WRAL.com Politics

Pres. Bush to honor N.C. youth program

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:59:08 -0500

Pres. Bush will be in Greensboro Tuesday to honor the work of Youth Focus Inc., a United Way program that finds adult mentors for children whose parents are incarcerated.

Obama announces Clinton, Gates for Cabinet

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:40:18 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama picked a national security team headed by former campaign rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bush administration holdover Robert Gates on Monday, and said he wants to consult with military commanders before settling on a firm timetable to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq.

Perdue, Obama to discuss state budget deficit

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:25:03 -0500

Governor-elect Beverly Perdue will meet Tuesday with President-elect Barack Obama to discuss the nation's struggling economy and its impact on North Carolina's budget.

Obama still looks for Iraq pullout in 16 months

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:40:17 -0500

Barack Obama says the U.S.-Iraq security agreement approved by Iraq's parliament puts the U.S. on a "glide path" toward reducing forces there.

N.C. House panel getting close to television

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:17:54 -0500

A House committee looking at how the chamber could air video of its daily sessions is grappling with who would oversee the broadcasts.

Bush: 'I'm sorry' the economic crisis is occurring

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:17:54 -0500

President George W. Bush expressed remorse that the global financial crisis has cost jobs and harmed retirement accounts and said he'll back more government intervention if needed to ease the recession.

Rice: Pakistan must cooperate in terror probe

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:06:19 -0500

The United States has told Pakistan it expects nothing short of complete cooperation in investigations into the terrorist rampage in nuclear rival India. Pakistan's response will be a test of the will of the new civilian government, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday.

Obama to name four more Cabinet posts

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:10:03 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama plans to announce longtime advisers and political foes alike as his picks for top administration jobs at a Monday news conference, nominating one-time political nemesis Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state.

Bush calls India's leader to pledge solidarity

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:56:15 -0500

President George W. Bush assured India's leader on Sunday that the U.S. government will put its full weight behind the investigation into the attacks in Mumbai.

Biden picks key staff for vice president's office

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:10:03 -0500

Vice President-elect Joe Biden said Sunday he had chosen a close adviser of more than 25 years as his counselor and had picked two other longtime political advisers for key posts in his office.

Autoworker chief pleads for government aid

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:21:55 -0500

The head of the United Auto Workers made a public plea Sunday for government help for U.S. carmakers as the Big Three put the final touches on stabilization plans to submit to Congress.

It's a N.C. Fraser fir for White House Christmas tree

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:21:55 -0500

First lady Laura Bush kicked off the holiday season Sunday by standing out in the rain to receive this year's White House Christmas tree.

Officials: Obama set to introduce Clinton Monday

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:22:14 -0500

A deal with Bill Clinton over his post-White House work helped clear the way for Hillary Rodham Clinton to join President-elect Barack Obama's national security team as secretary of state, reshaping a once-bitter rivalry into a high-profile strategic and diplomatic union.

Liberals to keep pressure on Obama for results

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:07:57 -0500

Barack Obama promises to steer the nation straight again. He better be ready for a strong force pulling left.

Bush: U.S. stands behind India in wake of attacks

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:23:01 -0500

President George W. Bush on Saturday pledged full U.S. support to India as it investigates the deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai, saying the killers "will not have the final word."

Official: MSNBC pundit may seek Pa. Senate seat

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:17:14 -0500

MSNBC pundit Chris Matthews may be considering a run for U.S. Senate in 2010, a Pennsylvania Democratic party leader says.

Obama team repackaging Clinton after campaign digs

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:48:07 -0500

It wasn't too long ago that Barack Obama and his advisers were tripping over one another to tear down Hillary Rodham Clinton's foreign policy credentials. She was dismissed as a commander in chief wanna-be who did little more than sip tea and make small talk with foreign leaders during her days as first lady.

A president named Obama changes the name game

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:19:13 -0500

Zenas Ackah has heard it all his life: What kind of name is that? You must not be from here. You must be foreign.

State AG, treasurer tussle over lawyers in Freddie Mac lawsuit

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:45:57 -0500

Attorney General Roy Cooper's office said Friday that the state treasurer's office violated North Carolina law by hiring outside attorneys to advocate as part of a class-action lawsuit against mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

Obama attends funeral for friend's family member

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:49:15 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama on Friday attended a funeral for a friend's relative.

Bush to visit Greensboro non-profit

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:07:03 -0500

President George W. Bush will be visiting Youth Focus, a non-profit United Way agency that works to help young people and their families, on Tuesday.

Iowa cafe swamped with orders for 'Obama cookie'

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:41:15 -0500

Want an example of the change Barack Obama is bringing to the country? Check out cookie sales at Baby Boomers Cafe in Des Moines.

Bush facing flood of pardon requests

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:50:55 -0500

Historically stingy with granting pardons, President George W. Bush is facing a flood of requests for get-out-of-jail cards or wiping criminals' records clean on his way out of the White House.

Feds hold transportation funds for N.C.

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:26:04 -0500

The Federal Transit Administration is withholding $25 million because of problems in how the North Carolina Transportation Department oversees transit programs.

After absentee ballot loss, Franken eyes options

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:00:17 -0500

Minnesota's U.S. Senate showdown is veering down a path toward the courts and possibly the Senate itself after a panel's ruling on rejected absentee ballots dealt a blow to Democrat Al Franken's chances.

Obama wants to make White House 'green'

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:46:01 -0500

In an interview with Barbara Walters, Barack Obama said he plans to sit down with the chief usher for the presidential mansion and do an evaluation of its energy efficiency.

As national security aide, Jones has long resume

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:41:30 -0500

In late summer 1979 a Marine named James L. Jones arrived on Capitol Hill for a new assignment as advocate for Marine programs in the Senate. His boss was a Navy officer and fellow Vietnam vet who showed Jones the political ropes and became a lifelong friend - John McCain.

Thanksgiving a time for reflection for Bush, Obama

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:37:17 -0500

President George Bush is heading to Camp David for Thanksgiving, thankful for his almost-expired "privilege of serving as the president."

Easley to stimulate economy with building projects

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:21:51 -0500

Gov. Mike Easley said Wednesday he is fast-tracking more than $700 million in building projects as a way to stimulate North Carolina's economy, changing his strategy in the face of sobering job numbers and increasing financial turmoil.

NC legislator asks Obama for state stimulus

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:27:04 -0500

A North Carolina legislative leader has asked President-elect Barack Obama to include funding for the states in an economic stimulus package.

Obama to name board of economic experts

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:06:05 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama is naming a board of economic experts outside government to advise him on ways to create jobs and bring stability to the ailing financial system.

Officials: Obama to ask Gates to stay at Pentagon

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:52:15 -0500

Seeking experience in wartime, President-elect Barack Obama intends to re-enlist Defense Secretary Robert Gates as head of the Pentagon - if only temporarily - and has chosen a retired Marine general to be White House national security adviser, officials said Tuesday.

Anti-smoking group calls for $1 increase in cigarette tax

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:16:26 -0500

The Alliance for Health says boosting the state tax on cigarettes would help solve North Carolina's budget problems while getting some smokers to kick the habit.

Fayetteville slices $2M from budget

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:43:03 -0500

A slowdown in consumer spending means less sales tax revenue for N.C. cities and towns.