You Might Also Enjoy

iht.com — President-elect Barack Obama has tapped four Clinton administration lawyers, whose records signal a sharp break from the legal policies of the last eight years, to fill four top Justice Department posts. Obama said he would nominate David Ogden as deputy attorney general; Elena Kagan as solicitor general; Thomas Perrelli, as associate attorney general; and Dawn Johnsen as head of the Office of Legal Counsel. Many of Obama's other cabinet picks in have a decidedly centrist bent. But at the Justice Department, where controversial Bush administration policies like interrogation tactics and eavesdropping will come under review, the nomination of Eric Holder Jr. as attorney general last month and selections of four top aides suggested a strong effort to stake out a new direction.

Read Full Article »

uk.reuters.com — The new U.S. Congress convenes on under pressure to deal with a worsening economy by passing a stimulus package that Barack Obama could sign into law soon after being sworn in as president. "We are in a very difficult spot," Obama told reporters between meetings with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill. "The situation is getting worse." Despite such challenges as the ailing economy, two wars and an estimated 46 million Americans without health insurance, the opening day of Congress promised to be something of a victory party for the Democrats who expanded their control of the Senate and House of Representatives in the November election.

Read Full Article »

cnn.com — Plagued by rising unemployment, falling tax revenue and increased demand for state services, the nation's governors met with President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden to press for federal money to ease their fiscal strain. Obama and Biden told those at the National Governors Association meeting that the federal government needs to build a deeper relationship with the governors in order to put America on the path to long-term prosperity. "Change is not going to come from Washington alone," Obama said.

Read Full Article »