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HavenWorks.com/massachusetts Massachusetts News |
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Massachusetts News, Massachusetts State News, Massachusetts capital: Boston, MA News |
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Massachusetts capital: Boston US
Capitals
MA: Massachusetts Mass. State
Abbr.
Massachusetts state is bordered by the states of New York (west), Vermont, New Hampshire (north), Rhode Island, and Connecticut (south). 
Massachusetts state also borders the Atlantic Ocean (east). |
 Massachusetts
MASSACHUSETTS News:
 Barack
Obama -  Financial
-  Jobs
-  Government
-  Lawmakers
- Mass
"Lawmakers and Financial Experts Question Obama's Tax Cuts." ... "At least two tax cuts that are part of [Democratic President Elect] Barack Obama's stimulus package have been criticized by lawmakers, tax experts and economists for being potentially too expensive and ineffective, signaling that they are likely to face resistance on Capitol Hill as congressional leaders begin direct negotiations with the president-elect's team." ... "Both Democrats and Republicans have questioned a provision that would provide a $3,000 tax credit to companies for every job created and, possibly, for every job spared. They contend that the idea would be ripe for abuse and difficult to administer." ... ""It is tough to see how a company that is seeing its sales slaughtered in today's recession is going to hire just because it gets a few thousand dollars per new worker from the government," Howard Gleckman wrote on the TaxVox blog for the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank. "Profitable firms would merely take the credit for bringing on workers they were already planning on hiring."" ... "[Massachusetts Democratic Representative] Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-Mass. [Democratic-Massachusetts]), chairman of the Ways and Means subcommittee on select revenue measures, said the scenario that worries him is that of the employer who lays off thousands of people and then is subsidized for hiring back a few hundred." (1, 2) -By Shailagh Murray -WashingtonPost 
 Mitt
Romney - Money
-  Politics
- 2008
Election - 2012
Election - Massachusetts
"Romney paves way for possible '12 run: Bulk of PAC fund goes for political ambitions." ... "Republican Mitt Romney is laying the groundwork for a possible White House campaign in 2012, hiring a team of staff members and consultants with money from a fund-raising committee he established with the ostensible purpose of supporting other GOP candidates." ... "The former Massachusetts governor has raised $2.1 million for his Free and Strong America political action committee. But only 12 percent of the money has been spent distributing checks to Romney's fellow Republicans around the country." ... "Instead, the largest chunk of the money has gone to support Romney's political ambitions, paying for salaries and consulting fees to over a half-dozen of Romney's longtime political aides, according to a Globe review of expenditures." ... "Romney founded the Free and Strong America Committee shortly after dropping out of the 2008 presidential primary. He filled its coffers by telling conservative contributors around the country that their money would be used to support Republican candidates and causes." ... "According to the Globe analysis, he spent $244,000 on contributions to congressional and other candidates between April and the November elections. He has spent more than twice as much on staff salaries and contracts to hire professional fund-raisers, who are compiling contributor lists that will serve Romney well in a future presidential campaign." ... "In essence, Romney is financing a political enterprise that he can use to remain a national GOP leader and use as a springboard should he decide to launch another presidential bid for 2012." - By Frank Phillips -Boston/Globe 
Political
- Corporate
-  Television
-  Media
-  Michigan
- Massachusetts
-  New
York -  Arizona
-  Georgia
-  Louisiana
-  Alabama
"More Muscle." ... "TPM Reader RS ..." "Here is something progressives really need to address. On Sunday morning political shows, three Democrats are confirmed as guests: [Michigan Democratic Senator] Carl Levin, [Massachusetts Democratic Representative] Barney Frank, and [New York Democratic Representative] Charlie Rangel. It's as if Democrats didn't just win huge electoral advances in the Presidential, House, and Senate elections. So we get the same thing we've had the past 8 years--republican hegemony on Sunday. [Arizona Republican Senator Jon] Kyl? Check. [former Georgia Republican Representative Newt] Gingrich? Check. [Republican Michael] Steele? Check. [Louisiana Republican Governor Bobby] Jindal and [Alabama Republican Senator Richard] Shelby? Check and check? Just look at The Page for the whole list. When is the "liberal media" going to give some of the oxygen to Democrats?""This is unquestionably true. The bookers and producers of the Sunday shows are committed to the continuing dominance of conservative/Republican marquee guests. No question about it. And this is going to be one part of the rewiring of Washington that will take longer and face more resistance than possibly any other. The big interests and institutions that go to Washington to buy influence are quickly reacting to the changing political complexion of the city. The TV bookers and opinion act like nothing's happened." -By Josh Marshall .TalkingPointsMemo 
Corporate
- Government
- Politics
-  Investigations
- Massachusetts
- New
York
"Hard Times, But Big Wall Street Bonuses." ... "For Wall Street workers still employed, there could be a hefty bonus in their checks next month." ... "According to a report from financial news agency Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, for example, has set aside $6.8 billion for bonuses, and Morgan Stanley, $6.4 billion." ... "And the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Massachusetts [Democratic Representative] Democrat Barney Frank, isn't happy. "These are people who lost enormous amounts of money," Frank observes. "How do you give a bonus to someone for having failed so badly as many of these people did?"" ... "What's got many on Main Street and Capitol Hill angry, [CBSNews correspondent Priya] David says, is the possibility that some of the $700 billion government bailout package could go into the pockets of Wall Streeters to pay their bonuses." ... ""All of the money is to go into new loans," Frank points out. "None of it is to go into compensation of any kind for the employees."" ... "[Democratic] New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has opened an investigation into the Wall Street bonuses. He sent a letter to nine financial institutions, demanding "a detailed accounting regarding your expected payments to top management in the upcoming bonus season."" ... "Cuomo told CBS News, "These are tax dollars that are going to these institutions, and I believe the taxpayers have a right to hold the institutions accountable for what they're doing with their money."" -CBSNews 
2008
Election - Law
- Politics
-  California
-  Florida
- Massachusetts
- Arizona
"Ontario police arrest man in voter fraud case: Mark Jacoby, who owns a firm hired by the California Republican Party, violated state laws with his own registration, authorities say." ... "The owner of a firm that the California Republican Party hired to register tens of thousands of voters this year was arrested in Ontario over the weekend on suspicion of voter registration fraud." ... "State and local investigators allege that Mark Jacoby fraudulently registered himself to vote at a childhood California address where he no longer lives so he would appear to meet the legal requirement that all signature gatherers be eligible to vote in California. His firm, Young Political Majors, or YPM, collects petition signatures and registers voters in California and other states." ... "YPM has been accused of using bait-and-switch tactics across the country. Election officials and lawmakers have launched investigations into the activities of YPM workers in Florida and Massachusetts. In Arizona, the firm was recently a defendant in a civil rights lawsuit." -By Evan Halper -LAtimes 
 John
McCain -  Nathan
Sproul - Money
- Politics
- Investigation
- Law
- California
-  Nevada
-  Oregon
-  Minnesota
-  Pennsylvania
-  West
Virginia -  Vermont
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
-  Libraries
- 2004
Election - 2008
Election
"McCain Employing GOP [Republican] Operative Accused Of Voter Registration Fraud." ... "[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] John McCain's campaign has directed $175,000 to the firm of a Republican operative accused of massive voter registration fraud in several states." ... "According to campaign finance records, a joint committee of the McCain-Palin campaign, the RNC [Republican National Committee] and the the California Republican Party, made a $175,000 payment to the group Lincoln Strategy in June for purposes of "registering voters." The managing partner of that firm is Nathan Sproul, a renowned GOP [GOP=Grand Old Party=Republican] operative who has been investigated on multiple occasions for suppressing Democratic voter turnout, throwing away registration forms and even spearheading efforts to get Ralph Nader on ballots to hinder the Democratic ticket." ... "During the 2004 election, Sproul & Associates (the former name of Lincoln Strategy) was accused of attempting to destroy forms collected by Democratic voters in Nevada. That same year in Oregon, Sproul & Associates allegedly instructed canvassers to only accept Republican registration forms in addition to destroying those turned in by Democrats." ... "In Minnesota, meanwhile, Sproul's firm was accused of actually firing workers who brought back Democratic registration forms, while other canvassers were allegedly paid "$13 an hour, with the $3 bonus for every [Republican President] Bush, undecided or Ralph Nader voter registration." Similar problems related to Sproul & Associates popped up in Pennsylvania and West Virginia." ... "All of this was executed, it seems, through an elaborate web of deception. As Salon.com wrote back in 2004:" "Canvassers were told to act as if they were nonpartisan, to hide that they were working for the RNC, especially if approached by the media... In letters the firm sent to the libraries, Sproul misrepresented itself as America Votes -- a left-leaning national voter registration group not affiliated with Sproul -- but said that it was interested in registering "all those who wish to register to vote." Shortly after Sproul canvassers began working the libraries, though, patrons began complaining that the canvassers were being especially inquisitive about their political leanings, and some were pushing people to register as Republicans.""Sens. [Vermont Democratic Senator] Patrick Leahy and [Massachusetts Democratic Senator] Ted Kennedy sent a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft in 2004 asking that the Justice Department "launch an immediate investigation into the activities of Mr. Sproul and his firm." Three years later, members of Congress still weren't satisfied. Rep. [Michigan Democratic Representative John] Conyers complained in an Oct. 2007 letter that the Justice Department was not closely scrutinizing Sproul's efforts. "The alleged misconduct described by many witnesses," he wrote, "clearly suppress[es] votes and violate[s] the law."" -By Sam Stein -HuffingtonPost.com 
John
McCain - Financial
- Disaster
- Politics
- Government
- Massachusetts
- Arizona
- 2008
Election
"Democrats claim Wall St. bailout breakthrough." ... "Democratic [Massachusetts Representative] Rep. Barney Frank said on Wednesday Democrats had reached an agreement to stem one of the worst U.S. financial disasters in decades, and that there would be enough votes to pass the measure and send it to [Republican] President George W. Bush to sign into law." ... "Frank took a dig at [2008 Election] Republican presidential nominee John McCain, who interrupted his campaign to return to Washington on Thursday to help work on a Wall Street bailout." ... ""All of sudden, now that we are on the verge of making a deal, John McCain here drops himself in to help us make a deal, Frank said." ... "He expressed fear that McCain, a U.S. [United States] senator from Arizona who has spent much of the year away from the Capitol campaigning, could end up slowing down work on the bill." ... "The Massachusetts Democrat noted that a meeting on Capitol Hill on Thursday will be interrupted for a "photo op" at the White House with congressional Democrats and Republicans as well as Bush." ... ""We're trying to rescue the economy, not the McCain campaign," Frank said." ... "Democrats blamed the crisis largely on the failure of Bush to adequately regulate the financial industry." (1, 2, 3) -By Richard Cowan and Thomas Ferraro with contributions by Doina Chiacu -Reuters 
 Sarah
Palin -  US
-  Iraq
-  Foreign
-  Military
-  Terrorism
- Politics
-  Alaska
- Massachusetts
- 2004
Election - 2008
Election
"Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview." ... "A review of recorded sermons by Ed Kalnins, the senior pastor of Wasilla Assembly of God [Wasilla, Alaska] since 1999, offers a provocative and, for some, eyebrow-raising sketch of [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate Sarah] Palin's longtime spiritual home." ... "In his sermons, Kalnins did not hide his affections for certain national politicians." ... "During the 2004 election season, he praised [Republican] President Bush's performance during a debate with [2004 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate and Massachusetts Senator] Sen. John Kerry, then offered a not-so-subtle message about his personal candidate preferences. "I'm not going tell you who to vote for, but if you vote for this particular person, I question your salvation. I'm sorry." Kalnins added: "If every Christian will vote righteously, it would be a landslide every time."" ... "Months after hinting at possible damnation for Kerry supporters, Kalnins bristled at the treatment President Bush was receiving over the federal government's handling of Hurricane Katrina. "I hate criticisms towards the President," he said, "because it's like criticisms towards the pastor -- it's almost like, it's not going to get you anywhere, you know, except for hell. That's what it'll get you."" ... "Much of his support for the current administration has come in the realm of foreign affairs. Kalnins has preached that the 9/11 attacks and the invasion of Iraq were part of a "world war" over the Christian faith, one in which Jesus Christ had called upon believers to be willing to sacrifice their lives." "What you see in a terrorist -- that's called the invisible enemy. There has always been an invisible enemy. What you see in Iraq, basically, is a manifestation of what's going on in this unseen world called the spirit world. ... We need to think like Jesus thinks. We are in a time and a season of war, and we need to think like that. We need to develop that instinct. We need to develop as believers the instinct that we are at war, and that war is contending for your faith. ... Jesus called us to die. You're worried about getting hurt? He's called us to die. Listen, you know we can't even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life. ... I believe that Jesus himself operated from that position of war mode. Everyone say "war mode." Now you say, wait a minute Ed, he's like the good shepherd, he's loving all the time and he's kind all the time. Oh yes he is -- but I also believe that he had a part of his thoughts that knew that he was in a war."... "In his sermons, Pastor Kalnins has also expressed beliefs that, while not directly political, lie outside of mainstream Christian thought." ... "He preaches repeatedly about the "end times" or "last days," an apocalyptic prophesy held by a small but vocal group of Christian leaders. During his appearance with Palin in June, he declared, "I believe Alaska is one of the refuge states in the last days, and hundreds of thousands of people are going to come to the state to seek refuge and the church has to be ready to minister to them."" ... "He also claims to have received direct "words of knowledge" from God, providing him information about past events in other people's lives." -By Nico Pitney and Sam Stein -HuffingtonPost.com
 Homes
- Nevada
- Florida
- Phoenix
- Arizona
- Los
Angeles - San
Diego - San
Francisco - California
- Florida
- Michigan
- Minnesota
-  Illinois
-  Ohio
- Georgia
- New
York - Seattle
-  Washington
- Massachusetts
- Portland
- Oregon
-  Colorado
-  Texas
-  North
Carolina
"Home prices down 15.8% in past year, S&P says: Seven of 20 cities tally monthly price gains in May, Case-Shiller data show." ... "Prices in 10 cities fell 16.9% in the past year." ... "Prices thus are at the same levels as they were in the summer of 2004, which means four years of appreciation have been effectively wiped out. Prices are down 18.4% from peak levels seen two years ago." ... "Here's a list of the 20 cities in the Case-Shiller index with the annual decline through May: Las Vegas [Nevada], down 28.4%; Miami [Florida], down 28.3%; Phoenix [Arizona], down 26.5%; Los Angeles [California], down 24.5%; San Diego [California], down 23.2%; San Francisco [California], down 22.9%; Tampa [Florida], down 20.2%; Detroit [Michigan], down 17.4%; Washington [DC], down 15.4%; Minneapolis [Minnesota], down 14.8%; Chicago [Illinois], down 9.4%; Cleveland [Ohio], down 8%; Atlanta [Georgia], and New York [City, New York], both down 7.9%; Seattle [Washington], down 6.3%; Boston [Massachusetts], down 6.2%; Portland [Oregon], down 5.2%; Denver [Colorado], down 4.8%; Dallas [Texas], down 3.1%; and Charlotte, N.C. [North Carolina], down 0.2%." -By Rex Nutting -MarketWatch
Mitt
Romney - John
McCain - Lay-Offs
- Bain
Capital - Corporation
-  History
-Massachusetts
- 2008
Election
"Romney, McCain's `Logical' Choice, Must Overcome Primary Animus." ... "[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate John] McCain, 71, said in December that he doesn't understand economics ``as well as I should'' and his lack of comfort is apparent on the stump." ... "[McCain's 2000 Election communications director Dan] Schnur said [Republican Mitt] Romney's apparent advantage on the economy may have a down side. During his unsuccessful 1994 run against incumbent [Massachusetts Democratic Senator] Democrat Ted Kennedy for a Massachusetts Senate seat, Romney was criticized for overseeing layoffs while working at Bain [Capital]." ... "``The Democrats could have a heyday talking about downsizing and lay-offs,'' Schnur said. ``It's the type of thing that in a difficult economic climate could be a real problem.''" -By Heidi Przybyla -Bloomberg
John
McCain -  Karl
Rove -Money
-  Oil
-  Health
Care - US
-Iraq
-  Afghanistan
- Military
- Terrorism
- 2008
Election - Massachusetts
"Kerry: McCain's Judgment Is Dangerous." ... "[Massachusetts Democratic Senator] Sen. John Kerry believes that the presumptive Republican nominee for president is adhering to the [Republican President] Bush Administration orthodoxy in ways that call into question his carefully-nurtured image as a political maverick." ... ""John McCain has changed in profound and fundamental ways that I find personally really surprising, and frankly upsetting," the Democratic Senator from Massachusetts said on CBS' Face The Nation." ... ""This is a different John McCain. This is not the Senator John McCain; this is want-to-be president John McCain." ... ""And the result is that John McCain has flip-flopped on more issues than I was even ever accused possibly of thinking about! I mean, this is extraordinary what he's done: He's changed on taxes; he's now in favor of the Bush tax cut. If you like the Bush economy, if you like the Bush tax cut and what it's done to our economy, making wealthier people wealthier and the average middle class struggle harder, then John McCain is going to give you a third term of George Bush and Karl Rove." ... ""If you like what has happened to oil prices, John McCain is going to continue that policy. If you like what you see about health care, John McCain has no health care plan." ... ""I would have at least expected the John McCain that I knew back then to realize what almost every person in the Pentagon has admitted. There are very few who walk around and say, 'Going into Iraq was the right thing to do, and we should have done it, or do it again if I have the chance.' John McCain does." ... ""I'm challenging Senator McCain's judgment," Kerry said, "that says, 'There's no violent history between Sunni and Shia.' That's wrong. His judgment that says, 'This is going to increase the stability of the Middle East.' It hasn't, it's made it less stable. The judgment that says, quote, 'This will be the best thing for America and the world in a long time. It's the worst thing that we've done in a long time. And he's turned his [focus] away from Afghanistan and al Qaeda and made America less safe. That's dangerous for our country."" -FaceTheNation -CBSNews  WATCH
Kerry list McCain's Flip-Flops
John
McCain -  Bud
Day - 2004
Election - Ads
- Military
- History
-  Vietnam
- US
- Arizona
- Massachusetts
- 2008
Election
"McCain Uses Swift Boat Vet Bud Day To Rebut Wesley Clark." ... "[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate and Arizona Senator] Sen. John McCain's campaign on Monday launched the McCain "Truth Squad" - a group of political and Vietnam contemporaries who would counter attacks on the Senator's military record." ... "In hopes of nipping any criticism in the bud, the campaign brought on board a man quite familiar with how these types of attacks gain legs: Bud Day, a fellow POW who was part of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth that worked so hard to defame [2004 Election Presidential Candidate and Massachusetts Democratic Senator] Sen. John Kerry's own Vietnam record." ... "On the conference call, Day - in addition to the other participants - decried comments made by [General] Gen. Wesley Clark over the weekend, in which he questioned whether McCain's war experience really qualified him to be commander-in-chief. Defending McCain's service, Day was quick to personalize his remarks, attacking Clark's military record in the process." ... "That Day would politicize Vietnam in his defense of McCain is not surprising. During the 2004 campaign, he said of Kerry: "My view is he basically will go down in history sometime as the Benedict Arnold of 1971." And after appearing in a national advertisement for the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign, Day formed the Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation, an extension of the Swift Boat effort." ... "Not willing to let the irony go unnoticed, Kerry lashed out at McCain, on Monday, for using the same smear merchant he once decried." ... ""Colonel Day's comments today only further highlight the McCain campaign's disregard for a new kind of politics," said Kerry. "John McCain condemned these kinds of attacks in 2004 when he called the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth 'dishonest and dishonorable.' Senator McCain should condemn these remarks and cut ties with the Colonel and anyone else connected to SBVT. Day's comments only serve to disparage all those who served on swift boats in Vietnam."" -By Sam Stein -HuffingtonPost.com
John
McCain - Bud
Day - Politics
- 2004
Election - Ads
-Military
- History
- Vietnam
-  Belgium
- US
- Massachusetts
- Texas
-  Missouri
- 2008
Election
"Price of Power: McCain accepts ex-Swift Boaters' donations." ... "Republican [2008 Election Presidential Candidate] John McCain, who four years ago condemned independent ads challenging Democrat[ic Senator from Massachusetts and 2004 Election Presidential Candidate] John Kerry's military record, has accepted nearly $70,000 for his presidential campaign from the top donors of the group behind the attack ads and their relatives, a USA TODAY analysis shows." ... "In 2004, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (later called SwiftVets and POWS for Truth) bankrolled ads charging that Kerry had lied about the incidents in Vietnam that led to his military decorations. The group included former members of the Navy who served in the same kind of river patrol boats as Kerry. McCain, a former Vietnam prisoner of war, called the group's advertising "dishonest and dishonorable."" ... "Bob Perry, a Texas builder who gave nearly $4.5 million to Swift Boat Vets, and his wife, Doylene, each have given $4,400 to McCain's presidential campaign, some of which went to an account for legal and accounting expenses, records show." ... "Other donors include Sam Fox, a St. Louis [Missouri] businessman who was named [United States] U.S. ambassador to Belgium last year by President Bush." ... "On Monday, Kerry and national Democratic Party officials sharply criticized McCain for including retired Air Force colonel Bud Day in a conference call with reporters to defend McCain's military service. Day had appeared in Swift Boat ads." -By Fredreka Schouten -USATODAY
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Financial- Law
- Politics
- Massachusetts
- "Paulson
to Propose New U.S. Financial Regulators (Update1)."
... "Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is likely to call for the creation
of new regulatory agencies with broad powers over lending, the securities
industry and business conduct, according to the draft of a study he commissioned."
... "[Massachusetts Democratic Representative and] House Financial Services
Committee Chairman Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in a statement
today the plan goes too far in reducing the role of the states and not
far enough in giving new powers to the Federal Reserve over non-bank lenders."
-By Jesse Westbrook and John Brinsley
-Bloomberg
Hillary
Clinton
- 
Children
- Healthcare
- Legislation
- History
- 2008
Election - Mothers
- 
Iowa
- Massachusetts
- 
Utah
- "Clinton
role in health program disputed." ... "[2008 Election
Democratic Presidential Candidate] Hillary Clinton, who has frequently
described herself on the campaign trail as playing a pivotal role in forging
a children's health insurance plan, had little to do with crafting the
landmark legislation or ushering it through Congress, according to several
lawmakers, staffers, and healthcare advocates involved in the issue." ...
"In campaign speeches, Clinton describes the State Children's Health Insurance
Program, or SCHIP, as an initiative "I helped to start." Addressing Iowa
voters in November, Clinton said, "in 1997, I joined forces with members
of Congress and we passed the State Children's Health Insurance Program."
Clinton regularly cites the number of children in each state who are covered
by the program, and mothers of sick children have appeared at Clinton campaign
rallies to thank her." ... "But the Clinton White House, while supportive
of the idea of expanding children's health, fought the first SCHIP effort,
spearheaded by Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, and
Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, because of fears that it would derail
a bigger budget bill. And several current and former lawmakers and staff
said Hillary Clinton had no role in helping to write the congressional
legislation, which grew out of a similar program approved in Massachusetts
in 1996." ... ""The White House wasn't for it. We really roughed them up"
in trying to get it approved over the Clinton administration's objections,
Hatch said in an interview. "She may have done some advocacy [privately]
over at the White House, but I'm not aware of it."" ... ""I do like her,"
Hatch said of Hillary Clinton. "We all care about children. But does she
deserve credit for SCHIP? No - Teddy does, but she doesn't."" -By
Susan Milligan -BostonGlobe
Dick
Cheney
- Corporate
- Military- Government
- KBR-Halliburton
- 
Cayman
Islands - 
United
Arab Emirates (Dubai) - Secret
- Iraq
- Oil
- Infrastructure
- History
- American
- Workers
- Health
- 
Security
- Legislation
- Massachusetts
- "Top
Iraq contractor skirts US taxes offshore: Shell companies
in Cayman Islands allow KBR to avoid Medicare, Social Security deductions."
... "Kellogg Brown & Root, the nation's top Iraq war contractor and
until last year a subsidiary of Halliburton Corp. [Corporation], has avoided
paying hundreds of millions of dollars in federal Medicare and Social Security
taxes by hiring workers through shell companies based in this tropical
tax haven [Cayman Islands]." ... "More than 21,000 people working for KBR
in Iraq - including about 10,500 Americans - are listed as employees of
two companies that exist in a computer file on the fourth floor of a building
on a palm-studded boulevard here in the Caribbean. Neither company has
an office or phone number in the Cayman Islands." ... "The Defense Department
has known since at least 2004 that KBR was avoiding taxes by declaring
its American workers as employees of Cayman Islands shell companies, and
officials said the move allowed KBR to perform the work more cheaply, saving
Defense dollars." ... "But the use of the loophole results in a significantly
greater loss of revenue to the government as a whole, particularly to the
Social Security and Medicare trust funds." ... ""Failing to contribute
to Social Security and Medicare thousands of times over isn't shielding
the taxpayers they claim to protect, it's costing our citizens in the name
of short-term corporate greed," said [Massachusetts Democratic] Senator
John F. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee
who has introduced legislation to close loopholes for companies registering
overseas." ... "With an estimated $16 billion in contracts, KBR is by far
the largest contractor in Iraq, with eight times the work of its nearest
competitor." ... "The [secret] no-bid contract it received in 2002 to rebuild
Iraq's oil infrastructure and a multibillion-dollar contract to provide
support services to troops have long drawn scrutiny because [Republican]
Vice President Dick Cheney was Halliburton's chief executive from 1995
until he joined the Republican ticket with [Republican] President Bush
in 2000." ... "The largest of the Cayman Islands shell companies - called
[SEII] Service Employees International Inc. [Incorporated, which is not
associated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)], which
is now listed as having more than 20,000 workers in Iraq, according to
KBR - was created two years before Cheney became Halliburton's chief executive.
But a second Cayman Islands company called Overseas Administrative Services,
which now is listed as the employer of 1,020 mostly managerial workers
in Iraq, was established two months after Cheney's appointment." ... "If
KBR's American workers averaged even as much as $63,000 per year, they
and KBR would have owed more than $100 million per year in Social Security
and Medicare taxes, split evenly between them. Over the course of the five-year
war, their tax bill would have been more than $500 million." ... "The real
managers of Service Employees International work out of KBR's office in
Dubai. KBR and Halliburton, which also moved to Dubai [an emirate of the
United Arab Emirates], severed ties last year." -By
Farah Stockman with contributions by Stephanie Vallejo and Matt Negrin
-Boston/Globe
US
- 
China
- Bain
Capital - 
Networker
- Foreign
- Military
- Government
- Hacking
- 
Communications
- 
Technologies
- Politics
- Mass
- "3Com's
sale to Bain, Huawei stymied: National-security agency
fails to approve $2.2 billion deal." ... "Concerns about national security
could scuttle the $2.2 billion sale of networker 3Com Corp. [Corporation],
shares of which dropped as much as 20% on Wednesday." ... "Marlborough,
Mass.[Massachusetts]-based 3Com (COMS)
and its two partners -- Bain Capital Partners LLC [Limited Liability Company]
and Huawei Technologies Co. [Company] -- said they would withdraw their
application with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States."
... "The source of the agency's concern is the participation of Huawei,
the largest networker in China and a company with links to the mainland's
communist government. Huawei is run by a former mid-ranking officer in
the Chinese army whose firm has raised the ire of the U.S. [United States]
government and Western rivals such as Cisco Systems Inc. [Incorporated]."
... "It's no longer a top-tier networking company, but 3Com still does
substantial business with the U.S. The vendor's TippingPoint subsidiary,
for example, sells anti-hacking and other network-security services to
the Defense Department." ... "The U.S. has been particularly sensitive
about foreign ownership of networking and communications assets, especially
in light of repeated attempts to hack the nation's defense systems. Chinese-based
hackers are viewed as a major concern. " -By Jeffry
Bartash -MarketWatch
Mike
Huckabee - John
McCain
- 
Ron
Paul
- Mitt
Romney
- Washington_State
- Arizona
- 
Arkansas
- Texas
- Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - "Huckabee
won't concede state; GOP resuming delegate count."
... "According to the Saturday tally [in Washington State], [2008 Election
Republican Presidential Candidate and Senator from] Arizona Sen. John McCain
won about 26 percent of delegates, [2008 Election Republican Presidential
Candidate and] former Arkansas Gov. [Governer] Huckabee won 24 percent,
[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate and Representative from]
Texas Rep. Ron Paul finished with 21 percent, and [2008 Election Republican
Presidential Candidate and] former Massachusetts Gov. [Governer] Mitt Romney,
who has dropped out of the race, got 17 percent." ... "Pastor Joseph Fuiten
of Bothell [Washington], who's heading Huckabee's volunteer effort in the
state, said three Huckabee supporters in Pierce County [Washington] reported
voting irregularities on Saturday." ... "Fuiten said one woman reported
that she and a Ron Paul supporter were told that they wouldn't be allowed
to run for alternative delegate positions — and that no actual vote was
taken at the caucus. Instead, Fuiten said the woman reported that the caucus
leaders simply tallied up the sign-in sheets to get the results." ... ""Counting
is not so much the issue, so much as it is a concern about disenfranchisement,"
Fuiten said." ... "Paul's campaign is also not conceding the state." -By
Janet I. Tu -SeattleTimes
Mitt
Romney
- John
McCain
- 
Rudy
Giuliani
- US
- Iraq
- Military
- 2008
Election - Massachusetts
- Florida
- Arizona- New
York
- Florida
- "Romney
Accuses McCain of 'Dirty Tricks': Romney Accuses
McCain of Resorting to 'Dirty Tricks' Over Iraq Timetable Issue in Debate."
... "Republican [2008 Election Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney accused
[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] John McCain of using
dirty tricks by suggesting the former Massachusetts governor wanted a deadline
for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, in a spirited debate Wednesday night
that underscored the intensity of their presidential rivalry." ... "Coming
24 hours after McCain defeated him in Florida, Romney vented his frustrations
over the Arizona senator's claims from last weekend." ... ""I have never,
ever supported a specific timetable" for withdrawing troops, Romney said.
McCain's accusation on the eve of Tuesday's primary, he said, "sort of
falls into the dirty tricks that I think [Republican President] Ronald
Reagan would have found reprehensible."" ... "Former New York City [New
York] Mayor Rudy Giuliani left the race earlier Wednesday [after losing
Florida to McCain]] and endorsed McCain." (1, 2,
3)
-By Liz Sidoti -AP
via -ABCNEWS.com
Barack
Obama
- Hillary
Clinton
- Massachusetts
- 
Rhode
Island - US
- Iraq
- Military
- Race
- Gay
- 2008
Election - "Sen.
Kennedy endorses Barack Obama: Democratic elder statesman
plans to campaign for candidate." ... "Two generations of Kennedys - the
Democratic Party's best known political family - endorsed [2008 Election
Democratic Presidential Candidate] Barack Obama for president on Monday,
with [Massachusetts Democratic Senator "Ted" Kennedy] Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
calling him a "man with extraordinary gifts of leadership and character,"
a worthy heir to his assassinated brother [two of Ted Kennedy's brothers
were assassinated, Democratic President John F. Kennedy and Democratic
Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy]." ... "He [Obama] was introduced
by Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late president [John F. Kennedy],
who said Obama "offers that same sense of hope and inspiration" as did
her father. [Rhode Island Democratic Representative] Rep. Patrick Kennedy
also endorsed Obama from the stage before a boisterous crowd at American
University." ... "In his remarks, Sen. Kennedy sought one by one to rebut
many of the arguments leveled by Obama's critics." ... ""From the beginning,
he opposed the war in Iraq. And let no one deny that truth," he said, an
obvious reference to former President Clinton's statement that Obama's
early anti-war stance was a "fairy tale."" ... ""With Barack Obama, we
will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion."
... ""With Barack Obama we will close the book on the old politics of race
against race, gender against gender, ethnic group against ethnic group,
and straight against gay," Kennedy said." ... "Lately, according to several
associates, Kennedy became angered with what he viewed as racially divisive
comments by [husband to 2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate
Hillary Clinton, former Democratic President] Bill Clinton."
-AP via -MSNBC
Mitt
Romney
- John
McCain
- Economy
- US
- Iraq
- Military
- 2008
Election - Florida
- Massachusetts
- Arizona
- "Romney
Slams McCain On Economy, Climate Bill." ... "After
predicting a Florida victory in front of a raucous, heavily Latino crowd,
[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney told members
of the media that [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] John
McCain’s interpretation of Romney’s past remarks on Iraq timetables were
“obviously false” and “yesterday’s news.” The former Massachusetts governor
then changed the subject by rehashing some of McCain’s past comments, which
seemed to disparage the Arizona senator’s own understanding of economic
policy." ... "“I simply don’t think that the people of Florida are gonna
say the nominee of our party ought to be a person who on more than one
occasion has expressed lack of understanding of our economy at a time when
the economy is the number one issue that people are talking about here
in the state of Florida,” Romney said." -By Scott
Conroy -CBSNews
Mitt
Romney
- John
McCain
- US
- Iraq
- Military
- 2008
Election - Florida
- Arizona
- Massachusetts
- "Republican
Candidates Trade Attacks in Florida." ... "[2008
Election Republican Presidential Candidate and Arizona Senator] Sen. John
McCain of Arizona accused [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate
and] former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney of having once supported
a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, sparking an angry demand for an apology
from Romney, who called the statement "dishonest."" ... "Romney, who said
in April the military should consider a "private timetable" but not public
deadlines, shot back: "That's dishonest, to say that I have a specific
date. That's simply wrong . . . I know he's trying desperately to change
the topic from the economy and trying to get back to Iraq, but to say something
that's not accurate is simply wrong and he knows better."" ... "Later,
Romney added that McCain's comment on Iraq is "simply wrong and it's dishonest,
and he should apologize."" (1, 2)
-By Michael D. Shear and Juliet Eilperin
-WashingtonPost
Mitt
Romney
- Politics
- Massachusetts
- 
New
Hampshire - Nevada
- 
South
Carolina - 2008
Election - "More
than a dozen lobbyists working to raise money for Romney."
... "Former Bay State Gov. [Massachusetts Republican Governor and 2008
Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney, who has cast himself
as a Washington outsider and blasted his opponents’ ties to lobbyists,
has more than a dozen federally registered lobbyists raising money for
him and several others advising his campaign, records show." ... "At a
Nashua event the day before the New Hampshire primary, Romney said, “I
don’t have years and years of favors to repay, lobbyists who have raised
all sorts of money for me.”" ... "But at least 13 lobbyists work as so-called
bundlers - those responsible for prodding deep-pocketed donors and generating
vast sums of money for the candidate - according to records compiled by
nonprofit Washington watchdog Public Citizen." ... "Romney, who faces a
critical doubleheader in South Carolina and Nevada today, got into a tussle
Thursday with an Associated Press reporter over the issue. “I don’t have
lobbyists running my campaign,” Romney remarked. “I don’t have lobbyists
that are tied to my . . .” The reporter interrupted him saying, “That is
not true,” and naming [lobbyist Ronald C.] Kaufman, which provoked a tense
exchange." -By Jessica Van Sack
-BostonHerald.com
Duncan
Hunter
- Mitt
Romney
- 
Fred
Thompson
- California
- Nevada
- 
Wyoming
- Massachusetts
- 
Tennessee
- 2008
Election - "Poor
Showings Push GOP’s Hunter to Quit White House Bid."
... "California [Republican Representative and 2008 Election Republican
Presidential Candidate] Rep. Duncan Hunter dropped his longshot bid for
the Republican presidential nomination Saturday night after drawing minimal
support in the contests so far — including Nevada’s GOP caucuses, in which
he took just 2 percent of the vote." ... "Hunter did win one delegate in
Wyoming’s Republican county conventions on Jan. 5, where former Massachusetts
Gov. [Governor and 2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt
Romney won eight and ex-Tennessee Sen. [Senator and 2008 Election Republican
Presidential Candidate] Fred Thompson won three." -By
Marie Horrigan -CQPolitics.com
John
McCain- Mitt
Romney
- New
Hampshire - Arizona
- Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - "Schneider:
Bush has clear effect." ... "Roughly half of [New
Hampshire] Republican primary voters had a negative opinion of the [Republican
President] Bush administration, and those voters significantly went for
[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate and] Arizona Sen. [Senator]
John McCain by nearly a 2-to-1 margin. Of the GOP voters who said they
had a positive opinion of the Bush administration, 37 percent voted for
[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate and] former Massachusetts
Gov. [Governor] Mitt Romney." -By Bill Schneider
-CNN
Mitt
Romney
- Bain
Capital - US
- China
- Military
- 
Intelligence
- Telecommunications
- Manufacturing
- 
Computer
- Networking
- Hackers
- Technology
- Corporation
- Government
- Lawmakers
- Politics
- Mass
- California
- 
India
- 2008
Election - "Telecom
Firm in China Sets Sights on U.S. Market: Ownership,
Tactics Raise Security Issues." ... "From a fortress-like corporate campus
in this southern city [of Shenzen, China], retired army officer Ren Zhengfei
is building one of China's most successful experiments in capitalism. A
mammoth operation with 70,000 employees and strong backing from the state,
Huawei Technologies brags that its goal is to dominate telecommunications
equipment markets all over the world." ... "Its current focus: America."
... "Three months ago, Huawei teamed up with Bain Capital Partners [2008
Election Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney's venture capital
firm] in a $2.2 billion takeover bid for U.S. [United States] networking
pioneer 3Com Corp. [Corporation], a Marlborough, Mass. [Massachusetts],
company that makes systems to protect against computer hackers." ... "Fueling
[American] lawmakers' unease about the Huawei deal is that no one knows
exactly who owns it. Technically, Huawei is a private venture, not state-owned.
But the company won't reveal information about its shareholders except
to say it's "100 percent employee-owned," with its chief executive owning
1 percent." ... "Research organization Rand Corp. said that Huawei has
"deep ties" with the Chinese military. It is not only a customer of Huawei's,
Rand said in an analysis prepared for the U.S. government, but also was
a "political patron and research and development partner."" ... "The United
States is not the only place where Huawei's operations have triggered national
security concerns. In India, where Huawei operates its largest research
and development facility outside of China, the company's efforts to build
a manufacturing base have raised concerns among the country's intelligence
agencies." ... "In a note circulated at a meeting of India's joint intelligence
committee on Nov. [November] 8, Huawei is listed as a "sectoral threat.""
... "Huawei's approach to leadership and innovation is in some ways the
antithesis of its Silicon Valley competitors. While California's high-tech
giants pride themselves on their flat management structure, in which chief
executives sit down next to engineers to brainstorm and allow their scientists
and engineers the freedom to think big thoughts, Huawei is known for its
military-style approach." (1, 2)
-By Ariana Eunjung Cha with contributions by Wu Meng
and Rama Lakshmi -WashingtonPost
Mike
Huckabee - Mitt
Romney
- Iowa
- Television
- Ads
- Crime
- Money
- Illegal
- Immigrants
- 
Colleges
- Abortion
- Health-Care
- Arkansas
- Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - "Huckabee:
Romney running 'dishonest' campaign." ... "Former
Arkansas [Governor and 2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate]
Gov. Mike Huckabee blasted Republican presidential rival [2008 Election
Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney as running a "desperate
and dishonest" campaign and predicted the former Massachusetts governor
won't be the Republican nominee." ... "Romney has been blasting Huckabee's
record on crime and taxes as governor of Arkansas in [Iowa] television
ads in the last days of the race." ... "Asked on Monday on CNN's "American
Morning" why he felt the need to respond to Romney's attacks, Huckabee
said, "I think a lot of people are deceived, and you have to ask do people
want to elect a president who has been dishonest in order to get the job
and said things about his opponents that simply aren't true?"" ... "With
the two men locked in a statistical dead heat atop the latest Iowa polls,
Romney has been airing television ads criticizing Huckabee for raising
state spending, backing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants at state
colleges and granting more than 1,000 pardons and commutations." ... "Huckabee
has said the claims are taken out of context, and hit back by questioning
the sincerity of Romney's opposition to abortion -- which was covered by
the state health care program Romney pushed through in Massachusetts."
-CNN
Mitt
Romney
- Political
- Corporation
- Marketing
- History
- Gay-Rights
- Pro-Choice
- Stem
Cell - Science
- Health
- Law
- Religious
- Salt
Lake City - Utah
- Massachusetts
- New
Hampshire - US
- Torture
- Prison
- Guantanamo
Bay - 
Cuba
- 2008
Election - "Romney
should not be the next president." ... "[2008 Election
Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt] Romney's main business experience
is as a management consultant, a field in which smart, fast-moving specialists
often advise corporations on how to reinvent themselves. His memoir is
called Turnaround - the story of his successful rescue of the 2002 Winter
Olympics in Salt Lake City [Utah] - but the most stunning turnaround he
has engineered is his own political career." ... "If you followed only
his tenure as governor of Massachusetts, you might imagine Romney as a
pragmatic moderate with liberal positions on numerous social issues and
an ability to work well with Democrats. If you followed only his campaign
for president, you'd swear he was a red-meat conservative, pandering to
the religious right, whatever the cost. Pay attention to both, and you're
left to wonder if there's anything at all at his core." ... "As a candidate
for the U.S. [United States] Senate in 1994, he boasted that he would be
a stronger advocate of gay rights than his opponent, [Massachusetts Democratic
Senator] Ted Kennedy. These days, he makes a point of his opposition to
gay marriage and adoption." ... "There was a time that he said he wanted
to make contraception more available - and a time that he vetoed a bill
to sell it over-the-counter." ... "The old Romney assured voters he was
pro-choice on abortion. "You will not see me wavering on that," he said
in 1994, and he cited the tragedy of a relative's botched illegal abortion
as the reason to keep abortions safe and legal. These days, he describes
himself as pro-life." ... "There was a time that he supported stem-cell
research and cited his own wife's multiple sclerosis in explaining his
thinking; such research, he reasoned, could help families like his. These
days, he largely opposes it. As a candidate for governor, Romney dismissed
an anti-tax pledge as a gimmick. In this race, he was the first to sign."
... "In the 2008 campaign for president, there are numerous issues on which
Romney has no record, and so voters must take him at his word. On these
issues, those words are often chilling. While other candidates of both
parties speak of restoring America's moral leadership in the world, Romney
has said he'd like to "double" the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay [Cuba],
where inmates have been held for years without formal charge or access
to the courts. He dodges the issue of torture - unable to say, simply,
that waterboarding is torture and America won't do it." ... "When New Hampshire
partisans are asked to defend the state's first-in-the-nation primary,
we talk about our ability to see the candidates up close, ask tough questions
and see through the baloney. If a candidate is a phony, we assure ourselves
and the rest of the world, we'll know it." ... "Mitt Romney is such a candidate.
New Hampshire Republicans and independents must vote no."
-ConcordMonitor.com
Mitt
Romney
- Pro-Choice
- Stem
Cells - Illegal
- Immigrant
- Health
- Crime
- Politics
- History
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- 2008
Election - "King
said George Romney didn't march: But, as usual, the
truth wasn't good enough for Mitt." ... "Running for Senate in Massachusetts,
in 1994, and trying to establish pro-choice credibility that he had done
nothing to earn, [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt]
Romney told stories about his mother, Lenore Romney, running on a strong
pro-choice platform in her own unsuccessful bid for public office in 1970.
Those tales were debunked by Boston Globe columnist Eileen McNamara."
... "Then, as now, Romney tried to buttress his statement with weak documentation
at odds with the precision of the claim: in that case, Romney provided
the Globe with a vaguely-worded campaign document that could be read as
supporting the pre-Roe v Wade status quo, in which abortion was a felony
in Michigan. ''I support and recognize the need for more liberal abortion
rights while reaffirming the legal and medical measures needed to protect
the unborn and pregnant woman [sic]," the document read." ... "Again, at
that time, Romney did not just pass along falsehood as fact. He sold it
as personal truth, speaking of the painful memories of a close relative's
death, from complications of an illegal abortion." ... "Romney was telling
that tale, of course, when it was politically expedient to be pro-choice.
Today, needing to be pro-life, he has a new, highly personal and emotional
tale of personal conversion after a doctor showed him how stem cells are
handled in research — another specific but uncorroborated story, about
which even the doctor involved has expressed skepticism." ... "Romney once
favored gun control; now, needing gun-rights voters, he has falsely claimed
to be a "lifelong hunter" and to have been endorsed in 2002 by the National
Rifle Association – an endorsement the NRA never gave him. Needing to establish
anti-illegal-immigrant credentials, he boasts of an attitude that he never
displayed while governor — when he expressed no concern over several "sanctuary
cities" in the state — until the very end of his term, when he had turned
his attention to the Republican Presidential nomination." ... "This week,
he finds the need to attack [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidat]
Mike Huckabee on crime, and so Romney has re-invented his record there,
falsely claiming, in a new ad, to have cracked down on methamphetamine."
... "It is not just that these are untruths. They are the actions of a
man desperate to cater to the whims of his audience. What they want, he
must appear to be. " -By David S. Bernstein
-ThePhoenix.com
Mitt
Romney
- Civil
Rights - Race
- Politics
- Michigan
- Massachusetts
- Texas
- 2008
Election - "Romney
fields questions on King: Campaign says claim not
literal." ... "[2008 Election] Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney
has said he watched his father, the late Michigan Gov. [Governor] George
Romney, in a 1960s civil rights march in Michigan with Martin Luther King
Jr." ... "On Wednesday, Romney's campaign said his recollections of watching
his father, an ardent civil rights supporter, march with King were meant
to be figurative." ... ""He was speaking figuratively, not literally,"
Eric Fehrnstrom, spokesman for the Romney campaign, said of the candidate."
... "The campaign was responding to questions raised by the Free Press
and other media after a Boston [Massachusetts] publication challenged the
accuracy of Mitt Romney's account." ... "In a major speech on faith and
politics earlier this month in Texas, Mitt Romney said: "I saw my father
march with Martin Luther King."" ... "He made a similar statement Sunday
during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press." He said, "You can see what
I believed and what my family believed by looking at our lives. My dad
marched with Martin Luther King. My mom was a tireless crusader for civil
rights."" -By Todd Spangler and Alice Pepper
-FreeP.com
Mitt
Romney
- Abortion-Rights
- Money
- Parent
- Mass- History
- 2008
Election - "Romney
Attended Planned Parenthood Fundraiser in 1994."
... "ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: [2008 Election Republican Presidential
Candidate] Mitt Romney attended a fund-raising reception for Planned Parenthood
in 1994 in conjunction with a $150 donation his wife made to the organization
-- notwithstanding Romney's contention that he had "no recollection" of
the circumstances under which his wife gave money to the abortion-rights
group." ... "In the photograph obtained by ABC News, Romney and his wife,
Ann, are shown in a yellow-and-white tent chatting with local political
activists, including Nicki Nichols Gamble, who was then president and CEO
of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts." ... "Nichols Gamble
-- whose back is the camera in the photograph -- told ABC that the event
was a Planned Parenthood fundraising "house party" in Cohasset, Mass.,
in June 1994. At the time, Romney, R-Mass., was locked in a tight Senate
campaign with [Massachusetts Democratic Senator] Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.,
and was touting his support for abortion rights." ... "That event, Nichols
Gamble said, was the occasion where Ann Romney wrote her $150 check --
drafted on a joint checking account she had with her husband -- to Planned
Parenthood of Massachusetts." ... ""They were both there, and I remember
very well chatting with both of them, and talking about his support for
the pro-choice agenda," she said. "We talked about the fact that he was
taking a pro-choice position on the issues, and we were very pleased about
that."" -By Rick Klein -ABCNEWS.com
Mitt
Romney
- Mike
Huckabee - South
Carolina - Utah
- Arkansas
- Massachusetts
- Politics
- Poll
- 2008
Election - "Mormonism
an issue for Romney in South Carolina." ... "Something
about [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney just
isn't right with Bill Burdette. And something about [2008 Election Republican
Presidential Candidate] Mike Huckabee is." ... ""Romney's from Utah and
he's Mormon," said the 41-year-old software engineer from Iva, S.C. [South
Carolina] "Huckabee's from the South and he's Baptist."" ... "Understand,
Burdette said, he's not choosing his candidate based on religion, but Huckabee,
a Baptist minister who was the governor of Arkansas for 10 and a half years,
is someone he's comfortable with." ... "That's Romney's problem throughout
this crucial early-voting state, where a win Jan. 19 by the former Massachusetts
governor would give him a huge boost in his quest for the Republican presidential
nomination." ... "An estimated 63 percent of Republican primary voters
in South Carolina are "born again" or evangelical Christians, so a Romney
win would be hailed as dramatic proof that his Mormon faith wasn't a big
factor in voter judgments." ... "Except that evidence from polls and visits
throughout the state shows that it is." -By David
Lightman -McClatchyDC.com
John
McCain
- Mitt
Romney
- Immigrants- Gay-Rights
- Abortion
- Finance
- Law
- New
Hampshire - Arizona
- Mass
- 2008
Election - "McCain
launches direct mail attack." ... "Republican hopeful
[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate and Arizona Senator] Sen.
John McCain, of Arizona, launched an attack – a direct mail campaign labeling
New Hampshire primary front-runner [2008 Election Republican Presidential
Candidate] Mitt Romney as a serial flip-flopper that "voters can't trust.''"
... "The two-page flier cites a May 2007 article in the Tampa Tribune,
which states Romney had once supported allowing illegal immigrants to "apply
for citizenship and permanent residency''" ... "It then refers to Romney's
decision to re-hire a firm after it had been found to have used illegal
immigrants to work on his Belmont, Mass.[Massachusetts], home." ... ""How
many times has Mitt Romney flip-flopped?'' the mailing asks. "Immigration,
taxes, gay rights, abortion, campaign finance reform.'' -By
Kevin Landrigan -NashuaTelegraph.com
Chris
Dodd
- Corporate
- Government
- 
Spy
- Law
- Intelligence
- Politics
- Telephone
- Internet
- 
E-Mails
- Electronic
- Civil
Liberties - 2008
Election - Foreign
- American
- Nevada
- 
Conn
- 
Wisc
- VT
- Mass
- "Spy
law showdown postponed until next year." ... "Congress
won't decide until next year whether to pass a complex law that would let
telephone and Internet companies off the hook from lawsuits alleging illicit
cooperation with federal government spies." ... "In something of an unexpected
move, U.S. Senate Majority Leader [Nevada Democratic Senator] Harry Reid
took to the Senate floor on Monday evening and announced he would postpone
debate on the so-called FISA Amendments Act [FISA: Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act]. That bill, which has already been approved in a closed-door
meeting of the Senate Intelligence Committee, would grant such corporate
immunity and make it easier for the feds to snoop on phone calls and e-mails
involving foreigners and Americans without a warrant, drawing rampant criticism
from civil liberties groups." ... "Earlier
in the day, however, it appeared more certain that the Senate would
move ahead with a vote to approve the
controversial Senate measure, which would provide legal immunity to
electronic communications providers that have allegedly opened up their
networks to the National Security Agency and other federal spies since
the September 11, 2001 attacks. Above vocal objections from some Democrats,
the senators nevertheless voted 76-10 to limit debate and other stalling
tactics related to the bill." ... "But in the end, last-minute rallying
from Democrats opposed to the telecommunications immunity provisions applied
the necessary pressure." ... "Perhaps most notably, [2008 Election Democratic
Presidential Candidate and Connecticut Senator] Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.),
a presidential hopeful, devoted
nearly the entire day to delivering one impassioned speech after another
about his opposition to granting legal immunity to telecommunications companies
accused of providing illegal assistance to government spying programs.
Other influential Democratic senators, including [Wisconsin Democratic
Senator] Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), [Vermont Democratic Senator] Patrick
Leahy (D-Vt.), and [Massachusetts Democratic Senator] Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.)
echoed his concerns at various points during the day." -By
Anne Broache -CNET
Mitt
Romney
- Abortion
- Gay
- Money
- Law
- History
- Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - "Romney
Defends Charges Of Flip-Flopping: Says He Will Keep
Campaign Promises Despite Changing Views On Abortion, Same-Sex Rights."
... "Republican [2008 Election Presidenticdal Candidate] Mitt Romney sought
Sunday to deflect charges that he is a flip-flopper, insisting he had learned
from experience and could be counted on to keep his campaign promises if
elected president." ... "Romney acknowledged changing his views in 2004
from supporting abortion rights to opposing abortion. He said he did not
entirely betray abortion-rights voters, either, because he did not seek
to change Massachusetts abortion laws." ... "Romney said he promised not
to raise taxes as governor and did not go back on his word by raising fees
by about $240 million to help balance the budget. The fees were on services
such as gun licenses and training to combat domestic violence." ... "Romney
acknowledged that he initially supported federal efforts to ban discrimination
based on sexual orientation, but now only supports such laws at the state
level. In an unsuccessful Senate run in 1994, Romney promised to be "more
effective on gay rights in the Senate than [Massachusetts Democratic Senator]
Ted Kennedy."" -AP
via -CBSNews
Mitt
Romney
- Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - 2002
Election - "Romney
Claims NRA Endorsement He Didn't Receive." ... "Under
[MSNBC TV host Tim] Russert's grilling about guns on this morning's "Meet
the Press," former Massachusetts governor [and 2008 Election Republican
Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney claimed an endorsement he'd never won."
... "In answer to questions about whether he would sign an assault weapons
ban, Romney said: "Just as the president said, he would have, he would
have signed that bill if it came to his desk, and so would have I. And,
and, and yet I also was pleased to have the support of the NRA when I ran
for governor. I sought it, I seek it now. I'd love to have their support.""
... "Later in the interview, he added the following:" ... ""I just talked
about, about guns. I told you what my position was, and what I, what I
did as governor; the fact that I received the endorsement of the NRA.""
... "The problem?" ... "He was never endorsed by the NRA, and didn't have
their official support during his 2002 [Election] gubernatorial campaign."
-By Michael D. Shear -WashingtonPost
Mitt
Romney
- Mike
Huckabee - Foreign
- US
- Military
- Illegal
- Immigrants
- 
People
- Baptist
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- Arkansas- Ads
- 2008
Election - "Romney
Hits Huckabee for Criticizing Bush." ... "Sensing
an opening in his desperate effort to retake the lead in Iowa, [2008 Election
Republican Presidential Candidate and] former Massachusetts governor Mitt
Romney on Saturday pounced on comments by [2008 Election Republican Presidential
Candidate and] former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee in which he characterized
[Republican] President Bush's foreign policy as an "arrogant bunker mentality.""
... "Romney has started heaping criticism on Huckabee as the former baptist
minister has climbed into a comfortable lead in Iowa caucuses. On television
and in mailings to voters, Romney has attacked Huckabee's position on illegal
immigrants in the hopes of halting his momentum." -By
Michael D. Shear -WashingtonPost
Mike
Huckabee - Mitt
Romney
- Religion
- Massachusetts
- Iowa
- 2008
Election - "Huckabee
Asks if Mormons Believe Jesus, Devil Are Brothers."
... "[2008 Election] Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, an
ordained Southern Baptist minister, asks in an upcoming article, ''Don't
Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?''" ... "His rival
[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney, the former
Massachusetts governor, is a member of the Mormon church, which is known
officially as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." ... "The
authoritative Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published in 1992, does not refer
to Jesus and Satan as brothers. It speaks of Jesus as the son of God and
of Satan as a fallen angel, which is a Biblical account." ... "Earlier
this month in Iowa, Huckabee wouldn't say whether he thought Mormonism
— rival Romney's religion — was a cult." -By Libby
Quaid -AP
via -TIME.com
Mike
Huckabee - Fred
Thompson
- Mitt
Romney
- Employed
- Illegal
- Immigrants
- Enforcement
- Tennessee
- Massachusetts
- Iowa
- 2008
Election - Ad
- US
- Cuba
- Money
- "Huckabee
rivals go on the attack." ... "Former Tennessee [Senator
and 2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Sen. Fred
Thompson’s campaign kept up a steady stream of attack, criticizing
[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate Mike] Huckabee for everything
from past support for ending the Cuban embargo to allegedly allowing state
hard drives and servers to be destroyed while he was governor." ... "And
CNN’s John King reports that former Massachusetts [Governor and 2008 Election
Republican Presidential Candidate] Gov. Mitt
Romney’s campaign announced that it plans to run a television ad
in Iowa that targets Huckabee’s record on illegal immigration. The spot,
which attacks him by name, hits the airwaves Tuesday." ... "Romney spokesman
Kevin Madden said the ad was intended to highlight the difference between
the former Massachusetts governor’s “pro-enforcement record” – under assault
after recent revelations that he employed illegal immigrants on his property
– and Huckabee’s somewhat softer stance in the past." -By
John King, Alexander Mooney and Rebecca Sinderbrand
-CNN
Rudy
Giuliani
- Federal
- Energy
- Legislation
- Politics
- 
Wind
- Technology
- 
Environment
- 2008
Election - Massachusetts
- Georgia
- Ohio
- "Giuliani
Firm, Utilities Team Up to Fight Renewable-Energy Plan."
... "A lobbying blitz by some of the U.S.'s biggest utility companies is
likely to strangle the most potent provision in energy legislation that's
making its way through Congress." ... "[Atlanta, Georgia-based] Southern
Co., [Ohio based] American Electric Power Co. and other producers hired
top Washington lobbyists, including [2008 Election Republican Presidential
Candidate] Rudy Giuliani's firm, to help defeat a measure that would force
them to boost electricity generated by wind, solar and other forms of renewable
energy to 15 percent of the U.S. total by 2020. That's up from less than
2 percent today, and is a move the industry says would cost at least $67
billion." ... "The Senate failed on Dec. 7 to get the 60 votes needed to
move the legislation, a day after the House of Representatives approved
it. To get the bill to [Republican] President George W. Bush's desk this
year and steer clear of a White House veto threat, the Senate will probably
have to pass a weakened measure." ... "``The lobbying effort led by Southern
Co. is the principal obstacle to America unleashing a renewable-electricity
revolution,'' says Representative Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat[ic
Representative] who has led the fight for a federal standard on the new
energy sources." ... "The legislation pits the utilities and oil companies
against wind and solar-electricity producers, as well as venture-capital
firms such as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where former [Democratic]
Vice President Al Gore is a partner. Those firms have made billions of
dollars in clean-energy-technology investments, which would pay off if
the bill becomes law." -By Daniel Whitten and Tina
Seeley -Bloomberg
John
Edwards
- John
McCain
- Barack
Obama
- Hillary
Clinton
- Rudy
Giuliani
- Mitt
Romney
- Mike
Huckabee - Arizona
- Massachusetts
- North
Carolina - 2008
Election - Poll
- "Poll:
Huckabee would lose to top Democrats by double digits."
... "While [2008 Election Republican] presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee
is surging in new polls of GOP candidates, a CNN/Opinion Research Corp.
poll released Tuesday shows he would lose to all three leading Democratic
candidates by double digits in hypothetical contests." ... "The poll also
shows that [2008 Election] Republican [Presidential Candidate and Arizona
Senator] Sen. John McCain of Arizona would do best against leading Democrats.
He beats [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary] Clinton
by 2 percentage points (50 percent to 48 percent), ties [2008 Election
Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack] Obama (48 percent to 48 percent)
and loses to [2008 Election Democratic Presidential Candidate John] Edwards
by a smaller margin (8 points) than the other Republican candidates do."
... "In addition to Huckabee, [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate
Rudy] Giuliani and former Massachusetts [Governor, 2008 Election Republican
Presidential Candidate] Gov. Mitt Romney lose to all three top Democrats
in the survey." ... "On the Democratic side, Edwards performs best against
each of the leading Republicans. In addition to beating Huckabee by 25
percent and McCain by 8 percent, the North Carolina Democrat beats Romney
by 22 percentage points (59 percent to 37 percent) and Giuliani by 9 percentage
points (53 percent to 44 percent)." ... ""Edwards is the only Democrat
who beats all four Republicans, and McCain is the only Republican who beats
any of the three Democrats," [CNN's polling director, Keating] Holland
said." -By Alexander Mooney
-CNN
Mitt
Romney
- Rudy
Giuliani
- Immigrant
- Workers
- Company
- 2008
Election - Politics
- Florida
- New
York
- Massachusetts
- New
Hampshire - Arizona
- "More
immigrant woes for Romney: GOP candidate fires landscaper
after Globe shows continued use of illegal workers." ... "Standing on stage
at a Republican debate on the Gulf Coast of Florida last week, [2008 Election
Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney repeatedly lashed out at
rival [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Rudy Giuliani for
providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants in New York City [New York]."
... "Yet, the next morning, on Thursday, at least two illegal immigrants
stepped out of a hulking maroon pickup truck in the driveway of Romney's
[Massachusetts] Belmont house, then proceeded to spend several hours raking
leaves, clearing debris from Romney's tennis court, and loading the refuse
onto the truck." ... "In fact, their work was part of a regular pattern.
Even after a Globe story in December 2006 highlighted Romney's use of a
landscaping company that employs illegal immigrants to tend to his grounds,
Romney continued to employ Community Lawn Service With a Heart - until
yesterday. The company continued to employ illegal immigrants." ... "The
two workers confirmed in separate interviews with Globe reporters last
week that they were in the country without documents. One said he had paid
$7,000 to a smuggler to escort him across the desert into Arizona; the
other said he had come into the country with a student visa that has expired.
Both were seen working on the lawn by either Globe reporters or photographers
over the last two months." ... "Questioned yesterday afternoon during a
campaign swing through New Hampshire about the use of illegal immigrants
on his lawn, Romney declined to answer." -By Maria
Cramer and Maria Sacchetti with contributions by Connie Paige and James
Pindell -Boston/Globe
Rudolph
Giuliani
- Mitt
Romney
- 
Bernie
Kerik
- Police
- Law
- Immigrants
- New
York
- Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - Hillary
Clinton
- "Republicans
eat their own in increasingly nasty race." ... "At
Wednesday's CNN/YouTube debate, [2008 Election Republican Presidential
Candidate and] former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani accused [2008 Election
Republican Presidential Candidate and] former Massachusetts Gov. [Governor]
Mitt Romney of running a "sanctuary mansion" because Romney had illegal
immigrants doing yard work at his home. Earlier in the week, Giuliani's
campaign manager called Romney a "mediocre one-term governor."" ... "Romney
has lambasted Giuliani's judgment in hiring as police commissioner Bernie
Kerik, who was indicted on corruption charges recently. Both candidates
routinely accuse each other of resembling Hillary Clinton, perhaps the
unkindest cut of all among Republicans." -By Matt
Stearns with contributions by William Douglas and David Lightman
-McClatchyDC.com
Mitt
Romney
- Religious- Politics
- Government
- National-Security
- 2008
Election - People
- Massachusetts
- US
- Foreign
- "Religious
Minority Candidate Mitt Romney Comes Out In Favor Of Religious Bigotry."
... "In a recent interview with [2008 Election] Republican presidential
candidate Mitt Romney, former conservative Fox News pundit Mansoor Ijaz
asked the former [Massachusetts] governor whether he would consider nominating
a Muslim to be a member of his national security cabinet. Ijaz reports:"
Mike
Huckabee - Fred
Thompson
- Mitt
Romney
- Religion
- Abortion
- Gay
- Iowa
- New
Hampshire - Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - "Huckabee
Makes Crucial Gains Among GOP Base." ... "[2008 Election
Republican Presidential Candidate Mike] Huckabee says he was surprised
by [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate Fred] Thompson's securing
of the NRLC [National Right to Life Committee] endorsement. "I mean, he's
lobbied for a pro-abortion group in the past," he said. "His right-to-life
score card was 33 percent one year, 76 percent one year, 88 percent, never
was 100 percent. He doesn't support the human life amendment, which is
the linchpin, not just of the right-to-life movement, but it's been part
of the GOP platform since 1980, for 28 years. So it just didn't match up.""
... "But Huckabee's clearly more focused on defeating [2008 Election Republican
Presidential Candidate Mitt] Romney, with whom he's tied in Iowa and who
leads considerably in New Hampshire. Veiled digs at the former Massachusetts
governor are peppered throughout his pitch." ... "Iowans, he told ABC News,
"believe what I'm telling them, to be true, true to my own heart and convictions,
that I'm not just saying something that a focus group gave me or a room
full of consultants handed me in the form of a script and said, 'Hey, if
you want to be president, go out and say this stuff. People will buy it.'""
... "Voters, he said, "know that what I'm saying is what I truly believe.
It comes out of my heart. I don't have to wonder, 'What did I say last
week?' Because I'm going to say the same thing."" ... "Romney, Huckabee
said, is "going to have to convince voters that he's really had conversions"
on issues ranging from abortion to gay rights." ... "Many evangelicals
have expressed concern about Romney's Mormonism, which some consider a
cult. When asked whether Mormonism is Christianity, Huckabee, a former
Baptist minister, said, "I don't know enough about Mormonism to know. I
really have a hard enough time practicing my faith. I'm not going to try
to practice somebody else's."" (1, 2,
3,
4)
-By Jake Tapper -ABCNEWS.com
Mitt
Romney
- TV
- 2008
Election - Iowa
- Massachusetts
- "Iowa
GOP cancels Dec. 4 debate." ... "The Iowa Republican
Party has canceled a presidential debate that was scheduled to be televised
on the FOX News Channel on Dec. 4." ... "Craig Robinson, the party's political
director, said the debate was canceled because of former Massachusetts
[Governor and 2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] Gov. Mitt
Romney's unwillingness to participate." -DesMoinesRegister
Ron
Paul
- Military
- Law
- History
- MA
- NC
- TX
- 
MD
- 2008
Election - "Ron
Paul co-sponsoring Constitutional War Powers Resolution."
... "At a press conference last Thursday, [Massachusetts Democratic] Congressmen
Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and [North Carolina Republican] Walter Jones (R-NC)
announced the introduction of House Joint Resolution 53, the Constitutional
War Powers Resolution. Joined by co-sponsors [Texas Republican] Ron Paul
(R-TX) and [Maryland Republican] Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), the resolution
attempts to curtail what some believe to be the expanding war powers wielded
by presidents since the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin resolution[.]" ... "H. J. Res.
53 looks to modify the 1973 War Powers Resolution, itself a response to
President's Nixon assertive stance as commander-in-chief, by requiring
Congressional approval for military action that is not a direct result
of attack. It also allows for greater oversight by Congress by providing
avenues for judicial review and by permitting federal funding for action
approved by Congress." ... "Speaking from the House floor on Saturday,
Rep. Jones said "our Constitution states that – while the commander-in-chief
has the power to conduct wars, only Congress has the power to declare war.
Too many times this Congress has not met its constitutional duty of oversight
and has abdicated its constitutional authorities to the executive branch.""
-KCRG.com
Mitt
Romney
- Fred
Thompson
- Religious
- Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - "Anti-Thompson
Site Connects to Romney Camp." ... "A top adviser
to former Massachusetts governor [2008 election Republican Presidential
Candidate] Mitt Romney appears to be behind today's launch of a new Web
site attacking GOP presidential rival [2008 election Republican Presidential
Candidate] Fred Thompson." ... "The site, www.phoneyfred.org,
paints an unflattering picture of Thompson, dubbing him: Fancy Fred, Five
O'clock Fred, Flip-Flop Fred, McCain Fred, Moron Fred, Playboy Fred, Pro-Choice
Fred, Son-of-a-Fred and Trial Lawyer Fred. [View
an image of the Web site]" ... "Shortly after a Washington Post reporter
made inquiries about the site to the Romney campaign, the site was taken
down." ... "Before it vanished, the front page of the website featured
a picture of a regal Thompson dressed in a frilly outfit more befitting
a Gilbert and Sullivan production than a presidential campaign. Under the
heading, "Playboy Fred," the site asks the question: "Once a Pro-Choice
Skirt Chaser, Now Standard Bearer of the Religious Right?"" -By
Michael D. Shear and Rob Pegoraro -WashingtonPost
US
- Iraq
- Military
- Poll
- 
Delaware
- Massachusetts
- 
Election
2008 - "Democrats
Say They Will Keep Pressing for U.S. Iraq Withdrawal."
... "Congressional Democrats said they will keep pressing for a withdrawal
of American forces from Iraq even if Army General David Petraeus, the top
U.S. military commander there, argues for more time." ... "[2008 election
Democratic Presidential Candidate and Delaware Senator] Joseph Biden, chairman
of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, said [Republican] President
George W. Bush's strategy of deploying more U.S. troops in Iraq this year
has failed because the Iraqi government didn't achieve the political stability
that Bush said was possible if security improved. [Massachusetts Democratic]
Senator Edward Kennedy said American forces are being ``held hostage''
by the ineffectiveness of Iraq's elected leaders." ... "``The reality is
that we were supposed to stand up the Iraqis so that the Americans could
stand down,'' Biden, a Delaware Democrat who recently visited Iraq, said
on NBC's ``Meet the Press'' program. ``We've been hearing that for five
years. We're nowhere near being able to do that.''" ... "A Washington Post/ABC
News poll released today shows 53 percent of Americans say they expect
Petraeus will try to make the situation in Iraq look better than it is.
The latest New York Times/CBS News poll, also released today, showed that
62 percent of those polled said the U.S. made a mistake getting involved
in Iraq, and 45 percent said Bush's troop increase hasn't had an impact
on the situation in Iraq." -By Nadine Elsibai
-Bloomberg
Mitt
Romney
- Robert
Lichfield - Political
- Money- Child
- Behavior
- Schools
- Utah
- Massachusetts
- 
Maine
- 2006
Election - 2008
Election - "Businessman
quits as fundraiser for Romney: Robert Lichfield
of Utah is linked to the largest contribution in the 2006 Maine governor's
race." ... "Robert Lichfield, a controversial Utah businessman linked to
an organization facing civil allegations of child abuse and also connected
to the largest contribution in the 2006 [election] Maine governor's race,
has resigned from a fundraising position with [2008 election Republican
Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney's presidential campaign." ... "Lichfield
is named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit filed by more than 100 families
alleging that their teenaged children were mistreated at "behavior modification"
centers associated with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs
and Schools, an organization that Lichfield founded." ... "Until he resigned
from the Romney campaign, Lichfield was co- chairman of its Utah finance
committee." ... "Lichfield's role with the former Massachusettts governor's
campaign has come under scrutiny since the Portland Press Herald/Maine
Sunday Telegram reported in May on both the civil lawsuit and Lichfield's
connection to contributions totaling $250,000 to a political action committee
established in Maine by the Republican Governors Association. " -By
Kevin Wack -MaineToday.com
Mitt
Romney
- Robert
Lichfield - Money
- Politics
- Child
- Behavior
- Schools
- Utah
- Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - "Top
Utah money man leaves Romney campaign." ... "A top
Utah fund-raiser for [2008 election Republican Presidential Candidate]
Mitt Romney's presidential campaign - who has links to an organization
facing a civil lawsuit alleging child abuse - is no longer part of Romney's
state finance team." ... "Robert Lichfield of La Verkin [Utah], who founded
the umbrella group called the Worldwide Association of Specialty Schools,
brought in some $300,000 earlier this year for Romney during a single Utah
event and has donated tens of thousands to the former Massachusetts governor
and other Republicans in recent years." ... "Lichfield is named in a federal
lawsuit charging that students of the "behavior modification" schools with
ties to WWASPS were subjected to "physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual
abuse." The suit had 140 defendants at last count. " -By
Thomas Burr -SLTrib.com
Mitt
Romney
- Money
- Abortion
- Immigration
- Stem
Cell - Massachusetts
- 2008
Election - 
Reference
- Online
- "Democrats
unveil a file on Romney: Tout exhaustive site as
online weapon." ... "The Massachusetts Democratic Party is launching today
a first-of-its-kind website that it says contains an unparalleled repository
of information about [2008 election Republican Presidential Candidate]
Mitt Romney's record that could be used against the former [Massachusetts]
governor in his White House run." ... "RomneyFacts.com
lays out a wealth of documents: personal financial disclosure statements
he filed as governor; policy proposals he put forward in his 2002 campaign;
several old campaign ads; and a unique searchable database of campaign
contributions from his entire political career." ... "RomneyFacts.com
is clearly a partisan clearinghouse, painting Romney as a "flip-flopper"
who has traded in the moderate Republican credentials he presented as a
candidate for governor in 2002 for a new set of conservative beliefs in
his campaign for president." ... "Its home page compares statements "Massachusetts
Mitt" made on abortion, immigration, stem cell research, and other hot-button
issues with those made by "Red State Romney."" -By
Lisa Wangsness -Boston/Globe
Iowa
- 2008
Election - Arkansas
- Massachusetts
- Mitt
Romney
- Money
- "A
GOP underdog finds 'new life' after Iowa poll." ...
"As a little-known former Arkansas governor whose claim to fame is losing
more than 100 pounds, [2008 election Republican Presidential Candidate]
Mike Huckabee knows that few people ever expected he would amount to much
as a presidential candidate." ... "But following his surprise second-place
showing in the Iowa straw poll last weekend, behind former Massachusetts
Gov. [2008 election Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney, Huckabee
is making his case that he is a legitimate Republican contender. "There's
a new life in our campaign," he said Thursday." ... "Huckabee managed to
do well in Iowa even against the formidable Romney organization, which
had far more money and campaign staff." -By Jill Zuckman
-ChicagoTribune
Mitt
Romney
- Stem
Cell - Politics
- Legislation
- Abortion
- 2008
Election - US
- Mass
- 
Danish
- "Romney
in Stem Cell Biz, Despite Political Opposition: Campaign
Insists Investments Are in Blind Trust Only." ... "Among the investments
in [2008 election Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney's vast
portfolio worth upward of $287 million are two companies that perform or
support stem cell research." ... "The former Massachusetts governor opposes
the creation of new lines of human stem cells for research and vetoed a
stem cell research bill as governor. He has said it was while considering
that legislation that he evolved to his current opposition to abortion."
... "Many abortion opponents also oppose embryonic stem cell research,
because it is conducted on cellular lines from embryos." ... "Romney's
investments are in Novo Nordisk, a Danish company, and Millipore Corp.,
based in Billerica, Mass. According to their Public Financial Disclosure
Form released Monday, the Romneys -- Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann -- jointly
own shares in Novo Nordisk, valued between $100,101 to $250,000. They also
have a mutual fund investment that includes shares in Millipore, which
supplies research tools and human embryonic stem cells to researchers.
" (1, 2)
-By Ron Claiborne -ABCNEWS.com
US
- 
Sudan
- 
Iran
- China
- Mitt
Romney
- Oil
- Money
- People
- Human
Rights - 2008
Election - Massachusetts
- California
- Iowa
- Nevada
- "Romney
portfolio has link to Sudan: The GOP candidate's
trustee has recently sold other potentially controversial holdings." ...
"[2008 election] Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney divested from
companies doing business in Iran, but he still holds stock in an oil company
that does business in Sudan -- where the government is accused of sponsoring
genocide -- his financial disclosure report filed Monday shows." ... "Romney,
the wealthiest presidential contender, is worth $190 million to $250 million,
with investments spread among stocks, treasuries and high-end funds. R.
Bradford Malt, Romney's attorney, acts as sole trustee of what until Monday
was a blind trust, and makes investment decisions." ... "His wealth is
key to his candidacy. As he did when he successfully ran for Massachusetts
governor in 2002, he is dipping into his accounts. He has lent his presidential
campaign more than $9 million." ... "According to the report, Romney holds
stock in China Petroleum and Chemical (also known as SinoPec), an oil supply
company that has dealings in Sudan, according to an organization dedicated
to ending the genocide in the African nation's Darfur region." ... "[Republican]
President Bush has denounced the killings of tens of thousands of civilians
in Darfur [Sudan] and declared that genocide is being committed. California
and early-voting Iowa are among the states where officials have urged divestment."
... "The report shows that Romney has numerous offshore holdings." ...
"His biggest single holding appears to have been MGM Mirage, owners of
a major casino in Las Vegas [Nevada]." (1, 2)
-By Dan Morain
-LAtimes
2008
Election - Mitt
Romney
- Money
- Iowa
- Arkansas- Massachusetts
- "Huckabee
Scores Second Place in Iowa Poll Despite Lack of Funds."
... "After months of dismal national poll numbers and lackluster fundraising,
[2008 election Republican Presidential Candidate] Mike Huckabee believes
he broke into the top-tier Republican presidential field when he took second-place
in Saturday’s Iowa straw poll." ... "The former Arkansas governor finished
with 18 percent of the vote, far behind first-place finisher [2008 election
Republican Presidential Candidate] Mitt Romney, the former governor of
Massachusetts, who took 32 percent of the more than 14,000 total votes
cast." ... "Huckabee’s showing was surprising to many, given his low-tier
status. Heading into the poll, Huckabee garnered less than 5 percentage
points in many national polls and raised less than seven of his GOP competitors
as of June 30, with just $1.3 million in receipts. Romney reported raising
more than $44 million." ... "Huckabee said his lack of financial strength
made his poll showing all the more meaningful." -By
Rachel Kapochunas -CQPolitics.com
Global
- Media
- Editorial
- Massachusetts
- "News
Corp. pledged $2.5 mln to DJ watchdog's group." ...
"Dow Jones & Co (DJ.N: Quote,
Profile,
Research)
said on Thursday it did not know that one of the people named to protect
its editorial independence after it becomes part of News Corp (NWSa.N:
Quote,
Profile,
Research)
runs a foundation that received a donation pledge of $2.5 million (1.2
million pounds) from News Corp." ... "Rupert Murdoch's global media conglomerate
selected Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Nicholas Negroponte
to be part of the five-member special committee that will oversee the editorial
independence of Dow Jones's news operations including the Wall Street Journal."
... "Creation of the committee and agreement on who would be on it was
part of News Corp's $5.6 billion deal to buy Dow Jones." ... "In an e-mail
interview with Reuters in May, Negroponte described Murdoch as a personal
friend and a key backer of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) foundation that
makes inexpensive laptop computers for poor children." ... ""If in fact
Nicholas' foundation is receiving money from News Corp, that creates the
perception and, quite possibly, the reality of a conflict," said Louis
Ureneck, chairman of the journalism department at Boston University [Boston,
Massachusetts]." ... ""Is a person truly independent if a decision he makes
puts at risk a significant grant to his foundation? It strikes me that
there is a conflict," Ureneck said." (1, 2,
3)
-By Jim Finkle and Kenneth Li with contributions by
Robert MacMillan and Svea Herbst-Bayliss -Reuters
South
Korea - US
- Human
- Stem
Cell - History
- Massachusetts
- Medical
- "Korean
Cloner Redeemed... Sort Of." ... "In a study published
today in the journal Cell Stem Cell, a team of Harvard [Massachusetts]
researchers reveals that the dubious stem cells created by [South] Korean
scientist Woo Suk Hwang were indeed historic, just not for the reason that
he originally claimed." ... "In 2004, the world heralded Hwang, who reported
that he had created the world's first human embryonic stem cells using
a delicate cloning technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
If Hwang had actually done what he had claimed, he would certainly have
brought stem-cell-based therapies closer to reality, by making it possible
to develop patient-specific cells to treat diseases from diabetes to Parkinson's.
Two years after his announcement, however, allegations of fraud led to
an investigation by an independent committee of scientists, which failed
to verify his findings, and Hwang and his feat were discredited; last year
he and his principal researchers were fired from their posts at Seoul National
University." ... "But the new study,
led by Dr. George Daley at the Children's Hospital in Boston [Massachusetts],
shows that Hwang's stem cell line contains the first human cells to be
generated not through SCNT, but through a process called parthenogenesis,
sometimes referred to as virgin birth, since development is sparked spontaneously
from the egg alone, rather than from the union of egg and sperm." ... "In
nuclear transfer, stem cells are created by inserting the nucleus from
a donor's cell, usually a skin cell, into an egg cell, whose DNA-containing
nucleus has been removed. The new cell then starts to divide and produce
stem cells." -By Alice Park
-TIME.com
Analysis
- US
- Iraq
- Government
- Military
- People
- Health
- Construction
- Massachusetts
- Politics
- "Analysis
says war could cost $1 trillion: Budget office sees
effect on taxpayers for decade." ... "The war in Iraq could ultimately
cost well over a trillion dollars -- at least double what has already been
spent -- including the long-term costs of replacing damaged equipment,
caring for wounded troops, and aiding the Iraqi government, according to
a new government analysis." ... "The United States has already allocated
more than $500 billion on the day-to-day combat operations of what are
now 190,000 troops and a variety of reconstruction efforts." ... "In a
report to lawmakers yesterday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office
estimated that even under the rosiest scenario -- an immediate and substantial
reduction of troops -- American taxpayers will feel the financial consequences
of the war for at least a decade." ... "The cost of the war in Iraq and
other military operations has soared to the point where "we are now spending
on these activities more than 10 percent of all the government's annually
appropriated funds," said Robert A. Sunshine, the budget office's assistant
director for budget analysis." ... "Some leading economists have predicted
that, depending on how long troops remain in Iraq, the endeavor could reach
several trillion dollars as a result of more "hidden" costs -- including
recruiting expenses to replenish the ranks and the lifelong benefits the
government pays to veterans." ... ""It is being paid for on the national
credit card," [Democratic Massachusetts Representative James] McGovern
said. "It is being put on their backs of our kids and grandkids. That is
indefensible."" -By Bryan Bender
-Boston/Globe
Secret
- Government
- Law
Enforcement - History
- Money
- Massachusetts
- Death
Penalty - Prison
- "US
ordered to pay $101.7m in false murder convictions:
FBI withheld evidence in '65 gangland slaying." ... "A federal judge held
the FBI "responsible for the framing of four innocent men" in a 1965 gangland
murder in a landmark ruling yesterday and ordered the government to pay
the men $101.7 million for the decades they spent in prison. The award
is believed to be the largest of its kind nationally." ... "In a decision
that was as dramatic as it was stern, US District Judge Nancy Gertner said
from the bench that the FBI had deliberately withheld evidence that Peter
J. Limone, Joseph Salvati, Louis Greco, and Henry Tameleo were innocent,
and that the bureau helped cover up the injustice for decades as the men
grew old behind bars and Tameleo and Greco died." ... ""FBI officials up
the line allowed their employees to break laws, violate rules, and ruin
lives, interrupted only with the occasional burst of applause," said Gertner,
berating the FBI for giving commendations and bonuses to the agents who
helped send the men to prison for the killing in Chelsea of Edward "Teddy"
Deegan, a small-time hoodlum." ... ""Sadly when law enforcement perverts
its mission, the criminal justice system does not easily self-correct,"
Gertner said. "We understand that our system makes mistakes; we have appeals
to address them. But this case goes beyond mistakes, beyond unavoidable
errors of a fallible system."" ... "She added, "This case is about intentional
misconduct, subornation of perjury, conspiracy, the framing of innocent
men."" ... "After all four men were convicted July 31, 1968, of Deegan's
slaying, Greco, Limone, and Tameleo were sentenced to die in the electric
chair. Their sentences were later reduced to life in prison after Massachusetts
abolished the death penalty. Salvati was sentenced to life in prison."
... "The discovery of secret FBI files that were never turned over during
the men's trial prompted a state judge six years ago to overturn the murder
convictions of Limone, who was immediately freed from prison, and Salvati,
who was paroled in 1997." -By Shelley Murphy and Brian
R. Ballou -Boston/Globe
Mass.gov
Regional > North America > ... > Massachusetts > Government > Executive Branch
