president

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Brazil's First Female President Sworn In

Dilma Rousseff faces challenge of living up to predecessor

(Newser) - Dilma Rousseff was sworn in as Brazil's first female president today, capping a rapid political trajectory for the career technocrat and former Marxist rebel who was imprisoned and tortured during the nation's long military dictatorship. Rousseff, 63, takes the helm of Latin America's largest nation, which has risen both financially...

Wyclef Jean May Be Out of Haiti Election

He's not on official list of candidates, says report

(Newser) - Haiti's presidential election may have just gotten a lot less interesting: Reuters is reporting that Wyclef Jean didn't make the cut for official candidates. "He's not on the list as I speak," says an anonymous member of the nation's electoral council. The list is due to be made...

Grow Up, America: He's Not Superman

And neither was any other president

(Newser) - Why do we expect President Obama to plug the Gulf oil leak, squelch the Taliban, reconcile the Israelis and Palestinians, and forge a global treaty on greenhouse gases? Because "Americans like to read politics and history as a tale of the Great Man," Paul Starobin writes in the...

German President Steps Down
 German President Resigns 

German President Resigns

Horst Koehler resigns after controversial military remarks

(Newser) - In a surprise move, German President Horst Koehler resigned today after being criticized for reportedly linking military deployments abroad with the country's economic interests. The resignation, effective immediately, came only a year into Koehler's second term as the largely ceremonial head of state, and creates a new headache for Chancellor...

Laura Bush 'Stood Straighter' After Leaving White House

First lady felt weight of the world lifted upon return to Texas

(Newser) - Laura Bush felt a weight lift when she returned to Texas after 8 years in Washington, free of the rigors of protecting America in the post-9/11 era, the former first lady tells Politico . “I didn’t really realize how stressed we were and how vigilant we were—that hypervigilance—...

Teacher Hangs Obama Effigy in Classroom

'He wasn't thinking,' says superintendent

(Newser) - Rhode Island school officials are investigating the actions of a teacher who hung an effigy of President Obama by its heels in front of his high school classroom. The foot-long doll was apparently hung in protest against Obama's support for the mass firing of teachers at the failing school. "...

Sarkozy Pushes for Burka Ban
 Sarkozy Pushes for Burka Ban 

Sarkozy Pushes for Burka Ban

But it's 'essential that no one felt stigmatized,' says French prez

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy restated his support for a ban on the wearing of burkas in his country in a New Year's address today—while stressing that any decision should await the results of a parliamentary inquiry on the subject, which are expected later this month. While Sarkozy’s own party is...

Nigerians Call on Prez to Prove He's Alive

Adua, abroad for medical treatment, mum on Xmas bomb attempt

(Newser) - Some Nigerians suspect their president, who split the country in late November, complaining of chest pains, and has not made a public appearance since, could in fact be dead. Umaru Yar’Adua has failed to weigh in on critical state decisions, and was even mum on the Christmas terror attempt...

Obama Effigy Hanged in Jimmy Carter's Hometown

Secret Service investigating ugly incident in Plains, Ga.

(Newser) - The Secret Service is investigating after a black doll wearing an "Obama" sign was found hanged from a sign on a storefront in Plains, Ga., Jimmy Carter's hometown. "It's wrong what they did, but I'm not shocked to hear about it," a Plains resident told WALB , the...

Home Movie Reveals 'Toking' Monroe

'It was just a get-together,' says pal who filmed smokin' star

(Newser) - A recently surfaced home movie of Marilyn Monroe shows the star languorously sucking on what a friend revealed is a marijuana joint as she lounges with pals. Monroe takes a hit before vamping for the camera in a New Jersey apartment sometime in the 50s. The movie was purchased by...

What Happened to Our Basketballer-in-Chief?
What Happened to Our
Basketballer-in-Chief?
Golf well? No, he can't

What Happened to Our Basketballer-in-Chief?

Obama has traded basketball for golf

(Newser) - The old Obama played hoops—and he did it quite well. So why do we keep seeing him on golf courses? Since he took office, the one-time "Baller-in-Chief" has played basketball about seven times, compared to 25 rounds of golf. The White House has remained mum on what's behind...

Lincoln Letter to Boy on Sale for $60K

1861 note was sent to schoolboy to confirm their meeting

(Newser) - When 8-year-old George Patten was mocked by classmates in 1861 who didn't believe he'd met Abraham Lincoln, his teacher wrote to the president seeking to expose the boy's tall tale. Lincoln instead sent the boy a letter confirming that they had met the previous year. That document, believed to be...

Palin Not Fit for Presidency: Poll
 Palin Not Fit for Presidency: Poll
survey says

Palin Not Fit for Presidency: Poll

Voters think Hillary Clinton would be swell, though

(Newser) - With a blockbuster memoir and national tour, Sarah Palin is again grabbing headlines. But does she have what it takes for a 2012 presidential bid? The answer is a resounding “no,” according a CNN and Opinion Research poll. Only 28% believe she’s qualified for the nation’s...

Palestinians' Abbas May Not Seek Reelection

Move could be a feint to jump-start peace negotiations

(Newser) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not seek reelection next year, insiders say. Abbas has seen his credibility with Palestinians damaged during peace negotiations with the US and Israel, now stalled. “The president insists on not running in the upcoming election,” an official tells the Guardian, though some believe...

College Bosses Earn Record $1M+ Pay

Despite recession, school leaders' pay grows—with tuition

(Newser) - Lean times can go to the back of the class when it comes to college presidents. A record 23 of them raked in more than $1 million last year, up from nine in 2007. Not so surprisingly, many of presidents reigned at institutions among the 58 which charged more than...

Rumors Raise Concerns About Mandela's Health

Don't worry about 91-year-old's reduced schedule: grandson

(Newser) - Nelson Mandela is increasingly out of the public eye, raising questions about his health. The first black president of South Africa “recently decided to cut back his engagements even further and spend more time with his family,” the head of his foundation tells the Guardian . Rumors that he...

Sarko's $400K Shower Steams French
 Sarko's $400K 
 Shower Steams French 
CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION

Sarko's $400K Shower Steams French

French president's turn as EU chief cost double the usual amount

(Newser) - The French Senate is perhaps understandably miffed at the outrageous price tag of Nicolas Sarkozy’s 6-month stint as president of the European Union. The half-year job of hosting meetings and events appears to have cost $262 million, which is borne mostly by the host nation, an official tells the...

Fox News CEO Rules Out Presidential Bid in 2012

'I can't take the pay cut,' Roger Ailes jokes

(Newser) - Roger Ailes won’t run for president in 2012, despite appeals from friends and associates. The Fox News CEO says he thinks he’ll serve the nation better in his current role: “This country needs fair and balanced news more now than ever before, so I’m going to...

Obama, Bush 41 Tout Public Service

(Newser) - A bipartisan call for public service got a warm reception today at Texas A&M, where George HW Bush welcomed President Obama and 44 hailed 41 as "an inspiration to us all." At a forum celebrating the 20th anniversary of the former president's Points of Light Institute, Obama—...

Erratic Obama Cheapens the Presidency
Erratic Obama Cheapens the Presidency
OPINION

Erratic Obama Cheapens the Presidency

Time for leader of free world to stop acting like a candidate: Cohen

(Newser) - Barack Obama has been in office for nearly a year, but for Richard Cohen, he's still "the candidate-in-full," unaware that he is already president. Watching Obama alongside Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy last week, the Washington Post columnist perceived "a faux Cuban missile crisis"—and a...

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