SanLuisObispo.com: Politics

Former Republican NC Sen. Jesse Helms dies at 86

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:45 PDT

Former Sen. Jesse Helms, an unyielding champion of the conservative movement who spent three combative and sometimes caustic decades in Congress, where he relished his battles against liberals, Communists and occasionally a fellow Republican, died on the Fourth of July. He was 86.

"It's just incredible that he would die on July 4th, the same day of the Declaration of Independence and the same day that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died, and he certainly is a patriot in the mold of those great men," said former North Carolina GOP Rep. Bill Cobey.

An iconic figure of the South who let nothing silence the trumpet of his beliefs while in office, Helms had faded from public view as his health declined. He died of natural causes early Friday morning at the Raleigh convalescent home where he had lived for the past several years. "He was very comfortable," said former chief of staff Jimmy Broughton.

Obama looks to turn Montana blue in the fall

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:50 PDT

Only two Democratic presidential candidates have carried Montana since 1948. Barack Obama is betting he can do it in November.

With just three electoral votes and its reputation as a red state, Montana rarely sees presidential candidates in the summer before a general election. Republicans usually take the state for granted, while Democrats don't even try to contest it.

But Obama has been spending a sizable amount of time and money on Montana, hiring a state director and staff while running TV ads detailing his background and qualifications. Montana is among fewer than 20 states the campaign is targeting early.

Analysis: Obama's centrist emphasis gives GOP ammo

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:25 PDT

Is Barack Obama close to being shadowed by giant flip-flops and, worse, having the image stick with people all the way to the voting booth?

Four years ago, Republicans branded as a "flip-flop" even the slightest rhetorical or policy change by John Kerry and sent huge replicas of the casual sandals to bob around the Massachusetts Democrat's events, feeding an image of him as a wishy-washy panderer.

Fair or not, Kerry never recovered and lost to President Bush.

Jesse Helms: a polarizer, not a compromiser

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:40 PDT

"Compromise, hell!" Jesse Helms screamed in a 1959 editorial that captured what would become the legacy of his Senate career and his place in the conservative movement.

Jesse Helms mostly was a polarizer, not a compromiser. He would rather win elections by a razor's edge than change his conservative positions.

Many of his colleagues in the congenial Senate "club" sought compromises on the toughest social issues. Jesse Helms wouldn't play along. He relished his nickname as "Senator No," the man who knew the Senate rules so well that he blocked legislation that violated his right-wing principles and nominees he couldn't stomach.

Franken tries the switch from comic to Congress

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:50 PDT

Moving from celebrity to senator isn't exactly an untraveled path. But that doesn't mean comedian Al Franken, who is vying for a Senate seat in Minnesota, will coast to Capitol Hill on a wide, smooth road.

Franken, a Democrat, best-selling author and former "Saturday Night Live" cast member, once penned a racy piece for Playboy that has offended the Midwestern sensibilities of some Minnesotans. It is that history as a satirist and comedian, Franken says, that puts him "in a little uncharted territory" as he tries to woo voters.

At his nomination speech a few weeks ago, Franken acknowledged that some of his past writings and comments were "downright offensive."

Today on the presidential campaign trail

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:15 PDT

IN THE HEADLINES

Obama and family celebrate Independence Day in red-state Montana ... Obama struggles to explain how his trip to Iraq could refine his policy on US presence there ... McCain calls campaign staff shake-up part of "natural evolution" ... Obama says 'mental distress' not valid for late-term abortions

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White House says ruling could free detainees in US

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:05 PDT

The White House said Thursday that dangerous detainees at Guantanamo Bay could end up walking Main Street U.S.A. as a result of last month's Supreme Court ruling about detainees' legal rights. Federal appeals courts, however, have indicated they have no intention of letting that happen.

The high court ruling, which gave all detainees the right to petition federal judges for immediate release, has intensified discussions within the Bush administration about what to do with the roughly 270 detainees held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"I'm sure that none of us want Khalid Sheikh Mohammed walking around our neighborhoods," White House press secretary Dana Perino said about al-Qaida's former third in command.

Obama visits traditionally Republican Montana

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:20 PDT

Barack Obama is celebrating the 4th of July in Butte, Montana, attending a parade and picnic. It's a state that usually gives its three electoral votes to a Republican. Only two Democrats have carried Montana since 1948. Republicans typically take it for granted and Democrats usually write if off. But this year, Obama is spending a sizeable amount of time and money to try to win it.

John McCain after his trip to Colombia and Mexico is back home in Arizona. He's planning to spend the Fourth of July holiday at the family compound outside Sedona, with no campaign events on his schedule for the next few days.

The McCain Website hopes you have a "safe and happy 4th of July" and asks that you remember the troops.

Pentagon extends tour of Marines in Afghanistan

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:25 PDT

The Pentagon has extended the tour of 2,200 Marines in Afghanistan, after insisting for months the unit would come home on time.

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is doing combat operations in the volatile south, will stay an extra 30 days and come home in early November rather than October, Marine Col. David Lapan confirmed Thursday.

Military leaders as recently as Wednesday stressed the need for additional troops in Afghanistan. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has often praised the work of the 24th MEU in fighting Taliban militants in Helmand Province.

Bush will attend opening ceremonies of Olympics

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:30 PDT

President Bush will attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing, the White House said Thursday. The announcement quashed any talk of a presidential boycott over China's violent crackdown after anti-government riots and protests in Tibet.

The White House had been reluctant to confirm Bush's plans for the opening event, although there was no doubt he would attend the Olympic Games. While other world leaders have talked of boycotting the Aug. 8 opening ceremonies, Bush's aides have signaled for weeks he was unlikely to do so.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush will travel in August to South Korea, Thailand and China and will attend the opening ceremonies of the games with first lady Laura Bush. The specific dates of travel were not released.

Today on the presidential campaign trail

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:25 PDT

IN THE HEADLINES

Obama struggles to explain how his trip to Iraq could refine his policy on US presence there ... McCain calls campaign staff shake-up part of "natural evolution" ... Obama says 'mental distress' not valid for late-term abortions

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Obama says Jones mailer is not an endorsement

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:45 PDT

Barack Obama's presidential campaign distanced itself Thursday from a mailer by Georgia Democratic Senate hopeful Vernon Jones that shows them together under Obama's signature slogan: "Yes we can."

Jones defended the mailer, saying it shows he supports the Illinois senator, not the other way around.

"It shows that I am the best person to work with Barack Obama to turn this country around," Jones told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Thursday.

Obama may accept nomination at Invesco Field

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:40 PDT

Barack Obama's campaign is considering having him accept the Democratic presidential nomination at Invesco Field at Mile High instead of the Pepsi Center, the chosen site for the Democratic National Convention, two people with knowledge of convention planning said Thursday.

The two spoke on condition of anonymity because nothing has been confirmed.

Obama campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gilson said no decisions have been made.

US: It flew 3,600 flights looking for hostages

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:45 PDT

The U.S. military says it flew thousands of spy flights over Colombian jungles trying to find and free three Pentagon contractors since their kidnapping in 2003.

In the end, it was a daring operation by Colombian military intelligence agents that finally rescued the American trio from leftist rebels.

Until this week's rescue, some U.S. government officials despaired that Tom Howes, Marc Gonsalves and Keith Stansell might ever be freed. Some counterterror, military and diplomatic officials familiar with Bush administration efforts to secure their release questioned whether enough was being done.

Senator asks if nation's drivers should slow down

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:35 PDT

An influential Republican senator suggested Thursday that Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and possibly ease fuel prices.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit.

Congress in 1974 set a national 55 mph speed limit because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.