DENVER - Looking toward his turn in the spotlight, Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting John McCain said Thursday he had yet to decide on a running mate.
McCain was expected to name his vice presidential pick this week, possibly Friday. The hope is to curb any uptick in polling that Democratic nominee Barack Obama could get from his convention, which wraps up Thursday, and to create momentum heading into the gathering of GOP delegates for McCain next week in St. Paul, Minn.
McCain and his running mate are expected to appear together for the first time at one or more rallies, including one planned for Saturday in Pennsylvania.
McCain said in an early morning radio interview that he was bringing along to that event both former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, two of the leading names on his short list. But he cautioned against assuming that meant either one would be the pick.
"I haven't decided yet so I can't tell you," he told KDKA NewsRadio in Pittsburgh early Thursday.
However, McCain talked glowingly of Ridge, a longtime friend who has been a frequent presence at his side during the campaign.
"He's a great American and a great and dear friend and I rely on him and I have for many years," McCain said.
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Thursday, August 28, 2008
Obama seeks a personal touch within a huge stadium
DENVER - Barack Obama aims to weave the personal with the political Thursday as he explains to 75,000 supporters in a football stadium — and millions more at home — how as president he would make a difference in their lives.
Obama stood ready to accept the Democratic presidential nomination, the first black person to claim such a prize, on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech.
Rival John McCain, meanwhile, told a Pittsburgh radio station he hasn't decided on a running mate just yet.
McCain told KDKA NewsRadio he wouldn't even talk about which way he was leaning. He called former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, one of those believed to have been under consideration, a great American and a dear friend whom he has relied upon for years.
Democrats officially made Obama their presidential nominee and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., their vice presidential nominee on Wednesday.
Obama's unique personal story was sure to be included in his acceptance address Thursday night at Invesco Field at Mile High. Still, he also planned to talk about problems facing Americans today, from health care and education to international threats, campaign manager David Plouffe said.
"I think what Sen. Obama wants to do is make sure everyone watching at home is going to have a clear sense of where he wants to take the country, that we're on the wrong path and Barack Obama is going to put us back on the right track both here at home and overseas," Plouffe told ABC's "Good Morning America."
McCain, Obama's Republican rival, offered mild criticism ahead of Obama's speech, saying Thursday that he admires and respects Obama but "I don't think he's right for America."
"I think I'm more in touch with the American people as far as my policies, my proposals and my ideas," McCain told KDKA NewsRadio.
Other Republicans, keeping up a theme they first used when Obama drew tens of thousands for an appearance in Berlin, derided the acceptance speech's stage as befitting a celebrity with little actual accomplishment.
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Obama stood ready to accept the Democratic presidential nomination, the first black person to claim such a prize, on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech.
Rival John McCain, meanwhile, told a Pittsburgh radio station he hasn't decided on a running mate just yet.
McCain told KDKA NewsRadio he wouldn't even talk about which way he was leaning. He called former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, one of those believed to have been under consideration, a great American and a dear friend whom he has relied upon for years.
Democrats officially made Obama their presidential nominee and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., their vice presidential nominee on Wednesday.
Obama's unique personal story was sure to be included in his acceptance address Thursday night at Invesco Field at Mile High. Still, he also planned to talk about problems facing Americans today, from health care and education to international threats, campaign manager David Plouffe said.
"I think what Sen. Obama wants to do is make sure everyone watching at home is going to have a clear sense of where he wants to take the country, that we're on the wrong path and Barack Obama is going to put us back on the right track both here at home and overseas," Plouffe told ABC's "Good Morning America."
McCain, Obama's Republican rival, offered mild criticism ahead of Obama's speech, saying Thursday that he admires and respects Obama but "I don't think he's right for America."
"I think I'm more in touch with the American people as far as my policies, my proposals and my ideas," McCain told KDKA NewsRadio.
Other Republicans, keeping up a theme they first used when Obama drew tens of thousands for an appearance in Berlin, derided the acceptance speech's stage as befitting a celebrity with little actual accomplishment.
READ MORE
Monday, August 25, 2008
Pakistan's ruling coalition collapses amid dissent
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's ruling coalition collapsed Monday, torn apart by internal bickering just a week after Pervez Musharraf's ouster and underscoring fears that the government would be distracted from its fight against Islamic extremists.
Militants have stepped up their campaign of violence in recent months, prompting the government Monday to ban the Taliban. The move came after the Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for twin suicide bombings against one of Pakistan's most sensitive military installations that left 67 dead.
The breakdown of the fragile 5-month-old civilian government clears the way for the party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to tighten its hold on the government; the West hopes it will make good on pledges to combat terrorism.
Nawaz Sharif, another former premier, announced Monday that he was pulling out of the coalition because it failed to restore judges fired by Musharraf or agree to a neutral replacement for the ousted president.
He blamed Bhutto's widower and political successor, Asif Ali Zardari, for the breakup, and named a retired judge to run against Zardari in the Sept. 6 presidential election by lawmakers.
However, Sharif vowed to play a "constructive" role while in the opposition.
"We don't want to be instrumental in overthrowing any government. We don't have any such intentions," Sharif told a news conference.
His move is not expected to trigger new elections.
A major opposition party has already backed Zardari's presidential bid. That group, together with smaller parties and independents could plug the gap in the government's parliamentary majority.
SOURCE
Militants have stepped up their campaign of violence in recent months, prompting the government Monday to ban the Taliban. The move came after the Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for twin suicide bombings against one of Pakistan's most sensitive military installations that left 67 dead.
The breakdown of the fragile 5-month-old civilian government clears the way for the party of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to tighten its hold on the government; the West hopes it will make good on pledges to combat terrorism.
Nawaz Sharif, another former premier, announced Monday that he was pulling out of the coalition because it failed to restore judges fired by Musharraf or agree to a neutral replacement for the ousted president.
He blamed Bhutto's widower and political successor, Asif Ali Zardari, for the breakup, and named a retired judge to run against Zardari in the Sept. 6 presidential election by lawmakers.
However, Sharif vowed to play a "constructive" role while in the opposition.
"We don't want to be instrumental in overthrowing any government. We don't have any such intentions," Sharif told a news conference.
His move is not expected to trigger new elections.
A major opposition party has already backed Zardari's presidential bid. That group, together with smaller parties and independents could plug the gap in the government's parliamentary majority.
SOURCE
Russia lawmakers recognize Georgia rebel regions
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's parliament unanimously approved on Monday resolutions calling for the recognition of two rebel regions of Georgia as independent states, a move likely to
Both houses of parliament, which are controlled by Kremlin loyalists, swiftly approved non-binding resolutions calling on President Dmitry Medvedev to recognize the pro-Moscow breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The lower house, or State Duma, approved a second resolution calling on parliaments worldwide to back independence for the two regions, saying they had many more reasons than the former Serb province of Kosovo to aspire to international recognition.
Georgia and Russia fought a brief war over South Ossetia earlier this month after Tbilisi sent in troops to try to retake the province by force, provoking a massive counter-attack by land, sea and air by Moscow.
Medvedev, who was working in the resort of Sochi, just along the Black Sea coast from Abkhazia, did not immediately comment on the resolutions, but said ties with NATO had "worsened sharply" as a result of the Georgia conflict.
"We are ready to take any decision, up to halting relations altogether," he said at a meeting in Sochi with Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian envoy to NATO.
In the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali, jubilant residents drove down Stalin Street with South Ossetian and Russian flags hanging out of the windows, thrusting their arms into the air and shouting "Victory, Victory."
The resolutions could either signal Medvedev's intentions or be designed to strengthen his hand as he negotiates the status of Russian forces in Georgia with the West.
"Today it is clear that after Georgia's aggression against South Ossetia, Georgian-South-Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhazian relations cannot be returned to their former state," upper house speaker Sergei Mironov said during the debate. "The peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have the right to get independence."
Moscow has so far always stopped short of recognizing the two rebel regions as independent, though Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled a tougher line recently when he said the world could "forget about" Georgia's territorial integrity.
SOURCE
Both houses of parliament, which are controlled by Kremlin loyalists, swiftly approved non-binding resolutions calling on President Dmitry Medvedev to recognize the pro-Moscow breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The lower house, or State Duma, approved a second resolution calling on parliaments worldwide to back independence for the two regions, saying they had many more reasons than the former Serb province of Kosovo to aspire to international recognition.
Georgia and Russia fought a brief war over South Ossetia earlier this month after Tbilisi sent in troops to try to retake the province by force, provoking a massive counter-attack by land, sea and air by Moscow.
Medvedev, who was working in the resort of Sochi, just along the Black Sea coast from Abkhazia, did not immediately comment on the resolutions, but said ties with NATO had "worsened sharply" as a result of the Georgia conflict.
"We are ready to take any decision, up to halting relations altogether," he said at a meeting in Sochi with Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian envoy to NATO.
In the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali, jubilant residents drove down Stalin Street with South Ossetian and Russian flags hanging out of the windows, thrusting their arms into the air and shouting "Victory, Victory."
The resolutions could either signal Medvedev's intentions or be designed to strengthen his hand as he negotiates the status of Russian forces in Georgia with the West.
"Today it is clear that after Georgia's aggression against South Ossetia, Georgian-South-Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhazian relations cannot be returned to their former state," upper house speaker Sergei Mironov said during the debate. "The peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have the right to get independence."
Moscow has so far always stopped short of recognizing the two rebel regions as independent, though Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled a tougher line recently when he said the world could "forget about" Georgia's territorial integrity.
SOURCE
Kennedy to appear, may speak at convention
DENVER - Ailing Sen. Edward M. Kennedy prepared to attend, and possibly speak at, the opening of the Democratic National Convention on Monday as Barack Obama unleashed a mocking ad seeking to link rival John McCain with President Bush and what it suggested were his failed economic policies.
The musical "Don't Know Much" commercial signaled that the Democrats' gathering would be as much about skewering McCain as about unifying the fractured party after a protracted primary season that split supporters between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Clinton, meanwhile, made her first convention appearance at a breakfast for New York Democrats. As supporters waved "Hillary Made History" signs, she preached unity — and took a shot at McCain.
"Now I understand that the McCain campaign is running ads trying to divide us," she said, referring to recent GOP television spots using Clinton's own earlier words against Obama. "I'm Hillary Clinton, and I do not approve that message," she said, to raucous laughter and applause.
Kennedy, who is being treated for a malignant brain tumor, is a beloved figure within the party, and the Massachusetts senator's last-minute appearance at the Pepsi Center is a way toward unification as the four-day convention opens amid signs of acrimony between Obama and Clinton delegates.
Kennedy arrived in Denver Sunday night and got a checkup at a local hospital. He plans to attend to watch a video tribute to him and may address the convention if he feels up to it, said a senior Democratic official who talked on the condition of anonymity.
"He's truly humbled by the outpouring of support and wouldn't miss it for anything in the world," said Stephanie Cutter, a Kennedy spokeswoman.
SOURCE
The musical "Don't Know Much" commercial signaled that the Democrats' gathering would be as much about skewering McCain as about unifying the fractured party after a protracted primary season that split supporters between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Clinton, meanwhile, made her first convention appearance at a breakfast for New York Democrats. As supporters waved "Hillary Made History" signs, she preached unity — and took a shot at McCain.
"Now I understand that the McCain campaign is running ads trying to divide us," she said, referring to recent GOP television spots using Clinton's own earlier words against Obama. "I'm Hillary Clinton, and I do not approve that message," she said, to raucous laughter and applause.
Kennedy, who is being treated for a malignant brain tumor, is a beloved figure within the party, and the Massachusetts senator's last-minute appearance at the Pepsi Center is a way toward unification as the four-day convention opens amid signs of acrimony between Obama and Clinton delegates.
Kennedy arrived in Denver Sunday night and got a checkup at a local hospital. He plans to attend to watch a video tribute to him and may address the convention if he feels up to it, said a senior Democratic official who talked on the condition of anonymity.
"He's truly humbled by the outpouring of support and wouldn't miss it for anything in the world," said Stephanie Cutter, a Kennedy spokeswoman.
SOURCE
Iraq demands deadline for pullout of all US troops
BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Monday no security agreement with the United States could be reached unless it included a "specific deadline" for the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq.
Last week, U.S. and Iraqi officials said the two sides had agreed tentatively to a schedule which included a broad pullout of combat forces by the end of 2011 with a residual U.S. force remaining behind to continue training and advising the Iraqi security forces.
But al-Maliki's remarks Monday suggested that the Iraqi government is still not satisfied with that arrangement. An aide to the prime minister said Monday that Iraq remained adamant that the last American soldier must leave Iraq by the end of 2011 — regardless of conditions at the time.
The official, like others who spoke about the specifics of the debate, spoke on condition of anonymity because the text had not been approved by either government.
President Bush has long resisted a timetable for pulling out troops from Iraq, even under heavy pressure from a nation distressed by American deaths and discouraged by the length of the war that began in 2003.
"There can be no treaty or agreement except on the basis of Iraq's full sovereignty," al-Maliki told a gathering of tribal sheiks. He said such an agreement must be based on the principle that "no foreign soldier remains in Iraq after a specific deadline, not an open time frame."
SOURCE
Last week, U.S. and Iraqi officials said the two sides had agreed tentatively to a schedule which included a broad pullout of combat forces by the end of 2011 with a residual U.S. force remaining behind to continue training and advising the Iraqi security forces.
But al-Maliki's remarks Monday suggested that the Iraqi government is still not satisfied with that arrangement. An aide to the prime minister said Monday that Iraq remained adamant that the last American soldier must leave Iraq by the end of 2011 — regardless of conditions at the time.
The official, like others who spoke about the specifics of the debate, spoke on condition of anonymity because the text had not been approved by either government.
President Bush has long resisted a timetable for pulling out troops from Iraq, even under heavy pressure from a nation distressed by American deaths and discouraged by the length of the war that began in 2003.
"There can be no treaty or agreement except on the basis of Iraq's full sovereignty," al-Maliki told a gathering of tribal sheiks. He said such an agreement must be based on the principle that "no foreign soldier remains in Iraq after a specific deadline, not an open time frame."
SOURCE
Friday, August 22, 2008
AP Bernanke: Financial crisis taking toll on economy
In July, the Fed believed Fannie and Freddie furthermore can tap the program. For years, these types of lending privileges got long merely to commercial banks, that are subject to more stern regulatory supervision.
Critics matter whether taxpayers are making put at gamble and if expanded safety nets am able to encourage loan firms to act a large amount of recklessly in the future.
But Bernanke on Friday once again defended the Fed's decisions declaring properties got needed to preclude a mortgage disaster too may experience plunged the industry to a deep recession.
Critics matter whether taxpayers are making put at gamble and if expanded safety nets am able to encourage loan firms to act a large amount of recklessly in the future.
But Bernanke on Friday once again defended the Fed's decisions declaring properties got needed to preclude a mortgage disaster too may experience plunged the industry to a deep recession.
AP Barack Obama prepares to name running mate
Several GOP policy makers stated Friday the McCain had not settled on a running mate — nor offered the job to any person — regardless of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty got below drastic consideration.
Officials believed the campaign too was preparing for an "unconventional" nominee, an sign too oft-mentioned former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, an abortion-rights supporter, or Connecticut Democrat-turned-independent Joe Lieberman continuing to should be in the running. That category moreover am able to put in non-politicians whom McCain admires, these as Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
The GOP convention begins Sept. 1 in St. Paul, Minn.
___
Associated Press writers David Espo in Denver, Glen Johnson in Boston, Randall Chase in Greenville, Del.; Bob Lewis in Richmond, Va. Scott Lindlaw in San Francisco, Angela K. Brown in Waco, Texas, and Jesse Holland in Washington contributed to this moment report. Pickler reported of Chicago.
Officials believed the campaign too was preparing for an "unconventional" nominee, an sign too oft-mentioned former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, an abortion-rights supporter, or Connecticut Democrat-turned-independent Joe Lieberman continuing to should be in the running. That category moreover am able to put in non-politicians whom McCain admires, these as Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
The GOP convention begins Sept. 1 in St. Paul, Minn.
___
Associated Press writers David Espo in Denver, Glen Johnson in Boston, Randall Chase in Greenville, Del.; Bob Lewis in Richmond, Va. Scott Lindlaw in San Francisco, Angela K. Brown in Waco, Texas, and Jesse Holland in Washington contributed to this moment report. Pickler reported of Chicago.
AP Signs of pullback by Russian forces in Georgia
IGOETI, Georgia - Russian military convoys rolled out of 3 key positions in Georgia and went toward Moscow-backed separatist spots Friday in a major withdrawal two weeks once thousands of troops roared to the former Soviet republic.
In Moscow, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov believed the pullback to separatist South Ossetia was concluded late Friday — but the United States was a reduced number of as opposed to impressed.
"(Russians) hold without a reservation failed to dwell up to this obligations," U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood declared in Washington. "Establishing checkpoints, buffer zones are undoubtedly not portion of the agreement."
President Bush, vacationing at his ranch in Texas, conferred amongst French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the two agreed the Russia is not in compliance investing in the agreement Sarkozy helped negotiate, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"Compliance indicates compliance in on the plan," he said. "We haven't witnessed overly yet. It's my arrangement which properties hold not totally withdrawn from what i read in towns knew undisputed territory, and properties would like to do that."
Georgia's sector minister on reintegration, Temur Yakobashvili, informed The Associated Press the formation of a buffer zone outside South Ossetia "is positively illegal."
In western Georgia, a column of 83 tanks, APCs and trucks hauling artillery moved away based on the Senaki military base north toward the periphery of Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia neighborhood on Friday afternoon. Georgian police declared the vehicles came based on data from the base, that has continued short of Russian control for additionally as opposed to a week.
In Moscow, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov believed the pullback to separatist South Ossetia was concluded late Friday — but the United States was a reduced number of as opposed to impressed.
"(Russians) hold without a reservation failed to dwell up to this obligations," U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood declared in Washington. "Establishing checkpoints, buffer zones are undoubtedly not portion of the agreement."
President Bush, vacationing at his ranch in Texas, conferred amongst French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the two agreed the Russia is not in compliance investing in the agreement Sarkozy helped negotiate, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"Compliance indicates compliance in on the plan," he said. "We haven't witnessed overly yet. It's my arrangement which properties hold not totally withdrawn from what i read in towns knew undisputed territory, and properties would like to do that."
Georgia's sector minister on reintegration, Temur Yakobashvili, informed The Associated Press the formation of a buffer zone outside South Ossetia "is positively illegal."
In western Georgia, a column of 83 tanks, APCs and trucks hauling artillery moved away based on the Senaki military base north toward the periphery of Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia neighborhood on Friday afternoon. Georgian police declared the vehicles came based on data from the base, that has continued short of Russian control for additionally as opposed to a week.
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