Author Archive

Senate Democrats expect to seat Burris »

Reversing course, Senate Democrats grudgingly accepted embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s hand-selected Senate appointee, Roland Burris, as they sought to break an impasse over President-elect Barack Obama’s former seat.
The new Illinois senator is expected to be sworn into office later this week.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois made [...]

Obama set to press for his share of bailout funds »

A week shy of taking office, President-elect Barack Obama already is putting his persuasion skills to a high-stakes test with Congress as he seeks access to the second half of the $700 billion financial bailout fund.Obama planned to be in the Capitol on Tuesday to meet with Senate Democrats. And his transition team prepared to [...]

Emotional at the last, Bush defends his presidency »

BushWith rare public emotion, George W. Bush sat in judgment on his controversial, consequential presidency on Monday, lamenting mistakes but claiming few as his own, heatedly defending his record on disasters in Iraq and at home and offering kindly advice to a successor who won largely because the nation ached for something new.
By turns wistful, [...]

Bush seeks final bailout funds at Obama’s behest »

Acting at Barack Obama’s behest, President George W. Bush on Monday asked Congress for the final $350 billion in the financial bailout fund, effectively ceding economic reins to the president-elect in an extraordinary display of transition teamwork. Obama also sharply criticized Bush’s handling of the money and promised radical changes.
Bush’s move sets the stage for [...]

Wanna Check out Buddhism? Top 10 Buddhist Teachers Living in America »

Wanna get you some meditation, some peace, some wisdom? Wanna do a weekend program where you learn how to calm and open your mind to…reality? Buddhism–tested over 2,500 years in dozens of diverse cultures–is worth a go.
Thanks to murderous Mao (he killed more than Hitler and Stalin) & his loyal Red comrades, Tibetan Buddhism came [...]

12 Key Things About The Mumbai Crisis »

More than 1000 Indians took part in a candlelight vigil outside the targeted Taj Mahal Hotel a week after the terrorist siege of Mumbai began.
Last week’s terrorist siege of Mumbai has created a new geopolitical crisis, with many angles and complications that will make President-elect Barack Obama’s life even more complicated as he attempts to [...]

Obama campaign mulls what to do with $30M surplus »

Obama’s organization retains some $30 million after his successful presidential bid, but it’s unclear how the Democratic president-in-waiting might use the money.
Members of his party are doing their best to appeal for the funds without appearing greedy, ungrateful or hostile to their new leader.
“If I was a top adviser to the president elect, I wouldn’t [...]

Fidel Castro says Cuba could talk with Obama »

HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro said on Thursday his country could talk to U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, in Havana’s latest overture to the incoming Democratic administration in Washington.
His remarks followed comments from his brother, President Raul Castro, who told a U.S. magazine he could meet Obama in a “neutral place” to [...]

The Obama Effect »

Lately I’ve been thinking about Obama’s Philadelphia speech. In that speech, he got me to think about the color of my skin in ways I never had before.
It afforded me a new paradigm, a new way of thinking about my place in society. It also gave me the best insight into his problem solving skills. [...]

Proud to be American »

According to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, more than “one-third of voters said the 2008 presidential election has made them ‘more proud’ to be an American.
Former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton may also have a hand in that sentiment.
Some 40% of women over 50 years old, a core Clinton constituency in the primary, said [...]