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TOP STORIES
Bush's
Latin Trip: An Unusual Look At Ordinary Life
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/14/AR2007031402698.html
He dispensed with the
formal state dinners and traveled through shanty neighborhoods. He met people
struggling to make ends meet and called a visit to a Guatemalan village
"one of the great experiences of my presidency." For President Bush,
the six-day voyage through Latin America that ended Wednesday proved to be
unlike any of his previous foreign trips. It was one in which he tried ever so
haltingly to escape the palaces and diplomatic salons long enough to see how
people live and to emphasize that it matters to him.
RELATED: Bush promises a compromise on immigration
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bush15mar15,1,4634980.story?coll=la-headlines-world
Violence
Down in Baghdad
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/14/AR2007031402673.html
U.S. and Iraqi officials said Wednesday
that the month-old Baghdad security plan has reduced the level of violence in
the capital, but they cautioned that the security situation in Baghdad and
elsewhere in Iraq remains unstable. The top U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad said sectarian killings had decreased since the operation began in mid-February
but noted a record number of bombings in Baghdad last month. "By the
indicators that the government of Iraq has, it has been extremely
positive," Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell said. "But I would again
caution everybody about patience, about diligence. This is going to take many
months, not weeks."
RELATED: Iraqis point to success; U.S. reaction cautious
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703150137mar15,1,5001379.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
RELATED: Iraqi forces
backslide on lead role
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-iraq15mar15,1,5761754.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
RELATED: Iraqis’
Progress Lags Behind Pace Set by Bush Plan
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/washington/15policy.html?ref=washington
Can a
negative be a positive for Clinton?
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/03/15/can_a_negative_be_a_positive_for_clinton/
Senator Hillary Rodham
Clinton , pledging to stand by the first responders who loyally defend their
communities, reminded firefighters yesterday of something her supporters hope
voters will forget: she knows something about loyalty from the tests of her
marriage. "I'm a little experienced in staying the course, and sticking
with people who stick with me," said Clinton, drawing applause and knowing
chuckles from a ballroom filled with enthusiastic members of the International
Association of Firefighters. Clinton, a New York lawmaker and leading candidate
for the Democratic presidential nomination, didn't specifically mention her
husband, former President Bill Clinton, the marital troubles that first
surfaced during his 1992 campaign, or his affair with a 22-year-old intern. But
attendees at the firefighters' presidential forum said they believed the
senator was clearly referring to her personal life.
RELATED: Clinton goes for top rung of firefighters' ladder
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-forum15mar15,1,2459611.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
RELATED: Clinton Says
Some G.I.’s in Iraq Would Remain
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/washington/15clinton.html
RELATED: Clinton
Seesaws on Question of Gay Morality
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/us/politics/15gays.html
Statements
On Firings of Prosecutors Are Key Issue
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/14/AR2007031400519.html
In testimony on Jan.
18, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales assured the Senate Judiciary Committee
that the Justice Department had no intention of avoiding Senate input on the
hiring of U.S. attorneys. Just a month earlier, D. Kyle Sampson, who was then
Gonzales's chief of staff, laid out a plan to do just that. In an e-mail, he
detailed a strategy for evading Arkansas Democrats in installing Tim Griffin, a
former GOP operative and protege of presidential adviser Karl Rove, as the U.S. attorney in Little Rock. "We should gum this to death," Sampson wrote to a White
House aide on Dec. 19. "[A]sk the senators to give Tim a chance . . . then
we can tell them we'll look for other candidates, ask them for recommendations,
evaluate the recommendations, interview their candidates, and otherwise run out
the clock. All of this should be done in 'good faith,' of course."
RELATED: Despite 'Mistakes,' Bush Backs Gonzales
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/14/AR2007031400447.html
RELATED: Intersection
of Politics, Law Fuels Fighting
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/14/AR2007031401155.html
RELATED: Sununu first
Republican to call for firing Gonzales
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-sununu15mar15,1,2100710.story?coll=la-headlines-politics
RELATED: Gonzales aide
called prosecutor a 'real problem'
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-usattys15mar15,1,7162174.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
RELATED: Gonzales’s
Critics See Lasting, Improper Ties to White House
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/washington/15justice.html
Today’s complete national news
Colorado
Loud
and divided on Iraq
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5418755,00.html
It was calmer inside
the Capitol. "I'm proud to be a part of this debate. I'm proud to be an
American," Tupa said, in his opening remarks at the hearing. Tupa called
his proposal a "modest" measure that, unlike resolutions some other
states are debating, does not call for removing troops from Iraq or cutting off funding for the war. That was done, he said, after seeking input from
many Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Gordon said Colorado stands to lose
millions of dollars of federal funding during the next five years because of
the cost of the war, including $21 million for Head Start programs and $41
million for low-income energy assistance. He said more troops will not help the
United States win. "The time of good options has passed," Gordon
said. "By this resolution we are asking the administration to make a true
change in course." Sen. Peter Groff, chairman of the committee, called the
war a "mistake." "We need to figure out how to get out of there.
At some point we need to say enough is enough," said Groff, a Denver
Democrat. But Sen. David Schultheis of Colorado Springs, one of two Republicans
on the five-member committee, argued that Islamic extremists only understand
brute force. He said President Bush's troop surge is an investment in
"world freedom."
RELATED: What does it mean? It depends on what side of issue you're on
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5418691,00.html
RELATED: Voicing their
stands on the Iraq resolution
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5418690,00.html
RELATED: Rallying for
support
http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070315/NEWS01/703150358/1002
RELATED: War of words
grips statehouse
http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_5438273
RELATED: Iraq debate
draws protests
http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_5434904
RELATED: Coloradans
debate Iraq resolution at Capitol
http://greeleytrib.com/article/20070315/NEWS/103150096
RELATED: Panel votes
to oppose buildup
http://www.gazette.com/onset?id=20175&template=article.html
RELATED: Senate panel
approves Iraq war measure
http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1173967803/3
House
OKs Amendment 41 fix, but Senate approval uncertain
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5418600,00.html
The Colorado House
passed a bipartisan fix for the new, problem-plagued government ethics law
Wednesday, but it won't fly unless skeptical Senate lawmakers vote initial
approval. It didn't help that Senate President pro tem Peter Groff said he
learned about the House compromise plan for implementing Amendment 41 in the
newspapers - not from fellow Democrats in the House. "It still has to come
through the Senate, so it certainly would have been nice to kind of hear what
was going on," said Groff, D-Denver. House Speaker Andrew Romanoff said he
briefed Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald on the measure Tuesday before the
House compromise solution won initial passage. He stressed that House leaders
had their hands full just hammering out how to put Amendment 41 in action.
RELATED: House passes measure asking voter approval to revise ethics rules
http://dailycamera.com/news/2007/mar/14/house-passes-measure-asking-voter-approval-revise-/
RELATED: House passes
ethics measures
http://greeleytrib.com/article/20070315/NEWS/103140125
Lawmakers
not hopping aboard Ritter ed plan
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5418589,00.html
Gov. Bill Ritter's
proposal to curtail property tax reductions to fund public schools met with
skepticism Wednesday from some lawmakers who wonder how they'll explain it to
voters. Even a member of Ritter's Democratic Party questioned the legality -
and political feasibility - of mandating higher taxes without going to the
voters. "Explain to me how this is not a constitutional problem - because
taxes will go up for somebody, whether it's the homeowner or the business or
whomever," said Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder. "How do we get by
that?" Tupa added, "We're going to have to talk to our constituents
in a way that's going to be explainable."
RELATED: Tax plan would fund kindergarten
http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_5438596
RELATED: Ritter's school
fund plan draws heat from some legislators
http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1173967803/5
RELATED: Ritter’s
school plan wins support
http://www.gazette.com/onset?id=20188&template=article.html
RELATED: Bill to boost
school funding likely to be approved by panel
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/03/15/3_15_5a_School_Finance.html
Oil,
gas industry to oppose overhaul
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/energy/article/0,2777,DRMN_23914_5418298,00.html
Colorado's $13 billion
oil and gas industry has taken on Gov. Bill Ritter and his administration by
backing out of a deal to reform energy regulation. The industry is taking a
stand against House Bill 1341, shifting from its initial decision to remain
neutral. The bill seeks to increase the size and composition of the board of
the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Ritter had promised during
his election campaign to reform the commission. Since he took office, his
administration has discussed the bill with industry for at least a month to try
to reach consensus, said Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer.
RELATED: Oil-panel change wins 1st OK
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_5438189
RELATED: Panel’s new
makeup, mission passes
http://www.gazette.com/onset?id=20185&template=article.html
RELATED: Oil, gas group
shuffle survives hearing
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/03/15/3_15_1B_COGCC_bill.html
Today’s complete Colorado news
Today’s complete daily news: http://media.progressnowaction.org/digest/031507.htm
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