(Newser) - Working on a second consecutive weekend, the Senate passed a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill today, with the support of three Republicans but the opposition of three Democrats. The measure has already cleared the House and now advances to President Obama, who is expected to sign it. With pressing...

Wilson: 'I Am Not Going to Apologize Again'

 Wilson: 'I Am 
 Not Going to 
 Apologize 
 Again' 
TALK SHOW ROUNDUP

Wilson: 'I Am Not Going to Apologize Again'

Gibbs denies Obama opposition motivated by race

(Newser) - Responding to threats by Democrats demanding he apologize to President Obama on the House floor, Rep. Joe Wilson was adamant today: “I am not going to apologize again.” The South Carolina Republican told Fox News Sunday, “I apologized to the president on Wednesday night. I believe that...

McCain Tops 1M Twitter Followers

(Newser) - Sen. John McCain, often ridiculed during last year’s campaign after admitting he was a tech “illiterate,” has passed 1 million followers on Twitter, USA Today reports. “Not too bad for an old guy,” the Republican, 72, said in a statement released by his office. He’...

Tracking Washington's Twitterati

Rove, McCaskill, others make microblogging look useful

(Newser) - To the unconverted, Twitter seems about as useful as a Snuggie, writes Patrick Gavin in Politico, but some DC movers and shakers are making the microblogging site work for them. Here’s his top 10:
  1. Karl Rove: More than 11,000 have signed up for quick glimpses into Bush’
...

After Obama, Which Minority's On Deck?
 After Obama, Which 
 Minority's On Deck? 
OPINION

After Obama, Which Minority's On Deck?

If Barack can do it, anyone can—except Muslims, gays, atheists ...

(Newser) - A self-described “black man with a funny name” is now the most powerful person on the planet. So which minority group will next see one of its own in the Oval Office? Mark Oppenheimer considers the contenders in Slate:
  • Women: Not technically a minority, which means that if “
...

Dean Will Step Down as DNC Chairman

Obama ally likely to take Democratic party leadership

(Newser) - Howard Dean will step down as chairman of the Democratic National Committee at the end of his term in January, the Huffington Post reports. Although the success of Dean’s “50-state strategy” fueled speculation that he would stay on, the post is likely to go to an Obama insider...

On Talk Shows, Dems Slam Palin

As negative coverage of VP nom grows, Democrats go negative on Sunday shows

(Newser) - Smelling blood, Democrats —with help from a surprise Republican —continued to rail on Sarah Palin on the Sunday talk shows, accusing the Republican VP pick of stretching the truth about her experience, Politico reports. The highlights:
  • “She doesn’t know anything, and she is not ready to
...

In Senate, Pranks Mix With Politics
In Senate, Pranks Mix
With Politics

In Senate, Pranks Mix With Politics

Democrats Nelson, McCaskill channel Ashton Kutcher

(Newser) - The prank war started when Ben Nelson took advantage of Claire McCaskill's inexperience and got his fellow Democrat even more nervous about her 2007 Senate swearing-in than she already was. The action since then has been sporadic but inventive. McClatchy returns from Capitol Hill with tales of the lawmakers' dueling...

Primary Winners and Losers— Beyond Barack and Hillary

Big gambles led to big payoffs, losses

(Newser) - Barack Obama may be the big winner, but loads of other political fortunes hung in the balance this primary season. Politico breaks down the winners and losers. Winners:
  • Claire McCaskill: Got tons of air-time and used it brilliantly for Obama
  • Nancy Pelosi: Pulled off a nifty trick by remaining neutral,
...

Clinton Hit List Is Talk of the Beltway

Wounds not healing quickly

(Newser) - Wounds from Election 2008 aren’t quickly being papered over in Clintonland, the New York Times reports in a speculative piece about who is likely to be on the former first couple's enemies list. How deep will animosity toward Obama boosters Bill Richardson, Jim Clyburn, and Claire McCaskill run? Use...

Obama's Female Veep Hopefuls Aren't Clintonesque
Obama's Female Veep Hopefuls Aren't Clintonesque
analysis

Obama's Female Veep Hopefuls Aren't Clintonesque

McCaskill, Napolitano, and Sebelius don't play up gender, aren't divisive

(Newser) - Unlike Hillary Clinton, the three leading female contenders for a spot on Barack Obama’s ticket aren’t divisive figures and haven’t played up their gender. Ben Adler, writing for Politico, takes a look at Kansas guv Kathleen Sebelius, Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, and Arizona guv Janet Napolitano.

Congress' Superdelegates Have Picked, But Stay Mum

Obama backer says they've swung his way, will announce after primaries

(Newser) - Most of the 80 unpledged Dem superdelegates in Congress have privately chosen a candidate, and one of Barack Obama’s key Senate surrogates claims most have swung his way, Politico reports. It’s “a matter of timing,” Missouri's Claire McCaskill said. “They would like someone else to...

Va. Senator Not the Firebrand Many Expected

Mr. Webb goes to Washington and plays nice

(Newser) - Virginia Sen. James Webb hasn’t played the part of hot-tempered agitator many expected in his freshman term, the Washington Post reports. Making friends and taking legislative strides, Webb “has vaulted to a position of influence,” said one colleague. But "the job of getting out and speaking...

Obama Gains Traction With Dems in Red States

Hillary would have uphill battle where they come from, elected officials say

(Newser) - Barack Obama is better suited than Hillary Clinton to carry red states, say Democratic officeholders in traditionally Republican-friendly locales. It’s no coincidence that Obama recently picked up major endorsements in Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, Politico reports. Democrats who’ve overcome partisan odds say they think Obama’s...

New Chinese Toy Recall Sparks Fury in Congress

Consumer agency 'overwhelmed'

(Newser) - The embattled Consumer Product Safety Commission announced yet another recall of dangerous toys from China yesterday as it came under withering fire in Congress over a recent wave of product safety problems.  Another half million toys made in China are being recalled because of lead paint contamination. The announcement...

Three Freshmen Dems Balking at Immigration Bill

Opposition of centrists could sink measure

(Newser) - Three Senate Democrats--all newly elected in close races--are lining up against  the controversial immigration bill championed by President Bush and Democratic leaders. They and eight other Democratic naysayers could be crucial in determining the fate of the bill, reports the New York Times. A vote in the Senate could come...

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