Dinner crashers shook hands with President Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) — This time, the picture is the story. After the Secret Service insisted that President Barack Obama was never endangered by a security breach that allowed a couple to crash his first state dinner, the White House has released a photo showing that not only did the pair get close to Obama, they actually shook hands and talked to him.
Twists and turns snagged missing pilot case
WASHINGTON (AP) — Saddam Hussein was telling the truth, this time. The United States just didn't believe him. So it took the most powerful military in the world 18 years to find the remains of the only U.S. Air Force pilot shot down in an aerial battle in the 1991 Gulf War.
Health overhaul: Understanding the pros and cons
WASHINGTON (AP) — Maybe you've been reading the health care bill in your spare time. Then perhaps you can answer this question: If Congress makes history and puts a bill on President Barack Obama's desk by Christmas, how long before the uninsured get medical coverage?
Big challenge for Obama: retain Hispanic support
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Barack Obama has erased George W. Bush's inroads among Hispanics, with these influential voters consistently giving the president exceptionally strong marks and the White House employing an aggressive strategy to keep it that way. Obama's challenge is to ensure that Hispanics pledge allegiance to the Democratic Party for the 2010 elections and keep supporting him through his own likely 2012 re-election race while he tackles the divisive issue of repairing the nation's patchy immigration system.
Military divorces increasing from war stress
WASHINGTON (AP) — The divorce rate in the armed forces continues to edge higher, despite efforts by the military to help struggling couples. There were an estimated 27,312 divorces among roughly 765,000 married members of the active-duty Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps in the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, the Pentagon reported Friday.
White House endorses IAEA censure of Iran
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says a vote by the U.N. nuclear watchdog's board to censure Iran over its disputed nuclear program shows the "growing international deficit of confidence" in Iran's intentions. Iran has refused to immediately halt construction of a newly revealed nuclear facility. It also has ignored U.N. Security Council resolutions urging it to stop enriching uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon.
Insuring young key to health care overhaul plans
WASHINGTON (AP) — The young invincibles. That's what the insurance industry calls them. They're the 13.7 million Americans under 30 who don't have health insurance because, they firmly believe, they just don't need it. Why waste money on something they're too healthy to ever use?
Nader noncommittal to Conn. Senate run
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Consumer activist and Connecticut native Ralph Nader said Friday he is "absorbing" the reaction he's receiving about a possible bid for the U.S. Senate, saying he wants to first gauge the level of grassroots support before making a decision. Many people have called on Nader to jump into the hotly contested race to challenge Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd, who has been struggling in recent polls. Nader said he's getting increasingly more requests from Connecticut Green Party members, independents and supporters of Ned Lamont, the upstart Democrat who challenged Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2006 election.
Tis the season: White House Christmas tree arrives
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is open for Christmas. A day after celebrating Thanksgiving, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha received the official White House Christmas tree: an 18 1/2-foot Douglas fir delivered from a farm in Shepherdstown, W.Va., by traditional horse-drawn carriage.
Obama set to meet with Australian prime minister
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will meet with the Australian prime minister at the White House on Monday. The White House said in a statement Friday that Obama and Kevin Rudd will discuss a range of issues, including the war in Afghanistan and the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen.
