Author: David Espo
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Burris says he’s senator, but seating unlikely Tues.
WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats struggled to avert a showdown steeped in race and corruption Monday as a defiant Roland Burris declared, “I’m a United States senator” despite boiling controversy over his appointment to President-elect Barack Obama’s seat in Congress.Several officials said it was out of the question that Burris would be sworn into office on…
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Officials: Obama plans to tap Geithner at Treasury
WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama intends to name Timothy Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve, as his treasury secretary to confront the nation’s intense economic turmoil, senior Democratic officials said Friday. The stock market soared on the news. Word of Geithner’s likely selection emerged as New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, in line…
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Official: Treasury won’t use full bailout
WASHINGTON • The outgoing Bush administration has told top lawmakers it does not plan to use at least half of the $700 billion bailout fund that Congress approved this fall to aid the financial industry, congressional officials said Monday. The Treasury Department denied the claim, but stopped short of saying the funds would be tapped.…
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Obama picks Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama pivoted quickly to begin filling out his new administration on Wednesday, selecting hard-charging Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff while aides stepped up the pace of transition work that had been cloaked in pre-election secrecy.Several Democrats confirmed that Emanuel had been offered the job. While it…
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Congress OKs historic bailout bill; Bush signs it
WASHINGTON – With the economy on the brink and elections looming, Congress approved an unprecedented $700 billion government bailout of the battered financial industry today and sent it to President Bush who quickly signed it. “We have acted boldly to help prevent the crisis on Wall Street from becoming a crisis in communities across our…
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McCain blames partisanship for bailout’s failure
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lagging in the polls, Republican presidential candidate John McCain unleashed a blistering attack Monday on his Democratic rival, saying the race comes down to a simple question: “Country first or Obama first?”In his first public appearance since Friday night’s debate, McCain said Democrat Barack Obama advocates tax-and-spend policies that “will deepen our…
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Frank sees bailout agreement by Sunday
WASHINGTON – The Bush administration and Congress anxiously revived negotiations today on a $700 billion financial bailout, one day after the largest bank collapse in U.S. history provided a brutal reminder of the risks of failure. “I’m convinced that by Sunday we will have an agreement that people can understand on this bill,” predicted Massachusetts…
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McCain promises change in Washington
ST. PAUL, Minn. – John McCain, a POW turned political rebel, vowed Thursday night to vanquish the “constant partisan rancor” plaguing the nation as he launched his fall campaign for the White House. “Change is coming” to Washington, he promised the Republican National Convention.”I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get…
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Michelle Obama pushes American values at DNC
DENVER – Michelle Obama declared “I love this country” Monday as she sought to reassure the nation that she and her husband Barack share Americans’ bedrock values and belief in a dream of a better future.In the first major address at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama described herself as a daughter, a sister, a…
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CLINTON TROUNCES OBAMA IN WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Hillary Rodham Clinton coasted to a large but largely symbolic victory in working-class West Virginia on Tuesday, handing Barack Obama one of the worst defeats of the campaign yet scarcely slowing his march toward the Democratic presidential nomination.”The White House is won in the swing states. And I am winning the swing…