Political News Archives...

· Kerry camp loses another top staffer.  A third member of Massachusetts Democratic Sen. John F. Kerry's presidential campaign staff has resigned, citing personal reasons. 

· Janklow 'Gunned' Cadillac Before Hitting Motorcycle.  Rep. Bill Janklow told investigators he was accelerating to pass another vehicle at an intersection before a deadly collision with a motorcyclist, according to a new document filed in his second-degree manslaughter case. 

· Schwarzenegger Asks Voters to Back $15 Billion Bond.  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, saying he had "strong resolve" to cure California's fiscal woes, on Tuesday proposed a record bond issue of up to $15 billion to fund the state's ballooning budget deficit. 

· Bush Arrives in London for State Visit.  President Bush arrived Tuesday for a state visit to the United Kingdom, where unprecedented security was in place to counter expected anti-war protests. 

· OOPS!  U.S.'s 'Iron Hammer' code name first used by Nazis.  The U.S. military's code name for a crackdown on resistance in Iraq was also used by the Nazis for an aborted operation to damage the Soviet power grid during World War II. 

· Palestinians reprint schoolbooks praising jihad 'martyrs.'
A textbook on Islam that preaches the value of "holy war" and "martyrdom" for all Muslims is being reprinted by Yasser Arafat for use in schools in the occupied West Bank. 

· Pentagon Recovers Remains Believed to be Howard Dean's Brother.  The Pentagon said Tuesday it has uncovered remains from the site in Laos where Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean's younger brother was believed to have been killed nearly 30 years ago. 

· Schwarzenegger Sworn In as Calif. Governor.  Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in Monday as California's 38th governor, humbly promising to serve Californians and to give back to the state that gave him so much. 

· Al Gore's future in the toilet.  Al Gore has agreed to serve on the advisory board of Falcon Waterfree Technologies, the maker of the waterless urinal. 

· Clinton Offered Millions To Represent Clothing Line.  A small Chinese clothing manufacturer wants former President Bill Clinton to be its spokesmodel. 

· On many points, Sharpton's not so sharp.  "Forced to publicly defend him, black leaders privately groused that he made them look like idiots." 

· CNN planted question at debate, student says.  The student had her own question for the Democratic candidates, but was told by a CNN producer that she couldn't ask her alternative "because it wasn't lighthearted enough and they wanted to modulate the event with various types of questions." 

· CNN says it regrets producer's decision.  CNN spokesman Matthew Furman said, "In an attempt to encourage a lighthearted moment in this debate, a CNN producer working with Ms. Trustman clearly went too far. CNN regrets the producer's actions."  

· Nader Blasts Democrats As 'Whiners.'  Former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader called Democrats "chronic whiners" for continuing to accuse him of spoiling the 2000 presidential election for Al Gore. 

· Michael Moore calls out the British to shout down Bush visit.  Michael Moore, author, filmmaker and satirical nemesis of George W. Bush, urged Britons to take to the streets by the tens of thousands to protest the US president's visit to London. 

· Private Plane Flies Into Restricted White House Air Space.  Air Force fighter jets were scrambled Monday to intercept a privately owned plane that flew too close to the White House, the Secret Service said. 

· Terrorism Patriot Act used to shut down strip club.  The investigation of strip club owner Michael Galardi and numerous politicians appears to be the first time federal authorities have used the Patriot Act in a public corruption probe. 

· Kerry Shakes Up Campaign.  Democratic candidate John Kerry was in Iowa Monday trying to jump-start his campaign one day after he dismissed his campaign manager and replaced him with a staffer borrowed from the office of fellow Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy. 

· GOP Outcry Makes CBS Rethink Airing 'Reagans.'  Responding to an outcry over how the legacy of Ronald Reagan may play out in a television miniseries, CBS is considering moving its two-night dramatized biography of the former president and his wife to its pay-cable sister network Showtime, or even scrapping the project. 

· Sen. Graham Won't Seek Re-Election in 2004.  Florida Sen. Bob Graham said Monday he will not seek re-election to a fourth term in the U.S. Senate. 

· Halloween Costume Sparks Capitol Hill Scare.  Two Halloween revelers triggered a massive manhunt on Thursday, when the costume they were carrying included a toy gun that breached security at the entrance of a Capitol Hill building. 

· Economy Grows at Fastest Pace Since 1984.  The economy grew at a scorching 7.2 percent annual rate in the third quarter in the strongest pace in nearly two decades. Consumers spent with abandon and businesses ramped up investment, compelling new evidence of an economic resurgence. 

· Iraq Money to Go as Grants.  After a closed-door vote Wednesday, conference negotiators handed the White House a victory, agreeing to strip language out of a $87 billion supplemental bill that would condition part of the reconstruction aid to Iraq as a loan rather than a grant. 

· Democrat Senator Zell Miller Endorses Bush.  The nation's most prominent conservative Democrat, said today he will endorse President Bush for re-election in 2004 and campaign for him if Bush wishes him to. 

· Democrats Open New Liberal Think Tank.  A new left-wing think tank — the Center for American Progress — unveiled itself Tuesday as the Democratic vaccine to what center supporters say is a plague of conservatism now dominating America. 

· Dean courts wide spectrum.  Dean declared himself a "metrosexual," the buzz phrase for straight men in touch with their feminine sides, as he touted his accomplishments in "equal justice" for gay and lesbian couples. 

· Political Threat To Bush Growing.  The latest rocket and bomb attacks in Baghdad are only the most recent in a series of setbacks for the Bush administration that threaten to turn Iraq into a political liability just as the 2004 election cycle is beginning. 

· The Rumsfeld Memo.  Turns out Donald Rumsfeld harbors some private doubts about the U.S. terrorism war and operations in Iraq and Afganistan, according to a recent memo authored by the Secretary of Defense. 

· Economists Expect Fed to Keep Rates Low.  Near rock-bottom short-term interest rates are likely to stick around for some time as Federal Reserve policy-makers hope to foster a climate to keep the economic resurgence moving forward, economists say. 

· U.S. outrage over Wolfowitz jibe.  An influential Lebanese politician triggered U.S. outrage today when he expressed regret U.S. Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was unhurt in a Baghdad rocket attack, saying "We hope the firing will be more precise and efficient (next time)." 

· Downing Street 'mystified' by Bill Clinton claim.  Downing Street says it is "mystified" by reports that Tony Blair discussed his health problems several years ago with Bill Clinton.  Ex-US President Clinton was quoted in the Sunday Mirror as saying: "I've known about this for a long time. He told me about it quite a few years ago." 

· Pentagon wants 'mini-nukes' to fight terrorists.  Influential advisers at the Pentagon are backing the development of a new generation of low-yield nuclear weapons - so-called mini-nukes - in a controversial report. 

· Wolfowitz Escapes Rocket Attack.  A rocket launcher forced the U.S. occupation authority to retreat from its main hotel Sunday, after a barrage by the Iraqi resistance that killed an American colonel, wounded 18 other people and sent scores of U.S. officials scurrying for safety, including the visiting deputy defense secretary. 

· Wellstone's Son Tries to Move Democratic Party.  The green Paul Wellstone bumper stickers can still be seen on Minnesota vehicles, a testament of the late senator's popularity, said his son David Wellstone. 

· San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown may stay closer to home from now on.  San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly, who was tapped by Brown to serve as acting mayor for one day Wednesday, decided to go on a gutsy spree of appointing two people to the powerful PUC while Mayor Willie Brown was traveling in Tibet. 

· Senate approves $3,300 pay increase for itself.  For the fifth straight year, members of Congress will see a jump in their paychecks in 2004, with election-year salaries rising from the current $154,700 to about $158,000. 

· Bush a big man on campuses, says Harvard survey.  A distinct voting bloc has taken a shine to President Bush: 61 percent of college students approve of Mr. Bush's job performance, according to a Harvard University Institute of Politics survey. 

· Bush Tells Mahathir His Jew Remarks Are 'Wrong.'  President Bush told Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad his remarks about Jews controlling the West by proxy were "wrong and divisive," the White House said. 

· U.S. interest rates 'to rise soon.'  Interest rates are set to rise over the next few months, one of President Bush’s most senior officials said.  However, far from being a dampener on the economy, John Snow, the US Treasury Secretary, said that Washington would welcome such a move because it would underline the strength of the country’s growth prospects. 

· Bush snubs Chretien in Asia.  He scratched at the door, but White House officials weren't letting Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in today. 

· Phantom Tax Bills Finally Stop.  For decades, Lois Levan's family paid taxes on a property that didn't exist. 

· Lieberman Heckled at Arab-American Political Conference.  Democratic presidential candidate Joe Lieberman was heckled Friday by several Arab Americans angry with his support for Israel as he spoke about restoring peace and trust in the Middle East. 

· Senate: Iraqis Should Pay Back Half.  Chamber votes to convert 50% of $20.3B rebuilding plan into loan - defying the wishes of President Bush..   

· Bush now embraces Schwarzenegger.  After taking a hands-off approach to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaign, President Bush is embracing California’s next governor, hoping an alliance will win him the state’s pile of electoral votes next year. 

· Gary Coleman Lands Political Consulting Job.  Gary Coleman didn't win California's recall election, but he'll still get a political platform on the new Comedy Radio network. 

· Lieberman Proposes Tax Boost for Wealthy.  Democrat Joe Lieberman, hoping to jump-start his presidential campaign with a fresh attack on White House policy, is promising to ensure that upper-income Americans pay more taxes than they did before President Bush's record-breaking tax cuts. 

· Once-Humorless Davis Gives Schwarzenegger Advice.  Davis, often-criticized for his aloof and seemingly cold personality, appeared on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" on Friday night to present one of the show's famous Top Ten Lists. 

· Soldiers Brush Up on Their Shakespeare.  Tucked inside the $368 billion defense bill approved by Congress last month is an easily overlooked item because it is so relatively small - $1 million for Shakespeare performances to shift soldiers' attention from the battlefield to the Bard. 

· Probe Finds Airport Screeners Were Given Test Answers.  The written tests given potential baggage screeners at airports never asked applicants to show they could identify dangerous objects inside luggage, and screeners hired by the government to check baggage for bombs were given most of the answers to the tests. 

· Dems Blast Clark During Campaign Debate.  Democratic presidential hopefuls focused fire on Wesley Clark in campaign debate Thursday night, deriding the retired general as a belated convert to their party - and indecisive to boot. 

· Schwarzenegger Names Transition Team.  Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced the key members of his transition team Thursday, saying the first thing they would do is audit the state's books to find out just how serious California's deficit is. 

· Canadian film industry worried.  The election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as California's governor has sent a shiver through the Canadian film industry, which is worried the superstar and former body builder could flex his new political muscles to try to keep movie production in his home state. 

· Calif. dumps Davis, Schwarzenegger new Governor.  Frustrated with politics as usual and captivated by a big-screen action hero who promised to clean house, Californians flocked to the polls Tuesday, dumping Gov. Gray Davis in a historic recall election and replacing him with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.  

· Are the News Media Too Liberal?  Forty-five percent of Americans believe the news media in this country are too liberal, while only 14% say the news media are too conservative. 

· Clark May Have Broken Law in Paid Speeches.  Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark may have violated federal election laws by discussing his presidential campaign during recent paid appearances, according to campaign finance experts. 

· Surplus Gov't Bioweapons Equipment Sold on Internet.  The Defense Department did not properly monitor Internet sales of equipment that could be used to make chemical and biological weapons, congressional investigators say. 

· Arnie's rivals on the ropes.  Californians head to the ballot box today in the historic recall election of governor Gray Davis, with the latest poll showing voters will oust the unpopular Democrat and replace him with Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

· Unnamed sources are at issue in CIA leak.  Reporters trapped by a promise.  There are at least six people in Washington who know the answer to the city’s most politically charged mystery in years. And they’re not talking. 

· Abuse Allegations:  Why wasn't Davis investigated too?  He so violently shoved his loyal, 62-year-old secretary out of a doorway that she suffered a breakdown and refused to ever work in the same room with him.  He later left a message on her phone machine.  Not an apology.  Just a request that she resume work, with the comment, "You know how I am." 

· Schwarzenegger on the Offensive.  California recall candidate accuses Dems of 'sleaze politics.'  Arnold Schwarzenegger was wrapping up his four-day bus tour across California, still leading in the polls but his campaign deeply troubled by claims he groped women and once praised Hitler. 

· Schwarzenegger Releases Data on Hitler Comments.  Campaign aides to Arnold Schwarzenegger distributed an excerpt of a 25-year-old interview in which he speaks admiringly of Hitler, providing some additional context to comments that were in a book proposal written by the producer of Mr. Schwarzenegger's first film, "Pumping Iron." 

· Hitler Allegations Shadow Arnold's Apology.  As California recall candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger tried to prevent sexual harassment stories from stalling his campaign, negative reports surfaced Thursday night about the Hollywood star once speaking fondly of Adolf Hitler. 

· Schwarzenegger Apologizes for 'Bad' Behavior.  Saying he has changed his ways, California recall candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger apologized Thursday for offending any women who claim he had sexually harassed them. 

· Under Fire, Rush Now Faces Drug Allegations.  Political commentator Rush Limbaugh, who quit from ESPN as a football analyst Wednesday over comments he made, faced allegations Thursday that he illegally obtained and abused prescription painkillers in Florida.  

· Gore close to cable buy.  Call him Al Gore, media baron.  The former vice president is close to striking a $70 million deal to acquire Newsworld International, a tiny cable network owned by French media giant Vivendi Universal, media sources said. 

· FBI Opens Probe of Bush Staff on CIA Leak.  The FBI began a full-scale criminal investigation Tuesday into whether White House officials illegally leaked the identity of an undercover CIA officer, and President Bush ordered his staff to cooperate with the first major probe of his administration. 

· White House to Employees: Save Everything.  White House staffers are getting instructions on the type of documents and material to save in the Justice Department probe into who exactly leaked the identity of a CIA employee. 

· Huffington Quits Race; Poll Shows Schwarzenegger in the Lead.  Arianna Huffington has dropped out of California's gubernatorial recall race, and a new poll released Wednesday shows strong support for ousting Democratic Gov. Gray Davis and installing actor Arnold Schwarzenegger to replace him. 

· Republican Party seeks to draft Miller into politics.  The comedian Dennis Miller is being talked about, apparently seriously, as a Republican candidate for a statewide post. Three Republican strategists interviewed in the past week have said they want to draft Miller into politics. 

· Poll: Davis in peril, Schwarzenegger shows strength.  Voters in the California recall election might be poised to kick Gov. Gray Davis out and vote Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger in, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released Sunday. 

· Congress Passes Bill to Protect Do-Not-Call List.  Sorry Judge West:  Congress passed a bill on Thursday supporting the "Do-Not-Call list" aimed at preventing telemarketers from calling potential customers at home. 

· Recall Candidates Spar Over Economy, Each Other.  The top five candidates seeking to replace Democratic Gov. Gray Davis jousted, sparred and occasionally bickered in the first major debate of the California recall effort. 

· Do your part to let the judge know how you feel about his ruling against the national telemarketing Do-Not-Call list.
(he won't mind - he apparently likes unsolicited calls).

The Honorable Lee R. West
Senior United States District Judge
Western District of Oklahoma
U.S. Courthouse
200 N.W. Fourth St. Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Rm 3001, Courtroom 303, Third Floor
Chambers Telephone: 405-609-5140
Chambers Facsimile: 405-609-5151 

· Federal Court Rules Against Do-Not-Call List.  Hold the phone - the national do-not-call list could be in some legal trouble.  The Honorable Lee R. West has ruled that the Federal Trade Commission overstepped its authority when it created a national do-not-call list against telemarketers. 

· California Recall Circus Back On.  Federal appeals court reinstates California's Oct. 7 recall election, overturning ruling by three-judge panel. 

· Calif. Judge Orders Bustamante to Return Donations.  Judge McMaster's decision blocked Bustamante from using $3.8 million in donations from seven Indian tribes to either fund his current campaign or to underwrite another ad campaign featuring the candidate in opposition to a ballot measure. 

· Leno Hosts the Calif. Recall Losers.  Weeks after helping Arnold Schwarzenegger launch his gubernatorial bid, late night TV host Jay Leno on Monday made good on his pledge to give equal time to California's lesser known recall candidates, turning their quest for attention into a theater of the absurd.  [Photo] 

· High School Club for Caucasians stirs up NAACP.  Her logic was simple: If there is a Black Student Union for African Americans, a Latinos Unidos for Latin Americans and an ALOHA Club for Asian Americans, then why is there such a big problem having a Caucasian Club at her school? 

· New York plans smoking ban in your own car.  Smoking even in the privacy of your own car could be banned under one of at least five state bills introduced in the past year to limit where a person can light up. 

· Calif. Candidates to Appear on Leno.  Jay Leno's jokes about the California recall are sure to get huge laughs on his "Tonight Show" Monday, when he'll be joined by 90 candidates. 

· Kerry Says Dean Is 'Imploding.'  Senator John Kerry sharply criticized one of the other leading Democrats running for president, Howard Dean, asserting that some of his recent pronouncements show that his "bubble's bursting a bit." 

· Treasury Leaves Rules in Place Allowing Banks to Accept Mexican IDs.  The Treasury Department said it will leave in place rules that allow financial institutions to accept the Mexican identification card, called matricula consular, which often are used by undocumented immigrants to open bank accounts. 

· Treasury spends $53 million to promote new $20 bill you'll use anyway.  The Department of the Treasury will spend $53 million over the next five years on a public relations campaign to market the new money, and it has signed up a few of Hollywood's leading image makers to do the job. 

· Clark Enters Presidential Contest.  The field of nine Democratic presidential candidates grew by one Wednesday as retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark entered the contest to take on President Bush in 2004. 

· Federal Court to Rehear Case for Postponing Calif. Recall Vote.  The full bench of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has decided to hear the case for postponing the California recall election from its scheduled Oct. 7, one day after a three-judge panel from the court postponed the vote. 

· Schwarzenegger Discusses Sex, Politics on 'Oprah.'  Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday discussed comments he made about sex years ago, prompting wife, Maria Shriver , to put her hand across his mouth to stop him. 

· Kerry Campaign Communications Director Resigns.  John Kerry's communications director has resigned over differences in the direction of the Democrat's presidential campaign. 

· California Recall Election Delayed.  A federal appeals court postponed California's Oct. 7 gubernatorial recall election, ruling Monday that the historic vote cannot proceed because some votes would be cast using outmoded punch-card ballot machines. 

· Madeleine Albright speaks out.  Speaking on the war in Iraq, Albright said "Frankly, if there was a President Gore, we wouldn't be in this particular mess."  [She didn't elaborate on what mess we Would be in]. 

· Sweden says No to euro.  Sweden has voted decisively to reject the euro, despite the previous support of recently killed Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. 

· Indiana Governor Dies.  Frank O'Bannon, who parlayed down-home southern Indiana charm and consensus-building ability into mixed success as his state's governor since 1997, died Saturday, five days after suffering a stroke. He was 73. 

· California Could Start Recall Trend.  Some Nevadans hope to emulate California’s wild recall race and remove Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn from office as a punishment for raising taxes. 

· Dean refers to Hamas 'soldiers,' not terrorists.  Dean said "There is a war going on in the Middle East, and members of Hamas are soldiers in that war."  Dean's description of Hamas — designated by the United States as a terrorist group — as "soldiers in a war" conflicts with U.S. policy. 

· Schwarzenegger Takes Campaign to 'Oprah.'  Arnold Schwarzenegger, who announced his campaign for governor on Jay Leno's "Tonight" show, is getting more national air time courtesy of Oprah Winfrey. 

· Swedish Foreign Minister dies from stab wounds.  Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, touted as a future prime minister, died Thursday from stab wounds, the second Swedish politician to be murdered in the Scandinavian country in 17 years in a rare act of public violence. 

· Customs Fails to Detect Depleted Uranium — Again.  For a second year, U.S. government screeners have failed to detect a shipment of depleted uranium in a container sent by ABCNEWS from overseas as part of a test of security at American ports. 

· Calif. Senate: Davis Should Apologize for Schwarzenegger Slur.  The California Senate voted 19-2 on Tuesday to demand an apology from Democratic Gov. Gray Davis for what many regard as an ethnic slur made against Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

· No Winner in Dem Debate.  Analysts reviewing Tuesday night's debate say no strong winner emerged among the nine Democratic presidential candidates, but they all agreed on one person to pick on - President Bush. 

· Hartsfield Airport Name Change Stirs Racial Debate.  The world's busiest passenger airport has run into some political turbulence as the city of Atlanta debates whether the facility should undergo a name change. 

· Democratic Candidates Offer Grim View of America.  The Democratic presidential candidates took President Bush to task Tuesday, chiding him for creating, among other things, a quagmire in Iraq, a police state at home, a disenfranchised Florida and a health care crisis in America. 

· Driver's Licenses for Illegals Spark Security Concerns.  Though several immigration issues simmer in California, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis' signature Friday on a bill allowing illegal aliens to obtain a legal California driver's license has sparked considerable controversy. 

· CDC-Funded Sex Ed Programs Draw Fire.  Taxpayer funds are being used for school sexuality education programs that target children as young as 9 years old with lessons on masturbation, condom use and homosexuality. 

· Bush: We Are Rolling Back Terror at the Heart of Its Power.  Saying that terrorists retreat when confronted by strength, President Bush said that the international community has a duty to make sure that Iraq is stable so that the Middle East does not become an "exporter of violence and terror." 

· Bush Numbers Hit New Low; Dean Tops List of Democratic Presidential Contenders.  President George W. Bush’s job performance ratings have reached the lowest point since his pre-Inauguration days, continuing a steady decline since a post-9/11 peak, according to a new Zogby America poll. 

· Dems Duke It Out in New Mexico.  Democrats eyeing the Oval Office held their first major debate at the University of New Mexico Thursday, and seemed to find common ground amid their disagreements – they all blasted President Bush on Iraq and the economy. 

· Bush: Wheels of Economy Are Turning.  The U.S. economy is "showing signs of promise," President Bush said Thursday in his second speech in 10 days in Missouri, a state he narrowly won in 2000 and has doggedly courted ever since. 

· Judicial nominee Estrada withdraws name.  Miguel Estrada, President Bush's embattled nominee for a federal appeals court judgeship, has withdrawn his name from consideration, ending a bitter battle with Senate Democrats who blocked his nomination, administration officials said. 

· Congress tries to determine root of blackouts.  A FirstEnergy technician said at the time of the outage, "We have no idea what happened"... "We have no clue. Our computer is giving us fits too. We don't even know the status of some of the stuff (power fluctuations) around us."  

· Poster boy for the left, Al Franken aims to 'get rid of this president.'  "My grandiose vision," Franken says, "is to change the dialogue in this country and get rid of this president."  

· California Oks Bill Allowing Illegals To Get Drivers' Licenses.  A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers' licenses, an issue that has worked its way into the debate surrounding the attempt to recall Gov. Gray Davis, passed the state Assembly. 

New California Governor's
Mansion May Be A Teepee.

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the only prominent Democrat running to replace Gov. Gray Davis in the recall election, nearly doubled his war chest Tuesday with a controversial $2 million pledge from a powerful Indian tribe flush with casino profits. 

Latest news on the wacky
California Recall Circus. 

· Kerry Says Bush 'Dead Wrong,' Cries at Sad Story.  Maybe it was the ginger tea or the homemade brownies, but Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry ran a gamut of emotions on Wednesday, angrily denouncing President Bush as "dead wrong" on Iraq and shedding tears at a jobless woman's story. 

· Texas Senate Democrat Flies Back Home.  A state Senate Democrat has left his 10 colleagues in their self-imposed exile in New Mexico and returned to Texas, a move that could give Republicans the quorum they need to again push a congressional redistricting plan. 

· Diplomats Fume at United Nations Smoking Ban.  The United Nations, the last bastion for smokers in New York City, has officially banned smoking — but some diplomats insist they still have the right to puff away. 

· House energy panel begins hearings on massive blackout.  Congress is under increasing pressure to impose federal reliability rules on the national power grid as it looks into the massive electricity blackout that darkened a huge swath of the nation from Michigan to New York. 

· The Jessica Lynch Story - Too thin to read?  The new book, "I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story," is due on bookstore shelves by mid-November, but many are expecting a pretty thin book if the Pentagon's version of Jessica's capture - and her resulting amnesia - is to be believed. 

· Bush makes economic pitch in Ohio.  President Bush used Labor Day celebrations Monday to offer an upbeat assessment that the economy is on the rebound, optimism critics said is not enough to put the nation's 9 million unemployed back to work. 

· TV's New 'Whoopi' Takes on Race, Terror and Bush.  Whoopi Goldberg's new NBC sitcom features an Iranian immigrant unhinged by terror alerts, a conservative black lawyer with a hip-hop-talking white girlfriend and jokes about President Bush mispronouncing "nuclear." 

· Johnny Depp Says U.S. Is Like a Stupid Puppy.  Hollywood star Johnny Depp said on Wednesday the United States was a stupid, aggressive puppy and he would not live there until the political climate changed. 

· Congress returns to work - faces energy issues, Iraq perils.  Congress returns to work this week to deal with the dangerous and deteriorating situation in Iraq and fresh worries about the nation's energy supplies and networks. 

· Labor Day Marks Unofficial Start of Political Season.  Labor Day marks the unofficial kick-off of the 2004 presidential election campaign. Most of the nine candidates vying for the Democratic nomination spent Monday marching in parades or participating in other events to show their support for workers on this national holiday. 

· Poll: Many voters unable to name Democratic candidates.  There's no shortage of Democrats running for president but most voters don't know who they are, according to a new poll. 

· A Terrorist by Any Other Name ...  A terrorist by any other name is still a terrorist, even when politically correct media outlets refuse to call them such under claims of maintaining the standards of objectivity. 

· Boycotting Texas Senators Hope to Avoid Arrest.  Attorneys for 11 boycotting senators requested a temporary restraining order to allow them to return to Texas without fear of arrest. 

· Hollywood Celebrities Keep Mum on California Recall.  Celebrities, even those who normally aren't shy about speaking out when it comes to politics, have so far kept quiet about the highest-profile movie star to enter a California governor's race since Ronald Reagan. 

· Group Files Recall Papers Against Nevada Governor.  Emboldened by recall efforts in California, a group of Nevada conservatives has begun recall proceedings against the popular Republican governor, Kenny Guinn. 

· Congressman Janklow Charged in Fatal Traffic Accident.  Prosecutors charged South Dakota Rep. Bill Janklow, a legendary political figure in his state, with a felony and three misdemeanors following his involvement in a traffic accident earlier this month that ended in the death of a motorcyclist. 

· Democrats Seek Alternative Campaign Support.  Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's fund-raising prowess is earning kudos in the brave new world of campaign finance, in which Democrats in particular are struggling to find alternative methods of raising money to be competitive in the 2004 election. 

· Airline Settles With Wellstone Crash Victims' Families.  Family members of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone and five other passengers killed in an October plane crash have reached a $25 million insurance settlement with the air charter company that operated the flight. 

· U.S. miscalculated security for Iraq.  Top Bush administration officials grudgingly acknowledge that their post-Saddam Hussein plan for rebuilding Iraq has been substantially flawed on the security front. 

· Arkansas GOP Left Without Senate Candidate.  After Gov. Mike Huckabee took himself out of the 2004 U.S. Senate race, other prominent Republicans followed suit, leaving the GOP without a high-profile challenger to Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., next year. 

· Loner who shot Reagan 'ready to be released.'  John Hinckley, 48, has been confined to secure wards in St Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington for more than 20 years after being found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity, but could soon be released without supervision. 

· Movers Haul Ten Commandments Away.  After a heated debate, the 5,300-pound granite marker was hauled from public view in the Alabama Judicial Building rotunda, to an undisclosed place in the courthouse complex. 

· Hatfill Sues U.S. Over Anthrax Probe.  The bioterrorism expert under scrutiny in the 2001 anthrax attacks filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing Attorney General John Ashcroft and other government officials of trampling his constitutional rights and using him as a scapegoat for their failure to make an arrest in the case. 

· Flawed NASA Culture Blamed for Columbia Disaster.  A flawed NASA culture is to blame for the Columbia shuttle disaster, according to a detailed, 200-plus-page report released today. 

· Bush says he's 'not a gadget guy.'  President Bush, like many world leaders and business titans, relies on aides to carry the high-tech gizmos that are a staple of modern life. 

· Traficant Associate Jailed For Bribery.  A businessman convicted of doing free work for former Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. in exchange for political favors was sentenced to two years in prison. 

· Pa. GOP May Want to Recall a Governor.  Unlike California, Pennsylvania currently has no procedure to recall a sitting governor.  That may soon change if Pennsylvania lawmakers get their way. 

· Texas Senate Democrats Continue Exile in New Mexico.  Texas Senate Democrats remained in self-imposed exile in a New Mexico hotel, sure that they had won this round in a bitter fight to stop a Republican redistricting plan - but certain that they would face another. 

· Bush's chef says French fries were always on the menu.  Besides preparing some of the world's best cuisine, the other job of a chef to a head of state is to keep quiet about what happens in the dining room. 

· Political Debate Looms Over Obesity.  Americans are even fatter than they think they are, with nearly a third of all adults — almost 59 million people — rated obese in the National Health surveys based on actual body measurements. 

· Many Actor-Candidates Enter From Stage Right.  Ronald Reagan (movie star and U.S. president), Fred Thompson (film actor and U.S. senator), Fred Grandy ("The Love Boat" TV star and U.S. congressman), Sonny Bono (singer, Palm Springs mayor and U.S. congressman), Clint Eastwood (film actor/director and mayor of Carmel), Alan Autry ("In the Heat of the Night" TV actor and mayor of Fresno) and George Murphy (1930s singer/dancer and U.S. senator) were all entertainers elected to office on the Republican ticket. 

· 22 things about the Bible that drives the left crazy.  (1). Moses parted the Red Sea without first performing an environmental impact study. 

· Schumer asks FCC for help with New York's cell network.  Senator Charles Schumer on Sunday called on the Federal Communications Commission to help improve New York's cellular telephone system, which experienced widespread failures during the recent blackout. 

· Hey, Arianna... Who Does Your Books?  Huffington is running for governor of California and she just released financial records which show she's paid about $700 in federal taxes and no state taxes in the past two years. 

· Many small businesses hold back on spending plans.  Small-business owners are holding tight to their wallets — despite a federal tax cut in May meant to boost their spending. 

· Hart Urged to Run For Senate in Colorado.  Gary Hart, who decided against joining the Democratic presidential race this year, is being asked by national and Colorado Democratic leaders to make a 2004 Senate run against GOP incumbent Ben Campbell. 

· 2002 Crime Rate Lowest Since Records Kept.  Violent and property crimes dipped in 2002 to their lowest levels since records started being compiled 30 years ago, and have dropped more than 50 percent in the last decade, the Justice Department reported. 

· Lawmakers Urge More Cargo Screening on Airlines.  Almost two years since the deadly Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, airlines are still not inspecting all the cargo shipped on passenger planes, and two lawmakers are demanding to know why. 

· Air Traffic Controllers Battle White House Over Privatization.  Air traffic controllers are fighting a bitter battle with the Bush administration over a proposal to privatize some of their jobs. 

· Alabama Chief Justice to Be Suspended.  Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who has fought to keep a Ten Commandments monument in the rotunda of the state's Judicial Building, will be suspended for 10 days. 

· Who's Who list of celebrity liberals ready to fight.  TOM Hanks and many other card-carrying Hollywood Democrats are teaming up against Arnold Schwarzenegger to prevent the Terminator from becoming governor of California. 

· Kerry to Launch Presidential Bid From South Carolina.  Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry will formally announce his bid for the Democratic nomination for president next Tuesday against the backdrop of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. 

· Minnesota also considering a California-style recall for Governor.  The feud between Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Attorney General Mike Hatch, spilled into the streets of the State Fair where it was revealed some are considering a California-style effort to remove Pawlenty by recall petition. 

· Sen. McCain, other lawmakers visit Afghanistan.  A U.S. congressional delegation including Sen. John McCain arrived in Afghanistan on Friday to meet with the president and visit the ruins of giant Buddha statues destroyed by the former Taliban regime, an embassy official said. 

· Forest Fires Force Bush to Move Speech.  The site of a forest fire in Oregon was too hot Thursday for President Bush to promote his environmental initiative aimed at reducing the devastation of forest fires. 

· Dean Makes Tracks in New Hampshire.  Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is the undisputed phenomenon of the 2004 Democratic presidential campaign. At diners, even on the street, he's setting the pace, agenda and routinely drawing enthusiastic crowds to campaign events. 

· Congressman Was Driving 70-75 MPH in Fatal Crash.  Rep. Bill Janklow was driving an estimated 70-75 mph when he ran a stop sign and collided with a motorcycle, according to an accident report released Wednesday by the South Dakota Highway Patrol. 

· Al Sharpton allegedly rips off travel agency.  Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton stiffed a Manhattan travel agency out of almost $200,000 after giving them "fraudulent credit-card information," the agency says in a lawsuit. 

· Stars keep quiet on Arnold's run.  Clint Eastwood is too busy to come to the phone. Hollywood's liberal cheerleader Barbra Streisand has no comment. No chatter yet from outspoken Hollywood conservatives Tom Selleck, Mary Hart or Pat Sajak. 

· Energy Task Force Vows to Prevent Blackouts.  A new U.S.- Canadian task force plans to find the source of last week's massive blackout and make sure it doesn't recur, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said. 

· Latte tax debate whips up strong feelings.  For espresso addicts, the latte tax on the Sept. 16 ballot would mean an extra 10 cents per drink, making coffee drinkers quite unhappy. 

· Son of former congressman injured in stabbing incident.  The son of former U.S. Representative J.C. Watts, was assaulted by two suspects sustaining blunt force trauma and stab wounds. 

· Schwarzenegger Comes Out Swinging.  Saying that California has an "irresponsible operating deficit," Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Wednesday that if elected governor he would appoint an independent auditing group to do a 60-day review of the budget and come up with steps for getting rid of the debt. 

· Madeleine Albright blasts Bush Iraq policy.  Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright says President Bush's foreign policy has driven away moderate Arab leaders and created the potential for a dangerous rift with European allies. 

· Dem Start Group to Try to 'Recall' Bush.  The latest Democratic drive to make sure President Bush serves just one term takes a page from the effort to oust a Democratic governor in California, calling its web site "bushrecall" and garnering support through petitions. 

· Calif. Judge: Oct. 7 Recall Election Will Go On.  California's recall election will be held on Oct. 7 as scheduled, a federal judge in Los Angeles ruled Wednesday. 

· McCain: U.S. Must Evaluate Iraq Mission.  Sen. John McCain said Wednesday the United States should spend "whatever it takes" to complete its mission in Iraq. 

· President says faith gives him 'great comfort.'  President Bush says his religious faith is helping him deal with the challenges of the presidency, and he credits the Bible with inspiring him to push for federal funding to fight AIDS. 

· Congressional Delegation in Iraq Unhurt.  Several members of Congress touring Baghdad were unhurt Tuesday, but at least one tempted fate by missing an appointment with the chief U.N. official there. 

· Budget deficit climbs to $54.2B in July.  The federal budget deficit climbed by $54.2 billion in July, a sharp deterioration from the same month a year ago, as a new round of tax cuts trimmed government revenues, the Treasury Department reported. 

· Web changing presidential politics.  Joe Lieberman went online to find 1,800 new donors in 18 days, and visitors to President Bush's new Web site can register to vote. 

· White House Criticized for Being Soft on Iran.  Although President Bush has designated Iran as one of three countries in the "axis of evil," and the country is believed to possess weapons of mass destruction, some experts say Washington needs to be more aggressive toward Tehran. 

· White House won't back down on oil drilling in energy bill.  Under fire from Democratic lawmakers in the wake of the worst blackout in U.S. history, a White House spokesman insisted the administration will not back down from pushing its Alaska oil drilling initiative as part of President Bush's national energy policy. 

· Crash puts focus on congressman's driving record.  Rep. Bill Janklow loves to drive fast, and he has paid more speeding tickets than many people get in a lifetime: a dozen in a four-year period in the 1990s. 

· California recall race intensifies.  The campaign to recall Gov. Gray Davis intensifies this week as the top candidates hoping to replace him broadcast their first TV and radio ads, and others unveil their plans to fix the state's economic ills. 

· Schwarzenegger Remains Hidden From View.  Republicans say Schwarzenegger's team has stumbled so soon out of the gate because the film star has developed what appears to be a case of stage fright, appearing only once in the past ten days to discuss his campaign. 

· Green Party Happy to 'Spoil' Democratic Presidential Run in 2004.  Some members of the Green Party are reserving much of their anger for Democrats these days, and say they don’t care if another third-party run by Ralph Nader wrecks the Democrats' opportunity to replace President Bush in 2004. 

· Energy secretary overseas during U.S. blackout.  As the nation continues dealing with a blackout that affected 50 million people, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham has been overseas.  An Energy Department spokeswoman says Abraham is returning to Washington today. 

· Scientists Had Warned of Weak Power Grid.  Scientists and engineers with the National Research Council warned the White House and Congress about the vulnerability of the power grid as recently as November, saying nationwide weaknesses needed to be repaired - and fast. 

· Abrams, Not Ventura, Will Get MSNBC Primetime Slot.  Jesse Ventura is not headed for primetime on MSNBC, the network announced, instead, the former independent governor of Minnesota will host a weekly Saturday show. 

· Texas Democratic Senators Remain in New Mexico.  With Democratic lawmakers refusing to end their self-imposed exile, Republicans are considering a new piece of arm-twisting: Yanking the rebels' parking spaces, cell phones and other privileges. 

· Judge keeps Ten Commandments.  Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore yesterday defied a court order to remove a large granite monument emblazoned with the Ten Commandments from a state judicial building on the grounds that God's law supercedes state and even federal law. 

· California Democrats Give Davis Two Weeks.  A new statewide Field Poll released Friday shows that 58 percent of Californian voters now favor recalling Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, a seven point increase over the last Field Poll in July. 

· Sept. 17 debate set for top California gubernatorial candidates.  The top polling of the 135 candidates vying to replace Gov. Gray Davis will be invited to take part in a Sept. 17 debate characterized as a "conversational give and take," broadcast officials announced Thursday. 

· Millionaire Arianna Huffington Paid $772 in taxes.  TV commentator and author Arianna Huffington, who launched her campaign for governor with criticism of "fat cats" who fail to shoulder a fair share of taxes, paid no individual state income tax and just $771 in federal taxes during the last two years, her tax returns show. 

· Texas Republicans Vote to Fine Fugitive Democrats.  Republicans in the Texas Senate voted on Tuesday to fine 11 fugitive Democrats up to $5,000 a day each to force them to return from New Mexico. 

· Franken Fires Back at Fox's Lawsuit.  Humorist Al Franken fought back against Fox News Network on Tuesday over a lawsuit it filed claiming he infringed on its "fair and balanced" trademark by using the phrase on the cover of his upcoming book. 

· Nader Takes a Pie in the Face in California.  California's political scene was looking more and more like a circus on Wednesday, when former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader took a pie in the face during an appearance in San Francisco. 

· Fox Sues Humorist Al Franken Over Slogan.  Fox News Channel has sued liberal humorist Al Franken and the Penguin Group to stop them from using the phrase "fair and balanced" in the title of his upcoming book. 

· Biden says he will not run for president.  Sen. Joseph Biden today ended speculation about his White House aspirations, saying he has decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for president. 

· Dean Says He Misspoke on Social Security.  Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said that he misspoke when he told the AFL-CIO he never favored raising the retirement age for Social Security benefits to age 70. 

· Al Sharpton Criticizes White Media.  Veteran black activist Al Sharpton contends that the news media are dismissive of his presidential campaign because newsrooms are overwhelmingly white.  (No word yet on whether he wants Jayson Blair back at the NY Times - ed). 

· Trash Talk-Show Host Springer Won't Run for Senate.  Talk-show host Jerry Springer announced Wednesday he would not run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio. 

· Gore's speech plans trigger speculation.  Former Vice President Al Gore will deliver a "major speech" on Iraq to a liberal activist group in New York tomorrow, fueling speculation that he will re-enter the race for the Democratic nomination for president. 

· Celebrities channel TV status into role in Congress.  Sonny Bono did it. So did Cooter from The Dukes of Hazzard. And Gopher from The Love Boat. 

· Finally:  NASCAR ends donations to Jesse Jackson.  NASCAR has paid a total of $250,000 to an affiliate organization of the black advocacy group in recent years. But a person familiar with NASCAR's internal decisions confirmed that the racing organization has not paid Jackson's group any money in 2003 and doesn't plan to. 

· U.S. Candidate Dean's Son Admits Role in Burglary.  Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean's son admitted on Tuesday he helped to steal alcohol in June from a country club, but will probably not face jail time over the incident, prosecutors said. 

· Gore plans anti-war speech in New York.  Amid talk he's being urged to jump back into the presidential race, Al Gore has arranged to speak out on Iraq to a large anti-war group at New York University on Thursday. 

· Politics becomes a rougher game.  From the recall election in California, to the absconding legislators in Texas, to a recent standoff in the US Congress that resulted in a police summons, a growing number of the nation's partisan battles are being waged with extreme - some would say unseemly - tactics. 

· Lieberman Warns Democrats of Isolation.  Presidential hopeful Joe Lieberman is warning that Democrats who advocate peace and expensive social programs "could send us back to the political wilderness," challenging the populist message being touted by insurgent candidate Howard Dean. 

· State Dept. Changes Seen if Bush Reelected.  Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and his deputy, Richard L. Armitage, have signaled to the White House that they intend to step down even if President Bush is reelected. 

· Texas Democrats-in-Exile Lash Out at Governor.  From their exile in New Mexico, Democratic state senators who fled Texas over GOP redistricting plans lashed out at their governor and blamed his leadership for their walkout. 

· Traficant For President.  James A. Traficant, a former Ohio congressman in prison for bribery and racketeering charges, has given his approval to supporters to form a presidential exploratory committee. 

· Americans Say Saudis Should Do More to Fight Terror.  Seventy-one percent of Americans think the United States should demand Saudi Arabia take more action against terrorists, while only about one in 10 thinks the Saudis are doing enough already. 

· BBC's Dr. Kelly suicide details revealed.  Dr Kelly, the adviser at the centre of the row between the BBC and the Government over the "dodgy dossier" on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, methodically removed his watch and spectacles before slashing his left wrist. 

· Crackdown planned on Senate leaks.  Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) plans to review and perhaps tighten the restrictions on what members of the panel may disclose. 

· Gay marriage in play as 2004 issue. Senators and activists await court decision on legalized same-sex marriages in Massachusetts to determine political ramifications. 

· Giuliani Launches Anti-Terrorism Fund.  Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, hailed as a hero for his response to the Sept. 11 attacks, said Thursday he is launching a fund with Bear Stearns to invest in "anti-terrorism" companies. 

· Powell: Saddam Is 'Piece of Trash.'  Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday called former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein "a piece of trash waiting to be collected" but declined to say how long it may take U.S. forces to find him. 

· US army admits Iraq suicides.  US forces in Iraq have suffered cases of suicide, a senior military official said, amid slumping morale among troops faced with daily and deadly attacks. 

· Poindexter to quit Pentagon amid terror-futures flap.  John Poindexter, the retired Navy admiral who spearheaded two sharply criticized Pentagon projects, intends to resign from his Defense post within weeks, a senior U.S. defense official said. 

· Edwards is 4 months late on taxes.  Sen. John Edwards, North Carolina Democrat and 2004 presidential hopeful, is four months delinquent in paying the property taxes on his Georgetown mansion and owes the cash-strapped District more than $11,000, city records show. 

· Dean, Kerry Spar Over Bush Tax Cuts.  Presidential rivals Howard Dean and John Kerry, who have been at odds over national security, quarreled over what Democrats should do with President Bush's tax cuts. 

· Backers pressure Gore to run again next year.  Former Vice-President Al Gore is coming under pressure from political supporters and friends to jump into the 2004 presidential campaign even though he ruled himself out in December. 

· Kerry faults Bush on homeland security, postwar Iraq.  Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry stepped up his criticism of President Bush on Wednesday, saying the commander in chief has neglected homeland security problems while forging blindly into Iraq without a peace plan. 

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