For all the blaring headlines that Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has attracted for his remarks on the Civil Rights Act and his views on government interference in private enterprise, there is a strand of his libertarianism that -- on occasion -- can be alluring to progressives ... Mainly this is when the discussion turns to foreign policy matters and the Kentucky GOP candidate's skepticism with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and his opposition to the Patriot Act ... Occasionally, however, Paul's domestic
The Obama administration, somewhat shockingly, weighed in on the controversy surrounding longtime White House scribe Helen Thomas, calling her remarks about the need for Jews to "get the hell out of Palestine" "offensive and reprehensible." ... "I have not spoken with [the president] directly on that," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on Monday. "I think those remarks were offensive and reprehensible. She should and has apologized because obviously those remarks do not reflect
The abrupt retirement of Helen Thomas from her perch as the ranking member of the White House press corps was essentially accepted as a fait accompli by supporters and detractors alike after her controversial remarks urging Jews to leave Israel surfaced ... Indeed, if there was any defense made of Thomas's comments, it wasn't done persuasively or at an influential level. But that didn't stop the progressive community -- many hearing about her retirement while at the Campaign for America's Future
Oval Office ... 11:58 A.M. EDT ... PRESIDENT OBAMA: Hello, everybody. Be careful, careful. ... Before I begin, I know that there was just a vote in the United Nations Security Council. I'm going to comment on that separately. I don't want to detract from the topic at hand here. So for reporters who are interested in that issue, I will be making a statement about that after our session here ... I just want to thank President Abbas for being here, and his delegation. We just concluded
Click here to see the video ... Speaking in the Diplomatic Room, the President wasted no time in getting to the substance of his remarks: ... Today, the United Nations Security Council voted overwhelmingly to sanction Iran for its continued failure to live up to its obligations. This resolution will put in place the toughest sanctions ever faced by the Iranian government, and it sends an unmistakable message about the international community’s commitment to stopping the spread of nuclear
Diplomatic Reception Room ... 12:44 P.M. EDT ... THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Today, the United Nations Security Council voted overwhelmingly to sanction Iran for its continued failure to live up to its obligations. This resolution will put in place the toughest sanctions ever faced by the Iranian government, and it sends an unmistakable message about the international community’s commitment to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons ... For years, the Iranian government has
Kenyatta International Conference Center ... Nairobi, Kenya ... 10:58 A.M. (local) ... VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Hello, my name is Joe Biden. I work for Barack Obama. (Laughter and applause.) ... Now, I know no one in Kenya is familiar with Barack Obama, but I can tell you although for years as a United States senator, I had -- I was on a committee called the Foreign Relations Committee, the chairman, and did a lot of work relating to Africa, I hear about Kenya all the time from Barack
Last week the U.N.'s senior official for extrajudicial executions, Philip Alston, argued in a critical report and remarks delivered in Geneva, Switzerland, that the United States should explain the legal rationale for the CIA's campaign of drone strikes in northwest Pakistan, which he characterized as "a vaguely defined license to kill" that has created "a major accountability vacuum." ...
7:26 P.M. EDT ... THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Well, how’s the food? (Cheers and applause.) We could not have a more beautiful day for this annual picnic, and we are just thrilled that all of you had a chance to get over. I know that folks were running a little bit late, many of you because of votes. But, you know, the fact of the matter is, is that we have had as tough a year and a half as America has seen in a couple of generations, and that's meant that
Click here to see the video ... Watch the full video above or jump directly to the following sections by clicking the links below (questions are paraphrased): ... Secretary Sebelius welcomes the crowdThe President gives opening remarksWhy does it take 10 years to close the doughnut hole completely?Will Medicare Advantage changes hurt benefits?Is there more support for primary care?How does reform affect living independently vs in a nursing home?Are Medicare & Social Security going to run out of