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Bush: No Deal without Immunity for Telecom
Key House committees cleared legislation Wednesday that would give intelligence agencies more surveillance powers, but President Bush opposes the bill because it does not give telephone companies liability protection for participating in his warrantless eavesdropping program. Thompson Makes His GOP Debut The first thing GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson said Tuesday in the first debate he attended – held in the state with the nation's highest unemployment rate - is that the U.S. economy is strong and will be for the next decade. Jabs at Empty Podiums in Front of Black Audience at Debate Second-tier GOP presidential candidates reached out to African-Americans at a debate Thursday night while the party's top-tier candidates stayed away in favor of reaching out for cash. Americans Know Little of Islam or Mormonism, Survey Finds Many Americans say they don't know much about Islam or Mormonism but they believe both religions are very different from their own, according to a Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey released Tuesday. Bush Has Appointed More Hispanic Federal Judges than Past Presidents President Bush has had more Hispanics confirmed for federal judgeships than any president in U.S. history, a record that earns him praise from Hispanic organizations but is downplayed by the Democratic National Committee. Popcorn and a Movie ... with the President White House reporters sometimes are invited to what are couched as "social events" in the building. There are informal receptions, there are lavish state dinners with foreign dignitaries and there are luncheons. Q&A;: Laura Bush by the Book Books by and about members of the First Family are prominent in first lady Laura Bush's thoughts ahead of the Sept. 29 National Book Festival in Washington. In an interview Friday with the Cox Newspapers Washington Bureau, Mrs. Bush provided these insights: National Book Festival May End with Bush's Term There's no guarantee that the National Book Festival, a project started by Laura Bush, will continue after the Bushes leave town in January 2009, Librarian of Congress James Billington said Friday. Bush Attacks Democratic Push for Expanded Health Care President Bush accused congressional Democrats Thursday of using the fight over children's health insurance as a step toward a government takeover of health care and questioned their support of the U.S. military. Minority Groups Decry Lack of GOP Participation in Debates Organizers of minority-oriented debates are not buying GOP presidential contenders' claims that scheduling conflicts are keeping them away from candidate forums targeted at Hispanic and African-American voters. Mukasey Seen As a Conciliatory Choice for Attorney General President Bush made a conciliatory move Monday with his choice for a new attorney general but still may not have avoided a partisan confirmation battle with Senate Democrats. Bush Remains Upbeat on Iraq Despite Little Progress on Benchmarks President Bush continued to offer an upbeat portrayal of progress in Iraq on Friday, despite a new report on White House benchmarks that showed little change from a similar assessment offered in July. Nation Not Seeing Bush's 'Whole Person,' Snow Says President Bush, hampered by a proclivity for being "more guarded" in public, has failed to show the nation some of the positive attributes people see when they meet with him in private, press secretary Tony Snow said Friday on his last day as Bush's chief spokesman. For McKinnon and Dowd, Living Strong and Living Gentle after Bush They were converts who became true believers in the anointed son of a GOP patriarch. Bush Outlines Troop Cuts and Long-Term Alliance with Iraq A president running out of time, confronted by a nation running out of patience, asked Americans for more of both Thursday as he outlined short-term troop reductions in Iraq but called for a long-term alliance that could keep U.S. forces there long after he leaves office. A Daunting Bush Agenda President Bush's next and last big political challenge is one for the ages, something last accomplished about a half-century before women got the vote. Candidate's Perceived Religious Devotion Important but May Hurt Romney Americans still believe it's important for a president to have strong religious beliefs, a new study shows. Government Secrecy on the Rise Government secrecy is expanding at an unprecedented clip, despite growing public concern about barriers to information, a report expected to be released Saturday found. Gonzales Resigns Attorney General Post Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced his resignation Monday, ending months of increasingly bipartisan calls for an end to his stewardship of a department demoralized by ongoing investigations of the firing of nine U.S. attorneys and controversy over Gonzales' testimony about the administration's warrantless wiretapping program. Loyalty Key to the Rise and Fall of Gonzales In the end, which came Monday for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, his ticket in was his ticket out. Intelligence Estimate Casts Ineffective Iraqi Government against Some Security Gains A National Intelligence Estimate released Thursday said that U.S. troops are making some progress in Iraq but it cast doubt on the effectiveness of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government. White House Seeks Truce with Senate The White House failed to meet a Monday deadline for turning over to Congress documents related to a secret terrorist surveillance program, but a senior Democratic lawmaker signaled a willingness to discuss an administration offer to reach a "possible accommodation." White House Wedding No Certainty for Jenna Bush The White House announcement of Jenna Bush's engagement to longtime beau Henry Hager of Virginia was long on the who and what but short on the when and where. Shrinking Texas Constellation around Bush Texan Dan Bartlett is gone. So are Texans Harriet Miers and Scott McClellan. And Karl Rove heads out the door at the end of the month in what will be an Elvis-has-left-the-building moment. Rove Fails to Cap Biggest Ambition for Bush Legacy In the end, Karl Rove leaves the White House unbowed and unindicted, but also under investigation and unsuccessful in meeting a goal even more ambitious than navigating his friend to the Oval Office. Congressional Investigations Not to End with Rove Departure President Bush and longtime strategist Karl Rove announced Monday that one of the most successful candidate-strategist teams in recent political history is breaking up. Republican Candidates Happy to Have Bush Raise Money for Them - at Arm's Length It's August, and that means fun on the ranch and fundraising on the road for President Bush. Bush Says Complicated Paperwork Partly to Blame for Mortgage Defaults President Bush said Thursday that increasing mortgage defaults that threaten to become a drag on the economy are caused in part by lenders who use complicated paperwork and borrowers who are clueless about what they're signing. Rove's Empty Seat No one expects Karl Rove to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, raising the specter of a contempt citation for President Bush's closest aide for refusing to answer questions about the firing of nine U.S. attorneys. House Approves More Surveillance Power President Bush extracted a major victory Saturday evening from the Democratic-controlled House to temporarily expand surveillance of suspected terrorists overseas without a court order. House Poised to Approve More Surveillance Power President Bush urged the House to quickly pass legislation Saturday to temporarily expand the government's power to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists overseas without a court order. Bush: The Nixon of His Generation? President Bush now has surpassed the persistent unpopularity mark set 33 years ago this week when Richard Nixon ended his low-ratings streak by quitting and sealing his fate as the bad-president precedent. National Intelligence Director Supports Gonzales' Testimony The nation's top spy chief provided key support Tuesday for beleaguered Attorney General Alberto Gonzales against allegations that he lied to Congress about internal division over a secret terrorist surveillance program. Threatened Use of Veto Power Stands Out as Bush's Political Power Wanes The ambitious to-do list that President Bush brought to town in 2001 has morphed into a don't-do list as he increasingly depends on threatened use of the veto power he used sparingly before his popularity and political capital disintegrated. White House Defends Gonzales against Democratic 'Crusade' The White House, digging in deeper as attacks on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales intensify, charged Friday that lawmakers are on "a crusade against him to try to destroy the attorney general." Democrats Subpoena Rove, Urge Perjury Investigation of Gonzales Senate Democrats on Thursday called for a special prosecutor to launch a perjury investigation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and subpoenaed White House political adviser Karl Rove. Small-Dollar Donations on the Rise for Presidential Candidates Austinite Donald Goff knows the $150 he's given to Barack Obama probably won't translate into a cushy ambassadorship if the Illinois senator becomes America's president. Senators Ask Bush to Commute Sentence for Border Agents Two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee urged President Bush Wednesday to commute prison sentences for a pair of former Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting an unarmed man and trying to cover it up. Report Says Al-Qaida 'Regenerated'; Some See Iraq as Cause Al-Qaida's leadership, operating in Pakistani border areas controlled by tribal leaders, has "regenerated" and is working on "high-impact plots" against the U.S., according to parts of a National Intelligence Estimate released Tuesday. Texans Give $14.4 Million to Presidential Candidates New York and California, the capitals of political capital for the 2008 presidential race, have poured $74.5 million into candidates' coffers this year, leaving Texas a distant third. Ohioans Give $2.6 Million to Presidential Candidates New York and California, the capitals of political capital for the 2008 presidential race, have poured $74.5 million into candidates' coffers this year, more than 10 times what Ohioans contributed. Georgia Contributes $3.3 Million to Presidential Candidates New York and California, the capitals of political capital for the 2008 presidential race, have each poured more than $37 million into candidates' coffers this year, nearly 10 times as much as Georgia. Florida Gives Nearly $13 Million to Presidential Candidates New York and California, the capitals of political capital for the 2008 presidential race, have poured $74.5 million into candidates' coffers this year, while Florida was a distant fourth. Bush Announces Conference, New Aid to Bolster Abbas Citing a pivotal "moment of choice" in the Mideast, President Bush on Monday sought to reinvigorate his push for the creation of a Palestinian state by offering a package of money and meetings. House Takes First Step toward Contempt Charge against Miers A House Judiciary panel took the first step Thursday toward bringing a criminal contempt charge against former White House Counsel Harriet Miers after she refused to appear at a hearing on the firing of nine U.S. attorneys. Despite Mixed Progress Report, Bush Defends Strategy in Iraq The Democratic-controlled House, buoyed by a White House report showing mixed results toward progress in Iraq, defied President Bush on Thursday and voted to begin withdrawing U.S. troops within 120 days. Washington Praises Lady Bird for Legacy of Grace and Beauty Lady Bird Johnson's death Wednesday drew tributes from the nation's top politicians, who set aside their differences to praise the former first lady for her grace and compassion during one of the most tumultuous eras in American history. In Bush Poll Ratings, a Remarkable Decline Poll numbers over a sustained period show that President Bush has lived up to the "uniter" label he claimed when he sought the job. White House and Congress in Showdown over Aides' Testimony The White House on Monday churned toward a possible high-stakes legal battle with Congress by defying two committees' orders to cooperate with their investigation of the firing of federal prosecutors. White House Slams Clintons over Libby Commutation Remarks The White House lashed out Thursday at Bill and Hillary Clinton for their biting criticism of President Bush's decision to save former aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby from serving any prison time. Bush Leaves Possible Libby Pardon on the Table A day after deciding to erase a 30-month prison sentence for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, President Bush on Tuesday declined to rule out a pardon for the former White House aide convicted of lying to investigators about the CIA leak case. Democratic Candidates Avoid Linking Terrorism with Islam, Unlike Republicans The presidential campaign debate about what to do about terrorism now includes a debate about how to talk about terrorism. White House Says 'No' to Subpoenas President Bush formally rejected congressional demands Thursday for information about the dismissals of nine U.S. attorneys last year. Guiliani Gets Warm Evangelical Response to Leadership Remarks Rudy Giuliani preached to a receptive choir Tuesday at an evangelical Christian campus where the front-running GOP presidential candidate's views on social issues are an anathema. Bush Still 'Most Handsome' to Laura, despite Physical Toll of Years in Office He's still a healthy guy and his blood pressure, weight, vision and cholesterol levels have remained consistently good since he came to town (though he's somehow lost a half-inch in height). Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Research Bill, Sets Up Campaign Issue President Bush vetoed a measure Wednesday that would have undone restrictions he placed on federal funding of stem-cell research, setting up the issue for the 2008 presidential race. Bush, Olmert Express Support for Abbas amid Uprising President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday expressed their full confidence in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as he struggles against the violent uprising by Hamas forces. Georgia Teams among NCAA Athletes Honored by Bush Georgia Tech's women's tennis team and Georgia's men's tennis and women's gymnastics teams enjoyed a sweltering afternoon on the White House South Lawn on Monday as President Bush honored 28 NCAA national championship teams. Bush Swaps Texans for Top Census Post President Bush on Monday picked one Texan to replace another as director of the U.S. Census. Bush Urges Hispanics to Push Immigration Bill President Bush urged Hispanics on Friday to lobby hard for a major immigration bill, a day after it was revived in the Senate. Major Immigration Bill Revived Senators revived a major immigration bill Thursday after agreeing on a list of amendments that would be debated and voted on as soon as next week. Congress Issues Subpoenas in U.S. Attorney Probe The House and Senate Judiciary Committees issued subpoenas Wednesday to compel two former White House officials to testify about their roles in the questionable firing of nine U.S. attorneys last year. Senate Advances Trimming Presidents' Control of Records A Senate committee on Wednesday approved a bill to override President Bush's executive order granting presidents and former presidents increased power to block the release of White House records. Bush Chooses GOP Strategist Gillespie as Counselor President Bush on Wednesday turned to longtime GOP strategist and current Capitol Hill lobbyist Ed Gillespie to replace Dan Bartlett in the pivotal post of counselor to the president. Past Shows Bush Likely to Hesitate Issuing Libby a Pardon Conservatives urging President Bush to pardon ex-aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby are counting on a chief executive who would have to ignore Justice Department rules as well as his own pardon history and philosophy in order to give Libby a break. Proponents Say Immigration Bill Has a Pulse Proponents of a Senate immigration bill said Friday that the measure was still alive even after it was pulled from the Senate floor amid a partisan standoff. McCain Adviser Confirms He Would Not Work against Obama in General Election Political media maven Mark McKinnon, a Bush campaign veteran now advising GOP Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, said Thursday he would quit the McCain campaign if the Arizona senator winds up in a general election race against Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Most GOP Rivals Would Keep Nuclear Option against Iran, Differ on Pardoning Libby Tuesday night's GOP presidential debate produced more disagreement on immigration, some support for pardoning convicted former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and general consensus that the man the Republicans put in the White House has mishandled the war in Iraq. Bush Takes New Global Warming Position to Europe Like the planet itself, President Bush's position on global warming – an issue sure to be on the agenda at this week's G8 meeting in Germany – has been evolving. Bartlett Says He is Leaving White House Texan Dan Bartlett, one of President Bush's longest-serving, most-trusted and closest aides, announced Friday he will leave the White House to seek a new opportunity and a normal family life. Bush Calls for Fall Climate Meetings Involving 15 Countries President Bush, eager to nudge a global warming agenda away from where it seems headed at next week's G-8 summit, called Thursday for 15 major nations to come up with a worldwide greenhouse gas reduction target by the end of next year. Bush Pushing Positive Agendas ahead of G-8 On Tuesday, he got tough on Sudan by announcing new sanctions aimed at relieving suffering in Darfur. Several High-Profile Hispanic Bush-Backers among Those Now Behind Richardson As a consultant in six GOP campaigns, dating back to Ronald Reagan in 1980, Texas ad man Lionel Sosa tried to convince Hispanic Democrats to back non-Hispanic Republicans for president. Bush Heads South to Push Immigration Bill President Bush next week will visit a Georgia facility that trains Border Patrol agents, pushing back against conservatives who say the Senate's compromise immigration bill that he supports would do little to secure the border. Bush Threatens Tougher Iran Sanctions as He Warns of 'Bloody August' in Iraq Congress approved a compromise war-funding bill stripped of troop withdrawal deadlines Thursday as President Bush warned Americans to brace for a "bloody" August in Iraq leading up to a crucial assessment of the war in September. Bush and Blair Say No Regrets in Parting Appearance Two leaders on their way out of office – one sooner, one later – patted each other on the back in the Rose Garden on Thursday and expressed no doubt about the war they rode to unpopularity among their people. Bush Orders EPA to Craft Plan for Regulating Auto Emissions President Bush, acting under a Supreme Court mandate, ordered cabinet members Monday to come up with a method for regulating vehicle emissions that contribute to global warming. The Week in Politics As most of the GOP presidential field last week eyed the next debate in South Carolina on Tuesday, Rudy Giuliani tried to sort out something he said at the last debate. What Has Bush Done to the Image of Texas? The latest Texas era in Washington – the last for awhile, some say – is grinding toward its last round-up, its final rodeo, the last stampede, or any cliché you prefer about a state where even the clichés are bigger. Bush Confronts More GOP Pressure on Iraq as Blair Prepares to Leave President Bush, faced with the loss of his top international ally in the war in Iraq, must also deal with increasing pressure from Congressional Republicans expressing doubt about the current approach, including an Austin lawmaker who wants more aggressive diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Bush Says Lawmakers Have No Power to Press Dictates on Iraq President Bush and Democratic leaders met in a brief negotiating session Wednesday as neither side offered any public indication of flexibility in the battle over withdrawal deadlines for U.S. troops in Iraq. Snow Emotional on First Day Back Behind the Podium The spokesman was uncharacteristically speechless. Bush Vetoes War Bill, Denounces Dangers of Giving 'Enemy' Withdrawal Date In a rare wartime confrontation between Congress and the commander-in-chief, President Bush on Tuesday vetoed Democrats' effort to force him to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of next March. McCain's Campaign Launch Lacking Previous Spark Presidential candidate John McCain pitched his age as a positive during a campaign kick-off Wednesday that lacked the enthusiasm of his successful New Hampshire GOP primary effort in 2000. McCain Running a 'Little Different' Campaign Here's the political science experiment GOP Arizona Sen. John McCain finds himself enmeshed in as he formally kicks off his second White House bid on Wednesday: Reid Says Bush Is In Denial Over Iraq War, Details Withdrawal Plan Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said Monday that President Bush is living in a "state of denial" over the war in Iraq as lawmakers moved a step closer to voting on a withdrawal timetable for U.S. troops. Gonzales Vows To Stay In Office Attorney General Alberto Gonzales pledged Monday to remain in office despite growing opposition on Capitol Hill over his handling of the firing of eight U.S. attorneys last year. Bush Largely Insulated From the Protests Surrounding Him The lone woman screaming at President Bush one day near the Washington Hilton and the thousands of people who marched to his house another day were joined by cause and effect. Gonzales Faces Hostile Questions, New Call For Resignation Attorney General Alberto Gonzales struggled to defend his credibility and keep his job Thursday in the face of growing bipartisan criticism and a new call for his resignation from a Republican senator. Bush and Congressional Leaders Still On Collision Course On Iraq War Bill Wednesday's highly anticipated White House meeting with congressional leaders about Iraq had just about everything you could want in a meeting – polite, respectful, open, honest, friendly – except progress. Bush Warns Of Tough Sanctions If Sudanese Leader Does Not Uphold Pledge President Bush said Wednesday the United States would impose harsh economic sanctions and seek U.N. action against Sudan if the nation's leader does not end a history of reneging on promises to curtail violence that has plagued the Darfur region for years. Bush, Reid Clash Over War Funding Bill President Bush and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid each showed up with military support Monday in advance of a Wednesday meeting on the Democrats' call for Iraq troop withdrawal timetables. Furor Over Lost E-Mails Grows The White House's admission that it may have lost e-mails possibly linked to the controversial firing of eight U.S. attorneys sparked skepticism and outrage Thursday on Capitol Hill. White House Says Bush Was In the Dark On Extended Tours When He Blamed Democrats When President Bush said this week that the Democrats' push for troop withdrawals could cause longer tours of duty for soldiers in Iraq he was unaware that his defense secretary had already decided to extend those tours, the White House said Thursday. McCain Calls Democratic Moves For a Withdrawal Reckless GOP presidential candidate John McCain said Wednesday that Democrats pushing for troop withdrawals are doing so for political advantage and risking "another 9/11 or worse." Bush Invites Democrats To Discuss War Spending But Is Firm Against Negotiations President Bush on Tuesday invited Democratic leaders to the White House next week to discuss the impasse over the war funding bill that lawmakers insist must include troop withdrawal timetables. McCain's Last Stand? Senator Defends Iraq 'Surge' The war in Iraq has become a defining challenge for retired Navy Capt. John McCain, the only top-tier presidential candidate with military experience. Iraq Stance the Biggest Challenge For McCain The war in Iraq has become a defining challenge for retired Navy Capt. John McCain, the only top-tier presidential candidate with military experience. As Term Dwindles, Bush Has Mixed Scorecard On Top Issues The calendar and the Constitution give him 21 more months in office. |
Ken Herman Ken Herman, a native of Brooklyn, New York, began his journalism career in 1975 at the Lufkin Daily News in East Texas. In 1977, he joined The Associated Press in Dallas, moving to Harlingen, Texas in 1978 as AP correspondent along the U.S-Mexico border. Herman transferred to the AP's Austin Bureau in 1979. Cox Newspapers Washington Bureau 400 North Capitol St., N.W., Suite 750 Washington, D.C. 20001-1536 Phone: 202-331-0900 |
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