All Blog Posts from Horserace
Is the Taliban on the U.S. Gov. Payroll?
The Taliban may be on the unofficial payroll of the United States government.
A portion of American taxpayer dollars slated for development projects in Afghanistan is alleged to end up in the hands of the Taliban, the GlobalPost reports. The United States Agency for International Development is investigating if its funds are being used by contractors to pay the Taliban for protection – from itself.
Payoffs to the Taliban are a widely known practice in Afghanistan, according to a report by GlobalPost last month. When the money is not paid, they wreak havoc in the area, blowing up bridges, kidnapping contractors and bringing projects to a halt.
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(AP)
Payoffs to the Taliban are a widely known practice in Afghanistan, according to a report by GlobalPost last month. When the money is not paid, they wreak havoc in the area, blowing up bridges, kidnapping contractors and bringing projects to a halt.
Continue »
White House Grounds Get Swing Set
(CBS)
President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, went to work while the girls were at school, having the set installed on the south grounds of the White House within sight of the Oval Office, where their father spends plenty of time.
The 100 percent cedar and North American Redwood structure has four swings, including a tire swing, a slide, a fort, a climbing wall and climbing ropes. There's also a picnic table with brass plates etched with the names of all 44 presidents, she said.
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The Finish Line
With the campaign (almost) in the history books, Horserace has come to the end of the 2008 trail. For the past fifteen months, the political reporters and producers from CBS News and CBSNews.com have followed every detail of this historic and unprecedented political year. After all the campaign stump speeches, the ads, gaffes, fundraising and, of course, the polls, the racing is over and the hard work of governing is about to begin.
With the tireless help of CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli and Kevin Hechtkopf and loads of assists from all the correspondents, producers and off-air reporters from CBS News, we helped guide you though the maze of the never-ending primaries, delegate counts, conventions and Election Night.
But just because the campaign is over doesn't mean we're going away. CBSNews.com today launches the Political Hotsheet, a new blog which will combine the best political reporting, analysis and observations from the reporters and producers at CBS News.
From the transition to the incoming president's first 100 Days in office and beyond, we'll keep you up on the very latest happenings in what's about to become one of the busiest and most closely-watched towns in the world. Hotsheet will chronicle the news from the White House, Congress and all the institutions in Washington during these historic and uncharted days.
The challenges that lie ahead for the nation are immense and we'll be your eyes and ears to keep you informed about what the new administration and congress are doing, or are not doing, about the issues that impact your life and the nation's future. With a laser-like focus on the economy, health care reform, taxes, spending, foreign policy and many other issues, we'll track the progress of the new team in Washington from Day One.
President-elect Barack Obama is coming to town with a strong wind of change at his back and Hotsheet will be here to help keep you informed as it sweeps through Washington, the nation and the world.
With the tireless help of CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli and Kevin Hechtkopf and loads of assists from all the correspondents, producers and off-air reporters from CBS News, we helped guide you though the maze of the never-ending primaries, delegate counts, conventions and Election Night.
But just because the campaign is over doesn't mean we're going away. CBSNews.com today launches the Political Hotsheet, a new blog which will combine the best political reporting, analysis and observations from the reporters and producers at CBS News.
From the transition to the incoming president's first 100 Days in office and beyond, we'll keep you up on the very latest happenings in what's about to become one of the busiest and most closely-watched towns in the world. Hotsheet will chronicle the news from the White House, Congress and all the institutions in Washington during these historic and uncharted days.
The challenges that lie ahead for the nation are immense and we'll be your eyes and ears to keep you informed about what the new administration and congress are doing, or are not doing, about the issues that impact your life and the nation's future. With a laser-like focus on the economy, health care reform, taxes, spending, foreign policy and many other issues, we'll track the progress of the new team in Washington from Day One.
President-elect Barack Obama is coming to town with a strong wind of change at his back and Hotsheet will be here to help keep you informed as it sweeps through Washington, the nation and the world.
Gates Suggests He'll Work Towards Obama Goals
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, whom President-elect Barack Obama has asked to stay on in his current position, today suggested he is open to speeding up U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center, two of Obama's stated goals.
As the Associated Press reports, Gates said in a press conference that military commanders are now looking at how they might pull troops out in accordance with the 16-month timetable pushed by Obama during his presidential campaign.
"Commanders are already looking at what the implications of that are in terms of the potential for accelerating the drawdown and in terms of how we meet our obligations to the Iraqis," Gates said.
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As the Associated Press reports, Gates said in a press conference that military commanders are now looking at how they might pull troops out in accordance with the 16-month timetable pushed by Obama during his presidential campaign.
"Commanders are already looking at what the implications of that are in terms of the potential for accelerating the drawdown and in terms of how we meet our obligations to the Iraqis," Gates said.
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RFK Jr. Not Interested In Clinton's Seat
Robert Kennedy Jr. has told New York Gov. David Paterson he is not interested in being appointed to the seat that will be vacated by Senator Hillary Clinton (and the same seat once held by his father) if she is confirmed as the next Secretary of State, the New York Times reports. Kennedy has been among a lengthy list of names being circulated and he becomes the second to publicly bow out, joining Rep. Nita Lowey who yesterday said she was not interested. Paterson is reportedly interested in tapping someone from upstate New York, a woman or an Hispanic for the seat.
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and activist, said he's happy doing what he's doing right now. "I have spent lots of time thinking about it," he told the Times. "I have spent time talking with my uncle, by brothers, my cousin and, of course, my wife. And I think I'm in a good position right now doing what I'm doing."
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and activist, said he's happy doing what he's doing right now. "I have spent lots of time thinking about it," he told the Times. "I have spent time talking with my uncle, by brothers, my cousin and, of course, my wife. And I think I'm in a good position right now doing what I'm doing."
Voter Turnout A Bit Lighter In Georgia
As expected for a runoff election the three weeks after the main event, turnout appears lighter in the Georgia senate race, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. But reports are that the lines are steady. Early and absentee voting appears to be indicating slightly higher turnout in some counties than expected, according to election officials.
At stake today is the senate seat currently held by incumbent Saxby Chambliss, who faces Democrat Jim Martin. Chambliss finished the general election with a plurality but state law requires a runoff if any candidate fails to get 50 percent of the vote. Should Martin win, it would give Democrats 59 seats in the U.S. Senate with the Minnesota race remaining in a recount. Polls in Georgia close at 7:00pm.
At stake today is the senate seat currently held by incumbent Saxby Chambliss, who faces Democrat Jim Martin. Chambliss finished the general election with a plurality but state law requires a runoff if any candidate fails to get 50 percent of the vote. Should Martin win, it would give Democrats 59 seats in the U.S. Senate with the Minnesota race remaining in a recount. Polls in Georgia close at 7:00pm.
Franken May Appeal To Senate, Courts
Minnesota Senate candidate Al Franken's campaign says it may appeal to the U.S. Senate or the courts because it believes that up to 1,000 absentee ballots were improperly disqualified in the state's recount of votes, The Hill reports.
"Wherever the numbers stand today…that number simply cannot be relevant if it does not include all the votes that were legally cast," Franken attorney Marc Elias said, according to the newspaper. "No recount can be considered accurate or complete until all the ballots cast by lawful voters are counted."
Franken trails Republican rival Norm Coleman by 282 votes with most of the vote counted, though his campaign claims the deficit has shrunk to 73 votes.
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"Wherever the numbers stand today…that number simply cannot be relevant if it does not include all the votes that were legally cast," Franken attorney Marc Elias said, according to the newspaper. "No recount can be considered accurate or complete until all the ballots cast by lawful voters are counted."
Franken trails Republican rival Norm Coleman by 282 votes with most of the vote counted, though his campaign claims the deficit has shrunk to 73 votes.
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Obama Lauds Bush On AIDS
President-elect Barack Obama today offered kind words for President Bush's work on AIDS in Africa in videotaped remarks to the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health.
At the Washington DC forum marking the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, Obama said he "salute[s] President Bush for his leadership in crafting a plan for AIDS relief in Africa and backing it up with funding dedicated to saving lives and preventing the spread of the disease."
The president-elect vowed to "continue this critical work to address the crisis around the world."
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At the Washington DC forum marking the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, Obama said he "salute[s] President Bush for his leadership in crafting a plan for AIDS relief in Africa and backing it up with funding dedicated to saving lives and preventing the spread of the disease."
The president-elect vowed to "continue this critical work to address the crisis around the world."
Continue »
Obama Lauds Bush On AIDS
President-elect Barack Obama today offered kind words for President Bush's work on AIDS in Africa in videotaped remarks to the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health.
At the Washington DC forum marking the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, Obama said he "salute[s] President Bush for his leadership in crafting a plan for AIDS relief in Africa and backing it up with funding dedicated to saving lives and preventing the spread of the disease."
The president-elect vowed to "continue this critical work to address the crisis around the world."
Continue »
At the Washington DC forum marking the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, Obama said he "salute[s] President Bush for his leadership in crafting a plan for AIDS relief in Africa and backing it up with funding dedicated to saving lives and preventing the spread of the disease."
The president-elect vowed to "continue this critical work to address the crisis around the world."
Continue »
Napolitano's Replacement Would Be Republican
Should Janet Napolitano, Barack Obama's pick for homeland security chief, be confirmed as expected by the Senate, Napolitano will need to step down from her current position as governor of Arizona.
The state has no lieutenant governor, and its laws dictate that the governor, who is a Democrat, be replaced by Secretary of State Jan Brewer – a Republican.
The Associated Press reports that Brewer, who would be governor through 2010, "had a reputation as a fiscal hard-liner and conservative on social issues while a legislator in the 1980s and 1990s, so her taking over the governorship would mean a new approach from Napolitano's direction."
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The state has no lieutenant governor, and its laws dictate that the governor, who is a Democrat, be replaced by Secretary of State Jan Brewer – a Republican.
The Associated Press reports that Brewer, who would be governor through 2010, "had a reputation as a fiscal hard-liner and conservative on social issues while a legislator in the 1980s and 1990s, so her taking over the governorship would mean a new approach from Napolitano's direction."
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