Posts in May 2010

The Wall Street reform bill is taking that rarest of paths through the Senate — actually gaining tougher provisions against the industry as it proceeds, not being watered down to win votes as health care reform was. And that’s put Republicans in a difficult spot.... [+]

People want Democrats to control Congress after this fall’s elections, a shift from April, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll released Saturday. But the margin is thin and there’s a flashing yellow light for incumbents of both parties: Only about one-third want their own lawmakers... [+]

Earlier this year, government officials admitted that the military had sent a group of former Central Intelligence Agency officers and retired Special Operations troops into the region to collect information — some of which was used to track and kill people suspected of being militants.... [+]

Oil from a blown-out well is forming huge underwater plumes as much as 10 miles long below the visible slick in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists said as BP wrestled for a third day Sunday with its latest contraption for slowing the nearly month-old gusher.... [+]

Facebook’s millions of users are a lucrative target for Internet criminals looking to steal passwords and more. To combat malicious attacks, phishing scams and spam, the online social network is rolling out new security features. You can ask to be notified by e-mail or text... [+]

Pat Buchanan, everyone’s favorite MSNBC pundit, wondered in his syndicated column this week why Democratic presidents don’t nominate white Christians to the Supreme Court anymore. “If Kagan is confirmed, Jews, who represent less than 2 percent of the U.S. population, will have 33 percent of... [+]

Being an incumbent is traditionally considered a pretty reliable re-election guarantee for a political candidate. Since 1946, House incumbents have won re-election an average of 92 percent of the time. The re-election rate is lower for the Senate, but still high at 79 percent. But... [+]

The GOP rushed to brand the Gulf Coast disaster “Obama’s Katrina.” But new reports make clear the Bush administration’s lax attitude toward regulation deserves much of the blame. Ever since the great oil price spike of 2008, conservatives have been riding a tide of pro-drilling... [+]

The Senate continued its surprise populist turn on financial reform Friday, voting for limits on fees charged to stores by banks on credit- and debit-card transactions. The move was a hard-fought victory for retailers, who have asked Congress to take action on the fees for... [+]

There are signs that tea party calls to repeal the 17th Amendment — taking the selection of U.S. Senators out of the hands of voters and putting it in the hands of state governments — are proving to be a bridge too far for Republican... [+]