Couple slips though security to crash state dinner
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michaele and Tareq Salahi like a good party, an attorney who knows them said Thursday, and maybe that's why the couple from Virginia's horse country didn't look out of place at the White House state dinner for the Indian prime minister. They were all smiles as they rubbed shoulders with Vice President Joe Biden, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty and CBS News anchor Katie Couric.
Lawyers: government misconduct in Blackwater case
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense lawyers are alleging misconduct by Justice Department prosecutors in the case against one of five Blackwater security guards accused in the killings of 17 Iraqis in Baghdad. Recent pretrial proceedings that took place behind closed doors led the Justice Department to seek dismissal of charges against Nicholas Slatten of Sparta, Tenn., one of the five guards accused in the shootings in busy Nisoor Square in September 2007.
New climate targets may not change daily life much
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans' day-to-day lives won't change noticeably if President Barack Obama achieves his newly announced goal of slashing carbon dioxide pollution by one-sixth in the next decade, experts say. Except for rising energy bills. And how much they'll go up depends on who's doing the calculating.
Obama and GOP differ over recipe for jobs, economy
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and a top House Republican acknowledged in holiday messages Thursday the economic struggles facing Americans this Thanksgiving but offered starkly different recipes for relief. Obama and Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., singled out U.S. service members at home and abroad for special thanks before saying what they think should be done to fix the economy.
Obama to plead US case at global warming summit
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will commit the United States to substantial cuts in greenhouse gas pollution over the next decade — despite resistance in Congress over higher costs — when he travels to a major climate conference in Copenhagen next month. Obama will attend the start of the conference Dec. 9 before heading to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. He will "put on the table" a U.S. commitment to cut emissions by 17 percent over the next decade, on the way to reducing heat-trapping pollution by 80 percent by mid-century, the White House said.
Kirk's low-key approach in Senate drawing notice
WASHINGTON (AP) — Paul Kirk never figured to upstage the legend whose death paved his road to the Senate. Even so, the stylish Massachusetts lawyer and former Democratic Party chairman has taken on such a low profile as Edward M. Kennedy's successor that some worry he's hindering prospects for Kennedy's signal health care cause. "He's pretty milquetoast," said Thomas Whalen, an associate professor of social science at Boston University and author of "A Higher Purpose: Profiles in Presidential Courage."
INSIDE WASHINGTON: Stream of WH health care visits
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's top aides met frequently with lobbyists and health care industry heavyweights as his administration pieced together a national health care overhaul, according to White House visitor records obtained by The Associated Press. The records, obtained Wednesday, disclose visits by a broad cross-section of the people most involved in the health care debate, weighted heavily toward those who want to overhaul the system.
Ex-CNN host Lou Dobbs weighs Senate run in NJ
HILLSIDE, N.J. (AP) — Former CNN host Lou Dobbs is seriously considering running for U.S. Senate in New Jersey in 2012 as a stepping stone to a possible White House bid — a congressional matchup that would pit one of illegal immigration's biggest critics against a champion for immigrant rights. Dobbs spokesman Robert Dilenschneider told The Associated Press Wednesday that Dobbs may challenge Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat, but is considering other offers he's received since his abrupt exit from CNN on Nov. 11 after 29 years on the news network.
Obama will unveil Afghan troops move at West Point
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama plans to announce a redrawn battle plan for Afghanistan, including what the military says could be a roughly 50 percent increase in U.S. forces, in a national address Tuesday night from the U.S. Military Academy. Although military and administration officials cautioned that Obama has not settled on a final figure, the military is planning for an increase of up to 35,000 troops begin next year. Military officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the president's plans.
Obama family distributes Thanksgiving treats
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama family passed out turkeys, stuffing and other Thanksgiving favorites to people at a food pantry organization. President Barack Obama tucked pumpkin pies into people's bags at Martha's Table in downtown Washington on Wednesday evening and wished them a happy holiday.
