Senate – News Stories About Senate - Page 58

OPINION

Jan 2, 2009 3:50 PM CST

Blago's the 'Gift That Keeps On Giving'

No end to antics for Governor Dead Meat

(Newser) - Covering Rod Blagojevich—aka “Gov. Dead Meat”—has been so much fun for Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass that in today’s mailbag column, a reader asks how much he’s paying Blago for the “gift that keeps on giving.” Kass’ reply: “As our esteemed...

Paterson Shoots Down 'Caretaker' Senator Rumor

Jan 2, 2009 1:58 PM CST

Paterson Shoots Down 'Caretaker' Senator Rumor

Governor's pick will have long-term interest in the position

(Newser) - David Paterson quashed speculation that his pick to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate won’t run to keep the seat in a 2010 special election, the Times Union reports. Picking a so-called caretaker “would cause New York to lose seniority,” the New York governor said. Paterson added...

Creator of Pell Grants
Dead at 90

obituary

Jan 1, 2009 5:17 PM CST

Creator of Pell Grants Dead at 90

(Newser) - Claiborne Pell, the quirky blueblood who represented blue-collar Rhode Island in the Senate for 36 years and was the force behind a grant program that has helped tens of millions of Americans attend college, died today of Parkinson's disease. He was 90. Pell sponsored legislation creating the Basic Educational Opportunity...

A State of
Shameless
Opportunism

OPINION

Jan 1, 2009 12:55 PM CST

A State of Shameless Opportunism

Like all of its shameless politicos

(Newser) - Illinois politicians are swiftly revealing themselves as a pack of opportunists. Rod Blagojevich saw Obama’s seat as an opportunity to make a buck, Illinois Dems see an opportunity to oust their hated governor, and Roland Burris sees an opportunity to vault himself into the Senate—“no matter what...

Well Played, Blago

opinion

Dec 31, 2008 7:25 PM CST

Well Played, Blago

'Skin pigment trumps ideas' among Dems: Kass

(Newser) - Roland Burris says this is his media moment, but Illinois' "circus of the politically bizarre" still belongs to Rod Blagojevich, John Kass writes in the Chicago Tribune. No hapless jester, the brazenly calculated governor has dumped Democrats back into the racial politics Obama was supposed to transcend.

Caretaker Senator? Bill Clinton, Mario Possible

Dec 31, 2008 6:53 PM CST

Caretaker Senator? Bill Clinton, Mario Possible

(Newser) - Sen. Bill Clinton? Sen. Mario Cuomo? Don't rule it out. The former president and the former New York governor are among several big names being considered as possible "caretakers" for New York's Senate seat—people who would serve until the 2010 elections but wouldn't run to keep the job....

Illinois House Revives Chance of Special Election

Dec 31, 2008 4:03 PM CST

Illinois House Revives Chance of Special Election

Bill returns to committee hearing scheduled for next week

(Newser) - Add this to the confusion over a certain Senate seat in Illinois: Democrats may try to hold a special election to fill it after all. One day after Rod Blagojevich surprised all by naming his own appointment, the Illinois House speaker quietly revived the possibility of holding an election by...

Bloomberg: Um, Lay Off Caroline, You Know?

Dec 31, 2008 1:37 PM CST

Bloomberg: Um, Lay Off Caroline, You Know?

Hizzoner empathizes with Kennedy's speech issues

(Newser) - Caroline Kennedy’s speech has been, um, you know, attacked mercilessly in recent days, but Michael Bloomberg says that’s because Kennedy is unfairly scrutinized more than other, you know, candidates. “Caroline Kennedy isn’t just your average person, so people may be a little more critical,” the...

Rush Plays
Race Card on Burris Pick

Dec 31, 2008 11:28 AM CST

Rush Plays Race Card on Burris Pick

Tells Senate to take 'chill pill' and accept black member

(Newser) - Bobby Rush thinks Rod Blagojevich’s choice for Barack Obama’s Senate seat ought to get the job despite the governor’s alleged misdeeds, for one simple reason: He’s black. Yesterday at a press conference, Rush applauded the selection of Roland Burris, and urged the press not to “...

Blagojevich Offered Job
to Davis First

Dec 31, 2008 10:25 AM CST

Blagojevich Offered Job to Davis First

But rep wouldn't take appointment from disgraced governor

(Newser) - Danny Davis wants to be a US senator, but not badly enough to accept an appointment from Rod Blagojevich. The disgraced governor’s attorney met with Davis and offered him Barack Obama’s seat last Wednesday, the US rep tells the Chicago Sun-Times. Davis had lobbied for the seat when...

Blago Names Burris;
Senate Dems Say
'No Way'

UPDATED

Dec 30, 2008 3:06 PM CST

Blago Names Burris; Senate Dems Say 'No Way'

(Newser) - Rod Blagojevich announced today that former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris will fill Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune reports. Blagojevich said Burris was a man of "unquestioned integrity" and asked that people not allow "the allegations against me to taint this good and honest...

Caroline's
Like, Um, No
Word Whiz

ANALYSIS

Dec 30, 2008 4:56 AM CST

Caroline's Like, Um, No Word Whiz

Interview stumbles raise flags about Kennedy's political speaking skills

(Newser) - Caroline Kennedy needs to, you know, work on her speaking skills if she is to have a future in politics, experts tell the New York Daily News. In a recent half-hour interview with the News, Kennedy said "you know" over 200 times. Other interviews also contained scores of "...

Paterson Should Say No to Caroline, Dynasties

OPINION

Dec 29, 2008 3:16 PM CST

Paterson Should Say No to Caroline, Dynasties

(Newser) - Should Gov. David Paterson give Caroline Kennedy a chance to serve New York in the Senate? No! “Dynasties suck,” reasons Alex Pareene of Gawker, and we should take the opportunity to quash this one. Although it’s not fair, Caroline has become the left’s Sarah Palin, and...

Caroline:
My Celebrity
Will Work
for NY

Dec 27, 2008 5:40 PM CST

Caroline: My Celebrity Will Work for NY

'Forceful but elusive' candidate says recession has hurt her

(Newser) - Caroline Kennedy continued her media blitz today, asserting in a sit-down interview with the New York Times that she is the best candidate for the Senate and that she could use her celebrity to draw attention to state issues. She remained vague, however, on many specifics, including her personal finances....

Reid Steps Up for Re-Election Dogfight

Dec 27, 2008 12:00 PM CST

Reid Steps Up for Re-Election Dogfight

Majority leader has low ratings, political target on his back

(Newser) - He presides over the biggest Senate majority in a quarter century, but Harry Reid is still the Democrat most likely to be unseated in 2 years, the Wall Street Journal reports. A recent poll shows Reid’s approval rating at 38%, and his disapproval rating at 54%. Aware of the...

Kennedy Won't Run Unless
Appointed

Dec 27, 2008 9:44 AM CST

Kennedy Won't Run Unless Appointed

Caroline says she'd support incumbent in 2010

(Newser) - If Caroline Kennedy isn't appointed to Hillary Clinton’s New York Senate seat, she won’t run for it in 2 years, Kennedy told NY1 last night. If Gov. David Paterson "doesn’t select me, I would support the person that he does select,” she said. She also...

Kennedy: 9/11, Obama Inspired Me to Seek Senate Seat

Dec 27, 2008 3:17 AM CST

Kennedy: 9/11, Obama Inspired Me to Seek Senate Seat

Campaign work pushed hopeful towards politics

(Newser) - The terrorists attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and her work for Barack Obama's campaign helped push Caroline Kennedy towards a career in politics, the Senate hopeful tells the AP. Kennedy credited her mother with giving her the courage to seek the job, and said she hopes she will be able...

I'll Have to Work Twice as Hard If Appointed: Kennedy

Dec 26, 2008 2:49 PM CST

I'll Have to Work Twice as Hard If Appointed: Kennedy

JFK daughter admits she'd be 'unconventional choice' for Senate seat

(Newser) - Caroline Kennedy understands she will have to work to gain the respect of the public and her peers if she is appointed to the US Senate. "I came into this thinking I have to work twice as hard as anybody else," Kennedy told the AP. "I am...

Caroline Has Been Stingy With NY Dems

Dec 26, 2008 11:33 AM CST

Caroline Has Been Stingy With NY Dems

Lack of donations may hurt efforts to gain Clinton's Senate seat

(Newser) - Caroline Kennedy has not donated much money to New York Democrats, and it could dent her appeal to Gov. David Paterson as he decides on his appointment to fill Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, the New York Daily News reports. Although Kennedy has given around $30,000 to federal candidates,...

Jeb Bush
Leans Toward Senate Run
in Florida

Dec 26, 2008 9:35 AM CST

Jeb Bush Leans Toward Senate Run in Florida

Ex-governor getting strong support

(Newser) - All signs are pointing toward a Jeb Bush run for the Senate in Florida, Politico reports. Nothing’s settled, say those close to him, but the former governor has been working the phones since Sen. Mel Martinez announced he wouldn’t run again in 2010. "Everything indicates that he's...