Reuters: Politics

Healthcare bill passes first Senate test

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:41:46 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A sweeping healthcare overhaul narrowly cleared its first hurdle in the Senate on Saturday, with Democrats casting 60 party-line votes to open debate on the biggest healthcare changes in decades.

Obama job approval rating drops under 50 percent

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:31:58 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's job approval rating has dropped below 50 percent in a second major poll in an indication he is suffering from the long healthcare debate and weakness in the economy, Gallup said on Friday.

Obama asks for patience on economy

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:02:34 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Saturday urged Americans to show patience over the economy and argued that his just-concluded Asia trip was critical for U.S. exports, countering criticism he had returned empty-handed.

Ex-State Dept official pleads guilty to spying for Cuba

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:46:35 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former U.S. State Department official and his wife pleaded guilty on Friday to charges that they spied for almost three decades for the Communist-led Cuban government.

Senate leader at risk in healthcare battle

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:54:16 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Other than President Barack Obama, perhaps no one's political future is riding more on the Senate battle to revamp the healthcare system than the chamber's Democratic majority leader, Harry Reid.

Senate sets hearing on Bernanke's renomination

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:58:32 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee said on Friday it will hold a hearing on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's renomination to a second term on December 3, putting the central bank chief under scrutiny at a time when the Fed is facing intense criticism in Congress.

No Obama decision on Afghan until after Thanksgiving

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:43:33 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's announcement of a new strategy on Afghanistan will not take place until after the Thanksgiving holiday next week, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday.

Ethics panel admonishes Obama Senate replacement

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:43:55 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished Roland Burris, saying he had been less than candid about his gubernatorial appointment to the Senate seat previously held by President Barack Obama.

Honduras de facto leader says will step aside

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:23:14 -0500

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras's post-coup de facto leader said on Friday he would give up his presidential duties for a week, a step Washington welcomed as a way to help ease a five-month-old political crisis.