News politics 2008-07-24 Andanh.com

Veterans group hits McCain on troop pullout Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:33 EDT
A veterans group critical of the war in Iraq accuses John McCain of wanting to occupy Iraq indefinitely, against the wishes of the country's leaders, in an ad that will air later this week.

The group, VoteVets.org, calls attention to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's desire for a troop withdrawal timetable. The group will spend $100,000 to run the ad on the MSNBC and CNN cable channels from Friday through the middle of next week.

In the ad, Iraq war veteran Brandon Woods of New York says: "What did we fight for in Iraq? I have some idea. I fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom. And 'freedom' means when the Iraqi people and their Prime Minister ask us to make a plan to leave, we do. But Senator McCain would occupy Iraq indefinitely, against their wishes. That's not what freedom means. That's not what we fought for. Senator, I thought you would know better."

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama was in Baghdad earlier this week when Iraqi officials said they envisioned a U.S. combat troop withdrawal in 2010. That's generally the same 16-month timetable Obama has recommended.

McCain has opposed a specific target date for pulling out troops.

McCain denies he misstated timing of Iraq surge Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:27 EDT
Republican John McCain pushed back on Wednesday against Democratic criticism that he misstated when the troop buildup ordered by President Bush began, saying elements were put in place before Bush announced the strategy in early 2007.

He told reporters during an unscheduled stop in a super market that, what the Bush administration calls "the surge" was actually "made up of a number of components," some of which began before the president's order for more troops.

It's all a matter of semantics, he suggested.

McCain said Army Col. Sean MacFarland started carrying out elements of a new counterinsurgency strategy as early as December 2006.

At issue are McCain's comments in a Tuesday interview with CBS. The Arizona senator disputed Democrat Barack Obama's contention that a Sunni revolt against al-Qaida combined with the dispatch of thousands more U.S. combat troops to Iraq to produce the improved security situation there. McCain called that a "false depiction."

Obama tells Israel he's committed to its security Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:22 EDT
From the solemnity of a Holocaust museum to a dusty village battered by Hamas rockets, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama on Wednesday professed "an unshakable commitment to the security" of Israel, whether the threat comes from terrorists, Iran or elsewhere.

"The way you know where somebody's going is where have they been. And I've been with Israel for many, many years now," he said on a day that bore striking similarities to campaigning in the United States.

In his public remarks, Obama sidestepped a question of whether he would condone an Israeli attack to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. But he said he was confident that in several private meetings he had not left Israeli politicians with the impression that, if elected president, he would be "pressuring them to accept any kinds of concessions that would put their security at stake."

Obama packed more than a half-dozen meetings, a stop at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, a helicopter tour of the country and a visit to a house hit by Hamas rockets into his only full day in Israel during his trip to the Middle East and Europe.

He also rode past an Israeli checkpoint into Ramallah on the West Bank, where he assured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of his support for a two-state resolution of the region's long animosities. Later, entering a session with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Obama said his talks with Abbas indicated "there's a strong sense of progress being made" toward peace. Olmert nodded and said, "Indeed."

Today on the presidential campaign trail Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:32 EDT
IN THE HEADLINES

Obama wraps up tour of Israel with visit to Jerusalem holy site ... McCain denies he misstated timing of Iraq surge, says some elements began before Bush's order ... Obama campaign expands ad reach with big network buy during Olympics

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Obama pays visit to Jerusalem holy site

JERUSALEM (AP) - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama paid a predawn visit to the holiest place in Judaism on Thursday, bowing his head in prayer at the Western Wall.

Obama daughters keep hectic schedules of their own Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:18 EDT
The rules in the Obama household for Malia and Sasha are clear-cut:

-"No whining, arguing or annoying teasing," their mother, Michelle Obama, told People Magazine.

-Make the bed. "Doesn't have to look good, just throw the sheet over it," said the mother of 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha.

-Set your own alarm clock. "They get themselves up, get their own clothes," said their grandmother Marian Robinson.

-And the allowance from Dad for doing chores is $1 a week. Barack Obama conceded that "I'm out of town for weeks at a time, so Malia will say, 'Hey you owe me for 10 weeks.'"

Obama visits Western Wall Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:28 EDT
Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama paid a predawn visit to the holiest place in Judaism on Thursday, bowing his head in prayer at the Western Wall.

Obama placed a small note inside a crevice in the ancient wall, a custom observed by many. He made his brief stop as he completed a trip to the Middle East in which he met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders as well as Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Orthodox men at the wall for morning prayers ran down the steps to get a look at Obama. Many reached out to shake his hand, although one booming voice called out, "Obama, Jerusalem is not for sale!"

Obama's visit lasted less than 15 minutes. He was flying to Europe immediately afterward for stops in Germany, France and England before returning home over the weekend.

Waging the image campaign overseas Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:18 EDT
Barack Obama has packed his overseas trip with presidential images: a helicopter ride over Iraq with the U.S. military commander; a visit to a Holocaust memorial; a meeting at Afghan President Hamid Karzai's palace.

He even found time to sink a three-point basketball shot before cheering U.S. soldiers.

John McCain?

His most memorable picture of the week was riding a golf cart with former President George Bush at Bush's Kennebunkport vacation home in Maine.

If the image campaign means anything, it's been a tough week for the Republican presidential candidate.

McCain denies misstating the timing of surge Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:51 EDT

BETHLEHEM, Pa. . Republican John McCain pushed back Wednesday against Democratic criticism that he misstated when the troop buildup ordered by President Bush began, saying elements were put in place before Bush announced the strategy in early 2007.

He told reporters during an unscheduled stop in a supermarket that what the Bush administration calls .the surge. was actually .made up of a number of components,. some of which began before the president's order for more troops.

It's all a matter of semantics, he suggested.

McCain said Army Col. Sean MacFarland started carrying out elements of a new counterinsurgency strategy as early as December 2006.

Poll: Energy worries mount; economy top issue Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:51 EDT

WASHINGTON . What's rising faster than gas prices this summer? Americans' worries about them.

The economy is the nation's top concern by far, but anxiety about energy has grown more since spring than any other issue while the focus on Iraq continues to fade, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The findings by the Associated Press-Ipsos poll provide the latest confirmation of how economic woes . including job losses, rising inflation and the ailing financial and housing markets . are dominating voters' worries as fall's presidential election approaches.

Forty-four percent said the economy was the country's most important problem, a small increase from the 39 percent who said so in April.

Gas prices fuel Senate race Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:51 EDT

The galling gas prices that have dominated national political discourse are now fueling Kentucky's U.S. Senate race, putting both candidates' economic and political IQs to the test.

Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is seeking his fifth term, is hammering the issue on two fronts: on the airwaves with his first commercial against Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford, and during policy debates in the Senate chamber.

Meanwhile, Lunsford has popped up at filling stations around Kentucky this summer to pump gas for drivers and make his pitch that McConnell has been one of the Washington policy-makers in the driver's seat over the last quarter century that allowed prices to explode. Today, Lunsford will unveil his .eight-point plan for energy independence. in Louisville.

So if the first two slow, hot summer months of the general election campaign are any indication, voters have heard only the opening arguments of this high-octane gasoline debate.

State decides to only lower flags for Kentucky-born soldiers Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:51 EDT

FRANKFORT . Kentucky has started lowering flags to half-staff only for fallen soldiers from the Bluegrass State, upsetting veterans and lawmakers who say the policy dishonors tens of thousands of service members from other states stationed at installations such as Fort Campbell and Fort Knox.

Gov. Steve Beshear last month changed the old policy of lowering state and U.S. flags to half-staff from the announcement of any Kentucky-based soldier's death until his or her funeral. Now the flag will be lowered only for Kentucky natives, and only on the day they are buried.

Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini, Kentucky's adjutant general, said the previous policy made it impossible to tell who was being honored and led to lengthy stretches where flags were lowered for multiple people. Between April 1 and July 2, the state lowered flags for 26 soldiers, only four from Kentucky.

Ken Hart, state adjutant for the American Legion of Kentucky, which represents 33,000 veterans, called the new policy ridiculous.

McCain may be zeroing in on a running mate Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:47 EDT

ROCHESTER, N.H. . Yet another town-hall meeting isn't doing the trick. Neither is dropping in on a former Republican president. So just what can John McCain do to draw attention away from his showy Democratic rival?

Pick a running mate, perhaps.

Speculation swirled Tuesday that McCain might name his vice presidential partner within the next few days, right in the middle of Barack Obama's overseas tour.

McCain aides were not helping tamp down the speculation with their comments, often made late in the afternoon, of .no announcement today..

Obama acknowledges concerns about timetable Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:09 EDT

AMMAN, Jordan . Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama declined to rate the Bush administration's troop surge in Iraq a success on Tuesday despite a reduction in violence, and he expressed understanding of Gen. David Petraeus' opposition to a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops.

.Not surprisingly he wants to retain as much flexibility as possible,. Obama said of the general, with whom he met in recent days while touring Iraq and Afghanistan.

.I think he wants maximum flexibility to be able to . to do what he believes needs to be done inside of Iraq.

.But keep in mind, for example, one of General Petraeus' responsibilities is not to think about how could we be using some of that $10 billion a month to shore up a U.S. economy that is really hurting right now,. Obama said.

$3.1 million in grants to aid law enforcement Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:51 EDT

FRANKFORT . The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet announced Tuesday the award of 48 federal and state grants totaling nearly $3.1 million to help state and local law enforcement protect citizens against drunken driving, drugs and other crimes.

.The Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is committed to helping local law enforcement across Kentucky,. said cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown. .This money will assist officers as they perform the duties necessary to keep their communities safe..

In all, 26 federal Byrne/Justice Assistance Grants were awarded. The federal money is supposed to help law enforcement agencies, drug task forces and other criminal justice programs stop the spread of drugs across the state.

In addition, the cabinet awarded 22 grants through the Law Enforcement Service Fee program to help officers target drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

State wants defenders to stop refusing cases Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:51 EDT

The state finance cabinet is asking for an injunction to block public defenders from withdrawing from cases.

The Department of Public Advocacy began withdrawing from certain types of cases July 1 because of budget cuts. It has sued the state and leaders in the legislature for more funding, saying they have not allocated enough money to fulfill the state's constitutional mandate to provide lawyers for poor criminal defendants.

By DPA's own estimates, it has enough money to last through February or March 2009 before running out. Lawyers for the Finance . Administration Cabinet and State Treasurer Todd Hollenbach IV say that gives the legislature or courts five to six months to address the issues raised in the lawsuit.

But Public Advocate Ernie Lewis said it would be irresponsible for the agency to spend money until it goes broke. The public and General Assembly would not stand for that, he said.

Nursing home investigations go back to 2001 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:09 EDT

State investigators started investigating the relationship between a recently fired state employee and a nursing home operator as early as 2001.

A 46-page report released Tuesday by the Cabinet for Health and Family Serv.ices shows that the cabinet had investigated possible ethical problems between state employees and Garrard Convalescent Home owner Ralph Stacey Jr. at least three times over the past eight years.

In one of the investigations, there was an allegation that Stacey was being tipped off before inspectors visited the Covington area nursing home.

Sharon Harris, a nurse administrator with the Department of Public Health, and Moses Young, an assistant director with the Office of Inspector General, were fired by the cabinet in May after Inspector General Sadiqa Reynolds got a tip in March that the two were living in Lexington homes owned by Stacey.

Nighbert leaves job as Republican aide Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:04 EDT

Former Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert has left his position as an aide to state Senate Republican leadership for a private-sector job, Senate leaders confirmed Monday.

Senate President David Williams said Nighbert left 10 days ago to take a consulting position.

Nighbert was transportation secretary from 2005 to December 2007. Williams hired him in January to help the Burkesville Republican with transportation-related issues. Nighbert's attorney, Howard Mann, said Monday that his client had said the position with Williams was temporary.

Mann confirmed last month that Nighbert had been asked to appear before a federal grand jury investigating improprieties in the Transportation Cabinet. Nighbert declined to testify, Mann said in June.

Beshear: Aides will continue trips Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:14 EDT

Gov. Steve Beshear will continue taking members of his cabinet on his 13-city town hall tour and will fly to other stops just as he and aides did last week at a cost of $7,088.

.I happen to think it's important to listen to what the people of this commonwealth think,. he said in Lexington Monday at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts convention. .So when I'm going around the state for the next two months, I'm going to take the cabinet secretaries with me regardless of whether the Herald-Leader likes it or not..

The Herald-Leader reported last week that the administration chartered a flight for $4,474 and used the two state planes that cost $2,614 to fly Beshear and 15 aides to Virgie in Pike County for the first town hall meeting in the governor's two-month tour.

Earlier in his remarks to the conservation group, Beshear said: .In these tough times, all of government is being called on to do more with less. I've worked hard in my first half of a year to find efficiencies where feasible..

Louisville lawmaker to offer slots bill Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:14 EDT

Following the failure earlier this year of Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear's push for casinos, Rep. Tom Burch is writing legislation for the 2009 General Assembly that would allow 18,000 slot machines in Kentucky.

Burch, D-Louisville, issued a statement Monday saying that roughly 6,000 of those slots would be spread around at the eight horse racing tracks, while the others would be available to counties whose citizens vote to approve them.

.The time has come to either pass a bill regarding gambling or stop wasting taxpayers' dollars debating the issue,. Burch said in the statement. .This bill would allow each and every county to have slot machines, but only if each county so desires to have them..

The number of slot machines at racetracks would be determined by the number of 2008 race days, according to the outline of Burch's bill. Turfway Park, with 110 race days this year, would be eligible for the most machines at 1,400. In Lexington, Keene.land could get 545 machines, while The Red Mile could be allotted 740 machines.

Obama's great-uncle recalls liberating Nazi camp Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:23 EDT
Charles T. Payne had his first close brush with history at the end of World War II, when his infantry division liberated Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the Nazis' Buchenwald concentration camp.

Now 83, Payne is experiencing a second brush as the great-uncle of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Payne spoke to The Associated Press Tuesday as Obama, on the other side of the world, prepared to visit the Yad Vashem national Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.

In May, Obama mentioned "Uncle Charlie" at a meeting with veterans but mistakenly said Payne had helped liberate Auschwitz, when he should have said Buchenwald. Bloggers seized on the error and the Republican Party demanded an explanation.

Obama's campaign corrected the mistake the next day. Soviet forces liberated Auschwitz as they marched across Poland in January 1945.

Obama pledges unshakable backing for Israel Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:51 EDT

SDEROT, Israel . From the solemnity of a Holocaust museum to a dusty village battered by Hamas rockets, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama on Wednesday professed .an unshakable commitment to the security. of Israel, whether the threat comes from terrorists, Iran or elsewhere.

.The way you know where somebody's going is where have they been. And I've been with Israel for many, many years now,. he said on a day that bore striking similarities to campaigning in the United States.

In his public remarks, Obama sidestepped a question of whether he would condone an Israeli attack to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. But he said he was confident that in several private meetings he had not left Israeli politicians with the impression that, if elected president, he would be .pressuring them to accept any kinds of concessions that would put their security at stake..

Obama packed more than a half-dozen meetings, a stop at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, a helicopter tour of the country and a visit to a house hit by Hamas rockets into his only full day in Israel during his trip to the Middle East and Europe.

Fired court employee's appeal loses Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:51 EDT

The state court system rejected Wednesday the internal appeal of a fired employee who claimed that the oldest son of Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott was given preferential treatment when promoted in January.

The appeal was filed by fired Administrative Office of the Courts employee Ruth Combs, a pre-trial officer whose employment record includes three disciplinary probations since 1995. She questioned the promotion of the Pikeville justice's oldest son, Andrew H. Scott, 32, to her former job.

The case, which the AOC refused to make public, marked the second time that Andrew Scott was accused of being improperly promoted.

According to Wednesday's decision, written by retired Justice James E. Keller, Combs' appeal had accused Justice Scott of conspiring with AOC Director Jason Nemes to give the younger Scott a supervisor job in Perry County.

Chinese Dir