One of America's strongest third parties, the Green Party, has nominated former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney as its 2008 presidential candidate Saturday, according to CNN.com. McKinney represented an Atlanta, Georgia, district for six terms - five consecutively as a Democrat.
McKinney, 53, beat out three rivals to win the liberal environmentalist party's nomination during its convention in Chicago, Illinois. She picked journalist and activist Rosa Clemente as her running mate.
Scott McLarty, the Green Party spokeswoman, admitted that McKinney was a "long shot" for the White House, but said, "Every vote that she gets helps the Green Party."
"The United States needs an alternative party," McLarty went on to say. "The narrow two-party system we have right now has not served us very well.
The most successful Green Party presidential candidate was consumer advocate Ralph Nader, garnering nearly 3 percent of the vote in 2000. Nader is again running for president, this time as an independent candidate.
Earlier this year, the Libertarian Party nominated McKinney's onetime House colleague, ex-Republican congressman Bob Barr, as its presidential nominee. Barr also represented a district in the Atlanta suburbs during his four terms in Congress.
First elected in 1992, McKinney lost a primary challenge in 2002 after she suggested in a radio interview that members of the Bush administration stood to profit from the war that followed the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
In 2004 she ran again and won, largely avoiding the controversy. But voters booted her out of office in 2006 after she was accused of a physical altercation with a U.S. Capitol Police officer who questioned her after failing to recognize her at a security checkpoint.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Former White House spokesman Tony Snow dies
Colon cancer has taken the life of former White House flak Tony Snow. The former federal employee was 58.
Despite once defeating the cancer, Snow had been receiving chemotherapy treatments since the disease returned. He left his job as White House press secretary in Sept. 14, 2007, and in April had joined CNN as a conservative commentator, according to the worldwide news source.
Snow's replacement, Dana Perino, said, "The White House is so deeply saddened by this loss. He was a great friend and colleague and a fantastic press secretary. And his dear family is in our thoughts and prayers."
President Bush said Saturday he and first lady Laura Bush were "deeply saddened" by Snow's death.
"The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day," the president said in a statement.
Snow also worked for Bush's father President George H.W. Bush, who commented Saturday:
"In this case it isn't a press secretary. It isn't a speech writer. It was a dear, valued friend that went on to heaven. ... He won the respect of even those who violently disagree with the president's proposals and policies. For that I think he'll be remembered. He brought a certain civility to this very contentious job."
Despite once defeating the cancer, Snow had been receiving chemotherapy treatments since the disease returned. He left his job as White House press secretary in Sept. 14, 2007, and in April had joined CNN as a conservative commentator, according to the worldwide news source.
Snow's replacement, Dana Perino, said, "The White House is so deeply saddened by this loss. He was a great friend and colleague and a fantastic press secretary. And his dear family is in our thoughts and prayers."
President Bush said Saturday he and first lady Laura Bush were "deeply saddened" by Snow's death.
"The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day," the president said in a statement.
Snow also worked for Bush's father President George H.W. Bush, who commented Saturday:
"In this case it isn't a press secretary. It isn't a speech writer. It was a dear, valued friend that went on to heaven. ... He won the respect of even those who violently disagree with the president's proposals and policies. For that I think he'll be remembered. He brought a certain civility to this very contentious job."
Friday, July 4, 2008
Senator wants national speed limit
Sen. John Warner suggested Thursday that Congress reinstitute a national speed limit to save gas and possibly lower fuel prices.
Warner (R-Va.) has asked Energy Department Secretary Samuel Bodman to determine at which speeds vehicles would be most efficient.
In 1974, Congress set a national speed limit of 55 mph due to the shortages resulting from the Arab oil embargo. According to CNN.com, The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.
Gasoline now averages $4.10 a gallon nationwide, and oil is around $145 per barrel, CNN.com said.
Warner said two studies have shown that the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil per day - or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption -and lowered the amount of traffic deaths.
Warner (R-Va.) has asked Energy Department Secretary Samuel Bodman to determine at which speeds vehicles would be most efficient.
In 1974, Congress set a national speed limit of 55 mph due to the shortages resulting from the Arab oil embargo. According to CNN.com, The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.
Gasoline now averages $4.10 a gallon nationwide, and oil is around $145 per barrel, CNN.com said.
Warner said two studies have shown that the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil per day - or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption -and lowered the amount of traffic deaths.
Former Sen. Jesse Helms dies
Former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, a North Carolina Republican who once said his job was to derail the freight train of liberalism, died today at the age of 86.
The Jesse Helms Center, a private, non-partisan foundation, announced on its Web site that Helms died at 1:15 a.m. Friday in Raleigh.
According to CNN.com, the Charlotte News & Observer, Helms' hometown newspaper, unofficially dubbed him as one of the creators of the modern Republican Party.
"Helms helped broaden the party to include religious conservatives and people who drank not just Chablis but sweet tea, and who drove not just BMWs but pickup trucks," the paper wrote when he announced his retirement. "In doing so, Helms played a pivotal role in moving the Republican Party to the right -- changing the GOP from the party of Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller to the party of Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich."
President Bush commented on the former senator's death, saying, "Sen. Helms has been a tireless defender of our nation's freedom and a champion of democracy abroad."
The Jesse Helms Center, a private, non-partisan foundation, announced on its Web site that Helms died at 1:15 a.m. Friday in Raleigh.
According to CNN.com, the Charlotte News & Observer, Helms' hometown newspaper, unofficially dubbed him as one of the creators of the modern Republican Party.
"Helms helped broaden the party to include religious conservatives and people who drank not just Chablis but sweet tea, and who drove not just BMWs but pickup trucks," the paper wrote when he announced his retirement. "In doing so, Helms played a pivotal role in moving the Republican Party to the right -- changing the GOP from the party of Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller to the party of Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich."
President Bush commented on the former senator's death, saying, "Sen. Helms has been a tireless defender of our nation's freedom and a champion of democracy abroad."
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Spain wins title
Let the celebration begin.
For the first time in 44 years, the Spaniards have won soccer's Euro Cup in Vienna, Austria.
Fernando Torres provided the heroics, scoring the game's lone goal in the 33rd minute, as España took home the coveted title for the first time since 1964.
For the first time in 44 years, the Spaniards have won soccer's Euro Cup in Vienna, Austria.
Fernando Torres provided the heroics, scoring the game's lone goal in the 33rd minute, as España took home the coveted title for the first time since 1964.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Fresno State makes history
Fresno State became the lowest-seeded team to win a National College Athletic Association in any sport after beating the Georgia 6-1, capturing its first College World Series.
Fresno's Justin Wilson, a junior, let up run in eight innings and sophomore Steve Detwiler had a 4-for-4 day with two home runs and all six RBIs last night. Fresno State won its second straight game to take the best-of-three championship series 2-1.
Both schools' mascot is the Bulldogs.
Fresno's Justin Wilson, a junior, let up run in eight innings and sophomore Steve Detwiler had a 4-for-4 day with two home runs and all six RBIs last night. Fresno State won its second straight game to take the best-of-three championship series 2-1.
Both schools' mascot is the Bulldogs.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Tim Russert dead at 58
Less than a week after the death of legendary sportscaster Jim McKay, the journalism world has been dealt another blow with the sudden death of NBC's "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert. He was 58.
The network said Russert collapsed at work Friday and that he was taken to Washington's Sibley Memorial Hospital, where he passed away.
According to CNN.com, Russert's colleague and former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw announced his co-worker's death on the network just after 3:30 p.m., adding that Russert had just gotten back from a family vacation in Italy to celebrate his son Luke's graduation from Boston College.
President Bush and Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama all expressed their sadness over Russert's passing.
"He was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it. Most important, Tim was a proud son and father, and Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to his wife, Maureen, his son, Luke, and the entire Russert family," Bush said in a statement Friday.
"He was truly a great American who loved his family, his friends, his Buffalo Bills and everything about politics and America. He was just a terrific guy," McCain said.
Obama said of Russert, "There wasn't a better interviewer in television."
Russert was a graduate of John Carroll University and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and had been working at NBC in 1984. He had been hosting "Meet the Press" since 1991.
The network said Russert collapsed at work Friday and that he was taken to Washington's Sibley Memorial Hospital, where he passed away.
According to CNN.com, Russert's colleague and former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw announced his co-worker's death on the network just after 3:30 p.m., adding that Russert had just gotten back from a family vacation in Italy to celebrate his son Luke's graduation from Boston College.
President Bush and Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama all expressed their sadness over Russert's passing.
"He was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades. Tim was a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it. Most important, Tim was a proud son and father, and Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to his wife, Maureen, his son, Luke, and the entire Russert family," Bush said in a statement Friday.
"He was truly a great American who loved his family, his friends, his Buffalo Bills and everything about politics and America. He was just a terrific guy," McCain said.
Obama said of Russert, "There wasn't a better interviewer in television."
Russert was a graduate of John Carroll University and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and had been working at NBC in 1984. He had been hosting "Meet the Press" since 1991.
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